The first hunt, or what the military called it the seek and destroy mission of the century. The Wokou pirates' ten fire nation cruisers with a fleet made up of thousands of fishing boats turned into boulder launchers and merchants ships turned into ramming westles, only for the United forces' pirate destroyer fleet to fall, as the pirate fleet used smaller boats as missiles and boarding tactics proved advantages against the United forces.
The sea between the earth and fire nation was completely theirs and even if ships didn't go through it, pirates would continue raiding the coasts, so the campaign continued.
Bumi had enough of it. "There has to be a way to stop them!" Zaya nodded, eating her fried rice with sweet pork. "Don't we have a fast ship that can go past those small boats?" He Asked hoping for an answer.
Zaya sighed. "Cruisers, during the hundred year war they were the main go to ships used. Modern doctrines naval preference is the bigger the better, burn burn and burn. Why do you think we use STUPID FIRE CANNONS!" She looked at the operators of said Cannons. "Instead of some form of harpoon? Or just have metal benders fire Harpoons, so we can stop losing ships." She chewed her food for a moment. "It might be a cost thing." Bumi signed.
"Still, why don't we board them back?" Zaya smirked at that and Bumi did the same.
That evening they were entering pirate territory hunting for a small crew that had turned a fishing boat into a rock throwing ship.
Now they were fighting said ship, which was out of range for the fire Cannon and they were in range of the rocks. "On your three!" Bumi yelled to which Zaya blew it apart with her fire. "Zaya five knockts to the bow!. She took aim and generated her lighting, stretched it before releasing with a single movement hitting the boat and the electricity spreading across the small boat causing all of them to fall unconscious.
Captain smirked. "Full speed ahead!" He warned the crew before getting into the boarding position. Once they troweled the boat and got pirates into the cells only one of the pirates had died, after first successful capture of a pirate vessel the Captain was given his honors but after he was given the medal he ordered the two privates into his corridors.
"Sir!" Both spoke and the Captain smiled. "At ease, you two did well in that fight. I will be honest. I really wish we had more privates like you, with some brain and heart! Unlike that worthless Mo, that boy was promoted a week ago because his father is an admiral!" He sighed. "I guess this is what you get when half the generals board are from the earth nations. Nothing against them , I'm from Omashu yet, the current fortress ship Doctrine is killing us in the sea!" Bumi looked at Zaya who smiled. "What do you believe would be a better doctrine?"
Zaya let Bumi speak first. "I would suggest stopping the usage of fire cannons, they would work great against wooden boats and such, but today most pirate vessels are made up of steel." Captain nodded and turned to Zaya.
"I prefer if we used metal spears or simply launch rods with timed explosives. Maybe a ballista with explosive arrows? Also the use of smaller cruisers instead of multiple capital ships." The captain smiled and chuckled.
"Good, it's what I wanted to hear. You're now my lieutenants, don't make me regret it." They saluted him. "Now get out of here." Zaya and Bumi got a drink to celebrate.
The one good part about it was they got private corridors. "No more sea prunes!" Bumi cheered before Zaya's meal came, which was the hated sea Prunes.
Bumi just stared agap. "What? They're not that bad, you're just a picky eater." Zaya said enjoying the meal that all of Aang's offspring despised. Which led to an argument between the two.
The two were given a special role which was hunting down pirate boats, second was writing their small boat/ specialized unit warfare doctrine.
Though the first one was more well known. As Bumi created the small crew he had named. "Appa's horns!" He laughed telling his siblings. "Our job is getting on boats and knocking out the crew! We're superstars!" They came to a restaurant. "I ask about our seats."
Both looked around and were shocked to see a beautiful woman. Black Onyx hair, full red lips and skin almost perfect light gold shade. Both siblings almost drooled before turning to Bumi. "So where are we sitting?" Kya asked, until she heard the woman call for Bumi.
"Hey Bumi You're late!" Tenzin and Kya's eyes almost popped out.
Bumi turned to her. "What do you mean? We are meeting at three!"
Zaya growled. "You said two. Now sit down, I'm paying, remember?" Bumi sighed, both Siblings smiled, getting to sit next to the pretty model that they believed her to be. "Who are you two? Wait from age and face, siblings?" Bumi rolled his eyes.
Tenzin spoke up. "It's such a pleasure to meet a gem like you." Bumi gulped, he knew one thing and that was, he was sitting next to Zaya and was giving them a look that said that was a mistake.
Kya opened her mouth ignoring her brother. "How did my big brother find a beauty like you?" That was strike two, Bumi was now sitting away from the two, because he knew if you hit on Zaya she would rip your ego to shreds.
"Oh the twerps think they have a chance? The undersized Airbender and Water who I presume hadn't lost their baby teeth yet. If you want to flirt with a woman then practice without the grease or cabbage between your teeth." At that both siblings were frozen. "Not to mention you're not masters and aren't old enough to hold a glass to your parents." The Glare she was giving them had defanged both, and then they saw in her eyes a burning member directed at them.
"Zaya, how about you order for them?" Bumi asked Zaya, smiling. "Oh I already ordered for you but I can have them add some servings for our uninvited guests." Bumi knew what she meant. "Next time don't be late."
"You ordered something after I'm finished?" Bumi asked Zaya nodded.
"I got your favorite after and it's a small serving. I wasn't that mad at you, but not for these two." Bumi smiled and Kya and Tenzin looked worried as they saw the Sea prunes. "You better finish, or else do you want me to rip deeper?" They just started swallowing down,
Just thought. "Our best interrogation specialist." He finished and got to the egg custard tart, with his siblings glaring at him while he enjoyed the dessert.
After they finished, Zaya and Bumi went their separate ways and Bumi walked with his siblings. "Are you two dating?" Kya asked and Tenzin, face palmed at her blunt questioning.
Bumi scratched the back of his head. "Yea, you sorta crashed my date, think that's what made her a bit angry." Their skin crawled remembering that look.
Kya started "How did you meet? Is she one of those seaport ladies uncle Sokka warned you about?" Bumi cringed.
Tenzin decided to join. "Or did you meet her today?" Bumi chuckled.
"She's my comrade in arms, or better said we're both lieutenants on the same ship." There a few things clicked. "She's also part of our interrogations on the ship." They now realized how lucky they were to just get out of it with verbal lashing and quick glares. "That was our fifth date." The two flustered with jealousy. Their goofy big brother got a chance with a hot woman but she's also possibly evil, their jealously wasn't that high. "I have even thought about proposing, but I will wait until I'm done making a very special necklace for her first." Both stared in shock. "And If you tell mom or dad I will set Zaya at you and She's a master lighting bender." He said in a jokey manner yet his look was serious.
"He's learning from that beast." Both siblings thought in unison, being scared of their older brother for the first in their lives.
Zaya met at the outskirts of the city to meet with a mycelium. "So has there been any break in the assassination of the Pirate empress?" The older man sighed. "So no break?"
The man in his thirties explained. "Simply put, we have been able to insert some grass members but they're all on the bottom of the hierarchy. The empress only allows her friends to be close to her." She sighed, the hidden flowers helped but even they couldn't be everywhere. "We know the movement of a battleship called Angi's rage. It will be near a coastal town in a few months." Zaya smiled, as she knew there would be a promotion if she helped lead to the fall of a battleship. "Thank you for your service to the republic." Zaya laughed at that.
"There's no need to thank, I honestly hate this nation. It's weak, feeble and if I'm right will be the cancer that brings the next great war." She started walking but stopped. "It will start from the benders or non benders and end with the earth nation trying to take it back, if that queen is anything to go by."
A feast was taking place pirates from the entire south and East Sea celebrating their current success, their bounty of Yuan's gained or cohorced by taking it from merchant ships, then a woman stood up and raised her chalice. "To the true fifth nation!" They all cheered, clapping, hitting their chests at their current height of power.
authors note: So begins the first steps for lava straight. If anyone is asking why I like writing about United forces? It's because I hate the united forces in Korra, they're always being defeated or undermined. This is kind of backstory why the united forces has a such Focus on large battle ships, why Raiko has so much control over the united forces.