"At this very holy moment, we declare the restoration of the rightful Britannia as dictated by Charles Zi Britannia, of a realm where the strong prospers and rule over all as it was ordained!"
- Grand Duke Marcel De Montreal, 2034 ATB
"Who sent WHAT to Australia!?"
- (Second) Zero upon hearing of the Black Knight assassination attempt in Australia, 2037 ATB.
2037 ATB, June 20th
California Armoured Munitions Arsenal, Duchy of California
10:43 AM
"You're here little bro!" Layla Croomy hugged her younger twin brother who was a splitting image of their mother.
Uther Croomy rolled his eyes at the last two word as he return back the hug. "I'm only several minutes younger than you, Lay. And besides we're still technically twins rather than older and younger sibling… Not that its ever going to convince you."
"Still my little brother." Layla simply smiled, which Uther returned as well.
"Same as ever sis." He chuckled as he and Layla let go. "It's great to see you again Layla."
"Same for you Uther, now how's uncle Lloyd doing?" The Croomy sister inquired. "I heard Mom kinda went ballistic over him when she heard his request to use you for some kind of test."
"Our loveable sociopathic, crazy uncle is still the same as ever. Have to thank mom for putting some sense into him least I become some guinea pig for some crazy test." Uther replied, rubbing his left shoulder. "Oh and he's doing test runs with the drones you designed, along with equipping my Feirefiz with float harkens after they were cleared for field testing in combat." Uther pointed to the customised Gareth Mk2 unit behind him – equipped with arms that of the Agravain and colored mostly in white. Currently being swarmed by technicians at a large open space within the industrial complex.
"That's good to hear. All the work we put into the float harkens was to get the prototype remote weapons me and mom designed operational." Layla remarked.
"Well uncle Lloyd said that depending on how the tests go, we should see some deployment of sometime in the future." Uther shrugged. "Oh, by the way. Uncle Lloyd wanted me to tell you personally that the new machines are nearly done with their testing."
"That's a wonderful news! How were they and when can be expect their production timeframe?" She rapidly shot out.
"The machine was alright." He replied casually.
"Alright?" Layla's left eye twitched at the descriptive word.
"What I mean to say is that they were excellent knightmares, just needing some few adjustments and modifications before they could get mass-produced." Uther quickly clarified. "Good enough to roll over the older 7th-gen units with ease. While production frame is tricky, we can expect production models to come out in at least a month later or so at the best estimate."
"Besides, we need more data on experimental flight system you and mom made. Uncle Lloyd wants me to scout some prospective devicers in the meantime while he's working on fixing some issues with the system" He added in.
"I see, would you mind forwarding me the adjustments and kinks of the prototypes? Me and mom can look over it to put forth our input." Layla replied just as a new individual entered their proximity.
"Uther Croomy, right?" Naoto Vi Britannia approached Cecile Croomy's son, dressed in a somewhat elaborate version of Camelot corp uniform though colored in red and purple.
"Yes, your highness." Uther returned a standard Britannian salute to the prince.
"Call me Naoto when we're alone." The redhead said as Uther nodded in acknowledgement. "Still not used to being addressed this way." Naoto muttered to himself.
Then Naoto noticed Anya Alstrim – dressed in her full Knight of Round uniform – descending down to the ground from her RZA-6DGX1 Mordred Buildup. Once she touched the ground, nearby technicians came over to the knightmare to conduct diagnostic checks on the system and maintenance overview.
"Sister Anya!" Naoto rushed over to greet the pink-haired woman. The technicians starting their work on the Mordred stopped what they were doing to give a salute to Naoto.
"Uhhh, thanks, you can carry on with your work." He awkwardly dismissed the technicians back to their work.
Naoto then heard the shutter sound of a camera, originating from Anya taking a photo of Naoto with her phone.
"This one is for the album. You look nice with the uniform." Anya complimented him.
"Thanks Anya, though Arthur and I are still trying to get used to the fact that we're now royalty." Naoto said to Anya, leading her towards their modified G1 MC Blue Base parked within facility ground. "Arthur, Uncle Jerry, and auntie CC is waiting for you, as well as the rest of our impromptu command staff.
"A command staff, huh. You have been very busy." Anya remarked while observing the legions of workers working to bring California Armored Munitions Arsenal back up and running to full operational status.
"The last few weeks has been quite hectic. Between rallying Neo-Britannian cells without tipping off Black Knights and the Principality, getting a full read on infrastructure status and so in our territories, reorganizing Neo-Britannia as a full professional force, refitting and rearming our forces, dealing with some rogue cells and bandit groups, and some infighting to deal with, along with many other things." Naoto let out a tired sigh.
Naoto was unprepared for the role of royalty and the expectations and duties that came with such position. He didn't want to be in the sidelines and looking all nice and cool for Neo-Britannia, nor letting his twin brother do all the work and take all the burden. Though despite his combat skills being lacking, he found himself contributing with Camelot engineering and the logistical work required to forge Neo-Britannia into a well-oiled machine. Yet the amount of responsibility and work he had to do was overwhelming – even with the assistance of Miss Croomy. Days and nights of organizing and distribution of supplies to various locations and units; looking over the conditions of Neo-Britannia held locations and organizing supply routes; and countless meetings with various groups and individuals on various plans and problems.
"Becoming a royalty has its own perks as well as burdens one must uphold. It's not an easy transition considering you and Arthur have been living outside of royalty for most of your life." Anya commented.
"Well, it's not making things easy for us, especially when we have little clue about being royalty or knowing any useful etiquette besides the basics and going on the fly with stuff. I know me and Arthur made this choice of our own free will with the possible consequences we'll encounter." Naoto huffed. "But this life is the only thing we have left in this world."
"No one said being royalty is an easy job." Anya continued on. "But you and Arthur can create a new standard for the Imperial family, a fresh start so to say."
"I do admit it's a wonderful change of air with people around us hailing our name and generally trying not to avoid us or seeing like we're a time-ticking bomb." Naoto smiled. "And for that I don't want to fail them, I want to show that me and my brother were worth their praise and sacrifices they endured."
"Well from what I've heard before hand, you were showing promise in logistics and bureaucracy." Anya remarked as Naoto's face flushed.
"Oh, that's nothing compared to Arthur…" Naoto tried brushing it off. "Anyway, how's mom?" His questioned with an uneasy voice.
Anya was silent for a moment before answering. "She's still in coma, but her condition is stable. If things stay that way, she'll be out of coma by the end of mid-July or sooner."
Naoto felt elated, a small burden lifting up from his shoulder and one he suspects will do the same for his twin. But he wondered if his mother would approve of their quest in reclaiming their birthright. Their mother didn't have a good history with Britannia and for a good reason. Fighting as one of the best devicer of the Black Knights and being Zero's bodyguard. Yet even so she fell in love with their father, a Britannian prince turned Emperor, as well as always having a yearning look whenever she talked about him. Along with her growing disillusionment with the Black Knights and the United Federation of Nations.
"Oh, thank you Lord." He breathed out in relief.
"She won't be happy when she hears of what you two are doing." Anya pointed out to Naoto.
He remembered very much that their mother didn't want them risking their lives or throwing their claim in the civil war. So, to see that her wayward sons were now going to risk their lives and take part in the war after she wakes up. And to say she'll be upset is a major understatement.
'You little rascals are grounded!' Kallen Kozuki-Stadtfeld roared within her Guren SEITEN chasing after her errant twin sons.
Naoto answered with the simplest and most righteous reply to the question. "Uhhh, blame it all on Arty?"
Meanwhile at Blue Base, Arthur abruptly sneezed out of nowhere surprising those near him.
"I don't know why but I feel like Naoto's going to throw me under the bus." Arthur muttered. "And it somehow involves mom."
Denver, Duchy of Colorado
11:58 AM
Millicent 'Milly' Ashford's face scrunched in disgust at the sight of the naked Principality official lowered from the pole he was hanged from. Bruises, cuts, stabs, and dried blood could be seen all over his body, as well as the face beaten beyond recognition. A large sign nailed upon on his exposed stomach had the word "TRAITOR" painted on it.
The entire scene was surrounded by a small patrol team of Denver City Police force and dozens of Black Knight troops decked in combat gear standing in guard. Their visor helmets looking out for any signs of dangers or suspicious activities. Though there weren't that many people out in the streets, most of them avoiding or paying little attention to the scene, with the latter giving out glares and nasty looks. Making the BK troopers slightly fidget which Milly caught with her perceptive eyes.
The horrid sight in front of her was a grim reminder of how dangerous Denver was ever since she and her crew and family entered the city of Denver last week. The hanging was one of the many acts of terror committed against the Black Knight garrison of the nearby Camp Narita and Principality officials. Augmented further with the city being practically on the frontlines of the civil war, specifically against Neo-Britannia. As the city experienced numerous failed attacks by cells claiming to be Neo-Britannia: some of them nothing more than handful of thugs with guns and heavy weapons attempting to infiltrate the city; while others attacked with a group of battered KMFs and vehicles that were promptly dispatched soon after their entrance.
Honestly the ones inside the city with many sympathizers and hidden cells were the ones the Black Knights were mostly concerned about. The many frustrating losses the Camp Narita garrison suffered were mainly from attacks and sabotages made from within the city against their patrols. The anti-insurgency operation the garrison conducted was… adequate, the only word Milly could come up with that was charitable and expressed the reality of the situation. Compared to the Colonial Garrison Force in the former Areas, whose unofficial standard procedure was 'shoot first and don't ask questions'; the Black Knight was much more considerate of collateral and humane in conduct.
"This is a restricted zone! Leave this area now!" One of the BK trooper yelled at her as few troopers made their way towards her and her crew – currently prepping their cameras and recording devices. The troopers had their guns pointed down so far, but Milly knew from experience and first-hand that they could aim and shoot before she could blink.
"We haven't done anything wrong, we're journalists" Milly responded back, hiding the nervousness she felt on the possibility of the encounter going bad.
"And more the reason you folks need to bugger off. Last we need is you Brits making our jobs difficult." One of the approaching BK troops shot back with a Spanish accent, her foot tapping on the ground while her finger rested on the safety mechanism. A message Milly understood loud and clear, and not to mention the crime itself wasn't special these days.
"Okay, we'll leave the area." Milly put her hands up to gesture she got the message and didn't want any more trouble. "Alright boys and girls, we're packing. I'm calling it a day."
Meanwhile her crew behind her let out a collective sigh of relief. Thankful that their boss didn't got hurt or worse or all of them getting detained. It wasn't the first time they got into such tense situation over the past few years.
Over several minutes later, Milly fell down upon the queen-sized bed of her RV truck, somehow out of energy despite the lack of strenuous activity today. The 38-year-old blonde bombshell wondered if the last activities in the past weeks before yesterday simply caught up with her body. Now trying to achieve a full rest from all her non-stop reporting activities and semi-nomadic life in this time of crisis. A far cry from her her childhood years when her family were part of the nobility with all the prestige and power that came with it, as well as her teenage years back at Japan when they lost their title yet able to retain a good degree of their wealth. One that became diminished in size over the past decades with all the chaos that went around; still her family – including main and extended – still had enough to live a relatively comfortable life.
"Well on the bright side, we get to have at least several days of rest." Milly muttered to herself. Just as a toddler-sized mass jumped onto the bed and landed next to her. A short-haired girl who somewhat resembled Milly in appearance as well as her father's facial features and eyes.
"Mommy, shouldn't you be working today?" Rosa Ashford asked her mother.
"Not today sweetie, something happened that mommy's time is free for several days." Milly smiled at her 8-year-old daughter. "Which means mommy and daddy have plenty of free time to spend with you." She suddenly grasped her daughter close to her, eliciting laughter and flailing motion from the toddler.
The moment was interrupted by Rivalz Ashford entering the RV holding out a plate of sandwich. The 37-year-old blue-haired man appeared bit buffer in appearance yet largely retaining his average build; his face looking more squarish and a mustache growing on his face, as well as his hair style being much shorter and less spiker than before.
"Ah there you are Rosa. You forgot your lunch. Though I suppose you want to eat it alongside mommy, right." Rivalz sat next to Rosa and Milly.
"Yup, yup daddy." Rosa replied as she quickly munched on her sandwich while making her way to the table inside the RV.
"So how was your day Mil? I heard from the crew about what happened back in Denver" Rivalz found himself lying next to his wife of several years. His head resting on her shoulder while her head rested on his head. "Did they hurt you?"
"They didn't do much other forcing me to leave a crime scene behind, at the threat of being detained or worse. Thanks for the worry Riv but we've been through worse." Milly slightly turned her head to kiss his head.
"Ah one of those days huh." Rivalz grunted. "Blah, the Black Knights these days are growing more aggressive and confrontational over the minor of things."
"Yeah, but at least things didn't go south." Milly said. "How was the supply run?"
"We are all stocked on food and water, enough to last for around over few weeks if I counted them right." Rivalz answered while mentally re-calculating. "So, what's our plan here from now?"
"I was thinking we and the crew should have some much-needed holiday break for several days straight. After what we've been doing so far, it's fair to say that all of us need some quality rest. Especially some family time together, right dear." She grinned. "Besides, I believe I do have to repay Rosa for some lost family time with all the work I was busy with.
"Some peace and quiet would be a nice change of pace Prez. Just the three of us together as a family enjoying the day and smiling like nothing bad has ever happened." The blue-haired man mused. "Kind of like the old days."
"Yeah, the old days." Milly whispered in a sense of longing, as both husband and wife's eyes instinctively looked onto an old photograph located on a small table next to the the bed showing the Ashford Student Council, 2017 ATB.
Their teenage selves, Shirley Fenette, Nina Einstein, Suzaku Kururugi, Kallen Kozuki-Stadtfeld, and finally Lelouch Lamperouge and his sister Nunnally – as well as Arthur the cat – gathered together to pose for the camera. They could see the individual smiles imprinted on the youthful faces, some big like Shirley while others small but clearly there like Lelouch. The smiles and energetic eyes practically radiated off the photo that Milly and Rivalz could feel the happier times of Ashford Academy. Everyone ignoring the bitter realities of the world on that day to simply create joyful memories as friends… Unaware of the tragedies many within the photo would face in the coming future. Some who already met their demise and ceased to exist as living beings in this plain of existence; while others lived on but separated by fate and new burdens.
"I don't know if I should thank Kallen for giving us that photo before she left for Australia." Rivalz lamented. "So much happy times we had at Ashford, yet bitter bringing up bitter memories of what happened and what could've been."
"Shirley and Lelouch are dead… I wished I could've done something more for them as their friend. Nina is missing and no one knows where she's at. Suzaku is a dead man walking, and I don't know how he's feeling right now. Nunnally is all alone being crushed with all the burdens and responsibilities. And Kallen is in coma while her family is…" Rivalz paused his lament.
"I know Rivalz, I know the feeling." Milly said mournfully. "Looking back, we wish we could've done something to help our friends… But sometimes things just happened beyond our control; something we couldn't have known or had any control over no matter how hard we tried or fought against." The tall blonde whispered.
"Not knowing what's real or not, or the people you were with not what you've expected…" Milly's husband muttered in frustration.
"But speaking of Kallen… Do we know what happened to her family?" Rivalz asked his wife.
Milly shook her head. "Sadly, I don't know anything regarding their whereabouts. The people I talked to don't have a clue where they went, not even the Australians." Though Milly had a feeling they knew where they went. "It's as if they disappeared from the face of the earth."
"How about your ex-fiance? You know Lloyd?"
"In the shadows, some hints of where he could be but all I got are dust and echoes." The blonde responded.
"But I have a feeling that the apple didn't fall far from the tree." She mused.
01:16 PM
Blue Base
"Damn it!" Valentina yelled as she felt the impact of the Guren SEITEN's slash harkens tearing off the Vincent Conquista's left arm. She responded back with firing several VARIS rounds at the target, who swiftly evaded the target like an angel or blocked with shot with its radiant surge claw.
The Guren SEITEN's blue eyes gleamed as its energy wings went in front of her for a high-speed assault that could easily skewered through multiple KMFs at once. Soon zooming towards her at speeds outpacing even the fastest float-equipped knightmares.
Valentina barely dodged the high-speed assault, her floatpack nearly clipped by the Black Knight's ace KMF. The Guren SEITEN went for few more runs, forcing Valentina to focus on staying alive by dodging the attacks at the last moment to avoid the Guren reorienting its course to ram her.
As if bored with playing with her prey, the SEITEN stopped its attack in favor for launching its radiant claw at her while firing off a radiant beam. Valentina pushed her Vincent Conquista to fly away while dodging the beam shot and the chasing RWS arm, knowing the fate of many who let the claw contact them. At the same time the blonde knew that the arm was at its most vulnerable state being wire-guided away from its host frame. Cut off the arm and the Guren unit loses its signature weapon, though she knew the 9th-generation unit would still be a significant threat.
Coming up with a quick but risky battle plan the Vincent Conquista suddenly changed course and flew towards the arm. The knightmare switched out its VARIS rifle to draw out a MVS sword and readied it a thrusting motion; all the while dodging through the spraying radiant beams and disks: some of them narrowly missing her frame while some were barely blocked by her last BL shield emitter. Unfortunately, one lucky beam shot tagged her right leg, but she ejected the leg before the damage could spread further.
"Crap. Crap. Crap. Crap." She muttered the words repeatedly as the cockpit beeped constantly. Her KMF's damage report popping up at the corner of her screen, highlighting the missing limbs and system damages.
Once the arm was metaphorically in front of her, she had her neural synchronizer force her KMF to dash to the left. Evading the grasp of death from engulfing her entire machine and being in an agonizing demise. With a great yell she slashed down upon the wire cutting the RWS claw off from the Guren SEITEN, removing a major arsenal from its hand.
But before Valentina could enjoy her small victory the Guren SEITEN zoomed towards her at full speed, launching harkens and having its MVS knife ready for a killing blow. The Vincent Conquista managed to deflect one of the harkens with its MVS blade and the other with its BL shield. But that was all that was needed for the Guren to close in for the final kill, and Valentina finding herself fighting for her life as she blocked, parry away, and dodged some of the knife slashes from the 9th-generation KMF. Whose overwhelming speed and power – even without the signature claw – were simply too much for the blonde before the red knightmare simply shattered through her sword and sliced apart the Vincent Conquista's head and chest. And the icing on the cake was the SEITEN bisecting the 10th-gen command/ace type unit with its energy wings.
[SIMULATION END]
The words popped up in her screen as the cockpit simulator went dark before opening up to allow light to light the inside space. Valentina let out a defeated breath as she exited the KMF simulator within Blue Base's small KMF simulation room. Finally noticing that she was sweating heavily from the intense simulation against the Guren SEITEN Eight Elements. She grabbed her towel resting on a small bench to wipe her face clean while taking a refreshing sip of water bottle with her other hand.
"9th-generation knightmare are so BS… I mean the knightmare-grade float system was only out for an entire year before something insane like the energy wing system just came out of the blue." Valentina shook her head mulling over the energy wing system. Musing the fact that 7th-gen units had barely a year to shine before 9th-gen prototypes came in and tore through them like the Lancelot going through 5th-generation units.
One moment you're piloting the most advanced propeller-driven fighter craft in the EU-Russia war whose speed and maneuverability outclasses many of the enemy's aircraft. Next thing you know the enemy starts throwing out a 21st century stealth fighter jet right at your face.
"I wonder if this was how dad felt at Tokyo." The young adult pondered to herself.
"Not bad." She heard a familiar voice compliment her. Causing her to turn to see Lady CC leaning against the wall while holding a pizza box with one hand and the other hand feeding herself with mouth-melting pizza slices.
"Lady CC!" Valentina blurted out in surprise.
"How many times did I say don't call me lady, or m'am, at break time?" C.C questioned after swallowing a pizza slice.
"Okay La- I mean CC. How long were you in the room?" Valentina asked her.
"Just the part where you were already dead when you chose a fancy form of indirect suicide." CC answered back, pointily reminding the blonde of her defeat. "Even with a 10th-gen Vincent Conquista or 7th-gen custom making it a little bit fairer, but you did better than I thought, better than me when I faced it."
The green-haired witch once again ate and swallowed another pizza slice while Valentina awkwardly waited, which C.C took notice. "Hungry?" She asked the blonde woman who politely declined.
"I got lucky, had I not timed it perfectly I would've been bubbled to death." Valentina dismissed. "Besides if I was facing the real deal rather than the simulation, I'd probably last long as you did, if not die faster."
Valentina's mind went back to video footages of the Guren SEITEN's debt at the 2nd Black Rebellion and the Lancelot Albion annihilating the rebelling Knights of the Round and their personal forces. The fearsome power of both units awed her, tearing through entire army of knightmares and holding the firepower of a battleship. Only very, very few were able to pilot such unruly steeds where lesser devicers would die from the sheer G-force or have little to no control over it. Only Suzaku Kururugi and Kallen Kozuki-Stadtfeld were able to successfully use them in any useful capacity.
"Unsurprising outcome." C.C responded making the blonde wince and annoyed at her bluntness.
"I know, I know… Here's hoping that we don't face a 9th-gen unit from the Black Knights and the Darwinists anytime soon or hopefully never." Valentina took another deep sip of water. "But I wouldn't object to us having a 9th-gen model."
This made C.C wondered if Lloyd was working on a successor model to the Lancelot Albion. She couldn't remember if Lloyd debriefed her or Jeremiah on whether or not if he had plans on making a new 9th-generation Lancelot model. As far as she knew he didn't seem to have any concrete plans so far, but she had a feeling Lloyd had one ready to be manufactured or delaying until he could test out new technologies being made with the part of Camelot team down at south along with other groups.
"I have a feeling we'll find out." C.C shrugged as she finished the last pizza slice.
Suddenly Valentina had a question she wanted to speak about. "Speaking of which… I know this may sound really sensitive… How was she like? Their mother, the Crimson Lotus of Japan?"
"What about it." C.C retorted.
"I'm curious of their relation, and how our Emperor ended up impregnating the Ace of the Black Knights… And how she seemly threw all her respect and fame she obtained in life for the sons of Emperor Lelouch." Valentina questioned seriously. "She was the enemy of Britannia, the bodyguard of Zero and his greatest sword, and fought against Emperor Lelouch in the Battle of Fuji. Yet she took care of the rightful heirs of the imperial throne – which I'm grateful – but I and others wonder how that came to be."
The green-haired witch thought for a moment before deciding to humor it. "My nephew's personal life is something they can disclose only, but I can tell you this…"
The immortal slightly grinned to herself as if indulging in some past memory before speaking out. "The sexual tension between them would've been right at home in a romcom show. You have no idea the entertainment I had watching the two together in the same room without anybody else… Like ice and fire meeting one another."
Valentina leaned slightly forward, enthralled by the prospect that she was going to be one of the handful to see – if barely – how the Ace of the Black Knights and the 99th Emperor had children together. The romantic in her was attracted by the idea of star-struck lovers, opposite of two worlds falling in love with one another. Just like the rumors of Sir Kururugi and Princess Euphemia, at least before the princess massacre incident happened.
"The 11th prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, and the Ace of the Black Knights and Zero's bodyguard… Both from different worlds and by all rights natural enemies as the latter despised Britannia and the Imperial family."
"What changed?" Valentina found herself asking C.C.
"Yet despite the difference the two were united by certain commonalities between one another: some were ironic and fitting like the Crimson Lotus reminding the prince of his mother Marianne the Flash, and that they valued family and those close to them. But the biggest one that brought them together was their vision for a better world regardless of where one came from or who they were." C.C said as she closed her eyes.
"Course there was that time where I interrupted a close moment between the two, close enough that they would've kissed soon if not for me deciding to ruin the moment." C.C smiled slightly at that memory when she remarked that the pizza needed some kind of sauce. "But that's all I'm going to say as the rest you and others can imagine yourself."
C.C then stared intently at Valentina, who found herself stuck under the hard, ember eyes of the adviser. "But I can tell you this… Arthur and Naoto represent the last link she has to her love. The only reason she continues to live with any life in the world rather than a walking corpse driven by instinct. Just as she loved their father, she would do everything for her sons' happiness in life even if she had to fight against the entire world."
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