Their short time of respite was now over. It was back to business.
Their allies had mostly gathered in Omashu, the fire nation was collecting troops and it was time for them to try and count their own troops, figure out what they had. Train and plan how to respond to the fire nation.
And this of course included war room meetings. The meeting Iroh had asked to arrange was now in full progress with the people Iroh had suggested. Now Sokka was speaking.
"So we know the fire nation intends to use air balloons as their main way of transportation." Sokka said. "I think we can use that to our own advantage!"
"How's that?" Bumi asked.
"Well… They are actually pretty easy to take down." Sokka stated. "If you puncture the balloon then the entire ship goes. Therefore I think what we need is kind of obvious. HARPOONS!" he shouted spreading out his arms. "Biiiiig, able to shoot at least 100 feet into the air! But also able to spin on their axes so they can be aimed!"
"That… Does seem like a good plan." Kuei commented. "But how would we get such weapons?" he asked. "Ba Sing Se's technology has always relied on earth benders."
Iroh nodded. "We may have the materials to build such things. But it would take good engineers to do it right or they could hurt our own men without even reaching the balloons."
"Well duh. We need an expert. Of course!" Sokka said. "You are in luck though. Because I know the original inventor of the air balloons! And he is a genius inventor who invented multiple weapons used now by the fire nation."
Zuko blinked. "Wait he invented the weapons the fire nation uses? Why would he help us?" he asked.
"He didn't do it willingly." Sokka snorted. "The fire nation threatened to destroy his home and kill his son if he didn't comply."
"Oh…" Zuko realized.
"It's okay though. We helped him beat back the fire nation. So he owe us." Sokka grinned. "We should get Mr Mechanist over here right now! And his engineering team!"
The listeners looked at each other then nodded.
"Seems pretty obvious to me." Hakoda stated and the rest nodded as Sokka grinned.
General How nodded. "Weapons like that would be a help. That the fire nation is now air born is concerning. How are we on numbers ourselves?"
"I took the liberty of counting the number of benders who have volunteered." Kuei informed and then started to go over in pure numbers in regards to different benders, none benders, people who had military experience and people who didn't. Just pure numbers.
The second the meeting was over Sokka was out the door and up to Appa on the roof before he took off to pick up his inventor-engineering friend.
And as for Aang… It was training time. They could no longer afford to skip a day and since Aang was supposed to fight a fire lord and fire nation soldiers. Fire bending was high priority.
"Breath Aang!" Zuko repeated. "Fire bending comes from breath! Like the dragons they inhaled and then exhaled their fire! Inhale to feed the flame, and exhale to release the flame!"
Aang nodded as he did as he was told.
"Stop holding back!" Zuko huffed. "You wont hurt the enemy like that!"
"But… I don't want to hurt my enemy." Aang gasped.
"Well to bad! If you don't hurt them they'll hurt you! You aim fire to hurt. So don't second guess it and just do it!" Zuko demanded.
Aang hissed. "Weren't you all about finding a different way?"
"In general, for an average day fire bender who just wants to live his life yes. But this is war!" Zuko said. "The fire lord has no mercy! He intends to burn the earth the ground Aang. Literately. He wont have mercy on you, so you can't have mercy on him!"
"But…" Aang tried.
"Begging that man for mercy leads to this!" Zuko stated pointing at his face, his left side covered by a scar. "A kid… That kid was your age. Sitting on his knees, begging and crying. His own son and he had no mercy! He wont have any mercy towards you."
Aang gasped.
"Now. Again!" Zuko demanded.
In the evening Zuko was groaning as he walked through the halls, slipping a hand through his hair.
That's when Katara came running. "Zuko!"
"What?!" Zuko asked annoyed as he turned around to face the young water bender.
Katara frowned as she stopped. "Aang is upset and wont tell me why. And now I see you're upset to. So… what's going on?"
"Oh what's going on?" Zuko asked. "My father is making himself ready to kill millions of people as well as the very earth they are standing on. And the Avatar don't seem to be taking it seriously. Why would you think anything is going on?" he asked in a mocking tone.
"Aang is taken it seriously. You know he does!" Katara said.
"Then why isn't he fighting back?!" Zuko asked.
"You know Aang. He's sensitive! And he's a pacifist." Katara said.
"Those things will get him killed when he faces the fire lord." Zuko said. "So if you care about him. Talk some sense into him."
Katara swallowed.
"We are all putting our lives on the line here." Zuko said. "And we all had to do things we didn't want to to get through this. Get that into his head for me will you? He's not that special." he huffed as he walked past Katara.
Katara was silent as she looked after Zuko then dropped her head…. It seemed like forever ago since she had last seen Zuko angry like this.
And though she knew Zuko was right. Katara was not so sure she liked it.