17th of January, 2025

Nanking, Provisional Government of the Free China

The cars of the People's Liberation Army were advancing through the now renamed Heavenly Peace Avenue, towards the Imperial Palace of Nanking. Inside the palace, General Yuan Xiquan, now self-proclaimed Head of the Provisional Government of the Free China was waiting for his guest, seated in the Imperial Throne. Around him, was gathered a court almost exclusively of military officers, that clearly reflected his political ambitions.

A Colonel entered the room and stopped in front of the Throne, saluted Xiquan.

"Chairman Xiquan, I am introducing the guests: Marquis Ohgi Kaname, Prime Minister of Japan, General Kozuki Kallen, Chairwoman of the Provisional Government of Indonesia and Lord Peter Truman of Lamar, Special Envoy of the Holy Empire of Britannia."

"Welcome to my capital, ladies and gentlemen. Please, make yourselves comfortable." Invited Xiquan. The Colonel showed to the three guests their seats.

"I know that all of you are coming here on secret trips, but also that we all have a common enemy and I know that you are bringing to me proposals. Do not worry about my men. All of those here are under my direct control. One of a very strict kind." Said Xiquan with a smirk.

At these words, Kallen realised with terror that all those men seemed to be controlled by a Geass.

"But let's ear what you have to say. Ms. Kozuki, would you like to start?" Invited the General.

Kallen stook up.

"General Xiquan, I want to salute you on behalf of the People of Indonesia and of all our allies fighting for their freedom from the Imperialists. Those imperialists include the Japanese, whose Prime Minister is today sitting on my side for reasons that are beyond my abilities to understand. Nonetheless, I am here to say that the peoples of Southeast Asia look with hope and solidarity at the people of China and hope to be able to build an alliance that will be capable of ending colonial domination across the world."

Xiquan nodded.

"Prime Minister Ohgi, your name has been mentioned, would you mind clarify your position?"

"Chairman Xiquan, it is a honour to be your guest. While I do fully understand the complaints of Chairwoman Kozuki, I can assure you that I would have never betrayed the principles and values of the Black Rebellion, of which I have been myself an active leader. Unfortunately, Japan has been hijacked by imperialist elements, represented by the Imperial House of Japan and the nobility, of which General Duke Kyoshiro Tohdoh and Countess Kaguya Sumeragi are members. These are elements that had no scruples in betraying the Black Rebellion and placing the country, after chasing away the Britannians, in the hands of the Euro Britannians and their leader: the reactionary Giulio Galahad-Canossa, an ambitious man without principles. If you accept me as an ally, I am however ready to begin a campaign to free Japan from foreigners and monarchists, bringing back the United States of Japan. First and foremost, as a gesture of good will, I am ready to order the evacuation of those Indonesian lands still under our occupation, other than of those Chinese lands that we have occupied, except for Manchuria, which I intend to return after the consolidation of an alliance."

After this speech, Ohgi went to back to his seat and Xiquan invited the Britannian representative to speak.

"General Xiquan, honourable guests, I bring the greetings of the Regent of the Holy Britannian Empire, Lord Henry de Montgomerie, Duke of Mercia. During the last months, the Empire has gone through substantial structural changes that, still ongoing, are reshaping it, towards more democratic and balanced forms of government. The revolution that took place last November has put an end to the rule of the House of Tudor, a dynasty that since the times of Emperor Edward VIII had turned more and more selfish and divided, with members of the family carrying the whole country into their private conspiracies and absurd endeavours. Last blatant example of this, the usurpation of the Throne by Lelouch vi Britannia, followed by the rule of Nunnally, a puppet in the hands of Rome and of her siblings Cornelia and Schneizel. Now, under the new alliance between the Imperial Resurgence Party and the Syndicalist Movement, the country will be reorganised, setting aside once forever the old imperialism and old intra-dynastic fight. It is our intention to join a coalition of free nations and together fight for the establishment of a new order based on freedom and justice, to replace the system of oppression created by Rome. It is for these reasons that today I am here on behalf of my Government."

Yuan Xiquan nodded. "Ladies and gentlemen, I am pleased to welcome you here and I do sincerely hope that we will be able to reach an agreement that is advantageous to all of us."


19th of January, 2025

Tokyo, Empire of Japan

Kaguya Sumeragi was sitting in a lounge decorated in Empire Style, inside the Embassy of the Holy Roman Empire. She was contemplating the painting located in front of her, an impressionist painting portraying Paris in the Belle Epoque.

"The last time I saw Paris... Her heart was young and gay..." Sang Kaguya while waiting to be called for her vist.

"Countess Sumeragi." Finally called an officer of the Imperial Gendarmerie coming out of the office. "Her Highness Princess Lucrezia is ready to receive you."

"Wait, what?." Said Kaguya confused, entering the office also decorated in Empire.

"Hi Kaguya!" Exclaimed Lucrezia giving her a hug and kissing her face. "I am happy to see you again! Please, make yourself comfortable. Tea? Hot chocolate?"

Lucrezia seemed sincerely happy to see her, after all, they were now good friends. However, throughout the six years of their friendship, Kaguya had learned that it was often behind such displays of affection and such angelical smiles, that Lucrezia would hide the most devilish intentions.

"Thank you, I'm fine." Replied Kaguya while sitting. Better not trust what she would offer her to drink.

"Some water then?" Asked again the Roman Princess.

"I'm really fine, thanks."

"Alright." Said Lucrezia sitting in front of her. "I think you know the reason for you having been called here, don't you?" Insisted Lucrezia.

"No... I was expecting to meet with the responsible for economic relations."

"I'm sorry about that, I needed a disguise. I wanted to call you here to discuss about Ohgi."

"Ohgi, what's wrong with him?" Asked Kaguya perplexed.

"I want you to get rid of him." Said Lucrezia firmly. "Either you work at it, or Rome will, with its own methods."

"Sorry, Lucrezia, I don't understand, why you want to do that?"

"Because we know he has been meeting with our enemy: Yuan Xiquan. Rome cannot afford a pro-Chinese Japan and therefore either you end his government or there will be consequences."

"Alright, alright, I will see what I can do."

"The Kodoha Faction has been dissatisfied with his government already since long ago. General Tohdoh is planning on seizing power since at least 2023 as far as we know. He wants to become the new Shogun."

"And the Emperor?" Asked Kaguya.

"My agents are meeting with him this afternoon. There are no chances he will be against us. What about you?"

"I guess I am left without choices."

"You are a reasonable person." Replied Lucrezia with her smile, now not anymore angelical, but rather viperine.

"And you a snake, Lucrezia."

"Then what would you call yourself? Last time I have checked, the Kaguya Industries were left in a pretty nasty situation by the Economic policies of Ohgi. Also, would it be interesting for your families to lose all your assets in Insulindia? Just be honest and admit that you were just waiting for the occasion."

"Fine, fine, you won, I will admit, I was. At least tell me, what should I do now?"

"You will meet General Tohdoh at... 12:30 at Ise Sueyoshi, the famous restaurant in Minato, there you will receive further information."

"Right, I should then start going." Replied Kaguya standing up and preparing to leave.

"I come with you, you know, I love sushi." Said Lucrezia following her.


22nd of January, 2025

Sassuolo, Duchy of Modena and Reggio, HRE

"May I?" Asked Giulio knocking at the door.

"Sure, you are the captor, I am the prisoner." Replied the former Tianzi, Lihua, without turning at him. He entered the room.

Since her demise, Lihua was held as a prisoner in the Ducal Palace of Sassuolo, in the Duchy of Modena, where she was kept under strict control by the Roman Emperor. She was melancholic, outraged and humiliated and when Giulio arrived was in a room of the palace facing the gardens, drawing a landscape of her native China.

"Hi..." Said Giulio uncertain, in front of her lack of responsiveness. She did not even turned at him, as she kept focused on her painting.

"Hi." Replied her.

"What are you drawing?" Asked Giulio.

"Home."

"Well, that's nice... After this finishes, you will be allowed to go back... At least so I hope."

"Am I supposed to actually believe this?" She asked.

Giulio sat on an armchair next to her.

"I just wanted to know if this place was fine or if you preferred something else."

"It's fine, considering that you first paraded me through Rome, in a cage." Replied Lihua bitterly.

"Listen, Lihua, under those circumstances I could only act that way, it was a political move."

"Yes, yes, as always. Do you really believe this justification or it just makes you feel better when you think of all your misdeeds?"

"My misdeeds, as you call them, are keeping together the largest Empire that mankind has ever seen!"

"Keeping together through terror, while the leader of it is every day less a human and every time more a monster."

This response left Giulio infuriated and instinctively he slapped her on her face, making some blood spill from her mouth. Lihua cried.

"That's exactly what I was talking about! The noble knight I have met years ago would have never left things reach this point. You think you are rising a new civilisation, but all you are rising is terror and misery, while you turn blind and proud!"

Those echoed in Giulio's mind, leaving him speechless. After a moment he tried to reply: "Lihua, I..."

He did not knew what to say. Instead he stood up and left, without adding anything else.


Tangyan, Kingdom of Burma, Tributary State of the Chinese Federation

"Are you alright, Sergeant Breisgau?" Asked Maria Gautier, one of Leila's unit soldiers.

"Yes, soldier Gautier, it's all right, let's move on." Replied Leila.

In fact, it wasn't. She wanted to move into the jungle to reach the Chinese base at any cost, in spite of her wound getting infected and the pain becoming unbearable. Yet she was determined to get there. She wanted to find out the path followed by the 'Burma Convoys' and destroy them at once. The trip was nonetheless difficult. The knightmare frames would often remain stuck in the mud and struggle in passing through the jungle. Moreover, the command had likely localised them and was sending patrols and setting traps to make them lose the direction, thing that had made them accumulate already two days of delay. To worsen things, now the communication with the rest of the troops was impossible.

At some point, Maria Gautier put on the song For What It's Worth, by the Buffalo Springs.

"Soldier Gautier, stop it immediately." Ordered Leila.

"Please sergeant, nobody is around here."

"Alright, fine." Replied Leila with a sigh. In the end she was also finding the music enjoyable.

They finally reached the Chinese base in the night. This was an underground, well-guarded command, which they could estimate must have been protected by around 200-250 Chinese and Burmese soldiers, against the 9 soldiers left in Leila's unit. In order to succeed, Leila decided that the best solution was to force them out from the command and keep most of the enemy troops busy in the jungle, while she and few others would enter the place, establish contact with the rest of the Army and send them all the information. It was a suicidal mission, but she still hoped to be able to succeed.

The first part of the plan consisted in placing explosive and automatic guns all over the jungle, assigning four soldiers to this part. She and the other five would have stayed ready to make the incursion.

The first blows near the base took place at 01:00 a.m.. This immediately catched the attention of the guards, who started firing back. As the automatic guns took down the few soldiers, the whole command was in alarm and the Chinese-Burmese decided to counter-attack. As this happened, the guns were retreated and also the explosions took place in other places around the base. Moreover, the four soldiers assigned to the mission also did their part, taking enemies inside the jungle and engaging them. There they further divided in two groups of two people and through the same device of explosions and automatic guns, divided and dispersed the enemies, convinced to be fighting an entire Roman regiment, in the forest.

As this happened, Leila enacted Phase Two: Corporal Vidal, their communications expert used some special frequencies to disturb the communication of the base, while Bernal, the sniper took down the few guards left at the entrance of the base, allowing them to enter. The place was made of small tunnels, meant to make impossible for a knightframe to pass through them. Luckily, the Alexanders could use the insect mode, which allowed them to pass even through smaller corridors.

'Anna you are a genius!' Thought Leila while entering the enemy command.

There were few soldiers left inside the base and none of them using a frame, which made extremely easier for the Roman force to eliminate them, while quickly advancing into the command centre and the communications room. There, Leila's orders were to force the operators to inform the troops that the situation in the command was under control and that a small Roman force was eliminated.

"Corporal Vidal. Please, reprogram the signal, we need to talk to our command." Ordered Leila to the communications expert.

"Yes, Sergeant."

In the meantime she looked at some maps.

"Amazing, so these are the routes that you use to supply your forces eh?" Wondered Leila, looking a the maps. "Is this an underground train?" She then asked to the commander of the base, a Chinese general. He did not replied. She shot him in his knee. Making him fal and scream for the pain.

"Is this an underground train?" She asked again.

"It's under construction." Replied the officer. "For now all the transportation happens through trucks. Since your air force has began to strike at the Burma Road we have constructed those tunnels, while part of our convoys still travel on the surface, so that they can mislead you."

In that moment, Corporal Rossi, in charge of the operation in the jungle called.

"Sergeant Breisgau, we are running out of explosive and Private Nicholas is dead, I'm afraid they are beginning to figure out that this was a bluff."

"Understood, Vidal, hurry up!" Shouted Leila at her subordinate.

"I'll do my best!" After few more minutes Vidal shouted: "Connections established."

A female voice came out from the radio: "You are talking with the Roman Army Command of Southern China, Communications Department, talking to you is Tenant Olivia Reuel.

"Olivia! Here is Sergeant Leila Breisgau, of the Platoon n. 10 of the Régiment des Volontiers Royaux."

"Leila! Long time no see!"

"Listen Olivia, I am inside a Chinese military base in Burma. We will be attacked soon but I am sending to you the routes of the Burma Convoys with all the details."

"That's amazing, I will immediately alert the High Command. If you send me also your coordinate, I will have reinforcement dispatched."

"Do it, please! I also need a doctor."

In the meantime, Corporal Rossi called Again.

"Enemies are rushing back to the base, I am the last left here and not for long. Sorry."

Maria Gautier, taken by panic, pressed the trigger of her Beretta automatic gun, killing the Chinese General and all his staff. Alarmed by the shots, also the soldiers in the communications room killed the operators they had in their power.

"Maria, why?" Asked Leila.

"Sorry, I was taken by panic."

Leila noticed that a button supposed to lock the entrances and pressed it, making several reinforced gates isolate the base.

"Hurry up, Vidal!" Insisted Leila. "We need to scan all those maps before the Chinese get in here."

While Vidal was doing his job, Leila realised that the Chinese-Burmese forces had surrounded the base. One blow was heard, then another and another. They were forcing the gates...