Ch 2 display of force
"What is that?" Zuko asked, seeing the Yamato plus her escorts arrive at the island. The sheer size of the Yamato caught his attention. No vessel in the fire nation navy was that large. It didn't have the trebuchets that the cruisers and battleships of the navy held. It had long barrels attached to a turret. Zuko counted 3 large turrets, and many smaller turrets running across the length of the ship. Zuko saw that the 4 other ships had similar turrets, though smaller. Zuko figured that those were weapons of some sort, and did not want to be on the receiving end.
"How'd the fire nation get such a large ship?" Sokka asked.
"I don't know. But if we're going down, we're taking as many as we can." Suki said, opening her fans.
Out of the Yamato, came Admiral Yamamoto and 2 guards, holding Type 44 carbines. Yamamoto himself was armed with a Nambu pistol.
The two groups stood opposite of each other. For the gang, it was confusing. The fire nation didn't send out their leaders. They opted for a straight attack.
"I am Isoroku Yamamoto. Marshal Admiral of the Japanese Navy." Yamamoto said.
"Is that some new branch of the fire nation?" Sokka asked.
"I'm not from the fire nation." Yamamoto said.
"Then where'd you get that ship?" Suki asked.
"Long story short, me, these two soldiers, and the 5 ships are not from here. We're from earth." Yamamoto said.
For a while, no-one spoke, but no-one made a move to attack.
"You expect us to believe that?" Sokka asked.
"Sokka, I think he's telling the truth." Aang said.
"What makes you say that?" Sokka asked.
"They don't have the flag of the fire nation." Aang said.
"They could hide the flag to catch unsuspecting ships." Sokka said.
But Aang was persistent.
"Can you provide evidence to what you said?" Aang asked.
"Yes. Come inside." Yamamoto said.
"No way. It's a trap." Sokka said.
"If we were fire nation ships, we would have blew this island to pieces with our guns. Trust me." Isoroku snarled.
With no other option, they headed inside the behemoth called the Yamato. They noticed that there were large signs pointing to different parts on the ship.
"Do you know where you're going?" Suki asked, as Isoroku lead them throughout the ship, trying to go to his quarters.
"I was given command of the ship a couple days before we came here. Me, and the crew are still getting used to the directions." Yamamoto said, as he ran into a dead end.
"Wow. Command of the biggest warship and you still don't know your way around. If only the fire nation was this incompetent." Sokka said.
One of the sailors watching slammed Sokka against the bulkhead.
"Listen here. If the fire nation attacks, the admiral, and this ship are the only things that'll save your skin. Show him respect."
"Ensign, let him go." Isoroku said.
Finally, they entered the captain's quarters.
"Impressive ship, but that's not enough to convince me." Sokka said.
Isoroku pulled out some maps and laid them across a table.
"Do you recognize these maps?"
"No. They show countries that don't exist on the planet." Sokka said.
"Exactly. We're not from here. We're from the country of Japan." Yamamoto said, pointing to a small country on a map.
It seemed like the kids would be convinced about Yamamoto's truth, but Aang had a question.
"If you're from Japan, why'd you come here?" Aang asked.
"We didn't come willingly. Two weeks ago, we were on sea trails, when a storm hit. We powered thru the storm, and appeared amidst several glaciers and icebergs. I don't know how we got from there to here. And I'm looking for a way to go home." Yamamoto said.
"Listen. I'm the Avatar, and I can help." Aang said.
"How can a child help me and my soldiers?" Yamamoto asked.
"The Avatar is a powerful being, capable of bending all four elements." Suki said.
"Bending?" Isoroku asked.
"Yeah. You can control one of the four elements; water, earth, fire, and air." Katara said.
"And how can this help me?" Yamamoto asked.
"Bending can't, but the Avatar state might help." Aang said.
Yamamoto listened as they explained the avatar state. It sounded like one person had immense power, that only a god could possess. So technically, he was looking at a god in making.
Isoroku rubbed his forehead, and sat in meditation. He observed their body figures and knew something was up.
"What's the catch?" Yamamoto asked.
"You help us win this war. And we get you home." Sokka said.
"You got a map of your world?" Yamamoto asked.
Suki went back on the island, and came back with a map of the world.
"This fire nation. How much territory have they conquered?" Yamamoto asked.
"Almost to Ba Sing Se, this large city." Suki said, pointing to the location on the map.
"Well that complicates things." Isoroku said.
"How?" Sokka asked.
"My ships are more powerful than anything the fire nation possesses. A few weeks ago, we ran into what appeared to be a blockade. We destroyed 21 in the encounter." Isoroku said.
"You destroyed that many ships? How many did you lose?" Suki asked.
"None. These 5 ships are all that I have. But before you think about launching a full-scale attack on the country, not gonna happen." Yamamoto said.
"Why's that?" Aang asked.
"Because I've already tried. And spoiler alert, didn't work as planned. The blockade is armed to the teeth, and god knows what's at the country itself." Yamamoto said.
"But you said your ships are more powerful than anything the fire nation has." Katara said.
Yamamoto just shook his head.
"Preparation determines who wins battles. The absence of disease. The availability of water, food, fuel, medical supplies, ammunition, manpower, and in our case, a place to repair and rearm. An exit plan made in advance of a fight. That is what determines the battle's outcome." Isoroku said.
"Think like that, you may not be around for long." Sokka warned.
"When I'm no longer admiral, I grieve for Japan and her fate. And even if I could break the blockade, it won't matter for the earth kingdom. The troops on land can utilize the continent itself. How long has the war been going?" Isoroku asked.
"100 years." Aang said.
"100 years?" Isoroku asked.
"Yes. We need to end this war." Katara said.
"Get out. I need to think." Isoroku said.
Yamamoto sat in his room for an hour. He was stunned that the war had lasted for a hundred years, and that the fire nation had conquered so much territory. They must be really advanced to pull it off. This war wasn't his fight, but he had no way to head home. The fire nation preferred to shoot first, ask later. These kids were offering to help, if he helped them end their war.
With his mind set, Yamamoto left his room and found the kids.
"I'll help you fight your war. But when the war is over, you get my ships home." Yamamoto said.
"Deal." Aang said.
A phone rang on a wall, and the admiral picked it up.
"Sit rep." Yamamoto said.
"Sir, we got 15 fire nation ships heading towards us." The XO said.
"I'll be there. Form a line opposing the fire nation ships. When they come within range, we open up." Yamamoto said.
Alarms were blaring across the ship. Water-tight doors were closed, and the cannons were loaded with armor piercing rounds and ready to fire.
"I hope the admiral was telling the truth about his ships." Sokka said.
"Enemy ships are in range. Gunners have a fire solution."
"Fire." Yamamoto said.
At once, the 18 inch cannons on the Yamato fired their rounds. It was a noise the gang had never heard before. Yamamoto looked at a stop watch, counting the seconds it took until the shells hit the targets.
"Confirmed hits, sir." The tactical officer said, a smile on his face.
The burning remains of 4 cruisers came into view, before sinking into the ocean.
"Tell the rest of the fleet to start shooting." Yamamoto ordered.
The 2 cruisers and destroyers also joined the music, firing their cannons into the fray. The fire nation ships were being torn to shreds by the accurate and powerful gunfire.
"Holy shit. We can blast our way thru the blockade and kill the fire-lord with this fleet." Sokka said.
The firing died down when the smoke was building up, and when it dissipated, the firing continued. About 5 fire nation ships made it through the onslaught, but torpedoes and the secondary batteries on the Yamato were waiting for them.
High explosive shells turned the remaining ships into warped burning hulks of their former selves. Yamamoto watched thru his binoculars as the crew men jumped from their ships and into the water, many of them were on fire, thanks to the shelling. The anti-aircraft guns raked the water, and a large pool of blood and body parts filled the surface of the water.
When the firing stopped, the crew started to shout and celebrate on their victory. Isoroku had a soft smile, and was proud of his soldiers, and the newly commissioned Yamato. But when the celebrations were over, a sense of dread occurred. The crew was out of training, just on sea trials when they were tossed here.
And they had pulled the trigger on other people, killing their new enemies, who also had families back home. One of the bridge crew leaned out a window and puked. Yamamoto sympathized with him.
"I need to talk to who's in charge of the island." Yamamoto said.