Chapter 4 : Unvanquished Hatred

General Jinshu Kuangmai was second in command only to Baatar Jr., Kuvira's lover, and third behind Kuvira herself. He knew that second position was volatile, given Kuvira's temper and dedication to the Earth Empire, first and foremost… Especially given what he had heard of Baatar Jr.'s reaction to seeing his sister in the firing line of the final spirit cannon test. He shook his head, thinking, The weakling - family is of no value! Then again, that merciless nature was why he was so loyal to Kuvira - it nicely matched his own, and she too had been abandoned by family.

Jinshu Kuangmai, as he was known for his specialty, was not his real name - only Kuvira knew a sliver of the truth behind his identity. Or at least he thought - had her spies found out more? No matter, he really had nothing to hide from her that might make her question his loyalty. He preferred to keep himself as mysterious as possible to others - even Kuvira - as much as a power play as the… other reason.

Ugh, every time I think of her, I feel like I want to strangle something… in my own special way, he finished with a predatory smile.

Looking at the clock, he was beginning to get somewhat worried, but he corrected himself - perhaps Kuvira had called for a large celebration after crushing those puny insects daring to occupy Earth kingdom land, stolen all those years ago by the Avatar and his Firelord lackey. What hope could such a ludicrous system hope to stand against strength? Elected leaders - what a joke!

Finally, after seeing the clock strike 11:00 PM, he had had enough. He was not patient like a rock, like some fool had once told him to be. When he burst from his tent, he did not like what he saw - all of the elite metalbenders assigned to his command were saluting the entrance of his tent- almost preemptively, to avoid his wrath. They appeared to have been standing there for some time, one looking as though he were about to fall over from exhaustion.

"Just what is the meaning of this?" he bellowed, stomping his feet on the ground, shaking his specialty red-black armor draped over his broad chest, sensing something disturbing as his feet made contact with the earth. "And why are all the conscripts gone? Don't think I can't earthsense those empty tents and untended mechasuits. We're supposed to be ready to push out at a moment's notice in case the first wave fails to take Republic City. Not standing around like a bunch of idiots, keeping watch over MY tent door!"

He could feel a few of the metalbenders shaking like leaves. He turned to the one shaking the most, who was hiding a radio behind his back, and grabbed him by his armor, lifting him in the air, commanding, "Speak! Your General commands you!" He could see the fear in the supposedly elite's eyes, saying with relish, "Don't make me…"

The faceless soldier finally started talking. By Kuvira, I love doing that. I just have to make a hint, and…

Gulping, the soldier said, "Sir, it appears that some of those Republic City geeks found a way inside Kuvira's Colossus. According to radio chatter, the weapon was destroyed, and Kuvira fought to the end, attempting to kill the Avatar with just the cannon." The soldier sensed his confusion, saying, "The cannon got tossed into a large concentration of spirit vines, sir - and apparently, if what the Republic City radio is broadcasting is to be believed, the weapon spun out of control after Kuvira fired it at the Avatar, eventually threatening to vaporize our great leader."

He could tell there was something this soldier was holding back - some very unpleasant news. Jinshu Kuangmai threatened the reluctant speaker, commanding, "I can tell you aren't telling me something, even with you in the air. TELL ME THE REST!" He began gradually squeezing the soldier's armor in around the neck.

The soldier gulped, and the armor ceased to move, stating, "General Jinshu Kuangmai, I am afraid you are the new commander of our army, such as it is." He felt his hands beginning to perform the motion, but stopped short. He could tell this soldier was loyal enough - for now. The soldier began to sweat beads visible in the dying light, admitting, "Kuvira shot a beam at Baatar Jr. to attempt to vaporize the Avatar and her followers, who had managed to capture him in the middle of negotiations. All survived, and he apparently turned against us, providing intelligence to the enemy regarding the Colossus."

I thought that wuss would betray us eventually. Kuvira should have known better - the weapons test gave him away. Concerned more for his sister Opal… Family only makes you weak…

"Go on", he stated. "You've only told me of how Baatar Jr. turned his back on us. Did our glorious leader die in battle? Is this why I am now Supreme Commander Jinshu Kuangmai?"

Hearing a pause, Jinshu Kuangmai threatened, "And just say it, or I might actually follow through with that hand motion this time."

He could see the immediate panic this threat caused. The soldier began to show signs of throwing up, so he finally let the soldier back to terra firma. He could feel the soldier better now - and he was an absolute wreck.

Jinshu Kuangmai listened as the soldier said, "Sir, if reports are to be believed… you see that big green beacon over the horizon?" The soldier pointed at a barely visible green twin helix that never seemed to end he had not noticed before.

"That's a new spirit portal."

He was furious. What concern did he have for some spirit portal?! All the spirits were good for, in his eyes, was fuel for war. "I don't care if Vaatu and Raava are fighting over that hill! Just what in the name of the Earth Empire does some spiritual gobbledygook have to do with Kuvira?"

His hands began to move of themselves.

"Sir, PLEASE don't! I want to serve, not be dead! I was just trying to cushion the blow a little." Hah, begging for his life, how pathetic.

Wait, what blow?

Jinshu Kuangmai felt panic. "What blow, soldier?" I don't like the sound of this at all.

The soldier began to speak once more, seemingly reaching the end of what was important. "Commander, the Avatar created that portal by blocking the beam weapon from killing Kuvira, if reports are to be believed."

Hah! Mercy, such fools…

He could see the soldiers let out a final sigh, saying, "She felt she owed the Avatar her life, and ordered our victorious forces to stand down, despite badly beating what those Republicans call a military. Only the Avatar and her follower's interference prevented a crushing victory."

His legs trembled with anger, cracks shooting from beneath his heavy iron boots.

Breathing heavier than that of a dragon's, he demanded, "So, soldier, let me understand this - and speak very carefully. Are you saying that our glorious leader ALSO surrendered?" His eyes gleamed with hatred - hatred for the Avatar, and hatred for… Kuvira?

It does not matter who- if they are weak, they should be crushed like ants!

The soldier saw his wild eyes, and knew what they could lead to, saying, "Yes, sir. You can see the soldiers who fled rather than surrender yourself - they should be here by now. Only the conscripts, and those trapped within the city surrendered. We may need to try to rescue them -"

I cannot believe Kuvira would do such a thing. First my own mother, and now my glorious leader?

He sighed deeply, realizing the world really was as one Fire Nation heiress said - "You can only trust yourself. Trust is for fools!" Even if she did go insane right after…

Figuring his day couldn't get much worse, he told the soldier, now safely out of his range, to bring in those who escaped. His talks with these ragged soldiers only confirmed what the other had said. The news from one of his spies was even worse. Almost all the conscripts - gone. And their leader…

I suppose I owe that soldier a favor, and I want only those who fear me at my side.

He turned to the soldier who had had the guts to tell him all these things with only a green beacon as evidence. "Soldier! Come here, I wish to tell you something." I love the fear in those green eyes.

"Sir?" was all the soldier could muster.

"I am making you Chief Intelligence Officer. If what that spy told me is true, 'Prince' Wu is going to try and dismantle our glorious Empire, and replace it with some sort of mockery - a republic." He paused bitterly. "Hardly better than the chaos after Earth Queen Hou-Ting's death - the common ignorant elephant-rat on the streets is still running the show, even if they aren't burning their world with them."

He paused once more, reaching inside his metal breastplate, bending and manipulating it with ease. In his hand, he held metal straps - for each of his own shoulders, and for each of the soldiers'.

He bent the straps around the soldier's neck, much as his own. He then bent the remaining straps around his own neck and shoulders, closely mimicking Kuvira's style. He would have to wait until colored metal was available to add his own touch to his spine - alternating red and black scutes, also in Kuvira's style - even if he did despise her now. He etched a small symbol into the visible portion of each neck strap - the Earth Empire insignia, with a single drop of gleaming blood in the center. His Earth Empire insignia…

Appropriate.

Jinshu Kuangmai did not know exactly how powerful he now was, so he was conservative in his speech, saying, "I hereby grant the new rank of Chief Intelligence Officer to Corporal Jang, of the Zaofu Company, and the new rank of Supreme Resistance Commander to myself. We will need to fight this new foe in a different way, as we cannot afford to draw the attention of the Avatar or the other nations - not yet, not without some unknown calamity. We will make our base of operations difficult to see, and even harder to break, biding our time as we regroup from the stunning betrayal of our former leader." He could begin to hear soldiers cheer, and even some making suggestions on how to most effectively meld into the vast Earth Empire, to begin their war of attrition, subterfuge and terror.

Jinshu Kuangmai raised a fist to the air, saying, "One day, we shall retake all of the Earth Empire - the lands that Republic City calls its own included! We will make the spirit's power our plaything once more one day, so that we may seek revenge on both the Avatar and the leader who left us out to dry! And then," he said with a genuine smile, "a legacy of conquest and colonization that will make Sozin and the Firelords who followed him look like children!"

He could hear the assembled body of soldiers before him become filled with hatred at the mention of the Fire Nation, yelling all sorts of horrible curses and insults. They had over 170 years of shame to amend.

So this is what true power feels like. Good…

After uniting the Earth Empire again, the going would be easy - the new Firelord had no spine, in his eyes. "Firelord" Izumi… And the fools of the Northern Water Tribe had had the world in their hands, and stopped! Air Nation pacifists, unwilling to kill. All he could think was Such foes are not even worth counting! Feeling a swell of emotion and pride, Jinshu Kuangmai yelled, "We shall be greater than Chin the Conqueror! TO ARMS!"

Basking in the cheers of his soldiers, he had but one thought.

Are you happy now, mother?