Ch 13 returning

Wash and Ursa approached the bay, and saw a fleet of water tribe ships anchored, with the soldiers working on various projects.

"Thank god." Wash said, as he lowered his sniper rifle.

"For what?" Ursa asked.

"Chances are, the Dai Li fabricated that message to trap Katara and Sokka, use them as leverage against Aang." Wash said.

"How long have you been thinking of that?" Ursa asked.

"Since we left the city. Thank god it's not them." Wash said.

Walking closer, they saw Sokka and approached him.

"Ready to meet your father?" Ursa asked.

Sokka only gulped and tried not to throw up.

"It's been two years since I last saw him." Sokka said.

"Don't worry, Sokka. He'll be very happy to see you, and to know that you're safe." Wash said.

The water tribes man watched with curiosity as they saw an unusual trio head towards them. A teenage boy dressed in similar water tribe tunic as them, a woman wearing earth kingdom clothes, and a tall walking blue and yellow colored armor, that easily towered over Sokka and Ursa.

"Here's the plan. If they attack, you take the weapons and run. I'll fight them." Wash whispered to Ursa.

Hakoda looked up and saw the trio, but his eyes were glued onto the youngest member.

"Dad." Sokka said.

Hakoda stood up and embraced his son, tears falling out from both of their eyes.

"Sokka. You've grown." Hakoda said, sitting down, his son following suit.

"Puberty, dad." Sokka said, smiling.

Hakoda could only hug his soon again, treasuring the small moment of happiness in a far brutal war.

"Who are these two?" Hakoda asked.

"I'm Ursa." Ursa said, shaking Hakoda's hand.

"Call me Wash." The freelancer agent said, his armored hand shaking Hakoda's hand.

"Good to meet you two. How's Katara and the avatar doing?" Hakoda asked.

"How'd you know Aang is with us?" Wash asked, his hand heading to his pistol.

"We get messages from across the earth kingdom. And it's not good. But I'm sure the three of you know that." Hakoda said.

"Hakoda, are you the leader of this group?" Wash asked.

"Yes." Hakoda said.

"I need to speak with you in private." Wash said.

Everyone else left, leaving Hakoda and Washington.

"How quickly can the fleet pack up and leave, permanently?" Wash asked.

"Two to three hours at the most. Why?" Hakoda asked.

"Long story, but Ba Sing Se is not what it's supposed to be. You and your men will need to move quick and fast. When the city falls, the fire navy will move in fast. Do you have a plan for when that happens?" Wash asked.

"We do have a plan. We steal a cruiser and leave. After that, we play it by ear." Hakoda said.

"That's good to know." Wash said.

"Wash, what is going on?" Hakoda asked.

"I'll tell you, but it doesn't leave this tent. There's a shadowy organization called the Dai Li, that's supposed to be keeping law and order in Ba Sing Se. However, they've been stealing power from the king since he was born. We ousted the leader of the Dai Li, and the king is in charge again, but I know that won't last long. Hell, the Dai Li are planning something right now. And unless you want you and your men to be caught up in a shit storm, I suggest you leave the city, and fight a guerrilla war against the fire nation." Wash said.

"Damn. I had no idea that happened. Alright, Wash. No-one will know what is happening. For now, we're to defend the bay against the fire navy." Hakoda said.

"Sir, I think the city will be safer under control of the fire nation, than the Dai Li." Wash coldly said.

Wash left the tent, leaving Hakoda to his thoughts.

"Are you sure about that?" Ursa asked, walking next to Wash.

"Yes. I'm sure of it. A totalitarian regime like the fire nation, from what you told me, will not allow the Dai Li to exist. The Dai Li could then work to overthrow the fire nation high command, and a totalitarian regime will have its own spies and covert police organization to maintain order. They won't allow the Dai Li, a rival police order to exist anywhere in the globe." Wash said.

"So you consider the fire nation to be the lesser of two evils." Ursa said.

"Let me put it this way. Say the war is over; we won. The fire nation is pushed off from the earth kingdom for good. But the Dai Li now control Ba Sing Se. I'd rather let the fire nation control Ba Sing Se." Wash said.

"I hope that doesn't happen." Ursa said.

"It won't. Besides, after we win the war me and my men will turn our guns on the Dai Li. I give them 5 hours against us, tops." Wash said.

Meanwhile Katara, Tucker, Sarge, and Caboose were at a war meeting, while the generals were making plans for the final offensive that will end the war.

"And on the day of black sun, we will send in our forces and crush the fire nation capital once and for all." General How said.

"If you can hold the city for that long. The fire nation will have something more powerful than the drill." Sarge said.

"We've held on this long. It's only a few months away. By the time the fire nation has a new weapon to take down the wall, it'll be far too late." A soldier said.

"All we need, is a seal of approval from the king." General How said, handing a parchment to Katara.

"Come on, lets find Griff. Knowing him, he's just napping on the job." Sarge said.

"How do you guys ever get anything done?" Katara asked.

"We don't." Tucker said.

"Time for some ice cream." Caboose said.

Katara just face-palmed herself. A bunch of morons were supposed to be guarding her and her friends. But they were real handy in a fight. Maybe that's why Wash told them to protect Aang and his group.

She only hoped her brother was having a better time.

"What's that?" Ursa asked, as she saw the water tribe men prepare a sea mine of some sort.

"Looks like a naval mine." Wash said.

"We call them stink mines. Gets tangled up in the propellers releasing the noxious smell. The crew abandons ship, and we destroy the cruiser at will." Hakoda said.

"And if the crew doesn't budge?" Wash asked.

"Plan B. Fight to the death." Hakoda said.

Wash stood on a hill and looked at the bay filled with water tribe ships and ruined fire nation cruisers.

"So, how does it look?" Sokka asked, approaching the freelancer.

"Well, as long as the fire nation doesn't do a blitzkrieg with their naval forces, your father and his troops can hold out for some time. Hold out for a few months, and use the ships as a base for the counterattack." Wash said.

"You know a lot of combat." Sokka said.

"I've been thru a lot." Wash heavily said.

"Well, glad you're with us." Sokka said.

"Sokka, I'd like some time alone." Wash said.

Sokka left, and Wash sat down, cross-legged.

How much more fighting and killing will I have to do?

His own question was answered when Ursa came running.

"Wash, Aang needs you!" Ursa said.

Wash stood up and saw Aang and his bison in the center of the camp.

"Oh no." Wash muttered, knowing the news wasn't good.

"Ursa, stay here. We'll be back." Wash said to her.

Ursa now knew that if Wash was heading into a fight, it was her best interest to stay away as far as possible. The fights Wash was involved tended to be very gruesome at least.

"Give me a sitrep, Aang." Wash said, as he threw his rifles into the saddle and climbed in.

"A what?" Aang asked.

"Situation report. What's going on?" Wash asked.

"I had a vision that Katara was in trouble." Aang said.

"In the future?" Wash asked.

"No. Right now." Aang said.

"Appa, yip yip." Wash said.