The past several weeks has been a whirlwind experience for Shinu.

While he was still trying to remove the bitter feeling in his heart after the news of Senzin's promotion a week after the new general left Pohuai, a hawk from the capital arrived with a message signed by the War Minister himself essentially ordering his return to the capital. The dutiful soldier that he was, Shinu made haste to make the journey back, even if he didn't fully know the exact reason.

Shinu barely arrived in the port when he was immediately dragged by a small military detail to the War Ministry building inside Caldera. He wasn't given any briefing before being essentially pushed into War Minister Qin's office and suddenly being congratulated for his promotion to general.

Shinu remembered being both happy and surprised at that moment. While he finally got the recognition he felt he deserved for his leal service to the Fire Nation, this was a promotion that came out of the blue. It would have been understandable if he had participated in some great victory recently that finally got the attention of the top brass to his history of service, but without anything significant to his name, he wondered why it then if not before?

He got his answer at that very day from the war minister. The war minister said that it was Senzin who recommended Shinu to be promoted to general shortly after he left Pohuai. Senzin apparently spoke about his consistent and dutiful administration of the region, linking it to the relatively smooth and efficient operations of the Fire Nation military on the front.

While Shinu still felt slightly bitter at Senzin's earlier promotion, Shinu found a new, personal respect for Senzin. Many officers and generals enjoyed the fruits of Shinu's labor in the rear over the years, but only Senzin seemed to have done something to concretely recognize it for what it was worth. Even if the position didn't afford him a battlefield commission like other generals, the promotion was a clear step up and granted him a closer place to the center of power of the Fire Nation, something that Shinu desired ever since entering the military.

Soon after that unceremonious promotion, Shinu was quickly introduced to the other generals and high-ranking officers. While all of them welcomed him into their ranks, it seemed that only those that hovered near War Minister Qin were the ones that were genuine in their greetings while the rest were only doing so out of politeness and formality. It became quickly clear to Shinu that he was seen as an automatic member of the war minister's faction, given his sudden appointment without much achievement. Shinu was dumped into the middle of high command's politics much faster than he anticipated but otherwise, he wasn't too surprised. He expected such politics to come with a promotion, and he was ready to put his energy into this new field of battle.

As what was expected by most about him, Shinu aligned himself with the war minister's faction. From them, he learned that in the War Ministry, while it had a number of smaller factions formed, two major coalitions have crystallized that united most minor factions against each other.

First was their own coalition, informally known at the 'Doves', which was led by War Minister Qin. They believed that a peace was needed very soon to ensure the continued prosperity and power of the Fire Nation, a thought that was aligned with Shinu's own opinion on the war. Most of the army generals supported this as well, being witness to the same reality on the ground as Shinu was.

The next was the opposing coalition, known internally as the 'Hawks', which was led by Admiral Chan. It was apparently formerly spearheaded by Admiral Zhao but with his fatal defeat in the North, Admiral Chan filled his role. They believed instead that a prolonged war would ensure the Fire Nation's grip on its colonial holdings, as well as extend its might over the remaining holdouts in the North and South. In contrast, many of the naval high command supported this idea.

Another thing Shinu learned was that Senzin was already introduced to these factional politics of the ministry long before he was promoted to general. He was apparently brought in personally by the war minister Qin. At that point, Shinu just wrote it off as Senzin being an exceptional commander to be considered at such a young age.

What did stand out to Shinue was that Senzin was apparently the unofficial head of a sub-faction within the 'Doves', one that disagreed on the 'wonder weapons' doctrine that the technology-focused Qin and his close allies espoused. Shinu didn't really have a strong opinion on the matter and with it not being a particularly heated topic, Shinu was allowed the leeway to remain neutral.

After being briefed on the workings and system within high command, Shinu set out to do his duty to both the ministry and the faction. He'd oversee the logistics between the Home Islands and the Earth Kingdom supply points while simultaneously discussing with colleagues on plans based on the possible progress of the war. And it seemed that this diligence of his heightened his standing within ministry quickly, becoming known for his dutiful dedication to his work.

And so, when the minister left to oversee the final preparations for his drill project, Shinu was allowed a greater responsibility alongside his fellow Dove colleagues to manage the faction back in the ministry. Shinu felt confident at that time, having already settled into a new rhythm within the ministry.

Then, news of Omashu's bloodless capture came. And, in less than a month later, news of Ba Sing Se's successful occupation under the Princess came.

While Shinu was certain that the entire Fire Nation was excited at such great victories, he also knew that an anxiety fell over the War Ministry as well.

Both coalitions in the ministry saw the victories with both excitement and trepidation. The Doves saw the decisive victories over the Earth Kingdom as an opportunity to assert that a final victory has already happened, and peace was the logical next step. Meanwhile, the Hawks saw them as evidence that the Fire Nation war machine was stronger than ever and would play on the momentum to push for total war against the remaining unoccupied territories. Both knew their objectives, and both saw the threats that each other would pursue.

So, Shinu became a participant in an internal war deep in Caldera. While they placed pressure to keep Admiral Chan in Ember Island until after a meeting could held with the Fire Lord, the Hawks went on a smear campaign against the war minister for the failure of his drill.

Shinu felt sorry for the war minister, being humiliated with a defeat was bad enough but to have it be paraded against you while you could not do or say anything against them was just hard to see. Shinu hoped that Qin felt some reprieve with how their faction simply ignoring the issue internally. Sure, influence shifted towards Senzin's group away from the minister but otherwise he remained a respected member of the coalition.

Now, Shinu was with his fellow generals, trying to discuss their course of action on how to convince the Fire Lord to finally make peace, when one of his subordinates silently slipped him a letter.

"A message from General Zhou." Shinu read out loud, silencing the room from their talking. It was still surreal to Shinu that the young Senzin's words were held in high regard by seasoned and older generals, now that he has definitively triumphed over the war minister in their internal dispute.

"And what does he have to say to us?" Shinu heard General Jin ask bluntly, though not unkindly.

"Actually, it's addressed to the entire ministry and not just us specifically." Shinu explained as he opened the letter.

"He says that he wishes to hold a military Triumph in the Capital, to celebrate his victory in Omashu and the return of the Crown Prince Zuko, though primarily to celebrate Princess Azula's victory over Ba Sing Se." Shinu repeated the thoughts on the letter, which caused the other generals to nod in agreement.

"A Triumph would certainly signify the importance of these victories to the eventual end of the war." General Jin commented, rubbing his beard thoughtfully.

"We must be cautious however; the Hawks could use this to their advantage as well as us." The middle-aged General Leng warned, leaning forward to better address the group.

Soon enough, a new discussion sprung about the details of the Triumph to be held in the Capital. Shinu could already feel headache that would come about having to consult with the Hawks regarding it but Shinu hoped that at least here, they could agree on some points for a change.

Though, Shinu did wonder. Why would Senzin ask to hold a Triumph in the first place? He didn't seem like the type to revel in his achievements publicly before, and it didn't seem like the idea was from the Princess from how he worded his letter.

Could it be that Senzin was trying to please one of the royal children proactively?

Or maybe he also saw the opportunity to use such an event to push for peace?

Or maybe he was a little prideful, and wanted a special celebration for his accomplishments?

While Shinu didn't really care for what exact reasons Senzin wanted a Triumph, in his opinion, Senzin was allowed a bit of selfishness with his great contributions, Shinu was curious.

Maybe he'll ask Senzin when he gets the chance.

For now, more important and immediate schemes in the Capital required his attention.