Ch3: Yasuho Aoshima

Night had fallen and the small temporary outpost the group had established had gotten quiet, finally. What remained of the small abandoned town in the middle of the desert had already been quickly swept through by responding forces after the fighting had finished. Important members of both the US Central Intelligence Agency, as well as the United Republic's own Department of Intelligence, had arrived in the hours that followed the fighting. The arms dealer, naught but a small pawn in the grand scheme of things, was taken into custody to be immediately processed for detainment at a military prison, though he was of no further use or value beyond his arms dealing.

The documents, particularly the plans pertaining to missile technology were immediately seized and turned over to the US government; however the older pages and schematics about Nazi findings of spiritual energy were the ones of the greatest interest. Initially, the Earth Kingdom Army had wanted to procure the documents, having been found in an Earth Kingdom special operation. However, the presence of the US military in the operation, as well as the fact that the information had been theorized and drafted in the mechanical realm, by the Germans, was argued as to why the plans had to be examined and filed with the US. The United Republic's officials argued that since the cooperative operation had been drafted and approved by the United Republic, as well as the information pertaining to spiritual energy, between the worlds, made it applicable for them to seize the pages, for the purpose of destruction as to prevent weaponization. Furthermore it was the potential lead to a tie-in with Future Industries, which really caught the attention of the United Republic of Nations. In the end, it was this final piece of what was recovered which caused the most disagreement between the allies, and where exactly it had ended up going was beyond Junichiro's pay grade to pry into.

While everyone else had retired to their bunks, or were on watch, or gathering in the make-shift mess hall, or going over the after-action reports, First Lieutenant Aoshima had remained behind around the armor poole to thoroughly inspect her tank after the battle. Initially her crew had stayed behind with her to properly secure the vehicle post-operation, however Yasuho was often the last person to leave. It was Maho and Hanako who stayed with her the longest, but she eventually dismissed them as well to get a good rest in.

The Marine Corps captain found the Earth Kingdom officer as she was polishing down the coin-like insignia of the Earth Kingdom which was fixed to the side armor of the Tiger tank, in the exact spot the German balkenkreuz would be historically. He observed her for a bit, as, having been satisfied with the cleanliness of her army's insignia, she moved on to check key areas of the vehicle with a flashlight; the gun, muzzle break, main gun, drive sprockets, as well as a general look-over of the individual pins which held the track plates together. He was surprised at how thorough she was, almost like a mechanic; a discipline that had been instilled to her thoroughly.

Having spotted him, she immediately stopped what she was doing and came to attention, facing Junichiro and presenting a sharp salute. "Good evening, Captain Stevenson," she reported. Yasuho was a bit startled.

"At ease, lieutenant," he calmingly replied, rendering his return salute. Only after he had dropped his salute, did she drop hers, briefly returning to her inspection.

"How may I be of assistance, Captain?" she asked, finally concluding her self-imposed duties.

"Nothing. No assistance will be needed, Lieutenant," the marine officer replied, "Just curious is all. I came to offer you my thanks earlier." He adjusted his eight-point cover, "Intel really dropped the ball on how many combatants they were expecting, didn't they," he chuckled slightly. "That was some tanking earlier."

"It wasn't anything special," Yasuho deflected, "There was a lot of room for improvement."

"Don't get down on yourself. With how everything played out, and how far south things went as fast as they did in that shit-show, that was some good on-the-spot decision making and execution, Lieutenant Aoshima," Jun commended, "Saved many of my marine's lives today."

The tank officer sat down on a stack of ammunition crates a mid some fuel drums, prompting Junichiro to take a seat as well. "Yeah, but," she sighed, "It could have been better. We still lost good men today."

Jun immediately knew what she was talking about. In that battle she had lost a superior officer, as well as his 4 other crew members.

"A hit to the front and side by a pair of RPGs will just about do it," Jun said as he looked the heavy tank over once again. "There is only so much that modernization of a WW2 design can accomodate for."

"Were you close with Major Xi?" Yasuho asked. She had a bittersweet past with the old Earth Kingdom officer. He was harsh, and strict, and very old fashioned, but he gave her a chance and mentored her to where she was now.

"No, not at all," Captain Stevenson replied. "He seemed to like me after some sortie a while back, which is why he asked for me this mission. But beyond that..not much."

"That's how he tended to build his connections in the army with other officers," Yasuho commented.

"How about you?"

Yasuho took her peaked visor cap from her head and set it on her lap gently, letting her hair blow in the breeze of the night. "Major Xi, was with me from the beginning of my Earth Kingdom Army career. He was often very hard and demanding of me, but was also fair enough."

"How long do you and the Major go back?" Junichiro inquired.

"He was my first superior in the first unit I was assigned to in my first job: as a driver of a Type Mt-4 medium tank, you'd recognize them as G-variant Panzer IVs. in the Earth Kingdom Army. I was eighteen, turning nineteen at the time," Yasuho revealed.

"So you've been at this gig for a while," Junichiro remarked.

"It's my second job ever," she followed up.

"Coke?" Junichiro offered, handing her the red aluminum can. She took it gladly. "I'm curious, though. How does someone like you end up in the tank divisions of the Earth Kingdom Army?"

"What do you mean?" Yasuho innocently asked, brushing a strand of hair from her face with a gentle smile. It wasn't to be the first time someone asked this of her.

"I mean.." Jun, began to become a bit flustered. "Do I really need to say it? Objectively..you have to be the prettiest person to work in the armored-"

"Yes, I am aware of the 'word-on-the-street,' or scuttlebutt, as you navy men-"

"Marines," Jun corrected.

"Right," she laughed, "Marines, call it." She narrowed her eyes at Junichiro. "You're not here to hit on me are you?"

"Me? No, of course not," he said, seriously.

"Okay, now that that's straightened out." She held the open can of soda with both hands and stared at the opening for a bit. "Have you ever been to the Earth Kingdom? The Bending World?"

"Only a couple of times. My grandfather was big on going, especially when I was a kid," Captain Stevenson revealed.

"Oh really?"

"Yeah, he uhhh.. He grew some sort of attachment to the place as he often was sent there after the rift was in continual operation. He was actually one of the first Americans to go, ever. He was a Second Lieutenant aboard the USS Enterprise when that whole sudden world-changing event happened," Jun recalled.

"He knew the Avatar? Aang?"

"He did. He's got many stories about Aang, many I've heard probably a billion times over by now. At this point I'm pretty sure even I got a pretty good idea what he was like," Jun smirked. "But me, I've only been a couple of times. Mainly to Republic City, not really anywhere else. Pretty sure I've been to the Fire Nation. Mayybbeeee Kyoshi Island, but I can't remember. You're from the Earth Kingdom?"

"Born and raised," Yasuho answered. My home town was a smaller place..It's not on the map anymore as the town doesn't exist any longer, despite being a center of commerce. Omori was the name of the place. Nearest and best landmark I can give you is, we were near Heibai's Forest."

"Sorry…not too familiar," Junichiro admitted.

"No offense taken. Much of the Earth Kingdom is like this, beyond the big prominent cities. It is still a kingdom too big for its own good, afterall." Yasuho took another sip. "Unlike Republic City, or the Fire Nation, or the big places like Ba Sing Se or Omashu…the Earth Kingdom, even now in 170 AG-"

"AG?" Junichiro had to ask for clarity.

"One-hundred-seventy-years After Genocide, as in the Air Nomad Genocide by Sozin, or 2013 AD in your timeline," Yasuho clarified, "The Earth Kingdom continues to suffer from lawless disorder. Independent clans which don't really adhere to the orders of the Earth Kingdom's current dynasty under Queen Hou Ting. And on top of that..there are still lots of daofei."

"Daofei.."

"Criminals essentially. Roaming, and often violent thieves, robbers, occasionally murderers…sometimes they are organized too. Like gangs, or clans," the tank officer continued.

"Ah..Criminals..God, do I hate criminals. They should be given the chair, the lot of them. Lawlessness.." Junichiro shook his head.

"In this time of peace..the daofei..the various clans of them have been our biggest enemy within the Earth Kingdom. They'll take over towns, fight the army or police, pilfer, or cause general chaos and suffering." She paused a bit. "They'll prey on travellers..sometimes mercilessly."

"So that's why you joined up at eighteen," Junichiro recalled. "How old are you again? If you don't mind me asking."

"Only if you answer as well," Yasuho replied. "Twenty-six."

"I'm twenty-seven, turning twenty-eight," the captain replied, keeping his end of the deal.

"Pretty young for a Captain," Yasuho remarked.

"Yeah well…I did pretty good as an LT out from ROTC," Jun humbly put it. "Let's just say when Gunnery Sergeant says something, even as an officer…at that age, you best listen, and maybe you'll learn something. And afterwards I'd apply myself." He looked at the silver bars of a First Lieutenant, which were pinned to the collars of her forest green uniform. "Though I'm pretty sure after today, if you keep that resourcefulness and quick thinking of yours going. You'll make captain easily."

"It's a little different in the Earth Kingdom Army," Yasuho chuckled a bit. "But thank you for your commendations, Captain Stevenson." Her current uniform, seemed to teeter on the edge of a service dress uniform more than utilities. The Earth Kingdom had issued their female vehicle crews a somewhat impractical battle dress uniform from Junichiro's perspective, though it was certainly a nice look. She wore a dark green knee-length heavy wool skirt which featured large box-pleats for movement. Her black boots came up the calf and ended just below the knee, they were polished to a high shine. The tunic, usually a wool jacket, was a matching dark forest green; similar in color to the Dai Li's green tunics; with four golden buttons which featured the green Earth Kingdom coin at the center. A black Sam-Browne style pistol belt cinched the coat at her waist, and the shoulder strap crossed her chest and ran across her right shoulder. The cap to this uniform was a matching dark green peaked military cap with a black visor. At the center of the crown just over the visor was another large Earth Kingdom roundel, this time featuring what seemed like the rays of the sun, protruding out from the sides.

Junichiro looked at the leather pistol holster which hung from her waist belt. Remembering what he had said to her in the heat of combat.

"Oh yeah," he stumbled for words, abruptly. "Earlier..I'm sorry for how I may have come off like. About your sidearm."

Yasuho looked at him, slightly confused and trying to recall.

"I'm sure you are fully aware of how to handle and use a P-38," he apologized further. "I've just heard many stories of what happens when you point a gun at someone and aren't fully committed or ready to actually use it."

"Oh! It's no problem whatsoever, Captain," she brushed off. "You were right, afterall." She glanced at the pistol she wore on her belt, and carried everywhere. "To be honest with you, I have never really used this thing."

"Really? You definitely got a piece on you," Jun remarked. "If you don't mind, could I see it again?"

"Sure." She unlatched the cover and handed him the weapon without question.

Junichiro looked the handgun over a bit, studying the various switches and toggles for a moment. He dropped the magazine and then racked the slide which ejected a chambered 9mm cartridge. It was still loaded. At least it was still on safe. After clicking the ejected cartridge back into the eight-round magazine and re-inserting the magazine into battery, the Marine officer looked at the slide markings again, aided by his flashlight. He wasn't imagining it earlier, this was a genuine Nazi firearm. It still had its SS markings.

"This is standard issue?" he asked.

"No, that one wasn't," Yasuho answered. "The Earth Kingdom has a license with Walther to produce the P1, however. I am aware that that is a P38. I've had that a while," she said, her voice trailing off.

Jun handed the sidearm back to the Earth Kingdom lieutenant. "And you've never had to use it before?"

"I'm a tank commander," she reminded him playfully. "The eighty-eight's pretty much is the end-all-say-all," she said, glancing up at the cannon of the tank they sat against.

"I guess that's true," Jun remarked as he finished the last of his canned soda. "And actually, yeah! You're an earthbender! A metal bender now that I remember! And a damn good one too! Yeah you're practically a master!"

"Oh I don't know about that," she humbly commented. "To be honest with you, I didn't think I could metalbend not too long ago. It was just something I discovered in the heat of the moment one time."

"I saw you use the roof-mounted machine gun of your tank without actually needing to touch it! That was pretty badass," Jun praised.

"I practice here and there," was all she simply answered. "Could come in handy on occasion like today."

"I can see how someone like you would never need a pistol," Jun remarked highly, even though he was known to not be very impressed or keen with the abilities of benders. "Has it ever been fired?"

Yasuho's slight smile quickly downturned to a moderate but still subtle frown. Jun didn't catch that her mood had dropped. She looked at the weapon before promptly returning it to its holster and clasping the case shut. "Twice, to my knowledge," she quietly said, her eyes staring at the sand before her boots. Her hair caught the slight breeze and blew freely.

"I see," Jun said. Somehow he didn't want to ask anything further, after sensing something.

The two chatted lightly with each other for an additional half an hour before Captain Stevenson decided to leave Lieutenant Aoshima alone to her activities again, and retire for the night. He was intrigued by her stories and her abilities, though. This was the last time he would be talking to her as a Marine though, as his final tour of duty was indeed coming to an end. But it certainly wouldn't be the last time the two crossed paths.

2005

Baruu Forest, Northern Earth Kingdom

Muscling against the cold and borderline frozen metal pins, Yasuho pushed her body weight against the metal pin of the track to a Panzer IV as her tank's commander, Captain Xi continued to lose his cool. It was to be a coordinated attack against a particularly large and well armed hostile clan which had been taking shelter in the wintery and rocky forest terrains along the northern coastlines of the Earth Kingdom. This clan had been hitting vulnerable trucks and occasional trains traveling over the northern routes between the Western and Northern Air Temples, the ferry and shipping ports to the Northern Water Tribe, and Ba Sing Se in the east. After three train wrecks, numerous complaints by the Northern Earth Kingdom Railway, a subsidiary to the Japanese National Railway Company, as well as several dozens of missing truck drivers and even merchants still traveling by ox and wagon, the Earth Kingdom was responding in force; particularly after receiving intel of platoons worth of raiders and even light armor, as well as anti-tank guns surrounding their central hideout. After an initial heavy artillery and rocket bombardment by the Earth Kingdom Army, it was now time for a massive coordinated ground attack. Several platoons of soldiers, earth benders and armed soldiers combined were to mount a frontal attack, with the armored divisions supporting their advance. Captain Xi was to lead one of the units consisting of four medium tanks, three Mt-4s and two modernized Panther tanks.

However, of course, in positioning the night before the right side track of their had sustained damage after Yasuho had hit the ditch a bit harshly, prior. The sensor which would have indicated the breakage had frozen in the cold, and did not indicate the track was broken.

The solidified mud, ice, snow, as well as having to try holding the track pieces together to push the pin through was not making it easy for Yasuho to repair the track. And it was time to move out. Elsewhere nearby, concealed by the trees, the roar of other diesel engines belched and roared and the clanking of metal tracks could be heard. The rumble of an army of mechanical monsters crossing the heavily wooded areas could be felt. However, Xi's detachment remained stead-fast waiting for him to call their advance and lead the charge from his tank.

Outside, calf-deep in snow and mud, clad in her longer and heavier winter greatcoat, Yasuho, a corporal at the time, struggled with the maintenance alone. She was freezing, her hands were freezing, making it harder to manipulate her fingers. Meanwhile, towering above her from the commander's cupola, was Captain Xi, actively chewing her out for her incompetence as their driver and trying to forcefully get her to progress faster.

"Aoshima!" Captain Xi barked, "Hurry up with that track! We are going to be behind in the charge!"

Yasuho swung the heavy metal hammer. Cling! Ching! The sound of metal whacking metal rang out with each hit, but the pin only moved millimeter by millimeter, the tolerances in the metal tight.

"Our men are going to be advancing with no weapons cover! They'll be slaughtered! And it's your fault!"

The radio operator, Private First Class Maho Koizumi offered to help, pushing open her hatch and readying to jump out to help her friend quickly right the problem. But Captain Xi stopped her. "No! This problem is her fault! She will fix it!" he berated, forcing Maho to return to her position at the radio. He would hear none of her pleas and offers to make this process go faster.

"C'mon! C'mon!" Yasuho thought to herself as she pushed and swung at the stubborn connecting pins. It seemed as though it wouldn't budge any further after getting half way in.

"I knew it was a bad idea to take you into frontline service," Xi griped. "And I'm supposed to be up for promotion to Major in the coming months. I guess I can kiss that promotion goodbye!" He looked down at Yasuho again. "Hurry up! Get the lead out!"

"It..won't! Budge!" she groaned, straining.

"I never asked to be assigned to these tank units," Xi continued. "A decade ago… I never had these issues when working in the older ostrich-horse calvary! These tanks..too complex! Too much machinery! We fought wars for thousands of years with grit and muscle alone, and now these machines!"

Captain Xi makes himself sound a lot older than he actually is, Yasuho cursed under her breath.

She dropped the hammer. She was desperate now. Pushing the hair from her face and taking a deep breath, she focused all of her being at the small steel rod which connected the track links. She put her hands together, and thrusted. Hoping it would move. She was pulling at straws now.

"What are you doing now?!" her commander sneered. "THIS IS NOT TIME TO PRACTICE! CONTINUE SWINGING!"

"C'MON!" Yasuho yelled, trying again. No effect. She swore she could sense something.

Clang! Clang! Clang! Xi was pounding against the metal of the turret with the grip of his pistol. "HELLOOO! FIGURE IT OUT! FIX THIS!"

Yasuho removed her gloves. A tear formed in her eye from stress. Her hands were a pale white, as smooth and as white and innocent as the snow around.

"Come. On. Stupid. Pin!" She locked on and thrust her hands forth, in the direction of the center of the tank.

Click! The metal pin shot in, sharply. Now seated firmly in place! A spark flew as the metal connector ground its way into the slot holding the tracks together.

It's in! "It's in!" she shouted.

"About time!" Xi shouted, finally relieved. Secretly, he was somewhat proud of his driver.

Yasuho quickly secured the hammer she had been using to the side of the Panzer IV, and quickly jumped up and was quickly seated in the driver's seat, finally back at her post.

"Get us out of here!" Xi ordered, dropping down into the commander's seat and shutting the hatch on top of him.

Yasuho quickly stepped on the floor starter. The improved diesel engines roared to life in the rear engine compartment. As if she had been driving cars or trucks for decades, a fast learner, she quickly shifted the heavy transmission into gear and stomped on the accelerator. Smoke belched from the exhaust, and the medium tank lurched forward. The following units under Xi's command quickly sprung into action, toppling trees and splashing through bogs and puddles in formation alongside and behind.

"High explosive!" Xi could be heard directing in the compartment behind.

Yasuho could hear the loader pulling up the next 75mm shell and ramming it into battery, the breach shutting as the shell was firmly seated and ready to fire.

Captain Xi couldn't stay cross at her. He was busy directing his crew, and giving them fighting directions. The gun fired over and over again, to varying degrees of success. He gave range and ammunition types, although not efficiently, to his gunner and loader; as well as orders to broadcast to his subordinate tanks to his radio operator. The under dog of all this was Yasuho. Her driving made up for lost time, and quickly Captain Xi and his unit were soon close to the head of the charge. She nimbly dodged incoming fire, placed them in very good firing positions, and was able to quickly reposition and advance; Yasuho showed quick mastery of her vehicle and her job. This, did catch Xi's attention. Soon, their forces were breaking through, quickly overwhelming the hostile clan, and victory was coming up soon.

"Corporal Aoshima," Xi commended, still amid the battle. "Keep this up, and maybe we'll try your hand as as a gunner."

"You mean it, sir?" she asked, still focused on her driving.

"Continue to impress," he said, "And maybe I'll talk to the colonel about putting some authority on your shoulders."

Captain Xi, after seeing the performance of his crew, particularly of himself, during the battle and knowing that he was in good standing, was becoming more assured that he would easily pass into solid consideration for promotion to major, now.

Yasuho was simply glad at the idea that she may be able to further be of service to her nation in the fight against criminal gangs and lawlessness. Wherever the army went, they seemed to, not only rid the local populations of terror and crime, but also bring aid to the towns they were assigned to.