U.S.J. HQ- Tokyo District
As he paced back and forth in front of his desk, Prime Minister Ohgi could only wait for the inevitable.
He was horrified to hear that General Tohdoh and his men had been scattered and crushed by the numerically superior forces of the extraterrestrials. Already his most pessimistic fears were coming true, especially after Tohdoh himself contacted U.S.J. HQ, informing Ohgi that the aliens had broken through their lines and surrounded Tokyo, preventing any escape Ohgi may have planned at the last moment.
Tohdoh had futher stated that all available Akatsuki would defend the building as best as they could but he heard no more from the general afterwards. For all Ohgi knew, he was either dead or captured just like Kallen.
Villetta stood at the far corner of the room, holding her baby son, Shigeru, in her slender arms. She was deathly afraid for his safety. For everyone's safety in fact. But the fact that she was helpless to stop what was happening was excrutiating.
"Ohgi..." Villetta said, mustering the courage to speak. "What are we going to do?"
Ohgi stopped pacing and stared at his loved ones with horrid worry.
"I...I don't know," He said, as if admitting defeat.
Suddenly, and as if on cue, muffled explosions and blaster cannon fired could be heard outside the building. Ohgi cautiously approached the large window on the far side of the room, drew back the curtains and to saw a fierce battle on the outskirts of the U.S.J. HQ. About a dozen Akatsuki had retreated back to the building and from above, ARC-170 and V-Wing starfighters rained down laser cannon fire, proton torpedos and proton bombs.
Shigeru began to wail at the intensity of the noise while Villetta tried to calm him. Ohgi placed both hands on his head in despair as the battle quickly died down and the remaining Atkatsuki were eventually destroyed or disabled. Some of the pilots exited their crippled Knightmare Frames and surrendered to the Stormtroopers disgorging from the LAAT's that landed in the courtyard of the building.
One ship in particular had three slender wings in a configuration that resembled the letter "Y". The Lambda class shuttle glided through the air and disappeared from Ohgi's sight. Long seconds dragged by until blaster rifle and assault rifle fire could be heard in the hallway outside the door and Ohgi realized the Stormtroopers had entered the building and were battling the guards.
Villetta walked over to Ohgi and held onto his arm.
Quite quickly, screaming replaced the gunfire. Next the sound of hurrying footsteps grew and stopped right outside the double doors, which opened and what Ohgi saw appear in the doorway sent a cold shiver down his spine.
A dark, caped figure wearing a horrifying black helmet stepped into the room with a squad of Stormtroopers behind him.
"Kaname Ohgi?" The caped figure said, his voice amplified.
"Yes, that's me," Ohgi replied. "And who are you?"
"You may address me as Lord Vader," Darth Vader replied. "I am placing this nation, Japan, over the occupation of the Galactic Empire."
Vader's straight and to the point statement made Ohgi more uneasy. Viletta shielded the now quiet Shigeru's eyes from Vader, knowing his nightmarish appearence would terrify him.
"But why are you here?" Ohgi asked.
"Our objective on this planet is none of your concern, prime minister," Vader answered sternly. "So long as you or your people do not resist our presense here, they will not be harmed."
It was like Britannia's invasion of Japan in 2010 all over again. After years of war, Japan was finally free of the clutches of Britannia and now the Earths first contact with alien life was taking a turn for the worst and by some particularly cruel chance, Japan was first on their list.
But Ohgi had questions.
"Where is Kallen Kouzuki?" Ohgi demanded.
"If you must know, she is..."
"Lord Vader, Admiral Dannis wishes to speak with you. He says it is urgent," A Stormtrooper reported as he entered the room.
Annoyed, Vader glared at the Stormtrooper and exited Ohgi's office to keep the conversation with the Admiral of the Resolute II in secrecy. Vader activated his holodisk and a blue, shimmering image of Dannis appeared.
"What is it admiral?" Vader said impatiently.
Dannis paused nervously before he answered.
"My Lord, Kallen Kouzuki has escaped the ship. She was last seen heading East in the Guren shortly after your departure," Dannis replied.
"Who is responsible for this?" Vader demanded.
"One of our detention block guards, Cadet Corban," Dannis answered warily. "And that's not all, my lord. One of our LAAT's took off from the Resulute II as well. We believe it was hijacked by the Jedi."
Vader was silent with seething anger for a moment.
"I will return shortly, Admiral," Vader said.
"Yes my lord," Dannis said, bowed and the hologram vanished.
Vader stood alone in the hallway and realized that Ahsoka had apparently joined up with Kallen. This would compicate his intentions but nothing would stand in the way of his final goal.
Over the Pacific Ocean- 100 Miles off the Britannian West Coast
The LAAT glided across the shining blue waters of the Pacific Ocean with the Guren flying alongside. It was mid-afternoon and it wouldn't be long before they reached Britannia.
Ahsoka and her companions had explained everything to Lelouch and CC regarding their background. From the Clone Wars to Order 66 to the rise of the Galactic Empire.
Lelouch was deeply intrigued by Ahsoka's tale but what really interested him was the Force. It reminded him greatly of the power of Geass. But whether or not the two powers were somehow connected was debatable.
Ahsoka herself remained somewhat dubious of Lelouch's tale earlier. Though she sensed no dishonesty in him when he revealed his dark past, the fact that he was once Emperor of the most powerful government on the planet seemed unbelievable considering how young he was. Plus all of the unintentional bloodshed he caused as he advanced towards his ultimate goal could not be simply brushed off as a necessity.
Nevertheless, he was perhaps the only one who could successfully repel the Empires invasion. She was well aware of his strategic brilliance, what with his successful actions against Britannia in the past that he had revealed and his successful plan in escaping Japan.
Furthermore, Ahsoka had her doubts as to how many resources the Empire was willing to spare just to capture a few Jedi, though if they truly wanted to conquer the planet at any cost, it would be a foregone conclusion that the Earth would eventually lose the war.
Kallen, who had volunteered to escort the LAAT to Britannia as to avoid being shot down, heard much of Ahsoka's story over the intercom. She was also interested yet still skeptical of Ahsoka's tale but she shrugged it off, knowing now wasn't the time for an argument.
"Lelouch," Kallen said. "We're approaching the Brittanian mainland. I'm picking up two signals coming our way."
"They must be the coast guard," Lelouch replied. "Remember what we discussed Kallen."
"Don't worry," Kallen said. "I haven't forgotten."
Kallen switched on her communicator and waited for the coast guard Knightmare Frames to address her. A few moments later, a male voice emitted from the communicator.
"Attention unidentified craft. You are approaching the mainland of the Britannian Empire. Turn back immediately or you will be apprehended."
Kallen breathed in through her nose, keeping calm and remembering the recital she held with Ahsoka and Lelouch over the intercom earlier.
"This is Kallen Kouzuki. Commander of the Black Knights of the United States of Japan," She said firmly. "I am escorting the passengers of the first UFO that crashed in Japan."
There was a long pause.
"Your escorting aliens? Are you insane?"
Kallen gave herself a mental kick in the stomach for not fully explaining everything.
"You don't understand," She snapped. "Their not the same as the aliens that attacked Japan. They just came here to seek refuge and they have requested an audience with the Empress of Britannia to resolve the invasion of not only Japan but the whole world."
There was another pause.
"Commander, I don't meant to question your judgement, but are you sure they are trustworthy? They could be spies or assasins for all we know."
Kallen gritted her teeth in frustration. The man had a point but the fact that Lelouch had befriended them and Ahsokha's long tale of the Empire and the Jedi rendered it difficult to deny.
"If they weren't trustworthy I would have killed them myself earlier or they would have killed me," Kallen said sternly. "This is a dire situation and I must insist that you let us through."
"Very well. We shall escort you to the palace but we must inform her royal highness of your arrival first."
"Roger that," Kallen concluded. "Kozouki out."
Kallen kept her communicator on, waiting for Lelouch. She wore a look of uncertainty. Whether the Coast Guard would actually allow them access to the Imperial Palace or not, regardless of her explaination of the situation, she was unsure. But she knew there was no turning back. As much as it pained her to abandon her homeland, she knew Lelouch was the only one who could save Japan and the world itself.
"Kallen," Lelouch's voice came over the communicator. "Did it work?"
"I think so," Kallen replied. "But you...might have to use your Geass just in case they won't allow us to see Nunnally. I don't fully trust them."
"I understand," Lelouch said, not sounding surprised. "Just keep your course. We'll be there in a few minutes."
Without a word, Kallen switched off her communicator and sighed briskly. They were taking a large risk in coming to Britannia but given the situation, it was perhaps the only choice they had. Hopefully the battle in Japan would delay the aliens long enough for them to speak to Nunnally and decide a course of action.
Imperial Palace
Britannia- Morfran (Arizona)
Nunnaly sat in her quarters silently as she unhappily watched a news report in Japan on the television. Suzaku stood by her side equally distressed by the crisis in his homeland.
"The Black Knights of Japan have seemingly been defeated and the Prime Minster of Japan may have been captured by the extraterrestrials," The reporter annouced grimly. "No further word has left the U.S.J. HQ since the extraterrestrials have entered mere minutes ago."
Nunnally felt powerless to help Japan. After all Lelouch had done, the sudden alien invasion would disrupt the peace and possibly plunge the whole world into a period of war and chaos.
"Your highness," A voice came over Nunnally's intercom on her desk.
Nunnally wheeled her chair over to her desk and spoke into it.
"Yes? What is it?"
"We've recieved a message from the Coast Guard. They claim they've met up with Commander Kallen Kouzuki of the Black Knights of Japan just outside our west coast."
Nunnally looked puzzled.
"Are you sure? How did she escape Japan?" Nunnally asked.
"We're not sure, your highness. However she said she was escorting the passengers of the first UFO. She claims they came here seeking refuge from the other ships and that they wish to speak with you."
Nunnally wasn't entirely convinced.
"Allow them to land on the outskirts of the palace but I want security at their landing site," Nunnally ordered, unwilling to take any chances.
"Yes your higness."
The intercom switched off. Nunnally turned her head to Suzaku who wore a look of uncertainty.
"It could be a trick," Suzaku admitted. "But I highly doubt that Kouzuki would bring them here if she didn't already trust them."
"There's only one way to be sure. Get my ship ready. If they are truly here on peaceful terms then I shall speak with them," Nunnally said firmly.
Authors Note- Once again, if I have made any flaws, inform me and I shall fix them. Thank you.