Recovering and Reorganizing
Answer to a review:
Raxius: Well, Britannian had done quite a number of ethnic cleansing, so it's not really going to work. However, I did plan a future chapter where Nod disguise themselves as Britannian soldiers and ruin something really important.
September 09, 2017
Viceroy's Palace, Area 11 (Japan)
Inside the meeting room, Cornelia is having a meeting with her close advisers and staffs.
"The Japan Liberation Front was nearly wiped out by your operation, Viceroy. One by one, we're capturing the remaining members who are still on the run." Said one of the staff.
"Are you being sarcastic?" Ask Cornelia with annoyed tone. "We have to reorganize our forces after that fiasco!"
"Oh, no! That wasn't my intention!"
Everyone in the room know that one of the fiasco is the revelation of Nightmares, which basically a Knightmare strapped with explosives as suicide soldier. Those things makes the morale of the Britannian forces drop and now they must find a way to increase it back.
"I believe this was caused by our pursuing of a flawed occupation policy from the start. Why have Area 11's subways and mining railways been leave ignored? In the ghettos the family registries and property deeds are left ambiguous, and they're left to breed anti-government activity!" Said Guilford.
"Well, the subways practically stretch around the entire country. And we don't have the budget to fill in all the abandoned tunnels." Explain a staff.
"Even knowing they'd become the terrorists' main bases and escape routes?!"
"P-Prince Clovis instructed us to..." Before he can finish his sentence, the staff receive a glare from the Viceroy. "Well, that is to say. He said that if we forced them, we'd just trigger an uprising which would give the Chinese Federation an opportunity to exploit."
"They've already been given one! They'll take advantage of Zero's growing power." Replied Cornelia.
"What about Nod?" Ask an adviser.
"While Chinese Federation is the weakest among the three superpowers, they're not complete idiot. Taking advantage of Nod's growing influence is one of the most risky move a person can make in this day."
"Vice-minister, aren't there delegates of the Elevens which the Ministry of Internal Affairs has charged with the self-government of this area? A group called the N.A.C.?" Ask Dalton.
Many staffs and advisers shows a little surprise.
"We were hoping to get the goods on the N.A.C. in the operation two days ago, but the data was either buried in the land slide or burned during Nod's attack. However, our suspicions remain high. If we suppress them first..."
"Hmm... A group of bluebloods and plutocrats...a relic of the past at this point." Said Cornelia.
"W-Wait, please! Those are just rumors! There's no evidence of it at all! If you suppress them, the Eleven economy won't be able to stand! It'll affect the tax revenue we send back to the Homeland! Also, the idea that Numbers should take care of their own is a guiding principle of the empire!" Said an adviser.
"Then what about the search for the Black Knights and Nod's cells in Area 11?!" Retort Cornelia.
"F-From what we can gather from the battlefield, the Black Knights were trying to caused the land slide, but Nod beat them. But that's the only thing we can recover."
"So, you leave Kyoto be and also can't capture Zero. Furthermore, Nod is still at large. Do you know? Those who can't get the required results are usually called 'incompetent'."
Unknown Location, Area 11 (Japan)
Inside a traditional Japanese room, the leaders of Kyoto are having a meeting due to the recent events.
"So, the Britannian princess has gone this far." Said Taizo Kirihara.
"With the break up of the Liberation Front, the last embers of Japan have died away." Said Tatsunori Osakabe.
"Wait! He may be on the run, but Tohdoh is still in good shape!" Exclaim Tousai Munakata.
"Although I heard he's even lost the Burai Customs. And there's the rumor of the Brotherhood hunting down the remnants of the Liberation Front. At this point, hope is..." Said Hidenobu Kubouin.
"There is still hope." Interjected Kaguya Sumeragi.
"The Black Knights? You've been an admirer of Zero since he rescued Suzaku Kururugi, to the point of sending him a Guren Mk-II." Replied Kirihara.
Student Council Room, Ashford Academy
In the room, Shirley and Milly are talking about something along the line of Lelouch, love, and confession.
As if on cue, Lelouch then appears in the room. He came to pick the paper work for the upcoming festival. Then, Kevin come inside the room.
"Hey there, Kevin." Said Milly with cheerful voice. "How are you? Haven't see you since few days ago."
"Sorry about that, there are problems at my apartment and unless I want to pay someone to do it, I must do it by myself." Explain Kevin.
"What kind of problem, anyway?" Ask Lelouch.
"You do realize while it's already weeks since I am here, I am still moving from the Mainland? I haven't have time to pack off my stuffs."
"That makes sense."
"Anyway, Lelouch. When I see you with Nunnally, I thought you will be an overprotective brother."
"What makes you said that?" Ask Lelouch suspiciously.
"When I am on my way here, I saw Rai was feeding Nunnally a soup."
It took some seconds for Lelouch to figures what Kevin's said. As soon as he did, his eyes become as wide as saucer and run outside the room.
"You do realize that Rai is at Narita with Suzaku?" Ask Milly dumbfounded.
"Of course. I am just trolling Lelouch." Explain Kevin while giving a shrug. "Oh, Shirley. I think he accidentally took something from you. A letter I guess."
When Shirley looks at the table, she see that the letter is gone. She then immediately exits the room and running towards Lelouch.
Black Knight's Van
After reading the "love letter" from Kyoto and doing some change in the Black Knights' structure, Ohgi then gives Zero another letter.
"What's this one?" Ask Zero.
"Don't know. We found it along with some supplies that had been sent to us. This one specifically directed for you." Explain Ohgi.
Zero then open the letter. It seems usualy from what he can see. But when he see what's inside, he can see that there's card with the symbol of the Brotherhood of Nod. Surprised, Zero takes the card and see what's at the other side. He can see that there are words on it. Zero then read it.
Sorry for the damage we caused to you at Narita. Hope the supplies we send with this letter can help you to recover :)
Nod Commander
Slowly but surely, anger begins to build up inside Zero. For some reason, he imagine a bald man with goatee is having a chuckle with amusement.
He put the card at the table and gives an order to Ohgi.
"Ohgi, tell the others to burn the supplies!"
"Eh? Are you sure? You know that-"
"I don't care! Burn it!"
Zero then goes to his room. The Black Knights' members then look at each other with confused face. Kallen then picks the card and read it.
"Whoa, this surely hurt Zero's pride." Said Kallen with wide eyes.
September 10, 2017
Narita
At the remains of the city, the Britannian Search and Rescue are trying to find any survivor or at the very least their remains. However, so many part of the city had been burned to the point that only 1 among 10 bodies is identifiable by face. Most of the human remains are also mixed up, making the job finding out how many people died even more challenging. At one of the tent where the identifiable corpses are being put, many of their relatives are crying for their losses.
"Any recovered human remains should be brought to tent number 2. Any lost articles should be identified at once. Bring any items which contain identifiable faces to tent number 1. Specify via written report on the location and time of discovery. Medical team 2 will be arriving shortly. Transport personnel, report to provisional tent 2 at once!"
Suzaku is taking a rest while Cecile is replacing Lancelot's battery. He drinks some of the water at a plastic bottle and then pour the rest at his head.
"So, had enough of searching for bodies?" Ask Lloyd as he walks towards Suzaku.
"If you can, I'd like you to let me help out with the recovery operations for a bit longer." Replied Suzaku.
"Be my guest, until you've worked it out of your system. Those are Princess Cornelia's orders for the time being. Besides, that kid is still at the city with the Club."
Suzaku is thinking for a while before asking something.
"Mr. Lloyd... Zero and the Black Knights... Also Kane and Nod... What are they doing? What do they hope to accomplish by causing all these deaths?"
"The Black Knights are knights of justice, if you go by his own words. For Nod, remembering what that bald man said few weeks ago, their goal is to avenge all three superpowers for making them suffer."
"And where's the 'justice'?! All they did was fighting the authority and didn't even help when Nod massacre everyone in the city! And Nod are even worse than the Black Knights! That MAN have millions of followers that he can used to help the superpowers in realizing their error and yet he decided to spill more blood?! Is revenge the only thing in his head?!"
"Please, I have no intention of having an embarrassing discussion about the nature of justice. We are basically soldiers, after all."
Suddenly, there's a big explosion coming from the ruin of the city. When Lloyd and Suzaku look at the source, they see a black smoke rising from it.
"Oh my. Looks like some poor man have stumbled upon some of the bombs that Nod left." Lloyd face then becomes worried. "I hope is not the Club."
"Shouldn't we be more worried about whether or not the 'poor man' survive?" Ask Suzaku which receive no reply.
"All set! The energy filler's been switched out." Inform Cecile.
"Oh, uh, right." Said Suzaku.
Suzaku then approach Lancelot. Lloyd then speak to Cecile.
"So, Cecile?" Ask Lloyd.
"I checked them out. The Purebloods' units as well." Replied Cecile.
"It's what I thought it was, right?"
"Yes, sir. The wave surger."
"I never would have thought Rakshata would work with our enemies."
"The enemy pilot was an ace as well. With us not be able to predict Suzaku's psychological stability now, if he were to fight that pilot again..."
"You don't think it would win? My dear Lancelot?"
Mt. Fuji, Area 11 (Japan)
After the hectic conversation with Taizo Kirihara, Zero then goes strolling the place for a while. In his hand is a letter written by Kirihara which he received few minutes after the conversation. He then read it.
To Zero,
After our conversation, I'm sure you can realize that your group is now the only group that support Japanese independence. However, bear in mind that there's another group that seeks for the independence of not only Japan, but also most of Britannia's colonies; the Brotherhood of Nod.
From outside, they seems to be sufficiently advanced liberation group. But from the intelligence we got, there's more than meet the eyes of the Brotherhood.
The tactics they used to gain their independence involved killing civilians on purpose and so brutal that everyone with half a brain would not support such a group. Shamefully, most people that being conquered (Numbers) have been oppressed to the point that they only want independence; doesn't matter how they get it.
As such, I request to you that if you can, please drive away Nod from Japan. One rule that will always stand when you fighting a monster is that you should never become one. I believe the Brotherhood doesn't care about that.
Sincerely,
Taizo Kirihara
Zero then fold the paper and put it in one of his pocket. He then goes to where his men are waiting.
At night...
Park, Area 11 (Japan)
Lelouch is walking to meet Shirley. It's raining however, so he must uses an umbrella.
"Anyway, it's all starting. The Black Knights will finally become the organization that I imagined." Thought Lelouch.
He then see that near a watch pole, Shirley is standing without using umbrella or rain coat to protect herself from the rain. Lelouch then approach her and gives her some shelter with the umbrella.
"Umm...I am sorry I was late. I thought you'd already left a while ago." Said Lelouch. He see that Shirley doesn't gives any response. "No, never mind that. Anyway, let's go some place to get out of the rain."
"Lulu, tell me... That guy Zero... He fights for the weak, doesn't he?" Ask Shirley out of nowhere.
"Wha...? Yeah, that's what he says, anyway."
"Then... Then why didn't he save my father?"
Lelouch shows a shocked face as a reply. Shirley then shows her face, which indicates that she was crying.
"My father was a gentleman! He never laid a finger on me... He never did anything wrong... But he was burned... Shot...! Why? Why did my father have to die?! This can't be... It just can't...! IT CAN'T...!"
Shirley then drops her bag and hug Lelouch, who drops his umbrella.
"Please, Lulu...! Help me...!"
Lelouch then hug Shirley tighter. Both of them then kissed.
A chapter for my story is done.
If you have question or suggestion, feel free to tell me.
Review please.
