Chapter 11

Dark Prince

Helltanz's notes: I've used several Terrorist groups, which well actually they haven't shown up in the posted version of the story but they are Shinto Fundamentalist groups from Lightning Fervor.

Kokoro no Bushi translates as heart (in the metaphorical sense) of the samurai.

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Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.

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Chapter begin

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Suzaku was alive, that was a good thing. Still here at Ashford academy, why was he here, he was in the Britannian military but did that instinctively mean he was an enemy. As far as questions went it was a no, perhaps he could convince Suzaku to join them.

Seven years, could mean the death of even the best of friendships, between a prince and a prime minister's son, between two young boys who had been forced to become men far too soon, there was too much, to high of a chance that they would face each other on opposite sides.

The question was if Suzaku was an enemy, if he sided with Charles, could Lelouch kill him, as easily, this wasn't some person on the other side Lelouch didn't know.

At least one good thing had occurred with the chaos of Suzaku's arrival, people seemed to forget, at least temporarily of the mess Villetta had caused at the school, though the eleventh prince was quite certain it was only a matter of time till Millie, most likely, brought the matter up. That would be a headache, because when Millie brought it up, it'd set his fangirls into a tizzy all over again.

Thank goodness the photo of the incident at the base, i.e. the kiss, was somewhat obscured no one good make out Lelouch in the photo, however now all kinds of rumors were floating around. Thankfully all those were centered on Cornelia, and her secret 'love interest'.

Even so it was unlikely Cornelia would allow it to distract her, but it did cause some issues, though at the same time the ensuing problem if such an event occurred again made the eleventh prince want to shoot the reporter just in case but that would cause to much of a stir, and so would an accident, now if the man was a boozer that might make things easier.

The up stir about Suzaku's nationality was really going too far, but Britannia's ingrained sense of superiority and distaste for the 'numbers' was legendary, particularly in Japan's case where resistance was rife. While there were bad cases of this in other areas it wasn't nearly as extreme as Area 11. The truth was the resistance fought back and just provoked Britannia to act out.

Even Lelouch's own posse was commenting on it, though much less on the bigoted side of things, Nina seemed the only one concerned, at least as far as irrational Xenophobia went, Shirley was being her usual cheerful self.

Lelouch stood up and walked by Suzaku, he paused at the doorway, the pilot of the Lancelot looked back to see the eleventh prince tug his collar up.

Lelouch leaned against the roof's railing, "Seven years since we used this signal," He remarked tugging his collar upwards. "Long time, huh?"

"Meeting on the roof, like the old days," Suzaku remarked.

"Yeah," The prince acknowledged.

"I'm glad you're okay I've been worried," admitted the pilot of the white seventh generation frame.

"Still alive and kicking," He joked, "You nearly died trying to protect me," The prince remarked solemnly.

"I was just trying to return the favor, from seven years ago," the two shared an uncomfortable silence, "What about the girl, the one from the capsule,"

"I don't know, we were separated shortly afterward," He paused "but you would know more about that," The Britannian questioned, fully aware that the information was unavailable to all but Clovis's inner circle,

"No," The prime minister's son conceded, "The only ones who knew anything are the inner circle of Prince Clovis's royal guard, and they haven't said anything." So the infantry hadn't been told, it made since.

Lelouch didn't expect they would, seeing as Cornelia didn't know about the incident with the capsule. "I see,"

"And your name? So do I still call you Lelouch?"
"My identity is a secret, even from most of the royal line; the common suspicion is that the eleventh prince died during the invasion of Japan," He remarked, "At school I go by the name Lelouch Lamperouge, its certainly not the best idea, using my mother's maiden name, admittedly." The two continued talking for a bit, from the sounds of it, Euphemia might have been involved in Suzaku's sudden attendance at Ashford. "as far as things go however Clovis knows I'm alive as does Cornelia," He remarked, even if both things were against his wishes and recent occurrences.

Suzaku nodded, "Does that mean you're a part of the governing body of Area 11?" He inquired, "is that why you got caught in Shinjuku?"

"No, no nothing like that, just that they know I'm alive," He responded shaking his head, "Other than the Britannian troops under my command I've got very little to do with the colonial government seeing as most people think I'm dead," Lelouch wanted desperately to mention Hokkaido, wanted to show him everything the Black Knights built there, and what progress they had made.

It was admittedly a potential risk sharing things with Suzaku, but at the same time telling him what he had was better than leaving him in the dark even if for the most part the information was inconsequential.

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Cornelia being here was an expected turn of events, her learning of his survival so soon, had neither been expected nor was it considered positive as far as the eleventh prince was concerned.

Lelouch looked over the file, admittedly even with his genius intellect, his comprehension of all the features on the new Knightmares was not total, albeit in this case it did not have to be. He knew what most of these parts were, and their effects, but more importantly he knew what he was keeping an eye on. He should after all he'd helped design, and program them.

"Jeremiah," Stated the prince into his radio. "Were starting the second battery of tests, now, be advised the weapons are live, start when you're ready,"

The Margrave voiced his assent.

Definitely having to avoid, at least actively, Cornelia had not been amongst his plans, and the eleventh prince loathed to imagine what it would be like when she informed Euphemia, and hence why he was wearing 'normal' clothes instead of his regular street clothes or his Ashford Academy uniform, oh and the obnoxious baseball cap.

The eleventh Prince suddenly leaned forward as something pushed down on his upper back. He grunted,

"You need to work on your disguises." Commented the witch of Britannia, the teen glanced over his shoulder to look at the purple haired woman, flanking her were her personal knight, Gilbert G.P. Guilford, and Andreas Darlton another of her subordinantes.

"So it would appear," He grunted, as he stood up. "Or Clovis sold me out in hopes of getting away with not immediately informing you," The prince commented, "but at the time things were and are-" She slapped him. 'As expected,' Lelouch thought wincing slightly. "Dangerous for Nunnally and myself," He continued. "Well take a seat, Jeremiah is testing the RPI 999 I supplied," not looking too troubled, even as he rubbed his cheek.

"Lelouch," She began, "Do you not trust us?" He'd broken through, half of him was giddy at the victory, this wasn't Cornelia the General; this was Cornelia, both as a sister and a woman. The other half of him was not quite so please by this turn of events.
"Trust humph," He replied, quashing every emotion down that was welling in him. "What makes you think that? Watch yourself out there Cornelia, if the Cardoc is completed, there is a high chance you and your entire unit will be destroyed," The prince remarked. "The RPI 209 Gloucester is technically a fifth generation frame, by contrast RPI 999 is prototype production type for a mass produced seventh generation, and unfortunately Zero and his radicals has control over several squads of first block Edinburghs, I think it would be wise if you watched what they can do, because from what I understand you lost three of your Gloucesters when you engaged the Blood of the Samurai faction, that is correct isn't it?" He inquired, well aware not only had three been damaged beyond restoration several had sustained damage due to a mix of improvised explosive devices and Sutherlands in the hands of the terrorist, some of whom adopted Kamikaze tactics as the battle progressed. Those tactics were understandable, the Blood of the Samurai had been protecting their dependents as well, and it was not the first time the Japanese had used suicide tactics.

The test proceeded demonstrating all of the Edinburgh's abilities, just knowing what it could do was only half the battle.

"How did it handle Jeremiah?" Inquired the prince.

"Excellent your highness," the former royal guard smiled immensely pleased with the next generation knightmare frame's performance.
Lelouch smirked, "Pity I couldn't have given you one of the command frames," He remarked. Every last one of the completed Trance II model Edinburgh Command units that had been produced in Japan, had been taken by White, and Sora for Operation Chevalier.

Cornelia as a general quickly returned to the forefront. "Eleventh Prince of the Lelouch vi Britannia how long until you can complete production of these Knightmares?" She questioned.

"So this is the feared Witch of Britannia?" He responded, shaking his head, "Do you honestly think I have the production capability of the empire," The prince replied, "I don't so far the only people who have access to these units were the Elite members of the Order of the Black Knights, and even then that only came about recently," Lelouch admitted, "That was only because I rushed them into service, Zero is admittedly very zealous to his objective, in truth he launched this little rant of his because he believes in that ideal, he's an Istvaanian after all,"

She took the bait, neatly side tracking her, "And what does that mean?" She demanded.

"Oh he'll go after all of them them all every last person who is corrupt and useless to the empire, and of course any one who tries to oppose his goals on the battlefield," Lelouch sighed, "But more than that what better way to solve that, presuming of course I'm right that it is in fact his goal, than to throw both factions against one another." He remarked. "But to answer your question, operating under normal production capabilites, meaning all of the other projects are running as normal, five units are completed a month." Albeit that wasn't true, but she did not need to know that Lelouch had no desire to equip Britannian's military with the Edinburghs. In truth at normal production seven could be produced from scratch a month at Hokkaido's factories, due to the fact several knightmare factories, however the mainstay of the current units were refit Sutherlands, except four units. "They aren't meant to be used for full on combat, they are test units meant for the development of the RPI 1000, as well support units for the MMI Knightmare Frame."

Cornelia scowled, no doubt irritated with him for the long winded explanation, "Lelouch was precisely are we looking at," She demanded, "And what is the MMI Knightmare Frame and the RPI 1000,"

"Why they are high performance seventh generation Knightmares," He responded, "The RPI 999 is the test bed for the 1000, effectively the Edinburgh is combat capable prototype that can be produced," All the information he was sharing while it seemed like a lot was all really quite inconsequential in the long run, "The MMI are command frames actually the sixth generation MMI program or the Mark Nemo would destroy the Lancelot in single combat," He remarked smugly.

Never mind that those units the 0 and the Mark Nemo were all ready at the point where all the kinks in the machines were worked out. For all the good Suzaku was at combat the upgraded Mark Nemo was a truly splendid war machine, and for his s the immortal who piloted it was scary.

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The prince looked up at the large seventh generation, the MMI 101 Cardoc Assault type, the machine was as its name Caradoc of the Knights of the Round Table, a strong arm, so to speak. The machine bore a gold trim around its primarily black paint job.

"It can be used for combat?" He inquired.

"Yes, though there is still the problem with the Hardon cannons, but we are working on that," Admitted Three.

Lelouch nodded, even with out the cannons being fully functional the Seventh generation Knightmare Frame was more than capable with its conventional weapons. "Though the defenses are functioning?" The Cardoc as its purpose was obliterating the enemy, was not very maneuverable or speed.

"Yes all the particle shields are installed. The Sakuradite frame should allow the unit some additional protection to the other areas."

The eleventh prince grunted, "We must be prepared to deal with the Lances, the chances of those doing severe damage are much higher than a slash harken or machine guns." He remarked seriously.

"Concerning the plans for the other MMI series?"
"We'll leave them as is for now, the vote was clear." He replied, "There is not much choice, not only do we lack the pilots we can't go about needlessly expending resources." The teen sighed, "As much as I would like to deploy them against, particularly just because the test data from the close combat specialization MMI Knightmare would allow us to improve on the RPI 1000, but we have few options if the plan is to proceed as it is intended,"

The executive nodded, "We have begun construction of the proper materials to construct the RPI 999 Edinburghs from scratch, however as you well know the MMI 303 Merlin Command type and the research for the RPI 1000 are taking the bulk of our attention, of course considering that the RPI 999 is merely a test bed for the Millennial series we will not have to make many changes to the equipment once we switch over to begin producing the RPI 1000 Mass Production Type."

"And there in lies the problem," The eleventh prince of the Empire stated, "The units will of course be similar but the mainstay of our time is going to be working out the kinks in the converted Knightmare Frames and constructed Knightmare Frames."

"Operation Chevalier will begin shortly, you highness," Three commented, "Though I don't like the idea of moving so many of our forces while Operation Camelot is ongoing," The executive remarked.

Lelouch nodded, "That's noted Roland, however its in end what will allow us to destroy them, and what about Cao?"

"He's managed to get one of the eunuch to the embassy,"

The leader of the Black Knights smirked, "Good we'll just have a little meet and greet, glad we got the whole securing the Embassies down first and foremost," He stated tucking a second pistol into the small of his back.

Infiltrating the Chinese Federation had always been problematic before now, the leadership of Military Zone of India was to closely aligned with Kyoto to truly subvert, and the Eunuchs controlled power too much to get anywhere. The Geass made is much simpler, so the fatigue was absolutely worth it.

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Lelouch looked up from cleaning the side arm, one of several he had procured, some since even before the conflict had begun. "Hello Viceroy Cornelia," He stated, setting the barrel aside. "I take it you've seen the paper, or perhaps the news," The prince suggested.

The Witch of Britannia flushed.

"Yes, I thought so," The teen remarked. "You would think they would have better things to do, but that's life being prominent in the royal court, you're blushing still," He drawled, "I doubt your reputation is in any danger,"

"That's not it,"
Lelouch glanced at her, "Well its irrelevant," He commented interlacing his fingers, "So is this business or a social call?" The prince inquired.

"Lelouch," The second princess began, "the Order of the Black Knights, you intend to avenge Marianne's death?"

"Yes, that is one of the goals," He admitted, having already informed Clovis likewise of the Order's particular objective. "Do you intend to stop me?"

"Why would I?" She asked, "What about Zero?"

"Stop him, Zero represents an ideal, beneath his mask in an idea, and ideas are bulletproof. His objective is the end of oppression and the Darwinism Charles is so fond of rallying the masses to," Lelouch drawled, "At least as far as racism and bigotry go. Go ahead and fight him, I doubt Zero can be stopped given the current actions of Britannia in relation to Area 11, so long as we-"
An explosion rocked the G1 mobile base cutting Lelouch off.

'The pawns have arrived,' Mused the prince,

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Chapter conclusion

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Helltanz's notes: Cornelia right now is just angry Lelouch didn't tell he was alive she'll cool down, hence why Lelouch arranged for things to stop suspicion from falling on him, as will be seen next episode, when 'Zero' makes an appearance while 'loyalist' Black Knights deploy to deal with the Kokoro no Bushi.

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