Note: As much as I tried to research sonar and how early sonar worked, I don't know anything about it (well I understand the principle, just not everything). So sorry for huge inaccuracies. Just think "this is a fictional universe where people control the elements and for some reason the laws of physics does not apply".
Qilaq stopped her Satomobile in front of Pakak's ship. Hundreds of people were at the docks trying to buy their way out of the land and to safer places like Republic City and Ba Sing Se. She looked at the men who she could easily identify as the workers of this particular fishing boat. They wore sealskin coats and looked particularly well weathered. Unfortunately, their desire to just work was turned over by people who wanted to escape. Qilaq didn't understand why they were trying to go to work anyway. It wasn't like there was much to do with the city stuck under military order.
"Hey! Which of you guys are Nanuq and Sirmiq?" Qilaq said.
One with a crazy beard and another only in a fur trimmed vest stepped up to Qilaq.
"I'm Nanuq. He's Sirmiq. We've met you," Nanuq said.
Qilaq shrugged and looked at the two again. She didn't actually recognize the guys, but if she squinted hard enough, she could pretend that she did. Sirmiq scratched his nose and frowned.
"What do you want? You can't take us away like you did to Noatak," Sirmiq said.
"I'm not here to take you away. Noatak sent me here. He said you two can help me with my boat," Qilaq said.
"Possibly. We're just fishermen though," Nanuq said.
"I can pay you a lot of money, but I need you two to help me with this. If you don't like how the military is controlling us right now, then you'll want to help me," Qilaq said.
"I'll help you, but it's definitely for the money," Sirmiq said.
"Do you mind if my wife comes along? She would want to join- not for the money but for the fighting," Nanuq said.
"Sure? Is this something I'm going to regret?" Qilaq said.
"Only if you don't mind someone who you can describe as a hurricane in human form," Sirmiq said.
"Hey Nigaq! Don't bother getting on that boat!" Nanuq said.
Nigaq barreled through the crowds and placed her hands on her hips.
"What are we doing now?" Nigaq said.
"Getting on a ship," Nanuq said.
"Well… actually we're getting into my car, and then we're going onto my ship," Qilaq said.
Nigaq sighed and tossed her hands up.
"Makes no difference to me. Show us the way," Nigaq said.
They went into Qilaq's car where Qilaq drove to the opposite end of the harbor. This end was more private. More overly, Qilaq's father, who grew his shipping company from the ashes of the Hundred Year War, owned it. There wasn't a person around these parts- just ships. The ship she was looking for was the Asiaq, her father's best ship and one named after her mother. She stopped in front of the ship and tapped its hull.
"This is our ship. We're going to go on a little treasure hunt," Qilaq said.
Qilaq didn't know exactly how to use sonar nor did she know how even use her ship. If it weren't for the fact that Nanuq often covered for Pakak, no one would have known how to use the boat.
"The boat actually works pretty well on its own. Way easier than Pakak's boat," Nanuq said.
"I can't believe you let him control this ship," Nigaq said.
"I didn't really have a choice. I'm trying to figure out this sonar. I should have seen if I could have gotten a guy to operate this," Qilaq said.
"He's probably long gone anyway. The navy probably took him away," Sirmiq said.
"Eh… I think I've got it anyway," Qilaq said.
Qilaq sat at the sonar station with the sonar headphones on. She tapped the buttons of the sonar and heard the first ping ring out in her ears. Sirmiq, Nigaq, and Nanuq circled around Qilaq as she waited for the pulse to come back to her. They sat around for an hour before Qilaq took the headphones off and shrugged.
"This is a lot harder than when my father explained it to me," Qilaq said.
"You sure you're doing that right?" Sirmiq said.
"I know more about this than you do, so yes," Qilaq said.
Nanuq sighed and smacked Sirmiq.
"We don't have time to argue with her," Nanuq said.
"Seriously, you say the United Forces are on their way? We have to find them before the navy does. They'll be goners," Nigaq said.
In the middle of the squabble, a faint ping emitted from the headphones. Everyone jumped from their spots and stared at the headphones. Nigaq pointed to them while Qilaq jostled them in her hands.
"What does this mean?" Sirmiq said.
"I think there's another ship about an hour away from here!" Qilaq said.
"Well where is it?" Nanuq said.
"I don't know. This thing doesn't tell me where it just tells me that there are people somewhere out there," Qilaq said.
"If it's a United Forces ship, it probably has seen our ship," Nanuq said.
"If that's true, then the navy has seen us too," Nigaq said.
"Shit… they'll wonder what we're doing out here," Qilaq said.
"Well damn… we just better hope that whoever is coming this way is the United Forces," Nigaq said.
"Well, someone needs to get up and check for who it is," Qilaq said.
Nigaq left for the outside. She climbed out to the top of the ship. The gray skies and dark waters surrounded the ship. She could see nothing for miles and miles. Nigaq went back down and back to the rest of the crew. Her husband was pacing and looking troubled while Qilaq was back at the sonar station. Nigaq didn't realize how long she had been up looking at the sea until Qilaq said something.
"They're getting closer. About a half hour away now," Qilaq said.
"What are we going to do?" Sirmiq said.
"Sit here. We don't really have a choice," Nigaq said.
"Easy for you to say. If that ship is the navy's, we're dead," Sirmiq said.
"Quit complaining!" Nigaq said.
"Guys… Please. I have to agree with Nigaq. We need to take our chances and just sit here," Qilaq said.
Iroh looked at one of the lieutenants at the sonar station.
"There's a ship near by," the lieutenant said.
"How far?" Iroh said.
"We're less than thirty minutes away from them," the lieutenant said.
"Do we know anything about the ship? Is it the Northern Water Tribe's ship?" Iroh said.
"I can't tell. Once we're in range, we'll be able to identify the ship," the lieutenant said.
"We have to make contact with that ship," Iroh said.
Iroh went to his map and looked down. His grandfather walked over and leaned on the table. He stroked his beard and grabbed the pipe from in his robes. He lit his pipe and inhaled deeply.
"Are you sure it's wise to just approach another ship like this?" Zuko said.
"Well what am I going to do? Korra just told me that the navy defected, and that the chief is in danger," Iroh said.
"You're also in charge of 200 men who are relying on you to be their leader and keep them safe," Zuko said.
"I understand that," Iroh said.
"So what do you want to do?" Zuko said.
Iroh sighed and tugged at his cravat.
"We're going to hail the other ship. I have contacted Bumi and informed him of what I know about the situation- as well as the council in Republic City," Iroh said.
"What are they saying?" Zuko said.
"They aren't taking the situation as serious as I hoped they would. The representative of the Northern Water Tribe didn't seem to think that there was any dissidence in the Northern Water Tribe politics."
"That's hard to believe."
"I thought the same. It doesn't matter though. We don't have the support we need to make an outright attack. The council probably wouldn't have done anything anyway… They're still preoccupied with the idea that the Equalists will rise from the ashes and destroy Republic City again."
"Well… then you really need to think about what is important."
"I know. I'll be going up. If I need you, I'll have someone send for you grandfather."
Zuko nodded and returned to his seat and tea. He watched Iroh run out as he sipped his cup of tea. There was never any doubt of what Iroh was going to do. Zuko saw himself in Iroh- or at least how he wished he always been- a man who outright fought for what he knew was right. He was proud of his grandson in everyway a grandfather could be proud of his grandson. He looked at Iroh and felt comfortable about the future.
Iroh looked over at the sea. He saw nothing but endless water. He walked over to one of the commanders and asked him if they had seen anything new. The commander shook his head and resumed his duties. Iroh sighed and stopped at the railings. He leaned and snapped his fingers. Sparks flew from the tips of his fingers. Somewhere on the ship, one of the officers was yelling. It was enough to snap Iroh back into reality. He looked over his shoulder and saw an officer running his way. He stopped in front of Iroh but not before skidding on the deck. He briefly saluted Iroh before bending at the knees and catching his breath.
"General Iroh… off port, we spotted a small fishing boat," the officer said.
"A fishing boat? They're a little far out for fishing," Iroh said.
"Shall we hail them anyway?" the officer said.
"I don't see why not. They might know something," Iroh said.
In what seemed to be moments later, their ship saw the other one. One of the crew sounded a horn as the approached the fishing vessel. Iroh saw a small group of four standing on the deck of the ship. A beautiful woman with long, wavy black hair had her hands on her hips, standing defiantly. An officer came by with a megaphone and gave it to Iroh.
"This is General Iroh of the United Forces. Are you from the Northern Water Tribe?" Iroh said.
"Damn straight we are!" a small woman said.
"Permission for me to board your vessel," Iroh said.
"Permission granted!" the other woman said.
Iroh boarded the fishing boat and found himself face to face with the beautiful woman from before. He realized he had seen this woman before at Korra's birthday party. He remembered wanting to make a pass at her but feeling like she was more interested in her flute of wine than in making conversation. Now, she looked him in the eye and was smirking.
"I'm Councilwoman Qilaq, and we're here to help you," Qilaq said.
"Oh? Exactly how are you going to do that?" Iroh said.
"Well, for one, I'm going to save you and your crew by telling you that the navy is under the orders of an organization called the White Squall that's going to launch a full attack on the United Forces," Qilaq said.
"Were you sent here by the Avatar?" Iroh said.
"Basically… by proxy. Anyway, you're going to need a fleet of ships if you're going to help us get the Northern Water Tribe back."
"That much is obvious. How is the Avatar doing though?"
Qilaq bit her lip and stared at Iroh. She folded her arms and let out a loud sigh.
"She's been kidnapped by Councilman Hahn- the leader of the White Squall. We don't know where. All I know is that he intends on using the Avatar state as a weapon," Qilaq said.
"That's serious," Iroh said.
"That's an understatement," Qilaq said.
"What are you intending on doing?" Iroh said.
"We have a few people that are going to get Korra back. Right now, we need to smuggle you guys in so we can stop the riots and get the navy to snap out of it."
"Easier said than done."
"Well… I do like a challenge."
Qilaq smiled and winked at Iroh. He wasn't quite sure what he had signed up for, but he was sure that he was not in charge.