The War for Independence Pt. 3
Yu Dao - Eastern Defensive Wall
Western Earth Kingdom
1946 AD / 104 AG
"Kita-zo!" an officer shouted down the line of sailors. They're coming!
Petty Officer Taguchi pushed in a fresh five-round load into his Arisaka rifle and set it on the sandbags lining their dug in trench. He tried to steady his breathing as he peered through the iron sights down range. The sight blade was much taller than the target at this point. There, thousands of meters down range marched the incoming Earth Kingdom Army. They looked like ants for now, but were so densely formed the columns and platoons of men seemed to form a solid dark green line on the ground.
Sure enough, within days, there was the mass of Earth Kingdom soldiers, marching, rolling, and flying in on foot, tanks, and war balloons. Without a doubt, the Fire Nation was on the western side. There would have been more American Marines on this east side if there weren't. I really hope those Americans don't falter on the western wall, Hirota thought. If cruiser Atago were present, they could have flattened the advancing army with a deadly and fierce artillery barrage. Then again, if even one of the two nearest aircraft carriers was here, the Earth Kingdom wouldn't have been able to pass through the mountains at all. Yu Dao had artillery. Primitive domestically made artillery. There was a makeshift artillery battery set up in the very middle of the city, manned by both the US and Japanese Navy. But their orders…for some reason, just like everyone else on these lines, was to avoid opening fire until it was no longer an option.
Hirota was on edge. He didn't show it, but those who knew him would be able to tell.
He felt a comforting and familiar warmth emanate beside him. It was Lieutenant Khanh, who dropped in next to him on the line and placed a hand on his shoulder, snapping him out of his thousand yard stare down the sights of his weapon. "Hey," she opened up. Hirota jumped a bit, startled. "Relax a bit. Just a bit, okay?"
He lowered his rifle from his shoulder, resting it on the ground. "How can I? Look at that," he quietly exclaimed, pointing with his chin at the wide and deep mass of earth benders and tanks that rolled at them.
"We'll be okay," Khanh tried to assure him, placing a warm hand on his. "I've fought the Earth Kingdom before, it should be a walk in the park. Numbers are their greatest strength." This was, however, her own beliefs from her limited service beyond Yu Dao during the war. It wasn't completely founded.
"Getting crushed beneath a one ton boulder, or falling into a suddenly-opened-beneath-me cavern, or getting buried alive, is not exactly something someone can just look beyond and relax through. Especially after that fight on Kyoshi Island, and especially after the fight on the seas during the comet," the NCO retorted.
"I understand." Lieutenant Khanh sympathized. "Just stay alert, Hirota," she said in a concerned and recessed voice. "Don't get tunnel vision and stay alive. Don't forget about your troops too. They need your guidance and orders."
The petty officer looked to the men on his left and right. Militiamen and volunteers from nearby regions taking a stance against the Earth Kingdom's rule. They had minimal army and weapons training, and some had none at all. The minutemen of this world were also a logistical nightmare. Depending on the factory, and the shipping schedules, half of them had domestically produced American M1903A3 Springfield rifles, and the other half had Japanese Type 38 Arisakas. Yu Dao hadn't adopted a standard unified non-benders' infantry weapon yet. Taguchi did not notice the Mauser K98K that one volunteer from a neighboring region carried.
"You're right," Hirota acknowledged. A drummer drummed away on a snare drum from the rear ranks. A steady cadence and roll, signaling to the masses to remain at the ready. The advancing army drew nearer. "Fix bayonets!" Hirota barked at his squad of IJN and militia, "Make ready!"
"10th platoon, make ready!"
"7th platoon, make ready!"
The order bounced down the line, with each platoon leader taking his own cue to get his men ready to fight. The snare drummers' cadences changed to the rhythm signaling to fix bayonets and load rifles. This world was learning. Slowly. But they were learning.
"They do not cross this line!" Khanh informed her own platoon of fire benders. "They don't make it into the city!"
"Yes, ma'am!" the reply called back.
Hirota peered through his rifle's sights once again. The advancing enemies were more identifiable now. He could see the incoming earth bending powered tanks advancing along with the infantry. From the front they looked like some kind of locomotive approaching, but from the side they were like pill bugs. He set his sights on one of the soldiers, waiting for the order to open fire. Why did they have to wait so long?!
A crack! Someone fired. Hirota flinched. No order had been given.
"HOLD YOUR FIRE!" an officer shouted. But it was too late. The rest of the militia men, and some of the sailors let loose additional follow up volleys.
A collective growing battle cry was heard from the enemy. Their men began a full on sprint charging at the defensive wall and trenches of Yu Dao. It had begun. Some trigger happy militiamen had kicked off the war!
The NCO watched as a large boulder, the size of a car, was flung from deep within the Earth Kingdom's ranks toward them. It seemed to glide through the air. "Incoming!" he shouted to his men. His section of the line dove beneath the top of the trench wall. Hirota instinctively pulled his rifle back from the sandbags, dove for Khanh, and cushioned their fall to the trench floor with his body. The boulder slammed into the ground just in front of where he was positioned, tumbled and rolled over the top of the trench violently with a bang, and slammed into a machine gun tower just behind.
"Are you okay?" he asked.
"Yeah! I'm fine," the lieutenant replied, wiping dust from her face.
"So it begins," the sailor said, releasing her gently and immediately retaking his shooting position. "GET UP! GET UP!" he shouted at his men. "Get on the wall!"
Rifles rose and set back into their firing positions over the sandbags, one after the other, as Taguchi's men refocused. The cycling of bolt actions building anticipation.
The snare drums drummed a more intense sped up cadence, large war horns, supplemented by IJN-issued whistles blew into the battle-loudened air, letting all who heard off the leash.
"OPEN FIRE!" Hirota shouted. He pulled the trigger on his rifle. A flash. The rifle jumped from rest on the sand bags. Several more erupted following as a volley erupted down the line of entrenched soldiers. Machine guns chipped away from the heights of the defensive walls above. The petty officer watched as the soldier he had in his sights recoiled from the impact of the shot and dropped to the ground. He cycled another round into his rifle, ejecting the spent casing and sliding another round into battery. Fire and flames erupted from just beside him as Khanh and her grouping of fire benders let loose long range fire punches directed at the masses.
It was war. They were right back into it! And again were fighting the Earth Kingdom with the fire benders. The sound of the booming artillery erupted from way back in the center of Yu Dao. Several boulders came crashing down around the trenches and defensive positions. Brick-sized slabs of stone and earth came flying at the soldiers at breakneck speeds. They slammed into and rang the metal armor pieces of the Fire Army uniform, and smashed others' rib cages and skulls.
Yu Dao - Western Defensive Wall
Western Earth Kingdom
Sokka shouted into the field radio over the sound of browning machine guns and other thirty-caliber weapons. "Bravo-Two, Charlie-three-six!" he called out fire orders, pausing to peer over the top of the trench. "Fire zone Alpha, sector three! Ten tundra tanks! About one hundred troops in the open! Twelve rounds! Fire for effect!"
"Charlie-three-six, confirmed! Tanks and troops in the open, twelve rounds, fire for effect, received!"
The cannons boomed ferociously from the city center. The US Marine Corps and Navy were giving more artillery calls than the eastern defensive block - as in currently they were the only people calling in artillery barrages currently - so they had all the available guns to their disposal for the time being.
A terrible screech overhead introduced the concussive blasts to follow. The ground shook. Dirt began to crumble and poor into the earthen trench line. Dirt and rubble erupted into the air, several hundred yards ahead. The Fire Army scattered. A tundra tank was completely obliterated, metal shrapnel flew everywhere.
Joe ducked as a burst of flame rocketed at him. His rifle pinged as the clip ejected. The symphony of thirty and fifty caliber browning machine guns filled the air, met by the fwooms and whistling of fire and rockets.
"And we're back at it," Joe grumbled, loading a fresh clip into his rifle, "Back at war with the Fire Nation. Back to me facing down human flame throwers." He popped up and unleashed a quick volley of three shots. He watched each man in his sights recoil and drop lifeless to the ground, hard.
"Lieutenant!" a corporal called, "Sergeant Wills's squad in Easy Sector took some casualties! They're fine but the line's weakening!"
Joe sighted who he could tell was an officer and fired. The round drilled straight through the skull faceplate of their tri-pronged helmets. "Take Rhodes and Shuhmacher and get the thirty cal over to that sector!" Joe ordered as he ducked back into the trench, "and tell those damn militia volunteers to get the lead out!"
"Aye, sir!" the corporal acknowledged before running back through the trench.
Fucking trench warfare over here! Joe thought to himself. "No casualties, men!" Joe shouted down the line, "No body bags! No more dying for these people!" He turned to Sokka. "Sokka! Back on the radio! Call in another barrage, shift fire forward fifteen!"
"Aye, sir," Sokka squeamishly acknowledged as the lieutenant got back to shooting and observing. "Bravo-two, Charlie-three-six, adjust fire, seven rounds, add one-five, troops and tanks in the open."
"Charlie-three-six, seven rounds, up one-five, adjust fire, received!"
The advancing Fire Nation troops scrambled for cover. Many of them did not fight in the battles against modern weapons during the war. Artillery, modern artillery, although no secret by this time, was still very new to them. And it was terrifying. Both Sokka and Joe watched the soldiers run and dive aimlessly as the flat land they advanced over was devoid of any kind of viable shelter from a barrage of explosives raining down from the heavens. Tanks were flipped. Terrible screeches of twisting and tearing metal reached the defensive forces' ears. Bodies and scrap were thrown like waves cast aside and cresting at the bow of a ship.
A whistle blew from behind. The trench line ducked. A line of earthbenders stretching all the way along the one-and-a-half kilometer trench raised uniform blocks of stone and launched them at the confused and scattered fire army, striking down even more masses of confused and disoriented men. The western side's initial assault turned into a slaughter.
"King of battle, Sokka," Joe said patting him on the shoulder, referring to the moniker given to artillery, "King of battle! Look at 'em run! Takeda still ain't taking advantage of the big guns yet. Shift forward five clicks and call for more fire support! We're going to turn the Fire Nation around on day one at this rate!"
Sokka looked at the carnage grimly. It was different four years ago. But this Fire Nation and that one were very different in his eyes. He might have interacted with some of those soldiers at some point between then and now. And it was Zuko, a friend, not Azula nor Ozai. How would this one end?
"Aye, sir," he acknowledged, winding the crank on the field telephone. "Bravo-two, charlie-three-six, adjust fire…"
Yu Dao - Eastern Defensive Wall
Western Earth Kingdom
A rock rocketed over Azula's head, barely missing her, and slammed into a machine gun emplacement just behind. The screams of agony of Yu Dao's militia men quickly filled her ears, grown men crying of mere pain and broken bones. Such is the reality of war, yet here the freshly trained soldiers were, crying like children. Azula would still take many years to sympathize with the situations of others.
More importantly she bit her lip, somewhat scolding herself for letting an airborne boulder get that close to her. She groaned at the idea of a wide-eyed, in shock, version of her self appearing weak and taken by surprise. She was rusty in combat, not as fine tuned as she once was.
A crack of thunder! A volley of a line of rifles fired out overhead! A strike from the Japanese sailors stationed on the defensive wall! Another rank of men brought their arms to bear to her left, then to her right! A second volley of lead! A third! Advancing Earth Kingdom troops fell by the lines to the earth, being struck centermass by the Arisaka-caliber bullets. All the while, several Type-92 machine guns pecked away; their fire rate was slow and steady, sounding like a really loud woodpecker-hawk, to Azula.
Still, the Earth Kingdom came!
Slow rate of fire and a thirty-round clip. American weapons would be much appreciated, Azula grumbled.
Breaking through, the forward most line of Earth Kingdom soldiers crossed the barbed wire, coming directly onto the trench line.
"Fire at will!" the militia commanders screamed down the line, "FIRE AT WILL!"
"There's too many!" Akiko shouted. She popped out from the trench line. A steady, powerful stream of fire fired from her closed fists. The medic and fire bending-student swept the line of advancing troops.
"More succinct, Akiko," Azula instructed, watching from beneath in the trench, "More succinct blasts of fire! It's more powerful!"
"I'm trying as much as possible, not to kill," her friend yelled in return.
Trying your hardest not to kill? But they are trying their hardest to kill us, are they not?! The former Princess of the Fire Nation took a deep breath in and quickly popped up from the trench, throwing forth three blasts of saphire blue flame. Her shots rocketed out and struck four men, one of the the shots managing to engulf two. She ducked, rolled over to the side to switch position, just as several boulders landed where she once was, and came up again to strike down an entire advancing squad.
"Get down! Get down!" a Japanese NCO shouted as he paced the line under fire. "Artillery! Get down!"
Shells shreacked in from overhead! The ground detonated! A terrible earthquake began! Plumes of earth and stone flew skyward as one by one the barrage fell on the coming Earth Kingdom soldiers!
Feeling the sting of pebbles and stones being flung and hitting her skin, Azula dropped below the trench's ridge.
Dust formed a dense cover, and those on the ground could no longer see the advancing armies!
The militia man beside her rose up and drove his bayonet into the stomach of a fleeing Earth Kingdom soldier. The enemy had managed to survive the barrage and was fleeing for cover. And he was not alone. Several more came running and fighting forth in an attempt to escape the barrage.
Whistles blew along the line, barely audible over the bursts of artillery. Tattered banners were hoisted by the Japanese personnel, the kanji for fire and stream, painted on them. Stream of Fire.
Several men down from Azula, Akiko was dealing with her own battles. She shot out several blasts of fire, some of them blindly into the dust, but still the enemy came for her. Fire drew their opponents. She hadn''t known just how good she was at dodging slabs of rock until now!
She shot a fire blast into one man. She then spun around, evaded another boulder, and kicked out another stronger blast to another. But out from the dust came one more! Instinctively, her hand went to her belt, and in a swift motion she drew her katana and skewered the last attacker, just as he blindly crested the trench. The man fell into the defensive position, writhing in pain. She felt bad about it, and wanted to help the person she just stabbed, but there was no opportune moment to do so right now.
She heard the whistles and saw the banners. Simultaneously, all the fire benders mixed into the lines of rifles and machine guns, let loose a steady stream of flames and swept left and right. Flamethrowers, being used to force back the enemy forces.
Yu Dao's militia men regained their fighting edge and quickly reorganized autonomously, not needing too much prodding by their coalitioned allies.
"Back to your feet men! Fire those rifles!" Yu Dao's sergeants ordered. "Strike down the invaders! Do you want to go back to worshipping a king?!"
With gaining ferocity, the militiamen returned to their firing positions and opened fire. Puffs of erratic gunshots burst up and down the firing line. Brass and steel casings puddled at their feet! It was working! The Earth Kingdom's forward echelon was turning and retreating!
The men and women in the defensive line cheered as their enemy disappeared into the dust screen But the joy was short lived.
A bass-filled boom sounded from the other side of the smoke! There wasn't even time for the dread to set in. An explosion burst amid the trench line! Several members were flung from their posts. Another! Then, another!
Tanks.
Squinting through the settling dust, Azula could see the oncoming outline of the caterpillar tanks of the Earth Kingdom Army. The same ones used on the Black Sun Invasion of the Fire Nation homeland. But these had been up-armored. They had dense iron plating mounted over their stone armor, and had a heavier iron roof. The next wave of oncoming soldiers formed in blocks behind the tanks and their outer ranks pushed along earthen stone shields to further protect the groupings of men.
Small arms fire, rifles and machine guns, plinked off the crude but effective armor. Fire blasts hit and dissipated. The Earth Kingdom insignia mounted on the vehicle's front retracted and swung clear as a bristeling main gun extended from the opening! The gun fired, sending a sizable explosive shell screaming towards the Yu Dao fortifications, and retreated into the tank with the recoil, once again being concealed as the port closed its armored door once more. The side panels could still swing open, but this time rifles and early, crudely-made, machine guns joined the Earth Benders within. Streams of iron hosed the Yu Dao defending forces, forcing them into cover. They were not expecting to be shot at!
"You!" Azula exclaimed, pointing at an IJN radioman, "More artillery! Now!"
A slight scowl from the young man lasted a millisecond as he cranked his radio to call for more artillery support.
He peered over the ridge to visually mark the target area before relaying it over the radio. But just as he did a boulder struck him square in the face! His head recoiled back and he fell to the bottom of the trench. Blood streamed from all openings of his head. It had splattered on Azula as well.
She pressed her fingers hard against her eyelids and swiped the crimson from her face. Her eyebrows furrowed and her nose crinkled as she grabbed the phone. She hoped she paid attention well enough.
She cleared her throat. "Bravo-one, this is Alpha two-one. Requesting immediate artillery barrage! Fire sector…errmmm," she tried to recall.
"Alpha two-one say again your coordinates!" the radio called.
She fumbled for the artillery map the radioman had on him. It was crushed beneath the radio transmitted, torn, stained, and muddied.
"Alpha two-one! Say again your coordinates!"
"I'm working on it, you insolent hog-monkey! You want accurate coordinates, do you not?!"
She fumbled with what she could and tried her best to read the map of battle. "...Fire zone Delta, sector four. Tanks and soldiers in the open. Fire for effect."
"Alpha-two-one, say again. Zone Delta, sector four? Are you certain?-"
"Yes, I'm certain! Fire for effect, now, lieutenant!"
"Roger. Fire Zone Delta, Sector four! Tanks and soldiers in the open. Firing for effect!"
Finally, Azula thought. The drumming of the artillery sounded in the distance. She was feeling certain she called it perfectly.
But to her disappointment, the barrage overshot the advancing tanks. The shells landed behind the enemy's front line, pounding the hordes of soldiers behind the tanks.
"For spirits' sake," Azula cursed at her monumental miss. We need a field gun, she thought. Artillery was too slow and too difficult to aim.
Ask and the Empire of Japan provided. Azula ducked at the close sound of a thundering boom overhead. From the top of the wall, where Lieutenant Takeda's men were positioned, the IJN had deployed a workable anti-tank cannon. Domestically made, it had enough firepower to punch through the armor. The shell pierced straight through the head armor of the Earth Kingdom tank and exploded within, also detonating the ammunition within the tank. An explosion blew all the side panels off the caterpillar-like tank as the wreckage was soon engulfed in flames. The troops behind were susceptible to small-arms fire and were cut down.
The problem with this field gun was it was slow and cumbersome to load. The shells were not all functional too, with several duds in the pile of shells. Its accuracy was not perfect either. Several follow up shots missed!
If only she had her lightning!
Akiko ran up to her. "Casualties are mounting up and down the line! If we don't do something soon, the Earth Kingdom will break through this front! There are too many!"
"We need more firepower!" Azula replied. But Akiko wasn't listening, she was busy hauling the wounded away from the firing line and gathering them in cover at the base of their trench.
One man had fallen just beyond the trench, wounded by a jagged stone projectile that had been launched into his stomach. He was bleeding out, exposed, but just in arms reach.
"Help me with this one," Akiko instructed Azula.
"Help what? He's good as dead!"
Akiko had already sprung into action reaching out for the fallen militia man. "He's not dead yet!" she yelled back, grabbing firm hold of his tunic's collar.
Azula blew air through her bangs and ran up to help, grabbing on to the opposite side of the burly man's shirt. He was heavy.
"Pull," Akiko prodded, "Pu-!"
The two ladies ducked. Bullets peppered their position! Bullets hammered the dirt in front of them and whizzed overhead. One of the tank's machine guns fired towards them. Two men that had came to reinforce were instantly cut down!
"How dare he!" Azula grumbled, popping up into fire to throw a large blue fireball towards their attacker. "Shoot at me, will you?!"
The machine gun fire paused as the gunner ducked to avoid the blast. But while she suppressed one tank, another took its opportune window. Another machine gun fired towards the princess, causing her to duck and switch targets! But once she did, her original target began to open fire once more. She was so enveloped, she didn't notice Akiko figuring out her situation just behind.
"Well, don't just sit there!" Azula yelled to her friend, "Help! What are yo-"
As Azula turned back to scold her friend, her eyes went wide with shock and surprised. Akiko held in her hands, at the ready, a fully charged bolt of lightning. The crackling and static was suppressed by the explosions and gunfire, but the light from the crackling charge glowed in their eyes.
"Stand back," Akiko advised.
"How did you-?" Azula was interrupted by Akiko using her body to push her clear.
Akiko took one more deep breath and zeroed in on a target. She had gotten tunnel vision, zeroing on on one tank.
"Let the energy flow through," Azula advised, "No resistance. Just let it explode out your fingerti-"
Akiko took one step forward, lunging, and throwing her two pointed fingers forth. An erratic, uncontrolled bolt of lightning shot from her joined fingers, rocketing towards the enemy tank. It was a dangerous level of power, overkill for what she was shooting at, in Azula's eyes. A massive explosion tore apart the stone and iron tank. Shrapnel from its armor flew in all directions, as the heavy caterpillar was launched onto its side!
Despite how powerful a show of force Akiko just displayed, she wasn't done. She had another charge, an immediate follow up! She drew her arms in close and took another breath through her nose. Her bangs and ponytail whisped and jumped at the surging static around her. Akiko spun around and lunged at the other tank. This charge was slightly less powerful than her original overpowered shot. Another explosion as the armored vehicle was ripped apart!
Without pause, Akiko finished the kata then immediately pulled the downed man the rest of the way into cover. She had found resoluteness and conviction. Enough to finally push her over the edge enough to generate lightning. Despite the chaos, Akiko was able to hone in on her directive, finding resoluteness, and was calm in the mind and body.
"Let's go!" she directed, knowing the Earth Kingdom was going to focus on their particular position now that she had displayed her lightning ability.
The shells, rocks, and bullets, poured in as the two of them dragged the fallen along through the trench line.
This isn't going to work, Azula thought. Even with Akiko's new-found abilities, and some mediocre field artillery, they weren't going to be able to hold this much longer. The Earth Kingdom soldiers, despite being cut down in mass, are still fighting on despite their faulty battle tactics and leadership.
Then it hit her.
Because they are fighting fire benders and the Japanese!
The Earth Kingdom wasn't seeing their countrymen fighting them back. They were seeing the Fire Nation and IJN! The same group that had fought them…and succeeded at that…in the war!
They're willing to kill us. But would they be willing to kill their own?
Without another word, Azula sprung into action, seperating from Akiko. She ran back through the trench line, grabbed the radio receiver, and vaulted over the trench heading for the defensive wall. Staying light on her feet, she ducked and dodged the incoming fire until the wall, then propelled herself up with jet blasts beneath her feet until making it to the emplacements overlooking the battle. Lieutenant Takeda was there to meet her.
"Lieutenant," Azula panted, catching her breath, "We need to switch the militia men."
"Say again?" Takeda questioned.
"We need to send all these fire bending militia men over to the western wall, and have the earth benders over with the US come here. Send the fire benders to fight the Fire Nation, and the earth benders to fight the Earth Kingdom!"
"We'll be exposed here. Our numbers will be greatly weakened, and so will the Americans' on the western wall!" the lieutenant opposed.
"You'll have to make do! The enemies own soldiers will back off if they see their own men fighting against them. It sets up an ultimatum to Zuko and the Earth King!"
Takeda mulled it over. It made sense to put up a wall of the attackers' own people in front of them. What would they do? Massacre their own countrymen? But the reduction in fire power was already quite daunting.
Azula brought up the radio, still linked to the artillery post. "You are undoubtedly better at calling these shots than I am, sir," the princess offered. Indeed he was. "I'm pleading. You have to trust me on this."
Finally, Takeda nodded his head in agreement. "Okay. But be prompt. We cannot afford too much time without the numbers, and it is a long run through the city to the other side!"
"Understood," Azula replied.
Lieutenant Takeda turned to his staff NCOs. "Withdraw the fire benders! Pull them back, and contact the Americans on the western flank of the city. Tell them we are sending the fire benders and have them send their earth benders!"
Without waiting for a verbal acknowledgement from his subordinates, he began to read out several artillery barrage directions. Unlike the previous two observers, he was going to drop hell right onto the Earth King's roof.
Western Defensive Wall - Yu Dao
Command Post - Medical Tent
Western Earth Kingdom
"Aang," Katara called, "You need to do something!" She had her hands busy trying to heal the masses of wounded militiamen and Marines. Many had third degree burns while others had broken bones, missing limbs, and even gunshot wounds.
"What can I do?" he questioned back, similarly busy trying to help tend to the wounded. "If I fight the Fire Nation, then I will throw us back into a war with Zuko. If I fight the Earth Kingdom, then I throw us back into the war against Kuei…this time on the side of the Fire Nation! Who, again, colonized this land!"
"But you can't sit here while the battle rages on! People are dying Aang! You need to do your duty as the avatar!"
"I thought you had my back in this!"
"I do, Aang!" Katara snapped back. "I never said I didn't! We need to take a side though!"
"But which do I take!" Aang struggled, "I'm literally caught between a wildfire and a rock! And to make matters even harder, it seems like the colonized want to stay colonized!"
"We never said that, Avatar," one of the wounded earth benders, one of Yu Dao's militia, said. "We said we don't want to live in service to the Fire Lord. And we don't want to live in service to the Earth King! I get that that is a very difficult concept for you, Avatar. But that's the stance of everyone living here."
"I'm a monk! A nomad! It isn't difficult for me to grasp that!" Aang snapped, due to stress more than anything else. He didn't mean to take on such a harsh tone, especially with the victims in this skirmish.
"Despite that, you still keep trying to put us under what you deem is right," the man replied. "Somehow the people from out of this world are more understanding than the Avatar of this world."
Western Defensive Wall - Yu Dao
Western Earth Kingdom
"Good calls, Sokka," Joe congratulated. The two of them looked out over a field of destroyed tanks and equipment, stretching out as far as the eye could see. "That has got to be the tenth wave of Fire Army we've shelled into oblivion!
Sokka saw things smaller than the destroyed tundra tanks. He saw bodies upon bodies of Fire Nation soldiers, intermixed with the piles of komodo-rhinos, that had been cut down by small arms and artillery strikes. Men that had just gotten out of one war, and were thrust into another, even more trivial one. For once, he was sympathizing with the Fire Nation. He had found a new bitterness towards Zuko, but it conflicted with his still somewhat newly forged camaraderie with the current Fire Lord. The world was twisted indeed. He slouched against the sandbags and sighed. But a familiar sight of green, gold, red, and white, comforted him.
"How are we doing, gentlemen?" Suki asked, coming over from her rifle's perch just a few ranks down the wall. She was accompanied by one of her own warriors, Springfield rifles slung over their shoulders. "First Lieutenant," she greeted Joe, saluting.
"Captain," Joe returned, acknowledging her team rank. In his head, viewed similarly by the rest of the navy and marine corps, actual officers still held higher rank despite what Suki and her team referred to her as. And she didn't mind playing along with the military's formality.
"Reports are anticipating a final wave of Fire Nation," Joe read out. "Likely it will be their final, and strongest push, so we're readying our lines for the big one. I've heard though, that the Japanese on the eastern wall are having a harder time handling the Earth Kingdom. We should consider ourselves lucky. Though, it seems we have been calling in more frequent and more accurate artillery strikes. Heavy Cruiser Atago should be closing in too. And once they do manage to fight through whatever Fire Navy is out there, we'll have even more ferocious artillery support. Game over."
"What's the overarching end game, Lieutenant?" Suki asked. "The battle is one thing, but what's going to turn out in the Fire Nation and Ba Sing Se? As far as I know, Aang…hasn't taken a hard stance on anything, apart from voicing his opposition in this entire fight as a whole."
"Admittedly," Joe grumbled, "I have no idea…or care really…as to how this ends at that high up a level. I can't imagine it being good for either king or lord."
Sokka and Suki shared a quiet sigh.
"Lieutenant!" a cry called out. It was a sergeant, making a mad dash over to them.
"Sergeant Wright?" Suki questioned, seeing the Kyoshi Warriors' marksmanship instructor running towards them.
Between the incoming NCO and their small bundle were a pair of marines assigned to crew a machine gun.
"Sniper!" he shouted.
Just then a bullet drilled one of the marines through the head. The sergeant tripped over the fallen man's body, hitting the deck.
Sokka, Suki, Joe, and Suki ducked instinctively.
"Misaki, get down!" Suki yelled. Her subordinate had taken up a position on the wall, poking over to shoot back. But as she sighted the general area where the shot came from, expecting to see a grouping of soldiers, Misaki only saw the burning wreckage of tanks and trucks. "Where?" she questioned, peeking further over the sandbags.
"Lady, get down!" Joe ordered.
Too late. A sharp whizz and a sudden pop! Misaki was struck hard by an incoming round. The crack of the gunshot came after. The Kyoshi Warrior flew back away from the sandbags, leaving her rifle, and crashed to the ground. Blood gushed from her throat. The white of her face paint was quickly painted a deep red.
"Shit!" Sokka cursed. The three of them sprung into action. Sergeant Wright crawled over quickly, keeping his head below the wall.
"Misaki!" Wright called over. Suki and the NCO immediately began trying to tend to her wounds.
"Misaki come through this," Wright said. He was far from being a corpsman in any right. Basic aid was all he could offer. Suki was better between the two of them at trying to deal with wounds. But it didn't look good. He had already broken open his aid kit, pulling bandages and sprinkling the sulfa powder.
"Misaki, hang tight," Suki encouraged. "This is just like when Xian had that archery training accident. Same place! In fact, this wound doesn't seem as bad," she desperately said, working fast.
Wright shot Suki a glance. It was subtle, but it was a look that said, "Don't do that," referring to her attempts to brush this off. Misaki was not going to make it. Both of them knew it, and tears puddled in Suki's eyes.
Joe gave them space, clutching his M1 rifle close. Where was the shooter?!
He took several calming deep breaths in, rapidly, and peeked the corner. Joe fired off a small volley of three rounds towards the general direction of the shot. The shooter could be anywhere! Immediately after, he paused and then dove for cover. Just as an incoming bullet slammed into the wall just where his head was!
"Fuck!" Joe yelled, "he's got us zeroed in!"
"Did you get a good look at him?" Sokka asked, tapping the magazine of his Thompson.
"It was quick," Joe reported. "I am pretty sure I saw a muzzle flash from one of the wrecked tanks. I think he's posted up in the hull of a destroyed tank! Shooting through one of the viewports."
"Did you get which one?"
"No, I didn't, Sokka," Joe reported, frustratedly. "Center of the field, just around Fire Zone Charlie, sector two. You have a clue what I'm talking about?"
Sokka raked his mind. He had looked onto that battlefield hundreds of times. "I think so. The tank that's smashed into a transport truck and wagon?"
"That one!" Joe confirmed. "I think!"
Behind them, Misaki drew her last breath. Her hand went lifeless in Suki's grip. "No!" the captain cried out, losing one of her girls in this sudden conflict. The war should have been over!
Suki unslung her rifle, finally letting Misaki down, and quickly took position next to the two of them. Sokka could see the rage in her eyes. She was going to get her vengeance. Suki clicked the dials on the side of her sight, adjusting for added range. A rifle scope would have been a blessing to have in this situation.
"How is he so accurate?" Sokka questioned. "The Fire Nation is still just as new to guns as anyone else in this world! If not newer!"
"Yuyan," Suki answered. "He's probably one of the Yuyan Archers. A group known for accuracy. It seems the Kyoshi Warriors aren't the only fighting group that caught up with the times. Where is this wreckage?"
"Pretty far out," Joe called back. " A pile of wreckage. A wagon, a destroyed tundra tank in the middle, and a bombed out truck to the right. I think he's in the tank's hull."
"Let's take him," Suki prompted, readying up.
"Alright," Joe agreed. "Sokka and I will lay down covering fire, and you zero in his position."
"Got it."
"Ready," Joe prompted. He was going to call 'go', but Suki took it as he the two of them were ready for her to move. She pushed over the sandbag and sighted her rifle, to the horror of Sokka and Joe! Her squinted aiming eye widened. She couldn't see where exactly the shooter was. Her finger hovered on the trigger waiting to shoot.
A flash! Suki ducked. A sharp whistle and a clang! She moved just enough, just in time, as the sound of the gunshot boomed. Joe and Sokka stood over the wall, opening fire with their rifle and machine gun. Bullets peppered the enemy's positioned, ricocheting off the metal, before the two of them ducked back into cover.
Suki's headpiece clanged again as it hit the stone floor. Narrowly missing her skull, the enemy sniper had shot her head ornament off. A clear bullet hole was punched in the center, just above where the metallic sun rays converged on.
"Are you crazy?!" Sokka shouted. "Are you trying to get yourself killed?!"
"I saw the flash," Suki replied. "You're right, lieutenant. He's in that destroyed tank. Shooting out of a very narrow opening. The driver's viewport!"
"Can you get him, Suki?"
"I-"
"She can nail him, sir." She was interrupted by Sergeant Wright. "The girl's a helluva shot."
"He's got her zeroed in," Joe stated. "We'll have to draw his fire."
"I'll do that, sir. This next shot will be the one to get him."
Suki looked at the NCO with surprise. He was putting a lot of faith in her talents.
Wright tapped her on the shoulder. "Shift over to the next set of sand bags, and wait for my mark."
The sergeant propped himself up as if ready to run a relay. "Ready?"
"Ready," Sokka answered on Joe's behalf.
Wright took one more glance at Suki. "Don't miss, lady."
Suki nodded, clutching her rifle closely.
Without another word he launched off, springing off the balls of his feet and sprinting low and fast down the wall, passing covering other marines and militia men. Joe and Sokka took aim and opened fire once more. The chatter of submachine gun fire and the booms of the rifle filled the air. Suki then, making herself as small a target as possible, sighted her rifle on the enemy position. She would not miss. Joe's rifle pinged as the clip ejected. Sokka continued to chatter away. There was a flash from the tank! Suki inhaled, held her breath, and squeezed the trigger. Crack! The rifle jumped into her shoulder, and fire erupted out the muzzle. She could barely see the viewport that the Yuyan member was firing from, nevermind seeing him!
There was silence. Sokka ducked back into cover, his gun now empty. Suki quickly cycled the bolt of her rifle and held her aim, waiting for another shot. But none came.
Joe peered over, looking through a set of binoculars. Faintly, he could see the outline of a man slumped over a rifle within the destroyed tank.
"Bullseye!" he shouted, "You got him, Suki!"
The Kyoshi Warrior exhaled, letting loose all the air she kept in her lungs, and crumpled once again behind the sandbags. She was relieved. They all were.
She looked down the line towards Sergeant Wright. There was a noticeable dent off the crown of his helmet. "You better have nailed him! Because I am not doing that stunt again!"