Avatar: Macai's Journey

Chapter 68: A Kingdom Compromised Part 1

After Zerrel's recent defeat, he waits in a large and dark chamber sitting on a steel chair beside a long steel desk with yellow markings. Two guards with menacing armor stand beside the DOJ figurehead. Zerrel's grey hair shines as he looks up and the dark grey door across him opens.

Haresh arrives with two warriors beside him. One is a brute wielding a battle ax and another is a spearman who has yellow markings painted on his face. Haresh has a dark grey cast over his right knee. Zerrel stands, "Old friend, our moment of salvation is still near."

Haresh gasps, "But Kett has destroyed the Weather Thermometer."

Zerrel looks intensely at his comrade, "You know what we've been through. No one would have thought we would have made it out alive when we turned our backs on the Fire Nation."

Haresh's eyes lighten up, "I know brother, we've been through so much together. I'm not doubting our ability to win this war, I KNOW we will. I just believe this will be a much longer fight."

Zerrel exhales, "You still have much to learn my friend. I have more in store for our enemies and means to bring this to a swift end. Even if it doesn't you must remember the shockwaves felt through each of our actions will have lasting impacts on our enemies. The sacking of the Fire Nation capital is still beyond historic and has driven many new young and eager fighters to our cause."

Haresh nods. Zerrel continues, "Even now, my men are preparing for a major attack at the Earth Kingdom and I want you to lead it. A few of my agents are already keeping our enemies busy."

Haresh replies, "I'd be honored. Such an attack will devastate our opponents morale and bring more to our side."

Zerrel: "Indeed and while you do that, I'll be preparing for my own daring attack. It will still take some weeks but our military innovative specialist Demarius has created something spectacular that can change the course of this war."

Haresh shows his teeth, "Lovely..."

Zerrel: "Our allies have everything needed to prepare for an invasion and the Earth Kingdom is clueless as always. This was even easier to orchestrate than our plan with the Fire Nation, especially after the instability that Azula's coup caused. I have sent Karanga on a brief mission, but it shouldn't take her too long to finish and regroup with you at the Earth Kingdom." Zerrel hands Haresh a map and description of where he will be staying in Ba Sing Se before the attack.

Haresh smiles, "Ba Sing Se again, this will completely erode public faith in their establishment."

Zerrel smiles, "I'm counting on it."

The Depths of Enigma

Two Fire Nation army archers wait on the rooftop of a large dark grey building in the city Ronderby. The sky is a deep blue color with a few thin clouds peppered throughout the sky. Three guards wait about fifteen feet away from the front entrance of the facility. The troopers consist of one swordsman, a firebender, and a spearman with a long black goatee. A carriage rides toward the facility, but this is no ordinary carriage.

The vehicle has modified wheels that cause it to travel faster than most and it has automatic metal wheels similar to that of a Fire Nation tank. Though the vehicle is shaped like a carriage, it has a more durable steel design. The firebender guard looks ahead, "What on earth is that?"

A hatch opens from the top of the carriage and a DOJ archer emerges. The army spearman shouts, "It's a DOJ archer! Get your heads down!!" The archer launches an incendiary arrow into the firebender and the man is blown to pieces. The explosion knocks the spearman down and kills the swordsman beside him. A fire nation archer blasts his weapon into the terrorist sharpshooter's neck.