Junior Lieutenant Zhao

How long hand it been since I'd last been on the Ajax? Around a month, no? A little less? I suppose it didn't matter. Everything around felt alien to me. The steel walls, the soldiers and crewmen at their tasks, nobody left idling, it felt like I was in a whole new world all over again. One of strict discipline in the place of relaxed idleness. One of military zeal in the place of complacent relaxation. I'd left as a shamed junior lieutenant, and now I was back, with information capable of ending the war.

It felt good to be back.

I wondered if Harzek felt the same. I looked to my side where he sat next to me on the bench in front of Shu's command deck. He'd been quiet nearly the whole way back. I think the one time he'd talked since we left the library was to rally his men together back at the Hami village.

He'd let me do all the lying, explaining to Gani how Shilo had been killed by the guardian spirit of the Library rather than by our own hands, convincing him that we didn't find much of note.

The trip back to the village hadn't been any easy one for anybody involved. It was a miracle that we didn't run into more difficulty on the way there, thankfully dodging any other rival tribes that would have viewed us as the easy pickings we were. The return in itself wasn't any easier. Newly made widows and vilomahs mourned the losses of their husbands or sons while those remaining of Harzek's squad let it sink in that they had lost half of their comrades. And for what? I was sure they all wondered.

I doubted they'd ever know until the time came.

And so I had to lie through my teeth as I was bombarded with questions of whether or not it was worth it, of it their comrades' deaths had had meaning. I could see the hatred in their eyes as I denied that anything had change, as I denied that we were closer to victory than we ever had been.

At the very least, I didn't find myself needing to lie when the slimmed down families of the village asked if their sons and husbands had died bravely. There, I could say that they did, Shilo being no exception, the fool that he was. He stood his ground until the end, fought for what he believed in, and died for it. A part of wanted to pity him, but he had made his choice. He chose to stand in the Fire Nation's way, my way, and he got what came of those who attempted to do so. I wouldn't pity him for the decisions he knowingly made, but I could still acknowledge that a good man had died in that Library, ally or otherwise.

Rallying cries among the Hami called for an expedition to the library, to recover the bodies of their fallen. We followed along us they did so, nearly the whole of the tribe travelling at once in what would have been near suicide. Harzek had insisted we provide protection. It was the least we could do after all.

It didn't take long for us to reach the same spot and, as I'd expected, the structure had disappeared. Wan Shi Tong had moved it. Again. Just as Shilo had suggested. We returned back to the village, none of the Hami's people in tow, the desert, unforgiving, having already consumed their remains.

I never came to learn from where the Hami conjured their good will, but after everything that had transpired, after it had been our operation that had slimmed down their village to feeble numbers, they still insisted on delivering us safely back to the Misty Springs Oasis.

From there, it had been a simple manner of a trek back to Shibi, signaling the blockade, and hitching a ride to the Ajax once again. And here we were, gone for at least 3 and a half weeks, now back, half of our contingent dead, but carrying with us the answers that could end all the pointless death, that could make me the hero our Nation needed.

The door to the command deck opened and a guard leaned out to say, "General Shu will see you now." I rose from where I was seated, headed towards the door only to realize I was headed there alone.

"You coming?" I turned to ask Harzek.

He shook his head where he sat, nothing about his expression saying that he just helped conduct the operation that would save his Nation. "I think I'll hang behind. Besides, this is your moment."

My moment. The stubbornness of this man. From the beginning, he'd called this my crusade, meaning it as an insult then, but now, after everything, after seeing our success, he still insisted on remain untied to it? What the hell was this? Humility? It was bullshit is what it was.

"Lieutenant. You just helped lead an operation that will end the fighting in the Nip, and the world. You weren't with me from the start, but I couldn't have done this without you."

"Or those men."

So that's what this is about. Of course it is, who am I kidding. "Or those men," I conceded. "But they would want you to get credit. They'd want to know that their sacrifice went acknowledged. If only I go in there, they'll have no closure."

"They're dead. What'll they know."

"Then think about those who survived. If you don't go in there with me, when this information is used, they won't know of the role they played. They won't know that you did what you had to do. They'll hate you."

"As they should."

"No. We're heroes of our Nation. Now stop being difficult and get up."

A few moments passed before he nodded his head and sighed. "Alright," he stated, standing up. "Let's get this over with."

You should be thanking me. I'd be happy to take the credit for myself. I earned it after all, but still, it wouldn't sit right.

We entered into the command deck together. It was only him. No guards, no other staff, not even the helmsman. Only him. I understood. What was said in here, stayed in here. He had yet to hear what we'd uncovered, no way or knowing just who could be at liberty to hear what, not until we'd said our part.

"I was beginning to wonder if the desert had swallowed you whole," just as soon as the steel door had shut and locked behind us. "I would be expecting a report, but seeing as how you called this meeting, I assume you found something."

We did, General. We believe we found-"

"Let's…not be so hasty. Start from the beginning."

"Yes sir," I coughed, clearing my throat, realizing I had gotten ahead of myself, failing to follow protocol. Traditionally, as the ranking officer, it would be Harzek giving the after-action report, but seeing as how this was my mission and he certainly did not appear in any state to give a full report, I took the lead, and Shu made no complaints.

"We departed from Shibi on schedule approximately 3 and a half weeks ago. We lost track of time in the desert and am afraid that we will be unable to provide exact dates. From Shibi, we trekked to the Misty Palms Oasis where we contracted a caravan of Beetle-headed merchants to transport us to the village of the Hami Tribe.

"While en route, we were intercepted by the Maojiawa Tribe. We suffered 3 casualties but were assisted by the Hami Tribe. From there, we were escorted to their village and an arrangement was made for them to guide us into the Desert in search of the Library we sought."

"What arrangement was made. What did you promise them in return?"

"Nothing, sir."

"Nothing? They brought you there out of good will?"

"They said that, as we had drunk their tea and shared their meal, we were their guests, and they were contractually obligated to assist us."

"Hmm. Interesting. Very well. Continue."

"Half of our remaining force, 8 men, were accompanied by the sandbenders into the desert. While en route, we were once again attacked, but by the She'wani tribe. We suffered 5 casualties to the She'wani, and most of our sandbender escort was killed as well. The elder of the Hami tribe, Shilo, managed to aid us in escaping via directing us into a sandstorm he managed to shield us from. From there, our tail lost, we found the Library."

"This Library. It's the same one you saw in your vision?"

"Yes sir. The very same."

"What were its coordinates?"

"It wouldn't matter, sir. It's no longer there."

"What do you mean, 'no longer there?'"

"It disappeared, sir."

"That's not possible."

You haven't even heard the half of it yet.

"The library wasn't of our world, sir."

He looked up, perplexed. "And what do you mean by that, junior lieutenant?"

"It was overseen by an owl spirit called Wan Shi Tong. He said he'd built the Library to help spread knowledge to mankind."

"So a Spirit was overseeing the library. Did he question you as to your intentions?"

"Yes sir, and we deceived him into believing we only sought knowledge for knowledge's sake."

"Who accompanied you into the Library?"

"It was me, Lieutenant Harzek, Shilo, and Private Zaik. The latter two did not make it out alive."

"What occurred?"

"Zaik was killed by the owl spirit when he learned of our intentions. Shilo, upon learning as well, attempted to kill me to stop me, and we would have had Harzek not intervened and saved my life," I finished, motioning to the quiet superior behind me.

"Hmm. If they went through such lengths to stop you, should I assume you escaped with something worth knowing?"

"Yes sir." And in that moment, I considered just what to say, how to word it, and ended up figuring to put it as it was, and not overcomplicate anything. "We learned of an astrological phenomena that can take away a waterbender's bending. A Lunar Eclipse."

"Hmm. I see. We already know of this."

What? He noticed my surprise, but remained quiet until I asked, "What? How? Why weren't we ever told about this?"

"I mean no disrespect, but that information is above your paygrade. It does no good to teach just any soldier of something they would be unable to take advantage of. We train our officer corps to possess a fundamental understanding of this, but it's by no means hidden knowledge."

Of course, I thought. Above my paygrade. What had I been expecting? This war had been raging for almost 100 years, and before then there had been more than enough wars involving waterbenders. Somebody would have noticed sooner or later.

"Besides," he continued. It does us little good. It's impossible for us to predict when they will occur. I'm afraid this knowledge does us little good."

About that…

I smirked. "Then what if we told you that we knew when the next one would occur?"

That captured his interest. "What do you mean?"

"Within the library was a room dedicated to mapping out the heavens in relation to our Earth, simulating day, night, comets, and eclipses too. There is one coming, this coming full moon."

"How do you know this information to be accurate."

"It predicted last week's full moon."

"That can be predicted by anybody."

"But thousands of years in advance? This information is reliable, and we have to act on it. I was told on the way here of how the Revanchist tribe has blocked our access to the Eastern Nip. It's clear now beyond all doubt that they're getting involved in this conflict. With this knowledge, we can draw them out and finish them off. Then, there's be nearly nothing standing in the way of us ending this fight."

There was a pause as he considered this, thinking on what I'd said. "This planetarium. How far in advance did you look. What else does it contain?"

And I knew what he was alluding to. The Fire Nation's Darkest Day.

"Worried about a Solar Eclipse?" I asked.

And he froze. I guessed right, hadn't I. That's confidential information.

"Then consider yourself lucky that I burned away the last traces of it."

"This Library possessed information on it?"

"It did. Not anymore. We saw to that."

He breathed out a sigh of relief. "Then the Fire Nation owes you its thanks. So, an upcoming Lunar Eclipse. So we can finally end this fight. I can end this fight now."

I can end this fight.

"Was there anything else you learned?" he asked.

I can end this fight. His words echoed in my mind. No, He can end this fight. I saw what he was after. The same thing I was. That recognition, that responsibility, the mantle of carrying Nation forward. But he was also short sighted. Me? I can do something much more. There is something else. Something far more important. Not how to end this fight, not how to win a simple battle, but how to end this war and change the world forever.

"Zhao," he repeated. "Was there any more information you obtained from this Library?"

Tui and La. Push and Pull. The endgame. The end of this war. I scanned his face, saw his desperation. He saw a treasure trove of information already before him, but he wanted more. But this information, this wasn't for him. Sorry, General Shu, but this is above your paygrade.

"No, sir. Nothing more." I'd taken a gamble. It was entirely possible that Harzek would have spoken out, but as I prayed, he hadn't.

"I see. Then the two of you have done your Nation a great service. You have surpassed the call of duty and embarked on a venture that, despite the odds of failure, you persevered through and won a major victory for your Nation, one that could very well end this campaign. I am hereby promoting you both to the rank of Captain by way of field commission. You are at liberty to choose your assignments."

I breathed a sigh of relief. A part of me had been terrified I would only be returned to my own rank of Lieutenant, but Captain. Years in the making, and I was here. I suppressed the urge to don a grin from ear to ear. I'd done it. This was my accomplishment. I had earned this.

"I give you both leave to chose your assignments. Captain Zhao?"

Captain Zhao. The sound of the words alone was reward enough. But the offer. Any assignment I pleased. I already knew. It had been no question. To return to the sight of my failure, but now as a victor. "The FNS Zodiac, sir."

General Shu chuckled. "I figured as much. All's the better for me. We still haven't found a suitable Captain to replace the last. And you, Captain Harzek?"

"General, I want to see this campaign until the end, but after we are done here, I ask for a transfer to the Defense Fleet."

I couldn't stop myself from turning to him in shock. What are you doing?! I wanted to scream. You've been given the opportunity of the lifetime. Any ship of your choosing within the Western Armada, and this is what you opt for?

General Shu appeared just as surprised. "I'm…surprised," he admitted. And who wouldn't be? "Is that truly what you wish for?"

"It is sir. I've forgotten what I've been fighting for these last few months. I want to remember why I fight. I want to have something real to fight for. 'Home' seems as real to me as it gets."

"I see," General Shu responded. There was something in his voice. Was it…sadness? I could understand if it was. He had just lost a great candidate for a prized captain under his command. "That's respectable. Very well. For now, you will serve aboard the Ajax. When this campaign is over, hopefully in a month's time, I'll have you transferred to the Defense Fleet, and I'll see if I can pull enough strings to give you your own ship."

"That won't be necessary."

"I insist."

Harzek nodded. There was no point in arguing. "Thank you, sir."

"Don't mention it. Both of you are dismissed. I'll schedule a meeting for the Armada's command to be held tomorrow to discuss our strategy. Captain Zhao, I'll expect you to be there. Captain Harzek, I expect you to come as well. You're both dismissed. A courier will tell you when to arrive tomorrow. You're both dismissed."

"Yes sir!"

"Yes sir!"

We saluted and exited the command deck, the steel doors closing behind us. The two of us walked together past the refugees from the command deck who were now flooding back to their posts. It was when we were at the empty stairwell, heading back down, that Harzek asked, "Why didn't you tell the General? About the Water and Moon spirits?"

"Because," I scoffed, mocking Shu's words. "It's above his paygrade. I don't think he's fit to hear something as important as this."

"So what? You just plan on keeping this to yourself?"

"No." I considered whether or not I should even tell him all of this, but he had followed me this far, been alongside me throughout this entire hell. It seemed only fair to me that he hear what I had in store. Besides, I doubted that he cared enough to tell anyone so long as I wasn't plotting treason. "But," I continued. "I will need to send a letter."

"To whom?" he asked, genuinely curious and confused. You poor fool. This never was your game, was it? "To Fire Lord Ozai."