ATLA: Azlua

Project Phoenix

Mai exhaled in relief, though her brow furrowed. "I assume she's requesting reinforcements."

Lieutenant General Mei nodded. "I suggest sending a battalion to enforce her position. We can't risk losing Phoenix City to these rebels."

Feng leaned in. "I can scrape together enough Fire Hawks to create a communication network that will keep us updated on the situation, but they'll need to be guarded."

Azula raised a hand, silencing the room with a single, commanding gesture. The generals' voices died down, and all eyes turned to the Fire Lord at the head of the table. "Good suggestions, all of you," she said, her tone clipped but deliberate. "Save them for the proposals you'll draft later. Right now, let's address—"

"Fire Lord Azula," Lieutenant General Zhen interrupted cautiously, his voice measured but firm. "Before we proceed, I must ask... What happens if the Avatar gets involved?"

The air in the room seemed to shift, the weight of the question pressing down on everyone present. Azula's golden eyes narrowed slightly, her expression betraying a flicker of irritation at the interruption.

Zhen continued, undeterred. "We've made significant progress in stabilizing our territories, but the Avatar's influence is unmatched. Should he side with the rebels, it could inspire widespread resistance."

Lieutenant General Mei nodded, folding her arms. "The Avatar isn't just a powerful bender—he's a symbol. His involvement could legitimize the rebels and galvanize their efforts. It wouldn't just be one fight. It would ripple across the entire region."

"Then we need to be proactive," Feng said, his voice sharp. "If there's even a chance of him getting involved, we should monitor his movements, establish a network of intelligence, or—" he hesitated, glancing at Azula before continuing, "—find a way to neutralize him before he can act."

The room broke into murmurs, the generals debating strategies. Some favored diplomacy, while others leaned toward preemptive action. Azula remained silent, her fingers steepled as her gaze shifted from one speaker to the next. At her side, Mai sat quietly, her arms crossed as she listened.

The noise grew until Azula's patience wore thin. "Enough," she said, her voice cold and sharp. The room fell silent again. "Speculating about the Avatar's involvement is a waste of time."

Mai chose that moment to interject, her voice calm but firm. "If we're talking about possibilities, there's one option we haven't considered." All eyes turned to her, the generals exchanging wary glances. Mai continued, her tone steady. "We can reach out to Rangi."

"Rangi?" Mei asked, her eyebrows raising in curiosity.

Mai nodded. "He's on the council we established in Crane Town. His influence with the locals is strong, and he's respected throughout the region. If we bring him into this, he can help smooth things over, reduce rebel activity, and show the population that we're acting in good faith."

"And the Avatar?" Zhen pressed, his brow furrowing.

"If the Avatar sees that the Fire Nation is working with someone as trusted as Rangi, it might dissuade him from getting involved at all," Mai replied. "It's not a guarantee, but it's better than escalating the situation unnecessarily."

The generals murmured among themselves, nodding in agreement. Rangi's reputation carried weight, and his involvement could prove invaluable.

Azula finally spoke, her voice cutting through the discussion like a blade. "The Avatar is not a factor in this equation." Her tone left no room for argument. "After his last involvement, he returned to the Southern Water Tribe and has chosen isolation over interference. If that changes, we'll adapt. Until then, focus on what's in front of us."