Azulon[/i]

Tze didn’t know how to take the General’s response. Tze tried to shake his fear away, but succeed only slightly. Tze couldn’t understand where this fear was coming from. It’s been twelve years since he felt this type of fear. Tze took a deep breath, and decided to explain his reasoning. He knew he would have to be debriefed sooner or later.
“I was ordered by the high command to travel to the Earth Kingdom to assist General Rouz. I was ordered to take command of this ship and take it to the Earth Kingdom. Once there the ship would return to its original orders, and returned to patrol. Everything was going well until we encountered a suspicious ship leaving the harbor. Since there was a lock down at the harbor, and the ship had no identifiable markers, we trailed the ship to see its heading. The ship touched land shortly on a deserted island, about 10 miles due east of here. At this time, I received a message from the Admiralty, informing me that the ship was piloted by an escaped fugitive, and that they have in their possession a kidnapped daughter or a very well respected noble family., informed Tze as he handed the official scroll from the admiralty to General Li.

“ We immediately flew our colors and moved to intercept. We managed to get one volley off before we were attacked by waterbending I have never seen before. We received damage to our engines and weapons systems. We had to break pursuit and waited for you to rendezvous with your fleet” , reported Tze, meekly. He knew it sounded stupid, but it was the truth. Sigh swallowed unsteadily, trying to read the General’s response. It probably would have been easier to read a brick wall.

Tze noticed slightly that General Li was in deep thought. “We assumed that it was a pirate ship, due to the manner at which it was sailing. It was far better handled then any scout I have ever seen” , informed Tze, trying not to break the General’s concentration.

Tze nodded slightly to Captain Chou, who quickly brought over a large map. “We are here, just east of west of our territory” , spoke Tze, pointing to a red dot on the map. He then moved his finger to a dotted black line, a few inches north of the red dot. “This line represents the last known course of the pirate ship, bearing 096, heading straight to the Earth Kingdom, but they could have changed course. Our Navigator says that given their current course and speed, they will be able to dock in 3 possible ports within the next week. And possibly other hidden ports along the coast” , added Tze, waving his hand along the Western border of the Earth Kingdom.
A young officer approached Captain Chou and whispered something quietly into his ear. Chou’s face lost its color. He turned to Tze and bowed slightly. “Excuse me sir, Two messenger hawks just arrived” , replied Chou as he waited for Tze to respond. Tze nodded and the XO left quickly to retrieve the messages.

Tze sat quietly as he waited for Chou to return with the messages. Part of Tze feared what was in them. He did his best to hold back. Tze saw General Li studying the map, and decided not to break his concentration. He slowly got up, fixed his armor, and proceeded to the window. He gazed outside at the men on deck, as they scurried on, doing whatever they were doing.
The sound of footsteps filled the quiet air as Chou returned with the two scrolls. “One is from the admiralty addressed to you and General Li. , informed Chou as he handed on of the scrolls to Tze. Chou got close to Tze and whispered into his ear. “This one is from High Command, addressed to you, marked urgent and confidential” , finished Chou as he stepped back and handed Tze the other scroll, covered with wax seals and official markings.

Tze nodded to Chou and opened the scroll from the admiralty. Tze carefully read the message and walked back to his chair and sat down. He opened his desk drawer and placed the one from the High Command in the desk and closed the drawer. He returned to reading the letter. Not to his surprise, it wasn’t good news. Tze sighed and sat back in his chair, and handed the letter to General Li.
“We are to proceed onward once all repairs have been made. We are to intercept the suspect ship, and retrieve all and any Fire Nation property. I have been given command of securing the hostage, and returning her back to port, as well as information retrieval from the pirates. My previous orders have been canceled” , started Tze, almost ashamed to say what was next.
“And you, General Li… Have been given full tactical command of all naval operations...”, finished Tze as he sat back in his chair. “You are ordered to peruse, engage and capture the suspect ship at any cost , added Tze as he leaned back further in his chair. Part of him was glad that he was no longer in command; he was a soldier, not a sailor. The other half was ashamed, he failed miserably, and he only feared what was in the other scroll.
Tze stood up and saluted General Li again. “As Commander of the Azulon, I herby turn this ship over to you. General, the Azulon is now at your disposal”, informed Tze, still standing at attention.

"congratulations"

Kaito had never meant to offend her, but he wasn't going to take back what he said; he was too stubborn and too arrogant. He stood up and looked at her, "Im sorry, and I'm not taking back what I just said." He walked away silently. Okimi and him were always close since they meant, even though been a day. He checked their progress.

The Orleander

Okimi shook her head in her palm. She pulled back her palms and rubbed a few tears that had leaked from her eyes. She faced Kaito, "Its okay" She squeaked out as she lied. Okimi tried to push the emtion from her. She knew he couldn't take back what he said which made it hurt more because he meant it. She knew his passion of hatred for the Fire Nation must burn hotter then the flames she produced. But no matter how much she had to realize that. It killed her to know that he didn't accept all of her...

((I'm going to skip ahead a few hours...))
Kange sat up and rubbed her eyes, 'Did I fall asleep?', she asked herself. She walked into the kitchen and saw that Hanamaro had fallen asleep, staring at the ceiling.

Suddenly feeling a little play ful she walked over to him and gave him a light kiss on the forehead, then tried to make a fish soup.

Azulon

Tze forced a smile, as he nodded and took the glass of wine. “I agree; shall we eat?” , replied Tze, trying to sound as happy as possible. While General Li wasn’t looking, he quickly downed the glass of wine, and forcefully placed it on the table. Tze walked over to Chou and looked him straight in the eye. “Inform the bridge, every engineer not working on the engines, is to be assigned to work on the engines” , ordered Tze quietly. Chou nodded and left the room, leaving Tze and General Li alone.

Tze walked over to the small table and picked up some food. He returned to his desk and sat down. He tried his best to eat, but wasn’t really that hungry. His mind was too busy thinking about everything. Tze looked back at General Li.
“I have a small request… if it’s not too much to ask sir” , started Tze, hoping he would get the response he wanted. “I respectfully request that Captain Chou remain my XO while I’m on The Decimator . I’ve come to trust his judgment and reliability and it would further my pursuit if I knew I had someone by my side that I can trust fully” , asked Tze, as he poured himself another glass of wine.

The Orleander
Later on, as the sun began to set Kaito watched the horizon. The sky was a collage of oranges and yellows, and a warm breeze blew through his hair. The aroma of salt water lingered in the air. The Orleander would reach Gaoling by dawn.

He sighed and squinted, trying to see the end of the current. They still had some way to travel. I guess I should tuck in for the night. he thought. Kaito walked to his cabin silently, it had been a crazy day, and he was exhausted.

The smooth silver wood creaked under Kaito's feet as he walked through a hall in the lower corridors of the ship.

OOC:It's hor durves

Orleander

"Gee...will you two quit flirting with each other? I'm here too, you know," Tao said sarcasticly, half disgusted. "Flirt when you're alone, for cryin out loud! Now then..." Tao walked back into the lounge and fell right asleep, snoring loudly.

The Orleander
While he turned a corner through a new hall, Kaito remembered what Tao said earlier. He wasn't flirting, even though he was flirtatious and flirted with every girl he met, he wasn't flirting with Okimi, he was serious.

The Orleander

Okimi had left Kaito to go up to the crows nest. She liked it up there, she felt as if she were flying. The solitude and the peace calmed her down. Her black eyes though searched the seas and thought of her brother. She had avoided thinking of him so long she never thought it would be calming to think of him. She thought about the many times they spent together. Her most fond memory was when she was 7 and her brother took her down to the ocean to go swimming. She was swimming and she saw an army vessel come into port. She told her brother that she wanted to go out on one. Her brother told her that when he was old enough that he would buy a boat and him and her would sail to the tip of the Fire Nation and back. Sailing the open seas. She closed her eyes and smiled, "If only you were here it would be just as we planned..."

After awhile Okimi climbed down from the Crow's nest and headed towards the lower decks. Her milky white skin had started to burn and hurt on her face. She looked up and saw Kaito still where he had been when she left him. She sighed and walked down towards the lower decks. She stopped in the hallway and turned around, "Where do I sleep?" She asked her self looking around. She sighed and leaned against the wall sliding down the wall till she was sitting.

After a few minutes she saw Kaito walk down the hallway. She let out a heavy sigh before saying, "Where do I sleep?"

The Orleander

Awaking several minutes later, Tao got up and lit a candle, noticing it was dark. Looking through the window in the room, he saw a glowing black orb in the sky in place of the sun in a dark sky. "Eclipse? There's an eclispe? Oh well," clearing the thought, Tao poured himself a drink,returning to the couch he previously lounged on and drinking a glass of liqour. "To pirracy," Tao said, making a motion as if clanking his glass with another and spilling some of it as he drank.