Avatar: The Last Airbender Created By: Michael Dante DiMartino, Bryan Konietzko
Avatar: The Last Airbender Owned By: Nickelodeon, a subsidiary of Viacom
All original content and characters © Acastus


Chapter XXVIII – Some Justice

The days passed swiftly. The garrisons of the nearby cities appeared, soon followed by those from the outer rim of the receding occupation. Two of the four dreadnoughts that were ferrying supplies from Gela arrived, bearing their final loads of food, ammunition and replacement parts for the remains of the army. Corona and Phoenix had been quickly refitted, as Chieng had promised. They glittered in the sun, their dents beaten out and fresh paint reapplied to their bodies.

On the sixth day the scouts reported a new set of dust trails, this time from the northeast.

Iroh once again looked through a sighting glass to see a tank train rocketing towards the army, an escort of tanks accompanying her.

"Has to be Sozin's Comet," Nikon surmised, squinting through his own instrument, "They must have come through the Meiji Pass."

"Right," Iroh agreed glumly, "So that's it for Highhold Pass too."

"That brings us up to seven tank trains at least," the new daimyo observed, replacing his instrument inside his tunic.

"If he's with them, Iroh, there's going to be a fight, you know that right?" Gan predicted from the General's left.

"Yes, I know."

"You mean Tien Shin?" Nikon asked unnecessarily.

Gan confirmed the assumption with a curt nod.

"He can fight me for the position as far as I'm concerned. We can certainly use the Comet and the rest, but we don't need him."

"Not with you, turkey," Gan retorted, chucking Nikon on the shoulder, "With Iroh."

"Iroh? Why?"

"Xian's gone, Nikon, do you think he's just going to step aside?"

"But Xian himself appointed Iroh," Nikon reacted with anger, "and that's not just my testimony and Chieng's, we have it in writing from his own hand!"

"That will mean nothing to him," Iroh said dully, clearly dreading the conflict he feared was coming, "If he lives, I know what my step-brother will say and do."

Both men looked at the Crown Prince expectantly.

"He will say his position was given him by my father and that Xian's appointment was illegal."

Each considered this argument in silence. The Comet and her escort grew larger on the horizon. They would be at the camp within minutes.

"I'm not a lawyer," Gan began after a short time, "But I don't think the claim would be upheld in court. From what I understand the commanding general's authority is absolute once he has arrived in the theatre given to him by the War College and assumed command. After that only a direct instruction from the Fire Lord can trump the general's orders."

"I don't think that even matters," Nikon retorted with some exasperation, "Practically speaking no one in this army is going to support Tien Shin over the Crown Prince. Most of them are Iroh's own infantry, so no, no way is this going against us."

"Yes," Iroh agreed heavily, "but it is still a problem, and we must avoid dissension at this stage."

"I take back what I said last night, Iroh," Nikon said bitterly, "I hope he's dead."

"That would at least be some justice," the Crown Prince agreed.

"What will you do?" Gan asked in his clinical tone.

"Confront him."


The Sozin's Comet pulled into the roadway in front of Iroh's tent just as the Phoenix had done the week before.

Slowly the sliding hatch on the side of the engine rolled back to reveal the former daimyo of the Army of the Great Divide. He was dirty, haggard, and his breastplate was dented from a heavy impact.

No one was there to greet him.

Two sentries stood outside Iroh's tent. Tien Shin stepped down into the dusty causeway. He walked over to the tent's entryway. The sentries saluted as he approached.

"What is this?" Tien Shin asked, clearly annoyed, "Where is Prince Iroh? Why am I not received properly?"

Behind them the escort tanks pulled up and slowed to a stop. Commander Tojo, the only other tank commander besides Nikon to survive, quickly joined him.

"Prince Iroh awaits you inside, your Highness," one of the sentries responded.

Tien Shin strode through the entrance to the tent, followed by Tojo, passing through the entry hallway and into the main chamber beyond.

Prince Iroh sat in the curule chair reserved for the commanding general. In his hand he held the red baton, symbol of the Army of the Great Divide. At his side stood Gan, the hated Nikon, Liu Shiung's opinionated daughter, and dozens of infantry commanders.

Nikon muttered something that sounded distinctly like "oh, shit" as Tien Shin entered.

"What is the meaning of this, Prince Iroh?" the former daimyo demanded, anger seething on his normally tightly controlled features, "Despite the symbols of office you appear to claim, you have no authority to succeed your cousin as General!"

No one responded.

Tien Shin made eye contact with Nikon and spat, "I will have you executed for this!" For he knew the baton could only have been transported by the young commoner.

Nikon did not reply, his face an impassive mask.

"General Xian left written instructions that I was to assume command in the event of his death, Tien Shin," Iroh explained evenly, motioning to the scroll case clearly bearing his cousin's seal on the table beside him, "and I have accepted this responsibility."

"That means nothing," Tien Shin retorted, speaking loudly in a clear challenge to Iroh's claim, "the Fire Lord himself appointed me daimyo, does anyone dispute this fact?"

Silence was the only response. Whether it was the silence of acceptance or not, it was difficult to tell.

"No one disputes that, Tien Shin," Iroh replied finally, "but the fact remains that I am now Supreme Commander of the Army of the Great Divide."

"And why should the army accept the decision of the man who led us to total disaster?"

Iroh stiffened at this accusation.

"You should be executed just for that, you cretin!" Nikon nearly shouted, his impassive countenance breaking, "You are just as responsible for this as Xian or any of us! You pushed the attack on the Southern Pass and you are more responsible than anyone for forcing us into that goddam fog!"

Tien Shin moved with lightning speed to draw his war fans, but he was grabbed by Commander Tojo and one of the sentries from behind before he could close the distance between him and the new daimyo.

Nikon smiled smugly as Tien Shin was pulled to his knees.

"No, your Highness!" Tojo said into his ear, "This isn't the time!"

Tien Shin stopped struggling and scanned the audience. Gan and Chieng regarded him coolly, Nikon with undisguised satisfaction, and Iroh with an inscrutable expression.

"This is an outrage!" the elder prince said finally, "If we survive I will prosecute you for treason, Iroh!"

"You are free to do so," Iroh replied, his voice once again smooth and even, "but if we live it will be because we have proven victorious. I very much doubt my father will be sympathetic to your arguments if I have succeeded in carrying out his orders."

"What? What are you talking about?" the former daimyo asked, confusion rapidly replacing his anger.

"That was my reaction," Gan quipped sotto voce, folding his arms across his chest.

"What are you proposing to do?" the elder prince asked, his countenance suddenly anxious.

"I believe Nifong has abandoned the Nasu Plain in favor of attacking Mequon."

"And what is your plan? Follow him? Make an attempt on the Southern Pass?" he asked with a sneer, obviously dismissive of the approach.

"No, we will cross the Dune Sea and attack Nifong before he reaches Mequon."

Tien Shin stopped short.

"That's insane," he said quietly, then trying to struggle to his feet, in a louder voice once again, "That's insane! Everyone will die! Listen to me, all of you –!"

He was thrust again to the ground.

"And how do you plan to carry enough water to get across the wasteland?" the elder prince continued after he had regained his breath, "It's three hundred leagues across!"

"Leave that to me," the engineer injected softly.

"This is treason, Chieng," Tien Shin insisted, turning to the raven haired woman, "I can't believe you support this madness! I expected better from you!"

"General Iroh is in command, your Highness," she replied with certainty, "My priority is to carry out his orders. So should it be with you."

"Whether I do or not, do you really think the rest of the army will obey an order that amounts to suicide?" the elder prince questioned, "have any of you even thought about how everyone else will react to this madness?"

"They will obey, Tien Shin," Iroh responded, "because they are good soldiers, loyal to the Fire Lord, and because they realize, as I do, that we will lose this war if we don't."

'This is insanity and treason!" Tien Shin shouted, once again addressing the group, "The Fire Lord appointed me second in command and Xian has fallen! Prince Iroh knows he will be executed for treason if he returns, so he is willing to sacrifice your lives in a pursuit of an impossible victory –"

"Shut up, Tien Shin!" Gan thundered, his voice displaying an uncharacteristic pitch and power that surprised even Iroh, "You have made your dishonorable intentions plain! Do not compound this insult by debasing yourself further with these empty threats!"

Tien Shin paused. He scanned the room. This fight was futile, there was clearly no support.

Iroh stood.

"You will carry out my orders as well, Tien Shin," the Crown Prince stated calmly, "Or I will have you executed. After all, wasn't it you who said we have a common enemy to fight? I too suggest we focus our efforts where they belong."

The logic was inescapable. Tien Shin glowered, knowing he was beaten.

"Very well… General."