33 Lieutenant-General Zahckrael

We were here. It's been a long two weeks, but we were finally here. I raised the repurposed gunner seat of the tanks to extend myself above the hull of the tank, giving be an overview of where we were. It wasn't much of an overview, however. We had arrived right when we expected, in the black of the night, a new moon concealing our location. We timed it just right. In the distance, as though a line of black paint had been swiped across the just as black horizon was the wall. We made it.

I turned to face the plethora of tanks just now stopping, their individual gunners rising to view the wall in front of them, or more likely searching for it. The majority of the men here will be awed by it, already picturing themselves raising Fire Nation Banners atop it while being awarded for their heroism. The rest, well, they would be dreading the sight of it. The 5th Corps wasn't entirely new recruits. We had our fair share of veterans as well. They wouldn't be excited as the rest, for the better too, I needed smart soldiers as much as I needed energetic ones.

I heard Lieutenant Zand's tank pull up next to mine, almost as ornamentally decorated. I had taken the lead when it came to that, however. The inside was almost as nice as the exterior, as cramped as it was. Space in the cargo hold had been cleared away to give myself more room which I was rather grateful for. The interior wall had also been pushed forward somewhat, giving myself even more room at the expense of the pilots. They didn't complain; however, they knew better than that.

"Tanks are in position, sir. We've arrived further north than initially anticipated. We are currently sitting at coordinates S2, H3. Would you have us move further south, sir? Towards our original target?"

Further north than anticipated. How'd that come to happen? We've been using compass and sun alike, the two agreeing with where we were headed. How were we off? No. We weren't off. "You're mistaken, Zand. We're right where we're supposed to be."

Whether he took that as me disagreeing with his positioning or the need to move south didn't matter. The important part was that he'd submit, and he did just that. "Aye, sir. Orders?"

"Order the men to dig the trenches with reinforcements and set up perimeter spikes. I want watchtowers set up at the corners of our encampment. When the infantry and the supply train arrive, we'll set up the artillery on the ridge behind us." I said, motioning at the raised ground situated behind where we intended to set up our camp. "We'll place the supply train between the artillery and the camp. We'll overshoot it anyway, so it shouldn't matter."

"How do you want the artillery set up?"

I didn't catch his meaning. "Sorry?"

"Trebuchets up front? Or?

"Yeah. Sure. Cannons in the back, trebuchets up front. They have a shorter range, so we'll keep it that way."

"Yes sir. Should we have any form of defenses on the eastern side, covering our flank?"

"Only a skeleton defense. Dig a small trench line, but nothing more. I want our men and time dedicated to the west and north. That's what I'm worried about."

"Of course sir. Should we send a messenger hawk to General Iroh? He'll want to know we've arrived."

"Do it. By the time it reaches the Dragon of the West, we should be set in and ready for the offensive. Relay the orders."

"Yes sir!"

Lieutenant Zand went on to leave the confines of his tank, something I'm sure he was appreciative of after the day of its confines and went on relaying the orders to messengers to send to the rest of our men.

I looked back to the wall, to the challenge ahead. We're here. The Earth Kingdom's fall begins now, and I will be the one to see it through. The Dragon of the West will be credited with the organization of it, sure, but I will be the one that saw his plans execution. It will be me. And me only. I'm ready.