Here is the forty-first chapter in Book 4 released on schedule. This is the second of 3 chapters in the penultimate arc of Book 4, the preparation for the final battle arc, and this one focuses on the other side of the battle as Book 4 has done on several occasions by looking at how the Principate is preparing for it. However, that is all I have to say for now so just sit back and enjoy the 41st chapter in the fourth installment of Avatar: The Tale of Harry. Book 4: Family.
Disclaimer: As always I own nothing related to these two great works of fiction.
Chapter 41
James sat at a round table at the top of the recently repaired highest tower of the Northern Air Temple three months after the Temple had been incorporated into the Global Principate. Around the table with him were his remaining Uniques. To his right sat Tate, to his left his beloved Sylvia, and opposite him was Rohit. They were all that remained from the original 10 Uniques who had joined the Principate as his lieutenants and symbols of power, the rest were all dead.
While it was true that none of the Uniques had expected that all of them would live to see the end of the Principate War and the world united entirely under the Global Principate, such was the nature of war after all, James had to admit that he had not expected 7 of them to die. At most he'd expect 5 to perish and even then that was on the higher end. Some he expected to survive simply because they weren't on the frontlines.
However, they had been unlucky to say the least. The forces that opposed them, as James had expected, had been relentless in trying to stop or at least weaken the Principate regardless of the cost to themselves.
Had anyone but James been the leader they likely would have succeeded in breaking the Principate, but James didn't let that happen. Still, those who stood against James had cost him dearly by taking down his Uniques, including 5 who had been in the wrong place at the wrong time and paid the ultimate price for it.
Only the two who had died in the assault on the Northern Air Temple had been true possible fatalities, even if both Uniques involved in the assault had died, the others should not have perished. Pocklington and Dhillon had joined the others in memorials and honors in the Capital as heroes of the Principate, though only Pocklington's broken body had been recovered from the battlefield.
James was angry at this, that was for sure, but he had to push past it for now and not let that anger blind him from his goal that was now in reach. The Uniques were replaceable, just not an easy task to do so.
In that vein, he had recently created the Inquisition into Unique Bending to find those replacements. They were already scouring the world for those who would replenish his ranks, after proper training and ensuring their loyalty of course, so in that regard they were good in the long run. James had to look to the future because the last push to defeat his enemies and unite the Principate was now at hand.
That was why he was here in his northern command center with his remaining Uniques to discuss the strategy for that final push. It had been a few months since they had liberated the Northern Air Temple and the Northern Fire Province from the CFNS and brought them into the Principate making it the second largest nation in history after the Fire Nation at the end of the 100-year war. Now James needed to discuss with his ruling council, or what was left of it, what to do about the last major holdout, the Northern Water Tribe.
Tate, Sylvia, and Rohit had all survived to this point because none of them had had to face the few skilled benders that could rival them enough to kill them. Tate and Rohit had been on the Fire front and had aided in securing almost all of the Fire Province for the Principate. Druzok was still holding out in the Caldera but it was only a matter of time before he too caved and the last part of that province was joined to the Principate. Sylvia had lived because of her duties in the Capital but now all 3 were needed for the final battle.
That was why James had left his Attorney General and longtime friend and loyal supporter Fleet in charge of the nation's administration in the Capital while James and his Uniques focused on the impending battle. Fleet wasn't the only high ranking non-Unique left in charge of an area due to the need to bring the remaining Uniques together right now.
General Suzuki had been left in command of the Fire Province while the siege of the Caldera occurred and General Otterburn was in command of the naval part of the siege. Only General Thaxted would join them and was currently amassing the forces James would use to take the Northern Water Tribe as they discussed the plan itself, so everything was in place. That had only left one thing for James to sort out, increasing the size of his military before the battle.
That was what had taken the longest and why this meeting had been 3 months in the making but James was proud of what he had accomplished in that time. James knew that while strategy and tactics were critical to any battle, and that his own were second only to those of his Uncle Ron's, numbers also played a key part in any battle.
James knew that the forces that opposed him were highly trained, well led, and more skilled than most of his own troops in naval and ice warfare so to compensate for that he needed his own overwhelming force. James had come up with a few solutions to bolster his military's numbers.
The way he had done this was through incentives to the population of the Principate who were already in full support of him thanks to Pocklington's propaganda machine that was still running even after her death. While James knew that conscription was a thing he didn't want to use it as soldiers forced to fight were never as good as soldiers who chose to fight either due to incentives or even better because they believed in the Principate.
That was why James had issued a decree that anyone who volunteered for his military and signed up to serve a minimum of 5 years would receive a base pay and living wages twice the Principate average and, upon completion of military service with an honorable discharge, would be entitled to a plot of good land for themselves somewhere in the Principate with the longer they served the larger the land and money given, along with chances to become officers.
That had worked like a treat as the Principate's military was its pride and joy and the backbone of the nation so many had volunteered to join it over the last few months. Not all would be accepted into the ranks as that was not possible but those who weren't were still in the military only they were in the Supply and Auxiliary Corps which dealt with everything in the Principate that was not active military and included training in trade skills, agriculture, and other useful skills so that they could serve the Principate once it was fully united.
Still, this had not been enough to reach the numbers James wanted, and as such he had resorted to another avenue of incentive-based recruiting, pardons. It wasn't as reliable and didn't produce as good soldiers as the other system, but it was guaranteed to boost his numbers.
James had sent an order to the prisons across the Principate, including the White Lotus Supermax ones located in his territory, but not including Azkaban which was a separate entity due to the various treaties of the prison. James was willing to pardon any inmate who had committed a crime prior to the formation of the Principate if they agreed to serve a minimum of 5 years in his army or for those whose sentences had more than 10 years remaining, at least half of that sentence.
Naturally, this had worked as many inmates wanted out, and the prisons were at their lowest capacity in centuries thanks to the initiative. There had been issues with discipline and a few attempted desertions but those had been punished harshly with the latter being a death sentence in front of the other troops as an example for others that those in the pardon program were on a tight leash. Again, this had worked, and James's army had swelled with the former prisoners.
The only exceptions to this had been those who had committed crimes during the Principate's existence or were prisoners of war and as such were not considered loyal enough to join the military. James naturally treated his prisoners of war humanely and in accordance with the laws regarding them, but they could not join his Principate.
Once the war was won then they could be reintegrated into society but until then they were to remain in prison camps specially set up for them. Winning the war came first and that was what this meeting was about.
"Thank y'all for coming here today, I hope the journey was smooth." James said once he was ready to get the meeting started. "I apologize for taking so long to call this, but we have all had a lot to sort out logistically and we had to get that right before we had this meeting so that everything was perfect, there will be no second chances at this."
"The trip was fine my Princeps." Tate said with a bow of his head to James. "Rohit and I travelled on the military transport that was heading this way with the latest batch that were deemed fit to serve following basic training in the Fire Provence. It was a smooth flight with no problems."
"Yes, it seems that the rebels that are an actual threat to us have fully retreated to the far North." Rohit agreed. "My sources amongst the various cultures of the world have indicated as such. The ones in Xidi and the Swamp are nothing but a nuisance at this point, we can crush them once the North has been liberated."
"While that may be the case on the face of it, we can never be too certain." James said with a sigh. "Without Arncliffe and Oakham, we do not have the necessary network or reach that could confirm this but for the time being it seems like the main force arrayed against us have retreated to make their last stand. We will replace both of them to ensure stability once the Principate is united, but it will be hard."
"We know that you will do so, the Inquisition is hard at work finding more Uniques." Sylvia said with a smile at him. "And we know that there has been a lot to prepare for, we are doing everything we can so that we can end this senseless war that our enemies started as soon as possible and bring the last holdout into the Principate's fold."
"Yes, we will succeed." James said with the conviction he always had when speaking of the Principate and that he knew his followers would be inspired by. "Fate, destiny and balance are on our side, we cannot lose. On that front, what is the report of the Siege of the Caldera?"
"It is going as expected." Tate said as he stiffened to give his report. "When we left we had fully encircled the Caldera and were beginning to make out way up to the lip though the remaining air support Druzok has is taking pot shots at us. We also already control the outer tunnels but several of the inner ones are trapped and we cannot proceed until they are cleared. We are going deeper as ordered but the magma might get in the way as we are already pretty deep to begin with."
"I expected as much, they wouldn't have built the city there unless it was deep, but the lowest levels would be at a safe level." James said with a nod. "And what of the airways? What do they look like? You spoke of pot shots but that is to be expected, what of the actual defense force?"
"Druzok has pulled what is left of his Air Force back to hover over the Caldera and the slopes of it." Rohit said taking up the report. "We have the numbers to blow them out of the sky and land a force within the Caldera via the lip but there is one problem that isn't related to the pot shots they're taking."
"If we do the ships will fall on the city and cause civilian casualties." James said with a nod. "Yes, I know, it is a clever move on Druzok's part even if it does mean he's using his own people as a human shield."
"It is?" Sylvia asked confused. "Surely the people wouldn't like that."
"Yes it is." James said with a nod. "Druzok knows that if he places his forces there and we attack we will cause significant civilian casualties, the same with any bombing raids we might try to take him out in the Palace. We cannot afford that, not at the moment. It will make the Principate look bad and while we can easily spin the war in our favor, killing civilians is something we cannot spin. It is a crafty move by the old man and one we cannot deal with right now."
"Correct." Rohit said. "We are stuck at the moment. We have all supply lines cut off, but we cannot attack. We are trying to turn the people by pointing out that their leader is using them as a human shield to keep him alive, but they are loyal to Druzok for the moment, he's proven himself to be a good rule so that tactic will take time."
"That is the update." Tate said. "What is your plan for the Caldera, Princeps?"
"As of right now nothing." James said surprising them. "We will lay siege to caldera and starve them out while continuing our efforts to turn the people on Druzok by blaming him for their plight and using them as a shield. When we defeat the rebels in the north we can bring the full might of the Principate to bear on the Caldera. By that point Druzok will have to surrender in the face of our numbers and we will win the war and finally unite the nation. Worst case we remove Royal Caldera City from the map and blame the massacre on Druzok as a last stand where he killed everyone rather than surrender."
"We will take the Caldera." Tate said with a smile. "And it will be a glorious day when we do and finally unite the Principate."
"That it will be." James agreed before turning to his secret wife. "Sylvia, what of the rebels in Xidi? Are they contained? I know it seems that way, but you have a better handle on the situation in the Earth Provence, so I want your assessment on them."
"For now, the problem is limited to that small, backwards, shithole." Sylvia reported. "And we have effectively locked it down with our Principate Protection Force. We aren't allowing anyone in or out of it, it is just what they wanted to begin with so we're giving it to them. The rebels are using guerilla goat tactics of hit and run attacks and destroying supply lines, but we have already found an area for the new textiles plantations so soon they won't be more than a minor irritant we can easily scratch out."
"Good, we will contain the problem there for now." James said. "When we have taken the North, we can bring the full might of the Principate down upon them as well. Unlike with the Caldera where we can afford to be merciful unless Druzok refuses to surrender, we will not be with Xidi. We will make an example of them and eradicate the problem once and for all."
"How will we do so without backlash?" Sylvia asked. "You've explained how you will for the Caldera should the extreme measure be taken but what about in Xidi."
"The propaganda department have already been preparing for this possibility." James said with a grin. "I am always prepared for anything and one of them was having Pocklington come up with a plan for rebellious areas that can be adapted for any region. By the time we are done, the people of the Principate will be begging me to bath the soil of Xidi in rebel blood and I will happily oblige them so that no one else tries what they are trying."
"A wise strategy Princeps." Tate said approvingly. "Break their back so that others don't do what they did to us. We look forward to watching and helping you with it."
"I will also deal with them personally." James said seriously. "The people will know that the Princeps will not tolerate those who fuck with the Principate and will handle things with his own hands to show his dedication. We are creating the greatest nation in history, the first truly united and balanced nation with no borders, no other nations, and no problems. We will be one nation under one leader, and we will ensure that the future is bright and peaceful for generations to come. We who birthed this nation in blood and pain so that those who follow us will never know what we had to go through."
"Hail Princeps!" James's Uniques called out as he finished his rant and James nodded to them approving of their dedication to his cause.
"We are with you until the end." Sylvia said and James could hear her repressing her love for him as she spoke. "We have been with you since the beginning, we will see this end with you as well. What is your plan for the last battle of this war? How will we crush out enemies to the North?"
"I have a plan, but I need your council to perfect it because I am not infallible and need the insight of my most faithful and loyal supporters." James said looking at each of his Uniques one at a time. "Once it is ready, we will execute it on the day that I have already planned to attack, and we will finally defeat the rebels who are still holding out again our glory."
"We are here to listen and aid you Princeps." Rohit said. "Tell us what the plan is and our roles in it and we will help perfect it so that we can bring glory to you and the Principate one last time before we establish a peace that will last millennia."
"All that we have accomplished, all that we have fought for, all that we have sacrificed, and all those who we have lost has been leading to this point." James began. "In three months' time, on the first anniversary of the formation of Principate, the Summer Solstice, at precisely the time that the Global Revolution was ordered, and the world was ushered into this new golden age, we shall complete the circle and take the Northern Water Tribe for the Principate."
"Poetic." Tate said with approval.
"Fitting." Rohit agreed.
"Tell us more." Sylvia said excitedly.
"Well as you know we have been attacking and growing in stages this year." James said after a pause to absorb their praise for his plan. "Growing and consolidating for the next attack has been my strategy and this is no different only a longer wait time of 6 months compared to the rest of my moves to liberate the holdout areas from the rebels' hold."
"Makes sense." Tate said. "We need all our forces to be at full strength to launch an attack directly on the Avatar and his loyal, misguided, followers. They may be a cornered animal, but a cornered animal is more dangerous because it has nothing left to lose, especially when said animal has the only being that can rival your power. I assume that this is why you have been increasing the military my Princeps."
"Precisely, I knew a military man like you would understand Tate." James said. "As skilled as we are we are going up against some of the best tactical minds in the world who will have had a whole year to prepare for this as they know that my attack is inevitable. As such we need to be at full strength and use numbers as well as strategy to win it. That is why I have been building up my forces all this time and will continue to do so until a month before the attack."
"A wise move." Rohit said. "I assume that the attack will be a swift one of overwhelming power on all fronts my Princeps, am I right?"
"You are my nomadic friend." James said to the sandbender. "We are still training the forces, as well as amassing the air force here and the navy just north of the Fire Provence but soon they will be ready to move into position. I have assembled the largest fleet, both air and sea, ever assembled in human history and we will move out when the time is right. All of their forces are arrayed in the bay before the Ice Wall of the North, or above it, so we will smash into it. Our hammer will ring across their anvil and we will show them what true might is."
"No subtlety, no restraint, just pure brute force to overwhelm." Sylvia said with a feral grin. "I like this plan. We will outnumber them at least 3 to one in all regards. I assume that the air force will bomb their fleet and the northern Palace as we attack while the ground forces are landed by both air and sea."
"You would be correct Sylvia." James said refraining from showing his true love for Sylvia as they were in a professional setting. "Chaos is the plan; it is from this chaos that our order will be birthed. We will cause it with our attack and sent them scrambling. We will be attacking on all 3 plains of war; they will be unable to resist all of them. There will be no frontlines, the battle will rage everywhere from air to land to sea. They will be crushed beneath the boot of the Principate and we will rebuild the North from the ashes, greater and stronger than ever before."
"That is the best plan when dealing with the Northern Water Tribe." Tate agreed with a smile on his handsome face. "Only once in history has the North ever fallen to an invasion and that was because of their army had over exerted themselves in the invasion of the South during the Second Purity War and the Spirit Portal in the North was still open at the time. That was why Arthur's counterattack worked. They are prepared and fortified, this is the only way to break that. A strong defense will crumble to an overwhelming blow."
"That is why we are doing it." James said. "It will show the strength and power of the Principate as well as crush the last bit of resistance against us. When the world sees what has happened to the North, the last vestige of defiance, they will see that no one can stand against the Principate."
"The world will bow before the Principate when we are done." Rohit said. "They stand no hope of beating us."
"Do not say that, they can always still win." James admonished his Sand Unique. "Remember who we are facing in the North. We are facing the last resistance against us and they are the best we can face. Not only are the bulk of their strongest soldiers there but their best warriors, those who can go toe to toe with you, are there as well."
James paused as he looked at his three remaining Uniques to remind them that their fallen comrades had been killed by the people they were facing. Only one of the murders had been killed, the rest still lived and threatened them from the North and it wasn't just those who'd defeated a Unique, others just as skilled were there. James intended to make sure that his Uniques knew who they were facing.
"Dominique, Ron, Lily, Ginny, Luna, Rose, Hugo, Lorcan, Scorpius, Lysander, Altinak, Teddy, Ursa, and many more, they are all up there waiting for us." James continued seriously. "All but one of the murderers of our fellow Uniques are up there waiting for us to come and fight them. Only Albus has faced justice for his crimes, and only he and Neville have been defeated, two of their best to seven of ours. That is a loss in my book so do not get complacent and do not forget that the Avatar is up there as well."
"Of course, my Princeps, I forgot." Rohit said with a bow of his head to James. "Forgive my cockiness, your wisdom has humbled me once again."
"I understand your confidence my friend and it is well placed and needed to win but we cannot get over confident and lose ourselves." James said. "That is where those who have faced the Avatar and his forces in the past have all failed and been defeated. Voldemort, Hermione, and the Unholy Triumvirate, all underestimated my father and lost to him, I will not, and I will not suffer their fates."
"We won't let that happen and we won't let you down Princeps." Tate said with conviction in his voice, the conviction of a loyalist who had been with James since the beginning and was fanatically devoted to him until the end. "Even if we must sacrifice ourselves like our brothers and sisters have done so already we will gladly do that to secure your ultimate victory. We will do whatever it takes to ensure that the Principate succeeds and that you are there to lead the world into the future you have foreseen for it."
"That is what I expect from all of us in the coming battle." James said with a smile at his most devoted followers. "Which is why we must now plan for any potential pitfalls that could face us in the North. Can any of you see any problems that we may encounter?"
"Mines." Sylvia said almost as soon as James was finished. She had been quiet for a bit and clearly thinking of something and it had come to her while James was speaking. "They will use mines in the water."
"What?" Rohit asked confused. "No one uses mines in battle."
"They do in naval warfare and that is something I didn't think of." Tate conceded through gritted teeth. "Just great that I am outdone by a woman, but I am a land officer, not a naval specialist so it is understandable."
"True which is why Sylvia is so valuable to us, amongst other reasons such as her unique bending gift." James said before turning to his love. "Please elucidate, how will our enemies use mines?"
"If they have any tactical sense, and we know that they do because they have Ron with them, they will plant all that they have in the area in front of their of ships." Sylvia said as she looked at James. "Similar to how Amon used them in the United Forces when they tried to enter the Yue Bay over 100 years ago. That is likely the inspiration for doing so. It won't be as effective as then as they had the Equalists had a smaller area to cover, but they will still be there and slow us down."
"You are right, and I will not needlessly sacrifice troops just to expose their mines." James said as he thought on what to do about them. "I had not truly considered them as they are not a common tactic these days, naval warfare on this scale has not existed for decades if not longer, but I would not put it past Ron, Dominique, Bhupen or Xander to use them."
"Is there a solution?" Rohit asked. "This is well beyond my expertise. I have no military experience, I'm just good with earth and sand."
"There may be." James said as he racked his brain for an answer. "There is something that has potential but it's going to take training to work."
There was one that he could think of, but it would have to be placed on high priority to get it done in time but if it worked then they could use it to their advantage providing that their enemies used mines. Spirits it could open a whole new avenue that he had not thought about and one that he hoped Ron had not considered at all given how unorthodox it was.
"What is it?" Tate asked. "I am not familiar with the sea; it has never been my forte."
"I recall reading about a R&D classified design back when I was with the Terra Teams but that had not been created as far as I know due to no need for it." James said as his new plan began to take shape in his mind. "It is called a minesweeper and it is a fortified submarine that is designed to clear away mines placed by an enemy. The United Forces and the Imperial Army were working on one in the wake of Amon but with the peace and lack of naval warfare it was shelved. The schematics should be in Ba Sing Se, I will contact Zeller personally and get a rush on finding them."
"What is the plan?" Sylvia asked. "I assume you already have a few."
"I do." James said with a smile. "We will make several of them though likely modernize and tweak them as the designs are likely a century old at best. We will also make a handful of transport subs. Our ships are already ready so we can focus on these and our engineers and builders know how to be motivated to meet deadlines. It will be tight, but we will accomplish it, I know we will. We will use them to clear all the mines and launch commandos underneath their forces to land at the base of the Ice Wall as another point of attack. They will not see it coming until our forces appear in the city."
"Excellent." Tate said.
"Brilliant." Sylvia added.
"Only you could have come up with this." Rohit praised.
"No, it is thanks to Sylvia." James said and Sylvia tried and failed to hide a blush at his praise for reminding him that mines were a likely weapon in a naval battle. "If she had not thought about the mines then I would not have had this inspiration for this plan."
"It is only because of your guidance and mentorship that I have been able to achieve anything my Princeps." Sylvia said humbly as she bowed her head to him. "Thank you but I do have another question."
"Ask, this is a meeting to clear everything up so we can begin preparing." James said. "What is it?"
"What of us?" Sylvia asked gesturing around the room to her fellow Uniques. "What are we to do during the battle? I know that I will be in charge of the Navy and focused on the naval battle, it is where I am best suited due to my bending, but without Darius for the landing force we lack another waterbender who can manipulate ice to lead that part of the battle."
"True which is why Tate will lead the land forces." James said looking to his military commander. "As the Commander of the Principate Military it is his job to be at the front leading the troops into battle and he can fight on ice with his weapons, he is not limited to his bending or else he wouldn't have been in a Terra Team."
"I will do this my Princeps." Tate said seriously. "The northern ice plains lack earth but all I need is rocks, which I always carry on me, and my lava will cut through our enemies. I am prepared for this. Where shall I be stationed?"
"You will be on the landing ships that will plow through their fleet while Sylvia uses our fleet to engage and wipe them out." James said. "You may have to fight on ships to get through, and if so go after their command ship, but I trust that you will do your job. You will be aided by Rohit in his own way."
"I will not fail you Princeps." Tate said. "I trust that you will ensure I have what I need to win."
"I know you won't." James agreed. "And I will. In addition to bombs, the air force will drop bags of earth on the enemy ships and city so that you and other earthbenders always have your element nearby."
"Thank you Princeps." Tate said with a grin. "With that I will destroy their resistance with ease with that."
"Good." James said."
"So how will I aid you?" Rohit asked. "I am the least useful here. I will have my sand with me, and I can metalbend though not as well as I would like but that is all I can offer. My sword skills are good but again it is my bending that makes me so deadly."
"I have already commissioned a special floating platform filled and covered with sand for you." James said to Rohit. "You will be in the air at the start on it and use that sand to mess with enemy planes. When you get to be over the city the remaining sand will be dropped in bags and you will follow it down to aid in the attack there. That is where you are best. Without Dhillon we do not have a Unique to lead the air force for now so you will take that role temporarily until you reach the city."
"I will do as ordered." Rohit said with a nod. "With a platform like that I can aid from the air until it is time to land in the city and take it for the Principate, I will not fail you."
"I know you won't." James said again.
"Where will you be?" Sylvia asked and James could tell that there was a little worry in her voice that they would be apart for the battle. "Where will our leader be during our ultimate victory?"
"I will be on the flagship commanding the battle and waiting for my role in the battle to begin." James said reassuringly. "That is where I am needed and where I am expected to be so I can draw my role to me without wasting any energy beforehand."
"You know what your role is don't you." Tate said.
"I do." James confirmed.
"What is it?" Sylvia asked.
James gave them all a twisted grin. He had known his role since he had first planned this attack and now it was time to confirm it to his Uniques.
"My role is to end this war once and for all." James said. "The time has come for the final fight to decide the war, the time has come for the climax we have all known is coming ever since I ordered the revolution 9 months ago. The time to truly usher in the Principate and the glorious future I have planned for the world is upon us. In 3 months, during the Second Siege of the North, I will face the Avatar in one-on-one combat to decide this war. In 3 months, I will face, and I will kill my father."
Ah a nice ominous ending to a chapter where the Principate discusses their plans for the final battle and the roles James and his Uniques will be playing. There is one more chapter in this preparation arc that will focus on the third major character still alive in Book 4 and the final preparations before the climactic conclusion of Book 4 begins. Anyway, that is all I have for now so as always please follow and favorite both this and myself so that you can stay up to date with new releases (chapters and stories) and please keep the reviews coming as I do love to hear from y'all regarding my work, it means a lot to me. Until next time.
Stringdog