Maximilian learns the art of war

by skycomv2

Maximilian takes a different strategy to turn the tides of war after the second naggiar campaign. Some Selvaria X Maximilian, and other cannon couples.

3. The shadows of the past

Ch3

Short Authors note, long version at the bottom, there will be a geography change making the Ghirlandaio pass the only way from the empire into Gallia and vice versa, the Bruhl pass is instead secured by mountains. Mainly done for storyline purposes, secondly done for logical thought, as why would Gallia go to the effort of constructing one giant military fortress at one pass and leave the other completely empty? It would be a bit like the French making the Maginot line facing Belgium and trying to stop the German panzers with their famed wine yards.

Disclaimer: I do not own Valkryia Chronicles or Code Geass

Sun Tzu: whenever you want to attack an army, besiege a city, or kill a person, first you must know the identities of their defending generals, their associates, their visitors, their gatekeepers, and their chamberlains, so have your spies find out.

POV: Maximilian

Location: The citadel at Ghirlandaio inside the (relocated) Throne/Strategy room

Time: 2 weeks after the second battle of Naggier, November 1 1935

It has been a long day I sigh and pinch my nose, I begin to mentally review what has been done and what needs doing before I will call it a night. The defensive emplacements for the citadel have been continually upgraded to the point where I can safely say that from the fortress and 10kms into Gallian land is the most heavily fortified piece of land in all of Europa.

The initial improvised defenses that were scraped together in a hurry after the second battle of Naggier have since been heavily augmented once I learned about the snail's pace at which the gallian army had been advancing at.

Which reminds me… I make another tick on a notepad, to count the number of days that Selvaria has bought me, ideally I would have some measured way to thank her for the boon, but how exactly is one suppose to thank a Valkyria, to thank a goddess? If I followed the Yggdist church's various sects, I suppose I would be on my knees groveling, bowing my head once for everyday.

Doable, in politics face or pride is a commodity to be hoarded or sold at the right time. But Selvaria seems to have a mild aversion to religions that deify Valkyria, probably because her own experiences as one were so negative.

So ultimately I file that way under the to be done category, with the possible amendment to ask for advice on courtship, the family members who either own me their lives, Nunnally and Lelouch, inexplicably like me, Euphemia and Clovis, or who tolerate me, Schneizel and Cornelia.

Returning to the matter of defense, with the extra time I was able to call upon a portion of Zabot's industries massive construction capabilities. Excavators with drill attachments where able to quickly bore holes several meters deep and filled with explosives all wired up to the citadel. Perhaps I went too far, as the current state the entire valley can be detonated on command, one 20 meter hole at a time.

A hesitate knock on the newly installed airtight door, a paranoid excess or perceptive prevention? Time will tell, it's probably Selvaria, given that Jaeger is currently reorganizing the armored divisions shattered at the battle of Naggier.

As I walk over to open the door I wonder what took her so long to get down here, till I remembered that I had moved the command center from the upper levels of the southeast tower into the wine cellar.

The primary reason is security, the Gallian militia squad 7 has proven itself a master at infiltration, and the old command center was simply a renovated Gallian one. Not that it was in a bad location, the ease with which the commanders could head upstairs to the top of the tower and oversee the battlefield was worthwhile.

However a Valkryia with her lance could easily destroy the highly visible towers of the citadel, though I am counting on the premise that Gallia would prefer to capture their historical fortress intact. A nice bonus is that is harder to spy on underground chambers, tonnes of earth are effective dampers against those who would listen in.

I open the door and she walks in with a natural grace that most nobles try their whole lives to achieve, and she does this despite being as doggedly tried as I am. She makes her way over to the main table and looks at the map of the defensive emplacements that I have constructed, the positions of the pie's and the overlapping fields of fire.

It is fortunate that she is so focused on my map that she is unaware of my indiscreet ogling of her chest, my mind might be tired but my body apparently is not.

Usually a quick glance at Gregor and his disapproving glare would be enough to contain my lusts, but alas he has thwarted my will again by getting himself killed ahead of schedule. As it is I can only shake my head and curse at my brother Clovis for designing such an outrageous outfit, I suppose its back to a constant routine of cold showers for me.

After enjoying the scene for a few moments I realize that something is wrong. I notice the tenseness of her body and recall the steady way she walked past me without a word. I realize that she is afraid, since she is stronger than me physically, I doubt she fears my glare, which I am told is quite frightening and omnipresent.

Perhaps she fears for me, at my loss of status and face due to my most recent defeat. I recall the words I spoke to her before the battle "I exist because you exist, one aside the other. You go with my trust." They were supposed to be inspiration words and they were at the time.

Now however they might weight like a noose around her neck, as either her failure reflects directly on me or that she has defiled my trust. Foolishness, a leader is always judged by the actions of their subordinates, and she has already made up for her loss with the time she has bought me.

But she doesn't seem to realize that, and in the face of her fear with the choice of fight of flight, she has clearly chosen to fight. This could be interesting… while her normal somewhat submissive nature is pleasant enough; I had always felt that she was being deliberately non-combative, a throwback to her days at the Valkyria Project.

So let's see how much temper she has been holding out on me, I have always enjoyed playing with fire, jumping out of airships, invading secessionist nobles, going to royal parties… of course one day, one of these things will catch up to me, but by then I can say at least I have lived my life to the fullest.

So summoning the full measure of my carefully constructed imperial arrogance with a dab of annoying righteousness I spoke "So do my defensive preparations arise to your satisfaction?" which succeeds in making her snap "they would, if only the Gallian army is foolish enough to continue launching direct attacks on this one location instead of going around…" she cuts herself off mid rant and slowly closes her jaw, her arms fidgeting like she wanted to bring them up to cup her hands over her mouth.

Responding smoothly like this was a normal conversation between friends about something as mundane as the weather "this citadel was built here because it the only level ground to transport troops and supplies from the empire into Gallia and vice versa, it is impossible to move anything other than light infantry across the mountains."

Selvaria pouncing on the opening I had unintentionally left, replied "light infantry is enough to do heavy damage to undefended supply trains" letting a small grin infuse my features I respond "true, which is why I have had a division of mountain warfare troops there since the beginning of the war"

Selvaria's head snapped down looking for the markers indicating the existence of the divisions, when she naturally didn't find them she looked up at me with narrowed eyes and asked "why aren't they located on this map?"

Now enjoying myself thoroughly I responded smugly "because they aren't under my direct command, they are technically Cornelia's troops assigned to protect the empire's homeland" Finally snapping, she shouted at me "why wasn't I informed?!"

Immediately after her outburst her face became repentant, eyes downcast, attempting to lighten the situation again I joked "indeed, why weren't you informed? You must remember your position"

But before I could continue, Selvaria backed away from the table and kneed before me and spoke in a solemn tone "forgive me my lord, you are of course right, it was insolent of me to presume so much, I am a worthless wrench before your grace's light, so please forgive…"

I stormed over to her and cut her off before she could continue her self-admonishment, one hand pulling her waist to force her to stand up the other hand under her chin forcing her to look me in the eyes.

I can only imagine the menace on my face, since my voice was a barely contained inferno of anger I spit out "Do. Not. Demean yourself like that ever again."

Pausing to collect myself and calm my voice I continued "You are the Valkyria, the being from which the political authority of the Empire and Gallia is derived from" at the slight drop in her eyes, I change tactics "and even without that status you are a talented military commander able to inspire your troops into feats of bravery and achievement they would never dare dream to be possible without you."

Feeling her muscles relax from the grip I had on her waist I continue on this path "you are my chosen, a person I deemed worthy of following me, that I deemed capable of carrying out my will. If you insult yourself you are insulting my judgment."

And a smile slowly formed on Selvaria's beautiful features she muttered a quiet thank you and returned to studying the fortifications, I moved to her opposite side of the table again and began contemplating my buried emotions.

Feeling pleasure because you made someone else happy is something I am already familiar with, watching the commoners faces light up after building a bridge or opening a hospital, is most enjoyable especially compared to the endless false faces of the nobility and their never ending demands, the commoners are just so "authentic" in my brother Clovis's words.

Still the magnitude of the joy that fills me is unfamiliar and disconcerting. As I flip through my memories to search for similarities and differences, I reveal a pattern, it seems my enjoyment of others joys is based on both the magnitude of their joy and the strength of the relationship I had with them. As I process the implications of the fact that I am the most pleased, pleasuring Selvaria, She interrupts my thoughts with a question I had solved a week ago.

"What about the enemy Valkyria?" when I focus on her I notice the fear in her eyes the same look she had when she first walked in. Again given her bravery in combat I doubt that she fears Alicia but rather I am convinced that it is a fear for me.

My mind still tired caused me to off handily remark "Her name is most likely Alicia Melchiott a sergeant of squad 7 under Lieutenant Welkin Gunther. Since she hasn't been used yet to attack your retreating forces I doubt she'll be a serious threat. And if worst comes to worst I'll have her kidnapped in her sleep."

After a short pause, I realized Selvaria's eyes were wide open and she fired off a barrage of questions "how did you know that? where did you get the information? When did you get the information? Who told you?"

I answered calmly "ever since our defeat at Naggier I have increased my spying activities in Gallia by several orders of magnitude, which given the subsequent ease that I found out this information was in hindsight overkill."

At her still questioning glaze I continue "I expanded from my original Federation front company that specializes in gauging economic growth, pillaging style, into more general accountability and government services, buying out Gallian public services at fire sale prices. All this was done using Federation fiat currency of course, printed off a stolen Federation money press, since the Federation uses these machines to control their client states, I doubt the Gallians will know the difference. "

I watched and waited to a sign of understanding, it took a moment, my previous lectures were about the importance of the gold standard to the empires economic wellbeing, she was probably compiling the information for future comparison of economic systems, at least I hope she was.

Continuing onwards I answer the rest of her questions "the actual knowledge was partially obtained from a Gallian Newspaper called the Gallian Tribune, the embedded reporter a ms Ellet had written about a number of important engagements against our imperial army. When I reached an article about my defeat Barious, I realized that she was with the squad that had thwarted our efforts since the loss of Vasel Bridge. Which got me thinking, do you remember those Gallians we met inside the ruins?"

Selvaria nodded and replied "yes I do, they shouldn't have been able to enter unless they were accompanied by a descendent of the Valkyria…" I wait for the realization to hit her as it did me, a moment, then "that girl the one who dared aim a gun at you, she was the Valkyria?! I should have dealt with them right there!" I arch an eyebrow, somewhat shocked at the intensity of her focus on the threat to my health, an interesting sensation.

Still continuing my policy of keeping historical relics intact I mention "we were not properly outfitted in that situation, your lance would have blown a hole in the side of the ruins, possibly destroying irrecoverable data."

To which she deftly countered in somewhat gory detail "I could have bludgeoned them to death with the lance, the words are carved in stone, and the blood will clean out easily enough." To which I readily conceded "true that would have worked well enough, hindsight is always 20/20"

I press onwards "nevertheless once I knew that the Valkyria was with Welkin and Ellet it was a simple matter to get my front company to ask her publishers exactly which squad she was assigned to. After that it was an even easier matter to look up the militia rosters since my front company had won the bidding to organize rest and relaxation."

I paused since she raised her hand, and a slight déjà vu went though me, much like the old days before she became a Valkyria. She asked "I was under the impression that the federation pockets couldn't be beaten in buyouts?" to which I responded "that's usually true, however they are generally constrained by the need to constantly make a profit, my companies are always prepared to take a short term loss if another of my companies can make a long term gain, in this case my front companies lose some money, worthless toilet paper fiat currency anyway, for my military expeditions to succeed."

I arch an eyebrow and wait for the next round of questions, Selvaria does not disappoint and asks "how can you be so sure that Alicia won't attack our defenses, once she realizes that her army cannot overpower the pies, she will surely fall back on the power of the Valkyria. The bonds that she must have built up with her squad after all this fighting would compel her to do so. It is what I would do in her place if my men or you were threatened."

Once again put off guard by her remarks on my bodily health, I retreat into my preplanned reasons to cover my emotions, calmly stating "there are a couple of reasons, first the Gallian government has made no official statements or any transfer requests in regard to their Valkyria, which tells me that their higher ups either don't know what they have, or don't believe a Valkyria exists in their forces, or perhaps are too incompetent to take advantage of the situation."

"Secondly, Alicia is a member of the militia, and the Gallians have the standard inter-service rivalry that plagues many militaries, it seems highly probable that the commanders of the militia and the army will have disagreements about who gets the credit, and naturally these disagreements tend to get quite vocal, but the military seems to be very quiet on that matter which suggests that the militia is holding out on their army counterparts."

At this point Selvaria pointed out "all the reasons you gave limit the ability of Gallian high command to utilize their Valkyria in a strategic context, it does nothing to stop her from picking up her lance and attacking by herself."

Which after pondering for a few grinding moments I realized was true. Still this is why I almost always have a backup plan; my first plan usually fails as most recently demonstrated in my current attempt to take over Gallia, much to my annoyance.

So as I revert to my trump card, my voice may have become a tad blood thirsty towards the end "Valkyria by day, human by night. I'll ideally have her kidnapped while she sleeps, if that proves impossible, poisoning her entire squad's rations should work well too."

Those words seemed to have the opposite effect as intended, instead of reassuring her of my ability to take care of things, she had a look on her face like I had taken something precious to her and thoughtlessly tramped on it.

She kind of slumped down into her seat and stared up at me wordlessly for a few moments before a kind of grim resolve settled on her features and she declared "if that is your wish my lord, I will follow you regardless of whatever shadows you seek to embrace."

I frown at that, unable to understand. Covert wet works and overt blood shedding are two sides of the same coin to me, it is both natural and efficient to switch from one method to the other as the situation warrants.

Covert methods tend to kill less people in the short term as it simply involves the removal of key individuals, but usually kill more in the long term as being secretive leaves the people unsure as to the exact reason why their lives are changing.

Compared to overt warfare a deliberately flashy and brutal method that leaves no doubt as to who is truly the victor and who is the finally vanquished. All of the older power players in the empire have blood on their hands, shed in the dark or spilled in the light.

I have been firmly embedded in that portion of the empire since my mother was killed by political rivals. I have since hunted down and murdered those particular nobles and many others who believed that their station would keep them safe from retribution.

How exactly does she think that I found her? Damnation, I realize that Selvaria might have a distorted image of me, considering I am possibly too good at washing blood off my hands. I ask her in a solemn and slightly mocking voice "what exactly do you believe caused our initial meeting?"

Somewhat confused by the change in topic Selvaria paused then simply stated with complete confidence "it was fate, I had long dreamed of someone to save me from the nightmare of the Valkyria project, and then you appeared as if sent from the heavens themselves."

I had to take a mental step back at the extreme amounts of awe and reverence she put into the end of that statement. This could end badly… I have a choice now, either lie to her and let her keep her delusions about my history, which could blow back on me later on if she finds out the truth from one of my family members; Schneizel comes foremost to my mind.

Or I can bite the bullet here and now, let the Valkyria judge me true or false… hmm, since one is sitting in front of me I guess I can find out if my life is worthy right now.

I begin my exposition to lead her to the truth of my existence "Selvaria, the Valkyria project was the highest of imperial secrets, how then did a mere 21 year old crown prince discover it?" Her tone is unsure, like she knew something bad was coming but can't see from where "you are a talented prince with relations with all sorts of central leaders, perhaps you spotted a reference to it and decided to follow up on it?" again she ended her statement with hope, like I was some kind of curious kitten who accidentally discovered and stopped something so monstrous that people have been killed and buried for the merest glimpse of it.

It was an insult to the paths that I have taken and the person who was forged as a result, I smile grimly and press on to shatter those illusions about me "I found out about the Valkyria project because I was already fully submerged in the cesspool of imperial secrets looking for any possible weapons system to gain on my siblings. I went to visit mad scientists, insane occultists, murderous madmen. I witnessed the latest effects of the newest chemical weapons on the living, I saw bone masked priests attempt to turn the dead into soldiers."

"Through it all one name kept coming up; V.V the former prime minister, was involved in all these activities. Then I heard an insane rumor that V.V was trying to bring back the Valkyria. I have long since learned that the unbelievable is one of the best forms of camouflage so I followed up on it. After all who would dare try to resurrect the Valkyria, those most sacred warriors. Do you know how Bartley Asprius, the man in charge of the Valkyria project died?"

My question had caught her off guard it took a while for her to respond, she was too busy being horrified by my revelations. Still the Q&A method was so strong between us that she did answer, too conditioned to do otherwise even in the middle of shock, much like highly trained soldiers under fire.

Tentatively she answered "Bartley Asprius died in train accident caused by freak landslide" to which I responded "indeed that took some planning, finding out his travel schedule, causing an accident to delay the train, and then setting off the charges buried so deep underground that no one would ever find the evidence."

"He was crushed to death, just like how my mother was killed, all because she was a commoner who caught the eye of the emperor… I must admit I have become a fan of that particular style of murder, I think it could be because I like the sense of justice it brings me."

I plaster a smile on my face, the same one that graced my features when I kill another corrupt noble, a smile of grim dirty self satisfaction. I do this because Selvaria should see everything that she has not seen, before she judges me.

Her response is not what I expected she asks, with tears brimming in her eyes "Maximilian, your retainers told me that she died in an accident?" apparently the truth will take some time to sink in.

To pass that time I continue "the empire, while not as intrinsically and overwhelming evil as the federation, does so like to keep its dirty secrets buried. The imperial family must keep a united front against the outside world, lest we be divided up the federation."

Which reminded me, does she truly understand my place in the imperial hierarchy, I ask what is seemly a very basic question "what is my last name?"

Selvaria hesitatingly, something that struck me as so wrong, answered "Europa, just like your elder brother Schneizel de Europa." A long moment passed, I eventually replied "I am a crown prince, not a numbered prince, I am technically below all 108 members of the extended royal family who can claim the crown before me. The Europa name belongs only to those 99, I lost that name the same night I lost my position as a numbered prince, the night of V.V's betrayal."

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POV: Maximilian, age 22

Location: The Empress Marianne's Mansion security center/barracks

Time: afternoon, July 10, 1928

I am playing a war game with my younger sister… alright I am losing a war game to Cornelia. The plan was to show off the possibilities of a new type of weapon the self propelled artillery gun that my Zabot industry is developing. Unfortunately the result was me being schooled by old school towed artillery when used very effectively in mass.

Perhaps I am simply not suited to using the weapon being too reliant on mass myself. I look over to our GM, game master or referee, Guilford the spearhead of the empire, noted for his ability to cut straight through enemy lines, someone with his talents could effectively utilize the spg's.

Or not, as his particular circumstances may prevent his lobbying for me, namely his somewhat subtle infatuation with Cornelia. An unfortunate situation for him, as he is a common borne, and many imbecilic conservative's prefer inbreeding to preserve whatever trace remains of Valkyria blood that flows through their veins, despite the risk of other genetic deformities.

One of the few things I agree with the Emperor on, propagation of the prosperous, a man like Guilford has much to offer the imperial bloodline, intelligence, talent, loyalty, and a directness to get things done, however Cornelia is currently stuck up with the conservative faction and puts too much on subjective things that are twisted to suit the needs of the user, things like family pride, honor, and racial purity.

She puts the blast template over my G-1 mobile command tank, rolls the dice and knocks out my representative model, I have just lost. I put up my hands in surrender and ask "so I take it you will not be recommending the spg's to the Emperor."

A twitch of a smile on her face "I wouldn't say that yet brother, this was just one test game, the possibilities of such a unit are intriguing, we should switch armies and see how it turns out."

I was somewhat eager to see if she was right and more importantly if I could in fact gain her support. Zabot might finally get some high paying military contracts instead of the usual well paying, but slow growing, train track construction and maintenance.

We are repositioning the pieces when the Empress Marianne entered. Marianne is common borne like my own deceased mother and that's about the only similarity, a very flamboyant women, she does certainly liven things up at the court.

She's a progressive and a very powerful polarizer at the court, the younger members openly adore her but many of the old guard detest her, including the first ten sons of the emperor.

The first ten are more loyal to V.V than the Emperor, and my spies have uncovered some information that links them to my mother's death. I am collaborating with Schneizel the 12th son of the emperor to expose the first ten, but they are so firmly entrenched that it will take some massive event to expose them as the traitors they are.

Marianne speaks, bubbly cheerful as usual. "Oh my, princes and princesses playing children's games together, oh well, better than playing with real people's lives." I shake my head, this is the woman that me and Cornelia are assigned to guard.

Just when I am about to explain to her the importance of these war games to her and hopefully gain another lobbyist on my behalf, Marianne speaks: "Maximilian, Cornelia I need the two of you to withdraw your guards for tonight I have a very private meeting."

Those present wait for my response, my rank is presently only slightly below Schneizel's, I lie through my teeth "of course, I understand the need for secrets" I also understand their value, if she is seeing someone else it could be useful blackmail in my bid for the throne.

Of course I will withdraw my visible troops, but my hidden ones will remain in position should something unpleasant arise. I wait for Cornelia's objections, she is one of those young ones that worship Marianne after all, instead Cornelia said "understood, I will withdraw my troops as well."

Then Marianne left with a bright and cheerful "I'll see you two kids tomorrow." Still confused I drill Cornelia on why she didn't protest, her response was "I follow orders, I dislike the night games that you and Schneizel play, but I trust your judgment regarding the safety of this matter, you'll not let another common Empress die." Direct, brutal, and true, Cornelia is indeed a good match for Guilford.

We leave to give out orders to our respective troops. I encounter a sulking young lieutenant named Jeremiah Gottwald one of Cornelia guards, he was upset that he was being pulled out.

I may have mentioned to him that the kitchen supply of oranges was low but a shipment was suppose to arrive today, when he didn't get it, I blatantly told him to hide in the oranges and I would inform him by radio if anything unusual should happen.

The stage is set, just one last detail, I call my apartment complex and inform Selvaria that I won't home for dinner, keeping my tone pleasant I speak "hello Selvaria, I won't be home tonight, so would you like to talk about your humanization studies now?"

A pause and then a voice that's become very familiar to me "your grace, my lord Maximilian de Europa, 15th in line for the throne, 3rd …." I cut her off before she could get any further, she tends to collect all the titles I have been referred too, not sure why, I ask "what is the advantage of a central hierarchy?"

Another pause and then she answers "to fulfill objectives that require a critical threshold of effort to be breached before any worthwhile returns can be obtained" a good answer, but a bit too cerebral, so I state "in other words, to achieve what is impossible for the individual together"

She responses "yes of course you are correct, will you eat with me tomorrow?" to which I respond "I believe so, I'll see you then" I hang up and wonder at the odd fates that put a 15 year old girl in my charge. For humanization purposes it's like the mute trying to explain sound to the deaf.

______________________________________________________________________________

POV: Maximilian, age 22

Location: inside a statue in The Empress Marianne's Mansion gardens

Time: evening, July 10, 1928

I am sitting inside one of the empires new light tanks, the tank itself is embedded inside a oversized concrete statue of a lion. This is the secret behind my hidden troops, I worked with my brother Clovis who designed the outer statue, to create this hidden last line of defense.

In theory the tanks should be light enough not to the collapse the bottom floors of the Mansion, and yet strong enough to punch through any of the walls. Another experimental theory is that explosives attached to the outside of the tank, should be enough to simply blow off the concrete cover, otherwise I'll have large animal statues trying to run over invaders.

Clovis was mildly annoyed that I would destroy his works like that, but I reminded him that this was truly to be used as a last ditch defense of Marianne, turned him around.

Ah… the mysterious guest has finally arrived, a bit on the short side through, I figured the empress would prefer taller men, but then again if it is an escapist fantasy she wants then it would make sense that she would chose a shorter man, the Emperor is quite tall.

He enters and I switch over to an experimental video transmission system, the theories technology is beyond me, but it sends over pictures and I have a separate system for sound to record the transactions.

He uncovers his hood, it's the prime minister V.V, they might actually be exchanging state secrets, and here I was thinking that Marianne was seeing a secret lover.

I was berating myself over this failure until I noticed what V.V was saying "myself and the first ten sons of the emperor believe that you have a negative influence on the Emperor, since ancient times, it has always been women who have lured men into evil" returning my attention to the video and keeping my finger the button that controlled the concrete explosives, which would also signal to the other tanks to begin operations.

I knew I could not act unless V.V does something concrete to harm Marianne, otherwise he would bury me politically. However I wondered if I could live with myself if I let another commoner Empress die in front of my eyes.

My problems were solved in the next moment with both horror and shock, V.V pulled out a submachine gun and started spraying the area, and somehow despite at least 20 kilograms of dress, Marianne managed to weave out of the line of fire.

I can now see why she is called Marianne the flash. I noticed that V.V is barking out orders for more men to come and shoot her. Apparently he took Marianne abilities into account when trying to kill her. I press the button.

The explosives work, the engine is ready, and the main gun loaded, I put a round into V.V, a 45mm shell should make short work out that rumor that he was immortal.

I announce through my loudspeakers "This is Maximilian de Europa, surrender and be spared or follow your master V.V to the grave for the crime of attempting to murder her majesty Empress Marianne, all hail Europa!"

Things quickly became chaotic, V.V had apparently brought a damn lot of men and they seemed wrong somehow, they were fanatical to the death, but guns don't do much against tank armor. It was a slow messy slaughter; the property damage was also immense.

I received a radio message, not from one of my tank units, the voice was panicking "My lord, its your sister… (gunfire in the background)" I run over another fanatic trying to climb on the hull, I ask "is Cornelia here with reinforcements yet?!"

Playing protect the empress with tanks is difficult when I can't punch through too many walls lest the upper floors fall, including Nunnally's and Lelouch's rooms. Hmm the fact that I am thinking about collateral damage while driving a tank around in the main lobby, the irony will kill me when I am less desperate.

The voice came back more desperate than before "your other sister, Nunnally, she's hurt. She came into the kitchen for a midnight snack, I was hiding in the orange box as you told me. Some of V.V's men came in and immediately started shooting at her, I got them but not before one of them hit her, she's bleeding badly!"

Damnation, it takes me a moment to figure out the nearest Ragnite med kit, located in one of my hidden security rooms, bulletproof to boot to.

I relay the instructions to Jeremiah, who then responses "I am heading there now, Nunnally needs someone familiar to her to speak to her and keep her awake."

And alive I grimly finish the sentence, more of V.V's troops are streaming in through the broken main doors, I reload the light tanks coaxial machine gun, a new voice on the radio, weak and tired "brother Maximilian, is that you?"

I try to think back to the times I had seen her, usually babysitting with Cornelia watching over the threesome of Lelouch, Nunnally and Euphemia, I try to use those times now "yes it's your brother Maximilian, the one who with Clovis always loses to your Lelouch, you've seen it before many times, and you'll see it again many times in the future"

I empty the machinegun into the advancing men, they are riddled with holes but some of them stay standing for a good 10 seconds before falling. Something is wrong here… I reload the coaxial.

The voice, weak but with a hint of a smile in it replies "I would like to see that, but I am not sure I can make it, I can't feel my legs…"

more men come, at this rate I'll run out of ammo before they run out of bodies, I start mixing science fiction with fact "it doesn't matter, I'll have Zabot make you new legs."

They cluster together, I fire the hull mounted 85mm mortar at them, a wipe out. A voice weak and questioning but full of wonder, a situation familiar to me but from a different person, "can you really? Won't they be heavier than mine?"

Clever girl, I reload the mortar, the last HE shell, I answer "they will be, but they'll be stronger than yours so in the end it should balance out."

A short lull in the battle and she answers "won't they look funny, the other nobles will laugh at me?"

Lull over, more men come, I fire the coaxial at them, and I respond "your dresses should be able to hide them. Anyone who insults you, simply step on them and show them why metal legs are better than flesh ones."

I reload the coaxial, the gun burns even through my gloves, my last magazine, this time Jeremiah speaks "I've got the Ragnaid and stabilized Nunnally, she's safe."

I relax a bit, and remembered why that conversation was disturbingly familiar, it was just like when I got Selvaria out of the project, the child like questioning about whether I was really there to help her or just another person to hurt her.

Still right now I need help, down to my last shell and magazine, I really need those reinforcements.

A new voice over the radio "this is Lelouch de Europa, the enemies objectives are to kill me and my family, therefore to win this we must survive. Get my family into the tanks, and collapse the building, bury all the cockroaches in one strike."

I pause consider and then curse loudly and creatively while opening the hatch and getting Marianna to scramble into the tank. The servants have already fled, the mansion is only 2 stories tall, the tanks should be able to dig their way out.

The plan is indeed utter genius, and I detest myself for not think of it.

We wait for the signal that Nunnally is safe inside a tank, then I drive the tank repeated through the shear walls. Through my efforts and those of the other tanks, the mansion starts the slowly collapse in on itself, when it finally falls I can't help thinking to myself, Clovis is going to be so mad… he loved that Mansion.

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POV: Maximilian, age 22

Location: The ruins Empress Marianne's Mansion

Time: early morning, July 11, 1928

Collecting the bodies is long and tedious work. Cornelia and her troops finally arrived, some of them slightly drunk, I am currently too tired to be upset that her troops were having fun while I was fighting for my life.

It took me a while, but I eventually realized that V.V's body was nowhere to be found, though a large trail of blood showed me the general direction.

I found him at the edge of a cliff, not bleeding anymore from a fist sized hole that I had put in him. The surreal image that it presented me, my emotional mind shut down, and pure logic went to work.

V.V is an immortal some kind of regeneration technology, he is the head of the biological and chemical weapons departments. Still Salamanders can regenerate limbs, but they can still be poisoned to death. With that thought in mind I load a cyanide round into my revolver and fire.

V.V jerks with the impact but otherwise continues crawling for the edge of the cliff. I guess at his intentions, if he is truly immortal then he should survive and escape a fall from a cliff. I am about to walk over and drag his wounded immortal body back when something smashes into the back of my head.

Fighting off the spots in my vision, I turn around and met the glare of the Emperor Charles de Europa and surprisingly nervous glaze of my mentor Berthold Gregor, alongside them two of Gregor's famed horses. An object falls behind me, and a splash from below, V.V has escaped.

I wait, in my station I cannot speak to the Emperor without being asked to, that should change soon with ten spots opening up ahead of me. The Emperor asks calmly "why have you attacked my brother in such a way?" recalling my earlier lesson in imperial etiquette, pure real politic is called for here.

I answer calm, confident "V.V was a threat to our imperial family's power. I have to dispose of him to maintain my station's power, his incrimination of the first ten merely a side bonus that allows me an opportunely to advance."

The Emperors visage turned murderous, his words calmly delivered and filled with deadly intent "then as a punishment I will have you stripped of your station! You are no longer a member of my family, you will no longer have the Europa name! You will never advance to the throne, but kept as a blood member to have your organs harnessed as needed."

Gregor begins begging the emperor for leniency and restraint. I am on the other hand begin calculating the odds of being able to kill the Emperor right here, the results aren't good unless he comes closer to me.

I respond "very well then, you've done me a favor, when I finally kill you it won't be patricide. My mythos will being on a positive note of murdering a mad tyrant instead of son murdering his father. The Valkyria will judge me right when I finally meet them."

I was very tired which was my excuse for not responding fast enough when his right hook smashed into my face and sent me into blessed oblivion.

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POV: Selvaria

Location: The citadel at Ghirlandaio inside the (relocated) Throne/Strategy room

Time: November 1 1935

Instinct and emotion, two things I have usually ignored ever since my stint at the Project, two things I have been riding high on tonight. When I first came in and I snapped at Maximilian, I could barely recognize myself, but he took it in stride, pushing me onwards to see the limits of my personality.

Now after hearing Maximilian's true history my emotions have reached their peak, while my instincts are screaming at me to do something to wipe that sad resigned look off his face. He gets up slowly and carefully, drained by the telling. I get up and follow him.

He speaks and startles me, his tone so lacking in its usual vigor and command that I find it to be utterly unnatural "Selvaria Bles, if you wish to leave me…you may do so." That pause and the uncertainly implied drove me over the edge.

I turned him around and kicked out his legs forcing him to tumble forward into my bosom. I hold his head in my arms and stroke his hair, while his arms eventually clasp around my body, I imagine we look quite undignified right now, on the floor a mess of limbs, I do know however that I don't care the slightest bit about that.

I told him before that I would become a Valkyria only for him, now I realize that it's not just the lance and the shield but the wisdom and knowledge that come with the title. I manage to say, my voice strong despite my own instability "If the Emperor cannot see your worth, then he is a fool and very alone in his opinion. I, a Valkyria see your worth, Schneizel sees your worth, Cornelia sees your worth, Euphemia sees your worth, the soldiers who follow us see your worth, and the commoners who support us see your worth." I pause and reaffirm my dedication before stating "I promise you I will bring you victory as a Valkyria, on my blood…"

Maximilian stops me with a finger on my mouth which turns into a caress on my face, he looks at me, eyes fiercer than I have ever seen but quietly says "hush now, my lady Valkyria, I much prefer your blood running through your veins, as right now it gives your face such a nice hue"

At which point my face should have turned even brighter red at least judging by how much it was burning up. He continued "I did not ask for my fate, anymore than you did, however here and now we are together and will work through it together, leaning on each other, one step at a time."

And indeed we would.

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POV: Faldio Landzaat

Location: The dungeon inside castle Randgriz

Time: November 1 1935

I sit alone with my thoughts going around in the same circle it has been since the battle of Naggiar. The guilt at shooting my best friend's girlfriend tears at me, I wonder if there was another way to succeed, perhaps I should have come forward with my knowledge and ask for Alicia's volunteer participation.

Part of the reason this guilt is so strong is that she's a good girl she probably would have agreed, though even if she did, would that make me more of a monster for forcing her to make the decision, when I know the second she looks around at her comrades that there is no choice.

I know for a fact that Welkin would have disagreed entirely, he expressed that clearly enough in his right hook, should have hit me some more, would feel better than this guilt. But then if I didn't, I simply don't see a way to have won the battle for Naggiar. And so the circle begins again

A new prisoner is put into the cell next to mine, he is still wearing his red imperial uniform but without the helmet, I wonder why they left him in uniform. I ask "what's your story?" figuring that anything is better than the vicious cycle going on in my head.

He looks at me, I realize he is old, as old as Cody Caird from squad 7, damn, I mean its one thing for a desperate militia to call on the old it's another thing for the imperial army to have such old folks.

He answers in a somewhat too jubilant considering his circumstances tone "I am Sima the Elder, sergeant in Selvaria Bles' hawk legion, under Maximilian's Gallian reunification force. I was captured by the Gallia provincial defense force during the battle of Naggiar, after saving commander Selvaria, I fell to the Gallian's messed up Valkyria. And once Gallia is under imperial control I'll get a medal from Maximilian for my actions."

My shock is overwhelming; there are so many things wrong with what that man just said, I don't know where to begin. First off he is an old man, shouldn't old men be immune to political propaganda by his age? How can he believe the lies he is spewing forth?

Secondly he must have faced the full power of Gallia's Valkyria, up close and personal to boot, and he still believes the empire can win? He's mad! Still disproving his madness is preferable to my own guilty and so I will try to teach this old coot the error of his ways.

I ask with a barely hidden anger "you invaded a sovereign country without provocation! How is your cause just!" He looks at me and squints as if the words I am saying are insane and nonsensical.

He response calmly, but not as happy as before "sovereignty you say? Then who is your sovereign, Mr. Borg?" I am caught off guard and unwilling to answer the question in the affirmative I remain silent.

He continues "As for provocation there is plenty of it, the Gallian Separatist movement during EW1 came when the Empire most needed Gallia's support. The people of empire turned towards their spiritual capital only to find we were unloved by the province we most favored, the shock affected every class of the empire. There are a variety of newer offences caused by Mr, Borg but that's news only for the young ones, who weren't around for the EW1."

Feeling irrationally like a bully, I recall my other question, Gallia's Valkyria I ask "what makes you so sure that your army can defeat our Valkyria?" Sima looked into my eyes with a steely glaze I wouldn't have expected from him when I first met him.

He stated with utter confidence "You Gallian's only have your messed up Valkyria to protect you, the empire has my lord Maximilian, a popular leader, fighting a popular war, young men will pour from all parts of the empire to reclaim our most holy land from those who would defile it."

I sit down, and Welkins words replay in my mind. The war will escalate and I am the one to blame.

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Authors notes long: well its been awhile, sorry about that… the chapter length should hopefully make up for the wait, which reminds me, do you my dear readers prefer, shorter 2-3000 word updates or longer 5000+ words updates?

So one reader kind of wanted Isara to live, I've got a decent plot device for that in place now.

Another reader also answered for the chapter 2 quiz: Babylonians under Nebuchadnezzar II , I got into a debate then with my beta about the definition of ancient world. I was thinking the Romans when I did that, but hey his answer works too

On that note History quiz #3, who was also close to a royal family, possibly boasted supernatural powers, and most importantly was according to mythos poisoned, shot, beaten with sticks and dumped in a river who finally died of hypothermia.

While it does seem likely that the future games will be about the federation vs empire from the federations point of view, I needed a powerful enemy for the future and the Western Atlantic Federation fit the bill.

Europa Family numbers: Maximilian was number 15 before he lost his title, and the first ten sons of the emperor have also lost their ranks. Making it the standard numbering used in Code Geass, Odyssus being now 1st Schneizel is 2nd etc…

Updates: some minor corrections, I have broken up the third chapters massive block paragraphs into hopefully something more readable.

Sima the elder is the red imperial shock trooper in the pit right next to Alicia during the second battle for Naggiar. Since he was practically in her face during the battle, I figure that he was close enough to see her unfocused eyes and slow zombie like movements with the occasional instant teleportation maneuver. Hence why he called her messed up, in comparison to Selvaria who is clearly aware of herself.

This flashback was suppose to kill five birds with one stone. Disillusioning Maximilian, Disowning Maximilian, Marianne surviving, Nunnally's legs, Jeremiah Gottwald becoming an orange by hiding in the orange's crate.

Of course the main purpose of this chapter was to be an emotional rollercoaster designed to shatter the class walls built up between Maximilian and Selvaria and allow them to function as a normal couple trying to take over a foreign country…

By the way the other cannon couples are Welkin and Alicia, Varrot and Largo

The ages I am using are as follows, I get my information from fan sites so feel free to correct me.

V.V age 66

Emperor Charles age 66

Empress Marianne age 47? Guess based off having Lelouch at age 20

Schneizel age 29

Maximilian age 29 younger by a couple of months

Cornelia age 27

Clovis age 26? Pure guess here

Selvaria age 22

Euphemia age 17

Lelouch age 17

Nunnally age 17