Attempted kidnapping of President Raiko

The attempted kidnapping of President Raiko was a plan masterminded by Varrick to ensure the United Republic's military support of the South in the ongoing civil war between the Water Tribes.

During the screening of the final installment of The Adventures of Nuktuk: Hero of the South at the Pro-bending Arena, Varrick intended to stage the abduction of President Raiko and the First Lady by triad members dressed in Northern Water Tribe military uniforms.

The attempted kidnapping was thwarted by Bolin, who subdued the president's attackers and forced them to reveal Varrick as the incident's instigator.

Prelude
With the outbreak of the Water Tribe Civil War, Varrick came to Republic City with Team Avatar to acquire support from the United Republic. Despite Raiko's refusal to become involved in internal Water Tribe conflicts, Varrick continued his efforts to amass widespread support of the nation's involvement in the war efforts by producing a series of propaganda films to turn public opinion in favor of the South

Unbeknownst to the public, Varrick also orchestrated the bombing of the Southern Water Tribe Cultural Center during a peace march for Southern autonomy, to further garner public sympathy in Republic City. Despite discovering evidence linking Varrick to the incident, Mako's allegations were not taken seriously by Chief Lin Beifong, and the police conducted no further investigations, concluding the bombing to have been executed by Northern sympathizers.

In order to completely dismiss Mako's claims and protect his image, Varrick planted incriminating evidence in the firebender's apartment to tie him in to the raid of Future Industries' supply line, which resulted in his subsequent incarceration.

Attempted abduction
After arriving at the Pro-bending Arena, Raiko and his wife were greeted by Varrick, who assured the couple that no expense was spared for the event. Raiko reaffirmed his position to remain diplomatic in the conflict between the Water Tribes, to which Varrick replied that he could be undeniably persuasive. Raiko and his wife were then escorted to boxed seats near the top of the arena, where they watched the introduction, where Varrick urged the citizens of Republic City to speak out against injustice in the South.



During the screening, a group of waterbenders hired by Varrick arrived by boat and infiltrated the arena, easily subduing Lu and Gang, who they hid inside a locker. Shortly after, Bolin made his way out of the arena to get some fresh air, and noticed the abandoned boat in Yue Bay. Deeming the sight to be suspicious, Bolin investigated one of the arena's corridors, where he found Lu and Gang, who alerted him that the waterbenders were after the president.

After incapacitating Raiko's security, the waterbenders apprehended the president and his wife, but are blocked by Bolin before they could depart. Bolin used earthbending to send the attackers down into the arena, before jumping down himself to fight the waterbenders. Noticing the commotion, Chief Lin Beifong ordered her officers to call for backup and secure the president.

In the fighting that ensued, Bolin drew the attention of the audience, and he fought the waterbenders using the earth discs from the arena floor and his knowledge of pro-bending. He managed to knock two of his opponents into the water, and intimidated the last conscious waterbender into revealing that it was Varrick who had sent them. Upon hearing himself exposed, the businessman tried to escape with Zhu Li, but the two were apprehended by Chief Lin Beifong and her officers.

Aftermath
Directly after the attempted abduction of the president, Avatar Korra arrived, once again urging Raiko to reconsider his position, revealing that Unalaq's plan transcended the occupation of the South and involved invading the entire world. Despite this, Raiko reaffirmed his position, opting to keep the United Forces stationed at the Republic City to protect the nation's citizens in the case of an upcoming invasion attempt.



As his allegations were found to have been correct, Mako was released from prison, receiving a round of applause from all of the officers present at the police headquarters as well as a promotion from Chief Lin Beifong. He visited Varrick in his cell, along with the other members of Team Avatar. To show his regret over the trouble he caused, Varrick allowed Team Avatar to take his battleship, the Zhu Li, to the South, giving them full access to all of the accommodations and weaponry available on board.