Chapter 8: Siege of Italica
The princess of Sadera swear that the gods are against her, her supposed easy mission to gather information about the Britannians has been very difficult, and now here she is in Italica holding the defenses. When she arrived yesterday she was surprise to see the death and damages on the city, she and her knights rushed towards Italica and was greeted by Fitel who was rallying all the survivors of the Fourth Legion, he reported that over a thousand bandits suddenly attack but he and the defenders manage to hold them back but with a great cost.
Seeing the situation she quickly assumes command and bolster the defenses assigning many of her knights to command each group, two hundred and thirty Italican militia and archers, two hundred and one Saderan warriors, and fifty Knights of the Rose Order, against bandits and marauders whose numbers are almost a thousand. Pina send a messenger to the Capital to send a Legion to help her knowing that their defense would last four to five days at best.
She's on the south gate surveying the field watching for any enemies or the scout she sent. Soon a rider came rushing through the road and shouting. "Open the gate!" The men followed and let the rider in. She went down from the wall to hear the report.
When the man saw her he immediately warns them of the enemy. "Princess! The bandits are on the attack in greater numbers than before, more bandits and thugs joins them, and hires a hundred mercenaries!"
"Impossible, how were they able afford that many?" Bozes asks.
"The leader promised them gold after sacking the city." He answered. "I sneak in and overheard them, they know that you're here Princess. They're planning to capture you and demand a large ransom from the Emperor, when they received the gold they're going hand you to the Britannians in exchange for money."
"Greedy, dishonorable bastards." Panache said with disgust.
Fearing for her Princess Bozes addressed her of this. "Princess, I think it's wise that you flee this place and leave the fighting to us."
Pina glances at one of her knights and saw the great concern on her friend's face. "I'm not abandoning my comrades to save myself, trust me, we can hold out until our reinforcements arrive." She said as she orders everyone. "Everyone! Prepare for battle, man the gates and walls!"
All warriors scramble to their post, archers along the wall, shield wall formed at the gates, ballistas manned, Bozes went to the west gate and Panache ran to the east gate, everyone's in place.
Pina went up at the battlements to see the bandits surrounding the city, unorganized and a big mess but incredibly numerous they just charge at the walls without bothering to form a shield wall, though she guess that the leader is using them as a distraction from the siege weapons like the battering ram.
Getting a closer look she noticed that these men who are attacking Italica are wearing Saderan armor though painted in different colors. "Traitors!" The Princess heard Fitel who is standing next to her. "Many of them are from the Fourth Legion, they deserted just to become criminals?"
"Doesn't matter now, a deserter deserve traitor's death." Pina readies her bow and let the arrow loose hitting a man carrying a ladder, other archers soon followed by raining arrows down on the former Legionnaires. "Concentrate on that battering ram! They must not reach the gate!"
She saw few ends of the ladders touching the top of the walls and battlements, militias step forward to throw stones at the bottom with some pouring boiling oil and dropping a lit torch, screams of agony can be heard from the bottom.
Pina pulled her bowstrings with an arrow in place, one bandit is a quick one as he reach to top, Pina let the arrow loose hitting the man right in the mouth, the bandit falls giving Pina the view of the approaching battering ram. "Why is that siege weapon still moving?"
"There's a Siren within their ranks, using magic to cast a protective shield around them." Grey said as he stabs an enemy through the heart, he quickly dealt with another who reach the top by cleaving the bandit's head by half. Two militias went near him and poured boiling oil over the battlements drenching bandits who's climbing the ladder, Grey took one torch and threw it at one of the bandits were they burst into flames. Then he heard a loud bang and he knew that the battering ram is breaching the gate. "My Princess! I must go down there and help our men."
"Go! And be careful." She shouted as she sees him running down the stairs to join the men below. Looking around and seeing that more bandits climbing over the battlements Pina discards her bow and draws her sword and steel herself for a fierce melee, dodging an axe that intended to hit her face she retaliates by slashing the attacker's throat, another bandit rushes at her with a mace though Pina avoided all the clumsy attempts, seeing an opening she stabs him in the gut then stab his neck, after that she looks to her left and saw a man knocked one of her knights to the floor with his sword raised, Pina quickly moves to save her subordinate stabbing the bandit at the back.
The blond hair knight named Merril stood up with a dagger in hand and stabs her attacker in the neck. "Thank you Princess." She said to her commander with gratitude then went back to fighting.
Suddenly they heard a crash and a war cry of dozens of men, Pina looks down and saw that the siege weapon has breached the gate and bandits began to pour in clashing with the shield wall, Grey who's commanding the formation is holding their ground effectively halting the assault. "Hold the line! We must not let them through! HOLD!"
Pina heard a distant crash and clash of battle from the distance, the west gate is breached, very worried for Bozes and the other Rose Knights but she has faith on them as she continues fighting.
Bozes furiously slashed a bandit across the chest and then slash another one's neck almost decapitating him, a spearman came charging at her but she deflect the spear with her sword then stabs him, a bandit ran with a big battle hammer and swing it down on her which Bozes avoided, she avoids the hammer again by ducking down seeing the opportunity she chop off the bandit's foot causing him to fall to the ground clutching the stump of his amputated leg, Bozes then stabs him three times to end his misery.
Looking at the gate there is one adversary who caught her attention, a wildman, berserker from the far north wielding two axes chopping his way, when he saw her he charges like a mad man, one footsoldier confronted the berserker only ended up having his hand chop off then got decapitated with one swing of an axe, nothing is getting in his way to his target.
Bozes brace herself for a harsh fight as the berserker swings his left axe, she blocks the attack then blocks the right axe and blocks the left again, she narrowly dodges an axe attack aiming at her neck that could've been decapitate her, she's completely on the defensive as she avoids an aggressive attack, the berserker jumps at her with both axes coming down but Bozes blocks them both but is astonished by his strength, suddenly a blade sprouted on his chest, back stabbed.
Falling to the ground Bozes sees that it was Norma who helped her. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine, I never thought that I would face a berserker, I thought all of them died out." Bozes took a moment to relax the for a little while before going back to combat, breathing deep then out.
He smiled seeing that she didn't suffer any grievous wounds. "Hopefully that he's the only ones left."
"Enough talk, we should return to the fight. The more enemy we kill the faster this ends." She charges to the fray with Norma behind her.
They rush towards the heavy fighting near the west gate, Norma blocks the enemy's sword, left hook at the face and stabs before the marauder could fight back. Bozes grabbed a shield and parry a spiked mace and thrust her sword in the deserter in the guts.
The leader of the bandits smiles with glee in seeing the two gates opened and his underlings storming through, soon the city will be his. "Push forward! Kill all the men and take all the women, plunder every valuables, and capture the princess and her knights!" His tactic is a simple one, overwhelm the Italicans with sheer numbers, three hundred bandits in each three gates while a group of hundred guard the north gate to capture any fleeing defenders.
The bandits cheered as they rush forward to the city with the goal of gaining riches, dozens of them also have one sick motive in their minds: violating women, they're going to force themselves on every young women they can find, knights of Roses are the big prizes.
These men would've done the same thing to Myuute Luna Sires, though they decided against it as she proves to be a useful asset to them as she provides support by using her magics. She was just a travelling Siren mercenary in search of a good wages and easy money, upon seeing the bandits and the state of Italica she joined the band of criminals with the intent of getting her shore of the loot.
The Siren casts multiple protective spells to block incoming projectiles while shooting arrows at the defenders, providing cover for siege weapons like battering rams and catapults. They're going to overwhelm by taking three entrances, the west and south gates have already fallen and soon the east gate will follow.
It didn't take long though as one man shouted out. "The east gate has fallen!" She saw the defenders at the south have retreated and the forces at the gate are slowly gaining ground, the men cheered as they advanced into the city.
A good number of them began swarming around the city and begin marauding the place, but thanks to the Princess's efforts they found no valuables nor women, disappointed they set many of the houses on fire.
"Damn it, damn it damn it!" Pina cursed as she and a handful of her Rose knights rode to the east part of town, there just too many bandits, they lost dozens of men, and the east gate's been breached, they're in a complete disadvantage here.
With the capture of the east gate they can't evacuated the townspeople to safety, the north gate is not safe either as it's under attack by at least a hundred bandits. She have no choice but to hide thousands of people inside the mansion and buildings surrounding it.
Praying to the gods that they would make it, she will not let these vile men have what they want, she knew the consequences for her and her knights if they were captured will be a fate worse than death, brutal rape until their will and minds are broken and became slaves to their captors, she will NOT let that happen. She will fight on to the bitter end.
Reaching the road that goes halfway to the east gate there they met with Panache, a dozen of Rose knights and other retreating warriors, she have bruises on her left temple and a small cut on her right cheek. "Princess! Please forgive me! We tried to hold them off but there is too many of these bandits, we've lost dozens of warriors and I have no choice but to fall back!"
"Then we will hold our ground here." She raised her sword and issues and order. "Form a shield wall here! Archers at the back! And to the others build a barricade!"
Forty survivors of the Fourth Legion did as she said and forms a wall, twenty-five archers positions themselves behind the Saderans, while the others began constructing a barricade with everything from barrels, crates, chairs, tables and other things.
About fifty or so enemies are riding horses and charging at them with swords and axes, slaying every defender in their way towards the Princess. Upon seeing the riders Pina orders every man with bow and crossbow. "Archers! Nock!" They placed arrows in their bows. "Draw!" They stretched the bowstrings. "Loose!"
Arrows fly upward then came falling on the bandits killing a significant number of them and putting to a halt in their advances. "Nock! Draw! Loose!" Another barrage hit the riders almost wiping them out, the remaining ones quickly made a retreat.
The defenders would have cheered but saw that a large number of bandits are running at them. "Nock! Draw! Loose!" Pina shouted over and over to reduce the number of attackers, barrage after barrage of arrows many bandits died before they could collide with the wall of shield. "Hold the line!" She shouted as the Saderan push the enemy back, thanks to the archers who's still raining arrows there are less bandits that the Saderan faced.
The east side of town seems to be under control until two Rose knights came to her. "Princess! The south and west lines have collapsed and are retreating to the manor."
Pina sigh in frustration, problems and difficulties keep on adding and piling up, is there any end to this? "Everyone! Fall back! Fall back slowly to the manor, archers keep on raining arrows while moving." Retreating quickly could break the formation of the shield wall and result in many being killed. "Panache, you and a handful of knights are in charge here, make sure they make it to the manor with little casualties."
"Understood."
"The rest of you are with me!" The Princess and dozens of her knights rode back to the manor.
The bandit leader is at the south gate witnessing his underlings burning and looting the place, but is not much as there is nothing valuable inside many of the houses. He looks to see that the defenders is making their last stand at the gates of the manor. "Their strength is nearly spent! Go make the final push!"
During the initial assault they've captured three Knights of Rose, one of them is a friend of the princess, Hamilton was is it? They going to used them as hostage to force the defenders into submission.
Pina and all the defenders are fighting at their last line of defense, she lead the remaining forces to move the commoners to the safety of the manor. It's not looking well for them, less than two hundred are still alive with the rest are either dead or wounded, the north gate has been breached which means they cannot escape, and there isn't enough time for the reinforcements, not to mention that Fitel reported that three of her knights were captured.
Then the attack came to an abrupt halt and the bandits retreated by short distance making the defenders confused. Bozes suddenly point and shouted. "Princess! On the south road!"
Pina look to where the blond knight is pointing, and to her horror she saw Hamilton, Beefeater and Merril on wooden platforms, tied and stripped of their armor. The bandit leader on his horse addressed her. "Princess! Surrender yourself and the city, and I promise that all the people of Italica and your army will be spared."
Though the moment he finished his words Beefeater cried out to the princess. "Don't listen to him! He has no intentions in sparing anyone!"
Hamilton also added. "Don't worry about us, Princess! Keep on fighting!" She was smack in the face by one of the bandits leaving small bruise on her lip.
Hearing this cause some serious conflict of thought in Pina's mind, what should she do? Send troops to rescue them? No, too risky. Comply with the bandit's demand? A horrible idea after she heard Beefeater. Have archers take out the captors and make way for her knights? No, Hamilton and the other two might get hit by a stray arrow.
She saw the bandits ripping their prisoner's clothes leaving their breast and crotch exposed, Pina fears the worst, they going to defile them to make her hasten her decisions or punish her for her defiance. "Look away! You should not see that." Bozes said with anger, gripping her sword tight.
"I'm sorry." She muttered as she can't do anything to save the three without sacrificing much, she felt so helpless, tearing beginning to form, looking down so she won't witness the violation of her comrades.
Then suddenly and without warning a loud sound of war horn is heard causing everyone to stop what they're doing, they look up to those three broadcast zeppelins flying nearby that shows an Italican blowing a war horn, they look closer and see that he's on the hill just south west of Italica.
Pina and both defenders and bandits looks to the direction of the man on the south west, and is surprised upon seeing hundreds of Italican warriors riding on horses, charging down the hill, lances and swords at hand ready to fight the invaders and save their home town.
"Impossible!" Pina heard a man name Elric. "These men fought alongside the Fifth Legion, I thought they all died on the other side of the Gate."
"How did they escape the Britannians?" Grey asks though his question will be answered soon enough.
Accompanying the italican reinforcements are the famed Iron Giants, the colors ranging from black to blue to maroon, moving with phenominal speed that they overtake the cavalry, the weapons they carry is strange but she recognize one as a giant lance, they were first to clash with the hundreds of bandits outside Italica.
Looking upward is that she notice that the sky is swarming with flying ships and metal dragons, there is she saw the slayer of the Flame Dragon the black Iron Giant that flew down and face the bandits on the east gate, unleashing a beam of black and red energy leaving many bandits on the east road completely burnt to a crisp.
Metal Dragons began spout fire and explosive at the enemy in the south and west road, Iron Giants and warriors in grey clothing and armor dropping from their transport to clear the town of bandits. This is the first time that she saw them in action, their use of unusual magic and weapons capable of killing enemies from a distance or blasting them apart, she was astonish and frightened by what she's witnessing.
Many Italicans who is watching these is cheering loudly. "It's the Britannians! And they're killing the bandits!"
"Thank the gods!"
"We're save!"
One of these ships flew low and a girl jump off, landing gracefully on the rooftop of a building just south of the manor. "It's Rory Mercury! The Apostle of Emroy!" Shouted one man. "She's fighting for the Britannians?"
She saw the immortal girl smirks and jumps off to fight the bandits, though when that happen it's more of a slaughter as the Apostle dispatch every bandits with little effort, chopping them in half, slicing off their limbs, decapitating their heads.
Rory was soon joined by men in grey clothing and black armor and a black Iron Giant, killing all the men who is holding the Rose Knights captive. The Giant opens its head revealing a peculiar eye.
"These giants are cyclops?" Panache asks out loud as the giant closes its eye and turns to fight the deserters. The Saderans present feeling unnerve as these warriors are their enemy, hopefully they would let them go as gratitude for holding out, but they're not holding their breath as they know that they might end up being killed.
Myuute is outside the town watching with awe and fright upon seeing the Britannians, Iron Giants have wiped out every bandits that try to fight them, crushed under their feet and blown apart by a powerful magic, following the giants are Italican cavalry slaying every bandits and marauders they see.
They were accompanied by men in grey armor which she guessed are Britannian soldiers, they're killing the former Saderans with strange looking devices in their hands. "Man the ballista!" She looks up at the wall and sees three men preparing the heavy weaponry against the Britannians, they shot one intending to hit the metallic dragons but it missed.
A flying ship is right above them and a Giant jump off and landed right at the top of the ballista and its crew, instantly killing them, the Giant open its head and shows a sinister looking eye, the Siren shivers as she saw that it's looking directly at her thinking she's going to die by its hand, but the Giant just turn around and went to the other side of the wall.
She hid behind a pile of corpses hoping that they didn't find her. Unfortunately for the Siren they immediately spotted her. "You there! Hands up or we'll shoot you!" The grey men yelled as they pointed their weapons.
Myuute is planning to use her magic to create a protective barrier and escapes, but seeing their weapons in action she doubts her spell could protect her, she have no choice but to accept capture and comply with their demands by raising her hands.
Two soldiers came to her and cuffed her then takes her away, for a moment there she fears that she's about to be rape but is relief that they did no such thing, but still there is worry that she'll end up being a slave. She is place among a group of captured bandits were soldiers and Iron Giants are pointing their weapons at them, she can't do anything but to await her fate.
The battle is over and their saviors is rounding up or killing any stragglers, but victory is not for them but rather the Britannians, they have witness them in action and the people who never saw them before were awed but the survivors of the Fourth Legion fears the worst, because the Britannians is still their enemy. Pina and her knights were completely astonished by their power, their fearsome capabilities of their weapons.
And at that moment Pina now realizes just how serious the situation is and how in deep trouble her country is in. She remembers the speech of Empress Marianne from those ships, how the men of Fifth Legion butchered, violated, enslave and plundered their way through their country, and now she fears that the Britannians will do the same thing to her nation.
After the threat is fully dealt with the Britannians and the Italican cavalry paraded to the manor, the citizens cheered and threw flowers for their savior and the return of their family members and friends, Pina saw the purple Giant escorted by others is making an entrance and the flying one landed in the gardens near the gate, the most interesting thing happen the Giant's back open and sliding out is a seat, people get down by using ropes, they didn't climb down but the ropes lowered them.
Two of them whom Pina guessed were royalty are approaching them, one of them shouted out in their language. "Presenting Cornelia li Britannia and Lelouch vi Britannia, Prince and Princess of the Holy Britannian Empire!"
They get to have a good look at the two, if this is Cornelia and Lelouch then the people right behind them are the Knights of Glaston and Black, wearing elaborate clothing. When they're right in front of her Lelouch is the one to make an introduction.
"It is pleasure to meet you, Countess Myui." He kisses her hand causing Pina to blush. "I must say, I expect you to be much younger."
She got to admit the prince of Britannia is very handsome. "P-Prince Lelouch, you're mistaken, I'm not Myui."
There is an awkward pause, Cornelia and a few others snigger at Lelouch's mistake. The son of Marianne faintly blushes at the small error he made. "Oh, I see. So where is the Countess?"
"I'm right here." The Countess made her way through the Knights of Rose and present herself in front of her home's savior. "I am very grateful that you came and save my home, we are forever in your debt." Bowing to the Britannians along with every Italican present.
Pina notice that Lelouch have the look of satisfaction on his face, she fears that he might took advantage of Myui's trusting and innocent nature. Then Cornelia spoke to her. "Becoming a Countess at such a young age, is the pressure of being the leader too much for you?"
Myui looks at the princess, that is rather tough quest to answer. "Y-yes, it's very difficult to be the Countess. But I must take this mantle and lead my people."
"It appears that you're not ready to take up this post, fortunately your father is still alive so you don't have to bear the weight of the responsibility." Cornelia said which shocks many who heard her.
"M-my father is alive?" Myui said with hope. When the news of the failed expedition of the Fifth Legion reached her Myui fell in despair at the apparent loss of her father, but to hear that he's still lives she was surprise but she wanted to be sure. "Where is he now? Can I see him?"
Pina suddenly barge in the conversation. "Hold on! How do we know that this isn't some trick?"
"I assure you that he's alive and well, just ask the men who went with him through the Gate, and if you still doubt me." Lelouch smirks as he was contacted by Scheizel about Colt Formal. "You can ask the man himself."
He and Cornelia move aside so Myui and Pina can see that the not-so-dead Count of Italica made a timely arrival at the manor. Needless to say Myui is overjoyed to see her father again, she ran towards him and hug him tight. "Father!" She yell as tears drips down her face.
"I'm sorry, so sorry to make you worry this much." Colt said as he embraced his daughter happy to see her again. Then he notices the shock look on the Saderan princess who started asking question.
But Pina was cut off by the Second Prince of Britannia. "It's heartwarming to see a father and daughter reunited after being separated for so long." Schneizel said.
"I thank you again for the mercy and generosity that you showed me and my men Prince Schneizel." Colt said.
"You're welcome. Now, on to business shall we." Schneizel said as he signal someone, Diethard Ried came with his crew were they pointed their cameras at the Count.
Colt nodded as he looks at the men with cameras, the broadcast Zeppelin lit up again as it everything live through the lens on the camera. Pina and her knights notice this and saw themselves on the screen, Bozes raised her hand and her dublicate does the same as if it is some kind of mirror. They marvel at this peace of technology until Colt began his speech.
"People of Italica, I am Colt of the Formal Clan. I speak to you today to announce that Italica is now an ally of Britannia." Everyone cheered except for the Saderans who can't believe that this is happening. "Our new friends are not only powerful in terms of military might but they're also virtuous, helping the weak and oppressed, defending the innocents, punishing slavers, and now they going to help us in rebuilding our city, even make it greater than before!" The people cheered louder at this. "We will celebrate tomorrow, but tonight we shall mourn for our loss."
Pina's mind is in turmoil, this can't be happening, how she is going to explain this to the emperor and the senate. Italica is an important trading town and to lose it will cause economic trouble for her country. She got to do something, she have to change Colt's mind about this, when the Count is finished with his speech the Saderan princess approaches him.
"You can't be serious about this, my father will never let this slide." She threatens him but Colt just wave this off. "You have to put an end to this."
"You're in no position to demand me of anything." He said sternly, the level of his voice caught the attention of the Britannian royal siblings.
"Is there something the matter?" Lelouch asks then turns to the red head girl, Cornelia signal the Glaston and Black Knights and regular units to surround the manor and this particular group of women. "Ah, forgive me if I didn't asks you earlier, but may I know your name?"
Pina hesitate for a moment thinking what will happen is she tell him her name, though Lelouch and Schneizel already have a good guess about her identity. "Pina co Lada." Few of the Britannians laugh at this making her confuse. "Daughter of Molt Sol Augustus and Princess of the Saderan Empire." She said with pride.
"I heard about you." Lelouch slowly strolls to her right side. "The first daughter of Molt, child of a concubine named Nell, founder of the Rose Order of Knights." He looks at her group which consist of mostly women. "Knights who are popular with many young girls throughout your nation, but is considered just an honor guards, a token gesture."
"And I learn a lot about you." Pina can feel Lelouch's gaze from her back, he's circling her like a vulture. "Son of Empress Marianne, Eleventh Prince, the Dragon Smiter, and leader of the Black Knights, I can just tell from the name that the soldiers who wear black armor and black armband including those black Iron Giants belongs to you." She looks to her right and saw Lelouch examining her with those purple eyes. "Is assassination's your knight's specialty?"
Lelouch just smirks, of course, because of the color theme some would think the main function of the Black Knights is espionage, assassination, ambush, raids, and other kinds of underhanded tactics, though that's only half true. "Not necessarily, many of them are individuals with special and specific set of skills, skills that will prove deadly to every foe who is not wary in field." Lelouch said with a dark smile that make Pina uncomfortable.
Pina feels cold sweat on her face, her initial thoughts on the Black Knights is right, what happens to the victims of the black Iron Giant is still fresh in her mind, hundred of bandits wiped out in mere seconds leaving only burnt corpses, she don't want to be in the receiving end of that terrible magic nor have her Rose Knights face the Black Knights in the field, at least until she know what their skills are.
Lelouch steps in front of his sister and subordinates, he glances at Schneizel who nods, this is the signal against the Saderans. "Jeremiah, translate everything I say to Pina and her friends."
"Yes, your Highness." The loyal guard of Marianne and Lelouch steps in front of the Saderan princess and her knights.
"To all Britannian forces present in here. I Lelouch vi Britannia commands you to arrest the Saderan Princess and her knights, and capture all the Saderans here in Italica." Lelouch declared.
"Yes! Your Highness!" The army of Britannia made its move against the Saderans, surrounding the survivors of the Fourth Legion and the Rose Knights.
Understanding Lelouch's words thanks to Jeremiah Pina step forward to protest but stop in her tracks as a Iron Giant point its giant lance right at her. "Wait! Why are you doing this? You have no right to make this action against us!"
Hearing her Lelouch turns to Pina. "Ah, but you see, we do have the rights. In case you've forgotten we are still enemies, as such I command them to take you as prisoners of war to be use as leverage against your nation."
Pina is in a tough situation now, what should they do? Fight for freedom? They'll be slaughtered if that happens. After all the effort in protecting Italica this is her reward? Then realization came and it made her shudders, they're going to end up as slaves to an enemy nation, and even worst her Knights would end up being concubines and sex slaves, that is why Lelouch is staring at her intently earlier, he was examining if she would make a good concubine to him.
The other Rose Knights thought about this as well and fears this fate. Unable to control her anger Panache charges at Lelouch, if she dies protecting the honor of her Princess then so be it. Before Jeremiah could stop her Kallen rushes forward and intercepted the Rose Knight by kneeing her in the guts then delivers an uppercut.
Panache feel intense pain while trying to stand up but she was pushed down and feels a blade on her neck, she opens her eyes to see her assailant which is a woman with red hair and a cold eyes bearing down at her. "Go ahead, try fighting back, I won't hesitate in cutting your throat." Kallen said but Panache didn't understand it.
Seeing Panache taken down so swiftly and Britannians closing in, Bozes doesn't waste a moment and began removing her armor. "Please! If you wanted a slave to pleasure you, take me instead of the Princess." She felt dirty saying that while walking towards the Britannian Prince.
"Bozes! Don't do it!" Pina shouted but she was hold back by Hamilton and Grey. Panache who is watching her friend stripping off her armor is helpless as she's still pinned on the ground.
"Take me!" Her hands is trembling as she removes her breastplate. "I promise that I'll be a good slave! But please let the Princess and the others go!" She removed all her armor, now all that's left is the inner clothes, but before she could strip herself naked she is slapped so hard on the face that she falls to the ground. She looks up and see the Britannian Princess with disgust on her face.
"Have some dignity will you!" Cornelia chastised. "And how dare you assumes that my brother is some kind of sexual deviant! We Britannians are not barbarians like the people of your little country."
Lelouch approached the Rose Knight with an amused smirk. "Bozes was it? I applaud you for your bravery and loyalty, willing to sacrifice yourself for the sake of your friends. But I must decline your offer as your princess and her knights are simply too valuable to let go." Lelouch said, they're just going to interrogate Pina and her Knights.
He find the expression on their faces amusing, by saying "Too valuable" they assume that it's got something to do about slavery when it's really not the case, rape and slavery for obvious reasons is considered vile and inhumane and will never be condone by the Britannians, or any where else in their world for that matter.
"Enough of this drama, take them away." Cornelia ordered as soldiers use handcuffs, herding Saderan soldiers to the outside to join the captured bandits, arresting the Rose Order of Knights.
Seeing this happens Myui tried to stop and convince them to let them go but her father holds her shoulder. "Father, why are they doing this to them? If it weren't for Pina and her knights those bandits would surely take over our home."
"I know." Said Colt. "But you must not forget that Britannia and Sadera is still at war with each other. We don't want to interfere in this, just pray that they treat the Saderan princess and her knights with mercy like they did with me."
Chapter End
Battle of Italica is finished and Pina and her Knights are taken as prisoners, hope you guys like it.
Battle: Siege of Italica
Outcome: Britannian-Italica-Saderan Victory, Britannian Strategic Victory
Commanders:
Italican Defenders
Elric
Rose-Order of Knights
Pina co Lada
Survivors of the Fourth Legion
Fitel
Bandits
Former Saderan Noble
Italican Cavalry
Colt Formal
Black Knights
Lelouch vi Britannia
Glaston Knights
Cornelia li Britannia
1st Air Fleet
Air Force Commodore
3rd Regiment
Nonnette Eneagram
Strength and Numbers:
Defenders
481
Bandits
1127
1 Siren
Reinforcements
300 Italican Cavalry
Numerous Knightmares, Infantry, VTOL Gunships, multiple Caerleon and Longres Class Floating Battleships.
Casualties:
Defenders
Over half are killed
Bandits
Near annihilation, the rest is captured
Reinforcements
Minor injuries and damage, no fatalities.
Aftermath
Threat to Italica is neutralized. Colt formally announces the alliance between Britannia and Italica. Pina and the Rose-Order of Knights and other Saderans are taken as prisoners of war.