Sweat gleamed atop his forehead as he pushed the coal loaded cart down the tracks and to the boiler furnace. After which, he and a fellow squad member began shoveling the fuel into the open hatch.

"Private Lu Ten!" The familiar voice of lieutenant Chan grabbed his attention.

"Sir!" With quick movements expected of a trained private, Lu Ten dropped his shovel and cupped his hands in salute to his superior.

Stoic as ever, lieutenant Chan relayed his orders, "Captain Mao has given orders for you to be escorted to the deck immediately!"

"Yes sir!" Lu Ten nodded to his fellows and began walking behind the lieutenant as they ascended the ship. They moved in a brisk but careful pace through the pipe covered gangways beneath the deck. Passing by rushing soldiers whom were either relaying orders or transporting the injured.

Several times they had to stop and make way for sprinting engineers, physicians and trollies carrying medical equipment or stretchers with injured men and women.

The atmosphere throughout the ship was tense as if a great battle had occurred. In a way the fleet did 'fight' against a terrible opponent not too long ago, one most men didn't survive.

However, as he walked through the ship and caught the eye of many, he believed it wasn't the the injuries, ship damage or pending humiliation they'd receive upon reaching home that weighed heavily most men's minds. Instead it was likely due to the weakening of: 'That which all fire nationals held most dear.'

Lu Ten clenched his hands at the thought. 'Even I..... Tsk!'

Soon they reached the upper layers of the ship. By this time, frigid wind from outside was beginning to overpower the heat pumped through the various pipes of the ship.

As he stepped out onto the deck, he couldn't help but think how wrong everything felt. The air was far too icey and windy for summer weather.

'Did we get thrown off course?' Lu Ten could see his breath as he exhaled.

Soon they crossed the deck and approached Captain Mao whom stood at the forecastle of the ship facing the sea with two lightly armoured guards on either side of him.

Being this far out on deck. Lu Ten could see the other black steel warships sailing in a tight formation, while the majestic royal flagship sailed up ahead.

Their ship was almost at the centre of the formation well protected from the choppy waves; on his father's orders no doubt.

"Captain Mao sir! The private has been escorted as commanded!"

Lieutenant Chan and Lu Ten saluted the man. As a private, Lu Ten made sure to bow a bit, as was required of a soldier of his rank when facing such a high ranking officer.

Still facing the sea, Captain Mao's hard but calm voice said. "Very well lieutenant, you are dismissed."

"Sir!" Chan shouted and marched off, leaving Lu Ten, the Captain and his guards alone in silence.

'Mao Saowon, of the Saowon clan....'

Lu ten stared at the man's red, scale-armoured back in thought. This was his second time seeing the captain up close, though he'd seen the man's more higher ranking cousin in the imperial court many times.

The Saowon noble clan was one of the few who still had some self-autonomy of their island and some sway in court..... at least as much as one could in the autocracy that was the Fire Nation.

'The Saowon Clan is currently a staunch supporter of uncle's political wing. Why father would let these weasels partake in this glorious war is lost to me.' He had to force himself not to sneer with disdain, not letting a bit of it show on his face as he waited.

The man was making a power move by sending for him with an escort and making him wait while he gazed at the royal sloop sailing ahead.

"Private Lu Ten." Seemingly bored of his power play, Captain Mao turned to look at him with hard amber eyes. Observing him up and down critically.

"........In light of the recent storm and certain phenomena, General Iroh has summoned all Captains to his flagship to discuss the situation.

He's also...... requested your presence as well." Lu ten could easily register the disdain in the man's voice as he made no motion to hide it.

This tale has been unlawfully obtained from Royal Road. If you discover it on Amazon, kindly report it.

He didn't make the anger in his heart show, instead, he put it into his voice as he saluted, "Yes sir!"

"Hmmm, unfortunately, we must leave immediately. I'm afraid you won't be able to pamper yourself in a princely manner before we leave. I'm truly sorry." Captain Mao smiled a little then.

Lu ten could imagine his hands, clothing and face were covered in coal marks. He wasn't even in uniform! To meet a General in such a state would be in some cases, disrespectful and in others embarrassing for a noble or in his case, a prince.

However Captain Mao and those with his mentality didn't really understand himself or his father.

"It is of no concern Captain!" He wondered why Mao was suddenly so hostile. Of course, the man had been targeting him from the very moment he stepped upon the ship.

However, it was in rather subtle ways such as designating his squad's quarters closer to the noisy boiler room and most recently, assigning them with boiler duty. He was sure the Captain had much more planned for him if their journey wasn't interrupted.

'But to play these games after everything that's happened? What's his aim?' Lu Ten could help but wonder as he fell in line with the captain and his guards as they made their way to the side of the sip. There, a Steel pilot ladder was already unfurled and a small steam paddler was already deployed and ready for travel. It was obvious the Captain did everything on purpose.

They descended into the vehicle and soon the little vessel was off towards the behemoth that was the General's flagship.

A veritable monstrosity of black steel, bloody crimson banners and golden edges floating atop the waves. His father wished to have a simple empire-class ship.

Firelord Azulon wouldn't have it. Instead, his grandfather commissioned an custom empire-class royal sloop, equipped with the latest artillery weaponry, and steam systems.

The Western Dragon! That was the name his grandfather bestowed upon the vessel himself.

Not only was the beast fast, she was also extremely maneuverable for her size. These traits were likely the reason it was among the least damaged of the surrounding ships.

Lu ten looked around and his face couldn't help but grow pale. 'Is this all there is to the royal fleet!?' He remembered the massive force of 35 ships from the palace before they departed. But from what he could see now, it would be a miracle if there was a score of ships left!

He could barely snap out of his stupor as they reached the side of the ship and ascended the steel pilot ladders.

The royal colours of crimson and gold were painted on the black iron deck. A massive flag with the National emblem fluttering in the cold air.

Royal guards received them and guided the two up the steps and through elaborate gangways inside the ship until they approached a massive door with the royal emblem upon it. A three-tongued golden flame on a field of red.

'This must be father's war council chambers....' Lu Ten figured.

Both he and Captain Mao walked slowly and purposely towards the large mat where the general sat at the head with his legs crossed.

The massive mat displayed a detailed map of the world at its center. In fact, the entire room was covered in large maps of the Earth kingdom; Ba Sing Se in particular.

As they neared, the assembled men turned to look at them. Both Private and Lieutenant cupped their fists in salute. As military etiquette dictated, Captain Mao introduced himself first.

"General Iroh, Admiral Feng, my fellow Captains and acting Captains, I greet you and apologize for my tardiness." The members of the table nodded.

"Private Lu Ten salutes the General, Admiral and Captains!"

"Sit." Was the only word his father said.

Both of them went their respective seats. Captain Mao found an empty space among the Captains and sat on his knees, Lu Ten took the empty left hand position directly beside his father. He sat in the lotus position as royalty always did in a formal setting no matter the rank.

Though he would've liked to stand as a military officer of his rank usually would, he knew his heavy political position wouldn't allow it nor would his father.

The General's amber eyes passed over everyone in the room before he began to speak.

"Now that everyone's here, lets begin. Admiral Feng if you would."

Admiral Feng slowly rose to his feet and began speaking, "General, according to the records complied from each ship Captain, we have lost over 90% of our fleet and troops in the storm.

Our troops, ship crew, war-beasts, food storages, fuel, supplies, and weapons are either lost to the sea, injured, damaged and or destroyed."

Lu ten swallowed discretely and tried not to look too pale. To hear this extent of damages and loss to not just this fleet and army but the fire nation as a whole.

"Excluding small steam paddlers, we have 8 Warships in total. Five of which are empire class and three smaller Frigates. There are also 4 civilian merchant ships remaining." Admiral Feng paused.

The only sound Lu Ten could hear around the room was the occasional blast of steam.

'To think there'd be such losses to the civilians as well....' He felt his breath hitch.

Though it was to be expected, civilian ships were far smaller and less durable.

"Continue Admiral." The General's face was hard, but his voice was steady as a rock.

"According to the finalized head count reports sent in by each of the captains, there are 21,578 troops. Most of whom are uninjured. 456 injured with 32 fatalities, most of these were deaths were those rescued from the sea." Admiral Feng continued calmly, but Lu Ten could see the way the middle-aged man gripped the paper.

"What of the crewmen and civilian population?" His father asked

"........Most of those on the surviving ships are safe General. They're shaken up but since they were inside the warship formation and most of them were bellow deck as the storm raged, a majority survived with small injuries.

We are still counting up the loss of livestock and goods at the moment." Captain Lee, spoke up.

"In total, how many people are alive?" the General asked after a short pause, his face the grimmest Lu Ten had ever seen since his mother's death.

"28,507 people, including, troops, ship crewmen, supporting staff and civilians." Admiral Feng replied.

The meeting carried on with the admiral giving his father the complied data collected from the remnants of the fleet.

The more Lu Ten heard, he couldn't help but think, 'Spirits help us all....'