Chapter 14

Africa, Remote Outpost-July 23, 2021 a.t.b

The nighttime in this place was beautiful, very few places in the world could match the beauty of an unclouded night in this place. EU guards moved around the secluded post, there movements betrayed there thinking. They believed themselves safe, that no one would find this place and that if any did they could easily fight them off. After all they had a plethora of anti-vehicle and anti-knightmare weapons, they themselves actually didn't have any knightmare frames. Mostly due to the fact that if they did the outpost would stick out more do to the large buildings required to house and maintain the war machines. The radar and communication towers could be disguised easier than a large warehouse size building. The whole compound was made of three buildings one was the main building where the communication and radar were located. The second building housed the barracks and the third building was used as the supply depot.

Far from site flying with activated cloaking system and souring low to the ground just for safety a Britannian VTOL flew. The aircraft stopped not far from the base, just out of earshot, which in truth was not far as the black painted aircraft had sound dampened engines. Ropes fell from the passenger compartment and black clad figures slid to the ground. As the figures hit the ground their weapons came up their helmeted heads swinging about scanning from movement. Ultimately and sixteen armed figures were on the ground, as the aircraft left to take up a safe position far away.

Over the radio a voice said, "this Dagger-1 all units check in."

"Dagger-2, check."

"Dagger-3, check."

"Dagger-4, check."

"Dagger-5, check."

"Dagger-6, check."

"Dagger-7, check."

"Dagger-8, check."

"Dagger-9, check."

"Dagger-10, check."

"Dagger-11, check."

"Dagger-12, check."

"Dagger-13, check."

"Dagger-14, check."

"Dagger-15, check."

"This is Kunai, check," said the final figure different than the rest. Her light armor mixed with cloth betrayed a very lithe female frame, while she was not the only woman in the unit hers was the most obvious.

The figures moved towards the base through the trees and underbrush, little to no sound was made as they moved. This in off itself was impressive since several carried large weapons with backpacks slung behind them.

The Dagger-1 raised his hand as the base came into view, the group crouched down. They all wore helmets and in them an advanced HUD system lit up the area in ways making it clear as day; EU soldiers lit up in bright colors. Dagger one spoke up, the helmet dampening the outward sound but allowing the other figures to hear, saying, "alright, you all know your assignments, man your positions. Stealth as long as possible, now move out."

The Britannian soldiers immediately moved forward splitting up into assigned groups quietly cutting through the wire that surrounded the complex. Five of the soldiers moved towards the main building, Kunai which had separated itself from the main group moved at an immense speed, yet with such silence that none noticed her approach. She jumped onto the side of the building and proceeded to climb the side of the building at the same speed it had run. Within seconds she reached the top of the building, where she blended back into the shadows just as a guard paced by.

Quicker than the eye could see the guard disappeared into the shadows with nary a sound. A small trickle of blood slowly crept from the shadows as the darkened operative disappeared. The other soldiers split into groups of five, each heading to different buildings. Daggers 1-5 crept towards the command building, silently dispensing guards as they went, the quiet pops of silenced weapons and no sound of knife kills were the only things that preceded death.

Daggers 6-10 armed similarly save for two which carried heavy weapons on their backs headed to the barracks building dispensing guards in similar way to their comrades. Light streamed from the windows of the barracks indicating great activity inside, which was likely a meal. Carefully moving throw the shadows the group split again Dagger 6 and 7 separated moving to the front and back entrances armed with their heavy weapons. The rest moved along the sides of the building carefully looking inside as they went searching for the mess hall.

Daggers 11-15 made their way to the supply depo, upon surround the entrance they brought there silenced weapons to bear. With great speed the five burst into the building, an EU officer sat a desk on the other side going through requisition forms. Looking up from the folder in his hands his spectacled eyes caught only the flashes of weapons muzzles as slugs first passed through his throat cutting of any sound he could make, then through his forehead killing him. Moving fast the team doused the lights and moved through the rest of the building, the remaining guards completely unawares died not knowing that they were under attack.

Inside the command building Daggers 1-5 did much the same darting from shadows and killing guards as they came by their silenced weapons flashing. On the roof Kunai planted objects on the antennae carefully inserting wires and detonators. With a final wire splice she activated her com-link and said, "bug implanted, communications are down."

"Copy that," replied Dagger-1. "Proceed to the command center and retrieve the information."

"Roger," replied Kunai. The sound of a door opening behind her, caused her to sink into the nearest shadow in instinct. A guard appeared, his boots clomped on the concrete building's roof as he looked around.

"Hanz?" said the guard. "Hanz? Wo bist du?"

The guard continued walking around the roof, his assault rifle in his arms, not raised however. He continued looking around, his boots making small noises as they tread on the roof. A small noise from behind alerted him to the presence of another, turning he asked, "Hanz?"

Before the sound had left is mouth he knew he was wrong, he saw the features of a woman. Before another sound was uttered by his mouth he felt an iron hard grp around his throat cutting of his wind pipe and vocal cords in a single half second. In the next half second the woman used her other hand to turn his head sharply breaking his neck. Carefully Kunai, or better known to the Emperor as Sayoko, lowered the guard to the ground, and then turned once more looking at her surroundings before entering the building.

"Damn it," she thought. She still hadn't gotten entirely used to her new body, true as it may have been that the sound she had made in over a hundred simulations before but what if there had been more than one guard? But nonetheless she felt grateful that her master had deigned to save her life and then give her a second chance to truly walk the world in his service. So here she was now a cybernetic body, having been built to her specifications, and from a certain point of view parts her old self remained.

Tissue samples taken from her old body had been used to help grow? Clone? Engineer? Anyway, create a type of synthetic skin that covered her robotic frame, nerves like those used to replace Lord Jeremiah's gave her the ability to feel and sense the world again. Her new body allowed her to do amazing feats, her stamina was nigh unlimited, and her physical strength was great. And thanks to her master's insistence to the developers, made explicitly to be exceedingly stealthy. But engineering goes only so far, and she had spent days training herself, getting used to her new bodies sensations and how it worked. And here she was now cursing herself for her near misstep, quickly and quietly she continued to move through the building her cybernetic eyes highlighting every detail of the hall.

Outside Daggers 1-5 arrived outside the door of the main building, turning on his communicator Dagger 1 said, "alright Kunai is in, lets cause a bit of a distraction."

The gruff voice of Dagger 6 replied, "hahahaha, I'd thought you'd never ask!"

Dagger 7's voice came through the radio next saying, "detonating explosives."

First low thumps sounded from inside the supply depo, the thumps then grew into full rippling explosions as the warehouse erupted into flames. The air carried the shock wave and sound through the air, the soldiers inside the other buildings shot to their feet only to be knocked down as the ground shook. Quickly righting themselves they ran for their weapons, while those inside the command building immediately ran towards the entrances and windows. Radios crackled EU soldiers calling out to others searching for answers.

Outside the barracks the six barrels on Dagger 6's weapon began rotating and slightly humming. As the door of the barracks opened Dagger 6 said, "knock, knock, bastards!"

The powerful mini gun loosed a swarm of magnetically accelerated metal bullets. The door and door frame splintered and the first few men inside disappeared in a red mist. Firing in bursts Dagger 6 unleashed his brand of carnage and destruction. The soldiers inside dived into what cover they could. Dagger 6 then cried out, "oh are you trying to hide? Well then try hiding from this!"

The barrels stopped rotating and a seventh barrel opened in the center of the other six barrels, more humming came as well as a green glow. Depressing the trigger, Dagger 6 fired a powerful VARIS shot into the building. An explosion of splinters and dust and concrete was followed by screams of the EU soldiers inside as they were maimed and killed in gruesome ways. Just like a good soldier the EU commander inside the barracks ordered his men to escape out the back entrance.

As the back door opened, Dagger 7 appeared, in his arms was a large gun with cables running into the pack on his back. A blood red glow emitted from the barrel as Dagger 7 said, "die."

A beam of Hadron energy burst from the weapon, men, the door, the wall, everything the beam touched began to incinerate. Grenades the soldiers carried went off, the explosions helping the beam tear the hall apart. As the beam died away Dagger seven flipped a similar switch as the one on Dagger 6's weapon. Raising the weapon again, the targeting matrix in his helmet lighting up the building and various heat signatures. Dagger 7 began shooting spherical like shots of Hadron energy, like those of the old Hadron blasters of the Shinkiro. The balls shattered the windows of the building as they passed through. When one ihit an object the stored energy released and decimated the target. Men flue apart ion smoking goblets of meat, blood from un-cauterized wounds bleed out onto the floor. Around the rest of the building the rest of the fire team, and the newly arrived demo team from the warehouse, launched grenades and other small explosives into the windows; and taking shots with their rifles when enemies did manage to make it to one of the windows.

Inside the command building the bloodiness was no different than from the barracks. The fire team inside had swept all those inside away in a bloody wave, Kunai/Sayoko had eliminated what people she came across. But most of them had been drawn away by the rest of the teams. Now she was inside the command center, taking a cord from her wrist she connect it to a terminal. Data streams flowed across multiple screens while her eyes became glazed, or at least as grazed as cybernetic eyes could be.

A shadow moved behind her slowly the shadow stood and aimed a carbine at her grinning the figure started to pull the trigger. Without turning around Sayoko's arm moved in a flash and an object flew through the air in a blur. The soldier felt a prick of pain then nothing falling to the ground a kunai stuck between his eyes. As he fell a small burst of fire came from his carbine as his muscles spasmed. Most of the shots went wide and wild, save one that connect with Sayoko. But instead of doing any considerable damage, the shot bounce away with a small metallic ping.

Five minutes later Sayoko disconnected the cord and returned the cord to its place. Moving towards the body she retrieved her kunai, the throwing dagger making squelching noise as it was pulled free of brain matter and skull. Activating her communicator she said, "I've retrieved everything."

"Copy that," replied Dagger 1. "We just finished clearing the command building. Dagger 1 to "Blackbird" ready for pickup."

"Roger Dagger 1 we are inbound," came the reply from the VTOL. Quickly Sayoko and the fire team ran out of building just in time to see the VTOL's weapons open fire on the burning barracks building. The building vanished in flames and smoke, the pilot's voice came over the radio saying, "all scans show no survivors ready for retrieval."

The VTOL lowered itself to the ground the teams all boarding the aircraft. As quickly as it set down the aircraft lifted off and shot away into the dark. On board data, codes, and all information relating to the EUs "Unity" defense grid literally flew into the open arms of the Britannian Empire.

Ethiopia-August 1, 2021 a.t.b.

The Eastern side of Lake Tana was awash with flames and explosions as Britannian artillery bombarded the makeshift city that stood there. The E.U. army had razed a large encampment of temporary tents, buildings, garages, and warehouses. Surrounded by anti knightmare trenches, barbed wire, machine guns, bunkers, and other great defenses. But know days after the war began fast moving Britannia units had dashed around the entrenched troops.

The European troops were so entrenched in their position they barely noticed the far swinging Britannian mechs and troop transports. They couldn't maneuver when massive Britannian aircraft formations flew overhead dropping high explosives and incendiaries upon the camp. The targets, besides barracks, were fuel depos, supply depos of ammunition and food, and most important of all water purification buildings and the pipes that ran from them and the lake. As the days the past supplies dwindled and fresh water became more and more scarce.

Communication by land with the other half of the EU troops in the northern part of country had been cut off by the advancing Britannians within the first day. The very roads which had been constructed for their swift deployment into Britannian territory had been used against them. Any electronic communication was being jammed by the Britannian electronics and within days of being cut off artillery rockets and shells began falling. Probing attacks by imperial infantry and knightmares became common place. All in all five hundred thousand troops were surrounded and slowly starving. The constant air attacks were not helping hundreds were dying with each attack and disease slowly began to spread as medical supplies dwindled.

Aboard the Logres-class battleship "Indomitable" Anya Alstreim watch video feeds and digitized maps of the surrounded force. Every now and again she would press commands into varying keyboards and the positions of icons on the map changed as there corresponding units moved. In truth this was not necessarily her type of doing battle, she would prefer to openly attack and use overwhelming brute force to crush her enemy. The only problem was that the emperor abhorred unneeded casualties and there was also the fact that there were other fronts in the war. Therefore she would need a force to command once she was moved to one of those fronts.

So here she was trapped temporarily in her command post commanding her troops. She thought, "they can't hold much longer."

With a flick of her figure she switched viewing the siege to the ongoing battle farther north. Here the other half of the EU army was slowly being forced back, "commendable," thought Anya. In truth she needed to hurry and free up the troops being used in the siege so she could finally break the northern force.

"My Lady," said a voice from nearby. Turning Anya saw the Japanese officer standing ready to give a report. He said, "a contingent of the enemy seems to be pressing us in the direction of Lake Tana. It seems that the enemy is attempting to reunite with their comrades."

Turning back to her screens, Anya keyed in commands and sure enough a part of the enemies' northern force was attempting to push out of their lines and towards the lake. Turning back to the officer she said, "contact the enemy commanders at the lake and ask them to surrender again."

The officer saluted and turned away, looking back at the screens Anya secretly hoped that the enemy would take her offer of surrender this time. The last several times they had refused in rather harsh ways. She honestly did not look forward to the consequences of them not surrendering. If they did refuse, it would mean she would have to take drastic measures to ensure her sieging force would be prepared to shift north.

Keying in more commands she opened a secured channel back to the Imperial Palace, seconds later the emperor's face appeared. "Anya to what do I owe the pleasure?" said the purple eyed man.

Gathering her courage to speak she said, "I believe I will be needing some heavier firepower than what I have at my current disposal."

Lelouch's face hardened and he said, "mhmm."

Night of August 2nd

At an undisclosed location the hatch to an underground complex opened revealing a large metal cylinder with a pointed tip. Minutes later fire and smoke and a roaring blast was followed the large rocket lifting of into the sky. As it gain altitude parts of the rocket split away and secondary engines and FLOAT propulsion units kept the speed of the machine up. Within no time it had reached a height where it could see whole continents, and just as it prepared to descend again, the rocket split into multiple pieces again. Three of the pieces headed towards Europe, while the rest descended upon Africa, or more accurately Ethiopia.

On the ground all was normal in the besieged EU camp, the soldiers continued their nightly duties; those that were left any way. The sound of fast moving objects could be heard soldiers across the camp looked up as black objects with accented by the glow of FLOATs fell towards the camp. In bright light purple flashes high yield explosives detonated, the last time such explosives were used they used during "Ark Fleet" incident orchestrated by Julius Kingsley. Here instead of just Sakuradite explosives, synthetic Sakuradite had been used as well as new explosive compounds. Thus great spheres of light expanded following great shock burning shockwaves. As the light of the explosives cleared, great winds picked up spilling back into the airless void left by the explosions. Raging fires lit what parts of the remaining city/camp.

In the air over Lake Tana the "Indomitable" floated, sitting in her command chair Anya watched the destruction. She had been disheartened when the EU commander had refused surrender, but she knew that it either this or a bloody stale mate in Africa till the eventual end of the war. A deck hand spoke out saying, "hits strike confirmed here and the bridges in France."

A part of the strike had been redirected towards and important bridge that had been captured by a unit of the EU. The strike of three warheads was actually overkill in that situation killing everyone near the bridge no doubt. But if someone survived the shock would most likely render them husks for a long time to come. Thus the secret of the bridge's destruction would remain a secret for a while longer.

Focusing back at the task at hand she ordered, "all begin operation, ground forces are to advance. Medical corps on stand by and ready for immediate redeployment."

August 5, 2021 a.t.b

An EU convoy drove on the highway, transports and EU knightmares at the front moved as one. At times parts of the convoy separated and stopped such as at towns and the like. As the sun battered down mercilessly that day as the convoy continued. The lead knightmare pilot gazed at the view screens, his only link to the outside of his sealed war machine; a small picture of a woman was taped to one of the screens. A screeching then came through the speakers, if it wasn't for the amplification of the sound by the frames machinery he wouldn't have heard it. But the sound that came next required no amplification, explosions rippled all around him and the convoy as flashes flickered around the road.

Transports filled with soldiers exploded in blazing balls of fire. Transports that escaped the initial salvos quickly stopped and their doors flew open there drivers crying for the soldiers inside to get out. As the soldiers scrambled to get out magnetically accelerated bullets whizzed in concentrated burst around them. The surprised soldiers screamed out as comrades began falling blood pouring from grievous wounds that littered their bodies. Those that died instantly from the volleys were the lucky ones, as they did not have to see the horror of their fellow men being shredded, in some cases quite literally, apart.

The Panzer-Hummels turned their arm mounted cannons to the sides of the road firing at the flashes of light, small arms fire pinged as it ricocheted of their armored hides. However for every few shots the Hummels loosed one of their number fell to the gowned in heaps of metal as a Britannian weapon felled it. The pilot of the leading Hummel frantically maneuvered his frame trying to dodge the incoming fire. But to no avail as an enemy shell tor into the frames knee forcing it down.

Panicking the pilot called into his comlink, "mayday, mayday, have encountered the enemy in mass numbers. Have suffered heavy damage and supporting units have suffered massive casualties. Support needed! Repeat support needed!"

His call however was nothing but a small part in the massive flock of cries for help filling the airways as the two armies collided. And the pilot whose cries for aid were unheard became another statistic as a salvo of Britannian high explosive shells turned his knightmare to slag and scrap.

Inside the command center of EU forces chaos reigned, the commander cried out, "what's going on?"

Reports flooded him as he heard voices of aid s and officers crying out that a Britannian army had appeared from nowhere. In the commanders mind he wondered, "what happened to our men at the Lake?"

Tokyo, Imperial Palace

Lelouch looked over the report on the strike, the first live firing of the Firestorm network had been a success. Maybe too much of a success, repeatedly he kept looking back at the casualty count of the enemy forces. For all he read the number did not leave his mind, "two hundred thousand." Two hundred thousand lives destroyed, by either instantaneous combustion, burns, crushed by debris, or other fatalities. The strike had ultimately killed two hundred thousand EU soldiers. This number didn't even take into account the other soldiers that had died before the strike, or those that would die in the coming days for various reason. He little doubted that some would be suicides from witnessing such a disaster.

A gentle hand set upon his shoulder, placing the file down on his desk he turned and looked up at the face of his wife. Reaching up he clasped her hand, she in turn leaned down and kissed his head. He then spoke saying, "I forget where he saying came from but, 'sigh' I think it's appropriate for me, now that the network is confirmed to work."

"And that saying is?" asked C.C.

Looking back at the file Lelouch solemly said, "behold I am become death, the destroyer of worlds."

A.N. I take no credit for the quote at the end of the chapter.