This...took...forever!
For progress see me batting his head repeatedly against a brick wall.
I hope you enjoy.

A.V.A.T.A.R.

OPERATION MOSCOW DAWN

PART II

"You want to do what?"

Sokka looked up from his praying stance at the bemused Alistair before him, the Australian sighing as he slowly got back to his feet.

"I just want to borrow the Avat for a few hours. I won't touch anything important, promise!"

"Why couldn't you have said that in the first place? And since when was the Avat 'my noble steed'?"

Sokka shrugged, "Eh, I thought you might be a bit more willing to part with your beloved machine if I sucked up to you a little,"

"Sokka, I'm a lowly Flight Lieutenant with a three figure wage packet," Alistair smirked as he returned to his book, "You want to suck up to me? Try it when I make Air Marshal, I might be more up for the ego boost,"

"Come on, Alistair please!" Sokka paced agonisingly across the marble floor of the Central Tower's Grand Library; a massive high vaulted room that took up several of the lower floors of the complex, books of all kinds of ages from across the globe packed into towering bookcases fitted between faux stone archways, "This is really important," he lowered his voice to a whisper, as though afraid someone was listening in, "I'm trying to get her to cancel the wedding. She really digs me, but she's too caught up in her role as the Chancellor's daughter to see it!"

Aang looked curiously over the top of his book, "And you taking her out in the Avat will help your quest…how?"

"Because it's sleek and shiny! We'll be up in the sky, just the two of us…"

"It's a military Ranger transport Sokka, not a sports coupe,"

"Yeah, but it's also the Avatar's Truckmersiboateroplane! Half the free world would kill for a ride in something like that! I've just got to stop her from making the biggest mistake of her life Al, I just gotta!" Sokka folded his arms across his chest, "Besides, she said she was marrying some son of her dad's friends. No doubt he'll be someone rich and snobby…probably only ever use her as eye candy at parties…

"Well, It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife,"

"Huh?"

"Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austin," Alistair held up his book for his confused friend to read the title, "One of Mum's favourite books. She used to read it to me when I was a kid,"

"Whatever," Sokka rolled his eyes, "So can I take it?"

"Depends," Aang smirked as he turned a page, "What exactly are you going to do up there in the sky…Just the two of you?," he lowered the book slightly, his smirk becoming sly, "Thinking of joining the Mile High Club?"

"Well…I…Erm…N-no of course not!" The sly smirk quickly became a maniacal grin as Sokka felt his face heat up, "You know, it's a nice day, and the snow's all crisp and fresh…I thought we could just fly around for a bit, take in the sights…"

"Well then, you won't mind if I come along too,"

"W-what?!"

"Well…I've read enough Austin for now, and Katara's busy upgrading her Fortitude with Pakku," Alistair grinned as Sokka felt his jaw drop, May as well chaperone you two for a couple of hours,"
"But…but I just wanted it to be…"

"Sokka, I know you think this whole meeting was destiny, and that you're doing Miss Yue a favour by trying to change her mind," the officer patted his friend good naturedly on the shoulder as he rose from his chair and slid the book back onto the shelf, "But the fact of the matter is, you're little plan will probably confuse her even more then she is now. I'll let you borrow the Avat, but I'm driving, just to make sure you don't do anything…intimidating. alright?"

Sokka's shoulders slumped as he nodded, utterly defeated.

"Fine. But you better not ruin the mood,"

"So…why is Lieutenant Aang here?" Yue glanced with puzzlement between a disgruntled Sokka and cheerful Alistair as the Avat soared away from the glistening dome of Moscow, "Is Sokka not a capable pilot?"

"No, I'm just here to make sure he doesn't touch anything…" the officer gave his friend a pointed look, "inappropriate,"

"I wouldn't have touched anything I wasn't supposed too," Sokka scowled as he folded his arms sulkily across his chest.

"Yes, well…I'm just here to drive, so enjoy the view,"

"I must admit, I've never actually seen the world outside the city before," Yue smiled brightly as she gazed down at the snowy fields below, "Even from the highest point of the Central Tower, the view is almost completely obscured by the Energy Dome. Everything looks so crisp and fresh…almost like new,"

"Yeah, too bad it has to be so cold to get it this way though," Sokka smiled as he joined her at the cockpit's window, "We don't get a lot of snow back home but…"

"It must be nice," he jumped slightly as Yue lent on his arm, "Able to see the ground without snow, able to live in comfort without the constant worry of a energy dome failing…I envy you,"

"Yeah…it's a good life alright," Sokka smiled slightly as he wrapped a arm around her shoulders, "Maybe one day you could go beyond the Union's boarders…maybe see what grass that hasn't been grown under a energy dome looks like,"

"I'd like that," Yue rolled her head up for her eyes to meet his, "I'd like it more though…if you were there to show me,"

He smiled warmly, his mind hazy as he barely noticed the gap between their lips quickly diminishing.

"Sure thing…why not?"

They were so close now. He could feel her cool breath against his face. His eyes slowly closed…."

"Ahem!!" Alistair cleared his throat loudly.

The moment was broken. Sokka hung his head low as Yue pushed away from him uncomfortably, before throwing the pilot a dark scowling look that could have burned through solid steel.

"What Al!?"

"Take control," The officer scowled as he stared through the cockpit's main window to the horizon beyond, "I need to look at something,"

"You mean you didn't cough because….you know,"

"Hm?" Aang gave his friend a quizzical look, "Sorry was I interrupting on something?"

"You are so…ugh" Sokka shook his head with a wry smile, "Just…go do…whatever it is you want to do,"

"Do you think he is really so oblivious?" Yue watched the officer quickly vault over the railing to the ground floor below, "And does he always do that?"

"Personally, I wonder think the geeks that built this rig should have put in a trampoline rather then a stepladder," Sokka smirked as he slumped into the pilot's seat, "As for his ignorance…man, I don't even know anymore,"

"Sokka…"

"Yeah?"

"What do you know about moving buildings?"

"Moving buildings?"

"Yeah…they're kinda L-shaped…heavily armoured…"

"Dunno. Sounds a lot like Land Battleships though. I heard rumours in Tortuga that G.U.N. was developing some kind of tank with the strength and space of one of their warships. I thought the never developed it very far though," he peered cautiously down to the lower deck, "Why?"

"Because," Alistair grimaced as he watched the mammoth machines slowly moving onward, a cloud of snow billowing out a mile high in their combined wakes, "There's a whole mess of them coming this way,"

"A beautiful day wouldn't you say Artirius?"

"I'll take your word for it sir,"

Zhao smirked back at his masked subordinate, before turning his attention back to the shining dome that bulged up from the horizon through the Bridge's large bay windows.

"It's good that the day's so perfect," the General settled back into his chair as he cast a lazy eye across the Command Centre, "Vicious storms with are so cliché for victorious battles don't you think?"

"Are you really so sure of a victorious outcome?"

"My dear Artirius, I can say with absolute certainty that the New Soviet Union will fall within the week at the very most. Just think, years form now, when the world is under the Nation's rule, they will tell stories of the great General Zhao and his triumph over the snow-dwellers. You should feel privileged to be here at my side when it all happens,"

"I wish I could share your optimism sir," Artirius frowned down at the smug General, "But I fear you maybe planning your victory speech a bit too early,"

"I beg to differ. Just wait and see Major, soon I'll make everything…crystal clear!"

"Alistair!" Katara ran up to the Avat as the trio slowly filed out of the cockpit hatch, the transport having barely touched down on the base's launch pad, "I got your message. We thought the clouds were just another storm on the way but…"

"It's far worse Katara, far worse," Aang scowled darkly as he strode purposefully away from his ship towards the Central Tower in the distance, "We need to rally all available military forces and prepare for the attack,"

"But the energy dome should be able to hold back anything G.U.N. throws at us," the Australian girl was hard pressed to keep up with the officer's long strides, "I mean if it can hold back this weather…Oof!" she winced as she ran into his back, blinking in surprise as he spun around to face her, his features dark.

"They said the bases of the Black Core were impenetrable Katara. The tops of the tallest mountains, the bottoms of the deepest underwater trenches. All thought to be unreachable, all thought to be indestructible. Now they all lay in ruin, and I'm the last of the Black Core. If these supposed impenetrable fortresses of freedom fell to the might of G.U.N., what change does the Union and their flimsy domes of energy?"

"I…"
"I won't let the Union share the Black Core's fate. Katara. I wasn't able to help last time, but now…things will be different,"

"Sokka…"

"Hm?" Sokka turned back with surprise as Yue tugged hard on the hand clasped in hers, "What's the matter?"

"I…" the white haired girl frowned as she let her hand fall to her side, "I can't do this! I can't just disrespect my father so blatantly!"

"What are you…?"

"Us! It's so…wrong!" tears formed in her eyes she tried to blink them away, "I'm sorry, but I just can't see you anymore. I have a duty to my father, and the people of the New Soviet Union…and you…you're creating conflict and it…it scares me,"

The young man frowned in confusion, "What are you talking about? We're just friends…"

"No, we're not," she tried to smile, cupping his cheek gently with one hand, "You know it as well as I do there's a…connection between us and maybe…maybe if we'd met sooner thing might have been different. But the timing was wrong. I'm engaged, and I have a duty to my father and my people,"

Sokka scowled darkly, "You're not marrying them…and from what I've figured out about your husband to be, you don't even seem to like him very much,"
"It's not a question of what I want," her hand fell away sadly as she slowly backed away, "It's…it's for the good of the Union. I'm sorry…"

He never got in another word. All Sokka could do was watch as she ran away from him, and left his heart neatly broken in two.

She ran as fast as she could, her dainty feet pounding against the hardened concrete as her own tears near blinded her.

She didn't need to see though as she ran from the base and out into the streets of Moscow, the Central Tower still standing predominantly out over the skyline as she ran through the bustling crowds towards it.

Within the thud of every step, her dreams seemed to flash before her eyes; a sea of black sweeping across Russia towards the capital, thousands crying out in fear and pain as they were slaughtered by the darkness.

A face…once to alien, but now so familiar, reaching out to her…love, pain and loss etched into his features as light exploded from her very body.

She didn't bother to take the elevator once she reached her grand home. Instead she kept running up the countless flights of stairs, her breath getting more and more laboured with every step she took before she finally reached her private quarters.

Normally she would have stopped to admire the paintings she so fondly kept adorned on her walls, or take of her shoes and socks to feel the thick ruby red carpet between her toes, but today she just wanted to collapse on the dark navy sheets of her large bed, tears finally aloud to run their course down her cheeks as she curled into a ball.

"Why? Why are the fates so cruel!?" she cried to no one in particular, "Why couldn't he have come five years ago, or even ten years ago? Why, in this year, on this day, did he have to fall into my life? But at least he's safe…I've driven him away," she shuddered slightly as a chill ran down her spine, "I won't have to see his face as it is in my dreams…"

"If you think your actions here today have changed the course of time, you're more foolish then I thought,"

Yue yelped in fear as his voice, low and shallow with a distinct metallic tone, seemed fill her room.

"I…I drove him away," her eyes darted to the darkened corners of the room untouched by the glow of the energy dome outside her large bay windows, "Surely he hates me now? After running away from him…giving him such a terrible answer to why we must be apart…?"

"The flow of time does not bend so easily to one child's follies," another shriek escaped the Princess' lips as the shadows seemed to solidify beside her bed. The young girl backing away in terror from the hard tone in the ghostly voice, "If you truly want to mould your destiny, you must try far harder then a badly planned break-up,"

Before her very eyes he formed from the shadows; a man clothed in robes of black, most of his pale face covered by his hood pulled low across his eyes, paper white hands partially hidden by his onyx cloak.

"If…if this is to be my destiny…" Yue shivered under the masked gaze of her visitor, "Why must it be so cruel? Why did he of all people have to walk into my life…just as everything I've dreamed about is coming true?"

"Do you not see the gift that had been bestowed upon you?" the Immortal Wanderer growled darkly, "You are one of the few who have seen what the future currently holds, do you not realise you have the power to change that which you have seen? To steer your course across the ocean called time to a more favourable destination?"

"You're wrong YOU'RE WRONG!!" she shook her head fiercely, "The flow of time is always cruel…some may be able to change small aspects of their lives, but no one can change what is to come so drastically,"

"Not true. Remember…were it not for My Lady's intervention so long ago, you and I would not be having this conversation,"
"She is Silvairian, I am human," Yue scowled darkly, "She has powers which I would never be able to comprehend. My dreams are coming true…and there's nothing I can do to stop them…"

"Once more, you fail to understand the turbulent ocean that is time," The Wanderer loomed ominously over her, a chill running down her spine as he grinned, revealing an array of pearly white teeth, "Nothing is set in stone that cannot be broken my dear. Your dreams come true because you make them come true. You have seen events as they might be and automatically decide them to be the truth. Do you not see that because you have shunned him, your friend will now do anything within his power to win your love? You would have been wise to have embraced his affections,"

"What…what do you mean?"

The Wanderer's grin became a dark smirk, "See for yourself,"

The princess jumped as the television in the next room flicked on, her father's strong voice filling her quarters as she jumped off her bed and ran into the living area, the Wanderer gliding just behind her.

"My friends, my companions, my comrades," Chancellor Arnook gripped the podium before him tightly as she knelt before the screen, "I do not know how much time we have, so I will not keep you long. The day we have feared for so long has arrived. The German Unified Nations has broken through our boarders, and are mere hours away from our fair city. It appears as our neutrality has been thrown to the wind, and a call to arms must be made. Therefore, it is with a heavy heart that I rally the forces, and place all Ranger pilots on combat alert. There will be bloodshed, brave men and women will die and vanish from our fair city. But they will never vanish from our hearts, and their sacrifice will ensure G.U.N. will rue the day they stepped foot on our lands. In order to lower the loss of life however, I am initiating a daring plan to strike at the very heart of the advancing army. Behind me are the brave souls who have willingly volunteered to go foreword with this dangerous mission," her father held out a hand behind him, the camera panning to reveal five soldiers standing at attention. Four wore the blue uniform of the Soviet Armed Forces. One, a gasp escaping Yue's throat as she recognised his face, wore simple army slacks of the U.S.A.C., "They go to battle before us, and they may not return. All we can do is equip them to complete their objective…and pray for their safe return,"

"You see?" Yue cupped her mouth in silent horror, tears sliding around her fingers as she felt the Wanderer's presence at her shoulder, "Do you see now what you have done? The changing the flow of time is not as simple as it seems. The Fates gave you another path through the bond with that man, but by pushing him away, you have pushed him down a path you wanted him to avoid. If you had accepted his advances, the chance you would have both survived would have been so much greater,"

"What must I do?" Yue turned her frightened eyes up to the Wanderer's masked face, "What can I do to change this? Tell me!"

"What must you do?" The Wanderer smiled grimly as the shadows seemed to envelop him, "Now you must wait, and see where the tides of time take you,"

"It's quiet…isn't it?"

Aang turned slightly as Katara joined him on the balcony, a small smile gracing his lips as he turned back to the city far below.

"Most of the civilians have been evacuated to the shelters. I can't imagine it'd be very lively around here with most of the population underground,"

"What do you think's gonna happen?"

"Honestly?" he sighed as she lent up against the railing, "I think a lot of people are going to die. We're outmatched, outclassed, and out gunned. Arnook says he's called for reinforcements, but they won't be here for three days. I suppose the Energy Dome will keep enemy bombardment at bay, but until then…"

"Are you scared?"

He gazed at her serious face quietly for a few moments, before nodding slowly.

"Yes. I…I'd never actually been into a serious combat situation before you…thawed me out. 1945 was a time of uneasy peace. The nations of the world seemed strained to be sure, but I never saw a single battle outside of simulation. Even then, all the enemies we've fought recently…Zuko, Vadeck, the Pirate Captain…none of them will compare to the conflict this army is bringing with it. So yeah," he smiled sheepishly, "I guess I'm scared. I mean who wouldn't be right?"

She nodded reassuringly as she sidled up to him, her hand entwining with his own as she lent against his shoulder.

"If it makes you feel any better…I'm actually kinda glad you're scared,"

"Why?"

"Because it means that even though you are the Courier and pilot of the Avatar…it shows you're still human,"

He chuckled slightly as he slowly uncoupled their hands and slung his arm around her shoulder, pulling her close as a light breeze swirled around them.

For the longest time the two of them stood there, with only the abandoned city below to keep them company as the sun slowly slipped below the horizon.

All to soon, the moment was broken by a low rumble that seemed vibrate across the frozen plains, a large cloud of snow dominating the horizon from the northwest.

"They're here," Alistair scowled darkly as he raised his watch to his lips, "Now it really begins,

AVATAR! I NEED YOU!!"

(…)

The first few squads of Fortitudes skidded across the snow as Alistair and the Avatar launched into the sky, a squadron of attack helicopters covering the enemies advance from the skies as a single Land Battleship watched from behind.

"I find it hard to believe this is the entire battle fleet. They must be testing us," Alistair smirked grimly as Avatar touched down amidst the snow a mile from the city walls, "No matter, should be a good warm u…whoa!"

Without so much as a warning, Avatar slipped as it tried to touch down on the white battlefield, Aang managing to throw out a hand just in time to stop the Ranger falling flat on it's face.

"DAMMIT! I forgot about the terrain!" Alistair winced as he tried to stand his machine back on it's feet, only for a snow dune to crumble under the combined weight and the first opening barrage of the attack helicopters, "That's not helping!"

The helicopters didn't seem to care. Struggling to keep the Avatar upright, the officer could only grunt in frustration as a Fortitude, unhindered by the terrain due to the massive retractable skies attached to their feet, slammed into his Ranger's chest, a flurry of white mushrooming into the sky as Avatar fell onto it's back with a crash, another barrage from his aerial attackers rattling him to his very core.

"Stop that damn you!" A beam of white light erupted from the Avatar's energy rifle, catching a single helicopter by the edge of the rotors as the Ranger slowly tried to rise to it's feet, the craft plunging down into the soft snow and detonating in a fantastic display as he took off into the air.

"This is no good," Aang swore under his breath as he watched the Fortitudes dart in and out amidst the snow drifts, "They're too fast…WHY AM I HAVING SO MUCH TROUBLE!?"

Another snow drift crumpled as a Fortitude shot out the fragile ground beneath the Avatar moments before it landed, the onyx Ranger nearly toppling once more as a energy blast missed the offending white camouflaged machine.

"I suppose the fact I stick out like a sore thumb in all this snow doesn't help much," Alistair couldn't help but smirk as he leaned heavily on the barrel of the rifle, using it as a leaver to pull his half sunken Ranger out of the snow and back into the air with a haze of blue ion particles, "If I can just get a firm footing," still airborne, he pulled down the maintenance console from above his head, his side screens filling with various computer commands as his fingers flew across the keyboard, "Taking into account the contact pressures decreased…just need to estimate the reduction in pressure…for friction coefficient I need to set the granularity of the snow as minus twenty and…BANG!"
The Avatar hit another snow drift as a blast of steam erupted from the Ranger's feet, the fragile terrain holding under the machine's immense weight as it slid down the slope into the path of a on-coming Fortitude.

"Time to make up for lost time!"

With a heavy crunch the Avatar's knee impacted hard against the enemy Ranger's chest, the machine crashing into the snow with a resounding thud as a blast to the head put the mech out of commission.

With barely time to catch his breath, another Fortitude leapt out from behind a snow dune, it's sword poised to piece it's target from behind, only be sent flying as the Avatar elbowed it in it's single red eye, cracking it's visor.

"You think it's funny to sneak up on people when they're backs turned you bastard?" The officer growled darkly as he holstered his rifle in favour of the Energy Sword, "Well have some of this!!"

Without even so much as a second thought Aang thrust the blade deep into the Fortitude's chest before it had a chance to rise, the entire mech exploding from within plumes of smoke and debris burst though it's arm sockets and head.

"You think I'm just gonna let you take this city," Alistair turned his gaze hatefully towards the battleship as he pulled his sword free of the downed mech's smouldering remains and reattached it to his back, "You hear me?! I WON'T LET YOU DESTROY MOSCOW LIKE YOU DESTROYED THE BLACK CORE!!"

As if in answer to his screams, the warship's immense foreword turrets rose slightly as the Avatar blasted foreword in a burst of ion energy, fiery shells erupting from the barrels and screaming across the night as another Fortitude leapt up from a nearby dune, sword held high over it's head.

"You think it'll be that easy!?" the Avatar's fist plunged deep into it's attacker chest and threw it into the line of fire of it's allies, "I won't let you take the city!"

A single blast erupted from the Avatar's energy rifle, the beam of white light erupting the Fortitude's nuclear reactor as the shells screamed by, a fiery array bursting from the Ranger's lower torso and engulfing everything in it's wake, including several of the attack helicopters that had strayed too close.

"You're next!"

With all his might, Alistair slung the sword down from it's sheath straight into the heart of the lone battleship, shafts of lighting pouring from the large slash as the blade slide down to it's hilt, the hull crumpling under stress as the Avatar slammed into it feet first. Grasping the sword tightly with one hand, the Ranger wrenched it's weapon free as it pushed off from the ruined ship, the energy rifle in it's other hand going off a one last time as it fired a single shot into the gaping wound as it launched into the air, the once mighty ship exploding in violent array of reds and yellows as it sent snow and ice in every direction, the Avatar framed by the flames as it landed not too far away.

"One down," Alistair grimaced as he watched another two battleships rumble over the horizon, "The Maker knows how many to go,"

"Gentlemen," Arnook sighed as paced before Sokka three of the soldiers that had stood on the podium with him what felt like a eternity ago, "You have volunteered for this mission. No one has forced you to go. It is likely that few of you will return. But your sacrifice will not be in vain. Should you succeed, you may very well end this battle before it has even begun," the Chancellor winced slightly as the building shook slightly from a shell that impacted against the energy dome, "Your mission, should you choose to continue from this point onward, is the assassination of the commander-in-chief of the attacking fleet and, if possible, and of his underlings. In order to achieve this objective, you shall be airlift via a transport under the cover of a Mirage System, and mingle with the crew of what we believe to be their flagship. In order to properly integrate with the crew unnoticed, you'll each be issued one of these uniforms. Jonah?"

As the fifth member of their 'squad' emerged from behind a door, Sokka found himself hard pressed not to laugh.

Tall, light skinned and handsome, with jet black hair that swept across his forehead in one shiny wave and pert features that any woman would have killed for. Jonah held himself with a kind of dignity that reminded the Australian strongly of Admiral Vadeck; a snobbish man who seemed to constantly look at the world down his nose. Ordinarily this would have been enough for Sokka to have grimaced in disgust. Due to his supposed comrade's attire however, he tried his hardest to stifle a snigger that lodged in his throat.

Unfortunately for him, the object of his amusement appeared to have exceptional hearing.

"You, the giggling girl," his voice was high, another reminder of Alfonso Vadeck of Shangri-La, but also held a distinctly sharp tone to it as he narrowed his lavender eyes, "You want to share the joke with the rest of us?"

"Me? Oh no, no," Sokka waved his hands exaggeratedly, still failing miserably to whip the smirk off his face, "I was just wondering…when was the last time you actually was a G.U.N. soldier?"

"There were a few conflicts with G.U.N. forces for a few years after the Day of Blood," Arnook interrupted Jonah before he could speak, "The last attack was around…eighty-five years ago. These uniforms were captured from G.U.N. soldiers in case of a mission such as this,"

"Ah, I see. That explains why your buddy here looks so out of date," Sokka sighed as he fell out of line and circled the fidgeting Jonah, "See, G.U.N. had a bit of a wardrobe upgrade since they wore these relics. For starters, only officers have worn hats of any kind since the beginning of the century," he clicked the soft headpiece off the indignant man before him, "Their tunics now end half way down the thigh rather at the waist, and as for the puffy pants," He smirked as he shook his head with disbelief, "Dude, I didn't even think they wore those things since Hitler was in charge,"

"You dare mock me, you badly dressed simpleton?" Jonah scowled darkly as his eyes travelled up and down Sokka's unkempt combat slacks, "Do you know who I am? I am Jonah Rono Sayren; cherished son of General Irinei Sayren. If you think I'll take this kind of talk from some green recruit from the middle of nowhere then…"

"Jonah, hold you tongue," The hard tone in the Chancellor's voice caused Sayren's mouth to snap shut with a click, "Sokka has more experience fighting G.U.N. then all of us put together. I trust his judgment," Arnook sighed as the soldier nodded sullenly, "Now, all there is left to figure out is the identity of our attacker…"

"It's probably Artie,"

"A…Artie?"

"Yeah, Artie. Better known as Major Artirius Meridiano," Sokka waved a knowing hand at the perplexed soldiers, "Tall, pale, blind. Terrifyingly terrific pilot…I think he's stalking my sister though. Keeps popping up and trying to seduce her…"

Jonah folded his arms across his chest, clearly unimpressed, "Do you really thing a Major would have the kind of credentials or influence to amass a huge army and invade our homeland just to sweep your sister off her feet?"

"Nah, but Katara said something about a General Takanori Zhao from her last visit to New Gibraltar. The way she described him, he might be the guy you're looking for," Sokka smirked triumphantly, "Artie's his subordinate or something. Like a lapdog. Does everything the guy tells him to do…well…almost anything. If you ask me, this Zhao guy sounds like some who'd take Artie's defeats as his defeats. He might be staging this whole Take-Over-The-Union thing to regain some credibility with the Führer,"

"A General would have the influence to build up a substantial armed force," The Chancellor winced once more as another shell shook the entire city, "Sokka, if you have any other information you can give us, please tell Jonah. He will be leading this operation. Jonah," he set a heavy hand on the young man's shoulder, "Treat Sokka with the same respect you give our own soldiers. I would expect nothing less form my future Son-in-law,"

"S…Son-in-law!?" Sokka felt his jaw hit the floor as the Chancellor walked away, "You…You're marrying Yue?"

"Yes?" Jonah smirked arrogantly, "Why? Jealous?"

"No, not at all," the Australian smiled tightly as the older man followed Arnook to inspect his troops, "You're obviously…perfect for each other,"

The battle was decidedly one sided.

All through the night, more and more Land Battleships spilled over the horizon to surround the city, their massive guns firing shell after shell into the side of the energy dome, each blast vaporising on impact, stunting their onslaught.

"It's almost daybreak General," Iroh rubbed his eyes tiredly as he gazed blearily at the shining city against the pinking sky through the Dues' Bridge windows, "It's never wise to attack the Union when the sun is up and their energy supply is near limitless,"

"Oh, I'm aware of the problem the morning brings," Zhao smirked slightly as he watched the Avatar swoop down on another squad of Fortitudes, "But have no fear my dear Iroh, I am working on a solution. But for now," A Fortitude flared up as the Avatar impaled it with it's energy sword, "Signal the fleet to move away from Moscow, we'll return…when night falls once more,"

"Do you see him? Yue looked up at Katara's Fortitude, now painted a sky blue to differentiate between her and the enemy units, it's single red eye searching the cratered battlefield from atop the wall.

"I think so…My God…"

The Russian girl didn't have to wait long to realise something was wrong.

Plummeting to earth, the Avatar was scratched and dented across it's armour, it's left arm hanging limply as sparks flew from it's socket as steam poured from one of it's ion thrusters.

"Open the gate!" her cry echoed across the military base as the Ranger drew ever closer, "Quickly before he hit's the Energy Dome!"

As though answering her call, a massive portion of the wall segmented and disappeared into itself, a slice of the Energy Dome slowly vanishing with it as Katara leapt down to the ground.

"He's gonna crash!" the Fortitude moved towards the centre of the gateway as the Avatar began to swing uncontrollably from side to side, it's head still pointed towards the ground, "Get the fire crews up here now! I'm gonna catch him!"

"You're going to wh…"

Mere moments before the wounded Ranger entered the compound, Katara's Fortitude leapt up high into the air with a roar of it's ion engines, it's large thick arms held wide open as the Avatar slammed into it's chest.

Katara cried out in surprise as she was forced painfully into the back of her chair, the two Ranger sent flying from the force of impact across the base as she struggled to keep her Fortitude upright.

"Come on, come on!" the ion jets seemed to scream in her ears as she gripped the controls sticks tightly, "Where's the damn ground!?"

With a screech of metal on concrete, the Fortitude's large feet finally hit the ground in a wave of broken mortar as the thick limbs dug in deep to keep the machine upright.

"Almost there!"

Forcing all her energy into one last push, the ion thrusters roared deafeningly as the tangled Rangers gradually slowed, finally coming to a stop bare metres from one of the massive hanger bays with a hiss.

"Oh boy," Katara sighed as she let her head flop back against the headrest with a thud, "That was too close. Alistair, you okay?"

"I've…been better," The officer groaned as she gently lowered the Avatar to the ground, the wail of sirens quickly filling the air as bright yellow crash tenders screeched onto the scene, "But as for Avatar…it's a different story,"

"Thruster Assembly 2 will have to be replaced I'm afraid," Pakku sighed as he gazed down at the Avatar in the maintenance bay below the catwalk, "The joints are starting to freeze up due to overuse, the left arm is completely shot. Armour's repairable though…but it will take at least a week to fully repair her,"

"How long to get it back on it's feet?"
"Well that's just it, we don't know," the General scratched his beard as Aang stared at him in disbelief, "You have to understand, Avatar isn't a Lumber, or a Dovato, or even a Fortitude. Avatar is…alien to us, or to be more precise: a hybrid. A fusion of technology we understand and technology we don't. We don't even know what powers your Ranger. The Thruster Assembly we can replace, that's basic technology every Nation has duplicated. Armour is easy to replace, but to be frank, if you want Avatar to be fully repaired, you'd either have to find the creators of the unknown components and ask for help, or return to a Black Core Base and hope they have a factory level that can create the new components. We can give your machine a basic overall Alistair, but you've pushed her too far, and Avatar won't be the same again if we do. I'm sorry,"

"Don't be," Aang rubbed a hand over his face, "This is my fault. There were just so many of them. I must of taken down over a dozen battleships, countless Rangers and helicopters…but they just keep coming I couldn't fight them all,

"But you have too!" Yue stared desperately at the officer as he sunk to the floor against the railing, "You're the Courier! The pilot of The Avatar…"

"but I was never MEANT TO BE THE PILOT OF THE AVATAR!!" The Princess recoiled as Alistair's voice roared across the bay, "DON'T YOU GET IT?! I WAS JUST SUPPOSED TO GET THE DAMN MECH TO PACIFIC BASE!! I'D NEVER EVEN PILOTED A DAMN RANGER OUTSIDE OF SIMULATIONS!! I'M JUST A MAN, A SIMPLE OFFICER. A DAMN FRAGGING FLIGHT LIEUTENANT!!"He threw his hat across the catwalk angrily, before slowly cradling his head in his hands, "And now…I'm just a man without even a Ranger to his name,"

No one spoke as the last of Aang's outburst rang through the maintenance bay, not even the engineers below dared to breath as the officer curled his arms around his head, soundly broken.

The Dominance.

It sat quietly in the empty cargo Bay of the Dues, a request on Iroh's part as a last homage of sorts to his 'departed' nephew.

Zhao hadn't been very happy about it, but had reluctantly accepted the machine at Major Meridiano's insistence, keeping it in storage rather then in the actual Hanger Bay.

But that just made Zuko's life a tad easier; no other pilots or engineers to spot him and get in his way.

And with the Avatar sighted in Moscow's skies, he was glad his Uncle had thought ahead.

"Soon, The Avatar will be in my grasp," Sozin smirked to himself as he looked up into the dark visor of his Ranger's face, "Then there will be nothing for Zhao to do except watch as I present it to my father…and restore my honour,"

"You know, for a dead man, you sure do talk a lot,"

His Exo-suit's blaster clicked out of it's socket on his arm as he spun around to aim at the owner of the new voice, his face creasing into a dark scowl as he recognised the Major's masked face.

"How long have you been there?"

"Not long," Artirius smiled slightly from his position against the cargo bay's doorway, one booted foot tapping against the bulkhead behind him as he folded his arms across his chest, "A better question would be how long have I known you were on board. You're Uncle gave you a really nice eulogy Zuko, I didn't know he was such an accomplished actor,"
"My Uncle is a man of many talents," the Captain didn't let his arm fall, "So…how long have you known?"

"Since Iroh begged the General to take the Dominance along with us as a final tribute to his beloved nephew. There had to be something smaller he could of brought along. Didn't take me long to figure everything else out after that…except for how you survived. You got an answer to that?"

"I guess I'm just lucky,"
"I guess you are," the Major frowned slightly as he pushed off from the wall, "I take it then you saw the Avatar in during the attack?"

"I did,"

"Are you going after him?"

"Yes. Are you going to stop me?"

"No. After getting this far, if you want to throw your life away, I won't stop you," Artirius came to a halt in front of the hesitant exile, "I tried to give you my advice and you ignored it. Look where it got you. You have no ship, you have no crew…no self respect,"

"Hold you tongue Major!" He raised the blaster to level with Meridiano's head, "Unless you want me to take it out for you!"

"You won't kill me Zuko,"
"And why not?"

"Because you'd of done it by now if you wanted too. The fact of the matter is you know I'm right. If you'd heeded my advice, and gone to the island until Summer's End, you'd still have your ship, your crew and your dignity. All you have left is a couple of Mechs, your Uncle's love…and you're father's warped promise,"

The former Captain scowled darkly at the Major for several minutes, a miniature conflict raging within his brain, before the blaster was finally lowered.

"Maybe you're right," his voice was low and hushed, "Maybe if I'd taken your advice, I wouldn't be in this mess. But you're also right that one of the only things I have left is my Father's promise of restoring my honour. It's the only thing that keeps me going now, the only thing I have left to live for," he stared determinately into Artirius' masked eyes, "I have to do this. I have to at least try. Otherwise…I'll have nothing left at all,"

"Then go,"

Zuko jumped as a portion of the outer cargo bay wall slowly lowered down to the snowy ground, the frigid wind causing Sozin to shiver as he stared at the Major incredulously.

"How did you…?"

"There are a lot of things you don't know about me Zuko," the Major smiled enigmatically as he turned towards the corridors of the Dues, "I'm mysterious like that. Now get going. It's almost sunset,"

"You like her, don't you?"

"Hm?" Sokka's eyes rolled over to the smirking Jonah as he twirled a pistol with one hand in boredom, "Like who?"

"Why, Lady Yue of course," the arrogant aristocrat smiled devilishly as he sat down beside the younger man, "I wouldn't blame you. She's quite a piece of work,"

"Man…I don't even know anymore,"

"And she also comes with the most perks,"

Sokka cocked a eyebrow slightly, the pistol coming to a rest with his finger around the trigger, "Perks?"

"Why yes," Jonah's smile became almost pleasant, "Yue's nice and everything, but the points I'll get with the Chancellor aren't bad either. And when the old man passes on…well…Yue's no politician…"

"So that's what all this is about?" Sokka was surprised at the level of calm that was laced through his voice, "This whole arranged marriage is just so a self absorbed weasel like yourself can earn a few girl scout points with Arnook and take his place when he kicks the bucket?"
"Hey now, there's no need for names," Sayren gave him a offended look, "Besides, It's not a simpleton from the ruins of Australia, such as yourself, could possibly the political complexities of our life? No offence,"

"Oh of course not," Sokka smirked as he let his arm fall to hang limply to his side, "Yeah, you insult me, my home, and I'm supposed to be happy about that. Yeah, I can understand that. Whoops!"

Puzzlement quickly turned into a yelp of surprise as a bullet from the pistol embedded itself in the wooden floor bare centimetres from Jonah's toe, the soldier jumping up from his chair as though it had been set on fire.

"Sorry about that," Sokka grinned lazily as he swung the pistol around in his hand, "Finger must of slipped. So sorry,"

"What are you…? AGH!" Sayren jumped as another bullet narrowly missed his foot, "Stop that!! AGH!! STOP IT!!"

"Sorry. Ops, sorry again," Sokka wasn't even trying to hide his obvious escapades as Jonah danced madly, dodging bullets, "Damn if have one slippery trigger finger!"

"What's going on here?" the hail of friendly fire stopped abruptly as Arnook stepped into the room, the other infiltrators gazing fearfully over his broad shoulders, "Sokka, what are you doing?"

"Jerk hunting," the Australian shrugged as he set the empty fire arm down on the table, Jonah looking on the brink of collapse, his breathing deep and uneven, his usually pristine hair sticking to his sweat ridden hair, "Sorry about the holes in the floor, but he wouldn't stand still,"

"He…he tried to kill me!" Sayren pointed at Sokka shakily, "Didn't anyone see it!? He tried to shoot me point blank!!"

"Calm yourself Jonah," The Chancellor frowned quietly, although several of the soldiers behind him smirked quietly amongst themselves, "As for you Sokka, I'm afraid I must take you off this mission,"

"Fine," Sokka scowled as he stormed out of the room, "Who'd want to fight under Sayren's flag anyway?"

"Are you okay?"

Alistair glanced up from his musings as Katara walked across the catwalk towards him, before returning his stare to the abandoned Avatar below, resting his head on top of his arms as he leaned against the railing.

"I took my Ranger out of the fight, I shouted at a girl that didn't deserve it and now," he coughed hoarsely, "My throat hurts,"

"Well…at least you knew it was wrong to just explode like that," Katara laughed slightly as she lay a comforting hand on the officer's shoulder, "but in your defence, I can see where you're coming from. You never asked to become the pilot of the Avatar. You've got a lot of weight on your shoulders because of all the legends and hearsay that have cropped up over the past hundred years, and I don't think anyone can truly understand how much pressure you must be under. You have so much to live up too, and people just don't realise that the fact is…you're only human, just like the rest of us. And more importantly, you're a guy whose out of touch with history. The Black Core is gone, friends and family that were close to your age a hundred years ago are either dead or a lot older. There are days where I just lie awake and try to imagine what you must be going through, and I just can't see myself going through with it," she smiled wryly, "To be honest, I'm impressed you made it this far without blowing your top,"

Alistair gave her a strange look out of the corner of his eye, before returning his gaze to the Avatar, "Gee thanks,"

She laughed slightly, "Don't mention it,"

"Lieutenant Aang?"

The officer looked up in surprise as Yue hesitantly approached the pair from the opposite end of the catwalk, her head hung low, her eyes hidden behind her pure white bangs.

"I…I feel I must apologise for my early behaviour," her voice was quiet and miserable, "It was wrong of me to say what I said. Please forgive me…"

"There's nothing to be forgiven Yue," Alistair smiled tiredly, as Yue looked up hopefully, "I shouldn't have exploded like that. I guess…I don't know," he frowned down at his machine, "I wasn't recruited by The Black Core to become a hero. I never even thought I would get very high up the career ladder. I always felt I'd be a grunt from day one to the day I retired. But…people think I'm supposed to save the world, our little 'event' proved that. And the fact of the matter is…I have no idea how to live up to their expectations,"

The Princess nodded thoughtfully, her eyes suddenly brightening as a thought hit her, "Perhaps I may be able to help you. Miss Katara, may we borrow your Fortitude? It will be quite a walk otherwise…believe me,"

Dusk was coming

As Dominance sprinted across the snowy fields, Zuko could see the cloudless sky slowly darkening to a bloody orange as the sun slowly began to dip under the horizon.

He couldn't stop to admire it though.

The city of Moscow grew ever closer with each passing moment as he continued to run, a silent clock counting down in his head as the glowing dome threatened to blind his Ranger's cameras.

Timing was everything. Too early and he could find himself vaporised against the wall of energy that protected the metropolis, to late and he might smash into the massive wall of iron and stone that surrounded Moscow's base.

All things considered, perhaps overshooting would be better then undershooting.

He pushed Dominance harder, faster, it's long legs blurring against the snow as the giant drifts puffed into debris with every rapid footstep.

"3...2...1...NOW!!"

Zuko couldn't help but wince as his Ranger launched itself high into the air, his eyes aching as the energy dome completely engulfed his vision, a distinct steady beep curtly informing him of the distance between life and death as gravity pulled him back to Earth.

He couldn't see. He knew he would be temporarily blinded by the light, but this was his only chance to get inside without being detected.

With a heavy thud, the Dominance collided with something hard as the light faded slightly across it's cameras, it's pilot blinking away the spots that danced across his vision as he smiled triumphantly at his landing spot.

Like an umbrella, Moscow's Energy Dome was generated from the central tower, electronic fields across the wall that surrounded the city ensuring the field would not collapse and vaporise everyone within it's confines…at least, that's what he had heard.

Recent intelligence he had recovered from the Dues' computers indicated that the field itself wasn't a complete dome, rather the emitters themselves sat in a ring around the top of the tower, allowing clean air to enter the city without deactivating the energy field every so often. Original plans to drop Fortitudes from above had been discarded due to the Rangers being to large to fit through. But for a thin machine such as the Dominance…

Zuko smirked as he stared down at the city through the ring, the blinding light of the dome restricted to the edge of his vision.

"Too easy,"

"Wow…" Alistair blinked in amazement as he took in his surroundings, "This is…it's amazing,"

Situated in the very centre of the Central Tower, an impressive garden grew quietly, a thousand different trees and plants from across the globe lying undisturbed with the massive cylinder that seem to reach to the very top of the building.

Between the grassy spots and flower beds, paths of concrete slabs wound their way through the enclosed grounds, wooden benches situated near plots of flowers of every colour, from red roses to pure white lilies, all basking in the soft light that emanated from the very centre of the garden.

Situated in the centre of a stone plaza surrounded by cherry blossoms, a thin pillar of white light stretched up into the darkened upper reaches of the tower from a large bizarre machine in the centre of a large stone plaza; a large thick bottle-shaped device with numerous tubes winding their way around the edges, a glowing aura emanating from within through a large glass dome in it's centre.

"This garden is only open to members of the Arnook family and their honoured guests," Yue smiled at her friends obvious awe as they walked across the threshold towards the pillar of light, "It is the only part of the city that actually stands on Russian ground. Most of the surrounding earth is too cold for plants of any kind to grow easily, but the power source that generates the energy dome also warms the earth enough for all varieties of fauna to grow,"

"Power source?" Katara turned her attention to the strange device before her as the three approached, "You mean it's different from other energy domes?"

"Yes. Most energy domes are powered by a Nuclear Reactor buried under the city they protect," Yue smiled slightly, "At least, that is how it is for other cities within the Union. We have yet to design a powerful enough Solar Generator to fuel a Energy Dome indefinitely. Almost Ninety years ago however, my Great Grandfather was presented with a powerful crystal. by a mysterious lady dressed in robes that appeared to be made of light, though her face was hidden. It is this crystal that insures Moscow is warm and secure for all those who live here,"

"A crystal?" Katara blinked in surprise.

"A Lady in white?" Alistair stopped in his tracks.

"Yes," Yue turned back to the two friends with puzzlement, "Was I unclear?"

"Back on Atlantic Base…and before when I went into Cryo-Stasis," Alistair frowned in concentration, "Her name was Fina…at least that was the name she gave me. She said she represent something called the House of Silvairian. If this is the same woman then…" he looked up at Katara curiously, "What about you? You look like you've seen a ghost,"

"While…While you were in a coma, you kept mumbling a girl named Charlotte," Katara shifted uneasily under the officer's gaze, "We looked up her name in Avat's database, it came up with a Charlotte Kyoshi. I know Charlotte was turned into Charlatan Forge by sealing her essence into something called…A Avatarium Crystal," she looked up uncertainty into Alistair's eyes, "Later…while I was captured by G.U.N. Artirius mentioned…something…about a certain type of Ranger that could be…powered by Avatarium,"

"A Ranger powered on Avatarium? Impossible," Aang shook his head, "Avatarium Crystals were unknown Katara, Forge told me herself. Even if G.U.N. got their hands on one, do you really think they'd risk blowing some poor pilot to kingdom come?"

The Australian girl merely looked off towards the strange machine sulkily, "I never said it was G.U.N. that had developed it,"

"I'm not sure if the crystal given to my Great Grandfather is the same Avatarium Crystal that you speak off," Yue interjected before Alistair could demand an explanation, "What I do know is that on it's own, the Crystal still didn't have enough power to keep a stable Energy Dome up for more then a year without some time to recharge. By breaking it apart however, he discovered a way to create a ever-lasting power loop. Ever since the Dome was erected, and this new Moscow was built on the ruins of the old one, a Arnook has been elected Chancellor. My Grandfather told me whenever he needed a problem solved, I should come here, to this garden, and look upon the crystal, and the answers to my questions would come to me,"

"Is that why you brought me here?" Aang smirked slightly, "To have a glowing rock tell me what to do?"

"I honestly don't know what will happen," Yue smiled enigmatically as she approached the machine, the glass dome opening with a hiss as she waved a hand over a nearby panel, "All I know is that if you have questions that need answering, perhaps this is the place where you will find your answers,"

The officer gave her a sceptical look, before sighing in defeat, "Well, it's not like I have anything to lose,"

He frowned slowly as he approached the machine, his grey eyes squinting slightly as he made out a circular crystal within the light, a darkness seemingly passing form one side to the other.

"What do you see?" Katara looked over his shoulder curiously.

"Just the crystal," Alistair cocked his head to one side curiously, "Hey Yue, has anyone noticed that kinda looks like…" he frowned slightly, "Looks like…like…"

Then, as though someone had turned out the lights, his world went pitch black.

"You wanted to see me sir?"

"Hm?" Arnook looked up from his reports as Sokka gazed at him sulkily from his office door, "Ah yes Sokka come in, have a seat. How are you feeling?"
"Calmer, I guess," the Australian sighed as he slumped into the chair the Chancellor indicated too, "I don't regret what I did, but it wasn't like I actually shot him, just at him,"

"I know Jonah can be…difficult to get along with," Arnook smiled slightly, "But even trying to shoot him in the foot may have been a little…excessive,"

"I don't care," Sokka scowled as he folded his arms defensively against his chest, "I stand by what I did. Besides, I'm off the mission, it's not like I can do any worse today,"

"Yes, I do believe it would be best if you didn't join Jonah and his comrades on the mission, but have no fear, I do have another assignment for you,"

"Is it cleaning out every public toilet on the military base?"

The Chancellor chuckled lightly, "No, I'm afraid not. This mission is far more important. I want you…to look after my daughter,"

Sokka blinked several times as Arnook slowly rose from his chair.

"Sir?"

"This battle worries me Sokka. From the day she was born, Yue's dreams have been filled with images of a conflict such as this. It was for this reason…selfishly I suppose, that I followed my father and grandfather's wishes to remain neutral in this world wide conflict when my Generals and politicians insist we should aid the U.S.A.C.. Now G.U.N. is on our doorstep…" he gazed out the window at the slowly pinking sky before turning to the bemused Australian, "I certainty believe I could get through this if I knew you were the one standing by my daughter's side. So…will you do this for me?"

Sokka smiled as he shrugged indifferently, "How could I refuse?"

"Excellent," the Chancellor clapped the young man on the shoulder, "I'll have someone find Yue so…did you feel that?"

A roar rattled through the Central Tower moments later before Sokka could reply, a large red blur streaking by the windows as a large crack wound it's way through the thick glass from the resulting backlash.

"No," Sokka swallowed thickly, "But I definitely saw that,"

"Alistair? Alistair?" Katara frowned worriedly as she waved a hand frantically in front of her friend's vacant face, "What's wrong with him?"

"I…I don't know," Yue stared on helplessly, "I've never actually had to use the crystal myself. Look at his eyes though, the way they're moving…it's almost like he's in a state of REM sleep. Only his eyes are open…what was that?"

A loud rumble echoed around the garden as the ground below their feet, a wave of dust from the tower above falling across the wildlife.

"I don't know, but I'm sure I won't like it," Katara scowled darkly, "Wait here, keep an eye on Alistair. I'll be right back,"

Quiet.

Unusually quiet.

Something his landing hadn't been.

In fact, panning the Dominance's head, the only Ranger in sight was a deactivated Fortitude in sky blue.

"They must all be getting ready for the upcoming attack," Zuko frowned as he gazed around the deserted streets, "You'd think they'd at least send someone to check out the disturbance,"

"How's this for checking to a disturbance!?"

The Captain barely had time to leap out of the way as a hail of bullets sliced through the air, the apartment building behind him exploding in a shower of bricks and mortar.

"What the…" Zuko scowled darkly as the Fortitude's mono-eye flashed red, "It's you! That little Australian girl with the big mouth! I thought you piloted a Lumber?"

"I stole this unit right form under Artirius' nose! Seemed a shame to waste it," The Fortitude slowly rose to it's feet, it's rifle trained on Dominance's chest, "You mind telling me what you're doing here? Or how you even got in here?"

"We all have out secrets little girl," Zuko smirked as he pulled Dominance's large sword from it's sheath, "but it doesn't matter what kind of Ranger you use. A Fortitude is still only a grunt type machine, Dominance is the Ranger of the elites!"

"We'll soon see! BRING IT!!"

Another volley of weapons fire smashed into nearby buildings as the Dominance leapt high into the air, the Fortitude barely managing to jump out of the way as a pair of heavy shells erupted from it's shoulder mounted cannons.

"I hate it admit but you're good," Sozin growled as he watched the Fortitude drop it's depleted rifle, it's shield rotating horizontally as it's sword was ejected, "Somebody's been practicing…Agh!!" the Dominance was forced roughly back as the sky blue Ranger slammed it's shoulder shield into it's chest, "You little peasant!!"

"What's wrong with being poor?" he could almost see the annoying girl smirking triumphantly as their sword clashed in the growing darkness, "As long as you're content with the life you lead, NOTHING ELSE SHOULD MATTER!!"

"And do you really think a life on the run is truly making you happy?!"

"W-what?"

In a moments pause, Zuko took advantage of her stunned state to cleave the Fortitude's right arm off at the elbow, the massive Ranger stumbling back from the devastating blow.

"Ever since you joined the Courier, you've been running from me, running from G.U.N. running to an inevitable demise," Zuko smirked darkly, "You should've just stayed home, in your rotten dwellings with your scavenger life style. At least then you would've lived to see you're nineteenth birthday. If you remain with the Courier and the Avatar, you'll end up dead, if not by my hand, then by some other G.U.N. officer. The best thing for you to do right now is to go back to the cess pit you came from…or maybe if go crying back to Artirius' open arms. Don't try and hide the fact you enjoyed that kiss he gave you,"

"Shut up…"

"Oh, did I touch a nerve? Have we been thinking about our masked prince in onyx armour? Does he invade your dreams? Peirce your every waking thought? Would you do anything to feel you lips against his once more…?"

"I SAID SHUT UP!!"

He had her right where he wanted her. She came at him running, her scream shrieking through his cockpit as the Fortitude's sword wielding arm was raised high in a position to land one last devastating blow.

The cannons went off.

The remains of the Fortitude's shield bearing arm exploded.

And the giant Ranger was sent hurling back into a nearby apartment block, it's glowing red mono-eye turning dark as it's remaining limbs slumped amidst the rubble.

Zuko smiled, his breathing hard and heavy as he set his machine down onto one knee.

"Wherever she goes, the Courier goes," he smirked as he sat back into the Shadow Exo-suit, the armour closing around him as he opened the cockpit hatch, "So if she's out here," he turned his attention to the large entrance at the base of the Central Tower, "He must be in there,"

The sun finally dipped below the horizon. A field of stars and a bone white moon now providing the light for the shadowy battle ahead.

On either side, lines of Rangers stood ready, Lumbers and Dovatos of various ages on one side, line upon line of Fortitudes on the other, eighty Land Battleships in rows of ten just behind them

Zhao breathed in deeply as he took in the sight before him. Victory was in his grasp. It was now only a matter of time.

"The sun has set, now is the time to strike," he waved a hand towards his communications officer, "Order all forces to move foreword. Tonight, Moscow will fall by our hands, and with it: the entire New Soviet Union.

It's time to make history,"

"Katara? Katara! Come on sis don't give up on me now! Katara!"

Sokka's voice screamed through the fog that invaded her mind as Katara groaned softly, one hand going to her head as her brother slowly helped her sit up in her Fortitude's open cockpit.

"Ugh…Sokka? What happened? Where's Zuko?"

"He has gone Miss Katara," the dark haired girl look up over Sokka's shoulder as a guilt ridden Yue slowly peered into the cockpit, "I tried to stop him…but he was just too strong. He knocked me out, and by the time I came too…I'm so sorry,"

"But where could he go? And how did he get in in the first place?" Katara sat up angrily, "I mean it's a multi-ton mech, how does something like that get in and out with nobody noticing?"

"We don't know," Sokka shrugged, "We think he managed to get through the top of the dome, that's where all the fresh air comes from. It's large enough for enough air to get in and out, but small enough to make sure the cold doesn't reach the city below. It's also big enough for a skeletal unit like the Dominance to get through. As to where he's gone though," her brother sighed as he stared up the tower towards the peak of the Dome, "Who knows? Wherever he is, it's sure not here,"

He couldn't find the Avatar. He knew there wouldn't be enough time to search anyway. His plan had simply been to hold the Courier at gunpoint and demand that he summon his Ranger. But the Black Core Officer hadn't even turned around. He just continued to stare at a strange crystalline formation blankly. He didn't even react when Zuko poked him.

So he did the next best thing; he captured the Courier. He would take him somewhere safe, somewhere he could summon the Avatar too when he woke up from whatever dream state he found himself in.

Zuko sighed bitterly as he glanced down at his captive, the officer slumped down by his legs as his open eyes vibrated erratically.

"It won't be long now," the Captain sighed as the sounds of laser and weapons fire echoed in the distance, "Soon I'll be able to go home, and then everything will be as it was,"

As the Dominance continued to trudge through the snow drifts towards the horizon, the starry sky above gradually began to cloud over, the howls of a oncoming snowstorm coming ever closer with each passing moment.

This has just been a chapter that is filled with good bits, and bad bits, the worst of which is Sokka vs. Hahn (Whose had a name change because he reminded from my fav semi-villian from Gundam Seed Destiny.)Zuko's entry into the city is a bit weak too, but I was just so tired and bogged down with cold I couldn't think of anything else. Ironically, I think the fight scenes with Aang Vs. G.U.N. and Katara vs. Zuko might be the best bits (the irony being the fight scenes are the hardest bits for me to write), but I have a feeling this might be due to the fact I just watched fight scenes from Gundam Seed, Destiny and 00 over and over again. Anyway, I've just got one more chapter to write out, plus a epilogue, and then I'm done with this one for now. After that I'm probably going to take December off and focus on my other projects, before returning to write the sequel in January. But that's a long way off, so just keep waiting and I should have the next chapter up sometime in November.

Hope you enjoyed. Reviews always appreciated.

Dearing