Kuvira's Gambit

"URN"

- This land belongs to the people of the Earth Empire and it's time to take it back. Republic City will be ours!

"Kuvira's Gambit" is the eleventh episode of Book Four: Balance of The Legend of Korra and the 50th of the overall series. It was released on Nick.com and through the Nick app on December 12, 2014, and will air on Nicktoons Network on December 19, 2014.

Overview
''Kuvira announces to her followers the plan to reclaim the United Republic of Nations, telling them it rightfully belongs to the Earth Empire, and after that, she talks with Baatar Jr. about their wedding and love. Bolin, the Beifongs, and Zhu Li reach Republic City, where the latter alerts Team Avatar and President Raiko of their attack plans; they thus move to prepare the city from Kuvira's attack, evacuating citizens and mobilizing the United Forces. Zhu Li tries to make up with Varrick, but leaves disgusted when he still treats her as an assistant. When Team Avatar goes to ambush Kuvira's spirit energy cannon, they discover it is mounted on a giant mecha suit controlled by Kuvira and barely escape attack. Team Avatar races back to tell Republic City of the imminent threat, but Kuvira arrives mere hours later. After seeing Kuvira show how powerful her weapon can be, Raiko surrenders. As Baatar Jr. is on the way to discuss the terms of the surrender, Korra and Tenzin's family kidnap him in order to get him to reveal how to defeat her superweapon. After Korra and Suyin unsuccessfully try to convince him, Korra threatens to never let him see Kuvira again, which causes him to break. Baatar Jr. radios Kuvira and asks her to back away from the United Republic. She appears to oblige over the radio, but actually tracks the signal and promptly fires her cannon at Team Avatar's location, destroying the facility.''

Synopsis
In Zaofu, Kuvira makes a speech to her soldiers, reminding them of their victories together over the past three years and emphasizing their power and apparent invincibility, since they have not, at any point in time, been stopped in their march by anyone, not even the Avatar. She announces to the soldiers her plan to take the land of the United Republic of Nations and Republic City, which, after the Hundred Year War, Avatar Aang and Fire Lord Zuko had taken from the Earth Kingdom and reorganized into its current state; Kuvira sees this as a grave injustice which she wishes to correct. The soldiers salute her as she turns away from them; out of the soldiers' view, she talks to Baatar Jr., asking him if he is prepared to show the world the true strength their army possesses. He replies that he is, and as they express their love and talk about their future wedding, they take each other's hands and embrace.



At City Hall in Republic City, President Raiko, Korra, Wu, Mako, and Tenzin are sitting around a table. When Korra inquires about the status of the evacuation of the city, Wu answers that eighteen families had been evacuated, much to Korra's disappointment, as it was far short of the millions of people who live in the city. Mako explains that, due to the evacuation being voluntary, many people stayed, as they did not feel like the threat to the city was serious enough. Abruptly, Bolin interrupts the meeting, temporarily drawing Raiko's ire (he makes a comment about Bolin always interrupting his important meetings). He brings a newly freed Suyin and Lin with him, much to the Avatar's surprise. She apologizes for her failure at Zaofu and hugs her, asking how they escaped. Bolin explains that he, Opal, and Lin had rescued them, but that, in the process, they had a "way too close" encounter with Kuvira's spirit energy cannon. Tenzin asks if she was going to use it against Republic City and Zhu Li comes in, answering that she had found out that Kuvira would attack in two weeks; Bolin explains that Zhu Li was on their side again, though she never truly switched. The former assistant says she had never been truly loyal to Kuvira and that she tried to use her position to sabotage the weapon, although she was unable to. Lin postulates that, since the weapon was on rails, Kuvira will come by rail in order to transport the weapon, and Korra suggests cutting the rail lines leading into the city as a deterrent. Raiko agrees to do so, and he tells Mako to announce to the city over the radio that the evacuation order is now mandatory. Korra assures him that they will not let Kuvira take the city.

At a factory in Republic City, Varrick addresses workers who are working to build his hummingbird mecha suits. Bolin enters the room and asks Varrick if he could talk to him. He tells him that he had gone to Zaofu and saved the Beifong family, adding that they had found someone else and introduces Zhu Li, much to Varrick's shock. Zhu Li apologizes for her past actions and expresses her feelings toward him. Varrick forgives her, but instead of reciprocating his feelings, orders her to man the assembly line, angering the former assistant. She tells him that she does not wish to be just his assistant anymore and that he should treat her as equal before leaving.



In Republic City's communications room, Mako attempts to inform the city of the now-mandatory evacuation. However, his over-technical delivery causes a panic and the phone lines begin to clog with confused citizens' calls. Prince Wu takes charge and gives a heartfelt speech, saying he understands the people's fear. He refers to his former inability to use the bathroom alone due to fear and states that if they all succumb to fear, they will lose; he rejects the notion that the people of the city are losers, believing them to be winners. He instructs the city to calmly evacuate and assures them of their safety. Upon finishing his speech, the citizens cease their calls. Lin and Mako appear astonished and impressed, with the former stating that Wu might actually make a good king after all.

At Air Temple Island, Tenzin informs his family that Rohan is with the Air Acolytes on a boat ready to leave and asks why none of them have packed. Pema informs her husband that they have all decided to stay in order to help out, something Tenzin is grateful for this and asks his wife to assist Wu in evacuating the city and for his children to assist the other airbenders in looking out for Kuvira's army.



Several montages reveal Wu and Pema instructing people at the train station and the United Forces and the metalbending police force standing guard over Republic City. Back at Air Temple Island, Raiko is less than pleased having been forced to abandon his office, instead hiding in the Air Temple, but Lin insists it is ideal for him. At that moment, Team Avatar come up to the attic and announce their decision to try and stop Kuvira's super weapon, to Tenzin's worry but Raiko's agreement, who then wishes her luck as Korra announces she is heading out tonight.

At an outpost not far from the city, two soldiers hear a disturbance. Using binoculars, they discover the noise was Kuvira's army, that has arrived a week earlier than predicted. Realizing this, one tells the other to alert the city but are stopped when they hear a louder noise. Upon looking again, they are shocked to see the silhouette of a massive human-like figure in the distance; it aims a weapon, a long metal barrel mounted on its right arm, right at them and fires. The ensuing blast of purple energy directly impacts the outpost, killing everyone within and obliterating the building, leaving it in a state of absolute ruin.



The next day, Team Avatar sets out on a flying bison in their attempt to sabotage Kuvira's super weapon; the plan falls apart when Bolin spots Kuvira's army marching through the mountains, the massive metal mecha with them. When asked by the others, who are panicking, if he knew about the creation of the mecha, Bolin, sarcastic even while terrified, replies that he did not. Meanwhile, Kuvira, in the cockpit of the massive machine, is alerted to the presence of a sky bison nearby; realizing that the Avatar is nearby, attempts to use the spirit cannon to kill her, firing two times at the bison; both shots are near misses, and Team Avatar barely escapes as Kuvira decides not to pursue them, saying that nothing can now be done to stop the march of her and her army and knowing that they will warn Republic City of the invasion on their doorstep.

Moments later, Korra arrives and meets with Tenzin and President Raiko, they are curious why have they returned so early. Korra replies, that their plan is futile now that Kuvira has attached the spirit energy cannon into a giant mecha suit, and that her army started the invasion early and is only a few hours away into the heart of Republic City. Raiko orders Lin to inform General Iroh, that the attack is happening now, while Tenzin immediately orders his wife to find Wu to get the remaining citizens out of harm's way. Meanwhile, Korra heads out to the front lines and assist Raiko.



As Raiko's army stand and watch Kuvira's army position in the battlefield, the giant mecha suit slowly approaches into the battlefield, shocking the soldiers and Raiko of its appearance. Raiko talks to Kuvira in a radio and orders Kuvira to stand down, Kuvira quickly refuses even if Raiko's army engage. She demonstrates her spirit energy cannon for Raiko to witness it himself, aiming it at the harbor where she blows up four of the United Forces' battleships, before aiming her cannon at the United Forces infantry. General Iroh request President Raiko's permission to engage, then Kuvira gives him three seconds to decide, of either order a full-scale attack and risk tremendous casualties on his army and city or surrender and save the lives of hundreds of Iroh's men. Having no other choice, Raiko decides to surrender before his three seconds are up, and gives up Republic City.



Kuvira orders Raiko to give up his army to her and the Avatar, while she orders to give her location to settle the peace terms with Baatar Jr. Meanwhile, Korra refuses to surrender and heads back to the warehouse to find a way to stop Kuvira's occupation of Republic City. Korra arrives informing the team that Raiko has surrendered and it is up to them to stop Kuvira's crusade. Realizing the futility to attack Kuvira's army and a giant mecha suit head on, Asami suggest they could cripple it, she asks Zhu Li if she knew any vital intel on Kuvira's giant mecha suit, unfortunately Zhu Li never knew Kuvira building that in the first place, when she was still loyal to Kuvira. Korra then realizes that Baatar Jr. is the one responsible of creating the giant mecha suit and decides to capture him unnoticed. She takes Tenzin's family to assist her without telling Raiko of their plan, the plan goes swiftly and they manage to capture Baatar Jr. before they reach the Air Temple. Baatar Jr. is taken captive and transported to a Future Industries' factory, Korra tries to force Baatar Jr. to break and tell information of any weakness in the giant mecha suit by going to the Avatar State and lifts him up high above, but Baatar Jr. does not fear Korra's threat knowing that she will not harm him. Suyin tries to talk some sense into him, apologizing for whatever made him go corrupt with power, and asks him to come home, join his family, and stop the mayhem Kuvira is about to cause. Baatar Jr. strongly refuses to give in, however, and says that Kuvira is his family now, breaking his mother's heart. Meanwhile, Baatar Jr.'s men learns that he is missing, Raiko is growing impatient and talks to Kuvira of what trickery is this, but she tells them that this is not a scam and asks herself of Baatar Jr.'s whereabouts.



Back at the warehouse, Korra then talks to Baatar Jr. and says that they may not be able to break him to talk physically or emotionally, but knowing that Kuvira will win the Earth Empire, she will take Baatar Jr. with her as she avoids Kuvira's army or wherever she may go thus, not allowing Baatar Jr. to never see her beloved soon-to-be bride again. Baatar Jr. replies that he cannot live a life without Kuvira as it will scar him, Kuvira gives him a decision to either tell Kuvira to stand down and leave Republic City alone or risk being with Korra for all of her lifetime. Baatar Jr. has no choice but to convince Kuvira to stand down, as soon as Kuvira starts to worry about Baatar Jr. 's disappearance, she is contacted by Baatar Jr. and tells her of being captured with the Avatar, while talking, she orders one of his soldiers to find out where that radio transmitter is coming from. Baatar Jr. tries to convince Kuvira to forget and abandon conquering Republic City after he tells him of the consequences if she continues to do so, so that they can once see each other again and get married with the Earth Empire still in their hands. As soon as she cuts off communication, the soldier has acknowledged their position, Kuvira then tells herself that Republic City is not worth sacrificing their love.



While Korra unties Baatar Jr. and discusses once the agreement is settled, Baatar Jr. will be freed. However, Mako spots Kuvira's giant mecha suit aiming at their location and warns them about this. Baatar Jr. is shock to learn this and knows Kuvira she would not do this to him. The spirit energy cannon begins to build up and Korra quickly tells everyone to evacuate immediately. Before they can leave the factory, the weapon fires and obliterates the Future Industries building.

Raiko sees the incident in the Air Temple and is shock to see this. Lin orders one of her guards to keep the President into safety as she sets out to check for any survivors. Kuvira takes one deep breath to ease her mind about her decision, as she now focuses to set her goals in Republic City and the rest of the Earth Empire.

Credits
Written by:
 * Joshua Hamilton

Directed by:
 * Colin Heck

Starring:
 * Janet Varney - Korra
 * David Faustino - Mako
 * P.J. Byrne - Bolin
 * Seychelle Gabriel - Asami
 * J.K. Simmons - Tenzin
 * Mindy Sterling - Beifong
 * Logan Wells - Meelo
 * Jeff Bennett
 * Radio broadcaster
 * Pilot
 * Helmsman

Also starring:
 * John Michael Higgins - Varrick
 * Stephanie Sheh - Zhu Li
 * Anne Heche - Su
 * Maria Bamford
 * Pema
 * Radio operator
 * Zelda Williams - Kuvira
 * Todd Haberkorn - Baatar Jr
 * Spencer Garrett
 * Raiko
 * Soldier
 * Sunil Malhotra
 * Wu
 * Guard
 * Dante Basco - General Iroh

Series continuity

 * Kuvira's intention to annex the United Republic of Nations into the Earth Empire with the rationale of it being originally Earth Kingdom territory is identical to Earth Queen Hou-Ting's reasoning to deny assistance to Avatar Korra in "The Earth Queen".
 * Tahno, the White Falls Wolfbats, and their fangirls are seen for the first time since the Anti-bending Revolution.
 * The female vendor that gave Korra directions to Air Temple Island in "Welcome to Republic City" is seen listening to Wu's speech over the radio.
 * The officer that Gommu drags with him is the same one that forced Korra to run from the park in "Welcome to Republic City".
 * Raiko mentions Bolin's habits of interrupting important meetings, as he did in "Beyond the Wilds".
 * Wu mentions not being able to go to the bathroom alone, referencing "Reunion".

Character revelations

 * Kuvira and Baatar Jr. planned to get married after taking Republic City.

Goofs

 * Although Opal is shown in the initial scenes where Baatar Jr. is being confronted by her family and Team Avatar, she is not seen again in the later ones.
 * Before Team Avatar's initial altercation with Kuvira's giant mecha suit, it is followed by several Earth Empire airships. After her second shot attempt at Team Avatar, only Baatar Jr.'s airship remains.

Trivia

 * The giant mecha suit bears resemblance to the EVA's from the Japanese mecha franchise Neon Genesis Evangelion, of which DiMartino and Konietzko are both fans.