The Fire Nation scientists studied what had been brought back to them from the other world. Weird machines that could fly and that were much more effective and powerful than anything they had ever seen. There were also the tank-like things they brought back that instead of shooting fire, shot explosive metal.
Then there were the ships that were brought back from a nation called France. These ships had rotating turrets and could shoot explosives 30 kilometers. Finally there were the weapons that this world used. They were peculiar being made of wood and metal. They were given the ammo of the gun and learned how it was shot and loaded.
They realized with horror, that this weapon gave more power to non-benders. It could shoot any bender before the bender can fire a single burst of fire, water, earth, or air. The scientists then were given more weapons from this place. A giant weapon that can be mounted and shoot hundreds of projectiles very quickly. It could annihilate an army. They were stunned upon learning that one in every five soldiers had one.
"These people, that world," they said. "Is much more advanced than we thought." The scientists had come to a startling realization. The reason why they were winning the war was because the other nations were unprepared. The nations of the other world had become much more unified after their attack and they were beginning to see the effects. The Fire Nation was losing more and more men, ships, and tanks.
If the scientists did not learn how to use this technology and mass produce it, the Fire Nation was doomed. Quickly, they went to work experimenting and studying these contraptions given to them. They dissected the vehicles and studied the guns. They learned how they were made.
After many tests and a month and a half of hard work. They sent their findings to the Fire Nation general who put them in charge of making Fire Nation vehicles out of what they were given. In the findings, they detailed how strong the enemy would be based on the technology. They also sent him plans for how to make the vehicles. The Fire Nation would catch up to this other world.
Lyon
The Fire Nation attacked on October 19th in 1939. They sent in the tanks first, hoping to just blitz over the city. The defenders hoped otherwise. Michael Wittman was one of the armored defenders. He and his tank crew sat in a trench created by the earth bender, watching the Fire Nation advance. There were at least 50 tanks, advancing on his position.
Michael hated this position, there was so little movement. He felt like a sitting duck. Still his orders were orders, he was to hold until he got orders to retreat and the defenders got into each building. The strategy to defend Lyon was to place snipers in every building. They would let the Fire Nation reach the city and take out the high command. They would also put defenders in every building, machine guns and anti-tank guns everywhere.
He looked to his right was an anti tank gun, and to his left was the avatar as they call him along with the said earth bender.
Michael watched as the first Fire Nation tank got in range, he fired. There was a boom and the tank went up in flames. The anti-tank gun next to him fired a round and another tank exploded. Michael reloaded a round and aimed the gun on his Panzer 4.
There was one tank in the lead, it had nothing in tip of it but it had begun to shoot fire at his tank. This is the tank he believed the most dangerous to his tank and his crew. He fired again and this tank stopped in its tracks.
Michael reloaded again and aimed for another tank, this one did have a crossbow on top. That's when Michael heard an explosion and turned to his right, where the anti tank gun was. It was on fire along with the people who manned it. They were screaming, hitting themselves to douse the flames but it was of no use, they were already dead. He steeled his nerves and fired again but missed.
The tanks were getting close and Michael was faced with a big decision. He could hold his position and risk suffering the same fate as the anti-tank crew, or he could retreat to a new position. He chose the later. "Driver, backwards go behind that building."
Aang watched as the tank to his right retreated and pull back to reveal the horrors on the other side. A gun that was manned by living things, now on fire with bodies around it also on fire.
Aang saw a torrent of flames heading towards him. Aang quickly shot air straight at the flames stopping it in his tracks until it dissipated. Michael watched this display of power by the avatar and exited from the top hatch of the vehicle.
"Avatar," he called and the avatar turned to him. "If you hold off the flames, we will keep on firing." The avatar nodded to him and began shooting air at the many flames raining down on them.
Michael quickly climbed back into his tank. "Man the machine guns!" He said to his crew before he fired another round into a tank, knocking it out of the fight. The other members of the crew quickly took to the machine guns and began firing.
Aang watched as bullets riddled the enemy tanks in front of him. The bullets from the machine gun went in one side and out the other, killing any unlucky crew member they hit. Slowly the Fire Nation began to retreat at the sight of many of their tanks being destroyed.
The crew of the panzer cheered for surviving the attack. They all shook hands and began to pull their panzer back to regain ammunition, for they would need it for the next attack.
Aang watched the panzer leave and Toph began to rebuild fortifications. "We really underestimated them." Toph said. "Hm"
"Pay attention twinkletoes. I said we really underestimated them." Toph repeated again. "Oh yeah, we kinda did." Aang replied. "This world has really learned how to manipulate metal to their own advantage. I could see what was happening in the other tanks that they fired at with the big gun. I'm happy no one else can see it." Toph said. "What happens?"
"Well the projectile impacts the tank and goes right through their light armor. Then, inside pieces of metal fly everywhere and kill everyone inside. Then the tank would explode from the metal hitting all the gears and things, or it would just stop." Toph said sighing. "Your right, that does sound pretty horrible."
"I think that without us, this world would beat the Fire Nation." Toph stated. "I realized the same thing. But what about with us?" Aang asked. "Well, with us I think there will be less bloodshed since it would have taken longer for the leaders to unite. We really helped unite them."
Aang nodded in agreement. He knew that their intervention against the incursion of the Fire Nation into this world would save many lives. What Aang didn't realize, it would spell the end of many more Fire Nation lives.
Aang stood silently as he thought, not even seeing the fireballs streaking towards the city. He looked up and saw the fireballs flying directly for him and Toph. Aang acted fast and with wind blew he and Toph away from the explosion. Aang quickly stood back up and all that was left of what had been in front of them, was a crater.
Aang looked up to see thousands of fireballs flying towards the city. "Toph, there are fireballs flying directly towards us!" Aang called out. Toph made a hole in the ground, "Twinkletoes, get in here!"
"But what about Katara and Zuko?!" He asked. "We don't even know where they are, we can find them after. Come on, get in!" Toph yelled. Aang quickly jumped into the hole and so did Toph before she covered it back up.
Aang and Toph sat in silence as they heard explosions from above, both hoping that Katara and Zuko were okay. Finally after an eternity the fireballs stopped and Aang and Toph emerged from the ground. Around them the city lay in ruins. They both looked to where the fireballs came from and saw hundreds of Fire Nation soldiers running at them.
"Units 1,3,5, and 7, retreat across the Saône River, heavy defenses have been made there. Units 2, 4, 6, and 8 will stay on this side of the Saône River to buy us time." Aang heard a distant voice call. "Toph we have to get out of here. Come on." He said moving his hand. Toph got up and they both started to run towards the Saône River.
Katara and Zuko on the other hand were helping with those wounded and were loading them into a truck to be sent to the field hospital. The driver of the hospital turned around and said, "Orders from the command say to hold here and kill any advancing Fire Nation soldiers."
The soldiers around Katara and Zuko nodded. "For France!" One yelled. The others nodded and quickly ran into buildings to set up machine guns to defend the buildings. With them was a small detachment of Japanese soldiers who Katara and Zuko followed.
One soldier took out a machine gun and started placing down things to hold the machine gun in place. He then took out some ammo and placed it to his right. He took the last ammo thing and attached it to the machine gun. "Pierre, your going to help me with this when the Fire Nation attacks." He called out. The soldier named Pierre nodded before he took out a long, cylinder object. "J'ai un panzerfaust!" Pierre said, holding up the object.
Katara looked around and saw a few soldiers sitting in the corner. She walked over, her motherly instincts taking over to make sure they're ok. "What are you guys doing?"
"We are making sure our guns are good and our katanas sharpened." One of them said. "Should a young girl like you be here?"
Katara bristled at this, "I fully believe I should be here. I am the last water bender from my region."
"What's a water bender?" Another asked.
"They can control water Hiroko."
"Ah"
"You say you are the last water bender of your region. What happened to the others?" Hiroko asked. "They were all captured or killed by the Fire Nation." Katara said.
"They are extremely dishonorable." One of them added. "Actually," Katara said. "The Fire Nation is one of the most honorable people. They will do anything to regain lost honor."
"Then they are just stupid." Another said. "They're leadership is misguided I think but the people are nice." Katara chose not to bring up that Zuko is a firebender or is Fire Nation royalty. If she told them that, she didn't believe it would go very well.
"The Fire Nation people are willing to follow their king and kill for him. That's enough jurisdiction to kill them for me. They blew up my parents in Tokyo." Hiroko quietly spoke. "I'm sorry for your lost but revenge won't bring them back. Revenge and killing is never an option." Katara said looking at him softly.
"It may not bring them back, but it will give me closure." Hiroko said, sheathing his katana now that it was polished. "We all lost someone in Tokyo when it exploded, that's why we were the people sent. We are the people who will put up the most fight against the Fire Nation." A soldier said grimacing. Katara sighed and went back with Zuko.
"How was your talk with them?" Zuko asked. "They're driven by revenge. I'm not sure if you should tell them your a firebender." Katara told Zuko. "They would find out eventually." Zuko said.
There were 10 people in the building including Katara and Zuko. There was Pierre, the man with the panzerfaust, Hiroko and the other Japanese soldiers, an officer, the man setting up the machine gun, and two other French soldiers. Across from their building, there were a few other French soldiers.
"What do you think of these people?" Zuko asked Katara, breaking the silence. "I think that they're just like us. They are like how Sokka was so long ago, they hate the Fire Nation. Maybe that will change but I don't know. It's like if the Fire Nation blew up my entire Nation. The Fire Nation destroyed this world's main centers. It's like how the people of the Earth Kingdom would react if Ba Sing Se was razed to the ground." Katara spoke before they quickly descended into silence once again.
Across the room, Pierre sat with the machine gunner. "Cheers, to another day of surviving Gustave!" Pierre said, raising a fake cup.
"Cheers to not being dead today and for not having a home." Gustave said sarcastically. "We're really lucky Gustave. Some people lost their entire families and homes to the Fire Nation. At least we only lost our homes. Those people have nothing left to live for. Both of us still have a family to return to. People for us to return to."
"Yes, but our city, our livelihoods are gone. Nice is gone, burned to the ground. There is nothing left. We all lost someone." Gustave spoke sadly. "Yes, but at least it wasn't anyone in our families. We were lucky, my friend." Pierre said.
They both descended into quietness until the officer called out, "Fire Nation tanks plus soldiers making their way over." Pierre quickly grabbed his panzerfaust and took a glance out the window. 1 Fire Nation tank along with about 30 soldiers making their way through the rubble.
The Fire Nation soldiers were traveling slowly around the tank. Pierre believed that they thought that any life in these buildings would've been killed in the bombings. They thought wrong.
As the Fire Nation tank passed between the two buildings where the units were, Pierre fired the Panzerfaust. There was the sound of the projectile releasing and slamming into the back of the tank which promptly exploded.
"Allez!" The officer screamed and Gustave opened up with the machine gun. Katara and Zuko made their way to windows and began to use fire and water to incapacitate Fire Nation soldiers.
Katara did a sweeping motion with her hands and a Fire Nation soldier got pushed against a wall and stuck to it with ice. Zuko fired flames obscuring the vision of the soldiers on the ground.
Gustave continued to fire bullets into the soldiers onto the ground as they fell until he froze. Pierre looked up, wondering why Gustave stopped and saw an arrow piercing his chest. "Gustave!" He screamed.
Gustave hit the ground with a sickening thud and Pierre checked his pulse. He was already dead. "Nooo!" He yelled before taking up the machine gun and began shooting everywhere and everything. He first shot the archers who were reloading, they quickly fell to the ground.
A firebender among the soldiers quickly fired a blast into the building. He heard screams of men as two of the men, one Japanese and one French fell to the ground in flames. He smiled at this before he was shot in the head by Hiroko with his rifle.
The officer watched the two benders with him and took note of the flames one was shooting. Very interesting, he thought. The officer turned back to the scene and began to firing with his revolver into the fray.
Zuko watched and saw firebenders beginning to load up to destroy the building. Realizing the danger, Zuko jumped down and fired his own burst of fire at the Firebenders. His one burst was able to overpower theirs and blow them back.
From behind Zuko, he heard a yell as a spearman ran at him. Zuko spun quickly and took out his sword. The spearman turned around to face Zuko and got into a position to attack until he fell to the ground with a bullet in his head.
The remaining soldiers began to retreat and Zuko watched them run as fast as they could. Everybody came down from his building and stood about, collecting things and looking things over. What had once been 10 people, was now 7. They had taken 3 losses, 1 French soldier, Gustave, and a Japanese soldier.
The officer walked over to the man enraptured in ice. His head was the only thing exposed and watched in fear as the people approached.
"I have a family!" He yelled. The soldier couldn't have been older than Katara. "Please, I'm sorry. I didn't want to join. I was forced to join. I don't want to fight for the Fire Nation!" He screamed frantically. The officer watched him calmly, "The second you decided to cross into our nation, you signed your death warrant." He said before shooting him in the head with the revolver.
Katara watched in silent horror as the soldier stilled and slumped in the ice. These were the people she was fighting for, the people she was trying to protect. "Speaking of people of the Fire Nation," the officer said before shooting Zuko in the thigh.
Zuko screamed as he fell to the ground. "What are you doing!" Katara yelled trying to make her way forward but she was restrained by Hiroko and the other Japanese soldier. "Hold him up." The officer gestured to Zuko. Pierre and the other French soldier quickly picked Zuko up and held him up.
"Are you a Fire Nation spy?" The officer yelled at him. Zuko looked up at him and shook his head. The officer punched him. "Then why do you firebend?"
Zuko was breathing heavily as he looked up. "Ethnically, I'm Fire Nation, however I was born and raised in the Earth Kingdom." Zuko said lying through his teeth and received another punch.
"Why are you doing that to him!" Katara screamed. "Lady, hush," Haiko said. "He could be a spy, we wouldn't know. He can firebend."
"But if he was a spy, he's been traveling with us and the avatar for 2 years. If he was a spy, he would've handed us over. We were wanted dead or alive." Katara said. Haiko loosened his grip.
"Sir," Haiko called out to the officer. "I believe the boy, he traveled with the avatar and would've given them up if he was a spy. Plus he fought the Fire Nation and fought to kill. I think he truly cares for his friends judging by his and her," he gestured to Katara with his head, "Reactions. I believe he's being honest, let him go."
Pierre froze at this. He thought about Gustave and his friendship with him. He thought about how much he hated the Fire Nation but he also thought about how much he cared for Gustave who was younger than him. "Sir, I agree with Haiko." Pierre said.
The officer froze then looked at the sky. Pierre worried about what he was going to do next. Then the officer took out his revolver and shot in the air. "Bring him back inside."
Pierre and the other French soldier carried Zuko inside the building. He quickly was laid down and Katara rushed over, water in hand. She began to bend water towards Zuko's thigh and made the water wrap around the thigh.
Zuko let out a breath as the bullet came out of his thigh. Haiku watched the feat in awe as the wound began to heal itself. Imagine how many lives could be saved by this one girl.
Once Katara's work was done, she clapped her hands together. "He should be fine." She said, looking down at Zuko. Zuko was lying peacefully on the floor, eyes closed. He looked almost dead but Katara knew it would take a lot more to kill him.
At an airfield in Italy
Heinz looked out at the Mediterranean Sea from the place where he was, taking in the sights. He smiled, thinking of his homeland of Germany. He should be there when it is under attack. Instead, he was in the assigned squadron of Bf 109's that were given to the French.
Heinz checked his watch, he had 8 minutes before he and his squadron were to take off. He took one last breath of air before he stood and began to walk over. He had already put on his pilot gear before he had left the barracks to enjoy the outdoors and was thankful for it. Now he rushed to his plane to prepare to take off.
The mission today was to escort some Stuka's to Lyon where they would then bomb the Fire Nation there. Heinz reached for the ladder and pulled himself into his cockpit. He turned on the switches and his plane began to move forward towards the runway.
Slowly his plane made its way forward and towards the runway. He moved it forward then to the right, to the left, and then to the left again onto the runway. He saw the man on the ground gesture for him to take off.
Heinz turned up the throttle and turned up the flaps. His plane began to move forward more quickly now and he pulled back on the throttle as his plane gained some altitude.
He then began to circle around the airfield waiting for the rest of his squadron. In minutes they were all in the air and began to fly towards the squadron of Stukas which had already taken off.
Lyon
Katara watched as Fire Nation soldiers peered through the rubble. They were searching every building now, looking for lone soldiers who stayed to fight. Across the city she could hear gunshots. The French would give their lives for every single one of the buildings in Lyon.
This group of soldiers had most likely heard of the ambush that had occurred here from those that had fled from them. Now these soldiers wanted revenge.
She watched as they entered the building which they were in. Zuko was laid in another room still recovering from the wound he had received at the hands of the officer. Katara was with him, making sure that he was okay.
The officer, the other French soldier, and the other Japanese soldier were on the other side of the building. With her was Pierre and Haiko who had taken out his katana. Pierre, meanwhile, quivered as he held his rifle.
Katara had no idea why the officer had decided that Pierre and Haiko would stay with her. She would've thought that it would either be Haiko and the other Japanese soldier or Pierre and the other French soldier. As she was in thought, she noticed Pierre beginning to blanch.
That's when she heard the footsteps of boots walking down the halls. She knew the officer had told them to stay put and said that he would, under no circumstances, come and see them. Therefore if they heard footsteps, it was most likely the enemy.
Haiko motioned to Pierre with his hand and whispering. Pierre nodded and began moving backwards towards the other end of the hallway they were in.
He touched Katara and whispered, "Let's move down the hallway." "What about Haiko?" She asked. "Haiko will go into a room, the plan is for me to distract the soldiers and lead them down the hallway when Haiko will sneak up behind them." Pierre said.
Katara nodded and began to pull Zuko down the hallway into a faraway room with Pierre right behind him. "Take this." He told Katara, handing her a pistol, "I'll have no need for it."
Katara looked at it weirdly. Why would she need to use a gun? Pierre must have seen her confusion because he added, "I don't want you to accidentally knock out Haiko with your water bending." Katara nodded.
That's when they heard footsteps coming closer. Pierre took in a deep breath and glanced at Katara. An unspoken sign of if she was ready and Katara nodded.
Pierre closed his eyes before he stepped out of the room along with Katara. He saw the Fire Nation soldiers standing in front of him, one had a bow. Realizing that this guy was the one who was most threatening to him, Pierre aimed down his sights.
He watched as the soldier with the bow pulled back the string. Pierre wouldn't let him fire first and pulled the trigger. The man with the bow fell to the ground.
Katara used the pistol to start firing randomly into the soldiers, hoping she didn't kill anyone. She reckoned that there were 9 soldiers in the hallway, now 8 with Pierre shooting one. Sadly for Pierre and Haiko, and luckily for Katara, none of her bullets hit a soldier.
Pierre and Katara quickly retreated back into the room. They watched as an arrow hit where they had just been. Katara gulped.
Haiko watched from the room where he was in as the Fire Nation soldiers advanced on the position down the hallway. He unsheathed his katana and ran up behind them with a, "Ahhh,"
The Fire Nation soldiers looked behind them surprised. Haiko sliced the first one horizontally across the chest then spun and stabbed another.
Pierre stepped out of his hiding spot and took out his knife before he charged.
Katara watched as the two fought Fire Nation soldiers left and right. When one soldier attempted to stab Haiko with his spear, Haiko spun around the spear and slashed off the man's head.
Pierre, meanwhile, threw his knife into one firebenders head, killing him instantly. He then grabbed a spear off the floor and stabbed another in the abdomen.
The three remaining Fire Nation soldiers dropped their spears and took out swords. Pierre and Haiko looked at them coldly before they charged at them.
Haiko slashed at one Fire Nation soldier but it was blocked by his sword. It would be a very interesting battle indeed.
5 Kilometers out of Lyon
Heinz checked his dials to make sure he was flying on course and the compass read northeast. Good he thought and glanced over at the Stuka to his squad mates to his left. He motioned to them that they were getting close. He could begin to see the smoke emitting from the city.
He glanced to his right and saw the Stukas flying close behind. Heinz had been designated as the radio operator to Stuka Squadron A. It would be an invaluable lesson for a private,his captain had said. He picked up his radio,"Captain of Stuka Squadron A, are you ready to commence your bombing run?" Heinz radioed.
"Yes, we are ready." The captain replied back. Heinz quickly did some calculations, "We are about 3 kilometers out from the target zone." He radioed again. "We will begin our dive at 1." The captain radioed a reply.
Heinz continued to look out at the city of Lyon, which now looked devastated. That's when he saw an airship flying over the city. It was dropping bombs all over and it had to have been a threat. "Captain, permission to attack the airship?" He radioed to his own captain.
"Escort the Stukas to the target zone first, then you can attack the airship." His captain radioed back. Heinz once again did the calculations in his head. We have to be getting close to the 1 kilometer mark, he thought. He checked his instruments, they were about a kilometer away.
"Captain of Stuka Squadron A, we are a kilometer away from the city."
"Beginning attack." The captain replied before the Stukas pulled away from their formation. "Captain, the Stukas have left." Heinz radioed again.
"You may begin your attack private." Came the reply. Heinz nodded before he dove toward the airship. He pulled on the trigger and pummeled hundreds of bullets into the airship. He pulled away to avoid a collision and prepared to do another pass over.
He watched as men rushed to the deck and began to shoot fire at his plane. Heinz expertly dodged these blasts and shot more bullets into the airship before once again pulling away.
He glanced behind him and saw the airship beginning to falter before smashing into the ground in a wall of flames. "I think that's my first kill." He radioed to his squadron.
He heard claps and whoops over the radio. "Come, let us go back to base." The captain of his squadron said before they pulled away, back towards Italy.
Back on the ground
Haiko and Pierre fought ferociously with the 3 other Fire Nation soldiers. They slashed, dodged, pierced, stabbed, and screamed. They all fought as if their life depended on it, which it did.
Pierre fought expertly with a knife, dodging different slashes and stabbing when he saw an opening. He didn't dare try to throw the knife at someone.
Suddenly a voice down the hall screamed, "Airship, coming down!" Everybody froze. Then there were explosions as Pierre, Haiko, and the other 3 Fire Nation soldiers backed away from each other.
There was the sound of steel being twisted and turned and of buildings falling and crashing. Then there was a giant explosion as the Airship hit the ground. Haiko and Pierre felt themselves blown away from the explosion, back down the hallway as part of the building collapsed.
Smoke filled the air, choking and smoldering the four of them. Pierre stood up and looked around and realized the Fire Nation soldiers were gone.
Haiko was quickly behind him, "We should find the officer." He said. "But also one of us should stay with the lady and the other kid." Pierre added. Haiko nodded, "I'll stay and you go."
Pierre nodded and picked up his rifle before venturing out into the smoke. Haiko looked around and moved over to Katara who was with Zuko. "Are you alright?" He asked. Katara nodded, "We might need to head back to the main city." Katara said.
Haiko shook his head, "Our orders are to stay here and fight for every city."
"Yes, but we may need to get him," she gestured to Zuko. "Might need medical attention."
"They will most likely kill us for trying to get back." Haiko said. "I'm a companion of the avatar, they wouldn't dare." Katara said.
Pierre moved through the rubble with ease. He Jumped, leaped, and skipped over the rubble. Holding his gun tightly, Pierre scouted the area for any survivors. All around him, he saw twisted steel and the beard the sound of men groaning.
Pierre searched through the rubble, raising the occasional piece of concrete, searching for any of his countrymen. Then he found a pack of cigarettes and smiled to himself. When was the last time he had one he wondered. He quickly picked it up and realized it was a French brand. It was a pack he had seen the other French soldier using on occasion. He remembered being offered a cigarette from him once before. Pierre suddenly had a sinking feeling deep in his stomach.
He continued to search, calling names, preparing for the worst. Then he found the officer's gun lying under a rock. To make sure he lifted the rock and gasped. The officer was crushed and covered in blood. Pierre grabbed the revolver the officer had and pocketed it before gently laying down the rock.
Pierre was losing hope that the others were alive. Then he found the other two, lying on the ground, covered in soot. Pierre quickly checked their pulses and shook his head. They were dead and he did not know the clause.
He patted down the other French soldier and picked up a dog tag and his lighter. He put them in his pocket, vowing to bring closure to the family. Then he picked up the Japanese soldier's katana, thinking Haiko might want it. Finally Pierre made his way back to the others.
When he returned, he was surprised to see that they were all packed and ready to leave. "Where are we going?" He asked. "Back to the main part of the city." Haiko replied with a frown. "Did you find anyone?"
"I found your friend's katana and all of their bodies. They were crushed by fallen rubble. It's a miracle we all survived." Pierre replied, handing the katana to Haiko who took it. "If we're going back to the main part of the city, we'll be shot." He added.
"Not true since I'm the avatar's companion. Plus my friend needs medical attention." Katara spoke out from Pierre's right. "I thought you healed him?" Asked Pierre.
"My healing can only do so much. He needs medicine and bandages. He's somewhat burnt on the side and I can't heal it. It may be because the rivers where I got the water from are contaminated, I'm not sure."
Pierre sighed, "Alright, we'll go." He paused for a moment. "But if I die, I'm blaming you guys." Katara and Haiko shook their heads before Katara lifted Zuko up with the help of Haiko and began walking toward the center of the city.
Center of the City
"The Fire Nation is at our doorsteps." The French officer in front of Sokka spoke. "It is the job of you men, to eliminate high profile targets. You'll be sneaked in across the Saône River where your mission will commence. It will be obvious whim the commanders are."
Sokka raised his hand. "Yes soldier?" The French officer asked. "You have no idea what the uniforms look like do you?" Sokka asked. "Don't talk back to your commanding officer! Plus how would you know what they look like?" The officer clearly didn't take well to being talked back to.
"Well, you see, I used to be in the Fire Nation. The Fire Nation invaded my tribe and killed my mother. I once infiltrated their ranks. I know what they use. Officers usually wear more armor and generals wear gowns or robes. Another danger are the firebenders who wear skulls on their faces. These are the people we should aim to incapacitate. I agree with you, officer, that it will be obvious to know who's a threat." Sokka said.
"I see, you traveled with the kid whose Avatar. Interesting. Is there any other advice you would like to impart, what's your name soldier?" The officer asked. "Sokka, sir" Sokka said, smiling with pride. He was being noticed by a notable person outside of his tribe.
"I would like to say that the Fire Nation is a dangerous enemy. They are ruthless on the battlefield and will do anything to eliminate competition. They wiped out the entire race of air nomads because the Avatar was supposed to be from them. So the Fire Nation made sure the race was extinct so that the Avatar would die but the Avatar escaped and got frozen for 100 years. Hence why the leaders of the Fire Nation should be incapacitated."
"Thank you Private Sokka. So what we plan to do is send you out in pairs across the Saône River. If you look behind you, you'll see if your chair has a red stripe or blue stripe on it." Sokka checked behind him and saw a red stripe. On the chairs to both his left and right there was a blue stripe.
"If there is a red stripe on your chair, your partner is to your right. If you have a blue stripe, your partner is to your left." Sokka looked to his left and saw a young looking man. "So, soldiers, your partner will be the spotter. You will work together to evade Fire Nation soldiers. Now go, use your creativity to cross the Saône River and kill as many Fire Nation soldiers as you can." The officer said before walking away.
"Hello, my name is Vasily Zaitsev." The man who was to be Sokka's partner extended a hand to Sokka. He had a very weird accent in Sokka's opinion. "Since you're not from here, I'll tell you I'm from the northern state of Russia. Where are you from in the other world?"
"I'm from the Southern Water Tribe. I think, from what I know about your world, it's similar to the Arctic Circle." Sokka replied. The two had begun to walk toward the exit of the ruined building which they were in.
"Hahaha, part of Russia is also in the Arctic Circle as well my friend. I think we'll get along fine. I was a good hunter back in the motherland but I was a farmer. I worked the farm with my father until he and my mother went to Moscow to get more supplies. That's when the explosions occurred. I hear you too lost your parents."
"My mother was killed by the Fire Nation but my father still lives, at least, I think he still is. He was imprisoned by the Fire Nation after a failed assault on their capital. But my sister is still with me. We travel with the Avatar. Speaking of the Avatar." Sokka said pointing in front of them. "Here he comes."
"Sokka we're, me and Toph are crossing the Saône River to find Katara and Zuko. Are you coming with us?" Aang asked. Sokka glanced at Vasily. "Yes we are." Sokka said. "Who's we?"
"Vasily and I, we are partners, our job is to eliminate as many Fire Nation soldiers as we can." Sokka replied. "And by eliminate, you mean kill." Aang asked. Vasily nodded, "What other way is there?"
"Sokka, you can't go around killing people. It isn't right, incapacitate them, sure but don't kill them. You're ending a life." Aang said. "Aang, it's the only way. In Lyon, its kill or be killed. Would the Fire Nation hesitate to kill me. They would take you prisoner but I am of no value to them. They would just kill me." Sokka spoke.
Aang shook his head. "Anyway, Katara and Zuko are over there, where the large airship from earlier crashed. We have to make sure they're okay and help them get back. They could be hurt after the crash." Sokka nodded, anything for his sister.
"So when do we go?" Sokka asked. "Now" Toph said before she and Aang turned around, towards the Saône River. Vasily looked at Sokka and Sokka looked at him and they followed.
Eastern Earth Kingdom
"Sir, the new portal is nearly complete." A soldier told a man in a robe.
"Good, prepare the army to march through. Make sure that our friends in the west do so too. These portals could bring us anywhere in their world. We must be prepared for where we come out."
100 Kilometers away from Helsinki
A Finnish hunter sat waiting in a meadow for a stray animal to pass into his sights. Preferably he hoped it would be a deer. He would need all the food he could get for the coming winter with November fast approaching. It was predicted last week that it would be very cold in Finland this year. The first snowfall occurred last week.
The hunter moved his hands. It was very cold and there were a few flurries. Suddenly there was a bang and the hunter jumped up. He looked out far into the meadow and saw a portal. "Herranjumala!" He cried as he watched Fire Nation soldiers begin to exit out of the portal.
Quickly he aimed his gun and began to fire at them. The Fire Nation soldiers had been prepared for this however and began to search about. But they realized very quickly that whoever was shooting at them, was hidden. Quickly they shot fire from their hands into the forest.
The hunter cursed and began to run back to his home where his horse and family were. They had to escape or the Fire Nation would burn them alive. He also had to warn his neighbors and the government.
Hokkaido, Japan
A lone rice farmer stood watching his field, taking in the beauty of nature. He looked at the mountains in the distance and took a deep breath of fresh air. He smiled, this was the best place in the world.
He sat drinking a cup of tea. This was some good tea he thought. Suddenly he heard a large bang and stood up. At the other end of his field, he saw a portal begin to open up.
The farmer was no stranger to these portals, he knew that meant the Fire Nation. He had read the newspaper in town in the past month.
He ran inside and grabbed his katana and looked out across the field. He watched as an army emerged from the other end. If the farmer was younger, he would've ran at the incoming group of soldiers but he was wiser now.
The farmer put on a rice farmer hat and held the katana at his side. He took in a deep breath and walked back into his house. He quickly grabbed anything of value but he, luckily, lived alone.
He grabbed all his things, like his old Great War uniform and picture of he and his soldier. He also grabbed his medals before walking out the front door and mounting his horse.
It may be dishonorable to run from a fight, but he was doing a great honor for Japan by warning everyone of the arrival.