A.N. Okay new chapter. Here I'm going to actually say what I've been hinting at in the previous chapters. Revieweri Anoi got it right (and so did the others who have talked to me via PM, you know who you are) I have been referencing Mass Effect because this is in fact a prequel to a Mass Effect crossover I'm planning.

I'm prettty sure people thought it was something like Stargate or something else since I mentioned Atlantis but no its Mass Effect. I needed a name and Atlantis fit the bill so I used it.

Another note the Mass Effect Crossover will not directly come out right after I finish this story. The reason being is that I still have some major blocks to work out. I also have been toying with another fanfic idea, and here it is. A Warhammer/Highschool DxD crossover. Here I would take elements I like from both 40k and Fantasy and combine them with Highschool DxD. But if you all want I can let you, my readers, deside what I do next. Write the Mass Effect crossover or my other idea.

If you all want me to set up a poll let me know. Now for the real reason you all showed up. So PhoinexFire out and on with THE CHAPTER!

Chapter 20

December 13, 2021 a.t.b. Paris, EU/9:00 a.m.

Smoke billowed into the sky obscuring much of the sun forming an eerie and industrial style twilight over the city of Lights. Fires still raged in small parts of the city though many more were just mere embers after burring through the night. The roar of battle echoed in the same ruins, Britannian knightmares speed through the rubble their weapons blasting and cutting through EU steel armor and vehicles. Infantry followed with up gunned APCs clearing out buildings filled with stubborn enemy soldiers with bullet, grenade, and explosive shell.

Outside the city retreating EU soldiers that had escaped the reprisals of Republican Guard units ran into Krachenko's Russian/Britannian columns that had surrounded the city in night. As the exposed themselves in the streets Britannian VTOLs, flight enabled knightmares and air battleships smashed the EU soldiers. Said battleships had also opened the same battle, early in the morning around 8:00 a.m. the Logres battleships opened fire with their large Gustav class guns. The massive shells, usually fired by railway siege guns that Euro Britannia had used, lobbed massive shells into the defense lines of the EU. Massive explosions opened holes in the already battered defense lines in Pairs allowing the infantry of Durand and Guilford into the city.

From his flagship over the city Lelouch watched the fall of Paris, the second time in a single century. But here it was conquered by soldiers from across the empire and the world. Below him Durand, Guilford, and Krachenko took the glory of conquering Pairs and brining the home of the Republican Guard to its knees. Cries of the "the emperor watches us forward to glory!"

"For Emperor Lelouch!"

"All Hail Britannia, All Hail Lelouch!"

"URA!"

Even a few obscure "Vive l'empereur!"

The cries of the EU soldiers and Britannian combined and formed into a great mass of noise that would please any god of war. Sayoko stood at her lord's side watching with him at the carnage, next to her a small table with tea cups and pot steam gently drifting up as the drink waited for the emperor's wish. Her eyes then jumped up to the screens that showed another city on the other side of Europe, Warsaw. Her master had more than one reason for coming to Europe himself, not to take his subordinates glory of the conquest, but to give them his orders himself. Jeremiah however had traveled to Vladivostok and had met the emperor there the previous week. As well as the testing of new modifications to his current flagship, that if successful, would be installed on all of the Britannian air navy.

Raising his hand Lelouch ordered, "give the signal, begin."

Signals were transmitted from the flagship and responses were received as the Emperor's plan went off like clockwork. From mobile bases, submarines, in the Atlantic and bases in Russia fired orbital warheads.

Warsaw

The situation in the Polish capital had changed drastically from when the siege had started. With constant reinforcements flown in from Russia had allowed the expansion of the perimeter around the city. More than this word had reached the defenders that Polish regiments in the EU armies were surrendering across the different fronts. Many soldiers requested of the Britannians for the ability to be returned to Poland to join their brothers and sisters in the fight against the EU. And the emperor had agreed to a few of these requests, the soldiers were reviewed by OSI and Hussar agents, before they were flown in to Warsaw. As a result of this the military presence in Warsaw had grown too close to two hundred thousand mixed soldiers of Polish and Britannian.

As well as reinforcements the defenders were supplied with knightmares and weapons, lots of weapons. Leila stood in her mobile command center that had been delivered during one of the supply drops as part of the buildup for the current plan. It was not a G-1 class vehicle but was more of a larger APC with communication equipment. Outside her own command Alexander waited should she need it. But at that moment she watched the icons that should her troops, the enemy's and those her allies. Tapping her finger against the table she waited, screens flashed as signals were received. Turning her head to the technician as he said, "command code received, "Anaconda slithers in the Amazon."

Nodding her head Leila called out, "incoming orbital strike, all units prepare to advance."

The call went out and the former defenders rose up and readied to become defenders no more. A Cheshire cat grin split Ryo's face, "oh this is gonna be fun!"

Ayano smiled similarly as she thought, "were coming for you, you son of a b****. You'll pay for every death and pain you've caused us."

By contrast Akito's mind was fairly empty as he meditated and calmed himself thinking on only those things, and people, important to him. Apart from them the members of the Winged Hussars readied themselves thinking on the oppression they had suffered at the hands of the current regime. As their machines rumbled the sigil of their organization, a Winged Hussar helmet with a curving wing on it, vibrated as if it was a rider moved by its galloping mount.

Minutes later massive explosions shook the ground as targets miles behind the EU lines and several in the forward lines bloomed. Artillery shells and rockets arced from the defender's lines. EU soldiers made little movement to do anything as such attacks were not uncommon in the weeks prior. But from inside her command vehicle Leila transmitted, "all units commence operation!"

Engines roared and knightmares and APCs charged forward to the gaps created in the EU lines. Meanwhile miles away liberating forces that had fought their way up from Ukraine jumped forward on Que. The joint offensive was intended to cut off the EU armies reaming in in Russia (or still facing that direction) and force the surrender of those forces. Fast moving attack units would charge through the EU lines to wipe out command and control posts and Republican Guard units. Meanwhile Leila's former unit in Warsaw would punch their way through to Pierre Anou's command land battleship.

As the rippling explosions eased up with the approaching frames the stunned EU troops moved from their covered positions. Stumbling in the kicked up dust their ringing ears only heard the oncoming enemy knightmares to late. Hussar and Britannian Mizuchis, Cobras, and W-0 Alexanders jumped the defensive trenches of the EU army. The heavy weapons carried by the Mizuchis fired upon the bunkers and enemy weapons emplacements destroying in blue/green VARIS shots. Some even destroyed targets with new Hadron cannons based on the blasters used on the Shinchiro. These were augmented into the existing VARIS configuration, thus it gave a similar appearance to the Super VARIS rifle that Camelot had designed. Smaller versions of the weapon had been installed on some of the Cobra's as well giving the swift moving frames even deadlier fire power than they had originally had. However not all attacking frames benefitted from the recent upgrades as the new weapons were only no going into mass production, and the current battle would be their first real combat test.

As they larger Mizuchis busied themselves the smaller Vincent-Cobras used their weapons the spray the trenches and exposed infantry with both energy and solid shot death. W-0 Alexanders speed out before them dodging and weaving through the disordered enemy formations their weapons carving out chunks of the enemy while making their way to their objective. But out before them all several squads of Alexander drones provided reconnaissance for the advancing forces and proving targeting data for the air forces above the battlefield.

VTOL gunships launched from airfields in Warsaw and Britannian airships overhead flew in dropping incendiaries, anti-armor, and high explosive ordinance on the confused EU soldiers. Meanwhile farther south columns of Ukrainian and Britannian troops similarly fought northwards to meat up the counterattacking forces. Ahead of the columns were airships that used their weapons to destroy concentrations of the enemy. At the same time they dropped units of knightmares and infantry to secure bridges and other important targets. When bridges were destroyed however the airships would send out a call for other airships laden with engineers and their equipment, and within a matter of hours a pontoon bridge would appear. This too was new tactic that was being tested and if proven to work would open up new possibilities in strategies, and a faster end to the war.

December 14, 2021 a.t.b. Paris/5:00 a.m.

Guilford's "Athena" glided just above the ground as it weaved through the rubble strewn streets of Paris. He kept just ahead of his advancing troops smashing points of heavy resistance where they could be found. This usually took the form of Republican Guard units that had dug into the rubble. His VARIS and Hadron Blasters had destroyed such points while his MVS blades had torn apart EU Hummels and APCs, even a few tanks that looked like they had been pulled desperately from a museum.

On separate screens he viewed the tactical situation of his forces, giving orders when was needed, but allowing other commanders to handle the small things. In the back of his mind he figured that his time in the cockpit would soon be less than it currently was as he would likely have to take command of the theater. Nonetheless he intended to keep his piloting skills honed to a fine point.

Turning his view he saw a sight that made him smile, flapping in smoke choked wind was the Britannian flag above the Eiffel Tower. The Emperor had deliberately called for the iconic landmark to be spared for both the people of France and of those who had chosen to ally themselves with Britannia. Moving on through the streets Guilford could make out the sound of distant explosions signaling a pocket of fierce resistance. According to his screens the resistance was one of the few pockets of Republican Guard still remaining in the city.

Coming to a cross street Guilford gently set down as a column of unarmed EU soldiers moved back into Britannian lines. Britannian troopers and knightmares looked over the surrendered prisoners. The call sent from the Lelouch's ship with Maximillian's surrender order had worked like a charm. The hungry, shell shocked, and weary soldiers of the common EU army had surrendered in droves not long after the call went out. Guilford nonetheless had to give the defenders some credit, many of those that had surrendered first were green troops that had never seen combat before. Many others did not surrender until their ammunition ran out.

As a gap opened up Guilford pushed through gunning his motors to increase is speed. He passed more and more of Durand's troops who were taking up occupation posts within the city alongside Britannian troops. Krachenko's troops had already pulled out and turned north towards the German border. Guilford then afforded himself another smile at the thought of Machavel's reaction to the fall of his precious Paris. He was likely throwing stuff around his office in Berlin. Krancheko's excitement at his orders to continue north were also pretty memorable, for a fairly stoic man anyway.

Flashback

Krachenko stood in his fast command vehicle, not unlike the one delivered for use by Leila in Warsaw. He stood over the command consoles watching his men advance while keeping his conversation with his commanders. Guilford, Durand, and even the Emperor were present.

Guilford sitting in his kinghtmare stuck down an enemy machine killing the pilot in a blossom of fire. "The battle here is all near won, the enemy is surrendering in droves."

"I believe it is time for a follow up move to seal this victory," added Durand from the command G-1 positioned in East Paris. The massive heavily armed vehicle providing heavy fire support and opening areas for medical evac and paths for reinforcement. "If we finish this battle without a cap to cement our dominance then the enemy will use the city as a rallying point, for the future."

"Agreed," said Lelouch. "If it is shown that we put a great priority on Paris then the enemy will use that against us. Having an Emperor, and three high ranking officials taking part in the siege is the issue."

The three others nodded in agreement, Krachenko then took the moment to speak up. In his heavy Russian accent and a smile he said, "my suggestion is that I disengage from here and turn my forces towards Germany. This will take the enemy by surprise as they will likely believe we will take time to reform after the siege of the city. By turning to face and reengage them the EU high command will be taken completely by surprise."

Durand nodded, "I believe that is an excellent idea, this will also keep the retreating enemy on their heels running. I can take over occupation of Paris while Guilford finishes the Republican Guard within the city."

"We can open a direct line of supply through the parts of Paris we have taken and supply Krachenko's forces with relative ease," added Guilford.

"More airships will be deployed to this area," Lelouch spoke. "They will be adjusted to hold large amounts of supplies and cargo instead of weapons. They will be used to resupply the forces in forward positions from the air."

As the conference continued Krachenko's smile grew from a simple curve of the lip to a full blown grin. He snapped his head to the Emperor as he said, "General Krachenko, you have your orders, coordinate with Durand and Guilford and resume the fight."

Krachenko's saluted crisply and practically shouted, "yes my lord!"

Flashback End

Guilford was snapped from his memory by the ping of an incoming transmission. Keying one of the buttons the image of Lelouch appeared, a smile spread across his face. The smile adding a creepy edge to his image making him look somewhat demonic. "My business is finished here Guilford, I know leave the situation to you my friend."

Guilford nodded his assent, "very well my lord."

Great Britannia

"Prepare the ship for departure and orbital assent," ordered Lelouch. Alarms sounded as officers gave orders, all the while Lelouch sat silent and stoic in his throne. Sayoko stood next to him a gentle smile gracing her fare features. Throughout the ship hatches were sealed creating a barrier between the ship's inner atmosphere and the outside environment. Machines within the ship began filtering and producing breathable air and pumped it throughout the decks. The power core of the ship engaged and the engines cycled up while some of its escort did the same. Except the escorts would take a longer route back to Japan.

The Great Britannia rose up passing over the war ravaged city the smoke choke clouds swirling as the large airship passed by. The grace the wing shaped ship climbed higher and higher gaining altitude with each second, each minute. As they rose up a man called out the altitude while another gave continual reports on the shape of the ship. The voyage itself was to test if a human ship could fly in the highest parts of the atmosphere and outside it. All the while testing the modifications made to the ship in order to make it habitable in the void and thin atmosphere.

As Lelouch reclined in his throne Lelouch asked, "Sayoko would you please make up some tea while I look into the reports for Poland."

"Certainly Lelouch-sama," replied Sayoko with a grin. As she left Lelouch typed a command into the keypad in the armrest of the throne. Keyboards rose from the floor and holographic screens appeared, charts, graphs, and statistic reports began scrolling across the screens. From the data he could see the Britannian allied forces, pinching in on the EU army. Smaller icons showed the progress of the W-0 unit, they were closing in on the command center of Anou where the intelligence networks had found it. Smiling he also saw the confusion of the EU armed forces. Icons showed retreating EU forces while others, while not retreating, were moving in the wrong direction.

Poland

Akito's Alexander raced across the cratered battlefield, smoke rose from the wrecks of vehicles to scorched to tell who they had once belonged to. His MVS katana and his Hadron blasters and VARIS, mounted in the shield on the Alexander Liberte's left arm, had taken their tole on the EU. The agility of his frame also gave him an edge over the heavier slow moving EU Hummels.

Behind him Ayano and Ryo followed as did a large compliment of Winged Hussars and Alexanders. They drove at a fast pace towards the largest pillar of smoke that rose up before them. In actuality the pillar was several pillars forming together to make on large funnel of smoke that rose to the clouds. Below the pillars were the blazing fires of destroyed vehicles and ruined military material. Pierre Anou's Land Battleship blazed as is weapons emplacements were destroyed by Britannian VTOL strikes. The same aircraft flew overhead their weapons pods continually firing at the appearance of new threats and keeping the occupants of the Land Battleship pinned down. The defenders, mostly Republican Guard, had taken to using their hand held arms to try and defend the great war engine against the Britannians. Firing from holes in the armor plating with rifles and rocket launches. Other survivors around the Land fortress fired up from their covered positions. However the auto guns and rockets of the VTOLs kept them and the Guards ducking.

Outside the armored vehicles and knightmares of the battleship's escorting forces laid in heaps of smoking metal surrounded by scorched and dismembered bodies. Inside however Anou screamed, "call in reinforcements! Reingage the air defenses, I want those VTOLs out the way." He then pointed to a shivering EU officer, "you! Prepare my escape VTOL!"

"Ye..Yes sir!" the officer then ran from the damaged command bridge. He disappeared into the halls of the inner decks to prepare the hidden escape VTOL installed for the personal use of Anou. However even Anou had sense enough not to use it when enemy VTOLs were in the air. Meanwhile the technicians manning the communications controls worked frantically to head the insane orders of Anou, "calling reinforcements." The technicians to terrified of the Republican Guards standing nearby, with loaded arms, bothered to mention the problems with those orders. The antennae for the main communications and sensors had been destroyed in the first VTOL strikes. The backups were smaller and were unable to call out to the distances of the main, this was one of the design flaws of the EU land cruisers. As well since the sensor relays had been destroyed the occupants of the mobile fortress did not see the approaching Britannian ground forces.

However the hope of the EU defenders was risen as several units of roaming Hummels were moving to the land battleship. The VTOLs broke of their passes to engage the EU knightmares as they began to appear. The Hummels began to take up defensive positions around the Land Battleship, those frames that got through the VTOL screen. VTOLs swooped in and around the EU frames both killing and being killed. But the hope they had received was dashed as over the horizon the Akito and his followers appeared. Akito charged forward and the hussars and Alexanders formed in behind him forming a loose triangle that allowed for individual movement as they advanced. VARIS bayonets and lances and blades were unsheathed, and like the cavalry they were named after they charged.

Despite the VTOL's interference, Hummels and rocket fire began to rain down upon the advancing frames. The Alexanders agility allowed them to dodge many of the incoming shots, while the Hussars deployed shields to tank the shots. The advancing frames opened up with their own weapons VARIS, Hardon, and explosive shells flew from the triangle formation. Dirt and shrapnel jumped into the air were the shots fell. EU frames turned to scrap metal while the few infantry man was incinerated and torn apart. The armor of the land cruiser was rent asunder as the destruction fired by the Mizuchis and Alexanders hit home. Then with a crash the formation of the Britannian Alliance smashed into the hastily formed defense formations of EU.

More frames were brought low as the blades of the attackers sliced through the armor plating of the Hummels. More shot fell upon the exposed defenders inside the mobile fortress as the attackers turned their weapons upon them as the amount of targets outside dwindled. In great graceful arcs Akito brought his katana to bear on the EU Hummels, many of the EU frames did not even realize what was happening till a red tinted blade passed through their cockpits. Similar results were made by Ryo and Ayano, their weapons blasted and cut chunks out of armor and swathes out of the enemy.

As she slashed down a Hummel and shot a VARIS blast into another Ayano called out, "Akito! Get Anou now! We'll hold them off!"

"Yeah! What are ya waiting for Akito? Go get him!" added Ryo.

Grunting his acknowledgement Akito floored his Alexander and jumped atop the Land Cruiser moving towards the bridge. Inside the panicking Anou screamed for someone to destroy the approaching Alexander "Someone kill that thing and where's my escape VTOL!?"

Over the comlink a panicked voice said, "it almost ready sir we're opening the bay doors know."

Anou realizing the mistake being made by the panic officer cried out, "no wait till I get there!"

However the warning was too late as within the small flight bay the doors had opened enough to give the occupants a view of what stood outside. Standing tall and proud seemingly smirking along with its pilot was the Alexander of Ryo Sayama. The smirking Ryo then aimed his weapon as his voice echoed from the frames speakers into the bay, "knock knock anyone home?"

The explosion shook the entire mobile fortress and echoed through the intercom before the microphone was destroyed. Anou's eyes widened in fear as his only escape route was destroyed. A crash, sheering metal and smashing armor glass drew his attention forward where he saw Aktio's frame smash through into the room crushing occupants beneath its treads and debris trail. Anou flinched and fell as a red and hot flash passed by him, a Guard did not have the time to scream as his upper half was disintegrated and his bottom half fell to the ground. The other Guard hopelessly opened fire with his small rifle the bullets bouncing of the intimidating Alexander. The flat of Akito's katana flicked him across the room to smash his head on the wall splattering brains across the metal. Using the Alexander's open hand Akito reached out and snatched up the stunned Anou before he could flee. The Japanese soldier then ducked himself out of the hole he had made and jumped from the mobile fortress speeding back across the battlefield.

As he moved he raidoed, "target secured, all unit pull back. Arial units weapons free destroy the Battleship."

As the hussars and Alexanders pulled back the VTOLs bombers swooped in dropping armor piercing bombs on their target. Several minutes later a massive explosion split the mobile fortress turning it into a stagnant pile of scrap. Another flight of VTOLs lowered to Akitos position picking up Akito's captive to take him to a secure location. The man was stunned and incoherent and babbled nonsense as he was loaded onto the VTOL with the hateful glares of the W-0 unit behind him.

Great Britannia, Above the World

The Great Britannia flew just above the atmosphere like a ship sails on water, equipment onboard and planet side kept the EU and UFN sensors blind to the ship. The life support systems on board functioned keeping the air breathable, meanwhile a variation on the FLOAT system kept a notion of gravity while up so high. Smiling Lelouch felt an exhilaration at the prospect of what his ship and by extension to the empire could now achieve. He also smiled at what he was seeing from the battle below. Anou was captured and his forces, and those of his allies, were closing the gap on the EU army in the East. The EU armed forces were in disarray, in the East, with no commander, the EU army collapsed on itself many falling into a route. It was similar in France, the enemy was falling back and Britannian troops were swiftly taking ground with little resistance.

"At this rate, Krachenko will celebrate Christmas in Berlin," said Lelouch.

"And Jeremiah in the Forbidden City, if your prediction come true Lelouch-sama," replied Sayoko.

Lelouch smiled contemplatively, "war is a certainty now Sayoko. The only question is when and how it will start."

Russia, Secret Rally Point

Jeremiah walked inside the bunker, his boot steps echoing in the hallway, in other areas of the base the sounds of reveling could be heard. Outside soldiers patrolled looking for enemy scouts and spies. This was the rally point for the forces ready to attack the UFN when the war was to begin. So Jeremiah made it a habit to make personal checks on these forces regularly to make sure that things were as they should. In truth it was mostly to keep an eye on the commander at the base, while he wouldn't necessarily command the entire army he was a key commander. Thus if he did something stupid then everything would go to hell, and the Emperor wanted the UFN to fire the first shot.

Opening the door to his targets chambers the voice of the occupant laughed, "well, well Jerry come for your regular visit?"

Reclining on a sofa his feet propped up on the coffee table next to empty cups of coffee and alcohol. The grinning form of Ashley Ashra stared at Jeremiah as the green haired man stood in the door. Not for the first time Jeremiah wondered if the man had any relation to the former Knight of Ten Luciano Bradley. They both grinned in similar ways and acted similarly, though Ashley was obviously much more tame and caring then the former Vampire of Britannia.

Nodding his head jeremiah replied, "indeed, someone needs to keep an eye on you. Why the Emperor ordered us to find you remains a mystery to me."

Laughing Ashley replied, "isn't it obvious? I'm a god fighter, a decent leader and most importantly I'm a lucky S.O.B."

It was true that the Emperor had order that Ashra be found for the coming war because of his fighting skills. The Red Ogre was a name that was still feared on the battlefield. Unfortunately his strike force that he commanded before had disappeared from the map and had not been found; those however that were found were buried six feet under.

"An S.O.B. you are but a lucky one I'm not so sure," remarked Jeremiah.

"Hey!" cried Ashra his grin falling from his face. "Just put me in a battle and I'll prove you wrong!"

Closing the door behind him and walking closure Jeremiah motioned with his hand for the orange haired man to calm himself, "don't worry. You'll get your battle soon enough, His Majesty believes that the war will begin soon."

Slumping down Ashra said, "good, I hate waiting on my ass like this. I wanted to be in Europe with Akito fighting Anou, but nope, I am to sit here dying of bordum and booze."

Looking over to the screen of the T.V. Jeremiah saw the paused image of the movie "The Mummy." Rolling his eyes Jeremiah said, "Well I can fix one part of that." Ashra raised an eyebrow in question, Jeremiah answered, "I'll have all your "booze" taken away from you."

Ashra's eyes widened, "you wouldn't dare."

Jeremiah grinned, "wouldn't I?"

Secret Bunker, China

Sawasaki stood on a balcony looking over a large room filled with swarming people and large objects and equipment. Next to him a man held a laptop with the image of Machevel on it, the mad man was not happy. "You promised me victory Sawasaki. You promised me weapons and support! Instead you sit on your throne doing nothing you promised and give scraps from your table! I deserve to at least have one of the new weapons!" Sawasaki looked at the screen as Machavel continued, "all I need is one and I can turn the tide of this war!"

Keeping his cool Sawasaki replied, "you'll get it. I'll send it with a team to give you the aid you'll need."

Satisfied with the answer Machavel cut the link, Sawasaki looked up to another officer, "prepare a weapon for shipment. You know what to do."

The officer nodded and left, as did he man with the computer, turning his gaze back to the room he continued to watch. In his peripheral vision a figure appeared short hair shifted colors and wild eyes betrayed the madness beneath. The figure was obviously female and spoke with a soft voice, "soon the world will bow to us, or burn!"

"And what of the immortals, Lelouch vi Britannia, and C.C.?"

Still smiling the figure said, "they will either submit or they will drown in the blood of the world and experience unending torment for the rest of eternity. All the while we sit on the throne of the world."

Grinning along with the companion only he could see Sawaski replied, "you really earned that title of "Witch" Jeanne."