Standard Disclaimer: I don't any rights to the property of what I'm about to use. I only declare the crazy idea I'm putting into story format for you mine. The source material is not.
Opinion: Is there still a point to these disclaimers? I think by now, everyone gets it.
Space Knights Yamato
Chapter Two
Weigh Anchor!
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UNCN Wakatsuki
Lunar Orbit
April 9th, 2017 ATB
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"Crossing the waves, drifting out on the Galactic Sea
Fixing our sights on Alpha Centauri
Brightly the fiery glow, of the star Celestial
Lighting the way ahead to catch our Destiny!
Set sail we're leaving shore!
Raise anchor, haul no more!
Hold steady Crewman Brother, onward past Mars
Then come about, out to the Stars!
Set sail, we're leaving shore!
Raise the anchor, haul no more!
O'er the gelid waves of galactic streams,
Set course for the fixed star of Centuri
Our glorious cosmoship crosses o'er the void far,
Beyond those twinkling stars Set Sail!
We're casting off, anchors aweigh
Stand on your bearing, steady as she goes
Steady as she goes!
Weather your helm towards the stars
We are Pilots
We are Pilots of the Cosmos
Oh, now as we sail o'er the Kuiper Belt,
we've left the blue Earth behind us
Far beyond the trails of cosmic wakes,
We can see the event horizon, our heading Set Sail!
We're casting off, anchors aweigh
Stand on your bearing, steady as she goes
Steady as she goes!
The sea of stars is this ship's destination
We are Pilots We are Pilots of the Cosmos!"
Another black ship, Gun Frigate-class, exploded as the Wakatsuki put three well placed shots into what was likely the ship's fuel stores.
Captain Lelouch Lamperouge leaned over the railing just behind Lieutenant Rivalz Cardemonde as he guided the ship with the Assistant Helmsman, Apprentice Helmsman Janet Baker from the Polo Club, through the debris that had been the enemy Division.
"That's the last of them," Lieutenant Commander Millicent 'Milly' Ashford reported from next to the Sensor Station, manned by two members from the Radio Club, Sensorman First Class George Langley and Sensorman Second Class Ellen Lang.
"Good to hear," Captain Lamperouge acknowledged before turning to Radioman First Class Romero Hull down in Communications and also from the Radio Club, "Signal Niizuki and Suzutsuki to fall in with us and to report damages and casualties immediately," the young Captain ordered.
"Yes sir," Radioman Hull responded before doing so.
"Looks like all is going well with them visibly," Commander Ashford smiled as she observed the other pair in their Division.
"We have only five ships," her superior stepped over to join her as Lieutenant Cardemonde was more than able to know what to do now, "Three active and two under repair," the young man's face showed his grim concern, "We were lucky in that battle."
"Yes," the young woman's face falls, "Lucky."
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Lagrangian Point 2
February 6th, 2017
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UNCN Wakatsuki gently hummed as she traveled through Lagrangian Point 2.
It was the first time she had been out this far in centuries and her new crew were enjoying the stars so far from Earth.
Behind her, stretched out in a trail formation is the rest of her First Division, consisting of the ships UNCN Niizuki in the Number Two position, UNCN Suzutsuki in Number Three, UNCN Fuyutsuki at Number Four, and bringing up the rear, UNCN Natsuzuki at Number Five.
The five ships had been cruising for three days. The inexperienced crews getting worked up with actual experience of sailing their ships so far from home. Their tasks being everything from the everyday mundane to drills for the most unlikely events.
Plus it was just plain fun and adventurous.
"For my military knowledge, though I'm plucky and adventury," Captain Lelouch Lamperouge lightly sings to himself as he observes the space beyond L2, out towards the star ocean itself, with coffee in hand, "Has only been brought down to the beginning of the century."
His XO, Lieutenant Commander Millicent 'Milly' Ashford observes the efforts of the crew. Their Captain unneeded at the moment, so she has the task to keep an eye on things. Which she does with her usual competence and attention to detail.
Petty Officer First Class James 'Jimmy' Kelly was holding the helm on his own as Lieutenant Junior Grade Rivalz Cardemonde went down to help work out an issue that had cropped up in the aft portside RCS thrusters.
Not that they were needed right now. The ships wouldn't be making any major turns for about three hours. So there was time to address the issue and for young Lieutenant JG to return to his post.
The quiet travel through space is relaxing to the crew. There isn't much left in L2. A few old satellites, more recent than not, but there is the odd ancient satellite floating around. About 30 in all, give or take a half dozen or so.
Commander Ashford had the Conn as well as Command for handling the Division.
The proud First Division.
For the first time in so long, Humanity had a Division of ships in space once more. Warships, but their existence and that of the automated Warships they clashed with, told that peace could easily turn to war. That the Final Frontier, was as hostile as any had ever been and she supposed that should be expected.
Frontiers were typically the edge before the unknown. Therefore, it should be obvious there would be a reason for Warships to exist.
Still, for now, they sailed along peacefully. Ashford taking a generally hands off approach to her command. Her typical style of operating things that would normally not need anyone unless there was an obvious requirement. Still she eyed the space around them and checked in with the Sensors, to see if their Radar was cleared.
As far as Sensorman Second Class George Langley could confirm, it was clear. He was seconded by Sensorman Third Class Ellen Lang. So it looked good enough to not check in with the other ships.
If anything, they would report if needed.
"Nice and quiet," the young woman mused as she watched an old Britannian Satellite drift by, "Nothing to worry about."
She was then startled when her Captain spoke up.
"Never completely assume there isn't a threat," Captain Lamperouge stated from where he was watching, startling his crew had he gone quiet after finishing his little song.
Ashford turned her attention to Lamperouge as the latter sipped from his coffee cup, clearly musing about the new world that they had found and opened up to themselves, yet also very aware of the ship and its surrounding environments.
"For example," indicating the object that they had just passed, "that Satellite that just went by could have been turned into an Anti-Ship Mine or even had been a disguised Anti-Ship Mine," Ashford flinched, she hadn't thought of that as her Captain continued on, "We should avoid getting into visible distance with such things, for safety's sake, not only because of the potential for them to be weaponized, but also because they present a Navigational Hazard," the Captain concluded before resuming his stargazing and just enjoying the peace around them, his lesson and warning spoken.
Commander Ashford blushed at the reminder she got. She had forgotten her old friend had shown some interest in Naval Warfare as a child. As such, he had learned a few things from a few Admirals before things had happened back then.
He also was just that intelligent to think of the possibilities and commit them to memory.
At least he wasn't so dense about his charm with girls anymore.
Or rather, he was no longer pretending to be so dense.
He and Lieutenant Fenette were now a steady pair.
Very steady. The girl and boy now occupied one of the larger rooms in the Ashford Academy Student Council Clubhouse now. Together that is. In one bed…
Okay… She would admit, she had become jealous.
Very, very jeal-
Wakatsuki abruptly shook as though hit by a sudden wave. Systems went crazy as the ship keeled forward and to port, threatening to roll over as lights and consoles went on and off as electricity could be seen arcing in several places. Only the Helmsman's commands and counter maneuvers saved the ship, but as a general rule, the ship's course was adjusted and just in time, as a powerful violet beam shot by where the Wakatsuki should have been otherwise.
The distance, though, between Wakatsuki and the beam of energy was close enough that viewports tinted over as emergency shutters closed at once, paint peeling away from the energy wash of the energy alone.
"I have Command!" Captain Lamperouge shouted as he took the First Division under his authority, "Milly, Fight the Ship!"
"Right, Lelouch!" the girl responded as she started barking orders as the missing officer returned to the Bridge.
"RCS was fixed just in time!" Lieutenant Carmonde vaulted into his seat.
"Damage Control reports no hull breach," Petty Officer First Class Dana Handley, originally from the History Club if one could believe it and the Damage Control Officer reported from her station, "No one was hurt more than bruises and scrapes and all hatches are sealed and dogged. It appears we have no damage other than sections of the bow having been seriously heated up and possible paint loss."
"Weapons online!" Ensign Florida Davies, originally from Sports Shooting Club, shouted as she brought the weapons up and began to cue the Turrets to follow instructions once Sensors passed her Targeting Data.
"Unknown new class!" Langley shouted as Lang sent the data over to Davies to prepare countermeasures, "Running profile now!" the senior Sensorman shouted.
"Got it!" Lang reported as she sent the data to the main view screen, a thing no larger than the average Flat Screen found in any home today, and to Tactical as well for Davies to begin to respond, "It's a Heavy Cruiser!"
"Damn that thing is big!"
"Rivalz enough!" Lamperouge ordered abruptly, startling his longtime friend before easing on him, "But you're right," as Lelouch looked it over, "And it has two Light Cruisers with it. We've only fought those twice now and barely avoided getting hit."
"Captain!" Ensign Davies suddenly shouted, drawing the Captain's attention, "I can't see them too well from here, but these ones look like they've been repaired."
"Fuyutsuki's been hit!" Hull shouted suddenly, "They've lost Helm Control and are opened to space between Frames 12 and 19, three decks exposed, they have casualties!"
"No…" Commander Ashford whispered as the world came to a complete stop at hearing that before she was abruptly slapped by her commander.
"Focus, Commander," the Captain brought his hand back to grip the railing as the Wakatsuki began a series of evasive maneuvers, "We're in combat! The enemy laid an ambush, okay. That happens and you stumble into it, that happens. Now figure out how to get out of it and turn the tables!"
Now aware that the Captain had been fighting the battle and the ship, Millicent Ashford shook her head and pulled herself together. She had frozen up at hearing of the Fuyutsuki's distress. Now she needed to pull herself together.
"Still nothing from Natsuzuki," Hull reported as Davies destroyed a Missile Frigate-class with a well placed shot from the Number Two Turret into an exposed VLS Launcher.
"Aft Observation here!" a Crewman at the Observation Station at the back of the ship suddenly Commed the Bridge, "We've got eyes on Fuyutsuki and Natsuzuki. Both are immobilized, but fighting back. Natsuzuki's Comm Array appears to be dama- Natsuzuki is firing RCS, she's still active, but her main engines appear to be out."
"Sensors confirm!" Lang shouted as she relayed what her readings were telling her.
"Enemy force strength seems to be centered on that Heavy Cruiser still," Langley reported as he went through the data, "Still hasn't fired again or moved much. But I'm reading what looks like that Heavy being greatly reduced in power."
"Must be like Amagi's Shock Cannon," Commander Ashford deduced, "Powerful, but takes up nearly all the ship's energy to fire."
"A back up system must not have been installed to compensate," Captain Lamperouge deduced with a nod to his childhood friend, "We've got this for now."
Now turned out to be an hour long ship battle.
Wakatsuki's charmed life of not being hit ended in that hour. Three hits from an enemy Particle Beam cannon had savaged Decks 2 and 3 between Frames 4 and 8. Another hit had torn a chunk out of her back just aft of the Number One Turret. A missile had exploded so close to aft, the Aft Observation Station had to be evacuated due to damage.
But the crew had been unharmed and they had fought back hard.
Fuyutsuki and Natsuzuki may have been immobilized by the loss of their Main Engines, but they still had RCS.
And their Missiles.
Both ships were of a different class to Wakatsuki-class Destroyers.
The Wakatsuki-class were primarily Attack Destroyers. As such, they were armed with more powerful High Pressure Laser Cannons with a greater rate of fire than was the norm for a Destroyer. They also had six Torpedo Tubes Forward arrayed across two decks to give them greater punch against larger ships. They're top speed and maneuverability had been best described by the Cosmo Navy as being close to that of a Fighter.
There was also additional armor forward, which is why only paint was missing from the bow, instead of the bow itself from the earlier shot.
In the records that had been found, Lelouch Lamperouge and the others had found that their design was meant to be superior to an older class of Attack Destroyers.
The only references were a few models and records of a large class of Destroyers called the Isokaze-class.
Among the notes, was that the Isokaze-class was only 80 and some change meters long. This contrasted with the Wakatsuki-class, which is a full 94 meters long. The length also meant that the Wakatsuki were both taller and wider. Despite that, the basic design was quite similar, other than the weapons, which underwent major upgrades, including having actual barrels mounted to improve the power and accuracy of the High Pressure Laser Cannons as well as additional control and lift surfaces.
On the other hand, the Fuyutsuki and Natsuzuki were members of the Harutsuki-class Guided Missile Destroyers.
With one less Turret and only four Torpedo Tubes, two Forward and two Aft, the Harutsuki-class had two VLS Cells, one Dorsal and one Ventral. Additionally two single row four tubed Missile Banks were placed on both sides, one to each side. The missing Turret was also replaced with a pop-up Multi-Cell Pepperbox Missile Launcher that could be reconfigured according to mission profile.
In this case, the Fuyutsuki and Natsutsuki were left in the Anti-Ship Configuration that they were found in.
Due to this increased in firepower, the ships were 97 meters long with a bit of spare change thrown in to give that little extra room.
Whereas the Wakatsuki had a crew of 48, the larger Harutsuki-class had a crew of 57 to operate all the additional systems.
The ships also had a more angular design. While they followed the previous design format, their edges were keened more to strength and endurance. They weren't nearly as maneuverable as the Attack Destroyers, being more of a Fleet Combatant than a Vanguard Ship. Though they were still fast ships to keep pace with the rest of the Destroyers. As such, they had less control surfaces and were slightly wider to accommodate all their missiles.
Those differences were the difference between life and death for the Fuyutsuki and Natsutsuki.
They were able to sustain heavy enemy fire from the Frigates and Destroyers and survive, while being able to fire back with long range missiles.
Especially those Turreted Anti-Ship Missiles.
Natsutsuki's Captain, Lieutenant Senior Grade Nina Einstein held her side from where she had collided with the railing on her Bridge. She had been the luckier of the two between her and her XO. The other girl, Lieutenant Junior Grade Angela Norton, was now in the ship's Sickbay after being tossed against one of the viewports.
"Target Charlie-2 with the Missile Turret and fire three in sequence volleys!" Captain Einstein ordered as she watched her ship's portside Missile Bank fire off a volley that was being the complete attention of two enemy Destroyers, "Fire Sequence to have intervals of 3.7 seconds, Post-Launch Acceleration set to 5 seconds intervals!"
"Aye aye, Captain!" Ensign Harold Lee-Huntingon shouted as the Tactical Officer set and fired off the missiles as ordered.
The missiles departed the Missile Turret as it popped up and rotated to fire the medium sized Anti-Ship Missiles.
All told, it took nearly nearly a minute to fire all missiles. They left at the prescribed launch order and then once a certain distance from the ship, as set by their timers, their launch motors were jettisoned as the main motors ignited. Then they were off and tracking for the further Light Cruiser that was holding off the Wakatsuki ships.
The 24 missiles flew on pre-selected courses, but with the internal guidance systems set to make changes as needed to achieve their objective of slamming the missiles into the enemy ship.
The Light Cruiser detected the missiles and seemed to ignore them. The Destroyers and Frigates moving to intercept, but Fuyutsuki fired both her guns and missiles. The larger Destroyers cracked in half and exploded while the Frigates were holed and exploded, except for one that suffered a much more minor internal explosion.
Of course, 'minor' was relative, as the ship puffed outward from internal explosions, nearly breaking into pieces.
On their course, the Natsutsuki's missiles broke through and were able to overwhelm the defensive systems of the opposing blacked and purpled hulled Light Cruiser.
Three missiles died going in, but the remaining 21 missiles passed through the defensive fire.
Meant to tear into such vessels as the Light Cruiser they hit, the missiles tore through the outer hull into pressurized inner hull areas. They also punched through armored sections, which protected critical locations. Thus the ship imploded as much as it exploded after being hit by the missiles that tore into her in multiple places and detonated, igniting fuel, ordnance, and air while also depressurizing the ship across multiple decks and between numerous frames.
The ship's powerplant and drive core also went up, releasing their own explosive energies.
Across the entire length and from top to bottom, left to right, the entire Light Cruiser just exploded with a powerful blast and hyper speed debris in an omnidirectional detonation like a hand grenade.
And with that Light Cruiser and its Squadron gone, the Heavy Cruiser, target Constance-1, was left wide up to both Missile Destroyers.
Neither hesitated with a barrage of no less than 48 large Anti-Ship Missiles were volleyed by both ships from their flanks as well as a two spreads of a total of 8 Anti-Ship Torpedoes.
Having fired another of its powerful energy beams, the Heavy Cruiser was now beginning to recover from the second shot.
For some reason, the Heavy Cruiser and Light Cruiser Charlie-1 with all of the remaining ships had been intensely focused on UNCN Wakatsuki throughout the entire battle.
And that laser-like tunnel focus was the undoing of the Heavy Cruiser, Constance-1.
Now that the Heavy Cruiser appeared aware that its flank was wide open, it attempted to defend itself.
But the missiles and torpedoes approaching were unhindered. The Heavy Cruiser was not able to turn fast enough and its weapons were still struggling from the previous power loss. As such, the self-delivered explosive ordnance got through with absolutely no trouble at all and no interception.
The Heavy Cruiser's explosive death was not much different from Charlie-2's destruction.
Although, because it had heavier armor and was larger, 217 meters as opposed to 184 meters, Constance-1 exploded much differently, with large pieces remaining intact, but as the energies released during the ship's destruction ravaged every component, nothing more than debris and space dust was left.
At the same time, the three Attack Destroyers were able to catch Charlie-1 in a three-way pincer and quickly overwhelm it, destroying it with ease.
After that, it was just a mop-up of the remaining enemy ships. The Gun and Missile Frigates and Gun Destroyers were quickly dispatched by the First Division. The entire enemy Battle Group was wiped out inside of the hour that it took for the battle to end after the initial ambush.
Then it was an assessment of the ships and their damage, as well as their causality count.
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April 9th, 2017 ATB
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Commander Ashford blinked as she felt herself get pulled into a gentle, one arm hug by her Captain.
Looking up, she saw the concern on his face for her. He had noticed she was thinking back to the ambush they had ended up in. Like that time in the medical bay, she had broken down in tears for unintentionally putting others in grave danger.
"It's alright Milly," Lelouch called her by her nickname, that might as well have been her birth name, "No one died in that battle and those who were wounded, are either fully recovered or expected to fully recover by the end of next week, give or take a day."
Leaning into Lelouch, Milly sought his warmth as the crew ignored them to continue their duties.
Rivalz had gotten over the fact that Milly and Lelouch had gotten together. It really hadn't been hard for the boy. Despite how much he crushed for her, he knew she was not meant for him and honestly, realized he was just after the attention, not the person.
He really felt like an ass for that when he realized it.
But now, he didn't have to worry as much.
He and Nina were gently feeling each other out. At the same time, because of his Nobility status in the Empire, he already had two fiancees arranged for his own marriage. Something he is not too keen on, but having met both girls he is to marry, he found himself giving it a shot with Nina's full support.
The rest of the crew either varied in opinion or were indifferent.
The same with the rest of the Division as well.
"Lieutenant Carmonde, you have the Conn," Captain Lamperouge abruptly ordered, "Summon a replacement and take command."
"Aye Captain," Lieutenant Carmonde acknowledged and summoned Chief Petty Officer James 'Jimmy' Kelly to take over his spot at the helm.
Once the Chief had arrived, Carmonde vacated his seat and turned over the station to the young man and then stood and announced, "Lieutenant Carmonde has the Conn."
"Aye, Lieutenant Carmonde has the Conn," the Bridge Crew repeated back, confirming he has the ship under his command.
During that time, Radioman Hull had delivered Captain Lamperouge's orders to the UNCN Niizuki to take command of the Division.
Lieutenant Commander Shirley Fenette had confirmed the orders and taken command, though she was understandably nervous.
Normally Lieutenant Commander David Roebach would have taken command. As senior officer on the Suzutsuki, he had been the Rugby Club President. He was also the younger brother of Walter Roebach, Second Earl of the Earldom of Yamagata, after the pair deposed their abusive father and exiled him to a small island in the Ogasawara Archipelago.
That said, he was a proven and solid leader in class and in sports. He represented his class in the Ashford Academy Student Union Assembly and was the current Assembly Leader. In addition to that, he also headed the Ashford Academy Sports Club Council and was the Club Council Undersecretary-General, while Captain Lelouch Lamperouge was the Club Council Secretary-General by virtue of being the Student Council's Vice President and that he was also a member and President of the Boys Swimming Club.
Commander Roebach had also proven to have a head for space warfare and was known for his daring in command of Suzutsuki.
Unfortunately, he had caught a bug that had been going around. So he was Earth-side, at the Ashford Academy Medical Ward recovering. Nothing serious, but since he lived in the Western Wing Nobility Dormitory, he was required to be relocated to the Medical Ward for the health safety of his fellow student.
He would be very upset he missed a good fight by being sick.
At least he's better off than Lieutenant Commander Nina Einstein's XO, Lieutenant Senior Grade Angela Norton.
That pull girl had gotten something that left her stuck on the toilet for much of her sick spell.
But, now, with everything arranged, Captain Lamperouge led Commander Ashford off the Bridge and down to his personal quarters on the Attack Destroyer.
And like all Destroyers, it was not a very roomy thing.
More room than the Enlisted Ratings and Junior Officers. But still quite small. Captain Lamperouge had seen one room studio apartments with more space.
Heck, he's certain the broom closet near the Student Council Room had more space in it!
Still, it was bigger than even Commander Ashford's quarters.
Captain Lamperouge had an actual bed to sleep on. He had a desk, chair, personal computer, wardrobe, and a personal shower and toilet. There was even a personal Flat Screen with a player attached to it. The bed could also, not particularly comfortably, hold two people in it.
Commander Ashford had a fixed single bunk bed, a fixed desk with an attached swing chair and recessed computer, a recessed Flat Screen, wardrobe, and a personal shower and head.
The Junior Officers all had shared rooms with only fixed double bunk beds, lockers and trunks, and shared showers and heads.
The Enlisted Ratings and Non-Commissioned Officers only had fixed triple bunk beds, lockers and trunks, and used the crew showers and heads.
That all said, Lelouch led Milly to his bed and once he had sat down, he gently guided the girl to sit on his lap and lean against him.
"It's okay Milly," Lelouch gently stroked her back, letting her relax into his form as he spoke softly to her, "We're all here, all still alive, okay? I should have been more mindful myself. I should have said something earlier as well. But it happened and we all survived, didn't we?"
Milly began to nuzzle into his neck before she spoke, "But next time we might not be so lucky."
Lelouch sighed sadly, "Of that, I'm well aware and know that when it happens, it will happen regardless of what we do and don't do. The smarter we all, the more aware we are, the longer we can put it off," the boy informed his fiancee as he gently undid her uniform tunic and shirt to reach in and remove the ring he gave her from the necklace she kept it on and slide it onto her ring finger, "But it will come some day and we will, as you are now, be second guessing ourselves for some time thereafter. But ultimately, as long as we do our duty to the fullest, no matter what happens, we will be absolved of blame as we knew it would come."
Milly only whimpered. She had been terribly shaken in the cave, broken down in the medical bay, and then had to go through a repeat from that day in February to now. So she needed not only reassurance, but to have her confidence restored.
And becoming his second fiancee had helped her begin her recovery in that area.
As the UNCN Wakatsuki sailed on her final leg back to Earth, anyone passing by the Captain's Quarters would have heard nothing.
Because, inside, both Lelouch Lamperouge and Millicent Ashford were sound asleep in each other's arms, their uniforms neatly stacked on his desk as they slept peacefully.
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April 11th, 2017 ATB
Niigata Settlement, Niigata Special Economic Zone, Area 11
Ashford Foundation Headquarters
Outside the President's Office
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"Why do I get the feeling," Lelouch Lamperouge grumbles as he sits in a rather uncomfortable chair, awaiting his admittance to see Ashford Foundation President Reuben Kenneth Ashford in his personal office, "that Reuben is still mad with me."
The secretary, Ellis Fuller, said nothing as she handled another phone call for President Ashford.
From her look and tone, she was not enjoying the person on the other end. After speaking for a few moments, Ms. Fuller abruptly head the phone at a full arm's length from her head. As such, Lelouch could hear the screaming voice of President Baron Antonio Galvez, First Baron of Galvez Barony, located in Galvez City, formerly Hekinan, and President of Galvez Manufacturing Enterprises.
After the man stopped screaming, he then audibly slammed his end of the phone down, ending the call.
The woman growled and angrily slammed her phone down as well. She was paid well, but some people just pushed it. Not that she would blame her boss, Baron Galvez was vainglorious and full of hubris as they came. He was a First Generation Baron, but he was from a long lived Noble Family that had fled Spain to England when the former was taken over by the French during the Revolutionary Wars back in 1753 ATB.
Then the family had fled to North Britannia after the loss of the Ancestral Home to the French and British-Irish Revolutionaries as well.
Galvez was ill-tempered as well. His daughter attended Ashford Academy, but Ysabella was not known to speak well of her father in private. Quite the opposite, there was little surprise she was secretly dating an Eleven just to spite her father, though she was known to actually love her boyfriend quite deeply.
Of course, Lelouch and Milly had to run constant interference to let those two be together. Ranging from the Baron himself to the Student Defense Force and everything in between.
Not that the pair complained. Milly loved playing the role of protector of such a romance. She got a lot of thrill out of it.
And Lelouch had to use his considerable powers of his own, to keep Ysabella from being sent anywhere outside of Ashford Academy, as to avoid being engaged, she had signed on to the Military at age 12.
As such, she attended the Military Courses offered at Ashford Academy. She wore the female Myrtle Green Ashford School Uniform as a result. Not only was it a different color, but also of a different design, with a single off center button fashion with military shoulder straps, a high collar, and above knee skirt with slits on either side with a pair of above knee socks with military shoes on the feet.
The Ashford Academy Military Course Seal was also worn in place of the Academy Seal and military rank tabs, service markings, and class patches were also worn.
It was really… Not a bad looking uniform, but only the buttons, belt, and shoes were not green.
They were chestnut brown.
"Oh for the love of-!" Ms. Fuller made her opinion known with another call being concluded in a less than cordial matter.
"Trouble Ms. Fuller?" Lelouch asked from his spot, curious as to what was going on.
The woman threw her hands up into the air to show her frustrations, "You got that right!" the woman declared angrily, "The Viceroy has everyone running around lately. It's creating one heck of a mess from the Southern Islands to Hokkaido! No one knows what he is up to, this time, but he's making a right bit of trouble of himself," the woman told him, "That's why you're being held up here, waiting. President Ashford and Mrs. Ashford are at it again over something that happened down in Osaka."
"The Ashfords don't have any holdings in Osaka," Lelouch deadpanned knowing where this was headed.
"Ye-yup," the secretary agreed, "Little wonder he wants insurance," the woman gave a pleased smile as she said that to Lelouch and Lelouch caught the meaning and it took him by surprise, but he still recovered well enough to smile back.
"Glad to hear it," he responded with an honest smile, "Always nice to have a bit of insurance when you need it. Cause you never know what might happen I suppose."
The woman only giggled merrily as she patted her lower abdomen with a smile that was simply hard to put into words.
Of course Milly and Lelouch knew that Ms. Fuller might become the next Mrs. Reuben Ashford.
After Milly's grandmother passed away, she had been worried for her grandfather.
Though, like most Britannian males, he had more than one wife. Having been a Noble of Royal Standing, he had actually had up to 20 wives and an equal number of consorts. Each had borne him children, so he had 40 children, plus a few had more than one child.
Milly actually had 62 uncles and aunts, but most had separated from the Ashford Family after it lost its Noble Status and been reduced to its current status.
She knew that most were in Southeast Asia, operating Britannian Interests there. They now lived under their mothers' maiden names. About six were in Africa and she knew four others were members of one of the main Knightly Orders of Euro Britannia, with one still carrying the Ashford name and raising to Peerage in Euro Britannia with hopes to re-establish the Ashford name as Nobility once more and reunite the scattered family.
Of course, Milly's father had been the first born of Reuben Ashford and to his First Wife as well.
But he turned out to be weak compared to his younger sister, Matilda Ashford, born to the Third Consort and Milly's Aunt Matilda had been best out of all the Ashford children.
She had actually become engaged to Odysseus eu Britannia. An arrangement the First Crown Prince had managed to forcibly keep after the Fall of the Ashfords. Although she would be reduced in standing, but after she joined the Imperial Military and rose to the rank of Colonel in the Imperial Air Force, being one of Britannia's few remaining Fighter Aces, she made a Knight and so her position would rise once again.
Matilda was actually stationed in Japan and was assigned to command the 912th Fighter Group based out of Hokkaido.
Though she sometimes took a Fighter and skipped back to Alaska to meet up with Odysseus.
Matilda was loyal, though, to the vi Britannia and so she never mentioned to her fiance about either of them. For now, there was no need and the less Odysseus knew, the less he had to lie to others who would equally care for Lelouch and Nunnally.
It didn't mean anyone liked the arrangement, but that is how it was.
Suddenly the door to President Ashford's office was flung open and Andrea Ashford came storming out. A few moments later, her two aides and own secretary came running out of the office to catch up to her. The trio had a lot of running to do and they likely were taking some of Reuben's advice to catch up.
Honestly, the pay had to be lousy to keep putting up with that woman.
"Lelouch, come on in, Ellis hold all my calls or simply lock the door on your way out for lunch," Reuben called from his office.
"I'll wait for you, Reuben," the woman replied once she was sure no one was listening in and put the scanner away, "I'll lock the door and ignore all but the most important of calls."
And with that, as Lelouch entered the office, he could hear the woman setting the phone to let through only a handful of very important calls.
Mostly from Milly, important staff members of the Academy, and some people from the Foundation.
Any government call went through another system. That system would ID them and then route them accordingly. Thus any call from the government that was normal and mundane didn't come to Ellis Fuller's desk.
Only the most important calls and those were the kind where Reuben would grab an overnight bag and run for the VTOL up on the roof!
Closing the door, Lelouch saw the old man put his own scanner away and sit down heavily.
"Osaka?" Lelouch ventured.
"Osaka," the man confirmed with both hands rubbing his face, "That damn woman tried to buy into a small time shipping firm she had planned to use to expand her own operations to try and takeover the Foundation from me."
"Refrain?" Lelouch ventured carefully.
"Worse," Reuben dropped both hands onto the arms of his chair, "A corrupt official moving stolen military weapons and ammunition. One of the train cars was improperly packed and set off some kind of ordnance. Andrea didn't know neither did the company she had bought, but it is still falling on them and, of course, me."
"Need me to ask around?" Lelouch gently inquired, knowing he knew a few people who could get the dirt.
More than one noble in fact, ironic as it was.
"Actually, no," Reuben chuckled here, even if it was tired, "An old friend came through upon discovering Andrea's screw up. He's already taken care of everything. Enough evidence survived the explosion that the official is already in jail awaiting his trial and I don't expect that to last very long, because they seized all of his ill-gotten and stolen goods."
"You're getting some new property and resources," Lelouch put two and two together.
"And we're now officially doing business in Osaka, despite being banned from doing so," Reuben shrugged, "Margrave Jeremiah Gottwald got the ban lifted simply to get someone reliable down there and guess who that was."
"You and the Ashford Foundation," Lelouch chuckled as he shook his head.
"Right in one," Reuben confirmed, "We're going to be getting to work here soon. Got a lot to do. Andrea wanted that operation, but I actually have a need for her up in Yamagata. She doesn't like it, but Yamagata is having some labor issues and I need her to go up there and find out what the hell the managers are doing."
"Who's getting Osaka then?" Lelouch frowned, he didn't know who was left to take over that.
"Matilda was forced out of the military just yesterday," Reuben dropped that bomb on Lelouch, shocking the teenager, "So she needs something to do and I figured she's got a good head to go to Osaka and take care of it."
"Odysseus?" Lelouch worried about how his brother would take it.
"He's furious!" Reuben replied, his own surprise still there, "He's sacked three generals, Noble Officers from the Army, who sacked Matilda and several other Air Force officers simply because they had the rank and positions to pull. Gave Clovis a vicious chewing out too for letting it happen and apparently is appealing her and the others' removal to the proper authorities right now, with Cornelia's support, of course."
"Of course," Lelouch agreed, knowing that his half-sister approved of Matilda, "Oh and speaking of family, congratulations are in order. Ms. Fuller informed me you both are expecting."
The man may be old, 67 years old to be exact and coming up on his 68th Birthday in a few months, but you couldn't tell looking at him.
The man is tanned from long hours in the sun. Whether work or activity, Reuben K. Ashford was not one to stay indoors for long. Ms. Fuller was also proof of that, as she was developing a darkening tan too.
While he was once known as the 'Party King of Pendragon,' his everyday wear was exceedingly simple.
He wore a brown and tan vested dress suit that wouldn't have looked out of place in a 50 or 60 year old gangster movie or an equally old cop movie. In that latter case, he would have looked like a combination of a police detective and a hunter, as the jacket he wore with the suit was a hunter's coat and a hunter's hat to go with it.
In fact, he would take Lelouch and Milly shooting in that jacket and hat. He had several versions, but they were all roughly the same. It amazed Lelouch how simple both Milly and her grandfather could be, along with the more sensible members of their family.
Which, with the exception of Milly's parents, was everyone else in the Ashford Family.
"Thank you Lelouch," the man smiled happily at the thought of having another child, "I'm grateful for your kindness my boy and speaking of being my boy, how are you and Milly getting along? You had Shirley command the ships back and Rivalz was in charge of Wakatsuki when she landed."
With sigh, Lelouch told Reuben what had happened. That Milly was still taking the ambush rather rough. But she was getting better. All they did, though, he added, was sleep on the way back after relaxing together to help her move forward.
"I see," the man sighed, "Reminds me of my first ambush, that would have been in Somali if I recall right? Yes, Somali. Britannian Somalia, we were repelling the Greater Union of the One True Caliphate's invasion. We were told there was no threat and despite taking a number of precautions, we still walked right into the ambush."
Lelouch grimanced.
The Greater Union of the One True Caliphate had been the last Theocracy in the world.
To say they were violent, was by even Britannia and Chinese standards, an understatement.
Even the Knight of Ten of the Order of the Round Table, Sir Lucino Bradley would be considered to be of greater politeness and sanity, if far from being referred to as a gentle lamb, when compared to the the violent ways of the Greater Union of the One True Caliphate.
When that war ended, Britannia's victory over the Caliphate had seen it overthrown by its own oppressed subjects.
Now it was called the Middle Eastern Federation. New laws introduced had restricted the power of the once powerful Clerics and Imams. It also separated the State from the Religious institutions and banned private, religious militias.
Though, like the EU and elsewhere, the Middle East Federation seemed to have picked up a number of cases The Stupids lately as well as an uptick in accidental deaths and internal assassinations.
Lelouch thought that perhaps an Orbital Bombardment would be needed to keep Britannia at bay again.
He was getting tired of taking his ships up into orbit, only to rain missiles down on Britannian advances to break them up and cause them to retreat.
His half-sister Merrybell mel Britannia was nearly killed when the Airship she had been on had taken a direct hit from the UNCN Fuyutsuki back in January.
He still didn't blame Nina for that. The Airship wasn't supposed to be carrying Merrybell. But she had been strongarmed aboard by an arrogant officer she had later shot for deserting his ship and abandoning his forces.
Apparently, her Knight of Honor, Dame Oldrin Zevon had taken the matter personally and done the deed herself.
"Ye-up," Reuben remembered the ambush quite well, "They had some twenty different Technicals. AA guns on all of them. A couple had even been mounted with fixed grenade launchers in Gunner's Seats. My Platoon lost eight killed and more than thirty wounded out 47 men before a Squadron of Gunships on their way back from an aborted mission came across the battle."
Reuben shuddered physically and visibly as he remembered being pinned down next to his dead radio operator. The poor man had been cut in half and had screamed during his last two minutes of agonizing life right next to Reuben. The radio had been shattered by the enemy fire and all Reuben could do was order his men into cover and hold his radioman to close as he died, still screaming in pain.
The rest of the Company had found them in that situation an hour later, only to get caught up in the ambush.
"They had those twenty something Technicals and almost 700 men to pin my whole Company down," Reuben remembered how bad it was, being the senior officer left alive, "They took out all of our radios and our Battalion couldn't find us, because they had the wrong maps and went off into another ambush," Reuben gripped his chair tightly as he remembered that disaster, "Fortunately, the 119th Armored Regiment was nearby and heard them get ambushed and went to their aid. Once the Gunships found us, they called them and they and what was left of the Battalion and came rescued us after the Gunships had suppressed most of the enemy and taken out almost all of those damn Technicals."
"That was the Ain Valley Campaign, wasn't it?" Lelouch questions, remembering the 119th Armored Regiment had saved several units from ambushes in that campaign.
"It was," Reuben confirms, "Went on to Battalion command myself until a sniper trying to kill the 119th's commanding general got me instead as walked right in front of the shot by accident," Reuben grimanced as he reached up to rub the old wound on his head, "Knocked me out for a year and I had difficulties with my memory for the following six months. Got better, though it took years to fully recover from both the wound and complications."
"Explains some things I heard back in the day," Lelouch now knew what those people had meant about Reuben having his 'sense shot out of him.'
"Never told ya, did I?" Reuben smiled as he got comfortable in his chair, "That's how your mother and I got along. I actually knew your grandfather back in those days. He was a private at first in my Platoon and later was a sergeant before I was knocked out," with a chuckle, Reuben remembered the bashful, if clumsy Louis Lamperouge who could never walk more than three steps without tripping on something.
Man had the worst luck all the time. Quite the opposite of his grandson. Yet, when it came time for a laugh or a bit of quick wit, Louis Lamperouge always had a way or a remark on hand.
And his bravery… His bravery.
That terrible ambush should have seen more men dead. If not for Private Louis Lamperouge who jumped back up and ran into the hail of fire and dragged men into cover or built cover if he couldn't drag them into shelter.
Then he ran about the battlefield, suppressing enemy attacks on their Platoon. Protecting his fellow soldiers. Driving the enemy away. Even destroying a Technical with a single hand grenade and disabling another with gunfire.
When the Company arrived and was also ambushed, Private Lamperouge continued to run about. At one point, he found an old well and quickly tested it and found it good to drink. Men were getting thirsty and the wounded needed water as well. He ran, laden with ammo, weapons, messages, medical supplies, and water throughout the battlefield to wherever it was needed.
He was bayoneted twice, knifed once, grazed three times, and caught in four grenades explosions, the last, which had to be an Anti-Tank Grenade, tossing him more than two meters back and one meter into the air.
Through it all, he got back up, and went back to saving the Company.
Decorated and Mentioned in Dispatches, he was Promoted to Corporal for showing leadership qualities in the battle.
He even captured an enemy Command Technical intact and unharm and drove it back into the Regiment's motor pool where the officer in command put him in for a special commendation.
That Command Technical, even now, sits at the Imperial War and Heritage Museum as the first vehicle exhibit to be seen. A life size mannequin of the then young private climbing into the vehicle as he tosses the dead driver out. The fact his daughter would go on to be the Knight of Six and then the Fifth Empress Consort is mentioned as well.
Courage, leadership, and tenacity seem to be a hallmark of the Lamperouge.
"That reminds me, how's your daughter Cecile doing?" Lelouch inquired, knowing the young woman had graduated from the Imperial Colchester Institute with honors, became an officer in the military, and now worked for some noble.
With a sad sigh, Reuben grumbles, "Stuck working for the Earl of Pudding, Earl Lloyd Asplund and it's only by the saving grace she's using her mother's maiden name that he doesn't realize she's my daughter!"
"Oh by the Ancestors and in the Founder's Sacred Name of Alwin," Lelouch winces painfully, knowing how that would end up if the 'Earl of Pudding' found out her connection to Reuben K. Ashford.
"Indeed, but enough about that," Reuben's attitude and his demeanor changed, "Lelouch," the man began carefully, "The base and everything you found in it," he struggled, before just saying it, "We've determined the base has been down there for less than 500 years, yet we found evidence of a Time Dilation, thanks to the base's systems, we were able to discover that the base may have been for less than 500 years, but for us, it would have felt longer."
Lelouch couldn't voice what he could say. He honestly couldn't figure out what to say. How does he respond to that? He had thought a thousand, easily fifteen-hundred years. But less than 500 years?
"Speechless?" Reuben didn't chuckle or smile, "So were the staff and myself. I was told it was true so many times I lost count. They admitted to double, triple checking everything so many times, they lost count. Then they found a record about a Time Crack."
"A… Time… Crack?" Lelouch questioned, unsure.
"Yes, a Time Crack," the man nodded before continuing, "Apparently it was a military secret," Reuben indicated a projector to show what they had discovered, "The Time Crack was in space and was used to amass decades worth of war material, primarily Warships, Fighters, and such assets for the Cosmo Navy. It was sacrificed to rescue a ship and some heroes who was lost in an alternative dimensional field, yes, that's what we read and no, we don't know what that means," Reuben had been told the same when he made that face too, "But it appears someone was able to use a variation on Earth to erase the past and set course to a new future, one of their own design."
"Who?" then Lelouch realized, "Whoever made those automated ships."
"That indeed," Reuben showed the ships in greater detail.
They were once proposed new ships to replace the ships that had served the Cosmo Navy in the past. But a war happened, those records were unsurprisingly corrupted or missing, and the ships were never built. Instead, the predecessors to the ships Lelouch now commanded were built until they were finally to be replaced.
But then something else happened and the black and purple ships were constructed and laid siege to humankind.
A number of records indicated that something had zapped the strength and capabilities of the Earth Federation's military. Reducing it to just soldiers without weapons. One that was being torn apart until new equipment was rushed to the front.
Equipment built upon the designs of old with the old weapons, but with a twist in using new knowledge to make them more powerful. Thus the Cosmo Navy had been able to fight back.
But… That's all they knew.
The base and its city was once an underground shelter built during the Inter-Planetary Wars of the middle 22nd Century. It was later used during a terrible war to house both military and civilians. Then it was used simply as an underground storage base when that war was finally over and things were better.
And then once more it was used after humanity had been driven underground again.
This time, though, it was abandoned, but with calm and care for some reason that left it function even centuries later, like it had only been abandoned the day before Lelouch, Milly, and their friends had found it.
The problem, though, was that it required knowledge and understanding not found in the world right now.
That which is hidden. Taken from them. Made to be forgotten. Yet they can still learn and relearn.
"The technology we were able to copy and make use of," pushing a new kind of cell phone across his desk, Reuben allowed Lelouch to look surprise as it appeared like a flip phone, only for him to flip it open and see a holoprojector was installed, "is allowing the Ashford Foundation to regain a number of critical footholds and allow us to rebuild our base."
Closing the phone with intent to hand it back, Lelouch was surprised when Reuben held up his hand.
"It is your's Lelouch," the old man said, "I already supplied the others as well."
"Thank you Reuben," Lelouch pocketed the new phone with the details also passed by Reuben.
"Lelouch," the head of the Ashford Family looked torn, "Do you love my granddaughter, Millicent Ashford?"
"It took me a long time to realize," Lelouch looked the old man straight in the eye, "Yes, I do."
Holding the young man's gaze, the older male looked deep into his soul. He noted that those dark colored violet eyes now had a lighter color to them. Like a darkness had been cleared from them. Cleansed even to once more to be the honest and kind eyes he remembered on a child's face so long ago.
"I love her as though she were my daughter," Reuben stated straight up, "And I trust her to you, because I know you will be either a damn fool at the moment or beyond your power to prevent her from being hurt," Reuben was blunt too, "But you'll always be there for her, even if it is just in spirit and I trust that. Trust it so deeply. You both have my blessings, Lelouch, enjoy your lives together."
Standing up from his chair to kneel before Reuben Ashford, Lelouch held both hands out, palms up to signify his sincerity, "Lord Father, I promise your daughter will always be in true hands and with a true heart to love and care for her. I will be her partner in life and death and never betray her. I swear it upon my name and those who proceed me, for my name is Lelouch vi Britannia and this I will honor."
Taken aback by the old custom, Reuben blushed, but was humbled as well.
"I thank you, Lelouch vi Britannia, and may the light of the sun always shine through the coldest winters to guide you to home and hearth with the heart will be found and the joy of family be sung."
Lelouch nodded and stood up as both laughed before Lelouch and Reuben left, neither noticing that small, hidden bug that was specifically set to full Reueb's scanner.
The 27-year old Ellis Fuller, a Second Lieutenant in the Office of Strategic Intelligence, turned off the bug and set it to fry itself.
She did love Reuben Ashford and enjoyed working for the man. She had a warm and loving life with him. So it was easy to make her choice.
OSI could find someone else who was a cold blooded bitch to do this shit.
They never needed to be told, but she quit!
"Crossing the waves, drifting out on the Galactic Sea
Fixing our sights on Alpha Centauri
Brightly the fiery glow, of the star Celestial
Lighting the way ahead to catch our Destiny!
Set sail we're leaving shore!
Raise anchor, haul no more!
She sang to herself as she finished her and Reuben's meal for lunch. Smiling as she looked at the otherwise domestic work she found herself enjoying.
Back in her youth, as a girl on the streets, she had been lucky. She hadn't been found and raped or captured and sold to be raped at some brothel instead.
Her name, she never knew. She was given the name Ellis after OSI caught her one day, looking for kids like her. Orphans with no names and no one to care about.
Fuller was given to her later, when she had been assigned to spy on Reuben K. Ashford.
Soon, though, she hoped it would become Ellis Ashford.
'And hopefully, His Highness will rise up and take the throne,' Ellis thought as she admired her handiwork, 'Because with him on the throne, a lot of kids will have better chances and OSI would no longer be able to steal them and use them like I was supposed to be used.'
As she rubbed at her belly, the thought of Lelouch on the throne, gave her joy at knowing how much safer the world would be.
Just like she truly believed his small Division of ships had made the world safer already.
It was not a false smile that greeted the two males when they left Reuben's office. She had found some true happiness in her life. It made her life so much better, that she could hardly believe how much had changed.
But that little bit always made things brighter and she would do her best to make things even more brighter.
Like how she made sure that Nina Einstein would now be able to listen in on some OSI communications again and allow the First Division to shut down some operations.
XXXX
Author's Note:
First and foremost, I think my Writer's Block is finally gone.
Hopefully I will be able to write again. In large amounts too. Not like there isn't time in the world now, right?
Originally, I was going to have a meeting between Lelouch and Kallen to end this chapter out. But I wanted to focus on world building and Reuben K. Ashford (yes, that's the name listed in Milly's wikia bio). So here we are.
Now, Britannian Somalia is a play on the old British Somaliland colony. So it isn't something I just made up on the spot. I was looking for a good place to set the ambush that Reuben walked into, when I came across a location referred to as Ain Valley in Somaliland.
Thought, that's best I'll get and so I took it.
We also now have some more build up for Lelouch. Giving him something more of a history and background through his grandfather.
Most notably, I bet people would notice, though, is the reference to Milly's rather very large family.
Due to Britannia's expansionist conflict, it dawned on me that they would suffer eventual manpower depletion. They can't keep fighting. Such fictional wars ignore the amount of effort needed to hold onto such territories.
Usually, they simply follow a genocidal path where entire peoples are simply wiped out.
Well, not here.
I found another way.
Harems. Which is why you'll see them crop up in this story. Because they will have a functional part of the story.
Of course, they offer other uses too.
Like political and alliance marriages.
So you'll be seeing a lot of uses as this story gets written.
I have to admit, not bad for writing for some eight straight hours. Now if you'll excuse me, I should have been in bed six hours ago actually. Dawn is rising for me and I've been up all night.
But I will promise this…
Lelouch and Kallen will have an earlier meeting.
After all, the world is changing. So let's keep the changing going.