Dark Prince Chapter 34, a code geass fanfic

Chapter 34

Dark Prince

Helltanz's notes: Happy thanksgiving and what not. Here we go, here we go, here we go now. Lelouch acts like a bastard, not that that is uncommon.

Disclaimer: I don't own Code Geass.

Chapter begin

It was all quite amusing to the Dark Prince; Kallen was or perhaps it was the other way around that Chiba was the opposite of Kallen. In that the half Britannia found Lelouch in distate but revered Zero above all. Chiba to the contrary distrusted Zero, or so the dark haired teen had determined from their talks.

Lelouch on the other hand was a Brittanian; still to her was a more amiable person. None the less the two pilots got along well enough, when they weren't arguing about Zero.

The preparations for the Chinese Invasion had been going well so far. More than that in all likelihood Britannia would not even interfere when Lelouch retaliated. For the in regards to the world's most populous superpower it was a monarchy however the rightful ruler of the nation, the Emperess a girl no older than Suzaku's cousin Kaguya, was in charge officially in reality the High Eunuchs held power having subverted the authority of the monarchy for their own gain.

It was not to say that Britannia did not applaud the initiative but it give Lelouch as a member of the Royal Family a 'legal' and 'valid' reason to invade and conquer at least that was what the Britannians would say, not that he cared.

Todoh was here with Kaguya, she really was proving impressive in helping his plans along, now if only the rest of Kyoto could be as helpful.

"Your Zero," the knight of the Divine Wind remarked, not totally surprised, though what little surprise he had seemed to be of Lelouch himself rather than him being the masked leader. He laughed, though to eleventh prince's amusement Kaguya scolded him for such an action, with a kick in the shins.

After they had all taken their arranged seats, the dark haired royal answered. "I have Japan's well being in mind Todoh," Lelouch responded, "Though to be frank on the matter I head the entirety of the Black Knights." The Japanese Colonel didn't seem to pay much mind to the clarification.

"Something the likes of Hokaido," Todoh replied, the man was no idiot he probably had speculations as to the possibilities of Hokaido's backers. In all likilhood the JLF had been painfully aware of the northern region of Japan, and what it could possibly mean for their dreams of 'liberating' Area 11.

The Dark Prince confirmed this inqiury. He had no intention of denying this well known truth not to someone he did indeed seek to become his ally. "My objective brings peace and stability to the land can you say the same of the current method?"
"Japan's struggle will end," Todoh remarked in all candor, this was true. The work that the JLF and other such factions had done was no longer needed it didn't serve any further purpose. This was the big obstacle for if the Black Knights goal succeeded their would be some who would view the old terrorist factions as nothing more than impediments to bring about the new future.

Lelouch was aware of this fact, though it was his hope Todoh could be persuaded without the use of his Geass. None the less while Todoh being swayed to their side would be an advantage not all the other terrorist factions would simply lie down and die out peacefully, that would be asking for to much it would seem. "And so will the blatant corruption Britannia will tire of the constant struggle and the populous support justice by the time of the end of the conflict,"
"Japan will be whole again," Kaguya announced cheerfully. "We'll have our own government, our own military." That later part would be more out of the fact of neccesity with the increasing need of Britannia's military elsewhere letting the Japanese participate more in the armed force was a given, and even if Britannia did not it wouldn't matter not once the next phase of the plan secured China and Russia.

"Are the trade offs worth being subjects," Lelouch questioned, "Todoh soon the Chinese federation will attempt to conquer Japan that nation which is responsible for dealing refrain amongst the populous whose own population lives in squalor greater than the Japanese." The prince stated, "Prove to Britannia that the Japanese are not worthless show that your miracle has a purpose."

It was a tad on the dramatic side but it did convey the point Lelouch was intending to make to the Knight of the Divine Wind.

Kaguya after reminding him of the upcoming meeting with the rest of the Six Heads of Kyoto, that aforementioned group would expect them to work with Todoh and the Four Holy Swords in resolving the Osaka Human Traficing ring.

That could potentially complicate things, especially when Todoh added that he would be coming to one of the Pre operation briefings. In addition to the fact that he would be bringing the four holy swords.

Rakshata would be supplying them with the Gekka to replace the custom burais they had lost at Narita, something Lelouch would expect the Indian scientist to chide them for, but that was another matter entirely.

The Dark Prince was quite pleased his analyses were indeed proving to be indeed correct in this situation. Not that said predictions really held any relevance in the planning for the Osaka operation though it was still pleasing to know he was right.

Preparations had been made, however things were starting to get down to the wire. As far as time went until the invasion one week after the Osaka operation was scheduled to be carried out that was the expected time for the invasion.

At the same time that mission, the one to deal with the human trafficking based out of Osaka, was finally undergoing its final stages of preparations.

Lelouch as Zero sighed behind his mask as the two female aces present, Kallen and Chiba, bickered back and forth.

Positive impression or not she, Chiba, didn't like the idea of relying on Britannian assistance as they would be in this mission.

Besides that she also mistrusted Zero, which had been what had again set off the Half Britannian in the first place.

The group would be meeting up with Rakshata, at which time the 4 Holy Swords would be getting their new Knightmares.

After that there would be one last pre Op meeting once preparations were out of the way they would have the information needed to wipe out the Organized Crime in what was expected to be utter totality.

However keeping the Osaka group, rather getting them to maintain a level head an wait and not run off half cocked was becoming a nuisance.

The group did not want to wait, yet they didn't want to loose the Japanese who had been captured by the syndicate either.

Lelouch tapped his fingers patiently this little argument would die down soon enough, he surmised. When they had first arrived the Four Holy Swords had been well received by the groups.

Though at the same time the Black Knights were, some of them in the group, annoyed at Kyoto for suddenly barging in and forcing their way into being a part of this operation that was already in its final stages.

Kyoto was severely beginning in truth to get on his nerves, it wasn't Kaguya or Kirihara either but whomever else that had decided that Kyoto should have a role in the Osaka operation. Right now the Black Knights needed to maintain ties with Kyoto, for now, at least until the mess that would be the invasion of Kyushu was sorted out and dealt with once and for all.

In any event the final expected set of technical systems and weapons systems that they could develop and properly test before the invasion well the preparation of those items were almost ready soon enough to use in the Osaka operation. Of course that was excluding the Float System, that particular feature was highly unlikely to be ready in time for the operation in Osaka.

He glanced back at the arguing women. Chiba had amusingly enough jumped down Kallen's throat because of the latter's faith and confidence in the masked leader.

Todoh, though he had maintained his usual stonily straight face, had found it rather amusing as well.

As it stood the two Knightmare aces had been at it for a few minutes before one of Kallen's group decided to speak up. "Hey, Zero, uh shouldn't we err you know stop them?" Questioned the bespectacled Minami.

"What?" Tamaki questioned in surprise, "No way man this is great." The 'freedom fighter' protested smiling broadly.

Zero held up a gloved hand so as to address the concern. "Let them argue and get it out of their system," He remarked,

"Oi! Tamaki what the hell did you say?" Demanded Kallen furiously as she and Chiba rounded in unison.

Bad luck for the whiner it would it seem. It seemed that other than the subject of Zero the two really didn't have a problem working together and agreeing with one another.

The argument now thoroughly derailed the dark haired royal called the meeting back to order, after Tamaki had been scolded of course.

As things got back on track Lelouch had the latest reports distributed. So far they had determined was that the Syndicate had been able to acquire their Knightmares, as expected during the period of attacks in the interim between Zero's appearance and Cornelia's assuming of command in Area 11.

That month long debacle had resulted in large numbers of fights and more casualties, for Britannia at least, than in the whole of the Second Pacific war.

During that period of disorder a large number of Knightmares had gone missing or had been destroyed. Lelouch had made that while some fell into the hands of terrorists he hadn't wanted the problem to get too out of hand.

Thus on average six out of ten were damaged beyond repair, typically by geassed Britannian troops, so as to prevent those 'filthy barbarians from acquiring the weapon's of his majesty's army' or what not.

Britannia's Knightmare force, as a result of this 'sabotage' during the hit and runs, had been decreased by nearly a quarter during that period of time alone.

The syndicate had probably used the confusion to get their hands on the fifth generation frames, reports indicated they likely had a little over a company in strength.

With that in mind if they didn't capitalize on the advantage of surprise they might end up loosing trooped, precious troops, which would be needed for the repulsing the invasion of Kyushu by the Chinese Federation and their puppets.

The prince much to his fangirls at Ashford academy's horror had elected to skip. the first reason was that he was presently at an important meeting, and the second it was Clovis's blasted Artistic Expression Week. During the week Lelouch always ended up being a popular subject.

Lelouch was begiinning to loose patience. It was official some one in the Six Houses of Kyoto was deliberately supplying weapons, intelligence, and funds to the extremist factions, this of course couldn't be allowed if he was to contiue with the plans.

Though Kaguya getting a hold of Todoh was an unexpected boon. It also would have its draw backs. The Japanese miracle worker would be joining up with them on the Osaka operation, and the invasion of Kyushu.

For now however Lelouch was having to explain to the stony faced colonel the plan, in front of the Kyoto Houses.

Over all the intention was simply to locate the hostages and if possible rescue them. They would use the pretense of being buyers to siern the location after, which they would draw out the Syndicate forces and obliterate them.

The Sutherland like the Glasgow, or the Burai was a fairly versatile design. The Syndicate had removed much of the armor from their ill gotten Knightmares lowering the weight and making them thus easier to transport.

One common addition was the inclusion of a chest mounted machine, common to variations of both mass production lines. The Edinburgh being the only major variant that lacked one to counter infantry and light Armor but in a trade off did instead carry a more complete Electronic warfare counter measures system.

It was still up for debate whether the Millenial would accomadate such a machine gun, at least in regards to the final model. This since testing of the initial prototype batch was still ongoing. However given the situation they would be deployed during the invasion. It wasn't a likable situation, and it was regretable but the fact was they had little choice given the situation.

Every available unit would be needed to counter the estimated up to 1500 Chinese fourth generation knightmares.

Britannia had at present a little under half that arranged and ready for front line service, about six hundred thirty knightmares, with an additional two companies enroute.

Kyoto had scrounged up and rallied about two hundred or so, the number wasn't exactly clear given the nature of where the help was coming from. Though this was only thew number ready for the frontlines on that first day. Likely however Kyoto would be able to coordinate and supply reinforcements once the invasion started.

The the case of the 3 Black Knight Factions, including the two 'sets' of Istavianians they had been working frenziedly to get more than five hundred knightmares perational and ready for combat or built, in doing so they would be depriving reinforcements to the other factions however for right now their supplies could hold out.

As it stood the situation had changed dramatically from when Lelouch and his compatriots started the Black Knights. Three's faction had never been meant to need to see direct, heavy, military action that was for the Istavanian and Thorian factions in Japan, or the Xanthus or Pheonician Faction in the Arabian and European theaters of actions respectively. Roland like the remaining puritan faction had handled research and the buisness side of things.

"We're going to win." Kaguya stated reassuringly after the prince had finished his briefing. Despite being only a year his junior her confidence given the situation was child like and pure, much like Euphemia.

Lelouch banished the thought from his mind. He did not doubt their victory but at what cost it would come.

Kirihara seemed to be thinking along similar lines as the Dark Prince, but as knew as did the dark haired royal that allowing the chinese to gain a foot hold in Japan could not be allowed regardless of the cost it took to stop them.

The Chinese intended to bury them with number and because of it their knightmare forces quality could afford to lag. Still it was a fresh force.

If the Eunuchs who controlled the Chinese Federation suceeded in bringing more troops to bear they might still be able to win, but the casualites would be atrocious depending on just how many more were sent. It could very well eleveate the status to an inevitable phyrric victory at Kyushu.

This could force Leouch's hand and make him disolve the Chinese Federation into Civil war, a contigency he had been setting up. The other option was to involve Russia eariler than he had hoped he would have to.

Millie's favorite piece of classical literature; it wasn't completely lost on him, though the constant parrelels were rather irksome at the best of times.

Idly the Dark Prince watched on as Krihara contiued with the briefing, and so the eleventh prince continued to plot, adjusting his plans for the changes that had occurred recently.

Options to use against the Chinese varied, but ultimately he needed to weaken the Eunuchs. Among the planning for plots to do just that he had geassed a few sacrificial pieces, which couldbe used. These tokens would start a rebellion against the eunuchs while allowing his main Chinses troops, General Cao and Err Shi and those forces from being involved.

There was also the military district of India to consider in these plans. They wanted independence it would be easy to 'coax' them into a full blown revolt. This combined with other movements could cripple China's ability to move.
However establishing the 'board' would take time, other wise he would have already set them into motion already, some of the preparations were ready. None the less some was not all.

Kirihara finished his portion of the report / briefing, and Kaguya stood up to speak.

She had a point, though it probably hadn't been her intention, Suzaku could be a problem once all this was finished.

Chapter conclusion

Helltanz's notes: Yeah there you guys go,