'The war is over, time for the next one I suppose.'
Alexander Andreas Gustavus Di Britannia
….
My father's laugh was a thing to hear, especially the surprised one. And I have been hearing a lot of it as I told the story of the Asian campaign to the court at Pendragon. Having just regaled them about the great landing of Canton and the defeat of the forces there I was now moving on towards the battle of Shanghai.
My father had found particular amusement in the destruction of the Hainan-fleet hub, finding the entire thing an interesting tactic.
"So there we were, cut off from our main force by a unexpected strike from the Chinese federations newest general, the one known as Xing-ke. The entire Chinese Knightmare division coming straight towards us in a wave of machines and weapons." I swept my arm out flinging the red and gold cloak around my shoulders in a flourish, my golden hair now parted on the right by a thin line of scar tissue.
"Surrounded and outnumbered we had but one option! We charged with a cry! It was a desperate fight, we lost many brave and honorable warriors of the crown! But with a long a terrible battle we were victorious! The death of their Champion and the destruction of their floating fortress both at my hands they were broken!"
A cheer sounded throughout the crowd, the nobles and my father's other spawn in attendance shouting out to me as the hero of the hour. In truth the politics at work here disgust me more than one can imagen, and their praise was more curse then blessing.
"You have done well my Son, you have exceeded even my expectations of you, kneel."
I did as ordered without preamble, kneeling in front of my father's throne.
"For your service to the Empire I name you Arch-Duke of the Islands of Asia, use the islands wealth and manpower as is your right in the service of the Empire. Rise now, Alexander Andreas Gustavus Di Britannia, Arch-Duke of Asia, Marshal of the Pacific, Gilded Lion, my son."
At the thunderous applause I smiled, proud of what I had achieved.
…..
"Clovis, why are you calling me at... four in the morning?"
"I need your advice Dear Cornelia, there have been some issues with dissidents..."
"Alexander owns the pacific Clovis, you know how he hates having his siblings poking at his sphere of influence."
"I do but I simply can't deal with his preaching advice, a new issue has popped up around area 11, someone calling himself the Illusive-man has been stirring up trouble, he has managed to get his people into several departments dealing with sensitive information."
"Alright fine, what do you want me to do about it?"
"I just need your advice, how do you deal with such mafia like figures?"
"By preventing them from popping up in the first place, if they establish themselves such figures are generally untouchable, you might be able to remove part of their operations but digging them out requires more force then you can muster."
"Fuck."
….
The Fortress was taking shape at a rapid pace, we had been salvaging the remnants of the old Chinese forts and batteries, they contained all the basic equipment we needed for the first layers of defense, my Pride Rock would only get the best of course. Taiwan, or area 12 north island, was to be the location of my personal lands, having been granted the title of Arch-Duke of Asia I had was given the responsibility of distributing the land to the various nobles of the Empire.
It was law that the land was still under rule of the Empire, though the nobles were to administer it under guidance of the Viceroy, usually a child of the Emperor or one among their own number. With the influence my titles granted me I saw to it that only the most pliant nobles third sons were raised to the new titles, all loyal to me. The viceroys were a bit more problematic, though I made sure to block my siblings from accepting any such position.
This was necessary to remain in control of the Asian theater, I do not want any further interference in the region. It would be essential that I did not alter cannon any further then I already had, this was why I had limited my interference in Area 11 as much as possible.
I had to lay low for a while, as much as I could in my position at least, I had plans in place, things to be monitored. Never mind the shadow war between the Chinese and myself, raging out in all lands unmonitored by my own forces.
At least I was unlikely to get bored anytime soon.
….
Lelouch stared silently at the map, wondering what to think. With the new acquisitions Britannia became an ever more powerful nation, making fulfilling his oath all the more difficult. He knew, the time for waiting had passed. It was time for action, time to start a revolution. He pulled up his bank accounts, plural, checking his balance.
"500.000 pounds in the gambling account, 100.000 in the old trust account, 32.000 in the Ashford grant. Not much but a start."
632.000 pounds was by no means a small amount, but it would not be even close to enough to begin countering Britannian influence, never mind actually making the empire hurt. Focus Lelouch, remember the lessons thought to you, Alexander thought warfare and how it relates to politics, using favors and leverage to take advantage of ones opponents. Schneizel spoke of unspoken power and the need for a more subtle type of manipulation, one where you made your opponent do something without them knowing it to be in your favor.
He would need to combine the two, and while money was a form of leverage it was not the thing needed to get into contact with those he would need to be manipulated. What other things could he use to his advantage, what did all nobles of Britannia like to pretend they were good at?
Maybe it was time to return to chess? The money was not as good as from poker, and the increase in chance of being recognized was not something that he liked, but the favors that could be gained from it were useful. Extra security would be needed, it might be time to enlist some more organized portions of the remaining Japanese underworld. He heard that portions of the Yakuza were still in operations, though the organization was split, he had heard of a group calling themselves the Green-Dragons were running organized security in the region.
He had to do this, and start now, his brothers and sisters would not wait for him to be ready, the gods only know how much he could gather before an opportunity presented himself.
….
"I don't like this Master."
"I don't either Sayoko, but it's the only way to truly get something off the ground, this illusive-man has been gaining control of the underground for a while now, his invitation is too good to ignore."
"Of course, I just feel the need to inform you of the problems this could pose."
"Noted."
Their car stopped in front of the compound the invitation stated, an emptied garage at the edge of the Tokyo settlement, Sayoko swiftly disappearing into the shadows as he entered, the door opening as he approached. Inside he found nothing but an empty room with a single screen placed against a wall, when he was inside the door behind him closed and the tv popped on.
"Greetings, young man." the screen showed a man seated on a tall backed chair, shrouded in shadow with only the dim light of a cigar in the man's right hand lighting him, he could not see any identifying markers upon him. "No need to try to find out who I am young man, many have tried before and all have failed."
"I am sure." He said, keeping his voice steady and eyes focused, "Why did you invite me here?"
"Straight to the point? Alright I suppose, Lelouch Lamperouge I have come with an offer of aid towards your little crusade." The man said, showing a single eye lit only by the light of his cigar. "Don't look so surprised Boy, you are not as subtle as you might think and I have eyes and ears everywhere, your recruitment of the Green-Dragons has not gone unnoticed."
"I had expected to have a little more time before someone found out that is all."
"You might have had if I was not keeping such a close eye on the former Yakuza, you know that they won't be much use in what you are planning yes?" The man took a puff, "They are brutes and criminals, honorable ones sure but not revolutionaries."
"I suppose that is true, they have other uses of course, but that still has not explained why you invited me here."
"Fair enough, I wish to discuss terms of an alliance between us Lelouch. You wish to fight the Empire and I wish to profit from a distracted and damaged Empire."
"And what would this alliance provide me then?"
"Funding and research primarily, you will need more than just money to fight a war as you are planning." The man took another puff from his cigar, blowing smoke before continuing. "Because of that I will be giving you a base to work out off."
"That is... interesting. But why? That is a lot to give me if you just want me to sow some chaos."
"Saw trough me have you? There is one other thing I desire." The man put out his cigar, a motion filled with anger. "I want the Lion dead."
….
"Alright now, this should work."
"I have heard that from you before."
"Your highness all innovation requires testing! It's the only way we can be sure the concept works!" The scientist continued his efforts to properly align what I suspected to be a focusing array, his projects in the fields of mass destruction had made leaps and bounds, but his insistence on testing his ideas on rebel holdouts was becoming an annoyance.
I had spent most of my time since the end of the war crushing rebel outposts and bases around Indonesia and the Philippines, never boring but slightly monotone as all rebels had very similar strategies. They would harass military transports, destroy infrastructure, blow up barracks and all together be a nuisance for a few weeks before retreating to one of their countless hideouts, where we would slaughter then.
Only for them to reappear a few months later, I have some plans for more permanent solutions to their insurrections but none of them short term. At least Perseus got plenty of action, my combat kills were increasing rapidly, even if those kills were only Gun-ru's and Panzers, it was like blowing a Javelin to scrap using an Atlas but a kill is a kill.
I was torn from my thoughts as the experimental weapon a few meters away rumbled and cracked, I snapped my eyes to it as it shook like a dryer filled with screws, its barrel spat forth a line of blue energy, the weapon going critical as I ignored the explosion it created to see the effects of the blue line. It connected with the Rebel concrete bunkers front in only five seconds, at a distance of 10 kilometers that was rather impressive, its effects were as well, as the front of the bunker was engulfed in a highly unstable blue field that ground the concrete to dust.
"Continue the research into these weapons, I want to know how practical we can make it."
…..
"So young sir, my debt is repaid?"
"Indeed it is my dear Baron, no one will know of your debt to me of course." He answered as he left the nobles manor, the items he requested being loaded into the back of an unregistered truck that would fool any attempts to monitor it. It had been tough to get the right noble indebted to him, but a Baron connected to the Pride Corporation owned by his brother had resulted in him being able to get his hands on a pair of 6 gen reject Knightmares, not ideal of course because they had been rejected for any further production but it was a start.
From what he read about them the first machine SP-003 Spartan-III was a prototype frame meant for his brothers Spartans, but was rejected because none of the original Spartan pilots could handle the massive difference in control interface, despite its considerable increase in performance compared to its predecessor. But he was sure that it would be a fine machine if one was to learn how to control it without learning to control a more standard Knightmare, Sayoko should be able to make use of it at the very least, a body guard both on and off the battlefield.
The other was a nasty piece of work, the UM-01-A Agamemnon, a command unit made for the Lion, but rejected because of its limited combat battery power, its weapons and defenses were superior to the Perseus in many ways, and its command facilities were its equal if not superior, commanding it could control the battle field for hours. But in combat? In combat its energy filler would not last longer than a few minutes, fitting for its name really.
'You will regret losing sight of this one Alexander, for it will be your reckoning.'
….
"So how is the African campaign going dear sister?"
"Quite well Andre, quite well, the euro sponsored governments are putting up strong resistance and the front is so wide that we are lacking for skilled commanders, but our push into Angola has cost us little." Cornelia paused for a moment, I took the time to consider the situation, the African war was a mess and a half politically, the European Union had officially decolonized the continent two years after the Empires victory in Asia, and Schneizel had taken full advantage of it.
My older brother had supported the right people and made sure that our military entering the newly formed nations was completely aggression less in the eyes of the world, yet the Union still had control over large amounts of the newly formed countries through funding rebellions and military takeovers, resulting in a sort of shadow war between the Union and the Empire. So far the Union had recolonized North Africa directly and was supplying weapons and money to all resistance further south, while the Empire was 'Restoring order' by pushing north, all in all it was a convoluted mess, one that was not mine to handle.
"But let's get to the Point Andre, I don't have much time, the army is moving out in an hour, Your Indian Ocean fleet has an inflated Knightmare Battalion attached to it yes?"
"Indeed yes, I am going to assume you would like to borrow it for taking Madagascar?" I did not wait for her to response, "I assume you have already discussed this with our brother yes, I am willing to deploy the Indian Ocean fleet to take the island, I will deploy myself."
"Itching for a fight Andre?" She smirked, she knew of course that I was doing this for more than a fight, but the fact she chose not to speak about it was a comfort. Ever since the hearts and mind campaign had started to bear fruit I had done little fighting, I haven't been in a fight in over half a year. "I will gladly accept your help, as soon as you have taken the island I will deploy some garrison forces to hold it."
"Then I suppose I will prepare, best of luck dear sister."
"The same to you Andre."
…
"It seems the Brit Indian-Ocean fleet is on the move."
"So I have heard, I assume you know more than me as usual."
"But of course Lelouch, the Lion and his bodyguard have just arrive aboard the Kronos along with their Knightmares."
"So the Lion will join the African front... likely an invasion of Madagascar, but what do you have planned?"
"The full extent of my plan is not to be simply told, I am not some cartoon villain after all, but your part is one that I am sure will interest you."
"Oh, well do tell."
"With the Lion on the other side of his territory Clovis will gain temporary control of half the military forces stationed in Japan, to help deal with riots and uprisings, as the communication between him and Japan might take more than a ho-"
"I know standard Britannian military procedures yes, get to the important part."
"Of course, of course, let's just say that certain events will draw forces away from certain supply depos containing certain storages of things that go boom, if you can make sure that a big one of those goes boom I will make sure that a whole bunch of money and classified information arrives at a certain location."
"We have a deal then."
…
I smile as the large transport touches down upon the deck of the Chronos, the massive carriers flight deck barely shaking as the dropship cuts its engines, dropping its ramp down to reveal a sight for sore eyes. Three knights of the Round descend down, Nonnette Enneagram, the Knight of Nine and my old Mentor, Dorothea Ernst, the most fun of my friends, my sisters by bond and some of the few I truly cared about. Along with them was Monica Krushevsky, a woman who I has supported throughout her career and sponsored to position of the Knight of Twelve.
As Ri and Dora hugged each other I gave Nonnette a short bow before being pulled into a bear hug that constricted my chest to the point of suffocation.
"Nonnette, air, please!" finally releasing me with a loud laugh I turned to Dora, the two of us shared a short, far less painful hug, before I shook hands with Monica.
"Good to see all of you again, I am glad that Father has deigned to allow his Rounds to take the field, and I am overjoyed that you chose to aid me in the coming weeks." I watch as Dora hands Nonnette a stack of bills. "You bet on me saying that didn't you?"
"Yes, we did." Dora growled, "Why are you such a giant Ham Andre!"
"Oh fuck off Dora! I am not a Ham, I am just more cultured."
"Yes, cultured." Ri piped in, nodding.
"I can't for the life of me figure out what Ham culture would look like." Monica smirked as she drove another nail into my coffin.
"Et tu, Monica." I mock whispered, the others laughing, before I released a chuckle of my own.
….
"I Despise the heat of Africa, but it does have some good rum."
Alexander Andreas Gustavus Di Britannia