Chapter 22: Important detail.
St. Petersburg, 11.30pm
In a meeting room, in addition to the Grand Duke of Velaines, the commanders of the three knightly orders of Euro-Britannia were gathered: Andrea Farnese for the knights of St. Raphael, Gaudefroy du Villon for the knights of St. Gabriel, Shin Hyuga for the knights of St. Uriel.
"Desolate to have summoned you to such a late hour, but important news reaches us from the republic of Europia, where a military junta led by General Gene Smilas has just taken over." The Grand Duke began.
"Do we know anything about this Smilas?" Andrea asked.
"He's 50, he's single, he was a close friend of the late Bradow Von Breisgau." Henry replied.
"I remember him ... He was exiled from Britannia for his liberal ideas, right?"
"Exactly, Lord Villon ... He moved to Europe with his family, where he entered politics and became an MP, very popular with the masses. However, during a speech in Paris, he was eliminated by a bomb explosion, and his wife Claudia lost her life shortly thereafter."
"I understand ... But now the question is: how should we behave in the face of this act of strength?" Shin asked.
"The internal quarrels at Europia don't concern us, unless Smilas is maneuvered in the shadows by extraterrestrials." Andrea replied.
"Maneuvered in the shadows?"
"Exact. The aliens may have kidnapped him and brainwashed him to make him a docile puppet in their hands."
"But he said he wanted to fight them."
"I hope it goes from words to deeds."
"Shouldn't we deploy the army on the border with Europia for security?"
"With aliens in Siberia and the Caucasus? Lord Farnese, it would be suicide!"
"Lord Shaing, it is suicidal to leave the European front unguarded!"
"At this moment, the European army is committed to fighting the space invaders, we should do it too! Furthermore, there is no longer a European front ... Both because hostilities with Europia have ceased and because extraterrestrials occupy the territories from the Baltic to the Black Sea!"
"And how will you fight them, running away like you did in Istanbul?"
"I had to warn the Grand Duke about the attack!"
"You could have done it without leaving town. Leaving the knights of St. Michael without orders you have condemned them to annihilation!"
"This is not the time for some controversy!" The Grand Duke intervened.
"And then I would have summoned Lord Shaing anyway." He added.
The two commanders stared at each other, but said no more.
Paris, 9:45 pm
"You have been formidable, general!"
"Thanks, Constance. But now comes the hard part."
"The fight against aliens."
"Exact. From now on, the regular army will no longer be in the rear, will be deployed on the front line against the invaders, and will personally guide it."
"Personally? But don't you think it's imprudent?"
"Napoleon has always led the battles in the first person, on the field ... And I won't be any less."
"With all due respect, you are not Napoleon. And the war has changed since then."
He was about to reply but was joined by another subordinate of his.
"General, Major Malcal wants to talk to you."
"Ok."
When he reached his office he sat down at the desk and stared at the screen where Leila was standing, communicating from the control room.
"Leila ... What do I owe this call to?"
"I hope you have a valid explanation for this criminal act."
"Defending our homeland is a crime for you?"
"By overthrowing the legitimate government?"
"A government made up of corrupt bureaucrats who were destroying Europia. They didn't even use the regular army against the British ... which I will do, but against extraterrestrials."
"Someone told me that you want to become emperor of Europia ... Is that true?"
" Who is best suited to lead the nation, me or a handful of corrupt and cowardly leeches?"
"This way you will deprive the people of freedom!"
"We have already discussed it. An enlightened dictatorship is more beneficial than a democracy run by a people of idiots. And then we are facing a serious crisis ... Europia is under attack, we have traded the British for a far worse enemy that threatens mankind. "
"..."
"I need your help."
"To do what?"
"You have to talk to the people ... Convince them to support my regime. You are the daughter of the late Bradow, the citizens will listen to you. "
"I can't support a military dictatorship."
"Do you prefer to give the helm of the country back to the clowns that I have ousted? With them the extraterrestrials will crush us! I alone can save Europia from disaster!"
"Maybe you tell the truth ... But I don't want to be a poster girl to use for propaganda."
"You won't be just that ... I also want you to fight the alien invaders, deploying your unit alongside the regular troops. 6 centuries ago Joan of Arc, the maiden of Orleans, led the French to the levied in the Hundred Years War."
"And I should be the new maiden, right?"
"Exact. You and I will lead European armies against alien invaders together "
"Or I could drive my unit to Paris and bring down your tyranny!"
"Please ... It's not the time for fratricidal clashes! Let's work together for the salvation of Europe and of the world! "
Leila ran a hand over her face, then nodded.
"Right ... You are right. But if I have to give a speech I will do it to encourage the people to fight against aliens, I will not praise the new regime."
"As you prefer."
"To next communication, General."
"Wait up! When do you plan to give the speech?"
"When I deem it appropriate."
Communication ended.
"Commander, do you really intend to support Smilas?" Akito asked her.
"I have no other choice. Weiswolf is too far from Paris, if I moved to the capital he would notice ... And then a civil war at this time would only favor the aliens." The blonde girl replied, snorting.
"I understand…"
Damn ... Even if the idea disgusts me, I must collaborate with him. Otherwise, both European citizens and Japanese people in the ghettos will die!
She thought, disconsolate.
Chiburijima island, 6:00 am
A small crowd had gathered to bid the last farewell to Kallen Kozuki, Guren pilot and member of the Black Knights, whose corpse lay in a metal coffin, wrapped in a Japanese flag. Zero, Todoh, Rakshata, Nagisa, Naomi and a couple of others were present. Big absentees were Tamaki, Ohgi and Kento, under interrogation. The funeral ceremony was conducted by Ryoga Saenba, the oldest member of the order.
"We are gathered here today to remember a valiant fighter, a girl who fought for the independence of her homeland from the domination of Britannia. We pay tribute to her and all our comrades who died in this war against the foreign oppressor who deprived us of rights and who plunders our lands with impunity. But Kallen didn't die in battle ... She was killed in cold blood by Cornelia, the witch of Britannia. A violent and heartless woman, who only knows the language of violence, racism and weapons."
"Cornelia has nothing to do with it." The scientist suddenly said.
"What would you say?" Zero asked her.
"It escaped around 5 am, right?"
"Yes and then?"
"Kallen died around 3:00 am."
"Are you sure?"
"Very sure."
"So the killer is another ... One of us."
"You can count on it. But if you asked me who was interested in killing her, I wouldn't know what to answer."
As the coffin was lowered into a hole previously dug in the ground Lelouch felt a mad anger pervade him.
CC ... Bitch!
He thought, furious.
