Cromwell

*"How many more people need to die before you're satisfied with yourselves?"*

Cromwell was a firebender holding the rank of Admiral in the Fire Nation military. Recognized as a pristine strategist, he managed to maintain a prestigious record of no losses in battle. Working with the Fire Empire at first, Cromwell later switched sides to join with the resistance led by Marshal Felix.

## History

### Imperial Coalitions (585 AG - 587 AG)

Regarded as one of the greatest Admirals of his time, Cromwell served under Emperor Morris's Fire Empire during the time he reigned. He was said to have had many arguments with Morris during the Empire's lifespan, over the Emperor's brutal ways and his wish to return the Empire back to the state of being the Fire Nation.

Admiral Cromwell was first assigned with the task of creating a naval blockade between the United Republic and the Earth Kingdom lands, which he completed successfully. The blockade caused a disturbance for trade and travel between the two nations, as well as limited actions for their navies.

#### Assault on Polar City

Polar City was assaulted by a fleet which Cromwell was placed in charge of, after he was reassigned from the blockade to a much larger job. The fleet had General Livingston's army aboard it, containing thousands of seasoned Imperial soldiers. The two commanders planned the invasion together, creating a combined plot to seize control over the isolated northern city. Soon after preparations were finished, the force set out from the Fire Nation, and sailed in the direction of the Northern Water Tribe's capital.

When the fleet reached Polar City, Cromwell first requested Admiral Darnier to surrender the city's defense garrison, met with a strict refusal which prompted Cromwell's fleet to open fire. Phase A of Cromwell's plan was initiated as hundreds of fireballs were dropped from the sky onto Darnier's ships, resulting in total carnage. The creation of a thick ice sheet to trap and block Cromwell's vessels brought Cromwell himself out from his own ship. Cromwell blasted the sheet with ease, creating enough heat in a single beam to disintegrate it near instantly as his ships continued advancing.

Phase B was initiated when a mass of Imperial submarines emerged from the water, opening fire on Darnier's defense and destroying his right flank, although a whole squadron of Imperial ships was annihilated as well by the oncoming Water Tribe. Phase C followed, coming into action, many air balloons taking advantage of the fog slipping into the city and bombing the city, leading to the destruction of the Water Tribe turrets above the ice wall which provided the gateway to Polar City.

Phase D saw the first land actions in battle, with Livingston's forces being assisted atop the mountains by Cromwell's balloons. Engaging with the Water Tribe forces positioned on the icy, lofty terrain, the Fire Empire troops proved to be much more seasoned due to training from Livingston and several other commanders. Another stage of the fight, Phase E, was also initiated afterward, utilizing fire elementals to provide an advantage and burn the opposition.

As his elementals and Livingston's army razed the city, and Admiral Darnier retreated in a submarine, Cromwell, satisfied with the victory, secured Polar City with General Livingston as Imperial territory, before negotiating to make it a separate nation as a puppet state beneath the Empire.

#### Northern Campaign (Republic City)

On August 4th, Cromwell provided transportation and naval support for General Howe's Imperial force which was to assault Republic City, one of the last standing major places in the world actively supporting the coalition. The battle lasted many days, and culminated in the launch of an EFD 2.0 bomb above the city, as the defenders held out for a lengthy time. Cromwell, aside from giving the navy's assistance, did not partake much in the battle as it was primarily a land engagement.

#### Ba Sing Se's Fall

Immediately after assembling an invasion force, after the tragedy at Republic City, Cromwell's fleet, now bolstered at least twice its original size (a formidably large force to ensure that a victory was secured) attacked the bay of Ba Sing Se, where the wrecked bridge formerly was. Knowing that General Livingston's troops would siege from the front and walls, Cromwell asked for forgiveness for his "sins", and initiated the attack.

Air squadrons sent by Cromwell caused devastation to the grand city by dropping a number of bombs onto each section. Again Cromwell began his stages of the siege; Beginning with Phase A, Cromwell commanded multiple Imperial submarines to self-detonate after surfacing to destroy a large portion of Ba Sing Se's wall which had been crafted out in the sea from hardened earth. Within minutes, nearly a third of the entire earthen wall had fallen, both from the constant pummeling from the ships and the destruction caused by submarines.

Cromwell was forced into combat after the army aboard the ships landed, engaging the Earth Marshal who had been appointed commander of Ba Sing Se's defense. The two entered short melee battle before Cromwell propelled himself backward with flames, landing out of range.

It was apparent that Cromwell was not enjoying his work, but rather was in despair, facing inner turmoil. The Earth Marshal goaded this out of him, daring Cromwell to reveal his true self. However, seeking to end it quickly, Cromwell released a lightning bolt (false lightningbending, generated by heat and fire), bringing about the Marshal's death.

When Livingston's forces stormed the city, Cromwell made an attempt to stop the massacre that had ensued with the murder of many families, women, and children. Livingston retorted, stating that Cromwell had no control over his army.

Cromwell, insulted, retreated to his ship.

#### Invasion of the Air Nation

Although Morris did consider making Cromwell the Grand Admiral and granting him full command over the fleet that would invade the Air Nation, the Emperor decided against it due to suspicion of Cromwell's loyalty. Cromwell discovered this decision prior to being put in command of a squadron. Instead, in his place, Admiral Burlington was given the honor.

During the battle, Cromwell did not put much command into his squadron, primarily because after the siege of Ba Sing Se, Cromwell joined forces with the resistance and Fire Nation nationalist, unbeknownst to any Imperials or coalition members aside from Marshal Felix himself. Even when the eleven commanders landed ashore, and when the EFD 2.0 bomb was dropped on a section of the fleet, Cromwell did not partake in the action.

When the tide turned in favor of the coalition, Cromwell revealed his part in the resistance, and slammed a blade of fire into Burlington's chest, killing him. Much of the fleet began to turn, also part of the resistance.

After the battle, Marshal Vraxx went to converse with Cromwell of plots to invade Inferno City and finally end the war. For months, the two prime strategists, undefeated previously, developed the tactics they would use to siege the capital of the Empire and strike at its heart.

### Invasion of the Water Dominion (574 AG)

During the time Vraxx invaded the Water Dominion, during his reign as Earth King, the former marshal specifically requested Admiral Cromwell's assistance in leading the main naval engagement of the war. Helping Vraxx's invasion in the southeast, Cromwell was asked for advisory by the northern part of the invasion, led by three Fire Nation and three Earth Kingdom commanders.

The seasoned Admiral advised the inexperienced, cowardly commanders to wait beyond the shores, until Cromwell was spoken to over the radio again, this time to report a heavy loss. Cromwell commented that Vraxx should have sent troops, and the commanders replied that he already had. Irritated, Cromwell made his way over in a plane to the north, in absolutely horrid weather.

Vraxx arrived at around the same time, and the two worked in conjunction to force the defense of Founder's Harbor to surrender, bringing about negotiations between the Earth Kingdom, Fire Nation, Water Dominion, and Air Nation.

### Black Lotus (575 AG)

Being one of the Fire Nation's greatest commanders, Cromwell accompanied Fire Lord Felix and the other World Leaders, as well as the world's strongest benders (including the liberated, former Emperor Morris) to Tenrou Island, where he and the others watched in awe as the battle broke out before their eyes. Witnessing the presumed death of the World Leaders, resurrection of Acnologia, the sheer power demonstrated, the combative abilities of all present, and the deaths of three of the Black Lotus, Cromwell and the World Leaders remained speechless.

Krom, the leader of the Black Lotus, absorbed the central pillar of darkness in the middle of the island, causing him to gain the unique ability of shadowbending, the bending of reality. To demonstrate this power, Krom severely reformed and deformed the island to his whim, much to Cromwell's surprise. Eventually, Krom, Acnologia, and the other World Leaders departed to finish the battle near Union City.

Cromwell was left with the others upon the island, until he was enveloped by a bright light following the death of Morris. As Morris's power flowed into Cromwell, the Admiral took off rapidly to join in the fight against Krom.

How Cromwell achieved the miracle of being present for a decent portion of the battle was unknown, but he