A/N: Thank you all so much for waiting on this chapter. I'm so sorry it took so long, I've been dealing with Exams this last week, so i wasn't able to work on this chapter. Again, thank you for all waiting, and please Enjoy The Show!
Chapter 12: Attack on Order Geass
Oversight Carrier
The flight back to Gibraltar seemed to carry on to long, and was anything but silent. Most were terrified of the news, some fell numb. A few even were crying. But out of everyone, though, Rikoto seemed to be the quietest.
He'd been struggling to comprehend that one third of the world's power had fell so quickly, making Britannia the rulers of almost two thirds of Earth. This was not going as most had planned.
From what he was told, the US President was killed during the use of another FLEIJA weapon by the Gallia Grande, issued by the Emperor to attack. With no leaders, the US fell into disarray, before finally giving up and surrendering.
The Damocles was still functioning, they had to essentially tow it back to the base for damage repair and command service again. It'd take time, but it'd be worth it. Though it had a Float System, the Damocles wasn't as superior in flying from one place to another like the Oversight.
"This has gone off long enough. With that FLEIJA ship in the air, we're losing ground faster than we get it." 76 growled, hand over his brow as he was deep in thought. Most agreed, the Gallia Grande was the major problem. "We have to destroy the Gallia Grande."
"I agree, but the problem is finding it." Rikoto riposted, searching the images of the Grande's arrivals and leavings. ¨We need to find the next target before it gets attacked, and hopefully find its hiding place.¨
¨Yeah, a lot more harder than it looks,¨James growled, fixing his armor. At the moment, they were in the main hanger, watching the repairs take place on their respected Gundam´s and Knightmare´s. ¨How do you follow something that can be followed?¨
"We simply wait for it to show up, then we follow the bastard's home." Rikoto said, eying the damage done to the Gawain Mk 2. Zero was good at making strategies, but not so much as piloting a Knightmare. Into a place full of Knightmares. "We need to give Lelouch more training."
"Why, he's an okay pilot." James reassured, trying his best not to remember how Lelouch nearly blew up Gibraltar's hanger bay the first time. "It was one time, Rikoto. Besides, he was still getting out of his Julius Kingsley moment to."
"….What if we used that?" 76 asked, the two now turning to his. Walking closer, his visor was now glistening in the lighted room. "We can have Lelouch play off as Julius Kingsley, have him lure the Gallia Grande to us, then we destroy it."
"Absolutely not," Rikoto immediately answered, not bothering to wait for a answer. "I won't allow Charles Geass to turn Lelouch back into that…. thing called a human. Besides, there's no way Lelouch would do it."
"Well, we have to try something." 76 retorted. "We can't just have that ship flying around."
"Commander, we have a message coming in!" A trooper rushed towards them, holding a data pad. He handed it to Rikoto. "The message came from an unknown location, their asking to speak with you."
"What?!" Rikoto was nervous as to how this person knew him, but then again, they did make an appearance at St. Petersburg. Putting one and two together didn't take a lot of time to figure out who was piloting the Delta Kai. "Very well, I'll head to my room. Have the transmission sent directly to Winston afterwards."
"Sir!" The troop saluted, quickly leaving the trio. Rikoto quickly left the hanger bay, leaving the other two to ponder as to who Rikoto was going to talk to.
Meanwhile
As Rikoto spoke with the unclosed character, Lelouch, Suzaku, Rolo, and Tracer were relaxing in the ships lounge. If you wanted to call if relaxing. Suzaku hadn't bothered to sit down, but continuously eyed Lelouch.
Lelouch was looking at his Zero mask, trying to figure out a way to upgrade its damage resistance. He had several sketches on the small table, but so far none were really looking up. Rolo and Tracer, though, somehow manage to find a way to relax, and were simply talking.
"So, what's it like, using a Geass, Luv?" Tracer asked, with Rolo shrugging.
"It's like a rush of energy, but it also feels like you losing yourself to." Rolo answered, placing a hand to his heart. His Geass flared in his eye once, making Tracer look at it with incertitude. "For me, it feels like a rush of air simply vanished in my lungs, and my heart stops. It makes me feels like my hearts going to give out at any time."
"I Know how that feels, Luv." Tracer placed a hand onto Rolo's other hand, making him blush lightly. "I know that feeling, when I had Chronal Disassociation. It felt odd, but I was able to get through it with my friends."
"But, you can easily grow and use it, and you can live just fine with that," Rolo gestured to her Chronal Accelerator. "I'm honestly scared of my condition. I don't want to use my Geass so much, not even at all sometimes. But I know that if it's for the greater good, I will use it."
"Those are powerful words to go by, Luv." Tracer warned, remembering her words before the Slipstream event. "Don't make promises you won't be able to keep."
Rolo sighed, sadly, deactivating his Geass. He looked to the door that led outside the room, to the crew chambers. "I hope my Bro is doing alright." He replied, pondering what Rikoto was so nervous about.
Suddenly, the alarm blared and a voice came from the speakers. "Attention, all Overwatch commanders are to leave for Winston's lab. I repeat, all Overwatch commanders to Winston's laboratory."
"Sounds like Winston had found the Gallia Grande," Lelouch said aloud, folding his sketches and placing his mask on. "I suggest we head for his lab."
"I agree," Suzaku agreed, walking to the door. The others quickly filed out, looking around to see troops rushing to their areas of need, or readying their Knightmares. Finally, they made it to Winston's large laboratory, the dome glass roofing emitting most of the lighting.
Above, near the roofing, was Winston working on a computer. He looked down to see Lelouch and the others had arrived. "Oh, there you are." He said, fixing his glasses. "Get up here, Rikoto and 76 are waiting!"
Not wasting any time, Zero quickly used his suit to jump to the computer booth. Tracer blinked up to Winston, while Suzaku and Rolo simply used the flight of stairs the other two hadn't noticed. Finally at the top, Rolo was his brother, James and Soldier 76 looking to Winston's computer, an outline of the Gallia Grande moving towards a mountain in what appeared to be a desert.
"Glad you could make it," 76 announced, glancing to the group for a moment. "Commander Ranhail and Winston have discovered the location of the Gallia Grande's hanger bay. Winston, if you would please explain."
"Of course," Moving next to his desk, Winston activated a hologram of the Chinese Federation. Not far to the side was a large desert of the sorts, with a small mountain centered in it. "We have discovered, from an unknown character, that the Gallia Grande has been being housed in an underground hanger system located in an unspecified location near the Chinese Federation."
"We have also learned the location houses the alleged 'Geass Order'." Winston explained, confusing the group.
"Geass Order?" Lelouch was confused, there was no records or groups called the Geass Order. From what he knew, Clovis was so far the only one who was connected with an unspecified group that worked outside the Britannia borderline. Was this the group he worked with?
"Yes, a secretive group under the command of Charles Zi Britannia, used for studying and producing contractors and Geass users." Winston explained, receiving a gasp from Suzaku and Lelouch. Lelouch knew C.C was a contractor, but she couldn't have been connected to this Geass Cult, right? "We have also learned that a Britannian Director V.V, as he is called, will be personally leaving for the Order's location."
"So, will we be attacking this Geass Order?" Suzaku was itching for an answer. To think the ones who caused Euphie and thousands of others deaths were right under their noses was aggravating to him. Though it did explain where C.C came from, and how Lelouch and she were able to form a contract.
"Yes, we will be. Our target," The hologram zoomed in on the mountain, which showed small openings on the side. "Will be the mountain range. We will attack with all our forces, as well as several support ships that will be stationed for collecting all research on Geass."
"We'll be arriving in 2 hours, get your Knightmare's and Gundam's ready for battle." 76 ordered, fixing his rifle. The group saluted, before readying to leave. "Oh I forgot to mention. You 6 will be the new Overwatch squad, Xevon 1. You'll be led by Commander Rikoto and James, so do not forget."
"Yes, sir!" The group saluted before leaving for the hanger bay. As they did, they rushed for their Gundam's and Knightmare's, readying for battle.
2 hours later
Geass Order, location unknown
Meanwhile at the Geass Order, Directorate V.V had arrived at the Geass Order's underground city. He seemed very young for a Directorate, almost 10 years old to be precise. He wore a white suit similar to a tuxedo, with blue endings at the sleeves that were outlined with a thin gold line. His suits chest had a blue trapezoid shape on its chest, outline with gold like the blue parts on his clothes.
V.V also wore a black tailcoat with purple inside color, and had a gold Geass symbol on either side of his suits sleeve endings. He had blonde hair, dark pink eyes, as well as black and gold hair pieces that were on either side of his forehead.
Next to him was another man, wearing clothing similar to a Knight of Rounds clothing, and an orange eyepatch like device on his left eye. He had teal colored hair, and orange eyes. "Directorate V.V, welcome. We've been expecting you, sir." A Geass leader spoke, bowing to the two.
"It is good to return here, isn't it Jeremiah?" V.V asked, his voice so young that it couldn't be seen as a murder of killer. He had the personality of a child, but the ideas and mind of a strategist and commander.
"Of course, sir." Jeremiah had to admit, though, he didn't like returning here. Too many bad memories of being rebuilt, too much pain after discovering what they were doing to him. He was glad though, to know he was sent back to Britannian under the command of Bradley. Though he was still angered by how he was used to pilot the Siegfried.
"It is nice to see you have come, V.V." A voice said. Both turned to see Reaper, his arms crossed in an irritated fashion, standing next to the ship they arrived in. "Your test subject escaped, and managed to send information out to Overwatch."
"Hmph, I should have known Orpheus would do such a thing. I always did see him as inexplicable." V.V responded, not bothering to worry about Overwatch. "I can only assume Zero and Sir Kururugi have joined with Overwatch? How sad, I was starting to look forward to meeting him."
"If it means anything, my liege. I may be of use in recapturing Zero." Jeremiah gritted his teeth when he said the name. He recalled when his body was harshly damaged. How they had to replace most of his organs for him to survive. He wanted a chance for redemption, and God damn him if he was to let Zero get away from his grasp.
"In due time, Knight of Orange. In due time." V.V reassured, a mischievous smirk forming on his face. V.V turned to see Commander Renato, in his black captain uniform, standing by several other pilots stationed on the Gallia Grande. "Ah, if it isn't commander Renato. How has the attack come along?"
"So far, 12,541,523 killed during the invasion." Renato stated, expressionless as ever. He turned to see the center of the city. "I'm still surprised this all exists."
The inner of the mountain was dug out, with buildings attached to the roof and sides of the inner shell. In the center, sat the Thought Elevator, surrounded by a purple shield and restrainers that held it together on the top and bottom.
It gave off a purple lighting that lit the whole city, almost like an old ruin lost to time. "It took so long, but now," V.V smirked, looking at the Thought Elevator. "Now the Ragnarök Connection can become complete, and I will have a front row seat with my brother."
"Directorate V.V, we've detected 18 Charger-class light cruisers and a Lumen-Class battle carrier heading in our direction!" A radar officer quickly rushed to them, explaining the situation. "What should we do?"
"Prepare the Siegfried and the Gallia Grande for launch. I will personally see to destroying these fools in the Siegfried." V.V responded, before turning to Reaper and Jeremiah. "I ask you two to help move the test subjects into the main tram."
"Yes, your majesty!" Jeremiah saluted, while Reaper simply nodded and vanished in a puff of smoke. Jeremiah quickly left with the same technician, with Renato and his men leaving for the Gallia Grande.
V.V smirked, heading towards the Hanger where the Siegfried laid. Standing at close to 25 meters, the Knight Giga Fortress used the pilot's nervous system in order to be piloted. Luckily, V.V and Jeremiah's nervous systems were so far the only ones that could handle that much pressure.
In due time, he would have control of Britannia, all he had to do was deal with these simpletons, then his brother.
Outside Geass Order
Outside the Geass Order's base, the Oversight and attack cruisers were raining down on the base. The Gawain MK 2, Delta Kai, Lancelot, and Vincent were already out the hanger. James was asked to stay and help in the assault, while Tracer was readying her Gundam Reborn.
"Commander 76, how's the operation going?" Rikoto asked, firing a beam at several fleeing Knightmare Frames.
"So far we've downloaded 1/4th of the computer files in the Orders base." 76 responded, watching the files flash by on the large screen. "As long as we continue this, we'll be able to steal all the files then destroy it fully."
"Commander, the Gallia Grande has started an approach vector. It's heading our way!" A pilot exclaimed, making 76's visor snap towards his location.
"Charged the main cannons, and ready the Hardon Cannons!" 76 ordered, turning towards the radar that showed the lands layout. Coming from behind the mountain was the Gallia Grande, slowly flying towards the Oversight. "Helmsmen, bring us close to them. Let's deal with these bastards here and now!"
"Aye, sir!" The pilots responded, moving the ship. The Oversight flew over Knightmare's firing rounds at the Gallia Grande. The Grande fired turrets and missiles back, trying to damage one of the ships cannons.
On board the Gallia Grande
"Sir, we're losing our Knightmares, and shields have reduced 25%!" A technician cried out, as the crew winced at the ships damage. "We just lost one of our Float Systems, and energy is starting to decrease!"
"What?! I thought the ship was refueled in case of a battle!" Renato growled in irritation. He knew the Oversight was powerful, but he knew the Gallia could easily evade it.
"The ship was built for dropping FLEIJA's sir, not full out assaults!" The technician cried out, screaming before his computer screen exploded on him.
"Damn it, then fire a FLEIJA at them!" Renato barked out, taking off his captain hat. "We'll deal with these fools once and for all!"
"Yes, sir!"
Oversight Bridge
"Fire at that FLEIJA cannon! We can't let them fire!" 76 barked out, receiving cannon and Hardon Cannons as an answer. Before the FLEIJA Cannon could fire, the Oversight's main cannons fired large blasts as the FLEIJA. The Grande's cannon burst into an aura of purple energy.
Powerful FLEIJA flames and explosions destroyed the left side of the hull. The Gallia Grande slowly tilted to the right, now flying downwards towards the desert surface. "Hell yes!" James exclaimed, along with the cheering of several other crew members,
On board Gallia Grande
"Sir, we lost the last FLEIJA cannon, and the Float System!" A technician yelled to Renato, flames exploding from the hull and inner sides. Before Renato could speak, a familiar gold and white Knightmare jumped infront of the bridge. "It's Suzaku Kururu-!"
The Lancelot Albion fired its Shark Harken at the bridge, effectively destroying the crew and controls along with it. "This is Nero, I have destroyed the Gallia Grande's bridge and commanding officers. The Gallia Grande is no longer a threat." Suzaku stated, turning back to the Geass Order's mountain base.
The Lancelot Albion looked to see several cruisers and the Oversight pass overhead, firing round after round into the base. "Excellent work, Suzaku." 76 replied, crossing his arms. "All ships, target the mountain, maximum firepower!"
In one full out combined effort, all the ships fired directly onto the mountain. A large hole was now torn into the mountain side, revealing the city and its buildings.
"Alright, we've broken through the mountain. Lelouch, Suzaku follow me!" Rikoto ordered, the Delta Kai shifting into jet mode. The Gawain followed close behind, firing its Hardon Cannons at the smaller buildings. "Suzaku, you and Lelouch will handle the areal Knightmares. I'm going down, maybe try to find some of the Geass Users."
"Understood." The Lancelot launched towards the remaining Knightmare Frames, cutting through each with its MV Blades. The Gawain fired its Hardon Cannons and several missiles, firing its Shark Harken fingers at the Knightmares who dodged them.
Suddenly, Gundam Reborn rushed into the Order's base, firing its cannon at several Knightmares. "Don't leave me out of this, luv!" Tracer's familiar voice made Rikoto smirk, the girl always made one helluva entrance.
As the Delta Kai landed, Rikoto quickly fixed his Lumen Sage mask, jumping out before it took off again. The Delta Kai was built with an auto pilot, and would be called for later. Rikoto quickly unsheathed his dual-bladed Glaive, slicing through several men. One troop, carrying a large mini gun turret, attempted to fire at Rikoto.
Rikoto jumped into the air, jumping to the two troops next to him. He quickly used them against one another, having one fire at another. The mini gunner fired his rifle, before attempting to slam his turret onto him.
Rikoto grinned under his mask. He rushed forward, slicing the mini guns barrel in half. He quickly jumped back, slicing the gunners mask off. The mask exploded off, before the man fell to the ground.
Rushing forward, Rikoto moved towards the large purple center. Infront of him was a large connecting building that surrounding the circular structure. Around the building were two large towers, with gunners in each one. In between the towers were three mini gunners, with eight other men.
"Do you want me to get them, Bro?" Rolo asked, the Vincent flying over them.
"No, I got this, Rolo." Rikoto said, rushing forward. He threw his Glaive forward, and like a boomerang it sliced the two towers. Rushing up one of the tower, Rikoto jumped to a turret, using it on the lower troops. The men scattered, trying to fire at Rikoto.
Ripping off the turret, Rikoto was able to throw it at the first mini gunner, forcing him to the ground. Sadly, his had was pinned, forcing an endless barrage of bullets to attack the others. Grabbing his Glaive in mid-flight, Rikoto split it in half.
He quickly sliced through the second Glaive, before placing one onto his back. Throwing his other, Rikoto rushed forward towards the last gunner. He attempted to slam his mini gun down, but Rikoto dodged it and twisted his arm.
The gunner screamed in pain, dropping his mini gun in his other to try and get Rikoto. Rikoto ducked down, grabbing the mini gun and slamming it into the man's legs. The man fell down as Rikoto spun to the side, slamming his elbow into the man's face.
He sighed, standing up and reconnecting his dual-Glaive. "Damn guards," he muttered fixing the Glaive onto his back, and heading for the large door. He looked to see the door was slightly open, but mostly closed. "Whatever they were guarding must be important."
He opened the door, and what he saw shocked him. "Oh my God," he could barely speak at what he saw. He placed a hand to his mask. "76, I'm sending you and Winston a live feed. Do you see this?"
"We see it, Jesus Christ." 76 muttered, while Winston had his mouth agape. The feed showed a large chamber, with several thousand yellow cryotube's lined up down the chamber. Inside the tubes were children and adults of all type, with small and large tubes on their chests, arms and necks. "What is all of this?"
"I'm not sure," Rikoto looked around the chamber, looking for a light switch to brighten the chamber more. He found a large switch on the wall, and quickly flipped it to see the lights switch on. On the far ends, and the far side walls, were large robots. The same that attacked St. Petersburg and Gibraltar. "I think we just found our Unit 11 problem."
"What the hell?" James was taken aback at the feed. The Machines had the Unit 11 symbol on their bodies, and what appeared to be a smaller Geass symbol underneath. "So, they're the ones who stole the generators and attacked us?"
"It appears so," Rikoto looked to see the city generators around the walls and roofing. He looked forward to see someone, a person lying on the floor. "Hey! Are you alright?"
Rushing towards the person, Rikoto crouched to see him better. He looked young, almost like Suzaku or Lelouch's age, wearing and Ashford Academy uniform. He had completely white hair that reached the sides of his face too. "H-Huh? W-Where am I?" the boy opened his eyes, their blue gaze searching his surroundings. "W-Who are you?"
"Are you okay, sir? Can you stand?" Rikoto asked him, trying to help him to his feet. The student, from what Rikoto could make him out to be, struggled to his feet before falling back down. "Are you alright? What's your name?"
The student blinked, trying to remember his name. "Rai," He stated, looking to Rikoto's mask. "Rai Sumeragi."
A/N: Yes, I have included Rai from Code Geass Lost Colors in this story. Now for those who don't know who Rai is, basically he's a boy of Lelouch's age, with amnesia and through the game (Lost Colors), he searches for his memory choosing to join the Black Knights or the Britannian Military with Suzaku. He also has a Geass, similar to Lelouch's, but i will reveal both that and the Orpheus character later on.
And as always, this is KnightOfZ3R0 signing off!
