Air Temple Island
Republic City
October 24th [Earth Calendar]
Night
Air Temple Island, a monument to the greatness and wisdom of the past, and the light of hope for the future. After the opening of the portals during the Harmonic Convergence, new airbenders began migrating to the island hoping to better harness their newfound gift. Master Tenzin, the once last master airbender, had been busy training this brand-new generation, the dream of Avatar Aang realized. It was dinner time, and most of the airbenders ate with the acolytes in their dormitories while Tenzin's family had dinner in their own building in the middle of the island.
"Its good to finally have you join us for dinner, Captain Lasky." Pema said as she placed a full plate of airbender food in front of Lasky. It was vegetarian grub, the airbenders believed that all life was precious, so no meat.
"Thank you, ma'am. Its been a long time coming." Lasky said, putting on a cloth napkin on his neck. Jinora, Ikki, and Meelo watched him do so, they snickered. "Oh?"
"You have weird customs." Ikki quickly said.
"Ikki!" Tenzin shouted, "Captain Lasky is our guest tonight, be respectful."
"It's all right, Tenzin. Manners in the military is very…stern, and I've come to be used to it." Lasky said taking a bite of one of baked potatoes. "Mmmm."
Korra walked in the dining area, she was in her UNSC uniform again, "Sorry for being late, I forgot that there aren't any washing machines here. Had to wash my uniform by hand." She said while standing in front of the table, saluting.
"At ease, Korra." Lasky said smiling, "This is your home, I should be saluting to you."
Korra took a seat next to Lasky, "I'm surprised that the Commander isn't here with you, sir." She said while looking at the plate of food in front of her with hungry eyes.
"Sarah was busy whipping new recruits into shape aboard the Infinity." Lasky replied, "So, how you've been enjoying your time back home?"
Korra had already stuffed her mouth with vegetables and bread, she swallowed. "Ah. Well, I really wasn't planning to pull that stun yesterday. I might've overshot my welcome."
"What you did was uncalled for, Korra, but it might've been the correct move." Tenzin said.
"What do you mean?" Korra asked.
"Today's paper." Lasky took out a roll of newspaper and gave it to Korra, "The public is on your favor, they've rallied with the Avatar's words. According to Tenzin, there hasn't been so much social buzz ever since you first arrived to Republic City."
"Yeah…déjà vu." Korra said reading the frontpage of the newspaper. "But I don't know what to do, I challenged Kuvira, that might've sparked a conflict. And I don't want to be in the center of it, I'm a ONI agent, Captain. This is specifically the opposite of what I'm supposed to do."
"And what are you supposed to do, Korra?" Jinora asked who had an open ear to the conversation.
"Its…classified." Korra replied, "Its sneaky stuff, and being the Avatar goes against the job description."
Tenzin sighed after taking a drink of his fruit juice drink, "Unfortunately, Korra, you are the Avatar. You are connected to this world and its people, more than you know. Remember the Tree of Time? How you were able to connect to it?"
"I indistinctly remember it being a Forerunner construct hiding a giant robot." Korra responded in a cynical tone. "And its not like it matter anymore, I lost my connection with Raava and most of my powers. I'm no one's Avatar."
Lasky had already finished enjoying his meal, "Even so…" He cleaned his lips with the cloth napkin. "Kuvira represents a significant breach in colonial stability and security. She is an insurrectionist now, and the Earth Empire, a rogue nation. Colonial Affairs is going to be on my neck by tomorrow once word reaches back to HIGHCOM. She needs to be stopped, Avatar or no Avatar."
"But Captain…"
"I've spoken with the Security Council this morning, I requested that your team be placed under my operational authority for now, at least until the threat of Kuvira is ended." Lasky said, "I know that you don't want to start something now, especially during shore leave, but I need to be sure if you are up to doing this Korra."
"I've always taught you that being the Avatar requires service and sacrifice, being there for the people, and for the world. Even if you don't feel like the Avatar, Korra, it is your birthright." Tenzin added, "And the world…needs you."
Korra looked at her unfinished food, she placed her hands on her lap. "I'll…call my team. See if they're close by."
"Thank you, Korra." Lasky said, "Meet Commander Palmer and I tomorrow at 0800 to talk about our current situation." He stood from his seat, "I appreciate the invitation, Master Tenzin. Pema, kids."
He walked towards the front door, exiting the building. Korra placed her hands over her face, "Korra, are you alright?" Pema asked. She stood up and sat next to her putting her hand on Korra's shoulder.
"I just wanted to rest." Korra said, "To gather my thoughts…"
"I am sorry, Korra. This is a surprise for all of us, but I'm sure that we can fix this, we've done it multiple times before. We just have to have hope." Tenzin said.
"Yeah…hope." Korra repeated.
A couple of minutes later she had left the family by themselves, walking back to her room. She unlocked the wooden door and entered, she placed the key on the night desk next to her bed. Korra sat on the neatly made bed, undoing the buttons on her dress uniform shirt, taking it off. Her white undershirt had a grey printed Spartan Eagle in the front, she fell back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. The warm light of the candle on the table in the other side of the room created shadows on the ceiling. "Problems?" A familiar voice came from the opened window.
"Asami!"
"Korra!" The two hugged, "It's been so long. How've you been?"
The two sat on the bed, "Well…stuff." Korra didn't know what to say, this was all sudden. "How…we're on the second floor."
"I wanted to give you a surprise, took me a while to climb up." Asami joked. "Speaking of surprises, look at you, you look so much different…hotter! Also, that radio broadcast, I bet Kuvira is shaking in her boots right now."
"According to the news, it's a start. While I was…out there, I was changed. I'm a Spartan now." Korra said, "I mean, I'm not complaining."
"Last time I saw you…you were in a really bad shape. I thought I lost you…we thought that you were gone." Asami said remembering that fateful day.
"You saw me? But I was on the Halo."
"You were brought back here, emergency treatment back at the camp, but it wasn't working. You were clinically dead, Korra. I…it was rough, whatever the space doctors did, I am extremely thankful they were able to bring you back." Asami said with a blush coming on her cheeks.
"They weren't able to bring all of me back…" Korra looked at her legs.
"Oh…you don't mean."
"And now I might've started an international conflict, and I've been ordered by Lasky to spearhead an assault to dethrone Kuvira." Korra said, "I'm no stranger to wetwork…been doing it for the past four years now."
"You going out into the field again?"
"It seems like it." Korra sighed.
"Hmm…" Asami thought, "Even if you call your team, its gonna take a while for superluminal messages to reach their destination in time for tomorrow."
"Superwhat now?"
"How about we bring the old crew back together?!" Asami was ecstatic with the idea, "And before you ask, I'm president and CEO of Future Industries, who has not only grown to be world's number one technology innovator and distributor, but also celebrated in having the best managerial team ever as well. The board can handle a couple of days of business without me to hold their hands."
"Okaayy…what about Bolin? Isn't he like some big celebrity now?" Korra asked.
"Bo is in the city, taking a break in-between projects, oh and before you say, 'but he has no military or scientific experience', Bo was part of Kuvira's forces for about a year." Asami revealed.
"Whaaa?"
"Not even kidding! He got out before it got dirty when he found out something big, he told me about it. Apparently Kuvira had been forcing province governors across the Earth Kingdom into joining her cause, in the not good kind of diplomatic talk." Asami whispered, "Only the top brass of the United Forces and the UNSC know about this, they were keeping it hush hush since they were still with the idea that Kuvira would pass the power to Prince Wu."
"That's kinda shady." Korra said, "You know what, I can let the rest of my team rest, and this isn't something out of the ordinary for us."
"Yes! I can get in contact with Mako, see if can slither away from his 'royal guard' gig for at least a day or two." Asami happily said taking out a phone out of her pocket.
"Woah, you have those here now?"
"You bet, several companies bringing these miracles of technology built several towers throughout all the nations except the Earth Kingdom because you know…civil war." Asami began ringing Mako's number, "Dude doesn't use his mobile much, but he always answers my calls."
Korra smiled as Asami began talking to Mako over the phone, she was in full on joy while talking to him about the next mission they were planning in doing. Korra laid back on the bed and smirked, this might be not so bad after all.
"Alright he is in!" Asami said.
"Well then…let's get started." Korra replied.
UNSC Infinity
Requiem's Orbit
October 25th [Earth Calendar]
8:30 AM
Korra marched through the wide metal halls of the Infinity, passing by several marines and naval personnel as she made her way to the bridge. She had spent most of the night talking with Asami about her life and the happenings around town. Gossiping. Somethings never change. Either way, she had armored up before taking the first Pelican to the Infinity. Her armor had been polished and repaired, the black armor shone, and the blue visor was like a blue mirror reflecting everything in front of it. The engineers back planetside did know how to maintain the complexities that came with MJOLNIR Power Armors.
"Hey Korra, wait up!" Korra stooped and turned to see who was calling to her, it was one of the marines in Sergeant Olivares's unit, Corporal Robert Agnarsson. "I mean…uh…Commander!"
She took off her helmet to speak properly with the young leatherneck. "Yeah?" She asked as the marine saluted. "At ease."
"Commander Palmer asked the Sarge to give you this, it's an armor enhancement, it allows your armor to cloak." He gave her a small capsule looking device. "Fits on the back of the helmet. Sarge couldn't give you the device himself so he asked me to do it…he is currently planetside visiting a loved one."
"Oh, cool." Korra looked at the device, it was UNSC patented all right, strange looking. Most likely a reversed engineered Covenant active camouflage system used by the Covenant assassins or Special Operations Elites. "I'll thank Palmer once I meet her at the bridge. And thank you Robert, for giving me this."
"No problem ma'am! And call me Bob." The marine said, smirking.
"I'll keep that in mind, Bob." Korra said as she turned away towards the bridge leaving the marine. A sailor walked up to Bob and looked at him, the marine was wearing his helmet and the gold visor covered his eyes but not his lower face.
"Dude, you're drooling." The sailor said.
"Shut up!"
In the bridge, Korra stepped forward and saluted, Captain Lasky and Commander Palmer were looking at the topographical map of the Earth Kingdom, it was holographic and showed every single province of the nation. "Sir!" Korra made her presence known.
"Oh Korra, you're here. At ease." Lasky said, "Look at what we have."
She walked towards the projection table and looked at the map, "This are the provinces that Kuvira has taken control of. Most of them… it seems. The provinces nearest to the United Republic haven't been touched though."
"These are the provinces where the UNSC has established forward operation complexes at; barracks, vehicle depots, control and command posts, heck even some airship stations for Sparrowhawk fighters. Kuvira isn't risking entering these provinces, even if she can metalbend them out of the sky there'd be too many for her troops to handle. Not to mention a quick and decisive attack at them." Lasky explained.
"Speaking of which, if we have the numbers to completely kick Kuvira's face into next week, why haven't we invaded Ba Sing Se yet?" Korra asked.
"Same reason the other nations haven't done so already. Nobody wants to risk a full-fledged war, especially one that immediately follows the Hundred Year War, the Didact's Invasion, and the thing that almost infected the entire city. Also, the scare that Zaheer gave us when he summoned the Halo into Requiem's orbit." Palmer replied. "If we want Kuvira out, we're gonna have to do it the cloak and dagger way."
"Korra, I've already received word from HIGHCOM back on Earth, more colonists are coming, and well, they want Kuvira out permanently." Lasky pressed a button on the holodesk and replaced the Earth Kingdom map with a playback of Korra's declaration. "And this has…made a considerable setback."
"Yeah…I'm sorry."
"Kuvira knows that she has a target painted on her back…and of all people, the Avatar has stated in press conference that has been broadcasted across the country and possibly now through the planet that she is going to take her out." Palmer said, "We have to act, sooner than later, before she concentrates all of her forces on the borders of the United Republic."
"What would you have me do?" Korra asked.
"Here are your orders, infiltrate behind enemy lines, find out what Kuvira has planned, figure out where she currently is, and make sure she isn't a problem anymore." Palmer gave her an entire file with recon pictures and the information she'll need to get the job done. "Also, we don't tolerate traitors…eliminate Fireteam Horus too."
"Palmer will be your Control for this operation, she'll remain in the Infinity's Command Information Center. I'll be connected too, but I must monitor Blue Team's mission as well in the meantime. Is your team ready?" Lasky asked.
Korra smirked, "Yeah, they are."
She was about to leave the bridge, but she remembered something, "Oh by the way Sarah…thanks for the upgrade."
Palmer smiled, "Use it well, Spartan."
Korra nodded while putting on her helmet and putting the device into one of the helmet's inputs. She left the bridge as her energy shields flickered and her entire being turned invisible, scaring several naval personnel who saw her banish into the air.
Zaofu
The Earth Empire
October 25th
3:44 PM
It was a quiet afternoon in Zaofu, but the silence and clear sky didn't reflect the amount of stress that Zaofu's governor, Suyin Beifong, was going through. She was getting calls from the other regional governors, many of them having surrendered to Kuvira's proposals, while others getting brutally impeached by the self-proclaimed Empress. "Yao, try to relax, breathe in through the nose, and breathe out through the mouth. Relax. I heard what you said, and I don't fault you for what you did. You were thinking about your citizens, and that's what matters." She was speaking through the phone, she was fidgeting with a pen on her free hand as she listened to what her fellow governor said. "And you already spoke with the others about it and they confirmed it? All right, yes, I will. You have my word."
She hung up. She sighed as she placed her hands on her face, things were getting out of control. Her husband, Baatar, stepped into her office and tried to console his wife. He kissed the top of her head, "You're doing a fine job, honey."
"Its just that…how could I've allowed this? She was my own protégé!" She blamed herself for Kuvira's rise. "I should've seen the signs. And now it seems that things will be coming full circle."
"Full circle? What do you mean?" Bataar asked.
"Kuvira…she's coming." Su replied. "With a good portion of her army." And as if fate had been weaving the present events themselves, a guard came running into the office.
"Ma'am! Kuvira, she is here!" The guard yelled.
"What?!"
Outside, on a balcony overlooking the area outside the metal city's gates, Su, Baatar, and several Guards, stood looking at the near horizon. A massive army of metalbenders, power armored soldiers, and tanks marched towards them, flanked by airships. "This isn't just a portion of her forces…this is an entire legion!" Baatar said.
"Send word to the United Forces and the UNSC immediately." Su told her husband who ran immediately to do so. "We're gonna need all the help we can get."
In front of the massive wall of soldiers, Kuvira stood on top of a stolen and repurposed M313 Heavy Recovery Vehicle aka Elephant. "Behold, the last piece of the puzzle." Kuvira said as Zaofu was in her direct crosshairs. "Are the engineers ready?"
"The power armors have the plasma cutters installed." Donar said.
"Good. Advance until we're closer to the gates, Suyin will either surrender or fight, and I sincerely hope she surrenders." Kuvira said as the Elephant moved towards the metal jewel of her new kingdom.
Argent Moon
Master Chief and Blue Team fought through waves of Covenant troops, the Storm Covenant had been sent to get something, something very important for Jul. Fred hid behind a column while an Elite fired his Plasma Repeater at him. Linda took the Elite with a single sniper shot to the head, giving Fred enough time to throw a frag grenade at the Grunts that were backing the now dead Elite, blowing them up into pieces.
Master Chief and Kelly ran towards the door they were protecting, to be met by a Zealot. The Elite roared at them, wielding out his energy sword, but this one was different from the other Elites. The other Sangheili looked to be big hulking beasts, like Brutes, but this one reminded the Master Chief of the ones he had fought during the war. Sleek and fierce. "Kelly look out!" He pushed his teammate out of the way as the Zealot had quickly moved towards them, almost catching Kelly with his sword. Chief fired his Assault Rifle at the Elite, his energy shields lit up but to no avail for the Spartan as the Zealot kept swinging the sword, breaking the distance between the Chief and the tip of the sword with each swing.
Fred and Linda joined them, Fred noticed the Chief having trouble with this Zealot. He ran quickly towards them, and he tackled the Zealot into the metal floor. THUD! The Elite tried to throw the Spartan off, but Fred kept using Judo moves to keep the Elite pinned in the ground. Chief pulled the Elite up and threw him into the metal wall, making a literal hole through the thick metal wall. The Elite landed on the other side, a computer room filled with Grunts. The Grunts jumped with surprise and ran out of the room in fear. The Zealot stood back up, igniting his sword once again, but a sniper shot ripped through his energy shields, hitting the Elite in the leg.
The Elite took cover behind several cubicles, trading his sword with his plasma rifle. The Elite yelled at the Spartans, "Cowards! All of you, humans, are cowards! Fighting from afar instead of facing your opponent!" The Elite screamed.
Then the Zealot felt something standing in front of him, "Cowards huh?" Kelly stood on top of the Elite with her shotgun aimed directly at its head. "Checkmate." BANG! She fired the weapon, turning the alien's head into a bloody stain of brain matter and bones on the metal floor.
The others joined her, "We should be close to the service elevator, from there we can find the damned control room of this place." Linda said reloading her sniper rifle, the Nornfang. Chief scanned the area, all the Covenant Storm forces here were dealt with. "Why would the Covenant come here?"
"This isn't the real Covenant, Linda. What Jul made is a shadow of the Covenant, under armed, using decommissioned cruisers, obsolete armors, weapons, and equipment. They act more like space pirates than anything else, if the reports from the outer rim worlds are of any truth." Fred replied, "They are most likely looking for something that ONI was hiding here. Possibly that bioweapon that the AI was talking about in the recording?"
"They would know what it is." Chief said, "Using it would backfire on them, massively."
"Desperation causes people to act insane, and the Arbiter has been beating Jul's Covenant." Kelly added, "These are religious fanatics we're talking about, they'd do anything to win for their gods."
"Then whatever they're looking for her has to be kept away from them." Linda said.
"Affirmative. Initiate Protocol 7343-2, complete package denial to the enemy. Let's find the control room and begin the self-destruction sequence of this station. That should take care of the Covenant, the package, and the gas." Chief ordered.
Requiem
Camp Preston Cole
4:30 PM
October 25th
Asami, Mako, and Bolin waited for Korra inside an armory, while Mako geared up in his ODST BDU, everyone inside the armory made glances at Asami and Bolin. They were civilians, after all, so the mere sight of them was out of place and not standard. "Say, bro, what should I wear?" Bolin asked.
"Uh, well, grab one of the extra Marine battle armors over there by the crate. The armorer will be pissed off, but he won't make a fuzz when I talk to him about it." Mako said, "Try out, should be a one size fits all."
Bolin placed the breast armor on, it was comfortable, fit him like a glove. As Bolin armored up, Asami approached Mako. "Hey, so not to make this weird but are you sure that your superiors will be okay with this? You know with leaving the prince unsupervised?" She asked.
"I left my right-hand man with him, Asami. There's nothing to worry, and besides we'll be sanctioned by a Spartan to do a blacklisted mission into enemy territory that might or might not be in complete chaos now. I don't think that the Sergeant Major will have much of anything to say." Mako told her, he placed his M6C/SOCOM Magnum on his hip and placed his silenced SMG on the other side. Mako looked robust inside his ODST BDU, only thing that was left was putting on the helmet.
Asami had some light armor on, used mostly by the science personnel when they went into missions with Marine personnel into areas in conflict. Asami wielded a TACPAD on her left wrist and a UGPS device on her right wrist. She would be using M6D Magnum as her side arm.
Bolin, now completely armored up in Marine M52B BDU, had a BR55 HB on his back, and a MA5D Assault Rifle on his hands. "Ready to kick some ass!" He exclaimed.
"Now don't get too excited, Bo. Remember that you still have your bending to use, so leave one rifle behind. This is going to be a hush hush mission." Mako said, Bolin was a bit saddened by that and placed his Assault Rifle on one of the metal cabinets with the other weapons.
Korra entered the armory, joining her friends. "Everyone ready?" She asked, they all nodded in agreement. "Nice, all right follow me to the Pelicans. If anyone asks, you're with me."
They walked towards the hangars, there they would meet their pilot. "So who's taking us to the drop zone?" Mako asked.
"One of my teammates, unlike the others he stuck around. Told him to, he is my shadow after all." Korra said as they entered the hangar meeting the individual. "Spartan Gabriel Thorne."
"Commander." He saluted, Korra saluted back.
"Well look who it is. Nice seeing you again." Mako shook hands with Thorne. "Haven't seen you in forever."
"Yeah, it's been a long time, I agree. And look at you, man, the leader of your own squad of ODSTs." Thorne congratulated the progress Mako had made in the UNSCMC.
"Its been tough, but having the power to literally throw fire and lightning out of your hands and feet really helped…a lot." Mako joked, "You know where we're going right?"
"Yeup, have it all in here." Thorne pointed at his helmet protected head, "But as a special bonus…we're going to be monitored."
"Monitored?" Korra asked.
"The Captain just told me, surprised he didn't tell you, Commander. Its an ONI AI, called Leonidas." Thorne extended his left hand and a small blue projection of an ancient Spartan warrior appeared.
"Whoa." Asami was amazed at this, Bolin was clearly surprised. But Mako was more annoyed than anything, the spooks were keeping a watchful eye on them. Figures.
"Greetings, Spartan Korra. I am AI LN 0480-1 also known as 'Leonidas' as Spartan Thorne stated. I'll be assisting you in this mission." The smart AI said. "The Admiral will want to know everything about this mission, you are going in with a completely different team after all."
"Yeah…" Korra said, "Alright, hop in." The AI transmitted itself from Thorne's armor and into Korra's. "Don't get any funny ideas in there."
"No need to worry, Spartan. I'll be here to help." Leonidas replied.
Korra sighed, "Okay then, let's get aboard the pelican and get this mission rolling."
The pelican's engines roared, and the aircraft began to ascend out of the hangar, this would be the first mission of Team Avatar in many years. That meant that it was time to get properly reacquainted.
"We're gonna be fighting really tough bad guys down there, so…Bolin tell us everything you know about them." Korra said. "Also by the way, great movers."
"Thanks! Varrick was planning to make a film about my life's work, it was going to be great! But Kuvira took him, haven't seen him since the last film's premiere. That was over a year ago." Bolin said.
"Varrick's missing? Hm, and over a year ago." Mako thought, "Kuvira's power armors began to be used almost a year ago…yeah, that makes sense."
"You think that Varrick is being forced to boost Kuvira's ground forces?" Asami asked.
"Not only his ground forces, but her entire force." Mako explained, "He is the only one crazy and capable enough to think of anything like that."
"Dates do match up." Leonidas stated, "Varrick was confirmed missing on April 3rd two years ago."
"What else can we expect from Kuvira's forces?" Korra asked the AI.
"An entire fireteam of Spartan-IVs, 500 Powered Armored units, 10,000 infantry personnel in total with over half of them being benders and 350 aircraft, a third of them being war zeppelins and the others being gunships." Leonidas informed, "But this data is four months old, it is possible that she might've grown in force in the meantime."
"Yeah, she has accelerated her warmongering recently. I would say that her infantry force is much larger now thanks to the drafted men from the conquered provinces." Mako added, "In any case, what was her past position?"
"In the city of Shi Long, the capital of the Puang province close to Omashu. That was over a month ago, drones looking for her current position were taken down, most likely by metalbender sentries." Leonidas answered.
"Looking for her would be like finding a needle through a haystack, especially if we're going to her last location." Asami said, "There must be a way to find her faster."
"Uhhh, incoming distress signal." Thorne said as he piloted the pelican.
"Patch it through." Korra ordered. Static came through the pelican's inner speakers, then a frantic voice called for help.
"This is Zaofu, please someone respond! We're in grave danger!"
"That's the voice of Baatar, Su's husband!" Mako said.
"Kuvira is attacking us, please send reinforcements! We're not going to be able to hold her for long!" The signal was then interrupted by more static.
"Their radio tower must've been destroyed." Korra told them, "Okay then, change of plans. Thorne turn this bird towards Zaofu, we need to get there ASAP."
"It's going to take us two hours to get there." Thorne informed her. "At top speed I may add."
"Just get us there."
"I will relay that message back to control." Leonidas said.
"Okay, okay, we go there and do what exactly?" Mako asked, "We're five people against an entire army."
Korra looked at her friends, they all had reunited in a moment's notice. The primary mission objective was to take Kuvira down at all costs. Everything else was secondary.
"I have a plan, but we'll have to get there first." Korra said, "Hey Thorne, cannonball entrance."
"What?! Are you sure?"
"Sure, I'm sure! Just give me the greenlight once we're on top of them."
"Korra what are you going to do?!" Asami asked worryingly.
"Spartan Korra, that is highly hazardous." Leonidas stated, "But it's a direct takedown move towards our opponent. I like it."
Korra smirked, "We'll see how Kuvira likes a platinum-coated titanium fist going right into her throat."
Zaofu
Earth Empire
October 25th [Earth Calendar]
6:10 PM
War! The outer defenses of the city of Zaofu had been breached, the Guards were doing everything they could to seal entrances, but their efforts were being thwarted by the Powered Suits Tanks rolling through the metal gates. Empire Soldiers stormed the hastily built bunkers defending the inner wall that led into the city proper. Civilians who knew how to earthbend and metalbend joined the Guards as a militia to boost their forces, 30 Guards and 50 armed civilians stood in front of the final gate, this would lead Kuvira's forces into the city.
"Stand firm, men!" The current Captain of the Guard exclaimed. "If we fall then we will fall standing!"
KROOOOM! The sounds of the fighting outside the final gate could be heard, screams and explosions…the sounds of twisting metal and iron ripping into flesh. Some of the civilians were having second thoughts. "No retreat, no surrender!" The Captain of the Guard yelled.
Then suddenly, the fighting outside stopped. "Huh?" One of the Guards said, sudden silence confused him, it was frightening.
"What the hell is going outside?" The Captain asked. One of the Sentries ran towards the last remaining tower overlooking the outer walls.
"It's the goddamned UNSC!"
Outside, above Kuvira's Elephant hovered a Pelican…the self-appointed Empress had ordered a cease fire. The Pelican's hatch opened, out of it jumped a single figure smashing into the rocky ground creating a small crater. The Pelican flew off. The lone figure stood up having landed on a single knee with its shields flickering a bit.
"The United Nations Space Command has finally sent an attack dog to try to stop my liberation of the Earth Kingdom…Empire, I mean. Takes a while to get used to. Anyway, state your name before my men here take you prisoner, Spartan." Kuvira told the lone figure standing in front of her Elephant.
"I am Avatar Korra!" Korra yelled out, sending a chill through the spine of the men and women standing around Kuvira. Donar grunted in surprise, this was not expected at all. "And I'm here to put an end to your unnecessary violence, Kuvira!"
Kuvira was impressed by this, the Avatar had come personally to stop her. In other cases, she would feel honored, but something felt off about her. She couldn't put her finger on it, but nevertheless she was intrigued. Kuvira turned around and climbed down the Elephant, Donar following her.
Kuvira walked towards the Avatar, out of curiosity than anything. She stopped, they faced each other but Kuvira couldn't see Korra's eyes…only a serene blue glowing visor. "I'm afraid that you won't be getting any close to the Great Uniter, Avatar." Donar said, "A foot closer and I'll personally rip your spine out of your back."
"Oh, I haven't forgotten about you, traitor. If you want to fight, then come at me then. I'm fond of appetizers." Korra taunted the fallen Spartan, Donar snarled in anger.
"Calm down, dear. She's just riling you up, and you're falling for it." Kuvira told the Spartan, "The person she actually wants is me."
"I could always skip to the main course." Korra responded in a cocky manner.
"Hm, something's different about you. Last time I saw you, conscious, you were humble and dedicated. Now you're…reckless, indoctrinated, and bloodthirsty." Kuvira examined her, she noted the change in personality. "Something happened aboard the ring, yes…and even more occurred under the care of the naval agency Earth's government is so fond of."
"People change, Kuvira. If you don't want me to end your tour through the Earth Kingdom with a concentrated super human punch into your adrenal glands, then I suggest surrendering." Korra responded, "Tell your forces to retreat, to return to Ba Sing Se, perhaps that way my friends will be a lot more forgiving in handling out punishments for high treason to not only the peoples of the world and the goodwill of the UNSC ambassadors, but to the years Suyin invested into your sorry excuse for a leader."
Kuvira sighed, "Order cannot be halted unless you want chaos to roam free, again. If you stand in between me and absolute order, then I'll just have to move you out of the way…by force." Kuvira took her battle stance.
Korra did so as well, deciding not to use her weapons since Kuvira could easily bend the bullets away. Korra went in the offensive, moving at top speeds, but Kuvira had been training with Donar expecting to face Spartans in the future. Instead of trying to fight her on similar grounds…Kuvira bended the ground. The rocky ground was pushed up as Korra ran over it, flipping the Avatar and be crushed by the rather big boulder.
Korra used her earthbending to punch her way out of the rock, she airbended wind attacks at Kuvira. They made contact, surprising the Great Uniter. Kuvira was thrown into Donar's arms.
"Kuvira!" He yelled.
"Grr!" She grunted, going back into the duel. Bending rocks into the air and jumping into each rock to close the distance between herself and the Avatar. Korra noticed and pushed the rocks off, but Kuvira used her metal gloves to punch Korra's face. The metal gloves were metalbended to be become denser around the knuckles and being strong enough to do some damage to the armor's energy shields.
Korra counter-attacked with firebending, the flames reaching Kuvira, her clothing caught fire. She screamed in desperation as she used the earth dust to snuff them out, but she had been distracted, Korra grabbed her by the head and threw her into the boulder. "Ah!" Pain, much pain, running through Kuvira's body. Korra took her helmet off, letting it fall to her side.
The Avatar State tried to start, her eyes momentarily glowing erratically. "You may have brought order into a chaotic nation, Kuvira, but in your path in bringing absolute order you only brought discord into the world. And now you must pay the ultimate price." Korra's voice was that of many, she raised her arm to deliver the final blow…Kuvira's expression changed to that one of fear. Korra brought her arm down…
A high-caliber bullet struck the rock, the pebbles fell on Kuvira's messy hair, and blood was sprayed on her surprised face. Korra exited out of the Avatar State, her eyes looking down into her torso. There was hole in her armor…in her torso…a sniper rifle shot. Behind Donar stood Spartan Wulf, one of the traitorous Spartans of Fireteam Horus. "Bang." He said.
Kuvira took advantage of this, she grabbed one of Korra's legs and metal bended the insides beneath the platinum-coater armor, the bionics, and ripped them out making Korra fall on her back. "Ahhugh…" Korra was losing consciousness, her vision blurring.
"Soldiers! Keep on with the siege." Kuvira ordered, standing up with a broken left arm. "Sorry Korra, but this is the way things must be."
Donar walked towards them, "What do you want to do?" He asked.
"Kill her. We're going through with the plans." Kuvira ordered.
"Understood." Donar said, he aimed his pistol at Korra's head. But he was stopped when the Pelican returned, having bombarded one of the war zeppelins scattering several of the infantrymen and making Donar and Wulf take cover. Thorne, strapped to the Pelican, jumped out and grabbed Korra, he was pulled back up into the dropship. As quickly as it came, the Pelican left as fast it could.
"Korra!" Mako and Asami quickly ran towards Korra's unconscious body. "No no no no not again!" Mako was desperate, it was happening all over again. "Thorne, do something!"
"The bullet just went through it, luckily it missed her heart by 3 inches, still she's losing blood. Bolin, pass me some of that biofoam dispenser inside the medkit next to the cockpit's door." He ordered.
"Here!" He tossed the dispenser towards Thorne, he caught it. Thorne quickly injected Korra's wound with the foam, the biofoam would act as a biological stitching tool. The wound would be close long enough for proper medical treatment.
"Her body should heal, but her body went into a shock…" Thorne said, sighing in relief. "She is out for the count."
"But…but...!" Asami didn't know what to say. "Oh no…this is our fault…we didn't follow protocol…ah!"
"Asami, no, please calm down! It was her idea, don't beat yourself up!" Bolin replied.
"I was supposed to watch her back…" Mako said, his anger towards Kuvira rose much more, and to her Spartan dogs. But then, the Pelican's warning signals flared up. "What the?!"
Thorne ran back to the pilot seat, "Oh no, we're being followed!"
"By what?!" Bolin asked.
"…Fighter jets!"
Several Earth Empire jets were on their trail, they began shooting at the Pelican with several missile barrages, the Pelican dodge several of them. But the missiles that exploded around them messed with the dropship's energy shielding. The fighter used their machine gun turrets, one of them got lucky and struck the Pelican's left-wing engine.
The engine exploded! "We're going down, everyone grab a hold of something!" Thorne yelled, Asami and Bolin grabbed into the seats as quickly as they could, but Mako pulled Korra into one of the seats and placed the security harness on her.
"Mako!" Asami screamed, Mako took hold of one of the seats as the Pelican crash landed. WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM!
Zaofu
An hour after…
Kuvira stood in the city's center, her left arm in a sling. Her soldiers raided the town hall, taking prisoner Baatar and his sons, "Kuvira, we have taken the Guards prisoner and stated a curfew on the citizens." Donar reported.
"Suyin?" She asked.
"Nothing yet."
"Hmph. Where are you Su…" She wondered, "Proceed with the plan, dismantle the city's metal ceiling."
"Of course. Also, we found the Avatar's crashed Pelican, no bodies." Donar said, he left to dismantle the steel protective arms of the city.
Kuvira watched him as he walked away, she looked at her broken arm and shifted her gaze upon her soldiers taking some of the more unrelenting Guards…and executing them in front of the forced gathered citizens. Her tired eyes showed no sense of regret or disgust from the act, just apathy.
"Nothing but absolute order." She said.
Argent Moon
Chief and Blue Team entered the control room, it was empty. Just skeletons in lab coats scattered on the metal floor. They looked for the self-destruct sequence activator, then Kelly found something. "Hey, look at this, a recording from the laboratory."
"Hm, what are they using?" Fred asked. The scientists inside the lab in the recording were fiddling with a Forerunner device. It looked like a coffin, with orange highlights going around it. One of the scientists activated it by placing his hand over the mid-section of the coffin, the science team stepped away and the security guards took over aiming their assault rifles at it.
A metal hand formed out of the coffin, the guards fired but the bullets did nothing to the coffin. A gigantic Promethean-like being teleported in front of the guards, the being sliced them all in half. In the panic, the being destroyed the lab releasing the gas.
"Was that a Knight?" Linda asked.
"No…its something else." Chief replied, but as they watched the recording the monitors in room began to flicker in orange static. The symbol of the Forerunner Ecumene appeared in them, the systems had been taken over.
"Humans. It seems that you have discovered my tomb."
"What the?!" Fred aimed his Battle Rifle towards one of the monitors. "Where is it coming from?!"
"You have defied us and our will long enough, and now that this body has been awakened a signal has been sent to the others throughout the galaxy thanks to the Domain reborn."
The exit out of the control room closed, "We're trapped in here!" Kelly stated.
"Trying to tame our technology, trying to use the great enemy as a weapon…like children playing with fire. My creators were wrong, you have not changed, you WILL never change. So, I have made it my mission in upholding the Mantle of Responsibility."
The station began to shake, several of the monitors exploded except one.
"As Keeper of the Domain, I swear to avenge the Didact and the Forerunner…by destroying this station, and your world next."