The calm before the storm <Southwest of BSS, EK>

[zhi]

The instillation positioned on the shore of the Western Great Lake was unlike anything the young soldier had seen before. Massive, huge, enormous, it seemed on par with the Jingong Shipyards back home in Hokage, at least twenty five wooden, iron reinforced docks extended out into the lake like giant fingers. Vessels of all sorts lined them, from the typical cruisers to patrol craft and many, many supply and troop transport ships as well. Towering derricks stood along the edges of the docks, poised over the transport ships, ready to begin offloading cargo, many were already in the process of doing so.

On shore, two great structures dominated the skyline. The first, a massive iron-walled fortress, had been constructed to house the facility’s high ranking officers and provide meeting and planning rooms and the like, its central Command Tower stood some ten stories high, or more, rising up from the very center of the base. From the top floor, it was rumored that one could see the walls of Ba Sing Se on a clear day. Around the Command Tower, the courtyard surrounding it and a few administration buildings, a single wall had been put up as opposed to the multiple walls more often used to protect large fortresses.

Situated around the walls of the central structure, one would find several large, prefabricated barracks used to house the lower ranking command staff, large enough to hold some fifty to seventy-five men each. Radiating out from the barracks, a fair number of other structures had been built, ranging from shower/bathroom facilities to several long mess halls and a fairly large infirmary building as well. To the north of this central area, stood the second great structure that would surely draw the eyes of every newcomer to the base.

Several stories high and many hundreds of meters in length, seeming to stretch on as far as the eye could see, there sat the massive Drill, its bit facing off toward the east. Constructed around it, towering iron gantries and scaffoldings clung to its sides like ivy vines climbing up a wall. Enormous cranes towered over the Drill itself, lifting new pieces into place while hundreds of workers swarmed over the machine. Even at night, small showers of sparks trickled down from the scaffolding, marking the places where trained Firebending Engineers were welding the iron plates together.

When Shen had first seen the Drill, he’d stated it was larger in size then his entire farming community back home in the Fire Nation, and Zhi was not about to argue with his friend’s estimate.

Farther north, along the coastline of the Lake, several large iron walled hanger-like structures had been set up – work and machine shops to accommodate in the servicing of the War Crawler units. Cranes, elevating platforms and all manner of equipment and tools had been procured for such tasks. Surrounding the hangers and repair bays several open grass fields were left clear for the massive vehicles to park in. Since Zhi had first seen the great machines, he had been quite enthused at the prospect of inspecting them close up, though he had not yet had the chance to do so.

Down, away from the Drill Assembly Area and south of the bases center, one would find a pair of forges and a few mechanized metal working shops, available for the repair of weapons, armor and the fabrication of parts for all manner of things. From these, steady ribbons of black smoke rose into the sky. Farther south, a number of large warehouses stood, two of these were used as armories while the rest held assorted goods ranging from food to blasting jelly to machine oil.

Next, several hastily constructed bunkhouses stood, used for housing the massive workforce of engineers and laborers who had helped build the base and now were employed in finishing the construction of the Drill. After two years of work, having been built in prefabricated sections back in the Fire Nation then assembled here, the monumental siege weapon was now only several weeks away from deployment. South of the bunkhouses, a sea of tents, both big and small, rose from an expansive grassy field. Here, the thousand strong force of GIs, benders and non benders alike, had made their camps and pitched their tents.

Among this mass camp, Sergeant Zhuk’s men had positioned their tents. They had arrived late in the evening after the ten kilometer march from the site of the Skirmish and many had hastily made camp before heading immediately to bed. Though, some may have been jealous of the engineers and laborers in their bunkhouses, they had the better end of the deal; those structures were poorly designed and leaked badly when squalls blew in off the lake.

Surrounding the whole facility in a massive ring, a defensive wall had been erected. Standing roughly nine feet tall, made of iron and sporting spiked battlements, the walls were defended by small guard towers armed with ballistae. Each tower positioned along the wall every few hundred meters or so. On the whole, the Western Lake Base was an impressive sight to see.

Trotting along, amongst the hustle and bustle of workers, officers and fellow soldiers, Private Zhi made his way south from the central section of the base. Dressed in the simple dark gray under uniform, belt and boots, the young soldier had left behind the majority of his armor in his tent. Though, in a bundle under one arm, he carried another set of under uniform clothing that he had worn during the previous day’s battle.

Acquiring the second set of clothing, the one he now wore, Zhi felt he had made a wise choice. Having just showered, Zhi’s hair was still down from his usual top-knot and still somewhat damp as well, falling to about his shoulders. He’d gone straight to bed after pitching his tent the night before, and had awoken filthy and hungry that morning. After a quick breakfast, he’d gone straight to the showers and now felt quite refreshed.

Stopping by one of the administration buildings, he’d claimed a small bundle of letters from home that had arrived and added these to his collection of thing to bring back to camp. He knew he would need to find a stream or the like to wash his first set of clothing, but that could wait a bit, he was becoming increasingly excited about the letters he’d received. As Zhi was passing the forges, he made a mental not to take his spear in for sharpening and his shoulder guard plate as well, as the collar guard was still badly bent in from that strike dealt by the Earth Kingdom cavalryman during the Skirmish that day before.

When he could wait no longer, he tugged the bundle of letters out from under his arm and carefully pulled a long, folded piece of paper out from between two of the letters, curious as to what it was. As he unfolded it, he found it blank, then turned it over only to find the face of a young woman staring back at him. Peering at her for a moment, his eyes moved down and he read the text at the bottom of the sheet, it was a missing poster, or leaflet, rather.

The young noblewoman had been kidnapped, it seemed and as he gazed at her features - large eyes, flowing black hair, a frown crossed his face. Hopefully they’ll find her alright, he thought, resolving to keep an eye out for this Xin Che’Shi wherever he might be deployed. Staring sorrowfully at the sketch of the girl, the young soldier wasn’t paying attention to where he was walking in the least, still moving along toward the tent sea to the south.

[vu]

"It is," Vu loudly replied to the driver below him, still inside the war crawler, as the vehicle steamed through the gates of this... redoubt? Or was it a redan? Vu usually found himself lacking knowledgable strength when it came to fortification terms. "Though no where near as impressive as the Pohuai Stronghold commanded by Colonel Shinu."

The driver nodded. "But this place isn't as bleak looking."

"But almost as soot-dirty looking," Vu concluded. Behind the three of them were the five other steam-powered wagons, 'war crawlers' as he called them, and a few of komodo-rhino wagons laded with his unit's maintenance and support crew and supplies. A few among them looking weary and worn from the bumpy ride to here.

Passing the gates, Vu's train was greeted by a commanding officer who proudly strode up to Vu's vehicle before willfully bounding up the iron ladder alongside the vehicle's main cabin between the two engines. Vu held back an immediate, open snarl that would have been given to this man were he not of higher rank, but along with an eager salute Vu's features just as swiftly softened like an infatuated schoolgirl when this man introduced himself as major to this base's mechanized division.

After introductionary protocols, the officer stood up atop the cabin and began to survey the platoon of newcomers. An impressed whistle streamed through his lips at the rough treatment the machines were given along with various pointed boulders still lodged into a few of them. Plopping down beside the main hatch from which half of Vu's body stood out of, the major directed the caravan further into the stronghold, introducing them to the massively exquisite feat of Fire Nation engineering that was simply known as "The Drill" and to which some referred to as "The Big Innuendo" and even "Maiden Buster" though people had to be corrected on that last one considering General Iroh's on Ba Seng Se nearly a decade ago. Something that led to an even more lewd discussion when you start talking about outer walls and inner walls. After enough "ooohing" and "aaahing" and lewdness, Vu guided them north along the lake coastline towards an area occupied by several large, erected hangar bays and open fields populated with the same steam-powered landships as the ones in Vu's platoon along with various large siege engine and, from what he could see at the moment, maybe half a dozen or so of the off-road, treaded, overland trains.

"The Earth Kingdom can never survive," Vu quitely uttered his condolences as if the massive continent was a terminally doomed patient whilst he strolled from the hangar bays with helmet tucked under his arm to get another view at the drill--reminding himself to call it the drill and not one of the crude nicknames though they all shouted and laughed in his mind whenever he wanted to just say 'the drill.'

"Your girl back home?" Questioning a passing soldier staring intently at some drawing.

[zhi]

Who would do that? Take some poor girl from her home or the like… The fact that they would go so far as to distribute these fliers out to troops in the Earth Kingdom was really a rather unsettling thought. That would mean her family or the military had reason to believe who ever had taken her had fled across the sea, that didn’t seem like the typical criminal plot – kidnap a young noblewoman and ransom her back to her family. Though, truthfully, Zhi’s knowledge on such subjects was taken straight from the adventure and crime novels he enjoyed so much, what did he really know?

Whatever the case, he felt for the poor Xin girl; her family must be overcome with worry or the like, he concluded. The young soldier knew well that if his younger sister, Zhen, had turned up missing, he himself would no doubt loose a great deal of sleep, the thought of anything happening to her was unthinkable. Thinking of his sister reminded Zhi to add another mental note to his to-do list. Taking a last look at Miss Che’Shi, he realized the only thing he could really do was keep his eyes open for her, who knows where she might turn up?

"Your girl back home?" came a voice from beside him, pulling the young soldier’s mind back into the world around him. “What..?” muttered Zhi, not yet fully realizing he’d been addressed. Tilting his head slightly to one side, he eyed the man strolling along beside him, “Oh, uh… no, no Sir,” he said, shaking his head quickly, “It’s a missing poster flier, poor girl got kidnapped or something” said the young soldier, a slight frown crossing his face as he held it out to show the older fellow.

Studying the man’s uniform for a moment, Zhi couldn’t definitively place him, he was clearly higher up on the food chain, that was clear, “You’re not with the infantry, are you, Sir?” he asked, curiously, repositioning the bundle of clothing and letters under his arm. He realized he must have looked rather silly, out of uniform with his hair down and whatnot, the officer wouldn’t likely comment upon his appearance though, he felt.

[vu]

"Mm?" Vu clamped two upon the edge of the offered flier before tugging it from the soldier. The name 'Xin Che’Shi' strode out of his mouth began he began to mumble through the rest of the flier's contents.

Some noble class's kid, Vu presumed, and likely one belong to a wealthy or powerful family if there were posters of her not only being handed to soldiers but to soldiers on the frontline as well.

"A homelander?" Vu rolled his wrist over to hand back the flier, still clutched between two fingers. "If she is probably not in some brothel in enemy territory," sounding rather despondent upon the girl's fate, "then she is probably dead."

“You’re not with the infantry, are you, Sir?” The curious sounding soldier asked him, meekly repositioning himself as he gripped his belongings.

"Infantry?!" Vu's back began to straighten. Rearing up and his chest bulging as his head BAD!ed back. A hard glare came to his eyes and he felt fire just past his nostrils during his insulted snort.

"By the Goddess of Mercy my role as a soldier will not be that of a human pincushion nor arrow fodder with the life goal to be perforated more harshly than a maiden on her wedding night or more times than all the women in single brothel in a single year," almost stomping away from the boy. "Never will I be delineated by little mock pieces on a battle map that cost more than me."

"No boy." Swinging an arm outward as if he were to strike, Vu arm pointed northward along the lake shore and upon the military's mechanized units. "That is who I am with."

[zhi]

Reaching carefully out to retrieve the offered flier from the man, Zhi took hold of it with his free left hand and gingerly tugged it from the officer’s grip. A slight frown had crossed his face at the fellow’s words; she couldn’t really be dead, could she? Well, could one truly put such an act past criminals? He was uncertain. Surely, if they were concerned enough to distribute fliers and the like, that alone clearly conveyed the urgency of the family’s plight. Carefully he folded the flier back up and tucked it back in with his letters.

The man’s sudden response to his question caught him completely off guard and he came close to dropping the bundle clasped under his arm in surprise. The peculiar display was certainly unexpected and Zhi took a single step back, seeming to shrink as he caught sight of the man’s glare, had he said something wrong? It seemed so, as the officer continued to speak. The young soldier was quite used to Sergeant Zhuk’s temper and the like, he was irritable and, when worked up, had quite the thunderous nature, but never had so few words set off such a reaction. At least, Zhi had never had an encounter similar to this one over the short seventeen years he’d spent skittering about the world and such.

He only managed to catch a few of the words, grimacing and simply watching, feeling somewhat shocked. “I didn’t mean any… offence, sir,” he said quietly, gritting his teeth and peering up at the fellow with his large eyes, hoping he would not continue with his frightful rant. When the officer raised his arm, the young soldier winced instinctively, but when the man spoke, Zhi looked back up at him for a moment, then peered over in the direction in which the fellow was pointing.

The young soldier’s eyes lit upon the shower facilities and, for a short time, he was uncertain of what exactly the man was pointing at. Surely one clad in such a distinguished looking uniform wasn’t in charge of cleaning and maintaining the showers…

He was very near to asking for an explanation, but looked back to the man’s finger, following it more closely. He wasn’t pointing to the showers after all, it seemed he meant beyond them and Zhi peered off into the distance catching sight of the hangers at the far northern tip of the facility in which the armored war vehicles were kept and maintained. His eyes snapped back upon the officer, widening, his little mouth half open. Finding his voice, he spoke, “You’re one of those Crawler guys, huh?” he asked in an excited tone, seeming to forget the man’s earlier reaction to his question. “Do you… really drive one of those.. or.. command one?” I saw you guys back.. on that battlefield! Those Crawlers sure are something...” he trailed off; realizing he’d acted a bit more enthusiastic then he probably ought to have.

How tempted he was to ask if he could, some how, get a closer look at the marvelous machines, but was uncertain of doing so. Biting his lip nervously, he peered down at the pointy, up-turned toes of the man’s boots for a moment before shyly looking back up at him.

[vu]

Rolling on his heels before touching down on the balls of his feet, Vu's hands lethargically clasped behind his back. A swift, sudden nod of approval jerked Vu's head once the dimwit of this soldier finally seemed to brighten towards something more halfwitted in comprehension. Though the youth's response, in Vu's mind, slowly rising unto the level of a squealing infatuated school girl did disconcert him slightly.

Crawlers he said? Vu quietly mused. His favorite term for such machines; these war wagons, these battle carriages, these landships. So this young recruit was not a regular at this base, instead was assigned to Admiral Ashuku as well for this latest siege and invasion attempt upon Ba Sing Se?

"They are more than something," Vu admonished with a deeply restrained passion as he gazed upon them and the drill. "They like the drill are a unto themselves spokes in the wheel of dhamma, the wheel of law, which aid to prove the unequivocal impermanence of both the supposed impenetrable nature of the city and touted undefeatableness of the Earth Kingdom as a whole."

"And I" turning his attention back to Zhi while imposing rank, age, station and experience to tower over him, "Vu Ganesa, Captain of the 8th Mobile Land Ship Team—Detached Platoon, the Lucky Eighth shall offer my aid in doing such to turn the wheel so it may trod over this continent, this world as we drive ourselves towards the cleansing fires of cessation--IF I AM REPRIMANDED FOR YOUR DISTURBANCES," Vu suddenly began yelling over Zhi's head towards a couple of familiar figures of his own platoon lazily following behind a train of female soldiers on their way to the showers "AND YOU SHALL HAVE A MOON'S WORTH OF LATRINE DUTY FOR THE ENTIRE BASE! WITHOUT CLOTHES OR MASKS!"

"And you?" Turning back to Zhi while the salute of his men went unoticed along with their roundabout meandering that led them back towards the showers. "What role have you decided soldier?

[zhi]

Watching the man cautiously, Zhi honestly didn’t know what to expect next. The officer seemed to be pondering things. Or maybe he was just working up to another speech or the like, the young soldier couldn’t be certain and he considered coming up with an excuse to leave the scene and avoid offending him again, though he was still not quite sure of what he’d said that had been taken as offensive in the first place. What was wrong with the infantry? They were a pivotal part of military, or so Zhi had always felt. Were the other branches really so self righteous? Questions the young soldier would be certain not to bring up in any conversation.

The nod was reassuring, at least, and he felt that tinge of excitement rising once more as his question was answered. Entertaining notions of, dare he think it? a ride upon one of the massive machines, he seemed to peer off into space. No, no, that’s silly to think, Zhi thought, but he could still dream. Perhaps he would get the chance to see the Crawlers up close, at least? The question sat poised upon the tip of his tongue, but he held it as the officer spoke once more.

Zhi peered into the distance, off toward the hangers and workshops, up at the northern end of the base. Squinting his eyes to get a better view, he could see several of the war machines arranged in the fields beside the hangers, a few of which were of a design he’d never actually seen before. Little ears perked as he listened to the officer speak, he decided that the man certainly seemed to possess a mystical outlook when it came to the conflict and whatnot, some of what he’d said flew cleanly over Zhi’s head, though he was able to dissect most of the meaning behind the words.

As the man turned back to face him, he nodded shyly in understanding. The officer seemed to exude air of superiority in all things, the simple fact that he stood a good seven inches taller than Zhi was enough to intimidate him somewhat and he simply nodded once more, bowing his head slightly in a respectful manner. He’d have preformed the formal bow, but the bundle of clothing and letters under his arm prevented such. A bundle that was becoming rather uncomfortable in its current position. Without diverting his attention from Captain Vu, he carefully began to shift the bundle to a new place beneath his left arm.

It was pleasant to hear of the man’s commitment to the Nation’s goal, Zhi held respect for people with such dedication. Though, what were his feelings worth to a Captain? Absolutely nothing. He received another shock, however, when the fellow began to shout. Believing, at first, that he was the one being addressed, Zhi clutched his bundle of clothing tightly to his chest, nearly stumbling backwards once again. For a moment, he peeked over the top of his bundle at the man, but realized that Vu’s gaze was concentrated beyond him. Curious, the young soldier carefully turned to observe several men in uniforms similar to the Captain’s pursuing a group of female soldiers. The women, they were an uncommon sight, likely clerical staff or perhaps a MP Homeguard detachment from the home islands sent to police the base.

Watching them move along toward the showers with interest, it took Zhi a moment to realize he was, at last, being addressed. Turning quickly back to face the Crawler Commander he responded in a less than certain manner. “Uh.. huh? Oh,” Zhi paused for a moment, thinking things over. He’d given some thought to his “place” in this great endeavor the Nation had undertaken and felt confident he could answer truthfully, this was something he felt passionate about, “I am.. an, albeit small, cog in the great machine that turns your wheel of law towards that which our people deserve. I’ll take to whatever task I’m given as long as I may do my part for the country that I love, sir. Be that… guard duty or charging head long into the meat grinder.. to live and die for the Fire Nation, that is an honor beyond all others,” he said, nodding enthusiastically, but withdrew, shrinking once more as he looked up at the Captain, hoping for some form of approval.

Feeling increasingly nervous, he broke the silence once more, “Er.. I’m Private Zhi of Sergeant Zhuk’s Third General Infantry Platoon, Fifth Army Group,” the young soldier added, introducing himself properly, “A pleasure to meet you, Captain,” he said, meekly. The boy’s usual shy and uncertain nature reemerging with each passing moment.

[vu]

"Mmhmm," Vu slowly began to stare past the young soldier, rolling this man's location over in his mind. So this man was amongst us in the pervious battle, he concluded. From there Vu's mind quickly traveled, estimated more like, from the possible route this soldier traveled from if this meant he was also there at the rally the night Princess Azula and Agni appeared. That he had marched from frontline to frontline within the Earth Kingdom rather than being shipped from the homeland to the frontlines.

The edge of his mouth on one side of his face began to curl up. Far more respect than amusement. "I prefer to live and live myself," he said. "No good to the military, the nation or anyone else if you are dead. You're more of an inconvenience as a corpse."

"And as for inconveniences," clicking the heels of his boots together with a half glance at Private Zhi's burdens. "Find your tent, private. You can come to the field later. If you are likely to be working alongside my team again then you, and especially your sergeant will need to know what we are capable of, how to stay out of our way and how to work with us. Dismissed."

[zhi]

"Mmhmm," murmured the Captain, seeming to look beyond Zhi once more and, for a moment; the young soldier considered turning and looking over his shoulder, perhaps those female soldiers from before were passing by again. His eyes dipped to peer at the man’s boots for a short time as he weighed his options, but decided against a quick look; things weren’t exactly easy and tensionless between the Private and the rather odd officer at that moment. Looking quickly back up, he caught the quirk to Vu’s lips, the side of his mouth curling up at one side, the look was, honestly, a bit unsettling, what would come next? The fellow had proven himself to be pretty unpredictable thus far.

As he spoke, Zhi simply nodded, wide-eyed as usual and attentive, “That’s true, Sir,” he said slowly, continuing to nod. He certainly wasn’t one to seek death, not a mad man or some sort of berserker, he’d simply meant he was willing to make that sacrifice if it ever became necessary, he was devoted to the Nation’s cause and, he knew well, Vu was as well. Perhaps, the young soldier felt, it was their respective positions in the order of battle and the like. The Captain was used to thundering around in one of those unstoppable War Crawler juggernauts, while Zhi, on the other hand, had only his armor, spear, mind and comrades for a defense. Some sort of polarity difference or the like, he felt. Death was always a very, very real possibility for the GIs, that was just a fact. While some awaited the “Golden Arrow” or “Golden Boulder” to end their lives, certain it was just a matter of time, Zhi had never really put much stock in some form of predetermined destiny, he would just do his job and what would happen would happen.

"And as for inconveniences," Vu continued, peering down at Zhi’s things, bundled up and clasp to his chest. It had occurred to Zhi sometime before that the bundle was a bit of a hassle and he was looking forward to getting back to the Platoon’s “camp” where he could set his things in their proper places and the like. He listened as the Captain offered him the opportunity to see the War Crawlers and other such vehicles and he nodded quickly. Sergeant Zhuk probably wouldn’t be thrilled at the prospect, but if there was a way that the great war machines could be used to aid the infantry and, perhaps, visa versa, he might be interested. At “Dismissed”, Zhi bowed deeply, or, as deeply as one could with a bundle of clothing and letters held in their arms, “Yes, Sir. Thank you, Sir,” he said and carefully turned before skittering away, off toward the southern end of the base with the GIs were camped out.

Trying to remember everything he needed to do over the next day or two, Zhi wished he’d made a list. He’d have to write his parents and sister back the first chance he got, surely the ships leaving from the nearby harbor would deliver the letters to the Home Islands quickly enough and, knowing Hokage, the ships were bound to stop there. It was one of the nation’s largest ports after all and a major staging area for troops and the like. Thinking of home only made him want to write back sooner, but now he had even more on his plate, he’d have to find the Sergeant and explain things, odds were, they’d visit the War Crawler hangers the next day if Zhuk was up to it.

Just as he reached the Third’s encampment, it struck him. He was supposed to remember to inquire about the captured Kyoshi Warriors’ gear, after all, he could think of nothing better than one of their elegant war fans as a gift for Zhen, back home. She would love it. Unfortunately, he had no idea of just how to track the gear down. Asking random officers where they were keeping the all female warrior unit’s things would sound… odd. Back amongst his Third Platoon comrades, Zhi passed Corporal Hue taking a fellow for all he was worth in Pai Sho, an overturned washbasin serving as a table for the game board and the Corporal took a moment to wave to Zhi. The Private returned the wave and quickly found his tent, safely stowing his letters and placing his bundle of dirty clothes aside until he could get the washbasin back from Hue and put it to its intended use.

He quickly tracked the Sergeant down, whom he found making a pot of his well-known and frightfully hot chili with a couple of the other Corporals and several GIs lounging around the fire pit watching and chatting. “Why do you call it ‘Captain Zhuk’s famous Chili’ when you’re not a Captain, Sarge?” asked one of the older fellows. Before Zhuk could respond, another chimed in, “He fed it to a Colonel and got demoted, didn’t know that?” Sergeant Zhuk, the bear-like man, seemed to sway side to side a bit, puffing out his chest and eyeing the man who’d answered, “No,” he snapped, “it’s a recipe my father whipped up and you lot know that so cut the crap or you won’t get any’ve this,” he said flatly and went back to tending the chili.

Quietly, Zhi approached the Sergeant and let him know he had something to tell him. Without looking at the Private, he grunted and continued to stir his chili, indicating to Zhi that he ought to continue. The young soldier explained what he’d been told and the Sergeant made several more grunts and the like and told Zhi to be ready the next morning as they would be heading north to visit the Can-men, as he, and many others amongst the Infantry, called them.

The rest of the evening went by quickly enough; Zhi spent most of his time reading over the letters from his mother, father and sister and ended up drifting off to sleep in the late afternoon in his little tent with the rays of the setting sun falling upon the canvas, creating a warm, soft glow on the inside. The next morning he hurried around and got his armor on, though, the collar guard was still bent, but it would have to do. With no mirror about, he had Shen, his friend in the tent next to his, help him put his hair up and, with only a few short minutes to spare, he was ready to go. He’d asked his friend if he would like to come along, but Shen turned down the offer, opting to sleep in a bit longer that morning.

Soon enough, Zhi, Sergeant Zhuk and Corporal Hue were on their way to the War Crawler hangers at the northern end of the base. As they made their way along, it seemed the whole facility was in full swing as it had been the day before, nothing seemed to have slowed, it was a constant effort to prepare the Drill and other invasion forces and Zhi was quite proud to be a part of it all. Strolling across the great grassy field toward the hangers, he could see the fierce looking machines up ahead and strongly hoped that Vu would remember they were coming.

[vu]

A bare hand slid across Vu's throat in the warm morning glow before adjusting a well used and beaten leatherbound book under another arm with its pages well turned at the edges and stained with tea, oil, sweat, water, spilled ink, fingerprints and random slips of paper serving as bookmarks.

The real days of Spring are coming along, considering today's training exercises would occur inside his war machine while in full armour. Swiftly Vu slipped back into his tent to retrieve a second water skin then slung both of them around his waist before trotting across the great grassy knoll towards the machinery shop and its adjacent hangar section, which he considered to be more of a machinery complex if not outright factory.

Eyes trailing down the various hanagars until reaching the one storing his mechanized cavalry platoon, Vu's pace slowed to a walk the brielfy sped up for a few steps before ending in a deflated halt following his mind's own curiosity then uncertainty and final realization. He was nowhere near the hangar when he stopped, trying to decide whether his verbal reaction should be something positive, negative or an instance of both.

The thump of leather heels slapping together and a fleshy pap of a closed fist salute against an open palm had gone ignored, igniting a some nervous looks and a few smirks of foresighted approval as his entire unit, support staff and all, stood before outside the hangar with their six machines arrayed side-by-side behind them.

"The Fire Lord's pe--tallywhacker is under construction day and night, sir," the platoon's quartermaster/clerk hustled towards Vu, "our toys can get the same service because there'll always be spares that can be peeled off from building the great willie, sir."

Vu nodded, understanding that much. And now that it was mentioned, portions of two of the war crawlers looked quite new. Were new, having to replace a pierced boiler engine on one that miraculously did not explode and replacing the entire turret after a pointed boulder attempted to force its way through one of the four cupolas. But that still did not fully explain the latest cosmetic additions that had first caught Vu's attention.

"And I am to believe that we have all-hours paint crews?" Pushing himself forward.

"Why yes, they do sir." The quartermaster smiled, thinking the comment more of a joke than the want of an explanation. "I hear when the dear is completed they will paint it in the Fire Lord's flesh tone. I made the request and approval for our machines to undergo a paint job last evening when some of us began turning in for the night. I figured 'Why not? We are an autonomous group and some of the others have done the same and we even distinguished ourselves to warrant I says,'" and jerked his thumb towards the inside the hangar they shared with at least two other units of mechanized cavalry. One set of them were painted with a turtle-lion scheme, each with some of its own personal embellishment to differientiate them individually.

"Seems fitting enough..." Vu loudly mumbled in defeat and began to draw near enough to inspect the bull-elephant theme of his platoon. "As long as they are ready to show off to our guests I invited for breakfast."