Eastern Earth Kingdom
September 20th, 1940
"We're under attack!"
Dozum's eyes shot wide open as he became aware of the gunshots and explosions coming from outside. He got out of bed and quickly put on his military gear and grabbed his pistol.
As he was about to leave, Rimu came rushing in.
"Good your ready," he said before turning and running outside their bunkers.
There was the most deafening sound, the one that Dozum doubted he would ever forget. It sounded like stuff was being launched at their base, was it artillery? No, the sound was different.
Rimu ran to the door and forced it open. "We have to get to our FT-12 and meet up with the girls!" Rimu yelled over the explosions. He stopped and reached down to grab two guns and tossed one, a submachine gun, to Dozum. "These might be important, you never know."
Dozum looked around and saw the entire camp was aflame. "Holy spirits!" He muttered, stumbling back. Meanwhile Rimu double checked to see if his gun, a standard Fire Nation rifle, was fully loaded. When he decided it was, he began to march towards the fire.
"Where are you going?" Dozum called over the explosions.
"We have to get to our tank. It's on the other side of camp, you know that." Rimu explained.
"But it's on fire!"
"Dozum, now's not the time to fear a little flame. We're from the Fire Nation for spirit's sake."
Dozum grumbled and followed Rimu as they got closer and closer to overarching flames. The two raised their guns and began to creep forward as the gunshots got louder and louder.
"What happened here?" Rimu asked as he stepped over the dead body of a Fire Nation soldier. Dozum also looked around and saw weird rock formations.
"We have to be careful, look at the weird rocks. I'd be shocked if they weren't from earthbenders." Dozum muttered quietly.
Rimu nodded and gripped his rifle even tighter. As they moved into the camp and halted when Douza heard the dreaded sound again.
"Oh my…" Douza mumbled as he watched missiles come flying towards him from the sky.
"What…" Rimu also looked up and saw the missiles fly over them and land a quarter of a mile north.
The two turned to each other with shocked expressions and continued to walk through the burning camp. They both knew the memo, shoot anything that moves.
In a tent to their right, there was a rustling. The two pointed their guns at the face and prepared to pull the trigger.
Out of the tent, came a Soviet and Earth Kingdom soldier laughing heartily. When they looked up however, their eyes widened. Then the Soviet soldier raised his gun.
Brat-a-tat-tat
Both soldiers fell to the ground and Douza breathed a sigh of relief. He lowered his gun and he and Rimu continued to walk cautiously towards the tank.
At about halfway there, the earth rumbled again. Rimu raised a hand and they both stopped and laid on the ground.
An earth pillar jumped from the ground and appeared before the two. A Soviet officer, two soldiers, and an earthbender leapt from the top of the pillar and began to walk towards camp.
Rimu and Douza shared a nod before pulling the trigger once more, mowing the four down. They stood up and Rimu turned to Douza.
"We should probably hurry up. At some point they'll sound the alarm about us," said Rimu and Douza nodded. The two took a light jog to exit the camp and soon found their tank.
However, they soon realized that none of the rest of their crew was there. "Guess we're waiting," muttered Douza. He peeked his head over the top of the tank and saw Soviet soldiers, their helmets glistening from the fire, coming their way.
"We have some problems," Douza turned to Rimu who grimaced.
"Wait a while to see if they turn around," Rimu replied. But the Soviet soldiers didn't turn around, they just kept on walking forward.
When Rimu saw this, he sighed dramatically. "Time for us to either live as the heroes, or die as the villains." He pointed his rifle at the soldiers and fired.
Douza poked his head out and began to fire with his submachine gun. Now, was the time that the other three members of their crew arrived.
"What are you two doing!" Zaire yelled.
"Holding off some Soviets, get in the tank before you all get mowed down. We'll cover you!" Rimu replied.
Zaire grumbled before climbing into the tank, then Seeza, and then Iresa. The engine of the tank revved up until it sputtered and died.
Seeza jumped out of the tank with a wrench and ran behind it. "Come on you stupid tank! Work with me!" She yelled as she opened up the back and stuck her head into it and tinkered. Meanwhile the Soviet soldiers closed in.
"Seeza, you might want to hurry up there!" Douza called.
Seeza gave the tank one last whack and the engine whirred to life. She closed the back and ran back inside. Moments later, Rimu was climbing into the tank as it began to move forward.
Rimu stuck his hand out for Douza with outstretched fingers. Douza went to grasp it until he saw two soldiers carry out an anti-tank gun. With a snarl, Douza stopped chasing after the tank, crouched, and mowed them down.
Douza paused and stared out at the burning camp in mesmerization. The Soviet and Earth Kingdom soldiers moved amongst it like ants. To Douza, it has a certain beauty that encaptured his eyes.
"Douza, hurry your ass up!" Rimu yelled, breaking Douza from his trance. He turned and sprinted after the tank as bullets peppered around him. He grasped Rimu's waiting hand and was pulled off the ground.
Rimu climbed into the tank and got into his position as gunner. Douza on the other hand only got halfway through the hatch. He stayed above, constantly firing with his submachine gun as the crew tried to make their escape.
Once they were significantly away from the burning camp, they all breathed a sigh of relief.
"What do we do now?" Iresa asked Zaire.
Zaire was about to speak when a white flare appeared over the burning camp. Douza, who still sat outside the tank, winced before placing his hand over the flare. Then he saw glistening objects moving towards them.
He stood and yelled, "Enemy tanks, 3 o'clock! And a lot of them!" He dropped down into the tank.
"Battlestations everyone!"
Everyone except Douza rushed to their battlestations. He stood uncomfortably to the side, debating internally.
"Commander, are you sure?" He asked hesitantly.
"Are you questioning my orders?" Zaire practically growled.
"Not to be offensive commander, but that would be suicide. There's about thirty tanks coming across the field over there and we're only one. Wouldn't it be better if we saved ourselves and joined with the main force wherever it is?"
"If you mutter one more word against me Douza, I'll have you charged for treason," Zaire snarled, causing Douza to get to his battle station quickly. But the seeds were planted.
"Driver, go forward, towards that hill. It will be optimal for an attack," Zaire ordered. However, Seeza didn't and her feet remained firmly off the pedal.
"Driver, I said go!" Zaire yelled.
"Uhh, I hate to agree with Douza commander but it would be a better idea to join up with the rest of the force. I've heard radio chatter and they're not too far away. It's worthless to sacrifice ourselves for no reason," Iresa argued from her position at the radio.
"Commander, as both a friend and coworker, I agree," Seeza added and Rimu nodded in the back.
Zaire sighed with a frown but her eyes blazed with deep anger. "Fine, driver, take us to wherever Iresa tells you."
Seeza nodded, "Yes commander."
The tracks began to turn and soon the tank disappeared into the darkness amidst the Soviet advance.
Later, after by the group had caught up to the rest of the force, Douza found himself alone staring at the setting sun near a small cliff. The main force was taking a rest and Douza thought he would enjoy nature. But then he heard footsteps approaching from behind and he turned to find Zaire.
He stood and saluted her.
"Commander, what can I do for you?" Douza asked but Zaire continued to walk towards him. He eased his position and watched curiously.
When she was close enough, she grabbed the front of his shirt and pushed him over the edge of the cliff. Douza gasped as he hung helplessly over the cliff's edge, kept from an inevitable doom only by Zaire's hands.
She leaned close to him and he could once again see the blazing anger and hatred in her eyes. "I wouldn't hesitate to drop you after that stunt you pulled today. If I couldn't get another loader, I would have you charged for treason or drop you right here and now. But I'm a kind woman. I'll leave you off with a warning."
"If you ever get in my way again on my journey to achieve glory and victory for our nation, I will kill you myself. If you create a rebellion against me again," she let go with one hand making Douza drop lower. "Then you know what will happen. So, don't stand in the way of my goals, it will only end in your doom."
She threw Douza off to the side causing him to roll across the grass. He coughed heavily before getting to his knees to watch Zaire stalk away.
"Remember that Douza," Zaire called back as she slowly disappeared.
As Douza laid on the ground coughing, he muttered something.
"That woman is insane."
Western Earth Kingdom
September 27th, 1940
"Anza, it's time we had a talk," said Souza with a hard glare at Anza.
"About what?" Anza asked innocently as she shuffled her feet. But Souza knew that Anza was an expert at lying and at playing innocent. It's how she tricked him and everyone else in the army into thinking she was a non-bender.
"You know what," Souza crossed his arms. Anza bit her lip tightly, "Do we have to?"
He watched her glance at Zim who stood cautiously at the side.
"Do you not want him to hear?" Souza asked, gesturing his head to Zim who shrugged. "It's alright, I can go somewhere else."
"No, it's not that. It's just it's not really something I like talking about." The images of fire and screaming flashed through her mind.
Souza and Zim glanced at each other. "We have all the time in the world. We're in no rush and we don't want to see you suffer. It's best to talk about this stuff with someone."
Anza grimaced, "We might want to find somewhere comfortable."
Within a minute, they were lounging near a small stream. Zim was laid flat out on a rock, Anza had her feet dangling in the water, and Souza sat on the bank.
"So…" Souza gestured with his hand.
"It was a long time ago in Kuongang. I never knew my parents and all I had ever known were the streets of the city. But I made due. My firebending training was the bright spot in my life as I lived alone, usually in boxes or trash."
"Then, I met the only family I ever knew. It was a bunch of street kids who had either ran from their families or had a lack of one. We all complimented each other and we succeeded as one. Sometimes, we would pull heists and steal food too."
"But then we met an old rich man who took us in. We became his surrogate family and we brought happiness to his life. The best part though was that he was a firebending master. He taught me a lot of what I know. The rest I taught myself based off his theories. He was truly brilliant in the art."
"However, the old man had many enemies. First, he had once been a high ranking Fire Nation commander so there were many assassination attempts. That is how his wife had been killed. He had also made an enemy of the mob by taking in street kids that could easily be used for the mob's benefit. Back then, I had a feeling that he knew that his life was coming to a beautiful finish."
"So one night, one winter's night, I woke up surrounded by flames. Quickly, I was able to rush everyone else out of the building before going to help the man who had become the only father I had ever known. I found him in the main hall battling five men, two of which were firebenders. I joined him in battling them until we both were forced to retreat."
"He had turned to me, I remember it very clearly, and he told me to get out of here. If they found me they would kill me and that he would buy me some time. So I did what he told me to do, I ran."
"When I got back outside, I found that the rest of my friends had scattered save for a few. To put it simply, we had vengeance in our minds as we watched the old man's house burn to the ground."
"We searched for them, under every rock and into every alley. And soon we found their center of operations. We snuck in and laid an ambush. A few of us destroyed the entirety of the battle hardened mob. We slaughtered them."
"When it was done, I lit the building on fire, leaving the survivors to burn alive inside. It was my first taste of anarchy."
"When I returned back the next day, I saw the charred remains of destruction. It was then that I vowed to never use my firebending like that again. My friends and I decided to split, with me and one other joining the army."
"I decided to keep secret my firebending because I had heard of what happens to colonial firebenders. So I stuck with the non-bending division. My other friend, Reeza, joined the air corps. From the last letter I received from her, she was joining the Phoenix Squadron. We journeyed to Japan and well, you guys know the rest."
Anza finished and waded her feet through the stream while looking down at the rocky bed.
Souza stood up, "Honestly, I was expecting something worse."
Anza looked up in shock, "Really?"
"Souza and I had the craziest ideas on what it could possibly be. I think the craziest was that you were a murderer." Zim said.
"I am though, I slaughtered an entire criminal underworld," Anza lamented.
"But those are criminals." Zim pointed out. "You did what the emperor would have done to them anyway. Death by flame."
As they walked back to their makeshift camp, Souza put his hand on Anza'a shoulder. "I'm happy you finally decided to tell us Anza. Truly I am. Doesn't it feel great to take that weight off your shoulders?"
Anza nodded, "I guess it does."
Si Wong Desert
October 6th, 1940
The Fire Nation counter-attack was fierce but expected. They were desperate enough to throw everything they had at the joint German, American, and Canadian forces. But we were prepared.
They attacked across a valley covered with many shrubs. The desert however was prepared to swallow them back up.
We, always prideful in our ability to set up good defensive measures, took the forefront in creating foxholes and trenches. In the shrubs, we placed 88mm flak guns. At one end of the valley, we placed some Panzer IV's and more 88mm's. We also placed anti-tank personnel atop the many mountains that surrounded the valley.
They attacked today with a ferocity that I know comes from desperation. We kept the Americans and Canadians in the back while they let us deal with the attack.
I was stationed at one of the 88 mm's in the shrubbery.
It was early in the morning when we first saw the clouds of dust approaching. With a certain haste, we went to our battle stations.
It was my first experience of battle and I was sure it would not be my last.
We loaded the gun and the gunner got into position. I was in charge of loading it whenever the gunner ran out of ammo. It was no easy job.
When they reached a fair distance away, about 800 meters, the gunner opened fire. The Fire Nation tanks never saw it coming.
It was loud, louder than anything I had ever experienced. Multiple 88 mm's opened up all at the same time along with some of the Panzer IV's creating the craziest explosions.
The Fire Nation advance was halted quite abruptly. They could do nothing as they were assaulted from all sides. Explosions erupted from the hills as our anti-tank crews used their Panzerfausts against the enemy.
When the battle was over, about fifty Fire Nation tanks were destroyed in their attempt to counter attack. Their carcasses spread out over the battlefield like ash on white paint.
I had witnessed one of the most significant shows of superiority by our army against the enemy. It was beautiful. Something I desired to be tasted on the tip of my tongue. It was victory.
It was truly delightful to see the fruits of our labor. That night, some mates and I cracked open some beer and drank. We knew we would soon be in Ba Sing Se.
From some of our sandbender helpers we heard that the girls in Ba Sing Se are very pretty. It would be nice for me to get myself an Earth Kingdom lady. Most of them pique my interest.
We'll see what happens in Ba Sing Se. Hopefully we will be treated as heroes who come to liberate them. Let's hope our bombers avoid hitting any civilians.
But tonight I drink and party for the battle for the Si Wong has been won with a deafening strike. And once again, Germany proves her power and prowess.
Speaking of our sandbender companions, I can not think of anyone nicer. They have treated us with a pure heart and kindness which I know will find favor with our Lord. Plus they know the land very well and have advised us on protection from the sun and pathways to avoid a Fire Nation ambush. Other sandbenders lead ambushes themselves. Some nights I listen to these stories by a warm fire before falling asleep on the cool sand.
I also heard the British have offered them their own sovereign state if they were to help up. But if I'm being honest, I don't think they will follow through. When have they ever?
We all know that Ba Sing Se is about a month's march away. I can already imagine its towering walls and the wide arrangement of houses. But now I'm going to lay down my pen and continue to drink and party. There's nothing better in this life after all other than a good beer.
Excerpt from the journal of Otto Haggendorf.
Western Earth Kingdom
October 10, 1940
Sokka grunted as he helped Haiko bring a box of ammo to the end of a logistical truck. Then two pairs of hands reached down and helped move the box up into the back.
"Thanks Sokka for the help," said Charlie after he placed the ammo box down. "It's really hard doing things without Will." His tone gained a hint of longing and sadness.
"What was once three is now two," commented Connor with a small frown.
"It will all work out in the end, it always does. At least I had this little buddy to help me get through it," Haiko added while petting Hiro who quacked. "Just take this cute little turtle duck's advice."
All four chuckled lightly at the attempt to lighten the mood. The majority of British forces were shipping out today to go to Ba Sing Se. A small token force would be left to take the fishing village when it fell to the current siege.
Aang decided for them all that they would go with the main force to Ba Sing Se. No one had any objections to this. Anything to get away from the swamp.
From all this ammo and construction equipment that Sokka was helping to load, he was learning that logistics played a very big role in the military of countries in the other world. Logistics to build defenses and bring ammo to men on the front was vital. It was something that Sokka noted down in the edges of his mind that if the Fire Nation's supply lines could be cut, the troops would have no ammo.
This job was for the Americans and Japanese.
The Americans were going to retake Omashu before joining up with the Japanese and move towards Yu Dao to cut Fire Nation supplies. Meanwhile, a joint task force of Americans from the Si Wong, the British, Canadians, Australians, Germans, Indians, some French, some Italians, and the Soviets would conquer the unconquerable city.
Many talked about how quick the battle would be but Sokka knew better. Ba Sing Se was self-sustaining and its defenders were well entrenched. Plus the Dai Li resided in the city which would definitely complicate things. In Sokka's opinion, earthbenders were the best at combating the new guns of the other world.
Speaking of the Soviets, Sokka remembered his father. He had journeyed to the Southern Water Tribe to ease the tensions between the Southern Water Tribes and the Soviet soldiers who Sokka had heard were beginning to harvest some sort of black gold.
"Alright Sokka," Connor said, breaking Sokka from his thoughts. "We're good here. You two should find Aang and get going. This convoy is leaving soon."
As Sokka and Haiko walked away, Charlie shouted, "We'll see you in Ba Sing Se!" They glanced back to see the Englishman and Irishman waving at the two rambunctiously which led the two to smile.
They found Appa near the back of the convoy as trucks began to leave.
"Hey guys, we're back!" Sokka exclaimed when he was close enough. Everyone turned and smiled at the two.
"Is everything loaded onto Appa?" Haiko asked.
Aang nodded vigorously, "Everything except us."
As he said this, he did a flip and landed at the reins of Appa. Sokka rolled his eyes at Aang's continued extravagance. He was always a show off with his airbending, creating a show for any onlookers.
True to his statement, when he looked behind at the convoy, he saw British soldiers watching with jaw dropped faces. Sokka shook his head and returned to the matter at hand.
Aang extended a hand and helped Katara up with both having a bright blush. Honestly, Sokka might lose the bet on when the two will get together with Toph, Suki, Haiko, and Zuko. They both clearly had feelings for each other but they were both too blind to see it.
Toph created her own pillar for herself and Haiko to allow them to reach Appa. Haiko and Hiro both screamed or quacked and stumbled as they almost fell off the pillar.
Sokka grabbed one of the handles on the saddle of Appa and hauled himself up. Once he was up, he reached his hand down and pulled up Suki. "Come my fair lady," he said with a chuckle causing her to lightly punch him in the shoulder. "Don't forget who taught you to fight."
Zuko also climbed up and after they were all in, Aang yelled, "Yip yip!"
Appa flew into the air as Haiko held on for dear life. He had never gotten used to Appa taking off.
Sokka and Suki sat at the edge of the saddle, her head against his shoulder and his head atop hers.
"I missed this," Suki mumbled as she watched the Gaang have their own antics. Toph punched Zuko for something he said. Haiko was pale faced at the idea of flying and Katara and Aang sat together in the front of Appa.
"But you were never traveling with us?" Sokka said in confusion.
"Not traveling with you guys," Suki then paused. "It's more being with a family. What you guys have here is your own family that will always stick together. I miss having that with the rest of my Kyoshi Warriors."
Sokka wrapped his arm around her waist and pulled her closer.
"I also missed you," she said with a chuckle. "Just not the part where you are too overprotective of me."
Sokka loosened his grip on her. "Sorry," he muttered.
The two sat in silence for a while with the only sound being Haiko, Zuko, and Toph talking and the wind blowing.
"I missed you too," Sokka began. "I missed just seeing you and being with you. Honestly, just your presence made me so much better and I was addicted to it. When Zuko told us we were going to the Boiling Rock to rescue you and my father, I was so ecstatic to see you again. And now we're here and together again."
Sokka would have said more but Suki pulled him down into a kiss melting any thoughts he previously had.
Toph gagged while Haiko and Zuko smiled knowingly.
Ba Sing Se
November 3, 1940
"I suppose it's satisfactory," drawled Fire Lady Azula as she looked at the mass of Dai Li that bowed before her. Behind her, Mai and Ty Lee stood acting like guards for the once princess now queen of the Fire Nation.
"They can be mobilized at a moment's notice if they are told to do so. Alone, the Dai Li can stop an invasion or an infiltration of the city's walls," said the guide with a proud smile.
"That's fun and all but are they trained in warfare against the new weaponry?" Azula asked.
"Most certainly, they are trained to the finest edge. They are Ba Sing Se's premier defense force."
"Can we please move on?" Mai interjected.
"This is getting boring." Ty Lee complained.
Azula gave the guide a stern eye at which the man shrunk. He jittered and mumbled to himself when before saying, "Ye-yes o-of course."
He led them up into the bright sun and towards the fields of the outer ring. As they walked, Azula could begin to see large smoke stacks towering over the city.
They reached a small hill and the guide gestured to the smoke stacks.
"Ba Sing Se can also sustain itself with food and arms. These factories were built recently by the Earth Kingdom's leading architect to defend against attacks from fireballs and cannonry. Some are built above ground while others are under the surface. This means that Ba Sing Se can produce enough weaponry for the garrisons in the city. The main farms in the outer ring can also sustain our population for a very long time," the guide explained.
"Tell me, what is the state of the troops in the city?" Azula asked.
"Much of the troops from the east have joined in the city's defenses along with soldiers from the Si Wong. Add to that the Dai Li and any partisan forces. But I must say this," the guide lowered his voice. "The people of Ba Sing Se hate Fire Nation rule. They will rebel at a moments notice and the only thing stopping them is our propaganda calling the invaders blood-thirsty murderers."
"Which they are," said Mai in her typical bored voice.
Azula continued to watch the factories continue to produce with a smug satisfaction. Ba Sing Se would remain in Fire Nation hands with her at the helm of the defenses. She was certain of that.
"Hold on, do you guys hear something?" Ty Lee asked, breaking Azula from her thoughts. Each paused to let their ears listen.
There was the low sound of a light drone that got increasingly louder. It was one that was unfamiliar to the three Fire Nation girls but the guide's face contorted into horror.
"No…it can't be," he breathed as he looked up. Azula and her two friends looked up to see small black things near the clouds, almost like flying insects.
Immediately, there was a loud siren that irritated Azula. There were also large explosions as Flak guns around Ba Sing Se opened up on the small objects in the sky.
"What are those!" Azula demanded from the guide. Her angry face hid the fear that she had gained upon seeing the shock and fear from the guide and hearing that horrible siren.
"Those, my queen, are enemy bombers and if they aren't stopped, they could quite possibly destroy Ba Sing Se's walls, it's farms, and it's factories. They could force the city to its knees," the guide replied, a sudden calm overcoming him.
"Then stop them!" Azula yelled at the guide, her anger for once doing nothing against the guide. He was completely and utterly calm and at peace.
"We simply can't, there is too many bombers and not enough flak guns. If we had some fighters from the airbase one hundred and fifty miles away, we might be able to force them to retreat but in this case we have none. Right now, we must depend on the spirits to protect the factories, the farms, the walls, and ourselves," the guide said with a grimace.
"Don't be silly, spirits don't exist," Mai muttered but the guide overheard.
"If one doesn't believe in anything, then life loses its meaning."
That's when they saw black dots falling from the sky.
"What are those?" Ty Lee asked.
"Bombs, maybe hundreds," replied the guide.
"How do we stop them?" Azula asked, snarling deeply.
"Impact, maybe igniting it's fuse, I'm no bomb expert," the guide shrugged.
"Then become one, maybe it will help you keep your head," Azula drawled to the guide making him gulp.
Plans ran through her head as she thought about how to stop the falling explosives. Fire might be able to ignite some but not all of the bombs.
Lightning was out of the question. She was not powerful enough to launch consecutive blasts nor would she be accurate enough to hit the bombs.
Finally the Dai Li could throw rocks at the bombs. No, then the bombs would explode sending sharp rocks everywhere which would do more harm than good.
But then the ground shook. Azula had taken too long to think of a plan.
The four watched as bombs peppered the ground around them creating a series of thundering explosions. Ty Lee collapsed and placed her hands over her ears as she cried in pain. Mai fell to her knees from the shock of it all.
Azula watched in horror as Ba Sing Se's industrial capabilities were rocked. Out of the corner of her eye she saw the guide try to flee.
She followed and screamed, "Don't run you cow-"
A bomb landed next to him, eradicating him from the face of the Earth. Azula was blown back and landed on the soft grass as her ears rang.
When she stood, it was over and the ground looked like the face of another planet.
Ty Lee placed her hands to her mouth and Mai looked around with sadness in her face. Azula lit her palm on fire and growled. Then she screamed and shot blue fire at a tree, annihilating it instantly.