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Post by tsumao on Aug 1, 2007 2:14:31 GMT -5
The cheers of the soldiers itself could crack the walls of the city, Mao thought to himself as he steadily rose up and into the air. What a spectacular moment this was, the thunder of the great storm that was to come. The earthquake before the devouring wave. The... Mao could go on and on in his head, but the grim cold soon gained his intrest and he began to try to warm up the best that he could. His balloon was in the center, as expected and he had a lone firebender with him controlling the balloon. Next to him sat a huge bag of explosives, that were to be dropped on the unyeilding barbarians and destroy their habitat. "If you are going to join us, commodore." Mao yelled loudly down to the lower deck."Then now would be a good time." Mao said dropping the latter down the balloon.
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Post by dian on Aug 1, 2007 19:27:34 GMT -5
Dian hesitated as the bamboo ladder hung in the air before him. Standing upright he stared at the rungs, contemplating. True desired the chance to fly in such a contraption. Bidded his time, and would continue to wait, until he could be given the opportunity.
But so soon? He questioned. While he had a fleet to command and in the middle of a military operation?
Cautiously, his second-in-command approached. Drawing away the commdore's fixated gaze from the bamboo rungs. The subordinate offering to take command while Dian oversaw the first bombing strike. With a timid nod and amidst encouragement from his crew, Dian's hand reached for the first rung. Hand over hand he grabbed each succeeding rung, making his way to the war balloon's basket.
Greeting Mao and the lone firebender on board Dian timidly turned his head aside. Nevously looking downwards onto the deck below as boisterous cheers erupted.
The 'X' formation began to drift through air, below the three corvettes closely trailed them. Clutched tightly, Dian wrapped his cape around him as the war balloons rose higher as they sailed towards the walls of Shai City. From below the commodore could hear a rolling mumur that began to reverberate from the fleet. Crews of the war balloons joining the chorus. Slowly the murmur began to form words, one of the Fire Nation most famous battle hymns erupting from their lips.
A smile creased Dian's face, showing the ever enroaching crow's feet at the corner of his eyes. Composing himself as he shuddered in the cold, his own voice joining theirs.
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Post by tsumao on Aug 3, 2007 4:38:31 GMT -5
Mao was greeted by the Commodore as he finally climbed up the rope ladder. Mao greeted him back as he began to pull the rope back up. Most of the balloons were filled to the maximum amount with men, each with big sacks of bombs in their laps.
The ropes were cut as they came about a quarter of a mile from the city walls. The city was quiet, and surely its citizens were clueless to the magnitude of what was going to happen to them. Soon Mao could see he city in good detail as they approached, he could see the water tribe symbol and many of the water benders scrambling around at the walls.
Mao had chattered Dian's head off by now, talking about life back in the fire nation and such. It was just mindless banter really, and he soon quieted down. The waterbenders below were throwing ice sickles, but not a one came close to the balloons. The men were ordered to hold their bombs, to save them for the residential areas. The first bombing the citizens would not be ready for, and their would be many casualties of war. Mao knew that it was the cost of getting the sick minded ruler of this city and his waterbending militants out of the throne room.
When it started, Mao could not breath. They flew over a bempty residential area, which was only occupied by small groups of waterbenders, who were fleeing into the nearby buildings. That was their mistake, they thought their little ice hovels were going to protect them. Screams and explosions could be heard as the explosive barrels were lit and dropped on the market place. The concussion of the bombs killed some of the soldiers, but it did not stop there. The thick sheets of ice and snow that were used as the market place's floor were shattered and melted. Many of the soldiers fell into the ice cold waters, ironically many could not swim and many of those that could were pulled below by the buildings that began to sink below. Fire rained down upon them, incinerating the confused barbarians.
Mao was chilled by the screams, but he told himself it was just the cold...
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Post by nati on Aug 3, 2007 15:56:34 GMT -5
Nati felt herself fumbling through dreams, distantly aware of shouts and screams. Her eyes shot open, the blood pumping around her body loudly. The temporary infirmary is in panic; the warriors able to drag them selves from their beds were doing so, and the other healers trying to make sense of all the confusion, Nati herself is no expectation, and with a shrill gasp, scrambled from her bed, forgot all about her loose hair and parka, and followed her instinct for self preservation.
Nati stumbled to the ground as a bang erupts from just two dozen paces or so away, her mess of hair clouded her sight for a moment, the smell of smoke reached her nostrils, and the awful smell of burnt flesh making her retch. The sound of people in agony was strange to her trained ears. She swept her loose hair away from her face, before managing to stand and call out to another healer. There was little time to think, just to act. A few of the patients needed instant attention, others less panicked drafted into carrying the seriously injured away.
Everything felt like a surreal dream, her own voice was strange to her own ears, familiar faces twisted up in terror looked alien. The ground beneath her started to crack, starting to part as she simply stepped to the side, watching in horror as the make-shift shelter started to groan and creek, before half of it disappeared into the freezing water a few meters below.
The shrieking of another woman brought Nati back to her senses, Cikuq a younger healer in training, one of her close cousins was scrambling to keep her grip before she was to meet a terrible fate in the icy water. Nati, only feet away, summoned a small glob of water to her hand, forming itself into a clumsy strand of water, which then wrapped around Cikuq’s outstretched hand. With a pull, Cikuq regained her grip and escaped an uncertain demise.
The two collided; hands tangling together and they started to run, shouting for the healers to reform and head for safety. Nati could only start to think of the faces she may never see again. The image of her cousin’s face disappearing under the icy water sent a shiver down her spine. They found a small cluster of healers and water bending warriors, being herded towards a shelter as some water benders provided cover with ice shields. Cikuq is passed to another to whom she clings, and Nati with a falling heart wonders where Kian is.
A feeling strong as her hatred of the Fire Nation bolts through her…something is terribly wrong. Nati, with her hair hip length hair wildly streaming around her, blood somehow smeared across the front of her skirts, dashed back out into the fray to go find her brother. But the firm hand of warrior takes hold of Nati before she is able to make her escape, as she struggles to be free, and starts sobbing loudly as she is dragged away to a near by shelter.
The shelter was gloomy, but the smell of fear was strong amongst the body of cowering women, children and elderly. All Nati could do with curl up against the wall, shutting her ears to the sound of bombs. She felt distinctly helpless.
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Post by saghani on Aug 6, 2007 16:12:29 GMT -5
Saghani was intently observing the construction of the shells when it began at last. The sound of the first explosions could be heard faintly from within the warehouse walls. Fortunately, the warehouse Saghani and the Southerners were in was sturdy and out of the way. Even so, there was still the chance that they could come under fire, and with all this flammable material, they could not afford a critical hit of any kind. As such, Saghani had called for a utility bender squad to reinforce the building. However, they were running late. They should have been here mere minutes after he and the Southerners arrived, but they still hadn’t arrived yet. The lieutenant was about to go find out what was keeping them when a squad of men entered the warehouse, clearly the utility benders.\
“Fifth utility squad reporting for duty,” said a man with grey hair and a thick beard, approaching Saghani. “Sorry we took so-”
“Never mind the apologies, we have no time for trivialities,” Saghani cut in, not wanting to hear any excuses. “Have half of your squad in here reinforcing the walls from the inside, and half doing the same from the outside. Just make sure that the group outside is being subtle about it, we can’t afford to become a target.”
The man gave an awkward salute, and soon the squad had split up, half of the benders inside, reinforcing the structure while half left out the door. Some of the Southerners had paused in their work, either to listen to the sounds of battle outside, or distracted by the work of the utility benders. Saghani let out a small sigh. Delays could not be afforded.
“Keep working,” he said, causing the distracted Southerners to get back to work. “Time is of the essence.”
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Post by chamir on Aug 6, 2007 16:58:06 GMT -5
Snow jostled lose from the ceiling. Chamir's eyes trailed the falling drifts of snow as the thunderous blasts grew louder. Closer.
Nervously his hands began to shook as he sewed. Looking up and around him, Chamir swallowed hard. Holding in his fears. Beads of sweat fromed atop his brow and upper lip as the he listened. Outside randomly timed and dispersed booms could be heard. Much like thunder, but their voice was shorter yet their locations no less random as the appearance of lightning. His breathes shallow, Chamir gawked at the utility benders working inside the warehouse with them. His attention focused upon them as they keep the building from shaking too violently, if not outright collasping atop them while he and his fellow Southerners constructed the mines. Chamir himself one of many amongst the almost two dozen, sewing on the leather shell. Shakey hands almost stabbing hisfingers more than once.
Huffing a long sigh through thinly parted lips he tried to control himself. Hands still shaking and still distracted from his work despite Saghani's admonishment. Outside and around him the blasts still sounded as the bombs feel. The buildings still shook and faintly he could hear the sound of screaming intersped between the blasts.
“Keep working, he says,” muttering lowly under his breath. “Time is of the essence, he says,” wiping his brow. "Mr. I-Got-A-Fire-Nation-Blade-Thus-I-Order-You-Around-Without-Bothering-To-Help-Save-With-Moral-Support-Now-Get-To-Work." Closing his eyes then sighing. Still trying to gain control of himself. Uttering prayers as he went back to sewing.
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Post by ryota on Aug 6, 2007 20:43:26 GMT -5
With explosions sounding, Ryota tried his best to keep his hands and mind steady. Saghani was being no help whatsoever, but the Southern warrior tried not to allow it to bother him, allowing his state of conscious thought to focus on more important things.
Though the Notherner's arrogance manifest itself through his tone and actions, Ryota contently sewed together the leather shell of the tangle mine. He had the upper hand over the nearby Chamir due to constructing the mines far more often, so he was doing so quickly and with more skill. Due to being one of the younger ones in the camp, he tended to be one instructed to do such chores and tasks more often than the more aged ones, though he wasn't bothered by this.
However, each loud bomb caused his heart to jump, giving him a rush as he often felt before. He was eager to enter the battelfield, quickening his pace in sewing the tangle mine together. Perhaps a bit foolhardy in his optimism, but his confidence in the upcoming skirmish would surely not be misplaced.
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Post by aden on Aug 6, 2007 22:20:01 GMT -5
"Slant those walls! Thirty degrees from the vertical!" shouted a middle-aged man amidst the handful of utility benders. His graying brown hair was pulled into a thick braid that hung down to his shoulder blades and he sported a neatly cropped full beard. On his right sleeve, just below his shoulder, there was a bright white patch that showed te stylized outline of the city's great citadel. All around him, other men wearing similar patches were raising angled sections of ice around the warehouse they'd been assinged to protect. And intermingled between them were two-man teams that were on the lookout for any bombs that could potentially strike the engineers.
"Kojaq!" came the call of a voice from inside the warehouse, and the middle-aged utility bender looked that way. A heartbeat later, a warning cry was sounded and a bomb from above ricocheted against the steeply sloped protective roof and bounced to the ground next to it. The following explosion sent a shower of ice particles over the workers.
"Repair it!" Kojaq shouted, and then turned back toward the last person who'd called him. "What is it!?"
"We need you in here now," the man answered, waving for him to enter the warehouse. "The extra weight is cracking the walls!"
The older bender growled in frustration and yelled out a final command to his co-workers, "Thirty degrees! Move, move move!" With that, he rand into the warehouse on the heel;s of the man who'd summoned him.
***********************************************************************
Aden could only watch with frustration and anger as the war balloons soared safely over the city's great wall and began unleashing a torrent of explosions upon the nearly defenseless water tribe city. Sure there were several men stationed along the rim of the ice shelf, but their attempts to reach the attackers was futile. Floating over the center of the city, they were safely out of range from any projectiles.
Sure, he knew that the vast majority of citizens were tucked safely away in the bunkers, deep underground, but there were plenty of others who would still be top-side for this affair. Aden was gripping the railing of the ship on which he stood quite fiercely when he felt a gloved hand placed on his shoulder.
The young waterbender glanced over behind him in time to see Hissun. "They will survive," he said calmly, though he was not exactly looking at Aden. "Our people are not so fragile... Attend to your duties here if you truly wish to help." The wizened old warchief removed his hand from the young warrior's shoulder and strode off quickly across the deck of the deck of the ship as other benders made their preparations.
Rations were being loaded, along with a few weapons in the event of a worst case scenario, and the ships were being cast off from the sheltered harbors in order to head out to sea while the Fire Nation's eyes were locked on the spectacle of destruction. Two other ships were being loaded right alongside Aden's, and when the time was right, they could exit the city through a hidden tunnel straight through the ice shelf and begin their long journey to flank the Fire Nation.
It would take them a full day at least, but Aden had faith that his people would still be fighting by the time the next moon rose.
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Post by nokose on Aug 7, 2007 0:29:32 GMT -5
Occasionally his mauve toned lips curled into an agitated snarl. Visible were his white teeth that peeked through the corner of his upturned lips. Every once in a while his nostrils flared as he exhaled. Sometimes his exasperated sigh spewed forth between clenched teeth. All the while Nokoseuhbholke kept his back turned towards the ongoing carnage being wrought upon his home.
Explosions sounded intermittently as did a vibrant throes of his kinsmen. Nokose did his utmost to ignore them all; to ignore it all. He wanted, even encouraged, others to do the likewise. The more they stood to leer in horror at their home being taken from them, the longer it would take for them to rectify this current injustice. His mind rendered it as such and deviation from it he considered as wholly unnecessary.
Look away. Keep your head down. Work. What took place behind them was not inconsquential. But offering attention unto it was a distraction.
Yet Nokose understood it was hard to not turn away from what was happening behind them. During the loading and prepartions for launch even he had felt himself succumbing to the urge to peer at what was happening behind him. It hurt not to look but he continued to keep himself turned away as he worked. But for him that did not take away the fact that what he was doing still hurt nonetheless.
His memory wanted no part in the events taking place. Egg-shapped with inverted fishtail-shaped fins, the crimson war balloons serenly floated above the Shai City. Barrels of blasthing jelly being lobbed from their baskets onto the city streets and buildings below. Once the first part of their task was completed Nokose departed from the trio of two hulled, wooden, normally sail-powered catamarans to seek out Colonel Hissun.
Curling and uncurling his hands went inside his glittens. He still had yet to look upon the scene but his feeling and want of violence directed at the Fire Navy was no less there. "Prepared for depature," a clench right fist met the palm of his left hand as he inclined his head to Hissun. "We depart at your leave, sir."
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Post by dian on Aug 7, 2007 0:30:47 GMT -5
"AH-AH-AH-Ah-Ah-Ah-ah-ah-ah," laughter caught in Commodore Dian Tun's throat. Despite the darkness he proudly surmised that one sweep through the city had caused as much damage as it took Zhao's entire fleet at least a third of a day to accomplish, if not half, during the last siege months ago. Crimson cloth, egg-shaped and inverted fishtail-shaped fins; the five war balloons had sailed over Shai City's wall untouch. And not just because three, one catapult corvettes were lobbing volleys at the city walls. Attacks from defenders atop the walls could not reach the high enough to reach even the baskets of these flying contraptions. "Marvelous contraption this feat of engineering is," beaming. Himself feeling like a young officer again.
"These barbarians are doomed to failure," absent mindedly chatting to Mao and the firebender igniting and lobbing barrels of blasting jelly atop the city below. "Save one for the palace boy!" yelling to be heard over the engine and the thunderous blasts erupting below. "Tell the others to do the same," referring to the firebender who could signal to the other balloons with firesignal. "I want us to make a pass at the palace steps before we run out!" Delight sounding in his voice as another laugh was caught in his throat. The cold air at their altitude envigorating as he took helm aboard the center war balloon in as the squardon flew in an 'X' formation."
For Dian, his joy came from the amazement at a human being so high up in the air. As if one were actually flying. The intial feeling of not having solid ground or rolling waves underneath you was a new sensation but he overcame it easily enough to be of assistance in aiding and directing the first bombing run upon Shai City. To say that the testing of these new contraptions was proving to be a success he felt, was an understatement. With the damage they were rendered upon the city from above, the story about impenetrable city of Ba Sing Se would finally be changed. True the walls of were far higher than these arctic barbarians could likely manage, likely as high as the surrounding cliffsides the city was embedded in but Dian had no doubt the war balloons could easily reach such a height and even higher still to remain out of range.
"Higher!" he cried, "Higher!" as they neared the city's palace and central building. Barely visible streaks could be seen in the night air. As suspected there were waterbenders placed inside the palace, the highest vantage point in the city save for the surrounding glacier the city was embedded in. Aiming through the windows they attempted to bring down Dian and his men.
"Tell them to rise and turn outside. Prepare yourselves for a hard to starboard turn." Dian continued. "And get that barrel ready! As close as you can get!" They prepared to turn back towards the waiting fleet. Their bombardment ammo nearly depeleted and no other real weapons to attack with save for in defenese. But before they did so he wanted what remaining explosives there were tossed at the palace. A hint of something to come.
"Excellent shot Mao! Now hold on--hard to starboard now!" veering and turning the machine around towards the right after the other four balloons had broken off to turn around themselves. A laugh almost caught in Dian's throat as he peered overboard. Attempting to survery the first round of damage placed upon the city.
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Post by saghani on Aug 14, 2007 12:56:38 GMT -5
As the utility benders got to work, Saghani moved to watch them more closely, having decided he had seen enough of the mine making process by now to be able to reconstruct them at a latter date without the Southerners help. As he moved, however, he couldn’t help but hear the grumblings of a particular Southern soldier. Turning, he saw him as the man he had spoken to before, who had shown clear disdain for his earlier plan. He had probably introduced himself, but Saghani hadn’t bothered to remember the name. His name was inconsequential, at least compared to how much his hands seemed to be shaking as he attempted to do his work. Glancing around, Saghani noticed that some other Southerners seemed to be in a similar situation. This couldn’t be allowed. They needed maximum efficiency.
“I am not making the mines with you because I had thought that the people who invented them would be able to make them better than someone who had just seen them for the first time mere hours ago,” Saghani said levelly, stepping up to the man who had spoken and looking down on him coldly. “However, if the mere sound of battle is enough to make you quiver like a baby turtle-seal, then clearly I overestimated you. Either get control of your pathetic trembling, or step aside and I will do your job for you.”
Saghani had spoken loudly enough that most of the people in the warehouse had heard him, and most had turned to watch the confrontation. He had, after all, essentially called the Southerner a coward right to his face. How the man would respond was going to be closely watched.
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Post by chamir on Aug 15, 2007 16:18:44 GMT -5
Chamir sucked at his right hand. Near the base of his index finger where the bone needle punctured his palm. Taken off guard more by Saghani's sudden appearance near him than the sound of another explosion going off outside. Slowly did Chamir's teeth lay into his hand as he sucked at his own blood.
Verbally dressed downed with Saghani's disdain, Chamir teeth began clenching at his hand while his eyes drooped half-lidded. Attempting to present an expression more of boredom than anger as the northerner was managing to enrage him. The various ways of harming a man, namely Saghani, ran through Chamir's mind. Including grabbing the pompous officer by the collar then just tossing him out there amidst the bombing and leaving him out there.
Comfortably privileged, arrogant prick! His mind suddenly spat. Chamir's nostrils flared as his eyes clenched shut. Their twitch and expression hinting more at his anger than he wanted to let on.
"Heh heh," Chamir sighed, trying to relax, chuckling between his teeth and bit hand.
He took a moment to examine his right hand before looking at Saghani. And smiled.
"I always thought you northerners did have strange ways," sliding himself up to and besides Saghani, slapping the northern tribesman with a good natured slap on the back with his left hand. Yet the force hinted a bit more force to it in its friendliness.
"Nice to see that has not change three years later, eh?" Chamir's left hand wrapped around Saghani's arm.
"Is it really that hard for you to simply say 'Cousin, I know we are in a hurry, but I wish to help. Please put me to work because the more hands we have, the more we can make.'? Is it now?" Giving Saghani a good nature shake as he led, if not tried to drag Saghani to the area were he was sewing.
"Your pride shouldn't be that important that you wander around us like a horny tiger-seal during mating season that can't find a mate. Why, I, your always good natured cousin Chamir, will even show you how to do it!" Plastering a grin on his face as he gave Saghani another, yet lighter pat on the back before sticking his right hand back in his mouth.
"Ryota. Mind handing me an extra needle and such for our cousin here?" Chamir held up his own needle in show.
"Would not want my cowardly baby turtle-seal blood get onto our cousin and making him a coward too, now. Why I would feel oh so awful if he became such a coward that he was unable to do manual labor alongside his men. And all because of me and my cowardly blood contaminating him," head drooping and shaking as Chamir held back a genuine smile creeping at the corner of his lips.
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Post by ryota on Aug 15, 2007 19:55:09 GMT -5
Whilst Chamir became more vocal in expressing his disdain for Saghani's command, Ryota stayed seated and on task, his eyes averted from the two bickering. Granted, the contentious behavior exhibited by the Northerner was infuriating, but Ryota let it slide for now.
He wouldn't bother to take matters into his own hands, since Chamir seemed to be doing a good enough job of handling the arrogant fool by himself. Yet, a small grin of smugness tugged at the Southerner's mouth as his eyes drifted upward from his task and caught Chamir physically leading Saghani to assist them.
As Chamir boldly directed Saghani to the mine constructing area, Ryota interrupted his project and looked at the two men. Wiping the smugness of his grin off his face, he tried to maintain a typical blithe air about him as events moved forward. "Why, certainly, old friend!" he said cheerfully as he held up his own needle at Chamir's request. The Northerner received his comeuppance, but surely there would be unfortunate consequences.
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Post by aden on Aug 17, 2007 20:27:10 GMT -5
Kojaq ran a gloved hand along the iced walls of the entrance to the warehouse as he followed the other bender through the passage. That section of hallway was only recently added along with the rest of the reinforcements, but they seemed unscathed by any explosions. The damage he'd been called for must have been further in.
The middle-aged utility bender came to the end of the path and found homself in a room lit by oil lamps and populated by what appeared to be primarily Southern warriors. They were all working on making some kind of casings, and a pile of completed contraptions were piled in the far corner.
"Over here!" came the call of the man who had led Kojaq into the warehouse, "These cracks are starting to spread." The utility bender started toward the area the warrior was pointing toward, but his attention was drawn by the exchange between the men nearest him. An officer seemed to be berating some of the Southerners for slacking in their duties, only to recieve a rather long-winded and patronizing retort from one of the warriors. Kojaq's brow furrowed as he witnessed the childish display during such a dire situation.
"How about you all keep it down!?" the utility bender shouted over to the quarreling men, ignoring the officer's rank for the moment. He cast a stern glare their way for a moment longer before returning his attention to his assigned task and observing the stress fractures in the wall.
Following the other man's line of sight, he quickly located the growing cracks. Kojaq glanced around the room, checking to see if there was visible damage anywhere else. "You a bender?" he asked, turning his attention toward the man who'd summoned him. A nod from the other tribesman told him he was. "I'm going to need you to brace the wall," Kojaq told him as he moved closer to the problem area and settled into a bending stance. "Do it now."
The other warrior extended his hands toward the wall and called out, "Got it!" Kojaq wafted his hand slowly toward the ice and in an instant the entire cracked section liquified into water. The utility bender noted the sudden slouch in the cieling as the weight of the roof pressed down. He glanced toward the other bender and saw him give a nod to affirm that he could maintain the structure, and then proceeded to repair the wall.
Kojaq held the water in place with one hand while the other reached toward the floor and pulled up a bit of additional water. He joined the two globs of water and then pushed his hands slowly but strongly to force the liquid into the void in the wall. Kojaq continued top push hard as he slowly began to crystalize the water back into ice, filling every possible space in order to avoid a single air pocket. After several seconds, the water was completely frozen and he carefully shaped the surface into a smooth curve that flowed seemlessly into the cieling. Kojaq stood up straight, inspecting his work, and nodded satisfactorily.
"That will hold," he said to the other bender. "I'm going to head back out there... If more cracks appear, patch them up and try to fit a few columns under the cieling to relieve the pressure. A nod and salute from the other bender confirmed his understanding, and Kojaq started toward the door.
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It was dark under the ice shelf. The only light came from torches mounted to the bows of the three small ships as they carefully made their way down the waterway that was carved straight through the ice. Several hundred feet of ice surrounded them on all sides, and from his seat atop the deck of the double hulled ship, Aden couldn't help but to keep glancing ack the way they'd come.
The entrance through the wall of the city had been sealed off behind them to conceal their way out of the interior harbor, and now it was nothing but quiet sailing in the lightless tunnel. No longer could they hear the sounds of explosions and shouting, and that silence was possibly even more unnerving to the young waterbender.
The smooth, icy walls around him did well to reflect the meager light provided by the torches, so his sight wasn't completely limited. Around him, the other warriors on his boat were either helping to guide the ship, or taking what rest they could. It would be a while before they reached the end of the tunnel, and almost a full day until the time came for them to assault the Fire Nation ships directly.
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Post by nokose on Aug 21, 2007 23:01:39 GMT -5
Restless, Nokoseuhbholke walked a second circuit of the entire dual hull ship. Silently observing members of the crew as they went about their tasks onboard if they weren't resting. His strides slow and short as he waded through them. Meanwhile, the three Northern Water Tribe vessels journeyed through their man-made tunnel beneath the ice shelf. Darker than a moonless nights the crews of the three ships could see little far beyond and far behind them despite the numerous lamp alight on their decks. Aboard deck men here and there spoke to one another in low voices that were echoed in the slient tunnel.
Aquatic glow worms, oil lamps lit from stem to stern turned the three crafts were floating beacons in the pitch black tunnel. Waterbender craved, the smooth ice walls reflected the lights glow, extending the Northern Waterbenders' visibility as it casted back their own reflections. Fists behind his back and wanting no company with his own anxiousness, Nokose continued walking his measured pace aboard deck. Outer aft and starboard sides of the catamaran he glanced at the waterbenders from all three craft synchronize their movements as a single team. Raising and lowering their arms in a continous, oscillating wave, gliding them swiftly along the water as they neared the tunnel's end.
Nokose continued on, relayed a message of the tunnel ending as he neared the ships stern mounted rudder. Looking along the walls Nokose inhaled deeply, sighting the latest periodic mark engraved on the tunnel walls. Just as he was told, and just as the distance marker indicated, they were nearing the tunnel's end. Soon they would be out on the open sea again and begin the next leg of their journey as they attempted to flank the offending Fire Nation's naval fleet.
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