Code Geass - Lelouch of the Rebellion/Code Geass - Hangyaku no Lelouch: Lost Soldiers
by: Ominae
Rating: T
NOTE:
All characters of Code Geass are under the copyright of Goro Taniguchi, Sunrise, CLAMP and Bandai Entertainment. All other characters are under my jurisdiction.
Summary:
It's now a four-way battle in the forests of Narita as the Britannian colonial forces attempt to put down the JLF, one of Area 11's most biggest insurgencies. However, the Black Knights and the Lost Soldiers have been covertly eyeing the battle between the two factions on the sidelines to plan ahead on when to strike against the military. Can these two factions turn the tide of battle towards their favor? Stay tune to this chapter to find out.
Chapter 11: Rebels Strike Back... Harder
Summit, Hill, somewhere in Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"It seems the battle's turning." CC told Zero, the two observing the Britannian-led Sutherland forces beginning to overwhelm the JLF's Burais. Despite being familiar with the terrain, the JLF was slowly being defeated.
"It seems so." Zero observed some of the Boeing AH-64D Apache gunships moving in to assist the Sutherlands by taking out the turrets on the nearby mountains, somehow being unaware of their presence.
"When are you going to make your move, Lelouch?" CC asked Zero.
The masked leader of the Black Knights gave no reply to the green-haired immortal.
Somewhere in the forests of Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
A 8-man Britannian SAS squad moved into the forests of Narita, searching for something of high importance. They are different from their counterparts in the infantry with the wearing of balaclavas instead of their goggles and respirators with their berets worn in either combat or non-combat theaters. In addition, they are armed with Colt M-13A1 bullpup carbines as their standard assault rifle instead of the M-13.
"Move out." whispered the Sergeant, leading the squad towards a section of the forest following skid marks on the ground. "And be careful, those JLF guerrillas could have laid traps out there."
"Seems that the trail leads up ahead..." The Corporal, being the secondary commander of the squad, studied the skid marks on the soil. "Probably that's where Lady Viletta's cockpit module is, Sergeant."
The Sergeant did the Crouch gesture, letting his left gloved hand push down on an imaginary object. The SAS commandos obeyed the instruction and crouched as they moved towards their objective, only to stop to check for signs of JLF guerrillas.
"All clear." A SAS commando informed the squad leader, coming up next to him. "No signs of any JLF activity around. Same thing goes with the Black Knights."
"Good." replied the squad leader, gesturing to his comrades to move ahead as he spoke to the commando. "The Viceroy and the others are keeping the main JLF forces busy. That's all the time we need to extract Lady Viletta out of the field while we still can."
"Up ahead." The commando pointed out the ejected cockpit nearby in front of the SAS squad.
"Good work." The squad leader whispered in reply, cautiously approaching the semi-damaged Sutherland Purist cockpit ejected from the previous battle. He did the Advance gesture, moving his left arm to the rear before he swinged it overhead to the front while keeping a hold on his M-13A1's pistol grip.
The SAS squad began to slowly and carefully approach the downed Sutherland Purist cockpit in order to retrieve the downed Purist officer. Seeing that they were at least 2 meters away from the cockpit, the Sergeant told his men to split up and cover up the entire area to ensure no JLF guerrillas are in the vicinity.
However, they did not expect one thing that had taken the entire squad by surprise.
"Who the..." One of the SAS commandos was surprised to see a Britannian soldier emerging out of the nearby bushes. He was dressed up in an assault vest, regular Britannian respirator and goggles with a ballistic helmet. "heck are you?!" There's a foreign flag on his vest. Is he a...
The unknown soldier said nothing, only to reply by raising a Benelli M4 Super 90 semi-automatic shotgun.
"Look ou..." The squad leader was gunned down after being shot by a 12 gauge buckshot at close range to the chest. Another shot was fired again, this time at another SAS commando when the unknown soldier fired the M4 Super 90 at his stomach.
"Dammit!" The other SAS commandos began to raise their M-13A1s. "It's them, it's..."
A figure darted out from the bushes, grabbing one of the commandos standing nearby at his neck and head.
"Gary!" One of the commandos yelled, firing his M-13A1 while covering the other three in opening the cockpit's hatch. Dammit. I can't hit him while he's being used as a shield. Within seconds, his comrade's neck was broken when a snapping sound was heard.
Another unknown figure, wearing the same getup as the M4-armed figure, took out a combat knife from the sheath strapped at his assault vest after emerging from the bushes with another masked figure. The fourth figure had a smoke grenade tossed at the commando's feet, being armed with the M-13A1 like his knife-wielding comrade.
The two figures engaged each other in a knife battle, trying to gain an advantage by stabbing his opponent's vital organ. A strange turn of events took place when the assault vest-wearing soldier pointed his knife's blade at the commando's neck without him noticing.
"Say hello to the ballistic knife of mother Russia!" The knife-wielding figure tossed the empty handle aside after firing the knife blade at the commando, hitting his target successfully. However, he and the other masked assailants were temporarily driven back by automatic gunfire.
"We got the cockpit hatch open!" Viletta's cockpit was opened, allowing one of the two surviving SAS commandos to carry her out to safety via fireman's lift while the other went to fire his rifle at their pursuers, hoping that they would be distracted in time for them to get away safely.
"Let's move! Go!" The SAS commando left to protect his comrades evacuating Viletta got a M67 fragmentation grenade from his assault vest.
"Shit!" The masked soldier gestured to his comrades to get clear as the M67's safety pin was removed before it was hurled towards their direction.
Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"What's the status of our forces?" Clovis asked for a situation update.
"It's not good, your Highness." advised Bartley, who had been called in to the bridge after from the hangars from his temporary role as Irregular's advisor to Sancia. "Around 50 percent of our Sutherlands are utterly beginning to fight each other due to confusion. Some of our Marine and Apache gunship forces are also caught up in the mix."
"Who could do..." Clovis slammed his clenched right hand on the tactical map table. "such A THING LIKE THIS?" The blonde Viceroy shouted, letting the people in the bridge know of his temper.
"And we still don't have word from the SAS squad on the ground to retrieve Lady Viletta." Madd told Clovis. "In addition, they haven't reported in since 2 minutes ago. Not to mention that unknown knightmare out there's holding out Sutherlands back, including Princess Ambrosia herself..."
Cockpit, Z-01B Lancelot Club
Marc began to communicate to the attacking party on his earpiece, still inside the depowered Lancelot Club for the time being.
"Edward, did you secure the target."
"Negative." Marc sighed when he heard automatic gunfire in the transmission. "We've got driven back by gunfire and grenades. We're pursuing them as we speak."
"I just hope you're okay with Michelle, Michael and Domingo." Marc told the Britannian deserter. "After all, this is your first combat mission with us."
"No sweat." Edward chuckled, being heard with his M-13A1 being fired on full automatic. "At least I can do something in the field, yeah?"
Marc sighed. "Let me know when the target's secured. Out."
"Rai." Marc hailed Rai after ending contact with Edward. "How are things out there?"
"Great." Rai replied. "Your geass' doing most of the work. It's sending confusion to the Britannian ranks."
"One more minute." Marc instructed Rai. "Then we launch our attack."
"Sure. I'll contact Jean and the others before we do it."
"Thanks, man."
Ending his transmission, Marc hummed to himself a tune that he heard from his late Chinese-Filipino mother. He didn't remember what it was, but it brought him some peace.
I wonder if I'll be able to face Cécile again, especially with this much blood that I've once shed in the name of Britannia? Marc stared at his gloved hands. Clenching it tightly, the ex-child soldier sighed and closed his eyes for a split second before he opened them. I guess it's too late now. I'm a monster. All of us in COSMOS were monsters, doing the Britannian military's dirty work. I bet she won't look at me at the same way like she did years ago when I was still in COSMOS.
"Time to contact the others and start the attack while they're still distracted." Marc got on his earpiece. "Rai."
"Yeah?"
"Launch the attack now. Clovis himself is being distracted by the fight..."
Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Have the Thunderbolts bombard the mountains." Clovis gave his instructions to Bartley and Madd. "We don't have time to afford being distracted by what's happening to some of our Sutherlands."
"Yes, your Highness." Bartley went on his way to instruct the deployed Thunderbolts, captured Raiko anti-siege weapons used by the JLF, to begin bombarding the Narita mountains.
"Your Highness." Madd spoke to Clovis. "The Irregulars are having some success in the field as we speak. We're able to secure the last of the JLF outposts."
Clovis nodded. "Good work, Madd."
"Thank you, your Highness. I am most grateful."
"But..." Clovis sighed. "what about that unknown knightmare out there?"
"Do not worry." Madd tried to reassure Clovis. "My subordinates will see to it that it won't interfere with the operation."
Cockpit, Sancia's GX-01 Alpha
"Alice!"
Sancia and Alice's GX-01 Alphas are the only Irregular knightmares in the frontline fighting against the Mark Nemo. Dalque and Lucretia are kept busy assisting Ambrosia, Darlton and Guilford in subduing the rest of the JLF's Burai force before they can storm the Narita mountain hideout of the rebel force.
"Alice! Fall back!" Sancia shouted, while being able to avoid being pierced by the Mark Nemo's blonde knives. Thanks, Lucretia. Without your geass complementing mind in the long run, Sancia blocked an incoming blonde knife with her katana. I would've been killed.
"Sancia! Wait!" Alice insisted, using her own katana to deflect the other blonde knives meant for her. "We can still take her down! We outnumber it four to one."
What had frustrated the Irregulars field commander was Alicia's willingness to be on the offensive against the Mark Nemo despite not having some sort of plan.
No matter. Sancia dashed in to join Alicia. She'll probably be sermoned later. She raised her katana as she prepared to strike a blow against the Mark Nemo, which Alice had distracted in the meantime. Right now, the so-called Thunderbolt siege machines need time to do their job...
Cockpit, Thunderbolt
Two Britannian soldiers were inside the cockpit of the retrofitted Raiko anti-siege machines known in the military as the Thunderbolt. Alongside another Thunderbolt, the two knightmares were being prepared to fire its super electromagnetic heavy cannon at the Narita mountains from a distance.
"I can't believe this." said one of the soldiers, who was operating the Thunderbolt's front seat. "We're actually operating an Eleven-made knightmare that gave us a hell of a field trip back at the Lake Kawaguchi Hotel incident."
"I know how it is." said the second soldier, operating the rear pilot seat. "But right now, the boss wants us to use this siege machines on the JLF's hideout."
"So in other words, we're going to give them a taste of their own medicine?"
"Yeah! Let's go give it to them!"
"Super Electromagnetic Shot cannon!" yelled the soldier seated at the rear pilot seat. "Ready! And fi..."
"W-wait a minute!" The front pilot yelled when he saw something on his display. "We've got something incoming straight at our direction!"
"What is it?" The rear pilot shouted to his comrade. "Is it one of ours?"
"No, sir! It's not Sutherlands or Gloucester..."
"Then what are they?"
"Don't know. They're..."
The two Thunderbolt operators saw a bright flash of light, being caught unaware by one of the unknown knightmares that have emerged out of the forest to catch the two siege knightmares by surprise.
Cockpit, Alice's GX-01 Alpha
"EHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!"
Alice, with the boost of the Speed geass in her body, lobbed off the Mark Nemo's left arm clean in one slash. Despite the giant knightmare's operator having precognition, Alice was able to gain an advantage against it by moving a bit more faster than the Mark Nemo. Sancia backed her up, withdrawing a few meters away to use her long-range rifle at the Mark Nemo.
"Thanks, Sancia." Alice thanked Sancia, distracting Mark Nemo long enough with her Speed for Sancia to graze it.
The Mark Nemo, in response, launched its blonde knives at Alice and Sancia in order to give itself some distance against them.
"No time, Alice." Sancia told her Irregulars subordinate. "We've got some new reports coming in right now."
"What about it?" Alice clashed swords with the Mark Nemo, neither knightmare willing to concede defeat and let the other side win in the clash.
"We're under attack!" Sancia told Alicia with much urgency in her voice.
"Is it an ambush by the Black Knights?!" Alicia asked.
Cockpit, Z-01B Lancelot Club
"Greetings and salutations, my dear opponents!" Marc shouted after he raised the Club's VARIS particle rifle at one of the Thunderbolts. "And of course, sayonara!" He pulled the VARIS' trigger to fire a round at the Thunderbolt's generator.
"Nicely done, boss!" Rai followed behind in the Gekka Prototype, using its Katen Yaibato to slash the rest of the Thunderbolt in half before he did the same with the other Thunderbolt nearby.
"Same goes to you as well, Rai." 2-3 Sutherlands followed Rai and Marc out of the forests, one armed with a giant cannon and the other two with machine pistols in regular purple Britannian knightmare colors.
"Boss!" Jean's voice was heard on the radio. "We'll head out there and sow confusion on the forces, yeah?"
"Okay." Marc agreed. "And happy hunting."
Summit, Hill, somewhere in Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Zero!" Ougi hailed Zero on his personal comm link. "Do we go out and attack now?!"
Looks like the Lost Soldiers are doing us a favor. Zero observed the G-1 from a distance before he gave the order, "Alright. Spring the ambush!"
Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Your Highness!" One of the bridge officers was quick to inform Clovis.
Clovis was a bit alarmed. "W-what is it?"
"Several knightmares have emerged out of the forests!" The officer replied. "And among them include Sutherlands!"
What the heck's going on here? Clovis was furious at the change of events. Is it... the legendary Lost Soldiers? The blonde man saw the Club and the Gekka Prototype leading the charge in attacking several of the Sutherlands. He saw some of the Apaches being gunned down by slash harkens and anti-knightmare weapons of the ambush force.
"Viceroy!" The officer reported back to Clovis. "We're getting reports of unknown commandos beating back our Marines with assistance from JLF infantry. Also, our Thunderbolts are destroyed by two unknown knightmares."
"Can this day get any worse?" Clovis murmured. "I'm getting a headache right this minute."
"H-hold on a second!" The officer shouted again. "There's something out there!"
"What is it?" Bartley asked.
"It's another ambush! But it's not the JLF. It's the Black Knights!"
Somewhere in the forests of Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"We're under attack!"
A squad of Britannian Marines took cover behind the smoldering wreck of a BAE Amphibious Assault Vehicle after two of the Apaches flying overhead with them were shot down from the air by what seemed to be SAM missiles.
"Dammit!" One of the Marines muttered in anger. "We're under attack by RPGs!" He gripped his M-13A1 while staying hidden behind the burning tracked APC, being shot up by the Black Knight guerrillas using their AK assault rifles. "Send some help at once quickly!"
"Understood, sir!" A Marine began to use his manpack radio to communicate back to Clovis' G-1. However before he can start the transmission, he was being staked out by a Black Knight sniper hidden among the trees.
"Gotcha." whispered the sniper, who aimed the IZHMASH Dragunov SVD's PSO-1 scope at the Marine. Having a good, clear shot without being detected by the Marines, the sniper fired his shot at the Marine's head.
Somewhere near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Hold it right there!"
Guilford engaged Kallen's Guren Mk-II after it emerged out of the forest to follow up on the success of the initial ambush by the Lost Soldiers.
"You damn Brit!" Kallen snarled, using her Fukushahado on the Gloucester jousting lance. "Get out of my way!" The Eurasian Black Knight guerrilla turned on the Fukushahado, sending a wave of radiation onto the weapon when Guilford hurled it away.
"Guilford!" Darlton's Gloucester was coming to support his comrade when the Club appeared nearby.
"HA!" Darlton dodged the incoming VARIS rifle bullet meant for him.
"Greetings, commander." The scarred man was shocked to hear who the voice belongs to.
"I-it can't be..." Darlton was much in shock when he realized who was taunting at him.
"Come on now." The Club holstered the VARIS at its rear and instead, combined its dual MVS sword into a MVS lance. "After all, I was the one who gave you that nice little make over, Darlton."
"Number 33." Darlton personally went forward to clash his jousting lance with the Marc's Club. "Today will be the day that I settle the score with you..."
"Darlton!" Ambrosia came forward to try and aid Darlton.
"Your Highness..." Darlton warned Ambrosia. "Please retreat back. We're facing off against the Black Knights and the Lost Soldiers. It's too dangerous for you to be exposed out here any longer."
Somewhere in the forests of Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"ACK!"
Michelle hanged upside down from one of the tree branches with her legs, grabbing one of the SAS commandos by surprise after she and her Lost Soldier comrades sprang an ambush ahead of them. Taking him by the neck, Michelle promptly snapped his neck.
Domingo came out of the bushes and hurled a throwing knife at one of the commandos helping to evacuate an unconscious Viletta by the neck. He then took another from his vest and struck down another commando using the same technique, thanks to his semi-augmented muscles like his fellow comrades in the Lost Soldiers during their time with COSMOS.
"Surrender at once!" The Lost Soldiers in the forest have surrounded the last remaining SAS commando carrying Viletta on his shoulders. Their M-13A1s and one M4 were aimed at him to make their point clear.
Instead of surrendering to superior numbers, the commando tried to pull out a compact pistol hidden in a secret pocket within his pants. Unfortunately for him, the Lost Soldier got the bigger jump on him as they had their weapons aimed at him much earlier.
"Never mind." Domingo grumbled, being the first to gun down the stubborn commando when he refused to put down his pistol and surrender instead. The others followed suit and shot him to death, nearly riddling his entire body with bullets and buckshots.
"And here I thought we could get some POWs for easy negotiations." mumbled Edward. The Lost Soldiers, plus Britannian army deserter, notice Viletta trying to get up after being unconscious for some time due to the G-Forces that she had encountered after being ejected by her own Sutherland Purist knightmare frame.
"Ngghhh..." Viletta tried to stand up, but simply settled for leaning her back against her used knightmare cockpit module instead.
Somewhere near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"AHAHAHAAA!"
Zero had leaped down when he saw Kallen now engage Guilford, being backed up by several Sutherlands armed with machine pistols. I don't know why I'm going there to save Kallen, aside from being the fact that she's one of the best anti-knightmare aces in this Area. The masked Black Knights saw a Sutherland try to rush at him. Is it because I want to help Kallen?
Nearby, several Burais of the Black Knights sprang out of the Narita forests to ambush the Britannian forces caught off their guard trying to fight off the JLF and the Lost Soldiers.
"ZERO!" Zero heard Kallen yell at him when she noticed him trying to face off against a Sutherland all alone.
"Hmph! Foolish Devicer." Zero raised his right hand towards the Sutherland. The words "DOM HOSTIA" appeared once more at its palm, making the knightmare malfunction and eject its devicer without any authorization from him.
"What the hell?" Another Sutherland was astounded by what Zero had done. He also moved in for the kill.
"Hmph, hmph..." Zero was amused to see another Sutherland try to attack him. "Another fool wishes to die..." He leaped towards the second knightmare. "Then I'll be glad to let you meet your maker."
Zero raised his right arm above his head again, with the same words appearing on its palm.
Somewhere in the forests of Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Who..." Viletta cringed, feeling pain on her abdomen. "the heck are you people?" She felt blood trickle down her forehead, dripping down on her Purist Devicer uniform.
"My, oh my." Michelle taunted Viletta, tapping her left leg with her M-13A1. "Haven't you heard of us people before?" She pointed to the Irish flag on her assault vest. The Irish Lost Soldier had Viletta cornered with help from Domingo, Michael and Edward.
My god! Viletta's eyes were wide open in horror. It can't be! The Lost Soldiers!
"NOW you know who the hell are we..." groaned Michael, who sighed. "Ah man! I thought you folks would know about us Lost Soldiers by now..."
"Shame huh?" Domingo chuckled. "And here I thought we should've been known far and wide, especially with our ex-comrades for the stuff we did during the Second Pacific War and after..."
Must... The female Purist frantically reached out for a S&W M-50 pistol she saw nearby. reach for the pistol.
"Bad move." Michael said calmly, aiming his carbine at the wounded Purist after he saw her grab the discarded pistol.
"Rrrgghh..." The purple-haired woman gritted her teeth after she got a hold of the sidearm. "Take thi..."
"Like I said," Michael got his Lost Soldier comrades to raise their carbines when they saw Viletta already arming her with the M-50. "it's a bad move, girlie. And you just crossed it."
Viletta was gunned down the moment she placed the right index finger on the M-50's trigger.
In another section of the Narita forests, several figures wearing black exoskeleton suits, respirators and helmets came dashing without making their presence known to the Britannians, JLF , Black Knights and the Lost Soldiers. Strapped on their back were sheaths carrying High Frequency Blade ninjatos, believed to be replicas of an original blade made for the Emperor Shomu in the 8th century.
"It seems we were able to enter the battle without being detected by all of the factions here in Narita." commented one of the exoskeleton-wearing men, silently moving around the forest with his comrades and staying hidden in the bushes. "Our job should be an easy one in the long run."
"But is it really necessary?" Another exoskeleton-wearing man spoke up. "I mean, why here? Aside from the fact that dead bodies are starting to go around right now as we speak."
"Master VV wants us to be deployed as the first mission for us Eden Tengu ninjas. Besides, we're suppose to be searching for a suitable candidate for some secret project of his..."
"I just hope we can do our job and get out of here, quickly."
Somewhere near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"ZERO!"
Zero saw Ambrosia's Gloucester moving towards him, aiming the machine pistol at him. "Today is the day when I will settle the problem of Area 11's insurgency!"
"Really, my dear Ambrosia?" Zero mocked her, dashing left and right to avoid being shot down by machine pistol fire. Good. Kallen and the other knights are keeping Clovis' forces busy. And if I'm correct, the Lost Soldiers should be contributing to it as well. Including that strange knightmare out there fighting the Irregulars. "What makes you so sure that you can defeat me right here in Narita?"
"You're just one man..." Ambrosia took aim with the machine pistol again, carefully trying to align its sights at Zero. "and I'm inside a knightmare, so I win!"
"He, he, he..." Zero couldn't help, but chuckle at his half-sister's answer. I guess she's really like that from the old days back at the palace... "Very well then..."
At lightning speed, Zero made a mad dash towards Ambrosia's Gloucester. Despite being bombarded by bullets coming from the knightmare's belly-mounted anti-personnel machine gun, Zero was still able to get in close and closer.
"What the hell are you?" Ambrosia was beginning to sweat the more she saw Zero move closer to her knightmare without getting hurt by either one of her machine guns. Is...Zero a monster or something?
"Ha, ha, ha..." Ambrosia didn't know why she felt fear throughout her entire body after Zero made a huge leap from the ground towards the cockpit section of her Gloucester when she heard him laugh maniacally.
"Your..." The purple-haired princess saw Zero open his gloved palms facing her. "worst..." She was able to read out the words "DOM HOSTIA" as they began to materialize. "nightmare, my dear princess."
The last thing Ambrosia noticed in her Gloucester cockpit was with her controls.
They were beginning to malfunction.
Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"I don't believe this is happening to me..."
Clovis felt the world was against him. He had been receiving reports that the initial assault had failed beginning with some crazy report that the Sutherlands are being attacked by some unknown forces. Ambushes conducted by the Lost Soldiers and the Black Knights had been working towards their advantage, sowing much confusion among his ranks with additional reports of Sutherlands being attacked by their own comrades. Similar scenarios were being reported by the Marines too in the field.
Damn it! Clovis felt a headache coming in after he had received an incoming report that 5 of the 10 Apaches deployed for the anti-insurgency mission were shot down by Black Knight guerrillas wielding Russian-made RPGs and portable SAM launchers with some reports of anti-AA gunfire coming from the Narita Mountains as well. With the reports coming from the field commanders with orders for the Apaches to retreat, The Viceroy slumped on his throne. I feel like I'm going to lose. Father's probably going to have my head for this when he hears about this any time now when I have to withdraw soon.
"Your Highness..."
Clovis saw Lloyd's face was on the main screen. With him were Mariel, Suzaku and Cecilé.
"What do you want now, Lloyd?" Bartley scolded him.
"Whatever it is," Madd advised the scientist/nobleman. "we're very busy and we don't have time to..."
"We just want to know if we can be deployed now." grinned the scientist. "I heard that the mission's been going down to the point of the possibility of defeat."
"Please, sir." implored Mariel. "Can't we help? There is a reason why sir Lloyd had made the request for the unit to be deployed here in the frontlines..."
Hmm... Clovis pondered about their request. While the SDGSD is designated in the Britannian military to have an Irregulars-like status similar to Madd's Irregulars aka the Special Foreign Legion. While Lloyd's heading up a non-combat unit that shouldn't even consider participating in anti-insurgency operations, it's still a known fact that my older brother Schneizel contributed to the funding and establishment of the SDGSD.
"Your Highness." A bridge officer stepped forward to the prince's throne. "We need you to listen to a transmission that we've received just now."
"And what about it?" Clovis sighed, wondering if he should listen to any more bad news.
"He claims to be an ally." The officer said, his tone filled with doubt. "When he radioed the bridge a minute ago."
"Why wasn't I told about this?" Clovis stood up from his throne.
"It's coming from an encrypted transmission." The officer escorted Clovis to his workstation. "We don't have any idea who or where the the transmission's coming from, your Highness."
"I see." Clovis picked up the headset and wore it. "Hello? To who am I speaking to over this encrypted transmission?"
"It's an honor to be speaking to Prince Clovis la Britannia of the Holy Britannian Empire." Clovis' eyes were wide open in shock when he heard the transmission for himself.
That voice... He sounded like Lelouch.
Somewhere in the forests of Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"She's dead."
Michelle checked on the pulse on Viletta's body after her body had been riddled with several bullets, most of them at her chest.
"Looks like we can't take a prisoner now, can we?" Edward sighed.
"Guess that's fine." Michael stared at the corpse. "I hated them Purists anyway. Always thinking of them as self-righteous and all."
"We need to contact Rai or Marc as soon as we can." advised Michael.
"Yeah." Domingo nodded. "As soon as we can get rid of any potential comm jamming out there."
Command Post, SDGSD Knightmare Trailer Truck, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Are we going to prepare the Lancelot for launching?" Mariel asked Lloyd after the latter had made initial contact with Clovis' G-1.
"Of course, my dear Mariel." Lloyd grinned at her, watching Cecilé instruct a SDGSD technician on preparing the Lancelot for eventual launching. "As you can see, the battle raging outside is slowly turning against prince Clovis' favor. Even the Irregulars are having a hard time winning against the opposition."
"But still..." Mariel insisted. "we can't just launch out without any authorization!"
Lloyd sighed. "I know. But it's better to be prepared than not to be prepared at all."
"Lloyd." Cecilé walked up to see Lloyd. "The Lancelot's already prepared. It can launch anytime it's ready."
"Excellent." Lloyd said happily, clapping his hands together. "That's just perfect, Cecilé."
Cecilé couldn't believe that Lloyd was excited for battle. I just wonder if Lloyd's excited for battle at a time like this...
2009 ATB
Near outskirts of Killing House, RBA Camp Red Cloud, somewhere in California, United States, Britannian Empire
"Is there something going on today?"
Cecilé was near the outskirts of a killing house created by the camp for training elite Britannian units in CQB tactics and urban warfare in a field alloted for the facility. She was there with several other non-essential staff members to watch COSMOS, SAS and Navy SEAL personnel conduct several CQB exercises, including hostage rescue and terrorist hunt.
"Yeah." One of the base's female civilian staff members, a brown-haired woman in her late 30s wearing a white blouse and jeans, told Cecilé. "SAS and Navy SEALs conducted training a while ago during the opening ceremony."
"Oh?"
"That's right. The army does things like this as part of their public relations gimmicks." The woman pointed to Cecilé several masked SAS commandos showing off to civilians their assault rifles and several of their equipment, including scopes and reflex sights.
"Oh dear, I almost forgot." Cecilé sighed. "Today's one of the base's public relation days." She then told the brown-haired woman. "Thank you."
"I'm just glad to help."
Being on her way, Cecilé saw a short black-haired woman in her 30s speaking to a familiar Eurasian teenager from a distance, who had seem to be wearing standard Britannian infantry uniform, seated on a plastic chair. The future SDGSD scientist saw the woman leaving him after talking to him for a few minutes.
"There you are." Cecilé saw the teenager and waved to him while approaching him.
"Ms. Cecilé." The black-haired teenager greeted her. "I didn't know that you were here."
"Please, call me Cecilé. I insist." Cecilé told him, taking a seat next to him with another plastic chair. "Calling me miss makes me feel old."
"Of course." The teenager nodded. "I shall remember that."
"So, what are you doing here?" Cecilé asked.
"Me?" The teenager pointed to himself. "Well, I was called out here by my superiors to attend the base's public relations day. I was in the opening ceremony just a while ago."
"So what did you do?"
"I played the role for the terrorists for the SAS and SEALs to pretend to shoot." The Eurasian said without hesitating.
"Number 33!" Cecilé saw the same short black-haired woman approaching the two. "You're needed by the Colonel."
"Understood, ma'am." Number 33 promptly stood up from his seat, saluting the woman.
"Excuse me..." Cecilé excused herself to the woman.
"It's alright." The woman said. "I'm Sancia, leading officer of the Special Foreign Legion division."
"The Irregulars?"
Sancia nodded. "Yes, that's right. I apologize for taking him out of your hands, but he's being needed right now by my superior."
"All right." Cecilé replied.
"I'll see you later perhaps."
Number 33 excused himself, walking alongside Sancia back towards the base's main building. As Cecilé eyed the two Irregulars personnel heading back towards the main building, there was one thing she noticed.
Sancia's right hand was on the teenager's left shoulder. Cecilé saw Sancia's hand squeeze his left shoulder.
Somehow, seeing it all it front of her made Cecilé angry.
She felt jealously course throughout her entire body.
Command Post, SDGSD Knightmare Trailer Truck, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Cecilé." Lloyd called out to Cecilé, who was staring at the console for a few minutes. "Cecilé."
"Uh, wha?" Cecilé snapped out of her daydreaming after hearing her name being called by Lloyd.
"Are you alright, my dear?" Lloyd asked.
"Y-yes I am!" Cecilé blurted the answer, feeling her cheeks go red. Geez! Spacing out at a time like this?
Lloyd grinned at Cecilé. "Were you spacing out a while ago, Cecilé?"
"Of course not!" Cecilé shouted, defending herself. "I was just... um..." The woman tried to think of a logical explanation behind her spacing out. "thinking if whether we'll be getting the order to get the Lancelot deployed out there any minute now."
"Oh don't worry about that." Lloyd chuckled. "I have a feeling that we'll be ready to move out anytime soon."
Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Your Highness!"
Bartley shouted for Clovis' attention. "Princess Ambrosia's signal has just been lost."
"What?" Clovis gritted his teeth, seeing the screen indicating that Ambrosia's position was lost.
"Lord Guilford is covering the princess' retreat as we speak." Madd informed Clovis after being informed by a bridge officer. "My Irregulars couldn't assist him as I'm having them take care of the giant knightmare out there." Clovis saw the Irregular's GX-01 Alphas trying to take down the Mark Nemo with no luck since it was brandishing its katana as its means of defense.
Clovis had the headset on his hands, knowing that the party at the other end was awaiting for his reply. What now? Sister's knightmare been taken out of combat, her knights are fighting off any attempts to have her killed and the Irregulars are still having a problem taking out that giant thing that you can call a knightmare...
The Viceroy began to ponder if he had choices available for him to bring the situation around to his advantage.
I need to do something, but what? What can I do to resolve this?
Cab, Freightliner Cascadia semi-trailer truck, en route to Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"We're almost near our base, sir." Nagisa informed Todo.
Todo nodded to Nagisa. "Good. Have Ryoga and Kotetsu informed to get their Burai Kais ready immediately."
"Understood."
"So what do we do now, sir?" Shogo asked Todo after he gave out his instructions.
Todo was silent for a few seconds before he said, "Unless the Britannian army has deployed Sutherland Electronic Warfare models out there to jam our communications, we have no choice but to get on the offensive."
"So do we launch a sneak attack?" Shogo adjusted his glasses.
"I'm afraid so." Todo sighed. "The Britannians were able to get on the offensive against us and jam our electronics while keeping their own online. Don't forget to inform Ryoga to follow our lead, Nagisa."
"All right." Shogo snickered. "Let's get this show on the road."
"There's a roadblock up ahead." Nagisa informed Todo. "Shall I?"
"Go ahead and ram it." Todo told his female Holy Sword subordinate.
Nagisa replied. "Yes, sir."
Nagisa pressed hard on the Cascadia's accelerator, making the truck go fast when it rammed the roadblock's barricades up ahead on the highway.
Cockpit, Mark Nemo
"This bunch is certainly a persistent lot."
Nemo was feeling the pinch in her fight against the Irregulars. She was able to defend herself fairly well against the GX-01 Alpha knightmares of Alice and Sancia, the former being a bit more aggressive than the last time the two had confronted each other.
"What aggression." Nemo commented, seeing that Alicia was trying to hit her more and more with her katana. "It seems that she must be using a agility-based geass to help her move in closer to me."
The Mark Nemo leaped back and fired off a wave of blonde knives again, directed this time to Alice.
I don't believe it. Nemo observed Alice's GX-01 smack the blonde knives away with her katana, swatting them away like flies hovering over a hot meal. What kind of geass does that knightmare have in its use?
Nemo noticed another GX-01 Alpha nearby with muscular-like arms near Alice's GX-01. What's she doing? Nemo wondered about the other knightmare while she continued to clash swords with Alice and Sancia.
What she found out a few seconds later was the muscular GX-01 was about to throw several uprooted trees straight for her.
Cockpit, Darlton's RPI-209 Gloucester
"You bastard!"
Darlton raised up his jousting lance to block an incoming attack by the Lancelot Club's MVS lance when it had tried to make for a stabbing attempt at his cockpit.
"Come now, commander!" Marc mocked Darlton, trying to make the MVS lance break his lance. "This is what you taught me back in COSMOS, remember? Win with every ounce of strength in your body."
Damn you! Darlton can't believe that a child soldier that he had trained in Britannian military tactics for years was now his worst enemy.
"Even if it means," Marc whacked away the lance from his Gloucester's hands. "playing the dirty part of war, right?"
"I should have killed you when I had the chance seven years ago!" Darlton yelled, firing the belly-mounted machine gun at the Club.
"Miss meeee...." The Club had its "Blaze Luminous" MSV particle shields on its forearms activated after seeing Darlton's Gloucester fire the machine gun. "You're sooo easy to read, boss."
"What do I do now?" Darlton whispered to himself, firing the dual slash harkens at his opponent.
"HA!" The Club armed itself with the VARIS after evading the fired weapons, taking aim at Darlton. "See? You're making yourself predictable again, commander..."
"Why I oughta..." Darlton was about to grab a Chaos fragmentation grenade to use against the Club when he saw a familiar knightmare come to his rescue.
"Darlton!" Guilford's voice echoed on his radio. "I've come to help!"
Cockpit, Guilford's RPI-209 Gloucester
"Guilford!" Darlton was stunned to hear his comrade arrive to help him. "But what about..."
"Don't worry about the princess." Guilford reassured the scarred officer. "I've evacuated her back to Viceroy Clovis' G-1."
"And what about the strange man wearing a nothing but a helmet, suit and cape?" Guilford clashed his lance with the Club's MVS lance when he heard Darlton's question.
"I'm not sure..." Guilford replied, firing the machine gun at the Club before he threw his own Chaos grenade. "Last I saw him, he was decimating Sutherland after Sutherland with some kind of unknown... trick that he's using."
"Another one wants to feel the pain of being shot down?" Guilford heard Marc mock him when he evaded the hurled weapon. "Fine with me, then!" The spectacles-wearing man saw the Club take aim with the VARIS at him instead of Darlton.
Guilford needed a distraction to prevent the Club from getting a good shot with the VARIS. There!
Another Chaos grenade was hurled straight at the Club, forcing it to use the VARIS in order to destroy it.
"Consider that," Guilford heard Darlton speak to him. "a thank you for saving my life out there."
Guilford smirked. "Don't mention it, Darlton." He then gripped his control sticks. "Now then, let's take this one out."
Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"W-what are you..." Clovis was shocked to see Ambrosia return back to the G-1's bridge.
"I thought I can see you first." Ambrosia entered the bridge, receiving some salutes from the officers present as she is commissioned in the Britannian army as an officer.
"Well, I need to speak with you." Clovis approached Ambrosia.
"Is there something wrong?" Ambrosia asked, seeing that Clovis was getting a bit nervous.
Clovis nodded. "I received an encrypted transmission from an unknown source while you were out there..."
"What about?" Ambrosia asked her half-brother.
"The...transmission was weird." Clovis sighed when he told her. "The party who radioed the G-1..."
"Yes?" Ambrosia began to worry about Clovis, seeing signs of hesitation when he led her outside the bridge. It seems that being in the bridge is not good since we're outside.
"He..." Clovis stared at his half-sister. "sounds like Lelouch, our deceased brother."
Ambrosia was in shock. "What?"
Cockpit, unknown knightmare, en route to Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Well, wasn't that quite impressive?"
The Lelouch-like teenager chuckled, speaking to another party from his cockpit's radio in his personal Devicer suit. He led a three-man knightmare team, consisting of two RPI-212 Vincent Prototypes and an unknown aircraft-like vehicle, en route to the direction of Narita where the anti-insurgency operation was now taking place.
"I'm quite impressed by this knightmare you gave me. A lot of new toys for me to try out later on." Michael said, thanking his benefactor.
"Indeed. You'll be able to have the opportunity to test them out."
"We are 10 kilometers near our destination." Anya made contact on the teen's radio. "Will you radio the Viceroy once more, Cardinal?"
The Cardinal was silent before he said, "Yes, I will. Thank you for reminding me, Anya."
"What are you going to tell them?"
"Be patient, Yoong." The Cardinal reassured the young COSMOS soldier. "You'll find out eventually."
Cockpit, Type 3F Gekka Prototype
"How's the fighting there?"
Rai engaged with a Sutherland armed with a machine pistol when he tried to get to the G-1.
"Everything's okay!" Jean replied when Rai had the Gekka Prototype's Katen Yaibato to slash the Sutherland in half. "Looks like the boss' plan to use regular Sutherland against the army is working. We're getting chatter regarding friendly fire situations increasing by the minute."
"None of our guys are hit, I take it?" Rai saw two Sutherland Electronic Warfare knightmares nearby, having their jammers active.
"None at all, Rai." Raising the Prototype's custom handgun, Rai strafed the four knightmares from left to right and vice versa. "Never mind, looks like I figured out why some of us were receiving unclear communications a while ago when the battle started."
"Sutherland Electronic Warfare type models?"
"Yep."
Outside Bridge, G-1 Base, near Narita Mountains, Narita, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Are you serious?" Ambrosia grilled her younger half-brother carefully.
"Yes." Clovis whispered.
Ambrosia didn't know if she should ram her head on the wall or draw her sword and kill Clovis for trying to attempt a joke in the middle of an anti-insurgency op.
"What are you talking about?" Ambrosia hissed at Clovis. "Lelouch died with Nunnally and Cornelia when Japan was invaded seven years ago. You should know that by now."
"I know." Clovis ran his right hand on his head. "But that's just the thing."
"What do you mean?" Ambrosia raised her right eyebrow, seeing that Clovis was still hesitant.
"The caller who radioed G-1 sounded like Lelouch..." Clovis insisted. "Whether you wish to believe me or not."
"I wonder if I'm just going mad." Ambrosia had the urge to slap her face, then Clovis next, when one of the bridge officers emerged out to speak to Clovis.
Cockpit, Type-02 Guren Mk II
"ZERO! Are you all right?"
Karen had received news from her fellow Black Knights that Zero had personally entered the battle, taking out his first knightmare when he engaged Ambrosia's personal Gloucester. What even excited the ace Devicer was Zero winning against the famed Witch of Britannia.
"Don't worry about me, Kallen." Zero replied, which made Kallen wonder how he was able to make contact with her despite not having some sort of radio equipment with him on the ground. "Just remember. We should be able to assist the JLF in regrouping any of their surviving forces. It seems that that their Four Holy Swords are in the scene too."
"Roger, Le-" Kallen halted when she nearly said Lelouch instead of Zero. "Zero." She watched Zero take on two Sutherlands armed with jousting lances when several black whips emerged out from his body.
Kallen dispatched a Sutherland nearby with the use of the Guren's Fukushahadō arm, clamping its head/Factsphere unit with the claw before she activated the weapon. "So long." Kallen eyed her handiwork when the Sutherland began to warp from its interior due to the presence of radiation. The Guren moved back after the warped Sutherland began to show signs that it was about to explode.
"Hah!" Kallen armed her Guren with the fork knife, using it to incapacitate another Sutherland by stabbing its cockpit.
"HAHAHH!!!" Kallen swore she heard the Sutherland's pilot scream in pain before she raised the Guren's custom handgun to riddle it with bullets.
One of these days... Kallen sighted another Sutherland that tried to come to its comrade's aid when she fired her handgun again. I need to confront Zero alone and figure out if Lelouch is really underneath that helmet like the last time I saw him.
"Hm..." Kallen saw in her console three unidentified knightmares in the area. "Three knightmares? And the sensor's not identifying them as from Britannia, the JLF, Black Knights or from the Lost Soldiers?"
The red-haired guerrilla looked up to see the three unidentified knightmares flying overhead and en route towards the Narita battlefield.
Kitchen, Clubhouse, Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11, Britannian Empire
"Sayoko, there you are."
Cornelia peeked inside the kitchen to see Sayoko cleaning up a few more plates from the sink.
"Good afternoon, Ms. Cornelia." Sayoko bowed after she set the dried plates away. "I didn't expect you so soon."
"It's all right." Cornelia shook her head. "I'm just wondering if you've seen Nunnally."
"Not really." Sayoko replied. "Last thing I remembered before coming down, she was in her room."
"And Lelouch?"
"He went out. I heard he told me some friends of his invited him out."
"Really?" Cornelia was amazed that her half-brother would be going out. "That would be odd." The purple-haired history teacher smirked. "He doesn't usually go out like that for an extended period of time unless a few people persuaded him to do so." She threw in a smirk.
"I believe that's a good thing for Master Lelouch." Sayoko suggested. "It does him good if he goes out and enjoys the fresh air like this all the time aside from this weekend."
"All right." Cornelia excused herself. "Thank you, Sayoko."
Outside Lelouch's Room, Clubhouse, Ashford Academy, Tokyo Settlement, Area 11, Britannian Empire
Cornelia peeked inside the empty room of Lelouch after she left the kitchen and went upstairs to the second floor.
"Lulu." The ex-princess sighed, leaning against the wall after she gently closed the door. "What are you up to?"
She hugged herself, despite wearing a blue windbreaker over her white blouse with gray jogging pants.
Seriously, what is that boy up to these days? He seems to have changed ever since nearly being killed after trying to get home using the Shinjuku ghetto.
Cornelia then walked down the corridor away from Lelouch's room, having passed by Nunnally's too.
"Even Nana too." Cornelia couldn't help, but feel that something was wrong. "She's gone. And I don't know what to make of this."
Staring at the outside world through the corridor's glass windows, Cornelia noticed a sparrow fly past by.
"I just hope Lulu and Nana are okay out there."
Chapter 11 END
PS - Well, hope you guys enjoyed the chapter. Sorry for not updating sooner than later, some personal stuff been happening to me. Lately, I flunked the semestral and overall GPA below 2. I have to thank JAPN 101 for giving me a D, but it's considering that I didn't take Japanese continuously after I took it around 2006/2007. For that, I need to attend academic seminars that would help me get back on track, not to mention ensure that I get a 2 on my semestral GPA by this Fall 2009. This is not a good year for me.
Folks are pissed off, I'm pissed off. God who knows is pissed off by this change of events (Probably some unknown force that influences my life's pissed off too.). For one thing, I have potential time to finish up whatever fics I need to finish. Mainly this, including my Ga-rei fanfic too. On the other hand, I need to attend the said seminars or else I'll really be asked to attend the local college and get loads of subjects. I don't want to know how long I need to take in order to get back to university. I hope it's not long...
Just wish me luck and hopefully, I can regain my good academic standing status by next year. I'll probably need it yeah? Also, my back's kinda hurting me recently for the past few days now. That's also another reason why I'm late in updating this story. As of this upload, I'm a bit okay. Hopefully, I can get some painkillers to alleviate the pain before it takes a toll on my health this year. Right now, it's kinda gone. So maybe I'll be checking if there are painkillers that can take care of back pains without going to the need of getting a prescription in the meantime.
One more thing, imagine the exoskeleton suits mentioned here by the Eden Tengu ninjas like the ones used by the Arsenal Tengu ninjas in MGS2. Also, I'll see if I can get more Burai/Sutherland variants based from the Code Geass Nintendo DS game in the next few chapters. In the meantime, hope you like some of them here in the chapter.
As for the appearance of the Ballistic Knife, I got that from watching Deadliest Warrior's Green Berets vs. Spetsnaz episode last Tuesday. Pretty awesome since they showed squad on squad tactics. And yeah, the BK's a killer weapon when used wisely. XP
For now, let me know how's it done. So let me know if I need to double check something/take note of something to avoid doing in the future because I tend to forget things sometimes when I'm in the middle of doing a chapter like this. I just hope it's okay, especially with you know who... Sides, I may have messed up a few things thanks to the pain at my back. Feedback of all kinds are appreciated. Flames will be used to heat up the kitchen stove in my place.
Speaking of which, I now have 20 people as of 5/2009 in the story's favorites list and 13 people on the favorite alert. Thanks guys! Always a pleasure to have this story in your alerts. I hope I can deliver more exciting chapters to the end.
I'll still try to work on doing either Lelouch/Kallen or Lelouch/Cornelia or maybe the unthinkable and do Lelouch/Cornelia/Kallen. We'll see...