Turn 3:
The Masked Knight Returns
October 20th, 2028 A.T.B.
United States of Japan
Japanese News Service Building
"This is Milly Ashford of JNS, we interrupt your normally scheduled programming for this alarming news broadcast." Milly began as the screen next to her flashed to show the live recorded video of the Government Bureau building being attacked by Knightmares. "We have confirmed reports that several critical government and military installations all throughout the Tokyo, Honshu, and Kyoto areas have been attacked. We do not know the total size of the attackers. But it can be confirmed that the Knightmares belong to the Black Knights, the defacto Military Power in the country."
The image switched to show two Knightmares engaging in combat. Blades swinging and blocking advances and parries. The Knightmares effectively in a dance for survival that appeared to have no end. That abruptly ceased when one of the Knightmares took a shell from a tank to it's chest. The Ejection system kicking in automatically, catapulting the Devicer Section from the wreckage of the Knightmare.
"Whether or not the Black Knights are truly behind the attack is uncertain as Leader Kaname Ohgi has yet to issue a statement." Milly raised a hand to her ear listening for a moment, "This just in! We are receiving confirmed reports that New Pendragon, the Capital City of the New Britannian Empire has also come under attack. Casualties are estimated to be in the thousands as the fighting commences. The Glaston Knights have been confirmed to be in the combat zone. Could these two attacks be connected? Stay with us as the situation develops!"
New Britannian Empire
Capital City, Pendragon
Suzaku placed his hand upon a palm reader and watched as a blue line of light moved slowly up and down his hand. "I've kept this hidden for many years. No one but Nunnally and myself have access to this room." He said looking over at Lelouch.
"What's in it?"
"A promise I wasn't able to keep." Suzaku replied as the wall in front of him separated with a hiss. The room had clearly not been used in some time. Dust fell from the door as it slowly slid upwards and out of sight. Suzaku walked forward, his boots echoing off of the floor as Lelouch began to follow him.
Lelouch couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in both confusion and curiosity. Suzaku sighed as he stopped moving and Lelouch heard him take a hold of something. He strained his eyes attempting to see exactly what he was holding but stopped when Suzaku spoke.
"Lelouch, why have you returned?"
The question wasn't unexpected, though the timing could have been better in Lelouch's mind. He didn't waver however as he returned with an answer, "Someone is working to undo the world I created. I intend to stop him. By any means necessary."
"Does that plan include Zero?"
Lelouch inhaled sharply, leave it to Suzaku to get directly to the point. "If what I fear is coming to pass then Zero will once again be needed to unite the people against an oncoming storm that will divide the world in two once again." He stepped forward, "For all the good I created, there are some that feel that I have done the world an injustice, tampering with the 'natural order' of things."
Suzaku turned, however nothing was in his hands now, whatever he had picked up he had let go of. Lelouch noted the concern in Suzaku's face as he stepped forward. "And what do you plan to sacrifice this time? Will Nunnally and I be forced to face both heartbreak and disappointment once again? Will you take away the things I love to satisfy your own goals again?"
Lelouch stepped forward, "I intend to fight to preserve what we have. Not destroy it once again. I will do everything I can to protect my family." He raised his hand and placed it on Suzaku's shoulder, "I give you my word. But the world needs Zero, I need your help Suzaku."
Suzaku paused for a moment as he looked into Lelouch's eyes. The truth plastered on them. He was afraid and for the right reasons this time. Not only was Nunnally in direct danger, but the world he sacrificed everything to create was. Whoever, whatever was responsible for the attacks had Lelouch dead in his sights. And if Nunnally and Suzaku or their child was in danger, whatever he was doing, was worth putting on hold. If one thing could be said for Lelouch, it was that his devotion to Nunnally was his sole driving force in life.
Suzaku turned away from Lelouch and walked further inside the room. A single podium stood in the center of the room and he stopped just before it. Popping up the lid that contained yet another palm scanner. He placed his hand upon the scanner, the blue light once again scanning his hand.
"I swore to Nunnally that I would never wear the mask of Zero again." Suzaku said as the scanner beeped and shut down, the pillar descending into the floor a moment later. Several blue lines appearing from the center of the room, tracing a pattern on the floor and up the walls. "And so Lelouch," The lights snapped on one at a time as computer screens activated, maps and radar screens appearing on many of them. However, it was the large glass case at the end of the room that Lelouch's eye caught onto, "I return to you what you created many years ago."
As Suzaku turned and stepped to the side, the uniform of Zero stood guard inside the case. The purple cloak adorned with golden trim and red interior spread wide inside like the wings of a hawk. The uniform itself remained unchanged with the exception of the right chest pocket bearing the crest of the Black Knights and the left of the New Britannian Empire.
As Lelouch slowly tore his gaze from the case his eyes met Suzaku's for a moment. Who in turn raised the mask of Zero upwards towards Lelouch. The Mask that bore a striking resemblance to that of a King in the game of chess. He looked at Suzaku who wore an expression that read of seriousness and desperation.
United States of Japan
Tokyo Outskirts
Great War Museum
Kallen stepped from the car and couldn't help but look behind herself. The smoke rising from the Tokyo area grew higher and higher into the sky. A firm reminder that if she didn't move quickly more people would be killed. She quickly turned around and began to run towards the large Museum made from an old Knightmare Hangar. Kallen couldn't help but accept the irony that a place of war would be turned into a place of remembrance.
As she reached the stairs Villetta caught up with her. "Did you see Ohgi or any of the others?" Villetta asked as she pushed open the large doors before them.
"No I didn't. Before I could properly look for them, one of our Knightmares started shooting at me." She replied quickly as she looked around. The various displays being mostly incomplete. However one specifically caught her attention, her mind and body betraying her as she walked towards it.
Inside the display was a scale model of the final battle fought between the Black Knights and Emperor Lelouch vi Britannia. The Damocles poised far in the rear with the Black Knights firmly charging down the center. Kallen's Guren surging forward at top speed. The motions matched by Lelouch's Avalon and Suzaku's Lancelot Albion surging forward. As she looked down at the model she bumped the display's control panel. A woman's voice filling the air a moment later.
"For the Second time in their history, the Black Knights were defeated. The first being during the Black Rebellion when their leader Zero, left the battle to pursue his younger sister, Nunnally vi Britannia. This time however, it was the same man that had formed their ranks originally, Lelouch vi Britannia, that defeated them."
Kallen sighed, it was the truth, maybe not the whole truth but it still summed up that day pretty well. She looked at Villetta who had stopped at the end of the hallway. Kallen quickly caught up to her as she activated the renovation area's doors. The sight that greeted them made Kallen pause to catch her breath. In front of them sat several Knightmare's, specifically those belonging to Kallen and the Four Holy Swords.
"Kallen! Villetta!" Nina called from beside them as she approached. "I did what you asked. I got the Guren ready." she said wiping sweat from her brow.
Villetta smiled, "Thank you. I know it probably wasn't easy scraping together an Energy Filler for the Guren."
"Actually, that was quite easy. Powering it was the issue." She replied waving a hand towards a rather odd looking device. "But I managed to recharge the Sekuradite core with the power from the building. It wasn't easy but it's done."
Kallen reached upward and into the top of her blouse, pulling the old Guren key from inside of it out. "Thank you Nina." she tightened her grip on the key and looked up at the crimson Knightmare. "It's my turn now..." As she walked up the ramp to the cockpit she quickly removed her black tunic and tossed it to the side. She remembered simply how hot it could get inside the cockpit of the Guren and she didn't intend to cook herself in the process of fighting.
She looked down inside the all too familiar cockpit and climbed inside. "Alright Guren...let's see if you can still roar..." She placed the key into the ignition slot and the many screens in front of her lit up. The main one displaying the flag of The United States of Japan before switching to a diagnostic display. She lifted the radio headset off of the nearby holder and rested it on her head. Flipping the radio online she first heard static but then the sudden cries from the Black Knights filled her ears.
She frowned at the sound. She switched to the Command channel and spoke, "This is Kallen, can anyone hear me?"
A brief moment of static and then, "Kallen? Where are you? What happened after the explosion?"
"Ohgi! Thank God you're okay!" Kallen replied happily as she continued running the start up checks on the Guren. "Villetta and I are at the Museum. Nina got the Guren ready to go and I'm nearly about to launch. Have you heard anything from Zero?"
"Not yet." Ohgi replied as several pops and whistles could be heard over the radio. "Kallen we're pinned down just outside Government Bureau building three."
"The hell is going on Ohgi? Why are our own people shooting at us?" Kallen asked as she began powering up the radar system, linking into the USJ's local coverage, noting several IFF's being promptly turned to orange boxes with the word "LOST" written over where a blue triangle used to be.
She heard him sigh over the radio, "None. It seems that we're not the only one's under attack either." His tone turned dark, "Pendragon is under siege as well. I can't get any other word than that, communications are shaky at best." Kallen's heartbeat stopped for a moment as an explosion filled her radio. "Kallen hurry, we're losing ground fast!"
Kallen heard the Energy Filler engage and the Guren began to rumble slightly. With a low whine the Knightmare rose from it's kneeling position and it's Landspinners kicked downward and locked. She couldn't help but grin, "I'm on my way!" She jammed the controls forward. The rubber tires of the Landspinners screamed as she launched forward. The Guren smashed through the gates of the old hangar, sending debris flying in all directions. Reaching forward she engaged the Float System and the Guren kicked into the air at full speed.
New Britannian Empire
Capital City, Pendragon
"Damn! They just keep coming!" Cornelia shouted as she drove her lance through yet another Knightmare. The pilots section ejected and tore free from the exploding wreckage. "Has anyone confirmed WHO we're fighting yet?"
"No Princess!" Gilford replied as his Knightmare landed to the right of Cornelia. "The attack seems to be coming from within by our own forces!" Gilford quickly sped to the right as his console screamed a warning of incoming fire. The building to his right exploded and another Knightmare plowed through it and attempted to impale him against another building. Spotting the new enemy, Cornelia brought her own Knightmare around, raising it's leg and smashing it directly into the side of the enemy. Knocking it away from Gilford, the enemy had no time to react as suddenly a blue blast of energy cut down the Knightmare.
Cornelia turned her Knightmare's head and activated her Factsphere, scanning the angle the blast had come from. Standing tall atop a building was a single white and gold Knightmare. "Lancelot Ultima..." She said as she watched it's float system wings deploy with a shimmering green pane. Right hand holding an improved VARIS Rifle and in it's left hand a blue energy sword.
"Princess Cornelia, Lord Gilford, are either of you hurt?" Suzaku asked as he straightened his flight-suit collar. His gaze reaching his tactical display. He frowned as he watched more and more friendly signals disappear and be replaced by LOST more than he'd like.
Cornelia straightened her Knightmare, "We're fine. However, it seems as if our own people are attacking us. Our IFF signals are making engaging the enemy units more difficult than anticipated."
"Our objective is to protect the Palace, Empress Nunnally is about to give the order for all civilians to evacuate there." Suzaku said as he checked his displays. "Stand by for new callsigns and orders. For now, assist in protecting the palace perimeter."
"Yes, My Lord!" Cornelia and Gilford replied in unison and sent their Knightmares in the direction of the palace. Suzaku frowned as he watched several Sutherlands speeding towards him with weapons raised. He turned the Lancelot towards them and fired his VARIS. The blue ball of hot energy spiraling towards them and exploding just moments before contact, spewing smaller balls of blue energy in all directions. The Sutherlands didn't even have a chance to react as they became peppered by the energy. Exploding moment later, only one managing to eject his pilots seat before the Knightmares exploded.
"Lelouch...whatever you plan to do...you better do it soon. It's going to get very bad out here if you don't-" He stopped himself short as his radar display suddenly changed. Friendly IFF signals suddenly changed from simply blue triangles to labeled units. Each unit was displayed with a letter and number according to rank. He couldn't help but chuckle at the irony behind Lelouch's thinking, to him, this truly was a giant game of chess. "Now all that's missing is-"
"ATTENTION ALL BRITANNIAN FORCES AND BLACK KNIGHTS!"
Suzaku smirked, "Is that."
As he spoke his camera display opened and Zero stood before the Flag of Britannia. "The enemy you fight is that of an interloper that has spread a cancer of lies that all governments are corrupt and solely interested in self gain! The people you are fighting are no longer your comrades! They oppose the world that has seen peace and would rather a world of chaos! Together we shall vanquish these vermin and protect the peace so many sacrificed to create!" As he spoke he took a single step forward and quickly threw open his cape as he raised his arms upwards with hands open wide, "I AM ZERO! FIGHT WITH ME OR STAND ALONE!"
((Authors Notes: Sorry this took so long to release! I was debating on making it longer but decided against it and thus the Battle for Tokyo and Pendragon will drag onwards for a little bit longer! I promise it won't be more than two more chapters at the most! In the mean time, if you enjoy the story please leave a review AND a follow! Thank you all who have read the story thus far and are sticking with it!))