Chapter 50: Of Ash and Snow, Part 1

"I suppose this particular summons would have come sooner or later." the Fire Nation ambassador sighed.

Sighing deeply, Arnook merely nodded in agreement as he opened his folder. Taking his seat, the old man pulled a small flask from his coat.

"Do you mind, Chief?"

"Not really." Permission granted, he took a quick swig and pocketed the flask away. "Medicinal alcohol. Helps to keep the inner fire running in such weather. Spirits know us Fire folk are not meant to survive in such latitudes."

"Not like it ever stopped your forefathers from trying, but let us not dig up old grievances whilst a rogue dragon still prowls outside the walls."

"Indeed, let us proceed with the matter at hand." he agreed, while turning the opened folder to face the ambassador.

"Would you like to fill in the details for me?" At this, he internally debated whether to throw Ursa into the canal or shoulder some of the responsibility. Then again, Caldera didn't exactly tell him that they were sending in the cavalry, so technically they were rogue operatives that were meant to be disposable should things get hairy. On the flip side, it was much harder to make that decision when said team contained one's relatives and to do so would be an unforgivable insult to not only his nephew's memory but also his team, more so that what they did was morally the right thing to do.

"Ambassador?"

"My apologies, your Excellency."

Noting the expression on his face, Arnook asked "Forgive me for asking, but am I right to presume that you lost someone close to you on this operation?"

"That is true, I lost my only grandchild, shotgun blast point blank at his chest on this op. First mission as team captain, fresh out of the Institute."

"My condolences, ambassador. I too know how it feels to lose someone close to you in the line of duty. If you need time to grieve, I can always reschedule."

"That will not be necessary, ambassador. Duty comes first. One of the first things they beat into you during basic. But to not waste your time any further, the long and short of it is that Ursa led them on a deniable operation to raid an Agni Kai safehouse in which her youngest daughter and her companion were held prisoner. I know not what degradations were inflicted on them but it was enough to traumatize the daughter."

"I see."

"As they exited, traps were sprung, turning it into a killhouse and wounding almost all of the party, resulting in his loss. To add to that, it so happened that they stumbled out on a patrol and according to them, in the chaos, shots were fired from the opposite bank. That is all."

"Understood. However noble the intentions are, ambassador, there would still need to be repercussions for this action as conducting unsanctioned operations on our soil that resulted in the deaths of our servicemen but also the tapping of phone lines is not something that I can easily overlook. In addition, I cannot be seen to be playing favourites, but I believe that some more favourable trade agreements and suitable compensation for the families of the deceased would be an appropriate compensation for starters?"

"Of course, your Excellency. Arrangements will be made and you will be kept in the loop."

"Please see that you do. One last thing, ambassador?"

"Yes?"

"I would like to requisition your team for the remainder of this operation. Once they are back to operating strength, of course. I'm sure you could spin this to your masters in Caldera as some form of foreign internal defense or some form of international cooperation." Taken aback by this sudden request, he could not help but ask "Pardon me, but why? Is not the presence of the prince and princesses sufficient to assist in the dismantling of the network?"

"I'm sure they are capable, but what type of image would we be sending if it were to appear that we are a safe haven for wanted war criminals and the such, to say nothing of their current allegiance to a paramilitary criminal organization. Royalty or not, that is something I cannot have on my hands and having your unit work under us at least gives it some form of legitimacy."

"I understand. I will inform them of their new assignment as soon as they are back to fighting strength. Will that be all?"

"So it seems. Take care ambassador, the nights can be rather cold this time of the year."

Choosing to not read too much into the admittedly cryptic parting words, he took his leave.

"Orel 1-1, this is Orel 1-0, are you in position?"

"Orel 1-0, we are in position."

"Orel 1-2?"

"Orel 1-0, 1-2 in position."

"Roger that."

For the second time that night, loud bangs split the winter night as Interior personnel, led this time by Hahn in Orel 1-1's stack and Bulan in Orel 1-0's stack breached the house. This time, resistance was immediate as fireballs were slung from the narrow corridors into the watery shields of the breachers. With momentum on their side, members started to peel off from each of the three stacks and began kicking down doors, restraining those inside with quick flicks of their wrists, pinning the occupants to the walls with ice cuffs around their wrists and ankles. Some chose to comply, folding under their gaze in the hopes of a lenient sentence whilst others stood their ground, only to be cut to ribbons with ice spears.

Forming up on the last door, the three men at the front of the stack pooled together their water and combined them into a single block of ice, ready and waiting for the order to be cut loose. A light tap on the shoulder, and the block of solid ice came crashing through the structure like a tsunami, crushing ribs and building material before impaling itself into the wall.

Pouring into the breach, the survivors found themselves bound with ice cuffs on their wrists and ankles where they lay.

Striding forward, Bulan took off her balaclava and strode over to a man currently stuck to the desk.

"Who's the leader of this district?"

"I ain't telling you jack shit, you filthy halfbreed mutt." he spat.

"Why must you people always put the tough guy act up?" she sighed, before whipping out a custom shank and slamming it into his calf, channeling heat into the shank.

"Information obtained under torture can't be used in court, little girl. You're a cop, you should know that." he hissed, heat and pain building at a rapid pace in his wound.

Stroking his face, she whispered in his ear "What if I told you these aren't cops, but rather Internal Directorate troops you're facing?"

"Bullshit, you're lying."

Taking a piece of paper from her vest, she stuffed it into his pocket and replied "Here's some reading material to occupy your time." Patting his face, she sultrily whispered " One last thing? No one ever calls me a half breed without suffering the consequences.", before deftly extricating the shank and thrusting it into his groin, making him faint from the shock and pain.

Leaving the man to the not so tender mercies of the medics, the duo left the building to turn in for the night. After all, it would be meaningless to do another hit and run on them if they did not know where to strike next nor who to strike.

"Did you really have to?"

"The tough guy act I can let slide, but as soon as he started to throw around epithets then I'd say he was lucky I only stopped there."

"You are really, really, really scary sometimes, you know that?"

"Gotta find some way to keep you on your tippy toes somehow."

"It wouldn't kill you to tone it down every now and then. Like seriously, please?"

"Only because you asked nicely, Hahnny."

"Please don't call me that." he hissed.

"You didn't seem to mind when I was screaming it out loud last night. Hell, my legs and calves were still sore this morning," she cooed.

"Kill me please."

"I could arrange that."

"Seems like someone needs a good spanking when we get back." he whispered as they drove back.

"Joke's on you the harder you spank me the hornier I get." Bulan smirked at him.

"Why are you the way that you are?" he sighed.

"Well-"

"Don't answer that." he cut her off, making her fold her arms and pout.

Infirmary

Fire Nation Embassy

"May I know who the second in command is?" the ambassador asked as he entered the infirmary. It had been a couple days since the raid on the safehouse and most of them seemed to be almost back to fighting strength, save their captain, whose body was flown back.

"I am, sir." Jia Ling answered, giving the ambassador her best salute.

"How are the men doing, captain?"

"They should be back to eighty-five percent fighting strength by tomorrow. With some refreshers, I would place it at potentially ninety-five percent operational by the end of the week."

"That's good to hear. Because as of now, these are your new orders, captain. Let me know as soon as your team is ready to deploy. If you need the latest intelligence reports, consulting either one of the princesses should get your team up to speed on the latest details."

"Understood. We will do our best."

"See to it that you do."

"Yes sir."

"This is Badgermole to all operatives, execute Plan Laogai. It seems that our stay in this forsaken wasteland has run its course."

"Understood. Thanks be to the Spirits the last of the ores have been processed and loaded. Now we are waiting for favourable tides for sailing. These waters are perilous at the best of times and I do not wish for our precious cargo to be lost due to lack of sea maps and weather reports."

"Understandable, but make all haste to depart at the earliest possible opportunity. Should this vessel fall into the hands of the heathens, all that we have strived for will be lost."

"As you have commanded, so shall it be."

"What of our turncoat ally?"

"How you choose to deal with him is up to your discretion. Right now, I hear that the Interior Directorate will be starting to launch an offensive against him in the near future. Let us not give him any more reason to stray further into the embrace of Caldera and it's irksome ashmakers."

"I understand and obey."