Romance of the Fire Nation 火國演義 (Alternate ATLA Timeline)

[jankmaster98]

Prologue

Bloody coughs echoed through a simple room as a long bearded man poured tea into a cup. He did this on behalf of a man currently laying in his bed watching the ceiling with lazy eyes and labored breath. The warmth of the tea roused the sick man however, and upon rising from his bed a weathered smile adorned his aged face.

"You continue to impress with your skills at teamaking," The calming aroma of tea helped to soothe the throat even as the illness continued to assault the lungs.

"I have only learned that which my teacher has provided," The tea maker bowed his head low and allowed his head to touch the flow in subservience, "I would be a poor guest if I had not learned something by now."

General Iroh, Prince of the Blood, Dragon of the West, ironic that right now it was his breath that was failing him. The best doctors of the fire nation and even some discreetly brought from outside were unable to provide more than temporary relief. Consumption was something that took life on its own time, rather than by the whims or wills of any man or woman. Iroh did not remember how he had contracted it, only that now the symptoms had become severe even for him. It was the worst time for something like this to happen as well, not when so much was going on in the life of Prince Zuko.

"That look in your eyes... You are already thinking of something to say," Iroh knew so little of this man from beyond the sea, but the power behind his gaze intrigued the Dragon of the West.

"You have already acquired the materials for Prince Zuko's journey, and all that remains is your presence," The guest remained on his knees as he spoke to Iroh on the mat, "But in your condition travel will only exacerbate your illness."

For weeks Iroh had been telling himself that he would recover soon, and that he would be well enough to accompany Zuko in search for the Avatar. Now was the perfect time to sail if they wanted to make their way to the continent. The tides would not be this favorable for months if they delayed any further, summer storms or the creatures of the deep could tear ships apart with all hands lost to the waves. No, if they were being perfectly honest with themselves the time to leave was now. Zuko was already running thin on the time allowed to make preparations for his journey outside the Fire Nation. Any further delays would be chalked up to disobedience, and who knew what would happen if that was to happen.

"That cannot be all that is going through your mind," Iroh pressed further despite another round of coughing that shook his body, "You can speak freely at this point. You are no longer sitting in my brother's court."

There was a flash behind the eyes that disappeared in seconds. The hint of something more than the simple traveler that Iroh had rescued from the waves two year ago. Those were not the eyes of a simple amnesiac wanderer, they were those of a man more than twice his age with the weight of the world upon his shoulders. Iroh almost thought it a fluke when he first saw, but more and more he understood that it was not mere chance that their paths would cross.

"If you would allow me, I would ask to travel with Prince Zuko during his mission in your stead" There it was, the actual heart of the question before them.

Eyes did not meet when the request was made. In the apparent custom of his people, Iroh's guest bowed his head low to the ground. A shame, for if Iroh could see more of the man's face perhaps he could see the writing that his words failed to reveal. This man who apparently knew nothing of what bending was at first, yet could speak as frequently as the best educated men in the nation. Who had to be told the name of land he had washed up upon, but could understand military strategy and complexities from snippets of conversations.

"And leave me here without your esteemed company?" Iroh found the energy to joke a little despite the circumstances, "Who will help me compose new poetry after several cups of rice wine?"

"If you would rather I remain here in your company, that is where I shall remain," A raised head but a lowered mask, fascinating.

Both men wore masks in public, and both could see various shades behind what they chose to show the outside world. Iroh was the one at a disadvantage here, as a man could learn information about his past through public record. As for this traveler, nothing seemed to exist of his life in any record Iroh had been able to get his hands on.

"Heh, I do not think it would be polite of me to ask you to stay by a sick man's side when you could be doing so much more with your time," On the other hand it would be a true shame to keep such a man inside the walls of the palace.

"Working in your service has provided my lodgings and security in the strange chances of the world," The guest said solemnly, "Whether it is in your service or your nephews I could do no more than to offer good counsel and good conversation."

Good consuel. Something Prince Zuko needed now more than ever. Iroh trusted the men assembled to crew and man the ship. Lieutenant Jee was a solid and dependable man, but Zuko required more than just a military education and firebending teacher. Perhaps the perspectives of this stranger could offer something that might be of use to the education of an exiled young man. Besides, it was not as if there were learned men lining up outside the Prince's door now that news of his banishment had been widespread. Even some of Iroh's old friends in the capital were unwilling or unable to aid a cause that was considered political suicide.

When strapped for friends and resources, one had to take what one could get. Turning down help when things were dire was not a sign of strength as so many others in the Fire Nation would believe. In time, Iroh hoped his illness would recede and he would be able to make the journey to join his nephew, but until that time, perhaps this was the best that could be done. There was something exciting about taking a chance like this, even though so much was at stake, the General who once darred the impossible still lived inside the old man.

"Then.... perhaps there is more for you to do aboard the Salamander than in the capital," Iroh coughed again as he grabbed hold of a letter and handed it over quickly. "When you see my nephew, give him that letter for me."

"You should leave right away, no doubt the boy is already impatient and worrying. He probably feels he has wasted too much time already," Iroh frowned sadly as he considered all the hardship that had befallen his nephew in such a short amount of time.

"I shall pack my things at once and make all haste for Port Vermillion," He didn't have much honestly, only a sword and a few sets of clothes, and now a letter in his possession, "Again, I thank you profusely for all the kindness and mercy you have shown me since I have come into your care."

"If you truly wish to repay me, then do all you can to serve my nephew faithfully until I am ready to join you away from this sickbed," Iroh commanded as he saw his guest bow again and touch his head to the floor.

After raising his head up, he put his fist into an open palm salute and with a clear and strong voice declared his intentions.

"Cao Cao will not not fail in the service of Prince Zuko, on this I stake my life!" The name who called himself Cao Cao at last stood to his feet seemingly full of vigor and righteous zeal.

The Dragon of the West had known many in his lifetime, and he could see talent in a man or woman. In peaceful times perhaps Cao Cao would have become an able minister in some government, but these were not peaceful times. It was a time of exiles and war, and a time when the young Prince of the Fire Nation needed every capable man available. For now, Iroh hoped that he had made the right choice in this moment, and that the time would soon come when his body was able to match his desire to travel with his nephew. In the meantime, the man Cao Mengde would have his chance to see the world.

 

[Travisplo]

Interesting. Three Kingdoms isekai to the Avatar world.

 

[Carstein]

Oh, I do love a historical insert. This is definitely watched.

 

[jankmaster98]

Chapter 1: Departure from the Past

Zuko angrily tapped his foot on the floor of the docks as he waited and waited for the last passenger along with Lt. Jee. Everything else had been prepared and ready to go. Coal reserves had been prepared and seen to, food and water sealed and preserved, and weapons and ammunition prepared to fend off any enemy forces. The crew manifest included the standard complement of sailors required for operating a Vanguard Class Light Cruiser, two squadrons of marines, and of course "diplomatic attaches" as Prince Zuko and General Iroh were so graciously referred to as. Under normal circumstances the term "Prince of the Blood" would be used for both Zuko and Iroh under official documents, but this was not a normal circumstance.



If they had to wait any longer they would run the risk of running into seasonal storms during their journeys to the Air Temples. Even with all the technological mastery the Fire Nation had, the seas were still not their domain. Storms could drown a vessel beneath the waves or throw a ship so off course that the crew could starve in the time it took to regain their navigational bearings. There was never a season where Naval Ministers in the Fire Nation did not curse the fact that there would always be some convoy ships lost at sea with all hands and supplies lost to the waves. Zuko had a lot of ground to cover. Each Air Temple was separated by vast distances and there would be very few friendly refueling stations along the way. Leaving now would be paramount to ensuring an overall safe journey considering the magnitude of the search.



Zuko was about to consider ordering the final preparations for cast off. Yet just as he was about to turn to Lt. Jee and order cast off, a figure appeared off the horizon. Finally, it looked like Uncle Iroh had arrived. Zuko wondered if perhaps his illness had finally receded after the weeks Uncle had spent in bed, but as the man drew closer and closer Zuko could see that was probably not the case.



For one thing the man on the horizon had black hair in comparison to his uncle's gray, and his beard was a full thing covering his whole face. Zuko knew only one person close to his uncle who dressed himself like that, and that person was Cao Cao. Or was it Cao Mengde? Zuko only knew that apparently in Cao Cao's country a man took on a second name when he reached adulthood. Zuko had only rarely seen his uncle's constant guest, but it seemed he was here now in place of his uncle.



"Greetings and salutations, Prince Zuko," Cao Cao said and bowed once he was close enough to speak.



"What are you doing here, has my uncle sent you?" The burned man asked suspiciously



"Your gracious uncle asked me to deliver this letter to you," Cao Cao handed Zuko the scroll and the prince tore it open furiously.



Zuko,



As I write this I can only reflect on how much I would rather be talking to you in person. My illness has taken to the point that I would only be a burden to you on your quest to capture the Avatar. I will join you as soon as I am able, and look forward to reading your reports on your journey across the world. Remember that while you journey on a mission, take time to consider the lands you are traveling through. Send letters as often as you can.



Best to you,



Iroh



Zuko carefully folded the letter and sighed, another member of the family who had to leave. At least Uncle had an explanation for why he wasn't around. Zuko had done his best to try and care for him from time to time, but he didn't know the first thing about medicine or how to heal. Best to just hope that Uncle could recover with time.



"You've delivered my uncle's letter, you can leave now. We have to cast off now," Zuko turned his back to Cao Cao and began to walk towards his ship.



"My prince, a moment if you would?" Cao Cao did not turn around but instead kept his gaze even.



"What is it?" Zuko grunted irritably as this stranger continued to take up more of his time.



"I am a man of little talent and no great means, but I would offer my own services to aid you during your travels," Cao Cao offered with a self-deprecating smile.



"I don't see how you can help me," Zuko said as he narrowed his good eye and even his scared one seemed to be smaller, "You're no firebender or soldier and every person on my ship has to serve a role."



Lt. Jee seemed to raise his eyebrow at that comment but held his tongue. Technically the ship was his uncle's and technically Jee was listed as Captain on the manifest. Though everyone knew that this was Prince Zuko's mission, the rules of the sea were something every sailor respected.



"I may not be able to teach you anything regarding the art of fire, but as a Prince there is more to learn than the business of martial arts," As Cao Cao spoke his voice seemed to take on an air of authority that seemed almost out of place from a man with no past, "There is the art of governance, the work of discerning the hearts of men, the task of guiding the people, and the cultivation of ones academic and literary abilities"



"None of that will matter if I can't capture the Avatar!" Zuko spat as he fumed at the lecturing tone that the older man took up, "What good is learning any of those things if I'll never be around to use them?"



"Then you have given up already!" Cao Cao uttered to the shock of the assembled crew, "You're right! Why learn more than firebending if a hunter is all you will be? But if you believe that one day you will sit upon the throne and return in triumph, you must take every opportunity to grow all aspects of your character. Do you plan to succeed?"



"I will return! Even if I have to scour the world from Pole to Pole I'll find them!" If there was one thing that could be discerned about Prince Zuko from this exchange, it was that he was a passionate young man.



"Even if generations have failed to find the Avatar? Even if people say there is no hope?" Cao Cao taunted now, leaning forward as if daring the prince to strike him.



"Those people had a choice to stop looking, I don't!" Zuko tensed up but held his self control, "If you have so little faith in me then stay here. Be another one of my uncle's pai sho partners for all I care."



Then came a sound that the prince did not expect. Laughter and clapping came from the strange man. Cao Cao leaned back and then bowed deeply with folded hands.



"There is no need for that, your highness," Cao Cao said as he once again made eye contact, "You are right in fact. It is said in my country that if soldiers cannot retreat, then they must make their stand with all that they have. If we apply this to your hunt for the Avatar, then there can be no doubt your search shall be the most dogged of them all."

A hard look from the Prince tested the resolve of both men, until the young man simply huffed and turned his back.



"Fine, come aboard then. Since you're a friend of my uncle's you can have the second officer's cabin," Zuko harrumphed and began walking onto the ship.



A mind filled with dark thoughts stepped aboard the FNS Taira as the crew on deck watched the prince walk up the gangplank. Despite Zuko's status as an exile the crew knew well enough to stand at attention when a prince was on deck. The uniforms of the men were all barely hanging together by the flimsiest sets of thread and needle, but at the very least Zuko observed that their weapons and tools appeared clean. Lt. Jee was technically Ship Captain so it was up to him to give the final orders to cast off, but apparently he was busy talking to Uncle's "esteemed friend."



Zuko knew almost nothing about Cao Mengde. He only recalled that the man had been brought to court by his uncle some years ago just after coming back from the Siege of Ba Sing Se. He had no family, was no fire bender, and barely seemed to have a job other than as a hanger-on around Uncle Iroh. Zuko could barely fathom why Uncle thought this man of all people would be useful to him in his search for the Avatar. For a moment the young prince bitterly cursed at his uncle for not being able to come with him like he had tried to promise. Those thoughts were unworthy however, and so Zuko pushed them down. Consumption was a terrible disease that could come and go. It wasn't in Uncle's power to determine when he would be able to travel. It was Heaven's will that the seasons and the tides worked against Uncle Iroh's wishes.



While Zuko continued to examine the ship and crew he heard footsteps following up the gangplank. As he turned around he saw Lt. Jee and Cao Cao step aboard deck to the attention of the bosun who hollered-



"Captain on deck!"



Evidently even among a group of men on a desperate mission naval traditions prevailed. It was at this moment Zuko wondered why a man of Jee's age was still a lieutenant while so many younger officers had been promoted through the ranks as far as captain or major. Perhaps he was some kind of troublemaker and Zuko was saddled with him as another part of his father's punishment. That hardly mattered, as long as he was willing to do whatever it took to help him capture the Avatar. Zuko could hardly expect anything approaching the creme of the crop considering the circumstances.



"Weigh anchor, stoke the boilers, we sail with the tide!" Lt. Jee gave sharp and clear commands and the crew rushed to obey.



"What is our first heading, your highness?" Lt. Jee used the honorific despite everything, well that was something at least.



"We sail for the Western Air Temple, put us forward with everything we have!" Zuko commanded.



The lieutenant (Captain?) nodded briskly before heading towards the helm, presumably to have the course laid in. Zuko was left standing on the main deck again watching the crew scramble to make all the final preparations to sail. A Vanguard Class like the Taira was damn near ancient, but somehow Zuko still felt a strange sense of anticipation as it creaked and groaned off of the docks. This was the first time Zuko had ever left the Fire Nation, and though he had been on boats before the sea now was nothing like it had ever been before.



Ahead it loomed, along with the wider world, and hopefully the location of the Avatar. Behind him was everything else, the world and the people the prince had known all his life. Uncle, Father, Azula, he found himself thinking about the family he might never see again, and strangely he also couldn't stop thinking about Mai and her sour frown either. Zuko could not afford to look back at his homeland anymore than he could go back in time to change what had happened. He pushed aside those thoughts of family and friends just as he pushed away those questions of what happened to his mother after she left all those years ago.



"It is magnificent is it not?" Zuko's thoughts were interrupted by the deep tones of Cao Cao, "I had never thought much of the sea in my younger days, but now I cannot help but respect it."



"The sea is like any obstacle. The Fire Nation conquered it with with technology and skill," Zuko affirmed, "If the Fire Lords can conquer the seas then their heir can find and capture the Avatar!"



"Is that determination, pride, or foolishness in your voice?" Cao Cao asked with far too much informality, "I suppose it does not matter, those things are determined by how far you can take yourself with them."



"If you continue to speak with that kind of attitude I can always drop you off on the nearest barren rock we find," Zuko huffed irritably.



"Apologies your highness, I am only your humble servant," Cao Cao genuflected with surprising grace considering they were on a moving ship



Dear Spirits, this was going to be a long trip if Cao Mengde was going to be with him the whole way.

 

[jankmaster98]

From the Introduction

As the oldest and largest branch of the armed forces, the Fire Nation Army is the most visible representation of the power of the Fire Lord. Beginning as the combination of the personal household guard of the Fire Lords and the feudal armies; the current Fire Army has become a complex machine in order to properly manage hundreds of thousands of soldiers and the tens of thousands li they occupy. The combination of thousands of years of warrior tradition and the new realities of continental warfare has created a fascinating synthetics that this book attempts to document some small parts of.


On Szeto Plaza

The construction of Szeto Plaza began as the personal residence of the chief retainers to the proto-fire lords. A simple fortified compound in Caldera City, Tengu House, as it was known then, was often the meeting place for war councils when the monarch wished to show that the time for diplomacy had passed. After the unification of the Isles, Tengu House was often the first place that visiting supplicants would wait for an audience with the Fire Lord. Before the beginning of the Great War Tengu House had been in a state of languishment as affairs of state and military began to move more to the royal palace.

This would change during the reign of Fire Lord Sozin and the beginning of the Great War. At the outset of the Great War, the administrative duties of the Fire Army were conducted entirely within the royal palace. Everything from officer commissions, ammo requisitions, to letters from home were routed through a relatively small number of palace courtiers and senior officers. The administrative delays and gridlock that such a closed system created a dire need for bureaucratic expansion, to the extent that the limited Guard Wing of the Palace would no longer be enough to contain the ever expanding number of scribes and officials. It was thus decreed in the 19th Year of the Great War that construction would begin on a new administrative center for the army outside the confines of the palace.

Tengu House was a historic location with suitable room for expansion as the property around the compound was free of almost all major building projects. The deconstruction of Tengu House and the Construction of Szeto Plaza can almost be considered another marking point of the Old Fire Nation being replaced by the new. Bamboo roofs and wooden walls were torn down and replaced with stone and steel beams to create an imposing and spacious edifice in the heart of the royal district.

While the Imperial Palace is the head of the army and the heart of the nation, some say that Szeto Plaza is at least the heart of the army. From Szeto Plaza are issued all the documents that detail a soldier's orders, the all forms that might release a soldier's supplies, and most importantly all the scrolls that confirm a soldier's pay. The majority of the paperwork is done by civilian scribes and clerks, but many of the important administrative positions are held either by retired or serving members of the Fire Army.

While high ranking generals and especially the War Minister will often be summoned to the Imperial Palace, the majority of their time is often spent administering or planning campaigns from Szeto Plaza. The nominal head of Szeto Plaza is the War Minster as a sitting member of the Royal Court, however the most common ranking officer in attendance at Szeto Plaza is the Banner Marshal.

The Banner Marshal (often shortened to just The Banner), is a rank derived from the honored standard bearers of the original retinue armies of the Fire Lords. To become Banner Marshal is considered the capstone of how far any soldier can rise in the Fire Army. Though the argument has been made that the position of Banner Marshal is something of a political tool rather than an actual acknowledgment of service and skill. This was the argument made both during Prince Iroh's appointment as Banner Marshal due to his royal status, and the selection of his replacement after Prince Iroh sold his commission.


On Colonial and Imperial Units

During the initial stages of the Great War, the entirety of the land forces was considered part of the Imperial Army, a new army designed, trained, and tasked with the duty of enacting the expansionist policies of Fire Lord Sozin. The old feudal levies of the vassals had been reorganized into the first standardized regiments of infantry, cavalry, and artillery and given their imperial banners to supplement the regimental banners inherited from their traditional feudal lords. While the majority of the regiments no longer reflect a regionalist recruiting stance, the histories of various regiments are still recorded by the attached army scribes. In this way the memory of past victories and defeats is a tool for inspiring esprit de corps among the men and women of the regiment.

The honor of these Imperial Regiments and the prestige of their assignment has continued even as the army has vastly expanded beyond these initial forces. Imperial Regiments like the 1st Dragon Guards are often deployed at the tip of the spear of new offensive operations in the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribes. It is considered ill fitting of these storied and disciplined troops to be left to languish in garrison duties either at home or in the colonies. A soldier recruited to the imperial regiments might expect his pay to come only a month late instead of two, and an officer assigned to them might find his connections within the social circles of the army grow rapidly. These offices often go on to long careers in Szeto Plaza, and thus continue a patronage circle for their old regiment and members of it. This has however left certain serving individuals and organizations outside of said circles.


To effect the conquest, occupation, and integration of new overseas territory the Fire Nation armies saw a large split within the first 30 years of the Great War. With the duties of the Fire Army rapidly expanding to patrolling the conquered territories and defending the vast new hinterland the Imperial Army had conquered. In the 28th year of the Great War Fire Lord Azulon would approve of the largest expansion of the Fire Army since the onset of the war, and special allocation of what were called "Consolidation Duties" to a large chunk of the new regiments. The Azulon Expansions remain to this date the single largest set of promotions, recruitments, and reorganizations in Fire Nation history under a single administrative act.

By definition the Colonial Units any forces specifically raised and organized for the defense and pacification of the long held Fire Nation Colonies overseas. While the rank structure, pay, and equipment are theoretically the same as Imperial Units, the effect is much different in practice. Colonial units are often the last to receive proper requests for supplies from Szeto Plaza, the least likely to receive the best recruits, and officers who take a position in a colonial regiment often find their careers taking a much slower pace than equivalent Imperial Officers. This is not only due to the fact that garrison duties present less opportunities for visible gallantry, but also due long standing prejudices and old regimental loyalties among the serving staff at Szeto Plaza.

In contrast to the decisions to specifically de-regionalize the imperial regiments, the colonial units have been forced by circumstance to recruit and organize large sections of their standing forces from the overseas and mixed populations of the Fire Colonies. While standing regulations still dictate that no Earth Bender may serve a role in the Fire Army, there technically does not exist any stipulation forbidding ethnic earth nationals from enlisting as standard infantry. As of time of writing no Earth National has achieved a commission within the colonial units, the fact that there exist earth national noncommissioned officers is a point of contention within some corners of the army.

It is this reputation as being filled with the scum of the earth that has permeated to the offices of Szeto Plaza. However that is not to say that these units are without their valor or utility. When counter offensives are launched by the Earth Kingdom or its tributary kingdoms the colonial forces are by their very nature the first to respond. Colonial units stationed on the border can be stated to see more regular action than certain imperial regiments reserved for sharp offensive actions. The problem of banditry is also commonly left to the regimental units. While considered a distasteful duty, the destruction of large groups of armed brigands is key for the security of the colonies and the resources they provide to the Home Islands.

Colonial units have also recently become more entangled with the politics of the colonies themselves. In the transition between military occupation and new civil administration, the exact hierarchy and order structure has become blurred in the colonies. With some of the highly populated colonies becoming full administrative divisions of the Fire Nation complete with local Governors, the authority of the civil ministers in matters of security and law enforcement brushes up against the duties of the colonial units. In certain circumstances, governors have been known to issue military directives outside the initiatives of Szeto Plaza to the local General or Colonel in the area. While not exactly having the force of law or official orders, these Military Directives stand under General Order 205 which states

"In the absence of standing orders Generals of Colonial Detachments are expected to cooperate and assist the appointed civil officials by whatever practicable means"

Order 205 has been used as a political weapon by sitting governors to help move forward their own careers and goals. The entanglement of a separate political power base separate from the high command at Szteo Plaza presents another wrinkle in the complicated duties of the Fire Army. Efforts made to further reorganize the colonial and imperial systems of army management run into entrenched inertia, and the opposition of various interest groups both in Szeto Plaza and the Colonial Offices overseas.

On Officers and The Purchase System

The ranks of the Fire Army can be first divided into the commissioned and non-commissioned officers. The full table of ranks was instituted during the reign of Fire Lord Sozin as part of the creation of the Imperial Army. Rank and titles forms the feudal levies were reorganized under the new system to allow a greater degree of command and control from officers, while maintaining a strict hierarchical structure. Despite rhetoric of meritocracy in the Fire Army the first officer class of the Fire Army was composed almost entirely of the old feudal nobility, their subsequent transition to members of Szeto Plaza also contributing to the continued aristocratic dominance of the army.

Within the Fire Army it is necessary for any officer to pay a requisite fee for each stage of their promotion up the ranks. This purchase system was designed to repatriate some of the personal spoils of aspiring officers back to the state, but also it was intended to ensure that the upper echelons of the army would remain in the hands of the upper classes of Fire Nation Society. The price of an initial commission has varied wildly over the years due to fluctuations in the value of the imperial currency and the needs of the army. However as a general rule the initial price has allowed members of the middle class to consider the junior ranks a viable career path, while the price of upper ranks remains more and more restrictive.

Officers are generally produced by the various military training facilities specifically designated for the training of the officer class. The most important of these institutions are the Royal Academy in the case of female officers, and the Imperial War College in the case of male officers. Classes range from history of the Fire Nation and enemy nations, logistical mathematics, and practical live drills for combat operations. Those without an aptitude for firebending are not automatically disqualified from the officer ranks, but their acceptance is not commonplace and their attitude in other areas of command is given a great deal of scrutiny.

A handful of officers are "mustang-lions", the colloquial term for an officer that has risen from enlisted rank to an officer's commission. These officers are looked down upon by the majority of their aristocratic or moneyed peers and often have difficulty raising the money or influence needed for further advancement. For this reason it is not unheard of for a talented sergeant to reject a commission from their commander so as to not be entangled with the new responsibility and social pressures of the officer class.

However despite their fame and their status, even the most blue blooded officers of the Fire Army must acknowledge the importance of their non-commissioned officers to a degree. The corporals and sergeants of the Fire Army stand as some of the most crucial tools for both enforcing discipline in the ranks and seeing through the orders of the officers. The Azulon Expansions and the duties of war vastly increased the number of NCOs needed to maintain order among the troops tasked with keeping order in the first place.The ranks of the NCOs are drawn from all walks of life and are a sampling of men and women through the entire Greater Empire. Home islanders, colonials, and even earthborn strands of society that have been snapped up by recruiting booths eventually find their way among the lower level leadership of the Fire Army.

It is also noted that promotion and pay increase of the NCOs is one of the duties that field officers keep almost entirely within their own purview. If the paperwork making a soldier a sergeant has to wait months for a message from the Plaza, then there is no guarantee such a thing will be ready in time for the next battle. This has contributed to the further insulation of the NCOs to their regimental commanders and officers, rather than the management of the General Staff.

That pride and loyalty to the unit is also part of what makes the NCOs highly feared when it comes to the enacting of discipline in the ranks. Administration of the lash, both of rope and of flame, is part of the responsibilities of the Sergeants of the army. While the officers have no problem handing down the paperwork to deal with insubordination or theft, it is quite another thing to personally get their hands dirty with the administration of justice. The discipline and hard fighting that the Fire Army is known for is in large part attributed to the fierce and brutal drill that the sergeants of the Fire Army have placed in both the training and deployment stage of an average soldier's life. Genuine abuse of power by these NCOs is difficult to track however, due to the the separation of the officers from the rankers and how most sergeants are given leave to manage their rankers.


On Cavalry Command

Traditionally the cavalry commands of the Fire Army were some of the most prestigious and revered units in the country. The cavalry banners evolved in large part from the elite household troops of the feudal levies. Within the feudal armies it was once common for a heavy horseman to have to furnish his own mounts and arms as proof of their status. The devastating charge of komodo rhinos or the vital reconnaissance of ostrich horses proved vital to both tactical and strategic success of Fire Nation armies through the civil wars and island unification. The centralization of the army would see these units and their upkeep subsumed by the state, and deployed far beyond their original battlefields on the Home Islands.

Within the first stages of the Great War, dominated by large set piece battles, the komodo-rhino's crucial role as shock cavalry served to break the back of many Earth Armies. Within the heavy cavalry a soldier is trained to push through any and all opposition with spear, flame, or hammer. The ability of the komodo-rhino to maintain the momentum of the charge while traversing rough terrain put paid to the concerns of many infantry officers that the geography of the Earth Kingdom might make heavy cavalry less viable. The decreasing prominence of heavy rhino regiments as a full development can largely be traced to new strategic concerns rather than tactical ones.

The evolution of the Great War through the Late Azulon Era led to the rise of the light cavalry among the colonial units. Unlike the heavy komodo-rhino units, the relatively fresh dragoon regiments are focused more on the deployment of mounted firebending infantry to a particular scene of battle. Prising rapid response times and the initiative of the field officers, Ostrich-Dragoons have cultivated a reputation as being difficult to manage but indispensable in far range operations and anti banditry task groups.

A recent feud during the Ozai Era involved both Szeto Plaza and the wider battlefield. This was regarding the development and deployment of new heavy armored vehicles pushed by the War Ministry and Artillery School. The Rhino Clique lobbied heavily against the funding of even the theoretical papers, while paradoxically also arguing that any designs that were viable were the domain of the cavalry units rather than the artillery. In this regard the conservative nature of the oldest of the cavalry generals was put on full display much to the consternation of the Banner Marshal who wished to quiet disunity in his staff. Any fight between the generals in Szeto Plaza and the War Ministry would have to be adjudicated by the Fire Lord, to invoke the divine monarch's mandate in a technical dispute would be considered a great overreach by either side.

The issue was settled by the ascendancy of General Bujing to the Imperial War Conference, and his support for the War Ministry and the Artillery Corps over his colleagues in the Plaza. Both the cutting of pay rises and the loss of any future units stung the pride of the cavalry officers, and weakened the authority of the Banner Marshal. From that point onward, both units of the cavalry held a special disdain for the artillery and royal engineers.



On the Royal Engineers

The education of a royal engineer (alternatively artilleryman) in the Fire Nation is considered one of the most comprehensive in the world. Historically the natural utility of earthbending to siege warfare put the Earth Kingdom's armies at the forefront of siege warfare and long range artillery. The best theorists of both mundane and bending warfare studied day in and day out to get around the simple fact that in some respects every earthbender is an engineer. What has emerged over the course of the Great War Is a small but dedicated group of individuals trained vigorously in current techniques and constantly searching for new innovations. Despite being relative newcomers to the politics of war, artillery officers and engineers wield outsized resources in the structure of the fire army.

Historically the royal engineers were created on an improvised basis to manage siege works and the taking of castles. In an age where either the fire bender or the cavalryman could decide entire battles or campaigns, the drawn out process of taking fortresses was given little attention. Some scholars point to these early disputes over importance as the real root of the artillery/cavalry schism, but said writing predisposes a far earlier organization of the royal engineers.

The need for dedicated specialists to handle construction and siege warfare became apparent as total war truly began in the Earth Kingdom. As the war moved from the coastal flatlands into the interior of the continent, the logistical challenge of moving and supplying armies across thousands of li grew more and more demanding. Bridges needed to be built to cross vast gorges or deep rivers, roads needed to be laid to handle the supply wagons vital to army supplies, and expertise in siege weaponry would be needed in order to dismantle the walls of the imposing citadel cities of the Earth Kingdom. In the 31st year of the Azulon Era the War Ministry opened a proposal to the Fire Lord to consolidate the previously ad-hoc nature of the artillery and construction crews into a formal department. Despite opposition from conservative elements in Szeto Plaza the proposal was approved, and thereafter the assets of siege artillery, field artillery, and army engineers were placed in the purview of the Royal Engineers.

The training of Royal Engineers begins usually at the Gunkai Technical School where veteran instructors drill their students on mathematics as vigorously as any drill sergeant in the regular army. Classes here are still divided between those who are considered enlisted engineers and those who will go on to serve as the officers. The rank tables are consistent with the standard army levels, although pay is uniformly higher at the equivalent ranks. This is owed to both the smaller number of engineers and the added duties and requirements of their station. Notably almost all engineers are expected to be literate men and women which is not something regular infantry discriminate against in their recruiting.

The War Ministry's direct involvement in the creation of the Royal Engineers adds another wrinkle to the complicated relationship between the Royal Engineers, the War Ministry, and Szeto Plaza. Often directly involved in the War Ministry's attempts to develop and deploy new weapons of war, Plaza officers have reason to distrust the motives and methods of Royal Engineers seen as too rash in discarding tried and true methods. At the same time every well versed officer understands how vital the Royal Engineers are to the continued prosecution of the war, and the opinion of a high ranking engineer is never to be entirely discounted out of hand. Yet despite there being serving generals who rose through their skills with hammers and logistics, there remains the distinct feeling that the engineers are outside the traditional Szeto circles. To date, no member of the Royal Engineers has served as Banner Marshal despite there being qualified candidates throughout the history of the institution.