Doolittle raid a la Black Knights.
Disclaimer: Don't own any of this.
A few words before you begin, what you read here is rather dear to me as it was something that I had planned to co-write alongside my dear friend Freedom Guard, who sadly passed away 3 years ago on August 5th, 2015.
I don't think I can do this one without him, I feel like I wouldn't do it the justice it deserves…that he deserves, for he was a better writer than me and I am not afraid to admit that, so I worry even this may do him a disservice but he also appreciated honesty in his reviews so I can do no less, just be polite when you review it.
History was not our strong suit but we tried to get the facts on the Doolitle Raid as best we could though for all we knew we could be way off, just take that into account ok?
On board the UNSC Thermopylae Bridge…
Cortana and John were currently in the Thermopylae's CIC and overlooking over a massive map. As they did Lelouch, CC, Ohgi, Tamaki, Kallen, Todoh and his holy swords, Taizo & Kaguya and finally Rakshata arrived. Lelouch was able to see that the UNSC hero and his partner were deep in thought planning something. They had managed to pull off some major victories and already the Black Knights were becoming more recognized and coordinated even though they did not yet have the numbers to take the fight more openly to Britannia.
"Master Chief, we're all here as you requested, what's on your mind?" Zero speaks as he approaches them with Todoh and Kirihara in tow with the former speaking up.
"I am in agreement with Lelouch here Master Chief, this must be serious if you called all of us."
John nodded and looked at them all, seeing that all the key players in what could be the team's most daring mission to date. It was time, though Cortana could not help but smirk at what the two of them had come up.
"It is indeed so with that said Lord Taizo, do you happen to have the schedule on your House's latest Sakuradite shipments to Britannia?"
"Yes I do, we should be able to send a shipment of it at least three days from now why? Is that relevant?"
"It is, can you and House Kyoto forge some papers to allow a small team to enter through the ports in Britannia as employees?"
Taizo thought about it and nodded though he was still, like the others, in the dark on what was the plan cooking in the minds of the two but they were not going to wait for very long as the Spartan moved back to the CIC and spoke to them.
"Do all of you remember the alternate historical event of Pearl Harbor in our reality?"
They nodded in unison, they after all had looked at the differences between their reality and that of the Spartan and his A.I companion's own reality. World War 2 was something that they were not too keen on due to namely siding with someone as vile as Hittler's Nazi regime. They also knew that by attacking Pearl Harbor once held by the Americans, the Japanese had brought them directly into the war and soon resulted in the loss of Midway for the navy's only fleet of carriers and culminating on the first nuclear bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
Ohgi replied to the question.
"We have read that event well Master Chief, we're not happy about it but we understand the reasons behind it on both sides. Why do you ask it though?"
"Because Ohgi the Americans were not going to be quiet about the results in our reality, President Roosevelt knew that with American morale at an all-time low because of the attack on Pearl Harbor. He knew that if the America was to go to war it had to believed that they can win so to do so they had to launch a retaliatory strike to Japan but it seemed impossible because of the losses of the American Navy, that is until this man proposed a very daring plan."
John looked at Cortana and she smiled and brought the image of the man in question.
"This is Brigadier General James Eugene Doolittle, a former stunt pilot who had later become a military officer in the American Air Force, it was he who concocted a plan to launch a smaller but more mobile raid in retaliation for Pearl Harbor. It was named the Tokyo Raid, or in respect for the man who planned and executed it...the Doolittle Raid."
Cortana soon explained in detail just how the raid was planned, and even though it was an attack on their homeland, the Black Knights, the leader of House Kyoto, and Todoh as well as his followers admitted that it was very risky and brave. The idea of using bombers that were once meant for land based runways on carriers to attack Japan was utterly unheard of. Even more so when they learned that in order to even lift off they had to sacrifice their planes' armor, heavy equipment, weapons, ammunition and more, basically turning the planes into flying fuel tanks and bomb containers. The force of planes was paltry in comparison to the Japanese force that attacked Pearl and their weapons were few, and when the raid was underway they were literally flying blind and had to ditch all their planes. Three were killed and all the planes lost and despite the losses, Doolittle was promoted for his actions instead of being sent to a court martial.
"While the Doolittle Raid in terms of military value was low as the facilities it hit, along with the ship were all back to operational order in a few months. But the real impact of the Doolittle Raid, was to affect the morale on both sides as in the case of the American side the morale that had been low was at an all-time high and inspired the populace that victory was possible. On the other side of the morale field, the Japanese military was confused and dismayed at how such an attack happened and how they were unable to stop it from hitting their home land and it led to the strategic blunder which was the Battle of Midway."
Chiba was confused and annoyed at this and spoke in a bit of a heated tone.
"That's all well and good, but why are we talking about this raid?!"
The others were also confused by this...that is until two of the people in the meeting quickly got the idea of what the Spartan and his A.I partner has in mind. Both Todoh and Lelouch were wide eyed for a moment or two longer before Todoh spoke with a slight gleam in his eye and a look of interest as well.
"That is the most ambitious move I have ever heard of...I am impressed."
Lelouch nodded in agreement and also rubbed his hand on his chin in deep thought while also having a slight gleam in his eyes.
"I am in full agreement with Todoh sensei Master Chief...this move is ambitious."
Kallen was confused and made her thoughts on the mater clear
"Lelouch, what are you and Todoh-san getting at here?"
The exiled prince and leader of the Black Knights smiled at Kallen and replied.
"Kallen...there is a reason why the Spartan told us of the Doolittle Raid, he intends for us to do our own version of it, am I right Master Chief?"
John nodded and soon moved to reveal the nation of Britannia and was already showing areas of interest.
"Exactly...we will make our own Doolittle Raid on Britannia itself. We will strike the Britannian forces in the one place they all would think can never be attacked...their own homeland."
With that said a lot of voices started to cry out in shock.
After the meeting, in the cantina...
After the debriefing the founders of the Black Knights, Oghi, Kallen and Tamaki had all headed towards the cantina where the other founders and former of the Naoto Kozuki cell members were currently located.
Sugiyama, Inoue, Minami and Yoshida knew something was up with the looks of worry on Kallen and Oghi's faces; it was Tamaki's next actions that caught them of guard. He simply walked behind the serving area and ducked down before pulling up a six pack of beer.
Normally they would take his weakness for the sauce in stride...unless he drains a can in one go as he was doing just now. He wiped his mouth cracked open another and spoke before draining that can before he finally spoke in a fearful tone.
"It finally happened...he finally cracked!"
"Ok what the hell is going on?" Inoue asked the other two.
Kallen and Oghi shared a look before Oghi took charge.
"The Chief called us and the other officers to announce his plans for the next mission..."
The pause worried them but before they could ask him Tamaki, clearly starting to feel the effects of the alcohol, spoke up.
"He wants us to go into fucking Britannia to blow their shit up!"
"Tamaki!" Kallen shouts ignoring the stunned looks they were seeing.
"They deserve to know Kallen! The man has fucking cracked if he thinks we can just waltz into the goddamned lion's den and hope to make it out alive."
"Is he...is he serious Oghi!?" Minami asks his old friend still reeling from the news.
"He is."
"Dear sweet Kami..." Kento just couldn't help himself but heads towards Tamaki and grab the last beer, there wasn't much protest from the man as he simply ducked down and grabbed another set.
"Oghi, I know we have pulled off some impressive victories over the Brits but this? This is taking the cake! We can't possibly pull it off even if we have Zero, Todoh and the Spartan at our backs." The only other woman of the group spoke in clear denial.
"But like you said Inoue, we have succeeded where no one believed it possible." Kallen rallied as despite the worry she wanted to believe in her leaders.
"Yeah but Kallen we had home field advantage here when we did, we knew the terrain better, the people protect us as we protect them...but over there how can we possibly do the same?" Minami sadly points out, she didn't want to be the downer of the group but the reality off it was staring them down in the face...that is until Oghi finally spoke.
"The same way we have won those same battles you mentioned..." The man stood up with a look of determination rarely seen on his face ever since he joined with Zero and the Chief "...by following the men who brought us up to this point."
"Oghi this is crazy! I hate to say this but I don't think even Naoto would have done something this insane." Tamaki let out earning some shaky nods from the others save Kallen who looked at him.
"No...I don't believe that for a second, in fact I believe he would have embraced this chance to finally get off our asses and strike at our oppressors." Their friend spoke out in a way that stunned them.
"Guys we have come a long way, we have done things none of the other cells ever even dreamed off! Every day we come close to freeing our homeland and to fulfilling Naoto's dream...hell to take it to new heights all thanks to Zero and the Spartan."
"We could die over Oghi, I mean this time we won't have any advantage at all and all we have is to hope that we can pull of a miracle to get out here and back home." Tamaki quietly spoke, something that was not lost on any of them.
"Tamaki, we all agreed that Japan's freedom was worth dying didn't we?" Kallen gently asked the man she normally butted heads with.
"Yeah but...but dammit I'm scared! Dear Kami I am actually scared this time."
The crimson haired pilot's eyes soften as she approached him and placed her hands on his shoulders.
"I'm scared too Tamaki, hell I know we all are but remember what the Chief said courage isn't the absence of fear..."
"...it's acknowledging it and moving past it." Tamaki ended before Oghi spoke up again.
"Guys I'm going with the Chief and Zero. I will not let fear rule me, I will not let Britannia or its stupid ideology or even the fucking Emperor Charles Zi Britannia rule me anymore! Now are you with me!?"
The others were shocked to say the least; they had never seen the former school teacher so fired up.
"I ask you again are you with me?! For Freedom?! For Japan?! For Naoto?!"
"Ah damn it all to Hell, I'm with you Oghi, I may be either too drunk or crazy at this point but I'm with yah to the end." Tamaki shouted as he moved towards his friend while the others did the same.
"To the end!" Inoue cries as she and the others stood beside Oghi before he looked at Kallen who despite everything smiled.
"For Naoto...to the end!"
"Come on, we have an invasion to plan and a victory to achieve."
The group soon rush out the door to meet with their leaders and change the course of history.
Within Todoh's quarters…
The former Coronel and his Holy swords had sequestered themselves within his room at his behest once the meeting was over. Currently Todoh was sitting on a section of the room he used to meditate while the others took places around them.
Asahina was sitting at the desk, his knee nervously bouncing up and down.
Senda sat on the bed and stared at his feet.
Shiba was pacing back and forth while she lightly bites her thumb.
Finally Urabe stared at the stars through the window the Coronel's room had.
Todoh let the silence hang for a moment until finally…
"We cannot go through with this Coronel!" Asahina spoke out as the silence finally grew too much.
"Asahina!" Senba chided the youngest member of the group.
"Let him speak." Todoh says calmly.
"Sir it is utter folly to go through with this veritable suicide run." The young soldier comments in utmost seriousness, Shiba nodded in agreement before she also chimed in.
"He is right sir, we are being asked to walk into certain death, there is no assurance we will succeed much less survive."
"They are not entirely wrong Coronel; we are talking about going into the very heart of enemy territory here with little to no chance of making it out alive." Senba added with some slight worry.
Todoh took this all into account before he stood up and face the last member of his team.
"And what say you old friend?"
Urabe stood quietly as he stargazed before taking a deep breath and turning to face his comrades. He could see Shiba and Asahina were worried and Senba looked weary before finally he turned towards his leader who looked back stoically at him.
*I see he has already come to the same conclusion as I did.* He thinks before finally speaking.
"I say we should go."
"Are you mad!?" Shiba naturally exploded first.
"Let him speak Shiba." Todoh spoke as he wanted the man to explain. Urabe nodded in thanks to his leader before he began.
"Look at where we are…" he says as he holds out his hands and looks around the room before pointing at the window and thus Earth "…really look at it."
"We are inside one of the most advance pieces of technology in our world while being in outer space and thousands of miles from the Earth. We are fighting alongside a Super Soldier with 30 years of combat experience against alien combatants who wielded superior tech and a veritable horde numbers as well as having a veritable tactical genius who has secured major victories against Britannia where the JLF had none and while being a high school teenager."
He could see he was getting to them while his leader gave his silent approval to continue.
"All of that should have been ludicrous in our minds but we are living it this very moment, we are a part of something so large I can scarcely believe it myself but here we are nonetheless. My friends, the realm of impossibility are no longer a limitation for us least we allow to them be, so who is to say that this raid is impossible?" Urabe finished his speech before Todoh added his own words.
"Well said old friend, I no longer will chained by doubt or impossibility. I plan to join in this raid and strike a blow against our oppressors that will be heard by the entire world. Death is always a possibility that is true, but is this not a cause for fighting for? One that is worth dying for? Are we not bound by both duty and honor to do all we can to see our people free and our nation rise from the ashes as a beacon to other who feel the iron hand of oppression and show that the enemy is not all powerful nor invincible?"
The other swords took their leader's words to heart as they stared at him before seeing Urabe move and place his hand on Todoh's shoulder.
"For Japan's freedom I will join you."
"For Japan." Asahina added as he rose to join them.
"For Japan." Senba says as he also stands with his colleagues leaving only Shiba left.
"I…I will not lie and say I'm not afraid Coronel, but I trust you to see us through this new venture no matter the end result...so for Japan I will go."
"Then let us go make history my Swords." With that said the group leaves as one to face their destiny together.
When the two groups returned to the CIC and found the Chief, Cortana and Lelouch pouring over all available information for the raid the three looked upon them and could see they already knew that they would take part in what was to be the most daring assault ever to be made against the Holy Britannian Empire.
This assault would go down into the pages of history for years to com and immortalize them forever more.
End.
A/N: So as you can see it was an ambitious project that we would have undertaken had tragedy not struck. I can't with all honesty say I would write this by myself without FG but I am open to let others try on the proviso they speak to me first.
Also for those in interested to see the works of Freedom Guard, go to and look for the community Freedom Guard's Requiem where I and mcknight93 placed all his works so they can be read for who care to do so.
That is all I have to say to you all, to FG I say I hope you are at peace my friend and may your stories inspire others as they did to me.