-scene break-
Lelouch's hologram, reflecting his actual mannerisms aboard the Damocles, leaned back in his holographic chair. "Well I do believe this agreement is mutually beneficial to all involved parties, as none of benefit significantly from a conflict,"
The Euro Council members nodded, these informal dialogues were the key for continued peace. "The Straits are very important to international trade," The Dutch representative to the Euro Council agreed, "the safeguarding of the Mediterranean to Indian-Pacific ocean trade route is critical to normalized relations.
Lelouch blandly agreed, truthfully ocean growing trade was important even in an era of air travel it still formed the bulk of large scale trade. You could only ship so much by air travel. Agreeing to this kind of discussion was no skin off his back since Europe and Britannia, and China, and other nations even in this era depended on open seas. It was why in the last war there had been so much devastation to developing economies, even those that had been away from the battlefield. It was the unfortunate way of full scale industrialized warfare to touch everything.
"Supreme Council Chairwoman Kaguya Sumeragi has remarked of course the necessity of open and visible negotiations within the public eye," Representative Voegel commented, "and we of course of the EU agree, for the sake of the public's concern."
Lelouch raised an eyebrow, "I disagree public discussions too quickly get bogged down by public and transient concerns. Of course it does bring us to the matter of military equipment, Cornelia of course feels the necessity of arming Britannia's armed forces, and in all honesty I agree. I am however more than willing to enter into arms treaties with the European Union in a gesture of detente."
"This would be wonderful for the interests of peace," Representative Gerad remarked, "but what do you really want? Detente is a wonderful arrangement, and we hope everyone can agree to such but what are you looking for?"
The Emperor nodded along with the man, "I'm looking towards the future of course," and the future was space, and the development of a unified government that could push on towards space efficiently. "And while there is a place for military expenditures, waste can be avoided, I am willing to support detente talks with all involved parties, and the lifting of the nuclear research ban for the interests of energy production purposes." He commented, and it was true, peaceful nuclear power had the possibility of being very advantageous to high energy research which directly benefited space. At the same time the nuclear research ban also was meant to prevent the acquisition of nuclear weapons by any of the powers in the wake of the Damocles disaster.
It was precisely why he'd gone and called Kallen to Damocles this world was changing, and why he was so amenable to talks with the EU, and the UFN. It was paramount to play this game, he could talk to the powers that existed, or he could fight them. As it was though, he was already going to have to fight certain ones, like the supporters of Charles di Britannia's policies, or reactionary elements within the Black Knights. The more diplomatic channels that could be successfully could be used to smooth ruffled feathers the better. For all his advantage in technology his grip on the terrestrial world was ephemeral at the moment, and a world war would be a terrible thing for all involved. Worse if one side chose to break the nuclear taboo. Still there were just as dangerous ways that one side could grievously threaten the world as well, and that was why an arms treaty was ideal. Limiting chemical and biological weapons was important. He'd never convince all the world powers to get rid of them completely, not without assuming the throne of the world again, but limiting those weapons was within his ability through diplomacy given time. He interlocked his fingers in his lap, and waited for a moment "The thing I most want to avoid is another unnecessary world war, so I'll have a word with Lady Sumeragi, I am sure she will be quite amenable to discussions." The real issue would be actually working out a treaty as opposed to just executive agreements, the nations that had formally been apart of the Chinese Federation in particular were going to be problematic to get to ratify some of the more key treaty agreements.
-scene break-
The agreement, the general consensus for this was this was going to be easy, that it should have been easy instead they'd gotten a firefight in the capital. Cornelia was supposed to have made here speech, and then Lelouch was supposed to address Britannia, and then tomorrow both of them were supposed to welcome the rest of the world's leaders to the Britannian capital for a more in depth address.
Pendragon was a fucking mess as one of the knightmares had went wildly off course and slammed into the third story of a build, they'd just been lucky it hadn't don't more damage than it had. It looked like the Knightmares ammo supply had cooked off and started a fire.
Right now she was totally and utterly pissed at him. Lelouch had thought he was so damn smart that royal prick. Kallen complained to herself as she dodged another burst of Knightmare machine gun fire. Oh don't worry I'm expecting them to be aggressive, he'd said. He'd known the Charles faction had spies inside the government, inside parliament, and that they'd certainly have to act when he showed up, but this was ridiculous. Cornelia had told her Lelouch would be bringing his knights of the round, and honestly Kallen was really wondering were Jeremiah was. That was how she figured this would have played out that Jeremiah would go and show up probably with some Siegfried II and wreck the Charles faction. Instead well, they'd gotten this shit.
Knightmares trouncing and flying for that matter all around the capital. It was a mess. Fighting in the city was a pain in the ass. There were too many of them. Too many damn buildings, too many knightmares, and too many people running and scared.
A blast of energy rippled across the street, the white and black hovering form of the sixteen meter tall Morgana Knightmare piloted by the knight of nine turned the energy weapon towards its next target. The Vincent Ward never honestly stood a chance as the compressed bolt of energized particles punched through its cockpit and then out through its flight system.
Pendragon had too much in the way right now to make knightmare combat in the city an easy thing right now. It also didn't help Lelouch's frames were larger. Speaking of larger Kallen watched as one of the frames crunched the torso block of an older and smaller Vincent Ward.
That was when the broadcasting started up, they'd been told to stop fighting before but this was the first time the airships had done it on something other than the radios. "Cease fighting at once, all combatants cease fighting at once, power down your knightmares and stop fighting." Boomed a voice from the speakers from the floating Britanian aerial warship over all their heads.
A new, a very familiar, voice spoke up from the same set of speakers, it was Cornelia, this time, "I order you as Empress of Britannia to cease fighting."
Cornelia's dominance over the military really meant that the Charles Camp was going to lose even if Lelouch wasn't here, unless they had some kind of ace up their sleeve, which was actually the scary part. If they did, then it could be bad. During the rebellion against Britannia it had been one thing, sure the Black Knights had tried to minimize civilian casualties, but now well there were repercussions about fighting on the news to worry about.
As if in defiance almost immediately an indeterminable numbers of 'All Hail Lelouch!' deafened the city center. The 'Loyalists' merely seemed to get embolden to defy the commands of Cornelia to destroy the Charles Faction. "Enough," and speaking of the devil, "All Britannian forces for the peace of the Empire, press on." There was a pause, and Lelouch spoke for more words over the open channel for all the city to hear, "Nonette if you would,"
"Yes your majesty," The Morgana hurtled upward towards the sky. Flying dart shaped objects launched of the Morgana as it steadily climbed into the air. Whatever the Morganna launched looked like some kind of odd combination of technology from the Tristan and the Shinkirou.
Dimly Kallen could hear Cornelia making some kind of choking exclamation in surprise over the open channel. Kallen was more concerned by about what Lelouch was playing at with this. Still she at least recognized what Lelouch was doing, his knightmare forces had the advantage in flight capability, and even if the Charles camp tried to get altitude the two black warships over the city, if not Cornelia's ships, would blast them out of the sky with ease at this close of range with their close in weapon systems. It also helped Lelouch's units all had shields... and energy weapons
Still it didn't stop the Charles camp from trying to attack. It was stupid, and even Kallen could see that, but it was precisely what Lelouch had wanted them to do. Black Frames were flying, but they were shooting was the thing. Lelouch had always disdained head to head melee combat for knightmares personally, and it did show. The Charles camp might as well have been men rushing a machine gun nest across no man's land.
Over the open comm line Rakshata gave a low whistle. It would have been easy to miss what had happened, it'd been a feint exploited the superior defenses of Lelouch Knightmares, and more importantly the readily apparent importance of the Morganna. Cornelia's Glaston Knights, lead by the now no longer knight of nine had also attacked while the Charles camp broke out to attack Lelouch's troops who were moving into close formation. It was a little difficult to dodge hadron fire when it was coming straight down onto your head. The few who managed to get out of the way well they hadn't been so lucky really.
Aboard his own battleship Lelouch settled back, "How simple," The Emperor muttered, Kaguya had actually agreed to publically meet with members of the EU Council, and Cornelia here in Pendragon. The meeting itself was supposed to have been the day immediately following his public announcement. "Thank you Nonette that will be all. Kallen I'd suggest returning as well," He commented over the open channel.
Kallen snorted and directed the Gurren towards the floating battleship Pendragon. The red machine touched down, relatively, softly inside the hangar, Gino's own frame wasn't back yet, which made sense really given they'd only just now finished. Cornelia was here though. "I figured you'd be on the bridge, what's going on."
"Lelouch still plans on having his address this evening." She responded, he'd also insisted on dinner being prepared for the entire house of lords, which would be hard to arrange on such short notice. None of Parliament was going to be stupid enough though to defy an actual Imperial Summons, "I would certainly say we'll be occupied with military patrols." not from Lelouch of all people. It was also of course far more likely just to actually heed the summons rather than risk being openly defiant of the emperor provoking Lelouch seemed like a particularly bad idea. "I've mobilized the Home Guard around Pendragon." That in itself was a carefully orchestrated political move, as it reinforced visibly that Cornelia was in charge of the military. That in itself was critical. It was a critical part of the dangerous political battle going on. It was all about confidence, right now they needed to restore confidence.
"I can take the Gurren back out there, I'm sure Gino could as well, if we go out there then surely that'll help," Nobody liked the idea of picking fights with knights of the round present, well not anyone sane in any case".
-scene break-
When Lelouch had finished his address to the nation, and really to the world, everyone in the Tokyo headquarters let out a sigh of relief. Right now they were just watching clips from the replay on a dozen different screens in headquarters. "Big guy seems pissed." Tamki added throwing the remote up in the air, and catching it.
"Turn this one up Tamaki."
"Right," He held the remote out and held the volume button down causing Lelouch's recoreded voice to boom around the room.
The recording showed the massive superimposed Imperial Guard Signet emblazoned behind the empire, "It is frequently said that hindsight is twenty twenty."
"Fast forward some," Tamaki rolled his eyes and flicked the remote, "yeah here, thats good you can stop, ah back a little."
He rolled his eyes again and rewound, "What occurred today, and what occurred in South Africa remind us yet of the past." Lelouch's recording swung a hand out, whatever he was standing in front of was some kind of reactive screen that was subdivided to produce multiple images, from various different sources. Old enemies stand at our doors, enemies to hard won peace. Even so progress is still at hand, I present the knight of five, General Sir Jonathan Algren of the Imperial Guard, and the knight of nine Dame Nonnette Enneagram."
Ohgi looked up, "That's a distinction right there, think it's going to be trouble?"
"I'd say so," Noburu agreed, "Anyone up for bets when he officially declares the Imperial Guard to be reformed for the peace of the Empire?" He looked around, "No takers?"
Tamaki tossed the remote up and caught it, and began rifling through his pockets, "Hold up," He pulled his wallet, "Who's the bookie going to be, twenty says he waits at least a month."
Kaguya cleared her throat, "Excuse me, lets continue shall we," The Black Knights at least had the decency to look a little sheepish, "I'm more interested in what he means twelve minutes in,"
"On it," Tamaki fast forwarded several minutes, Lelouch had given a twenty two minute speech to the people of Britannia and those nations within its sphere of influence, and to any one listening in of course.
"There is a light in the black, but the night is dark, and still remains teeming with dangers, but what the Empire will build will be the foundation of a bright new day. Britannia and its allies will ascend to the stars." The screens behind Lelouch were pretty clear he really was meaning space exploration, back by Britannia. "We will go forward together into the skies of tomorrow."
He took a sip from his coffee, "He's expecting a fight," Ohgi stated after a minute, "We do have to do something, this is going to start a space race, and Britannia will be a head of everyone else, and he already shot down the discussed notion of banning weapons in space," That had actually been a major point of discussion last week in the UFN general assembly when they'd been discussing how space development should be handled.
Noburu didn't have an inkling of the actual plans, nor did he care to know for that matter. It was however abundantly clear that the UFN leadership, and Lelouch vi Britannia's agendas toward space were probably markedly different.
Ogi didn't like the way this playing out at all though, "Let's face it, he's never going to agree to back down on the issue of armament. We've already seen how he plays with the UFN," By which he meant what had happened right after Lelouch had become Emperor, "and politically there isn't a lot we can leverage, especially if he is responsible for the Europeans." That was still the running joke going around headquarters the Emperor of Britannia probably being the man behind the curtain for his homeland's traditional rivals. It was good story, just not what was going on.
"I am aware of that," Kaguya added, the media room honestly reminded her of a computer library that had been spliced with a theater, it just had a strange lay out. "I also know that without Britannia in discussions we will not accomplish anything." Telling the world economy to screw itself never helped anyone after, and that was rather a concern of what they'd effectively be doing, "So how is the military situation?"
Ohgi flicked on another projector, "Well Britannia is fairly calm, considering that Lelouch has a pair of kilometer long monsters over their capital," He grabbed the laser point off his task, "The pacific fleet," He gestured to California, "Has reportedly left port," which could be something, or could be nothing. The Navy was the one branch Cornelia herself didn't have particularly strong ties to, it was probably part of the reason that the RAF had gotten the bulk of the commands for the new airships, in particular the upgraded Logres she'd inherited from Lelouch. "We haven't identified any major troop movements, so presumably," Ohgi hated speculations, but most of all especially when Lelouch was involved, "if he's going to do something its already in place." There he'd said it, and everybody had that look on their face when you tell them the bad guy probably has all of us right he wants us and there is nothing that can be done.
"Thank you Ohgi,"
Whatever else Kaguya was going to say was interrupted by the sliding three inch thick security doors opening allowing a tall, somewhat elderly European man into the room, "Good afternoon all, I am sure we have by this point seen the latest speech?"
"It's very nice to have you here," Here, that meant the question was why, and then he dropped the phrase that took everyone's attention.
He smiled gesturing to one of his aides to lay down a packet of data, "The European council's discussions with Lelouch vi Britannia we believe have been quite fruitful, recognizing Britannia's very sensible position on the matter, we would like to present the measure to disband the Research ban on Space exploration effective immediately."
-scene break-
Lelouch's speech the morning of the conference, while most people had been flying in, or just arriving to it, had been notably more concise. He'd focused primarily on directing attention to a new age of scientific and economic benefits from space travel, highlighted peaceful competition with the eurozone, and expanded trade and exchange between the Empire and its associates. First amongst peers, that was the way the media was addressing the plan both positively and negatively.
On the one hand Cornelia had positively despised being basically ignored when it came to establishing Britannian policy, something she'd have been having to fight to get her way with parliament for the last 4 years. Lelouch being back meant parliament was rather quiet, either because a sizable portion of the Lords, and even more so of commons were his supporters or because the ones opposed were more concerned about being killed.
Cornelia glowered at him, "So?" She didn't like any of this. The capital of Britannia's skies were more full than normal, and that was even with the security alert, and that was saying something. It was the Knights of the round, and Lelouch's speeches that were starting to get to her, every little gesture reminded her more and more of Schneziel when he wanted something. It was creepy, just how close the two had mannerisms likes each other.
"Oh the investment will be good for the economy, besides the Float system revolutionizes he ability to fly," And it had the only reason people hadn't built what Schneziel's Toromo had was because it was the kind of project that had required special concerns. The end of the last war had been enough to keep everyone from considering it, ultimately it'd been just like like the end of world war I when both sides had all been talking reduced armament, and then a few years later had started building up new weapons'. "The European Prometheus Project would have gone forward eventually, the only downside to this is the UFN presence in space. That's why we're going to get to the moon first, it'll be good for everyone involved." He started walking to the overhand, "What's our status?"
That was Lelouch's grand plan apparently first one to build up the ground based infrastructure to facilitate a race to the moon. Plasma thrust engines were nice, and that coupled with tightly controlled electromagnetic fields was basically what the energy wing float system was. Schneziel's Toromo might have managed to be first in space, and Damocles was the first installation in space, but landing on the moon from Earth would be a propaganda coup of immense value.
The officer looked up, "Three Ikaruga's are on final approach, broadcasting confirmed IFFs, and the EU delegation is just now clearing customs," which meant they'd be boarding the high speed rail line, and be here within ten minutes assuming no hold ups at customs. The UFN, and the EU still had a bit of pride to cling to, and it really wasn't an issue. The ships had been built in Zero gravity, and utilizing drive systems based on those of the Fortress Damocles the Eowyn had been built largely unconcerned for things like size constraints. As it was the Eowyn-class had never been intended to actually touch land. That Cornelia's forces were all firmly entrenched aboard his Imperial Guard Logres was not an issue either, no one was going to start a fight over Britannia's capital.
"So what is this all about Lelouch?"
He glanced at Kallen, "What heading off a world war? That's what this is about,"
"That's not all," It couldn't be all, Lelouch wanted something more than that, and she knew it, "What is in space that you want? What is up there that you want to push the world so hard for them to struggle to get at it?"
The Emperor shrugged genially, heading off a world war was what this summit happened to be about, but in the long term there were other goals. "Space is infinite, even if we never break the light speed barrier, which even that I'm starting to doubt," Because really with all the success of the float drive, and artificial gravity generated through extensive electromagnetic manipulation... well forever was really a long time, "infinite space means infinite resources, which does however mean sooner or later there is going to be a war."
"But..." That seemed completely contrary to what... ugh Kallen was very confused by this kind of response, "Wait what? How does that work I thought all of this was supposed to stop another major war isn't that what you've been saying."
A couple of the 'Loyalist Black Knights' shifted at the outburst, even as he shrugged, "it's just the way people are Kallen, that's why the UFN, and working with the EU is important, I am heading off a war. The EU isn't read the UFN can't take it without crumbling, and ultimately Britannia has too many problems of its own." So did the Black Knights... in truth Lelouch's loyalists well they were fragmented into ideological camps that without Lelouch well some of them would quickly devolve into little more than terrorist factions themselves. "That's why conferences likes these are important, its because situations like this lead to the second world war." He of course meant the war long ago, they called the Ascension conflict the last war. World War 3 as it was at other times called.
"Then what about Britannia?" It was Cornelia who was asking, "You are proposing billions of pounds worth of government investments,"
He nodded, "Of course the economic arms race all that money from sell material to help countries rebuild, we're staving off a potential economic crises, or a war." If governments' invested in space development it would for the short term mean less money going into the defense budget. It was a stop gap measure, that had always been the understanding, that was all it was, but it would buy time, and that was all he needed.
"The Ikaruga is making its landing now," Chimed in a warrant officer, "Confirming UFN Supreme Councilwoman Kaguya Sumeragi has arrived on Britannian soil." Well that was one more name to tick of the list of guests they were waiting to arrive in the capital.
-scene break-
The capital's international airport was like the rest of the new capital designed to impress. It was also very new because the old one had been demolished in the aftermath of the Damocles Incident, along with a sizable portion of the capital. It would have been a very scenic place to take pictures if not for the artificial shadow cast by the Albion-class battleship that was circling this part of the city accompanied by dozens of flying knightmare frames.
"Wait, wait I want to get a picture." Tamaki called out stopping as he got off the ramp, and rifling through his bag for his digital camera.
Minami groaned, "Tamaki we're not tourists, and besides just grab a screen cap off the internet later there are so many news camera's around here I'm sure they've got a hundred shots of whatever it is you want to take a picture of."
"Are you going to be okay with this Noboru?" Ohgi asked.
The Black Knight shrugged, "It's not a big deal, I'll go sweep the hotel make sure everything is clear just keep an eye out."
"Gotcha," Ohgi flashed a thumbs up at the man, and the security detachment, "Alright lets go," And he got about five steps before a large customs official with latex gloves held out a hand to stop.
The man cleared his throat, "Excuse I'm with Britannia customs enforcement, in the name of the Emperor, please step to the side and place all metallic items, firearms, knives, chemical agents, and electronic devices into the pin."
"Really?" Tamaki groaned, "Come one did you make the Europeans go through this?"
The customs official nodded, "Indeed,"
"Oh," Tamaki walked over the side and started emptying his bag causing everyone to stare, as amongst other things there was a satchel charge, a crowbar, a pair of handguns, a machine pistol, a clacker, a lighter, a set of chem lights sticks of varying sizes, a med pack, and a pair of radios. "What I like being prepared for all possibilities,"
Ohgi face palmed, "Thank god for diplomatic immunity," He muttered under his breath, and this was precisely what he didn't Tamaki out of the country when he could help it. "I've got this guys," Ohgi grabbed a pen and the stack of papers and started looking over them, "We'll store that stuff on the Ikaruga, yeah, I'm assuming Lady Sumeragi's security detachment is clear?"
"They already filled out the paperwork already," The man responded.
The head of the UFN Black Knights blinked, "We could fill this stuff out in advance?" Didn't even look like the ink of the paper was dry yet, "I didn't know that?" what kind of question were you planning to stab in the Emperor in the back anyway, who asked that... really.
Kaguya stepped forward, "I trust this will be over with before the summit begins?"
"It should be, the airport is connected directly by high speed rail line in order to facilitate transport to down town," It had been an addition added after Schneziel had nuked the capital, and rebuilding had been well underway.
-scene break-
The entirety of the conference delegates were split between two buildings on the opposite sides of town. Some of the delegates got to reside in a nice five star hotel, and others got the distinction of staying in a place. The Euro Council was already submitting the repeal treaty to its various constituent nations. The European Security Council though had other agendas for this, specifically the new assurance for freedom of maritime trade. The goal was to convince China to join in on the agreement.
"Minister Sharpe we have confirmed our room is secure" Colonel Andretti announced, "If you would please, this way, "State of the art secure. Each of the window panels are four inches thick blast shield glass, designed expressly for VIP protection." The Minister of Trade nodded sipping his dark beer, "Furthermore with the arrival of the UFN delegation, and their processing through customs the opening of the summit will occur at the campus of the Franklin College's astrophysics laboratory annex as planned."
The minister nodded, "Has there been any word about when we will be able to meet the Chinese delegation?" His aide de camp shook his head, "No, hmm pity about that," Still there would be time for discussions later, "Let me see the updated itinerary for the opening," He flipped through the couple of page pamphlet. It was about as detail as he expected it to be for what would basically be a scientific symposium Lelouch had lined up a bunch of experts in various scientific fields to start off with a discourse on the technical aspects of launching objects into low earth orbit. He stood up and walked to the window still sipping the bottle, and reading the pamphlet. Without the float system they'd have been dependent on chemical rockets for lift, and most scientists now agreed that that was something that would be a far more in depth project. He took the time to look over the high rise. He had planned to have just enough time to finish lunch, and then head to the campus. "I wonder how big a piece of the EU budget building shipyards in space will be?" It'd been easy to put things together of course you didn't build things like that, the Alpha contact, on Earth, and the Joint European Military Intelligence Taskforce under the European Security Council had pieced that together pretty quickly. "Ah well he wants to race for space development, we're game." They were still going to have to bully the Toromo Institute files from the UFN, but that'd be easy. It would getting a hold of Schneziel el Britannia that would be the hard thing, but it had to be done, there was no telling what the blonde man knew, and as it was the EU could not afford to take chances not in this climate.
-scene break-