AN: I hope you guys are enjoying this as much as I am! Really been enjoying writing this. Thanks for the feedback! And all your questions will be answered.

Cornelia sat in her office, the room too extravagant for her taste, the interior too cluttered for any amount of decency befitting a general in a time of war, though she let the room remain as is out of respect for the brother who had doted on her and Euphie.

She twirled a fountain pen in her fingers her other hand on her cheek as she leaned into the desk, her mind racing with the message left to her from the unknown courier.

'Zero isn't a number, Zero is a Britannian, and a royal at that.'

That line keeps racing through her head, thinking of all her siblings who could possibly wish her and her family harm. 'Guinevere? No, she has no talent for war, much less such a direct approach. Schneizel? No, he doesnt match Zero's character, neither with his personality or his body type, Zero is too arrogant, too theatrical for Schniezel, so who?... Who would hate their own family so much as to wish to do us harm?'

She sighs as she lays back, her arms resting on the arm rest, the chair too possh and comfortable for her liking, a frown setting in on her face, 'Could it be a lost uncle? Their son? If so they could be the same ones behind the previous attack on the Vi Britannia's?'

Cornelia turned her head to look out the window, a jetliner cutting with way through the atmosphere, her past failure bitter in her mouth, 'Lady Marianne, what would you do...'

PB

Lelouch smiled as he looked over the HUD, the IFF signals over the ghetto following their little pattern, their order direct and formation solid, 'Oh how nostalgic this is, dear sister, though today I'm afraid I will have to show you some despair..' He shifted his hand to his cheek as he twirled a chesspiece in the other hand, "Kallen, have the preparations for my victory been delivered?"

-/- Yes, Lelouch, Though why not dispatch me? Or Jeremaih? Either of us would be more than you'd need to establish dominance, so why use that?-/-

Their personal comms link was something he had personally set up, the only other ones able to get to the signal were Jeremaih and Suzaku, though they wouldn't be joining their little talk anytime soon, not till their needed.

"To show how capable and fear inducing Zero can be to his enemies, I was far too underestimated last time and I would like to prevent that, and Kallen, in regards to using you, you know I wont be revealing my hand so early on, your better than the Knights of the Round, and easily my most valuable piece, I can't use you carelessly"

-/- So I'm still a piece huh? Even after what happened to you last time you treated someone like that? I though you would do things differently? -/-

Lelouch checked the time of the display, a small smirk growing on his face, 'I guess I have some time...'

"Kallen, My Queen, I am afraid you've misunderstood, as you are a masterpiece that I can not wait to pin to the wall, not a disposable pawn for my future endeavors."

Lelouch waited for a response but was instead greeted with silence, right before he was able to confirm it buzzed to life.

-/- Lelouch, what did you just say?..-/-

"Kallen, your aren't some chess piece to me, your my Queen, I wouldn't ever try to put you in harm's way."

There was another short silence before it crackled on again, -/- I see, that's what I thought, I must be heari- -/-

Lelouch's smirk grew into a full blow smile, he shifted resting his head on his open palm, "Or perhaps my little hint towards our future evening endeavors? Let's hope I share my fathers drive when that time comes."

The silence offered him everything he needed to know, a slight happiness grew in him due to the fact that she wasn't barreling towards him intent on God knows what, "But that can wait for later, my dearest, as of now I have other people I need to drive into a corner, no pun intended."

A slight noise went over the radio before the signal light turned red, a notification that she had dropped the connection, his full attention on the knightmares moving closer and closer to his trap, now time to make a miracle. Lelouch grabbed the insurgent radio, his fingers holding it gently as he began, "This is Zero, follow me and I shall lead you to victory."

PB

Cornelia watched as her troops got smashed, the generals Clovis left behind becoming panicked at their own incompetence, the princess unsurprised by such actions, "Alex, step in and assume control, order all forces to retreat back to the edge of the ghetto."

General Alex stepped forward, dismissing the three generals as he began to issue orders, Dalton not far behind to begin supporting, Cornelia watching the monitor intently, 'If this is Zero, why follow such readable movements? Could that messenger...' Her thoughts were cut short as Alex stopped issuing orders, his personal assistant appearing out of thin air, handing him a letter, the contents in his now trembling hands. Dalton approached his junior, a questioning look on his face as he took the paper from him, his body becoming rigid as he scanned it quickly, slowly turning towards the acting Vicroy.

"Your Highness, it seems we've been..." Hus voice trailing off as he looked down at the paper again, a bead of sweat lazily rolling down his cheek, "Oh god... "

The Princess stood up and walked to her subordinate, snatching the paper out of his hands, her eyes coming to rest on a picture of her beloved younger sister, Euphemia, her breath halting as she read the letter below it.

'Call your forces back, and come out alone to the churches courtyard, you can be in a knightmare or not, doesn't matter, you will have thirty minutes to comply, failure to follow either of these will result in the disposal of your beloved sister, Princess Euphemia'

Cornelia head whipped to Dalton, her mouth opening as Dalton spoke, "I am sincerely sorry, Your Highness, but all communication with Princess Euphemia has been meet with nothing, we are currently unaware of her location as of now." He finished the traditional Britannian salute, his forearm against his chest, the rest of the room following suit, "I am willing to accept any punishment in lieu of my failures." His head dipping down as he goes down to one knee.

"Enough, Dalton, your not at fault here, it was my own short comings thinking that she'd be safe since she's still unknown to the public.." Her face a contortion of anger and worry, 'How had he gotten this picture? She hasn't been in public in years due to study so how?' She bite her lip as the thought of Euphemia in the clutches of some unknown element. "Dalton, prepare my knightmare, I will see what this Zero really is capable of."

This roused the experienced general, coming to a standing position with his arms out, "But wait Your Highness, it could be a trap! At least exercise some caution on this matter! I will be deploying the KnightPolice and several squad to tear this city apa-"

"And while that happen Zero will execute yet another of the Royal Family! I refuse to wait around while that happens if I can prevent it!" Cornelia turned away as she barged through the door, making her way to the knightmare maintenance bay, 'Just you wait Zero, I plan to tear you and your trap to pieces.."

PB

Lelouch smirked as he watched the customized Gloucester make it's way through the ruins, towards the small square, his mask setting in place as it approached

"Now then, shall we begin?"