AUTHOR'S NOTES: I've finally gotten something of a grip on this story and so I know where it's going. As a result, I should be able to start producing chapters on a more regular basis from here on out, although don't hold me to that. My update schedule is still as erratic and unpredictable than ever, and I'd rather just say that up front than make promises I cannot keep. However, it is my policy to not abandon fic unless it's an extremely particular occasion, so the war will continue and we'll see the end of it.
That said, Happy Reading!

CHAPTER 21: Sights on District 3

The next couple of days were spent making preparations to invade District 3, with the rebellion's aim of minimizing damage and casualties taking a high priority in the way things went down. Korra was adamant about this aspect, and she served not only between the districts, but also between the soldiers and the victors, all of whom were battle-hardened warriors who had seen more bloodshed than most thus far. This mindset managed to garner a small handful of victors to join Korra's side, including Aveline, Vigo, Amy, Zenzi, Kozue, Shishio, Eli, Lyndis, Paige, Clove, Bethany, Ikki, Connor, Ian, and Resin. Others volunteered as well, but a lot of them were advised by President Fox to remain in District 13. The rebellion was not about to pour all of its forces into District 3 for this invasion for the same reason they did not put all of their eggs in one basket.

The day before they would move out, Shishio approached Korra during a bit of downtime.

"So have you talked to Lux and Cadence lately?" The fluffy-haired man turned to Korra.

"Does anyone talk to them?" Korra tilted her head, "I didn't think they spoke to anyone. Lux doesn't even talk, and Cadence hardly says more than a word or two."
"Oh huh…" Shishio shrugged, "I talk with them a lot actually. You and I are the closest victors to 'em, after all. Cadence is from '94, and Lux from '95."

"You talk with those two?" Korra raised an eyebrow, "I've wanted to, but to be honest, they're kind of intimidating, even for me."

"Oh?" Shishio seemed contemplative. "Yeah, I talk with them sometimes. I think one of the biggest secrets to getting through to them is knowing how to approach them, and more importantly, knowing how to decipher what they're trying to say. Cadence sometimes kind of speaks for the two of them, but he's also the blunt one. Lux is the one that says all kinds of stuff."
"What does she say?" Korra asked, "I'll admit that I don't understand most of her signs."
"Yeah, that's definitely something to be careful of," Shishio chuckled, "she gets upset when people don't understand what she's trying to say. I think what they need is patience though. You should try warming up to them just to get to know them. After that I feel like they might be more inclined to interact."
"Well, that's what I aim to do," Korra asserted, "A good leader needs to be relatable and well-liked by those under her command."
"Just don't wear yourself out trying to please everyone," Shishio warned with a casual shrug, "but hey… we're still down for District 3 tomorrow, right?"
"Of course," Korra assured him, "I'm glad to have you by my side, friend."

Preparations were finished about 12 hours before they scheduled the invasion, and so at this point it was basically just a matter of getting some sleep and resting up for the move the next morning.

However, early in the evening, there was a disruption in the communications room that soon drew the attention of Korra, Amy, Clove, Fox, Akiyo, Kolton, and everyone in between. Romula Snow had found them, it seemed—for her face was on every screen.

"Greetings, District 14." She began, "Yes, I know of District 14. It's a wonderful place this time of year, wouldn't you say, Ms. Francisco?"

Korra froze, watching this woman and internally wishing she could scream.

"I heard about your exploits in District 12 the day you decided to cancel my Hunger Games. At this point I cannot help but applaud you for a job well done. Who would have thought that there were traitors among my Peacekeepers and that those loyal to Panem would not be enough to stand against the treacherous rebellion that has been birthed by District 13?"

Romula might not have been able to see directly into the District 13 Communications Room, but she had gotten the attention of everyone in the room with her words.

"Now, the funny thing is, is that after your little warning not to touch District 12, I actually agreed to it. I did not consent to you stealing my tributes from my Hunger Games, however, and so we sent a recovery team after them. Clearly they've failed. But even then, I was able to shake it off. I figured that there was no reason for District 13 and the Capitol to annihilate one another in a nuclear war, as President Fox would likely agree. However… then your rebellion went and broke the terms of your own peace treaty with this little stunt here in District 4…"

Romula shifted, and a screen behind her flicked on to reveal the chaos that District 4 was currently in at the moment. Peacekeepers were suppressing the rebellion there, and the name "Lilac Durango" is on the wanted list…"

An image of an auburn-haired girl strongly resembling Korra showed up on the screen, and Korra recognized it as the same girl that she had seen on her victory tour 7 years ago. Was she the one leading the rebellion in District 4?

"Anyways, as a result, I've seized full control of the district, and as a punishment and a reminder of what happens when you defy the Capitol, there are people being summarily executed as we speak. I'll be sure to send you footage of these details so you can plan your next moves accordingly. Don't worry though—there are plenty of people here, so you've got plenty of time before you should consider surrendering. I am a patient woman, Korra Francisco, and the Capitol is inexorable. Have a good night."
With a sinisterly sweet smile, the screens flipped back off as Romula's face disappeared. Korra was visibly shaken and sank a little, her hands clutching the nearest surface tightly.
"We… are on a time frame." Korra stuttered, trying to collect herself. "Men and women of District 14… tomorrow… we move on District 3!"

Inside, Korra was trembling. People in District 4 were dying because of her and her actions. Their blood was on her hands—or so Romula wanted her to believe. Unfortunately, it was working thus far.

Unsurprisingly, Korra couldn't sleep much that night, and even Akiyo couldn't really console her. He eventually concluded that there was probably only one person that could really know Korra, and so he went to find Kada.

"I'm scared about how much she might know," Korra shuddered, once it was just her and her brother in the compartment together. "She knows about Fox, she knows about District 14, she knows I'm the one leading it, and there's no telling what else she knows or how long she's known it. I know she's trying to get to me, Kada… but she's doing it right."

"Then tomorrow, let's do it for them." Kada put a hand on her shoulder, "The sooner we can take control of District 3, the sooner we can use those resources to push forward. We will carve our way through Panem and rid it of the Capitol's power and influence once and for all. Remember—you're doing it for them."

These were the words that stuck with Korra that evening as she finally fell asleep. When she woke up the next morning, she wasted no time in making preparations to go with the soldiers that were flying out to District 3. Many of the former tributes and victors from the would-be 100th Annual Hunger Games were going with them, and as such, Amy and Korra were surprised when 48 boys, girls, men, and women stood before them, with Kara and Shishio at the helm.

"We got Lux and Cadence," Shisho grinned, "and a certain someone or two might have managed to convince the other 44 of us to come along."

Kara smiled. She did not take credit for what Shishio had just claimed, but it was clear that the 48 tributes were here for the fight as well.

"And none of you are worried?" Amy looked surprised, "death is a likely outcome for us once the actual fighting starts. Sure we want to minimize casualties, but that doesn't mean we all leave alive."
"Of course we're worried," Roy admitted, "keep in mind that just under a week ago we were all about to get shipped off to a death arena where we'd have to murder each other. This is just the 100th Annual Hunger Games all over for us."
"May the odds be ever in our favor." Zelda quipped.

Korra paused, before an affectionate smile crept up onto her lips as she saw these tributes and victors united in a cause like no group of such different people had ever been in Panem's history. These were tributes that had gotten to known each other over the last three weeks, and had somehow nearly all formed powerful bonds of friendship. She hoped that they would all survive, from the twin children of District 12's mayor all the way up to the horrifically traumatized District 2 sibling victors.

"Time's a wastin'." Shishio quipped, "to the hovercrafts!"
Korra and Amy joined the tributes as they entered a hangar loaded with about a dozen of the machines. They boarded one, watching as Clove's soldiers split into four groups and took four more. The remaining ones were filled with soldiers from District 13 and even a few from District 12; a sizable contingent, but still one that left plenty of soldiers back in '12 and '13 to keep them safe.

Korra was not the only one with an adrenaline rush as they flew off towards District 3, knowing that they would either liberate it or die trying. The war had begun.