Author's Notes: Longest chapter I have ever written. (Deep breath)
Merry Christmas to you all, and lets do this.
"Lelouch"-Speech
'What'-Thoughts
"{Live}"-Geass Command
"Stop"-Loudspeaker
"Report"-Radio
(At a certain point, I'd recommended playing your preferred battle music. For me, it'd be either Rules of Nature or Winds of Destruction.)
Chapter 27: Akula's Wrath
September 24th, Kyushu Block, 11:32 A.M.
Atsushi Sawazaki
In the northern area of the Kyushu block lies Fukuoka base, a towering naval port, where the reborn Japan Self-Defence Force made their main headquarters. A raging hurricane battered the surrounding area as Atsushi looked at his men.
"We hereby declare the resurrection of Japan," he proclaimed loudly, "As a lawful, independent, and sovereign nation!"
His men cheered as the Chinese Knightmare Model TQ-19, the Gun-Ru, began marching out of the base, determined to wrest Japan from it's Britannian overlords.
'And into their Chinese overlords.' Atsushi thought solemnly, 'But, this is the only path left for us.'
Black Knight Submarine
Zero
Zero and the others watched from within his office a news report regarding the invasion.
"Atsushi Sawasaki, leader of the forces that have occupied the Fukuoka military base, was Chief Cabinet Minister of the Kururugi Administration in the former nation of Japan. After the war, he fled to the Chinese Federation, but is apparently making his move now in response to the recent civil unrest caused by Zero. Whether the Black Knights have played a role in these unfolding events is still under investigation."
"We're not part of it!" Tamaki exclaimed.
"Tohdoh," Celaeno said, "What has Kyoto said about this?"
"They didn't know this was coming either. They were just now informed of his unilateral claim to the Sakuradite Mining rights."
"C.C.," Zero continued, "What about your contact?"
"Just got a message from him. He wasn't informed of this, either."
"Contact?" Diethard inquired.
"Several days ago, I sent C.C. to the Chinese Federation to establish contact with Li Xingke, a close confidant of the current Empress Tianzi. His response confirms what I already believed, but we're getting off track. Is the Nest on?"
"Yes, Sir." The screen then switched to Robbinson.
"Robbinson, what's the situation back in Tokyo?"
"Calming down. While there was the initial panic, as with all declarations of war, Prince Schneizel was able to bring everything to heel very quickly."
"The relief supplies?"
"The charity groups have stopped their shipments, by order of the Second Prince."
"Thank you. Keep us updated."
Robbinson nodded, before the screen turned to the BK symbol.
"Zero," Kallen exclaimed, "What are we going to do?"
Sea of Japan, 2:22 P.M.
Several Britannian destroyers sailed through as the seas battered their hulls. The Japanese destroyers laid in wait.
"Enemy ships are now in rangs, Sir." A bridge officer exclaimed.
"Good, have the destroyers form a perimeter. We'll wait for the Viceroy's fleet, then~"
"Commander! Unknown bogey approaching off the port-stern. Speed is 90 knots, depth is 20 fathoms, and rising fast!"
"Come about, prepare depth charges and~"
"Speed just jumped to 180! Heading to the Antilles!"
"Antilles, brace for impact!"
Seconds later, the bow of the Antilles rose drastically, as the Akula rammed into the underside. As the Akula jumped out of the water, it landed on an adjacent destroyer, causing it's stern to begin sinking. Another destroyer began firing its main gun, the rounds exploding on impact, and damaging the Knightmare. In response, Akula quickly turned around and fired its energy cannon at the destroyer, exploding it down the middle.
"Get the VLSs targeting that monster!"
"Captain!"
He turned, and saw the Akula's left fin open up, and six missiles fired from them, turning around and heading straight for them.
"Fire the CIWS!"
"Too late!"
Despite the CIWS taking out one of the missiles, they all impacted the ship, one of them hitting the bridge, killing all inside.
Pollux
Several miles away, onboard a destroyer bearing the Imperial Mark, Pollux watched as the vanguard forces were getting slaughtered. Just as Intel provided, the Japanese forces had a new Knightmare.
'That's not a Knightmare, that's a freak of nature.'
"Pull our forces back."
"Yes, your Highness."
"Your Highness," Guilford said, "We won't be able to launch a successful naval assault until this storm passes by. When it does, we'll reclaim air superiority."
Pollux scoffed, "We won't be able to do so regardless. Even if we claim back the skies, that Knightmare will tear our ship apart."
"Of course. The Prime Minister is formulating a plan as we speak, but he's simply working over logistics right now."
The Viceroy held back a scoff. 'Translation, he wants to find out how badly we've been doing our job so he could possibly stick around.'
The door to the bridge opened, and Sub-Viceroy Castor entered, flicking his left hand.
"Updates?"
"Is something wrong with your hand, Sub-Viceroy?"
"Just hit something thick is all, nothing to concern yourself with."
Pollux nodded, before turning his attention back to the sea.
"It isn't good. I've split our forces into three main battle groups. I'll be taking the northern beaches, while you'll be heading to the north-west, and a North-eastern group. However, all of that is moot if we can't deal with that Knightmare. By the time a destroyer can get a bearing on it, it'll already be under attack."
"What about having both groups attack at once?"
"Too risky. We don't know it's nautical speed. Besides, whichever battle group engages it will be crippled, leaving the others exposed."
"Damn."
"Any word from Tokyo?"
"Oh, right! Dalton has some information that he wished to convey."
Pollux nodded, "Very good. Guilford, you have the helm. Pull our fleet back to the designated zone."
"Yes, your Highness."
The two Princes left the bridge, and entered the communication room. Upon activating it, they called the Viceroy Palace. Soon after, the screen changed, revealing General Dalton.
"Your Highness." Dalton said, bowing his head.
"General," Pollux replied, "I hope the information is valuable."
"That it is, Viceroy. We've been able to determine that the name of the large Knightmare is called Akula."
"Akula?"
"It means Shark in Russian," Castor replied.
"Yes. This, along with our spies in both China and the Russian Republic, have lead us to conclude that it's a Russian Knightmare. The Japan forces received it as a gift a short time ago."
"I thought the Russian Knightmare was the Panzer-Hummel?" Pollux inquired.
"Not entirely true," Castor countered, "Each country of the E.U. build their own Knightmares. However, there's a reason why Germany is the wealthiest of those countries. They sell their Knightmares to their fellow countries, or, at least, the production licenses to make them. Russia simply bought their Knightmares, as their sakuradite deposits are very few."
Dalton's screen then minimized to a quarter, while the rest showed schematics of the Akula.
"There's very little in terms of its construction. However, we've been able to discover its armaments. Four high impact turrets, two on the upper ends of the fins, two on the hips. It's left fin contains forty eight missiles of two variations."
"Um," Castor exclaimed, "How many?!"
"The first variant seems to be for small scale conflict. A single one can take down a tank, though. Based on the designs, it seems that for every two of the smaller missiles, there's one of the larger ones. We've determined that these are of a cruise missile variant. Only a few are needed to take down a destroyer. We unfortunately do not have enough intel to conclude if the right fin is also equipped with such weapons. It's main weapon seems to be the head unit containing a plasma cannon. Not only that, but our spies have determined that this is a prototype."
"Power source," Pollux inquired.
"One of the things we haven't been able to discover, unfortunately."
"Very well. Keep us updated."
Dalton nodded before the screen turned off.
"That Knightmare is only a prelude."
"What?" Castor said, confused.
"The Akula is clearly designed for amphibious assaults. The Russians are using this invasion as a chance to test out their Knightmare. As the General said, it's a prototype. Meaning that they'll be more advanced versions of it. As Area 11 is an island nation, this will be very difficult if Russia mass-produces these."
Castor shuddered, not liking the idea of an army of Akulas.
Ashford Academy
Milly Ashford
At Ashford, a blue sky and bright sun shined down upon the school, a stark contrast to the storm raging down south. Milly was sitting on the table, looking over budget details, Rival was on a laptop, Euphie and Nina were looking over a paper detailing a 'Giant Pizza', deciding which toppings should go where, and Shirley was using a music stand to hold a paper detailing locations for festival attractions. The Student Council was in the final stages of preparing for the Ashford School Festival. Though, given recent events, that seemed less and less likely.
"After all our hard work getting ready," Milly exclaimed, "It looks like they're gonna cancel the School Festival."
"That's hardly a huge concern since we're at war." Rival countered.
"At war?" Nina inquired nervously.
Euphie answered her, "The Chinese Federation is using the Japan exiled government to launch an invasion of Area 11. If they fail, they can simply say they had no idea. If they succeed, the Federation will gain new territory. China has always wanted these lands, so I doubt they'd pass on the opportunity."
"Euphie's right," Rival continued, "This may seem like a war with the last Japanese military, but this is a war with the Chinese Federation."
"Oh, I see."
"On that note," Rival then turned to Euphie, "If this does go downhill, what are you and the others going to do?"
Euphie raised an eyebrow.
"I mean, if this war gets any more crazy, and ends up coming to Tokyo~"
"Don't worry, Rivalz. Lelouch and Cornelia have had plenty of time making escape routes and backup establishments. We even have a small manor in northern Wakkanai. If things get really bad, we have a Russian business man that could help us."
"Jeez, how much of Area 11 do you own?!"
"To be fair, it's Milly's grandfather who owns all those businesses."
While Euphie and Rivalz talked, Milly went back to her thoughts.
'I haven't received word from Lelouch or Cornelia. They must simply be planning on how to deal with Sawazaki. Right now, I should focus on Lord Asplund. Two days from now will be the last day, when I'm supposed to give him the data on the Ganymede, and I still haven't gotten close to getting the Lancelot's data.' Milly smirked, 'Though, it will be nice to stick it to Selene when she realizes I never intended on marrying him. Not only that,' "but I highly doubt Lelouch will keep his end of the deal, mother."
"What deal?" Shirley inquired.
Milly's eyes widened in shock, as she didn't realize she said the last part out loud. The Student Council were all intrigued, while Euphie looked concerned.
'Ah shit.'
Avalon, 3:07 P.M.
Suzaku
In one of the hangars for the Avalon, Suzaku and Nonette were having two large red attachments placed on the backs of the Lancelot and Lancelot Club, Float Systems. Despite Gawain's capture, it proved that the Float System was a viable tool for Knightmares. Cecile was looking over the console, making the last steps needed to properly attach them. The two Floats latched onto the Lancelots, locking them in. Cecile looked over the data of the two Knightmares, and there were no issues with the installation.
"It's amazing, Suzaku," she said, "You got a perfect rating on the Float Simulator."
"Thank you." Suzaku looked at his hands, which, thanks to the doctors, were now in much better condition. They did say to wait another day, but the invasion put that idea in the bin.
"Perfect score," Lady Nonette exclaimed from inside her L-Club, "Should I be concerned about my position?"
Suzaku widened his eyes, "Of course not. I would never try to usurp~"
"Jeez, take a joke, kid. Anyway, I need a moment with you anyway."
Suzaku opened his cockpit, while Nonette did the same. Lloyd entered the hangar just as the two got on the ground.
"Well," Lloyd exclaimed, "I just got done talking with our dear Prime Minister."
"So," Nonette replied, "What are our orders?"
"You, Suzaku, and Dorothea will be deployed from the Avalon alongside the eastern side of Kyushu. The Avalon has a built in launch system so your Knightmares will be able to fly from it."
'Wait, Lady Ernst as well?' "Lloyd, doesn't Lady Ernst only have a Gloucester?"
Lloyd smirked, going to a console, and pressing several buttons. The wall opened, and a new Knightmare was carried in. It was half a meter taller than the Lancelot, was painted dark blue instead of white, and its arms and legs looked bulkier than the Lancelot. The head unit also sported three horns as opposed to the one, forming something akin to a crown.
"After," Lloyd then groaned, "Painstakingly boring discussions, I finally got a Knightmare schematic that Dorothea didn't disapprove of. Spent the past week with Cecile building it. It'll be slower than the Lancelots, but, with its built in M-VARISs, I do believe Dorothea won't complain."
"M-VARIS?" Suzaku inquired.
"Yes. A smaller version of the VARIS. Packs less than half of a punch, but will fire more rapidly. I do believe I have two in each lower arm, and three on each shoulder. I present to you the Lancelot Sahm."
"Sahm?"
"I think it's…" Nonette replied, "Arabic?"
"Good ear," Lloyd exclaimed, "Dorothea's line does trace back to Africa, so I decided to have the sub-name reflect that. It means arrow."
"Except Dorothea hates being reminded of her foreign origins."
"That's the point. If she is going to waste my time with pointless discussions, she better be ready for the consequences."
While Nonette and Lloyd continued discussing things, Suzaku was in deep thought, recalling a conversation with Castor.
(Several Hours Ago)
Castor
"Suzaku," Castor exclaimed, "What did you wish to discuss?"
Nonette had said that Suzaku wanted to 'Get something off his chest.', and was confiding in Castor about it. He was obviously curious about what Suzaku wanted to say. The entire time he's known him, Suzaku was more of a reactor than an actor. As such, the two were now in his office at the Palace
Suzaku looked worried, like he didn't even want to be here.
"Nonette suggested I tell you. Something that I've kept quiet for years."
Now it was Castor's turn to look concerned. "Suzaku?"
"What do you know of my father, Genbu Kururugi?"
'?' "Not much, unfortunately. Before the Second Pacific War, he ran your people's government. If I remember correctly, he was beginning reforms that would allow the Imperial Family, your Imperial Family, more power, as their control had largely diminished following the second World War. During the invasion, he committed….seppuku, I think your people call it, as a way of protesting the war. How is this relevant?"
"...It's about my father's death. He….he didn't commit suicide."
'!' Castor looked shocked, as the Japanese government had announced that he did commit suicide.
'Why would they lie? Why not announce that he was murdered? For a people like Japan, such news would ignite rage, thus pushing them to fight harder. Unless...it was one of their own who killed them. But then who….wait, if he's the one telling me…'
"Suzaku, do not tell me..."
Suzaku simply nodded his head.
Castor was stumped. He had believed that Suzaku was a skilled warrior, who's only downside was his unwillingness to fight, or, at the least, kill another person. Yet, he would always throw himself into the thick of battle.
"Why?"
Castor couldn't decide whether he was asking about Suzaku's father, or about why he always charged into battle.
"My father was not willing to accept defeat. Maybe Russia could've helped us if we held out, but how many people would've died if we continued to fight. How many families would be torn apart forever. I just...I didn't even realise I killed him until the dagger was already in him."
Castor stood quiet, processing his words.
'Makes sense. I didn't take into consideration just how much he detest violence. By, then, why is he so determined to jump into a fight.'
"The worst part of it? I was never punished for it. I just lived on like nothing happened."
Something clicked in Castor's head, and it made him angry.
"While soldiers die and Elevens suffer, I'm unscathed. A person like me~"
Suzaku never finished his sentence, as Castor slammed a left rook straight to his cheek. Suzaku was sent to the ground, clearly not expecting the hit.
'This pessimistic, suicidal bastard.' "When I first met you, I found you to be an excellent soldier, who's only weakness was your unwillingness to kill. Now, I know you simply have a death wish. If you want to die to atone for your sins, then find a gun and kill yourself. You disrespect every person you work for with your suicidal tendencies."
The two kept silent, weighing each other's words.
"Suzaku," Castor said, venom on his tongue, "What do you want?"
"I want the Elevens in the ghettos to not suffer, to be treated fairly."
"And how do you intend to do that?!"
"By changing the way Britannia sees my people."
"And HOW do you plan on doing that if you are unwilling to change!? If there's one thing my father has truthfully said, it's that evolution, change, is the only consistent law of the universe. If you are unwilling to change, then you are simply on a self-destructive path. Hell, take Area 11 as the best recent example!"
"What?"
"If nothing changed, then you would still be a nonamed private, and every terrorist group in Area 11 would've been wiped out. However, Zero changed the game. He didn't simply attack us out of spite, but also out of justice. Celaeno once told me that a terrorist lashes out in anger, while a rebel strikes out with hope. Every terrorist group simply attacked us as their way of revenge. The Black Knights are hoping to build something greater. That's why they've been succeeding, because we're still trying to adapt, while they already have. If you can't understand that, then what hope do you have of changing my country!?"
Suzaku simply laid there, dumbfounded as he had his beliefs challenged in a way he could never have expected.
"No one changed anything by following the rules. Honestly, I would love to see how you'd change my country. However, unless you are willing to change your own ways, all I see is someone looking to die. Now, get out of my sight."
(Present)
Suzaku looked down, his thoughts weighing heavily on what Castor said to him.
'It's true that I have only followed the rules. However, is the only way for me to help my people is to break those rules?'
"Suzaku?"
He jolted up, turning his head, and seeing Miss Cecile with a hand on his shoulder.
"Are you alright?"
"Yeah," Suzaku wearily replied, "Just, got a lot on my mind."
"Well," Lloyd exclaimed, joining the conversation, "Get your head out of the clouds. We'll be deploying in a few hours.
Black Knight Submarine, 5:55 P.M.
Lelouch
'God damnit, what did that Geass sigil do to me?' Lelouch, wearing his outfit but not the helmet, thought as he sat in his personal room onboard the BK Submarine. His hands were placed upon his face, his head still reeling from the mental assault he endured.
'Not only that, but I have to deal with an invasion from the Chinese Federation!'
"Zero." His sister called out. Looking up, he saw Celaeno and C.C. entering. Celaeno sealed the door so that no one could enter unannounced, then took off her helmet.
"Sister."
"Lelouch," Cornelia said, kneeling to him, "What happened back at Kamine?"
Lelouch brushed a hand over his hair. "I'm not sure. When that Geass sigil appeared, my brain went into a frenzy."
"What did it feel like, Lelouch?" C.C. inquired, an air of venom coming off her tongue.
"Like...like someone reached an arm into my brain and started scrambling it."
"...We may have a problem."
"What?" Cornelia inquired.
"Lelouch, Cornelia, what you encountered on Kamine island was a Thought Elevator."
"Thought Elevator?" Lelouch replied, deeply annoyed about not being informed of this.
"They are something far too complicated to get into detail right now. Even though I don't know everything about them, I will tell you how it is relevant now. Code Bearers, such as I, are able to utilize these Thought Elevators for various features. Communication with other Code Bearers, teleportation, a~"
"Teleportation!?" Cornelia interrupted.
"Yes. As long as you know the precise location of another Elevator, a Code Bearer can use one to teleport to it, even if it's on the other side of the world. However, we're talking about Lelouch. Another feature that Code Bearers can use is to access the memories of nearby individuals. Given your reaction, I think it's safe to assume that a Code Bearer may have used the Thought Elevator to access your memories. Which means that someone outside our circle of forces is aware of your identity."
"Do you know of any other Code Bearers, C.C.?" Lelouch inquired. C.C. looked to the side.
"Just one. And, if it's him, then we'll have a serious problem. However, I think we have bigger issues right now."
"C.C.'s right," Cornelia said, putting her helmet back on, "The others are waiting for our input into what we'll do about Atsushi."
Lelouch sighed before standing up. "Agreed. However, C.C., when this is done, I expect a concrete answer about this other Code Bearer."
"Of course," she replied, fully intending to get back at V.V. for his interference.
Lelouch put his helmet on as the three left the room. The three walked down the hallway, entering a large room with dozens of people. C.C. waited at the door while Zero and Celaeno went up the steps overlooking the group. On the stage was Kallen, Ohgi, Diethard, and Tohdoh, of which was still wearing his JLF uniform, as were his personal men. The Dark Council was front and center of the group, waiting for their leaders' words.
"After some debate with myself and Celaeno, I have determined that giving our support to Atsushi Sawazaki would not benefit our cause's endgame in the long run."
Many members began murmuring amongst themselves, some of them not comprehending what he just said.
"Ah," Tamaki exclaimed, "So, you're saying we…"
"We aren't going to be collaborating with Sawazaki," Celaeno replied, "He's not independent. He's a puppet of the Chinese Federation."
"But," Yoshida retorted, "He says he's fighting for Japan."
"We'd get a new name, and a new master," Zero retorted, "But nothing would change. His Japan is nothing but a sham."
"So," Asahina said, "What you're really saying is~"
"When Britannia strikes back," Urabe finished, "We play dead?"
"Zero," Diethard exclaimed, "Perhaps you and Celaeno should clarify what our overall mission is."
"Diethard's right," Ohgi continued, "Even leaving aside Sawazaki, what's our midterm goal here?"
"To make Japan a truly independent nation, starting with Tokyo."
Nearly everyone was gasping at Zero's words. To them, Zero was implying that they will face Britannia on their own.
"Independent?"
"A nation?"
"Are you serious?!"
"You mean us? A country?"
"He's joking, right?"
Diethard, on the other hand, looked ecstatic, his eyes wide with anticipation. "I thought so. He's really going all the way."
"Wait a minute!" Chiba exclaimed, "No matter how much the Black Knights have expanded~!"
"Our enemy," Katase continued, "Is an empire that covers a third of the world! How do you expect us to fight that?!"
"Yeah," Tamaki said, "We can't do this alone!"
"I never said we'd stand alone!" Zero countered.
Everyone went silent, wondering what he was meaning.
"Zero," Tohdoh spoke up, "Would you clarify what you mean?"
"Tell me, what is the difference between the Chinese Federation and Europa United?"
People started murmuring to each other, trying to guess the answer.
"I'll save you the time...The Federation was formed through deceit and corruption, while the E.U. was formed out of cowardice. The High Eunuchs control the Federation, and, by all intents and purposes, are just as corrupt as Britannia. The E.U. was formed because the nations involved knew they couldn't hold back Britannia on their own. They held no intentions of actually fighting Britannia, simply making sure Britannia didn't grow larger," Zero outstretched his arm to the side, "Why toss our log into a corrupted flame, or a dying flame formed from cowardice," he then clenched his hand, "When you can use it to spark our own fire! We will forge our own coalition, dedicated to punishing Britannia for their sins!"
Everyone was in silence, either out of disbelief, or of awe.
"In fact, let's make our position clear to everyone."
North-Western Kyushu, 9:12 P.M.
Castor
Castor, along with his battle group, were holding position, waiting for Schniezel's plan. The hurricane was starting to clear up, which would allow them to regain air superiority, and begin beach landings.
'Well, unless we can't figure out how to deal with the Akula.'
Despite the encroaching battle, all he could think about was that damnedable idiot.
'Suzaku, if you aren't willing to change, you'll simply be another forgettable footnote in history.'
"Your highness," Guilford exclaimed behind him, "We're nearly ready."
"Right. Do you think the Special Corps can break through their lines?"
"With Lady Enneagram and Ernst, alongside Lieutenant Kururugi, I'd say they have a good chance."
"Hmm."
Eastern Kyushu
Suzaku
The Avalon began approaching the enemy frontline, out of range for effective ground attacks. Suzaku, Nonette, and Dorothea were all in their respective Lancelots, waiting for the go-ahead. Suzaku was on the deck of the Avalon, inside a long half open tube. According to Cecile, it's a specialized wheelchair catapult designed to launch Knightmares at accelerated rates by holding the landspinners in place, then accelerating them until they reach appropriate velocity.
If what Lloyd said was true, the launch speed could propel him faster than the Britannian BU-87 fighter jet, which has a top speed of 1,450 mph.
"Lieutenant Kururugi," Cecile exclaimed from the bridge, "Brace yourself, reading several missiles launched from Fukuoka base. Fifty-five seconds to impact."
"Not bad," Lloyd commented, "They're well prepared against air raids."
"Are we sending a barrage of our own?"
"We'll be fine in this position." Cecile replied.
Quickly approaching the Avalon were dozens of cruise missiles, a single one capable of possibly crippling the Avalon. Right before they reached them, the three green hexagons formed below the ship, before fading out.
Atsushi
At Fukuoka base, both Atsushi and Cao observed from radar the Avalon's approach.
"E.T.A. to impact five seconds," a JSDF soldier exclaimed, "Four...three...two...one...Direct hit on all missiles. The Avalon has been destroyed." The triangle image of the Avalon disappeared from the radar.
Atsushi smirked, "Ha, even if it is state-of-the-art, a single ship has no chance of breaching our lines."
Then the image of the Avalon reappeared.
"What?"
Lloyd
The Avalon flew through the smoke, completely unharmed from the attack.
Lloyd smirked, "We already knew the Lancelot's shields could work, so it was a simple matter to install them upon the Avalon."
"Lieutenant Kururugi," Cecile continued, "I'm laying out the mission plan for final verification. This ship will breach the enemy's frontline from high altitude and move directly to the launch point. The advanced weapon system Z-01 Lancelot, using the float unit, will lead the charge against the enemy headquarters at Fukuoka base, alongside the Z-00 Lancelot Club, and Z-02 Lancelot Sahm. Be warned, the float units consume energy fast, so pay attention to your operation time."
Suzaku
"Yes, My Lord."
"Got it!" Nonette replied.
"Understood." Dorothea replied.
The Lancelot crouched down, preparing to launch.
"M.E. boost."
"Lancelot unit, now launching!"
"Launch!"
The Lancelot shot out of the tub like a bullet, causing Suzaku to begin sinking into his cockpit's seat. The cockpit dampeners would prevent the G-Forces from crushing his body, but that initial launch would take some getting used to. As he left the tub, the float unit extended to the side like a pair of wings, before the yellow tipped edges opened up. Upon opening, the gaps produced a green energy similar to the Blaze Luminous. Activating the jet propulsors, he rocketed forward, towards Fukuoka.
"Lancelot Club, launching!"
"Lancelot Sahm, launching!"
Quickly, the Club caught up to Suzaku, while the Sahm was trailing behind due to its increased mass.
Atsushi
The radar screen showed three pings moving from the Avalon.
"Sir," a JSDF soldier exclaimed, "The enemy ship seemed to have launched three bombers, but they're moving faster than fighter jets!"
"I can see that! Do we have a visual?!"
"Here!"
A new screen appeared, showing two white Knightmares, flying.
"Knightmares?!" Cao commented.
"They're not being transported," Atsushi replied, "They're just flying in!"
"The weapons report we got. Could this be it?!"
"You mean those novelty weapons?! But, then, the pilots are...Recall the Akula!"
"Sir," a JSDF exclaimed, "It's currently engaging Britannian forces!"
"I don't care! We'll need it here if we'll stand a chance against them!"
"Right, Sir. Recalling Akula."
Pollux
Several miles away, the Britannian forces were beginning their beach assaults, slowly pushing the JSDF back.
"Your Highness," Dalton exclaimed, "Our forces are meeting heavier resistance than expected."
"As expected. After all, if you had a weapon capable of devastating armies, wouldn't you fight a little harder."
"Sir!" A crewman exclaimed, "Akula coming in fast! Off the destroyer Coronant's starboard."
The Coronant was at the battle group's father edge.
"Coronant~"
"We see him! Brace~!"
The radio cut out, telling Pollux what happened.
"Akula's still advancing, now heading towards Zodiac!"
'It's moving in a straight line. Heading straight for my ship.'
"Zodiac reports heavy damage, now heading toward Borealis! ETA forty seconds!"
'After that, he'll be on top of us! Think!' "Get me Zodiac!"
"Zodiac here."
"Zodiac, how did the Akula attack you?"
"Jumped out of the water, then fired it's beam as it passed."
"Get me the closest ship to Coronant!"
"Torent here."
"How did the Akula attack?"
"It flew across the bow of the ship before diving underwater. What do those kids call it...Drive-by?"
"Twenty seconds, Sir!"
'It hit their bows at a rapid pace. What if…' "Viceroy Pollux to destroyers Senya, Vitiate, and Marr, fire cruise missiles across the bow of the Borealis!"
"But, sir, there's nothing there."
"Do it now!" The rage in his voice was evident.
Three destroyers fired fifteen missiles towards Borealis. As they approached, the water next to the Borealis bulged upward. The Akula soon bursted from the water, and turned its head towards the Borealis' bridge. However, as it did so, it then noticed the missiles right in front of him. Nine of the fifteen missiles found their mark, sending the Akula barrelling into the ocean.
"Direct hit!"
Several crewmen cheered, finally landing a decent hit on the monster.
"We aren't done yet," Pollux exclaimed, make all the men attentive once more, "Just because we damaged that beast doesn't mean~"
As if answering him, the Akula bursted out of the water directly in front of them, before landing on the bow of their ship, the sudden weight causing everyone to lunge forward, Pollux himself slamming into the control panels. Pollux looked at the Akula, which seemed to be cracked in several places where the missiles hit. The Akula roared at them, causing several crewmembers, Pollux included, to cover their ears.
"Viceroy!" Dalton screamed as the Akula charged it's cannon. Dalton tackled Pollux to the ground, before standing up and pulling out a pistol, alongside several other crew members. Useless as it may be, they would defend the Viceroy to the very end. Pollux covered his head, waiting for the end.
Which never came.
Pollux opened his eyes, confused. Taking a risk, he lifted his head to look out the view screen. The Akula was looking to the side. Then, surprising all of them, it jumped off the ship, diving into the water.
Everyone on the bridge was stunned. The Akula had them dead to rights.
"Why did it leave?" Dalton asked what they were all thinking.
"This," Pollux replied, "This can't be good."
Suzaku
"The military force," Lloyd exclaimed, "That's trying to occupy the Kyushu block is fighting under ex-Minister Atsushi Sawazaki. If they lose him, the new Japanese government will collapse very quickly. In that case, the Chinese Federation loses any and all excuses for being here and will withdraw."
"Incoming." Nonette exclaimed. On the Lancelot's radar were over two dozen VTOL Gunships.
"We don't have time! Forget about them! Blast through them, and let Dorothea handle stragglers."
"Yes."
"Fine." Dorothea agreed.
Both Lancelots launched slash harkins, taking out over a dozen gunships in front of them, and blasting through the group.
After another moment, Fukuoka base was within sight.
"There it is." Another gunship flew over the hill, 'ambushing' the two, but Suzaku was quicker, and raised an arm to block the bullets with an energy shield. Nonette quickly dispatched the assailant.
"Dorothea, how long until you arrive?"
"Sixty seconds."
"Understood. We'll try to leave some for you."
Then, the Lancelot received a message. Unlike most communications, however…
"An open channel?"
"Open?"
Suzaku answered, and a small screen appeared, revealing Atsushi.
"This is Minister Sawazaki. Is that Prime Minister Kururugi's son in the pilot seat?"
Suzaku gasped.
"I see. I didn't know he had a son like you."
"A son like him," Nonette replied, "Would you like to clarify before I execute you?"
"Simply that I expected a son of Genbu Kururugi to have more of a passion for his own country. Unless, of course, you're here to join me."
The two Lancelots descended, and approached a airstrip.
"You're wrong. This has nothing to do with my father. I came here to put an end to this fighting."
Both Lancelots hit the tarmac, deploying their landspinners, and started slowing down.
"I will accept your surrender."
"Surrender?! You mean to rob Japan of its freedom?!"
"Freedom has to come the right way! Not like this!"
"So, you will act out of selfishness!? That's simply justice without ideology!"
"You're wrong! That's not~"
"Ambust!" Nonette exclaimed. Suzaku quickly realized that as seven Knightmares appeared from between the buildings. They were green, dome shaped Knightmares, armed with two arm machine guns, as well as two larger weapons attached to the body itself.
Both Lancelots raised their VARISs and began firing, dodging the incoming attacks.
'Those Knightmares...Those are Gun-Rus from the Chinese Federation.'
Atsushi
"Hmph," Atsushi grunted annoyingly, "He still has much to learn. If Nonette hadn't warned him, we could've ended it right here. Oh well. How long until the Akula gets here?"
"Sixty seconds."
"Then," Cao exclaimed, "We simply need to keep our guests busy until then. All forces converge on the intruders, delay them for as long as you can!"
Suzaku
Both Lancelots having eliminated the Gun-Rus, saw a dozen more approaching along with APCs.
"Coming out of the woodwork, aren't they? However, against Sutherlands, I'm not sure if they'd match up."
"It's how China has always been. Quantity over quality."
The two ducked between the buildings.
"Use your harkins and melee weapons. VARISs will only hamper us in these tight confines."
"You say that like I haven't done this before." Nonette replied snarky, putting the VARIS away and pulling out the war axe. "Mind covering me? Using my shields while wielding this is a little awkward."
"Yes, my Lord."
The two charged out, engaging three Gun-Rus. Suzaku raised a shield, blocking their attacks, before cutting the legs off of one of them. Nonette then charged at the two and proceeded to bisect them.
However, for each Gun-Ru they destroyed, more came upon them.
"Suzaku Kururugi," Atsushi said confidently, "I'd advise that you surrender. Since you are Prime Minister Kururugi's son, you will be well treated, my boy."
"I refuse! If I use my father's name for this, I'll never forgive myself! Why are you even doing this?! You know that China will simply enslave us just as Britannia did!"
"...Yes," Atsushi said, surprising Suzaku, "I understand that China won't treat us that much more than Britannia would. However, when you're given a path, you follow it with all your heart, even if it leads to your own damnation. It goes against everything I once believed in. Do I regret choosing this path? No. Choosing a path that forsakes my beliefs to achieve a goal where others might achieve happiness. How can I possibly regret that? Would you rather I commit seppuku instead?!"
Suzaku froze, unable to reply. Whether Atsushi knew it or not, his words had hit Suzaku to his core.
"Suzaku?!" Nonette exclaimed as the group was surrounded by over ten Gun-Rus.
"As a leader," Atsushi continued, "My personal beliefs are nothing compared to what is needed to be done. I need to look after all the people who look to me for leadership. There is no place for honorable methods, for peaceful methods! If you somehow escape this, Kururugi, then consider this: Stand in the ashes of a million dead, and ask their ghosts if honor matters. The silence shall be your answer. Goodbye." The screen shut off as the Gun-Rus prepared to fire.
"Dorothy," Nonette exclaimed "Where the FUCK are you!?"
Then, green bolts began hammering the Gun-Rus from above, destroying them in seconds. Suzaku was knocked out of his mental spiral, and both of them looked up to see the Lancelot Sahm barrelling down towards them, firing its M-VARISs.
The Sahm slammed into the ground, and immediately started slowing down.
"Okay," Nonette said amusingly, "I'll admit, you earned some style points for that o~"
The Sahm then crashed through a warehouse door. Suzaku winced at the sound it made.
"Aaaand now you lost those points."
"Shut up," Dorothea retorted, "I didn't have half a runway to slow down. Perhaps you shouldn't have gotten surrounded."
"My Lords," Suzaku interjected, "Please. We're on the same side. Let's focus on Atsushi."
"For once," Dorothea exclaimed, piloting the Sahm out of the warehouse, "I agree with the Eleven. Energy filler status?"
"Mine's at 37%."
"I'm at 40%." Nonette replied.
"30, thanks to that barrage, and a longer flight."
"Then, let's end this fast. Dorothea, me and Suzaku will use our energy shields to cover you, while you obliterate anything in our path."
The three Lancelots then charged towards the tower, intending to end the battle once and for all.
Pollux
"Why did it run?" A crewmember exclaimed.
"There's no way we scared it. Right?"
'I seriously don't like this!' "Someone get me the Sub-Viceroy!"
"Yes, your Highness."
A screen appeared, showing the bridge of Castor's ship.
"Your Highness," the captain exclaimed, "Your brother and Guilford have secured the beaches, and are advancing inland."
"Put me through to him."
The captain nodded, contacting the Sub-Viceroy.
Castor
The Volanus fired a lightning bolt at a Gun-Ru, Guilford's Gloucester impaled another, and Rai's Gloucester fired upon approaching APCs, destroying them. Their forces were in a slog, but they were still pushing deeper inland.
"Your Highness," Guilford exclaimed, "The Viceroy is contacting you."
"Wonder what brother wants now. Put him through."
A screen appeared, showing Pollux.
"Sub-Viceroy, have you encountered the Akula?"
"Had a brief entanglement. Bastard took out a fifth of my forces before pissing off. Why?"
"The Akula landed on my ship, and had us in his sights. Yet, instead of attacking, it ran off."
'Ooookay, that can't be good.' "Well, be glad it didn't realize you were on that ship. Might've killed you before it left. Maybe it heard we had landed."
"Then why haven't you encountered it since?"
"That's…a good point."
"Your Highness," Dalton exclaimed, approaching the screen, "We have data on the Akula's trajectory."
"Put it on, General."
A second screen appeared, showing a line that the Akula appeared to be taking...straight towards Fukuoka base.
"Damnit," Pollux exclaimed, "Atsushi must've called it back to protect him from Lady Ernst, Enneagram, and Lieutenant Kururugi."
"Well, his mistake. Without the Akula, our forces will easily break through their own."
Pollux then had a look of both horror and fury. "This was his plan."
"What? You mean Atsushi planned this?"
"Not Atsushi! Schneizel!"
"Schneizel?" Then, things slowly started to click for Castor.
'Schneizel knew that the Akula would be able to devastate our fleets, so he forced the Akula to return to base by offering 'bait'.' "Goddammnit." He whispered to himself, groaning at the same time.
"Someone get me the Avalon!"
Suzaku
"That's the last of them," Dorothea exclaimed as she gunned down another Gun-Ru, "Now, all that's left are the paltry units guarding the tower itself."
The three Knightmares began pushing towards the tower. However, Suzaku was deep in thought.
'Atsushi. You will never know how much your words have hit me.' Suzaku slammed a fist against the side of his cockpit. 'Why? Why can't you people just let me pay for my crimes?!'
'Who's to say you aren't?' Genbu's voice replied, 'You aren't getting the death you want. Perhaps that is your punishment.'
A cold sweat started forming on him.
"Suzaku!" Cecile exclaimed, bringing him back to the present.
"Yes, Miss Cecile."
"You have incoming! The Russian Knightmare Akula is about to drop right on top of you!"
"What?!" Suzaku stopped his Lancelot, nearly causing Dorothea to ram into him.
"What the hell, Eleven. Why'd you stop?"
"The Akula's here."
"What?" Nonette replied, "Where!?"
All three formed a triangular defensive position, waiting for the Akula to strike. Suzaku then noticed the water nearby beginning to bulge. "The water!"
The three Lancelots fired their VARISs at the bulge, and the Akula soon bursted out of the water, flying above the three and landing to the ground, it's feet breaking the concrete.
(Third Person View due to jumping between characters rapidly. Also, Music time)
The Akula quickly turned, roaring at the Lancelots. Suzaku saw it's right fin fold outward, forming a blade, which then turned orange as it heated up.
"Okay," Nonette exclaimed, "Twenty meters is taller than I thought."
The four quad turrets on the Akula's hips and shoulders opened up and aimed at them.
"Book it for the warehouses!"
The three charged for the warehouses as the guns opened fire. The Club and Lancelot used their energy shields to block the attacks, however, the Akula charged its energy beam.
"Scatter!"
The three took separate paths into the base as the energy beam tore a line through the ground. The Akula began charging after the Sahm, keeping pace with her. Dorothea charged into a warehouse, with the Akula ripping through the warehouse after her.
'Jesus FUCK, that thing might give me nightmares!' Forgetting caution, she blasted a hole in the back of the warehouse and charged out, the Akula destroying the entire wall as it followed here. Warning signs began appearing in her Knightmare. She checked, and saw her energy was dangerously low.
"Damnit, my Sahm is almost out!"
Back on the Avalon, Lloyd was about to have a panic attack.
"No! My precious Lancelots!"
"We need to move the Avalon in to support!" Cecile exclaimed.
"We can't! The Luminous shield doesn't cover the entire ship, we'll be blown out of the sky. Plus, I don't want to find out if our shield could withstand that plasma beam!"
Cecile quickly went back to the console. If the Sahm was having energy issues, then the Lancelot and Club weren't far behind.
"Lancelots. Reroute all power to combat and comms systems!"
Back on the battlefield, the three Lancelots did as they were told, causing their cockpits to turn dark for a split second before emergency lighting came on. This engulfed their cockpits in a dim red lighting.
"We need to get the Akula off Ernst!" Nonette exclaimed as she and Suzaku came up behind the Akula, firing their VARISs. Damaging the back, the Akula quickly turned around, before it's left fin opened up.
"Uhoh."
Twenty small missiles fired from the fin, and sped towards them.
"Run!"
The Club and Lancelot split up, with the missiles either following them, or hitting the ground as they couldn't turn hard enough. The Club drove into a warehouse and started slashing at the crates, causing them to fall down and block the missiles' path.
The Lancelot twisted in between warehouses, dodging the missiles as they crashed closer and closer. Finally, the last missiles crashed just a couple meters from him, the explosion sending him flying, though he quickly recovered.
The Club was able to get around the Akula, and brought out its battle axe.
'Okay,' Nonette angrily thought, 'No more defensive.'
The Akula quickly turned, two of its guns training on her, and fired the plasma beam. The Club dodged the beam, charging at the Akula as the two guns opened fire on her. Some of the rounds did hit her, denting the armor. Approaching the left hip, she jumped up and swung at the turret, bisecting it.
"Ha," Nonette exclaimed as the Club landed, "One less thing to worry ab~"
Nonette wasn't dumb. Even before she said that, she was already moving the Club between two warehouses. She just didn't expect the bladed fin to slash through the corner of the warehouse to get to her.
'SHIT!' Having no time to block, she simply went to hit the deck. While this did prevent her Knightmare from being destroyed outright, it didn't stop the blade from taking the top part of her head unit.
Unfortunately, it was enough of the head unit to register to the auto-eject system.
"No, NO!" Nonette screamed, trying to bypass the system, "I'm still functional."
It was all for naught, however, as her cockpit was sent flying away from the Club, slamming against the side of a warehouse, and into the open. She could only watch as the Club fell to the ground, and the Akula pressed a foot down upon it, soon crushing it. Turning its head, it fired the plasma beam at Nonette's cockpit.
Before it reached her, the Lancelot picked up the cockpit and started running, leaving behind them scorched concrete.
"Lady Ernst," Suzaku exclaimed as he rounded another corner, trying to find a good spot to hide Nonette's cockpit, "Where are you?"
"Busy dealing with the last Gun-Rus. They decided to ambush me when we separated. Be there in thirty."
The Lancelot lunged forward as a cruise missile blasted behind him, sending the cockpit out of his grasp. Getting back up, he saw that he was between the Akula and the cockpit. Warnings erupted, saying that he was on reserves.
'Damnit, I have enough energy to dodge this last attack. But, then nothing will save Lady Nonette.' "Lady Nonette, can you get out?"
In the cockpit, Nonette was pulling the lever to open the canopy, to no avail.
"No, it's jammed," Nonette exclaimed, before turning around and trying to kick the canopy open, "It won't open!"
"I understand," Suzaku said, a note of finality in his voice, "Miss Cecile, I guess this is it."
Back on the Avalon, Cecile's eyes widened in horror. "Suzaku, get out of there!"
"Miss Cecile," Suzaku solemnly replied, pulling out both his MVSs, "I only have enough energy to dodge one or two more attacks. And I'm the only thing standing between the Akula and a defenseless Nonette. At least, this way, I can block one attack, giving Nonette some time to escape.
The Akula began charging it's energy cannon.
"Thank you, for everything."
"SUZAKU!"
Just as it fired, two red beams of energy smashed into the Akula, sending it tumbling into a warehouse, its own energy beam going way off course.
'What.' Suzaku thought.
Back inside the base, both Atsushi and Cao were shocked. They had both Suzaku and Nonette dead to rights, when that attack came out of nowhere.
"Who fired that!?" Cao exclaimed.
"Sir," a soldier replied, "Something just appeared on radar."
"A stealth system?" Another exclaimed.
"We've got a picture."
On the screen, it showed, above the battlefield, a black and golden Knightmare hovering above the battlefield.
"What is that?" Atsushi exclaimed.
Back with the Lancelot, Suzaku looked surprised. "The Gawain? Here?"
Inside the Gawain, Zero and Celaeno, not wearing their helmets, observed the battle. Celaeno sat below, operating the Gawain's movements, while Zero sat in the secondary seat, operating the Hadron cannons. Though a single pilot could command the Gawain, having two meant the Hadron cannons could fire in multiple directions.
"Hmph," Celaeno scoffed, "And Suzaku is as reckless as ever."
"Yes," Zero replied, "Though, it seems, here, he's following someone else's plan. Three fighters sent in to disrupt the main force. Even if they failed, Pollux and Castor could move right in."
"Schneizel?"
"Most likely."
The Gawain lowered down to the Lancelot. The Sahm then charged out from between two warehouses.
"Suzaku, Dorothea" Zero's voice called out, "Are your Knightmares still operational?"
"What are you doing here?" Dorothea scowled at them.
Back inside the base, Atsushi was aghast. Zero was here. Why is he here?
"Was that an open channel?"
"Yes, Sir."
"Then stay on the source and find out what he's after."
Back with the Knightmares, the Gawain knelt down, placing two energy fillers on the ground. The Akula got back up and was staring at the Knightmares.
"What?" Suzaku said, confused.
"We," Celaeno said, "Are going to take out the enemy base. What will you do?"
Suzaku looked shocked. 'Even now, you're willing to change for the greater good. If I'm going to beat you, I need to be willing to do the same. But, first.' "Sorry, Zero," Suzaku replied, putting one of the blades away, "But you're not getting your wish."
Suzaku grabbed an energy filler, placing it into the Lancelot, returning it to full power. He then tossed the second filler to the Sahm, who caught it.
"We're hitting them first, our way. And, I think we can both agree that we should deal with that Knightmare first."
"Once again, I find myself agreeing with you, Eleven. But, that begs the question~"
"Why," Zero finished the statement, "Isn't it attacking us?"
Inside the Akula, a Russian man with piercing gray eyes, his face covered with a fighter helmet and oxygen mask, watched the three Knightmares prepare to fight him. His cockpit resembled more of a fighter jet's cockpit than a Knightmare's, but it worked all the same.
"Konstantin," Atsushi roared at him, "Why aren't you attacking."
Konstantin simply watched as the blue Knightmare placed an energy filler into itself. He began thinking back to when he was given his mission.
(Flashback)
Konstantin, a sixty year old man with short greyed hair, looked at the behemoth called the Akula from inside a large maintenance hangar.
"Senior Officer Konstantin Rokossovsky the Second." A voice exclaimed behind him. Turning, he saw a man with pale blue eyes and long blond hair. He approached him with a limp, using a cane to help walk. Alexander Romanov the Fourth, first son of Anastasia Nikolaevna, and current Tsar of the Russian Republic. Despite nearing the age of eighty-five, he still had the heart and soul of a Russian Tsar. Though, if the rumors are true, his health is steadily declining, and he may have to pass the throne to his daughter.
"Your Radiance." Konstantin bowed.
"Can you guess why I've called you here?"
"I believe it's to pilot this Knightmare, Your Radiance."
"More than that. Atsushi Sawazaki, a member of the former Japanese government, is planning to launch an invasion to retake Japan. The assault is to begin in a few weeks."
"So we will be assisting them~"
"He will fail."
Konstantin was confused. "Your Radiance?"
"He doesn't have the manpower to truly retake Japan. Nor does he have the spirit of Japan behind him. As he is being propped up by the Chinese Federation, the people of Japan will soon realize that they would simply be trading one occupier for another. Once they realize that, Atsushi's invasion will lose traction, and fall apart. Not to mention that, should he die, it would instantly collapse. No, you will be there for a test run of the Akula."
"What will I be testing?"
"Everything. The Akula prototype took two years to finalize. Our techs say that, since we've gotten the hard part done, we could build one every week. However, against Britannia, we don't have that kind of time. Months ago, I ordered the construction of smaller versions of the Akula, only half the size, and half as powerful. Being able to construct one a day, we already have a hundred of these smaller Akula's ready. However, whatever data we can collect with the Akula during this invasion will be valuable for the smaller variation."
Konstantin nodded, understanding that Russia didn't have the sakuradite needed to manufacture dozens of Knightmares each day.
"Let me be clear, Konstantin. You aren't volunteering, I'm ordering you. This is a suicide mission. You are to engage enemy forces until you are killed, even if Atsushi is dead or orders you to surrender."
"Your Radiance. Japan has been our ally for over a hundred years. We insulted them, yet they helped our country more than we could ever ask for. I'd say it's time to start paying back."
Alexander nodded. "And, one more thing. If the Black Knights get involved, you are not to attack them. If they attack you, you may defend yourself. However, above all else, you are not to harm Zero or Celaeno. I believe they will be the ones to truly free Japan. Is that understood?"
Konstantin saluted, "Yes, Your Radiance!"
"Good. Then get ready. You'll be shipping out soon."
(Present)
"My Tsar's orders supersedes your's."
"What?!"
Konstantin then cut off communications with Atsushi, and brought his attention back to the Knightmares. Several lights started flashing red.
'Damnit, that last hit damaged the reactor. Have to divert the heat buildup.'
Outside, the three Knightmares stood, waiting for the Akula to make a move. Then, behind it's back, several armor platings opened up, with steam venting out, before closing up again.
"It's damaged." Celaeno exclaimed.
"You're right." Zero continued, "Perhaps the reason it prefers water is that it's weapons generate too much heat, and the water helps cool them down."
"So," Dorothea commented, "Let's burn him down."
"Blunt, but correct. We keep hitting him, his systems will eventually fail."
The Akula launched several missiles at them.
"Break!"
The Lancelots dodged the missiles, while the Gawain flew upward. The missiles followed the Lancelots, while none followed the Gawain. The Gawain went to Nonette's cockpit and picked it up. Flying over to a secluded area, it placed the cockpit down before rejoining the battle.
"We need to hit on all sides. Force it to attack multiple times."
"Understood." Suzaku replied, while Dorothea silently cursed, not wishing to agree with a terrorist.
Far off, in the Black Knights Submarine, the Dark Council, along with Katase and Diethard, observed the battle using some of their spy drones.
"So," Diethard said, "His tactic was to bring the Gawain in alone to get past the Britannians. Truly brilliant."
"Maybe," Kallen replied, "But the Guren could've acted as a shield for them. After all our battles, to be working with the Lancelot is just~"
"What's necessary here isn't victory. The Black Knights' participation in this battle will be an undeniable truth. Of course, it will never be officially reported. But, with our drones, will post the battle across the internet, and everyone will know what happened here. As Zero said, this will show the world exactly where we stand: protecting the nation is our first commitment."
Back at the battlefield, the Sahm began firing at any available targets, taking out one of the turrets. The Lancelot went between the legs of the Akula, slashing at them, before quickly disengaging. The Gawain fired another barrage, but the Akula raised it's bladed fin to block it. The metal began having a small hint of red as the beams impacted them.
The Akula swung its blade at the Lancelot. While Suzaku did block the attack, the impact sent him flying into a warehouse. The Akula then quickly turned it's head towards the Sahm, and fired an energy beam. Dorothea quickly dodged between two warehouses.
Back in the Gawain, Zero observed the battle.
"Hmm, that Knightmare has trouble in tight quarters. Given its size, it's more of a large battlefield Knightmare, not suited for a few fast targets."
"And the fact," Celaeno commented, "That it isn't trying to attack us doesn't concern you?"
"Of course it concerns me. However, it is possible that he's been ordered not to harm me. Let's test that theory."
The Akula turned towards the Lancelot, preparing to fire another beam, when the Gawain dropped right between them. The Akula stopped charging it's beam.
"And my theory proves correct, sister. He's been ordered not to harm us. Let's take advantage of that."
"Suzaku!" Celaeno exclaimed as the Gawain grabbed the Lancelot's arm. "Hold on!"
The Gawain then flew up above the Akula. The Akula looked up, ready for whatever was planned, but the Sahm blasted a third turret off, making him turn and engage Dorothea.
The Gawain threw Lancelot at the Akula, and impaled the head unit with one of the MVSs. The Akula roared, and tossed the Lancelot off him, though the MVS was still in there. As the Lancelot fell behind it, the exhaust vents opened up, venting steam. Acting quickly, Suzaku fired his VARIS at the vents, damaging one and destroying the other. As he landed, the Akula quickly turned around and kicked the Lancelot, sending him flying.
"Suzaku!" Cecile exclaimed over his radio. "We're reading a gunship preparing to take off from the top of the base."
"It seems," Lloyd continued, "That dear Atsushi is attempting to run."
'Damnit. If he escapes, then this was all for nothing.' "Zero, Atsushi is attempting to escape. You need to stop him!"
"And leave you to handle this?"
"Eleven!" Dorothea exclaimed, "You mean to tell me that you'll let this terrorist go? I can tolerate letting him help deal with this, but letting him go?!"
"Lady Ernst, we can't stop Zero from getting away regardless. The only choice we have is to either let Atsushi get away, or capture him now."
"God damnit, why am I agreeing with an Eleven so much?! Fine, Zero, you better capture him alive. He's ours to execute."
"Hmph," Celaeno exclaimed, "I'll be very disappointed if a Knight such as yourself were to perish here."
Dorothea silently cursed as the Gawain flew up and towards the base. Surprisingly, the Akula didn't bother to stop them.
"Why aren't you trying to protect your leader!?" Suzaku exclaimed.
"Don't bother, Eleven. He only wishes to fight."
"You are both right and wrong," a Russian voice replied, surprising the two, "I am not a bloodthirsty fighter, but my only purpose here is to fight."
"What?" Suzaku replied, expecting a Japanese or Chinese person to reply, not a Russian
"As you've no doubt figured out, I'm from the Russian Republic. They sent me to join Atsushi's doomed invasion. Not to help them, but to attack Britannia. I must thank you. You've shown just how effective~(Heavy coughing)!"
Inside the Akula, Konstantin coughed badly, taking the oxygen mask off and coughing up blood. His cockpit had a very thin glow of green to it.
'I'm dead either way. Let's finish this.' He put his oxygen mask back on.
"How effective this weapon could be. But, it's time for the test to end!"
With the two Lancelots, they were trying to come up with a plan. Suzaku noticed on the right several debris that formed a makeshift ramp.
"Dorothea, can you draw its fire for a couple seconds?"
"You think a Knight of the Round can't do at least that?"
"Of course. Sorry, my Lady."
The Akula roared at them, firing a couple missiles at them, scattering the two. Dorothea fired at the head of the Akula, drawing its attention away from Suzaku. Suzaku piloted the Lancelot towards the ramped debris. When he reached it, the Akula must've noticed him, as the final turret began firing at him. Going up the ramp, he activated the Float boosters, sending him flying up and above the Akula. Aiming down, he activated them again, speeding him towards the joint connecting the body to the missile fin. Using his remaining MVS, he slashed through the joint, causing the fin to fall to the ground.
The Akula roared, opening its head unit, before diving towards the Lancelot, and closing the head unit around his torso unit, almost like an animal biting into its prey. It lifted the Lancelot into the air and began squeezing. Inside the Lancelot, Suzaku's systems were going haywire from the pressure. He stabbed his MVS into the head unit, and he might've hit something important, as it quickly released him, and staggered backwards, though the sudden release made him lose the last MVS. Doing a quick check, he saw that the squeeze ended up destroying the Float system and the VARIS. He was now without any weapons.
Back with Atsushi and General Cao, the two had evaced to a gunship, and were flying away from the battlefield.
"I don't get it," Atsushi commented, "Why didn't Konstantin obey my commands?"
"As he said," Cao replied, "His orders from the Tsar overruled ours."
"But you said he was placed under our command."
"It seems I was mistaken."
"SIR!" The pilot screamed. Caught off guard, they didn't notice the Gawain quickly approaching.
"Take him out!"
The gunship fired several missiles, though the Gawain fired its fingers, which contained slash harkins, at them, easily destroying them. It fired another finger at the gunship's tail rotor, sending it into a spiral and crashing to the ground. Atsushi and Cao were the first to recover, and saw one of the pilots was dead. The Gawain landed in front of them.
"Zero! I don't understand, we should've been fighting together for Japan!"
"The Black Knights will stand against any who uses violence for unjust means."
"Unjust!?"
"However, you have something more concerning right now." Celaeno contineud as the Gawain placed a foot against the cockpit, which terrified all inside.
"Simply put, if that Knightmare of yours kills Suzaku. Well…" Zero said as he pressed the foot slightly against the cockpit, cracking it even more.
Back with the Lancelots, it seemed that both sides were on their last legs. Suzaku had no weapons, Dorothea's energy filler was at half, and the Akula was battered, shattered, and looking almost feral.
Suzaku looked up, and saw that his first MVS was still stuck in the head unit of the Akula.
"Lady Ernst," he called over the radio, "Aim for the knees!"
"What?!"
"We can end this now, but aim for the knees!"
"Fine!"
Suzaku charged at the Akula, the Akula roaring and charging back. The now detached missile fin opened up.
"Watch it, those missiles can still fire!"
At her words, every remaining missile from the fin fired, and turned towards the Lancelot. At the same time, the Akula fired its plasma beam. Suzaku began dodging, but there were too many things to dodge. Some parts of the Lancelot started getting scorched from either the beam or the missiles' explosion. The Sahm took out plenty of missiles, ensuring he wasn't instantly killed.
Then, Dorothea damaged a kneecap enough that the Akula tripped, falling to the ground and skidding towards Suzaku. The Lancelot jumped up and grabbed the impaled MVS. Suzaku hoped that the Float boosters would work one last time, even as the Akula got back up. After an initial sputter, they roared to life, Using them, he boosted down the Akula, dragged the MVS though its body. Landing, the Lancelot turned to see the Akula, now with a large gash across the entire back, collapse to the ground, unable to move.
Nonette, from her cockpit, looked on in awe, as she wasn't sure if she could've done that. Even Dorothea had her mouth slightly agape. Perhaps Nonette was on to something.
'Doesn't change that he's an Eleven, though.'
"Lady Nonette," Suzaku exclaimed, heaving heavily, "Are you still alright?"
"Yeah, just need one of you to pick me up."
"The things we'll learn from this Knightmare." Dorothea commented.
"Hehehehehe." The Akula laughed softly, catching everyone off guard. That thing still wasn't down yet?! But, no, it remained still. They noticed that a green liquid was leaking from the back of chest unit.
"Well done. Russia will be learning from this info quite well. Though, if you think that I'll simply let you learn from this Knightmare, you're wrong."
"Suzaku," Cecile exclaimed, "We're reading a rising radiation increase coming from the Akula."
"Radiation?" Lloyd replied, "As in nuclear radiation? But that was only theoretical!"
"Doesn't matter! What matters is that Knightmare's about to blow. Get out of there!"
"Right!" Suzaku said, already speeding off, "Lady Ernst, do you see Lady Nonette?!"
"I have her cockpit, Suzaku, just keep running!"
The two Lancelots began running, the Sahm using her Float boosters to quickly escape the area, while the Lancelot went at a much slower pace, but still quick enough to get out of the eventual blast radius.
Inside the Akula, green liquid dripped into the battered and sparking cockpit as Konstantin took off his oxygen mask before coughing up even more blood. His bloodshot eyes focused on his screen, a download bar was at 95%, and soon reached full, replaced with a DATA SENT.
"Mission…" Konstantin solemnly said as the life seemed to quickly leave his eyes, "Accompli~"
The Akula erupted in a massive explosion, engulfing anything within a hundred meters. Both Lancelots were over five-hundred meters away, and were still knocked down from the explosion. Standing back up, they looked to where the Akula was, and saw a small mushroom cloud beginning to form.
"Damn," Dorothea exclaimed, "Guess we can't study it. Nonette, are you alright?"
"Yeah, once the ringing in my ears stops!"
"Eleven?" Dorothea noticed that the Lancelot was both smoking and steaming. Despite the Club being destroyed, the Lancelot arguably took the most damage. If it was a person, it looked ready to pass out.
Inside the cockpit, Suzaku was heaving heavily, just as exhausted as his Knightmare.
"...Still...here…" He said between heave, "Wait…" Suzaku switched to an open channel, "Zero...Sawazaki...Did he…?"
"Atsushi Sawazaki is currently my prisoner, waiting at these coordinates. Until someone arrives, I'll make sure they stay put."
'Good.'
"Lieutenant Kururugi." Dorothea exclaimed, surprising him by calling him something other than Eleven, "Perhaps Nonette was right about you."
'Is...is she COMPLIMENTING me!?' "Thank you, La~"
"Don't ruin the mood, Eleven. I will never like you. But I can tolerate you."
"Of course, Lady Ernst."
Inside the Sahm, Dorothea kept a calm composure. It seemed that great warriors could come from outside the Homeland, though she would never admit it aloud. Nonette and Castor were beating the idea into her head, but only now did she understand their words fully. She doubted she could've taken down the Akula, same for Nonette. It took all of them to take down that monster. Combine that with the advancements that the Eleven could provide, and she could ease up on him. Still felt foreign to even think of a compliment to a Number.
'However,' Dorothea tightened her grip on her handles, 'I cannot tolerate what Cecile is doing. How could a Britannia possibly fall in~'
"So," Suzaku exclaimed, bringing Dorothea back to reality, "The battle is over?"
"Yes, Lieutenant. No forces remain here, and the rest will quickly fold."
"Good...that's...good…" The Lancelot leaned forward slightly.
"Lieutenant?"
"Oh, dear," Lloyd commented, "It seems our dear devicer has passed out."
Dorothea sighed.
'He's still just a kid.'
In the following hours, Britannian forces would steamroll past the JSDF, capturing or killing all soldiers. Once reinforcements arrived, Dorothea quickly went to secure Atsushi, with the Gawain long gone. The battle for Fukuoka base had ended with a Britannian victory. Though, some began to wonder if it truly was a victory. The words of the Akula made it clear that there will be more of those Knightmares, and that the Russian Republic is gearing for war.
As the old saying went, 'Losing a battle to win a war.'
Non-Canon Omake
September 25th, The Nest, 8:07 A.M.
Zero
"The terrorism in the Kyushu block," a Britannian news lady exclaimed, "Led by an anti-governement group was stopped by Prince Pollux's sudden attack."
The news lady continued, but Zero had diverted his attention from it. His men had quickly returned to the Nest, leaving the sub to rest in the northern Sea of Japan.
Currently, he was inside R&D, alongside dozens of other men, all going about their business.
"So," Tolia exclaimed, "You lost the Morgana, the Gorgon, and your cloak?!"
"Unfortunately, yes."
Tolia sighed, "Well, at least you weren't killed in the process. The cloak is easy to fix, and we'll have the two Knightmares ready in a day or two."
Euphie then approached Talio, who was standing behind his twin, and tapped his shoulder. Talio had a concerned look.
"I'll be back." Talio then left R&D.
'What's he concerned about?'
"On another note," Tolia continued as Zero saw Euphie approach Celaeno and start talking to her, "I think we've found the issue with the Web of Shadows."
Zero turned his attention back to Tolia, "Really? What seems to be the issue?"
"We'll, we haven't solved it yet, but we might soon. We'll be testing it using the Ganymede. I'll simply need~"
Both noticed that Celaeno was walking towards them, an aura of maliciousness around here. While Zero quickly backed off, Tolia didn't seem to notice the apparent danger.
"Celaeno? What's up?"
Celaeno raised a fist and punched Tolia.
It would be reported later that day that Ashford Academy and the surrounding areas experienced a 2.3 earthquake.
Author's Notes: Largest Chapter EVER! The battle for Kyushu has now ended, and it's hard to say who gained the most from this, Russia or the Black Knights. And Dorothea, giving an Eleven a compliment?! Well, she has been informed time and time again how skilled Suzaku is, and now she's seen it first hand. She still considers him an Eleven, duhdoy, but she acknowledges his skill.
Now, I will be taking a break. Two reasons. One, holidays, duh. And two, I burned myself out trying to get this chapter out before Christmas. Seriously, I normally only write one page a day, but I was so excited to write this chapter I wrote two each day. Then, once Christmas started approaching, I changed it to three a day. Simply put, my mind needs a break.
Once again, leave a review, favorite/follow, see you all next time, and have a very merry Christmas.