Opening from the book, The 2nd North-South War: The End of a Golden Age

After the Britannian Conquest of Cuba in 1907 a.t.b., The President of the French Republic and Chairman of the European Union, Alphonse de Lamartine, made the Lamartine Declaration. Any further Britannian Invasions into South America or any other Continent would be met with the declaration of War. Europe at the Time, was much stronger than Britannia, despite the European Union being incredibly uncentralized and incredibly capable of carrying out its promise. And Europe continued to be able to force Britannia to back down, as it showed in the Caracas Incident. However, before and during the European Civil War, Britannia grew exponentially in power. And during Europe's distraction, it invaded South America and finished its full conquest of the Western Hemisphere. Even during that period, the Empire took remaining Spanish and French possessions in the Caribbean, essentially declaring war on the Entente faction. After the war, Europe was too broken to fight and conceded to Britannia. This, in turn, would weaken Europe's word worldwide, and it would perhaps give Britannia the push to invade Japan.

This conquest and the pride it brought Britannian Empire, led to Britannia's golden age. Its economy, military, and culture topped the world. The Empire held(by a slim margin) the Strongest navy in the world, and its army was strong enough and experienced enough to beat nearly and enemy it had. Britannian technology was more advanced than any other nation, and it would only continue its rapid fire progression. The huge technology bubbles in Southern California, Northern Texas, and the Larger Pendragon Area, only keeping the technological boom going.

However, a lot of the economic progress was made by using incredibly cheap number labor. Notably in Area's 7-9, where the labor where incredibly cheap. It was under Viceroy Lelouch vi Britannia that the capacity became 50% of the Empire's Industrial Capacity, the Area around Rio de Janeiro became equal to the mainlands 'Rust Belt'. However, to the mind-boggling of a so many, this drastic increase in Industrial capacity accompanied a 500% increase in wages and the expansion of workers/numbers rights.

This increase in wages went directly against the idea that the easiest way to lower the cost of purchasing items was too cut labor costs. Which is why most consumer goods were built in Area's 7-9. This phenomenon was explained by Brandon Ford. "If the worker has more money and more time to use the items he builds, then he will buy them. Which will send his money back to me. It's a idea my grandfather, my father, and I embrace.". For those who don't know, Brandon Ford's grandfather, Henry Ford, founded the 1st company to make mass-market, cheap, and affordable cars. But his company was overshadowed by the next Companies to join the market, Vauxhall motors and Wellington General, and nearly forced out of business. Much later, they found greener pastures in Area 8 under Viceroy Lelouch vi Britannia.

Prince Lelouch has always been a firm supporter of these ideas. However the expansive workers rights and increasing pay in some cases rose their standard of living above that of Commoners in the Homeland. It would ultimately force massive worker's rights and Union reforms. All of which was hated by the nobility.

These reforms forced on the Homeland, and the Creation of a Native Congress in Area 8, would have the nobles vote en masse to impeach Prince Lelouch from the Office of Viceroy in Area 8. Instead, they replaced him with a hardline Pureblood General, General Augustine Hamilton, who repealed many of Lelouch's reforms. And in a big show of it, he had the army march into factories and ghettos and enforce it. It was these actions that ignited protests. General Hamilton would of course violently put down protestors in the Bloody Sunday Massacres. This would directly lead the declaration of an independent Brazilian Kingdom, and through it, the end of the Britannian Golden Age.

March 23rd, 2024

Somewhere in the Andes Mountains

A Gloucester's head exploded, wiring and processors flying out, as Estavez got another shot off. Swinging the Anti-Knightmare Rifle to his next target and triggered a burst into his next target with the proficiency of 7 years of experience. His face and thoughts dispassionate towards the blood in front of him. After a few hours, being rerouted several times in the process, Rai and he had finally made it back to friendly forces...only to promptly meet a battalion of Gloucester's between them.

"Estavez… Comin Colonel Estavez!" a voice crackled over the Radio. Being slightly covered in static.

"General Rivera?"

"Rivera? I mean-" came Rai across the Radio when he was cut off, his Gekka visibly turning.

"Yes its me soldier." the crackle came across. "We've been unable to contact you. Long range radio has been jammed." it was only then Estavez thought of it. It had just been him and Rai for so long. He hadn't been counting the hours, but he saw the tinted sky above, and felt the grumble of his stomach. "Jesus.."

"You could hear that…?"

"I'm guessing you haven't eaten anything. Not even a MRE by the sound of that. Let's get you back here to the G-1. And put a good meal in you." god that would be good. Estavez's hunger only grew. "I've already given Rai his moniker so get ready, you 2 are moving soon, K-1." A smile flew across his face being replaced by an instant calm and confident expression. The 1st time the General had led them the 3rd Army had just taken Buenos Aires. Although they had celebrated, they had not had apt commanders and had suffered large losses. It wasn't the fault of any commander at the time, they simply did not have the experience or the charisma to command the ragtag rebels with any sort of great efficiency, and their King had chosen to lead on the Northern front. Not to mention they also had a lack of Knightmares and other equipment, like air power. But then General Rivera came his sense of command, his veterans from the mutinies in Africa, and most importantly the equipment he brought to the front. A few hundred fighters, bombers, and Knightmares had come with the already sweet package of an experienced General and Manpower. It was the fighting in Argentina that the General proved his metal, contesting the Britannian General at every point and masterfully encircling huge groups of divisions before crushing them in an iron grip of Green I.F.F. tags.

So it was that confident expression he went at his orders with a flurry of enthusiasm and invigoration.

"K-1 move South and provide covering fire over the mountains."

"K-1 flank the units in sector 5 from the south, and then draw back and provide support."

"K-1 pierce the enemy's center at sector 17." the orders coming through made an oddly serene atmosphere inside his cockpit. The rhythm not only being in his cockpit but also in the flow of battle. It seemed now that General Rivera was simply commanding, not leading and fighting in the front, he was far more able to dictate the will of battle. Using the Britannians overzealousness against them, leading them into near obvious traps. Only the precious few intelligent enough to avoid them. Of course, Britannian court martials were thinning their numbers quickly. The nobility didn't take too kindly to being protested. If they were in a Knightmare they should be autonomous. As most units had been after Moltke had beaten the French at Sedan and united Germany as an entire state in the EU. But if the nobles were in command their orders were the only ones that mattered and were too be followed to the letter. And so it was that competent low-level officers were put on the other side of the Britannian M-16.

"K-1." the General's voice came back through the radio.

"Yes sir, what are your orders?"

"Nothing for now, but the pincer on the right flank with be closing soon, I wanted to now what happened to the red-haired Japanese pilot? I heard she was quite good in Russia." Estavez took a deep breath and remembered that good things don't last forever.

"She died during the drop. An Air Dawg got her sir." he could hear the Generals grumble.

"Dammit, I shouldn't have let them transfer the Mirages." a taping, while quiet still registered. "Let's just hope Manuel can package that fact up nice enough. Did you find the body?"

"No sir, she flew away from us and we couldn't find her Knightmare when I and Rai went to go recover her. She might have been taken by the enemy.", he didn't mention he forgot to detail the AIr Dawgs. He dropped the ball on that one, but it wasn't that big. It was a tiny detail…right? Yeah, yeah it was. He didn't need to know it. He heard the general sigh deeply.

"There is a Britannian camp up ahead. She might have been brought there. At the rate we're going, we might make it by tomorrow."

March 23rd, 2024

Somewhere in the Andes

"-might make it by tomorrow." Rai had been on the same frequency as Estavez. He had been receiving his order on the same frequency. Carrying out the assaults and traps that were prominent in this battle, and Rai guessed his style. It contrasted with General Tohdoh's style of constant and piercing movements. He had been silent so far because...well that's just how he was. He had always been quiet, only really talking when spoken to and with his friends. Kallen was really the only one he had ever had extended conversations with. And now she was gone, but he wouldn't let her be thrown in some mass grave. She deserved to be put to rest in her homeland.

"General, may I lead the charge on the Britannian base camp!"

"Mmmmhmmmm…..No. You're too emotionally attached. It will cause you to make stupid decisions, Estavez will lead. Now K-1, I want-"

"NO!", Rai's outburst startled both the General and Estavez, it was spoken with a determination that was tangible in the cramped hot air of everyone's cockpit. "General...this is...this is something I have to do."

It was stupid to have lashed out at the General if anything he was more likely to be put at the rear guard now. It has been a fit of rage, and really it was something….something that Kallen would do. Rai felt himself exhale. He realized how much he was missing her already. Something about the squad member that fought over near anything with equal vigor was refreshing. His soul sinking, he was ready to turn his Knightmare west towards the rear guard, when the General threw him a bone.

"Alright." said the Rivera. Rai's eyes popped up. "But if you lose control you are out. Got it?".

"Yes sir" Rai felt himself swell with joy. His motivation shot up like a Chinese man under the Eunuchs at the word 'food'. He was ready, able, and willing.

"The facility is a few miles from here, push quick and we'll be there with time to spare before dusk. Good luck, and may God go with you." Rai took a deep breath in, finally.

"Yes sir." So with a motivation and a determination he had seen so many times before. He put his joysticks in a Death grip, shot his arms forward, and charged into battle, a growing grin on his face.

March 23rd, 2024

Britannian Base Camp, Prison Center

What..the hell...just happened…. Kallen's mind couldn't quite comprehend what had just happened. The thoughts and memories disappearing like ash in the flames of her fiery red hair. But that was too poetic for Kallen. It had all happened so fast, or rather slowly, but her Arms felt tired and her mind muddled. Whether an aftereffect of...that or otherwise, she needed a break.

But her mind came back to her, she looked over back to the cell she had been in a few seconds ago...as she turned her head, she could see a faint red glow in the glass, which disappeared as her head whipped the rest of the way to face it. But what

"Well that certainly was a show.." the Green hair girl spoke up, in the usual condescending tone. God, I swear if that's her natural tone, I will find you up there… "Not what I expected, but then again you're different from him."

"Him? Who are you talking about? More important who are you?!" said Kallen.

"Hmm. I guess for now you may call me C.C."

"I asked for your name."

"Yes, and I gave you one. After all, what is a name but an assortment of letters?" This girl was about to push her patience over the edge. "Anyway...do you like it?"

"Like what?"

"The power of the King or I guess in this case queen." Kallen paused. Was that what it….was..that...thing back there. "You certainly do leave a good impression as indicated by the sir right here." She then recognized the dead guard coming to get her. A pick of glass sticking out the side of his head, and the keys he had been carrying now in her hands. "You better hurry." She then heard the heavy footsteps which could only be generated by a combat boot. Looking back to C.C., who was already up and running Kallen dashed herself right behind her, the Prison suit rustling as she went.

The complex had seemed much smaller on the way in. But then again she had been partially unconscious during that trip. But seemingly following C.C. was working right now. Just as that thought began to manifest. She could see the hulking form of Knightmares sitting in the Hangar. 'Finally, but how did she get here?', but before Kallen could find her new mysterious accomplice. The footsteps once behind her took the form of soldiers down the long narrow Britannian hallway. The dark masks seemingly scowling down the hallway. Soon after, the entrance to the hangar was closed off as well. By one man…

"Well Eleven, this is where it ends." General's Hamilton's smug face appeared before her, cocked up as in the most pretentious way possible. "Too bad as well, you would have made for some good fun, if you were Britannian as you looked." Kallen heard the audible click of his pistol, and then she could see him pull the trigger as she felt her eye change. All of a sudden, everything slowed. She jumped to the side and ran forward as she saw a small metal object fly past her at a human's running pace. The bullet? Thinking quick on her feet, the redhead ducked beneath as her hairline parted on the top of her head. Apparently, they had only fired one bullet each because none followed. She then sprinted along the opposite wall. And although she was tempted to take the Generals gun and twist the irony into him. She settled in taking his Knightmare key.

As she ran off to the overly ornate Knightmare that could only belong to the prick whose keys she had. She could see Hamilton's eyes begin to face her. She made it into the Knightmare quickly, her left arm feeling oddly sore, the dinks on the Knightmares armour clued her in on that whatever just happened, was over. The Knightmare jumped to life, sensors, and radio bursting into static. As the rifles kept going off, she willed the effect back into effect, slowing everything.

"Goodbye you Britannian prick," she said as the Knightmares anti-personnel cannon roared to life cutting down the enormous douchebag. As everything settled back down. She finally got a grasp on what happened. That girl..C.C. had given her this. Somehow, someway, she could now slow down time. She didn't know for how long but it seemed to last a definite amount seeing as the world was still slow. But it also seemed to drain her energy as she was now panting. The words, Absolute Action, popped into mind.

No matter, the Gaudy, green, Gloucester was targeting oncoming 'allied' units. 'Not for long', thought Kallen as she shoved the joysticks up, getting back to what she was good at.


Sorry, this one was short and its been a while since I have had something put out there. I figured I would get this out and have something out there than just a longer period of silence. School started and work picked up as did clubs. Hopes this can at least partially satisfy you guys. Have a good day!