Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion/Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch: Lost Soldiers
by: Ominae
Rating: T
NOTE:
All character of Code Geass are under the copyright of Goro Taniguchi, Sunrise, CLAMP and Bandai Entertainment. All other characters are under my jurisdiction.
Summary:
With Nunnally and her Ashford Academy friends held hostage with VIPs at the Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel by a renegade faction of the JLF led by Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe, Marc and the other Lost Soldiers prepare to mount a covert rescue to save them from harm. Will their actions win the hearts and minds of ordinary Britannians? Stay tune to this chapter to find out.
Chapter 5: Crisis Core
Unknown Storage Room, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What's wrong?"
Nunnally asked to Lieutenant Fukuyama, who was standing in front of her with two JLF soldiers when he requested her to come with him. She was with Milly and her Ashford Academy classmates and friends alongside VIPs attending the supposed Sakuradite conference when all of them were herded to one of the large storage rooms used to stock food supplies for the hotel's various restaurants.
"It's nothing." Fukuyama shook his head. "But my commander insists that he speak to you."
"Why?" Nunnally questioned.
"You will see." Fukuyama replied. "He said that he has some things to tell you."
"What do you think you're doing?!" Milly shouted at Fukuyama and the JLF soldiers. "There's nothing for you to gain if you have a blind and disabled girl with you!"
"Milly..." Rivalz whispered, trying to calm her down.
"You seem to be wishing for your death, young lady." Fukuyama pulled out his Minebea 9mm pistol from the vest's holster. "What is it that you wish for?" The two JLF soldiers aimed their Howa Type 89-F assault rifles at Milly too.
"WAIT!" Nunnally shouted, somehow feeling the danger around her. "That's enough. I'll go with you."
"A wise choice." Fukuyama holstered his pistol. He saw Alice place a hand on Nunnally, advising her not to go.
Nunnally shook her head and whispered, "I'll be fine, Alice. This man wanted to see me because someone wants to talk to me, that's all."
Alice sighed, allowing Nunnally to be escorted by Fukuyama and the two JLF soldiers. She saw Milly shaken up, being comforted by Shirley and Nina.
It seems Ms. Milly Ashford knows something else about Nunnally if she did all this.
Bridge, G-1 Base, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Your highness!" One of the bridge officers reported to Clovis. "Two SAS teams are nearing the G-1 in four minutes. We've cleared them through our checkpoints."
"Good work." Clovis told the officer, consulting the tactical map with Ambrosia and Darlton. The latter was more familiar with Japan and the land as he had been a Second Pacific War veteran.
"We could send in Red and Blue Troops after we do a distraction." Darlton told Ambrosia and Clovis, pointing out a path that the SAS teams can use . "Their snipers do have a 180 degree view of the hotel, but the last report sent in by one of our VTOL gunships do indicate a lack of security at their rear."
"Isn't that section the heliport used to transport VIPs and hotel officials?" Ambrosia pointed the helipad displayed on the map.
"It's either they're stupid or they have plans for that area." Clovis thought about the situation after being told. "The only plausible course of action is to send in the teams by Zodiac somewhere on Lake Kawaguchi, but deployed from afar to avoid being seen by snipers."
"Possible." Darlton agreed with Clovis' plan. "But I suggest we wait for them to arrive. For now, we need to get ready since Kusakabe will contact us again."
"I understand." Clovis nodded. "I won't negotiate with those terrorists," He clenched his white gloved hands. "but I won't allow people to die needlessly for their cause."
Hawaii Ballroom, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
Nunnally was already in the ballroom, kindly escorted by her JLF captors. The ballroom had already been commandeered by Kusakabe's JLF faction to serve as its command center. The Lieutenant Colonel was on a cellphone, taken from one of the dead SPs, when he saw Fukuyama arrive with Nunnally.
"Leave us." Kusakabe instructed his subordinates, leaving him and Nunnally alone as Fukuyama went to check on the hotel's defenses.
"Pleased to meet you, Ms. Nunnally Lamperouge." Kusakabe greeted her, placing the sheathed katana on his lap instead of his belt.
That voice. Nunnally was a bit shaken when she heard the voice.
"I'm not sure if you remember me. We've met before at the Sori Kotei with your brother, Lelouch, with your half sister Cornelia a few times before the Second Pacific War seven years ago. I'm pleased that you survived."
"What is it that you want from me?" Nunnally said, her tone having a bit of anger.
"Whether you have changed your name to your late mother's doesn't change the fact that you're still a princess." Kusakabe began to be blunt on her. "You still has royal authority on you, do you not?"
"I don't have it anymore after Nunnally vi Britannia was killed in one of the many crossfires of the Second Pacific War." Nunnally retorted Kusakabe, which began to make him anger when he struck the tiled floor hard with his left foot.
"Do you not understand?!" He pointed an accusing finger at Nunnally. "Your father, Charles zi Britannia, left you two with your half sister to Japan before the war was declared between our nations! He didn't care if you three were killed in the process!"
"I think you're the one who doesn't understand!" Nunnally shouted back. "He didn't care if I still have some influence after Nunnally, Lelouch and Cornelia vi Britannia were killed in the Second Pacific War!"
The JLF soldiers, including Fukuyama, were shocked to see Nunnally hold her ground against their own officer.
"I see that you take it after your mother." Kusakabe grinned and chuckled. "I see that I have no choice but to do this..."
Somewhere on shores of Lake Kawaguchi, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"You sure it's okay to do this?"
Rai asked Marc, conducting reconnaissance on the Westin Lake Kawaguchi hotel after Jean and the others stayed with the van for a little while to ensure their rear guard. The two ex-child soldiers had their Britannian soldier uniforms on without their helmets and respirators on. Their Colt M-13s were slinged on their backs.
"What? You mean going in by infiltrating with a boat to the Westin Lake Kawaguchi hotel with the chance of being attacked by JLF snipers or by some unknown out there?"
"Ummm....yeah. Let me remind you that as your friend, not XO for the meantime, that you have a crazy plan."
"Boss!" Jean and the other Lost Soldiers have arrived, all decked out in their combat gear. "I've rigged the van like you said."
"Good work, Jean." Marc thanked the ex-Britannian COSMOS soldiers for his work.
"Seriously..." Rai questioned Marc once more. "Do we have a game plan to use for infiltrating the hotel?"
"We do." Michael and Yi had duffel bags with them, carried on both of their hands.
"What..." Rai was startled to see the bag. "are inside those bags?"
"Diving gear." Michelle inspected the bags. "We've got rebreathers that we can use."
"Dräger LAV-7s?" Ken whistled upon seeing the rebreathing gear. "Impressive. Same thing used by the Navy SEALs?"
"Our weapons are waterproof, right?" Yi asked, being a bit hesitant on wearing the rebreathers.
"Yeah." Marc replied. "We're the first ones to test it. After all, we're the Britannian army's ex-guinea pigs in COSMOS in testing everything from soon-to-be weapons and equipment to CQB tactics being experimented on by Britannian special forces."
"Brings back some memories." sighed Henri, putting on the LAV-7 rebreather on before taking a wetsuit from Michelle.
Rooftop, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"It's too awfully quiet back around here."
Sakurai observed the outskirts of the hotel, taking sniper duties as CO19 operators made a cordon separating the hotel and the mainland, creating a sort of buffer zone.
"I'm not sure about that." Kayabuki was eating some bread provided by their JLF comrades. "The SAS could be making their move right about now."
Unknown to the two JLF soldiers, Zero had sneaked up on them by jumping on the rooftop after using the trees to gain high ground.
"Who the?" Sakurai turned around, seeing Zero dash in when he aimed his Remington M24 from the hip.
Zero shrugged off the shot, despite the kick of the 7.62 NATO bullet that struck his chest. He continued to dash and punch Sakurai hard on his stomach before he grabbed his head and smashed it on the floor hard.
"Why you!" Kayabuki drew out a combat knife from a knife sheath strapped on his right leg when Zero executed a sharp and fast roundhouse kick on his face, sending him down on the ground. He jumped towards him and punched his stomach hard, making him unconscious.
"All done?" Zero looked at the unconscious JLF soldiers to see them knocked out and on the ground lifeless. "Good." The masked person cracked his knuckles.
I must thank C.C. for granting me this great and awesome geass ability. At least I'll be able to hold on my own ground.
Bridge, G-1 Base, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Your highness!" Guilford motioned Clovis to look at the bridge's main screen after speaking to Ambrosia and Darlton when the two had been informed of the SAS's arrival to the G-1 Base. "Something's up back at the hotel!"
"What?" Clovis was shown a section of the hotel with Alice facing the armed JLF soldiers, pointing their Howa Type 89 assault rifles at her.
"Barbarians!" Clovis was angered to see the young girl being led to her death.
"What's happening?" Ambrosia went to see her half brother, seeing the main screen with Darlton alongside her.
"It appears that the JLF's trying to kill someone again." Darlton saw the girl. He blinked upon seeing her. She looks awfully familiar...
"I thought we told Kusakabe that one of his demands are going to be met!" Clovis shouted, pointing to the screen.
"But it's not like we know what's going on in the hotel, your highness." One of the bridge operators tried to reason with Clovis.
Was it that you're doing, Kusakabe? Ambrosia was nervous, seeing the two JLF soldiers maintaining their aim at Alice.
Hawaii Ballroom, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"ALICE!"
Nunnally heard her friend's voice, being led to another section of the hotel's outskirts.
"This is what would happen to you soon if you don't follow my simple instructions." Kusakabe grinned at her. The main screen near him showed Alice being led to the rooftop of an unknown building, facing her JLF captors.
"Is it alright?" One of the JLF soldiers whispered to his comrade. "I mean, sure we're an anti-Britannian guerrilla group. But going to this..."
"Yeah, I agree." murmured another JLF soldier. "The Lieutenant Colonel's going so low as to use a kid to manipulate another, especially if she's blind and disabled..."
"COLONEL!" Fukuyama shouted. "What are you..."
"Keep back, Fukuyama!" Kusakabe quickly drew out his 9mm and aimed it at him. "Unless you want to be a true example to the young JLF members on how I personally deal with insubordination."
"Alice..." Nunnally felt helpless when she heard Alice being pushed around by the JLF soldiers.
"Don't do it, Nunnally!" Alice yelled to the screen, the feed taken from one of the nearby surveillance cameras.
"Shut it, girl!" A Type 89-armed JLF soldier kicked Alice on her stomach before another took a swing at her using his Type 89's buttstock at her back.
"We will execute your classmates." Kusakabe warned her, holstering his sidearm. "If you don't help us out..."
"NOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!" Nunnally shouted, covering her face with her hands.
"I'm not liking this..." Some murmurs began to emerge from the ranks of Kusakabe's faction, feeling disgruntled that he used a young girl at gunpoint to make his point known.
"You Britannians don't understand how we Japanese have lived under your harsh and cruel oppression." Kusakabe gritted his teeth when he stared at the screen.
"Execute the girl!"
Somewhere behind the Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
Several figures emerged from the waters of Lake Kawaguchi, all of them donned in diving gear including their rebreathers and wet suits. A few began to secure the area while the rest began to take off their equipment.
"Hurry up guys." Henri murmured to his comrades, as he, Domingo, Ken and Michelle formed a perimeter for the others to take off their wet suits and rebreathers. "I'm hearing some chatter on the radio."
"Okay." Marc was the first to finish taking off his diving equipment, now reequipping his respirator on. "I'm done."
"Seems to be some circular storm grate here." Rai pointed to the grate covering some hole, which goes underneath the hotel. "We can use that to infiltrate the hotel." He was about to take a frag grenade from his vest when Yi patted him on the shoulder.
"Leave this to me." Domingo, Ken, Michelle and Henri began to take off their diving gear, their comrades already done, when Yi placed both of her gloved hands on the grate. Getting a good grip, she pulled hard until the grate was ripped off the hole.
"Thanks to our meta-human surgery and all that..." Rai grinned, watching toss off the storm grate. "we can perform certain feats with our superhuman strength."
Suddenly, sounds of automatic gunfire were heard from the vicinity of the hotel. The screams of a girl soon followed.
"EVERYONE! MOVE IN NOW! GO GO GO!" Marc shouted to his Lost Soldier comrades, being the first to infiltrate the sewer hole followed by Rai and the others after hearing the gunshots.
Bridge, G-1 Base, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What the..." Darlton was stunned to see the girl shot to death by the JLF soldiers, already shown on the bridge's screen. "hell was that?"
Clovis banged the tactical map table with his clenched left fist hard, seeing the girl already gunned down on live imagery shown to him by Kusakabe.
"THAT'S IT! I HAD ENOUGH OF THESE BARBARIANS!" Clovis shouted before he faced a bridge officer. "You! Get the SAS deployed to the hotel and storm the place at once immediately!"
"But your highness!" The officer replied. "What about the hostages? They're potentially in the line of fire."
"It won't matter once those damn terrorists are taken care of!" Clovis shouted at the officer. "See to it that the Irregulars give them backup support at once!"
"Understood, your highness!"
"Viceroy!" A Britannian soldier entered the bridge, saluting Clovis. "There's something wrong out there!"
"What do you mean?" Guilford questioned the soldier.
"I...I don't know sir. One of the checkpoints had previously cleared up an unmarked van that had a third SAS team supposedly on the way here."
"Under the current plan," Ambrosia told the people in the bridge. "only Red and Blue Troops are suppose to be here. Any other troops deployed to Area 11 are suppose to be on standby at RBA Tokyo in case of an emergency called out by the Viceroy."
"What happened?" Clovis asked the soldier. "Was there any news to their whereabouts?"
"No, sir. I have men searching for their vehicle as we speak."
"Let me know when there's news of them."
"Yes, your highness!"
Corridor, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What the heck's all that about?"
A JLF soldier patrolled one of the empty corridors of the hotel, hearing some of the gunfire from outside. His Type 89 was ported on both of his hands, ready to be used on any suspicious individuals trying to move around the building.
"Halt!" The soldier saw Zero darting around the corridor, moving towards the lone sentry. "Stop or I'll shoot!"
Seeing that Zero refused to comply, the soldier fired his Type 89 in full automatic. He saw some of the bullets had struck Zero's suit, which didn't harm him.
"Dammit!" The JLF soldier kept firing his weapon at Zero, despite not being harmed by the 5.56 NATO bullets. "I saw some of the bullets hitting him. Why can't he just..."
Zero had been near the soldier, grabbing him on his neck before running his head onto the nearby wall.
"ERRRAHHH!" Zero yelled hard, striking the soldier's head on the wall very hard that a hole was made. Bringing his head out, he struck him again by ramming his head on the wall before he threw the soldier over his left shoulder.
"That will teach you..." Zero huffed, seeing the soldier on the ground already lifeless. He moved on, running on the corridor ahead of him.
Nunnally, big brother's coming for you. Hang in there!
Hawaii Ballroom, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"NOOOO!!!!!"
Nunnally screamed out, hearing the cries of Alice after being shot by JLF soldiers under Kusakabe's orders.
"That's a lesson meant to teach your fellow arrogant Britannians." Kusakabe saw the handiwork done by the soldiers.
"This is bad..." Whispering came around the soldiers, feeling discomfort by Alice after being shot by their own comrades. "Is the Colonel sane?"
"Why don't you ask him?"
"As if that's easy..."
"Now that the hostages have moved out towards the heliport at the hotel's rear, we should begin to make our move before the choppers..." Kusakabe told Fukuyama, who didn't feel at ease due to his superior's earlier actions.
Things became sudden in the ballroom when the arms, followed by the head and body of Nunnally's Mark Nemo appeared from the floor. It took Kusakabe and the other JLF soldiers by surprise as the sheer height and strength of Mark Nemo was more than enough to tear down parts of the ballroom down.
Swimming Pool Area, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
A storm gate somewhere in the swimming pool area was pushed open from the sewers, being placed aside as Marc emerged out first after visually confirming that no JLF sentries were visible.
"Up you go buddy." Marc assisted Rai in getting up to the surface by pulling his extended right arm out. "Come on."
The two Lost Soldiers heard an echoing sound, coming from the hotel. Smoke and some debris was seen from a small distance.
"What the hell was that?" Jean saw the smoke when he climbed out of the hole.
"I don't know." Marc had his M-13 at the ready. "But we're not going to simply stand here and ask more questions like that. We gotta move out now!"
Marc and Rai were the firsts to lead, entering the hotel after the entrance back inside was cleared. Jean and Ken led the others to storm the place, sweeping left and right and around the corridors before Marc and Rai followed their comrades in, ensuring their rear guard was safe.
Bridge, G-1 Base, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
The...the knightmare! It's back from the Shinjuku ghetto. Again!
Clovis became frightened after seeing the Mark Nemo appear at the hotel out of nowhere, trashing around at least a quarter of it. The screen showed some JLF soldiers firing their small arms at the towering knightmare, despite being ineffectively useful against it like all knightmares currently produced in 2017 ATB.
"Get some of the SAS teams to move in now!" Darlton gave the bridge officers their instructions, seeing Clovis nervous at the sight of Mark Nemo like the last time when he first encountered its presence at the Shinjuku ghetto.
"Sir!" The radio officer reported to Darlton. "CO19 units have reported that someone else is in the hotel engaging JLF forces!"
"Do they know who the person is?" Ambrosia personally asked the radio officer.
"No ma'am!" The radio officer shook his head.
"Dammit!" Darlton gritted his teeth. "How can we move in now that there's an unidentified knightmare in the hotel?"
"There's something else being reported!" The radio officer listened closely on his headset, checking official CO19 police frequencies as the G-1's communications can intercept and eavesdrop on radio frequencies used by both Britannian police and the military.
"What of it?" Clovis asked the radio officer.
"Some individuals have also stormed the hotel, gunning down JLF soldiers inside. Word is, they resemble regular Britannian soldiers."
"What?" Guilford was shocked to hear the news. "But we don't have word on the third SAS team that's gone missing for the past few minutes."
Unless... Darlton eyed the screen that showed a BRBC broadcast that reported renewed fighting from inside the hotel. it's them. Those damned ex-COSMOS brats.
Heliport Lounge, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
The double doors leading to the hotel's heliport lounge, startling the JLF sentries assigned to protect the hostages from any rescue attempted by either CO19, the SAS or the Navy SEALs.
"Who the heck are you punks?" A JLF soldier armed with the Minebea PM-9 submachine gun aimed at at the Lost Soldiers, being the culprits for storming the place. "The SAS? Navy SEALs? CO19?"
"Come on now. Don't ask so many questions." Rai grinned, lowering his M-13. "We just have a little job request for ya peeps."
"What the heck are you talking about?" The rest of the other JLF soldiers inside the lounge all pointed their weapons at Rai and the others, ready to gun them down should they need to.
"First of all..." A Geass sigil appeared from Rai's subconscious. "My friends and I want you JLF guys to assist us since we have a job to do." The sigil appeared on the eyes of the JLF soldiers after Rai's request was said to them.
"No problems with me, sir!" The brainwashed JLF soldier saluted Rai. "My fellow soldiers and I can help. What are our orders?"
"If you got hostages tied up, I suggest you untie them right now. They're no threat to ya, got it?" Rai gave the orders to the brainwashed JLF soldiers.
"Understood!" The hostages were being taken care of by the JLF soldiers, which somehow surprised them since they were the ones responsible for detaining them in the vicinity of the hotel.
"W-what happened?" Nina was stunned to see the JLF soldiers untie the ropes of some of the disarmed guards.
"Next up..." Rai went to give out more of his instructions to the JLF soldiers, still under the influence of his geass. "I want you guys to run around the hotel and search for more civilians. But if you guys see your fellow JLF soldiers and officers during your search, please don't hesitate to put some bullets in them. Understood?"
"Sir! Yes sir!" The JLF soldiers left the lounge, leaving the Lost Soldiers and the hostages alone.
"You guys!" Marc addressed Jean, Domingo and Michael. "Get the hostages before we lead them outta here!"
"Right!" Jean yelled, assisting the hostages in leaving the room.
"We'll stay behind and cover their rear." Henri told Marc, seeing him leave with Rai.
"Where you guys going at this time?" Yi asked the two senior ex-COSMOS soldiers.
"We're going to do a little side job on the way." Rai replied, already leaving the lounge. A few minutes after their departure, several figures entered the room and surrounded the two groups inside. All of them were armed with various AK assault rifles. In addition, they were almost dressed like Zero as they had the tulip masks to protect their identities from the public. They wore suits with minor differences; most of the females had skirts on while males had pants.
"It's me, Ougi." Ougi addressed the remaining Lost Soldiers, wearing the same tulip mask to conceal his face. "What happened here?"
"We're about to escort the hostages to a safe area." Jean told Ougi. "There's been some heavy fighting on the upper floors."
"Allow us to help you." Kallen offered her assistance, standing next to Ougi. As some of her Ashford Academy classmates were with the hostages, she opted to wear the tulip mask for the time being.
"There might be some hostages left behind." Domingo advised Kallen. "Our boss instructed us to stay here for the meantime. For now, we're just about to check on them and see if they're okay..."
Forests near Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"This is so boring..."
Sancia glared at two young girls, one of them already complaining. The young girl in question had dark skin complexion, stretching her arms to prevent herself from dozing off.
I just received the plan from Commander Madd a few minutes ago and yet I hear complaining from Dalque?
"What Dalque? Stop complaining." Sancia told her subordinate.
"I'm not..." Dalque stretched her arms again. "It's just... I wonder where she is?"
"You mean Alice?" The other girl, a pale-skinned one with pigtails questioned Dalque. "Well, it's true. We haven't heard from her since she was suppose to be in the Westin Lake Kawaguchi hotel."
"Thanks for reminding me, Lucretia." Dalque sighed. "And I thought the Britannian Army gave us orders to head to Area 11 from Area 9 to hunt down some geass users and apprehend them secretly without public knowledge."
"Were you girls already talking about me? I'm touched."
The three Irregular soldiers turned their heads around upon hearing a familiar voice walking slowly towards them in a sarcastic manner.
"Alice." Sancia greeted Alice, seeing her A-Shirt and shorts wet. "You seem quite well."
"I will be!" shouted the girl. "After I get a word in to those bastards who shot me up close and personal!"
"You're wet, Alice." Lucretia told her. "How did it happen?"
"I swam here." Alice walked to one of the parked trailer trucks. "After I fell down to the lake from being shot from several floors of the hotel above the ground."
"We've got it all ready for you." Two COSMOS commandos walked in the area, operating the trailer truck's rear for it to be raised upright. The geass sigils were seen on the left and right shoulders of their soldier suits.
"Perfect." Alice took her pilot suit from another COSMOS commando, heading to the trailer to dress up. "I'll be using The Speed, am I right?"
Sancia nodded. "Indeed."
"Will she be alright?" Lucretia asked Sancia while Alice was busy dressing up in the trailer.
"I think so." Sancis mused, placing her clenched left fist on her chin. "Her Speed geass should be able to break through the giant anti-knightmare the JLF had left on the tunnel, allowing the Special Intervention Group to storm the hotel and rescue the hostages. COSMOS will render them assistance in cleaning up any JLF stragglers once the operation starts."
"But I heard unconfirmed reports that Chinooks are going to drop down some Sutherlands on the hotel. Is that true?"
Sancia didn't give an answer. Minutes later, Alice left the trailer dressed in her pilot suit. The geass sigil was seen on her suit like her fellow Irregulars, on the left and right shoulders. They watched her board her GX-01 Knigthmare unit with Dalque, who yawned and stretched her arms again as Alice boarded her knightmare.
Lelouch's Room, Clubhouse, Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11, Britannnian Empire
"So it's quite interesting."
C.C. was lying down on Lelouch's bed, clutching a Pizza Hut Cheese-kun in her arms watching a BRBC broadcast regarding the mysterious appearance of Mark Nemo at the Westin Lake Kawaguchi hotel. So far, the station had reported that some elite troops had recently arrived without any further details spared.
She had a smirk on her face when the screen showed the Mark Nemo from some distance. "As I thought," C.C. brought Cheese-kun close to her face and inhaled it. "Nemo must've handed someone a geass to someone. But to who I wonder? I need to find out soon enough and see who is the pilot of that knightmare."
The green-haired girl failed to notice when Cornelia walked inside Lelouch's room, hearing the noise of the television from outside.
"Who are you?!" Cornelia challenged C.C. on her presence. "And what are you doing in the Ashford Academy? You're trespassing!"
"Me?" C.C. pointed to herself. She sat up, still hugging the Cheese-kun when she replied, "I happen to be Lelouch's..."
Above Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
Several Boeing MH-47G Special Operations Aviation (SOA) heavy-lift helicopters had hovered over the smoldering hotel, deploying its knightmare cargo of three Sutherlands armed with machine pistols.
"It doesn't matter if a hostage or two gets hurt or killed in the operation!" instructed one of the Sutherland pilots as he was the first to rappel down from the chopper via Slash Harkens from jumping the MH-47G, fired on the building to assist them in their descent. "Our main mission is to wipe out all JLF forces and any knightmares they may have in their possession! That clear?"
"Yes, sir!" The other Sutherlands began to abseil down from the MH-47Gs when the Mark Nemo leaped towards them, katana at the ready.
"H-hey!" One of the Sutherlands raised its machine pistol to open fire at Mark Nemo when the towering knightmare sliced the offending knightmare in half horizontally.
Nemo! Nunnally's voice resonated from within the cockpit of Mark Nemo.
"I know Nunnally!" Nemo shouted, who was using Nunnally's restored body to effectively pilot the Mark Nemo. "I'll make sure these fools won't be able to fight in a knightmare for the rest of their lives forever!"
The Mark Nemo raised its katana overhead, its blade gently held between its right index finger and thumb.
"D-don't just stand there!" Another Sutherland pilot rallied his comrade, seeing the Mark Nemo was about to strike. "Fire! Fire your weapons at that knightmare!" Panicking to see a huge weapon being used against them, the Sutherlands began to move around the hotel grounds while firing their machine pistols at it.
"What is that thing?"
"Is that a monster?"
"Could the JLF have invented this knightmare?"
"Impossible! The Elevens can't create this abomination that you call a knightmare!"
The Mark Nemo stared at the Sutherlands as it began to swing its katana again at their direction.
Nemo gave an evil smile when she brought down the katana.
"Fools. Their weapons are no match for me..."
Cockpit, Raiko
"We've got an incoming knightmare heading straight for us!" yelled the JLF Sergeant, seeing the displays indicating the presence of a hostile knightmare.
"Just one?" The JLF Warrant Officer was astounded. The Britannian Army either has brave pilots or stupid fools who are willing to die for Emperor Charles zi Britannia. Idiots! "Prepare the cannon immediately! We'll launch an attack at once!"
"I'm preparing it as we speak, sir!" replied the sergeant. "Should be ready any minute now."
Alright. Time to move. The warrant officer saw in his display that the Raiko's cannon is ready to be used. "Is there a clear visual on the knightmare?"
"Yes, sir! Waiting for you to use the cannon!"
"All right!" The warrant officer gripped the controls on his seat. "Super Electromagnetic Shrapnel Cannon! Fire!"
The sergeant eyed the trajectory heading straight for the knightmare, until it stopped in its tracks and didn't move when the projectiles had seemingly exploded a few feet away from it.
"What the hell?" The sudden change of events baffled the warrant officer. "That's not technically possible!"
"Somehow the gravitational pull's responsible for detonating the projectiles early, sir!" The sergeant told the warrant officer.
"Can you see where it is?"
"I can't. All of a sudden, my console went haywire. Probably due to electromagnetic interference."
Cockpit, Alice's GX-01
"Receptor alignment!"
Alice began work on manipulating the controls of her GX-01, having a shoulder armor placed on her back. Good thing that Sancia briefed me on how this anti-knightmare worked too. At least I'm able to pull this off.
"Geass Transfer Circuit Open!" Alice shouted, feeling the power of Geass throughout her entire body as she eyed the multiple projectiles fired from the Raiko in front of her. I better add some of that neutralizer to make sure I at least move next to that...thing.
"The..." The blonde Irregulars girl whispered. "Speed."
Seeing that she moved next to the Raiko at high speed after using her geass, Alice brandished her anti-knightmare swords from the giant sheaths on the sides of her knightmare.
"Did that thing just teleport?!" The sergeant yelled as Alice stabbed the Raiko's main cockpit before she slashed the generator. "She just....AAUAUUAAUUGHGHGHGH!!!"
"Damn that Clovis and Ambrosia." Alice gritted her teeth, placing her swords away. "Using the SIG and Sutherlands deployed in to eliminate the JLF in their zeal that they don't care if the hostages are killed in the process, including Nunnally."
Alice had implemented some minor use of her speed, allowing her to accelerate faster from the smoldering ruins of the Raiko towards her objective.
"Nunnally!" Alice shouted, gripping her controls tight. "I'm coming to save you! Hang in there!"
Forests near Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Ma'am!"
A COSMOS commando reported to Sancia, saluting her. She had been speaking with Lucretia and Dalque when the helmeted child soldier had shown up.
"What is it?" Sancia inquired to the COSMOS commando.
"We've got reports from Prince Clovis' G-1 that Alice was able to break through the giant anti-knightmare cannon posted at the underground hotel."
"See?" Dalque was happy to hear the report. "Even with the chance of evasion was at 17 percent from the cannon's fired projectile, Alice's geass was able to pull that off."
"I agree." Sancia smiled at Dalque before she faced the commando. "Anything else, soldier?"
"Colonel Madd and the Viceroy wants an update on Alice's situation."
"Lucretia." Sancia faced the pale-skinned Irregulars. "See if there's some way to contact Alice on her GX-01 unit."
"Understood, Sancia." Lucreatia went to work to communicate with Alice.
Heliport Lounge, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What happened?"
Ougi and his cadre ducked down, taking cover from behind anything than can stop a bullet from hitting them. Henri and the other Lost Soldiers who stayed behind did the same, except they tried to protect the hostages with their own bodies as shield.
"A Sutherland fired nearby!" Tamaki pointed to the windows of the lounge. "Look! Some of the holes are consistent with their machine pistols!"
"One of the hostages is hit!" Michelle and Jean were attending to one of the hostages, who was in his late 40s. "He got hit on his arm."
"How is he?" Ougi ran to see the two Lost Soldiers checking up on the wounded man. "Is he alright?"
"It's a graze." Jean replied. "We could temporarily stop the bleeding for now, I guess. But he needs some medical attention soon or he'll bleed to death."
"Damn Britannians." Kallen felt angry when she saw the Sutherland open fire near the lounge. "Do they not care about the welfare of the hostages that they'll do anything to elimate the remaining JLF forces in the hotel?"
Somewhere on Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Finally, that's done."
Nemo smirked, seeing her handiwork when she stabbed the last standing Sutherland through its cockpit with her katana. She didn't care when the loud, gargling screams of the pilot was heard through the Mark Nemo's radio when it exploded after the deed was done. "Good. All of the Sutherlands are down..."
The Mark Nemo's console showed some blood nearby on the wrecked Hawaii ballroom with a wounded Kusakabe and Fukuyama being the survivors of the initial attacks with their JLF subordinates dead from being crushed by the debris.
"You're the one who killed Alice!" Setting her sights on the wounded JLF officers, the Mark Nemo raised its katana to strike at them when it was forcefully stopped.
Nemo! Wait!
"Nunnally!" Nemo was surprised, hearing the blind girl stop her from killing the two men.
Calm yourself. Alice might be still alive. I mean, I haven't seen her body yet and since the hotel's is in an artificial island away from the mainland...
"Fine." Nemo lowered the Mark Nemo's sword.
We need to go and check on the hostages and whether the Britannian Army will launch another strike.
Feeling Nunnally's sadness coursing through her, Nemo relented and lowered her katana.
"We'll go and see to them..."
Hawaii Ballroom ruins, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
Kusakabe was waken up by Fukuyama, a bit wounded with a graze on his right hand.
"Colonel. Get up." Fukuyama tried to wake Kusakabe up, patting him on his back until the bearded JLF officer was able to regain consciousness.
"Nrrgghh..." Kusakabe got up, assisted by Fukuyama by placing his right arm over his shoulders. "What happened?"
"That strange knightmare just attacked us out there." Fukuyama explained to his superior, pointing out the Mark Nemo engaging some VTOL gunships with its blonde knives. "The others are killed, mostly by being crushed alive by the debris. All of them are dead when I came to check on them."
"Damn you, you accursed knightmare." Kusakabe simply glared at the Mark Nemo, cursing its very existence.
Gunshots were heard from the rear of the two JLF officers. Kusakabe was surprised to see Fukuyama to go down, being shot several times in the rear.
"Who the..." Kusakabe was about to draw out his own 9mm pistol when a burst of gunfire struck him on his right arm.
"Surprised to see us, Kusakabe?" Marc grinned under his helmet; he had the culprit responsible for firing his M-13 at the renegade JLF Lieutenant Colonel.
"You!" Kusakabe shouted, holding onto his wound. "You were our allies! How could you do this?"
"Precisely the same reason why I'm here." Zero appeared next to Marc and Rai, holding a smoking Vektor CP1 compact pistol. "Of course, I have other things to attend to."
Kusakabe grabbed the 9mm again, this time with his left hand and fired a shot at Zero. However, the bullet didn't kill him as he saw it drop down on the ground. "What?"
Zero simply raised his CP1 and shot him on his left shoulder, making him drop the 9mm.
"Too bad, old timer." Marc and Rai raised their M-13s. "The two of us are here to finish you off."
"On whose authority?" Kusakabe challenged the two Lost Soldiers.
"Katase's." Rai replied, which made Kusakabe all the more nervous than before when he saw them in the ballroom.
The General? Kusakabe didn't believe what he had just heard. How could the General have authorized this move against me?
"Quite a shame, actually." Zero raised the CP1 to aim at Kusakabe's head. "I'm about to start off a show here."
Kusakabe didn't say anything, but to grit his teeth in pain from his wounds at his right arm and left shoulder while being seated on the ground.
"And you'll have to be the little collateral here." Zero was the first to fire, hitting Kusakabe in the chest before Marc and Rai fired their M-13s at him.
"EERRRRHHAHAHAH!" Kusakabe yelled, being shot by the two Lost Soldiers and Zero in various places on his chest and legs multiple times with their firearms before he collapsed on the ground.
BRBC Trailer Truck, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What's happening out there?"
Diethard Reid, a BRBC producer stationed in Area 11 was assigned by the main station at the Tokyo Settlement to cover the news of the terrorist takeover of the Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel. It would be only good publicity in the sense that he plans to use the situation to the advantage of the Britannian military by raising the profile of the SAS's SIG teams assigned to end the siege once and for all.
With some exceptions.
"I don't know, Mr. Reid." One of the men assigned to monitor the live feed coming to their truck was watching the Mark Nemo about to confront Alice's GX-01. "That knightmare just came oughta nowhere and began to trash the hell out of the Sutherlands and the Boeing AH-2 VTOL gunships trying to take it down a few minutes ago."
Useless people... "Is anyone out there trying to cover it?"
"We're not getting out there, sir. It's too dangerous. The army and our bosses at the BRBC advised us to stay behind the cordon for our own safety. We could get killed in the crossfire while trying to get live feed for the public!"
"No one's doing it?" Diethard was irritated at the cowardice of the BRBC team assigned with him to Fujikawaguchiko. Bunch of cowards. Bet they just want to stay here and get their butts warmed up instead of doing what they're paid for by the BRBC in the first place.
"Fine!" Taking the video camera from a nearby table, Diethard stomed out of the truck. "I'll do it myself!"
"Oh man..." The BRBC cameraman, wearing a black BRBC windbreaker and red baseball cap moaned after seeing his boss leave. "If the brass back at the Tokyo Settlement hear about this, he's going to be in big, major trouble."
"I know." replied another, seated in a swiveling chair to monitor the live feeds coming in to the truck's communications hub. "And I have a feeling that they'll give a harsh one for pulling this one off."
Somewhere on Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Who are you?!"
Alice challenged the Mark Nemo standing in front of her with its katana down after seeing the blood on the ruins of the Hawaii ballroom. "You killed Nunnally, didn't you?!"
The Mark Nemo didn't do anything, but raised its katana above its head.
"Nunnally." Nemo warned Nunnally. "The pilot of that knightmare in front of me has a geass."
Really? Nunnally was startled. How did you know?
"I just do. That's all!" Nemo charged at Alice's GX-01. "But don't worry, we have a geass that can tell us the future!"
The Mark Nemo and GX-01 leaped at each other, simulateneously striking at the wrists of their left hand which held their bladed swords.
"What?" Alice was stunned to see minor damage on the left wrist of her GX-01. "That can't be right!" She turned around to face the Mark Nemo, which had similar damage on its left wrist. "I used The Speed on him! He shouldn't have survived it!"
"How dare you?!" Nemo snarled at the GX-01, seeing it still functioning. "He was able to survive all that? My geass envisioned his death at my hands?!"
"I'll show you..." The Mark Nemo jumped at the GX-01, katana ready to strike it down. "the power of my knightmare, the Mark Nemo!"
"And I'll have Alice's death avenged!" yelled Nemo, coursing Nunnally's frustration of friend's death through her as she was nearing the GX-01 from the air.
Hawaii Ballroom ruins, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"And so we are finally done with you, Lieutenant Colonel Kusakabe."
Zero lowered his CP1, having fired the final shot that killed Kusakabe. He turned to face Marc and Rai, the two of them lowering their M-13 rifles.
"It seems you're not here just to rescue the hostages from Kusakabe's JLF faction." Rai addressed Zero, feeling a bit unease of his presence. It's either me or my guts tell me that he has a geass ability.
"I could say the same for the two of you." Zero replied back. These two people dressed as Britannian soldiers do seem to have a geass, at least from what I'm feeling. But how did these Lost Soldiers get it?
"We need to go." Marc patted Rai's right shoulder. "We're unsure if more reckless Britannian rescue attempts will result in more endangerment to the hostages."
"How'd you know?" Rai asked. He saw Marc tap the right temple with his right index finger.
"Oh." Rai felt embarassed when Marc gestured to the white-haired Eurasian his answer. "The radio. I forgot."
"Then you two better leave at once." Zero advised the two Lost Soldiers.
"What about you then?" Marc asked Zero. "Aren't you going to leave as well?"
"On second thought," Zero brought out a pen-shaped device and twirled it on his fingers. "why don't you two stay here for the show?"
"Shame though." Rai tried to put humor into the currently tense atmosphere. "The only thing we got for an encore was to tangle with some JLF soldiers in the hallways prior to rescuing the hostages in the lounge."
"I'll guarantee this to you for sure." Zero held the device in front of them. "This will be truly a splendid show for you and the entire world to see."
"What about the other JLF soldiers roaming the hotel?" Marc asked Rai.
"No worries." Rai grinned. "I gave them the order to shoot their own comrades if they see them."
Bridge, G-1 Base, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What?"
Clovis was shocked to see the Mark Nemo defeat the Sutherlands and the AH-2 VTOL gunships deployed initially to subdue all JLF forces in the hotel before they engaged the knightmare. All of them, including the gunships, were destroyed without causing any damage to the Mark Nemo.
"How can this be?" Clovis was so scared on seeing the knightmare's ferocity that he was at a loss on what to do next as he saw the Mark Nemo and Alice's GX-01 engage each other in combat.
"Deploy SAR teams out there immediately!" Ambrosia gave the orders in place of Clovis, too speechless to say anything in the meantime. "Extract the dead and wounded from the hotel as soon as possible!"
"Yes, your highness!" replied the bridge officers, going on their way to give out the orders as provided by Ambrosia herself.
"Viceroy." Guilford spoke to Clovis, as he and Darlton were trying to calm Clovis down.
If I can't defeat that knightmare and purge the JLF out of there... Clovis was beginning to have problems running down in his head. Father will be greatly upset that he might strip me of my position as Area 11 governor and reassign me somewhere else.
Sweat began to trickle down his forehead.
What can I do now to get out of this mess?
Forests near Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Sancia!"
Both Dalque and Lucretia rushed to aid Sancia, who had mysteriously fallen into pain while Alice was engaging the Mark Nemo in the hotel's grounds. Her geass sigil on her fore began to glow in the midst of the growing pain in Sancia's body.
"I see..." murmured Sancia, seeing two COSMOS commandos rushing in to help her. "This...must be from back in...Shinjuku a few weeks ago."
"Get Colonel Madd on the line! Hurry!" Dalque yelled to the COSMOS soldier to radio for help.
"Right away." The COSMOS soldier went to use the headset mounted permanently on his helmet, making contact with another Irregulars unit posted near Clovis G-1. "A Group to B Group! A Group to B Group! Come in please!"
"This is B Group! What's going on out there, over?"
"Captain Sancia's down! She's alright, but somehow she's in great pain!"
"Roger! I've informed the Colonel. He'll immediately dispatch a medical unit to check her out."
"What's the ETA?"
"6 minutes the most. Minimum at 3."
"Understood. A Group out..." The COSMOS soldier informed Sancia. "Captain, the Colonel's been informed. A medical unit's coming to check on you. Most likely they'll be by 6 minutes."
"Hang in there, Sancia." Lucretia was assisting Sancia by helping sit up while leaning back on one of the Irregular trailer trucks, despite being in pain.
Blast you, you damned geass user! Sancia continued to exhibit signs of pain as the medical unit has yet to arrive at their location. For me to avoid the possibility of this from happening again, our unit must capture or destroy the towering knightmare. It must be the source responsible for my pain linked to my own geass...
Somewhere on Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
Alice had readily dodged the attack from the Mark Nemo when she saw it leaping towards her with its katana ready to strike her GX-01's head. Thanks to her Speed geass, she was able to avoid it at the last minute.
"I'll defeat you!" Alice yelled at the Mark Nemo, pointing the sword on its left hand at it. "I'll defeat you to avenge Nunnally's death!"
Moving her GX-01 towards Mark Nemo, Alice manipulated her custom knightmare to strike at the Mark Nemo while using her Speed geass power to augment her fighting ability to deliver the blows to the Mark Nemo. Despite its ability to read the future and be able to normally avoid being struck by the GX-01's swords, it was unable to avoid getting minor damage on its body.
"ERRHGH!" Alice gritted her teeth, feeling pain on her body as her geass was taking a toll on her body since she was medically augmented to have the geass like Sancia, Lucretia and Dalque through questionable artificial means.
"Gotta...activate...geass...receptors." Inputting commands on her console, the shoulder armor being mounted on her back once more. If I can defeat this knightmare with some of that neutralizer, I could perhaps be able to look around if Nunnally's still alive.
"The Speed!" Alice yelled, moving fast to strike the Mark Nemo and try to attack from its head to its arm. Her opponent was on the defensive by dodging every stab and slash attack attempted, like it was reading and anticipating her movements. Why can't I nail a decent attack on it? How does he know when to attack and when to dodge?!
The Mark Nemo, after a few moments of dodging Alice's attacks, was able to land a heavy blow at her GX-01 when the Mark's Nemo katana sliced off its right arm.
"What?" Alice was surprised, seeing the console warning her that the right arm was permanently disabled. "Why you?!" Venting her anger, Alice once again used the left arm to swing the giant sword against the Mark Nemo. However, the Mark Nemo had seemingly caught on to the GX-01 and lobbed off its left arm.
"NOOOOO!!!!" Alice shouted, seeing her GX-01 had been diabled of its arm. It was now defenseless, having no other weapon to use against the Mark Nemo.
"Nunnally!" The young blonde Irregulars cried, forcing herself to retreat. I don't believe it. She began to sob hard, watching the Mark Nemo stare at her in a menacing manner. I can't use my own power to save someone I know.
Little does she know that Nunnally, no Nemo in Nunnally's restored body, was in control of the Mark Nemo. It had seemed that Nunnally and Nemo had won this knightmare-to-knightmare conflict for the meantime.
Hawaii Ballroom ruins, Westin Lake Kawaguchi Hotel, Fujikawaguchiko, Yamanashi, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"It looks like our subordinates are able to guide the hostages." Zero informed Marc and Rai, being informed by Ougi on his radio. And the explosives are in place too.
"So what are you going to do next?" Marc asked Zero, who raised the pen-shaped device up that it was perpendicular to the floor.
"Simple." Zero grinned. "We're about to start the performance."
The masked, muscular person pushed the button top of the device.
Instantly, several explosions were heard at the bottom floors of the hotel. It began to slowly collapse as the foundation slowly collapsed from the explosives strategically planted at certain foundation points of the building in order for the collapse to take place.
Chapter 5 END
PS - Awright! Another update at long last! Chapter title is from Crisis Core, one of the latest PSP games I've played. Kinda stopped lately due to Metal Gear Online and Valkyria Chronicles. Don't blame me for that, but they're cool. I've yet to form a clan for the former though... XP
For definition's sake, the Sori Kotei is the official residence of the Japanese Prime Minister aka the first Kantei after a second one was built to replace it back in 2002. CRW stands for Counter Revolutionary Warfare, which was first started by the British SAS. This involves all manners of CQB/CQC work, including close protection duties and assault techniques in various counter-terrorist activities such as the storming of the Iranian Embassy by SAS squads under Operation Nimrod.
Let me know how the chapter went. I was a bit excited when I did it. So hopefully, I did satisfy some action fans out there reading this chapter. For now, allow me to at least try and show off the structure of the Britannian SAS. Note that I based its entire structure mostly from a mix of the British, Australian and New Zealand SAS special forces with a little bit of my input in the following:
- Headquarters
- Training Wing
- 4 Sabre Squadrons (1, 2, 3, and 4 Squadrons) with the following troops:
- Air Troop
- Boat Troop
- Mobility Troop
- Mountain Troop
- Urban Troop (I guess the troop's specialty is conducting operations in urban areas)
- Signals Troop (The Australian SAS had these guys. They're in charge of doing military comm-related work)
- Special Intervention Group (CT unit)
To end it all, I won't be able to update again for some time. Not sure when. Probably after I start university and all that jazz next year or whenever's a good day to do the next chapter. For now, I still will accept ideas and suggestions for how the fic could progress later on. In the meantime, I'll progress this story in terms of a mixture of NoN and the anime version of LoTR. For the uniforms used by the Black Knights aka Kuro no Kishidan, they're using the tulip helmets and suits used in NoN. They're so badass than the ones in the anime anyway.
About the GX-01 Knightmares used by the Irregulars in NoN, are there any particular model numbers/names for Alice, Dalque, Lucreatia and Sancia to use. I notice that all of them except Lucretia use the bipedal GX-01 while Lucretia uses a dog-like one. As for Marc's geass as portrayed from the first chapter, I haven't decided yet on how it should be. Perhaps in a chapter or two, I'll think about that.
To those who may forget about the BRBC's abbreviation. For this fic, it means Britannian Broadcasting Corporation. The BBC abbreviation will probably be used for the alternate Britain in the CG universe, including the Lost Soldiers story of course.