AN :
Here is the extra chapter ;)
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When I arrive back at our little planning room in the barracks, where we've been provided a large round table, and a map of the city and the bay that someone helpfully marked our lovely little walls in, the others of our team have already arrived.
To my surprise, Kesuk is there. For some reason, I'd expected him to be out in the bay, but he's less of a group fighter, if I remember correctly from patrols together, and better at one-on-one confrontations. In a surprise attack, he's precise and quick.
The two other warriors are veterans of various skirmishes with the Fire Nation, and I've seen them around, but never been on a patrol with them.
All of them look up when I enter, and look pleased about the food that comes with my presence. I hand them out quickly and settle in one of the chairs along the wall.
"Thank you," they murmur before tucking in. Seems they are all hungry, and I use the opportunity to observe them. Kesuk eats relatively cleanly, but doesn't always worry about shutting his mouth to chew. Which is slightly revolting, but I don't have to look at his mouth. Hahn, I know, eats with the manners befitting his station as Arnook's son-in-law-to-be, but quickly like he might be worried someone will take his food from him if he doesn't finish first.
The other two take their time, and murmur to each other. "Didn't know Kassuq was one of the food stalls still out."
The other nods, "Didn't peg him for one not to go with his family."
"Good of him to stay."
"Mhm."
From those tidbits I infer that we'll all manage well together. We're all decent human beings, more or less.
Once they've all eaten, we move to surround the table and the map. I'm still chewing, but receive no irritated looks. I won't be speaking with my mouth full, either, so I suppose there's nothing to complain about, since I don't chew loudly.
"As you know, my name is Hahn," he introduces himself, "I am the mission leader, and I'll be glad to have your assistance in planning our tasks." It's not as conceited as it could've been. Perhaps Sokka's absence allows for more of a level head.
The other's eyes seem to shift naturally to me to be second in line. I swallow my mouthful. "I'm Kaito. I look forward to working with you. I'll be handling part of the bending side of things."
"With me," Kesuk smoothly picks up, and I begin to eat again. "Kesuk."
It's the bearded veteran next, "Nauja. I've been on the outer patrols for ten years now."
Outer patrols are those that most often see combat. They also tend to die a lot. It's a position of great danger, and therefore generates great respect.
"Onartok," the last one of us says, "I was a weaponsmith before my son took over, and I joined the patrols."
Once we've all acknowledged each other, Hahn, spreads his hands over the map to smooth the crinkles. I've finished my bowl, and set it aside.
"Right." He begins, nodding. "Our objective is to prevent the commander of the enemy fleet to reach his own objective. That would be successfully invading and conquering us. For that, we believe he will attempt to reach the palace and either capture or kill our chieftain.
"Kaito. You were the commander of the wall-unit before I requested you to be on this mission. While I have faith in you and your benders, holding off a hundred empire class warships won't be an easy feat. How certain are you that the city won't be breached?"
I smile wryly. "The unit is on its way out now, to unfreeze the first wall, and hopefully destroy a large number of enemy ships with a large wave. We incorporated the lovely little metal presents into the outer wall. I believe that it will be very effective. However, we can only do this twice, and the next time they will be ready for it." I am silent for a moment, and allow them to take in the situation properly.
"The traps all over the bay, together with our benders and warriors will further prevent ships from reaching the city wall. But my estimation is that five to ten ships will reach the city and any number of them could breach the wall.
These ship's hulls are made for ramming and piercing at full speed. If the benders in the bay can prevent them from reaching that speed, maybe three could actually enter the city," I pause again, and then give them more numbers. "That's about a hundred soldiers, if not more, and ten or more Komondo rhinos each. Not to mention the benders."
The silence once I've spoken is palpable. Put into words, it does seem like insane odds. How does the Fire Navy even have this many soldiers? They must be all they have. If we win this… the Fire Nation won't be able to recover easily. This could be devastating.
For both sides.
The Nothern Watertribe has about three-hundred waterbenders. A third are women, and therefore healers. Some even have a bit of fighting experience, because we don't send them on patrols when they could be a complete liability, even if they're meant to help. But those are perhaps… twenty at most. Warriors range from four hundred to six, depending on whether you count the ones in training.
"Half of our bending fighting force is out in the bay, at all times. A third of the warriors have joined them, I believe," I add, when no one says anything.
"My guess is that Admiral Zhao will be part of the troops that enter the city. He'll want to claim victory with his own hands, if what the southerner has told us about him is true," Hahn states, face grim.
He points to the map. "If they know anything about the layout of our city, they will aim to breach the city wall here." He indicates the spots on both sides of the gate. The canal behind that first stretch of wall will be another line of defence. "And the most likely route to the palace is along here."
We all lean in close. There are quite a few opportunities for ambushes. One even only a few houses down from my own.
"Since we have the uniforms, we need to find a way to infiltrate his personal escort," Nauja points out.
"The most chaos, and so the most opportune time will be here," Kesuk gestures to the stretch of ice between the large canal and the city.
Onatork nods, "We'll have need of a distraction, early on. How do we recognise him?"
"Admirals wear slightly different uniforms. He has broader shoulder guards and a cape. If he doesn't wear a helmet, we can look out for a man with large sideburns.
I think he might choose to ride the rhinos. According to the southerner he's too proud to disguise himself as one of the common soldiers, or his bodyguards," Hahn informs us with slight emphasis on 'the southerner'. What happened between them? Did he find out about Yue and Sokka? Did Yue woman up?
No. Now is not the time.
"If we don't manage to replace his escort before he enters the city, where will be our second attempt?" Nauja asks, studying the map intently.
We point out and discard or decide on ambush places. We'll have to set them up before nightfall. By then the city will have been breached. We will also need to set up some safeguards to the Spirit Oasis. Perhaps one or two warriors could stand guard, as protection for the Avatar. Katara might be there, but she's only been Pakku's student for a short time. And against several benders, should we fail, she will be next to powerless once the sun rises.
I should stop by. I have no intention of having Yue die. Or the Spirits.
The work is split between the five of us. Kesuk and Onatork set up our ambush points, Nauja speaks with Arnook about helping hands for them, Hahn informs the warriors of our plans, and how they can identify us – a band of blue around our left biceps, just about visible enough peeking out from the uniforms. In the darkness, it will only be visible if one knows to look for it.
I go to check on the Spirit Oasis.
Wish Yue luck and patience, maybe, depending on her mood. I've not seen her since the snot-bending incident.
I find Katara, Sokka and Yue in the process of climbing onto Appa's large back.
"What's happening?" I question, my voice stopping them in their tracks.
Yue lets go of Sokka's hand to run towards me. "Aang's been taken! The Fire Nation prince is here and he's taken Aang while he was in the Avatar State!"
Ah. Right. Shite. That was the reason there was no one there to stop Zhao in the first place.
The southern watertribe siblings are impatient. They will search for Aang no matter what I say. But Yue… I look at her. She'll not stay here, waiting. Not when she's found her resolve.
"You need a guide. You can't go without someone experienced. A healer, too, just in case," I tell her. "Fly to the healer's huts first. Yugoda will help you."
Yue nods, relief and determination in her face now. A plan was what she needed.
"You're not coming?" Sokka asks, accusation clear in his tone.
"I have to defend my city."
His face contorts as he accepts this response with a nod and I help Yue into the saddle. "Stay safe out there. Listen to the healer," I tell them, watch their faces with apprehension that I don't let them see. "And don't die."
"You too!"
Don't forget to throw some power stones :)
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