The War for Independence Pt. 1
Western Earth Kingdom
1946 AD / 104 AG
"No mistaking it. This is the place." Khanh, a lieutenant in the Fire Army, checked her notes once again.
"You're sure?" Hirota Taguchi, a third-class petty officer of the IJN, assigned from his homeship Battleship Haruna, asked.
The sounds of livestock, the mooing of Moose-cows, clucking of chickens, and the grunts from wooly pigs surrounded them as the grouping of service members proceeded through the farm's property on their way to the main small house. "Yup. Not a doubt in my head." She removed her spiked helmet and held it at her side. It was less menacing to approach civilians without the army's helmet mounted, especially without the face shield that made them look like skulls. Her top knot was allowed to breathe, now not getting crushed beneath a heavy metal helmet, and her bangs fell beside and framed her face.
Petty Officer Taguchi tried to not make it obvious that he had to steal a glance at her. She had a mole just beneath her left eye, and although it was different from beauty standards back in Japan, he considered it her charm point.
Khanh noticed and became slightly flushed. She knew exactly when this sailor was star struck by her. The lieutenant was very familiar with his adoration of her. She cleared her throat loudly, and the two of them looked away from each other. "I'll..uhh," she stuttered, "go knock on the door. Can you see to it that the ostrich-horses are unloaded in a calm manner?"
"Yes, ma'am," the NCO acknowledged, clutching his rifle sling and running back to the other grouping of mixed soldiers crowing a Fire Nation-built diesel transport truck. To their benefit, in the four years the Hundred Years War had been finished, the Fire Nation's industrial capabilities had progressed even further from the sharing of knowledge that came from those of the Mechanized World. Although Lieutenant Khanh was used to it, Petty Officer Taguchi was not fond of the traditional ways of navigating the Bending World. Khomodo Rhinos were tiring to mount for a long time, and they also got tired after a while. Tundra tanks were slow, cumbersome and hot, and were not exactly what one would consider to be a 'smooth and comfortable ride'. There was only one sky bison in existence, airships were too large and impractical for moving small units, he was never going to get to fly aboard a carrier-based plane, and the Earth Kingdom is vast and land locked so the navy's warships could only take one so far. The appearance of trucks after four years, was welcome!
Khanh knocked on the sliding door to the farm house firmly. It rattled in its frame and threatened to fall open.
The light voice of a woman called out from the rearward areas of the house. "Coming!"
The lieutenant could hear the sound of socked-feet running over a wood-boarded floor, drawing closer and closer, rapidly to the door. This lady moved with a purpose, and obviously was not one to keep anyone waiting.
The door unlatched and quickly slid open. "How can I hel-" The young woman froze up, visually shocked and still fearful. It may have been four years since the official end of the war, but the sight of a Fire Army soldier in her full armor was still a terrifying one for many for whom the war was not so long ago, especially in the Earth Kingdom. Khanh was only a few centimeters taller than the woman who stood before her, but even so it was as if she looked down over the farm house owner. Fire Nation nationals, particularly those in the military tended to come off as stern and imposing off the bat.
Khanh opened her mouth to address the woman, but before she could say anythign she was abruptly interrupted.
"Lieutenant Khanh! The animal has been successfully of loaded!"
"Eek!" Khanh jumped, her hands tenced at her sides, startled by the sudden report. Hirota had a habit of moving too rapidly, almost too diligently, and above all quietly! He tended to just appear in places, in Khanh's eyes. And despite her impressionable appearance, the lieutenant was quite easily startled. She whipped around, spinning on her heel, to face the sailor, who immediately rendered a salute.
A subtle, quick, but stern look in her eyes scolded him of running up on her like that. It definitely was not the first time. "Thank you, sailor." she said returning his salute.
Taguchi took his post just behind the lieutenant. The IJN sailor glanced at the woman of the house, who they were assigned to make the day's house call. The orders had apparently come directly from really high up the chain of command. Her clothes look like Korean hanbok, he thought.
"Miss," Khanh began, facing the woman. "Are you the Earth Kingdom farmer named Song?"
"Yes," she replied. "That's me. How can I be of assistance?" She was very soft spoken. Both of the visiting service members could immediately tell she was a very caring person. "Am I in trouble?"
"Nothing of the sort," Khanh eased. "Apologies for the long delay, rather. We were going through records filed with the local Fire Army garrison. The one that was in charge of your village, town, and province during the war. They aren't there any more as the war is over, but the records still remain and the Fire Army is committed to seeing each and every claim through." Song opened her mouth to voice out confusion, but Khanh did not give her the window to say anything and kept pushing through. "We had found that you had put in a report of a stolen ostrich-horse about four years prior. And you had seen the culprit? A young man, carrying swords, notable scarring, and looked to be somewhere in his…maybe mid-to-late teens?"
"Well yes," Song finally interjected, being overwhelmed with the verbal siege the Fire Army officer let loose on her, "but-..."
"Well, ma'am," Khanh continued immediately after hearing the affirmation. "Unfortunately, pity, really, we were unable to locate the thief. So we were unable to punish him to the extent of the law."
"That's okay," Song tried to chime in, "really..it's-"
"However," Lieutenant Khanh did not relent, "We were able to track down your family's ostrich horse and have retrieved him from Ba Sing Se to be delivered to you here, today." Taguchi was both entertained and amazed at how persistant and unyielding the lieutenant was. He also, felt bad for Song. He could see how the poor girl was trying to say something, but felt she couldn't as no window of opportunity to join into the conversation was presented. He watched as her mouth hung as open as her eyes were wide, taking in the onslaught of words and information.
"And for our delay in retrieving your family's ostrich-horse, the Fire Nation Army has also added an additional two as compensation for the delay."
Song went even further into surprise, and leaned to look behind the pair of soldiers that stood on her porch. A grouping of Fire Nation soldiers and IJN sailors were trying to herd three ostrich horses to where her family used to tie down the one. "T-Two additional for c-compensation?!" Suddenly, from having one ostrich-horse, they now had three. "T-That's too generous! I-I-..W-we couldn't possibly accept-"
"Please, miss," Lieutenant Khanh assured with a surprisingly warm smile, "Consider it only fair for the delay in finding your stolen property, and the uncompensatable harm the Fire Nation had unduly caused to your family in our dark century of brutality. There is no way we can possibly amend for what we have done unto your family." She joined her hands together and bowed in the Fire Nation's sign of reverence.
Song felt the burn scars on her leg flare up and sting. She was reminded of the suffering she and her family had endured at the hands of the Fire Nation during the war. And although the man the lieutenant was referring to indeed stole their family ostrich-horse and took advantage of their kindness and hospitality, after remembering the prominent scarring around his left eye, she hoped that Lee and his jovial uncle Mushi were okay, even now. She looked at the IJN sailor that accompanied the lieutenant. He cast his eyes down and bowed his head briefly in sympathy.
"I am honored and humbled to receive this grand gesture…but there must be some kind of mistake," Song said.
Khanh turned around the paper she held, with Song's information on it. The house address, her name and that of her mother's were written on it. "This is your information, is it not?"
Song studied the contents of the paper. "Well..it is..but I never filed a report to the previous Fire Army garrison. There must have been a mistake."
"Song," the officer said, folding up the page and tucking it into her belt, "I can assure you the present day Fire Nation Army does not make mistakes." Khanh once more bowed to Song in closing. "I wish good health and fortune onto your family," she said as she stepped off to rejoin the troops.
Petty Officer Third Class Taguchi bowed as well before turning on his heel to join the LT.
"Oh," Khanh recalled, stopping mid stride and turning back to Song once more. "Fire Lord Zuko sends his regards to you and your mother."
Song was actually confused now. "Why would the Fire Lord take notice to my mother and I?"
"It's…just a..saying I've told everyone who the Fire Nation helps." The lieutenant was lying.
"I see. Well…I hope he has a long reign and wish him the best too, I guess," Song said. She bowed and gently shut the door.
Khanh and Hirota shared a brief moment to themselves as they walked back to the grouping of troops. The diesel engines sputtered and roared to life as the trucks were started and they made ready to depart. From here, their unit was to be redeployed elsewhere.
"Where is the high command sending us next, Khanh?" Hirota said quietly, dropping rank and formality in his address.
"Where would you ideally want to be sent?"
"Where would you?" he asked.
"Hmm…Khanh playfully grinned and grabbed her chin as she thought her answer over. Makapu sounds interesting. I've been hearing there is a rather famous fortune teller there."
"Ee~? You actually like listening to that kind of stuff?" the NCO replied. "I also happen to know exactly who you are talking about. Aunt Wu, is what everyone calls her."
"What?! No way! You've met her?"
"No," Hirota replied. "But I know friends who have. Shipmates I met in Kure, from Hiroshima. Apparently they've all gotten the same fortune, or some variation of it. You think she'd get creative and vary her 'readings'."
"Oh?" Khanh asked, inquisitvely.
"Yeah..She keeps saying to them there is or was devastating news back home. Apocalyptic kind of things."
"Strange." But Khanh persisted. "But still! I want to ask her about…romance."
"You do?"
"What kind of guy I'll marry, etcetera," Khanh teased. She could see the deepening look of jealousy and discomfort growing on Hirota's face. "Maybe she'll tell me he's in the navy or from another world. Who knows?"
The petty officer sighed deeply. "So. Makapu is the next assignment?"
"Sadly, no," Khanh answered. "But not a total loss. We're being assigned to my home town. Next best thing!"
Hirota knew Khanh had grown up in the colonies. "Yu Dao?"
"Yeah! Yu Dao!" the young officer excitedly answered.
Imperial Palace, Upper Ring, Ba Sing Se
1946 AD / 104 AG
"Present, arms!"
A cordon of US marines and sailors lined the path leading to the main gates of the Earth King's palace. A thunderous and hearty roar sounded as the ten ton sky bison touched down in the plaza just before the main gate to grounds. At the order, the men of the parallel lines of servicemen that formed a path to walk through rendered their salutes.
First Lieutenant Joe Stevenson was accompanying Aang, Katara, and Sokka as they met with Earth King Kuei. The delegation was to meet with the Earth King regarding the ongoing Harmony Restoration Movement, aimed at returning previously colonized territories back to the Earth Kingdom. Lieutenant Stevenson was there on behalf of the US and Japanese fleets, assigned to accompany the avatar, once again, by Admiral Spruance.
"It's been a while since we've met the Earth King," Katar opened up enthusiastically. "I wonder how he's been fairing."
"I'm sure he's been busy with all the bureaucratic stuff going on in Ba Sing Se. The clean up and all the sorting of people is nuts. The surviving Joo Dees and all the people displaced by the war and the Dai Li alone is probably taxing," Sokka reported. "He'll probably be more than happy to hear something that we are personally handling.
"How's this king like?" Joe asked. "No offense to your friend the Fire Lord, but in the states, where I'm from..monarchy is..historically..looked down on."
"They are? It's pretty normal here, Lieutenant" Sokka answered.
"Joe thought very quickly about everything he had heard and observed about Ba Sing Se. "Yeah, I can see that."
"But no, don't worry," Sokka continued, "the Earth King is a great guy. He's a bit detached from reality, and can come off as aloof sometimes…"
That's pretty much spot on to what I imagined a king would be like, Joe thought.
"...but once he was brought back to reality. He was cooperative and an attentive listener."
The lieutenant looked to the avatar for his input.
Aang looked back and opened with a question. "You seem to have it out against monarchs and rulers, Joe. Something about 'em that offsets you?"
Joe dusted off the sky bison lint from his service uniform, its white furs littered the green surge of his charlies. "We're not too fond of them in my country. Let's say, because of history, we know how kings were. And in current events, we know what emperors are."
"Well," Aang replied, "you don't need to worry about King Kuei. He's a very reasonable and accommodating man. I'm sure this dialogue will go down without a hitch." The avatar, and his friends, were quite confident that this was a done deal. After all, the Harmony Restoration Movement was in the Earth Kingdom's favor, through and through.
"You know Zuko," Katara reminded. "And you know what he was like even before becoming Fire Lord. The chiefs of the Water Tribe are similar as well. Not all rulers are as corrupted as your country views them."
"Power can do a thing or two, even to a normal person," the lieutenant simply replied. "All's I'm saying." He slid down the tail of the bison, getting more comfortable with traveling with Appa. The avatar and company followed close after. Aang blew a firm gust of wind to knock the coating of Appa's fur that covered the back of the marine officer's jacket and trousers. He then realized he should probably be leading at the head of the group, or atleast at the same point in front as the lieutenant. He was the avatar after all…
The cordon of marines and sailors weren't formed for Joe's sake either. He was simply a line officer, very recently field-promoted to the rank of first lieutenant, in charge of a platoon of US marines off the USS Enterprise, definitely not someone of enough notoriety to warrant such an arrival. No, the greeting party was here to receive the arrival of Avatar Aang, for simply being the one regarded so highly in the Bending World. Aang and Joe, the lieutenant holding up a salute as he walked with a purpose through the path of servicemen, led Katara and Sokka through. But, Aang's company and the avatar himself felt slightly awkward being the focal point and receiving so much rendered honor by military men.
"Orrrderrr! Arms!" the chief petty officer, heading the cordon receiving personnel sharply dropped their salutes, Joe simultaneously did as well.
The senior-most NCO sharply turned to face the arriving ranking officer. "Lieutenant Stevenson, Avatar Aang, welcome to Ba Sing Se," he said once again saluting.
"Good to be aboard," Joe returned, returning the honors. "Chief Miller," he addressed as the sailor joined their party in walking through to the palace grounds, seeming to forget Aang was present, "How is the bureaucratic and menial work of postwar Ba Sing Se coming along?"
"There have been more interesting and important assignments elsewhere, sir, like mopping up the main deck in the middle of a downpour on rough seas" the chief grumbled, "By a long shot. But that aside, it builds relations with the locals. Managed to pick up a few friends here and there. I will say, sir, I am not a fan of this Earth Kingdom government. Especially after what I've heard. I think they have a long way to go. It may not be fixable."
Aang had a slightly discouraged look. "Have faith, chief," Joe said with the slightest optimism; a level of optimism so slight it sounded more like pity. "Rome wasn't built in a day." The lieutenant looked over to Aang, who had been excluded from conversation. "I've been told," he said, pausing with emphasis, "that the king is not so disconnected and is more hands on and present now."
Chief Miller almost choked on his saliva, clearing his throat with force. "Mhm- Well..to a degree that is true, sir." He lowered his voice and leaned over, knowing how the Avatar and his friends viewed the Earth King favorably. "American to American though..not really."
After climbing the tall stairs that led up to the Earth King's central palace, they were met by two sentries, this time members of the Royal Palace Guards, stationed by the door. Twin salutes were rendered as the party transited through the large doors and into the inner court. They wound through the freakishly wide halls and tall ceilings of the royal palace, all painted emerald green and trimmed with gold. Team Avatar had seen it all before, and so had Chief Miller, but for Joe this was a sight to behold. He could imagine what kind of wealth would be needed to construct a dwelling so luxurious. It was similar to the Fire Nation's royal palace, but with a different flavor and mood. For one, it was much brighter, ironically. The glowing crystal and the lighter green tones, contrasted with the black and deep maroons of the Fire Nation. And the Fire Nation's own palace relied on fire to be the slight source everywhere, which was bright, but left many corners dimly lit or dark.
"The throne room is down this way," Chief Miller informed, guiding them down another large hallway.
So much empty space. This place was unnecessarily large, Joe thought. Ahead were the towering and heavy ornate doors that led to the throne room. The same ones that Aang and his companions had blown down when they invaded this same palace after reuniting with Appa. Two more sentries and a lady who sat behind a desk were posted just before the door. Her dress, beige with green trim, was automatically familiar to Aang's party, as was the woman herself. Eerily familiar.
"Hello Aang, and Katara, and Sokka," she greeted, rising from her seat behind the desk. She bowed deeply at their arrival, welcoming them. Her once unnatrually wide smile was gone, and in its place a more genuine, warm, and soft natural grin. "First Lieutenant Stevenson," she greeted the arriving officer. "It's an honor to meet a ranking officer of the American Marine Corps, and one of the Avatar's collaborators."
Joe chuckled a little. He wasn't use to being regarded with such level of praise and honorific usage. "You flatter me, miss. I'm far from becoming a general."
"Joo Dee?!" Aang exclaimed. He and his original Water Tribe companions all had the same shocked expression.
Her grin flattened, and her cheeks and eyes sunk as well. The chief petty officer quickly snapped around, turning back to face the trio, with an intense glare of disapproval, "cease and desist" clearly written all over his face. He swiped a bladed hand, a gesture, rapidly back and forth across his neck, telling them to cut it out, there.
"Ehem," Chief Miller cleared his throat. "This is Meiying. A former guide and host for Ba Sing Se."
"We know," Sokka explained, "she was our guide too, a few years back. When we first came here!"
"How have you been faring?" Katara asked, concerned but relieved. "I was worried when we found out the Dai Li sunk the Lake Laogai facilities!"
Chief Miller's eyes widened in stress, and once again he violently swiped his hands at his neck level. He didn't want to trigger more shell shock for the young woman.
"Thank you for your concern, Katara," Meiying replied. "I have been enjoying a much more helpful and productive life working with the United States armed services. Rather, instead of receiving your concern, I must apologize for whatever inconveniences and struggles I may have caused you and your group," she said, sweeping a look to Katara, Sokka, and Aang. "I know now that I must have been standing as a barrier to you reuniting with your beloved sky bison, and a hindrance to your mission. If you can find it in yourselves to forgive me-"
Aang and Katara held up a hand to stop her. "It's okay, Meiying," Aang said. "What the Dai Li did to you was a terrible thing."
Meiying took their acceptance of her apology warmly. "I'll apologize anyway. Please understand, at that time, the words I spoke were not always my own."
For the avatar's group, the lady before them was an interesting sight. She still wore the exact same uniform she had at that time, for the time being. But instead of wide smiles, and passively forceful handling of guests, and suppression of their opportunity to get even a single word in, she was apologetic and rather remorseful.
"Thank you, Meiying," Aang bowed, "Your apology is accepted."
"The former Joo Dees are finding good service and opportunity in civil duties," Chief Miller reported. "Meiying works primarily as a secretary at the processing center, and as a go-between between the Earth Kingdom government and the US forces stationed here to help with aid. Others find jobs as school teachers, assistants, and, kinda unsurprisingly, municipal code compliance inspectors."
The former Joo Dee lightly smiled. "Yes, it has indeed been fulfilling. Nice to do something truly valuable." The candle placed on her desk sparked. A sharp and succinct pop went off. A single one; spark powder added into the candle to go off various times corresponding with hour changes. "Ah! It must be one o'clock!" Meiying reported, "The Earth King is expecting you." She glanced at the two palace guards and nodded. Using their earth bending, the large and heavy doors smoothly and quietly opened allowing the group into the Earth King's large throne room. From this distance he was quite small compared to the huge badger mole ornamentation that was fixed to the wall behind the throne.
Meiying bowed to the group marking their departure and motioning them into the large room. Chief Miller saluted the lieutenant one more time. He also would not be accompanying the trio into the Earth King's presence.
A reasonable and cooperative man, Joe thought as they proceeded into the throne room. Why not put some faith in the avatar's word?
He was not. Earth King Kuei was fuming.
"Avatar Aang," he announced over the four standing before the throne, "I hope your coming here is not simply to insult me! You talk about restoring the world to order and you and your friends turn around and take advantage of my generosity and compassion!"
Aang, and all his accompanying party were dumb founded. This was not what any of them were expecting to walk into. Well…atleast, this is not what three of them were expecting to walk into. The ruler of the Earth Kingdom continued to berate and scold Aang for a dense and furious ten minutes, yet he managed to not give any concrete details of what he was waging war about. Aang, naturally simply receded and endured it. From Joe's observation it looked as though the Avatar's eyes had sunk into their sockets. Aang's hands awkwardly hung at waist height in front of him as well.
"The hell's he going on about?" the lieutenant leaned over and whispered to Sokka.
"No idea. This isn't normal," the Water Tribe man replied.
Seems pretty normal to me, the American thought.
"...and who is this man you have brought before me?" Kuei finally asked, referring to the uniformed man in the Avatar's party.
Joe did not once flinch or cower from the Earth King's onslaught of words. Why would he? Whatever this symbol the divine right to rule was yapping on about wasn't necessarily of his personal concern. And in terms of verbal beratement, that was weak. "King Kuei," he began, "I am First Lieutenant Joseph Stevenson, United States Marine Corps. I'm here as a representative of my nation's armed forces on behalf of Admiral Spruance, out of the Fire Nation. We had come here with the initial understanding that we were going to discuss the Harmony Restoration Movement in the Western Earth Kingdom's territories."
The Earth King scoffed. "Based in the Fire Nation, I see. I can't believe I let myself get deceived once more."
"Respectfully, sir," the lieutenant spoke up, "What the hell is your problem?"
Kuei shot up from his chair, his hands resting on his hips. "I will not stand for this level of disrespect."
Oh, you're standing alright, Joe thought. He was unphased. Sokka stood his ground too, behind the officer, but Aang and Katara were confused. They were searching for an answer.
"Earth King Kuei," Aang began, "If my friends and I have offended you, I offer my apologies as an avatar, but we need to-"
"No." Joe interrupted, swinging out a hand in front of the avatar to stop him from talking "No apologies, Aang. His royal highness is the problem. Until now, he still has not given a reason for his sudden and uncalled for outburst."
The Earth King fumed, frustrated. He pushed his small reading glasses up his nose. "Your friend," he said, addressing Aang, "Your ally," he said addressing Lieutenant Stevenson, "Has gone back on his deal!"
"What do you mean?" Katara asked, "Zuko has been nothing but cooperative!"
"Fire Lord Zuko has just decreed he will not be relinquishing control of the Yu Dao colony back to the Earth Kingdom," Kuei announced. "He also said the remainder of the Fire Nation colonies will also remain under Fire Nation control."
"What?!" Aang was concerned, he refused to believe his friend would make such a decree. "You're lying! Zuko wouldn't do that! He's been the most cooperative and helpful during these postwar times! Some would say he's done more than you, even!"
"The message arrived by hawk shortly before your arrival, Avatar Aang," Kuei replied. "Whether or not you decide to believe me is none of my concern! Until the Fire Lord agrees to return what is rightfully the Earth Kingdom's…that they stole, mind you, then I believe we are done here!" He called to the back of the throne room, to the hallway outside. "Guards! Escort the Avatar and his companions out of here!"
The doors flew open and several Royal Palace guards entered the chamber. Chief Petty Officer Miller and even Meiying could be seen detained in the halls just outside. The Avatar's group were grossly outnumbered and two of them were without their weapons. Additionally, they weren't going to fight the Earth King.
"King Kuei! Please be reasonable!" Aang pleaded, "We want to help in anyway we can. Clear up the misunderstandings!"
Kuei crossed his arms. "My terms are clear and forthright, Aang. Fire Lord Zuko is to immediately withdraw his troops and his people from the colonies, and restore them back into the Earth Kingdom's rightful ownership."
Lieutenant Stevenson spun around and pointed an accusing finger at the king. "This is an act of war! And you know it!"
"I want all American and Japanese military personnel out of Ba Sing Se, effective immediately! As a party to the Fire Nation, your presence here in the Earth Kingdom is no longer welcome."
Soon they were surrounded! Aang, Katara, Sokka, and Joe raised their hands in surrender.
Yu Dao
Western Earth Kingdom
Azula had just about had it. Her legs were numb. This room was small and cramped. Everything was overtly bland and simple, nothing in this room was fit for royalty. And she was kept waiting. Waiting for something she didn't even particularly enjoy! And above that she had to sit here in silence with her uncle, Iroh, of all people.
The former princess, and fire lord, sat on her knees, seiza, for the silent ceremonial practice. There were four others present and waiting as well. Seated to her right was her uncle Iroh, happily waiting for his tea. To Azula's left was a sailor of the IJN, a Fire Army captain, and an Earth Kingdom lieutenant. Each wore their finest available attire, with the three military men dressed in their service dress uniforms and Azula in her traveling uniform. Iroh however, dressed more humbly. Each of the others sat perfectly still, as if at attention, not speaking a word. The eighteen year old fire bending prodigy resisted the urge to blow at her bangs in this awkward and eternal silence. In the opposite corner from the four guests, Akiko Takahashi; stowaway, medic, warrior, traitor to Japan turned fire bending student, and now a valued collaborator and go-between; silently and with distinct precision and poise boiled and whisked a serving of fine matcha tea in a decorative tea bowl. She still wore her issued IJN sailor's uniform.
Azula took a moment to take in the room's surroundings. Why not? There was nothing else to do. It was an absurdly small compartment, by Azula's point of view, especially considering there were five people, a water boiler, and various decorations. Just beside Uncle Iroh was the tokonoma, a small wooden stage-like platform, about five-centimeters tall off the tatami mat floor, that displayed a flower arrangement and a scroll. The more she looked around, the more nuances and small details started to come to light. The tatami mat flooring they sat on was of Earth Kingdom origin. The water boiler was made of Fire Nation iron, and was manufactured there as well. The single ceramic bowl that Akiko was using to serve tea to her guests was a dark blue with water tribe markings and motifs, the moon and waves of the ocean clearly painted across the sides leading to a Water Tribe insignia. The tea scoop, chashaku, tea whisk, chasen, and the bamboo ladle Akiko used to scoop the hot boiling water, the hishaku, were all borrowed from a Japanese warship. At the center of a three-flower arrangement, seated on the tokonoma, was a prominent White Lotus flower, a plant often found growing around the air temples. Azula recalled in the vaguest way, a distant memory of learning that information sometime during her time at the academy…it was an academic world studies class…and one that she had absolutely no interest in. Her eyes then wandered up to take a look at the hanging scroll posted on the wall over the flower arrangement. There was a sumie, ink painting, of a so-called bald eagle, wings extended majestically, with one word written in English characters beneath the bird of prey: Freedom.
This whole room was a union of all the nations.
After finishing the overly-ceremonial production of matcha tea, Akiko swiftly made her way over to the line of guests and elegantly sat herself just ahead of Iroh, placing the ornate tea bowl just in front of him. She then neatly joined her hands together atop her lap. For now her role was finished.
"Otemae chodo itashimasu," Iroh said, in the Japanese he had studied specifically for this moment. His fingertips extended down off his knees and gently touched the floor as he bowed. He was thanking Akiko for producing the tea placed before him. The retired general then turned toward Azula, and by extension the others in the line. They were to share a single bowl of tea. "Osakini shitsureishimasu." Excuse me for going ahead of you. He grasped the ring of the bowl and with two defined turns, rotated the container one-hundred-and-eighty degrees, turning the 'front' of the bowl away from him before lifting the container up to take a sip from the bowl. As much as he enjoyed its rich and creamy taste, he could only indulge himself so much. There were four others in the line afterall. Iroh drew his clean handkerchief and wiped the edge of the rim where his lips had touched the bowl, then he rotated the bowl back to its original position so the front, the side of the bowl deemed to be the most beautiful by the host, would face the next person in line and gently set it in between himself and Azula.
This was a bore! Azula thought she would spontaneously burst into flames from how slow this was going. But, she played along begrudgingly. She took the bowl, faster than Iroh had and spun the ceramic around in one single turn. "Excuse me for going ahead," she quickly said before taking a sip from the tea. Not bad, she thought. Azula normally did not appreciate or care for tea. Again, in one fall swoop, she reoriented the bowl and, as gently as possible, quickly set the bowl down between her and the uniformed sailor next to her. She hadn't wiped the rim of the bowl with her handkerchief though, to the silent judgment of the sailor who wiped it down prior to carrying out his role in this ceremony. This overly ceremonial cooperation carried on down the line until the last person had drunk, and the bowl had been emptied.
"Dozo, oshimai kudasai," the last man in the line, the Earth Kingdom Army lieutenant conveyed. Please, feel free to conclude.
"Taihen oishiku chodai itashimashita," Iroh finished. The tea was remarkably delicious, he said, thanking Akiko for her service.
Azula sat in silence. To think this slow sipping of tea was also a warrior's ceremony where Akiko came from. How was this supposed to settle qualms between warlords? If anything this slow impatience would make their blood boil more! She wouldn't admit it, but she did feel much calmer by the end of it, though.
Akiko knew her new-world friend would find this kind of thing to be a bore. But Iroh, Zuko, and herself, thought this kind of thing to be important to expose the former firelord to. Azula needed to experience and see things outside of the lens of war and conquest. The past four years leading up until now had been rough for the deposed and defeated, and Akiko sympathized with Azula's situation.
Yu Dao - Western Earth Kingdom
Outer Defensive Wall
Hiroaki Takeda, the venerable IJN lieutenant, looked out over the surrounding landscape. He too, like many other units, had been recently deployed to the city and province of Yu Dao. The city was a prominent manufacturing and trade hub located near the shores of the Mo Ce Sea in the Western Earth Kingdom and was one of the southernmost cities in the larger Yu Dao province. The shoreline the province occupied was where the westermost sections of the Earth Kingdom extended over and wrapped around the vicinity of the easternmost Fire Nation islands, in the Crescent Isle. It formed a large natural pocket in the northwestern coastline of the Earth Kingdom, one that was starting to be referred to as Yue Bay.
Four years on, both his own naval power and the United States' have been headquartered in the Fire Nation since the crescent shaped nation had superior port facilities and industrial capabilities. But Yu Dao and its surrounding regions were showing great promise. The expanse of Yue Bay and its connection with the larger Crescent Isle provided a larger area for the numerous capital ships to drop anchor in mass, where the Fire Nation's ports were smaller and could only allow a handful of battleships and carriers in at a time, while other vessels needed to be anchored out at sea. The industrial capabilities of the prior Fire Nation colony were quickly catching up to the Fire Nation homeland now that technology had been shared. The city had become known for metalwork and it seemed as though a new factory would be commissioned each day. Both the USN and IJN had been slowly shifting their military presence to the Yu Dao provinces as a result.
All ships should be underway, actually, Hiroaki thought to himself. He had recalled a mass departure of warships from the Fire Nation's capital. The fleet had been stretched out over the world to carry out various tasks, and there weren't any ships in port either in the Fire Nation or here in Yu Dao.
The land extended to the west and east of the city, for a great distance beyond the defensive walls. Lieutenant Takeda observed that from the tops of the walls, rifles, machine guns, cannons, bows and arrows, and trebuchets would have a long uninterrupted view of any advancing force that would come from any direction, and surrounding the city were dense mountain ranges that limited the maneuverability of incoming ground forces. It was almost as though the city was built with defensibility in mind. Garrisons could easily defend against incoming invaders, so as long as there were enough troops to man the large walls that surrounded the city. And there were definitely enough soldiers now.
The lieutenant had been tasked with taking charge over a company of IJN sailors put to shore duty. Like before, his unit essentially served the role of an infantry battalion, being tasked with security and defense of this high value location and its surrounding territories. The number of troops under his command now climbed into the hundreds, but that was just IJN personnel alone. The Americans had also pitched in, stationing four detachments of US Marines to Yu Dao as a complement to the security forces; four hundred marines were also stationed in the former colony. And to add on to the large number of forces, there were both Earth Kingdom and Fire Army soldiers comprising Yu Dao's original militia forces as well. These earth and fire benders however, differed from the regiments of the Fire and Earth Kingdom armies in that, while technically affiliated, were largely formed of citizens of Yu Dao. Their loyalties were more inclined toward this colonized region, and as a result their mindset and beliefs were slightly different.
There was a small army stationed here in Yu Dao, with hundreds upon hundreds of soldiers and guns staged in this comparatively small, but valuable, city. And each day, both the US Navy and Japanese Navy funneled more and more personnel to bolster Yu Dao's defenses. It was as though they were preparing for war! A notion that even Avatar Aang had felt, but had dismissed. The world was still fresh out of a war and enjoying its new era of peace.
We are prepared for war, Takeda thought as he watched formations of soldiers gather by the barracks in the grounds below. That was the main reason why the IJN was sending more and more forces here, and likely it was the same thinking with the Americans as well. The avatar, his companions, the new Fire Lord Zuko, the High Chiefs of the Water Tribe, and the Earth King, were under the guise that the world was now in this legendary state of peace. But both top Mechanized World admirals, Spruance and Yamamoto, saw things differently, and so did the men beneath them. It had become very obvious to the US and Japanese naval commanders the moment the terms of the Harmony Restoration Movement were laid out. It has played out many times in the history of the Mechanized World. The transfer of the colonies back to the Earth Kingdom, wrenching prosperous regions out of the Fire Nation's control, and forcing a mixed population to cross from one nation's control to the other, was not going to happen as the Avatar thought it would. Quietly, both navies were bolstering the region in anticipation of any sudden moves from either country's armed forces. After all, both the USN and IJN had interest in the region as well; Yu Dao gave both navies a large degree of independence from Fire Nation reliance.
"Lieutenant Takeda," another officer, an ensign, called. "The eastern wall's machine gun bunkers have been successfully completed."
"And the western side?" the lieutenant further inquired.
"The American soldiers are nearing completion as well, it seems," the ensign replied.
"Excellent," Takeda remarked.
"Also passing through this area," the ensign continued, flipping through a list of notes. "The Kyoshi Warriors are transiting through Yu Dao. They will be here for a while. And we also have: High Court Advisor and Retired General Iroh, former Fire Lord Azula, as well as the avatar's companion Toph Beifong in the city as well." He closed his report book. "It's a full stage ensemble."
"Noted," Takeda said. "This city is quite bolstered. We are ready for anything, at this point."
"Do you foresee conflict?"
"I do. It's not a hunch either. I believe this city will inevitably be a target." He clasped his hands behind his back. "It's not if, but when it will happen." The land ahead of their section of the defensive wall was vast and extended far ahead. Generous enough to allow a massive land assault force to approach the city all at once. "The nearest carriers are the Enterprise and Hiryu, and the nearest gun ship is Atago, and they are still far out," Takeda narrated, "And we don't have enough reason to blockade the waters around Yu Dao. Such a move would be, currently, uncalled for and aggressive."
"And the Fire Nation would come by sea," the ensign remarked.
"The Fire Nation would come by sea," Takeda sighed.
"How are you so certain the transfer won't go so easily though, sir?"
"This is a Fire Nation colony, and has been for over a century at this point," Takeda recalled. "At this point, several generations in, these people are neither fully loyal to the Fire Nation nor the Earth Kingdom. They are intermixed and cooperative with each other.
"I've heard the mayor, Morishita, himself openly talk about his opposition to the Harmony Restoration movement. His daughter, Kori Morishita, is even more vocal and averse to the movement as a whole. She was even on record for saying she would attack and kill the Fire Lord for backing this movement in the first place."
"We are caught between two nations," the ensign sighed.
"Between fire and stone," Takeda remarked. "And they are willing to destroy each other and plunge this world into its next war for this pocket of land."