Chapter 16

Bikki sat in the empty warehouse that he had commandeered for the planning of his and his forces' Attack on Gimi Port and Hayansaeg Fortress. Sitting around the table along with him were his Lieutenants and Captains. He had, after all, been promoted to Major with the Tamna Island Warriors becoming the First Provisional Company of the Liason Forces of the Waegu Island Protectorate. The Second Company, was, somewhat surprisingly, filled with some of the forces that had been captured at Bukda Neungbo who agreed to swear fealty and fight as part of the Liason Forces for pay, instead of fighting for the Pirates for Plunder.

Of officers, Lieutenant Suk-Jong was promoted to Captain of the Tamna Island Warriors, while his replacement was the seniormost sergeant of his Platoon, a Grizzled Older Swordsman named Nam-Jin who had been part of the Original Company of the Tamna Island Warriors before it had been decimated and forced to join ranks with the Hamdeok Marines and Seogwipo Spearmen to form the newest iteration of the Company.

Meanwhile, the forces that Bikki had inherited from Bukda Neungbo were led by Deniigi as Captain and had three platoons formed along similar, yet still different lines as the Tamna Island Warriors. They also had a Water Tribe Cutter Ship named the Tiger Seal which was unique among Cutters as it carried a pair of small ballistae that could be used to clear decks or loaded with harpoons to help board enemy ships.

In the lead of the Assault Platoon, wearing Water Tribe Wolf Armor and carrying a Water Tribe Whaletooth Scimitar and Bone War Club was Lieutenant Amaruq, who was possessed of a wiry frame and whose eyes were gray like the stormy seas. His assault platoon was similarly made up of Water Tribesmen equipped in similar Wolf Armor and with similar weapons.

Next was Lieutenant Emiko, leading the Archery Platoon. The Archery Platoon was all armored in boiled, lacquered, leather armor with good steel helmets and carried bows, arrows, and short blades of varying kinds. Lieutenant Emiko was the Daughter of a Fire Nation Deserter who had joined the Pirates and a local woman, Emiko's father had trained her to use a bow how he had been trained. It was a good thing that she had been captured without a fight at Bukda Neungbo too, because her father had been a Yu-Yan Archer before deserting, which meant that she received at least a passable amount of Yu-Yan Training in Archery from him.

Finally, there was the Ship's Company led by Lieutenant Sun Hee. The Ship's Company Sun Hee was the daughter of a Water Tribe Merchant and a Local Fisherman whose mother had been killed several years back when she had attempted to stop Sun Hee from being conscripted into Garrison Duty by Pirates. As such, not only was Sun Hee willing and able to fight and kill pirates, she was grateful for the opportunity to switch sides to do so. She also was fully capable of commanding the Cutter in battle, which she was also in charge of. Her Platoon all wore Earth Kingdom Brigandines, which was light enough armor that it could be worn at sea, and carried a mix of weaponry that they were familiar with.

All told, Bikki now commanded three hundred troops, after getting reinforcements from Tamna Island and conscripting of Deniigi's people, along with two ships, and he was likely to command even more before the Invasion was done. It was a heady feeling, but not one he could indulge in. After all, planning a major operation with so many troops required planning. Supplies also needed to be laid in and secured. Speaking of which, it was about time the meeting got underway.

"O-Meul how is our supply situation looking?" Questioned Bikki.

"Finding extra supplies for a new Company has been somewhat challenging, but only somewhat. It helps that we're paying suppliers with currency that was seized from the Pirates, often currency the Pirates extorted from the locals. I believe the locals see it as something of a restoration of the proper distribution of wealth." Reported Lieutenant O-Meul.

"Hard to blame them, really. The Pirates weren't exactly kind overlords what with the conscription of people for fleets and garrisons and the extortion of goods and money to fill their coffers." Snorted Captain Suk-Jong.

"Well whether it is justified or not, it has certainly helped us resupply." Shrugged O-Meul.

"I wonder if they'd feel the same knowing just how much of the Garrison switched sides." Mused Lieutenant Dal-Sam.

"Hey, my guys didn't do any of the extortion or conscription!" Defended Deniigi.

"Indeed, many of us are locals." Huffed Lieutenant Sun Hee.

"That or children of locals." Agreed Lieutenant Emiko.

"But not all." Smirked Suk-Jong, nodding at Lieutenant Amaruq.

"No. Not all." Admitted Amaruq.

"Enough. We're all on the same side now. I expect this sort of infighting to die down soon. We cannot afford to be at odds with ourselves if we want to win more victories. Am I understood?" Demanded Bikki.

"Sure Major, but it's gonna take a bit. We were just killing each other a day ago, after all." Pointed out Suk-Jong.

"That was War. You of all people should know how this works. Now that we're on the same side we need to be able to look at each other with eyes unclouded by hate. If we don't our blindness will surely be the death of us all." Commanded Bikki.

A round of nods all around was his response. All knew the stakes for the two companies getting along were literally life or death. One couldn't go into battle in a unit divided against itself, that was just suicide with extra steps. Once the sniping had ended, Bikki proceeded with the planning session.

"So, what do we know of Gimi Port and Hayansaeg Fortress?" Queried Bikki.

"Gimi Port runs most of the trade on the Western Side of the Island. Mind you, this is the Capital Island here, so docking fees, tolls, and taxes are extortionate. Most of the outside trade that comes in comes from smugglers whose profit margins are so high that it doesn't matter, or locals from nearby islands who don't have any other choice. It's still enough for the Garrison to get real gear, pay, and training. Not like ours was. Old Man Song in Gimi Port doesn't actually skimp on the defenses. His Captain of the Guard being his son also probably plays a part there." Huffed Diniigi.

"What about his son what do we know about him?" Asked Bikki.

"Song Wei is an Earthbender, he's friends with Commodore Shun's son, Shun Jing. They're both Earthbenders who learned the Commodore's style of Earthbending from the Commodore himself." Informed Deniigi.

"I take it this style involves the manipulation of Earth-based weapons?" Questioned Bikki.

"That's the part that everyone knows, yeah. The Commodore is rumored to teach secret techniques to his personal students that are closer to stuff you'd see high-level Earth Kingdom Benders use. What that basically means is you can expect Song Wei to bust out a wide mix of Earthbending moves beyond just the stuff used with stone and jade weapons." Responded Deniigi.

"What about his second in command?" Pressed Bikki.

"That's a guy named Zenigata Makoto, he's another one of your lot, a Firebender who deserted his Unit to get rich as a Pirate. He's a capable Firebender, better than Kenzo was by a good margin. He might even be a match for you, the thing is he's always looking out for himself. If he thinks there's more profit in cutting and running instead of fighting, he'll run and he won't think twice about it." Offered Deniigi.

"What do you expect from a guy like that?" Shrugged Amaruq.

"Hey, until recently, you were a guy like that!" Interjected Suk-Jong.

"Lay off Amaruq, he came around, we all did!" Protested Emiko.

"Only after you were already beaten." Reminded Dal-Sam.

"Hey! What did I say about eyes unclouded by hate? How do you expect to win at Gimi Port and Hayansaeg Fortress like this?" Cut in Bikki, quashing the argument right as it began.

"Sorry, Major." Chorused the officers.

With a sigh, Bikki motioned for Deniigi to proceed. She did so with a scathing look at Amaruq and Emiko, which was gratifying to see. If Deniigi could handle tamping down on outbursts from her Company, that just meant that Bikki would be able to focus on tamping down on outbursts from the Tamna Island Warriors. This unit would gel together or they would all die separately.

"As I was saying if we could get Zenigata to desert, then it would go a long way toward cutting the head off the snake. If he's still around, anyway." Intoned Diniigi.

"Yes, the General Did say we would be facing a Skeleton Garrison, didn't he? Something about forces being where they weren't expected." Mused O-Meul.

"If it comes up, it comes up and we can use it against him, if not then we still have to deal with the forces that are there." Shrugged Sun Hee.

"Indeed. What can you tell us about the Regular Forces at Gimi Port?" Queried Bikki.

"If we're expecting a Skeleton Garrison, then you should be expecting the Gimi Immortals. A single Company of Mixed Earth Kingdom-style Heavy Infantry, Local Archers, and Ostrich Horse Cavalry. As the richest of the three main ports on the Capital Island, and the one with the least stingy Captain-Governor, Gimi Port shelled out for the best. The Immortals almost never leave Gimi Port, not unless the Commodore Commands it. Aside from them, I think that'd be the only garrison in the port itself." Informed Deniigi.

"And Hayansaeg Fortress? What about them?" Asked Bikki.

"Hayansang Fortress is known for its white towers. Expect Ballistae in the towers to have more range than the ones we did at Bukda Neungbo. Beyond that? Their Commander is an Earthbender named Hung Fei-Yan, he's mostly known for his Rock Fists and Feet Technique. He's not a bad person, though. A bit arrogant, but honorable enough. I think if you duel him like you did me, we oughta be able to get him to come over to our side. It's his second that's the snake there." Reported Deniigi.

"Rock fists and feet? I'm assuming those are rock gauntlets and boots that allow him to enhance his martial arts with Earthbending?" Questioned Bikki.

"Yep. Hits like a Komodo Rhino with that stuff." Nodded Amaruq.

"So what's this about a Snake second?" Frowned O-Meul, picking up on the Salient point.

"Itigiaq, he's a water bender, though not a very powerful one. He's too much of a coward. The bastard will also try and fuck anything that moves, even if they say no." Spat Emiko.

"It's true, most of us Women have had run-ins with him." Added Sun Hee.

"He didn't flee Agna Qel'a by choice like most of us did. He fled because he was wanted by the Guards. Rumor is he did something unsavory to a visiting Chieftain's daughter and then tried to cover it up." Scowled Deniigi.

"Sounds like a real piece of work, Major." Chimed In Dal-Sam.

"Sounds like someone in need of being shortened by a head, you mean." Scoffed Suk-Jong.

"Agreed. If he offers to surrender, don't buy it. It's likely a trick." Warned Amaruq.

"That will be up for the Major to decide." Reminded O-Meul.

"If we take him alive, it will be to stand trial in front of a military tribunal. I don't want to encourage killing prisoners, after all." Ordered Bikki.

"Works for me. I can't imagine anyone finding him not guilty." Huffed Deniigi.

"Especially with eye witness testimony. I'm willing to offer mine." Confirmed Sun Hee.

"Same here." Affirmed Emiko.

"Noted. What about the rest of the Garrison of Hayansang Fortress?" Queried Bikki.

"It's the same as ours was. A small group of maybe fifty people who've been around long enough to be veterans with the remainder being a mix of fresh conscripts and less experienced troops. With a skeleton Garrison, it's likely we're not looking at more than a single company. No secret entrance, though, unfortunately. Fei-Yan had it blocked up a few years back as an unacceptable hole in the defenses. If the rest of us had listened, we wouldn't be sitting here talking to you right now. No offense, Major." Shrugged Deniigi.

"None taken. So it looks like we'll have to assault the fortress normally. What do you think, O-Meul, can the Wolfporpoise crack something like that?" Asked Bikki.

"We don't have to. I managed to find something that will do the job just fine while we suppress the Balistae. Apparently, one of the locals dealt in smuggled cargos and was all too willing to part with a crate of smuggled blasting jelly for a reduced price if I promised not to report he had it to the General." Grinned O-Meul.

"That's perfect! We'll crack Hayansang Fortress open like a Pig-Chicken Egg." Smirked Suk-Jong.

"Then that's our plan for Hayansang Fortress. Place Blasting Jelly Charges under cover fire from our ships, then assault through the breach with our full force. I'll try and draw the commander into a duel for the Fortress. Then we hit Gimi Port with everything." Intoned Bikki.

"What about that cavalry? That's not really something we've trained to deal with since we reorganized. It'll take a week to ensure the men can repel an Ostrich Horse Charge." Warned Dal-Sam.

"Leave any Cavalry to me. Ostrich Horses aren't fans of the cold." Offered Deniigi.

"Good. All right, so now that we have the plan and our supplies, I'll expect you all to get some sleep. We sail for Gimi Port and Hayansang Fortress in the morning. Make sure everyone is ready for a fight. Dismissed. Ordered Bikki.

And with that, the meeting broke up. Bikki was confident that they could deal with Hayansang Fortress with the Blasting Jelly Charges, and while Gimi Port and its Immortals might be a tougher nut to crack, they would outnumber them two to one in troop numbers. Assuming they could get Hung Fei-Yan on side, they would also outnumber them in benders even if Zenigata was still in town and willing to fight. Plus they always had inducing a betrayal by Zenigata as a card to play if not. With that done, Bikki finished his paperwork and headed off to sleep himself.

Tomorrow, they would once more sail off to battle. . .

XXXX

AN: All right, so now you guys all see what's going on with Bikki and Company. Expect Deniigi to be part of the cast from now on, even after the search for the Avatar resumes. Same for Hung Fei-Yan, should Bikki manage to get him to switch sides.

Blasting Jelly is a great equalizer in terms of siege warfare. It's partly how General Iroh broke through the outer wall of Ba Sing Se in this fic. Against a single fortress that's basically just a Korean-style Mountain Fort? Let's just say things are going to go well on that front.

As for Itigiaq, he is exactly as unpleasant of a person as he sounds. The clue is in the name. After all, Itigiaq means weasel in the Inuit Language, which is what I'm using for the Water Tribes' Languages in this fic. You didn't expect everyone on Team Waegu Pirates to be able to be redeemed, did you?

At any rate, the next chapter will be the start of the battle for Gimi Port and Hayansang Fortress.

Stay tuned. . .