Chapter 8: EU Trip - Getting Ready
"Come on! Move it! Zero wants us to move out within the next day!" Kallen ordered, shouting at the new recruits of the Black Knights who were both Japanese and Britannians.
"Yes, Captain!" They replied, shipping or moving different equipment for transport which two were easy to see nearby, two certain Knightmares covered in massive white cloth of sheets & strapped down.
It was been two days since Kallen had met the new Zero, and she was damn impressed of his words had caused such a good rise of people of joining the Black Knights. Sure back then with Lelouch, it was mostly just Elevens - Japanese and Honorable Britannians but was different. He and Euphemia caused a big uproar of support. She smiled at that and made a promise to not anyone gets near them, not this time. She failed once, she would be damn if she failed again.
Now, Kallen was overseeing the operation of transport, Zero had gotten a call, thanks to CC for pulling some strings, from Rakshata Chawla. She and her crew were able to escape the mad girl's death bomb trap, during the confusion and went into hiding. She was damn impressed not only with this new Zero but also glad to hear they kept the Gawain in good condition. That's good in her books. She hates to see good children being thrown to the side.
And because of that, Rakshata also had decided to bring something that her crew back in India had been working on ever since they got their hands on data from the Gawain & its flight system technology.
Kallen has no idea what the Mother/Creator of Guren was bringing to the docks but she was hoping for a good one and a miracle. As the group really needs one.
Watching from above from the dock's main office which was overseeing the whole transport operation, we can see Azmodan without his mask checking over a couple of things with Euphemia and CC by his side.
"That's a lot of people, all of them have joined after hearing our speech, Azmodan," Euphemia said, being surprised at how many people would follow behind them.
"You and Azmodan are starting to become a symbol for many to follow behind or hate, Euphemia. The people now have hope & faith, and they are now giving your their support, strength, & arms to fight back against the corruption as Lelouch had started," CC explained as she saw this before over the course of her long life and how one person could lead an army fo great feat. She did enjoy Jeanne D'Arc and George Washington's company quite a bit.
But anyway.
"Indeed. Gathering what is left behind, the remains are done. New recruits would get more training once we start moving out to the EU, that would be our first stop," Azmodan said, recalling how he and CC got a very coded message from the EU's new leaders about helping them in defending from the position from Britannia's growing forces onto them.
The African area would mostly be taken by Britannia within a matter of weeks as the emperor would most likely send military advisors, generals, or even Knights of the Round to finish. And later move into the heart of the EU. The conquest goes on for them.
The Russian and Euro Britannian, well a bloody civil war would strike out when the bell rings. All hell will break loose, which would be amusing for the Prince of Lust if he heard someone saying that but would have to keep himself under control.
In the big chance that the Black Knights succeed and help the EU, then they will get a large amount of support from them. They would be able to rebuild what was lost at the Black Rebellion and have a much better chance to gain more followers. And have a much more of a fighting chance to take back Area 11 to become Japan again when the time comes to rise up for them.
Back down below, we see Kallen talking with one of the last remaining members of the Holy Swords who wasn't captured, Kosetsu Urabe.
"So you staying here, huh?" Kallen questioned.
"Yeah, someone has to stay and keep an eye on things here in Japan. I can run the Black Knights' branch of operation here while you guys head to the EU," Urabe explained which was logical and reasonable as someone with high ranking has to stay to keep an eye on Japan.
"Indeed...have you told Zero?" Kallen asked, crossing her arms.
"No, I plan to very soon. You going too?" Urabe guessed.
"Yes, know anyone else who's an ace?" Kallen challenged.
"Hehe, point taken. And don't worry, I do my best to figure out what happened to the others," Urabe said as he wasn't going to leave his fellow Holy Swords or the others behind.
Urabe had a feeling the rest of the Holy Swords and other high officers of the Black Knights must have been captured after the last stand on allowing the Six Houses of Kyoto to escape. He was given the order to protect and escort them to their safe place, but then he heard nothing from the others. They are not dead, he knows for sure and would do all he can to find out where they are being held.
"Big Sis, Sir!" A girl's voice called as the pair soon saw who was rushing towards them, one of the new recruits who joined the Black Knights after the Rise of the New Zero.
She was a young girl at the age of thirteen with brown that she keeps in short twin tails and brown eyes that showed that she has been through a lot but held up together. She wore a black shirt, pink shirk, leggings, and black boots.
This was Benio Akagi, one of the youngest members and new recruits of the Black Knights, in training but has promise.
Benio is also one of the survivors of SAZ and had seen the near assassination on Euphemia to later saw her own parents being gunned by a Sutherland. She would have been gunned down too but was saved by Kallen who was piloting the Guren and carried the girl to safety along with others.
Kallen was surprised to find that little girl again she saved after finding the said girl on the Guren's right claw, sleeping peacefully after re-watching the two speeches of Zero on the TV. She found out that Benio had no other families and deeply saw herself in the girl, which she decied to take with her after talking to her about options but she chose to join the Black Knights very cheerful and strong-willed.
"Benio, how's the food sources coming along?" Kallen asked since Benio had a background in food and resource shipments due to working alongside her parents at a number of food markets.
"Pretty good! We also have the Gawain and Guren ready for transport," Benio reported.
"Good. Rakshata wouldn't have to hound anyone on that. Anything else?" Kallen said, sensing there's more.
"Oh, yes. Zero-sama requested that you and Sir Urabe come to the office for a report, Big Sis," Benio informed.
"Hmm, speak of the devil and he shall appear, I guess," Urabe shrugged his shoulder at the irony of that as they were just talking about Zero not so long ago.
"It seems so. Very well, finished up with your task, Benio. Urabe and I should report to Zero," Kallen said.
"Gotcha Big Sis," Benio happily agreed, heading back to help the others of getting the last of the equipment shipped out as today or tomorrow by dawn, they would be leaving.
Back at the office, we see Azmodan putting back his white cape/cloak and mask back on, finishing up the reports, and would talk with two of his high command officers. CC was sitting on the sofa while humming to herself and thinking of ordering some pizza right now. Euphemia was getting herself ready and standing by Zero's side as he placed his mask on.
"It's almost time," Euphemia stated, mentioning the journey they would be going on.
"Almost time...I haven't got my pizza yet," CC said with a groan.
"Indeed, it's almost time, Euphemia. CC, you can ask the chefs to cook you some pizza. And don't worry, Euphemia, I would protect you every step of the way," Azmodan, now Zero said, even if his voice is altered, his kindness spoke in good volumes and made the immortal woman smirk on getting some pizza.
The white masked knight made a promise to protect the former princess and knows that some allies & enemies of the empire might not like the sudden reveal of her in the EU. He knows that the Black Knights and himself would protect him from the empire & their enemies. He vowed on that.
Euphemia smiled at the kindness and nodded her head which she was about to say something but a knock on the door got their attention.
"Come in," Zero said, allowing who to walk in.
"Zero," Kallen greeted as she was the first to walk in, followed by Urabe.
"Kallen, Urabe, report," Zero commanded, wanting the progress report of their moving out and heading to the EU as soon as Rakshata & her crew come to the docks on whatever she was planning.
"Everything is on schedule. We should be ready to move out when Rakshata arrives, Kallen reported.
"We also have a good amount of new recruits, all of them taking training and ready to move out to the EU with you. And I have a request to ask of you, Zero," Urabe said, recalling what he told the redhead earlier.
"That you wish to stay and run things as Japan's branch until we return?" Zero guessed, no, confirmed.
This surprised the last remaining of the Holy Swords.
"Y-yes that," Urabe said.
"Hmm, that would be logical as we still have a number of high-ranking officers and members of Black Knights still missing. If you stay here in Japan, Urabe, that would be a good edge for us once we return back to Japan after the EU," Zero said, sounding impressed by the commander thinking ahead.
"Indeed and I could use the remaining sources we have to figure out what happened to Todoh, the rest of the Holy Swords, Oghi, Tamaki, and others that we haven't seen or haven't been reported dead," Urabe said, recalling how a good number of the founding members of Black Knights were not counted amount the dead.
"Hmm most likely they are either in hiding or in prison," CC commented, seeing the chances of them being alive and their options on what to do next.
"One or both of them," Zero agreed.
"Why would they capture them? Some Britannians hated the Japanese and Black Knights equally. No offense," Euphemia said, before seeing Kallen's clenching her fists a bit.
"None-taken, Euphemia. I got nothing against you, to be honest, and you do make a good point," Kallen said, seeing an odd flaw in that.
"It's common in times of war and the aftermath to capture soldiers to punish them for war crimes they have done or been created to make them look bad. Urabe, you shall stay here and act as the eyes & ears in Japan along with those that stay with you. We are going to need more information and would be foolish to return back, falling into a trap now won't it?" Zero informed while the last part was a joke, causing some laughs and agreements on that.
"Good point, sir. I can do that. My men can also help the recruits that stay here or join up with us after you leave. By the time, you get back, we have good support and are ready for your next move," Urabe agreed with a smirk.
Zero nodded his head and then turn towards Kallen to speak, "How soon Rakshata would arrive?"
"Pretty soon surprisingly. Within the hour and we are already ahead of schedule," Kallen replied.
"Good. I would be honest; I'm pretty interested in what this Rakshata has in store for us," Zero admitted, being interested in the Knightmare creator who made the Guren, other Knightmares in Black Knights, and who can fix the Gawain.
"Be careful what you ask for, Zero," CC remarked with a knowing smirk and knows what the woman who loves her creations who she calls her babies can be like.
"Something tells me I would have to find out for myself," Azmodan thought to himself on that and had a feeling he might like Rakshata.