Captain Zhao approached the gate of the city, wearing his commander uniform. "Open the door!" He barked to the soldiers standing there.
One of the soldiers, the one with the higher rank, nodded and turned, cupping his hands over his mouth, "Open the gate!" The man yelled. Without hesitation the gate pushed open and Zhao entered. Once inside, Zhao smiled. The city was massive and well protected, yet this man, Captain Zhao, had successfully infiltrated the city. He looked around and saw a soldier, a low ranking soldier, standing guard and approached him.
"Corporal!" He yelled to the man. The man stood straight and saluted, so Zhao continued, "Corporal, what is new with the city?" He approached the nervous man.
"N-new, sir?" The man, afraid, asked.
Zhao pinched the bridge of his nose, "Yes…" he said quietly first, "new! I don't have to explain myself, corporal! I was handling some business outside of the city!" He was furious that this man did not respond right away. Although this man was not really one of his soldiers, he expected the soldier to act like it. This would never be allowed in the Fire Nation.
"W-well, sir, we have caught a fire nation unit outside the city. I-it seems that they were planning an invasion." He gulped.
Zhao's face went sour for a minute, realizing that his commander and his commander's unit were captured, but it quickly changed to a smile. "Where are they being held?"
"I-I-I don't know, sir. I assume in the prison." The man stared forward still, very scared of the presence of his commanding officer; Zhao had this effect on people.
Zhao shook his head, "Very well. Continue with what you were doing." Had this been the Fire Nation, Zhao would have taken the man's head off right then and there, but, since this was the Earth Nation, he had to hold his temper. Zhao walked off into the depths of the city.
Meanwhile, Lieutenant Liko was holding the grounds outside of the city in the pass. The men were miserable. They had marched a very far distance so that they could not be seen and every time they stopped for a break the captain ordered them to march again. Now, however, they had their chance to rest. Lieutenant Liko watched the men, proud to have them under his command. They would die for their nation, no matter what Captain Zhao thought.
Then one of the soldiers approached and saluted, "Sir, I have a report via hawk." He held out the rolled up parchment for the Lieutenant to grab. The lieutenant grabbed it. He unrolled it and examined it; it was from Zhao. Liko read it over and looked to his men. They were all staring at him as if they were expecting explanation.
He spoke, "It would seem that Commander Hu and his men were captured from the Northern part of the city. May the Earth Nation have mercy on their souls." He paused, "This, however, does not change our orders; we will stay here and await Captain Zhao's orders. We cannot fight in the rain, so we will attack after the storm moves away. It is estimated to last another day and night. Until then, we are at rest. We will not venture out of the caves and we will always leave with an escort; we cannot risk being caught. This mission is too important." He turned and moved to sit, leaning on a rock. "Go back to duty. We need to rest." He closed his eyes, blocking out the world. He did not like this plan.
Night was falling on Ba Sing Se and Captain Zhao did not know where to report to. He was moving along the city calmly, knowing the Dai Li were watching, looking for a place to stay. He couldn't stay in an Inn because he was a soldier and that would be strange. The rain was falling pretty hard so Zhao was becoming paranoid, not being able to hear any footsteps behind him. But then he heard a voice.
"You! What are you doing out here at this hour?" Zhao turned to see a general walking towards him. It was General Fong.
"Uh, well, sir…" He rubbed the back of his head, not knowing what to say.
"What is your name and unit?" The man demanded.
"Commander Ta, previous commander of the East unit." He said quickly. He did not know if that was legitimate, but it'd have to work.
The General stared at him for the longest time then realization came across his face. "You are from one of the special units, aren't you?" He looked at Zhao hard.
"Uh, well, yes sir." Zhao replied. He looked at the man.
"Damn it!" The general yelled. "I can't stand the Earth King sending out orders without telling us first." Fong was quite upset.
Zhao was about to reply when a Dai Li agent approached them. "Is there a problem?" The man said calmly, threatening. "It is past hours." He looked to Fong and Zhao.
"Yes, I apologize." Fong began, "We were just on our way to the barracks for rest. Excuse us." He bowed his head, so Zhao did as well.
The Dai Li agent nodded too, "Get to it then. We cannot have the peace disturbed. Have a good night General, Commander." The agent turned and left.
Fong had then turned to Zhao. "Head to the Barracks, Commander." Zhao nodded so Fong walked away, still upset.
Zhao looked to the rooftops and swore he saw movement. The Dai Li were watching.
He moved quickly, moving in the same direction as the general.
He still felt, however, the ever powerful eyes of the Dai Li watching him. Then he heard another voice.
"Commander Ta."
He turned to see a very old civilian man looking at him. He quickly changed his expression, "What are you doing out here, old man? You need to be indoors; it is after hours."
The old man simply nodded, "I am guy. I am employed in the Ba Sing Se army as well."
Zhao was skeptical, "Yeah right, old man. Have you become senile in your old age?"
The man shook his head, "I am a mapmaker, not a soldier. I have actually been asked to meet with you." He looked to Zhao, signing with his eyes.
Zhao caught it after a moment, "Very well. Shall I come with you?" He was simply glad to be out of the streets, out of the rain, out of sight from the Dai Li.
The man nodded, "My home is right here." He began walking into a home that he was standing in front of. Zhao followed. Once inside the man sealed the door behind Zhao. He turned to look at him.
"I know who you are, Captain Zhao of the Fire Nation." He said curtly.
Zhao quickly crouched and leapt at the old man. The old man quickly, and surprisingly agile, dodged the attack and sent his heel into Zhao's diaphragm. Zhao dropped from the air onto his knees, holding his stomach.
"I don't want to fight, you fool. I am Fire Nation too."
"You are Fire Nation? But I saw you bend earth!" Zhao said, still panting.
"Well, I am not originally from the Fire Nation, but I want to help." The man held his hand out for Zhao to grab.
Zhao did so and looked at the old man, "Why, old man?"
"Because I am tired of it all. I am tired of hiding in fear. I am tired of the Dai Li. I am tired of Ba Sing Se." He patted Zhao on the back and moved towards an earth night stand. "Tea?"
This man was a fool for siding with the Fire Nation, but this man was help, so Zhao accepted it. "No." he said curtly, "How can you help me, old man?"
The old man simply looked at Zhao, "I am the mapmaker, remember?"
Zhao moved and sat in one of the chairs as the old man sat. "And?" He wanted more than that.
The old man sighed, "I have knowledge that can be used for your unit to penetrate the city wall."
Zhao's eyes brightened. "Continue." He said, half commanding it.
The man pulled a box closer to him and pulled out a large map. He stomped his foot and a small, coffee-like table emerged from the ground. He laid the map out. "There are tunnels that lead under the wall-"
Zhao cut him off, "A way into the city." He was very eager.
"Let me finish!" the man barked. "You cannot enter through the tunnels as they are filled with supplies and guards. You would not fit."
Zhao lost his eagerness, "Then what is the point!" He said loudly.
"Shhh." Guy said, "The Dai Li will hear you! No, you cannot enter the tunnels, but it is a weakness of the walls. Collapse the tunnels and the wall above it will collapse as well." He began folding the map up, "I will give this to you and allow you to sleep here for the night. I need you to be out by morning." He handed the folded map to Zhao.
Zhao accepted it, but hesitantly, "And what do you want out of this?"
"For you to succeed." The man said.