Responses to Reviews:

RonaldM40196867: Yes, Zaheer did, didn't he. I'm sure he'd tell you that the end justifies the means; that's what extremists love to say; they love to cling onto any justification which conveniently means they can do nothing wrong ever, though it does make his high-minded idealism ring a bit hollow. Especially when he didn't seem to think about the consequences of his actions much.

And yes, there are all kinds of new weapons. Air cannons, the Colossus, new and better aircraft. Plenty of them already.

As Always, Please Review!

Mako

The production lines at Future Industries were going at full tilt, workers crowding around flying machines, military Satomobiles, tanks, trucks, and all kinds of other military equipment in various stages of construction. With war coming, President Raiko had signed an Emergency Production law, ordering Future Industries and their competitors like the Cabbage Corp to build as much equipment that the United Forces would need to hold off invasion as possible. Money was to be no object.

The United Republic wasn't badly equipped by any means, it was rich and industrialised, but there was a difference between a military optimised for peacekeeping operations far away and one meant to fight a war of national self defence.

Mako was stood with Asami, Hotaru and Korra in an office overlooking the main production line, staring out of the window at some workers lowering an engine into the front of a flying machine. Korra was telling them about her trip.

"Was it all because of Raiko?" Asami was asking.

"I don't think so," Korra replied. "He didn't help though."

"The South is still recovering from the war," Hotaru pointed out. "They don't have access to the industrial base that the Republic or the Fire Nation do. I don't blame them for wanting to stay out."

"I'm sure most of the Republic would stay out if they could," Mako said. "We didn't exactly ask to be attacked."

"That's true," Hatoru conceded. "At least they have the option to stay out."

"Unfortunately, I don't think Kuvira will give us that choice," Asami said.

"We can try to stop her before she ever reaches the city," Hatoru advised.

"How? We don't know which way she's coming from," Asami asked.

"We don't, but we can find out," Hatoru waved a hand. "If she comes by land, we can launch a preemptive strike. If she comes by sea, we can go out to confront her before she gets here."

There was a knock on the door.

"What is it now?" Asami wondered, as she got up. Mako watched as she opened the door to reveal Tenzin.

"Tenzin! Hi!" Asami greeted him.

"Hello," the airbender replied cordially. "And hello Avatar. I'm pleased to have you back."

"Pleased to be back," Korra told him.

"I'm afraid I'm not here for pleasure," Tenzin told them awkwardly. "I've been sent by Raiko."

"Oh spirits, what now?" Asami rolled her eyes. Mako had to heavily resist the temptation to do the same.

"Well... Raiko believes that everyone is now needed in order to fight Kuvira."

"He seems pretty desperate," Mako nodded. "But we already knew that."

"No," Tenzin shook his head. "He means everyone. Including prisoners."

And a second man entered the room. Mako's eyes widened as Asami's father Hiroshi looked sheepishly at them.

"Hello Asami," he said. "They let me out."

"Why?" Hatoru demanded. "You supported terrorists! You hate the United Republic!"

"I don't hate the idea of the Republic," Hiroshi scowled. "I just hate the inequality of it all. But however bad the Republic is, Kuvira is infinitely worse. I wouldn't just be looked down upon as a non-bender- they'd hate me for being a Fire Nation non-bender too, never mind that I was born here."

"Alright, but that doesn't exactly make me want to trust you," Hatoru sat down and stared accusingly at him.

Hiroshi shook his head. "Then don't trust me. My self-worth is not so fragile that I need your approval, Princess. But that's my daughter over there. Do you really think I would betray her?"

"Didn't you attack her with a mech?" Korra asked.

"Yes," Hiroshi conceded. "And I am sorry for that. Emotions were running high at the time."

"That's certainly one way of putting it."

"Well they were!" Hiroshi replied. "But Amon is gone, Asami is here, and Kuvira is coming. I'm not doing this for the United Republic, or the Fire Nation, or the Avatar. I am doing it for you."

He addressed his last point to his daughter, who nodded, eyes shining.

Hatoru considered.

"I'm convinced. As you were," she announced, and sat down.

"Now that's out of the way," Hiroshi moved over to the desk. "It's good to be back in the saddle. Or sat just behind the saddle anyway."

"Alright, your desk is just there for you," Asami pointed at it. Hiroshi just looked at it, and then back at her, and shrugged.

"No," he said. "This is still your company. You are still in charge. Call me a special advisor."

"What happened?" Asami asked, stunned.

"Apparently someone told Raiko about the little present I gave you," Hiroshi shrugged. "He interpreted it as a sign that I could be trusted, so here I am. Now, how's our industrial output?"

"Come on dad," Asami looked at him pleadingly. "You're only just out of prison, for the first time in years! Surely reports about how many flying machines we are building can wait."

"Nonsense!" Hiroshi waved one hand and picked up a folder with the other. "Raiko said the future of the Republic is depending on it."

"The future of the Republic can wait," Asami said firmly. She snatched the folder out of his hands and slammed it back down on the desk. The noise made Mako jump slightly. "Come on! This is the first time we get to have a proper conversation in years without those guards peering over our shoulder! Doesn't that mean anything?"

Hiroshi looked at her for a moment, his face unreadable.

Then he sighed.

"I know," he said. "But so much has happened..."

"Should we be here for this?" Hotaru whispered to Mako. He shrugged in response.

Asami had gone round the desk, pulled up a chair and now sat next to her father, holding his hand and looking at him expectantly.

"We definitely shouldn't be here for this," Hotaru confirmed, elbowing Korra and Mako as she did so. Both yelped, causing both Satos to look up suddenly.

"There's something we should do... elsewhere, isn't there Mako?" Hotaru explained pointedly.

"Yes, we need to... we need to... what do we need to do?" Mako raised an eyebrow at her.

Hotaru sighed.

"I'll explain outside."

And the Princess of the Fire Nation pulled Mako and Korra out of the room, leaving Asami alone with her father for the first time.