"Did we have to kill the surgeon?"
"Why are you asking that?" His friend and fellow alpha legion servant, Garro, answered inside a small room where they would not be interrupted or heard.
"The inquisition doesn't instantly order an exterminatus on a planet so we might not of needed to kill him."
"You know why! It was too risky. If they dug to deeply then we could of been found, jeopardize the entire mission. We can not have it stopped by close minded fools," explained Garro, annoy that he had to explain it at all.
"But if the surgeon is discovered dead then all his information is put into question," justified Nate, worrying about the mission.
"He was a loner who never talked to any one he didn't have to. I'm sure people will be glad he's gone," he replied sadistically.
"I still think it was too risky to kill him," grunted Nate.
"Too risky? It was nothing compared to the risk of having an Inquisitor on this ship! It is imperative that the commander reaches the planet and finds the library."
"So what are we going to do next?" Said Nate.
"The commander is just about to start the war planning session. I've already got someone inside that will ensure we get what we want."
The room is epic in scale. I could fit a thousand armed men and still have room. This is the war room and where I have helped plan the invasion of many planets and here I will do it for maybe the final time. I have all of my generals, battle sergeants and any one else of importance for the coming battles. The room is dominated by a single table, showing a map of the entire planet. Without it the war would be impossible to win or even plan.
"I suggest we attack here in the place know as the Fire nation. Reports show that these people are the dominant force and their defeat will send a strong message to anyone who is still willing to go against us," says the general to my right.
"Then I must question your sources. They were once the dominant power but they lost the war along with their amy. Defeating them would show the rest of the world nothing," says a different person.
"How dare you speak against me, I out rank you!" The arrogant general replies.
"Quite!" I shout. "He's right the fire nation once dominated the world but that is no longer the case. It is the earth nation that is the dominant power. I point out the large section of the map. "Approximately seventy percent of the inhabitable land is under earth empire control."
"But my reports say the fire-nation was on the verge of victory, how can the earth kingdom be in control?" Unwilling to admit he was wrong.
I should not have to explain these things to arrogant fools who can't admit they are wrong. However I have to respect them, if only for my reputation. "Our source can not be taking as a hundred percent true but the information I have been giving come directly from my agents in the flield at this very moment. There were four main nations each of varying strength. The air kingdom is now extinct and the water nomads are nomads living at the north and south poles. They wont be a problem at any point. The two main forces are the fire and earth empires. However only the earth empire will prove to be a problem. During the power vacuum after the war they took over air kingdom territory, since they are the only force with a capable army. But they are no match for our guards men." A short occasional chuckle around the table. It's good to keep morale high.
"Then what happened during your first negations?"
Who is this and why is he openly questioning my leadership? I look at him and instantly recognize him. He's my most successful general and been trying to take my role as commander for the past year. I should of demoted him and sent him to the front lines but then I would lose my best general. I will amuse him, for now.
"During first contact we were defeated by a small unit of soldiers however they took us by surprise and were elite soldiers."
"I see," he replies with a smug tone. "And because of you the first conflict we have had with them ended in defeat. Their victory will convince them that they can win again and they will fight us. If we had won the first battle then this invasion would be over much sooner."
"It should be noted that these aren't normal people we are fighting. They can control the elements." Wisphering spreads through the room, speculation and the sort. "The exact cause of this is unknown but we suspect lost technology. It is this that will make a campaign which would last weeks turn into months. When we fought them in the desert they were close up and they were well trained, the best of their nations. I tell you this now so that it does not come as a shock. Tell your subordinates and soldiers but make it clear. We are the imperial guard. We have the power of the emperor behind us and the power of our lasguns in front of us. Not even the elements can fight that."
A cheer rings out from several of the battle sergeants and nods of approval from the generals. Only my second in command looks sour. He may have a great tract record but he will never have my leadership skills.
"Commander are we going to occupy this planet or eradicate it? If they can control the elements then it'll make guerilla fighting difficult to stop," a different general asks, one I actually like.
"This is an occupation mission. We will attack at one end of their empire and continue attacking until we get to the capital. As we cause unrest and destruction, we'll over throw the king and take control of the largest nation. From there we'll take the rest of the planet."
"Sir may I recommend where to attack? We should attack from the city know by the residents as Omashu. It has a strong history of survival and its defeat will send a strong message."
"I agree, the city is near the center of the empire allowing us to expand outwards. I will personally lead the assault on the city. Look over the information and ready your units. Today we wage war."
I've got to find a way to keep my second in command in control without losing him. At least I managed to turn his questions to my advantage.
"Sir I've been told to give you this," someone says in front of me.
"Excuse me who are you?" I ask. I wasn't concentrating and he snuck up on me.
"I've been sent by the mechanicuim to give you this. I would have given it to you sooner but I wasn't allowed in the war room." He holds out his hand and I see a small round device.
"What is it," I ask holding and examining it.
"Its a translator. With the S.T.C you found it allowed them to design this. You put it in your ear and it translates all languages, human and alien."
"Thank you," I say meaning it. "Are there more of these?"
"They are being made and sent all over the Imperium, they're really cheap to build. You and your fleet have been put high on the list and you should be getting more soon.'"
"Thank you it will make future conflicts easier and stop any misunderstandings."
"No thank you for finding the S.T.C. You might not be able to see the effects here but it is having a massive effect. Conflict which were doomed to failure are now on the verge of victory. You are a true hero."
I guess I am.
"How are you doing Mai?" Asked Ty Lee. Her daughter was watching from the other room, curious about Mai's situation
"Is it okay if we don't talk about it?" She replied in a dull tone.
"Mai, you've been here for three days now. You appeared on my doorstep in tears and I took you in, I deserve to know what happened," she said still being kind and aware of her feelings.
"It's Zuko," she finally said.
"I thought so. What happened," she inquired, wanting to know more.
"We've been distant for a long time. He's the Fire Lord and has so much to do. He thinks he has to fix all the worlds problems and doesn't have any time for me.
"so you left?"
"No I can accept the negligence, what he does is so important. I left because he hit me." She said keeping her dull tone, trying to pretend it wasn't a problem but Misa could sense her pain.
"Oh no are you hurt?" She asked, very worried for her. "Are you burnt, why didn't you say so sooner?" Moving frantically looking Mai all over.
"No Ty Lee he just hit me with his hand. It's not the fact he hit me, it barely hurt. It made me realize that he no longer needed me and that I wasn't helping him anymore," she said still trying to keep her emotionless tone but it was wavering.
"I'm so sorry Mai. Like I said when you arrived you can stay here for as long as you want," she said, hating to see her best friend so sad.
Mai looked Ty Lee in the eyes, she couldn't pretend any longer. "Oh Ty Lee! she cried bursting into tears.
"It's okay Mai, everything will be okay." Ty Lee hugged Mai hoping to make her feel better.
"I really don't blame him, I really don't," she said in-between the tears. "He has so much to do and all I want is for him to happy."
"It'll be okay Mai. Your with friends now. Your always with friends here," Ty Lee said hoping never to have to see her friend cry again. Misa felt their emotions and she knew what she wanted to do. She wanted to stop the suffering but she didn't know how.
"Hit him again."
"Uugh." By this point Phoenix was covered in bruises, from hours of torture, though none of them could be seen inside the small room which was pitch black.
"Boss I don't think this is working."
"Outside now," the other person replied, audibly irritated.
Outside of the room the two interrogators discussed what they could do next. Over the last 16 hours they had been trying to brain wash him with no results. After he had attacked the commander he wanted him on his side. So far phoenix's interrogators had no effect on phoenix other then causing him pain. Some would say that was a minor success.
"What have I told you about questioning me?" The smaller man said. He was at least two heads shorter and the other man had much more muscle.
"But boss no matter how many times I hit him he still keeps fighting."
"That is because you keep on talking! You are not paid to talk! Your not paid at all, you will do your duty and won't talk. It is ruining the atmosphere. How am I suppose to break his mind if he hears your stupid voice"
"Okay boss," he said hoping that he could stay silent. They went into the dark room once again. The small one started to talk again
"The Imperium is the greatest civilization in the history of mankind."
"No." Since he woke up on the ship he started to learn some word. The main ones were 'Imperium', 'great' and 'no'.
He was hit again.
"Your planet is uncivilized and poor. With the help of the Imperium your planet can be part of something bigger."
"No." He was hit again.
"Do you understand me? By saying no you are stopping your planets civilization from advancing into a new golden age."
"No. Golden. Age." Each word was a struggle both physically and mentally. He wouldn't give up just yet.
He punched again but this time Phoenix moved making the brute punch the chair instead breaking it. The bigger one realized his mistake and started apologizing to his master. Phoenix realized that he had no idea what he was doing.
He punched out into the darkness and felt his fist connect with someone's face. He hears a body hit the floor and he runs to the exit before but because of the darkness he has no idea where it is.
"You hit the boss."
"Yes," he replied unsure what to say.
"Thank you."
"Me friend. Hit me."
"Why do you want me to hit you?
"Hit me, we good friends," he said trying to get him on his side.
"Okay then. Pheonix felt the hit hard in his stomach and fell to the floor, being knocked out. Not before smiling because he knew how he was getting off the ship.
Maybe Jin is right thought Toph as she, Haru and Jin traveled back to the earth kingdom to see Iroh and get one step closer to the avatar. During this time the atmosphere was awkward with no one wanting to say anything leaving Toph alone with her thoughts.
I should be more accepting of different people's life styles but I just can't admit it. While thinking about different lifestyles she thought about king Bumi, who defined both the words 'different' and 'crazy'. Bumi, some would call you insane and at first I agreed.
After Ba Sing Se was retaken there was a leadership crisis. It was Toph's job to go find the earth king who was still traveling around the world. After a month he was found and when he came back she was made the head of his personal guard. She accepted but under one condition. She wanted to travel the world. Again. She wanted to meet the most powerful earth benders and to try and learn something knew but more often then not she taught them about metal bending and other advanced techniques. But sometimes she doubted if she was the best earth bender in the world. She could think of only one and she wanted to face him.
"Hello little one, having fun at school? I never cared for it myself too interesting, could never pay attention," said Bumi, slouched and hunched on his throne in Omashu.
"Okay," she said slightly confused but see had already met him and knew what to expect. "King Bumi I want to fight you!"
"What me? But I'm just a helpless old man," said Bumi, still pretending to be a feeble old man.
"No your a senior member of the white lotus and one of the best earth benders in the world," said Toph, already getting impatience.
"Oh yes I had forgotten about that. So you want to fight then? Well I'm not sure your up to the challenge. You'll have to do my three deadly challenges!" He said dramatically, getting off his throne.
"Or we could go down stairs and fight in the massive arena you have directly beneath us."
"Oh your no fun, Aang liked the challenges. I guess I'll just have to fight you. Are you sure you want to fight, what if I win? I think I'll throw a party."
"Enough! Let us fight!" Toph was asking herself why she wanted to fight Bumi. I'm not sure why but I wanted to fight. Maybe it was his abilities or that every one was already starting to split apart. I just wanted to prove myself.
"Not in that tone young lady" He can't be serious she thought. "Kidding lets go." He hits the floor with his foot creating a massive hole which he falls through and he lands in the arena below. Finally I will be able to see if I am the best earth bender in the world.
I'm ready. We both have our stances and I can sense his every move, every single vibration and breath. They both waited, both being masters of neutral jing, waiting for their opponent to make a move. But Toph was angry, she wanted to prove herself so she took the first move. She stamped on the floor creating two large clumps of earth, half her size and launched them at Bumi.
Bumi see them approach. He punches the first one, turning it to dust. In the same second he jumps up and kicks away the other, sending it harmlessly off into the side of the arena. For a moment he disappears in Toph's eyes but reappears as he hits the floor.
"That all you got Toph? Bumi asked, playing on Toph's emotions.
"I'll show you." Raising her hands she creates a massive wall, at least a meter thick and send it straight at him. While the wall surges into Bumi she creates a small but deadly column out of the floor and throws it into the wall. Bumi can only see a wall approaching, an unstoppable juggernaut destroying all in it path but Bumi was the immovable object. With both hands he punches the center of wall, creating a massive crack from top to bottom. The wall split and landed either side of him. He sees Toph's earth column. He blinks. The earth rises from below intercepting the missile.
Toph stood at the other side wondering if she had really 'seen' what had happened. "Did you just earth bend by blinking?" She asked amazed. "I can't do that and I created metal bending."
"It was dramatic blinking." Toph is disappointed by his answer. "My turn! In less then a second there is a rock rolling towards her at tremendous speed. She barely has enough time to create a lump making the rock fly over her head and into the wall behind her. Bumi is already next to toph in that small time surprising toph with his speed. From the ground he creates a pillar from the ground into toph from below. Only through her seismic sense could she dodge the first one. And again. And again and again. She was trapped, each pillar had gotten closer and now she has no room to earth bend. She was helpless against him.
Even when she is helpless she keeps fighting. Bumi created another pillar from the ground aimed at her chest. Toph took hold of two of the pillars and using her own strength, rips them from the ground and hits Bumi in the side, stunning him for a second, which was all she needed. She kicked the pillar previously aimed against her the other way round and launched it against Bumi sending him to the other side of the arena. Toph panted heavily, the last few seconds used up a lot of energy.
"First hit, well done girl. But I can't let you win." After a grunt and a small movement of his arms he launches himself to the other side of the arena by raising the ground beneath him. In Toph's vision he may disappear but she can still work out where he is and where he would land. Her calculations were not always correct but over the years she had been getting better. It was her one weakness.
The two look at each other across the arena. They stare at each other walking around in circles, each waiting for the other to make a move. It was as if the match had started again but with noticeable differences. The match has been short, but has worn on both of the opponents. Toph was visible worn out, covered in dust and taking heavy breaths. She wavered in her stance before righting herself, preparing for the finally moment. On the outside Bumi looks as fit as he can for a person over hundred but on the inside he is feeling weak and toph can feel it. It gives her hope.
He tenses his muscles the same way he did the previous time he leaped across the arena and toph knew what he was about to do. She was ready for anything he could do. He leaped across and Toph launched dozens of missiles at once in his general direction, hoping at least one would hit.
In the air Bumi had the advantage, he was invisible to her. As he went through the air he grabbed a rock that toph had launched and threw it back. Toph's hearing was capable of hearing even the tinniest noises and she could tell that one of the rock never hit any thing. She moved but it wasn't enough. The rock hit her in the shoulder, hurting her and knocking her off balance. He falls from the ceiling and hits the floor with the power of a volcano, sending Toph flying into the wall. Dazed she gets up, pretty sure she's broken some bones.
Bumi looks upon her and feels a hint of remorse but that doesn't stop him. A boulder twice his size rises out of the floor and he hesitantly throws it at Toph, worrying he would do more then just harm her.
"No!" She rolls across the ground and then the wall is shattered creating a cloud of dust, hindering Bumi's sight. For a moment he wonders if toph has been defeated but has met her before and knows not to underestimate her. He was right.
She rose from the earth behind him taking Bumi by suprise. Toph uppercuts him, which is barely dodged. Bumi tries to strike back but is easily blocked by Toph in her earth suit, ampafing her strength. Using the opening Toph hits the ground unbalancing Bumi, then hits him with full force. He bumps across the floor every single time causing him pain. They are both close to their limit, a couple punches from falling to the ground.
Toph runs towards Bumi, still on the floor. This was her chance, the opportunity to end this, to end. Then she stops. At first toph has no idea what is going on, why she is helpless and unable to move. Bumi is standing tall approaching toph with his arms open, struggling to control her. He stands over her, next to her and looks down on her, knowing he has won. In a second she is thrown into the air and in the next second she is slammed back into the ground creating a crater where she fell.
"Are you okay I didn't hit you too hard did I?" Asks Bumi slightly worried he might of caused too much damage over the course of the fight.
"Only enough to practically knock me out," said toph jokingly. She tried to get up but stops because she knows she'll just fall back on the floor.
"That means I won. Woho time for a party!" Cheered Bumi, glad that Toph wasn't seriously hurt
"Your such a graceful winner Bumi."
"You should of seen it when I beat Iroh in pai sho."
"I really thought I could of won that," said Toph disappointedly. "I think that was the hardest fight I have ever been in. I put all my effort into it and still lost."
"You shouldn't doubt your abilities, you managed to hit me at least twice. Where you went wrong was creating that earth suit, a bad move against a person who can earth bend with his face."
"How can you earth bend with your face? You use the smallest movements, not even I can do that," she asked, really wanting to know.
"Even the slightest movements have effects," he explained. "If I move my foot a tiny bit my entire leg will. If you concentrate enough you can sense the link between body and earth in every single movement of your body."
"Wow."
"I know but it will take years of practice. Or maybe one day you'll blink and create a mountain range."
"Bumi you have to teach me," she said faintly managing to stand again.
"Toph you are strong and young, when I was your age I was neither. I am not the first to bend with small movements but you created an entire bending art and with time you can become even better then even I. For now you'll have to accept that there is an earth bender better then you. That doesn't mean you aren't amazing."
Toph holds out her hand. "Well done from one earth bending master to another."
'Well done' he said. I never saw him again. He died two days after I had left. Sometimes I wonder if he waited for me.
Zuko, overthrew and imprisoned his father, the previous Fire Lord, with the help of the avatar. Nephew to retired general Iroh who now owns a popular tea shop chain. Sister to Azula, currently in an asylum. Son to Ursa. Fate unknown.
"I never found her," he said to himself. He took off his robe, a priceless piece of clothing, created for his 10th anniversary as Fire Lord. Gold woven in. He took it off not wanting to damage something so valuable. He went into his metal box, the only way he could calm down. Letting it all out through fire bending.
I never found her. I failed. He swelled with anger. I tried to look but I didn't have any time. I sent agents all around the world but they couldn't help me. My father claimed he had no idea where she was. I couldn't test him and it might of been true anyway. I don't know how she could of married that monster. Another monster in my family.
I may of defeated him but his scars still stay. Both metaphorically and physically.
After the war I disbanded most of the fire nation army. I said that in an age of peace we need no war. In an instant thousands were out of work. This angered my army.
Then I had to give back the colonies that my family had conquered. Some of the villages and towns welcomed freedom and celebrated. Then there were the others. Rich land owners who had suddenly lost their land. There were the governors who had made a living through taxing and controlling these people. And then there were the citizens. Some of them had been living in Fire nation controlled territory for their entire lives and had become Fire nation. They didn't want to give their land to another nation. I heard the earth king sent his soldiers into the towns to stop the unrest. I didn't hear from them again.
The colonies had got some powerful people angry. People who had profited from the war. They were the ones with their own armies and mine barely existed anymore.
The final straw was what is now known as the great depression. People had lost their land and the ability to harvest as much. There was a dreadful drought and we had lost trade routes. The Earth nation traders didn't want to deal with the Fire nation after what many of them had been through. Then people started to get angry again. The Fire nation was on the verge of winning the war and to their knowledge they were creating a glorious and prosperous nation.
Then I came along. I was the person they could blame. The outcast prince, the black sheep of the family, the disgrace. They showed me their anger. With their private armies and the mob of citizens they approached my palace. The numbers of guards in my palace numbered in the low triple digits. We never stood a chance against them.
During the attack I looked outside at my city. My city in flames, my statues destroyed and my government buildings razed. I'm glad my uncle was still in the earth kingdom with his tea shop so he couldn't see this.
I couldn't stand and watch my city burning. I would not be a failure. I had to redeem my family in the eyes of the world. Mai and me
He paused for a moment. It had been three days since she had left and Zuko was starting to feel lonely. The only person he had any real contact with now was his personal messenger. Mai talked to him. There had been love between the two but love had to be postponed for politics.
I told her to be safe and protect the palace. I left to go out into city and stop these people. It was here I got to see what they thought of me. I put on a cloak to disguise the myself and the scar so I could walk around freely.
Outside it feels strange. The air is dry but still cold, the night air against the fires. The walls are covered in graffiti; Zuko the scar in the family. They really hate me. I'm trying to make a better world and all these people want is too burn it down and live in the charcoal remains.
A mob is walking down the street towards me oblivious to who I am. It is an unorganized mob of twenty people shouting and screaming. They are also burning a rag doll of me which they are parading around. This will not stand.
"Stop right now!" That got there attention.
"Who are you to order us about?" One of them asks.
I lower my hood showing them all my face, with them recognizing me. "I am Fire Lord Zuko and you will disperse and go home," I commanded.
"What home! You gave my house to the Earth nation! I lived there for my entire life!"
"The earth nation deserved that land. We had no right to take it," I reply.
"And neither should they!" A woman says. "My husband no longer has a job and neither of us can find work. We're going to starve!"
"Go home."
"Are you going to make us?" They are caught in the moment and feel invincible. I'll happily prove them wrong. All it took was one bit of fire-bending and they ran away. They were cowards. They would do what they want but would stop if there was any kind of struggle.
What happened next is a blur, I still can't remember exactly what transpired. As they ran off one of them turned around and threw something. To this day I can't remember what it was but I don't think it is important. It hit my head and I fell. I fell and I would not wake for hours.
Being knocked out by a peasant was humiliating enough but the aftermath was worse. I was found by Mai, she stood over me like a protector, keeping me safe. When I got back to my palace I saw what they had done. So many priceless pieces of art and culture destroyed by people who are too narrow minded to see there importance. But that is no longer important.
I found out the earth nation had come to my rescue. They flew over using the Zeppelins I had given them. I felt ashamed because I had failed. My duty was to protect the world and I couldn't even protect my city from the people within it. I owe the Earth king and one day I will come to his rescue and prove to him I can save the Fire nation from self destruction.
We are here. Me and 200 soldiers exit the transporter, ready for anything. The ground is empty and not an enemy in sight. One of the better landings in my career.
"Is everything clear?" I ask over the vox and hear four 'yes' from my battle sergeants. Then I see it. I feel stupid for not seeing straight away. The great city of Omashu. For a civilization that has barely mastered gunpowder they have created wonders. This city dominates the sky, rising to reach the clouds. Then my heart sinks when I see the bridge. The only bridge. There was only one way to get in and out of the city and it was a small earth bridge. It would be a bottleneck and if the bridge fell then it would be difficult to cross.
"Bring out the basilisk!" These are the beasts of artillery, nothing can beat them over long range bombardment. They will bombard the city while my soldiers and eventually me, attack. I have six in total ready to rain destruction on this great city.
"Are you ready to bombard the city?" I ask the person in command of the basilisks.
"Only in approximately six minutes commander. We need to calibrate the weapons and load them."
"I didn't ask for excuses, I asked how long it would take."
"Yes sir!" He salutes me and goes off to his duty. I hope he decides to put some effort into commanding his soldiers. It will take a little while for the reinforcements to arrive so for the time being the troops I have to get ready for the assault. I doubt I'll see them again.
Two minutes pass and an officer approaches me. The kind of officer who knew someone who knew someone and has never seen someone die. The kind of person who doesn't deserve to be in command of people who risk their lives. "Commander we've arrived to assist you."
"Have you brought the chimeras? With them the assault can begin."
"Why of course sir we've got three of them ready to go."
"Good. I assume you'll be leading the assault with your troops?"
"Well er, I've got one of my senior sergeants to lead the assault. I believe he is better suited for the close combat."
"Have you ever been in a combat situation?" I'm enjoying this too much.
"Outside of combat simulations and training I haven't seen any live action but I am well versed in combat tactics." Obvious lie.
"Is that so? May I suggest you accompany your soldiers in the chimeras."
"I'm sorry sir but if I'm in the chimera I won't be able to coordinate my troops." His only real role is to pretend he has one.
"Oh don't worry I'll be able to do that, you go with your troops, I'm sure with your leadership you'll able to spur them to even greater heights and brake through the wall with great speed."
"If you think I will help then I will." He leaves and orders his soldiers into the chimeras. The gullible fool. It'll be like sending a commissioner with a unit of catachans. I need strong people in my army. People who have fought and struggled, people who have killed for the Imperium. People like him are weeds who only joined so that they could get a shiny badge and a new house. The sooner he dies the better.
"Commander." I hear on the vox.
"Yes," I reply.
"The basilisks are ready to fire."
"Show them what the Imperium can do."
"yes sir!" The bombardment begins, more soldiers are arriving every minute and my chimeras are assaulting the walls. The battle has begun.
The chimeras charge across the field, underneath the bombardment of the basilisks. They speed through the hills to the city to cross the bridge. The bridge may be small but it has just enough room for the three tanks. As they start to cross to get near the bridge the earth benders attack.
"Sir I think the earth benders are attacking."
"Will they brake through the armour?"
"No they just bounce off."
"Then keep driving," the lieutenant says basking in his power.
"Sir they seam to be sliding down the walls."
"And is that a problem?"
"No sir we'll just run them over."
"Good, then we can set the explosives and blow there wall apart."
"Um sir they're doing something to the ground."
"What could they possibly do to har-" He never finished his sentence.
Outside three earth benders slid down the wall and landed on the bridge. They realized that they couldn't penetrate the chimera's armour so they would do the next best thing. They created earth slides, knocking the tanks off the bridge and into the abyss below. They were killed by las fire by the imperial soldiers behind those tanks.
"Sergeant what should we do?" One of the soldiers asks.
"You are a guardsmen you follow orders don't question them! We will advance as normal." The four units of guardsmen had just seen their tanks thrown off the bridge.
"Get ready! We're going to charge to the other end. Fire at will when in range!" The battle was silent for a moment, with the occasional swoosh and explosion of the bombardments. The earth benders on the wall get ready, holding off firing any more rocks.
"Go!" They charge and fire. The las-bolts go straight through the walls and earth benders they hit, leaving them as bloody torsos on the floor. Steadfast the Earth benders reply in force. The thirty Earth benders left on the wall luanch their earth missiles at the imperials. Each one capable of killing a person and each one hitting its mark.
In a couple of seconds the imperial surge is broken. Almost half the guardsmen were killed and stopped them from moving.
"Take cover!" The bombardment may of killed the guardsmen but it did create cover on the once clear bridge.
"Sergeant we need artillery fire on that wall!"
"We are guardsmen!" He shouted at the other soldiers, over the sound of las-gun fire and rock against rock. "And the barbarians on that wall are throwing rocks at you! We have rifles! That is more than enough. When I say so unit one will open fire on the defenders and the rest of you will get to the other side and plant that explosive! Go!"
He raised his head from behind his rock and ran to the other end of the bridge. A second later he had died, with a spike through his chest, still standing, being supported by the object that had just killed him.
But his plan had worked. As his soldiers moved out of cover so did the Earth benders. This gave the remaining guardsman a clear shot. None of them missed. They could finally aim without being crushed, and they started to advance. The defenders on the wall were dwindling, moral wise as well as numerically. There was only one more thing they could do to keep the enemy out of their city.
The last five earth benders slid down the wall, two of them getting shot down straight away. When they landed the ground cracked, stunning the soldiers around them. The first earth bender was shot before he could do anything. The second killed three guardsmen before being beaten to death on the floor with their rifles.
The final earth bender killed the most but it was still in vain. As he landed he created an earth wave knocking three soldiers off the bridge. A soldier lunged at him and he evaded it easily, tripped him up and stamped on his throat, suffocating him in one fluid movement. Another soldier swung at him and blocked it with his right arm, breaking it. He didn't stop and created an earth gauntlet on his left hand. He punched back sending parts of his skull into his brain, killing him. He killed the last person by launching the earth on his arm into the guard closest to him, making him fall off the bridge. He had done all he could but he couldn't stop them. They set the explosive and got ready to grapple over the wall. They needed something bigger for who ever was on the other side of the wall.
The Leman russ tank rolled over the broken bodies of guardsmen crushed in the first and second assault. The wall was ready to be blown open and the remaining guardsmen were taking control of the wall above, but were facing stiff opposition.
All of the explosion was focused on the wall making sure the bridge wasn't damaged so they could still get across. The wall blew open sending rock flying into the city and the defenders on the other side. Then came the tank.
It was a monster on the field, capable of destroying anything in front of it. This particular tank had three large skulls painted onto its side, along with ten smaller ones. Each large skull representing one titian class vehicle. In terms of tanks it was a harden veteran of many wars. It burst out of the dust and fired its main cannon. The missile went through the man it hit and continued into the building behind, exploding in a ball of fire. Next it fired the two auto cannons fired shredding the bodies to mush. They were no longer distinguishable as individuals or even humans. At such a close range any bullet was lethal. Such tanks would normally fight five hundred meters apart, sometimes more. The reason they were so close was that they felt invincible. This tank had destroyed titans, what could some rock do?
If the tank could have one weakness it was that it couldn't shoot anything behind it. The logic behind this was; 'anything in front of us will be destroyed so we won't need to aim behind us.' It would end up destroying them. As the tank went through the gap it went past four earth benders, not noticing them it had slaughtered the twenty five earth benders in front of them. The four that had survived through either tactics or luck flanked the tank. Unnoticed they started to create quicksand to suck the invincible tank in. It fell, it disappeared, it stopped. The tank had been dropped, sucked into the ground, useless now.
"Commander the leman russ has just been incapacitated!"
"What!" I replied. "How could they do that?" I'm shocked.
"They sucked it into the ground. It was the spear head of the assault what now?"
"Send in the gorgon and tell them I'm on my way."
The gorgon armored assault transport is a heavy troop transport originating from forge world Vanaheim. Capable of holding fifty troops and eight meters wide. It barely fit on the earth bridge but it didn't stop. With two hundred and twenty tons and four heavy stubbers little could stop it. The heavy stubbers ripped through the four earth benders left by the breach. It continued through the the city. It unloaded the troops and went threw the city. The guardsmen walked along side it using it as cover. They met several small pockets of resistance but it rarely caused any casualties. As soon as the earth benders got close they were shot down.
Half way up and the city was coming under imperial control. The walls had been taken and more reinforcements were coming every minute. Now that they controlled the bridge they could get as many soldiers as they wanted into the city.
"Commander!" Some one yells at me. I can barely hear because of the noise of explosions, las-fire and people dying. "Its not safe here!"
Me and the blank take cover in the ruins of a burnt house, destroyed by one of the tanks. "What are you talking about, with my bodyguard I'm perfectly safe."
"Sir, we're nearly at the palace but we can't get through. They've cut us off from the rest of the force and they're about to flank us from both sides."
How many? This is starting to sound bad
"Fifty on each side."
"And us?"
"You, your bodyguard, twenty guardsmen and a chimera."
This is looking grim. "At the palace? How are they keeping you from getting through?"
"Five of them but they're too skilled. We can't get close without being impaled or crushed."
"Understood." How did I end up in this trap? "Put the chimera and five soldiers on one side and ten soldiers on the other. Tell the other five to come with me."
"what for?"
"I'm not going to die here."
With the blank and five soldiers I'm about to attack the palace. If I can get inside I can kill their leader and we get one step closer to winning. "On my mark we charge. They nod recognizing my simple command. "Stick with me no matter what" I say specifically to the blank.
"Charge!" We come out of the buildings we were hiding in. The first person to die was the man to my left, crushed. I pulled my trigger, sending six bullets in their direction. Only one hit but that was enough to kill him outright. Then I noticed the bodies.
The floor was littered with at least thirty guardsmen. I find it hard to believe that five earth benders could defend this place by themselves.
"Take cover!" The last guy ducks and rolls by one of the large rocks to protect himself. The rock then rises over his head exposing him. He doesn't move, just shoots once more, killing another earth bender, then beeimg crushed. Three left.
I look at the blank and see understands. She throws a grenade to the right and jumps out of the left. Her speed is inhuman. She used the opportunity and is already in front of the earth benders. She shoots the two in front of her, killing one and injuring the other. I attack the other earth bender.
I dodge the first strike and fire at him but he survives. He reminds me by slamming me into the wall. I recover quickly and in the corner of my eye I see the blank fighting with a female soldier. I guess I'll have to fight this guy myself. I fire at him but he's already rolled underneath and knocked the pistol out of my hand. I draw my sword and slash but he jumps back. I thrust and he moves to the side against the wall. Instantly I slice again and my sword easily cuts through his chest, burning his flesh. I've defeated my opponent and I see the blank has done the same.
"Are you ready?" She nods.
We walk through the huge double doors and walk through the halls. It looks amazing but I have to keep my priorities. We go round the corner and see two guards at the door. They charge at us and the blank kills them with frightening speed. She side steps the first cutting through his back and as she turns she impales the other. They fall to the floor at the same time.
I open the final doors and see a man on a throne. Not an old man but one with experience.
"Why have you come to destroy my city?" He asks.
"So we can make it better," I reply.
"You will be destroyed by this planet. We will defeat you."
I walk up to him intimidatingly. "From here it looks like I'm the winner."
"I will never surrender." This person has no idea what I'm saying? The mechanicuim translator only translates it for me.
This city belongs to the Imperium of man and soon will the entire planet. We will either conquer your planet and rule over you, helping you become part of the Imperium or we will be executors and destroy your civilization and any hints of your existance.
He spits on me.
The blank goes to attack but I hold her back. "No I'll do it." I ram my sword through his stomach and into his spine.
The three earth benders walked into the Jasmine Dragon, Iroh's original tea shop and his current residence. The shop was mostly empty with only a couple customers in the shop. Iroh walked from one of his customers he had been talking to to welcome the new arrivials.
"Toph it is good to see you again," he said bowing to her. "My nephew never told me your name when we first met," he said to Jin.
"It's Jin. I'm surprised you remembered."
"I never forget someone so nice," he said thinking about his nephew. "I don't believe I've met you before," he said to Haru.
"No we haven't met before but it's a pleasure to meet you," he lied to be kind. He knew Iroh had changed but he remembers what Iroh had once done to the earth nation when he assaulted Ba Sing Se. It had been a long time since then and he knew that starting a fight would just cause more problems. He had made his peace.
"The feeling is mutual," he replied happily. "So why do I have the pleasure of seeing you?"
"We came because we need to find the avatar," Toph said bluntly.
Iroh looked through the corner of his eyes to see if anyone was listening. "Follow me," he whispered and they all walked into the next room, which was empty. "How do you know I know about the avatar."
"Sokka told us," said Haru.
"He also told us about a son," said Toph.
"So he really did tell you. My adoptive son Senthang Taek is not important in this discussion," he said trying to change the conversation.
"If he is the son of the avatar then we need to know, he might be needed very soon," said Toph firmly.
"You will not going looking for my adoptive son. The avatar gave him to me so he could grow up without knowing his heritage, or didn't Sokka tell you. It is important that they grow up away from the spotlight so they don't become arrogant or dangerous." He said standing his ground.
"Can you at least tell us his rough location?" Asked Jin in a softer tone.
"He is currently in the earth kingdom army. I tried to persuade him to reconsider but something had happened in his life and I respected his wish."
"And what about the avatar," said Toph knowing Iroh would reveal no more.
"He is safe. I met him three days ago."
There was a moment of silence.
"You met the avatar! Where is he!" Shouted Toph, losing her cool demeanor.
"That I do not know," he said solemnly.
"Why don't you? Didn't you ever ask? Said Toph needing to know more.
"No it wasn't important." Iroh senses the despair and mistrust they felt towards him. "I need to tell you about the role of the avatar. Take a seat," he gestures and they sit down at a table in the middle of the room.
"The avatar is a the spirit of the world incarnate and he is above the four nations. His role is to keep balance between the nations and so no power is more powerful than the other. Some people don't believe in it but there are two worlds, the spirit and the material. The spirits controls what happens here and the avatar works for them."
"Then did the spirit world plan that the air nomads would be destroyed," Haru said harshly.
"The spirit world may have control by they do not decide our actions. We have free will which allows us to do what we please. Some people make the wrong choices. Sometimes it is difficult to comprehend or even possible to understand how they work. But in times of need the avatar will always arrive."
"Like when Aang woke up from the iceberg," said Jin.
"Yes so he could defeat Sozin and he will do the same again. The avatar will always be here for this world because that is his role."
"I have one last question. Do you know where the other two children are?"
"I have my suspicions on the location of the fire nation baby," thinking of Ty Lee and Misa. "But I can not say the same for the water tribe one."
At that moment a man ran through the door panting and out of breath. "Where is Toph Bei Fong!" He shouts.
"I'm here," she says as she walks out of the door. She recognizes him as one of her students. "Why are you here?"
"The palace," he says running out of breath. "It's under siege we have to go now."
Toph looks back at Iroh. "Thank you Iroh your information has been helpful but we must leave."
"It is your duty. Go and save him," he replied. The two said goodbye as friends and hoped to see the other again soon. The next time they would met would end in tragedy.
Author's note:
The word count, its over 9000!
Its taken me longer but there's a lot more. Also I've noticed a trend in reviews to correct me with what ever I got wrong with the background but so far I don't think I've made any major mistaes. Also the large number of flash backs is because I wanted to show what had happened between the show and my story. I finally know where I'm going with the story.