Ch22

United Republic Council Chambers

City Hall - Republic City

"General Milley," Suyin pleaded, "I am at this point begging the US for assistance in the face of coming conquest. The situation, as I am sure you have been monitoring, is becoming more and more dire."

The chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Mark Milley was projected on the large teleconference screen. The four silver stars on his uniform's epaulets glistened, even through a video stream.

"Mrs. Beifong," the general responded, "If I may, I have heard you have also contacted our allies in Japan as well as in Europe regarding the same request. Can you tell me what they have said?"

"General Yoshida of the Japanese Military had told us that Japan could not militarily intervene in the matters of a foreign state," Suyin answered, "The chiefs of staff for Britain and Germany have yet to get back to me, general."

"I can tell you on their behalf what the answer is," General Milley replied, "As the US Department of Defense and State Department currently hold the same notion." He folded his hands together on the desk before him. "Miss Beifong, unfortunately in the current state of affairs, America cannot answer your request for military aid or intervention. It is beyond our place and jurisdiction to stop the Earth Empire from achieving its missions of uniting the continent."

"General," Suyin pushed, "with respect, the US has a history of intervening with intent to help its allies or to discourage the expansionary efforts of a hostile force! We have innocent people here in Zaofu! Many US citizens visit my city as well for commerce and tourism. Likely there are many on their way to the city as we speak! In addition to the citizens of other allied nations. This is not only an attack on Zaofu's sovereignty, but also a threat to your nation's people as well!"

"That's enough," the general replied at the audacity of Suyin's plea. "You are correct in that we do intervene with intent to aid and protect our allies in the regions. However, Miss Beifong, need I remind you who the sovereign authority over the continental Earth Empire is? What nation's land Zaofu stands on? And what nation's land and policy do they benefit from?"

Suyin could feel herself physically shrink before the large projection of the general.

"From a national standpoint," the general continued, "The US is allied directly with the Earth Empire - the former Earth Kingdom. They have been a key partner in the region in terms of resources and cooperation, and have cooperated militarily with us numerous times over the past six years. Zaofu has committed little-to-none to the alliance by comparison. And, on a technical level, you and your city are, in effect, resisting the lawful orders of your nation's government. Some would call that separatism, or secession. An act which, historically, has always led to war. You can, hopefully, see how our hands are tied."

"But General, without assistance, Zaofu is doomed," Suyin pushed on, "and you, as well as the worlds, now, have seen just how relentless the Earth Empire and its army's brutal methods are."

The general groaned, "Yes, indeed." He paused for a moment. "Speaking of that, I know it's a matter for the US State Department, but your little stunt with the video releases taken from the recent sacking of Shanguchi and the Liu Castle stronghold have not exactly made things easy for us here Stateside."

"It's not supposed to make things easy or comfortable, General! It's supposed to expose and do just that! Make people uncomfortable! Then maybe we can get some action! You would do the same for other countries like Taiwan, for example, right?"

"On the world stage, us sending Zaofu troops and weapons, will be the same as us declaring war on our allies in the Earth Empire. Funding a separatist entity. And unlike Taiwan or Ukraine, in the hypothetical scenario that Russia once again encroaches their borders, Zaofu is not a country. It is a city state existing within the territory of the greater Earth Empire." General Milley sighed. "Suyin, while I am sympathetic to your situation…all of us here are, there is nothing at the moment we can do to intervene. I am sorry."

"We're on our own, I see," Suyin scoffed. "After all the economic contributions to the US Zaofu has made, with resources like steel and platinum exports, as well as standing as an advocate for democracy and liberty in our regions, we are left to fend for ourselves in the face of a fascist conqueror."

"Until the Earth Empire exhibits intent to conquer nations beyond its sovereign territories, or attacks a US location directly and with intent, there is little we can do. But at present we are stretched, in our own world as well as your own, and cannot afford to deploy combat units to Zaofu as a deterrent."

The feed abruptly cut, as the call was terminated. It was as though he was giving Suyin the run around, for their entire hour-long discussion. If he was going to say no, he should have just said no from the start, Suyin thought.

Suyin, Lin, and Tenzin all looked to President Raiko in the sudden silence of the conference room. He knew what their gazes were asking without a word, but he too had his hands tied.

"I can tell General Iroh to deploy divisions of troops, tanks, and aircraft to Zaofu at a moment's notice," he began, looking to Lin and Tenzin, "but I am sure you know exactly what that will mean for the United Republic of Bending Nations."

"It'd essentially be a formal declaration of war," Lin conceded. She held her composure, but everyone could see how badly she wanted to send a boulder through the large video screen. She hated when rightful action was hindered by bureaucratic process.

"Kuvira had unleashed a planned, preemptive, and strategic cruise missile strike against Zaofu's defensive military airfield!" Suyin burst out, frustrated, "She got rid of our greatest military advantage to effectively repel an inevitable attack on Zaofu! And this isn't an act of war?! We're just supposed to take it?!"

"Suyin," Tenzin tried to soothe, "it's in times like these where, even though it's hard, we need to try and keep a level-"

"Tenzin!" she burst, like a bubble underpressure. She took a deep breath. A very very deep one. Her anger and frustrations weren't for Tenzin to bear. It's not his fault. "Tenzin," she began in a calmer tone - as calm as she could manage, "I've tried to be as level headed, approachable, and as tolerant as possible. But the worlds, both of them, have turned their back on my people and my city!"

"Suyin," President Raiko and Tenzin tried to calm, "no one is turning their back on Zaofu. It's-"

"It's complicated, I know!" Suyin mocked, completing the phrase she's heard one too many times at this point. "Look, at this point, if you can't send the United Forces, and you can't send weapons, then it is what it is. But if Kuvira wants a war, then come hell or high water, she will get one! I cannot sit back and just let my people take it any longer! If she moves even another mile closer to Zaofu, I will declare war!"

Southwestern Earth Kingdom

Outskirts of Zaofu

2020 AD / 178 AG

"I feel like they move about a mile a minute," Sergeant Wei reported. "And there's a lot of them." Leaves rustled and twigs quietly snapped as the NCO set his field binoculars down.

"What do you see?" his commanding officer, Lieutenant Cho whispered up the tree to the spotter.

"A fuck ton," Wei replied. "Tanks of all weight classes, halftracks, trucks, mecha suits, battalions upon battalions of infantry. The whole nine yards!"

"I know that sarge!" the lieutenant scolded. "We all know that! Give me a numbers estimate!"

"Give me a sec." Wei scanned the large column. "I'd estimate there's around a hundred Tiger I's in this grouping. Probably about the same number in a mix of Pz IV's and Panthers. Probably three dozen mechasuits and halftracks." The sergeant watched the columns of the boxy behemoths rumble along. Each tank ferried what appeared to be a small platoon of soldiers on top. He set his binoculars down. "All in the open too. For the world to see. We could call in a missile strike. We could position artillery to fire into them from dozens of kilometers away."

"But we can't," Lieutenant Cho replied, writing down his report. "Any King Tigers?"

"None in this column," Wei answered. He watched groups of soldiers deploy from trucks, halftracks, and the tops of tanks. They moved to crush and dispose of a gigantic boulder and clear it from the valley. Calling it a boulder was doing that rock they were disposing of a disservice. It was an obstacle, buried in compacted earth and stone. The formation was a small hill in and of itself. But still, there was no reason to dispose of said rock. Even the heavy tanks of the Empire's army could easily maneauver around the formation.

Wei had been observing the past several columns of army groups conduct similar terraforming actions. This valley pass had progressively become more and more suitable to build a highway or bullet train line through. There used to be more boulders. They had been destroyed and disposed off. There used to be big hills and mounds. They had been flattened. There were deep depressions where it was evident a river or stream had been, they had been raised and graded.

"They're paying a decent amount of attention to the ground features, sir," Wei called out. "It's like they're obsessed with flattening the landscape. I don't think these are engineer regiments. Pretty sure these are just tank and mechanized infantry regiments of the 2nd Armored Corps.

"Probably just to facilitate further troop movement," Cho remared.

"Zaofu's got a serious problem coming, LT," Wei called down the tree. "A big one. We seriously can't do anything?"

"Nothing, sergeant." Lieutenant Cho folded the report and handed it to his awaiting squad member, a private. "Run this over to Corporal Cheung, get that information radioed over to General Iroh and the UFDI, ASAP."

"Sir." the private acknowledged before running up the hill a bit further to where they had set up a small radio post.

"You read the orders from General Iroh yourself, sarge," the officer repeated, "Our orders are to observe and report the troop movements. Nothing more. If we did, the UNR would be declaring war on the Earth Empire."

"Wouldn't we be declaring war anyway? Zaofu being an internal issue aside, the men and I really are convinced Kuvira's gonna turn her armies on us shortly after."

"Your assessment's on par with mine, truthfully, Wei." Cho sighed and cracked his neck as he stretched. "But, preemptive strikes and declarations of war aren't so popular in the Era of Korra."

"Meanwhile men like us are put here to just absorb a sucker punch from right field?"

"While men like us are expected to just take a sucker punch from right field," the lieutenant affirmed, sighing and nodding his head. "Bureaucracy and politics."

Sergeant Wei increased the zoom on his binoculars. He cranked the focusing wheel on the optics, focusing in on something.

"Sergeant Wei," Cho called up the tree, taking up his carbine he had left leaning against the stump. "You can get down from there, I think we've seen enou-"

A sharp wizz and a crash! The sound of breaking glass! A distant, distant, pop soon followed.

"Fuck!" The young officer, fresh out of university and only commissioned within the past year dove for the dirt. "Sniper!" the young officer called out. His other two squad members poked their heads up, only now hearing the sound of the distant rifle shot.

Sergeant Wei's body fell from the tree and slammed down into the dirt just beside the lieutenant. He was a bloody wreck! Cho scrambled away, instinctively before coming back over to check his fallen squad mate over. The corporal and PFC came running back over.

"Sergeant Wei's down!" Cho called. The experienced NCO had suffered a grizzly gunshot wound. The incoming rifle slug had smashed through one of the biocular's lens tubes, and blasted its way out the back of his skull!

"Shit! The sarge is down!" the corporal remarked. Both him and the PFC readied their weapons.

"No!" Lieutenant Cho stopped. "None of that! Pack up the radio! Now! We need to exfil!"

Battleship Yamato

Republic City

"I hear this ship is among your most favorite places to pass time in the city, Chief Inspector." Joining Junichiro, General Iroh observed the mid-morning sun as it rose over the mountains to the east of Republic City. An orange glow cast over the bustling metropolis and warmth started to settle in.

Jumbo jets still buzzed overhead as the morning arrivals continued to funnel in from across the worlds, many being inter-worldly flights arriving from the Mechanized World. The pair of senior officers observed a Triple 7, flying the livery of EVA Airways pass overhead on approach to the outermost runway at Republic City Airport. This time of day had many arrivals from Asia.

"It is," Jun replied. "This ship has bore witness to a lot of history, both here and in the Mechanized World. And it's still floating today because of those events. I feel like in an alternate timeline, this ship would be sitting at the bottom of the ocean off the coast of Japan or Okinawa." He crossed his arms and sighed. Republic City was still waking up. This was about the time of the day when all the caffeine from coffees and energy-imbuing teas that were drunk by the office workers during the morning commute would be kicking in. Life continued on, normally. While, just on the other side of those eastern mountains, and across some vast expanses, war was being waged internally within the Earth Empire.

"And instead, Yamato stands guard here in Republic City," Jun added.

If he leaned his head out over the railing from the top of the superstructure and peered aft, he'd be able to see the large silhouette of the Nimitz-class US Navy carrier, USS Reagan, anchored further up the inlet at the US-Japan Joint Military Base, along with the other warships she had transited the rift with weeks ago. They were set to head out to the Crescent Isle and the waters south of the Fire Nation for joint drills with the Fire Navy in the coming day. If the Earth Empire indeed was going to come for the United Republic, ignoring the sizable presence of US Army, Marine, and Air Force personnel, as well as their Japanese counterparts, they'd first have to deal with that carrier and her complement of destroyers first, Jun thought. This reassured him, as it seemed like an impossibility for Kuvira to be able to get around that deterrence.

"My office has received communication from a small recon squad in the field," Iroh led with. "We have reports and photos of a massive mobilization of Earth Empire forces toward Zaofu."

"How many did your men clock?" Jun asked, reaching for a cigarette.

"Basically the size of the Wehrmacht's counter offensive force at the Battle of Kursk," Iroh mumbled, "or the SS at Bastogne…"

"A lot," Jun said.

"A lot," Iroh confirmed. "And I fear that it will come to their armies coming on to Republic City soon."

Jun fixed his necktie and pulled the brim of his hat over his eyes as the sun intensified. "Unfortunately, I've got no substantial intel that would justify putting the citizens of the Republic into a state of panic. Yet. The US is quietly issuing travel advisories to Zaofu though, and telling anybody that is currently there to get out." He turned to the general. "Yamato's contingency plans are still in?"

"They are," Iroh quietly confirmed.

"Excellent." Jun blew smoke. "I recall about six years ago when I first took this post, and about the time Yamato was turned into a museum ship that you, as well as alot of others, Councilman Tarrlok, Tenzin, the other council members, Lin, all thought I was being overly paranoid," he scoffed and gloated, "Makes sense now, doesn't it?"

General Iroh scoffed as well, a suppressed chuckle escaping, "Alright. It turns out you had a point." He let out a sigh. "How's Avatar Korra in all this?"

"A mess," Jun stated. "Don't get me started, General."

"How so?" He was genuinely concerned and sympathetic with the Avatar's situation. "Is she alright?"

"Korra is fine," Jun said. "Physically. But she's disorganized and unreliable. You'd think after disappearing for six years, her twenty-four year old self would have figured it out by now, so to speak." Jun shook his head and disposed of his cigarette in his portable ashtray case. "Can't even access the avatar state. Now of all times when we could use that kind of weapon."

"Jun," Iroh countered, in a soft spoken and down-to-earth tone of voice, "You have to stop thinking of the Avatar as a weapon. And rather, you need to see her as a person. A person with flaws, who makes mistakes. And on top of that, Korra isn't a soldier either."

"Aang was a person who made mistakes. He was atleast stable and humble. Korra's a loose cannon. She's not the same avatar that your grandfather had such high respect for. In fact, that person is completely gone."

"Hm. My grandfather would have stood by the avatar, regardless. In fact he did too, just six years ago. All I'm saying, Jun, is try to look at her in a different light. Despite all this weaponry around us, I think Korra will be the most crucial component if war were to break out. I genuinely believe she will be the final thing that saves this city and this republic from being totally leveled."

"Not in her current state, she's not," Jun pushed back. He had been starting to cooperate more with Korra, but his sentiments still remained. "She needs to figure it out, and fix her problems. Whatever it may be."

"She needs help," Iroh further qualmed. "And you may be that person to help her. I don't know."

"Great. I can hardly wait." Jun made ready to depart. "I'm sure it'll be great to do that while facing down the advancing army at Zaofu."

"You are going?"

"I am, with a small complement of officers from field ops…and the avatar…and her companions," Jun revealed. "See what we are up against, if I can learn anything new, and see if Kuvira's got anything new and powerful to play with. I guess now, I also have to make sure the avatar doesn't get herself killed." He stopped mid stride and turned on his heel. "And General," he said, "Saddle up a battleship crew and put them on museum duty."

Northwest of Zaofu

Western Earth Kingdom

"What's your take on the Zaofu operation, Captain Aoshima? Single day?"

"It'd be dangerous to underestimate our enemy, Lieutenant Chansung." Yasuho spoke, clasping the transmit button on her throat mounted microphone. "Zaofu's security forces are not a group of rogue and unorganized daofei. They are in effect a small army. I'd suggest you focus on keeping your units in check."

"Yes, ma'am," the ambitious young officer replied.

Gone was the cheery and willing-to-entertain demeanor Yasuho was known for. She was dead serious following the operations at Shanguchi and the capitulation of the Liu Clan.

Tiger 118 moved in formation with her designated supporting tanks and mechanized infantry complement. First Lieutenant Chen, who had seen limited operations around the Si Wong Desert commanded a Panther medium tank. His service record in the armored corps mainly consisted of infantry support operations, advancing alongside troops and mecha suits. Understandable, given his comparatively short time in the service. Another First LT, Lieutenant Chansung was rumored to be soon be put up for promotion to captain, and was in command of a second Tiger I tank. He had a pair of mecha suit kills under his belt, one of which was armed with AT rockets.

It wasn't to say that the Earth Empire Army already had a large number of inexperienced soldiers. More that the number of actually organized and well armed daofei clans had significantly dwindled over the years as the Earth Kingdom and then current Earth Empire had an open contract on daofei in recent years. Needless to say, out of the three tank crews and commanders that made up the trio of tanks answering to Yasuho's command, Yasuho and her close knit crew were the only that had fought in tank-on-tank battles and had several tank kills tallied. And in this fight, not only did Zaofu's forces possess tanks that were nearly equal and identical to the Earth Empire's, but they also had inherited other historically advanced tanks from the US; they had tanks designed, back in the day, to kill Tigers or outclass them entirely.

Following the tanks were two platoons of infantry on foot, two half tracks, and two mech suits, each armed with a 20mm chain gun and a battery of rockets. It was a long march toward their next rallying point. Soldiers, tanks, robots, and half tracks filled this valley floor. Toward the outer lines of the formation, soldiers took turns adjusting the terrain of this already largely flat natural thoroughfare. Catching Yasuho's eye, a squad launched a massive boulder far and clear of the columns.

"The route is already more than ideal for moving tanks and troops," Eunji commented, surfacing through the second roof hatch. "Why exactly are our troops bothering with clearing things that don't get in the way. At this point this route is ideal to build a train track over."

"Not sure," Yasuho replied. "It was just on the day's marching orders. Interestingly it came from the top too."

"How far up the top, kommandant?" Eunji asked.

"It was a directive coming straight from General Guan," the captain replied. A bit odd, since he was not one to order mundane and borderline pointless tasks from his troops. Though this seemed pointless. "I'm sure there is a valid reason."

"Where's 1st Armored? I figured they'd be heavily involved in this sort of op." Eunji, as usual, was raring to get into a fight. Out of everyone on the crew, she was the most invested into this upcoming operation. It's been a while since she's set her sights and fired on an enemy tank. An actually formidable opponent.

"We're ahead of them by several miles and maybe even a day. Major Choi for example, still had to close the book on the actual Liu Clan stronghold. We only needed to break through the initial assault. I'm told they are bringing heavier tanks," Yasuho informed. "Probably why they have us moving rocks. Wanna make sure they make it to the battlefield, especially if they are heavier."

"Is this…the rumored Maus?!" Her gunner was excited indeed. Word that the 1st Armored Division would be receiving and fielding a new type of super heavy assault tank..or siege weapon..had spread throughout the rest of the army. They always get the new and cool stuff, Eunji thought. "If so, then forget the Tiger II, I want to be assigned to work in one of those! Hundred-twenty-eight-mil gun? Sign me up!"

"I don't!" From below in the turret, Junko voiced her vehement opposition. "I don't know what these tanks would look like, or how they'd work. But think of me! And how big, and heavy, that kind of a shell would be! The idea of the two piece shells of the King Tiger already is draining!"

"It's only a complaint from you, isn't it?" Eunji snapped back. "With a gun of that caliber, we could kill a main battle tank!"

"Not worth iiiittttttt~," Junko groaned, to Yasuho suppressed amusement. "Call the air forces and drop a bomb on those metal monsters."

"Something that big would need a bigger crew," Maho added, calling from the bow. "I don't know about you girls, but I rather like this five-man crew. It'd be at least six…maybe seven people to crew a tank like that. There's no guarantee they'll be a lady, or likable either."

"Or one really skilled metal bender! Easily can fill the role of the additional members. Captain's a freakishly good one."

Yasuho was flattered. "I don't know about tha-"

"While commanding? While giving orders? While calling out targets? And while also trying to fend off attackers around this tank should we get surrounded? At Least give her a break as well, Eunji!" Junko defended.

"What if it wasn't voluntary, Junko? What if we're assigned? Orders!"

"Well, then it can't be helped. I'd be on board," Junko responded, always one to follow orders. "If and only if, though!"

Hanako, not taking her eyes off the road ahead, chimed in. "Something that big, would undoubtedly be heavy. Even with updated engines, it wouldn't go as fast as we can, and wouldn't be as maneuverable as we are in the Type I's. I quite like the Tiger I's. Not too fast, not too slow, yet still having a heavy gun and good armor. Much better to drive, at least."

"A vehicle like that would definitely be a front line break through tank. Meaning everyone would be gunning for it, and we'd need to absorb incoming shells, one after the other." Maho, the voice of reason, followed. "While we've certainly done that before, I didn't like being the target of every tank and field gun."

"We've done that before?!" Junko reacted. She, too, did not like the idea of being the focus of the enemy's fire.

"That was before your time," Maho explained. "Before Eunji's too. Yasu and Hana were there for that though."

"Was one of the more stressful days, definitely," Yasuho recalled.

"You're all a bunch of negative nancies," Eunji exclaimed, giving up. "Thickest armor and biggest gun would be sick!"

Maho leaned back in her chair. She, like Junko, had the most idle time when they were just in transit. "Something like that could easily be transported by train though. Of which, we have many. We have a railway corps for crying out loud! Why don't they just move these new tanks by train?"

"Yeah," Yasuho remarked, "I was wondering that too."

A glint, a faint one, caught Yasuho's eye. It was far up in cliffs overlooking the valley the large grouping drove through. It could have simply been sunlight coming through the leaves of a tree at just the right angle. But Yasuho decided she was going to properly investigate. There wasn't much else to do at the moment anyway. She picked up her field binoculars.

"Hanako," pull us off to the side out of the way," she ordered, staring through the lenses.

"Yasu?"

"Pull us over," Captain Aoshima repeated.

They immediately slowed as Hanako let off the gas and sharply veered leftward, coming to a halt off to the side of the massive column. Yasuho waved on Lieutenants Chen and Chansung, telling them to carry on the advance with the rest of the units. They'd catch up shortly.

"Eunji," Yasuho called out, "I got something."

Immediately, the banter, the teasing, arguments, and roasting of each other, ceased within the tank. "What have you got, Cap'n?" Eunji poked her head out the second hatch.

"I got a glint," Captain Aoshima reported. "It's pretty far up."

Eunji briefly dropped back in and reemerged shortly cradling her scoped Mauser K89K rifle. She plopped down a hefty sand bag on the turret surface and balanced the rifle on it. "Where at?"

"Up in the trees at the top of that peak, looking down on us." Yasuho read back. "There's a faint glint of glass in the light in an evergreen tree. You see it?"

Eunji took a few moments in silence. The muzzle of the rifle climbed and swept as her gunner scanned the landscape. "Yeah I got him. He's definitely pushing the range."

"Can you get him?"

"Definitely pushing the limits of this rifle…" Eunji ran the numbers and estimates in her head. "I can get him." She always wanted to be certain of her shots. Eunji wouldn't say she could get him if she wasn't certain. She cycled the bolt of her rifle open and left it to rest, balancing on the sandbag and the top armor of the tank while she ducked down below to grab some rounds.

"Junko, set me up a high explosive," Eunji said as she dug for a single 8mm rifle cartridge from her tunic she draped over her seat. As she fished out the bullet with one hand, her other swept the traverse lever. The turret had rotated towards the target and the main gun had angled up toward the general area of the distant target.

"Up," Junko's muffled voice called up the turret as Eunji once again popped up to the outside air.

"One round?" Yasuho asked, still peering through her field binoculars.

"One," Eunji sighed. "And some insurance."

"Confident as ever," Yasuho remarked. "Range is pushing seven hundred meters. Calm wind, right to left."

Eunji gently sat the round on the follower and gently pushed the bolt forward. As she watched the chamber shut and the round feed properly, Eunji's eyes passed over the receiver markings "byf 41". A rifle built in the Mauser Obendorf factory, 1941. On the side, was the rifle serial number, 9219, and a small engraving of the reichsadler. The rifle was original, unlike the production Type 98 Carbines the Earth Empire produced and issued to its soldiers, an identical copy. Of course, like many weapons, no one in the army actually called it by the Empire's official designations. The greatest challenge for Eunji though, was that since the rifle was an original… Old. It was old. The optic that came with it was also old. She considered herself lucky, from a collector's standpoint, that she had an original Zf39 rifle scope for her K98k rifle, but it was ancient by modern long range scopes. Even through the rifle scope, the target was small. She was aiming specifically at the glint, not a head, and not even a body. It could have been a lost fallen airplane mirror glinting from a tree for all she knew. Yasuho's binoculars could see farther. If there was a glint, and it was a telescope, there would be a head right behind it.

Eunji calmed her breathing, supporting the rifle stock with her free hand as it rested on her shoulder. She lightly set her finger tip on the trigger. "Got him," she called. The two were synced in focus, and even though there droned the hundreds of diesel engines around them, Yasuho could hear her shooter announce that she was set.

"You sure?-"

"I don't miss." Eunji immediately followed up.

"Send it."

Bang! Not even a full half second later, Corporal Jang squeezed the trigger. The rifle jumped as flash and smoke rushed out the bore. Soldiers around their tank instinctively flinched and ducked at the sound of the shot. Others farther away didn't hear it over the drone of the many engines and clanking metal tracks.

Yasuho watched the bullet as it flew. Eunji did as well through her rifle scope. They couldn't see the bullet itself, but watched the faint vapor trail that formed in its wake as the supersonic piece of lead tore through the air. It arched downward, dropping with range, and slightly curved to the left from the wind, but it sailed true toward its target. The shooter and spotter lost the trail as it sailed into the area in front of the dark colors of the tree, but it seemed right on target. Out went the glint.

"Bullseye," Yasuho calmly called.

"Told yah," Eunji remarked, satisfied with her shooting. "Not a professional sniper rifle. Not a professional scope." She racked the bolt open, and rested the rifle on the sandbag, the spent cartridge ejected and clanged against the turret armor.

Yasuho watched the body of the previous observer recoil and fall from the tree. Indeed it was somebody watching. "Wait. Eunji! I got further movement!" At the base of the tree she could see three men frantically moving in reaction to their fallen comrade. It was an observation unit! They were likely from Zaofu! A four man team with one observer could call in artillery! She needed to act fast. "Three more targets! It's a radio team!"

Eunji wiped her palms against her trousers, then cracked them after "I knew it." She slid into the gunner's seat and immediately peered through the main gun sight. "Trying to call in artillery are ya?" she quietly sang to herself, "Bad choice." It wasn't long until she acquired the target and had zeroed in the range.

"Fire when ready," Yasuho called.

"On the way!" Eunji drove the heel of her shoe hard onto the trigger. The main gun fired, sending a high explosive shell rocketing at the enemy position. The tank rocked back in the recoil. It was much easier to follow the vapor trail of the tank shell.

A large cloud of black smoke and fire poofed at the heights overlooking them. The tree they were sniping up at splintered violently, taking both a direct hit from the shell and catching the explosive force too.

"Game over," both ladies said, surveying the carnage.

"I'm certain you got all three of 'em," Yasuho called out.

"I am certain too." Eunji said, unimpressed. She was trying not to brag, since everyone knew how good a shot she was.

Yasuho finally set her binoculars down. "Hana-chan, advance," she simply ordered.

UDFI Headquarters

Central Republic City

"Ladies and gentlemen," Jun announced over the room filled with ground element officers, "This is what we got. We'll be deploying to Zaofu to aid in the fighting, surely to befall the city. President and war council cannot deploy the army there, or they risk a formal declaration of war. The US and the rest of the world is also withholding for the same reasons. Which leaves us, within the UFDI." It wouldn't be the first time the department had engaged in warfare, but this would be the largest deployment of their ground element since the worlds wide manhunt for the Red Lotus, both times.

Korra, Asami, and Mako were also in attendance for this meeting. There were so many suited or uniformed men and women in this room. It really put into perspective just how big the UFDI was, considering this wasn't everybody and they were still running other operations and enforcing law elsewhere simultaneously.

"Myself, the top brass of the United Forces, and the president are getting a very strong uncomfortable hunch that Kuvira will turn her forces on the UNR following a defeat at Zaofu. Which gives us two reasons why we need to be there." The slideshow changed, revealing the aerial surveillance images of the Earth Empire movements. "First and foremost, through superior training and tactics, we will help chip in our two cents to try warding off a massive force."

"Chief, this is pointless. We'll be slaughtered. No way we are holding that off. Not without an army."

"I realize this," Jun sighed. "Hands are tied, this is a direct order from Raiko as a favor to Suyin."

Numerous groans came from the audience.

"It's not impossible, but yes, it will be very very difficult," Jun tried to assure. There really wasn't much he could say, it was a lose-lose scenario. "Give 'em hell on the battlefield, and rally whatever militia or guard Suyin has left." He paused. "Remember, my grandfather was in the thick of it when the US, Japan, and the militia of Yu Dao held off the Fire Nation and Earth Kingdom on two simultaneous fronts, just under a century ago. It can happen again."

"What the hell do we owe Suyin? I don't even need to look hard. Crack open a file drawer at RCPD headquarters and we'll easily find testimony that she herself was a daofei member! If anything, Kuvira is bringing well deserved retribution!"

No arguing with that logic, Jun thought. He agreed. "Suyin has been atoning for her alleged misdemeanor crimes. Don't think of it as protecting her, but rather all the unfortunate souls she's got onboard with her in Zaofu." The slide changed. "Objective two is finding out what the Earth Empire is bringing to the field to play with. Myself and several other operatives have been following a case of super weapon development within the Earth Empire. We had a lead, but unfortunately he was killed and was unable to be recovered," he sighed, regrettably. "At any rate, we know it's being moved with their 1st Armored Division and it is likely completed and in a testing phase. We need to know how it works, and I believe this battle will be the point we can get an up close look at whatever it is they are hiding." He looked into the crowd and scanned for two specific personnel. "Kako and John," Jun called forth, "you two are with me for when that time comes. Korra, Asami, and officer Mako, you folks as well."

Jun turned his attention back to the crowds. "The UNR cannot be traced to this operation. No flags, no patches, no unit identifiers. We'll be dark uniform for this operation," he instructed. "Fight tooth and nail, give 'em hell," Jun followed, his volume lowering and becoming more down to earth, "Do what you can, but at the end of the day. Bring each other home. Zaofu is Zaofu, favors are favors, but here is home. These people, the people around you, this is family. Rah?"

"RAH!" the massed formation chanted in agreement.

A sergeant began shouting orders over the officers as they began to shuffle out of the room. "We're moving out at 0400! Gather gear, weapons, and ammunition and report to the airfield by 0230! Preparation wins the day! Let's move it people!"

Korra approached Jun, who was gathering his documents at the front of the room. "We're heading out too?"

"Ahead," Jun said. "We'll get there a bit earlier than the rest. I want to survey the battlefield from the ground level before the army makes a move."

"Who's Kako?" the avatar asked.

"Kako is a very capable agent, still youngblood but reliable and fierce. She's somewhat a fan of yours." Jun switched gears abruptly. "Avatar, if you haven't already. It'd be a great time for you to figure out how to fix yourself. The heckler was right. There is no way we are going to hold off the entirety of the two most battle tested tank divisions in the Earth Empire. You can count on it."

"I'm trying," Korra repeated. "I'm really trying!"

Jun exhaled deeply, defeated. No fixing it now. "God help us."

Tom Bradley International Airport

Los Angeles, California

2020 AD / 178 AG

Kyoko had just finished signing off at the crew offices after completing the ten hour flight from Narita Airport, Japan, to Los Angeles. Her flight, NH6, had landed in the late morning, just before noon and the sun was now high in the Los Angeles sun.

"Hasegawa-san," Kaito called out. He was passing her in a brisk jog. "I'll go on ahead, the hotel has been changed so I'll let the shuttle driver know. Would you please inform the other cabin attendants for me? They should be coming out soon."

"Of course, Captain," Kyoko bowed as Captain Takeda continued his jog to the curbside, clutching his peaked cap under his arm.

The flight's chief purser came to a halt before a set of television screens just outside the office. She propped her rolling luggage beside her and idly watched the broadcast while she waited for her other crew members to catch up. She already knew her upcoming flights. In a few days it would be NH5 back to Narita, the next one after that would be NH184 from Narita to Honolulu and the corresponding return-to-Japan flight after that, and then it would be NH614 from Tokyo to Republic City. Another trans-rift service. She was excited, but made sure to focus on enjoying the Los Angeles area for the next few days.

"...mixed and high emotions following the recent release of several cellphone-filmed footage showing the Earth Empire's armed forces in several brutal and destructive raids carried out through the Earth Empire." the newscaster on the television read. Kyoko turned to watch the broadcast, now having her attention caught.

It was shaky, as all cell phone videos were, but it was take up close. The sounds of screams, cannon blasts, and an insufferable number of gunshots overpowered what a smartphone could pleasantly record. Most of the audio was muffled. The subject of the video was of a Tiger I tank, dressed in the striking and elegant green and silver tones of the empire army being swarmed all around by resisting forces in a small town. It's machine guns were ablaze, adding to the chaos. The streams of bullets tore into the stone, wood, and glass structures of what Kyoko could tell was a shopping street before. It's cannon turned about and fired! A spread of metal ball bearings peppered a large area of the the streets ahead. The spray of metal tore into and shredded a grouping of resistance. KTLA had put a large pixelated screen over the group of fighters. Much too gory to show the aftermath. The videographer zoomed in on the tanks's commander, a woman locked in an earth bending duel with two unseen foes behind the tank, while perched in the cupola. Her long black hair draping down from the back of her peaked cap, the bun coming undone from the combat, gave Kyoko an immediate idea who it was. That was Yasuho! She remembered from the night at the Sei'Naka Hotel! A wide sweep of the officer's two arms brought the entire face of a building out and crashing down onto the streets behind, ending whatever engagement she was in. The footage cut to another amateur video showing a Tiger II and accompanying soldiers seeming to machine gun retreating resistance in the streets.

There was a cut to something quieter. An aftermath video taken from Zaofu, showing a bombed out and destroyed air base. Security footage played while the newscasters continued to narrate, showing silent and choppy footage of cruise missiles crashing down and battering the airfield all over.

The footage swapped to reels of crowds of protesters formed before the California State Capitol Building, as well as in downtown Los Angeles and before the Capitol Building in Washington DC, with demonstrators voicing out against the brutal and indifferent rampage of the Earth Empire's military.

"Protestors have been gathering around the country, voicing out against the violent and destructive means by which the Earth Empire has gone about handling their last mission, now that there are cellphone videos and accounts by survivors evacuated by Avatar Korra with the help of the Air Nomads aboard two flying bison.

"Controversy now spreading among many since the US is a key ally of the Earth Empire and President Kuvira. And while support for 'The Great Uniter' remains high, some are now voicing out against her violent and brutal campaigns, against even the lowliest of street criminals. Some have likened her, what they are now calling a regime, to that of Hitler and the Nazi Party.

"Counter protests and online feuding on social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have been trending in recent days, as many now watch in worry as to what will happen in Zaofu, the last remaining independent city-state in the sovereign Earth Empire."

The footage swapped to a protester, standing against the Earth Empire. "Our government, our current administration, is refusing to comment against the Empire because of financial reasoning! But to the people staring down tanks and metal bending death squads, the people of the United States hear you! We see you! And we stand with you!"

It then swapped to another man, from the counter protest side. "It's all blown out of proportion. On one hand, at the end of the day, these people are separatists. They're criminals. Some- many, have done some despicable things. And now they face the long arm of the law. It's a country handling their own internal affairs, and America has no business directly intervening in that. It's their country. It's one that is only now, in a million years, coming out of lawlessness, and is gaining order and security. Our troops have no reason to be there, we have issues we need to focus on at home! Not to mention we have issues where our military and our government should be focusing on in this world, not some far off one! We're already in a war we shouldn't be in, and should have left in 2011! We don't need to get ourselves into another not-our-business war."

The feed changed back to the newscaster speaking on the event. "President Biden is expected to give a statement on the ongoing issues in the coming days at a formal White House press conference. Neither the State Department nor the Department of Defense could be reached for immediate comments. Reporting from Los Angles, California, I'm Mike Farley , KTLA 5, thank you for tuning in."

Kyoko couldn't help but feel a sense of unease. The next time she would be in Republic City, she felt, would not be just another ordinary day.