97 AG
The rally point lay on a barren stretch of ground just south of Chin Village, where the earth sloped into rough scrub before flattening into the narrow approach toward the cliff-hugging walls. Lin marched ahead of her company while the rest spread out behind her in disciplined formation.
Fires smoldered in abandoned cookpits left by earlier units, and the sharp scent of pitch still hung in the air. At the center of the field stood a cluster of men in lacquered armor, their mounts stamping and snorting.
She recognized him immediately. Colonel Mongke was taller than most, shoulders squared beneath plates of iron trimmed in crimson. His face was sharp, his jaw marred by scars that stretched toward his ear and a bald head. At his side stood four riders, each mounted on their exotic beast. The Rough Rhinos had once been more numerous, but now only five remained.
"Captain Lin." Mongke said as she approached, his voice gravel rough from years of fire and smoke. "So this is the famed Red Company." His eyes flicked past her to the troops forming up, his expression unreadable, though a faint curl at the edge of his mouth suggested disdain.
"Colonel, my men will make camp here and plan the assault on the town as quickly as possible." Lin replied, bowing her head just enough to acknowledge his rank. "I have heard of your service under General Iroh at Ba Sing Se, I'm honored to meet you."
He chuckled, though the sound held no warmth. "Old stories. Iroh bled half the army dry on that wall, then left us and ordered a retreat. The sacrifices of everyone who died to make that breach happen meant nothing in the end."
"Sorry for reminding you of a bad memory then." Lin replied.
"Don't worry, girl. I make my own command now."
Lin studied him for a moment before answering. "I also heard the Rhinos once numbered more than a dozen."
"True." Mongke said, resting a hand on the horned helm under his arm. "But I am not in the habit of lowering standards to fill empty saddles. Each of these men is worth ten common soldiers. Those who could not endure are gone, and I have no wish to replace them with weaker stock."
His pride was evident, yet Lin could not ignore the emptiness around them. Five elite riders, yes, but five could not breach a city wall. Her company was the weight of this campaign, and she already disliked how he regarded her soldiers, she hoped he wouldn't endanger their lives unnecessarily.
They walked toward a rise from which the village was visible. Chin clung to the cliffside, its stone walls braced against the rock and watchtowers jutting out like spears. Movement could be seen even at this distance, men patrolling with spears and bows.
"We have been scouting. There are more than a hundred fighters in there." Mongke said. "They should have left to reinforce Omashu by now, but with the northern assault delayed, they remain here. A shame, for them."
"We are outnumbered; we will have to plan accordingly." Lin said plainly.
Mongke's grin widened. "Outnumbered, perhaps, but not outmatched. My Rhinos will sweep through their gates once your company draws them out. You need only press them long enough for us to strike."
She turned her eyes to him. "I will not use my men as bait, Colonel."
"Losses are the nature of war." Mongke said, almost dismissively. "Losses are inevitable in war, are they not? What does it matter if the village falls in flames? I won't make the same mistake as the dragon of the west. Any sacrifice will be avenged in the end."
Lin kept her expression still, though inwardly her stomach tightened. 'What about not making the sacrifices in the first place?', she thought.
"My duty is to preserve my company as well as to complete the mission. We are needed for a later campaign after all. We will figure something out." she said, her voice level.
"Well… I do like your confidence, it seems you will be pushing them hard." Mongke answered, his gaze sliding over her metal arms. "Fill me in on your plan when you have it."
She inclined her head, offering no visible reaction. Inwardly, she measured him, it was clear that if he could he would use her company as a stepping stone to getting what he wanted he would. He seemed a powerful firebender, at least, but a bit careless with the lives entrusted to him if only five of his elite riders remained. It was the sort of arrogance she despised.
As the wind shifted, carrying the distant cry of seabirds and the faint roar of the tide below the cliff, Mongke gestured toward the village once more.
"The walls are not that high, but there are only a few attack angles since the town faces the sea. If you find a way to draw them into the open, my Rhinos will ride in, scatter them, and we will rush the gates for your men to follow. Then we burn it all."
Lin watched the smoke curl from his lips as he exhaled, his eyes lit with the pleasure of destruction. She let the silence stretch before answering.
"We will see what we can do about that, then."
Mongke smirked. "Do as you wish, Captain. Just do not get in our way when the time comes."
He turned back toward his riders, already mounting. Lin's company stood steady behind her, waiting for her signal. She inhaled once, letting the cold air coil in her chest before releasing it slowly, cooling her core. She gave no outward sign of frustration, but inside, she felt the heavy groan of inevitability.
This was not the ally she had hoped for.
----0000----
The evening had fallen into the steady rhythm of a military camp. A few torches were carefully placed at night to give faint light so they would know where to go, but not enough to alert the enemy to their position.
The sound of soldiers moving through their routines formed a muted hum; everyone was whispering and the training these men had endured showed in their discipline. Zhou sat alone at his table, quill moving across the duty rosters, though his hand slowed more than once. His eyes kept lifting toward the command tent, where Captain Lin worked in silence.
He had not spoken more than a handful of words to her since the Agni Kai. The memory still pressed against him: fire, flesh, and the sickening certainty that she had chosen to incinerate the man for insulting her.
When her shadow fell across his table, he was startled, almost knocking over the ink pot. Lin stood over him, her arms folded behind her back, her expression as calm as ever.
"Lieutenant Zhou." she said. "Walk with me."
His first thought was to refuse even though he couldn't disobey a direct order, he had to bite down that thought, and he rose to follow her past the rows of tents. They did not speak until they reached a ridge overlooking Chin Village. The torches on the walls flickered like restless stars, and the cliff beyond fell into darkness where the sea roared unseen.
"You are giving me the cold shoulder, Lieutenant. I know it won't affect your efficiency, but I want to know why you are avoiding me." Lin said at last, her eyes never leaving the village.
Zhou clasped his hands behind his back. "I thought it best. After what happened at the last stop, I did not agree with your choice. It seemed unnecessary."
"Alright, speak of it, I want to hear what you have to say." she said, commanding.
He drew a slow breath. "Agni Kais are wasteful. They are duels born of ego and pride. I thought you would not lower yourself to it."
Lin turned her head just enough for her eyes to find his in the torchlight. "Do you believe I fought for pride?"
Her tone held no challenge, only inquiry, but the question struck sharply. He faltered faintly, trying to remember the situation and his captain's reactions through it all.
"It looked that way. You could have let it go, Captain. You could have reported him to command, and had him removed properly. That would have been more disciplined, and the Fire Nation wouldn't have lost a man just for an insult."
"Would you have done so?"
Zhou shifted, caught off guard. "I would have, yes, I believe I would have sought other channels."
"And in the weeks that followed, as those letters passed between officers, how many would have suffered under his orders needlessly? How many elders would he have sacrificed? Those people are now part of the Fire Nation too, would you trade their lives for his? And you saw his eyes, how they lingered on that woman. Would you condemn her to his abuser?"
Her words pressed against him with a quiet weight. Zhou hesitated, then shook his head. "Still… killing him was not the way. You made a spectacle of it. You showed that violence is a common coin to trade for an insult."
Lin's voice remained calm. "For some, that might be what happened. For others, I taught them that abuse of authority has consequences. That cruelty cannot sit behind a uniform unchallenged. Do you think I cared that he insulted me?"
Zhou met her gaze, searching, then faltered again.
"I've met someone like him before, I was helpless back then. Once I had the strength to escape him, I tried reporting him. It went nowhere and I will remember the smirk on his face as he went on with his life as if nothing happened."
Zhou was shocked, he wondered how someone from a powerful family suffered that fate. Then he came to the realization that it was probably someone from the same Renshi family, it was the only way it made sense.
She stepped closer to the ridge, gesturing lightly toward the village below.
"In a way, it was personal, but it mattered little what the garrison officer said in the end. Tell me, Lieutenant: if an officer like him were posted in your hometown, and he sent your parents into the mines to collapse, just because he is too scared to keep the healthy men in check, or for the sake of his pocket. Would you wait for command to remove him while they suffer? Would you counsel patience while men and women you knew withered under his orders? What if you had a sister or lover…? Would you let him do as he pleases?"
Zhou swallowed, his mouth suddenly dry. "No." he admitted, the word dragged from him reluctantly.
"Then you are beginning to understand what was at stake. My challenge was not born out of pride. I do not care for honor nor for slights." She paused, her eyes devoid of emotion still.
"That officer was a coward and abuser who thought himself to be above others, with no regard for the rest of the people around him. His actions would cost other ships the same hardship we just endure or maybe worse. By taking the civilians' money and abusing his position, that village was set to collapse and the coal needed for our war effort would diminish. Do you still think I fought for myself?"
The wind carried the sound of the sea up the cliffside. Zhou's throat tightened as he searched for an answer. He found none.
He tried one last defense. "There could have been another way, an arrest maybe."
Lin inclined her head, as though acknowledging the effort. "Perhaps, but then you would have to deal with his friends. Still, sometimes taking the harder path has benefits, I will take your thoughts into consideration."
There was no mockery in her tone, no edge of dismissal. She remained calm as usual, and without another word she turned, walking back toward camp with steady steps.
Zhou remained on the ridge for a long moment, staring at the village torches. Relief crept through him that the conversation was over, yet unease lingered. He wanted to believe he would have acted differently, but her reasoning left him void of argument.
He had shown her that he had failed to see her true motives and had assumed the worst, comparing her to the other officers he was used to dealing with. Her youth often confused him and he was so sure in his assumptions that he was ashamed he didn't see the bigger picture.
When he finally followed her back, his steps felt heavier, weighed down by doubt.
----0000----
The command tent was lit by a single brazier, its glow casting the faces of the gathered officers into a shifting dance of light and shadow. The night outside was silent except for the distant calls of seabirds carried on the wind.
Lieutenant Kaida leaned over the newly drawn map spread across the table, tracing the lines of the cliff and the narrow road that led up to Chin Village. The company had scouted defenses prepared on the top walls, and earthbenders were present in the enemy's force.
Around her stood the other lieutenants, Aiku with his steady composure, Zhou with his guarded expression after whatever private exchange he had endured with their captain, and Ruze with the calm poise that always seemed to steady the officers around him. Four sergeants were present as well, Katsu, Jiro, Toma, and Nari, each standing ready to offer insight but holding their tongues until called upon.
Kaida tapped the map with the end of a charcoal stick. "There is no way around it. The town hugs the cliff on two sides; we cannot surround them. They could use earthbenders to escape through the cliffs or tunnel to safety without our knowledge about it. A frontal surprise attack may be our best chance."
Sergeant Katsu crossed his arms, his brow furrowed. "That means they will see us coming long before we reach the gate. We will take volleys before we can even touch the wall."
"Unless we soften them from the sea…" Kaida said, glancing toward Toma. "Your men inspected the ship's capabilities. Could the mounted catapults on deck fire upwards?"
Toma stroked his chin. "It would be difficult. The angle is poor, and the deck unstable, but not impossible. We would need stronger counterweights and precise timing. The waves would shift us, yet if the target is broad enough…" He trailed off, nodding to himself. "Yes. It can be done, though the risk of wasted ammunition is high."
"We can maybe think of it as a means to an end. Firing from the sea would force them to cover that side and not allow them to escape hugging the cliffs with earthbenders." Zhou said quietly. "It might distract them, but that still leaves the problem of the gate."
"That is where the Rhinos come in." Aiku offered. His voice carried no enthusiasm. "Mongke claims they will ride in once the defenders leave cover. His beasts can scatter troops, and he believes he can clear the way."
Kaida's eyes narrowed. "Emphasis on believing. He has given us no plan and no cooperative effort. He refused to set foot in this tent."
Ruze folded his hands behind his back. "He intends to act as he thinks best for himself. That much is clear. He said only that we should lure them out, then support them without getting in the way."
Kaida let the stick fall against the table. "Which means he expects us to bleed while he waits for an opportunity to take the glory. If our captain allows that, we will be throwing men away for his vanity."
The sergeants shifted uneasily. Jiro finally spoke. "Captain Lin will not tolerate carelessness, Lieutenant. If Mongke expects to gamble with our lives, he will find her less willing than he imagines."
Kaida's lips pressed into a thin line, and she gave a curt nod. She knew Jiro was right, yet her stomach still twisted at the thought of trusting their soldiers' fate to a man so dismissive of life.
"Then we present two plans." Ruze said, his tone level. "One that coordinates with his cavalry strike, in case our captain orders it; another that relies only on our company and naval support. That way she may choose the path that preserves our strength."
Kaida exhaled, tension easing slightly. "Agreed. The first plan: we attack the gate hard from a distance and draw them out. The Rhinos ride in once they break cover. The second plan: we advance behind shield tactics, dedicating a portion of our firebenders to keep the rocks from hitting our men, while pinning them with a constant, slow and steady attack pattern until the gates fall. Both plans will use the ship's barrage to hammer their city."
"Both need a lot of coordination seeing as we are splitting forces." Aiku added.
Kaida glanced again at the map, at the narrow road crawling toward the gate.
"Then let us put these in order before we bring them to our captain. She will cut them apart if they are half-formed."
The officers bent again over the map, voices low but firm, each adding lines of thought and correction. Outside, the camp stirred faintly with the sound of soldiers on watch. Kaida forced her focus back to the charcoal marks.
Yet, her mind was still on how dismissive the colonel had been when they invited him over to go over the plan. She almost hoped the colonel would challenge their captain, if only to see his arrogance broken and fear on his face.
----0000----
The war chamber smelled of resin and metal, heat rising from the fires surrounding the Fire Lord's throne in slow columns that shimmered beneath the banners of the Fire Nation. Ozai sat with his hands folded on his knees, the carved arms of his throne warm beneath his palms.
Around him, the generals formed a line from most experienced to least, uniforms pressed, faces practiced into masks where temperament might hide. Ministers and clerks clustered beyond them, papers and reports tucked tightly.
His brother Iroh stood at the edge of the ring, a quiet presence that always managed to irritate him. His son, Zuko, stood there too, shoulders straight, his first appearance at the war council by Iroh's request.
General Gong stood first, voice dry and exact. "Fire lord, patrols along the northern coast report increased scouting from Earth Kingdom skiffs. They probe the shallows but avoid engagement when met with resistance. Our picket towers hold firm and there is little more to add at present."
Ozai inclined his head. "Keep the watch twice as long as before, and shift a light company toward the eastern shores. If they come again, let them find smoke for an answer."
General Onomu offered the next dispatch, his speech economical and calm. "Supply trains to the forward depots remain steady. A single convoy suffered skirmish losses, but escorts repelled the attackers. There is a request for additional longboats to ensure supply security."
"Grant them; we can take them from the reserves stationed at Shu Jing." Ozai said. "No convoy will travel without an escort and a reserve."
General Oraso Eiko followed. "The river fording at Huan has been reinforced. Earthworks are holding and our engineers buried paths to the marsh. Enemy patrols avoid the area during daylight, but they strike hard at night. It has been challenging to overcome."
"Mmm, not much we can do, they know our weaknesses." replied Ozai.
General Shinu spoke next, his voice baritone and unhurried. "Raiding bands from the interior harass our recently established colonies. We have detached a scouting party of Yuyan archers to thin their numbers. It will be slow work, but necessary to secure the towns."
Ozai merely nodded at the report.
Then General Shu, whom Ozai had asked to report specifically on southern logistics, stepped into the light and unrolled a small parchment. His face bore the sheen of recent travel.
"My lord, the mining village on the southern approach suffered an incident. The Red Company found irregularities and had to work themselves to gather the coal they needed to keep heading south. It seems we didn't update them with the location of the rig prison that holds the coal refueling station."
"Then there was an incident involving a garrison officer who had conscripted more able hands into this rig and was abusing his authority with the local population, which would have impacted coal production. Captain Lin stepped in, challenged the officer, and killed him in a duel. A lieutenant raised a concern regarding the brutality with which he was disposed of. Apparently burned to ashes right in front of the entire company. We then received a request to send back some of the prisoners, which we granted, and production resumed within two days and output returned to projected levels."
A dozen heads turned toward Shu, and the ministers shifted as they absorbed the detail. Ozai let a small warmth of satisfaction grow. Lin of the Renshi family was showing herself efficient, merciless in her methods, and useful in the way that mattered in war.
He had marked her before. Her presence in the field pleased him more than he would ever admit. The other one he had noted was captain Zhao. Both showed a lot of potential and promise.
General Mak, terse and practical, added, "Numbers are up, my lord. Coal stores are within the expected range for this quarter. If production holds, our southern foundries will not fail us before the season turns, and the navy will be well supplied."
General Mung, older and prone to bluntness, offered a caution. "The foothold mission on the south peninsula is proceeding as well. According to the Red Company."
General Uyanga's report described the readiness of reserves, their cadence folded into a plan. General Yeoh spoke of the courier lines and the vulnerability of the supply chain if the enemy shifted focus to raiding squads.
The room filled with the instruments of governance, each man adding his piece until the map at the center became a layered argument. Bujing, who had been quiet until the lines reached Omashu and the north, folded his hands and stepped forward only when it mattered.
"My lord, if I may." Bujing said, voice even, "Omashu's periphery grows stout with stores. The Earth Kingdom defenses are concentrated here. A dangerous battalion of their strongest earthbenders and fiercest warriors. So I am recommending the forty-first division."
"But the forty-first is entirely new recruits. How do you expect them to defeat a powerful Earth Kingdom battalion?" asked General Mung.
"I don't. Rather than a costly assault, we can draw out their veterans and elite units to storm forward positions and force the rest back into their mountains. If we position the division visibly in the valley and present the threat of an exposed flank, their elite force will move to meet it. We can then storm the villages around them and force them back into Omashu where they are not a threat. This way we could encircle the entire elite forces and thin their numbers until they surrender."
Ozai watched Bujing the way a falcon watches a rabbit. The plan was clear as it was efficient; on paper it sounded tempting to trade new inexperienced soldiers with an elite battalion of stronger and battle-hardened fighters. They would gain territory and force the enemy back into Omashu.
Zuko stepped forward, eyes sharp. He spoke with a heat of outrage that had not yet learned to cloak itself. "You can't sacrifice an entire division like that! Those soldiers love and defend our nation! How can you betray them?"
The chamber reacted as if a struck drum had answered. Generals drew slightly away, and Ministers inhaled with brittle sound. The idea of a prince directly scolding a generals' plan aroused contempt in the room. They couldn't really argue with royalty. Ozai watched Zuko's face, caught between pride and righteousness, and he felt his rage start to elevate for the boy's lack of respect.
"You speak out of turn. To challenge a general in front of my war room is an act of complete disrespect." Ozai said, his voice dropping so that every ear leaned inward. "Such insolence must be corrected."
He did not launch a long tirade. "This can only be resolved with an Agni Kai."
Bujing's face paled for a second before he steeled his nerves. He was prepared to fight for his lord, but then looking back at Ozai he understood that the contest was not truly with him.
"I accept." the prince said, clearly not understanding whom he had disrespected.
As the war room was cleared and the generals parted ways for him, the Fire lord prepared for the duel against his own son. Ozai's rage was making the fire around the throne room elevate, but then his mind calmed down and he smiled widely.
He just realized this was a good opportunity to remove weakness from the throne. His sister would make the perfect heir after all.