Interview with Macai

Three months after the Hundred Year War...

Hi. I'm Hiko Okada and today I'm hosting an interview with Commander Macai of the 31st Company. And here is our interview host, Macai...

Macai: "Hello, how are you?"

Hiko: "Good to see you Macai, I am a massive fan of your company and your story."

Macai: "That's great to hear, so what did you want to ask me?"

Hiko: "Well, I wanted to get started by focusing on your past. Looking back, how do you feel about your father?"

Macai rubs his legs, "My father?"

Hiko: "Yes, your father. I know you have had a change of heart regarding how you felt about the war and Ozai's views. But you father was known for his loyalty and sticking to the way things always were."

Macai: "Yes, my father was always by the book. To him his legacy was more valuable than ANYTHING else."

Hiko: "Even you?"

Macai pauses. Hiko watches earnestly. Macai: "Well, that's hard to measure."

Hiko: "But can you give me an answer? What do you think? Even if you don't know for sure."

Macai shakes his head, "Nope, I can't."

Hiko: "Does that bother you?'

Macai rubs his hair, "Weeeeell, I... guess... weeeell, I can't say if his legacy meant more than me because I still think he loved me and my mother. I just believe he blurred everything at the top together. His family and his legacy all as one. One grand prize that he believed would go hand in hand. When the two separated, I honestly think he didn't know how to deal with it. Which is why he ran and no one knows where he is now."

Hiko: "I see, he ran away from all his problems. Did you ever imagine he'd do that?"

Macai: "No, no way. He was always honorable and willing to deal with most other things."

Hiko: "Now fast forwarding a bit, what does it feel like when you look back at your mother's passing?"

Macai sighs, "It-it's still difficult, VERY difficult. I feel like every time I return home I want to stop by her house, get her a gift, and get a lovely meal but I can't. She used to make wheat noodles for me a lot of mornings and and I just can't eat them anymore." Macai wipes a tear from his right eye.

Hiko: "There there commander, it's ok to cry."

Macai gasps, "But she's in a better place now. You know."

Hiko: "I bet."

Macai: "I used to worry and complain that she died for no good reason, but it's what saved my life."

Hiko: "WOW, now that's deep."

Macai: "It's true, I was so loyal, so stubborn nothing else would have pulled me out of my situation. I'd be like those maniacs in the Remnant right now. I'd be particularly daring. I was always stubborn when it came to my ideals and my goals even if I didn't make them for myself. No one was going to stop me when I got committed.

I would have kept fighting until I was killed and caused so much pain to get there, just for nothing. And that's why I feel bad for the people I fight that once represented my nation because I know where they come from. It is for that reason, that I'm active in rehabilitative services meant to get members of the Remnant to let go of their past and ones that have proven good behavior to re-enter society."

Hiko: "But that's very controversial Macai. A lot of people think it's too risky."

Macai: "I know but we should be willing to take that risk. If we cast them away, how can we really say we are better than Ozai or anyone else who handled things the OLD WAY?"

Hiko: "Hmm."

Macai: "The old way was to beat or punish your enemies into submission. If we keep them locked up for being loyal to their leaders then if they survive, escape, or inspire others then we will have loyal enemies. At some point, we need to count the wounds as they are and heal together."

Hiko: "You have quite the way with words, commander."

Macai: "Thanks, I wasn't always this way, but the pain I've gone through in my life has made me very wise. You see there is a payoff and tradeoff to everything. Even bad circumstances can be turned into good results. In life, I didn't choose how I was born.

I'm grateful that I was born privileged and rich. I'm not so grateful that I grew up around prejudice imperialists, but I can say not everyone was like that. My mother knew better, and she didn't let others change her. When I thought about her, how selfless she was, and everything she did, I knew I had to do better for myself."

Hiko: "Now let's touch on your former sweetheart Azula, how do you feel about her? I hear she's in an asylum. Thoughts?"

Macai: "No comment on that."

Hiko: "Oh really, but you could you at least--."

Macai interrupts, "No sir, let's please skip to the next question."

Hiko: "And what about Rosh? He's left the company for good, gone on his own business. How does it feel to not have him around?"

Macai: "We promoted Kanna Foloki to a Captain since then. I make it important to show that distinction because there is another Kanna that's got some mentioning in the press that is related to Aang's wife."

Hiko: "Correct."

Macai: "I love Kanna, but it doesn't feel quite the same not having Rosh right behind me. He was my best friend, had my back since day one when we were ye tall. I'm so glad he's still alive. And I know he's going to bring joy to a lot of people. He's a bright light whereever he goes. And if Kanna ever leaves I'm going to be heartbroken but it's ok. We all have to pave our own legacies."

Hiko: "And I hope Azula doesn't take that the wrong way. Hahaha."

Macai: "Hahaha, no she won't, she's matured past that point. I hope (deep stare)."

Hiko: "Oh (widens mouth) Well how do you feel about the people in the Earth Kingdom and Water Tribe that still resent you for your brutal conquests of the past?"

Macai: "Well, I apologize sincerely. I know it takes more than that to earn trust. For some, they see how I helped the White Lotus and some of my allies prevented an ambush of their Liberation of Ba Sing Se. For others, that still isn't enough. Or how I had to shed the blood of my former friends to prove I changed. Even now I travel to those kingdoms to assist on different tasks though my main priority is still the welfare of my own people."

Macai continues, "But I can understand the resentment, especially for those who have family, friends, or themselves who hailed from the places I attacked like Herrona, Rongor, or Sarchanna. All I can say is, I'm sorry but I can truly never erased the evil of my actions. I just hope you can forgive me, like how I hope my people can forgive those who continue to fight us in the Remnant."

Hiko: "Last question, what was your hardest mission?"

Macai: "Ugh, that's a hard question. Really hard."

Hiko: "Can you make an educated guess?"

Macai: "See different missions were hard in different ways. My first couple of missions were challenging because I wasn't used to leading in battle. They went well, but my mind was bouncing all over the place internally. But you have to stay in calm for the sake of your unit. Herrona was testing in a different way because I had taken on my most tactically skilled opponents at the time."

Hiko: "What about the Purple Burrays? Weren't they tactically adept?"

Macai nods, "They were but they engaged in hit and run attacks. The focus was getting used to how they tried to shut us down each minor engagement. But over the couple of a whole battle or perhaps in a strategic sense going up against a seasoned leader like General Gambo and his Earth Kingdom Commandos was something. They also had those prototype Earth Kingdom light tanks. I only went on a couple of missions against tanks at that time, so I had to actively think during that mission. From when we took the city to when Gambo brought that massive army to reclaim it."

Hiko: "So that was the hardest?"

Macai: "In that way. Overtime I got used to the tests. There was something I didn't plan for every time, there was always some wiggle room I had to allow for. I always had several backup plans. And what always helped was the talent of the people on my team. Sometimes complications arose but we had to adjust to them as they occurred.

Things still sewed together each mission. When we went up against Zerrel things got different because of his magic and spiritual powers. He re-mapped the playing field. Every mission against him was crazy and harder to plan for because we could usually only guess how to get started then after that we were basically going in blind. Like when we entered Sha Ru's temple."

Macai continues, "Still of all the Zerrel's missions, I'd say the one where we had to find his Weather Converter. Once again, we were going somewhere we had never been before but this time, we went somewhere we had little intel about. As a tactician, I usually work with resources to get information on where I'm going so, I can make a good plan of how to deal with potential scenarios. That doesn't mean I didn't plan, I was breaking down sentences, texts, fictional history, and even poetry in novel time to try to think of details. In this case, we had to wing it more than I'd like and the mission itself was tough. Zerrel, Karanga, Haresh, and Beruto were all in one location, but I at least had Rosh, Kett, and Kanna there to help me stop the madness."

Hiko: "Was Zerrel your most terrifying opponent?"

Macai answers, "Definitely, without a doubt. He was skilled, relentless, experienced, and worse of all mysterious. I knew nothing about him before, a lot of us didn't. He had a history of being a skilled colonel some decades back in the Hundred Year War then he disappeared and was all but forgotten about. On top of that, he grew in discipline, power, and knowledge while he was gone. The hardest thing for me, is dealing with big unknowns that are nearly impossible to plan for."

Hiko: "Well that about wraps this interview up Mr. Macai it has been an astounding pleasure."

Macai: "No Mr. Hiko, the astounding pleasure is all mine. You have a splendid day sir and I have something for the audience." Macai salutes the audience, "Thank you all for tunning in."

Hiko: "Well there you have it folks, that concludes this interview. I'm Hiko and this is Capital News."