Ranger24: Back again folks! Once more I apologize for the long wait but I am working on a lot of projects right now. Here's the new chapter.
Chapter 20: Before the flames
Disclaimer: I own nothing.
Fort Dean, south eastern Britannia
"This is insane," Cornelia snarled.
"It's to accurate to be doubted I'm afriad," Guilford replied.
Inside the keep of Fort Dean, Suzaku stood along with Euphie and Cornelia's officers as Guilford delievered to them the grim news.
"The Fire Nation just conquered the Earth Kingdom and fought off an attempted invasion," Cornelia objected. "It would be sucide for them to throw all of their troops into an invasion of Britannia."
"Well they must have a death wish then," Lyold said dryly.
Spread across the center table was a map of Britannia upon which were displayed numerous troop concentrations across the continent. All eyes were fixed upon Britannia's border with the Fire Nation where a massive collection of unit markers were gathered.
"They pulled almost all of their troops out of the Earth Kingdom even as rebellion and revolts spring up across continent," Darlton stated. "They've only got a major garrison left in Ba-sing-se. All to move to invade us?"
"And the Emperor has ordered all reserve unit to move to the border at once," Mustang said girmly. "We're up that means."
Cornelia walked to the throne at the head of the chamber and sat down pressing a hand to her forehead.
"What units are on call?" She asked.
Guilford drew out another peice of paper from the collection in his hands.
"Princes Castor and Pollux rui Britannia are enroute with twenty four thousand troops, the 4th Imperial division is already in the area, and Prince Schnizel is in Domino with ten thousand troops."
"And how many troops have the Fire Nation deployed along the border?" Cornelia asked.
"Fifty thousand infantry, two division strength units of benders, ten thousand cavalry, and..." Guilford paused.
"An armored division and two artillery divisions," Lyold answered for him.
Everyone's faces became grim.
The Fire Nations powerful industrial might had lead to terrifying new weapons of war on the battlefield. Weapons that were self propelled armored vehicles from which fire benders would loose deadly streams of flame upon the enemy in complete safety. Against such weapons Britannia's Knights, the back bone of its army, would be helpless.
"How many troops do we have ready to march," Cornelia asked.
"Sister," Euphemia suddenly broke in. "We are in no shape to fight, the men are exhausted and our units are undermanned. We can't do anything."
"You shall address me by rank," Cornelia said sharply catching everyone by suprise. Cornelia rarely ever got riled against Euphemia. "Orders are orders and our orders are to march north to meet the enemy and defend Britannia. How many troops are ready to march?"
The room was silent for a minute. Then Darlton spoke at last.
"Are forces are, as Princess Euphemia has stated, in bad shape," he reported. "We have around seven thousand ready to march within twenty four hours, another eight thousand can be mobolized with in the week."
"What about our artillery?" Cornelia asked.
"Thrity two guns are ready to be moved," Lyold answered. "But thats all of our remaining siege weaponry."
"And how long will it take us to return to the north?"
"If we did a forced march a week," Guilford replied. "Otherwise a week and a half."
Cornelia nodded.
"Order all troops to make ready to march within three days," Cornelia replied. "We're to stop for no more then six hours every night."
"Understood Princess," Darlton answered with a salute.
"Alert your units and prep them for march," Cornelia ordered. "Dismissed."
The officer's saluted and began filing out. Suzaku however stayed put. Euphemia remained rooted where she stood.
"Suzaku," she stated. "Would you please allow me a moment with my sister."
Suzaku nodded and followed the other officers out in silence.
-ToE:BD-
Meanwhile far to the north in Surdana a similar meeting was occuring within the keep.
Kallen as one of Zero's bodyguard stood by the door as her Lord sat at the head of the council table.
"We weren't expecting this," Smerinov muttered.
"We should have," Nassuada replied. "We cannot have expected the Fire Nation to sit by idely well Britannia and the Empire weaken themselves in battle with us."
"Ozai is pushing his luck," Toudho stated. "He's pulled almost all of his troops from the Earth Kingdom and left it wide open for the Empire to sweep in if they wanted to."
"What tactical sense is that then?" Ohgi asked. "The Earth Kingdom's mines are a huge part of the Fire Nation's resources, they lose those and their production crawls to a halt?"
All eyes turned to Zero who had thus far remained silent.
"What do you believe they are planning Lord Zero?" Nassuada asked.
Zero steepled his fingers and rest the chin of his mask upon his gloved hands.
"Genocide," he replied.
Everyone now stared in shock at Zero as if unwilling to believe what he had said.
"What evidence suggests this?" Lady Myschala asked.
"History," Zero answered. "The Fire Nation does not truly control the Earth Kingdom, Ba-sing-se is theirs but the people still fight on. They refuse to give up the fight. Commiting itself to a long anti insurgency campaign will take years to carry out and cost thousands more lives in troops; troops that Ozai needs elsewhere. Thus he turns to the simplest way to break the people spirit, burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground."
"But millions of people would be killed in such an operation and not even the Fire Nation can burn an entire nation to the ground," Oghi objected.
"Not true," Nassuada interjected. "During the Fire Nation, Britannia, and the Empires campagin against us they burned half of Du Wheldenvarden to the ground to drive out the elves."
"Exactly," Zero stated. "But an operation on that scale would take countless fire benders and considerable time to complete."
"But if thats the case then why do you believe Ozai intends to burn the Earth Kingdom to the ground?" Myschala asked.
"Because within a matter of days all Ozai will need to commit this act will be a few benders and airships," Zero replied. "In exactly two weeks Sozin's comet will return."
"Sozin's comet?" Smerinov said raising an eyebrow.
"One hundred years ago Fire Lord Sozin used a passing comets power to augment the abilites of every Fire Bender in the world," Zero explained. "Using the comets power he and his army launched a devastating first strike which wiped out the Air Nomads." Zero paused, letting the information sink in before he continued. "When the comet comes around this time, Ozai will use it to wipe out the Earth Kingdom and destroy Britannia's Northern armies."
Silence filled the room as the gravity of the situation surrounded them.
"What defense do we have for such an event?" Myschala asked.
"The only option is to fight," Zero replied. "The comets power will only be in affect for a few hours. Britannia's current forces will not be able to stand against such an assault. Once the Northern army falls Britannia will be scrambling to divert forces from across the Empire to hold the line."
Oghi scratched his head.
"Thats good right?" Oghi pointed out. "They'll wipe eachother out."
"And in the process destroy the enitre northern half of the continent including our own lands," Zero objected.
"Are you suggesting we aid the Britannians in stoping the invasion?" Smerinov asked.
"That's exactly what I'm suggesting," Zero replied. "We must stop the Fire Nation's advance before they are on our door step."
Nassuada frowned.
"The men won't like this," she stated. "Protecting Britannia isn't what they signed up for."
"This is no longer about Britannia," Zero proclaimed. "If the Fire Nation is not stopped millions of innocents will die. And if we do nothing then their blood is on our hands."
"And what of the Earth Kingdom?" Toudho asked.
Zero shook his head.
"There is nothing we can do," he replied. "All our hope rests in the chance that the Avatar may defeat Ozai before he can cause to much damage."
Once again there was silence as everyone contemplated his words. Finally Oghi broke the silence.
"What are our orders?" He asked.
Zero nodded.
"We shall assemble our forces at the ruins of Shinjuku," he said.
At the mention of Shinjuku Kallen felt a pang of remorse. She had lost everything there and was not eager to return there while preparing for battle.
"I however," Zero continued, "will be heading into the mountains with my bodyguard to gather help."
"Help?" Smerinov questioned. "From who?"
"The Sanghelli."
At this there came a roar of objections from both the Black Knights and Surdanains. Kallen felt the urge to join in but kept her silence. Her heart screamed for the blood of every one of those split lipped monsters but her service lay with Zero.
"They are in just as great a danger from this offensive as we are," Zero stated cutting above the tumult. "They have been gathering allies and forces of their own. And unless we can halt the Fire Nation advance quickly the world will be engulfed in flames."
He paused turning his masked visage to each of those seated at the table, pausing only for a moment on each of them.
"And everything will burn," he finished.
Silence fell once more and hung in the air like a sword above each of their heads, waiting to fall. Then Lady Myschala spoke.
"When do you leave?"
Ranger24: Once more a short chapter but I'm finally getting close to the end here. Just two more arcs and this story is done. Read and review!