Japan
July 16th, 1940
The sun was about to rise over the mountains when a truck rolled up to the first checkpoint. One of the soldiers at the checkpoint grabbed a flashlight and looked through the window. When he saw that it was a woman, his eyebrows raised.
"What's a woman doing here?" He asked in Japanese. The woman had short black hair that looked recently cut and looked relatively young. Maybe about fifteen or sixteen. She was in a guard uniform and this made the soldier suspicious.
"I'm transporting Fire Nation prisoners, only two mind you, but it's my duty." The woman replied, staring straight ahead.
"I don't think a woman should be driving a truck. She should be back at home asleep in her bed, not driving. I have to admit, it's very suspicious." The words rolled over the soldiers tongue easily.
The woman procured a large piece of paper and handed it to the Japanese soldier. The Japanese soldier took it with a questionable frown and read it. His eyes slowly widened.
"As you can see, I have direct orders from Colonel Matsuda." The woman leaned over towards the soldier. Her head peeked out of the truck and his and her faces were inches apart. "And I suggest you listen."
The Japanese soldier gulped and fumbled with the paper before giving it back. He nodded quickly and turned to the others at the checkpoint. "They're clear. They have orders to pass."
The soldiers pulled away the barrier, allowing the truck to pass. The Japanese soldier watched with wide eyes as the troop truck slowly passed him.
Anza let out a breath which she hadn't realized she was holding. They had gotten through the first checkpoint and now just had to get into the base.
"Anza, are we good?" Zim asked from behind her.
"Obviously, we're not shot are we?" Was Anza's snarky replied.
She could almost feel Zim roll his eyes.
They had gotten the truck yesterday by stealing it. It was an easy job and Anza thought it was extremely simple to jumpstart a truck. It was also extremely simple to drive one too. They had then carved out a small hole in the area behind her seat so they could communicate during the trip.
An added benefit of the truck was that it had a few weapons in it, specifically an anti-armor British PIAT and a few grenades. They stowed these under the seats in the back.
Anza tapped the wheel as she began thinking of the Fire Nation. She had actually never been there but Zim seemed to want to go. Souza however wanted to help her get home first. Anza didn't know how to tell them the reason why she joined up with the army so young.
She clutched the wheel tightly upon thinking of back home. Oh, how she wished she could never ever return. She had learned all her firebending tricks and how to hide them at home. She would preferably never want to return there.
She turned down a dirt road that was extremely bumpy, you would think the Japanese would make good infrastructure towards the only way to the portal, but no they like the Fire Nation put war first rather than infrastructure. It was a stupid mistake that Anza had seen the cost of.
She was beginning to make out the compound in the distance, about 6 miles away. It looked like a fortress, the one thing she could somewhat compare it to was the Boiling Rock Prison if you enlarged it three times.
Lights were illuminating it in the early dawn. She could make up small little shapes moving in the lit windows. Spotlights gazed their light across the sky and road.
The sun was just peeking over the mountains when Anza finally drove up to the base. Directly in front was a toll, where there were about ten men and a large barrier. Each soldiers was carrying a large rifle.
One of them approached the vehicle with a raised eyebrow. Anza sighed,mgrabbed the paper, and handed it to the soldier. The soldier glanced at the paper and nodded before turning to the other soldiers and rolling his hand.
The soldiers pulled back the barrier, allowing the truck to pass. Anza hit the gas pedal and slowly drove forward. As she passed, she nodded at the soldiers.
After she was in the compound the Japanese soldier realized that he was still holding the paper.
"I hope she doesn't need this." He said waving the paper to his fellows.
"I'm sure that if she has nothing to hide, she'll be fine." One of the other soldiers shrugged. The first soldier took the paper and placed it on a pile of discarded documents.
Once Anza was in, she was looking around in awe. The compound was so complex, it was a work of art. It's walls towered over her, like a city. Soldiers were marching about while tanks were held in a large field. A little to the left was an airfield where white planes with red dots sat peacefully. Cars drove around with officers in tan uniforms. Then in the middle, there was the gigantic portal.
Soldiers gazed at her with uneasy suspicion but let her drive. When she reached the portal, she glanced back to see Souza and Zim looking at it in awe.
She smiled slightly as soldiers motioned for her to go through. She drove forward through the portal, disappearing into the infinite swirl.
July 17th, 1940
Western Earth Kingdom
"Aang, I need to talk to you." That's what Haiko told Aang one bright July day. He had been trying to get himself to talk to Aang the past day or two and had so far been unsuccessful.
After Zuko had spoken to him, he had realized the problem. Haiko thought that Pierre would come back one day. He was in denial. And that denial was dragging him down.
He was so sad about the death and his mind couldn't comprehend it. It couldn't comprehend the severity of the loss. He had dealt with such little loss in his life that the loss of someone extremely close to him was leaving him depressed. That's what made him approach Aang who Zuko had suggested he talk to.
Aang turned to Haiko and nodded, "What's up Haiko?"
Aang had been expecting this from Haiko for a while now. Zuko had warned him that he would be telling Haiko to talk to Aang. It seemed like Haiko chose to listen.
"I've been meaning to talk to you for a bit now. Zuko…he…um…he suggested I talk to you about Pierre. He said that youwerereallyspiritualandcouldhelpme." Haiko said these last words really fast causing Aang to blink.
"Haiko, could you repeat that but slower this time?" Aang asked politely.
Haiko took a breath to calm himself down. "Zuko said that you were very spiritual and that you could really help me get over my grief."
Aang nodded and looked around. They were in the middle of the British camp and soldiers could easily hear stuff that should be private.
"Walk with me Haiko." Aang gestured for Haiko to follow which he did. Even though Aang was a fair bit younger than him, he exulted the feeling of being older than his age. He contained wisdom that shouldn't even be known to a 14 year old.
They entered a forest with towering trees and were enveloped in the brush. They walked for a few minutes in silence until Aang stopped in a small meadow.
The meadow was completely flat until Aang stomped his foot. Two rocks appeared to act as chairs for Haiko and Aang and Aang sat down, gesturing for Haiko to do the same.
Haiko sat down across from the Avatar who clasped his hands.
They again, sat in silence. Haiko fiddled with his hands while Aang sat patiently waiting for Haiko to open up. Finally he did.
"I think you already know why I'm here Aang." Haiko began.
Aang nodded, "I'd be lying if I said I didn't." He admitted.
"Then you know what I'm going to say." Haiko pointed out.
"I do. But sometimes it's better to freely admit what you are suffering from so that you feel better. All my friends knew I was suffering from guilt about leaving the air temples. But they let me open up on my own and I am grateful for that." Aang shrugged.
Haiko sighed and rubbed his hands. "I'm in deep denial Aang. Like extreme denial. My mind can't accept that Pierre is gone. It won't let me go on. It has a grip on me, like a chain. It holds me back by the throat, dragging me backwards, down towards hell. My mind just can't grasp the simple fact that Pierre is gone. Can I admit it? Yes I can. Will I accept it, I don't think I can." Haiko had become a little teary-eyed by the end of his little speech.
Aang nodded in understanding. "By the sounds of it, you simply need closure. I wish I knew how I could give that to you, but I'm not sure how." Aang paused in thought. "But I can tell you this Haiko. Death is a necessary part of life, without it there is no point in life. What begins at birth, ends with death and it took me a while to learn this. Death is the natural end, it's what gives life its meaning. For if there is no death, what's the meaning of life. It's why we fight. So that others may live that life and I think Pierre understood that. He understood that the Fire Nation only fights to defend its own people and that he does the same to protect his friends. Did he want to die on that exact day, most likely no, but he knew there would always be a chance. Every soldier knows there will always be a chance."
Haiko gulped. He felt something bump into his boot and he looked down to see a weird hybrid of a turtle and a duck. His hand went down and he lightly stroked it on the top of the head. The hybrid turned its head to the side in pleasure and sat on the ground. When Haiko removed his hand, the hybrid opened its eyes and flew up into his lap and quacked at him. Aang chuckled lightly
"Aang, what is this?" He asked.
"That is a turtle duck. They are native to these areas and also one of Zuko's favorite animals." The turtle duck went under Haiko's shirt and began to nuzzle up against his stomach. "I think it likes you."
Haiko grimaced and tried to grab the turtle duck which was now climbing up his shirt until it's head was peeking out from the top of the shirt. Aang could no longer hold in his own laughter.
"I don't think it's gonna leave Haiko. I think that turtle duck is gonna be here to stay with you." Aang said through bursting laughter.
Haiko sighed and gently grabbed the turtle duck and looked it straight in the eye. "I think I'll name you Hiro, after the emperor. Plus since you're going to be a little hero one day too. Do you like the name Hiro?"
The turtle duck quacked. "I take that as a yes little guy." Haiko said before rubbing Hiro on the head again.
"I'll head back and let you two have your own moment." Aang patted himself off and began to get up. As he was walking away, he heard Haiko clear his throat. "Thank you Aang." He thanked.
Aang smiled lightly. "Any time Haiko, any time."
July 18th, 1940
30 miles away from Boiling Rock
Sokka watched as a British sergeant went absolutely nuts over the German equipment with a raised eye. The sergeant was looking with wide eyes at every knob and wheel. His eyes seemed to explore and understand the contraption that made the German u-boat move.
"This stuff is insane." He said as he tried to twist a knob. A German sailor quickly rushed over and began to push him away.
"It might be better for us all if you don't touch ze knobs, ze levers, and ze wheels." The sailor spoke in a sickly sweet voice. The sergeant dusted himself up and looked at the sailor.
"My sincerest apologies." The sergeant said before turning away and walking aft. Katara walked up next to Sokka and glanced at him.
"This is practically an enlarged version of the submarines we used on the Day of the Black Sun." She noted.
Sokka breathed out. "Yes, but mine was rather primitive. This one is a technological marvel." He watched a few sailors turn some wheels to let steam out and make sure the boat continued at the specified depth.
"It's like their world is a large part ahead of us. They are actually an entire lifetime ahead of us." Katara whispered in shock.
"Stuff we've come up with now that we think are new, are considered primitive by them. These people have airships that are maneuverable and planes. They have powerful ships made out of steel, thicker than any other vessel I know. I almost pity the Fire Nation." Sokka replied.
"Yet though with all that technology. Their wars have only gotten worse. Sokka, our wars rarely reach a million casualties. Theirs go far into it, reaching into the ten millions sometimes. What's going to happen to our world after this war?" Katara leaned her head against Sokka's shoulder.
"I don't know sis. I don't know." They were interrupted by the buzzing of the loudspeaker.
"May Sokka, Zuko, and Sergeant Daniel Weber please report to the helm." It's voice was extremely electronic but distinctly British.
Sokka nudged Katara with his elbow. "See you later sis."
Katara smiled lightly and gazed at him kindly before turning back to admire the workings of the sub.
Sokka walked slowly towards the helm, ducking through the small compartments. He passed sailors doing daily things, like eating and sleeping. Even though they're at war, they still had basic needs.
When Sokka reached the helm, he found Zuko already there speaking to a British officer and pointing at a map. It was a map of Boiling Rock Prison and it's cartography. The bridge and port were covered in a lightly shaded red. The sergeant who had been admiring the German engine room earlier was also there.
"Mister Sokka, kind of you to join us." A British officer told Sokka.
Sokka gave a quick nod. "I wouldn't miss it for the world."
"Well in this case the world is at stake. So come around over here. Sergeant Weber and Prince Zuko are already mostly filled in."
Sokka walked over and leaned over the map. "So what's the plan?"
Zuko pointed to a cove slightly south of the docks. "We're going to take a rowboat here. From ther-"
"Who's we?" Sergeant Weber had his arms crossed and a bored look on his face.
"Sokka, you, and I. Now as I was saying we're landing there and-" Zuko tried to begin but Sokka interrupted.
"Why's this guy coming with us. He has no experience in sneaking in places undetected. He's useless." Sokka critiqued.
"I am not useless. I am an expert in machines." Weber protested.
"Oh yeah, well I'm an expert in machines too. What's so special about what you can do?" Sokka snarled.
"I actually know real machines. Not the primitive things you people use."
"Well those primitive machines are the ones that wrecked France and you'll be trying to use them in a few hours!"
"Gentleman, calm down. You both were considered experts on the matter and were chosen for that reason. Now please, act like men, not boys." The British officers said acting as the peacemaker.
Both Sokka and Weber crossed their arms and humphed. Zuko rolled his eyes before continuing on his strategy. "So we'll be taking a rowboat here and will disembark. We'll then enter the dockyard where there should be some uniforms that we'll grab. We sneak in quickly and locate all points of interest. We will find the weapons room and the bridge control room. We will also have to get into contact with some of the prisoners so that they keep their heads low when we attack. We will all be equipped with small radios, a handgun, and a few explosives. It is extremely important that we don't use radios unless we're sure we're alone."
"Seems like a solid plan but quick question, what do we do when the attack begins?" Sokka asked.
The British officer stepped in to answer the question. "You will know when the attack begins. There will be multiple explosions from the dock when it does happen or there will be a flare. It will be your job to put the bridge down when you see that signal. Then you are to hold your position there."
"How about the bridge? How does that thing work?" Weber inquired and at Sokkas' stare he added, "So I know how to do my job."
"Yes, so the bridge we believe is a complex pulley system. Therefore, our theorists are 95% sure there will be a room to control this system. Simply to reiterate, your job is to collect intel, radio it to us from a secure location, contact the prisoners, and prevent the bridge from being put up when we attack." The British officer repeated.
The officer reached behind him and produced three small objects with long poles at the end. "These things are the radios and they're classified information. The Yanks created them exactly for this mission. No words about this to anyone you hear?" The officer looked particularly sternly at Weber.
Sokka and Weber saluted. "Yes officer."
"Now in case we come across someone important, we must learn to bow. You do so like this." Zuko bowed at his hips until he was perpendicular.
Then he straightened and looked at them expecting Sokka and Weber to copy. Sokka attempted to bow but only got halfway there and Weber fell face forward.
"Again!" Zuko barked.
Weber quickly got up and bowed again this time correctly. Sokka also did a mediocre job, at least he believed so since Zuko didn't make him do it again.
"I will give you each an hour to prepare. From there you will take a rowboat to shore and begin the infiltration. See you then." The British officer dismissed them and the three left.
Sergeant Weber went forward while Zuko and Sokka walked aft back towards Katara.
"So what do you think?" Zuko asked as he stepped through a door.
Sokka ducked under the same hatch and pulled himself through. "About?"
"My plans to conquer the world." Zuko said sarcastically.
"You want to conquer the world!" Sokka cried out in shock.
"I was being sarcastic!" Zuko hissed. "Obviously I was talking about the plan!"
"Oh, ohhhh, you know, that makes a lot more sense then you conquering the world. I know your father is Ozai but you didn't seem like the type of person who would want to conquer the world." Sokka explained.
"Sokka, I asked for your opinion on the plan, not your opinion on my psychology." Zuko exasperatedly said.
"Right, right, I think it's a good plan. But the best plans are sometimes improvised. Like that time when I threw boomerang and hit…"
"I already know that. I was there Sokka."
"Oh yeah, I forgot about that. But as I was saying, the best plans are simply improvised. But you know what I don't like about this plan." Sokka raised his hand and shook his finger. "That stupid sergeant. He is really, just really annoying. He's more annoying than you were when you chased us across the world."
"I think the problem is that you two are too similar for each other's liking. You both have the same antics and you each feel the other is a threat to what they think is their place in society."
After Zuko said this, he paused and glanced at the door to his left. They were in the bunk area and he was recalling where his bunk was. Then he moved to one of them and pulled out the bed. Under the bed, was Zuko's dual Dao swords and a small pack which he grabbed.
"Sokka, you should probably start packing. We'll be gone a day." Zuko stated and Sokka nodded. "Good idea, I should've thought of that."
Sokka stepped through the porthole and let Zuko be.
An hour later, under the cover of darkness, U-26 and the other two submarines, the recently finished HMS Uproar and Ultimatum, all surfaced. The weather was cloudy with a slight drizzle. It was perfectly dark.
The captain of the vessel, Captain Dietrich, helped Sokka, Zuko, and Sergeant Weber up onto the conning tower. The British officer was on the main deck and had grabbed a small raft that was one of the U-boat's lifeboats.
He waved for them to come down onto the main deck which they did. After hurrying down the ladder, the three met the officer.
The officer didn't say much, just gave them two oars and motioned to the raft. They got in the raft and it was here that the officer bent down to them.
The officer raised his right hand to block his face from the rain before saying. "There is a direct line from here to that rock." He pointed to a rock that seemed to be about a mile away. It was barely even seeable. "That line is never bathed in any spotlight from shore."
He gestured to the spotlights that were searching the ocean. "If you keep on that direct line, you'll be safe. Now when you reach shore, take the air out of the raft and discard it somewhere. Someone will grab it when the commandos come ashore. Now gentleman, Godspeed to you." The officer stepped away from them and they began to paddle.
The rain picked up whilst they were paddling, blinding both them and the soldiers onshore. All they could hear was the sounds of the paddles and the rain hitting the water. They were, however, utterly silent.
It took them a half hour to reach shore. From there, Weber unplugged a little knob and the raft began to leak air. He and Zuko together rolled the raft up before placing it neatly behind a rock.
The main dockyard was about a mile and a half away. Such was that they approached silently. It would do them no good if they were spotted.
When they reached the dockyard, they found it was elevated about ten feet above the island; far out of reach for any of the three.
"Did anyone bring rope?" Sokka whispered softly. He glanced around and his eyes narrowed to see Weber doing what he wanted to do. He had taken a hook off a little pouch, which Sokka was just noticing, and had attached it to a rope which had also been in his pouch.
Weber swung the hook up to atop the wall and pulled on it to see if it was a steady connection. He gave a thumbs up before climbing up the wall. Zuko followed right behind him leaving Sokka to wallow in his unhappiness.
He grumbled before grabbing the rope and hauling himself up the wall. He grabbed the top and did the final push, swinging his legs over and rolling to lay stomach up and facing the clouds.
Zuko extended a hand which Sokka gratefully grabbed. They moved gracefully in the shadows, being aware of the patrols marching around. Their footsteps were soft and their words unspoken.
They glanced in each building looking for a handful of uniforms. In one building, Sokka saw a few Fire Nation soldiers playing cards and laughing joyfully.
He moved away before he was spotted but he was pretty sure one had a royal flush. Sokka glanced through the rain and saw a magnificent barge just sitting in the port. He tapped Zuko making him turn and glare.
Sokka pointed at the giant barge and Zuko's eyes widened. He pulled Sokka close to him and made a short whisper. "That's the royal barge of the Fire Lord."
"So your father?" Sokka asked.
Zuko shook his head. "No, my sister."
"Even worse."
They continued to search for uniforms and when they were about to give up and go take out some guards, they found a room with dockyard uniforms in them.
They slipped inside and began to undress from their wet clothing into nice warm ones. Sokka would only privately admit how nice it was to be in warm clothes again.
They exited the building from behind and appeared coming around a bend. "How do you suppose we get in?" Weber asked cautiously.
"I'm thinking of something." Sokka said as he glanced around. Then he saw a column of men marching up towards the main prison and bridge. "I think that's our way. There might be a shift change now." He explained as he began to follow the column.
They sneaked onto the end of the column and followed them until they reached the bridge. Sokka and Weber were both utterly astonished by what they saw. Here was a giant bridge that was drawn up surrounded by a billow of smoke that was being emitted from the lake below. The other side of the lake was a giant building all lit up with yellow and white lights. Spotlights meanwhile combed the sky.
One of the lead soldiers walked up to the bridge and clicked a button. Then he spoke.
"This is the shift change, we're requesting to walk across." He let go of the button and waited there for a minute. A minute turned to two and then turned to five and after ten until finally the bridge was let down.
They walked across the bridge and were able to hear the conversation of the two guards in front of them.
"You know what I hate." One of them said. His voice was low as he tried to remain unheard. He wouldn't have had a problem if there wasn't anyone behind him.
"What?" This guard was a girl who sounded utterly bored.
"I hate that they have no one in the control room at night. The place isn't even under lock and key. What's to stop them from a prisoner putting down the bridge if no one buzzes in?"
"I would think that command knows what they're doing so I wouldn't question it Zeak."
The two soldiers went back into silence as they walked while Weber, Zuko, and Sokka glanced at each other. They walked in and the soldiers suddenly stopped and bowed. Zuko was only a second behind in the bow. Weber and Sokka both rushed to try and attempt a good bow without falling over.
"So these are the guards of the dockyard." A voice cockily said. Sokka chanced a glance up to see Azula standing there with a crown on her head. To her left and right were Mai and Ty Lee while an older man stood behind them.
"Yes my Lady." The older man replied.
Azula cleared her throat. "Do you each realize the importance of what you are doing for our nation?"
The lead soldier who had buzzed in answered. "No my Lady, we don't."
"You will play a vital role in protecting these construction grounds so that when the addons to the dockyard are complete, this will be the forward Fire Nation base. The best part will be that the Alliance won't be able to bomb us in fear of hitting our Prisoners of War at this prison. The Boiling Rock will be the premier Naval Base in the whole Fire Nation all because of you." Azula explained, her voice conniving and slick with cunning words.
"Now warden, I'm sure you can bring me to the docks so I can see this construction?" Azula asked politely but under it was a small amount of venom.
"But m'lady, it's raining outside." The warden protested.
"Do the rains have any control over what a Queen can do warden? Are you saying that rains should rule the Fire Nation rather than me. Would you dare say that the rains should rule over my father?" Azula asked with fake sweetness.
"No!" The warden said a little too loudly. "No, right this way your highness." He led Azula and her two friends down the bridge. The soldiers stayed in a bow position until one cautioned a rise. After one had risen, so did another, and then another, until the group was standing once again.
Once they had all stood, Sokka glanced over at Zuko to see him gasping. "What's wrong?" He whispered only a half octave above silence.
"I've never been so thankful for having helmets." Zuko replied. Sokka also realized how much stress Zuko had gone through. The helmets having steel plates over their eyes had probably saved the mission.
And such it was that the group of three entered into Boiling Rock completely undetected. Knowing they had limited time, they got to work quickly.
Messages were relayed to high command in private areas like bathrooms and closets. These messages detailed troop numbers, number of prisoners, and most importantly, Azula and her plan. The guards were armed with batons but had rifles slung across their backs.
That afternoon, Sokka and Zuko were gazing below into the courtyard after they had gotten a few hours of sleep when they heard a commotion. A tall man with a dark complexion and a goatee and long hair was being yelled at by a guard. The man seemed to be taking it with ease as his arms were crossed and his face impassive.
"Sokka, isn't that your dad?" Zuko whispered over to Sokka. Sokka nodded, his eyes beginning to glisten and a small smile appearing. The sun was high in the sky and Weber was off doing who knows what.
"Should we do something?" Zuko asked, leaning over to try and see. They were perched on top of a wall and could see everything. Sokka began to lean over the railing to get a better look. Then he sighed. "I'm going down and I have a plan."
Sokka grabbed Zuko and whispered something into his ear. Zuko nodded and took off for the stairs. Sokka watched him disappear before descending the stairs. He reached his father before the situation could escalate luckily. He appeared behind the guard who was throwing insults at his father, trying to hold in his seething anger.
"Is this man bothering you?" Sokka asked the guard through his gritted teeth. The guard threw his hands up in the air before pointing at Hakoda's face. It was a hilarious sight because of the height difference with Hakodate being significantly higher than the short guard.
"This man is causing immense trouble here. He was trying to incite a riot and was found doing suspicious stuff." The guard argued.
"I did no such thing." Hakoda replied, his calm demeanor showing why he was elected tribe leader. The guard growled and was about to say something when Sokka put a hand on the guards shoulder.
"I can deal with him if you would like? He's water tribe right? I know the perfect solution." Sokka told the guard, faking a smirk on his face. But his eyes burned with rage.
"Be my guess and he is most certainly one of those backwards people. Not even that but he's their leader too. Maybe try and civilize him." The guard barked out a laugh and Sokka grit his teeth.
"It would be my pleasure." He uttered sarcastically with a slight bow before grabbing his father by the arm and leading him away, with his baton near Hakoda's head.
Sokka led his father through the complex network of hallways, descending further and further towards the lower floors. Hakoda meanwhile kept a calm demeanor as he was led away to what he presumed to be a whipping.
When they were at the lowest floor, Sokka brought his father into a room that had a large sign labeled danger. He heard his father have a sharp intake of breath when he saw they were entering. Sokka opened the door, pushed his father inside, and closed it behind him.
It was a room full of pipes. In this room, there were two guards.
One guard was sitting upon a cluster of pipes and was dangling his feet off while he had a cigar in his mouth and his helmet off. He looked unlike any other Fire Nation man he had ever seen before.
The other guard was leaning against the pipes on the other side of the room. His arms were crossed and had a small smile on his face. This man, unlike the other looked like your average Fire Nation male.
Hakoda turned around to look at the guard behind him and watched him remove his helmet. Hakoda's mouth dropped when he saw who it was. Sokka smiled widely and whispered, "Dad"
Hakoda rushed forward and embraced his son who he had not seen since the Day of the Black Sun. They both let the tears stream freely down their faces as they hugged for what seemed like eternity for them.
When Hakoda finally left the hug, he leaned back and looked at Sokka. "My little warrior is all grown up." He muttered with a sad smile before embracing Sokka again.
Sokka smiled sadly and patted his dad on the back. Then he leaned back when Weber coughed. "As joyous as this family reunion is, I don't know how long everyone will believe the sticker I placed on the door that says 'Danger'." Weber made a rainbow motion with his hands at these words.
"Sokka, as joyful as I am to see you, why are you here? This is a dangerous place for you. Also, who's your clone and the other guy?" Both Sokka and Weber grunted when Hakoda said 'clone'. Zuko decided to take over here.
"We're here as part of a mission to destroy the Boiling Rock dockyards. We were chosen as the infiltration team to enter the compound and work behind enemy lines." Zuko decided to take off his helmet and lay it to the side. "I'm Prince Zuko and I'm a close friend of your daughter and son. The Sokka clone over there is Sergeant Daniel Weber of the British Commando Unit."
Hakoda was silenced by his surprise. "Prince Zuko? Sokka what have you gotten yourself into? This had something to do with Aang right?" He asked when he was able to speak again.
"He joined right after the Day of the Black Sun dad. Me and Katara would trust him with our lives." Hakoda nodded, taking his sons word for it. Then he stroked his goatee. "And who would the British be? A special Earth Kingdom force?"
"How much have you heard of the war going on Mr?" Weber began.
"Hakoda is fine sergeant."
"How much have you heard of the war going on Hakoda?"
"Bits and pieces. All I know is that the Fire Nation is at war again but this time with a foreign enemy….are you that foreign enemy?"
"To put it simply, they invaded another dimension Hakoda. Our dimension is much larger than yours and has over a hundred nations. We were close to the brink of war but with the Fire Nation's invasion, we bonded together and faced the Fire Nation threat. Have you seen the new weapons that the guards have been using?" Weber asked.
"I have. I take it that they are from your world?"
"Yes, they are. We demolished the Fire Nation armies. They fell to our technological superiority. But now, they have taken our designs and have jumped a century in advance. One of their plans is to turn the Boiling Rock Prison into a naval base. We can't let that happen so one of the nations, mine, the British, sent an elite force, called commandos, on submarines to destroy the base. Another one of our objectives is to free the prisoners."
"I think I might need somewhere to sit down." Hakoda muttered after a moment before sitting down on a few pipes. "So why did you guys decide to tell me. I know Sokka would've wanted to tell me first but he could've told me later. So why?"
"The only reason I agreed was because according to Sokka, your a tribal leader and therefore you have a lot of pull. You have to get the prisoners to go along with us and maybe even start a riot. But we need your inside help." Weber pointed at Hakoda.
Hakoda nodded at the plan. "It sounds fair enough but when will the commandos come?"
"They're off the coast in subs. They'll attack tonight." Zuko told Hakoda simply.
Hakoda leaned back until he was against the wall. "So everything is going to go to hell tonight?"
"Yeah, it really is." Sokka grimaced.
They stayed in silence for a moment before Weber said, "You guys should probably head back now. People might start getting suspicious."
Sokka and Hakoda nodded. "Come on dad." He gestured with his hand.
As they were leaving, Sokka did have a question, "Is there a Suki here?"
"Yeah, she's the head of the Kyoshi Warriors. Why?" Sokka blushed a deep shade of red and tried to formulate it into words.
"Me and her might have something going on." Sokka spat out quickly. His father laughed.
"My son is already pulling all those girls. I told Gran-Gran that when you were born."
Sokka blushed even redder. "Dad please stop."
Later that evening, at about nine o'clock, the three found themselves leaning against a ledge that stared out at the dockyard. Weber had a cigar lit in his mouth again as his breath slowed.
The stars above glistened softly lighting the sky. There was a semblance of peace amongst the three young men. The bridge controls was a few minutes away.
"I enjoy these moments we have where it's just us and nature." Sokka said, a small smile on his face.
"It really is beautiful." Weber replied. "It's good to enjoy these moments of peace during war. It's like the Christmas Truce during 1914."
"What's that?" Zuko asked.
"It was in the midst of the Great War and one of the British offenses had just finished. It was Christmas Day and well, there was this one German dude who decided he would just cross No Man's Land offering us chocolate. Soon, the entire front was in No Man's Land sharing food and gifts. In someplace, there was a soccer game between us and the Germans. The Krauts won the game because of penalties though. My pa was there." Weber explained.
"It sounds like a miracle." Sokka said wistfully.
"It was a miracle. Nothing had ever happened before that and nothing will ever happen after. The two just began to hate each other so much that any truce became impossible. The war could've ended right there but no politicians wanted it to. It's one of the great tragedies of the world."
"War is always a tragedy. It doesn't matter how advanced you are, war is forever a tragedy. People will always die, husbands, brothers, sons, and fathers will all lose their lives in war." Zuko's mouth formed a line. "I've seen it happen before my very eyes."
"War makes you realize that the only true equalizer in life is death, you know. It's the only thing that makes everyone truly equal to the other. And war is the harbinger of that equality." Weber spoke.
Sokka's hands began to fiddle as they leaned, staring out across to the harbor in silence again. There was the sound of pulleys and creaking as the bridge was drawn back. The water gently bubbled below. Weber's fingers began to tap.
"Cigar anyone?" Weber suddenly asked.
"Nah I'm good."
"Sure, it'll placid my racing nerves."
Sokka took the cigar and leaned it over for Weber to light. Zuko shook his head, "I got you two." He lit his finger on fire and let the two light their cigars. Sokka slowly felt calmness fall over him and he smiled.
"I wish I could use the elements." Weber told Zuko.
"I do too. At least in your world, no one can. In mine, my sister would continuously prank me using her waterbending. Non-benders are frowned upon all the time." Sokka butt in making Weber turn to him.
"Hopefully that will change with the new weapons we have. A non-bender can kill a bender from a half-mile away. Guns are an equalizer for this world."
"I never thought of that. That might be something I should deal with when I ascend the Fire Nation throne." Zuko thought aloud.
"Wait, hold up." Weber made a pause symbol. "You're the Prince of the Fire Nation? Your dad was the one that ordered the burning of London?"
"I don't really like talking about my family but once I take the throne, I'll make changes. I'll make sure the Fire Nation is never able to annihilate the other nations." Zuko reasoned with a small smile.
"I don't think that's a good idea. A lot of people are gonna hate the Fire Nation and refuse to forgive them. There might be something where everyone tries to divide you amongst themselves like a turkey. They did that to the Ottomans after the Great War. You might want to keep a standing military my liege." Weber said the last part with a bit of sarcasm causing Sokka to chuckle before he had something to add.
"That could actually happen, Zuko. After seeing what we've seen, could you really put it past these nations to do that to the Fire Nation."
Zuko stroked an imaginary beard. "That idea may have some merit."
Suddenly a bright light made them all wince. They looked up to see something like a star appear in the sky. The three stumbled backwards from the ledge. "Peace time is over guys, that's a flare!" Weber yelled out before he took off running for the bridge control room.
Weber opened the door to get inside and rushed to where he knew the control room was. He found the door and ran through, finding the room empty but with a whole lot of buttons and levers. His eyes widened immensely.
Sokka and Zuko entered right behind him and their eyes also widened at the whole system. Weber turned around and pointed to Zuko. "Close the door and put a chair under that door knob. Then weld it close with your firebending." He then pointed at Sokka. "Sokka, I hate to say this but I need your help."
Sokka nodded solemnly and looked at the buttons and read the pieces of tape above them. He glanced around and found a list on a wall. He walked over and examined it. His eyes widened once again.
"Weber, click the red button, pull the switches labeled hydraulics, turn on the pumps, and then pull the giant lever." Sokka ordered Weber.
Weber did those things in order and soon the bridge was coming down. But before it did, there was a giant explosion from the docks as fire spewed into the air. "Looks like they destroyed the docks." Zuko assumed.
Once the bridge was down, spotlights focused on it. From where they were positioned, they saw a hundred of soldiers rushing across the bridge. One had water whips. "Katara!" Sokka and Zuko both exclaimed.
They watched as ten guards went over to the beginning of the bridge and begin firing at the commandos. Katara grabbed one with her water whip and flung him into the lake below. A few guards then exited the building with a machine gun.
Sokka watched in horror as they set it up and began firing. Weber appeared to his side and with his elbow, broke the window. He took out a grenade and tossed it down towards the machine gun crew. Sokka heard their horrified shrieks before the grenade went off, silencing them forevermore.
Weber then took out his pistol and began to shoot at the guards holding back the wave of commandos. The guards dispersed, fleeing within the building. That's when there was a knock on the door.
"Open up!" They heard someone shout. "I said open up!" There was a deep bang against the door.
"Move out of the way." There was the sound of fire and the door began to turn a deep shade of red.
"Blood hell." Weber gasped but then the fire stopped abruptly.
"We need someone stronger to get through this door." They heard someone on the other side say.
Suddenly there was a voice that no one in the control room liked to here. "Would lightning work?" Fire Lady Azula asked the guards.
Sokka quickly looked around and noted how there was an air vent above the room. "Zuko, get into that." He told Zuko frantically. Zuko nodded and jumped and grabbed the vent. He took off the casing and hauled himself up before reaching down for Sokka and helping him.
"Come on Weber!" Zuko yelled. Weber raised a finger. "If they get in, they'll pull down the bridge." Weber raised his gun and shot the giant lever. The lever came loose and Weber took it off. He grabbed Zuko's hand and felt himself pulled off the ground. Zuko began to place back on the casing when they heard the door break open and fly across the room.
"There's no one here!" One of the guards cried out.
"Just put down the bridge so that those soldiers fall into the lake!" Azula growled.
"We can't, your lighting must have destroyed the lever to do so!"
The three began to crawl away just as they heard someone scream.
Meanwhile, the prisoners were being led away somewhere, deeper into the compound. At the sound of the gunshots, Hakoda knew it was time. "Does anyone here know how to start a riot?" He whispered to the group.
"Why would you need to do that? If your trying to escape, I want in." One of the prisoners that Hakoda knew as Chit Sang said. Hakoda shrugged. "I wanted to do a full prison break but sure."
Chit Sang nodded before grabbing a smaller prisoner to his right.
"Hey! Riot!" He shouted to the crowd. Suddenly the prisoners began assaulting their guards in an attempt to escape.
Out at sea, Captain Dietrich watched the dockyards burn. His lips slowly curved into a smile as he thought of the impending doom of the Fire Nation. Suddenly teh voice of his 1st Officer broke him out of his thoughts.
"Sir, we have three destroyers being reported on hydrophone. They probably saw the flames from the dockyard." The First Officer said.
"Radio the two British commanders. Tell them we're turning around to stop them in their tracks." Dietrich ordered. The First Officer saluted and climbed down below decks.
Dietrich immediately felt U-26 turn towards the open sea. Immediately he saw the lights from the three destroyers. One seemed to be French in origin while the other two were normal Fire Nation destroyers. He saw the spotlights and ordered a dive.
As U-26 plunged below the waves, the periscope poked its head out of the water. The French made destroyer was on a direct course for them.
"Heat the torpedoes."
"Torpedoes heated sir."
"For the lead ship, recognized as a L'Adroit class, one kilometer away, zero degrees off bow, and the target is steaming at twelve knots. Set torpedo speed to forty knots."
"Set sir." The soldier replied.
"Preheat that tube. For the Fire Nation destroyer on the port side, it's moving at a speed of twelve knots and has a length of eighty meters. Put it as a kilometer away and eighty degrees in relation to the bow. Preheat that tube." Dietrich ordered.
"And the final ship?"
"Speed of twelve knots too and length of eighty. Kilometer away and one hundred degrees in relation to the bow. Then preheat and let me know when it's all set."
The sailor waited for twenty seconds before saying, "Done."
"Launch."
"Torpedoes launched." He started a stopwatch.
Dietrich watched as the destroyers continued on their paths and waited with bated breath as the seconds ticked by like life. He breathed in slowly and relaxed.
Then he saw a giant splash of water hit the lead destroyer. Seconds later another splash hit midship on the port side ship and again with the starboard ship near the stern.
The lead destroyers bow came flying off into the sea before beginning to list heavily. Within a minute, she had capsized and then slipped beneath the waves.
The ship to the starboard side began to lean towards her stern. Her nose continued on this trend towards the sky until she was perpendicular to the sea. Soon, that tip was all that was left of the ship until she was swallowed up by Poseidon.
Finally, the port side ship was listing to her starboard side but began to limp away. Dietrich decided to let them, thinking that there would be a fair chance that she'll sink on the journey to friendly ports.
Back in the prison, Weber, Zuko, and Sokka were climbing through the vents. First it was Zuko, then Sokka, and finally Weber in the back. Zuko looked through one of the coverings and saw the area was clear. He punched it out and dropped down, gesturing for the others to follow.
Once they were all down, they began to look around. Zuko raised a hand motioned for them to hide behind a corner. They rushed over and watched four soldiers rush down the adjacent hall with guns in their hands.
"This way." Zuko whispered, leading them down the hall where the soldiers rushed off to. After walking for about a minute, they began to hear gunshots and sounds of screaming. The three took out their pistols and pointed them forward.
"Can we not kill them, I will have to rule them one day." Zuko told them and Weber nodded. "I'll try but no promises."
"I guess that's the best I can hope for."
They found the soldiers fighting off a horde of prisoners who were attempting to break through. The soldiers had formed a small barricade and were shooting at the prisoners that were attempting to break through. Sokka hoped that no one had shot his father or Suki.
They approached the soldiers from behind, slowly unsheathing their preferred melee weapon. For Zuko, his dao swords, for Weber, a normal bayonet, and for Sokka his meteorite sword and boomerang.
The soldiers had joined a much larger contingent of troops turning the number from four to six. The three were outnumbered two to one but had the surprise advantage and a wave of prisoners.
Sokka threw his boomerang first and watched it hit one of the soldiers in the head, making him fall to the ground. Sokka caught it, gaining a glint in his eye as he smiled.
"Go boomerang!" He yelled out throwing it at another soldier. He smiled widely as the soldier stumbled forward and over the barrier into the wave of prisoners.
Weber bonked one guard in his helmet making him fall. Weber caught the guard as another one turned and tried shooting him. Instead, she shot her fellow near the hip making the man cry out. Weber threw the shot man into the female guard, making them both fall into the prisoners.
Zuko slashed one man across the helmet, chipping it. The man crumpled to the ground, most likely with a concussion but nothing worse. The other guard tried to perform a swing at Zuko, who blocked it.
He uppercut the hilt of the sword expertly, making the sword go flying. The guard watched in silent shock as his sword went flying before grimacing and raising his hands over his head. Zuko nodded, "Good choice."
At this moment, a familiar brunette leaped above the barricade and made a beeline for Sokka. Sokka smiled and outstretched his arms expecting a hug but instead found himself getting a punch to the gut. For a second he was shocked then he realized he still had his helmet and uniform on.
He had to block another strike from his pissed off girlfriend who though he was the enemy. Her left uppercut was blocked by Sokka's right arm. Her right swing was caught by Sokka's hand and he raised it above her head. He watched her growl angrily.
Sokka with his other hand quickly took off his helmet and looked her directly in the eyes. "Suki" he gasped, looking at her clearly for the first time in two years.
Suki dropped her hand and let it hang to the side.
"Sokka" she replied, her lips beginning to quiver. Then she smashed those lips right against his as he wrapped his arms around her waist. "I haven't seen you in years." She mumbled as she snuggled her head against his shoulder. "I missed you."
"I missed you too sweetheart." Sokka replied. "But right now I think we have more pressing problems." He pointed at Zuko and Weber who had also taken off their helmets.
"You!" Suki pointed at Zuko. "You burned down my village!"
"I'm sorry! I was misguided!" Zuko cried out, expecting this outburst but wholly unprepared.
"Zuko you burnt down villages? What's up with that?" Weber asked.
"I was hunting the Avatar so I could capture him and end my exile imposed by my father."
"You mean the same Avatar your close to back at base? That same Avatar?" Weber said in disbelief.
"One in the same Weber." Zuko replied.
Suki turned back to Sokka. "I guess somethings have changed since I last saw you." She murmured into his ear. "It's a long story that we'll talk about later once we get out of here." Sokka whispered back, finally letting go.
He walked over to the barrier and climbed atop it and let the prisoners see him. He raised his hands to them and he cried, "This is the British commando force and we are here to rescue you. But to do that, you must stop your riot and reorganize into a fighting force."
"Why should we listen to you!" One prisoner shouted.
"What other choice do you have? The Fire Nation will kill you all if you get recaptured. What I'm offering is a path out." The crowd began to murmur amongst themselves.
"I think we should listen to him." Hakoda yelled out over the crowd.
"Agreed!" shouted the other Water Tribesman.
"Who among you is an archer?" A few people raised their hands. Sokka grabbed three rifles and tossed them to the people. He picked up his own rifle and demonstrated how to hold a rifle. "Shoot like this." He pulled the trigger. "And make sure safety is off." He switched the switch on and off.
Then Sokka placed a well kick against the barrier. It crumbled beneath him and he raised his rifle. "Let's go!" He shouted before pointing down the hall.
The prisoners shouted something incoherent before rushing down the hall, Sokka stopped his father with his hand and placed a rifle in it. "Dad, I know you're a good hunter." Was all Sokka said. Hakoda nodded and jogged down the hall following the prisoners.
Then another prisoner approached who had a bit of a goatee. "Hello, my name is Chit Sang and this is my girlfriend and best friend. We would like to know how you guys are going to get out of here."
"Plan is free you guys and we have boats waiting outside. But we can't get through until the Fire Nation force is crippled. Can you shoot or do you bend?"
"I'm a firebender." Chit Sang answered.
"Then if you want to escape, help the others combat the firebenders." Chit Sang nodded and began to turn away before Sokka raised his hand. "For you best friend and girlfriend." He tossed one handgun then grabbed another from the floor and tossed it too.
"Thanks." The two said in unison and Sokka waved them off. "You can say thanks when your all on the subs getting away from here."
After the three had left, it was just Sokka, Suki, Weber, Zuko, and one captured Fire Nation soldier. "Hey Suki, do you have a plan with this guy?" Zuko asked.
"You're in charge of him buddy." Zuko groaned and locked the man's hands behind his back. "So how do we get out of here? Follow the prisoners?"
"The prisoners went the long way, we'll go the shorter way and hopefully meet up with them." Weber replied. "I can already imagine the nice warm soup on the boat."
Sokka rolled his eyes. "Weber, can I have your handgun? You are not gonna be using it much right?" Sokka asked.
"Nah, I'll stick with this new rifle. Here, catch." He tossed it and Sokka caught it easily. Then he handed it to Suki.
"So Suki, you're gonna want to aim like this. You heard what I told the prisoners right?"
Suki nodded, "I'm going to guess this is the same mechanism."
"Pretty much. Same firing methods, just different posture when shooting."
"I think I got it."
"Don't worry, you'll have practice soon. I hear gunshots ahead. Zuko you might want to gag our prisoner." Weber noted. Zuko nodded, took out a small ribbon and tied it around the man's mouth. The man voluntarily let it happen.
They huddled behind a wall and Weber glanced down the hallway. Down the hall, there was a machine gun emplacement firing down. On the other side, British commandos were pinned down.
"Sokka, grenade." At Weber's outstretched hand, Sokka gave him a grenade. Weber chucked it down the hall and waited for the explosion. There was a muffled boom and the machine gun and rifles fell silent.
Weber stepped into the hall and waved at his fellow commandos. A few waved back. Suddenly a blast of blue fire interrupted them.
"Zuzu! I didn't know you were here." Down the adjacent hallway stood Azula, Mai, and Ty Lee with a few royal guardsmen.
"I won't even lower myself to fight you actually." Azula said offer a moment of pondering. "Ty Lee, Mai, have at them."
Zuko chucked the prisoner into the hands of Weber. "Weber, get out of here, we got these three." His hands lighting on fire.
Mai and Ty Lee both ran at the three. Suki came to fight Ty Lee while Sokka and Zuko faced Mai. All while Azula watched with a smirk.
Sokka began to back up, aiming down the sights of his rifle, trying to pick a target. Mai, seeing this grabbed a knife and flung it, pinning Sokka's sleeve against a wall. Now she had Zuko all to herself.
Suki blocked Ty Lee's strikes with surprising ease, kicking on occasion. Both quickly tired out as they were of equal match in martial arts.
Zuko looked at Mai with a sad expression on his face. "You don't have to do this Mai. I know you're better than that. Why can't you just leave her?" He whispered after she over attacked one of his shoulders and he had leaned back.
"You know I can't do that. She'll just kill my entire family." She harshly replied pushing him away and throwing a knife. Zuko grimaced. "I can help though. I can help with everything if you give me a chance."
"Not after you dumped me a few years ago."
Zuko dodged the two knives and resigned himself to fighting her. He took out his dual Dao swords and began to prance around her. Her knives and his swords met in deadly clashes as they spun in a deadly dance.
"Sokka, take over this for me." Zuko called back to the man who had just gotten his arm unstuck from the wall. Sokka nodded and took out his meteorite sword and met Mai with his sword.
Zuko stepped back before running towards Azula. Azula smirked and threw off her robe, showing her armor. She crouched before jumping onto the wall and running at Zuko. Both their hands were ignited with flames.
Zuko launched two fireballs at her which she dodged by jumping back onto level ground. She laughed and sent a burst of blue fire at him. He leaned to the side and before jumping and grabbing a pipe near the top of the hallway and using it to swing and land in front of his sister.
The imperial guards aimed their rifles or their hands but Azula raised her hand. Zuko kicked above and she ducked down firing her own blast at his feet. Zuko jumped to behind her and rolled upon landing, avoiding another blast.
Azula swung a punch with her fist ignited at which Zuko leaned back easily. He threw his own fist which Zuko blocked with her arm.
They exchanged a flurry of fists while the others fought behind them. Soon, however, a voice was heard down the hallway. "Come on this way!" It was Weber with ten commandos behind him.
They slid around a corner and aimed their weapons. Weber had somehow now gotten a STEN gun and was pointing it at the imperial guards.
The commandos pulled the triggers to their weapons and watched as a few royal guardsmen fell, causing them to scatter into crevices in the hallway.
"Princess, we have to retreat!" One of them yelled.
Azula growled, launching one final blast of fire at Zuko causing him to back step. "Girls, it's time for us to go!"
"Coming!" Ty Lee called pleasantly like she wasn't in a deadly battle. She performed a few cartwheels to retreat back.
Mai began to back up when Zuko called out to her, "You don't have to do this Mai. It'll just result in more ruin. We both know she isn't sane anymore."
"Sometimes Zuko, you have to make the hard choices in life." Mai drawled out before throwing a knife at a nearby pipe. The pipe exploded, launching scalding smoke everywhere causing many to start coughing. When the smoke cleared, all that was left was the single body of an Imperial Guardsman.
Zuko shook his head and turned around, "Let's head back to the boats."
They were among the last to hurry across the bridge and back to the dockyards. When they passed said dockyards, Sokka and Zuko both looked at it gaping.
"You completely destroyed it." Sokka murmured.
"Thanks to the work of explosives, anything can be possible." Weber replied, a grim expression on his face.
When they reached shore, they found the prisoners boarding small rafts. Sokka found his dad and sister already embracing on one and hurried onto the raft. Zuko and Weber followed after him.
They climbed aboard and pushed off shore as commandos paddled them back to the subs. Once everyone was on the subs, they pulled away against the dark backdrop.
Behind them, the Boiling Rock burned.
South Pole
July 20th, 1940
The Soviet captain shivered as he looked at the ship suspended in ice. The capabilities of the people here, he severely hoped that he would be seen as a friend rather than an invader like the people on the vessel that now lay in ice.
Ahead, he saw a small town that seemed to be recently built. A watch tower stood proudly in the center. He could already begin to see people crowding.
Pakku was eating breakfast with Kanna when he heard a knock on his door. "Come in!" He shouted. A Southern Water Tribe soldier rushed in.
"Sir, ships spotted on the horizon!"
Pakku quickly stood up, his breakfast now discarded. "Fire Nation?" He asked as he rushed out the door.
"No sir, they're unlike any ships I've ever seen. Plus they don't fly the Fire Nation ensign. It's another ensign that's completely red." The soldier explained.
"It could be the Southern Raiders." Pakku pointed out.
"But they haven't been active!" The soldier gasped.
"Yet, there is still a distinct possibility that this could be the Southern Raiders. They may have spotted the progress we've made." He gestured to the large town. "Either way, prepare the soldiers for battle."
The soldier saluted. "Yes sir!" He yelled out before he turned and ran off.
Pakku sighed and looked at the rapidly expanding town of his own creation. When he arrived in the south with a few soldiers, like the one prior, he immediately began building stuff up. His courting of Kanna however remained his best achievement.
Very soon, the few igloos became a small town and then Pakku had to return to the North Pole to aid in the rebellion. When he came back, that small town was a large town and had doubled in population from refugees.
Shops and infrastructure were built, turning the tribe into a modern state. She made leaps and bounds in building up the state and governance so that when Hakoda returned, the Southern Water Tribe would be completely different.
However, the arrival of whoever this new power pulls Pakku's plans into question. If this did happen to be the Southern Raiders, it would spell bad news for the community.
He arrived at the shore and saw soldiers already creating barricades and stockpiling weapons. Some were carrying large crates with a new weapon that had been discovered. It included a special black compound that was highly flammable.
He then for first time saw the ships. The flags, like he was told, were unlike any he had ever seen before. The ships however were exactly the same as newer Fire Nation models. The only discrepancy was the transport model which was not a converted warship. Instead, they had two high masts and a large center bridge command and were grey.
"Hand me a some binoculars!" Pakku barked. Someone quickly handed him a pair of binoculars and Pakku grabbed them with a snarl. He placed them to his eyes which widened at what he saw.
There were already five boats rowing towards them. The lead boat had a man in a cap waving a white flag. None of the soldiers seemed to have weapons but they could be hidden in the boats. Pakku had a sharp intake of breath.
"Lay down your weapons but have them at the ready." Pakku ordered.
The soldiers nodded and let the boats approach. When the boat reached land, the commander stepped out with a grin on his face.
"Hello Southern Vater Tribesmen. How are you!" He asked with a wide grin and somewhat good English. He outstretched a hand to Pakku.
Pakku shot a wary glance at the commander before shaking it. "Ve had came to liberate you but zit seems you have already do so. Good job!" The commander clapped politely.
One of the Soviet soldiers who had dismounted moved to a crate and opened it. His eyes widened and he stared for a short while.
"Commander, you might want to see this." The soldier said in Russian. The commander frowned and walked over. When he glanced in, his head moved back in surprise, then he laughed.
"You," he pointed at Pakku. "Do you have more of this stuff." He gestured to the stuff within the crate. Pakku walked over and glanced inside, "Most certainly, we've begun to find a lot a few miles west of here."
"If ve, as in my nation, ze mother Soviet Union, are abled to gain exclusive trading rights for this, this, how do you say, how do you say?" He paused. "Ahh yes, substance! Ve vill supply you with whatever you need to build this place up. But only if ve are ze people to gain zist precious substance."
Pakku stroked his beard. "I can agree to those terms."
The Soviet man nodded and outstretched his hand. "To friendship then perhaps?"
Pakku nodded, "To friendship I suppose." He shook the hand of the widely grinning Soviet.