15th of February, 2025

Tokyo, Empire of Japan

Kaname Ohgi looked tired and distressed while having dinner at home. Indeed, he had a nightmarish day, having to face the accusations by the Emperor, the Parliament and by the Armed Forces, commanded by Tohdoh. To make things worse, in spite of being under house arrest, due to the investigations regarding the charges of slavery and torture in the Congo Free State, Kaguya had called for a press conference at her home, where she openly spoke against him, bringing up several accusations and critics.

"You seem distressed, dear." Said Villetta. "Should we take the weeken off?" Asked Villetta.

Ohgi shook his head. "I believe I'm done, it's over."

"You mean that you won't stay in government for long?"

"Let's hope it's just that."

"It's going to be a good thing, I think. This time in politics has been too heavy for both of us. We can move South, to Nagasaki or somewhere else, Naoto will grow there much better than in Tokyo, you can resume teaching..."

"I want you to leave Tokyo tonight." Said Ohgi peremptorily. "And take Naoto with you."

"What?" Asked Villetta surprised.

"You will go to the house in Enoshima. If anything happens, you leave as soon as possible and go away from Japan."

"Kaname, I don't understand."

"I am afraid something is going to happen, still tonight. Have you heard the Emperor's speech a noon? 'A storm is going to wipe Japan soon. Some trees, those that are not deeply rooted in the land of Yamato, will fall, take care.' Who do you think he meant with such speech? The Kodoha?"

"I think you may be exaggerating things, I mean..."

"Just do as I say, please, I love you and I would never allow anything bad to happen to you."


Lucrezia Galahad-Canossa arrived at the Tokyo-Narita International Airport at around 18h on a line flight of Alitalia from Rome-Fiumicino. She was wearing a red dress, covered by a black coat. As she entered the Terminal she was immediately recognised by two agents of the Japanese Intelligence.

"Your Highness." Said one of them.

"Amaterasu has prepared the house for Venus."

Lucrezia smiled.

"How cute. I hope she has also prepared a nice dinner."


Kaguya's mansion in Azabu seemed to have been transformed in a military headquarter, during the late afternoon. General Tohdoh, Admiral Yamamoto, General Mishima and all the high ranked officers that belonged to the Kodoha, the Imperial Way Faction had gathered there to prepare for that evening's event. The agents of the Kempeitai tasked with surveilling Kaguya instead were ordered by the Emperor himself to allow all this to happen.

"By this time, our men should have started closing all the airports, train stations and ports." Said Admiral Yamamoto looking at his pocket clock.

"Princess Lucrezia will be here in a matter of minutes." Announced Kaguya. "So please, make yourselves comfortable. The dinner will be served as soon as she will arrive." The officers left the sitting room, heading to the dining hall of Kaguya's mansion.

Lucrezia Galahad-Canossa, Crown Princess of Rome and Duchess of Constantinople arrived on a Toyota SUV belonging to the Intelligence.

"Hi darling!" She said loudly as she entered the house.

"Hi Lucrezia!" Responded Kaguya hugging and kissing her friend. "Did you have a nice trip?"

"It was fine, I was afraid of finding the airport already closed."

"Oh no, a perfect timing. And we are just preparing for dinner. Please, come!"

When they were all seated, the footmen served the wine, a Bourgogne.

"Ladies and Gentlemen." Started Kyoshiro Tohdoh raising his glass. "Today, with the help of the Roman Intelligence, we will restore Japan's glory and rid the Land of Yamato from traitors and republicans. To the New Japan!"

"To the New Japan!" Replied the others.


The Incident of the 15th of February, as it will be remembered, began at 19:35, with the Military Police of the Japanese Imperial Air Force closing all of the country's airports, followed by analogue units in the Navy and the Army closing ports and train stations. At 19:50, 40 Mitsubishi 16 of the Imperial Navy's Air Force, departing from the aircraft carrier Hosho, stationed in the Yokosuka Naval Base, attacked the headquarters of the Order of the Black Knights, located in Shinjuku, destroying completely all its buildings and killing most of its commanders, including General Kento Sugiyama, Commander-in-Chief of the Black Knights and Ohgi's best friend.

While this was still happening, at 20:00h, officers and soldiers of the Kodoha faction, abruptly began to murder other pro-government colleagues in the barracks or even in their own houses. At 20:15, soldiers of the Japanese Imperial Army took over the country's TV and radio stations and through them communicated the entering into force of the martial law, imposing that all the civilians stayed at home. Following this order, soldiers of the JIA and the military police took the streets throughout the country, enforcing the martial law. At 20:30 the headquarters of the Japanese Freedom Party, to which Ohgi belonged, together with those of the allied parties, were stormed and burnt to the ground by the Army, while many politicians were killed in their own houses (the order issued by Tohdoh was clear on not making prisoners). Also at that time, some of the commands of the Black Knights, more specificallly those in Hokkaido, Osaka and Kagoshima, attempted to oppose some resistance, that was however to be put down by 01:00 a.m. By 22:00h Tokyo was under the control of the Kodoha and so was most of the country.


After convincing Villetta to leave, Ohgi had also sent home all of his servants and retreated in the small shrine in the gardens of his house, waiting for his fate. He waited for long, surrounded by the most total silence, while only far away the shots and the noises made by soldiers slaughtering thousands of fellow Japanese only guilty of not belonging to their same political faction could be heard.

'Let's hope at least my family will be fine.' He thought.

At 22:00 the intercom ringed.

"There they come." He muttered. Ohgi paid his last respects to the ancestors and then crossed the garden. The intercom ringed again.

'What a hurry to kill me.' He thought.

He went to the mansion's hall and opened the gate, from where normally he would have entered with the car and the smaller entrance.

This time from the gate entered a truck, with several soldiers on it, who immediately broke inside the house, securing it. One of the soldiers pointed his rifle at him, while another searched for weapons.

"I would not be so insane to attempt resisting." He said with some sarcasm.

After this was done, he saw two girs entering from the smaller entrance and walking through the alleyway of his front garden. Immediately, he recognised both of them as being Kaguya Sumeragi and Lucrezia Galahad-Canossa.

'That bitch Galahad-Canossa! I knew she was involved in this.' He thought.

"We are sorry to show up at this time and in this way." Started Kaguya.

"I hope we are not disturbing." Said Lucrezia with a sinister smile.

"Not at all, I was actually waiting for you." Replied Ohgi.

"That's amazing. Unfortunately, the purpose of our visits is not the happiest." Continued Kaguya. "As I think you could see, those trees who were not well rooted in the Land of Yamato are now falling."

"So I hope that those of your garden are rooted in Japanese and not Italian soil, otherwise you may have a problem too." Replied Ohgi.

In the meantime, a soldier came, bringing Ohgi's Katana.

"I don't have time to discuss politics, Kaname." Continued Kaguya, now harsher. "In the name of His Imperial Majesty the Emperor, I am declaring you under arrest on the grounds of high treason, rebellion and corruption."

"A rebel accusing the Prime Minister of rebellion? That's ridiculous." Replied Ohgi.

"Yet, thinking of our old friendship and of the fact that we fought together in the Black Rebellion, I am willing to give you a choice: either you are arrested tonight and tomorrow exposed to public humiliation, with the revocation of all your honours, ranks and nobility titles, before being hanged in the public square, or you take your sword, go back to the shrine and committ Seppuku. It's your choice."

Ohgi suddenly lost any sarcasm and became much gloomier, looking at the sword held by the soldier.

"Can you at least guarantee for my family? I want my wife and my son to be left alone and that at least some property or money is left them to live."

"Kaname, you know the law: traitors and rebels are punished with the confiscation of their properties and the loss of all titles. Also I cannot guarantee for your wife, as she is not only a Britannian citizen, but also a former member of the military, your son instead will be given to your parents in Nagasaki."

Ohgi had to held his tears, at the idea that he was about to die was the least, but that his whole family would have fallen into disgrace was unbearable.

"There is absolutely no friendship between us. I should have known from the beginning the kind of viper that you were. You never believed in the Black Rebellion, did you? For you it was all about yours and your family's interests."

Kaguya shrugged her shoulders.

"I do what is in the interest of the House Sumeragi and of the Tenno, nothing more and nothing less. Conspiring against Rome, was never in the interest of any of them, then you betrayed me first, by arresting me, now make your choice."

"Then give me my sword!" Exclaimed Ohgi. "I will committ the Seppuku in the garden, so that I will do it before the all of you and before the Gods, which I am sure will judge your actions."

"Very well." Replied Kaguya with indifference. "My soldiers will be witnesses of your suicide. Me and Lucrezia however, will stay here and get some tea. You can go, goodnight."


Press Updates

15th of February, 2025

From LVX News Agency

BREAKING NEWS: Armed Forces seize power in Japan./ Former Prime Minister Kaname Ohgi found dead in his house. He committed Seppuku./ General Kyoshiro Tohdoh appointed Prime Minister by the Emperor.

Emperor Julius on Japan: "The monarchy has been saved. Congratulations and good luck to Prime Minister Tohdoh."

From BBC News

BREAKING NEWS: Nationalist officers seize power in Japan./ Prime Minister Ohgi brutally murdered in his house.

Duke Henry of Mercia: "Military coup is an unlawful rebellion against a democratically elected government. There will be consequences."


17th of February, 2025

St. Augustine, Constituent Country of Florida, Holy Empire of Britannia

The Gottwald Estate was one of those antebellum, neoclassical, white plantation houses, located West of Saint Augustine, Florida. There the Margrave Jeremiah Gottwald lived since the end of the Great Global War, when after signing the surrender of the Holy Empire of Britannia and ensuring the ascension of Nunnally to the throne he had retired, conducing a private life. He had back his family, he had married, but he could not have back his normality, as during the war, following the Battle of Narita, he was turned into a cyborg, in order to save his life, due to the seriousness of the wounds he had suffered. This brought him to be very reserved and to choose not to have kids, as he perceived himself as a monster.

On that chilly afternoon of mid-February a black Ford drove through his estate, stopping in front of his house. First, the choffeur came out and opened the door, letting a General come out. The man, middle-aged with already grey hairs, dressed with the khaaki uniform of the Britannian Imperial Army, entered the veranda of the mansion and knocked twice at the door, the butler came to open almost immediately.

"May I help you, sir?" Asked the butler.

"Yes, I am General James Howe and I am looking for Lord Jeremiah Gottwald." Replied the officer.

The butler let him in and brought him to Jeremiah, who in the sitting room, seated in front of the fireplace, together with his wife.

"General Howe, you came on time for the tea, make yourself comfortable." Invited Gottwald.

Howe sat in one of the armchairs in leather in front of the sofa on which Lord Gottwald was sitting with his wife, Lady Esther.

"Lord Gottwald, allow me to say that it is a honour for me to be received here, this country will never forget that..."

"That I brought it to surrender to what were considered as little more than a bunch of rebels, I know it already." Replied Jeremiah sarcastically.

"Oh no! I wanted to refer to all what you did to ensure that the monarchy would be restored."

"Yes, sadly it did not lasted long, sic transit gloria mundi. Now tell me, please, what brings you here today? I am sure it's not just a courtesy visit."

"Unfortunately, it's not. Her Majesty's Army wants you back."

"I am not coming back." Replied Gottwald drinking some of his tea.

"But sir, the Empire is about to go to war."

"And I am not coming back, I left the Army, politics, everything forever."

"Sir, don't you understand that the homeland and the Empress is threatened?" Insisted the General.

"Is she? Tell me, General, do you at least know Empress Nunnally? Have you ever met her or Lelouch when he was alive?"

"Only in official ceremonies."

"Then you don't know them, at least not as much as I do. Also you have no idea of the relation between the Roman Emperor and Nunnally. Trust me, it's not Emperor Julius who threats our Empress, the threat is in lying London."

"This is treason, Milord! Emperor Julius has ordered her poisoning, this is well known!"

Jeremiah shrugged his shoulders. "I won't argue forwards, or I will end up arrested. You can just refer to Lord Mercia that I am not going to fight for him. You will have to find your way out of this by yourselves. Have a good day, General Howe."

"I cannot hide that this will bring disappointment upon all of us, but if this is your choice, I won't argue with it. Have a good day, sir." Replied the general standing up and putting his hat on.


18th of February, 2025

Rome, Duchy of Latium, HRE

Upon Lucrezia's return to Rome, Giulio decided to organise a meeting with the Britannian dissidents, in order to discuss the plans for overthrowing the Duke of Mercia. For this reason, on the same evening that his sister arrived, he wanted her to join him, Oldrin, Gino and Cornelia for an informal meeting at Harry's Bar, an historical Belle Epoque bar in Via Veneto, made famous by Federico Fellini's movie La Dolce Vita.

"Today is Japan, tomorrow is Britannia, my friends." Said Giulio raising his Negroni for a cheer.

"To Britannia!" Replied the others.

"It's a pity that Anya didn't join us, what happened?" Asked Cornelia.

"You know how she is." Replied Giulio. "She is not a big fan of social gatherings."

"Indeed, she has never been." Observed Gino. "I remember back when we were in the Knights of Round."

"To be honest I am also quite tired, so forgive me if I am not very responsive." Said Lucrezia yawning.

"No worried, you just arrived from a long trip." Replied Oldrin. "So, should we discuss the plans?"

"Please, Gino, would you like telling us more about them?"

"Sure, we are gathering soldiers and officers among the emigrees to prepare the landing force. The Clément family is already providing us with weapons and all instruments necessary to carry on the operation."

"What about the situation in Scotland, Lucrezia?" Asked Giulio.

"The intelligence is gathering information and preparing the local forces to the rebellion. For now, four Scottish Brigades are ready for action and we are working to get more of them. Keep in mind that the locals are also very much against republicanism and syndicalism."

"But now I would like to know from you: by when would you like to carry on the operation?" Asked Cornelia.

"With my military staff we have decided to carry on the operation in mid-April. We believe it would be the best time to strike, due to meteorological conditions. The Navy will provide you logistic support while the air force will cover you from above and make sure the Britannian Air Force doesn't leave its airfields."

"We have deployed the whole II. Squadron of the Atlantic Fleet to help you." Added Oldrin.

"Magnificent, I can hardly wait to see the Germanicusand the Scipio Africanusin action." Said Giulio thinking of the two most modern Roman battleships.

"And I really hope we won't need to use them during the Operation Jacobite..." Replied Giulio, with a bitter laugh.


20th of February, 2025

Luoyang, Reichskommissariat of Northern China

Leila Breisgau and Maria Gautier, the only two survivors of the raid in Burma reached Luoyang at noon. While landing, from the window of the plane, Leila looked at the ruins of the Forbidden City.

"You know that the Emperor seems to have taken for himself the statue of a golden tiger from the Han Dynasty and some more artworks from the Qin and the Tang Dynasty?" Asked Maria.

"Everybody took a souvenir from the Forbidden City, literally everybody, soldiers, officers, bystanders. At least he is a man of culture who will take great care of what he took."

"Well, I didn't took anything did you?" Asked Maria with some bitterness.

"Ohh well... Actually I did: a Buddha made with coral from the Liao Dynasty."

"Leila! This is barbaric!"

"Oh come on, if I didn't do it, someone else would."


Leila and Maria, only two survivors of the unit, were received at the Joint Operations Command Headquarters, in the place that had previously hosted the Chinese Ministry of War. There, they were both received in a ceremonial hall by the Commander of their regiment, Colonel Louis De Montcalm, by Generaloberst Rommel and by the Reichskommissar, Generaloberst Carlo De Bono.

Once in front of the two officers, Leila and Maria stopped and saluted them.

"Sergeant Major Breisgau, Private Gautier." Started Rommel. "Yours have been one of the most ill considered, dangerous and costly actions of the campaign. An entire unit was annihilated."

"I take full responsibility for it." Said Leila.

"We are already aware of your responsibility." Replied Rommel. "In spite of this, the action has made possible to discover the Burma Road and by extension to cut down the supplies coming from the Indian Empire to China and both of you gave proof of courage and valour."

"When the petition was presented to us and to the Commission we could make no objection on the matter." Added De Bono.

"For this reason, the Ober Ost has agreed in granting to both of you, Sergeant Major Malcal and Private Gautier, the Second Class of the Iron Cross. In addition to it, at this moment, the Military Staff in Rome is examining a petition for promotion for both of you."

At those words, Leila and Maria looked at each other smiling, while Rommel came forwards putting on their uniforms the medals.