Hey everyone, Shunya Toshiki here bringing you a new story.
There's been a lot of anime in 2021 that I really like, but I think my top favorite is the 86 series. Great action, nice music, and I like the robots.
So…I was really depressed that they're putting it on hiatus until March…So I decided to work on this story to make me feel better.
Anyhow…Cue Disclaimer!
I don't own the 86 series or elements from Code Geass, those belong to their creators. This is for fun, not profit.
In the grassfield with pure greenery and bringing sunlight, animals and insects were enjoying the peacefulness in this area but they soon heard the sounds of battle as cannons and explosions were heard from afar as they ran away in fear.
From afar dark clouds covered the sky as silver spider like machines with large cannons and different cannons and weapons were firing at their enemies.
They were also spider-like machines but were in a different color and design as the silver ones.
They were colored green with eight legs with a cannon on their backs with machine guns on the side.
They were firing back at the silver machines but even though they landed a hit on some of them, they continued to move forward at high speeds and outnumbered them.
"Dammit! There's just no end to these things!" One of the pilots said as the silver machines continued to move towards them as they were forced to fall back.
"Help!" He then turns to one of his comrades as several of the silver machines approach him and begins to climb onto their machine. "I don't want to die!"
They quickly begin to take that machine part as the pilots begin to scream in fear.
"No, Zane! Kurt!" He said in worry.
"Commander, in front of you!" He then looked and saw several of the silver machines fire at him and in slow motion as the cannon fire was heading towards him the commander closed his brace himself for the end…
The sounds of wheels moving at high speed before he jumps in front of the spider machine and blocks the incoming cannon fire with an energy shield as it took the hit which created a smoke cloud.
The commander slowly opened his eyes and saw a tall figure standing in the smoke as it lowered its arm.
"No way...Is that…" His co-pilot mutters.
Appearing out of the smoke was a humanoid shaped machine.
The machine has a black frame with white and gold armor with pointed shoulder pieces and has two small shields on the forearms and has a red jewel on the chest it has pointed parts on the sides of its face and the back, it has a golden mouthpiece with two green eyes. It also had two swords in sheaths attached on the sides of its cockpit which was in the back. And it has two wheel attachments on the sides of its feet.
"I knew it...It's the Lancelot!" One of the pilots said in relief in his voice.
"But that would mean…" The commander mutters.
The Lancelot turned to the machine behind it before it spoke to the pilots.
"You guys alright?" The pilot of the Lancelet asked, he had a voice of a young man.
"Y-Yes, we're fine. Thanks for the save." The commander told him.
"It's no problem. The rest of you fall back. We'll handle the rest." The Lancelot told them as he faced the silver machines.
"Alright, you've heard Colonel Lionheart! Everyone fall back! This is the Knightmare Squad's job now!"
As the thousands of silver machines begin to move towards the Lancelot and the other machines that begin to fall back, the pilot of white machine soon pressed a finger on his earpiece communicator.
"K-7, are you in position?" Lionheart asked.
Standing on a mountain and hiding in the trees on it, was another humanoid machine that was in a similar design as the Lancelot but with a few differences.
The machine was in dark colors and had slightly more bulky armor and its head resembles a knight's helmet with a sphere part on the forehead and was wearing a cape on its back as it was attached on the shoulders. It was armed with a sniper rifle as it aimed at the silver machines.
"K-7 in position sir. Beginning survey now." K-7 responded before the sphere part on his machine's head opened up and lit up, and the screen on his cockpit as it counted the numbers of silver machines.
"There's about over a thousand Legion drones." K-7 told him through his communicator.
"Only a thousand?" Lionheart asked as he sighs. "That's a shame. I almost feel sorry for them, almost!"
He then pressed a button on his controls and the wheels on the Lancelot's feet soon placed themselves on the ground as the white machine placed its hand on the ground and soon charged at the enemy machines.
Some of the Legion fires at the Lancelot as Commander Lionheart skillfully controls his machine to dodge the incoming cannon fire before he pulls out one of his swords.
The sword opens up as it turns red before it closes as Lionheart uses it to slash through two Legion drones in front of him as he keeps on charging forward.
Just as three large Legions with large cannons were about to fire at the Lancelot, K-7 soon fired at them with his sniper rifle which pierced through their bodies before they exploded.
"Alright, Knightmares! Engage the enemy!" Lionheart ordered.
Then from another area some of the Legion were fired upon, they soon looked and saw it was a group of machines which were the same type as K-7's machine.
They wielded lances and guns with missile pods on the back. They soon charge at the Legion drones with some piercing them with their spears and others using their guns and missiles to destroy.
Then another group of Knightmares had appeared as they engage the enemy with their spears and guns.
The Lancelot continues to charge forward as several Legions with blades charge at him to attack with them, and then two spheres pop out its chest as the white Knightmare dodge the Legions' blades and slashes through them as they fall to the ground.
Then another group of Legion with cannons fired at the Lancelot as it skillfully dodge their fire as it jumps back.
As the Lancelot stops jumping, Lionheart soon sees that he was surrounded by the Legion as they aim their cannons at him before they fire at the White Knightmare.
The Lancelot then launches a wire-guided projectile from one of its shields to the ground to launch itself into the air as the cannon fire hits on the ground.
The Lancelot then lands onto one of the Legion drones as it thrusts its sword into it before it jumps away from the drone as it explodes.
The other Legion fires at the Lancelot as it blocks them with its energy shield as it charges forward and slash through the drones with its sword.
The Lancelot soon stops as it turns the Legion as they back away from the White Knight before the other Knightmares move next to it.
"Commander Lionheart, the enemy is beginning to back away." K-7 told him.
"Alright, K-2, 5, 8, and 11 group with me. Everyone else...push them back." Lionheart told his team.
"Sir! Yes, sir!" His squadmates responded as they charged at the enemy with the Lancelot leading them.
As the Legion fires at the Knightmares, they dodge their cannon fire with the Lancelot blocking them with its shield as they continue to charge forward as they destroy them with their weapons.
As the Lancelot swings its sword at one of them...
86: The White Knight
Chapter 1: The Knightmare Squad
(Later)
After destroying over hundreds of the Legion drones, the Knightmares were able to force them to retreat as they watched them leave as they stood side by side.
The squad they just helped were looking at them in awe as they were able to push them back with ease.
"Man…" One of the soldiers mutters in awe for the Lancelet and the other Knightmares with it. "I know that Colonel Lionheart is the Hero of the Revolution, but how does he do it?"
"It's because he's a hero, he's able to do it. He commands respect and loyalty from his subordinates, and he leads by example with his courage and skill. That's what makes him a hero." The squad's leader explained.
"Commander, this is K-7, the Legion are retreating and show no signs of stopping." K-7 said.
"We could see that K-7." One of the other Knightmare pilots told him.
"Should we go after them, sir? Finish the job?" One of Lionheart's subordinates asked.
"There's no need." Lionheart told him as he sheathed his sword. "We've thinned out the enemies' forces and won a bit of territory here. Best not to waste time or resources on retreating enemies."
"Understood, sir." He nodded.
"Okay, everyone help with the wounded and look for any survivors. After that refuel your Knightmares and be ready to go in 0500." Lionheart told his squad.
"Sir, yes sir!" They responded as they turned around and moved out.
"As for me. I need some air." Lionheart said as he pressed some buttons in his machine's cockpit.
The Lancelet's cockpit opened up and Lionheart soon stood up and stretched out his arms.
He was a 17-year-old young man with silver hair and matching eyes. He wore a pilot suit that was colored white with black sleeves with white gloves, the outfit also had golden lines and was wearing an earpiece communicator on his ear.
This is Athrun Lionheart.
"I swear...sometimes this job isn't easy." Athrun said to himself.
(At night)
The pilots of the Knightmare Squad were now refueling their machines, as they were waiting, they soon celebrated with the other squad they just helped.
They were cheering and drinking around a bonfire.
"Hahaha! I swear you guys were awesome out there! They were only 30 of you but you managed to take down over hundreds of Legion drones." He said to one of the Knightmare pilots.
"Hey, it was a team effort. We were only able to pull it off because we were together." He told him.
"Oh come on, no need to be modest. After all you guys were the heroes here." Another one said.
"Heroes huh? That's nice and all, but we're nothing compared to our leader. Right, Colonel?" They soon turned to Athrun as he was enjoying a cup of coffee before he turned to them.
"Well...I wouldn't say that. But like he said, it was a team effort." Athrun told them and they laughed when they heard that.
"Man! And you told me not to be modest!" One of his squadmates said as he rubbed his elbow on one of their allies.
"I was wrong! He's the modest person here!" He said while laughing.
"Well what do you expect? Our White Knight is the prince of modesty!" Another said while laughing.
Athrun's cheeks turned red as he lowered his head. He then his communicator ringing before he stood.
"Sorry, I need to take this." Athrun said as he stood up and walked away from his team and other allies. He then pressed the button of his communicator to speak to whoever was calling him.
"Colonel Lionheart, this is General Richard. Report." He spoke.
"Colonel Lionheart, reporting sir. We've succeeded in helping Unit 42 and pushed back the Legion. Once we're done...celebrating, we'll return to base as scheduled." Athrun told him.
"Understood. But before that, there's something I need to tell you." General Richard said.
"Which is?" Athrun asked.
"I know you and your squad have gone through a tough battle, but I have another mission for you. Our scouts had reported Legion two clicks west from your position." General Richard told him.
"Two clicks west? That's close to the Western Front. Not to question your judgment sir, but don't you think Brigadier General Ehrenfried will handle it?" Athrun asked.
"Well...Normally I would agree, but something about the reports doesn't seem right to me." He told him.
"What do you mean?" Athrun asked.
"Recording to what our scouts said, this group of Legion are moving away from the Western Front and towards the border." The General told him.
"The border? But why?" Athrun asked.
"That's what I want you and your team to find out. I know this is a lot to ask after your last battle, but your team is the closest to that area that can make it in time and have the highest chance of success in case something goes wrong. That is only if you're willing to…"
Athrun thought about it before he sighed and gave his answer.
"Understood, sir. I'll take my team and investigate what's going on there." Athrun told him.
"Good. Report back after you're done. Over and out." General Richard said as he ended the transmission.
Athrun then walks back to his team as they turn to him as they stop laughing and cheering.
"Let me guess...A new mission for us?" One of them asked and Athrun nodded.
"That's right. I know we've gone through a tough battle, but…" Athrun said before one of his subordinates stopped him.
"You don't have to say it." He said as he and the others stood up. "Just another day in the Knightmare Squad."
"Yeah. Everyone board your Knightmares and follow me. I'll explain on the way." Athrun told them as he walked to his Knightmare.
"Yes, sir." They said as they head to their Knightmares as well.
The Knightmare Squad were heading towards the area where there was Legion activity.
"Commander, we're about 10 meters away from the border." One of Athrun's subordinates told him.
"Alright, everyone stop here." Athrun commanded as they stopped on a ledge.
Some of the Knightmares' cockpits opened up as they stood up and brought some binoculars to see the area in question.
That is when they spotted at least a small army of Legion drones moving forward instead of heading to the Western Front.
"Looks like the reports are true. They are moving west." Athrun said.
"Yeah, but what for? There's nothing out there for miles, just ruins and abandoned towns." One of his teammates said.
"Maybe they finally malfunction and find a place to rust away." Another one said.
"Will you take this seriously?" He told him.
"I was only kidding."
"Will you two be quiet? I think I see something." Athrun said as they saw something firing at the Legion drones.
It was a spider-like machine. It has four legs, has a large cannon on its back and two blades in the front and has a red eye, and its armor is slightly dirty.
"The heck is that?" One of them asks as the unknown machine charges at the Legion drones and attacks them using its blades.
"It...Looks like an old prototype model of the Vánagandr." Athrun said.
"I think prototype is too kind of a word. It looks like a hunk of junk to me." A member of his team said before they saw the machine still taking down with some ease. "Which is surprisingly tougher than the Legion there."
"You think it's a rogue drone?" Another said.
"Doubtful. The movements tell me someone's piloting it, and they're definitely no amateur." Athrun said as he studied its movements.
One of his squadmates whistled as he was impressed by that unknown machine's moves.
"Dang...whoever is piloting it, they sure have some moves." He spoke.
"What should we do, commander? Should we go in and help?" Another one asked.
Athrun thought about it before he shook his head.
"No, even if someone's piloting, there's no telling if they're friendly or not. And worse this could be a trap to draw us out." Athrun told him as the unknown machine crashed and rolled on the ground.
"I know that but still…" He mutters.
"Wait, hold on…" One with binoculars said as the others turned to him. "I think I see something."
"More of those machines?" Athrun asked.
"No, it's...people!" He answered.
"What?!" Athrun said in shock as he looked with his binoculars and saw four people wearing military uniforms and armed with rifles as they fired at the Legion.
"The hell? There weren't supposed to be any people out here."
"Well apparently there is."
"Commander, what should we do?" He asked Athrun.
Athrun thought about it as he looked at the four humans before explosions appeared around them which sent them to the ground as it knocked them out.
Athrun grits his teeth as this makes him remember a certain memory of his past as he reaches out to a girl's hand as she was being dragged away.
"Grr...Dammit all! Everyone in your Knightmares, we're going in!" Athrun told his squad.
"But sir, what if it is a trap?"
"Then I'll take full responsibility for what happens. Right now, saving those people is our top priority." Athrun said as he sat down, and the cockpit soon closed.
"Yes sir!" The others said they sat down, and the cockpits soon closed.
"Alright, Knightmare Squad, let's go!" Athrun commanded as he charged forward, and his squad followed behind him.
Kurena Kukumila, one of the people lying on the ground, slightly opens her eyes.
Kurena Kukumila, along with her friends were called the 86 of the Republic of San Magnolia.
Around 10 years ago, the Giadian Empire created an army of AI war machines known as the Legion and invaded the Republic.
In order to combat this threat, the Republic had created their own autonomous machines known as the Juggernauts, but they were far from being autonomous. The truth is Juggernauts acquire pilots to operate them, and Kurena and her friends were those pilots.
The Republic had about 85 administrative sectors centered around the capital city that could be more easily defended from the Legion's advance, and thus the higher ups of the Republic had declared any colored citizens of the 85 sectors will be used as weapons to defend the Republic and its citizens and were moved to the unofficial sector of the Republic, the 86 Sector.
Thus, the people of the 86 Sector were labeled as the 86 and were considered less than human towards the Republic. The pilots of the Juggernauts were called Processors.
They were promised once their service came to an end, the Republic would reinstate their citizenships, but the Republic's leadership had no intention of actually letting them reach their deadlines, both due to their prejudices and to erase evidence of their human-rights violations. The 86 manage to see through their lies, but despite that they continue to fight.
Kurena and her friends were part of an elite squadron called Spearhead, but the truth was that the squad was nothing then a suicide squad designed to purge its members to prevent any signs of revolution from the 86.
Despite the odds, Kurena and her friends were able to make it this far into Legion control territory, but they lost most of their comrades.
Then out of nowhere, their leader Shin had left them behind to face the Legion on his own to protect them. Kurena and the others were able to follow to help him, but they were easily overrun, and Shin's machine was now disabled.
Kurena then notices that one Legion machine was heading towards her, and she knows all too well what it was going to do to her.
'Am I…Am I going to be a part of the Legion…?' Kurena thought.
The Legion were able to create more of themselves by harvesting brains from living or dead humans. These types of Legion are known as Black Sheep or Shepherds.
But despite that, Kurena wasn't afraid of that as she knew her death would come sooner or later, just not like this.
'If I'm going to be a Shepherd then please…At least let me stay by Shin's side…That's all I ask…' Kurena thought as she accepted her fate.
Just as the Legion machine was a few feet away from her, a large humanoid machine jumps at it and kicks on it which sends it rolling on the ground before it spun while landing on its hand and feet before it stops in front of Kurena.
It was the Lancelot.
Her eyes widened to see it; it was almost like it was a white knight saving her like she was a princess.
The Lancelot then notices another Legion machine charging at it from behind before it pulls out one of its swords and slashes that Legion in half as it faces the others.
'W-What is that?' Kurena thought.
"K-7, provide covering firing to that unknown unit! K-5, 6, and 8 moved in and formed a perimeter around it!" The pilot told them as he fired its Slash Harkins at two Legions.
"Sir, yes sir!"
Kurena then saw more of those machines heading towards Shin's Juggernaut as she could see long range fire hitting the Legion that was around it while the others used their lance or guns.
"Alright, everyone else, group up with me!" Athrun told the others.
"Yes sir!"
The other Knightmares move in and group with the Lancelot as they circle around Kurena and her friends as they use their weapons to destroy the Legion.
One used its Slash Harkins, two used their guns, while one used its lance while another used an air burst grenade as it unleashes sharp shrapnel as it destroyed several of the Legion.
The Lancelot uses his swords to cut down any incoming Legion while using its shields to block their fire.
"K-7, are there any signs of reinforcements?" Athrun asked and soon got his answer. "Good. Everyone, secure your areas until the Legion retreats! We hold the line here!"
"Sir, yes sir!" The Knightmare pilots responded as they continued to fight the Legion.
Kurena continues to watch them in awe on how they are easily destroying the Legion with their weapons, but she was mostly focused on the white machine as she wondered who the pilot was.
Kurena then begins to lose consciousness as she closes her eyes and falls asleep.
(Later)
After destroying most of the Legion the others were forced to retreat, few of the Knightmares knelt down to the ground as the Lancelot knelt next to the four humans.
"Commander, the pilot of this machine is still alive, but he needs medical attention." One of the pilots next to the unknown machine.
"Alright, give him emergency first-aid. I'm going to check on the other four. K-2, I'm leaving you in charge of the others, form a perimeter in case any more Legion show up." Athrun told him as he used a wired cable from his cockpit to head to the ground.
"Yes, sir. Alright, let's move people." K-2 said as he and the others moved to form a perimeter around them.
Athrun then jumps to the ground as he moves to the one of the unconscious people as some of his other teammates tend to the others.
"Holy...They're kids. He looks like my brother's age." One of them said in shock.
Athrun then knelt down to one of them and it was a girl. Athrun soon helps the girl sit up with his arm on her back and gets a better look at her.
She was around his age with chestnut hair of an Agate. Her hair is cut into a short bob. She was wearing a desert camouflage combat uniform over an olive drab tank top.
"Hey. Hey. Are you alright, can you hear me?" Athrun asks and the girl begins to wake up as she slightly opens her eyes, showing the golden-catlike eyes of a Topaz.
Her vision was slightly blurry so she couldn't see his face.
"S-Shin…" She mutters quietly.
"Shin?" Athrun figures she must have meant one of her friends. "He's alright, so are the others. Someone contact the base! Tell them we need an evac here!"
"Yes, sir!" One of them responded as he brought out a long-range communication device to contact them.
Athrun then turns back to the girl.
"You're going to be alright now. All of you are." Athrun told her before she passed out as she closed her eyes. "How are they here of all places?"
To Be Continued…The Girl with Blood Red Eyes
There you have it, hope you like it. Review to tell me what you think of the story.
Oh, and in case you're wondering, no I won't be adding the Geass power in this story. Because I feel like it won't fit in the story, especially since some of the characters have supernatural powers.