Part Seven: An Exchange, of Sorts

In the aftermath of the skirmish, Mackenzie must deal with the Fire Nation prisoners taken.

The days immediately after the scuffle with the Fire Nation Marines was, frankly, boring, excluding an episode with the Avatar and some kind of giant sea monster that was known to patrol the waters near the island. When Captain Donners heard of that, he nearly had a heart attack until Mackenzie passed along reassurances that it stayed on the opposite side of the island from the Royal Navy vessels, and generally did not disturb sailing ships.

Shortly after that, Aang ended up being humbled by Katara, and they said their goodbyes. Sokka was most adamant to visit the 74th's camp once more before they all left. The sky bison taking off and flying through the sky like some kind of wingless bird was simply astounding, Mackenzie had thought. After the excitable boy and his companions were gone, Kyoshi Island seemed much quieter, for sure.

Mackenzie shook his head from the past and returned to the problem at hand, namely the Fire Nation prisoners that he had taken. He had neither the resources nor the desire to keep them, as they had not wronged him nor his men, nor was it particularly right, in his mind, to keep these men not even of an enemy state captive. Most of the marines had healed without the need of amputations, but a few had died of their wounds on the doctor's table the morning after the battle..

Mackenzie had gone to the few soldiers awake at that point, and asked them about their burial customs. To say the Fire Nation marines were surprised would be to say that the 74th was lost on Kyoshi Island; a gross understatement. Nonetheless, the marine had described the funeral pyre customs of the Fire Nation, and Mackenzie even had him come to make sure they were doing it right. The afternoon was occupied with the gathering of the bodies and the construction of pyres, and the night was lit by little more than a dozen pyres throughout the night. Those that were fit enough to leave bed held a vigil for their fallen comrades until the sun rose.

It was needless to say, the Fire Nation men warmed up to the Colonel quickly after that. It wasn't long before most of them ceased their comments about barbarians towards the 74th, as what barbarian would respect and observe Fire Nation funeral customs?

Quite often, Mackenzie would go down to talk about Fire Nation customs, interested in learning more about this world, and the powers that ruled it. He learned that messenger hawks were used quite often as couriers, and where the nearest local governorship was.

Soon, he had sent a letter to the governor of the nearest Fire Nation colony, in the region of Omashu. It read;

Governor of Omashu,

My name is Colonel Mackenzie, of His Majesty, King George III's Seventy-Fourth Highland Regiment of Foot. I am writing to tell you that I have a number of Fire Nation marines under my custody as prisoners. This is because a force of said marines attacked a village my regiment was charged to protect, and were driven off.

I simply want to return these men to their homes, without a ransom or any kind of demand, except for guaranteed safe passage to and from either your city or a neutral island nearby it. I do not want money, titles or some other ransom, only to return these good men to their homes, families, and country.

Please write back with your response, from what I'm told this messenger hawk can find the location I sent it from again.

Respectfully,

Colonel Alexander Mackenzie, Officer Commanding, 74th Highlanders.

It was a short note, for sure, and one that might not cover all the formalities, but that was one thing Mackenzie was not eager to learn all over again. He only invested in the knowledge of British customs because he would have to deal with them for the rest of his career, if not life.

The response came a week later;

Colonel Mackenzie,

I am Ukano, the Fire Lord's governor for the city of New Ozai. I find your terms agreeable. In a week's time, I will send a task force of ships to the northern coast of Whale Tail Island, and make the prisoner exchange there. The ships will anchor off the coast and the exchange will occur on land. Take a landing party of no more than a company ashore.

You have my respect for releasing these men without condition, instead of holding them captive as prisoners of war.

Sincerely,

Governor Ukano of New Ozai

The week had passed uneventfully, besides a group of Warriors of Kyoshi visiting the 74th camp and watching the Company of Recruits train. This company was completely made of recruits from across the regiment, consolidated under Captain Trevors of the 5th Company, who had them run through every single drill that didn't require the expenditure of ammunition. The morning the girl-warriors came was the day the Company was being taken through bayonet drills. The recruits were instructed on basic positions and movements that could be taken in melee combat, against both opponents on foot and on horseback. They ran through various thrusts and parries, as well as reverse and advanced movements.

Usually, they would take these skills and apply them with wooden analogues for a musket and bayonet, but the very real firelocks and steel bayonets were all the regiment had at the moment, so the practices were limited to drills and such.

The Kyoshi Warriors were not very impressed by how basic the training was, but understood that these were beginners, and had believed that more advanced training would be given later on. They were surprised, however, to learn that there was not much more to bayonet training than that and sparring, unless a soldier took a class specifically on bayonet fencing, for which the 74th did not have the resources until they arrived in Calcutta.

Three ships would be going to the meeting: The transports HMS Cheval de Frise and HMS Neptune, and the frigate HMS Hercules was to be their escort. The Fire Nation marines would be held on the Neptune, with her marine contingent standing guard. Mackenzie and the grenadier company would be on the Cheval de Frise, and would be the ones to go ashore.

It took about ten hours with good winds to get to the meeting point, and Fire Nation ships were already anchored. The British ships pulled into the slight natural harbour just off of a fishing village, and the shore party piled into the rowboats.

It took about twenty minutes for everyone to reach the shore and become organized, after which the grenadiers marched the Fire Nation prisoners towards their waiting kinsmen, Mackenzie at their front.

"Colonel Mackenzie, I presume?" A man dressed in what could only be an officer's uniform called out as the British party approached the Fire Nation party.

"Yes," Mackenzie answered as the company halted some 25 yards from the Fire Nation company, the speaker and a pair of guards waiting halfway between them "And you are?"

"Forgive me, I am Captain Xi Jin, here on Governor Ukano's behalf." The man introduced himself.

Mackenzie and a pair of Corporals closed the distance, and Mackenzie reached out for a handshake, "A pleasure, Captain."

Jin returned the gesture, and they shook, "Same for you, Colonel."

After a pause, Jin said, "Well, let's get down to business, Colonel. The prisoners?"

Mackenzie turned around, and told his men, "Let 'em go."

The Fire Nation prisoners were brought forward to their kinsman, and released from the rope bindings that held their hands together. They quickly made their way over to their comrades, and Mackenzie had the captured kit, weapons, and supplies brought forward as well.

"We don't exactly need this, so I figured your boys would appreciate having their things back." The marines had been stripped of their weapons and gear when they were captured, just in case, and all they were going to do in the British camp was sit around collecting dust. A waste, really.

"I appreciate it, Colonel. You seem like a man with honour, despite your mysterious" read: non-Fire Nation, "origins. Your military certainly has a good colour scheme down!" The captain joked.

"That we do." Mackenzie agreed, and shook hands with Captain Xi one last time before they parted ways. Within the hour, the British contingent were on their way back to Kyoshi Island.

This one seemed to be a bit of filler, but I wanted something to fill the gap in while I am distracted by other plot bunnies. I don't know if these will expand into full-fledged stories like Redcoats has, but we'll see. The plot advances in the next chapter, though!

Cheers,

Hellsta