Disclaimer: I hold no ties with Avatar: The Last Airbender. This work of fiction was created for, and only for, the sole purpose of entertainment. No profits were obtained from the makings of this story. Credits go out to Nickelodeon, Michael DiMartino and Bryan Konietzko respectively.

. . .

. . .

Summary: AU Z/K With the world all but under the Fire Empire's control, Katara, along with her fellow agents, are sent on a deadly operation. Bent on retribution, Zuko scours the land for answers. What they discover, is a conspiracy bigger than they ever imagined.

. . .

Author's note: After reading lots of fanfiction stories, I realized that there were no fics that truly captured how I envisioned an invasion/attempted assassination of the Fire Empire (empire because by definition, the Fire Nation became an empire after they began conquering territory). So . . . I decided that I'd attempt to create my very own. First time for everythin', ay? Well, here it goes my lovelies: I give thee Revelations!

Encroaching Edicts

"Master Aang. Master Sokka. Master Jet. Lady Toph Bei Fong. Lady Katara." The man clothed in black robes addressed, "You each have been called upon from your respective battalions in our Allied Forces. Assessments have been made upon the enemy, strategies rewritten to accommodate for the military coup: codename Black Sun and legions gathered for our invasion of the Imperial Palace. All of this has been done, but cannot come to fruition, without your finer skills and services. We, The Order, have a proposition for you."

A proposition? mused Lady Katara, daughter of Chieftain Hakoda, sister of Master Sokka, and a Master water bender in her own right. As if we have a choice. Her internal voices however, quelled within themselves as she found words more suitable to say in front of the Grand Secretariat of Ba Sing Se.

"Long Feng, sir. Permission to speak?" She asked.

"Permission granted."

"I do not think we should compromise Avatar Aang, sir. He gives the rebellion hope. Our people cannot lose hope."

Long Feng studied her for a moment as the Avatar turned to look at Katara with a tinge of suppressed gratefulness in his grey eyes. Said Avatar looked more like a child, than a cold-blooded agent. His thirteenth birthday could not have been more than a month ago.

"What makes you believe that Avatar Aang will be compromised, Lady Katara?" He inquired.

"I . . . umm, well I-"

"- She was debriefed earlier on the mission by our Father, Chief Hakoda," Sokka interrupted.

The Grand Secretariat raised an eyebrow.

"Sir," he amended.

"In that case, the Chief must have already told you two the situation that is at hand. And how vital Avatar Aang's role is to the mission," Long Feng said.

Katara opened her mouth to speak, but was cut off once again by her brother. "Of course sir, Katara's concerned because she's a just a woman, sir. I'm sure she didn't mean to contradict your authority."

The room's temperature dropped to a frigid degree as Katara's eyes narrowed and her jaw clenched. Blue irises turned to glare lividly from their corners, focusing on the creator of the sexist remark. It was no matter that Sokka had saved her from having to tell Long Feng that she was eavesdropping upon The Order's conversation earlier; her brother's chauvinism had earned him a very painful water whip, she decided . . . Just as soon as an appropriate opportunity presented itself.

The Grand Secretariat seemed appeased, however, by the elder boy's cover-up and did not seem to notice the fluctuation in temperature. "Very well," he began, before adding: "Katara, do keep your thoughts to yourself, next time. It would be wise to learn from your elder brother."

"Of course sir," she gritted out, turning her glower off of her brother and towards the lone fire pit. Green fire danced from the stone cavity encroaching around it, snake-like statues writhing and twisting their ways up the mantle; the entire office seemed alit with an unholy nature that made everything seem . . . conniving. Katara deemed the place as a home fit for something much like a snake.

Aforementioned snake began talking again, "Good. Now back to the matter at hand. The Order has conscripted each of you upon this mission because of your talents; talents that are unsurpassed in your particular categories. Master Sokka in disguise and tactics, Master Jet in swordsmanship, Lady Bei Fong in interrogation and heavy weaponry, Lady Katara in stealth and marksmanship, and Avatar Aang due to his most recently discovered ability," Long Feng paused, "Energy Bending."

"The plan is simple. In order to ensure a decisive victory on Black Sun, we must initiate the beginnings of the coup long before we invade. Terra Teams have set up checkpoints stretching from Omashu all the way to the outskirts of the Imperial City, Sozin. The Order wishes for your group to advance to these checkpoints, keeping a low profile. Reach Sozin, learn the city's infrastructure, and report back to intelligence."

Jet spoke up, "Permission to speak, sir?"

"Granted."

"Why do we need such a large group if all we're going to be doing is gathering information for intelligence? Let me complete the mission on my own, without them slowing me down. Course, Katara could come with me if she wanted too . . ." the egotistical rebel captain turned his head slightly to face the water bender. He winked lewdly at her.

Katara was trying very hard not to blush. Between the war and her many travels, she was no longer the naïve little girl she used to be; the second meaning did not escape her notice.

Long Feng ignored the innuendo completely, "Your arrogance surprises me, Master Jet. To be frank, you are to be doing much more than just scouting the area."

"Like spying?"

"Not entirely. The checkpoints that the Terra Teams have created are considered hot spots, positions that are under control of the enemy. As you can imagine, there are many of these. On your final destination to Sozin, The Order requests for you to eliminate the governors in these locations, ridding conquered Earth Kingdom provinces of Fire Empire Imperialists."

The only other female present in the room spoke up, "We get to crack a few spark heads together? Sweet. This sounds like my kind of mission." Knuckles cracked loudly.

"Remaining incognito is of the necessity," The Grand Secretariat chided, "for we are hoping to catch much bigger prey inside of Sozin."

"You want us to take down the Royal Family," Katara stated.

"We want, more correctly, for you to assassinate them."

"B-but why?" asked the Avatar.

"The death of the entire family will politically tear the Fire Empire apart, until they can find a new lineage to be royal blood. It would be the perfect opportunity to initiate an invasion on their homeland, and completely obliterate them. If timed correctly, the assassinations can coincide with operation Black Sun."

"How can you expect us to take out the entire royal line in one swoop? All of them are Master benders!" Katara noticed her brother's arms make hand motions as he spoke.

"A simultaneous attack on the Royal Family can only be executed with Avatar Aang. His Energy Bending should allow a slipstream moment, a window of opportunity, to temporarily freeze the chi inside of the imperials. How you initiate contact however, shall be left up to you."

"But-"

Long Feng inclined his head. "You are dismissed. Prepare for departure at dawn."

And with that, the Grand Secretariat let the black lacquered floors swallow him up, disappearing from the sight of the five young agents. The almost silent transition within the man's earth bending kata left a moment of stunned silence surround each specialized operations individual. Katara's eyes blinked rapidly at the spot where Long Feng had been standing at; not a single stone misplaced.

"Well," Katara began, "this . . . this . . .-"

"Sounds like a suicide mission?" Sokka supplied.

"Ought to be fun?" said Toph manically.

"-really fucking sucks . . ." she admitted.

"Katara!" admonished her brother, "A proper Southern Water Tribe woman doesn't use that kind of language! What would dad say if he heard you?"

. . .

. . .

. . .

A well placed water whip cracked painfully across Sokka's head.

"The fuck was that for?"

"Oh gee, Sokka. A proper Southern Water Tribe WOMAN doesn't use that kind of language!" Katara mimicked, "Why don't you start learning that you can't tell me what to do anymore?"

The insulted water tribe warrior opened his mouth to retort back hotly, but was cut off by his ranting sibling.

"Why you-"

"-And just because you include 'dad' when you're trying to tell me to do something, it still doesn't take away from the fact that 'you' are still trying to tell me what to do! When you're MAN enough to beat me in a fight, I'll be more than happy to listen, dear brother." She flounced off towards the doorway, leaving an openmouthed and sputtering Sokka in her wake.

Jet whistled. "Your sister is mighty fine, Sokka. I just love that temper and passion! It's so sexy!"

"GRR $#&!" Sokka seemed to gain a pinky-hold on his senses, and made to charge at the smug captain and beat his wheat-eating face. Like a flash, Toph sprung into action and pulled up a wall of earth, neatly allowing the water tribe boy to slam into it face first.

"Owwww! It hurts, it hurts!" he wailed, grabbing his smarting nose accusingly. "Toph, you broke my freakin' face!"

The short earthbender grinned, unseeing eyes staring out in space.

"Snoozles, don't kill our grass-eating friend here," she said.

Jet snorted, laughing at the misery of his new ally.

"And YOU," Toph began, throwing a finger that pointed unnervingly accurately at the rebel captain, "keep it in your pants!"

. . .

. . .

. . .

Author's Note: So hopefully this little shot of action(y)/military prelude gets you guys some incentive to continue reading! I'm going to try to keep a fairly quick tempo to this story and hit a lot of my ideas point blank . . . course there will be some slow and steamy scenes later on . . . Because everyone likes steamy scenes, yes?

Anyways, Reviews are appreciated, as well as concerns, comments, questions and possible predictions as to what may happen! Reviews are appreciated, flames (as long as they are respectful and contribute to the novella) are welcome and suggestions shall, and always shall, be taken into consideration . . . Did I forget to mention that Reviews are appreciated? :D