The interview lasted far longer than the team had hoped, with Long Feng grilling Aang on every detail of the incident until, at last, he summoned "Ju Dee" to escort them back to the house. To their horror, she was a different woman from the first, but she had indeed claimed to be Ju Dee. Which was only confirmed when Toph informed them she was telling the truth. However, before they left, Long Feng had warned them that, should they attempt to give the King their plans for the coming eclipse and inform him of the war, he would have them thrown out of the city entirely. So, disheartened and tired, they each left for their rooms as soon as they arrived, with Katara aiding Aang in getting in his bed before she departed for her own.
Aang awoke to find himself standing atop a cloud, surrounded by an empty void as far as the eye could see. "Hello? Is anyone there?" he called as he turned his head.
"Yes, we are here," replied a chorus of voices, and he turned to see thousands of figures standing before him, all dressed in the garb of the various nations, with the only one he recognized being the forward most: A tall man with long white hair and a long beard, attired in formal Fire Nation robes with a topknot held by a golden ornament. This man was his predecessor, Avatar Roku. The other was a giant of a woman dressed in green robes, with green eyes and brown hair, Avatar Kiyoshi.
Suddenly, a bright light shone from the heavens, clearing away the cloudy sky, and Aang looked on in horror as the visages of his previous lives began to vanish right before his eyes until only Aang was left.
Lieutenant General Branimir Evgeniev Petrov rode ahead as his troops continued their march along the North-East road to Elkla. Of course, he was slightly sour about this, but he knew his nation owed the Ruskians a debt fighting for Bulgariyan independence from the Empire of Umar and keeping the Kordish at bay during the war forty years ago. However, given the telegram sent to him by the Ruskian high command and the fact he was to link up with units from the Magyar insurgents and the Free Dobrish army, he presumed that their attitude would be much worse than his was since Ruskia was unable to help them when the Kordish attacked. But that was not yet his concern as his men continued toward their awaited transport to the town of Buzurovsk, fifty miles inland from the Ruskian border. Initially, they had started their march outside Narad the previous morning, and the division would soon arrive at the capital. Still, he knew that most of his men felt a sense of betrayal from the Ruskians since they diverted them from fighting for their homeland but instead ordered them toward Ruskia. Of course, if he could obtain better equipment to give them a better chance in battle, it was a short-term sacrifice he was willing to make.
As Long Feng walked the grand halls of the Royal Palace outside his office, he couldn't help but feel a sense of foreboding, as though everything he devoted his entire life towards would soon be rendered meaningless. Of course, he heard the reports of machines flying over the city two nights prior, the explosions that same morning, and the Avatar's injury. But Long Feng had not considered them connected until the young Airbender tied it together for him. Honestly, he only now realized how foolish he was for capturing the boy's bison, although if not, there was no telling what he and his allies might be capable of. However, before he could continue his train of thought, one of his agents snuck out from behind a corner and kowtowed to him. "Your Excellency, I bring news. The Firelord's banished son and the Dragon of the West are inside the lower ring. Shall we detain them?" he asked as he presented a pair of Fire Nation wanted posters.
Long Feng shook his head. "No. So long as they don't cause any problems for us, there is no need. Besides, if the Avatar continues to be a threat, perhaps we could use the Prince. After all, while I don't know all the particulars, I recall that the Prince was spotted tracking the Avatar until the attempted assault on the Northern Water Tribe, presumably in an attempt to capture him," he explained. "Is there anything else?"
"Yes, Your Excellency, the recruits are waiting to receive your instructions," the man said before opening a hole in the wall and standing aside.
Long Feng nodded, having nearly forgotten that he was supposed to oversee the graduation of many junior agents to the inner circle that day. "Of course, let us not keep them waiting," he said as he entered the wall before the agent followed behind him. After entering, Long Feng found himself in a secret hallway that led downward toward the catacombs beneath the city, or at least the section used as the barracks for the Dai Lee. After walking for several minutes, they came to a reinforced door at the end of the passage. Walking ahead, Long Feng tapped on the door three times before an agent slid open a small viewport.
"Who wishes to enter?" the man asked.
"One whose duty is before all else," Long Feng answered as the iron door clanked before opening as another agent removed the heavy wooden beam keeping the door in place.
"Welcome, Your Excellency," said the agent who asked him the password as he bowed to him.
Long Feng nodded in acknowledgement before he continued on his way, the door clanging shut behind him. As he entered the main chamber, he saw several dozen Dai Lee agents lined up before him. "Agents of the Dai Lee," he addressed. "It is my privilege as your leader to welcome you to the upper ring. Now, while you are all accustomed to the regular duties of your station, from here on out, you will be permitted to know all the secrets of this organization. Now, I presume your tour of the Lake Laogai facility has proven fruitful?"
"Yes, Your Excellency," the agents replied in unison.
"Good. And you understand what you saw?" Long Feng asked with a cocked brow.
"Permission to speak?" asked one of the agents, a younger man with a scar on his face as Long Feng turned to the man and nodded. "Your Excellency. For ten long years, I have faithfully served you. However, while I have used the art of hypnosis, I thought we only practised on criminals, yet I saw many high-born young women who have undergone treatment in the bunker. Why is this?"
Long Feng rubbed his beard as he pondered the best way to explain his motives. He wasn't angry, of course, as this was not the first time he had to explain the Ju Dees' purpose. "Alas, I would have warned you all ahead of time, but this is sensitive information, and you should first understand the full scope of what threatens our great Kingdom, both from our foes outside the walls and within them," he began. "As you know, our Kingdom has been at war for over one hundred years. In that time, we have shrunk to less than half our original size as the Fire Nation continued to expand. Our military, led by incompetents fueled by lust for prestige and glory, found itself faced with an opponent that exceeded its commanders in leadership and tactics, with the backing of technology far exceeding our own. The only reason we've held on this long is due to the impressive defences laid by our forebears. Yet even this wasn't enough to prevent Omashu from falling, thanks to that incompetent fool Bumi," he shook his head. "Now, as for why the Ju Dees' exist, allow me to paint a picture: During the last great siege undertaken by the Dragon of the West, the city nearly fell due to certain noble families attempting to undermine the King and force him to surrender to the Fire Nation in an attempt to keep their wealth. However, before the Fire Nation withdrew, my predecessor arrested the traitors, took their property and put it towards public works on behalf of the King. As for the Ju Dees', they serve as insurance so that the Great families think twice before attempting to endanger this Kingdom for their selfish ends a second time, as these young women are each and all members of these families," he concluded before addressing the agent, who seemed more assured. "Is there anything else?"
"No, Your Excellency," the man replied with a nod before again standing at attention.
Men clad in black Circassian coats and fur hats rode in long columns along the road heading west from Nyavrov, their horses fresh and their expressions buoyant as they continued toward Buzorovsk. After receiving orders from high command, Major General Yaroslav Kazymyrovich Mazurenko quickly dismounted his men from their train and diverted them to the location appointed by the Grand Duke. Then, after three hours of riding, Mazurenko's staff caught sight of the town. Overjoyed, he and his men rode to clear the streets for his Cossacks. "Move aside!" one of his officers shouted to the peasants on the road.
At first confused, the people quickly complied as trumpets sounded, and the first squadron crossed over the ridge. Soon enough, the civilians completely abandoned the main street as cart drivers parked in alleyways and the merchants and farmers pulled aside their stalls, making way for the horsemen. People flung open their windows on the upper floors of houses as they passed, while others flocked to the sidelines as flags, music, and cheers filled the crowd. The cossacks, for their part, began to sing as they passed.
"Hey, you Ruski people! We mean no harm, for we are the defenders of the Kubani!
Brave Cossacks! Mighty and strong, we march against the enemy in a great crowd!
With swift sabres and sharp lances, we advance toward our foe, then with a great hurray! We charge, and they flee!
So when an enemy thinks to take our land: This shall be our Cossack greeting, may he never forget!"
So they continued as night began to set in. After meeting with the mayor, the General guaranteed quarters for his men on the outskirts of town while he and his staff rode toward a manor owned by the mayor. Once they arrived, his servants opened the gate and allowed the officers to enter, and the group soon found themselves in the dining room. "I apologize," the master of the house said as he entered the room. "I was not expecting guests, so we shall have to wait for dinner to be ready."
"Of course, we understand," replied the General as the mayor took his seat at the head of the table. The dining room was small by noble standards, though it was well-decorated, with a quaint fireplace providing heat. Several paintings hung above it, seemingly from local artists, and ornately patterned wallpaper lined the room, while the floor comprised wood planks. The birch table was already set, with silverware prepared for when dinner arrived.
"Now, since we have some time, I must ask: Why exactly are you here? Are you going to the Bulgariyan front by chance? If so, there are much faster roads to take. I assure you," the mayor stated as he eyed the cossacks with interest.
"No, where we are going, we cannot tell," replied a Colonel with a thick black beard.
The mayor rubbed his chin for a moment in response. "That's interesting. The Grand Duke rode through a week ago and said the same thing," he began, catching the officers slightly off-guard. "Does your being here have something to do with him?"
Mazurenko nodded. "Yes. But that is all I will say," he replied firmly.
The mayor sighed. "I see. But if it involves the Grand Duke, I can understand the need for secrecy. Now, where are my manners? I am Vassili Mikhailovich Gluikov, and you are?"
"I am Major General Yaroslav Kazymyrovich Mazurenko of the 2nd Kubani Cossack Division," he said as he stood up, and the two men shook hands before he took his seat and gestured to the others. "These are Colonel's Dimitri Vasilevski, Pavel Kravchenko-" he said, gesturing to the man who spoke prior and a tall man with a twirled mustache. "-Fyodr Rievsky, and Mikhail Vlasov," he finished, pointing out the other two men on the other side of the table.
"Well, I must say, it is a pleasure to have such guests. For, as you might have guessed, exciting things don't tend to happen around here, save for harvest time," Vassili explained as the servants began entering with the food on silver platters. "Ah, what perfect timing! Now, you will be off tomorrow?"
The General nodded as the servants set down the food and took the lids off, displaying the bountiful feast before them. "Indeed, we set out at first light."
"I see. Well, for now, let us enjoy, shall we?"
An hour after the sun disappeared below the horizon, the commanders of the 1st Army sat discussing their next move. "Now, what should we do concerning these Ruskians? Should we allow them to occupy the city if they capture it?" War Minister Qin asked the two Generals before him, ignoring the Princess's predatory gaze from the temporary throne erected at the head of the table.
"What choice do we have? Unless we consolidate the rest of our forces, we could never hope to match them in battle considering what we have- hugh-hugh- witnessed," said General Chi as he recovered from his coughing fit.
General Xang, unusually quiet since the demonstration, nodded in reluctant agreement. "As much as I hate to admit it, the Ruskians have us outmatched. I've held their weapons, and if an amateur such as me can hit something with it. I cannot imagine the massacre that would befall us if we attempted such a thing," he said as he hung his head in defeat while Azula rolled her eyes.
"Oh, don't be so dramatic. We all witnessed what our new acquaintances are capable of," she said as she stood up. "Now, have we gained any further information?"
"Not since they established their wire towers., though it is difficult to get our scouts closer, as the Ruskians have begun patrolling an ever wider area," General Chi explained.
Azula sighed as she sat back on her throne. "I see," she said as she tilted her head back and looked at the cold metal ceiling. "Has there been any news at all?"
"None so far, I'm afraid," replied Minister Qin.
"Then what exactly was the point of this?" she said as she lowered her gaze, her hand pinching the bridge of her nose.
General Xang sighed. "You know, she has a point, so I think we should end things for the night," he said as the others nodded, and they all stood up. However, as General Chi attempted to stand, he suddenly felt his legs give out. "Sir-"
General Chi extended his hand as he slowly righted himself, Azula watching in concern as he broke out into another coughing fit. "Haugh- HAUGh-! I'm f-fin-fine..." and with that, he fainted. Turning to her stunned soldiers as Xang rushed over, Azula gestured for them to help as Minister Qin took the unconscious General's other arm but passed him over to the guards once they arrived before they carried him out of the building.
Hey everyone, I know its been awhile, but I'm back. I decided to take a break, but thanks to a new job I'm getting, I may not be able to write as much as I usually do. That being said, I hope this newest addition to HoI is to your liking, so please R&R.