Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 42: The Vindicated Avenger

In two months, it will be the hundredth year of the war. As Ozai predicted, the Earth Kingdom's remaining forces are depleted. A few cities have gone bankrupt during the war and completely lost their ability to fight. The Fire Nation's enemies seem to be scattered and unorganized. Some cities have outright surrendered before the might of the Fire Nation.

Even so, a few cities, villages, towns, and sub-regions still hold out against the Fire Nation. If the trend continues, it will only be a matter of time before they also are annexed by the Fire Nation. In a recent letter, a famous Fire Nation writer named Devidius Bevoe wrote that the use of insurrectionist groups, rebel cells, and other underground factions will continue even after the nation has taken the world.

Devidius warned that breaking won't be enough with some of the stubborn groups and that their entire populations would need to be wiped out, except the infants who would be taken into reeducation centers. Devidius's brother Tantin, stated that the Fire Nation would need to give members of other nations fair deals in order for the Nation's rule to last.

Tantin called for the Fire Nation to stop breaking its word and to accept the costs of being honest with both its friends and enemies. Tantin stated that they would need to foster some respect among their foes in order to break down the hatred that stands against them. Tantin mentioned, "Hatred overwhelms fear. If we make enough people hate us, fear will not be enough to maintain our global rule."

Tantin said the Fire Nation should put any members on trial who committed war crimes against other nations and that honor was important if the country wanted to sustainably govern the world. These remarks were unpopular and got Tantin a lot of criticism from his brother. Devidius called Tantin a "weak compromiser" who "caved into the intentions of weaker men". Tantin was later blackballed for his actions and monitored by Fire Nation intelligence agents.

Information about Tantin's treatment was censored to the press but several government documents and stories were leaked back to the public. Multiple "truther campaigns" were pushed by an insurrectionist organization called "the United Way". The United Way consists of members from various occupied territories and it receives support from Fire Nation enemies like the Earth Kingdom Remnant forces and the Water Tribes.

Other unpopular stories about the Fire Nation's destruction of villages, use of slavery among captured villagers, harsh torture treatments, and the brutal actions of the Fire Nation Reconnaissance & Enforcement Department (FNRED) have been leaked in several speeches and the posting of copies of classified Fire Nation documents by the organization.

The freedom fighters have also posted information with the names, addresses, and description pictures of several Fire Nation officials who committed war crimes. United Way activity is even more difficult to control in remote Fire Nation territories or in areas that were recently taken by the faction. In areas that are more indoctrinated, like the Capital, such actions are rarer.

In an effort to crack down on the actions of the rebels, several suspects have been arrested and some have been executed by Fire Nation army forces. However, a team of fighters within the United Way called the "Emancipators of Truth" have fought against pursuing Fire Nation forces and rescued several United Way members.

Now a speech takes place with the major Fire Nation city Fahonri, located deep within the Fire Nation core. It is only a three-day carriage ride away from the Fire Nation capital. It is also one of the largest cities in the Fire Nation, a strong industrial complex, and it is a city with a strong political reputation.

Devisdius Bevoe is in a large building called the "Cranium Center". The Cranium Center is a popular location for political statements. Several nobles, military officials, political leaders, university leaders, and newspaper representatives are at the meeting. They are wearing lavish light red, dark red, and violet uniforms at the event.