Chapter 20

The Captain-Governor's Mansion of Gimi Port was well fortified. It had its own wall, with a fortified keep, and everything. The gates were twin, solid, doors of lacquered wood, just fire-resistant enough thanks to the lacquer to avoid being burned up by the average Firebender attempting to gain entry onto the grounds. As Bikki approached, he spotted men on the walls, some of the remnants of the Gimi Immortals, standing ready with bows to pepper anyone who approached with arrows. On the ground nearby, Bikki spotted the corpses of one of the Tamna Island Warriors alongside one of the Wolf Armored Warriors of Lieutenant Amaruq's Assault Platoon, arrows stuck in eyes and throats. Whoever the Captain-Governor put on the walls were clearly expert shots.

Nearby, Suk-Jong, Amaruq, and a mixed group of around six Tamna Island Warriors and Wolf Armored Warriors were hunkered down behind an upturned cart that had been carrying containers of Kimchi, according to the smell. Suk-Jong had been grazed by an arrow if the bloody sleeve of his tunic was anything to go by. Fortunately, he'd bandaged it expertly with a strip of cloth. Those with long experience as a mercenary often picked up enough fieldcraft first-aid for such things and Suk-Jong was no exception. After all, why would your employer worry about providing care for the hired help when his own men might need it too? If anything, if a Mercenary died, that was one less person the client would need to pay.

"Suk-Jong, you're wounded. Can you still fight?" Questioned Bikki.

"Better than most. That Kimchi Merchant was pretty pissed we upended his cart, but I was still able to menace him into backing down. Sure, I won't be using any spears until my arm gets looked at, but then, I'm not a spearman." Shrugged Suk-Jong.

"Or an archer. We could use a bit of help dealing with those archers on the wall." Huffed Amaruq.

"Leave that to me." Nodded Bikki.

"You're gonna burn them?" Queried Suk-Jong.

"If I have to, but I was thinking Archery to start with." Answered Bikki.

"Smart thinking, Major. Save your strength for the Benders inside." Nodded Amaruq.

"Kissass." Snorted Suk-Jong.

"Enough. Get ready to move on my signal." Cut in Bikki, forestalling an argument.

"Right. How will we know the signal?" Asked Amaruq.

"Trust me, you'll know." Smirked Bikki.

With that, Bikki drew his bow, nocked an arrow, and popped up from behind cover, letting fly with a special arrow coated in Sirku poison. He needn't have bothered with the coating, as his arrow punched through the neck of the Gimi Immortal, killing him instantly. Immediately, Bikki ducked back down, a trio of return arrows sailing over his head, before nocking another Sirku-coated arrow, popping back up, and letting fly. This one only grazed one of the Gimi Immortals, catching the man in the meat of his bicep. That was enough for the Sirku to do its work. As Bikki dropped back into cover to avoid return fire, the struck Gimi Immortal suddenly stumbled and fell off the wall. The Sirku acted to kill him even though the fall didn't.

That back and forth continued for a while, Bikki firing potshots at Gimi Immortals, hitting a few and missing others, before always ducking back into cover to avoid return fire. Eventually, however, Bikki ran out of arrows with five of the Gimi Immortals still on the walks. That prompted him to switch to bending. Bikki rushed around the upturned cart, dashing out of cover and cutting a pair of arrows out of the air with a draw cut of his Emushi Blade. He dodged a third arrow, janking to the side before leaping up to avoid a fourth. Igniting a flamecharge to boost his jump, Bikki cut a fifth arrow out of the air with his Emushi Blade before launching a pair of whirling kicks that fired arcs of flame onto the wall. The flame arcs caught four of the five Gimi Immortals, while the fifth dove off the wall, breaking his legs in the fall. Broken legs were preferable to death by fire, after all.

As Bikki landed, he breathed in, and out, letting the fire stoke inside him, before punching out in a heavy blow aimed at the lacquered, wooden, gates. The lacquer may be enough to keep the average Firebender from burning the gates down, but Bikki was a student of the Dragon of the West, and thus, very far from average. The potent fire, almost white-hot with intensity, burned into and through the lacquer and caught the gates aflame. Within five minutes, the solid timbers were now charred black and weak. A single front thrust kick from Bikki brought the gates crashing down off their metal hinges. The way into the Captain-Governor's Mansion was open. Suk-Jong, Amaruq, and their six troopers rushed inside.

And Bikki led them at their head. . .

XXXX

Song Wei was not in a good position. The enemy had multiple benders, and while his father, Song Cai, was an Earthbender, he also wasn't the most capable of fighting on the front lines. Not like he used to be, at any rate, not since the injury that had forced his retirement. Of course, the Commodore had given Song Cai a cushy position as Captain-Governor of Gimi Port, it was supposed to be a retirement position, one that allowed Song Cai to kick his feet up, relax, and maybe do some administration instead of having to risk life and limb. It was supposed to be a safe position.

Now, however, because of some imbeciles attacking a Fire Nation Naval Vessel over a bounty on the head of one teenager, and wounding the Crown Prince of the Fire Nation in the attempt, everything had gone sideways. Now, the Outer Islands had revolted and Seom Yosae was being torn apart by invading Fire Nation troops and rebels. The Waegu had thought themselves invincible, the Masters of the Northeastern Seas, able to simply take what they wished. It had been a mindset bolstered by deserters and defectors from the Fire Nation Navy, Earth Kingdom Army, and the Northern Water Tribe.

That mindset had incentivized the extortionate taxes on the local population of the Archipelago, the rampant piracy, and the sponsoring of Triads and Yakuza Syndicates in the towns. It was now apparent that the whole edifice their society had been built on was based around that mindset and had become rotten. In hindsight, one good strike would have been all it took to bring the entire structure of their society down. Now that they were fighting a revolt backed by none other than General Iroh, the Fire Nation's Dragon of the West, that strike had come. Mokjang and Woncheon Ports had been taken already, along with their guarding fortresses, Hayansaeg Fortress had fallen, Geomjeong Citadel cut off from the Commodore's Citadel and Seonan City, and Gimi Port under assault.

"Even the Seonan City is under siege, the Dragon of the West is attacking the Commodore Directly. This is far from an Ideal Situation." Mused Song Wei.

"It is not." Agreed Song Cai.

Song Cai was seated on a chair of rich Teak from the Foggy Swamp in the Southern Earth Kingdom which had itself been inlaid with Fire Nation Bloodstones and Northern Water Tribe Amber. Song Cai was dressed in expensive silks, richly dyed with dyes from as far afield as Nagi Island and the Southern Water Tribe. Unfortunately, Song Cai's ragged goatee, normally impeccably oiled, and tired eyes belied the state of things despite the finery of his seat and clothing. It was evident that Song Cai had not slept well since the invasion had begun, and that was on top of the usual discomfort of his old wound, a burn scar from a Firebender that covered the entire right side of his torso.

"Perhaps we might consider asking for terms? If Wong Fei-Yan and Deniigi can switch sides, we might be able to as well." Tried Song Wei.

"Terms? From Rebels and Firebenders? Never!" Spat Song Cai.

Song Wei knew that his father's vehemence was based more on his anger at Firebenders in general due to his Old Wound than anything tangible. The numbers and even the capabilities of the forces they had remaining all said they should ask for terms rather than continue to fight, but his father would never countenance such a thing, that much was clear.

"What then? We can't hold. We have maybe twenty men on the walls and a further thirty in the keep. The enemy has hundreds left, plus two benders. What would you have us do?" Questioned Song Wei.

"I will not submit myself to capture by Firebenders and the Rebel Scum who support them! I will die first!" Snarled Sonf Cai.

Song Wei frowned. The lack of sleep and deep-seated hatred of Firebenders had made his father completely unreasonable. He would have to try another avenue. There was a slight chance they might be able to escape out of the Servant's Gate and travel to Geomjeong Citadel. Geomjeong Citadel might be cut off from Seonan City and the Commodore's Citadel by enemy forces, but it should still have a path open to the west and North to Swel-habeo, the small port would have enough shrimping boats to carry them off Seom Yosae.

Just as he was about to suggest that, however, a runner came from the courtyard. The Courtyard of the Captain-Governor's Mansion of Gimi Port was, effectively, a stealth fighting position that any skilled Earthbender could take advantage of, between the rock garden and the stone path. Of course, the Captain-Governor before Song Cai had installed a Koi Pond, being a Waterbender, but even so. It made for a decent place to set up a secondary line of defense.

"What news?" Demanded Song Cai.

"The enemy that had been stalled at the Gates have moved up an Archer. The Archer appears to be a Firebender. They're currently trading fire with our Archers, but it's only a matter of time until they breach the gates now." Informed the Runner.

"Very well. Wei, you will lead the defenders in the Courtyard, I have every faith in you. Stall them for as long as you are able, and I shall try the Servants' Gate. I may yet be able to escape and rally forces to push back the enemy into the Sea." Ordered Song Cai.

"Father, I was thinking the same route of escape, but if the Enemy is now in the Mansion Complex, trying such a thing is tantamount to suicide!" Protested Song Wei.

"Are you scared, son? As if some Provincial Firebender would be capable of defeating you? Have a little faith in your abilities!" Queried Song Cai.

"This is no mere Provincial Firebender, Father, we've faced each other before. He forced me to withdraw just half a day ago." Reminded Song Wei.

"Enough! I will not have you question me! You have your orders, now carry them out!" Snapped Song Cai.

"As you wish, father." Nodded Song Wei, bowing.

As he left the Great Hall of the Fortified Keep, Song Wei heard his father call for servants to bring him a traveling cloak and his jian. Song Wei could only shake his head at that. His father was delusional and was definitely going to be captured. This was a pointless endeavor and it may be time for Song Wei to step out of his father's shadow and go his own way. If he had to go against his father's express commands to do so, then so be it. It was better than capture and execution, at any rate.

As he armored himself, Song Wei saw a massive flash from out of the window near the gates. It seemed the enemy was about to enter the Mansion after all. Shaking his head, Song Wei knew he was making the right call. Even still, he had to give his father a chance to escape. Filial Piety demanded he do no less. It didn't demand he commit suicide, however. Song Wei would fight for just long enough for honor to be satisfied and then he would surrender.

As he entered the Courtyard and spotted the gates being broken open and witnessed the initial clash of forces, he knew he had made the right decision. . .

XXXX

Bikki surged into the Courtyard to find thirty some odd Enemy Troops waiting for him. With a snarl, he punched out with both fists, jets of white-hot flame launching out for the enemy and immolating a large group of ten in their armor. His eyes widened a fraction as the ten Gimi Immortals screamed silently as their steel Lamellar armor seared into their very flesh and their eyes boiled and skin melted. True, he'd been prepared, trained to harden himself against such deaths, but seeing it up close unnerved him in a way nothing else did.

He didn't have time to dwell on the implications of inflicting such a horrific death, however, as the enemy reacted, sending arrow fire his way from behind stones and charging him with melee weaponry. A draw cut from his Emushi Blade cut a trio of arrows out of the air and a burst of flames from a swipe of his off-hand burned several other arrows out of the sky, but he was forced to give ground as yet more arrows came in at him, dodging the deadly rain.

As he did that, a pair of Gimi Immortals wielding a pair of Infantry Ji charged in, thrusting with the spikes atop their polearms in an attempt to skewer him. Bikki parried one of the thrusts out to the side with his Emushi Blade and pivoted away from a second, turning about to launch a fireball with a backfist of his off-hand into the chest of one of the Heavy Infantrymen that sent him crashing to the ground in an attempt to extinguish the flame. The second Heavy Infantryman lashed out with the dagger-axe portion of his Ji in a sideways swipe, but Bikki ducked underneath it and cut the Man's legs out from under him with a slash of his Emushi Blade.

Popping up, Bikki launched a leaping snap kick as a Podao-wielding Heavy Infantryman who was charging in behind the Ji-Wielders that caught the Man under the Chin, snapping his neck from the force and killing him. Then, Bikki was forced to dodge more arrows as the enemy Archers attempted to force him into a disadvantaged position for the other Heavy Infantry to take advantage of. Fortunately, Bikki wasn't alone, as Suk-Jong and Amaruq carved their way into the flank of the charging Heavy Infantrymen attempting to take advantage, leading their men in the doing. Bikki watched as Suk-Jong cut the legs out from under a Sergeant in a Yellow-plumed helmet and turned to thrust his blade through the armpit of a Chui-wielding Heavy Infantryman. Nearby, Amaruq cracked the skull of a Heavy Infantryman with his War Club and then tossed a whalebone knife into the neck of another.

If the Gimi Immortals were all that they had to face, then this battle would be over shortly. Unfortunately, that wasn't the case. Bikki spotted Song Wei charging out of the Keep's Gates and stomping the ground. A boulder flew up from the stone path and was punched at one of the Tamna Island Warriors, staving in the Man's chest, even as Song Wei slid his leg back along the ground in a circular motion and opened a pit under one of Amaruq's Men, before burying him alive in the dirt. A third member of Bikki's Forces, A Tamna Island Warrior was then gored on a spike of stone from behind that formed out of the interior surface of the stone walls behind him. Finally, Song Wei punched a second boulder he stomped out of the Ground at Suk-Jong.

"Suk-Jong, to your right!" Called out Bikki.

Suk-Jong turned around, instinctively throwing himself into a tumble, just barely avoiding the boulder. He clambered to his feet and snapped off a desperate Parry as one of the Enemy Archers attempted to shoot him, slicing the arrow out of the sky on muscle memory. With a snarl, Bikki punched out a jet of flame at the Archer, forcing the man to duck behind a boulder in the rock garden. Before Bikki could do anything else, however, that Boulder lifted itself out of the sand and launched itself at him, forcing Bikki to ignite a flamecharge to dodge. Song Wei did the same with other Rock Garden Boulders, Bikki just managing to use the Flamecharge to stay ahead of the stony projectiles as they planted themselves into the dirt behind him in a row.

As Bikki closed on Song Wei, however, pulsing Chi into his Emushi Blade to superheat it, Song Wei stomped the ground and put a pillar of stone between himself and Bikki. Superheated Steel met bent stone and sparks flew from the striking. The stone pillar didn't get cleaved apart, but thankfully, Biki didn't need it to. He took a deep breath in, let it out, and fanned the sparks that had been struck into proper flames via Yang Chi carried on his breath. This forced Song Wei to back away from his cover, lashing out with a front thrust kick that sent the Stone Pillar sliding at Bikki, forcing Bikki to dive to the side to avoid the attack.

As Bikki popped up, he attacked with a roundhouse kick that flung an arc of flame at Song Wei. The Earthbender, did something with his feet, sliding his front foot back in a forty-five-degree arc and opening a hold in the ground underneath him. The change in elevation let him dodge the flame arc, but it hit two of the archers he'd been standing behind, burning them both, but only one fatally. Then, with a stomp, Song Wei launched himself up out of the hole on a pillar of stone, to attack Bikki from above with a draw cut from a jade-inlaid Dao, his bending giving the strike more power than usual thanks to the Jade inlaid into the sword.

Bikki leaped to the side away from the cut but caught a gauntleted fist to the face that smashed his nose crooked and split his lip. He snapped off a wild parry with his superheated Emushi blade that managed to intercept another super-powerful cut of the Jade-Inlaid Dao, smashing the blade down into the stone path and shattering the stones there. Bikki lashed out with a leg sweep that took Song Wei's legs out from under him but was prevented from capitalizing via shattered bits of stone from the broken tile being launched at him by Song Wei. Parries from his Emushi Blade cut the jagged rocks out of the air and he launched into a cut at the same time Song Wei did.

Both blows connected at the same time. Both Bikki and Song Wei's armor took the blows instead of their torsos. Both were knocked backward. However, Bikki's armor was better crafted than Song Wei's being the product of Fire Nation Steelworking whereas Song Wei's armor was the best that could be found in the Waegu Archipelago. Bikki's ribs were bruised, but Song Wei's were cracked.

As Bikki stood up, wincing from bruised ribs, he found his opponent unable to get up, stuck on his hands and knees. Bikki placed his Emushi Blade at Song Wei's throat and the Earthbender looked up at him.

"Yield." Commanded Bikki.

"Very well. My forces are practically exhausted anyway." Huffed Song Wei.

Bikki looked around to see that was true. Of the one hundred Gimi Immortals, only six remained alive. True, his own men were down to five, including Suk-Jong and Amaruq, the former of which had re-opened his arrow wound and the latter of which was sporting a cut to his right thigh from a graze from a Heavy Infantryman's Podao, but there were a lot more where they'd come from just outside in the town proper.

"Suk-Jong, disarm the remaining Gimi Immortals. Amaruq, send a runner to Deniigi and have her send a platoon to take control of the Mansion. Gimi Port is ours now." Ordered Bikki.

His subordinates hastened to obey and as it turned out, a platoon under Dal-Sam had already been on the way, the rest of Gimi Port finally having been pacified a few minutes into the Mansion fight. As they entered the Captain-Governor's Mansion, Dal-Sam spotted a suspiciously well-armed older Traveller trying to escape via the servant's entrance. The Traveller attempted to Earthbend a jade statue of a Junk at Dal-Sam, but the Lieutenant ducked and his men took the Traveller into Custody. It turned out, the man was Song Cai, Captain-Governor of Gimi Port. With his capture, the port was now fully under their control. Two days later, a runner came from General Iroh. Seonan City and the Commodore's Citadel had been captured. Commodore Shun had fallen in battle with the Dragon of the West and Prince Zuko of the Fire Nation.

The Weagu Archipelago was officially fully occupied by their forces. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so here we have the end of the Gimi Port Campaign. It was effectively three battles, all of which were handily won by Bikki. Between that and Bukda Neungbo, Bikki's pretty much proven himself as a field commander. It's just a shame that those accomplishments have been overshadowed by Zuko and Iroh's Victory over Commodore Shun. That was by design, though, and Bikki doesn't begrudge Zuko the accolades.

After all, what does it say about the Crown Prince if his retainer earns more glory in a war than he does? Bikki may have learned the skills a smaller field commander needs and gotten glory that way, but Zuko learned the skills of a General and Prince and even managed to be part of the group to personally defeat the Commodore of the Waegu Pirates, earning a lot of glory that way. It's necessary for Iroh's plans for the future that Zuko learn the skills he needs to manage a war from the top position.

After all, if Ozai is going to be deposed, which is necessary, at this point Iroh believes it will take a full-on Civil War. And who better to lead the rebel side than Ozai's own son?

At any rate, the next chapter will be an interlude showing Zuko and Iroh's battle with Commodore Shun of the Waegu Pirates.

Stay tuned. . .