Ch. 11: The Black Army
4:59 PM, July 15th, 1918, Abandoned Warehouse, Keijō, Chōsen
"This is amazing! I never thought you could pull it off." said the elderly Park Eunsik as he was staring at all the boxes and supplies Zero was able to obtain during their skirmish.
"Well sir, are you now convinced of Zero's capabilities?" asked Kim Gu.
"Definitely Mr. Kim. This mission has to have sent the Japanese a message or two." replied Park Eunsik.
"You're absolutely right sir!" said Zero who was walking towards them. "Mr. Park, according to the newspapers the Imperial Navy states that the Kawachi incident was accidental and most likely caused by faulty munitions within the ship. This is obviously a coverup. If the Japanese are censoring the newspapers, then that means they are treating this as a serious threat and not a walk in the park." explained Zero.
"I see. So we're actually being taking seriously. Anything else you want to tell me?" asked Park Eunsik.
"Well, as you can tell, my team and I cleaned up this abandoned warehouse slightly in order for it to serve as one of our supply depots. Due to the fact that this building has been abandoned for a while, it's highly unlikely the authorities will search this place." said Zero. "Our base of operations is currently a steam yacht I managed to get my hands on. The yacht is currently anchored at one of the docks lining the river".
"Very good. I hope your team well. I also assure you my cooperation with your team in the future." said Park Eunsik.
"Thank you. By the way, could you spread the word of our recent accomplishment to the other armed resistance movements?" asked Zero.
"I will gladly do so to the best of my ability." answered Park Eunsik. Zero and Park Eunsik gladly shook hands before heading off on their separate ways.
7:24 PM, Han River, Keijō, Chōsen
Floating on the water was the team's steam yacht. It was anchored next to one of the docks lining the edge of the the river. While the team was relaxing on the couches, Zero and Kim Gu were inside Zero's room, which was originally the ship's Captain's Quarters. Sitting at the wooden desk in the room was Zero toying around with some wires. Kim Gu was examining various maps of railroads and military facilities.
"It seems you got the cooperation of the council." said Kim Gu.
"With the council's cooperation ensured, I now have access to more resources." responded Zero.
"But I'm still confused on how you're going to keep communications with the council without leaving behind any traces of a connection. Don't forget, your team cannot be linked to the council. Should that occur, the Japanese could easily accuse the council for supporting armed insurgency and conspiracy." said Kim Gu.
"Don't worry, I've already planned ahead for that." said Zero. After connecting a few wires around a metal bar, Zero showed Kim Gu a telegraph-looking device on laying on the desk. "If you're wondering what it is exactly, it's a wireless telegraph. By making some adjustments to the wireless telegraph on the ship, I have tuned it onto a specific frequency. All I have to do is to do the same thing to another wireless telegraph and we got ourself a private communications channel." explained Zero.
"I see. I doubt the Japanese will assume we have access to such means of communication." replied Kim Gu.
"Even if they did, noting valuable would be attained since everything would be encrypted." said Zero. Kim Gu then looked at Zero with some confusion. "You see, the messages both sides will send to one another will be basically gibberish. However, by knowing the encryption key, one can see the true message."
"Ok now I fully understand. I'm assuming you've got another wireless telegraph ready along with the encryption key." said Kim Gu.
"Yes I have. That guy who I geassed earlier works in a telegraph office. I told him to gather the listed equipment and to give it to me tomorrow afternoon." replied Zero.
"By the way, didn't you send out Roh and Capt. Gang. out earlier to pick up something from someone you geassed yesterday?" asked Kim Gu.
"Yes I did. They should be arriving here right about now." said Zero as he looked at his watch.
"HONK! HONK! HONK!". The sound instantly surprised everyone on the ship. Outside on the dock was a military truck being driven by what appeared to be a Japanese soldier. Roh and Capt. Gang could also be seen lifting a large box out of the truck. As both men lifted up the box, the Japanese soldier drove away from the area in the truck. Once on board the ship, Roh and Capt. Gang put the box on the ground.
"Hey Zero! What's in here?" asked Roh.
"Is it more weapons and food?" asked Seo.
"It's neither!" said Zero as he came out of his room. "Please, open it. I insist." Picking up the crowbar, Roh did what Zero told him what to do, which was to pry open the box. Once the lid was off, everyone in the room surrounded the box and looked inside.
"What the? What are these?" asked Capt. Gang as he was holding a Japanese soldier's uniform dyed black. Each uniform also had a bird-shaped sigil with a sword piercing the center sewn onto it's breast.
"How did you manage to get these uniforms exactly?" whispered Kim Gu to Zero while everyone else was looking through the box.
"That guy I geassed the other day was a tailor who specializes dyes. I also had to geass a soldier in smuggling some uniforms from a nearby military storage facility." whispered Zero.
Zero then turned away from Kim Gu and focused on everyone surrounding the box.
"Everyone. By using some influence and behind the scenes deals, I managed to get ourselves uniforms." announced Zero.
"They're basically Japanese infantry uniforms dyed black." said Park.
"Still, they really give us a unique identity. I mean look at the insignia sewn onto it." replied Seong.
"These will be the uniforms of our team, the Black Army." said Zero.
"The Black Army? Is that what our team is going to be called?" asked Roh.
"Correct. The Black Army will bring justice to those who oppress others. Our will to fight will never be snuffed out." said Zero. Everyone then started applauding Zero. "My fellow recruits, we have shown the Empire of Japan what we are capable of. But tomorrow, we will show even more of our determination. We will show our solidarity."
Immediately after Zero stopped speaking, all the applauding turned to cheers of patriotism and determination.
Author's Note: Sorry if this chapter is short. I basically wanted to depict the birth of Lelouch/Zero's Black Army. I also wanted to show how Zero managed to get the council, the nonviolent resistance, to assist him without jeopardizing their own position. Now with the Black Army firmly established as a uniformed organization, the battles against the Japanese will be bigger and have greater impact.