Turn 01: The day a new empire was Born
"Geass is certainly an interesting power, from the innumerous tests I've performed to this day, I've come to the conclusion that the power the contract bestows on a person is defined by that person's greatest wish, therefore: Someone who gains the power to control others certainly wished for some sort of control, those who gain mind reading wished to peer into the hearts of others and so on. Research will continue." A peer into Geass, book found at the Brotherhood, author unknown.
More than a year passed since the death of the Absolute Emperor, Lelouch. Despite the secret gambit, Zero Requiem, the world is no nearer to peace than it was before the bloody war started in Japan that culminated in the implosion of the Britannian Empire. Despite the UFN's best efforts, not a single former area of the empire with the exception of Japan stayed in it, in every case one of the reasons given was: Britannia has a presence in the UFN. It must also be noted that a big part of the former EU also left the UFN on the same grounds.
Matters became worse as a league of ex-nobles of Britannia started a revolution intending to continue the kingdom's policy of prejudice and conquest, however, this revolution was soon crushed by the then princess Nunnally vi Britannia with the support of Cornelia li Britannia and the Black Knights, she went on to become the 100th Empress of Britannia. Despite the new empress' best efforts, the resentment of former areas against Britannia was not reduced in the least.
Inside the UFN matters were also unstable. Pushed mainly by the Reformed Empire of Grand Russia and the former EU members, the judgment of Prince Schneizel la Britannia found him guilty of crimes against humanity by abuse of the weapon FLEIJA and attempt to takeover of the world, his yeoman was considered an accomplice, both were condemned to lifetime imprisonment. Nina Einstein reprimanded as irresponsible but innocent, the judges agreed that she was manipulated by Schneizel; however she would never be allowed to do any kind of military-related research and any breaks to this resolution would mean lifetime imprisonment.
Even though the world was fragmented, a certain heady sense of peace did linger in the air, certainly nobody wished for war, but all wished for satisfaction to their wants and needs, and if war seemed the only viable path to it, then war it would be, therefore, peace would not last.
Nunnally looked out from her office's window of New Pendragon's Emperor Palace. She could see the newly finished Knightmare Stadium, the first of its kind, not for the first time she wondered if it was such a great idea after all, she looked at her older sister, Cornelia, who was looking through some papers. "Do you really think that making a knightmare jousting tournament is a good idea after all? Wouldn't that just incite development of better and deadlier models? Also, is it really safe" Cornelia looked at her sternly. "Nonsense Nunnally, knightmare are already a standard military piece. It's good that we can let people blow off some steam, besides I've already told that it is a good opportunity for you to choose a personal knight out of the national participants." Nunnally felt uncomfortable. "Sister!" Cornelia only smiled. "You need to preserve at least some semblance of tradition! I wouldn't be surprised if there were assassination attempts by now if you hadn't restored the nobility, even if only in name."
Nunnally sighed. "You are right, but, who do think will win the tournament?" Cornelia frowned at that. "I'm not sure, considering Kouzuki Kallen declined to participate because she still has to finish high school; Li Xingke's health has declined to the point where he really might die if he pilots a knightmare. And Tohdoh Kyoshiro is only participating in the team competition. Among the former Knights of round, Gino is good, probably a favorite I guess, as for Anya I have to admit I have always felt that she depended too much on Mordred's specs. All of the elite devicers are absent from the singles competition." It was Nunnally's turn to smile. "Are you and the Glaston Knights not participating also?" Cornelia blushed. "But only in the team competition. Ah! This might just be interesting. Huh? Only in the singles? Strange, I would think his project would be more suitable for teams, has he only finished one prototype after all these years?" She was looking at the entry of a technician and a single devicer. This picked Nunnally's interest. "Who? Please let me see. Technician: Professor Madd, nationality: Britannian. Devicer: Alice, nationality: Honorary Britannian. That does seem odd, for someone to declare themselves as honorary Britannian, and what lonely and serious eyes!" Cornelia seemed uncomfortable, as if not sure if Nunnally would see what she was about to say the same way as her.
"You might not know about it since you were forced to leave for Japan shortly after Marianne's death, but a few months after that, Charles approved of a new project which was supervised by Madd. It was called "The Irregulars", Madd gathered many children, all of them orphans of the newly conquered areas. From the moment they arrived, they were put into the knightmare simulators, the idea was to tailor knightmare frames specific to each of their abilities. After a few months, only four girls stayed in the program, all of them exceptional devicers. However, the project was cancelled after little over a year. Among the reasons was prejudice against the devicers themselves, who were then "numbers", despite boasting the title of honorary Britannians, the first time it was used. Also the costs for the custom knightmares were too high and considered not worth it. There were also those who though that their existence as an elite military unit might affect the prestige of the Knights of the Round. Shortly after the shut down Madd disappeared along with the four girls and the four projects, nobody knew where they had gone. To be honest I am quite curious about his story. This girl might have the same level of skill as Kouzuki Kallen or Li Xing Ku." Nunnally listened to it all with attention, and then seemed immersed in thoughts, she muttered. "I see."
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Tamaki was excited when they arrived at the New Pendragon Airport. "Wow, that's Britannia for you! So they built all of this in little more than a year huh. Hey, do you think Nunnally herself will be there to welcome us?" Chiba hit him in the head and spoke in an irritated tone. "Of course not you fool, she is the Empress now." Tohdoh interrupted both with his commanding tone. "Both of you behave; we are part of Japan's delegation to the commemorative tournament of one year of the Empress Nunnally's reign."
After they went through the customs, they met with Guilford and eventually entered a limo, with none other than the princess and first minister Cornelia. "I hope you all had a pleasant flight." Tohdoh nodded. "To what do we owe your presence Princess? I am sure the second most important person in Britannia has more to do than welcome us." Cornelia displayed a grin. "I just wanted to chat a bit with the enemies of the past and allies of now. Moreover, I wanted to try to persuade you to participate in the singles." Tamaki seemed outraged. "Hey, so I am not good eno-" "Tamaki, shut up." Tohdoh replied in a serious tone. "I'm sorry but unless you intend on participating yourself, I'm afraid there is no competition for me." Cornelia's grin only deepened. "What if I tell you that I have found somebody interesting among the participants, someone who has trained in knightmare fighting since a young age and didn't fight in the last war?" Tohdoh seemed interested. "Tell me more and I might change my mind."
"Do you think that this girl Cornelia was talking about is really that good?" Tamaki said as he made himself at home in their room inside of New Pendragon's palace of guests. Tohdoh thought for a second. "I'm not sure, according to Cornelia the four girls were prodigies, getting knights of the round levels of score, however, simulators back then and knightmares themselves were quite crude compared to today. But I guess it might be worth a try, well, worst case there is always Gino Weinberg."
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Lloyd Asplundh was distracted rechecking Tristan's systems. "Lloyd! Damn it. All that man cares about are Knightmares." His concentration broken by Cecile's insistent calling. "There is a man wanting to see you, name is Madd, said you would recognize him." Lloyd seemed confused. "Who?" Cecile sighed and wondered why did she still put up with him anymore, maybe she should have gone to the Tokyo university help Nina with her research of turning FLEIJA into an energy source, poor girl must be feeling nervous, since she wasn't allowed to even leave her house with an escort of soldiers around her. "He is a Knightmare Frame developer, said he wanted to chat a little." After a second of consideration his face lit up and he replied in his usual cheery tone. "Oh, yes, please let him in, I am sure there is much catching up to do."
"As always, you are a knightmare freak Lloyd. So, I heard you were the one who developed the Lancelot, quite a feat there." Lloyd tried not to sound so excited as he spoke, however failing as always. "Oh, yes, I am quite proud of that one, however, the devicer was a big part of it." He sighed. "If only I could find someone else as good as Suzaku was." Cecile called from down below. "Better not let Gino hear that Lloyd!" He replied cheerily as always. "Yes! Anyway, if you are here and brought a devicer to the tournament, does that mean that you have finished one of your custom Knightmare Frames? Took you long enough." Madd seemed embarrassed at that. "Well you see, to tell the truth, all of them are finished now, but I left the other three back in Brazil. They aren't really suitable for this kind of thing." Lloyd was surprised. "Brazil? Is that where you were all this time? Why?" Madd considered for a moment whether or not to tell the truth. "Well, initially I went there because a settled noble in partnership of a local noble offered to fund my research. But I stayed there because of the man that was already working for them." Lloyd seemed interested. "A developer of Knightmare Frames?" Madd's face turned grimly serious. "The man is a damned genius. Though all of the Knightmares were my concept, he implemented almost everything. He's a miracle worker Lloyd; it's almost as if with him, the limit is the imagination. Rumor was that he was the one responsible for the Hadron Cannon's first version and Gawain's Druid System." Lloyd felt definitely curious. "So at the time he was a number no? No wonder prince Schneizel refused to tell me who had made those. But, what is his name?"
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Z.Z. entered the knightmare bay, it was bustling with activity akin to a beehive. He shouted to the short dark-haired young man who was barking orders to people. "Paulo Lattes, so is everything ready for the day after tomorrow? I have told you numerous times that we must make it happen at the same time as that joke of a tournament the Britannian Empress is doing. The young man stopped barking orders and threw the spanner at Z.Z. hitting him squarely in the forehead. "Shut up you stupid immortal, I've already told you it's going to be ready in time, aside from that I work at my own pace. The princess' two-seater Jaci is ready. Unfortunately, the emperor's Nhanderu is far from ready. Now get outta here and let me work in peace."
Z.Z. walked out into the Brazilian summer's heat. He squashed angrily a passing fly. "That damned scientist, how dare he. Sure he is a damned prodigy, but he only really works went he wants and is prone to sudden bouts of depression. I can't believe we depend on him, but then again, who else would be able to create so many custom knightmares in such a short time? Ah! I want to see the fireworks they are going to make in the sky!"
He felt better as he entered the palace of Itamaraty, the ministry of Brazil's international relations; air conditioners were surely one of humanity's greatest inventions. He made his way to the offices and stopped in front of the minister's office, it read "Felipe Bragança".
"Everything will be ready in time he says?" Z.Z. nodded. "Yes, you need not worry yourself anymore, the day after tomorrow the slights committed against your noble lineage by this foolish oligarchy will be avenged." A vicious grin appeared in Bragança's face. "Finally, my family's honor will be reinstated, I will have revenge against the descendants of those who sold the country to Britannia, and then…" Z.Z. interrupted him with a fit of coughs. "But surely you have not forgotten the contract that I've made with your entire family? Break it and you won't be alive for long." Bragança's grin softened until it became a friendly smile. "Z.Z. old friend, how could I forget about that contract that you first made with my grandfather? It's thanks to Geass that we have come so far. Rest assured, your wish will also come true."
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Many people were gathering in the New Pendragon Stadium for the opening ceremony of the first knightmare jousting tournament, in commemoration of one year of the 100th Empress' reign. Milly Ashford had a feeling that this day would be probably almost as important as the day of the 99th Emperor's assassination. She set aside her nervousness as the cameraman gave her the signal and started talking. "Hi! This is Milly Ashford, covering the first Knightmare Frame Jousting Tournament! In a few minutes, the opening ceremony will start; this has been a long awaited event having been planned for months. Devicers from every member state of the UFN were invited by the 100th Empress, Nunnally vi Britannia, to participate in this friendly competition. As a bonus for the britannian participants, rumor says that the Empress has been looking for a Knight of One, who will be lucky enough to be picked for such an important position? Oh, look the Prime Minister Cornelia has appeared at the raised stage below the Imperial Box!" Cornelia strode with purpose to the microphone and spoke with all the grace and graveness that befit the situation.
"First I'd like to welcome all those who are watching and have been waiting for this competition, second I would like to welcome these brave men and women who shall show us their technique and their pride in this competition, and third, I hope you can all enjoy this little ceremony that we have prepared." She left the stage and the ceremony began. It lasted little over two hours, befit of any Olympics. At the end Cornelia appeared again, this time accompanied by the Empress herself, this time the Empress spoke, her soft and gentle voice ringing throughout the stadium.
"More than a year ago, my brother the 99th Emperor ascended to the throne of Britannia, conquered the world and, was killed. The years preceding this fact were bloody times indeed. At the time, this very same empire of Britannia ravaged the world under command of my father, prejudice was a national policy and britannians trod on other people. War was rampant be it for conquest or liberation. The very same country who housed me during my exile was torn by one of these. Each person is different, we each have an opinion of our own Conflict is an unavoidable part of human life, war however is not. Is Britannia now that it controls no territory outside its own any less of a country? Is her people less than they were? The answer is no, tyranny has no excuse, and it is this sort of intolerant behavior that causes war. This competition, is not only for entertainment, if possible I would like the people to look at the magnificent and deadly machines that will be used by the competitors and remember that they are actually tools of war, something which mustn't be forgotten. I hope we may all remember that pain that war means, and by that, avoid this sort of behavior; it is my sincerest wish that Britannia, which until a year ago was a beacon of despair to the world, becomes a beacon of hope and example of justice and righteousness to the world. I hereby declare open this tournament."
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Jeremiah felt desolate, he wasn't sure what would draw more curiosity from people around him, the hood he was using even though it was summer, or the mechanical eye that would be revealed if he removed it and might give away his identity. For over a year he searched for the man who attacked him and took away the body of his liege; however he found nothing wherever he looked for, after a few months he gave up and decided to follow the hint that the Code Bearer E.E. gave him and headed to South America. For some time he felt like he was finally making some progress, one person pointed to another and he moved, ever closer to his objective. However, the trail died at the Brazilian capital of Brasilia, the old britannian settlement in the country's center. Everywhere he looked or asked, it all pointed to a "shady member of the government" however, he was never able to pinpoint who that was, and it wouldn't do for him to interrogate and assassinate every single public servant and politician, he wasn't after all trying to start an international scandal, which would probably scare away his prey, unless he was extremely lucky.
He was surprised by a group of three Knightmares passing by, their models probably national though they seemed comparable to the seventh generation Vincent, one of them constantly blaring through its loudspeakers. "A curfew is now in effect, everyone please go home, a military operation is underway. A curfew is in effect…" This felt strange, was there some kind of coup underway? He decided to look for a TV somewhere, eventually running into an electronics store, upon entering it, he realized he hadn't been the only one with the same idea, however everything seemed the same as always. He forgot for a moment what he was doing as he saw one of the news channel which was covering the Knightmare tournament, Nunnaly was about to give her speech.
Suddenly every channel changed to a message. "This regular program will now be interrupted due to a declaration of extreme importance." The image stood still for a few minutes, it then changed to a man in regal clothes atop a stage in front of the former governor's palace, then the provisional building of the congress and presidency. Jeremiah immediately recognized the man as the former representative of the Brazilian government to the UFN: Felipe Bragança. A man and a woman were to his sides, both also in rich clothes. The realization of exactly who they were hit Jeremiah like a truck and he could barely hide his excitement and anger when he took a closer look at the man flanking Felipe Bragança, also a member of the Brazilian delegation to the UFN: The younger brother Augusto Bragança, therefore the woman was the little sister, Fernanda Bragança. But aside from that, something about them seemed ominous; would it be the name perhaps? The man in the middle started talking, and Jeremiah decided to listen, perhaps things would clear up.
"My people, I have here today before you happy news! The old, corrupt and decrepit government as of now is no more!" The man spoke gravely like a king, some phrases punctuated by gestures to increase the dramatic effect, and his words confirmed Jeremiah's suspicions of a Coup d'état. "No longer will the corrupted oligarchs hold back our glorious country! Today a lesson was taught to each of them, and from now on, Brazil shall no longer be a land of the trodden, of the humiliated, of the poor! Instead we shall now have freedom, pride and prosperity, this I promise you all from the bottom of my heart! But who am I to make such promises? First I will tell you all a story: Not so long ago, there were many countries in South America, one of them stood among the others, yes a great country indeed! And then, the hungry lion of Britannia reared its head, and set out to conquest the rest of America. The fair rulers of the great country soon set out to make alliances to resist against the offender. However after mere months of fighting, the country was sold out, yes! Greedy and influential men betrayed the rulers who called for resistance; they traded the land, its people and its pride. For what? Britannian citizenship! Britannian nobility! Favors! Surely you must know by now which country I am talking about. Yes! This very same Brazil! The last Emperor of Brazil, alongside its people was discarded by the members of the oligarchy, who chose Britannia. But fear not! Today this wrong is righted! For I, Felipe Bragança, descendant of that same emperor hereby declare the restoration of the Empire of Brasilis Lusitania! Gloria Brasilis!"
Jeremiah's greatest fears had come true, he remembered this story. During the revolution wars, it hadn't been only the Britannian royal family who fled to the new continent, the Portuguese also. There they established an empire not that much unlike Britannia's but in the end they were conquered during the second spree of Britannian conquest, bringing the entire continent of America under single rule. These three seemed skilled in politics and statesmanship, and if they were involved with Geass… Jeremiah fought the urge of planning Augusto Bragança's death, as a member of this new royal family he would probably be nigh untouchable. "I have a really bad feeling." He muttered as he exited the electronics store, as he did so, the new Emperor was still speaking.
Turn 01 end.