Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 43: A Bitter Memory

As the final moments of the war plunge on, Macai continues his investigation of Kett's forces. The 31st regiment is docked in the harbor of the Fire Nation Capital. Macai enters Hazo's room and slams several papers on the senior captain's desk. Hazo's room has light brown walls, a dark grey floor, and a light red ceiling. Hazo is sitting on his desk and was napping; the commotion disrupts his slumber.

Hazo: "Wha?"

Macai: "I've found Kett's location. He's in the city Degara! It's only about two hours away, so we can attack him now!"

Hazo replies, "Now wouldn't be a good time. I've been informed an eclipse is coming. All of us will lose our bending, making an attack against a team of high-level benders difficult. Even with Kett weakened."

Macai responds, "We'll find a way Hazo."

Hazo: "We are not invincible Macai, timing is everything. Save your strength. Also, Firelord Ozai expects a large force of Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe warriors will siege the Capital. He hasn't informed everyone outside of the palace's defense unit because he wants it to seem like a surprise to our enemies."

Macai asks, "Why wasn't I informed?"

Hazo: "It seems he has his plan in the bag and is confident in it. My guess is he thinks there is another use of you."

Macai: "Do you have any idea what their plan is?"

Hazo: "It seems they will evacuate most of their forces with a few set up to be overwhelmed to lure the enemies in then return to overwhelm their enemies as soon as it's over with a deadly counterforce."

Macai smiles, "That's brilliant, wish I could have been a part of that."

Hazo: "Look on the bright side, you got to indirectly be a part of the Siege of the North without taking the blame for the failure and without facing that sea monster the Avatar spawned."

Macai: "Wasn't that the Ocean Spirit?"

Hazo: "Something like that..."

Rosh opens Hazo's door. Macai: "Rosh, you know the provision is to knock."

Rosh: "Sorry, this wasn't my own doing." Rosh steps aside and the Intel Captain Pion emerges.

Macai and Hazo's eyes widen. Macai: "Captain Pion, what has Goshal put you up to this time?"

Captain Pion: "You will respond to your superiors with respect boy! Afterall, intel officers outrank army and navy leaders."

Macai: "What about marine officers?"

Pion: "Marine officer ranks are the same as navy ranks while enlisted personnel have army ranks, but I get the feeling you already knew that. If I were you, I would stop testing me." Macai is still bitter about Goshal's request to execute Macai in the past for his attempt to rescue Kett when his forces were asked to pull out. The 31st leader partially blames Kett's defection on Pion, despite Kett's claim that he was going to eventually leave the Fire Nation on his own accord.

Pion continues, "There is no time to waste, you all have a new immediate assignment. Iroh has recently broken out of his private prison cell and he's giving our guards trouble. It will only be a matter of time before he escapes. I know your crew has some eel hounds at your current disposal so take them and have a quick ride to the facility. Stop Iroh in his tracks."

Macai: "You've got it." Pion exits. Macai is used to planning his missions out more and not doing things so suddenly. However, he is always open to new opportunities.

Rosh: "I always admired Iroh, it's a shame we're chasing him. We can get the attack team in a matter of minutes. We have five hounds, who do you want to take?"