A.N. I have to admit this is probably the chapter I had the most fun actually writing so far, so I hope you enjoy. Fair warning HUGE timeskip in this chatper. I felt it was time to jump forward. ALso I hope you at least read part of the Author's note at the bottom. Thank you, Enjoy.
Chapter 29
Worldwide broadcast of Emperor's Coronation Speech, September 1, 2022 a.t.b.
Lelouch stepped up to the podium, his black cloak was outlined in the gold and upon its back was emblazed the Black Knight's sigil. He wore a red and purple lined black suit underneath with deceptively tough black shoes beneath his trousers. Placing his hands on the podium the light bounced from his silver and gold wedding band. Raising his head his white streaked black hair was held back by a white gold circlet crown. He looked out at the crowd that actually stood before him but yet taking note of the worldwide audience that gazed through the camera lenses.
Breathing he began, "my people, sons and daughters of humanity. We are all human, everyone of us, the color of our skin does not add nor detract from that humanity. Down to the most basic structure of our being we are human. Our history has been marred by the misplaced belief that there were those who were not human and lower than others. Yet we are all equal in that we are human."
Lelouch panned his gaze across the crowd, "We now stand at the end of the greatest struggle in our recent history. Millions lie dead, swathes of land are empty of life, and families are broken. But this is not the end my people, for do not just stand at the end of one page of history but upon the doorstep of another. Britannia itself has shown what change is possible, Britannia has risen from the ashes of what it was. The world has watched Britannia rising from those ashes and cannot deny it. And as it has risen so have the Black Knights from what they were, so has Japan, As has Europe, Asia, the entire world!"
"It is today that we know celebrate that we are now united in that, today we begin to shape what we will become. United we shall endure, united we shall prosper, and united we shall rise to the stars!" Lelouch's hand rose and he pointed to the sky, and the crowd began to cheer and applaud.
Lelouch waved the crowd back to silence, "I have been entrusted with the power to rule and to govern, not Britannia, Britannia is but a part and not the whole. The Britannian Empire does not rule here anymore, and it is for this reason that I shall no longer bear the title of one nation. From this day on, I am Lelouch vi Zero, and from this day, this Empire, belongs to you!"
The crowd once again cried and cheered, and applause echoed through the air. As Lelouch waved and bowed to leave the people began to chant, "Zero! Zero! Zero! Zero!"
Imperial Coronation Ball
Those present at the ball varied in terms of background, some had been low on the varying worldwide social registers but had risen to where they were now. Many were diplomats from various states or represented certain interests and industries that had become prevalent over the past few years. Many others were military men who had distinguished themselves in the war and suffice to say many wore the medals that showed their distinction. Badges of bravery were pinned to many a chest, and even a few newly minted knights.
Amongst the crowd one group could be distinguished as truly unique if one even knew or could divine such things. Jeremiah Gottwald, unusually absent from his liege's side stood with Durand and Anya Alstreim. Walking to join them was Tamaki dressed in his dress uniform, pinned to his chest was a badge of an Imperial Knight, as well as several Black Knight badges of valor and conduct such badges had been owed the man but had been delayed for various reasons; mainly the various conflicts that had arisen since the founding of the UFN and Black Knights as fighting army. However, one badge stood out, this was the silver and gold star of the Grand Marshal of the Imperial Black Knights. This badge stood out and brought immediate respect to a man many would have faltered to believe had been, as best described, a drunken buffoon only a few years prior.
Joining the group Tamaki waved up a passing server with a tray of champagne when the group had taken a glass Tamaki turned to Jeremiah. The knight took his cue and looked around the group, "my friends, we have won."
"Indeed," agreed Durand. "It is sad that our other friends could not join our celebration."
"True," in toned Tamaki. "Though with such crimes to their names it was only a matter of time before they had to "pay the piper."
The small group chuckled, even the normally morose Anya, smiled at the rather dark humor. "I take it," she added, "that they will be unable to say anything damming about our work?"
Jeremiah shook his head, "no, the most that anyone will believe is that they sold out what was left of Sawasaki's regime in exchange for clemency for their crimes. And of course, we will deliver, I'm sure many will be spared the rope but will never see their freedom again."
What the knight said was true, many of the officials that had so recently been arrested in the occupied zones would be spared the death sentence for their crimes (others would not be so lucky). In no small part to their actions in surrendering the remainder of the UFN, and no paper trail to any other acts they may have had a hand in existed. Least of all any trail to helping decide who went to the Rock. Though some in the group didn't truly believe that if those people had tampered that the decision would have been any different. As well they were not the only ones who shared that opinion.
Pushing into the group Lelouch held his own glass of bubbling champagne, smiling the crowned Emperor looked amongst his friends, "my friends, I have to say that your help in the recent times has been unrivaled." The Emperor's face never lost its smile though his volume decreased till only the group could hear, "though I have to believe that the result of the Summit was truly the people's will I must warn you all. Never again will you play this tune, for I will not deign to here its music from those whose integrity I value so much. Am I understood?"
In turn the members of the small cabal nodded their agreement, satisfied the Emperor raised his glass, "then my friends, to the future."
Lelouch was echoed by the group as they raised their glasses to the toast, "to the future."
Kanime Island
"This is extraordinary," murmured Rakshata. Before her were files and files of research done under Schneizel's orders, it showed the Toromo Agency had found something not of any human design. An alien craft crashed and buried underground; the craft had apparently still been in good condition. It had been dead for sure but many of its parts had been still in working order. Upon use of sakuridite power generators some of the parts had apparently turned on, from there they had taken what parts they could and used them to help in constructing the Damocles.
That should have been obvious, a structure of that size, and frankly shape, shouldn't have been built so quickly. However, the it seemed that the working knowledge of the craft and its parts was rudimentary at best. The Toromo scientists had been able to use the Druid system to gain partial knowledge of the workings of the craft and reverse engineered some technology from it. I.E. the float system and even parts of the Druid system itself, among other things.
What this meant in the short term was that the information and discoveries the Toromo agency had made would seriously benefit the new empire. Medicine and biology, technology so many facets of life that would be affected and changed. Long term effects who was to say, the idea of alien life was a daunting prospect. Especially when one considered how the craft had ended up on earth and buried. Rakshata continued scrolling through the files and images started to appear, then a full-size image of the craft as a whole with Schneizel himself standing on a platform observing it. Rakshata's eyes narrowed and she leaned into the screen, she looked the craft up and down, "is that a cuttlefish?"
Time Skip Timeline
2022-The Terran Star Imperium is formed from the ashes of the Great Terran War.
2024-The Yamato, the imperial navy flagship, is decomisioned and turned into a memorial in new Beijing. The memorial honors those who fell under the tyranny of Sawasaki's regime.
2025-Declassified files reveal alien parts used in construction of the infamous Damocles battle station.
2026-Emperor Lelouch quietly imposes and edict for the continued search of the Damocles and the passengers within, thus implying to the population that they may still be alive, or the station could still be intact somewhere.
2028-First manned space flight.
2032-Massive leaps in technology allows for long distance space exploration of the solar system. First colonization plans begin. Strange readings are picked up from one of Pluto's moons. As well medical technology begins to advance further and research into genetic decay begins to bear fruit with the first prototype age slowing drugs. Development of AIs and advanced VIs based upon the structure of Euphemia vi Zero are implemented into the Empire. Sentient AIs are given full rights within the Empire.
2055-Sakuridite formation process is discovered and harnessed. Use of the spatial rifts known as Thought Elevators causes energies to mix within the earth's crust to form the mineral. The Mt. Fuji mines are disassembled, and restoration of the mountain begins. Special facilities are set up to manage the formation of Sakuridite. Anti-Aging/decay drugs and treatments begin to circulate amongst humanity. Slowly the human lifespan is extended further and further.
2069-Colonization of the solar system continues, and the human population explodes. Ruins found on Mars lead to the discovery of the Mass Relay orbiting Pluto. This also leads to the discovery that the relay had been partially activated fifty years prior. Theories begin to circulate that the Damocles had somehow jumped out of the Sol System.
2071-After continued debate in the government the Emperor decides to limit the use of Element Zero in the technology of humanity. While the element will be used to an extent it will not become the sole point of all human technology. Cerberus is given the priority of finding a new way of faster than light travel to allow for interstellar travel. Minister Durand is killed in accidental asteroid collision while in transit from Jupiter to Terra.
2090-First warp capable space craft is successfully tested in Sol system. Warp drives are based upon the temporal spatial and time anomalies found on earth and as well as the number of teleportation reports given throughout history; including the incident of the Red Ogre during the Euro war in the Age of Revolution.
2098-A terran warp capable ship jumps from the Sol system of Alpha Centauri. Era of human expansion and exploration of the galaxy begins.
2099-Emperor orders immediate expansion of Terra's space war fleet.
2100-2200: Humanity expands and colonizes planets, terra forming technology is developed and planets suitable are terraformed. Anti-Aging/Decay drugs (AADDs) prolong human lifespans, cybernetics help these along. Laws set terms to specify what is classified as a colony, a population of a colony must be in excess of one hundred million, before being recognized as an official state of the empire.
Ice World Beta-51280, August 2230 a.t.b.
To say this world was anything but a miserable back water ice world would be and understatement. The world was small, though a decent distance from its sun was covered in ice, and the whole things was just a flat out miserable little blue-gray marble covered in ice. Those that "lived" on the world couldn't really call it anything but that, the atmosphere was just suitable enough to warrant terraforming. And why would an ice ball like this be terraformed people might ask? Well that was because despite its miserable atmospheric conditions the world was in a mineral rich system with a lot of asteroids and the world itself could be used for large in door farming complexes. Many also knew that it was a perfect world for hard labor prisons, nonetheless it had been decided in some room somewhere in the administration of the empire to make the world decently habitable.
Thus, by either human happenstance or divine fate a standard patrol of the ice fields moved across the landscape. The craft was a simple aircraft, no real distinguishing characteristics, other than it was packed with scanning equipment. The scanners penetrated the ice and frozen ground looking for anything of value. This particular patrol was scouting a previously unmapped region, and the most excitement such patrols had made previously was mostly a few new veins of mineral ore. However, when the scanners picked up on a large structure that could not at all be naturally made it had caused quite the stir.
Later
It did not take long for the local security force to send out a guarded party to investigate the mysterious structure. In the company were the local experts, geologists, technicians, and so forth, people who could possibly make even a little sense of whatever had been found. Suffice to say that when the group stood in the piercing wind facing what could only be described as a castle partially buried in the ice, it was a shock. The shock was even greater when the group managed to break into the structure itself, and to find very old frozen knightmare frames, some still in fighting position. After finding the frames and even a few frozen bodies the captain commanding the group ordered every person out of the structure and into quarantine; no one was going to breath a word of this till someone of higher rank was informed. Before the day cycle of the planet was over a coded high priority message was broadcasted out of the system.
One Week Later in orbit of Ice World Beta-51280
The Black Knight ships had made all possible speed to the world; thus, the back-water world now had a small flotilla of warships floating in the void above it. At the center of the flotilla was the Everest-class battleship Silver Blade, the current flagship of Grand Marshal Shinichiro Tamaki. Said man while being over two hundred years old still maintained an impressive and strikingly young figure. The AADD drugs and therapy had worked miracles on his physic, though he had deigned to allow some gray hair to streak his hair and a few lines here and there. Plus, the few scars he bore where no one could see them, save his wife, all this in the name of showing himself as deserving of respect. Though in truth the way he carried himself gave no room to not respect him, he moved and talked with the authority of a man who had earned his office.
The man himself currently stood in front a large line of glass caskets laid out in the medical bay. Each was filled with a viscous concoction of drugs, nanites, and compounds to stimulate the healing of those bodies held within. Said bodies were plugged with wires and a face mask and tubes pumped breathable oxygen to the patients. Turning to the chief medical officer Tamaki spoke, "how are they alive?"
The officer shook his head, "we aren't sure sir. We have a few theories but nothing conclusive."
"Explain."
"Well sir, when we scanned the bodies on the surface, we found that every single one of them was frozen in a perfect cryogenic state. We also detected amounts of Sakuradite and Eezo in every one of their systems, not in any toxic amounts but enough for immediate detection. We believe that the Damocles somehow jumped from the Sol system and the energies generated by the Mass Relays and the generators on the Damocles somehow combined to protect the patients when they were flash frozen."
"And do you have any idea how they were frozen?"
"Um well sir, considering that we found them it was obviously um, "mid stride," it is safe to say that when the Damocles "jumped," the lack of proper protection caused the atmosphere inside the structure to flash freeze."
"Hmphf," Tamaki huffed. "Well there alive either way. Will they live?"
"Uh yes sir," relied the medical officer hurriedly. "The cryogenic process is easy for us to reverse sir. We are also running physical checkups and tests to make sure that there are no permanent side effects that we can detect. We will have other tests that will be needed when they actually awaken."
"Do you have a date when they will wake up?"
"Less then week, a week at most."
Tamaki nodded, "very well."
Leaving the medical bay Tamaki returned walked through the large ship he called his own. The battleship was also heavily armed, it boasted a massive VARIS weapon along its entire 900-meter length. As well unlike the old version of the VARIS weapon, the new models had been upgraded over time to offer far more power and might, to the point it could fire a forty-four-pound shell every two seconds, with each slug's kinetic energy yielding fifty kilotons TNT. However, the emperor had been adamant during the design and development of the warships that such ship sized weaponry not be the sole or main offense capabilities of the new navy. Thus, turrets were mounted on the dorsal and ventral hulls, as well as along the flared sides of the ship. Each turret boasted two barrels that could switch between VARIS fire and the powerful Radiant-Hadron mode. Said mode allowed the guns to fire potent blasts of Radiant Hadron energy mixed with a powerful proton beam. The result were red streaks that cut could cut through the void and deliver a powerful attack to any enemy within the ships powerful targeting sites.
Tamaki soon reached his destination, he entered private conference room and made sure the door was sealed behind him. Engaging the security measures for the room he sealed off the outside world. Keying in several commands an encrypted communications channel was opened back to the imperial palace on Terra. The emperor, likewise, unchanged in appearance despite the years, appeared, Tamkai nodded, "it is true Lelouch, it's them alright."
The Emperor nodded his face a mask, "I see, thank you, old friend." He paused as he thought before speaking again, "place the guards I sent with you on their security detail."
"It is already done sir, they understand their duty," assured Tamaki, having suspected his friend would feel the need to remind him about the Zero Guard detachment that had come along just in case. "The Zero Guard will protect them and keep them confined."
Once more Lelouch nodded, "Excellent, return to Terra as quickly as you can. I will have a plan for what you are to do when you arrive by then. I will also contact Guilford to be here as well, we'll need him to help with keep them in line."
Nodding his understanding of the matter, "very well Lelouch, I'm on my way. Oh, should I explain to them their situation should they awaken before we arrive?"
Pausing to think again Lelouch nodded, "you may explain what you are able, in particular make sure those on your list know EXACTLY what their position is as soon as they are conscious and coherent. Understood?"
Grinning like a predatory animal Tamaki snapped to attention and saluted, "yes sir!"
Terra, Imperial Capital
The palace was rather a sparse thing considering the empire ruled by its resident, but when considering Lelouch's tastes, the size was just fine for him. It gave off the truth of his power, but also showed that despite it all he was not the pretentious slob that another man in his position might be. As a joke some of his friends had thrown the idea that he should turn Mt Everest and a large part of the Himalayas into a giant palace. That had gotten quite the laugh at the time.
Either way Lelouch found himself slumped down on one of the many coaches that were kept in the building. This one in particular was in his truly personal chambers where only his family and invited friends would every venture (well aside from his guards and the housekeepers when it was time to clean). Years of war, and toil had given Lelouch a talent for keeping his emotions well within his own control. But while that may have been true, it was still far from an easy task. Luckily for him the hand that rested on his shoulder made the task easier than it would've been otherwise. He sighed, "I had almost given up hope I would even find out what had happened to them, let alone find them alive."
Ceceniah smiled at her husband and wrapped her arms around his neck, "well you can rest easy on that now my love."
"True," he conceded, "but now comes the time of what will happen now. They are found but even I can't control what will happen to some of them. And, I don't even know if I can actually face Nunnally."
Tightening her grip ever just so, CC kissed Lelouch's temple, "you can face her. You have faced far worse things before, besides what's done is done, the future is not written, and you will not be alone."
Lelouch smiled and leant his head back to look at his wife, "a better wife I could not hope to find."
C.C. smiled, "I know. Besides knowing your luck you wouldn't even know where to look."
TSI-Silver Blade, En Route to Terra, Four Days later
Unlike the Mass Relay's which link star systems together in a series of linked chains, warp aloud for a freer range of travel. As long as a ship knew the spatial coordinates of the chosen system the ship could warp there. However, the father away the destination, the more power was needed for the jump. Thus, for safety reasons long voyages were recommended to be done in a series of jumps. Combined these factors in warp travel had helped shape the Imperium and was still shaping it.
Within the armored hull of the space craft as it cruised through the void the med-bay rested quietly. Specifically, a single large room was set off to the side and was heavily guarded as the nineteen people held within were of significant importance. Six Zero Guards dressed in their dark battle armor, cloaks, and imposing blank faced helmets stood within the room along the walls, two stood by the only door, while two more unseen stood outside the door. They stood absolutely still and the only sounds in the room were the sounds of medical equipment and the nearly silent hum of the ship's engines. The patients the Guards watched were strapped to their beds, both for security, and just in case they did something that could harm themselves when they awoke. Just as they were in fact starting to do.
Every so slowly Nunnally stirred and just as slowly her eyes opened for the first time many, many years. This fact was lost on the girl as the dreariness in her dulled her senses, though this did not last long. As her eyes wondered they fell upon the dark visage of one of the Guards. To her credit she did not scream, whether this was due to the medications the medics were giving her or her tiredness is unclear, but the very sharp intake of drew the attention of the Guard. The Guard's head turned to look upon the princess, and he immediately took a step forward. Nunnally still did not scream but did let a slight "meep" that seemed to stir other members of the room. As the other patients began to stir the Guard look Nunnally up and down before looking at the medical screens by the bed. He then promptly stepped back, and an almost inaudible click sounded from his helmet as his communicator activated.
Doctors soon filled the room moving between the beds, by this time the other occupants had likewise awoken. As questions began being asked in ever increasing volume one of the doctors spoke up, "everyone please! Your questions will be answered but please! Answer our questions first, we need to make sure you are all stable."
As all this was going on Tamaki was making his way to the med bay, his black uniform with its gold buttons and his Grand Marshal Badge brought every person he came across to attention. Returning the salutes stiffly, the fingers on his left hand tightened around the handle on his custom katana. The blades handle carried a powerful generator that could cover the blade in an energy field that made it a deadly foe to fight, and the idea of drawing it today was a tempting one to be sure. Though in truth the blade was more for intimidation today than the weapon that it truly was. And just to add a little more intenseness to his person a pistol was strapped to right side.
'This is going to be interesting,' thought Tamaki. 'Every core member of the old Black Knights, Kallen, the traitor royals with Weinberg and Maldini, Diethard, Lloyd, Einstein, and Cecile, Lady Kaguya and Tianzi, Li Xingke and Xianglin. And of courses Kururugi and Princess Nunnally. All in all, I'm going to talk to a room full of enemies to my buddy and my own former allies. This is turning into a right "fun day." What could possibly make it better?'
Reaching the door Tamaki stopped between the two Guards and looked at both of them then straight ahead at the door. "Once the doctors leave this room, lock the door, and no one comes in or out until I say so."
The Guards made no response, but Tamaki did not need one, he knew the Guards understood his orders and intent. With a nod on of the Guards turned and keyed the door open.
Just before the door opened Kallen fumed as a doctor looked her up and down running a device over her. "How much longer is this going to take?"
"Until we are sure there are no lasting side effects to your body from you cryogenic state?"
"My what?" retorted Kallen.
"We apparently were frozen," came the smooth tone of Lloyd as he watched another doctor examining the eyes of the awakened Nunnally. "Oh, I wonder how that could have happened."
"Yeah! How is that even possible?" came Ohgi's near incensed cry. Though it seemed many were not listening, such as Li Xingke who was paying attention more to the empress's doctors than his own or anyone else. Likewise, Nagisa Chiba seemed more concerned with asking Todoh if he was alright. His rush to get back into the fight had been straining on his wounds during the battle of Mt. Fuji, it had looked like his stitches had torn when they had entered the Damocles to chase Lelouch. Others remained silent and only talked when their doctors asked a question.
"I'm sure if we are patient that answers will come," the serpentine voice of Schneizel intoned.
The doctors made no comment as they worked, at least until the door opened, one of the medical staff then spoke up, "officer on deck!"
Every doctor stood up to attention and turned to salute as Tamaki entered the room. Stony faced Tamaki returned the salutes and looked around the room, surprised faces were everywhere.
"Tamaki?" Ohgi gasped, looking up and down at the uniform is old friend wore.
Looking back Tamaki frowned deeply before turning to one of the staff, "status?"
"All are stable, General Todoh and Lady Cornelia's wounds are sealed and should be healed in no time sir. As well Lady Nunnally's eyesight has returned, it is possible the process of reviving them might have shocked her system back."
Tamaki nodded, "anything else?"
"Not at this time sir."
"Very well, you are all dismissed."
As one the staff replied, "yes sir!"
It was not until the doctors were gone and a beep sounded after the door closed that Tamaki truly looked around the room. He then folded his hand behind his back and opened his mouth to speak.
A.N. Okay as a reminder I am offsetting the calendar in this universe, the council races are proceeding on the same timeline as in cannon, the human calendar however is offset to allow two hundred more years before contact with the council races. I decided on two hundred years rather than like a few thousand as I do not think I could keep everything straight if I did that, and I find two hundred years to be a good amount. This especially true since humanity in Code Geass is already extremely advanced anyway. My fanfiction anyhow. And on the relative quickness of humanities technological advance, well to be honest humanity advanced pretty rapidly in both the Code Geass and Mass Effect universe once the Mass Relays were discovered so I frankly feel like this advance was just fine.
Next the Silver Blade is an Everest class battleship and not a dreadnought, that was on purpose, as this is not the System's Alliance the naval doctrine will be different and the term dreadnought does not carry the same weight for the UTI than the Alliance. And just to be clear the ships of this Imperium will have a mix of energy and kinetic weaponry if my description wasn't to clear. I will obviously expand more on the navy and ship either in this story or in the sequel depending. More on that to come later.
I intend to use both Empire and Imperium when referring to the UTI, this more of a convenience to me than anything else. Mostly because they are the same thing and one is just in Latin.
IMPORTNAT READ PLEASE!
Slight spoiler ahead if I no one could guess, there is going to be character death in the coming chapter(s), I have a list of who will and will not die. I will admit though I am on the fence on the fate of Suzaku. What are your guys' thoughts, do you think he should live or die?