General Song had to jog to keep up with Zuko's brisk pace despite his longer legs. The Fire Lord, still in his teenage years, strode with huge steps, cursing all the way as his General reported to him.

"While you were being attacked, another barracks was struck, we lost five men and had twelve injured before the rebels disappeared. Two remote villages of the people who had been most abused by the former Fire Lord and most vocal of their support for you have been raided and nearly completely wiped out. News is still coming in, but the bodycount from both is nearing a hundred. Our armory in Leron was sabotaged and we lost eight tanks, a warship and two troop carriers, but casualties are low, only three injured. There are also rumors of uprisings in some towns and villages that supported the previous Fire Lord, but at the moment local authorities seem to have been able to control the riots before they got too out of hand."

Zuko snarled, biting the air with every heated breath. "And we haven't managed to capture any of these saboteurs?" He said bitterly.

"Unfortunately no, Fire Lord," General Song inhaled deeply, "These attackers seem to be content with arriving suddenly, letting off one salvo of firebending and immediately retreating. Even when there was opportunity to remain for a little longer and cause further destruction, particularly at the armory, the rebels pulled out regardless. Whoever they are, they seem unwilling to have a prolonged engagement or risk the capture of any of their men. Even if we did, I suspect that they would treat themselves the same way that your assassin did."

"They have no name yet?"

"All we know is that they like to announce themselves as the 'loyal citizens of the Fire Nation,' but I don't believe that is actually their organization name."

Zuko's eyes narrowed. "They announced themselves?"

The General nodded. "Only after completing their attack and when it seemed they would be able to get away safely, they shouted 'As long as we, the loyal citizens of the Fire Nation, exist the Fire Nation Empire will not fall!'"

"I see." Zuko responded solemnly.

"Your orders, Fire Lord?"

"Put our nation under high alert, we're establishing martial law, I want our forces mobilized to every town and village and protect them as best they can, ask them to hold on long enough to give the people to evacuate here. Keep your legion situated here, Song, but keep it a secret as best as you can, mask it off as just a light brigade."

"But... No, nothing, Fire Lord." Song's face betrayed his confusion, but he pulled back to his emotionless mask quickly.

Not quick enough and Zuko turned to his aide and friend with a worn smile on his face. "I know that we're spreading ourselves dangerously thin, Song, but we've got to get our people to safety."

"I realize that Fire Lord, but... the rebellion is coming from within our army ranks, you know that, correct?"

"Yes, I do, Song, but they're not confident in their number or the people's support enough to do an open coup de'tat and overthrow me. Which means at the moment, they're only interested in causing enough discord and unhappiness so that the people really will want to rebel against me. And if the rebellion is coming from our own armed forces, there's nothing to do but to draw them out with an opening that they can't help but take advantage of. At least then, we could finally catch these rebels in a straight-up fight."

Song did not look happy at all with the plan. "And what if they come with more than a legion of soldiers, overpower mine and kill you?"

Zuko smiled feebly. "Come on, Song, you think I haven't thought of that? Send a messenger hawk to the Avatar, we'll need his help."

General Song still didn't seem content, but he was a good soldier and said nothing more. He bowed and went his own way to relay the orders to the rest of the army.

In the meantime, Zuko thought to himself, it was a time for a trip to the dungeons...