Author's Notes: Hey everyone, glad that you liked the last chapter I hope that you will like this one too, as always I own nothing.
They fight not for the lust of conquest. They fight to end conquest. They fight to liberate-Franklin D. Roosevelt
After these announcements orders flew as both the navy and army contingents rushed to prepare for the changes to their plans that the enemy had forced on them through their actions. They had not anticipated a contested landing and, or even having to mount a sea-born assault. As a result they had no amphibious landing craft and had neither the time nor the material to construct them, the suggestion of employing the ships' boats and other small craft was raised and considered but soon dismissed, the small craft could not carry enough men and the boats would be too slow, especially if the enemy had many earth or watebenders among their number.
Republic City had no formal military and it was unknown how much use its police force would be and it was likely the Avatar would be busy dealing with the evil spirits that were aiding the enemy, so it seemed that any landing would be made without support. At last Admiral Natsuko proposed a plan. She pointed out that most of the army contingent were aboard transports and these ships could not be off-loaded till the docks were secured. So her recommendation that the older cruisers, similar to the one Fire Lord Zuko had used in his hunt for the Avatar, loaded with soldiers. These would run any blockade that the enemy might have set up and run aground in the docking area. The soldiers would then disembark and secure the docks so that the transports could land their own contingents. After these had landed they would either link up with the Earth Kingdom force or establish a perimeter and send back to the Fire Nation for reinforcements.
While a number of officers, both navy and army, objected to the plan none of them could think of anything better and so the plan was agreed to. The six ships in question were old and, in fact, had been scheduled to be scrapped before the war caused them to brought out of the scrap yards and could not hold many. Packing the holds and decks they could barely manage a hundred men on each. Because of these restrains it was decided to use soldiers from the cavalry, the mounts would be worthless in the city streets and they all had heavier armor than most of the infantry, they would be taking a contingent of benders as well to combat any benders that the enemy might use in an effort to oppose their landing and control the fires that were likely burning in the city.
Zokar offered to be part of the landing force, General Osamu was clearly not thrilled but there was no way he could say no, Zokar was a member of the Royal Family and there was no reason to keep him with on the ship. Akemi was clearly not happy either but she could hardly object and would only look foolish if she did so. In the end it was determined that Zokar would accompany Colonel Rei, who would lead the assault. After that the meeting soon broke up, the night would be spent moving soldiers to the ships. After that they would set sail and reach Republic City around sunrise. As this would take several hours Zokar was urged to go to his quarters and get some rest, someone would come to get him when it was time for him to go to the assault ship.
He saw that Akemi wanted to speak to him but he was not eager to do so, she would just be demanding to know what he was thinking volunteering. It was too late to back out without looking like a coward and he did not want an argument over something that could not be changed. Also, he was afraid that she might cry and he did not want to see that. So he made his way quickly back to his quarters and bolted the door behind him.
He lay down on his bed and tried to sleep but sleep would not come, he was not sure why he could not sleep, was it fear or something else? He did not have an answer to that. He was not even sure why he had volunteered to go, was it a sense of duty or was he still trying to prove his value to those around him? With all of these thoughts buzzing around in his head sleep never came and it was a relief when someone came to his door and informed him that it was time.
Wordlessly he allowed his servants to help him into his armor and headed out onto the deck. It was packed with soldiers and he had to shoulder his way through to the side where he scaled down a rope ladder to a boat which took him to the ship he would enter Republic City on. It too was cramped and he could almost smell the fear from those around him, for many it would be their first time into battle and no one had been expecting to conduct an amphibious assault, indeed more than a few of them were visibly still seasick and they had expected to ride into battle, not slog through city streets. Zokar moved to the front of the ship where Colonel Rei was already standing, she was a tall woman and at thirty-five young for her rank, till a few months ago she had been a captain and had been one of those raised to high rank in an effort to meet the need for more officers. This would also be her first battle and as Zokar approached and saluted she merely nodded in acknowledgement.
The six vessels detached themselves from the fleet and shot out, engines running at maximum speed. Though it felt like years all too soon the lights of Republic City could be seen, or more accurately the lights of the city burning, they were still too far away to hear the sounds of fighting but Zokar was sure that it was going on. He was so focused on the battle ahead that he failed at first to hear the sounds of whistling till someone raised a cry. A boulder splashed into the water less than thirty feet from their ship. Elsewhere more rocks and blasts of fire where striking the water, though it did not look like any of the ships had been hit.
"Where's it coming from?!" Someone yelled.
"There!" Another voice yelled out.
Squinting into the gloom Zokar could just make out the shape of several ships, warships much larger than their own. These were keeping up a steady fire but, due to the darkness, they had thus far had been unsuccessful at hitting anything. Though hard to see Zokar could detect that they were top of the line ships.
"Defectors?" He yelled at Colonel Rei, who shook her head.
"More likely those are ships the Fire Lord gave to the Earth Kingdom!" Years earlier, after the events at Yu Dao, Zuko, as a sign of good faith, had given several new battleships to the Earth Kingdom to show that new hostilities were not planned. Those ships had clearly gone over to the enemy.
Zokar' thoughts were interrupted by a resounding blast, an enemy shot had found its target. One of the ships was hit and its boiler exploded, the blast lifting it out of the water and nearly tearing it in half. There was no question about stopping for survivors, it was unlikely anyone survived the blast and even if they had there was no time, they had to get out of the enemy range. The enemy ships were larger and had far more firepower but the Fire Nation ships were faster and they drew out of range without any more loses.
They passed the uncompleted statue of Avatar Aang just as the sun was coming over the horizon. As they drew near the docks the again began to take fire, water, stones and fire, but these attacks were sporadic and uncoordinated, clearly the enemy they faced was a rapidly thrown together force and not an organized resistance. As they drew closer Colonel Rei began the count down.
"Sixty seconds!" Zokar drew his swords, his breath coming faster and faster.
"Thirty seconds!" His heart was beating like a drum, so hard he marveled that it did not burst from his chest.
"Fifteen seconds!" He crouched down and grabbed onto the railing.
"BRACE!" Barely had the word left Colonel Rei's mouth when the ship struck.
Even though he had anticipated it and done his best to prepare the impact was still jarring. Behind him men were thrown off their feet and crashed to the deck and several went over the railing. To either side of their ship Zokar heard the sounds of the other ships also impacting with the docks. Colonel Rei quickly scrambled to her feet.
"Ropes!" She cried out. Instantly ropes were dropped on either side of the ship, even as the front bow ramp was lowered to allow those below deck to disembark. Elsewhere those on the other ships were doing the same. Colonel Rei grabbed one of the ropes and vaulted over the railing.
GO! GO! GO!" She yelled as she slid down. Zokar grabbed another of the ropes and swung over the railing and slid down into the waiting battle.
Author's Notes: I hoped you liked it, am thinking of having some more chapters from other POVs. Let me know how you feel about it. Till next time please pray for the woman in Pakistan appealing to that nation's Supreme Court over her death sentence, mostly over her Christian faith, the twopastors in Sudan on trial and the Americans held in Iran and all who need prayer. Bye and may Jesus bless you.