All hail Lellouch ch 33.
"Houston this is Columbia, we are on a vector approach for landing."
"Roger that Columbia." Lloyd said from the other end of the transmission. He and Laksharta where currently overseeing the final stages of the moon landing as the world tuned in to watch this historic event on their TV.
Republican, E.U, Federal or neither, all whereas one as the entire human race tuned in to this historic event.
Xxxxxxxxxx
"Lord Jeremiah, do you wish to switch places with me and be the first to descend?" Suzaku asked him on a private comm.
"No, no Kururugi. You being first on the moon is a huge propaganda boost for us. It not only means that the Republic is currently the foremost in terms of power and resources, but also it is a society that is more open to meritocracy, where a citizen of a once enemy country can advance if they are loyal and talented." Jeremiah replied, but truth be told he also felt that he was not worthy.
Jeremiah had, despite his military prowess in the war, failed to deliver a decisive victory, failed to prevent his country's defeat. Was powerless as Casablanca stripped them of everything. A failure like him had no place making history.
All he wanted now was to ensure that his homeland earns the honor and prestige that it deserves and to serve his liege Lellouch.
"Understood sir. See you moon side. Houston, this is the Eagle, we are beginning to descend." Suzaku said and he, Anya and Gyno all began the descend by grabbing onto a section of the Lego like space ship and using their propulsions to slowly reach the moon.
"We are adjusting course and speed, landing thrusters engaged and we are beginning slowing down our descent. Houston, the Eagle has landed." Suzaku said as the Lancelot was the first to touch the surface of the moon.
At that moment the entire world erupted in cheers and drunken revelry as the mission was a complete success.
It was in that moment of delirium that Suzaku started phase two of Lellouch master plan.
"Beginning unpacking of drills and bio habitats. ETA is 3 days till we begin terraforming." Suzaku said on a public broadband.
This silenced the world from the sheer surprise of what they heard.
"Roger that Eagle. Columbia, how's it look on your end?" Lloyd asked.
"Beginning deployment of solar panels right now. ETA 6 hours till optimal run time. After that we'll establish the Gefyun wave energy transmitter to power the habitats from moon side. Also initiating test warm-up for hadron propulsion units. Avalon 2 will be a go by the end of the day. How's it look on your end?" Jeremiah replied from the Siegfried in orbit as it began rearranging the remaining satellites into a permanent orbital station.
"We'll be launching Avalon 1 in orbit within the week and we expect first organized flight within the coming month." Lloyd said, also over open channels.
Barely a half a minute passed before back on earth, Lellouch's screen all lit up and the faces of Kaguya and Todoh, Smilas and surprisingly Xingke and the Tianzi of China appeared.
"You're late, next time you shall be early for our meeting." Lellouch said before any of them could say anything. This managed to catch them off guard, but they quickly recovered.
"This is to far! Establishing a colony on the moon will not only give you more resources but also a huge strategic advantage, enabling you to target all of our countries from orbit without fear of retaliation. Abandon all prospects of colonization within 24 hours of the Federation will declare war on the Republic!" Xingke said and the Tianzi hesitantly nodded.
"Japan supports and follows China's actions." Todoh, now the prime minister of Japan said and Kaguya agreed.
"The E.U also concurs and will follow." Smilas said.
Lellouch had a sense of déjà vu overwhelm him, it was like the past 10 years all over again. Once more Britannia was on the poise of dominance only for the world to unite against them.
But unfortunately for them, they were not facing Charles, a man who was only interested in anything besides the Empire.
But Lellouch, whose full attention was on the Republic and the Commonwealth was ready for this.
"Why would you attack one country for the actions of another?" Lellouch said, confusing the other world leaders.
"What other country?" Todoh asked with apprehension, he had a bad feeling about this.
At that Lellouch sent them a draft of e document that he intended to present to the be approved by the President's office and the government.
Upon reading it the eyes of the other world leaders all went wide with astonishment.
"The Republic recognizes the country of Selene as its own independent and will not lay claim to any territory outside its borders….as….as. stated in the treaty of…..Casablanca. "Xingke lost his voice for a moment as the sheer shock factor made his old cough resurface and he took a drag of his inhaler.
"Lovely famed document isn't it? But then again you would be familiar with its format, since it's just a reformed copy of the part of Casablanca that states that the former Areas will regain their independence and we will not have any extra territorial ambitions anymore." Lellouch said with a smug grin.
"You have no right to do this! The Commonwealth will not stand for such an action!" Smilas intervened in anger. Now a country who yesterday would have gladly seceded from the Commonwealth was championing it's integrity. Life truly was stranger than fiction.
"The Commonwealth is a global spanning organization, by the constitution that you all approved, it's authority spans it's global members. Since Selene is both outside global territory and not a member, the Commonwealth has no authority over such a matter. Also there is no provision in the constitution that says that a member cannot declare a portion of its territory independent. "
"Lellouch-kun." Kaguya interrupted him with such seriousness and strength in her voice that Lellouch could not gather the power to berate her for not addressing him as Supreme Chancellor.
"Do you know the consequences of this? A new country will mean people will migrate to it in massed waves. And because of the Commonwealth they will be able to globally move to Houston and leave for the moon. We will be deprived of our brightest and best and all of it will go to a new threat in the future! You've doomed us all to irrelevance!"
"Then we'll just have to band together and become relevant again." Lellouch said calmly, making the other's eyebrows shoot up from shock and dismay.
"Come now. Hideyoshi, Genghis, Bismarck. They all applied the age old gambit of uniting a people by creating a common foe. And this is no different. Against this new fifth power, the other 4 will have to band together."
Lellouch said and then moved his eyes to look at each monitor in turn.
"Which means no more attempts at secession." He glared at Smilas.
"No more trying to economically enslave the world." Lellouch turned his look at Kaguya.
"And no more invading other countries and causing mass panic." He directed his final glare at Xingke.
"You shall all stand together or fall together."
"You're insane! I thought that Charles was a madman, but at least he made sense! He only wanted to rule the world, but you've created an instrument for our destruction!" Xingke said with anger in his voice. "China will not renew its membership to the Commonwealth come referendum day, and you may be certain that India and all of our other dominions shall be of the same opinion and expect heavy taxes on trade for this travesty!" He added.
"Japan is of the same inclination and expect a very high tax on Sakuradite to the Republic once the borders are reestablished!" Todoh declared.
"The E.U concurs. There shall be a heavy import tariff on Republican imports in the near future." Smilas added.
At that Lellouch gave out an evil like, maniacal, chuckle.
"Really? You are gonna tell the starving people of Asia that there's gonna be an increase in grain. The voters of the E.U that everything is gonna become more expensive and the workers of Japan that their main export will be taxed? And….and, this is the funny part, you will reinstate borders, red tape and imports on the rich conglomerates after they have tasted the fruits of open borders and less bureaucracy? Really now? Does the phrase 'political suicide' ring any bells?"
Lellouch said, calling their bluff. No way would they actually go through with such measures. Their only option was to intimidate him with threats and it now failed.
Todoh, Kaguya, Xingke and Smilas all glared at him with rage and resentment.
"You will pay for this travesty. A reckoning shall come, that I promise." Xingke said towards him.
"I welcome it." Lellouch replied, catching the others off guard.
"There is nothing left to do. No more glory to achieve or tasks to be done. The world is now united. I have untied it! I have taken nations who would rather eat fire and worship snakes than band together in peace and harmony. So I united them in fear and selfishness! The world now is united as one, not conquered or enslaved, but united. You think that you can threaten me with words of defeat being brought on my person? No, all you are doing is giving me the promise that I will not be here to witness as it all goes downhill, for after reaching such a high the only path forwards is a decline. So go on, sponsor my downfall or my assassination, all you are doing is securing my legacy." Lellouch said and before they could say anything more he ended the transmission.
He took in a moment to savor his victory before he contacted Dalton and Viletta.
"I want the bill acknowledging Selene to be passed by the state and House of Lords now. I will deal with Commons." Lellouch said to them.
"My lord, is what we are doing legal?" Viletta asked with apprehension for what they were doing.
"I will make it legal! You just focus on getting me votes for the bill. Do you understand Chairman Nu? For last time I checked it was our alliance that gave you the strength to become the ruler of the House of Lords." Lellouch said, the threat of withdrawing his support of her evident in his voice.
"Y-Yes your majesty."
"Chancellor. That majesty thing came about from a dark place. And now I've recovered. Forgive me for giving you false hope Dalton." Lellouch said to him.
Surprisingly the old general and current president only grinned in return.
"Before that I never dreamed that you would ever pursue such a path Lellouch-sama. It matters not how long the road ahead is. All that matters is that the end of it is a destination where a crown rests atop the head of the royal family." Dalton said, certain that things where still going his way.
"Just sign the damn bill. And get me the votes." Lellouch said and angrily ended the conversation.
Within the hour he dealt with the Commons and either ordered or coerced enough MP's to pass the bill, making the moon colony Selene an official country.
Lellouch went to bed that night satisfied.
But he was woken up by his phone ringing.
"Yes Rivals." He said groggily.
"T-they've all left! It's broken!"
"Calm down my friend, it was expected that some would secede from the LSD party and we would need a cabinet reshuffle. As the current Prime Minister until next year's elections you will deal with this kind of dissent. We'll just deal with the them or form a new coalition with other parties and continue on." Lellouch said with some small measure of annoyance in his voice.
"Not just the fringe members! All of it! The LSD has been broken up into several parties, Lellouch, we've only got enough members for less than 13 % of the seats in parliament!"
At that Lellouch's eyes shot open, the grogginess disappeared from his voice and he immediately shot up from the bed.
"WHAT!? Why?"
"It's because of Selene. They….they…..just look!" Rivals said and send him a recording of the early morning session of the Republic's parliament.
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"Today we stand up against a tyrannical move, made by a government who has forfeited our God given wright to expand our power. Who has denied our Manifest Destiny to conquer the stars themselves. Who deprives our industry of the resources of the moon and burdens our citizens with future taxes from the so called country of Selene! Today we say no corruption and tyranny. Today we fight for liberty and justice! Today we rise up and declare the government of Rivals Cardemona dissolved and a new government, by the people, for the people, and ruled by 'proper patriots', shall come to pass. Today we make the Republic mighty once more!" Lellouch recognized the apparent leader of this rebelling lot as Calares. A former Duke and known blood supremacist. Who was now leading the men and women that only a few hours ago where Lellouch's followers.
To those traitors, Lellouch had more hatred than towards Calares.
He was the one that took them to the top and this is how they repaid him?
"Everyone up, I'll have Dalton not recognize the new government and we'll trigger a round of special elections." Lellouch said, waking up Shirley, Kallen and C.C who was in the same bed as him.
"We…we can't do that."
"What? Why?"
"Because our approval rating is to low now. We currently only have about 26% percent approval and it keeps dropping!"
Lellouch was left speechless, so with a trembling hand he pushed the icon that showed a summary of the publics opinion.
"How could he betray us like that?!"
"With the moon colonies we would have put those damned rice eaters and frogs in their place!"
"No way is my hard earned money going to finance something that is gonna be an enemy of us one day!"
"Why are they spending all that money on the moon and none of it for us!?"
"Down with Selene! Long live the Republic!"
"Take back our birthright, our destiny!"
"Who's gonna work if they all leave for the moon? Half of my neighbors are already talking of applying! Damned traitors! They should be shot here and now!"
"All hail Britannia!"
Lellouch could barely believe his eyes. Hatred, greed, vengeance, the moment they received news of the potential of a moon colony they immediately thought of how to use said power to destroy those outside their borders.
It was like the half a billion souls that died in the Great War never happened, like time stood still.
And now all they could think of was how to conquer and enslave more, how to steal from the plates of others in order to enrich their own.
Was he right?
Was Genbu actually right when he said at the Kyoto Summit that evil would reemerge with this?
How could Lellouch argue against that now, since the public seemed to have abandoned him. Him, the one that lead them out of poverty and misery, him who became the first man in history to rule the entire world.
Him, who conquered the moon and untied 4 superpowers.
Him, who was forsaken for the land wanted no longer the man of miracles that could heal it, but a Scourge of God Warlord who would lead them to conquests.
"What's happened?" Kallen asked him, seeing the shock on his face.
That shock gave way to…laughter.
Lellouch started laughing louder and louder, till it made the 3 girls become concern for this state of mind.
"Bite the hand is it? Bite the hand that fed you, clothed you, restored this cursed land is it?" Why would I expect anything less from the ones who gladly hailed Charles long ago!
Lellouch said with anger as he then used his phone to search for the ringleaders of the mass uprising from his LSD party and their allies in other parties.
"I taught these treacherous dogs how to bark! Do they think I am afraid of the noise they make?" Lellouch said of the politician that betrayed him, his voice dark and low, his eyes promised murder.
In that moment Kallen, Shirley and C.C could see that the son of Marianne truly was also the son of Charles di Britannia.
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