Code Geass: The Force Unleashed R2

by MosesArk Reborn2000

They have won their rebellion, but while the Island nation of Japan knows peace, their world continues to be torn by war and strife, all while forces from beyond their planet gather and scheme. Their rebellion might be over, but the fight is only just beginning. When the forces of both the Light and the Darkness fall upon you, what do you do? Elements of KOTET and KOTFE.

1. The Changing times

It has been 7 long months, but at last-it is here. The second season of Code Geass: The Force Unleashed, which I'm going to call 'Forced Unleashed R2'. It has been some time, but I'm extremely happy to hear from so many people on how much they enjoy this story, even though I know it's not perfect, I'm still working on rewriting old chapters to get rid of as many errors as possible. Still, even knowing all that, many of you have stuck by this story for the whole ride, so I just say from the bottom of my heart, thank you, you're amazing.

Moving on, as I promised in the past, whereas R1 mainly focused on Earth-R2 is going to focus on the wider galaxy as a whole-which means more aliens, space battles, and confrontations with the Sith and Jedi. As you can imagine, their inclusion will shake things up, as the last chapter left off in 3654 BBY, which is one year before the signing of the Treaty of Coruscant, which brought an end to the Great Galatic War between the Sith Empire, and the Galactic Republic and their Jedi allies. Though calling the period that followed a peace would be a lie as anyone who knows a lot about Star Wars lore, or just played KOTOR knows that this period was like a Cold War as the two sides continued on you undermine the other in much the same fashion the US and USSR did, through cloak and dagger, espionage and proxy conflicts.

Don't worry, I'm not going to have another ten-year time skip, but I can say that things are never going to be the same on Earth, or for the galaxy as a whole as I'm adding into factors that weren't in play in the OG timeline. Anyway, enough said lets jump back into the story.

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Chapter 1: The Changing times

5th November 2022 a.t.b. /3652 BBY:

Unknown Region:

Milky Way Galaxy:

Earth/Sol-3:

Japan:

Neo Tokyo:

As the morning sun started to shine through the closed binds, we found ourselves inside the bedroom of a young woman, still within the realm of dreams as she peacefully rests, her blanket covering her up till her messy, scarlet bedhead. However, it seemed like it was time to walk up when the alarm clock on her nightstand went off, it beeping loud and impossible to ignore.

BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP! BEEEP! BEE-!

The alarm was stopped when the young woman slammed her hand onto it, silencing it as she grumbled to herself. She stayed on her bed, covered in layers of blankets before she muttered something about not wanting to be late for work. As she got up, the blankets fell, revealing more of her from her crust closed eyes, the slight line of drool escaping her mouth, landing on the messy, crumbled-up collar of her pink shirt. She looked around her room for a bit, rubbing her eyes as her mental facilities booted up for the day. As her eyes cleared of the worst of it, she spied around her bedroom, seeing familiar shapes and figures such as some pictures of friends and family, posters of past events and festivals, and how her laptop, left on her unorganized desk along with some half-filled college notebooks.

As she got up on her bed, and her bare feet touched the cold floor, she shivered a bit as she recalled how she had slept in just an oversized tee-shirt and her underwear, a big no-no since the heating was out for repair. Either way, the woman stretched her arms above her head, huffing a bit as a slight smile came to her face. In her motion, she revealed more about her figure as while certainly attractive, what stood out was how toned her limbs were. She walked over to her closet and opened it, pulling out a clean pair and underwear and matching bra, along with her work clothes. While she figured out which pair to wear, she heard a knock on her bedroom door.

"Mam, your mother is awake and is waiting for you in the kitchen." A voice announced from the other side of the door, getting the woman to pause in her choice over what to wear.

"Thank you, Natsu. I'll be there(yawn) in a few." She replied as she cracked her neck to the side, feeling the satisfying pop as she smiled to herself.

Finally deciding to be a bit daring today, she chose the red pair, it was both risqué and functional. Laying that on her desk, with her uniform hanging off the chair, she made her way into her bathroom. Once inside the tiled white and blue room, she took off her clothing, dumping them in the hamper before entering the shower, reaching for the hot water on instinct. As she washed herself off, she found her muscles relaxing as her body finally managed to fully wake up. She took her time, enjoying this simple pleasure of life before she finished up, wrapping a light blue towel around her slim, but toned curvaceous form and another smaller one to dry out her hair. She quickly brushed her teeth before finishing up and leaving, making a mental note that laundry day was coming up.

She dried herself off before she dressed up, as she fixed the last button into place, she gave pause as she turned to look at herself in the mirror, taking a moment to look on in amazement at how…in charge, she looked. She would have never dreamed of wearing such a distinguishing officer's uniform but times have surely changed, and very much for the better. She looked herself over one last time, admiring how the grey and red of her uniform complemented one another and seem to look great on her before she finished getting dressed, slipping into her low-heeled dress pumps, and combing her hair into her distinctive spiked style, a remnant of her teenage years.

Within minutes, she was sitting in her small but lived in the kitchen as she and her mother ate their breakfast. The two may have shared similar faces, but one could tell from a glance that they wore them differently as the older woman seemed more peaceful, less inclined to conflict, and serene, though a closer look would see cracks in her eyes, the consequences of actions long passed as she enjoyed her buttered toast and eggs. The daughter's face held totally different signs as while as peaceful as her mother, there was strength in her eyes, even if she was placated for the moment. One could tell she was one of great will, and even greater emotion as she sipped her tea, her eggs already eaten and only leaving a single piece of toast on her plate.

"How do you sleep, mom?" She asked her mother as she ate her breakfast, her eyes looking out the window behind her at some trees.

"It was fine, honey. Thank you for asking." Her mother replied with a tied, but happy-looking smile-the black lines under her eyes clear to see, but not as much as they once had been.

"Are you sure? You know you can talk to me, right?" She asked her, her eyes shining with concern as she reached over and took her mother's hand into her own.

"I do sweetie, and knowing that brings me so much joy. Trust me, I didn't have any issues last night, the therapy's been helping." She replied as she gave her daughter's hand a squeeze to show her appreciation.

"Thank God for that," She muttered to herself as the third person present, the live-in maid washed the morning dishes. "Thank you, Natsu, you're a lifesaver."

"There is no need to thank me, mam. This is what I signed up for." The maid, named Natsu replied with a smile as she went back to cleaning. It may not what she signed up for as she was mainly a live-in nurse but she didn't mind the extra work.

"Oh, that reminds me. Kallen, what are your plans for today?" Her mother asked her daughter, who paused to think about her answer for a moment.

"Nothing much, it mainly works but I should be finished by 5. No way I'm missing our dinner date. That place is expensive." Kallen told her as she found herself quite busy these days, even on the nights she didn't study to finish her bachelor's degree she found herself occupied with something. Maybe she should take up Tamaki's advice to meet up for drinks now that he has a bar.

"I just wish you picked a cheaper place, I know that the bills aren't an easy thing to handle as is." Her mother, Kasumi sighed to herself as while their apartment wasn't some high-end loft, she knew that it was well above average in terms of pricing, and it made her feel worse than she couldn't work in her condition, leaving just about all the bills to her daughter who should be enjoying all that life has the offer in her youth.

"You're worth it, Mom. Besides, we need to celebrate-you're been clean for 7 months," Kallen told her as she hadn't let go of her hand, giving her mother a smile as while she hadn't been completely blindsided by her mother relapsing-she is a recovering drug addict, she was understandably near inconsolable when she got the news from Ohgi that she just collapsed into s seizure when the two met up for lunch. They were lucky they got her to a hospital in time as they were able to get her through the worst of it before she arrived there.

After she found out, she made it clear that her mother couldn't be left to her own devices, hence the live-in nurse in charge of taking care of her. "You're doing better and I want you to know how much that means." And she meant it, even if the Natsu's services weren't cheap-her friends helped to pay for the cost, not even Tamaki refused as the woman used to keep him and her brother in line whenever they messed around, to him she was his aunt.

"Baby girl, just hearing you say that is enough." Kasumi said as she looked at herself, it may have been 7 months sober but she still had trouble sleeping and needed medication to better deal with the side effects of withdrawal, the worst being the shivering and shaky hands.

"But I want to show it." Kallen told her before she looked at the clock and noticed the time. "Crap, I gotta go, have fun at your doctor's appointment!" She said as she got up, grabbed her bag, and was already on her way towards the door where she put on her shoes, having kept them off while she ate.

"Be safe, Kallen!" Kasumi called out to her as Kallen waved over her shoulder as she stepped out, closing the door behind her. "I swear, that girl has more energy than she did when she was 5."

---

Once she exited her apartment building and reach the streets, Kallen decided against driving to work and decided to use public transport. She quickly falls in with the rest of the crowd of people making their way to their jobs before she managed to reach the subway. Being thankful that it was one of the few things Britannia incorporated into their settlement and has only been expanded on since they beat them back. She found herself a seat and sat down, taking out her phone and plugging in her earphones so that she can listen to something as she makes the trip. As the journey went, and the train made its various stops so that more people could enter and leave, she looked around at the other passengers.

Along with the many Japanese…humans aboard, she could also make out aliens as well, folks that as shocking as it was two years, were just like her and making their way to work. Many of whom spoke their native languages which she had no hope in understanding. From the amphibian-like appearances of a couple of Gungans, to the yellow tattooed faces of a group of Mirialans dressed for office work to finally the multi-colored skins and…head tentacles of a group of Twi'leks who seemed to make up the largest group of non-humans present.

She wouldn't lie and say that she was all for opening themselves to the galaxy, after all, it great and all to have in principle but Japan wasn't exactly rolling in money or resources, so she had her misgivings about spreading those limited resources even further but Zero had the rest of them had been extremely convincing, and after nearly two years, the fruits of that hard labor was starting to show as while many thousands came as refugees, runaway slaves and outcasts in general-they brought with them invaluable skills.

As the train moved along its line, she looked out towards the city as it was now. Before, the line she was taking would have a stark contrast between the city built by Britannia, and the ruins they left them in, difference as clear as night and day. But now, she could see how much things have improved as while still present, the ghettos around Tokyo have been shrinking at a slow, but steady rate. Where ruins and rubble once lay, she could see new businesses and housing developments being built. Where she would have once seen squalor and poverty-ravaged streets, she now saw progress and joy as children laughed as they were escorted to schools. Of course, one couldn't notice this without noticing something else, that were the posters and a couple of billboards across the place, even as the train passed through the residential district and continued into the city, one couldn't escape the images of Zero and the Black Knights.

She didn't need to look at them to know what they were, as she had been posed for more than a couple of them herself, along with their images and their symbol being placed everywhere, those posters and pictures came with simple but positive slogans written to inspire and encourage unity, acceptance, loyalty, liberty, and co-operation in the masses. Though she found it amusing that even though she appeared in little of their government's PR material, she still found herself being recognized, something that she knew was the case as on her train, more than a couple of people stared at her as if she were a celebrity, hence the ear-phones as while she appreciated the attention, knowing that she could make someone's day a little better-she had dealt with fans in the past and found that it took a lot of time.

She soon reached her stop and with her briefcase in hand, she made her way to the Black Knight headquarters, which was the former Imperial Bureau, now renovated to suit their needs and to help distance the building from its past. As she walked out of the subway and into the light of day, she could see that Tokyo settlement had started to resemble the city it was named after a little more than before, with crowds of people moving to and fro, traffic cops and robots doing their best to control the chaos, as people went through their days, speaking their native languages without fear of being arrested, of being harassed by police and while many spoke Japanese, from little groups on their way to work to business owners trying to drum off customers, it wasn't the only language as to be found. A point proved when she came to a VMS which said the same thing in Japanese, English, and Twi'leki.

Even more so, she was happy to see that while the government did its part, people on the ground did theirs as while the majority of businesses had signs in either Japanese or English, there were more than a few that embraced other cultures and languages, both from Earth and beyond. She knew things weren't perfect, how could they be after less than a few years, she could still see beggars pleading for scraps and cents, that some folks were on edge, while others looked like they didn't want someone else to be there. Police cars whizzed down the roads, their sirens blaring as they rushed off to fight whatever crime was occurring, something she found to be sad as she knew that despite their victory, hate crimes were still uncomfortable common.

Still, she didn't let this get to her, as she took this all in and only used it to further strengthen her resolve to continue to build a better world as she finally reached the intersection which led to the imposing building that stood as their headquarters. She had to admit, she never thought she would be working out of this building as she spent years fantasizing about destroying it but she supposed that life was filled with the unexpected. As she took a moment to pay a street performer for their music, the jumbo screen on one of the larger buildings, which had been playing the morning news-shifted stories.

"-onto other international news. Once more the balance of power as shifted as EU forces have managed to capture Port Said, located at the mouth of the Suez Canal-it was a major trade hub in the former Middle Eastern Federation, till it was captured by Britannian forces led by Princess Cornelia 3 years ago. Our reporters on the ground have more." That caught Kallen's attention as she looked up towards the screen and saw the feed switch from the newsroom, to a bird's view of the destroyed city. Honestly, she wasn't surprised to see the place in near-absolute ruin, still burning wrecks of both knightmares and other vehicles still present across the feed, with citizens being seen aiding the Europeans in clearing roads, white sheets covering sheets visible due to the size of the groupings of them.

"We are currently flying over the city and as you can see, the battle to take the city was a fierce one, one that lasted a full three and a half weeks and saw tens of thousands die on both sides. Now, we can't set foot in the city as we're been told that along with destroying most of the infrastructure before they retreated, the Britannians laid hundreds of mines and other traps throughout the city. Already, we'll receive reports of over 85 EU soldiers being killed by this and many more injured." The woman in a news chopper relayed to them, the situation on the ground sounding as grim as the footage as another smaller screen popped in the corner showing how the lands that once made up Area 18 had diminished somewhat in recent times.

"With this latest defeat for the Britannian, Britannian forces have now lost full control of the Suez and with it and with it, Britannia's hold on the rest of the middle east is in jeopardy. Already there are reports of wide-scale protests and uprising across the remainder of Area 18, but with the fall of Damascus to Russian and Greek forces last year, and the capture of Jerusalem by a joint French and Italian forces, it seems that the Area 18 days are numbered." She remembered that one, the Britannian ambassador had kicked up a major fuss over the fact that Russian units who had attacked and taken Damascus had been fielding GINNS, citing that it broke the terms of their non-aggression pact but Kaguya had been firm in that the terms said nothing about arms deal to foreign countries, and that the Russians were free to do with them as they did.

"In other world news, Prime Minister Schneizel has called for restrictions on power consumption, this comes as a response to the growing energy crisis in the Britannian heartland. Reports are scarce but rumors say that entire neighborhoods can find themselves without power for hours at a time. With Japanese/Britannian relations as they are, it is unlikely that the high price paid by imperial importers for Sakuradite will go down soon." That one had a divisive effect on the ground as some believed that the energy crisis in Britannia was justice, others didn't have an opinion which was mainly the aliens and lastly, some people thought that Britannia's people shouldn't be made to suffer as reports of hospitals struggling to keep the lights on were no joke.

"And before we go, a friendly little reminder to the nation that the Liberation Day parade has finally been set in stone as the 7th of December. Also, some good news for those families that went to enjoy the festivities together as the government has passed a new law that will make the day a national holiday. I hope you have some fun time with your kids." The feed cut from footage of Schneizel walking out of some government back to the studio, the change being jarring but the news was always like that as she went back to heading to work, hearing people in the crowd discuss the upcoming holiday, the first of their new nation. Some were excited, others concerned that it may be too soon but she didn't let that stop her.

"Morning." Kallen introduced herself as she reached the entrance to the building, which was staffed with a couple of armed guards. As it was their HG, security was not taken lightly as she had to hand one of the other guards her ID so that they could compare it to what they had on record. As she was speaking with one of them as she placed her bag on an x-ray machine along with other stuff like her watch and phone before walking through an x-ray machine.

"Mam. Are you excited about the news?" The man monitoring the x-ray machine asked once her stuff her been cleared, they just waited on confirmation for herself now.

"Hard not to be, I hear that they'll be pulling out all the stops for this." Kallen replied as the system flashed a match for her, revealing her to be Major Kallen Kozuki, something she was quite proud of as she earned that promotion through hard work and dedication.

"I honestly can't wait. My siblings have been going in about it for a month." He replied with a chuckle as she was cleared and while she grabbed her watch and phone, another person walked up, leaving them to redo the process with them. "Enjoy your day, Major." The scanner operator told her as he handed her ID back.

"And you as well." Kallen told him as she grabbed her back and walked in. As she entered the building, she quickly found an elevator and used it to get to her floor, once there she walked through the office space, greeting people as they went as they themselves went about their day. Having spent most of her early time with the Black Knights in the field, she still found the office environment somewhat foreign to her, from the bland colors and cubicles, to the sounds of people typing away at computers, calls being called, and quiet conversations about any number of topics related to their jobs. Even now she felt like a fish outta water, even if she could get her job done just fine.

Another change she was more used to was the fact there were more aliens here than she had seen on the way to work, which made sense as the Black Knights had been recruiting them even before they started their operations on Earth, and as SK…Suzaku liked to say, the fact that they worked together-human and aliens gave them hope to believe one day Earth would be united under a common banner, where these pointless wars their planet had been fighting would cease. It was a pretty dream, one that she hoped to create and live in one day.

Kallen soon reached her office and once inside, she took a moment to look around at the space that was her as of only recently seeing how even as a First Lieutenant, she was stuck on a cubicle much like the rest of them. Now that she had her own space, she took the time to decorate it too, with pictures of her mother, brother, and friends on her work desk along with some other store-bought décor to liven up the space. What she did put on the wall was a picture of her and her Guren, it having been taken some time after they defeated Cornelia and the Black Knights had an impromptu victory parade through the streets.

"Well, got to get to work." Kallen said to herself as she went to her desk and booted up her desktop. Placing her bag at her side as she'll work through the documents she had taken him later. "The sooner I finish this, the sooner I can move on to other matters." She added as she saw that she had received an email with information pertaining to candidates for the Zero squad, all of them have been members during the rebellion and had good track records but they could only take the cream of the crop, so she went to work weeding out those she thinks made the cute before she'll forward this to Tierra to verify.

---

(Later that day, with Ohgi)

"Alright class, let's take out seats." Ohgi, now a teacher again, called out to his class full of teens as he wiped the whiteboard clean. Like the school he once taught at before the war, these students wore uniforms as the boys wore navy trousers, white long-sleeved button shirts, black shoes, and light blue jackets with gold trim and linings with the Ashford logo on its neck. The girls much like the boys wore the uniforms of the junior high division of Ashford which for them meant pink pinafores, white long-sleeved buttons shirts, red ties with the school logo printed on them, and finally white knee socks and black shoes.

Once the student had settled into their seats, with the larger ones taking seats further back to allow shorter students a better view of the front, Ohgi went by his desk and picked up a stack of papers before he started walking through the class, handing them to students by name which meant moving to and fro. "Mr. Ohgi, these are our tests." One of the students, Edward Colsterworth, realized what they were once he got his.

"Yeah, no shit, idiot. What did you think it was, a diploma?" Another student mocked him while some laughed at that, causing Edward to blush from the embarrassment.

"Akao, enough. We don't insult one another in this class, understand?" Oghi scolded the one who spoke hp, Maki Akao as he starred her down until she also blushed as she backed down.

"Yes sir." She muttered as she crossed her arms, he kept his gaze on her before he moved on to finish up giving his students their tests. Once he finished that, he gave Edward an encouraging smile as he walked back towards the front and picked up a piece of black marker.

"I was about to say, yes Edward, these are your tests. I was able to finish grading them last night and want all of you to take a close look at them." He told them as the students took the moment to look at their tests and he could see that many weren't too pleased with what they were seeing, neither was he as he graded them.

"As some of can see for yourselves, you did very well while others need to make some improvements." He spoke up, as he saw out of the class of 20, around 6 looked extremely proud of themselves, those were the ones he knew scored above 70% while another 4 looked pleased since they passed it with at least 50% while the rest have failed with the lowest having only scored a concerning 15% for the test.

"Crap, my mom's gonna kill me!" Suzumura said to himself as he grabbed his head, a feeling he could understand as he was the one that scored that 15%. As he did this, his friend Folhe gave him a comforting back on the back even if he knew that the Mon Calamari girl only scored 32%.

"Oh yeah, 85%!" Though, that didn't seem to phase Akao as she had scored one of the higher marks on the test which came as no surprise as the girl was extremely dedicated to her schooling, with other teachers and students often saying she was mainly found in the school library. Now, if only he could help her with that superiority complex…

"Not bad, but my 92% blows you outta the water." Another student, a clearly happy Togruta named Kabrees bragged as he held up his paper, showing that he had scored the highest in the class. Still, seeing how the students were starting to get into it, he decided to cut things short before they wasted any more time.

"People, you brag about your grades to each other later. Right now, we'll be going to look over some of the material again as many of you didn't do so well." Ohgi told them as he started writing some stuff on the whiteboard, namely about trade in the outer rim.

"But sir, it's not our fault, this stuff is hard as hell." Vincent, the white-haired boy complained as he laid his head on the table.

"Yeah, how can we be expected to pick up Galactic economic principles? Most of us didn't even know there was a Galactic economic anything two years back." Kusakabe agreed with him, and while Ohgi had no ill will towards him for the actions of his uncle-the boy did have a resemblance to the man that was uncanny.

"Which is why we're learning about it. You can't bury your head in the sand and expect to get far in life, many of you may one day find yourselves working in fields where you'll need this knowledge." Ohgi told them that with things as they were now, Japan and the rest of the Earth couldn't afford to learn as much about the wider galaxy as a whole so that they may take their place in it. It wasn't like their class didn't have off-worlders in it already.

"But it's haaard!" Elizabeth, one of the students who had been at Ashford since before the fall of the Britannian colonial government, moaned to which Kaname pointed towards his desk where a copy of the textbook that they were using sat.

"This material was purposely crafted for students of your level, I have absolute faith that each of you can grasp it through hard work and study, now because this will be on your finals-we'll go through it again and we'll retake the exam on Monday." He told them and this time around, even those who got passing grades moaned and complained as he didn't pay it much attention and kept on writing on the board so that they could get on with the day's lesson.

"I'm giving you an opportunity to do better, I hope you take advantage of it." He told them as he finished writing and turned to face them, pointing at the top of the list of stuff he had written down. "Now, we'll start again with a summary of major trade goods in the outer rim…"

---

(Later)

RRRIIIIINNNG!

"Don't forget to revise pages 134 through 146!" Ohgi yelled at his students as they call rushed to back their stuff and get out to lunch period.

"Yes sir!" The class called out as they all but ran out of the room, leaving behind one of the more polite and cordial students. Ohgi was packing his stuff as he noticed she was still present.

"Anything I can do for you, Ms. Crercie?" Ohgi asked the Chiss girl who walked up to his desk. He didn't understand why she was in his class, nor because she wasn't capable or out of some racist belief held against her, but because she was the Chiss were not ones to venture out into the galaxy and Earth was also part of the unknown regions, the two had only just begun to communicate with one another the other day.

"Please sir, I would prefer if you call me Revarce." Ms. Crecie, now identified as Revarce, asked of him as she looked up the man, her red eye gaze somehow not as intimidating as he had been told her peoples could be.

"If that is what you want, Revarce, but you still haven't answered the question." Ohgi asked her with a welcoming smile, one that she didn't return but she did seem to lose tension.

"I was hoping that I could come back after school for extra classes." Revarce asked, a little color on her cheeks at asking for help, which he found to be admirable as it wasn't like she was struggling in his class, she did score 78 on the test but there was an issue with this.

"Strange, I was under the impression you were in the debate club, don't they meet on Wednesdays and Fridays?" He asked as he had walked by the classroom they use enough time to guess their schedule.

"We do, but our meeting was canceled for today. Speaking of which, I was hoping we could do something like this every now and then?" Revarce replied to his inquiry. Seeing that he was free that afternoon, at least for a while, he saw no need to refuse her.

"As long as I have some free time, sure but I can only stay after school for around an hour and a half." Ohgi told her as she gave him a light smile as she bowed to him, a gesture he returned.

"Thank you, sir. That's fine for now." She told him, they could maybe work out a better schedule for this later, she got what she came for.

"If that is all?" He asked and she didn't raise any more requests, he gestured towards the clock. "Then you should head for lunch, you only have half an hour." He told her as she nodded her head and left the classroom, something he did right after her as he made his way to the faculty lounge, taking the scenic route to better appreciate the atmosphere of Ashford academy. As he walked through the halls of the school, he couldn't help but think about how he got here.

It was true that once he joined up with the Black Knights, he didn't make much of a splash. Some of his friends seem to find something they could do and went with it. K tarō transitioned from making explosive triggers and IEDs to working on large to more sophisticated explosive ordnance before he got approved for a transfer to the medical unit where he remains as a military doctor. Minami the gal went into research and development and hasn't moved since, though she has been promoted to the rank of Captain for her efforts. Sugiyama made a name for himself in the artillery corps and recently got promoted to First Lieutenant while Inoue hadn't been promoted but she was happily working in logistics with the rank of Second Lieutenant as she was vocal about how much she got along with people there and how essential she was to it all.

Yoshida tragically wasn't with them, having died in a fire a year ago but Ohgi took comfort in the fact that his friend lived long enough to see their homeland free and recovering. Minami the guy transferred to the navy and was the only one of them to do that, currently serving on an escort carrier that was on deployment. He didn't know where but he had a feeling his friend would feel them in later about what it was like to serve in space. Tamaki was the one that shocked them all as he made his mark as a surprisingly good mechanic for knightmares and while he wasn't the sharpest tool-he was great with his hands and it showed. Which made it all the more baffling when he told them all that he quit and bought a run-down bistro to make his own. Kallen didn't think he would succeed, even making a bet about it but 7 months in and his business was doing well, so she ate her words.

Kallen…of them all, she had flown the highest with the Black knights and while he still had his misgivings about her putting her life on the line, something he didn't think would ever change, he knew that she was strong enough to protect herself, more than strong enough going from the reputation as even though she hadn't seen action since Japan was freed, people still refer to her as the 'Zero's right hand'. The pilot and monster that sent more imperials to an early grave than any other. He didn't know the official kill count, but he had heard his student talk about it and they seem to think she defeated at least 300 imperial knightsmares which he thinks is much too high.

And then there was him. He didn't have any particular skills, and while he wasn't bad as a soldier, he wasn't exceptional in any way either. He was just…average. Good enough and not much else. By the end of it, he hadn't even risen past the rank Corporal. He didn't hold resentment for it, or for his friends to succeed while he plateaued. He knew that he wasn't much of a leader, nor was he a particularly good tactician or fighter. He was good at teaching, he wanted to teach again. So he quit and went off looking for a job. He struggled in the beginning as most places either didn't exist yet as schools hadn't been built or rebuilt and the ones that didn't want a man whose teaching skills were a decade rusty.

It still stung his pride that Kallen was the reason he was here. Once she heard of his troubles, she apparently pulled some strings and got him a meeting with her classmate and now the owner of Ashford holdings, Milly Ashford. The woman is…eccentric to say the least, for most of the 'interview' he had no clue if she was taking it seriously or just screwing with him. Honestly, he now understood why the girl did her best to keep her distance from her as she left him worried, blushing, and confused after that meeting. Then the literal next day, he gets a call saying he got a position as a teacher's assistant. Once he got over his surprise and managed to make it to work, he once more met with the crazy blonde and her lover(he thought she was married but it wasn't his business) and she explained that because he was rusty, he'll be shown the ropes by one of the teachers that opted to remain post-liberation and once he was satisfied with his skills, he'll be made a full teacher. That also meant his pay was two-thirds what he should be but once more, he wasn't complaining.

That was almost a year ago.

Still, it could be worse. Ashford despite its former status as a school for the elites was surprisingly accepting. Where other parts of the country seem to always be close to burning from racial tension-Ashford was like this little bubble where the outside world didn't matter. As he looked out the window, he saw a group of 7th-graders playing ball and while most were Japanese kids, three of them were aliens. Off by the side, a group of girls ate their lunch and laughed at something, and in their group-there was a few Britannian girls. He also saw a teacher scolding some students who what appeared to have been tripping a Britannian lad whose lunch was now all over the floor.

This was what he wanted for the world. For people to be able to just understand one another, to get along and when trouble arose-it being dealt with quickly and effectively. He wouldn't lie and say he was super comfortable with his classes being 35% aliens but he dealt with it by just focusing on the fact they're students here for an education in a safe environment, everything else came secondary. And with the Zero's reveal, Ashford like many other schools in Japan had to adapt their curriculum to adjust, adding classes for galactic politics, history, commence, etc. Most of which were taught by aliens who had teaching backgrounds themselves, making him the only earthling in the school that did the same.

---

(Black Knight Headquarters – Suzaku's office)

"The answer is no." Suzaku said, his tone speaking more than the actual words he spoke but the person he was talking to didn't seem to let stop them.

"Oh, but come on! You've seen my work!" Kaya complained as she slumped into the chair she was seated on. The two of them were currently inside Suzaku's office within Black Knight headquarters, it was much larger than Kallen's downstairs, with a more impressive window view of the city behind them but that was to be expected as it was the once the office of the Sub-viceroy of the former Area 11, God that good to say. Still, he hadn't done as much as she had to decorate the place, with it only having the token painting, potted plants, and a tapestry of his family's shrine.

Because of his role in the liberation and his high rank within the Black Knights, he was named as second in command to the armed forces, with only Lelouch himself as his superior. Still, despite that, there were many peaks and responsibilities that he had going for him and with Lelouch himself currently off-world, any and all military matters went through him. Which included any discussions to propose to the government an increase to their budget.

"What you're asking for is nearly double the budget and resources you were allocated for the next three months." He told her as he held up the 'proposal' if you could even call it that his lover had walked in and all but dropped on his desk. She may have changed since they were kids, with the woman actually wearing more office-friendly clothing of a white blouse, blue slacks, and flats(something he found to be highly attractive on her) while he wore white and blue robes, with noticeable less armor then what he used to with the only pieces he still had on him being around his forearms, upper torso, shins, and knees. His helmet was off to the side of the desk.

"Quality over quantity I always say. Why else do you think our knightmares are so high-end?" Kaya reminded him, seemingly thinking she had him on the ropes as they only finished those beauties because she and the rest of the R&D department had a blank check.

"True, but that is part of the reason we can't afford to give you anymore as we'll still struggle to balance out the defense budget because you went over budget with the knightmares." He replied, as while he knew that their machines have more than proven their worth in battle, it was proving to be difficult to balance things out even though they sold a number of them to the Russians to try and help with that.

"If I had the money right now, I could finish the project by the end of the week." She tried to gain his approval as she knew that without his say, she would never get this to the committee.

"It's already 11 months overdue, you're not helping your case." Suzaku reminded her as they had ordered the R&D had promised them this would be complete almost a year ago, then when they were a month late-they promised that they needed only another two months-after that they again said that they'll be ready for the Liberation Day parade which at the time everyone knew would be sometime in December. In response to this, Kaya just pouted like she was still 12 as she crossed her arms.

"Hey, this isn't a simple construct a better engine. This took a hell of a lot of time just on the drawing board. It's why I need the additional resources, I mean, I'm good." Kaya bragged as she flicked one of her Lekkus back over her shoulder, she had pink tattoos added to them recently. "But not that good." She finished as he just sighed.

"And how am do obtain that? I can't just start printing money." Suzaku asked her as while military leaders were meant to stay out of government, he knew enough to know that it wasn't like they had money to spare.

"Oh, I can think of a few ways you could," Kaya said as she got up, a flirtatious look in her eyes as she sashayed over to him before taking her seat, right in his lap. "And a few ways that I could…thank you for it." She whispered into his ear as he grunted when she started moving in ways that he knew would lead to them getting…physical.

"Tempting, but the answer is still no." Suzaku said as he moved to wrap his arms around her, but alas it was for naught as with a huff, she got up-angry that her scheme didn't work.

"Fine! Then I guess you better get used to sleeping on the couch." Kaya told him as she turned to storm out of his office, which would have had more impact if he thought she was angry at him.

"Wait, for how long?" He couldn't help but ask, a small smile on his face as she paused and turned to him, her face cuter than scary with that pout.

"As long as I'm mad at you!" She told him as she moved to leave, a gleam on her hand as she passed through a ray of light.

"So…maybe a couple of days?" He teased her as she paused, but didn't turn again as she kept on moving.

"Why did I marry a smart-ass." Kaya muttered to herself as she left the room, slamming his door on the way out and no doubt scaring his secretary.

'Why indeed?' He wondered to himself with a fond smile as he looked down at his hand, his gloves absent from his hands as he looked towards his right hand, the one he wore his wedding band on which matched the one his wife wore on her left hand. He got lost in memory before he was pulled back into reality by the buzz of the phone on his desk. "What is it?" He asked after pressing and holding the answer button.

"Sir, the parade route you requested has arrived. Shall I forward it to you?" His secretary informed him. Hearing this, he straightened up as he had been meaning to look through the route that the planners wanted to ensure nothing would have the chance to go wrong.

"Please."

"Oh and sir?" His secretary responded unexpectantly.

"Yes?" Suzaku asked, wondering if there was another matter that had come up that needed his attention.

"It's about damn time you married her, we were honestly sick and the waiting game. I heard that Zero was close to just ordering one of you to propose." His secretary joked, clearly, he had been wrong to assume that he wouldn't have known that he and his wife discussed.

"Don't you have better things to do than make fun of your boss?" He told him as he cut the line, he didn't need to be reminded of how long the two of them were just fuck buddies before they just admitted that they wanted to be together-together.

---

(Meanwhile, with the United States of Japan Senate)

While Suzaku dealt with both his work and the jokes from those close to him, things kept moving on around the country. Which brings up away from Tokyo and towards the old imperial capital of Japan-Kyoto. Because it was here that we find the People's Federal Temple, the Senate buildings, and nerve enter of the government. Built on the same site as the former Kyoto Imperial Palace which had been largely destroyed during the war and then left to root despite Kyoto's best efforts, thousands and workers and even more worker droids had been used to clear away the old structure and construct this glorious building in only 8 months.

The site was made up of three primary buildings, each housing a major branch of government or will be as many positions hadn't been filled yet. The first two were a little under 48m, 13 floors including ground level with one housing the Senate chamber and the other housing the Federal courts which in time will house 12 Supreme judges. The last building was the largest and arguably the most important of the two has it was almost 80m, 25 floors and both housed the executive branch but also the official residence of the president.

Despite being made from steel and concrete, the architects and buildings had done what they could with the resources they had been given to make it was dissimilar to the old Bureau building, so they incorporated more non-earth designs with it, leaning it words a Mon-Calamari design, to pay homage to this, there dozens of trees sprouts planted everywhere as well as a multitude of gardens with ponds and streams located all over the place, with some vines being cultivated to grow down the walls of the blue building to play towards the maritime vibe.

But for all its beauty and appeal, within the senate chambers was anything but as a shouting match between the members of the chambers was going strong as the Vice-chair who slammed his gavel, its slam resonating through the chambers thanks to the microphone close by.

"Order! Order! Let senator Mashima speak." The 40 something-year-old man called out as the rest of the room quieted down to allow for the senator in question to continue what he had been saying before he was interrupted.

"This is not a matter of what is right and wrong. We can't afford to be fooled. The military budget needs to be increased before the Chinese or Britannians can try anything!" Senator Mashima, a Japanese man in his late 30s yelled as he slammed his fist onto his desk.

"The Black knights have seen massive growth since the day of liberation, with their numbers standing 5 times greater. What we can't afford to just keep throwing money and resources which could be better spent elsewhere." Another senator spoke up, bringing attention to the fact that they needed to be smart with their funds else they run out.

"Money is not an issue, as we do have options as to where to get it." Another senator, a 51 Britannian man who had once been a member of the Black Knights intelligence office spoke up.

"You mean to increase our already massive national debt? We already owe the Russians and Germans tens of billions. You would have us increase that?" Someone else demanded, her accusation clear for hear.

"The French have been quite open in their willingness to open new lines of credit to us?" Another member spoke up, taking the side of those who wished to increase their spending capacity through loans.

"And become slaves to Paris? Have you no pride?!" A former member of the JLF, a member of one of the more conservative factions denounced that out of line, which caused others to start to argue as well before the vice-president slammed his gavel once more.

"Better that then be destroyed by our enemies!"

"But is it not our job to protect and serve our people? What good would it be to further increase the military budget as millions live in squalor?" Someone spoke up, grabbing the attention of the entire chamber as they turned to see it was one of their younger members, no older than 30. Senator Granville, a Britannian with strong French ancestry, the man was both young and handsome with combed coal-black hair and warm brown eyes. He was someone that Nunnally believed she could get along with.

"And you have a solution for this, senator?" Senator Mashima asked of him, to which he nodded his head as he stood up to say his piece.

"Once more, I need to remind the chamber that the bill I proposed to the chamber last week would not only allocate additional funds to help businesses grow, but it will also ensure that tens of thousands of workers already employed don't work themselves to death making it law to allow them better access to paid sick and leave days." He explained but found himself cut off by someone.

"And yet you haven't explained where the money would come from to pay workers who aren't even contributing to the economy. Your crazy bill would cost our country millions a day." He took in stride, with only a frown showing how he felt about that interruption as he carried on.

"Again senator, the bill covers possible sources to meet the monetary requirement-!" He tried to continue but once more he was cut off, this time more forcible.

"But it doesn't offer a definite solution, does it?" Seeing that things were about to start the 8th shouting match of what was supposed to be a 3-hour session, which had stretched out to a 5-hour one-Nunnally stepped forward.

"Fellow senators! We can't allow ourselves to fall into a pointless debate. It is true that our defense forces are small in comparison of the armies fielded by our enemies, but we have been assured by Black Knight command that they'll be able to fend off any possible attacks." She spoke up, drawing the eyes and ears and the chamber as she stepped forward, her flowing robes dancing as she moved. Much like Suzaku, she had gone through a wardrobe change these past two years and her current attire was white, pink, and green. Not only that, where an old get-up was more traveling Jedi orientated, what she wore now was more orate and ceremonial-fitting her role as a kind of priestess or oracle.

"What is needed now is for us as the government elected by our people to do all we can within power to provide for them. I believe that some measures need to be made for paid sick leave, but the bill proposed by my fellow senator is far too ambitious in its current form. The fact of the matter is that our government and economy is far too weak to handle such." She told them, taking neither side in the debate that had been raging for so long but while she had considerable pull, she was not a member-only an guest in this chamber.

Seeing that things won't get done as they stood now, the president of the Senate rose her hand, the gesture commanded silence from the room as the people present waited for what the dark-haired woman would say. "I believe that things are getting too heated for healthy, sensible debate. I now call for a 1-hour break." Kaguya Sumeragi, the first president of the Senate, spoke. Though her words were spoken up as a request or a suggestion, all present know that this was all but absolute degree from the woman. She may have been only 19, but she had years' worth of experience in business and politics and a solid background in aiding the resistance that brought them to power. Throw in the rumors that she was one of Zero's lovers, and it was clear that her word was law.

"I believe that would be…for the best, Madam President." Not even Senator Mashima, the leader of her strongest opposition to her and her own faction, would dare go against her unless absolutely necessary. With that, Kaguya picked up her own gavel and slammed it down, bringing her decision into effect.

"Then it is decided. This meeting of the chamber is adjourned!" She declared the senators present all got up from their seats and either went off to talk with one another, discuss something with their aides or leave the chamber. Nunnally was with the latter group as she signed to herself as she walked off, along with her own aides and assistants…man, she still wasn't used to having aides and assistants. Unlike the politicians that she had been dealing with, her little group had both handmaidens who dressed in a similar fashion to her and young force sensitives who were training to take up similar roles that she did within their group.

"I can't believe that we haven't gotten anything done today." She said to herself as they walked out of the chamber and down the corridor. All around them were more government aides, as they walked, she also took notice of the guards, Black Knights who had been chosen to protect this building and those within it, and to differentiate them from the rest, their dress uniform was purple and white. Still, she had things to do so she handed off some papers to one of her handmaidens.

"Mam?" The maiden in question, a rather tall Gungan, asked her as she turned to face them.

"Take these to my office, I'll be there shortly." She instructed the girl who she knew was only 15 who nodded her head in return.

"Of course, mam." And with that, she walked off, not rushing but moving with a purpose as she and the rest of them continued on.

"Mam, I think it would be wise for you to speak with Lord Kururugi." Another asked as they all suspected that he to be involved with the proposed increase in military spending but she didn't buy it.

"That won't do any good, I doubt that the push for further spending is coming from him," Nunnally replied as she knew her friend and knew him well, he would have been there personally if this was his work. No, someone else was behind this.

"Still, I find myself agreeing that perhaps we should be more ambitious with our social welfare programs." One of the former younglings, a dark-skin lad around 12 years of age spoke up as he had been confused throughout the meeting. He had never seen debates back on Coruscant but he had thought politics would be more straightforward and less…boring.

"My lady, if I may be so bold." One of her other handmaidens, a fiery Ming Po woman, asked for permission to speak which she gave with a hand wave.

"Speak."

"Why can't we afford senator Granville's bill? If more jobs allowed workers the freedom from the fear of the financial nightmares that came with missing work for reasons outside their control, wouldn't that increase support for the government?" She asked Nunally, something that she took a moment to think about as while things were complicated, she needed a way to explain it best as she knew that while outgoing and confident, the maiden asking the question was a slave of Mandalorians and never received a proper education. Or at least, she had been one till she had liberated them. It brought her no joy to cut down her slavers as life was something to be held precious, but they had chosen their fates when they refused to surrender and thought she would go down like any Jedi.

She proved them wrong very quickly.

Still, that meant that while she chose to follow by her own free will, she was often dumbfounded by the complicated environment around her.

"Governments can always increase their budgets through such measures, but the problem is that one must weigh the pros and cons on a larger picture." She explained the best way she could to her as they moved. "The fact of the matter is we need to be pragmatic about this. Good deeds don't feed families, or protect homes. Not in politics anyway." She told her the sad truth that one couldn't just act like some white knight, not if they wanted to last long enough to do anything as politics was all about compromises and coalition.

"It makes one long for the days when all we had to concern ourselves with was a victory, doesn't it?" Someone else spoke up, grabbing their attention to see the President herself walking up to them with a passive smile. At her side were two bodyguards who dressed differently from the rest as these two had more orate uniforms, signifying them as honor guards. At her arrival, Nunnally's entire entourage bowed in respect to her, herself included.

"Madam President." Nunnally greeted her to which she motioned for them to stop as she walked up to Nunnally, who despite being a couple of months younger, was a little taller than the leader of the Senate and arguably the 2nd most powerful person in the state.

"If you all allow it, I would like to borrow your boss for a moment." Kaguya said as she turned to the rest of them, her request catching them off guard while none of them dare oppose, they also found this to be quite odd and wished for more. Seeing this, Nunnally elected to make the choice for them and answer whatever questions she needed to later.

"It is alright, I shall catch up with the rest of you later. I presume that this is important, Madam President?" Nunnally told them as she turned back to Kaguya, who only nodded her head as she turned around to walk away.

"Of course, if you'll follow me back to my office." Kaguya responded, fully expecting her to fully and seeing how she already agreed, she did so. The two of them walked along for a bit, passing by others who greeted Kaguya or asked her simple questions as they went, this delayed them but eventually, they reached her office. Once inside, the door was closed behind them as the two guards stayed outside, giving them some privacy.

"Would you like a drink?" Kaguya offered as she walked over to the small bar built into the office. The room itself was built opulent and spacious with a small area with a coffee table and couch where she no doubts met with people and her workstation on an elevated platform towards the back which gave her an excellent view of the former Kyoto Settlement. Drapes of black, blue, and green were hung around the room.

"Thank you, but no. We still have work to get back to later." Nunnally replied as she took a seat on one of the couches, Kaguya hearing her response only giggled as she poured two glasses anyway before walking over, handing one towards her guest.

"I never said it was alcoholic. Orange juice." She told her as Nunnally tool the offered drink as Kaguya sat down on the opposite couch as she took a sip of her own drink.

"It's funny, even as a child I knew that I would one day have a place in government, but I was told it was to be a bridge instead of a figure with power." Kaguya mused with a wistful smile. She couldn't remember a time when she wasn't being prepped for her future role when she wasn't treated like some piece on a grand game. But she could see the irony in it as while she did become an important figure in politics, her role was supposed to be as a wife to some important figure, a means to continue her family's influence in government much like her aunt and mother.

"Must have been weird knowing you were engaged to your cousin." Nunnally said as she took a sip of her own drink, in response to that Kaguya only offered her a knowing smile.

"That's rich coming from a British royal, how many of your ancestors were related again? I'm pretty sure that at least one of old Charlie's wives is one of his half-sisters." She asked her in return, getting Nunnally to cough into her hand to hide the little blush she had. It was no secret that her family carried on with the practice of incest, sure they made sure that they didn't overindulge and end up like the Habsburg's but that didn't mean it was rare for distant cousins to marry.

"I have no idea, but I'm pretty sure that more than a few of my half-siblings were sired by such couplings. Still, you didn't answer the question." Nunnally answered as she was far too young to really know these things before she and her brother were exiled, and she barely looked into it ever since still-she was pretty sure that at least one of her father's consorts was related to him but to be fair, many of the higher ranking noble families had blood ties to the imperial family-even if they were weak ones.

"It was…normal for a lack of a better word. It wasn't like I really knew what marriage was, all we did know was that one day-we'll be parents ourselves after we married. As we got older and realized more, we sort of accepted it. It was for the good of our country, for our people." Kaguya told her that when she started to understand what she was being set up for, what she was told she'll have to do. She was sad and angry. In all her books and stories, people married who they wanted to, who they loved but there she was, due to marry someone that she neither wanted to nor loved. She imagined it was the same for her cousin, but she never really spoke about it with him, too embarrassed.

"Funny how things turned out." Nunnally pointed as since as sad as it was, Kaguya was the only remaining Sumeragi, her parents having been either killed in the war or during the occupation. She had relatives sure, but they were either distant or not blood-related to her.

"Yep, he left me for an alien mechanic. And he said he wasn't a weeb." Kaguya said, almost as if she was speaking to herself as she supposed that she hadn't changed in that regard, she was still going to marry someone more out of duty and for her people, but the only difference this time was that she wanted it.

"Excuse me?" Nunally made a face at that, confused over the term to which Kaguya waved off.

"Nevermind. Point is that it wasn't like I didn't get anything out of it. My own office, actual power to do things, and the love of the most powerful man in the country." Kaguya swooned at the end there, getting an exasperated look from Nunnally as she would have thought the girl would have given up on this a long time ago but nope! She was as determined as ever.

"I can give you that, if nothing else, you're a stubborn one. You do realize my brother is married with kids, right?" Nunnally couldn't help but chuckle at the insanity of this. Her question was brushed off as Kaguya didn't seem to care about that point.

"Oh please, as if he'll be the first Shogun to have more than one lover. I'm going to make sure that he follows traditions." Kaguya said as she licked her lips towards the end, and as much as Nunnally found the thought of her brother being intimate with others…disgusting, she knew Kaguya wasn't wrong. Powerful leaders took multiple lovers all the time, hell their own father had more wives than most had relatives. Harems are also a thing in Japanese history but had fallen out of fashions since the Meiji restoration which saw the end of the Shogunate so she wasn't too sure that people would be open to a practice they thought was done away with it.

"Come now, don't give me that look, we do have to get back to business. These new bills, what do you think about them?" Kaguya steered them away from that as she finished as drink and place it down, crossing her legs as she leaned back into her seat-a a picture of a woman with power.

"Senator's Granville's heart is in the right place, I'll give him that but while I do believe that workers should have more protections and incentives to work, we simply can't afford it now." Nunnally started as she voiced her views and the views of the moderates within the chambers. "On the other hand, I know that our goals necessitate building up our strength but as also can't afford to fall into a military-first state either, or else the hundreds of thousands that call these islands home will lose faith in the system, which will only lead to unrest." To this, Kaguya nodded her head, hearing the merits in her friend's words.

"Among the Japanese, they might be settled down through aggressive propaganda if we can frame it as essential to our freedom, but that would only be a short-term fix and might lead even more problems down the line." Kaguya pointed out but she didn't seem to favor that idea as it was more of a short-term fix, the type that plagued European Democracies as elected leaders did their best not to solve an issue as that more often than not could prove unpopular, but to stop it from being a problem as long as they were in office. "What I'm worried about are the Britannians." Nunnally agreed on that point as she placed her own empty glass down with a sigh.

"Yes, those who couldn't afford to leave as they made their lives here, so far we've done our best to care for everything proportional to their needs, but they've felt shafted due to the fact most of the budget and man-power was shifted away from the settlement and into the ghettos." Nunnally pointed out that while they allowed Britannian senators to represent the millions living in Japan, that didn't mean that they were happy with things as being a minority, they had much weaker voting power.

As they stood, radical portions constantly gave the police problems with the worst openly rebelling against them or calling for them to return to the Empire. They never lasted long before they were defeated and arrested but that the fact even the moderates were growing more impatient with things as they expected more from their neutrality. A laughable sentiment as they neither supported nor fought them. Still, they represented millions who they pledged to protect and serve, at least that was what the politicians had done.

"I'll give your family that, they learned from the mistakes of the French and know how to keep their people content. But now it means they're used to having all these things which might as well be luxuries right now." Kaguya joked as it was pretty clear that the Imperial family was keen on not pissing off the commoners as, despite the fact their society still have absolute rule and special legal and social privileges for the nobility, Britannian did its best to ensure that things such as education, healthcare, housing, and employment weren't much of an issue for as many Britannain commoners as possible. But when you allocated mockingly small amounts of government funds towards most of the population, the tens of millions of numbers, you could afford to spoil the relative minority.

"It didn't make things better to open ourselves to alien refugees. I can still remember the faces on the people when Zero made the announcement, they thought him insane." She added in as that day had been filled with nothing but surprise. Of course, Kyoto already knew of alien life and the greater galaxy, but Lelouch hadn't bothered to inform them of that decision till after he made the announcement.

"It wasn't much better behind closed doors either, the Russians demanded an explanation else they would have pulled all their support, saying they wouldn't aid a madman. They changed their tune when the first ships arrived." Nunnally also remembered how furious Kyoto had been, how the Russians called them fools but then the first ships had arrived and it made international news. Everyone couldn't believe their eyes as the Black Knights made sure to broadcast their arrivals to the four corners of the Earth.

"What is the number that has come to make our little corner of the universe their home?" Kaguya asked, trying to recall the exact number as it had been something that came up in a bill discussion recently.

"Around half a million." Nunnally responded as she had been there for that. The senate wished to slow down the arrival of more as estimates projected that at the current speed aliens were vetted and allowed entry, over three million more would be in Japan in the next ten years.

"And that number is only expected to rise, isn't it?" Kaguya asked to which Nunnally nodded her head as the woman hummed to herself. "As good as it sounds, I fear that it will only further isolate us from portions of the population."

"What do you mean?" Nunnally asked, this was the first time she was hearing of this.

"There have been some concerning rumors that former JLF members are organizing into a conservative block. They believe that our government should be Japanese first and restrict any further entry of alien refugees." Kaguya told her with a frown. She had thought them cowed after that fool, Kusakabe so badly blundered but clearly, they felt like they could raise their heads again.

"They can't be serious, the Black Knights were built mainly through alien efforts. Without them, they'll still be hiding in the mountains, unable to squeeze a win out of Clovis." Nunnally voiced, she normally tried to be polite but there was no point lying here. Tohdoh wasn't even confident in himself to gain a victory over her brother, Clovis and while he had changed from the kind painter she knew into a monster-he was no tactician or strategist.

"They did win some battles, you know." Kaguya pointed out but her smile said she didn't think it was enough as Nunnally brushed that aside.

"Victories that came after the Black Knights both weakened Cornelia's forces and supplied them with arms and equipment. Is Tohdoh a part of this scheme?" She asked, wondering if Suzaku's former teacher had anything to do with this as she knew he was highly critical of many of their policies, and that there were people that thought they insulted him when they didn't offer him any position of power within their new government or military.

"Not that I'm aware of, but I've spoken with him recently and though he has his concerns, he doesn't seem like he's willing to take things that far." Kaguya knew that for a fact as she had sat down with him the other day for tea. He was honest in his opinions and while not a supporter of them per se, he was a supporter of Japan. So long as they didn't do something too crazy, he was harmless.

"Still, I can't believe that such sentiments are cropping up so quickly," Nunnally couldn't help but voice her misgivings, while she believed in debate, she had hoped that their government wouldn't have developed these divisions so soon. "Don't they realize there is strength in unity?"

"All of that is true, but patriotism can easily lead to nationalism." Kaguya told her that the only thing they could choose to do is ensure that it doesn't become an issue.

"They wouldn't dare go against Zero, right now the people see him as an almost God-like figure. We may have senators but if my brother wishes it, you'll be hard-pressed to say no." Nunnally said as it was known to just about everyone was just how much power her brother held as Zero. He may have only been the head of the armed forces, but he held large sway in politics and with his charisma, he could ask for just about anything and could frame it in such a way that it would seem reasonable.

"Funny how he despises the absolute authority his father has, yet he also holds similar power as the Shogun of Japan." Kaguya pointed out that while they had a President, that being Genbu-it was clear who was the real master of Japan, who held the loyalty of not the daimyo and samurai-but the elected and tens of thousands of troops that protected their lands, who the people revered like a god. The fact he was a trained force-sensitive only added to that image of power and authority. She hadn't realized just how much power he held over the people till the day he was publicly granted the title, as over a million people showed up for it, many of them wearing homemade Zero-styled masks.

"I still find it odd that you and the rest of the Kyoto gave him the title. Didn't Japan do away with the office almost a century because of how much power they held?" Nunnally asked as while it seemed like a forgone conclusion that he would be rewarded the title and power, she still found it strange to know that.

"That was the reason, yes. But times have changed. Once upon a time, the shogunate lost the emperor's favor and their rule had made Japan vulnerable to the western world." Kaguya told her, she knew that there was much more to it, but she felt like she didn't need to explain the full story. Point is, the Shogun wasn't capable of keeping his power then and was outed. But they needed something like that now, so they appointed one.

"But Zero is different...Lelouch is different. He's the reason our country has raised its head up high and proud once more, he's beloved. Looking back on it now, it's almost like it was a forgone conclusion that whoever could liberate Japan would gain the title." She added as she got up from her seat and walked towards the window, gazing out towards the busy city that was slowly rebuilding itself. A city that once was the seat of power to an Emperor who held no real power and now, it was the city she and her government presided from, with their power only being palpable because their new Shogun doesn't seek to rule, what a paradox they find themselves in.

"But with that newfound power, comes new dangers. He may have already revealed he's Britannian, but if people find out that their new shogun is an exiled Britannian prince." Nunnally voiced as she had her misgivings about this ever since she found out he was being given the title. It would have made more sense for Suzaku to take on the mantle since as the son of the former Prime Minister, and with his track record-it would have done more to appease the Japanese.

"Which is one of the reasons I've been spending so much time with little Alice, she's half Japanese and while adopted, is his eldest child and set to inherit his title when the time comes." Kaguya told her as she had been spending quite the amount of time with the little girl, who was slowly becoming quite the passionate and intelligent little lady. While it was true that she shouldn't even be considered for the title due to being a girl and adopted, Lelouch had made his decision and nothing Kyoto could say would change his mind.

"It also wouldn't hurt if he has me as a wife to help strengthen his hold on power." This was what most didn't see about Kaguya, or refused to see. Where many of the tabloids against her tried to paint her as slut who only got this far through luck and sex, Kaguya was a political genius. She may have acted like her desire to wed her brother was driven up an impulsive lust or crush, but there was amply reason behind it. She wished to tie him to Japan, to ensure that he wouldn't ever act against them, and now, she wished to help him to keep that connection as while loved, his personal life was kept private with most only knowing he had a wife and children, but not knowing that his first is adopted and that his wife is an alien.

"So, in the end, you're still marrying someone for political reasons, nor love?" Nunnally asked as she got up and walked towards her, to which the woman turned to give her smile, but not one of happiness or amusement but of resignation and accepted defeat.

"Oh, I wouldn't put it like that. I do admit that I don't love him and he does not love me, but I know that we could grow to love one another. Besides," She told her something that she had hoped would happen as while she had accepted that she might be in for a love-less marriage, she hoped that things would be different. That they could grow to love one another. "I've come to realize I like my men…dangerous." That, and she was a self-admitted pervert who couldn't resist the idea of a threesome.

"You are one dirty, dirty girl. You know that, right?" Nunally told her, though her deadpan tone didn't match up with the amused face she had as while gross, it was somehow funny to her. Maybe it was because she knew the woman, maybe it was something else.

"And don't you forget it. But as fun as talking about our future as sisters-in-law, back to the matter at hand." Kaguya told her with a laugh before she returned to the topic at hand. "With potential new political block, I wouldn't worry about it too much. As it stands, these are just rumors-whispers in the streets. As it stands, I don't suspect anyone in the chamber to have similar views."

"But for how long?" Nunally asked, turning to look out the city as well as the afternoon sun started its descent. Kaguya was about to reply only for her buzzer on her desk to go off, she walked over to see what it was and while Nunnally didn't see anything, she figured it was something good going by the smile on her friend's face.

"Enough with this depressing stuff, we have more fun things to discuss. The Liberation Day parade, and looks like's she's here." Kaguya said as she told her secretary to allow the person entry.

"Who's here?" Nunnally quizzed her, but she didn't need to give an answer as the door burst open as a new figure took up the frame-confidence and sass flowing off her and her extremely unconventional(risqué) office attire as that was far more leg and chest than she thought was allowed.

"Who else than the queen of parties?" The woman in question asked as her teasing baby blue eyes locked onto the two.

"Milly?!" Nunnally asked, surprised to see the woman here and now. Milly didn't even respond with words as she walked right on in and gave the shorter, younger woman a big old hug-smushing her against her bust which seemed to never stop growing and made her feel extremely uncomfortable about her own.

"Oh, it's good to see you, Nunnally, how have you been holding up? Managed to meet someone not terrified of your brother?" Milly asked her quick-fire questions, from everything about who designed her outfit, to if she's had any one-night stands to deal with the stress of her position which the blonde admitted she didn't know what it was.

"Yes, and I'm not in the market for any relationships right now. But that's beside the point, what are you doing here? Don't you have work right now?" Nunnally cut her off before she found herself as red as Kaya, her question succeeding in getting the lady to stop, but then she just pouted as if offended by it.

"That hurt my feelings, you know. Of course, I have work, it's why I'm here, creating a show that will the greatest event on Earth." Milly's mood once more made a 180 as she was back to being a peppy, energy-filled self which was honestly confusing to Nunnally who recalled that Milly had the position of 'Master of Ceremonies' which basically made her the federal government event organizer. That and she ran the Ashford education group and were quite wealthy for it.

"On a budget, of course." Kaguya reminded her as while she had her misgivings about bringing in a former member of Britannian nobility into the fold, she had proved herself when she was the lead behind their reception of the Italian and Swiss ambassadors late the previous year. But she was aware that the woman tended to forget the concept of holding back when not reminded.

"Yes, my people are hard at work making sure my will is carried out with the utmost favor." Milly replied as she had been sure to keep an eye on their progress, now that they had a concrete date to work towards they couldn't afford to slack off.

"I'll check up on them later, knowing you, it's likely you work them too hard." Kaguya teased to which she responded in kind.

"I'll have you know I do no such thing. They aren't worker monkeys you know."

"How goes those preparations, Master of Ceremonies?" Nunnally asked her before the two continued on. If she was here, then it was to report on things.

"They're going smoothly if I little slower than I would like but what can you do, this isn't some school event so there were bound to be factors to manage." Milly informed them as they returned to the sofas with Milly sitting next to Nunnally as she thought about just how complex this was, it made even her most ambitious projects seem trivial in comparison but she wasn't a quitter.

"But you're managing?" Kaguya asked her, noticing that she had some shadows under her eyes. Had she been sleeping well? If Milly noticed that she picked up on that, she didn't show it as she tried to smile and wave off her concern.

"Of course, I am! Have a little faith in me." Milly told them as she held back the yawn, maybe she should have taken the 2nd cup of coffee. She still had to look over some of the plans tonight and she couldn't afford to doze off, hopeful Rivalz would wake her up rather than take up to bed. She appreciated the gesture but time was not on her side.

"I never said I didn't. Walk us through what you have so far, I would like a little taste of what to expect." Kaguya decided that if she didn't want to talk about it, she would leave it alone. At her suggestion, Milly sat a little straighter as her smile grew a little wide.

"Well, madam president, if you only wish for a taste, then I won't say too much. That being said," Milly started, making sure to pause for maximum effect. "The day's events will end with boats in the harbor launching off fireworks as dusk settles while another firework show. We have gotten three different circuses to perform, and we just got the clearance this morning to use captured Sunderlands in some of the acts and other parts of the day, including live musical performances and lastly, as it was mandatory," Oh if this was just a taste, the two of them could tell this was going to be a blast.

"A grand military parade." That was the part that the Senate had been insistent on, a show of force to both reassure their people that they had the strength to protect them, and to remind their enemies to check themselves. Though Suzaku was for it, Lelouch had been neutral-opting to follow whatever lead they decided.

"If that is only a taste, then I can only imagine how much this will help lift morale and give our people a day to just relax and have fun." Nunally said as it sounded wonderful, she couldn't recall the last time she could just sit back and relax as even during her time with the masters, just about every outing had a purpose and wasn't for vacation.

"Is security going to be an issue for this? It seems like this plan of yours has a lot of moving parts." Kaguya couldn't help but ask as while Milly hadn't provided any maps, she knew that such an event would take up large parts of Tokyo, plenty of areas for ill-willed actors to hide and strike.

"Not to worry, it's pretty unlikely that the Chinese would try anything, they have their own internal issues to worry about as like the Britannians." Nunnally spoke up while mainly an antagonistic force, tensions with the Chinese Federation have simmered somewhat, most likely because from Tianzi's people have told them, they have been making more bold moves to secure her power, discrediting or eliminating eunuchs loyalists while replacing them with agents secretly loyal to her.

Throw in the fact that India was making increasing moves for independence and it was clear that a civil war was imminent. Also, if intelligence is to be believed, it seems like Britannia had plans to intervene in such a conflict broke out to secure themselves a friendly superpower. This meant that their next military occupation could see them deploy forces to side with Tianzi's forces, but at the same time, convince them to recognize Indian independence as the people that got Rakshata to them wanted them to help them in return.

"But even if they do, we've beefed up security and check-ups of equipment and personal. I've also spoken with Suzaku and the Tokyo chief of police so that they'll be on stand-by if we need them." She came back to it as Milly told them of the extra measures she had taken to make sure that things don't end up in the toilet.

"That is good, we don't need any issues cropping up with this." Nunally told them as Milly seemed a little nervous about the next part.

"Yeah, and BTW the bill for the entire thing maaay have gone a little…overbudget." Milly revealed to the two, getting Kaguya who while smiling, to narrow her eyes at that.

"Define 'overbudget'." Kaguya asked her but Milly chose to whistle and play coy rather than answer, which didn't help her case. "Mrs. Asplund, how much did you spend?" Kaguya ordered her to reveal how much she had overspent.

"How about another juicy spoiler?" Milly chose to dodge the demand as she tried to reveal more about the parade in a vain hope to distract them. "We've going to break the world record for the world's largest pizza and try to make one with a diameter of 32m."

"Stop dodging the question-what, where the hell did you even get the material for something like that? I don't recall that being in your proposal to the committee?" Kaguya asked, she may have not known much about the plans Milly had, but she would have noticed if she had requested the materials and equipment needed for something that stupidly big.

"Well, you see..." Milly tried to bullshit her way out of this, but her little spoiler gave Nunnally an idea of what she overspent for.

"That's the reason you're over the budget, isn't it? You just wanted to beat your own record!" Nunnally accused her, pointing right at her face as the blonde, caught red-handed didn't have a retort so she tried to justify it.

"Oh came on, it's not that bad." Milly told them as it wasn't like it was something people couldn't enjoy, a pizza that large could serve hundreds.

"You do realize that I can easily cut the funding for this, don't you?" Kaguya told her, finding this not as amusing as she would have expected, but alas, never it be that Milly Ashford Asplund was not someone who could plan her own contingencies.

"You could, but I may have already starting printing fliers with information about it and they may also be in circulation." Milly told them that a she had made sure of that in the morning as she was to meet with Kaguya today. Now that couldn't stop it without both seeming to now have a concrete plan, or disappoint the no doubt thousands that had already seen the fliers.

"I'm starting to see why my brother finds you so exhausting." Nunnally muttered to herself, seeing that she had outplayed them this time around as she felt like taking another drink right about now, one that had some alcohol to it.

"Is this what it feels like to be on the other side?" Kaguya for her part, now knew what old man Kirihara felt whenever she pulled a fast one on him. He really hated having to be the responsible one.

---

5th October November 2022 a.t.b. /3652 BBY:

Outer Rim Territories:

Seswenna sector:

Near Eriadu:

Far from both Earth and the unknown missions, we find ourselves hidden by an unknown planet's moon. In its shadow, two ships lay in wait for their prey. Their markings that of the Black Knights. It was a small force, only being one Elizabeth Class frigate and 1 Reyla class escort carrier, but that was all they could manage to smuggle this deep into Sith-controlled space. Abroad the carrier which bore the name Narita, the commanding officer along with a select group of others looked over the holo-projector image of several vessels.

"This is the project course of the Sith vessels." The 22-year-old General started. "Our scans have indicated that it's a convoy made up of 5 Gage-class transports, with 4 Terminus-class destroyers and 1 Delta-class carrier." She informed them as it seemed that their information about the size of the incoming convoy had been accurate, it meant minimal changes needed to be made to their attack plan.

"So, these are the slave ships we're been hunting?" One of her pilots, arguable one of the best that they had to offer, asked as her pink eyes took in the sight of the Sith ships with a visage of distaste. She knew that they were carrying, they all did.

"Yes, the Sith have been trying to increase the mineral extraction on Eriadu for some time now, to that end, they're bringing in large amounts of slave labor." The captain of the ship, Minami replied as they switched the hologram to show the planet in question, as well as some of the Lommite mines in question. All those present couldn't help but shiver with horror and rage at the images they were seeing. Mines almost as large the fuji mines, being worked by thousands of overworked and beaten slaves, the last image being a group of children who couldn't be older than 14 pushing this one large minecart while an overseer stood over them, whip in hand.

"At their current speed, they'll reach their destination in around 3 hours. We'll strike them before then." The general informed them of that while they weren't in the same system as Eriadu, they had placed themselves in the last stop that the incoming convoy would need to make before it could make the final hyperspace jump.

"Still, I have my doubts. Their escort numbers have only increased since we started this, and they outnumber us 3 to 1." A green-eyed lad spoke up as while smiling, he knew that their little raid was a big risk as they would have to contend with some impressive firepower.

"Which is why we're relying both on the element of surprise, and the fact our knightmares are something they've never dealt with." The up till now silent member person spoke up, his cool blue eyes observing the images with to most would be a cool indifference, but beneath that was a desire to destroy. The general wasn't sure if she was the only one to notice this, but she opted not to comment on it.

"Our objectives with this operation are to destroy their escorts and free the slaves they're transporting. To that end, we'll send in our knightmares and a portion of our fighters to draw their attention and lure them away from their transports." The general started the projection changed again to show the space they were in, with how the projected path of the convoy lined up with their attack place, from it they suspected that at least two ships along with some fighter squads would break off to deal with the threat they posed, this should leave open to a flanking attack.

"Once that is done, our second attack teams will flank them and destroy their engines, cutting off their chance to escape while the third and final team target the transport, disabling their hyperdrives and allowing for a boarding." Captain Minami added in as that was something the Origins would be able to do if the bombers and knightmares proved insufficient.

"What's to say won't call for help?" One of the other lower-ranked pilots asked this entire thing relayed on surprise and shock-they wouldn't last in a slugfest against superior numbers.

"Before we commence the attack, we'll have several electronic warfare craft launch, they'll stay out of sight but will work to jam any communications, cutting them off." The general pointed out as this was the strategy she had perfected during these raids. The less the enemy knew about them, the better. Still, attacking just the Sith left a bad taste in her mouth as while evil, at least they were open about it as it seems no matter where she went-so-called 'republics' all acted the same.

"Listen, despite the fact the Republic also has slavery, the Sith have it on a much larger scale so it's better for us to take on the bigger fish." Her cooled blue-eyed pilot picked up on her thoughts and reminded her that while neither party was clean, they had to be pragmatic about this. There was also the added bonus that the Sith were more likely to blame their raids on the Republic than the Republic would on the Sith.

"But won't that gain the ire of the Sith?" The green-eyed one asked, the rest of them looking towards the general as while no fans of the two super-powers, they weren't dumb enough to think they could take on either of them, even if the republic was extremely weak and recovering from their war with the Sith, it still boasted a military well over 20 times their own and more space-faring warships then they could build in the next ten years.

"It will, but they'll have no clue it's us and assume it was a republic-backed strike team. In these trying times, both sides conduct such clandestine operations against the other all the time." The general sighed to herself.

"Yet our efforts may only inflame tensions and cause the two to start fighting again. A conflict that will kill as many as the last one and no doubt end with the republic destroyed." One of her pilots pointed out, closing her pink eyes with a frown as she didn't want to think about the deaths and destruction that would bring. She might have not been involved in it, but she had seen enough records to wish she never was.

"It is a fine line we walk, one where regardless of what we do, people die." Another pilot, this one taller than the rest, pointed out with a shrug. To him, he rationalized it as picking whichever option suited you best.

"We can only do what we believe to be right, nothing more." The general agreed with him on that, even if she wished there were alternative options before she gathered herself. It was nearly game time.

"The enemy will be here soon, have the Type R-02s launch on the double, pilots, to your machines." She ordered them as they all stood at attention, looking them over one last time, she went on. "All hands, level 2 battle stations!" She commanded to which the resembled pilots and even bridge crew all saluted her as they went to work.

"Mam!" The crew responded as they quickly moved to their stations, the siren started to ring across the ship along with the repeating message of 'All hands, level 2 battle stations', alerting everyone of the current situation. Before the last one could leave the bridge, the general grabbed him by the hand, the only one who could without the danger of him striking back, to trusted her too much to ever bring her such harm.

"Akito," Leila said as she looked towards him, her concern clear to him despite his skill in battle. "Be careful." Still, she was worried and he was for her to, how could he not? So he took her words to heart and turned to her, giving her what he hoped was a calming smile(he had been told his smiles tended to look sinister, bloodthirsty, or otherwise weird).

"I will." He told her as he rushed off to get into his pilot suit.

---

(With the Sith)

It was sometime as the Sith convoy traveled through hyperspace. Onboard one of the Terminus-class destroyers, the bridge crew worked to keep things running smoothly under the watchful eye of their commanding officer. "Course correction to direction 42." The aged officer ordered as they made a slight correction to their heading.

"Engines at 63%." One of the bridge-crewman informed him to which he nodded. They didn't need to speed for this part of the journey, it wouldn't save them much time anyway.

"How long before we reach Eriadu?" He asked them, eager to nonetheless get this done and get back to real work, not escorting some lowly slaves.

"It'll be another 3 hours sir. There is one more system we'll need to stop over in before we can make the final jump." One of the crewmen replied as they had made a considerable jump through republic space with little stops.

"Keep me posted." The commander told them as he walked off, not paying attention to the crewmen's reply. 'We would have already been there if we weren't delayed.' He thought to himself with a frown as if one of their transports hadn't had engine issues, they would have been halfway done with off-loading.

"Captain." His second in command, a lowly Zygerrian wrench spoke up to grab his attention.

"What is it?" If he could choose not to speak with her, he would have but then he'll be putting the ship's performance risk which only a fool would do, so he would do what he's done ever since she was assigned to him and that would be tolerating her.

"Was it really necessary for 6 ships to guard some transports? It's not like slaves are expensive." She asked him, sharing his opinion that they had far better things than to play security.

"No, they aren't but are you capable of replacing our cargo." He asked her, not giving her an inch as she stuttered out a reply, she knew his views of her, she knew most of the crew's views of her so she knew she had no allies among them and the last thing she would need is to give one of them something to use against her.

"N-no sir." She replied, having long since learned that she was the lesser of the two in terms of power.

"Yes, but our presence, though annoying, is a necessity. The republic has been growing bolder these past few months, and our convoys find themselves targeted and destroyed." He told her as they both had heard the rumors but only had been privy to the reports about them.

And there were…concerning. Seemingly from outta nowhere, with no warning-their convoys had been attacked seemingly at random. By the time anyone had realized there was something up and sent aide, it was too late as they only ever found bodies and wreckage. They had recovered some strange machines, most likely belonging to whatever or whoever the Republic was supplying to undermine them but they hadn't given them much as to who they were, only that they had the equipment they had never seen before used in such a manner. Honestly, who would have thought walkers would be good in space where the starfighter reigned supreme?

"Destroyed, sir?" His second asked him, she had heard the tales, but she didn't think they were true.

"Yes, as of now. We have no survivors on record. We don't even have anything to go on what this strike force is as communications are always jammed, by the time we realized something-its too late." He told her, thinking about how this unknown threat proved enough that he was placed in charge of this escort mission.

"Only they would dare to strike against us like cowards after their humiliating defeat. Do they wish to see their capital burn once more?" His second asked him, angering him further by reminding him of the fact that she was present for their glorious victory over the pathetic republic whereas he was stationed elsewhere.

"That is for the emperor to decide, not you. Remember your place." He told her, his mood taking a further dive at that unassuming slight against him.

"Y-yes, sir. My apologies." Seeing he was angered, she backed down though she had no clue as to what had made him so agitated, to begin with. He couldn't be that angry with her presence as she's been under his command for some time now.

"Sir, we're dropping out of hyperspace now." One of the crewmen unknowingly bailed her out as they exited hyperspace and entered real space. With this being their final stop, they weren't expecting much as it wasn't like the system was even inhabited.

"How long before the hyperdrive is ready for our final jump?" She asked them, the sooner they finish this, the less time she would need to watch over her back.

"It will be cooled and fully charged in 10 minutes." Was the answer as she signed to herself, but made sure it was quiet as the captain walked right on past her.

"Send a message to Eriadu, inform them that we'll be arriving soon." He ordered them as they'll need them to clear their landing spot and prepare for the arrival, the sooner they can hand over the 18K plus slaves they have, the better.

"Yes, commander." The communications officer replied before he turned to do as he was told, but after some time, something appeared to come up.

"Hmm?" He sounded as he tried to get a signal through.

"What is it?" The commander asked him, wondering as to why he hadn't done what he had been asked.

"Commander, I can't seem to make contact with Eraidu." The communications officer reported to him that he couldn't seem to get any of the channels working, all he was getting was static.

'How could that be, we're only a couple of systems away?' The captain thought to himself before he gave his order. "Keep trying, someone try to reroute the message through another planet or any nearby ships." Maybe their communication's rig was having trouble, it had been some time since their last servicing.

"Yes, commander." The officer said as he went to work doing what he had been told, but after a couple of minutes of coordinating with the other ships, including the transports-he found that none of them could get a message out. "Commander, it's no good. We can't seem to make contact with anyone." He reported back as this was too strange, it wasn't like this system was too far from anything, they shouldn't be having any issues.

"Hold on, the only reason we'll be having issues would be-" The commander started before it dawned on him that there was only one possible cause for all this. They were being jammed. "Increase engines to 85%, raise the shields, ready the weapons, and have our pilots ready for actions!" He yelled, catching his crew off caught.

"C-commander?" His second in command asked him, wondering why he was so quick to action but he didn't have the time to entertain her right now.

"You fool! We're about to be ambushed! Send a message to the transport to form up!" He yelled at them, his words proving enough to get them into high gear as the alert klaxons started to ring.

"Yes, commander!"

---

(With the Black Knights)

'Looks like they noticed us.' Lelia observed as she looked over the holo-projection at how the enemy was forming up with the transports at the center while they increased their speed. But it was too late, the trap had been sprung. "Boast engines to 45! Set to course for the enemy vessel at point B15! Have Ajax, Betsy, and Amiens squads launch!" She commanded as down in the hanger, pilots had already boarded their respective machines and with her command, their Type SCC-8Z Space Superiority starfighters started to take off.

Akito and his squad were in their knightmares, making final checks before launch and while many of the newer pilots were taking to the field in GINNs, Ryo and Ayano were talking to battle in modified CGUEs. It was only himself and Yukiya who were piloting different machines. In the case of the former IED maker, he was sharing a machine with the GINN Long Range Reconnaissance Type, while it was a downgrade due to its decreased armor and lesser shield, it's made up for it with its better scanners, propulsion and it's wonderful 95mm anti-tank sniper rifle. Of course, he was not the one piloting, one of the newer pilots had been assigned to him but aside from being a bit skittish, she should do.

"The commander really has a gift for these kinds of things." Ryo joked as he got into position, packing his usual armaments of an M68 "Cattus" 450mm Recoiless Rifle instead of a rifle.

"Captain Hyūga, why don't you show us how that new machine of yours performs." One of the less experienced pilots cheered as he took off.

"Sure." Akito told them as he had been given one of the latest models of knightmares, produced with data collected from units such as CGUEs and Zero and SK's personal knightmares. It's white and red paint giving it an air of intimidation and cold hard precision.

"Of course, they focus on you, what are we, chopped liver?" Yukiya asked through the comes as he was just behind his much louder friend was prepped to take-off.

"Don't worry, we can show off in a minute." Ryo laughed as he gripped at his controls, smiling as he took off. "Let's kill some space witches!" Akito would have reminded them that there shouldn't be any Sith present but decided it would be a waste of time as he was disconnected from his knightmares platform and he walked towards the run-way.

"GuAIZ, Captain Hyūga. You're clear for launch." He heard over his radio as he looked beyond the ship towards the emptiness of space, a place he never thought he would see as a child, and now…

"Akito Hyūga, GuAIZ, launching!" He called out as his ZGMF-600 GuAIZ took off, flying out of the ship like a bat outta hell.

Now, he was going to collect souls here as he had done on Earth.

---

"Port 55! Rise portside shields! And Hurry up and launch our starfighters!" The commander yelled as they picked up that there were some unknown objects heading towards them.

"We have incoming starfighters, we're picking up 36 along with 30 unknown objects. They'll be within range in 60 seconds!"

"What are the unknowns?" His second in command demanded as their own Mark VI was already taking off, but only half had taken off, which meant that this unknown threat was coming at them with a little over half as much as they had.

"Displaying an image of them now." With that, an image of the incoming threat was blown up for them to see, and what they saw was a confusing sight to the crew, but for the commander, it only solidified his thoughts about who was attacking them.

"What the?" Confusion was clear on most of the faces of the crew present as alongside the starfighters of unknown design heading towards them, they also spotted a mass of mono-eyed humanoid…machines flying with them, carrying armaments that wouldn't look out of place on a regular soldier.

"Are those…battle droids?" Someone asked, and it was a fair question as it wasn't widely known that whenever they recovered one, there was a clear pilot inside them. Though they were always dead.

"I don't care what they are, prepare to destroy every single one of them!" Still, he didn't let them stop him as he refused to allow them to continue on with his mockery of the Sith Empire. They would be made to pay, that he would make sure of.

"Sir, we have 2 unknown ships approaching from behind the incoming starfighters and unknown. Class unknown, they'll be within firing range in 600 seconds." But it seemed that their motherships were also present, which made this even better as once he destroyed this attack force, they'll capture whatever leaders they can. Maybe now they could prove that the republic had their dirty hands on this and have a reason to wipe them out once and for all.

As this was happening, the two sides starfighters were closing the gap between the two at a rapid pace, it wasn't long before the space was filled with dozens of bolts of red and green blaster laser fire. The majority of the Black Knights starfighters engaged their Sith counterparts, their fighters proving to be just as good as theirs if not better as the Sith found that their enemies could perform much tighter maneuverers, allowing them to dodge most of their fire. The Black knights on the other hand found that they could land more hits with their laser cannons, they were weaker than their imperial counterparts as only their center-mass cannons proved to pack a strong enough punch to really scare their imperial enemies.

The Imperials found themselves on the defensive for another reason, which was the teamwork of the Black Knights who, unlike their counterparts, engaged only when it was a 2 to 3 on one, which of course left them open to imperial sneak attacks but it wasn't like they had the numbers to cover everyone, even as more joined the fray. This fierce melee went on for what felt like hours but was only a minute or two as neither side had taken any losses, hits landed and fighters found themselves damaged as the multitude of dogfights went on, but none scored any kills.

That was, until the knightmares joined the fight, seemingly having grown tired of watching.

"Captain, those droid things are heading right for us!" One of the pilots noticed this incoming threat. Seeing what the enemy was trying to do, the squadron leader gave her orders.

"Mailoc 2, 3, 5, 8 and 10. Head them off, keep them off us!" She told them as she tried to keep her starfighter on the tail of her current foe, who was already showing signs of battle damage.

"Roger that!" The pilots in question replied as they broke off from the massive dogfight to intercept the droids, confident that they'll prove to be little better than most droids they're seen.

That would prove their undoing.

The incoming force of knightmares proved far more agile than the imperials expected of them, dodging their fire with seeming ease before returning it in kind. They immediately broke formation to evade this but not all of them managed to escape as Mailoc 5 found himself caught in the fire and while their shields protected them from the first two shots from their strange, large slug throwers, the third through eight penetrated with one smashing through their canopy, no doubt killing them but as if to add insult to injury-their starfighter blew up from the damage.

With this first kill, the knightmares pushed further but found themselves being fired on by 2 destroyers' laser cannons. The larger ships acted as mobile AA platforms but this didn't deter the knightmares, as their pilots only kept up the pressure. Eager for revenge, the one of the Mailoc's chased after a knightmare and fired on but, Ryo didn't seem perturbed by this as he merely flipped over the laser fire before firing on it, forcing it to break off its chase to avoid the shot.

Another of the Mailoc managed to evade the fire from a GINN and fired on it, its shots drawing blood as they tore through its rifle-holding arm, causing the severed limb to explode as the unit pulled back as the starfighter gave chase, keen on destroying the damaged droid. But the pilot proved too zealous and wasn't paying full attention to his surroundings, a fact he realized too late when his comrades warned him too late.

"Mailoc 8, look out! He didn't have time to realize he was beaten as at that very same moment, Akito was there to collect as his new machine deployed its shield-mounted vibro claws which he used to shear right on through the starfighter, pilot included. He was so fast that he was out of debris range as it exploded a moment later. As if spurred on the spilled enemy blood, the red-eyed machines seem to only grow in aggression, the Mailoc's finding themselves picked off one by one as they desperately called for back-up and tried to pull back. Mailoc 2 being the last one to die as Ryo flew right above it before blasting it point back with his recoilless rifle, the explosions reducing it to space debris.

With the other starfighters, while they had more success with their foes, damaging more of the enemy starfighters and even downing 7 of them, they also had their losses to contend with as almost half their number were unfit for battle. With that in mind, they found themselves being pushed back even as their destroyed continued to fire on the enemy. The captain saw that they needed to regroup and regroup fast but never got the chance to give the order before he was destroyed. His killer was an lone knightmare which had remained to the rear, its gunner smiling as he picked his next victim-firing on them as well and much like the other 4 times, his shot landed but this time it didn't destroy the starfighter so much as it crippled it.

---

Akito and the rest gave no quarter as he blasted his way past 5 more starfighters, his blaster rifle proving more than capable of shot kills as he closed in on the closest enemy destroyer. With his skill, avoiding the enemy's attempt to ward him didn't prove too hard as he flew right under it, firing his waist-mounted vibro slash harkens into its underbelly, predicting that its shielding was weakest there, a prediction which proved to be true as he used his momentum to swing towards its engines, once there he fired around a dozen shots, causing one of them to blow up from the damage.

Akito didn't give himself time to see much of the results of his actions as he moved on to his next target which was already under attack as their Type SSC-8Zs would finish off this one he was leaving behind, a point proven true as around 10 of them were swarming around the damaged ship, keeping its gunner too busy while Ryo fired on it's larger weapons or they themselves launched their payloads of two proton torpedoes, they might be much smaller than the regular ones used, but they proved effective in large numbers as it only took around 5 to break through its shielding and armored hull, blasting off bits and pieces.

With the imperials, things were not looking good as they could only watch in both awe and fear as their starfighters were destroyed and their ships targeted and fired upon by this nimble but deadly force. Even as he ordered more Starfighters to join the brutal melee, they were losing them much faster and in higher numbers compared to their enemy which had only lost around a fourth of its number. The commander and his second could feel the cold sweat move down their brow as continued reports only confirmed what their eyes were seeing.

---

"Escort ship Berandt is taking heavy damage!"

"Unknown enemy droid is heading towards Escort Ship Enforcer."

"We're being destroyed by a mere droid? Is there anything more ridiculous?" The second asked, her body freezing for a moment as it seemed like the red and white one was starring right at them, its glowing red optic reminding her of the glow of a Sith lightsaber coming down on republic forces, and at the moment, they were the targets.

"Commander, we're lost over half our starfighters!"

"Send the Flail into the fight, tighten up our formation around the transports!" The commander yelled as they watched as the second ship struggled to ward off the attack but like flies, they didn't seem to let up and continued the assault. At this rate, it would be better to cut their losses and run.

"Sir!"

"How long till our hyperdrive is ready?" He asked, wanting to do just that as he'll rather face his superiors with his tail between his legs, at least then he can use their survived encounter as leverage to not be killed or demoted.

"7 minutes." He felt like punching something as at that, they already lost a considerable number in only less than three minutes. How was that even possible?!

---

"Sir, the two forward enemy vessels are within range." One of the crewmen on the Black Knight frigate informed their captain as their ship moved to have its broadside face the incoming 3rd energy destroyer, allowing them to target it with the majority of their main armaments. Looking towards one of the screens, the captain saw General Malcal giving him a nod.

"Then fire, target its bridge before moving onto the rest of the ship." He ordered that moment later, their massive turbo-laser batteries fired off volleys of red plasma bolts towards the enemy, soon joining them were 18 Ship-to-Ship missiles. The Imperial ship, Flail tried to evade this and fire its concussion missiles to thin out the herd of enemy missiles while putting more power in the shields, and while this did save them from the worse of it-it left them vulnerable.

---

"We have another 18 enemy starfighters heading towards the Flail from the flanks." One of his crew reported as he looked and saw that from its flanks, even more damn unknown starfighters made an appearance, he only realized they were torpedo bombers when they all let loose their payloads and while some seem to miss their marks, the rest slammed into the rear of the Flail, causing explosions to rip through its structure, blowing apart its engines as it started to tilt forward, a sitting duck as the enemy ship kept up the assault.

"The Flail's lost its propulsion, it's dead in the water!" He would have shot captain obvious if he wasn't a lesser man but right now, they had other things to worry about.

"Enemy droids are moving in on us!" Dammit, it seemed that white and red monster had decided to try and take them on now.

---

"They're putting up a good fight, but they're treating us like we're land-based machines." Akito noted to himself that while he never treated enemies as anything less than dangerous and more than willing to kill him, it was hoping that they'll be capable of more than this. But as he blasted an enemy starfighter which tried to stop him, he considered the fact that they had been at this for a while, and the enemy knew little about them.

"Captain, we're broken through the enemy lines, moving to assist you." One of the fighter pilots radioed in to inform him but seeing the enemy force was still largely grouped up and laying out a suppressive ball of laser and blaster fire, he opted against it.

"Stay back and let us soften them up first." He ordered as they had already lost a few pilots, with others having to pull back due to damages. They didn't need to hand anymore to these imperials.

"Yes sir."

"Form up on me, we'll attack the carrier first, that'll draw their fire and allow the bombers a chance to strike at the destroyers." With that word, a collection of knightmares formed up behind him with at its head, Ryo to his already battle-damaged unit to his left and Ayano to his right. They rocketed towards the enemy formation which focused its fire on them and while they did their best to dodge and block fire with their shields, the regular GINNS found themselves slowly picked off as their number went from 24 GINNs to only 15 with 5 having to pull back due to damage inflicted on them.

They didn't let them stop them as they flew right on past the destroyers, making a beeline for the carrier which found itself a sitting duck as it had no point defense weapons, allowing them to just whale on it. This window of freedom as the other ships had to cease most of their attack to avoid friendly fire allowed them to have 3 GINNs land in its launch bay and fire on everything, killing dozens of crew and destroying their shots could hit. One of them looked towards its shield generator. To the horror of those still alive, it targeted it and fired-destroying the shield that kept the atmosphere within the hanger from escaping into space-dooming any who remained to either die there or be sucked into the cold, dark void.

Outside, things weren't any better as Ryo and others targeted its engines, a task which proved easier than with the other two ships as their shields didn't stand a chance, especially seeing how Akito rammed his shield into the bridge, before pulling back and firing a single shot into it. It wasn't even a fight as in less than a minute, the enemy's sole carrier was destroyed. Seeing this, the remaining imperial destroyers and transports fired on them with a renewed vigor, a desire to avenge their fallen but this left open to attack from the regrouped bombers who came in from the opposite side.

They tried to target them and even managed to shoot down a 4 that wasn't able to dodge in time, but they soon found themselves struck as dozens of proton bombs hit home, blowing apart chunks of hull and disabling weapons. The commander didn't even have time to ask if they could retreat before a shot from the frigate tore through his bridge, killing him and everyone else with him.

By the time the Sith realized there was something wrong and sent ships to investigate, they found nothing but space debris and bodies. The transports were found to be largely undamaged, but their crews had been cast into space and their cargo vanished.

---

And that ladies, gentlemen, and dolphins who somehow have a working Wi-Fi connection and a device you no doubt stole, was the first chapter of R2. It was originally going to be only around 8k words but as I worked on the sub-points that I wanted for this and time went on, I realized that I could make it longer which I ended up doing. It was originally going to give us the chance to see what Lelouch was up to this entire time as we saw things from a lot of characters' perspectives which such as Kallen, Kaguya, and Leila but I decided to cut that for a time as this is already 20K words and I really don't want to make chapters this large a habit as they're much harder to work on.

With Kallen's part, I figured that she should have the first part and with it, I was able to explore how things have changed for Japan in this time-skip. She's not just moved into better housing, but the new government has been working hard to create a better world for people and not just people from Earth. We'll see more of how Earth reacted to the introduction of aliens in a later chapter but I wanted to get the broad strokes of but down as people like Kallen to have no issue with them seeing how she knows how large their role was in the Black Knights and is sympathetic to the downtrodden, so she's largely a supporter of it. Of course, we also saw that things are not perfect, there are still some issues to deal with, issues which both linger from the decade-long occupation to the fact that the BK opened their borders to alien refugees.

With Ohgi, I'm not going to lie. I hate his character-he doesn't really have a quality that sticks out in any field aside from the fact he's the only one in their group not aggressively hostile to Britannians which is proven by his interactions with Viletta but then there was his weird continued love of her despite the fact she shot him and called what they had a mistake. I get forgiving her but dammit man, grow a spine. But despite that, I still felt like I needed to give him a fair shake at the dice and I largely cut him from the story since you can imagine there is little room for a school teacher in a space opera/fantasy/science-fiction/Adventure but I gave him a role he can be happy with, as a teacher as the best school in the country.

It was also a chance to show that despite it all, Ashford is still largely an accepting place as while in series, we see those two assholes fucking with Suzaku's stuff, they're the only ones. He only got the cold reception at first because as far as the general student body was concerned, he was suspicious enough to be a suspect in the death of a prince. It wasn't like it was announced that the 'evidence' against him was as weak as a newborn's punch as that would have made the Pureblood look worse and expose the fact that the justice system was used as a tool and didn't act like an independent body.

Then we got to the bits that form what many people hated about the prequels which are the politics as that was Kaguya and Nunnally's bit. Much like how the first two showed how the people on the ground were handling things, this section was all about the politicians and showing off more on how things have changed and what still needs to be done. I wanted to add more drama by making it more divided but that would have been counterproductive and much too fast as this isn't the senate to a matured country, nor is the incompetent mess that was the senate in the prequels so trying to add that drama would have been counterproductive.

As many of you already suspected, yes they are going to start up their own school of teaching for the force which is separate from the Sith and Jedi who represent the extreme ends of the force. The funny thing is that because those two factions were polar opposites, they ended up sharing many things as case in point-attachments. Both sides shunned them but for different reasons. Anyway, Nunnally is the first of the trio to officially join it as they have other things to worry about. We also learned more about Kaguya and in my opinion, her reasoning for pinning after Zero for so long. In the OG story, she knew he wasn't Japanese, so most likely included he had an interior motive for helping Japan fight back so she needed a way to connect him to it, much like Lois was Superman's only connection to humanity for the longest time.

But times have changed and while she knows he has a vested interest in Japan, she wants to aid him in that as he's their best bet at ensuring that Japan and her people would be free for many centuries to come.

Then we got Lelia and her side on things as I want to make up for what I did with them in the first story. I didn't make them bad but they were too…not involved with the plot because there were already too many characters so, for this story, I'll do my best to have them doing their own thing and only time to time come together to work with the rest. That way I can properly do them justice. With the battle itself, it was supposed to be longer but I drew inspiration from both Anakin's first attempt to force open the blockade of Ryloth and Rau Le Creuset's attack on the 8th Fleet. In both cases, we saw how quickly one side could dominate the other, throwing in the fact one side has the element of surprise and a type of weapon(knightmares) never seen in warfare before and that process is only sped up.