Chapter 20: Upgrades 4

Looking around in the Knightmare hanger of the Chinese Federation, Rakshata gave a long sigh. "Even with our best efforts, we weren't able to make them all strong enough to combat Infinite's army." She said depressingly.

"Well that just means we have to try harder." Lloyd said enthusiastically.

Lloyd had come straight here after meeting with Suzaku along with Kallen and Nunnally. Kallen had gone to her quarters once she had stopped crying, but was now left in despair by herself. Lloyd did have some insecurities about everything that had happened and what he had been told, but he refused to show it and hid under the mask of his usual personality. Honestly, he knew Rakshata would be able to see through his guise and realize something was bothering him, but he also knew she wouldn't say anything because he was hiding it.

"Even if you say that, it all comes down to how well we work." Rakshata said, putting a finger to her forehead like she had a headache. "We've never been forced to think this fast, even when Lelouch was Zero. It's really starting to run me dry."

Suddenly, someone else spoke and walked up to Lloyd and Rakshata. "In regards to that, I think I might be able to help." The two of them turned and saw Xingke coming toward them with the young woman who had spoken; Nina Einstein.

A few months after Lelouch had been killed, Nina decided she wanted to continue working as a scientist, and wished to become employed within the Chinese Federation as their head mechanic for Knightmares. Her skills had already been well shown from creating F.L.E.I.J.A. and its countermeasure, so they had agreed to hire her almost immediately.

Compared to back then, Nina was now a well-composed young scientist, and her work was seen as quite substantial. "I believe you two are acquainted with Miss Nina Enstein." Xingke said and motioned to Nina

"I have a few ideas of my own I believe will benefit our fight." She told Lloyd and Rakshata.

"Well, your help is more than welcome, Miss Einstein." Rakshata said.

"Pleas, call me Nina." Nina told Rakshata.

"Yes, yes, then let's get started." Lloyd said with his arms held high.

"I'll leave you all to it." Xingke told them, giving a small bow and leaving the hanger.

"If you don't mind, I'd like to start off with the Shen Hu." Nina told Lloyd and Rakshata, and brought up its blueprint on the screen.

"What do you have in mind?" Rakshata asked.

"I understand you have added functions to the Shen Hu's Electronic Slash Harken to charge a Hydron blast through them. I would like to build upon that to make them lasers." Nina answered.

"Lasers?" Rakshata explained.

"Yes, adding a stark Hydron Cannon on the end of the Slash Harkens will enable the Shen Hu to be able to fight both close-combat and long range efficiently."

"I see, I see," Lloyd said with a grin, approving of the idea. "Aside from the Baryon Cannon, the Shen Hu does not have much in the way of long range combat capabilities, so this will give it a good fighting range expansion."

"The next one I would like to work on is the Guinevere." Nina told them, and switched the diagrams.

"What did you have in mind?" Rakshata asked.

"I understand that you two have been attempting to avoid putting any excess weight onto the Guinevere in order to assure that its speed can stay as high as possible." Nina stated first. "If you are that worried about diminishing its speed, then what we need to do is turn its speed into an attack of its own."

"Do you mean to say you plan to turn the energy wings into a weapon themselves?" Rakshata confirmed.

"Yes, by increasing the energy output of the energy wings, they can be used as a lethal weapon while not having to ever stop moving."

"Lovely idea, Nina." Lloyd said joyously.

"Now there is the Lancelot and the Corneli." Nina began, but then gave a pause as if thinking about something.

"Nina, is something wrong?" Rakshata asked her.

"Personally, I've always been worried about how the Reverse Rebellion has been being supplied with their KnightCrawlers all this time." Nina started, seemingly diverging from her original topic. "No matter how good a technician they have, it is questionable as to where their material for making their machines comes from."

"What are you saying?" Lloyd asked.

"I'm saying that wherever their machines come from, they seem to be able to make them much faster than us, and make them stronger. The Guinevere is our biggest asset as it is a 10th generation Knightmare. Out enemy realizes this as well, so I believe it is reasonable to expect their next attack to come prepared with 10th generations themselves." She stated, and now the two scientists saw where she was going. "I want to remodel the Lancelot and Corneli into 10th Generation Knightmares to prepare for this."

"I see, well more firepower like the 10th Gen.'s would certainly be helpful." Rakshata said to herself. "But if we did go through with this we'd have to be clear on what to do with their previous weaponry."

"Speed is their greatest weapon after all." Lloyd added. "We can't have too much holding the 10th Generations down, or they just become vulnerable."

"Not to worry, I already have the equipment issue figured out. If you just leave the two Knightmares to me, I can have them combat ready in no time." Nina told them with a smile.

"Excellent; so now that we have those out of the way… might I make an inquiry about our little project?"

"Yes, Professor Lloyd; everything has finally been completed." Nina answered.

"Project, what project?" Rakshata asked.

"The weapon I've been meaning to add onto the Guren." Lloyd told Rakshata. "I've had Nina here working on it since before the Reverse Rebellion began."

"Wait a minute, since before it began? Just what were planning on using this weapon for in the first place." Rakshata questioned.

"It had meant to be a safeguard for any future problems that might have occurred. Although I never thought that we would actually end up using it." Lloyd explained.

"Just what is this thing anyhow; are you finally going to tell me?" Rakshata asked, tired of being left out of the loop for so long.

"It's something even more devastating than the Hydron Cannon. So much so there isn't a defense we've been able to create that can defend against it." Lloyd answered with a sly look on his face.

Whatever it was, he was selling it pretty big. Rakshata's attention was completely wrapped around what Lloyd was saying. "Allow me to show you." Nina said and motioned toward a large door that opened up and a carrier machine drove slowly in carrying the mechanism the two of them had secretly created.

On the machine was its name, written out it huge golden letters. Upon reading those words, Rakshata couldn't believe her eyes. "It couldn't be… Just what have you two made!?" She asked, almost angry with the two of them for this.

"You don't need to worry, Rakshata." Nina assured her. "This weapon has gone through a great number of tests to ensure it is safe to use on the battlefield. There is a purpose for the designation it has been given following the primary title."

With Nina's words, Rakshata re-read the words and understood what the designation was supposed to represent. "This is… just incredible." She said, simply flabbergasted by the idea.

"In addition to this," Nina continued. "I have managed to recreate the nanotechnology our enemy uses in their Hydron Cannons perfectly. With this technology, I will be able to equip our entire army with the Bend-fire Hydron Cannons." She stated proudly, and both Rakshata and Lloyd were amazed by the young scientist whose genius had created these amazing weapon.

In Japan, Infinite, C.C., and Bai were walking across their Knightmare hanger hall while going through plans to improve their KnightCrawlers for the final battle. "I'm sure you know what my first concern for the upcoming battle is Bai." Infinite stated as they came to a stop in front of the Gawain.

"The 10th generation Knightmare, sir?" Bai confirmed.

"Yes, the Guinevere is a formidable weapon for our opponents. And that is precisely why I need you to remodel my KnightCrawler into a 10th generation form."

"Just the Gawain, sir?" Bai asked. "If you would like, I can turn as many of the KnightCrawlers into 10th Generations as need be. It would likely even become easier for our less experienced pilots to use them thanks to the lack of weaponry that would be equipped." He pointed out.

"No, just the Gawain." Infinite told Bai. "No matter how useful the 10th Generations are, we cannot be sacrificing too much power for speed. I am the only one who will require a 10th Generation model; everyone else will be needed to hold off Zero's army while I attack Zero himself. Once I have defeated Zero, victory can be said to be as good as ours."

"But I should at least also modify the main force's KnightCrawlers into 10th Generations as well." Bai insisted. "It is quite likely Zero's army will attempt to create more 10th Generation Knightmares. If we do not have more than just one, we may still be put at a disadvantage."

"You are not to modify any other KnightCrawler other than my personal Gawain into a 10th Generation model; that is an order, Bai!" Infinite told Bai, stressing the importance of each word.

Bai recalled their conversation before about how Infinite was worried about him acting outside his assigned duties. This direct order was probably a way of telling Bai he is not to do anything other than what he is told. "As you wish, Lord Infinite." Bai said, not arguing anymore on the subject. "So what shall I do with the rest of the KnightCrawlers?"

"C.C. will give you the details. I have other matters to attend to with overseeing the rule of Area 11." Infinite said, returning Japan to the name it was called when under Britannian rule.

With that said, Infinite walked away and left C.C. to handle prepping Bai on what else needed to be done. "Alright Bai, I need you to pay attention because I'm only going over this once." C.C. told Bai. "The main problem we will face when we launch for China is the fact that we cannot take all our forces so that we can keep a hold here in Area 11. To compensate for this, we need you to be able to create 200 auto-pilot units. Is that something you can do?" C.C. made sure, since they now had the knowledge Bai's Geass could not create something that exceeded the possible human capability.

Bai put his hand to his chin and closed his eyes. "Yes, I will be able to create that." He answered, looking back up at C.C. "In addition, I will be able to add the auto-pilot system directly into our existing KnightCrawlers if you would like."

"Yes, that will be fine, we should not need to keep too many of the KnightCrawlers here in order to keep up our rule. Give half the regular forces auto-pilot features, those who piloted them before will stay here and secure Area 11, as well at 3 of the Utsuri pilots. Other than that, the regular forces are not to have any upgrades added to them. This is mainly for the conservation of time to allow us to leave sooner."

"What kind of deadline am I working with here?" Bai asked, to make sure of his timeframe.

"We want to have everything ready in a month. Will you be able to make the necessary upgrades in that timeframe?"

"As long as I pace myself throughout the day instead of using my Geass power at one time of the day, I should be able to build more auto-pilot systems each day. If I do that, I should have everything prepared for the battle by that deadline." Bai answered.

"Very good; that is all you need to work on, no changes are to be made to any other of the main forces except for the Gawain, begin with the Gawain and then focus sole on the auto-pilot systems. As you as you are finished, we will set off for China."

"Understood," Bai answered.

With everything taken care of, C.C. left to leave Bai to his work. But as she walked away, she glanced back at him as he removed his contact lenses to begin using his Geass. She wondered what kind of secret Bai was keeping about the power of his Geass and what he planned to do by keeping it a secret. But no matter what she thought, it didn't change the fact they still needed him and his Geass until the final battle was over.

C.C. narrowed her eyes at Bai and contemplated what the best way to handle the situation would be, and then turned away and turned a corner out of view. "It will be the final battle, so there is nothing else to be done." She said to herself, and returned to prepare herself for the upcoming month.