Chapter Eight: Adaptation

The news was terrible. The reality, explained within a meeting room, was worse.

Bartley motioned with a pointer to a graph to the rest of Prince Clovis' staff officers. "Today, even more protests turned violent across the homeland. Footage of massacres of Britannians in various cities has been leaked. The result has enraged the populace, who have taken to burning police cars and hurling stones.

"The military has been called in and has been successful in quelling several of the uprisings. However, the Washington Party has resurged. Apparently they had been gathering strength for some time and this set them off. Some areas have created barricades and used guns and homemade explosives to resist. Others have begun vandalizing monuments of Royalty and tearing down statues.

"A party of nobles in Pendragon was also bombed in Pendragon, killing three nobles and during a photo op. Apparently, it was done by some of the servants.

"To make matters worse, resistance groups across the Empire are taking advantage. They've started raids and even attacked military bases. Our forces are capable of suppressing these revolts, of course. But the sheer volume has made it a serious threat. There is even talk of withdrawing our forces from the wars abroad and using them to restore order."

The Washington Party was back? How was that even possible, Villetta had always assumed they were just a bunch of militias. Clovis remained silent, while Milner and Deitard glared at one another. Deitard had been promoted by virtue of those above him being gunned down yesterday. Lucky bastard.

"Is there anything else, Bartley?" asked Milner, Clovis shaking visibly.

"I have something," said Deitard. "Since the revelations on broadcast, there are reports of reporters being assassinated. Often we're shot while on camera, or catching shots of the riots."

"Why would they shoot reporters, Mr. Reid?" asked Villetta.

"Reasons vary," said Deitard. "However, I suspect the move is a result of a total loss of credibility and us being easy to access. For a long time, the Media has had a very low ranking among public opinion. Recent events have made them regard us as enemy combatants.

"We don't have military training, for the most part, and can't hire bodyguards. But shoot enough of us, and it will become impossible for the government to spin its more... questionable actions.

"If nothing else, Zero's actions have proven the power of propaganda."

"How the hell did this happen!" burst out Clovis. "A week ago, we were the most powerful Empire in the world! The commoners were unified in support of this great nation! Now reports from the front lines indicate that morale is at an all-time low! Our own citizens have started defacing monuments and shooting cops!

"The entire Empire is coming apart at the seams! How could this have happened?!"

No one wanted to be the one to answer that. Deitard looked to Milner, who looked to Villetta, who looked to Bartley. Barley shrugged and spoke. "Prince Clovis... have you considered that it wasn't very well stitched together, to begin with?"

"What do you mean, Bartley?" asked Clovis.

"The American Revolution is a comparatively recent event," said Bartley. "The conquests of Napoleon inspired hopes of democracy and revitalized it. We've kept them in line with brutal crackdowns. There were racial superiority and channeling the commoners toward war. This, combined with expert media control, ensures no movement can have momentum.

"But how does a commoner really interact with the nobility? They might want one to be one, but nobody regards nobles as God-appointed Stewards of their lands. Not since the Emperor sidelined the church and based our sovereignty off eugenics. To the average person, they're just depraved, inbred celebrities. 'Spoiled brats who are handed all the good jobs for a fraction of the work and live in luxury.'

"If you'll pardon the quote.

"That's why Britannia embraced the idea of racial superiority. It channeled the old American colonies toward the subjugation of inferior cultures. Instead of trying to set up a democracy, people fight to enlighten other nations.

"But that's all in ruins now.

"Britannia has been caught red-handed murdering an entire crowd of Britannians. And then it happened multiple times in other areas, proving it wasn't a fluke. The liberals are enraged because of what Zero has shown us doing. The moderates are enraged that we've been massacring people. And the conservatives are enraged that the government is willing to massacre Britannians. That got the Washington Party a lot more sympathy, and we suspect they are recruiting. And the homeland has always been unstable in the summer months."

"He's right," said Villetta. "Once things escalated, all the resistance groups saw an opportunity. And now that the Britannian army is getting involved. Every militia and crank with a gun is looking to get even.

"It's gotten so bad that we've had to actually scrap our invasion of the EU. We actually need the army, just to consolidate our hold.

"...To be blunt, your majesty, Zero, played this beautifully."

"But this is impossible!" said Clovis. "Zero can't have won! He can't! He doesn't have a knightmare! He doesn't any guns! He doesn't have an army or a nation or a banner or even a cause!

"We are the most powerful nation in the world! We have an army that no one can match in a fair battle! Most of the world's Sakuradite belongs to us! He...

"He can't have obliterated us in a week with nothing but a camera and one bomb!"

"Um, actually Prince Clovis, we think it was a fake," said Bartley. "He couldn't have predicted the massacre. So his plan with the Media Building was probably thrown together on the fly-"

Clovis unleashed a primal scream and clutched his head with his hands.

"...Should was adjourn this meeting until you are more composed, Prince Clovis?" asked Bartley.

Clovis remained silent for a long time. "Will the problem go away if we wait long enough?"

"Probably not, no," said Bartley.

"Then why are you asking me that question?" asked Clovis, gaining some composure. "If we don't get a handle on the situation, I'll be disinherited. So what do we do about this?"

Villetta looked to Milner and realized he hadn't been the one to suggest the bomb was a fake. He'd had almost nothing to say this whole meeting, which told her he was hoping not to be noticed. This was the Pureblood's chance. "May I make a suggestion, Prince Clovis?"

"I'm open to anything now, Ms. Villetta," said Clovis. "Though I wish Lord Gottwald could be here."

"And he apologizes for that. The Blood of the Samurai Faction has started becoming increasingly aggressive," said Villetta. "He had to break off his return from the front to deal with them and-"

"Get to the point," snapped Milner. "We know you're here in his stead, half-breed."

"We are facing mass unrest from every part of society," said Villetta. "So addressing one part of it will alienate the other. As such, we should give everyone a partial victory."

"How, exactly?" asked Clovis.

"First, we should declare wartime measures immediately," said Villetta. "That will give us the excuse to shut down all the would-be reporters. Once it actually becomes a crime to undermine us with pictures, most of them will quit. Lord Jeremiah will also be in a position to act more decisively to root out the terrorists."

"What is this, a power play by the Purebloods?" snapped Milner. "Prince Clovis, doing that would make me Jeremiah's subordinate!"

"That is true," said Clovis. "This measure also won't help longterm. Brute force can't keep people suppressed forever."

"Which is why we need a scapegoat," said Villetta, looking to Milner. "We should initiate immediate and public investigations of the Police."

"What!" said Milner. "You Purebloods have a lot of nerve, making demands like that! This fiasco is the Media's fault, not ours!"

"Oh, was it?" asked Deitard, voice cold. "Tell me, Captain Milner of the Royal Guard. Who was it who controls the police who got caught on camera performing a massacre? And then, who was it whose helicopters did a strafing run on the Media Building. And who was it who killed my boss while failing to lay hands on the subject?

"Am I to believe that Zero had men who infiltrated the police and piloted those choppers? He must have vast resources, indeed."

"Prince Clovis, you can't seriously believe that-" began Milner.

"Enough," said Clovis. "Milner, your inability to control your subordinates has resulted in this situation. Now the homeland itself is under siege. We need to rein things in quickly, or we may be used as a scapegoat.

"Go on, Villetta?"

"We should find the worst offenders among the police," said Villetta. "We'll try them, find them guilty, and make their executions public. Doing this will give the mobs the blood they want, and also satisfy the moderates.

"Then, we should promote this boy." She drew out a folder and passed it to Clovis, who read through it.

"Suzaku Kururugi?" asked Clovis. "The son of the late Prime Minister of Japan?"

"Yes," said Villetta. "He was shot during the recent fiasco at the gates but survived. When he has made a full recovery, he can be given a new job."

"That's a serious security risk," said Clovis. "Why him?"

"He was caught on camera apprehending the shooter that sparked the riot," said Villetta. "There's a lot of buzz about him. He's become a symbol for people claiming the Honorary Britannian system is a ruse."

"There are several conspiracy theories about him," said Deitard. "Many believe he other Honorary Britannians being set up. We're having trouble putting a lid on it."

"But, if we promote Suzaku Kururugi a few ranks, they'll have no cause to complain," mused Clovis. "Very clever, though I hadn't expected it from a Pureblood."

"This will silence the moderates complaining about the system being rigged," said Villetta. "Which is in our interest as well. It will provide the elevens hope of advancement, and give them an incentive to obey us."

"Keeping down those filthy monkeys is national policy!" snapped Milner. "We can't give them positions of authority!"

"It says here that Kururugi scored well on the Knightmare simulator," mused Clovis. Apparently, he didn't think Milner worth talking to.

"Yes, Prince Clovis," said Villetta. "Standard procedure is for all infantry to be put through the basic training for it. However, we don't give Honorary Britannians knightmares. It provides a carrot to keep them working."

"...Bartley, I believe my brother has a project in need of a devicer, doesn't he?" mused Clovis. "The Lancelot?"

"Yes, Prince Clovis," said Bartley. "Though it's an entirely experimental project right now. There is no certainty that it will ever bear fruit. For all we know, he might just end up getting paid to stay in shape and drink lattes."

"Perfect, we'll hand the position over to him," said Clovis. "I imagine a personal congratulation of him would be in order. Then, since there is no actual opportunity for advancement, we can forget about him."

"Isn't that going too far, your highness?" asked Milner.

"It might be," said Clovis. "Milner, I expect your police to be more careful in the future. No more hunting missions, no more massacres. No more arrests without a clear, justified reason. Do we understand one another?"

Milner nodded. "Yes, Prince Clovis."

"Good," said Clovis. "Now find me some unsympathetic characters I can put to a firing squad. And make it for crimes they actually committed this time."

"Yes, sir," said Milner.

He left quickly, and Clovis turned to Deitard. "Now, the focus of the Media henceforth should be on Jeremiah's campaign. The news so far has been good. They can't catch us in a lie if they aren't even on-site.

"A conquering hero, if you will.

"People love heroes.

"Once the majority of the population has moved on, the real terrorists should be easy enough to cull. With luck, this fiasco may work the worst elements out of the system." He paused. "Ms. Villetta, take some leave. You've done well."

"Yes, Prince Clovis," said Villetta.

Villetta left at once and immediately decided she was not going to be using that leave. It wasn't like she had any friends or family in the settlement. Better to take a working holiday, and she'd finally be able to work on Kallen Stadtfeld. Far too many things had been coming between them lately.

Villetta had already done some digging on Kallen Stadtfeld in her spare time. She was apparently the daughter of two fairly prominent nobles. More than that, she'd managed to get a place name.

Still, how would Jeremiah take the news of her plan? She could probably justify it as a means to an end. And if worst came to worst, she could put the blame on Bartley. Jeremiah had despised him for years, after all.

Villetta was aware that what she was doing was a complete betrayal of Pureblood ideology. However, she really didn't care, and it would make them powerful and, therefore, her? It wasn't as if the cause meant anything to her. In fact, most Purebloods didn't care about bloodlines or purity at all. What mattered was feeling powerful and big.

Villetta didn't need to feel either.

She'd have both, and the money and status to go with it. Never again would she end up as she'd been on that rooftop.

Tomorrow she'd pay the Stadtfeld home a visit. If she could find a lead on Zero from her, this could be her big break.