Flashback

Lelouch sat alone in the quiet, dark room with his phone and his thoughts, his violet eyes scanning sheets of paper as his working evening drew to a lazy close. The room was dusty in spite of frequent use, forming a decidedly brown aesthetic and sepiatic atmosphere in his upstairs office.

However, Lelouch's mind did not match its surroundings, as the Minister found himself in an embattled state, furiously attempting to resolve his sisters latest puzzle over this Specially Administered Zone.

Leave it to her to blindside him so thoroughly, he thought. It seemed thoroughly appropriate that it would be Euphemia that dealt such an unusual hand, in perhaps a far more politically prudent move than even Schneizel could formulate. It was her specialty, like a Knight flying about the board and happening across the King, a stallion running wild.

And yet, her pure heart prevented her from tripping over her own feet, or falling into the wrong stratagem out of anything other than naivety. It was for this reason he had failed to anticipate this move, even though it was nominally the result they had wanted.

The question of Republicanism, of national sovereignty, was intentionally fudged from the very beginning. While they had declared themselves a Republic, it was understood by most in the Parliament on some level or another that, especially given the origins of Yuaikai as an entity that rejected the "My Country for its own sake." attitude held by other anti-Britannian groups, they were willing to capitulate the idea of full political independence for financial independence. And so, they had accepted a sort of Home Rule, or local Parliament while still under the yoke of Charles Zi Britannia, would be acceptable as terms for ending the strike.

He hadn't expected that to be the opening offer, that it would be made by Euphemia, or that it would happen so early. The latter, he supposed, had something to do with a shortage of Sakuradite reserves following its crash in value in the recession they caused combined with their brigading of the largest source of said Sakuradite forcing them to negotiate some ceasefire. That was the idea, however the speed with which they capitulated was nonetheless surprising, if welcome.

However, these were just preliminary talks she had proposed, and with a serious problem; the Black Knights were also invited. This was an unmitigated catastrophe, as they would undoubtedly make their own demands and Lelouch would be forced to compromise with them in ways he could only imagine.

Allowing those terrorists to perhaps form the police force of the new semi-autonomous region, or even their military, or, God forbid, be an equal power centre, another branch of Government, that was a fundamentally repulsive idea, that they should earn a seat at their table, after the things they had done, would represent the most fundamental level of cheating that must exist in this world. This 'Dvoyevlastiye' was not acceptable.

And therein lay the fundamental question to be addressed, how to remove the Black Knights from the negotiations. It would certainly require a sort of Machiavellian trick, as to demand it directly would be nothing shy of ridiculous and weak and would be laughed out with no delay, only serving to minimise the Provisional Government and their associated professionalism.

And yet, meeting with the Black Knights was still not acceptable for reasons he had already mentally laid out. Thus, a controversy had to be created that would force them to be removed by the disgusted Britannians who would then recognise the Black Knights as too abhorrent to allow at the negotiations.

It would thus be prudent for the Black Knights to engage in a new level of dirty tricks, an escalation in dastardly tactics. Getting them to do this was not an issue, as he still had Ohgi's radio which was proven in its value by Suzaku, who had used it to confirm the link between Zero and Ohgi's group. He wouldn't use the same radio, but he could set a new one to the same frequency. However, while he grasped the how, he still pondered over how to approach the challenge.

What would disgust the Britannians so thoroughly they would henceforth refuse to even see them? This was a far line to reach, as even in spite of all their terrorism, they still had a seat at the table, understandably. To Lelouch, his was not a question of their objective goodness or badness, or at least he would claim. What would repulse the Britannians?

Traitorship, betrayal, dishonesty, backstabbing. Even after so many years in dedicated opposition, in dubious battle, the words rang clear and instantly in every corner of his mind as the repulsive values held by the inferiors, the numbers, et cetera. How could the perception of reach new lows? Backstabbing of a new sort?

No, not backstabbing, but more; going towards a different host, a more active rejection than a declaration of independence, which would serve as an announcement of malintent. With a fresh spring in his step, he leapt to his phone, contacting Kirihara, being the most senior of his acquaintances, hoping the man would have any contacts within the Chinese Government or Military from his time in the Six Houses.

It was a short conversation, the elderly rebel in spirit handing the details over with a little concern, which Lelouch waved off. This was fine, he promised. He wouldn't use them to betray the Government, its aims or its forthcoming events.

Someone else would.

"Hello? Who is this?"

Perfect, Lelouch thought, as he replied "A comrade in arms, a sympathiser, in China."

There was a brief pause, before the female voice rose up on the line again, asking "Is there something you want?"

"It is more a case of me having a tool to offer the greatest agent of liberation of our generation." Lelouch gushed, putting on his best act, without appearing dumb, which was tricky. If Zero took this Chinese defector for an imbecile, this conversation would go nowhere, but he had to prove loyalty to Zero and the Black Knights.

"That tool being?"

Lelouch could hardly stop himself from rocking back in his chair, pumping his fists in celebration as he explained "As I alluded to, I am currently conscripted into the Officer Corps of the Chinese Armed Forces, and have the contact details of several high ranking officials, and if I were you, I would certainly make use of such a potential ally."

"And if you were me, how would you apply this newfound capacity?"

It was all Lelouch could do to not laugh in bellowing, high pitched tones befitting a television villain. Zero was buying into his trap so easily! But the last step was still a leap. The key was to deceive the Knight of Justice.

"If I were you, I would bear in mind the Chinese Federation is certainly no friend to Britannia, think Transamur and Sakhalin, currently occupied by Britannian Russia, and would be more than happy to help you gain a foothold. However, to achieve military victory on the… Home Islands, as you refer to them, we would have to move at a time where they do not expect attack, and have their forces tied up elsewhere."

"Supposing we launched during the peace accords?"

This was the final triumph. True manipulation, Lelouch knew, lay not in convincing your target of a point, but getting them to think of it themselves. In this, Lelouch could not envisage greater success.

"That sounds excellent. Perhaps beginning from the west, with a flank from the northeast?"

"That sounds like an excellent strategy to start with. I shall discuss it further with your superiors."

Lelouch grinned as he set the radio down beside Ohgi's, whispering to the brown dust almost silently as the sun dipped over China, far, far away. The Chinese would leap at the opportunity to deny Britannians their panhandle, particularly with their military distracted with the opening of the SAZ. Then, Lelouch, with intricate knowledge of the plans, would lead Ohgi's forces to victory, boosting the Provisional Government's prestige and discrediting the Black Knights in the eyes of the Britannians, who after seeing them destroy the negotiations would recognise them for the duplicitous scoundrels they were.

"You shall."

Thank you to MOR The Divine Being, Mig-37, GTHC, MDAM-FASEGold, Titanfire999, KingOfHeartless'09, and LoganaranoTheBritannian for reviewing this Arc! Massive thanks go to MMBrowsing and Patjeeson who have reviewed every chapter thus far! Stick around!