Chapter 20: Narita Counterattack
Joseph watched an entire army was swept away by a landslide and watched as the military's aerial troops were destroyed by the powerful super weapons the JLF had in store. Now the battle has been tossed over in favor of the combined forces of the Eleven resistance. He saw the White Knightmare lead an army of brown Sutherlands and a trio of Burai with him. The tide of battle has shifted.
Mountain
The Black Knights led by Zero rushed off to engage Carius's unit that was going in to intercept.
"Smash right through them!" Zero said.
"Let's tear them to shreds!" Tamaki roared as he fired at a Sutherland, shooting its arm off.
Inoue was with a team of Black Knights with rocket launchers.
"All we have to do is guard their rear." Inoue said, "Fire!"
Three rockets hit the side of a tank and destroyed it.
Meanwhile, Jeremiah rushed in without orders and saw all of Carius's men wiped out. He figured that if he could intercept Zero before he reaches the Princess, he may as well have it all back.
"Lord Jeremiah!" Villetta said as some Purebloods followed her.
"Villetta!" Jeremiah said, "I'd knew you'd come!"
"Lord Kewell took a detachment with him to intercept an enemy force that was coming from outside the encirclement line!" Villetta said.
"An enemy outside the encirclement line?" Jeremiah asked.
"Yes, they appear to be lead by the White Jack, using what appeared to be some kind of new model." Villetta said.
"A new model? As if these Elevens are capable of such technology!" Jeremiah said.
Town
The Purebloods led by Kewell were firing at the Byakuen. It's movements were much faster than the Gloucester or even the Lancelot! Not one bullet could hit it. The Byakuen had its Electromagnetic Accelerator Cannon flip out and took aim at a Sutherland. Rei saw a phantom image of the Sutherland moving to the right.
'There!'
He fired the cannon as the Sutherland moved to the right, scoring a hit on the Sutherland on the chest.
"No! How did he get me in one hit?!" A Purebloods asked before his unit exploded.
He retracted the cannon and brought the irregular blade out and swiped it on another Sutherland across the chest, killing the pilot. The blade retracted as a drill came out. It spun up as he went for Kewell's Sutherland. He pierced the Sutherland through with the drill. Kewell was forced to eject from the Sutherland before the drill stabbed through its chest. The drill retracted as the Byakuen raised its arm up.
"We head for the G-1! If we destroy that, we'll break the enemy's morale and crush their leaders in one fell swoop!" Rei said, "Charge!"
The Blood of the Samurai charged in through the breach. Rei looked at the summit.
'Zero... if you're watching me, then bear witness to my miracle!' Rei thought.
G-1 Base
"They've broken through and have changed course!" The first staff officer said, "By god... they're headed for the G-1..."
"What?!" Euphemia asked.
"What do we do?!" The second staff officer asked.
She gave it thought before coming to a decision.
"Have my Gloucester ready and have anyone nearby the G-1 to defend it. Have the Lancelots grab my sister and get her out of there." Euphemia said.
"But madam—"
"We have no other options left! We must do something about this!" Euphemia said, "What about Cornelia?"
"She's practically isolated thanks to the blunder of those Purebloods!" The third officer said, "That damn Orange!"
Mountain
"Zero!" Jeremiah roared as he fired at the units guarding Zero's Burai.
The two Black Knights ejected from their Burai. Jeremiah and the Purists behind him stopped.
"Where are you Zero?! Come and face Jeremiah Gottwald!" Jeremiah challenged.
"Oh? Still in the military?" Zero asked, "Sorry, as much as I want to catch up and all, I have a battle to win Orange boy."
Sheer outrage built up within Jeremiah's voice.
"ORANGE?! DIEEEEEE!" Jeremiah roared as he charged in head first.
The Guren Mk2 got in front of Jeremiah's Sutherland and swatted the rifle out of his hands, forcing him to use his tonfas.
"My lord!" Villetta exclaimed.
"Stay out of this! This my duel!" Jeremiah said.
"But that Knightmare Frame... I've never seen anything like it." Villetta said, "Could the Elevens have—"
"You think Elevens are capable of such technology?!" Jeremiah questioned as he charged in.
The Guren outmaneuvers the Sutherland and jumped.
'It's fast!' Jeremiah thought.
The Guren forces the Sutherland back and clashed against it with its fork knife. He was struggling against it.
"So this is what got Carius's unit?" Jeremiah asked.
"That right Britannia!" Kallen said, "With this Guren Mk2 we can finally take you on equal footing! Our counterattack starts here and now!"
She reared the right arm back. Jeremiah quickly noticed the arm.
'That arm—! Something about is dangerous!' Jeremiah thought.
"I wouldn't move back if I were you." Naoto said.
"And why not?" Jeremiah asked as he did.
The arm extended out and grabbed his head.
"That's why." Naoto said, "Karma is one cruel mistress, ain't it?"
"Sorry." Kallen said as she activated the Radiant Wave Surger.
The high energy heat reaction radiated from the claw and like an infectious disease, spread across the Sutherland. The high energy reaction was causing the Sutherland to expand as if it were a balloon.
"Lord Jeremiah! Eject!" Villetta said.
"No! I can't! Zero! He's right there! He's standing right in front of me!" Jeremiah said, "I must regain my honor and glory for the sake of Lady Marianne!"
'Mother? Wait! Could he be—?!' Lelouch thought, "Kallen! That's—!"
The auto-eject switched on and the cockpit quickly fired off the rockets and flew away from the Sutherland. Kallen tosses the head away as the Sutherland went up in flames. Kallen smiled with confidence.
'With this Guren Mk2 we'll win!' Kallen thought.
"Lord Jeremiah..." Villetta said.
Town
"Damn!" Kewell cursed as he wandered about, now lost in this godforsaken town.
As he wandered about, he saw a cockpit block flying toward his direction. He noticed the parachutes didn't open. Kewell quickly rolled out of the way as the block crashed into the street. He looked to the block and noticed that it looked like it had several bubbles in it. He went over it and wondered if anyone was alive. He touched it, only to scald his hand upon doing so.
He quickly found a crowbar and picked it up. He tries to pry open the block. The hatch opened up and revealed Jeremiah who looked badly injured. He noticed that his left eye was—. Kewell felt sick upon seeing the horrible state Jeremiah's body was in.
'What the hell...' Kewell thought, 'What the hell is going up on that mountain?!'
Mountain
Darlton has managed to organize what was left of his troops and had them form lines of defense and had them in formation as the enemy was coming down the mountain. He saw a Raiko coming in with Burai protecting it. There were also Burai Raiko types coming down with them along with the Burai Heavy Arms types.
'They has more than one of those linear cannons?! One was bad enough but more is just—!' Darlton thought, 'Not only that, we have an enemy force moving toward the G-1! If we lose that, the damage will be immense!'
"Super Electromagnetic Shrapnel Cannons, Fire!" The gunner of the Raiko ordered.
The Raiko and the Burai Raikos fired a salvo of canisters. The canisters came towards the Britannians and released the ball bearings, tearing right through the first line of defense. High Mobility Type and Close Combat Type Burais charged in head first at the enemy. The High Mobility Burais were built for high speed and high maneuvering despite looking more bulky. They had a missile launcher in their shoulder that stored nine missiles inside with a missile launcher over the shoulder. They also had a right arm with a large caliber cannon with a gatling gun under the cannon while the left arm had a electric shock system under the hand. They had hover engines on their backs, allowing to hover over any terrain. The Close Range Type Burai has spike shields in place of the protectors.
The close range Sutherlands pulled out their electromagnetic tonfas and met the enemy's charge. The High Mobility Burai fired missiles at the enemy and fired a barrage of shells and bullets. One High Mobility Burai got up to a Sutherland and thrust its left arm at the Sutherland. The electric shock system is activated and electrifies the Sutherland. The Sutherland exploded. A Close Combat Burai and a Close Range Sutherland clashed with one another and traded blows.
Long Range Burai that had a mini gun built in the left arm started laying out covering fire along with the Special Weapon B Type Burais that had miniguns on their arms and had ammunition fed from the back through a feeding mechanism. Liverpools were being shredded by the bullets. The Heavy Arms Burai fired their bunker buster missiles from the missile launchers on their backs. They also fired missiles from their legs and let off a barrage of grenades from their grenade launchers on their arms. Long range Sutherlands and Pinpoint Break Sutherlands fired back. The missiles battered the battlefield with giant explosions as other Knightmares were being knocked back by these explosions.
The Canterbury fires again. The round missed the Raiko. Om pulled the Canterbury back.
"General! Our forces are taking a pounding! Are you sure our forces can take any more of this?" Om asked.
"We have no other choice! We got to buy time for the ASEEC Corps to rendezvous with her highness! If we fall here, the enemy will wipe out our forces and attack the Viceroy from behind!" Darlton said, "This battle will be lost if we fall here and lose the Viceroy!"
"And the Sub-Viceroy?!" Om asked.
"I've had what was left of Alex's man to go and back the G-1 up!" Darlton said, "There's no way in hell those Elevens are taking it out!"
Mihaly took was left of the aerial forces and headed for the Viceroy. There was flak being fired at them as CIWS and SAMs fired at them as well.
"Damn! We'll have to land." Mihaly said, "Thunderhead, this is Sol 1, take out the enemy's anti-air weapons! I'll have the Somersets with me rendezvous with her highness!"
"Got it!" Snow said.
Snow fired at the anti-air weapons on the ground as Mihaly and the Somersets change to Knightmare mode and land.
ASEEC Trailer
Cecile woke up to find Lloyd on top of her. She remembered what happened. He was trying to shield her, which was awfully weird of him. He must have hit his head pretty hard. She went over to the console and tried to communicate to both the Lancelot and the Club. The transmitter was damaged. She had her earpiece on and tried communicating. All she got was static. She was trapped. She went to the front to see the driver unconscious. She noticed that there was mud and dirt. She was trapped in the landslide.
Near the G-1
Euphemia was out in her Gloucester as she organized a defense around the G-1 while medical personnel and the wounded were being evacuated from the G-1. She saw a white Knightmare approaching her with an army of Sutherlands and a team of Burai just behind it.
'The White Jack!' Euphemia thought, "We must buy enough time for everyone to evacuate from the G-1, we'll then scuttle it afterwards."
"Your highness! The Black Knights have pushed through the Purebloods and we have two more enemy units coming at the Viceroy from behind!" The first staff officer said, "General Darlton has ordered the Special Corps to link up with the Viceroy, but we don't know if they can make it past the mud."
'Suzaku? Yes, he'll do just fine. If he can get my sister out of there, than we can at least escape before things get worse...' Euphemia thought, "Do we have any reinforcements coming in?"
"North Point is scrambling everything they have and the Knight of Nine is bringing her personal forces in! If we hold out until then, we might turn this around." The second staff officer said.
"And the evacuation?" Euphemia asked.
"It's been going, but we haven't fully evacuated the wounded out. There's a lot of chaos going on in here." The third officer said.
She felt the weight of the odds against her. Things were just getting worse by the minute. She could only pray for a miracle to happen.
Meanwhile, Tohdoh had gotten in his Burai Kai, which looked much different from the other Burai. The Kais had antennas on their heads and Tohdoh's Kai was painted white while the Four Holy Swords had their Kais painted with brown. These Kais had a much higher spec than the Burai and had the Revolving Blade Sword that a chainsaw inside the blade along with heat generators that give the blade's edges an orange glow. The trucks were on full auto-pilot.
"Deploy the Burai Kais." Tohdoh said.
"Deploying." The Four Holy Swords said.
The Burais were deployed from the trucks.
"If I'm right about this, we should be able to sneak the enemy from behind and attack Cornelia from below." Tohdoh said, "Capture Cornelia! Make them pay for the war seven years ago!"
"Yes! By the honor of the Four Holy Swords!" The Four Holy Swords said.
The Burai Kais jumped from the trucks. Tohdoh jumped out from the trees and slashed the first Sutherland in sight. In one quick slash, the Sutherland lost its arm and its back exploded as it fell over. The landspinners come down.
"Surround them!" Tohdoh ordered.
"Wilco!" The Holy Swords said as they charged in.
The Holy Swords dodged incoming fire and slashed a few Sutherlands.
"These aren't just any Burais." Tohdoh said.
"It's like in seven years ago, only this time, we have Knightmare Frames as well." China said.
"No argument there." Asahina said.
"Here here!" Urabe said.
"Careful now, you don't want to end up like a skinned rabbit." Senba said.
Cornelia watched as her men were being attacked.
"The Japan Liberation Front?" Cornelia asked.
"Protect her Highness! Don't let them through!" Guilford ordered.
"Sir Guilford, the Special Corps are headed your way. Captain Durandal is also making his way to you as well." Darlton said, "I'm afraid I won't be able to help. My forces can only hold the enemy back and the Sub-Viceroy is setting up defenses around the G-1."
"So we got only the Special Corps and Durandal to get us out of this mess." Guilford said, "Wait, why is the Sub-Viceroy—"
"Don't tell me an enemy force is headed for it already!" Cornelia said.
"I'm afraid that's exactly what's going on." Darlton said.
Cornelia's eyes widened upon hearing that. She was beginning to panic.
"No! Euphie!" Cornelia said as she went into panic mode.
She moved her Gloucester and tried to get to the foot of the mountain, but Guilford stops her.
"Guilford! Please! Let me go!" Cornelia begged.
"That's what they want you to do! It's a trap!" Guilford said.
"But Euphie—! She's—!"
"Who's commanding the enemy force?" Guilford asked.
"The..." Darlton paused, "The White Jack. He's got the Blood of the Samurai and the Yamato Trio with him."
"That boy?" Cornelia asked.
"Boy? What boy?" Darlton asked, "Wait, you're not saying the White Jack is—!"
"I'm afraid it is so." Guilford said, "The White Jack is... a child soldier."
"Those bastards..." Darlton said, "Using children as soldiers... how could they?"
"That's strange, coming from you." Durandal said, "You put five of your own children in the military, didn't you, General?"
"That is an entirely different thing all together Durandal!" Darlton said as he got defensive on that remark, "I did it so they wouldn't have to depend on me to survive! I had to so they would be able to look after each other!"
"And?" Durandal asked, "This is war. Like it or not, he's the enemy. If you don't kill him, he'll kill you."
"Now you've gone too far!" Darlton said.
"Cornelia!" Tohdoh said as he charged at Guilford.
"Are you the one they call Tohdoh?!" Guilford asked as he quickly turned and blocked Tohdoh's sword with his lance.
He forced him back. Tohdoh looked at the Gloucester and drew his rifle. Guilford fired a harken to knock the rifle out of Tohdoh's hand.
"And you are one of Cornelia's Knights I presume?" Tohdoh asked as he dodged a burst of bullets fired by Guilford.
Tohdoh picked up the rifle and fired at Guilford. He dodged the incoming bullets and withdrew the rifle.
"Gilbert G.P. Guilford," Guilford said, "And you are Kyoshiro Tohdoh, the Miracle Worker?"
"And If I am?" Tohdoh asked as he did the same and prepped his sword.
"Then it will at least be an honor to face you one on one." Guilford said as he prepared his lance, "Now come at thee with all you've got!"
"Took the words out of my mouth!" Tohdoh said as the two rushed at each other.
They clashed with one another. Guilford turned to the Princess, "The Special Corps will come and get you out! You must fall back your highness!"
"Guilford..." Cornelia said and nodded, "Drive them back and meet me at point nine, tell Durandal and the Special Corps that as well."
"Nine?" Guilford asked, "I understand!"
"Cornelia!" Senba and Urabe roared.
"Insolent worms!" Cornelia howled as she forced the two Elevens back away from her.
She ran off, leaving the Holy Swords with her Royal Guard.
JLF Base
Tohdoh showed up on the screen. Katase looked happy to see him.
"Tohdoh! You came!" Katase said.
"Sorry if we were late General. I'm guessing Zero came to you and was substituting for me while I was away?" Tohdoh asked.
"Yes, thanks to him, the Britannians are rattled. The Byakuen is leading an attack on the enemy's rear. They'll eliminate them soon enough." Katase said, "With your arrival we can finish the enemy off in one fell swoop!"
"Good, do we have anyone to spare?" Tohdoh asked.
"We have a unit that's backing up Zero." Katase said.
"I see then." Tohdoh said, "And our forces?"
"Minimal casualties." Katase said.
"Hmph! As I expected from Zero." Tohdoh said, "I guess my assumptions were right."
"Sir! Enemy aerial reinforcements! They're headed for Cornelia! Not only that, but that large Knightmare is destroying our anti-air weapons." A soldier said.
"Hmph!" Katase said, "Ready the Inazuma! Blast that thing out of the sky and eliminate the aerial reinforcements!"
"Right!" The soldier said.
Mountain
The Inazumas came out of the mountain. One of them took aim at Snow. It fired at Snow and punched a hole in the Ikaros. Snow got the core Sutherland out of the Ikaros before it exploded. He ejected from the Sutherland. The other guns fired at VTOLs and bombers deployed from North Point. The explosions decimated the aerial reinforcements. The guns retreated back inside.
The Lancelot and the Club were making their way up the mountain. Schnee and Ledo made their way to the G-1 to back up Euphemia. Suzaku was worried about her.
"Don't worry Suzaku, she'll be fine." Rai said, "She's a tough girl."
"Yeah, but she doesn't have any combat experience. That and she's fighting someone who almost had Durandal." Suzaku said.
"Like I said, she'll be fine!" Rai said, "I'm more worried about Lloyd and Cecile right now. You think they'll be ok?"
"Trust me, they won't die." Suzaku said.
At the foot of the mountain, Liverpools and Sutherlands were firing at the approaching Blood of the Samurai led by Rei in the Byakuen. He evaded the incoming fire directed at him. He flipped the cannon out and shot at the Sutherlands ahead of him. The shells hit the Sutherlands on the head, forcing the pilots to eject.
"Alright! Trinity Formation!" Rei said, "Just like I planned it!"
"Right!" The Yamato Kids said.
The Yamato Kids formed a triangle around the Byakuen with Koji in the back, and Aya with Akihiro in the front. Akihiro started firing his cannons at the enemy. His shells hit a few Sutherlands and Liverpools a few times, destroying them. Aya rushes at the Sutherlands and flipped her tonfas out. She attacks a Sutherland and smacks one out of her way as Akihiro fires at that Sutherland and destroyed it. Koji sniped a Liverpool and sniped another one. Rei merges the two irregular blades together into a combined blade. He swings the blade at a Sutherland and cuts it down.
Schnee was firing at Koji. Koji evaded the incoming bullet and aimed at Schnee. Schnee fires, only for Koji to evade it and shoot Schnee in the head. Schnee's Sutherland fell down as he ejected. Akihiro kept firing at Ledo who had his shield up and kept tanking the hits.
"An energy shield?" Akihiro asked.
"Not a problem if I'm behind him!" Aya said as she got behind Ledo.
"Like hell you can hit me like that!" Ledo said as he swung the rifle with the bayonet.
Aya blocked the bayonet and jumped back.
"Got ya!" Akihiro said as he shot at the back.
The Sutherland was hit. Ledo was forced to eject due to the damage causing his Sutherland to be no longer functional. Rei rushed at Euphemia, who blocked the incoming blade. She forced the Byakuen back. She thrusts the lance. The Byakuen's blade became a scissor and caught the lance. The Byakuen delivers a mean roundhouse kick to the face and knocks the Gloucester to the side. The Gloucester rolled up until Euphemia got back up. She charged in.
"Stay away from these people!" Euphemia said.
Rei blocked the attack with the scissors and threw the Gloucester off to the side. Euphemia got back up and panted in exhaustion.
"Princess! You have to save yourself! It's not worth it!" Ledo told her.
"Please! Think of the people in Area 11! They'd lose hope if they lose you and the Viceroy!" Schnee said.
"I can't..." Euphemia said, "Not until... everyone has gotten away!"
Rei was beginning to feel pressure on him.
'This pressure—! An Overman!' Rei thought.
"If I don't protect these people, then by what right should I bear the title of Princess?" Euphemia asked.
Rei swapped his mag out. He looked at the Gloucester with intensity.
"Move aside! Do you want to die?!" Rei asked, "Why protect the very people who perpetuate this horrible system?!"
Mihaly contacted Guilford and said that he was on his way to support him.
"What about Zero? Do you have his location?" Guilford asked.
"We have his projected course here." Mihaly said.
He saw the data he was receiving and found himself in shock. That heading and those coordinates—!
"Princess Cornelia!" Guilford howled.
There was a silence. Did she fall right into-
"I already got the message, Guilford." Cornelia said.
Guilford's eyes widened upon hearing that.
Cornelia and the Guren Mk2 were standing against one another.
'Great... I waltzed into a trap. Isn't that just great.' Cornelia thought, "I'm guessing you're the Red Queen."
"You could say that." Kallen said, "Now let's just get to the point already."
"I guess you're right. Talking wouldn't help make this better." Cornelia said.
"Especially when the situation doesn't exactly favor you, Cornelia." Zero said as he turned the speakers on, "I call checkmate."
"Zero!" Cornelia growled as she turned to him, "You bastard! How many more of my men must you slaughter until you have what you want?!"
"When you surrender and negotiate with me, maybe I'll stop." Zero said, "Or does your pride mean more to you than the lives of those you care most dear?"
"You sick bastard—!"
The Guren Mk2 grabbed Cornelia from behind.
"The hell?! It's that fast?!" Cornelia asked.
"That's right. That's no custom built unit. It is the result of hard effort into making a Knightmare to stand against Britannia." Zero said.
'So I was right to suspect the NAC after all! Those bastards! If I had the evidence to pin them to this, then I'd—!' Cornelia thought, "You think you can defeat me?! I'm the Goddess of Victory!"
"Oh really? Well then I guess that makes me the demon who will bring you your downfall, starting with my student's work." Zero said.
"Student?" Cornelia asked.
Back on the foot of the mountain, Rei knocked the Gloucester out of his way and jumped onto the bridge of the G-1 and took aim. Euphemia saw the gun aimed at the bridge.
"NO! LET THEM GO! TAKE ME INSTEAD!" Euphemia pleaded.
Rei fires at the bridge. The shell hits the bridge and exploded, killing the staff officers inside. He swapped the mag out with a grenade and loaded it in. He saw a red dot in front of him and at a distance. Euphemia saw him aim the cannon right where the engine room was.
"STOP IT!" Euphemia screamed.
He fired the grenade at that spot. The grenade hits the engine room and slams down onto the floor. The men there scattered like rats. One of them flinched as the grenade was about to go off. There wasn't an explosion. He smiled.
"It's a dud! It's a dud!" The man said.
Suddenly, a red flash of energy much like the Radiant Wave Surger came out. The high energy reaction melted the poor man down and burnt everyone in the engine room and caused the engine to overheat quickly and exploded along with the engine.
Rei got off the G-1 as it buckled. The G-1 suddenly bursted into flames as a huge explosion rocked all who were near. Those who had not evacuated were caught in a series of explosions. It was until the entire G-1 exploded into a miniature mushroom cloud that Euphemia had watched all those people die in those explosions and heard their screams. Seeing the horrible atrocity happen before her made her eyes water with tears and her voice choking on sobs in her throat.
Akihiro was howling like a wolf as Koji looked in surprise. Aya looked at the Byakuen with wonder and a smile. The Blood of the Samurai raised their weapons and let off a victorious war cry. Takamura raises his weapon.
"Next up! We take the enemy from behind!" Takamura said, "Charge!"
The Blood of the Samurai went off to attack Darlton's troops from behind.
"I'll help the Blood of the Samurai, you guys go and back up Zero!" Rei said.
"But what about Tohdoh? I heard he joined the party, so why not help him?" Ren asked.
"I guess he's got a point there." Akihiro said, "We'll provide Tohdoh some back up! Good hunting!"
The two boys headed out. Rei left the smoldering remains of the G-1 behind. Aya followed him. Rei noticed Aya was following him.
"Aya-chan?" Rei asked, "Why are you—?"
"You need someone to protect you, don't you?" Aya asked.
"You're not Kallen Oneechan." Rei said, "Besides, I already have enough girls in my head as it is."
"Am I one of them?" Aya asked.
"W-What?! Did I say that?!" Rei asked.
"You kinda did." Aya said.
"No I didn't!" Rei said, "Let's just go already!"
While Rei and Aya went up the mountain, Euphemia could only look traumatized as she looked at the smoldering remains of the G-1. She looked at her hands. They were shaking. She couldn't do anything to save those people who were evacuating. They were killed, just like that.
"No... no..." She sobbed, "I couldn't protect them... I... I... Oh god... Sister... I'm sorry..."
JLF Base
"It's a positive! The G-1 has been destroyed!" A soldier said, "Our forces are pushing through the enemy! We might just break out of their encirclement!"
Katase looked surprised by what he saw, "Destroying the G-1... unbelievable."
"It's a miracle! It's a miracle General!" Another soldier said.
'That it is...' Katase thought, 'With Zero and Tohdoh with us, we'll never lose!'
Mountain
Darlton saw the smoldering smoke coming from the G-1. He looked devastated.
"No... not the G-1 of all things..." Darlton said to himself.
"General Darlton!" A male soldier said as a Sutherland pushed him out of the way as a close combat Burai punched it in the chest.
The soldier screamed in pain as he was getting crushed inside the cockpit. His Sutherland fell in combat. Darlton shot the Burai. The shell hit its chest, destroying it. Darlton went over to the soldier who was screaming in pain.
"It hurts! It hurts!" The soldier said.
"You're gonna be alright soldier! Stay with me!" Darlton said, "You're going to live goddamnit!"
"It hurts General! It hurts!" The soldier said, "My legs! My arms! My chest! It all hurts!"
"Breathe man! Breathe!" Darlton said as he pulled the Sutherland back behind the Canterbury, "You're not gonna die here!"
The soldier breathed and ceased his screaming. He felt horrible and weak. He breathed raggedly.
"Sir... I don't feel so good." The soldier said, "I don't want to go... I don't want to go..."
"You're not going anywhere!" Darlton said, "Hey! Hey!"
"R-Rachel... I'm... sorry..." The soldier said before his life slipped away.
The Sutherland slumped.
"Damnit!" Darlton roared, 'This can't be how it ends!'
Mihaly ejected as his Somerset was badly damaged. Tohdoh and the Four Holy Swords had surrounded Guilford and his remaining men.
"Colonel! We've crushes the enemy's reinforcements!" Senba said.
"Good, now we go into Spiraling Life and Death Formation!" Tohdoh said, "Let's finish this!"
"Wilco!" The Holy Swords acknowledged.
The Burai Kais moved in a circle surrounding Guilford and his men. Guilford noticed his men were losing hope rapidly.
"Stand your ground! We mustn't falter!" Guilford said as he blocked an incoming blow to increase the morale of his men, "We must fight for the Princess! She needs us now more than ever!"
He thought of Cornelia, 'Princess... I...'
"You bastard! What did you do to Euphie?!" Cornelia demanded, "Answer me, damn you!"
"It would seem my student has learned a rather important lesson in strategy making." Zero said, "By the time he's done with the rest of your forces fighting against the JLF, you'll be losing one of your knights and that precious little siege engine of yours. Knowing him, he'll be joining us shortly after he accomplishes his task."
"You—!" Cornelia roared.
She knocked the Guren off of her and went straight for Zero. Naoto jumped in and kicked the Gloucester down.
"Now where were we before I blew up that mountain again? Oh yeah, I was winning." Naoto said.
"You—!"
"Me!" Naoto said.
"I should have just killed you when I had the chance than listen to your blathering!" Cornelia said.
"You could have done that, but you didn't." Naoto said, "You brought this on yourself and no other."
"Pinning the blame of my misfortune unto me?!" Cornelia said, "You cowardly uncultured swine! You spurn a good duel and then say I have brought defeat down unto myself?!"
"Correct." Naoto said, "Now be a good girl and get out before daddy has to force you out."
"Go to hell." Cornelia said, "I'd rather die than be your captive!"
Naoto sighed, "Welp, I tried being nice, but I guess playing nice wasn't your strong suit."
"Naoto! Kallen! Move!" Zero said, "He's coming!"
"Huh?" Naoto asked, "Wait! Right now?!"
The ground suddenly shook. The two siblings got away as an explosion occurred. The Lancelot and the Club came out of a hole that was made and got to the Gloucester.
"Your Highness! We're here to get you out!" Suzaku said.
"But what about Euphie! Is she alright?!" Cornelia asked.
"Shes Fine... she's just... shaken from seeing the G-1..."
"Look, can we just grab her and leave before Darlton or Guilford kick the bucket? Because it would be really bad if either of them kick the bucket!" Rai said.
"That Knightmare... great... now we got a third Lancelot." Naoto said, "Whats next, they're gonna build a thousand of them?"
Lelouch looked at the Lancelot, 'Suzaku... I didn't want to engage you, but my side has motive.'
"Guren Mk2, deal with them both. I shall deal with Cornelia." Zero said.
"Got it!" Kallen said as she charges at the Lancelot.
Suzaku drew out an MVS, turned the blade red, and fired the VARIS at the Guren. The Guren dodged the incoming energy beams.
"It's fast as the Lancelot?" Suzaku asked, "In that case..."
"No! Lancelot! Stay away from that red Knightmare! The Pilot is much better than you!" Cornelia said as Suzaku charged, "Kururugi, don't!"
He swung his sword. The Guren activates the Radiant Wave Surger and catches the sword. The sword begins to succumb to the high energy reaction and break apart. He fired the VARIS at close range. The Guren blocks the shot by activating the Radiant Wave Surger again.
"It stopped the VARIS?!" Suzaku asked.
"Don't worry buddy! I got you!" Rai said as he jumped in.
The beam disintegrated and the Radiant Wave Surger deactivated. Kallen evades the Club's attack and came at him. She fired the hand cannon at the Club. The rifle was hit. Rai got rid of the rifle. He brought out his double spear MVS. He charged at the Guren. The Guren disappears.
"Where did she—?!"
He felt a danger behind him and turned around. The right arm reached out for him.
'Damnit! No!' Rai thought.
Suzaku tackles the Guren to the ground.
"Go! I'll hold her off! Just get the Viceroy!" Suzaku said.
"And leave you?!" Rai asked.
"Just do it!" Suzaku said.
Rai went over to help Viceroy Cornelia as she went after Zero, only for the Blue King to stop her.
"Get out of my way!" Cornelia said.
"I'll move when you tell me that you are totally not going to kill Zero and will just politely ask for his autograph." Naoto said.
"You still dare to sass me?!" Cornelia asked.
"Oh? Did I hurt the Goddess's feelings?" Naoto asked.
He saw the Club and quickly backed away.
"Your highness! You must retreat! There's no way we can continue fighting like this under these conditions, therefore I insist you go with us!" Rai said.
"And let the man who not only killed the members of my Royal Guard, but has brought me nothing but disgrace to go scot free and do whatever he damn wants?!" Cornelia asked, "MOVE ASIDE!"
"Yeah blue boy! You're just dead weight!" Naoto said as he kicked the Club out of the way, "Now then, where we're we?"
The Club got back up. Naoto ducked out of the way and backed away from the Club.
"Alright Blue Boy, you've had your fun, but the adults are talking." Naoto said, "Now why don't you help your big brother before he bites the dust."
Rai looked to Suzaku to see him struggling against the Guren Mk2. The Lancelot kicked the Guren back. The Guren charged at Suzaku. He quickly jumped. Kallen quickly reacted quick and fired a harken to knock him off. He fell towards the wall of the canyon. Rai quickly rushed over to him. Just as Kallen was going to finish it, she saw the Club coming to her and kicked it off to the side.
Meanwhile, Rei and Aya were charging towards the enemy forces. They quickly turned to see Rei and Aya coming to him.
"The White Jack!" A soldier said, "Don't panic! Just take him out!"
The other soldiers turned and started shooting.
"Behind us?!" Darlton said as he looked behind him, "Oh Damnit! The G-1 just isn't enough for them, now is it?!"
The Blood of the Samurai backed the two up as they pushed through the enemy. The Canterbury turned and fired at the Byakuen. Rei dodged the incoming projectile. Aya did the same, but the explosion tossed her Burai off.
"Aya! You—!" Rei said as he rushed to the Canterbury.
He fired his cannon at the Canterbury. The armor deflected the shells. Not one shell was going to penetrate.
"That won't work at that range! Not against the Canterbury!" Om said.
He swapped the mag with one of the grenades he had left and aimed at the Canterbury. He fired the grenade at it. The grenade hits the Canterbury and penetrates it. The high energy reaction discharge followed suit.
"What the hell?!" Om said, "No... this can't be how the Jack managed to—!"
The grenade exploded as the high energy reaction caused the Canterbury to look bubbly before it violently exploded. Darlton saw the Canterbury explode.
"Om! No!" Darlton said, "You bastard!"
He charged at the White Jack completely half-cocked. Rei withdrew the gun and brought out the drill and ducked under a cannon shot before thrusting the drill in. The drill tore through the Knightmare as it tore through Darlton's guts and splatters his blood over the cockpit and crushed his bones. Rei pulls the drill out of the Gloucester as it falls to its knees. Darlton was rapidly approaching the cold embrace of death. All he could think about was all his colleagues, his sons, his friends and allies, and lastly...
'Ezmeralda...'
Of course, the woman in that photo. That woman was his wife, Ezmeralda Darlton. She was a beautiful young woman who had captivated his heart when he first joined the military. She was just a regular girl back then. However, even after their marriage and that her pregnancy was running smoothly, disaster struck him like a wrecking ball. His wife had died of an illness that even the doctors could not cure her of. All they did was buy her time for her to say her last words to her husband before she breathed her last. She made him promise to live out his life as a happy man no matter what. Even so, his heart was left with sorrow. The boys he adopted made him happy, but when he thought about their survival, he put them in the military so that they could be able to survive without their father needing to be present.
But now that promise was being slowly broken by the approaching embrace of death. With all the strength he had left, he ordered his men to retreat. To retreat and escape and survive. Before his time ran out, he made one last call to his princess.
"Princess Cornelia... I'm sorry..." Darlton said.
Cornelia was quickly distracted by Darlton's voice and noticed that it sounded different.
"Darlton?" Cornelia asked.
"It seems... my time has come." Darlton said, "I have served my purpose and my time has now reached an end."
She quickly realized what his words meant and her eyes widened.
"The battle is lost your highness... you must... guh!" Darlton said as he coughed out blood, "You must live... that is all I ask..."
"No... no! Darlton!" Cornelia said as her eyes bursted into tears, "Please! I've lost enough people who were close to me! I can't lose you! Not after Clovis, not after Lelouch and Nunnally... I... I can't bear to lose anymore people to this accursed land!"
Rei headed to the base to have his energy filler replaced. He ordered Aya to go and back up the Four Holy Swords. As he kept going, he felt... loyalty. He felt loyalty coming from the Gloucester he pierced with his drill. There was also sadness and remorse. He also felt sadness coming from another direction. He got inside the base and pulled into the hangar. The maintenance crews came up to the Byakuen.
"Hurry up! Replace the Energy Filler!"
"Resupply the Byakuen as soon as possible before she heads out again!"
"Hurry it up!"
"Go go!"
"Check everything!"
The maintenance crews went to work with the energy fillers and maintenance. Rei opened the cockpit and stretched. A woman running maintenance gave Rei some water so he could drink up. He drank some water.
Cornelia was begging Darlton to live, but she knew that he was a dead man by the sound of his voice. Her voice cracked as she begged and begged.
"Please Your Highness... That's not who you are." Darlton said, "You are the Goddess of Victory... act like it."
"But how can I if I lose anymore people that I care about?" Cornelia asked, "Especially if one of them is one of my knights?"
He couldn't bear to hear the Princess talk with such sadness within her voice.
"Tell the boys that I'm counting on them to do their best, and that goes for Kururugi and Rai as well..." Darlton said, "I guess... this is it then..."
"No! Darlton! Please! Don't go! Don't leave me!" Cornelia begged.
"Forgive me... everyone... I guess... this is where I... die..." Darlton said, "Live... Princess..."
He breathed his last before he smiled and moved no more. The cold embrace of death hung him like a noose. Andreas Darlton... was dead.