AN: Here ya go. Enjoy!
Arc III: The Positional Game
Part 1: Repositioning
December 7, 2017
Victoria Peak, Hong Kong
"The JLF has done exceedingly well. Phase 2 is now complete." A hooded figure said to a man, about mid-twenties, in a uniform that betrayed his importance and a grey-haired adult donning a business suit that hid his. "We have received clearance from the High Eunuchs to proceed to with Phase 3."
"The same cannot be said of your agents in Tokyo, it seems. They've not only failed to get at the Viceroy, but have also gotten wiped out - by our allies no less!" The older of the two fumed, wiping his forehead with a kerchief.
The mysterious figure tilted his head at the blustering politician, not appearing the least bit fazed by the accusation. "I fail to see how that is relevant to the discussion at hand, Minister Atsushi."
"It doesn't matter in any case. We are ready to proceed with the next step," interjected the soldier before tensions could escalate further. "Minister, with Miyazaki's capture, you can finally return to your homeland."
"It is as you say, General Lang, though I have my doubts if the JLF will accept such intrusions on their freedom calmly. These military types…they've been independent from civilian supervision for far too long."
Lang did not reply immediately, surveying the Victoria Harbor where hundreds of the Federation's 4th generation Gun-Ru models assembled in a neat square. An assortment of tanks and vehicles, mere blips because of the distance, moved here and there, creating a dizzyingly busy façade for the port. And docked on the harbor was the 3rd Pacific Fleet, easily the most technologically advanced in China's naval arsenal.
He turned around to face his compatriot, voice brimming with evident conviction. "That won't be a problem."
Rays of moonlight poured in through the windows, casting the room in a pale light, even as the celestial body hung low in the sky outside. The unmistakable outline of Lelouch vi Britannia stood over the opening, further limiting the already scarce amount of light in the room. He hid his eyes, who betrayed the warring emotions raging inside him, from the other occupant by turning his back on them, content with observing the palace guards patrol the perimeter instead.
"This wasn't quite what I expected waiting for me in Pendragon." Lelouch began in a controlled tone. "What happened in Miyazaki?"
"Forgive me, Master Lelouch." Sayoko answered, bowing subserviently. "The JLF conducted a purge of all Britannians in the city. At the time, I had no choice but to cooperate with Britannian Special Forces to ensure Mistress Nunnally would survive. Do you wish to dismiss me?"
Lelouch took a long, deep, calming breath. "You acted wisely under the circumstances." said the prince, turning to face the shinobi caretaker. "Besides, it appears I have miscalculated, so the fault would rest with me, if on anyone. The Emperor kept better tabs on Nunnally, far better than I originally thought. Her presence complicates things, but then again, when has our life ever been anything but?" He asked, a sardonic smile twisting his features.
"So no, I do not wish to dismiss you. Your service to my family is needed now, more than ever, Sayoko Shinozaki. The game has gotten all the more dangerous. The question is are you up for it?"
Without a moment's hesitation, Sayoko replied in her calm, reserved voice. "Of course, Master. Whatever is required of me."
"Thank you." Lelouch said, grateful for her loyalty in the face of increasing likelihood of her own mortality. "Keep my sister safe. She'll need a true friend in these trying times." He moved towards his desk and turned on the lamp resting on it. "However, an Eleven such as Sayoko Shinozaki has no place guarding a Princess of Britannia. For all intents and purposes, she died in Miyazaki."
The two locked eyes for a moment, an understanding being exchanged between them. Then, the maid flashed a charming smile, as her features seemed to morph into that of a Britannian. "Pleased to meet you, Your Highness. Stephanie Saxton, at your service."
"The Empire appreciates your dedication to the cause, Ms. Saxton. I'll have your papers ready by tomorrow morning. You'll do well as the personal assistant to a Princess of Britannia." Lelouch said, not the least bit fazed by the transformation. "I shall inform the staff tomorrow of your arrival." He told her with a reassuring nod. "Please send Nunnally in."
The maid curtseyed, before showing herself out and aiding the handicapped royal sister of her prince in.
The door shut behind Nunnally with a soft hiss, and the two siblings were left alone. Lelouch's eyes squinted in the dim lighting as he assessed her physical state. His look of concern melted into one of relief as he saw nothing alarming about her health.
Though bereft of sight, the female vi Britannia was keenly aware when her brother was mother henning her person – an ability she had gained from having been subject to such scrutiny for years. Sweet it may be that her brother genuinely cared, she felt it was too much at times.
"I'm sorry." Lelouch began. "If I had known-"
"Stop it." Nunnally cut him off, sounding slightly irked and a tad bit more forceful than her usual timid self. With crossed arms and scrunched face, she continued. "You're not omniscient, Lelouch. No one, not even you, can plan for everything. I would be the last person to expect this from you."
A muffled sound erupted from his throat and Nunnally was all too suddenly aware how dearly her brother had missed her, if the tightness of his arms and the wet spots forming on her shoulder were any indications. "I almost lost you." was all he said as tears continued to flow down freely.
"What's important is that we're together again, big brother." Nunnally replied with her own embrace, patting his back in a comforting manner.
He said nothing, but continued to weep. A flood of emotions breaking the dam he had built inside himself, threatening to overwhelm his entire being.
Brother and sister basked in the silence and moonlight, thankful to whatever deity existed that each had returned to the other safely. They would face the future – together.
Fake with right hook. Grab deflecting arm with left hand. Kick at exposed ribs. Twist arm behind back. Finally, a gentle prod.
Kallen watched as the unfortunate wretch assigned as her partner for today's spar flopped onto the matted floor, groaning. The "fight", if it could be called that, had lasted all of 4 seconds.
"Again." She ordered her punching bag, urging him to get up for another round of punishment. The rebel wannabe reluctantly stood and rotated his shoulder experimentally, an act that elicited a sharp wince. Posing with a hand on her hip, the ace fighter looked at the trainees she had been assigned to teach distastefully. Their conditioning was even worse than she had expected – which was not all that high to begin with.
In the corner, a green-haired witch observed the events with a faint interest, all the while munching on the only food fit for the gods – pizza. "You really shouldn't keep it up for this long." She commented, much to the relief of the students.
Unfortunately for them, C.C. was referring to Kallen's Geass, not their training.
"Why?" Kallen asked sharply. "It's my job to get these men and women into shape. If they can't endure this, then they don't stand a chance out there, where the Britannians will shoot to kill."
Some of the trainees shuddered involuntarily, taken aback by the fierceness in her tone. Many of them had underestimated her simply because of her youth, but any illusions they still had about her were shattered under the combination of her painful spars and her abrasive, drill sergeant-esque personality. Most people couldn't inflect their voices with that much venom, much less at the tender age of 17.
Then again, Kallen wasn't most people. It made one wonder just what exactly this girl had been through.
"Again!" She barked, not cutting her charges any slack. Her sparring mate took up a ready position and accelerated at her before Kallen could tell him to begin. Not that it mattered of course, with her brain synapses running on overdrive to process her surroundings on a per frame basis that could put most supercomputers to shame.
Kallen's hand was already moving to block his wild and reckless assault when a sudden surge of pain flared in her brain, blurring her senses momentarily. The block she still managed to pull off despite the unexpected handicap due to her body's momentum.
The follow up haymaker she could not even see though as her sight did not come back in time. To the eternal surprise of everyone in the room, Kallen Kozuki was knocked down by some no name trainee when they had seen her stop faster and stronger punches by a mile away.
Another wave of pain seared her brain, as if hundreds of mini-explosions occurred inside of her skull simultaneously. Kallen let loose a guttural howl that seemed to release everyone from their paralysis and the assigned medics rushed to her side.
"What's wrong with her?"
"I don't know! Physically, she's fine. It's like she's having some sort of mental breakdown!"
"Sedate her then! And someone tell Ohgi about this!"
With a heavy sigh, C.C. finished up the last of her pizza. After sparing the now empty box a longing look, she casually made her way towards Kallen and pushed aside the two useless medics. She gave Kallen's forehead a light tap with her index finger, and, as if by magic, the pain stopped immediately. "She won't be needing that sedative anymore." C.C. stated in a deadpanned fashion, not bothering to face the medics trying to stick a needle in the redhead's arm. "Just give her a few minutes."
The aides paused, before acquiescing to the witch's orders. The screaming had stopped after all.
It took more than a few minutes, but Kallen did regain her five senses soon enough. She glared at her partner - not the physically pathetic one, but the annoying one. "What was that?" She demanded, keenly aware of the people still in the room. It resulted in coming out more like a whispered hiss.
"I told you to stop." C.C. said simply. "You stressed yourself out from overexertion. Keep it up too long and that happens. Capiche?"
Kallen nodded her head, a scowl still her dominant feature. "Anything else I should be aware of?"
C.C. tilted her head. "Fatigue causes death." She answered vaguely, which left the trainees looking confused at the seeming randomness of their conversation and completely failing to grasp the meaning hidden between the lines.
The message was loud and clear to Kallen though. Don't overdo it. "Give it a few days. We'll talk more later." The immortal instructed, giving her a patronizing pat on the head. Then, with a gesture towards the object of Kallen's stress relief, she continued. "Now, go get them."
The trainees collectively paled, cursing the strange green haired woman to the deepest pits of hell.
December 10, 2017
Imperial Joint Command Center "Octagon", Pendragon
"Good morning, Colonel Ryze, sir!" Lelouch barked, reflexively saluting as he saw his CO, wondering why he had a stupid grin plastered on his face.
"At ease, Lieutenant Colonel." Ryze answered, leniently foregoing proper military decorum by letting a subordinate lower his hand before the salute was returned. It spoke volumes of how close they had grown in Tunis. "And it's Brigadier General now." He informed him proudly, tilting so that his shoulder faced him. Low and behold, a single golden star adorned the epaulette of his uniform.
"Congratulation, sir." Lelouch said, flashing him a genuinely warm smile. Not just because his boss was moving up, but also because it created a vacancy that could now be filled, allowing for his own advancement in the ranks. "Have they assigned you command of the 1st Brigade?"
"Nope, I got moved over to the 2nd Brigade actually." Ryze informed him. Seeing the look of worry, he hurried to reassure him. "They haven't filled in that spot just yet last I heard. The smart money would be on them promoting one of the younger officers to the post instead of us oldies. With so many of division command wiped out, they only have so many candidates to choose from."
His former CO leaned in close in a conspiratory manner. Taking care to speak in a hushed voice to prevent eavesdropping, he continued. "I've managed to sneak a peek at the officers being considered for the post. You're a shoe in. None of those others could hold a candle to your record, royal status aside. Congratulations to you as well, Lt. Col. vi Britannia." His voice returned to its normal volume for the last part.
"I wouldn't count my chickens before they've hatched, sir." Lelouch chastised philosophically, though internally giddy at the prospect of finally becoming a general, even if it was just Brigadier General. "But I appreciate the vote of confidence. Being assigned to 2nd Brigade means you'll be moving to Quebec City then?"
"That's right. You're also heading up north soon, aren't you? For the parade in Montreal?"
"Yes sir, in three days time." answered Lelouch.
"Hopefully, we'll see each other up there then." said Ryze.
"It's extremely likely. After all, it isn't too uncommon for Brigades to hold joint training sessions especially when the base cities are close by."
Ryze winked at him knowingly. "That's true enough." He extended a hand towards his former staffer. "Good luck with the board, vi Britannia."
"Thank you, sir." Lelouch said, but before he could shake the outstretched hand to affirm the brotherhood only comrades-in-arms could share, his phone rang. Shooting Ryze an apologetic smile, he answered the annoying, ringing device.
"This is vi Britannia."
"Lelouch, I'm calling in the favor for the SMAKDOWNs."
EU High Command, Strasbourg, France
"Intelligence reports indicate that the Chinese Federation 3rd Pacific Fleet with elements from the Dragon Army have made landfall in Hokkaido, northern Japan. If taken in conjunction with the takeover of Kyushu by the independence movement known as the Japanese Liberation Front or JLF, then Britannian forces have effectively been surrounded.
"A few hours ago, we received word that a task force of the Empire's 1st Oceania Fleet stationed in Honshu engaged Federation warships with support from elements of the air force. Estimates place the HBE's losses at 5 capital ships including the aircraft carrier HMS Bulwark, and close to 400 planes. In addition, HMS Sentinel and Guardian suffered extensive damage that will keep them at port for the next few weeks. The 3rd Pacific Fleet, on the other hand, lost bothof their aircraft carriers and 80% of their attached air force. While the Federation lost fewer ships, this weakness created by the lack of air support has made the Fleet's position untenable. They are expected to withdraw from Tsugaru Strait for safer waters, leaving Hokkaido open to naval incursions. This concludes the Directorate's report on the Asia-Pacific Theatre."
Heinz Guderian, Chief Marshall of the EU and arguably the most powerful man in the Union, nodded in thanks to his staff for his summary of the Military Intelligence Directorate's report before turning to address his assembled subordinates. "Thoughts?" He asked, opening up the floor to them as he stood to pour himself a glass of bourbon.
"Britannia isn't likely to take this lying down. Escalation to a full blown declaration of war is probable at this point, but will also depend on exactly who their Emperor sends to deal with the situation." Rommel answered after a moment of thought.
Claude Auchinleck, overall commander of the Russian Theatre's defense, nodded to show his agreement with the Desert Fox's analysis. "While the Empire's losses have been largely disproportionate to those suffered by the Federation, the battle resulted in a strategic victory for Britannia as they have gained aerial superiority. This could very well win them the war in the hands of the right general."
"I disagree." came Charles de Gaulle's heavily accented, French voice. "We seem to be forgetting that there is the matter of the rebels in the south. If the Federation is allied with them, then we can be assured that they are also being supplied. If our intelligence is to be believed, than Britannia doesn't have the manpower necessary to retake the islands without risking losing even more ground, especially with the likelihood of populist and nationalist insurrections springing up in Honshu."
"Then it's a stalemate." Auchinleck concluded succinctly.
"Indeed. We shall have to wait and see how the situation there develops." Guderian said, speaking up at last. "If the Federation proves to be enough of a distraction, we could blitz our way through Britannian held Africa and finally secure the Mediterranean."
Rommel looked vaguely conflicted, seemingly struggling with himself, before finally speaking his mind. "I don't think that will ever be possible. Britannian Knightmare development seems to have been jumpstarted by vi Britannia. He was the pioneer of the innovative and incredibly effective Argyl model. Based on what little we do know of him, he's not likely to stop at this and it won't be long until the Empire begins fielding models that vastly outstrip ours again."
"What exactly are you saying, Rommel?" Guderian asked his fellow German field marshal.
"I'm saying we have no choice now if we want to defeat the Empire." Rommel sat there, stoic and grim. "I move to initiate Project Varangian."
December 15, 2017
Montreal, Quebec, Area 2
"Is this really necessary?" an exasperated Suzaku tugged uncomfortably at the incredibly tight fitting uniform that threatened to strangle him at any moment. "I mean what's the point of this parade anyway?"
Gottwald shot him an annoyed look, as if silently chastising his subordinate for stepping out of line with his comment, but kept quiet nonetheless. Lelouch wasn't any better, preferring to answer with a very meaningful "hmm" and a knowing smile. It was Eric, undoubtedly the most easygoing of the lot, that decided to take pity on the least politically informed of them.
Slinging an arm around the still fidgeting Kururugi, Maximillan explained. "Do you watch the news Suzaku?" He continued after the Eleven nodded to show that he did. "Well, you should know that the Chinese Federation recently sent their army into Area 11 to help the local rebels there. The uprising there is gaining momentum right now. This parade is as much a show of force for the people as it is a warning to the Federation." Eric's smile turned into a more somber one. "We're sending them a message that says we just kicked the asses of those Europeans while defending our land. We're saying that we have the ability to fight and, more perhaps more importantly, we have the political will to fight."
"Of course, this is just my analysis of the interactions going on among the Big Three. I'm sure there's more to this than just that. For example, the reason you are wearing such a tight fitting uniform is that you have to look the sharpest among all of us. Being a member of a royal family's entourage, a military guard no less to a hero of the Empire places a lot of attention on you. Your background as a resident of Area 11 turns that attention into scrutiny. Prince Lelouch's enemies will be looking for a way to bring him down, and you are considered as the weakest link right now. Your performance for the people today is of vital importance, Suzaku."
"An astute analysis, Eric." Lelouch praised, giving the young noble an approving nod. "There's another layer to this, however. This isn't just a warning to the Federation though; it's also a warning to my political enemies. I'm no longer the helpless boy I was from a few years ago and I'm more than capable in my own right now that I'm a general. There's also a reason why the three of you are getting ordained today." He pointed at Jeremiah, "Knight of Honor," at Eric, "Captain of the Royal Guard," and finally, his finger landed on Suzaku, "Captain of the Zero Squad. Can any of you tell me why I chose your roles in this order and not some other?" He asked, posing the question as a college professor would to a room of students.
A knock on the door interrupted the impromptu political lesson. The electronic door swung open to reveal a member of Lelouch's military guard with the symbolic red and black band, and a bespectacled, purple-haired oddity in a lab outfit. "Excuse me for bothering you, Your Highness, but an Earl Lloyd Asplund is here to see you."
The prince replied with a thankful smile and waved the soldier off, before turning to observe the eccentric noble that his best friend had a chance encounter with at the recent Imperial Ball. "Ah! Prince Lelouch, you're looking quite the part of Prince Charming today."
Lelouch raised a brow at him. "Forgive me, but I'm a little short on time right now Lloyd."
"Yet you still have enough time to conduct a lecture on the nuisances of your little power play." The Earl rebutted, calling him out and displaying a surprising amount of familiarity.
Lelouch smirked shamelessly. "Touché, what can I do for you?"
"Really, it's more of what I can do for you." Lloyd replied, dangling a knightmare key from his index finger. "Voila! One AFK-158 ready for you kiddies to play with. Keep in mind, I only had enough time to get its basic functions repaired. Movement is the upper limit of its capabilities." He informed them as he tossed Suzaku the keys. He moved to address the Prince again. "Told you I could get it done in a week." The scientist gloated, sticking a tongue out at the prince. "Do I get Kururugi now?"
"Of course. A deal is a deal, but I wouldn't be too excited if I were you." Lelouch warned, aware of how much the man loved his creations. "Suzaku has a remarkable aptitude for wrecking his toys when placed in…how did you phrase it...'spectacularly fucked up situations'."
Lloyd waved him away excited. "An acceptable risk in the pursuit of science. It was a pleasure doing business with you, Your Highness." He flashed a grin at Suzaku, so feral that it bordered being pedophilic with the right lawyer. "We're going to have so much fun together, Kururugi." Suzaku did not look thrilled at the prospect.
As the scientist/engineer parted ways with them, he left a few words of wisdom in his wake. "By the way, the answer to the Prince's question is pretty simple. Suzaku here cannot be Knight of Honor as that places him in a position that would cause public outrage, especially with people questioning his loyalty given the Area 11 insurrection. However, leaving the situation as is would be an even worse alternative. Hence, being appointed as head of the Prince's personal KMF battle squad is the perfect post for while it reaffirms that the Prince has faith in Suzaku, it doesn't place him in a role of absolute trust that would, no doubt, be criticized. Jerry here gets to play Knight because he's the sensible candidate as most senior. And, of course, poor Eric can't be left without a spot if all his coworkers are getting bumped up the ladder. Daddy dearest would be outraged, hence Captain of the Royal Guard. Anyway, Toodles! Things to do, places to be! You know how it is."
In his wake were three sets of dropped jaws and shocked looks, and one chuckling prince. "How-what-huh?" Eric muttered, the pinnacle of oratorical excellence.
"Sociopath the Earl may be, but he's a high functioning sociopath." Lelouch remarked. "He has incredible aptitude for KMF engineering, critical thinking, information analysis and reasoning. Making an enemy out of him isn't a wise thing to do. Rather, keeping our interests aligned is the best way to deal with a man motivated purely by his work."
"Now gentlemen, let the show begin."
"Here comes His Royal Highness Brigadier General Lelouch vi Britannia, the Earl of Montreal leading the famed and much acclaimed 2nd Quebec imperial Regiment. Doesn't he look dashing in that uniform of his?" The TV reporter commented.
In the student council room of Ashford Academy, the members of said council were gathered to watch the parade. Even the newly inducted Kallen Kozuki, who normally wasn't even in school to begin with, was present. Admittedly, she looked significantly less enthusiastic about the whole affair and was only attending under duress.
"Indeed he does. I'm sure the ladies out there agree that the Prince is quite a catch. He's certainly not going to lack any number of proposals." This elicited a scowl from the normally timid and sweet Shirley.
"Rumor has it that Lelouch has received no less than twenty six formal offers since arriving at the Capital from the frontlines." Milly was quick to share, ever the gossip. Shirley offered her a glare that screamed "You're not making this any better."
Kallen looked at them with a mix of disdain and curiosity. Disdain because she found the very idea of falling in love with a prince was pathetic; curiosity because this information that their "beloved" president was spouting wasn't exactly general information. Which led to the million pound question – how did she know what she knew?
"Say, what's that knightmare model trailing behind him? It doesn't look familiar to me Julie."
At this, Kallen's interest noticeably peaked.
"Why this is the Ashford Foundation's Argyl Knightmare, sponsored by the Prince himself. This very model is one of the reasons why the 2nd Quebec was one of the most successful during the war, Giles. Word on the street is that these are but the prototype model, and that the military has commissioned the Ashfords for mass production of the unit."
Everyone turned to look at the resident Ashford, who flourished under the spotlight. "It's true. Grandfather was telling me about it just the other night that an order had come in for a hundred new units." She stated with a hint of pride.
"According to official military channels, this model was tested by the Eleventh Prince's personal KMF combat squad during the Area 17 Pacification Campaign – the so called 'Zero Squad'. There was some controversy about the membership of this unit as Prince Lelouch pushed for integration of numbers and nobles alike to serve as equals."
"Now Julie, personally I don't see why there's a problem with that. After all, this does seem like a good step towards full integration of the Areas."
This caught everyone's attention once more. It wasn't everyday that announcers would be so bold as to discuss their own political and ideological beliefs during a live news casting; much less one that doubled as government pro war propaganda.
"Well, there are some unofficial stories spreading of traitorous numbers serving in Tunis which almost caused a full rout. Nothing's confirmed yet as the military has yet to make a statement."
Kallen grimaced internally. If that story turned out to be true, Britannian reprisal against numbers in the Areas would only intensify. Enough innocents had suffered for the mistakes of the few. She banished such thoughts from her head to refocus on the screen to see Lelouch step up on a stage, ready to address the adoring crowd.
Despite her inherent disgust at the Britannian system and its proponents, chief of which was the head of the state and his very extended family, she couldn't help but feel a bit mesmerized by the silent charm the prince exuded. He practically oozed charisma and it was evident in how passionately the people were cheering that it was not only her being affected.
Lelouch waved to his "fans", flashing a friendly smile that held none of the unspoken superiority complex most nobles had.
"Friends, Britannians, countrymen, lend me your ears!" He opened with his personal twist on the classic line. "War…is a scourge. A force of nature bent on destruction, death and devastation of the very pinnacles of humanity."
Shocked silence and severe scrutiny met his words. This wasn't exactly sending a very pro war vibe to people.
"They say that it is a travesty man must avoid by any means necessary. Unfortunately, even if the Empire were to capitulate in its entirety to its enemies, war would not end. War cannot end. This is a truth of reality, for war is not the disease but the symptom. It is a byproduct of hate, of envy, of pride, of greed…of the fundamental nature of humanity.
"War is an inevitable evil. The Empire accepts this, embraces it even. We cannot stop being human, but we can make the best out of a bad thing. Where there is conflict, there is competition. Where there is competition, there is motivation. Where there is motivation, there is progress. This is the pillar upon which our society, our system, our very way of life was founded on."
"Nearly one hundred and fifty years have passed since our Exodus and we are still here! We not only survived, we thrived! The world conspired against us, seeking to end the then struggling nation that would become the Empire. Not only did we stop them, we crushed them, scattering our enemies to the four winds so that they would never be a threat to greatness again. Today we stand when they do not."
"We must thank the noble few that made it possible. We honor those who served and those who continue to serve. We honor the soldiers, all brave men and women. They fight so that there may be peace and they die so that others may live. Truly there can be no higher calling than this, no nobler cause one can commit to. We salute you, sons and daughters of the Empire!" Thunderous applause erupted from the soldiers of the 1st Brigade.
"Hail Britannia!"
A barrage of "Hail Britannia" answered him, on screen and in the room. These ranged from the enthusiastic cries of Shirley and Milly, the acceptable, if not heartfelt, response of Nina and Rivalz, and the more growled than spoken one of Kallen.
"Lord Lieutenant Colonel Jeremiah Gottwald, the Margrave of Orange," Lelouch addressed his most loyal companion, perfectly calm despite having just rendered close to fifty million people speechless, "by my right as 11th Prince of the Empire..."
Lelouch looked at the kneeling form of Jeremiah. "Will you serve?"
"My prince?" The confusion was etched clearly in Jeremiah's face. "Do I not already serve you?"
"…I, Lelouch vi Britannia…"
"You misunderstand me, Jeremiah. I do not wish for you to serve my name, but my cause."
"…do hereby name thee…" The prince said, unsheathing the sword attached to his hip.
"This body is merely bone and sinew, easily killed by the most fickle of things. But a cause is immaterial, completely impervious to the physical world so long as there are those who believe in it."
"...bearer of my sigil…" Lelouch tapped him on one shoulder with the steel of his blade, light as a feather, yet it weighed heavily on the grizzled man's soul.
Lelouch gave him a hard look. "No one can take it from you unless you let them."
"...champion of my ideals…" Then, he felt another tap on the other shoulder, with just as much lightness in it, and his resolve hardened.
"I ask you again, Jeremiah Gottwald. Will you serve the cause over the flesh? Will you swear fealty to it above all else? Will you be the…"
"…knight of my honor. Rise, Sir JeremiahGottwald." Gottwald stood up at full length, silent and somber. It was in stark contrast to the joyous applause that preceded the pronouncement.
Showing but the bare minimum politeness society demanded in response to congratulations, he took up a position behind the only man he would ever acknowledge as his prince.
Somber and silent, he moved to flank the prince, showing the bare minimum politeness towards those who congratulated him.
"Captain Eric Maximillan of Lima, by my right as 11th Prince of the Empire, I, Lelouch vi Britannia, do hereby name thee as chief of my shields and captain of my guard." The teenage noble accepted the position with his usually carefree, lopsided grin.
"Warrant officer Suzaku Kururugi." Here, Lelouch paused, before turning to face his audience. A sudden palpable tension saturated the air. "Many have questioned the loyalty of the Elevens recently, mostly because of the current troubles in their area. This has led to further discrimination and alienation of the Elevens working with the government, whether in the administration or otherwise. This ends now." He said with clarity of conviction.
"Warrant officer Suzaku Kururugi, son of the late Japanese Prime Minister Genbu Kururugi, I name thee as chief of swords and captain of the Zero Squad." Shocked silence met those words. Whether because of the fact that he had appointed an Eleven as one of his captains, or the revelation that said Eleven was the son of the former Prime Minister, no one could say exactly.
Lelouch, not completely devoid of mercy, let them have a moment to recover before unloading his next round on the hapless people.
"I am committed to the full integration of the Numbers into the Empire. To this end, I am announcing my temporary assignment to Area 11 as strategic military advisor to their Viceroy for the pacification and reunification of the region…and for the investigation on the attempted assassination on my person during the Battle of Tunis," shocked gasps erupted from the crowd, "and the attempted assassination on my sister, Nunnally vi Britannia, during the Battle of Miyazaki by the Japanese Liberation Front."
The outrage that would follow was uncontainable.
JLF Headquarters, Miyazaki, Area 11
"…and the attempted assassination on my sister, Nunnally vi Britannia, during the Battle of Miyazaki by the Japanese Liberation Front."
Tohdoh inwardly groaned. The unbelievably racist Lt. Col. Kusakabe had single-handedly managed to land them in hot water. He gave General Taito and General Katase a glare that practically shouted "I fucking told you so."
"This is bad." muttered Taito. Katase nodded mutely in agreement.
"Losing a battle is bad. Accidentally bombing our own men is bad. This is a nightmare! Those boys," spat Tohdoh, "have just slashed our recruitment in half, best case scenario." Which was true. The Japanese people believed heavily in icons, and there was perhaps no greater living symbol than those with the Kururugi name. The combination of masterful dramatization which portrayed their attack on Miyazaki as a carefully considered, politically motivated assassination and the show that Suzaku was not only still working with the Britannians, but actually rising through the ranks, was a crippling blow to the JLF's image and nominally moral high ground.
Katase considered the situation calmly, not quite as perturbed as his passionate subordinate expected him to be. "This blow, while damaging, is not crippling. We still hold the strategic advantage. While Britannian forces are tied up in the north, we are quite free to strike at Tokyo and seize control of the country."
"That would be contrary to Minister Atsuchi's orders." Taito said, a heavy frown casting its shadow on his face.
"Atsuchi is a Federation puppet." Katase concluded, dauntless to the fact that his statement might get him charged with insubordination. "Until a civilian administration is set up, the JLF is answerable to no one but the people."
"How are we supposed to do that?" Tohdoh asked, calming down a little as his curiosity got the better of him. "Tokyo's walls are nigh impenetrable without heavier equipment or more soldiers – both of which we don't have."
"You are forgetting one very important aspect, Tohdoh. We have help on the inside."
Viceroy's Palace, Tokyo Concession, Area 11
December 18, 2017
Clovis was always the most artistically inclined among the royal family, and it showed clearly in his choice of lavish decorations for the palace. Sculptures, paintings, mosaics, murals of every size, shape and style filled the hallways. They ranged from works by famous names such as Picasso, Da Vinci and Pollock to people Lelouch had never even heard of like Nickels, DuPont, and Yi.
Lelouch took a brief moment to thank Clovis' secretary, Rose, before entering his brother's office. "Clovis, sorry I'm here early but - what's a pile of trash doing in your office?" Lelouch inquired abruptly halfway through his sentence, seized by sudden curiosity and worry over his brother's mental health.
Clovis gave him a scathing look, as if he had just insulted his mother or something. "It's not trash. It's art." He emphasized, gesturing to the piece that lay quietly in the corner.
Lelouch looked at it again, observing the pile of…well, assorted garbage literally. He turned to look at his brother, this time brow's raised. "I don't see it."
Clovis sighed. "It's shadow art. You have to shine light at it, and the shadows it project create an image."
"Right" drawled Lelouch, a skeptical undertone evident in it. "I just got off from a twenty hour flight from Montreal, four of which I had to spend on the phone with Cornelia, as my superior officer, commanding me to give her weekly reports on the condition of Euphie for the duration of my stay. Let's just cut to the chase, because I want to go to my hotel and deal with the jetlag sooner rather than later." Lelouch informed him, clearly not in the mood for a long chat.
"A hotel? Why not stay here?" Clearly, no such luck about keeping the conversation as short as possible.
"For the same reason I decided to come here two days earlier than I told the media." Lelouch told him in a no nonsense manner. "To avoid the media. They'll be watching the palace like a hawk soon, and I want to be able to move around the city unhindered by them if possible, hence, the secrecy."
"They'll get to you eventually, you know, especially since we're holding the Christmas Ball in your honor."
"I'll take what I can get." Lelouch replied offhandedly. "Now, to business?"
"Very well," Clovis leaned forward to rest his head on his upright hands. "I am placing you as overall commander of the force designated to recapture the north from the Federation."
Lelouch resisted from rolling his eyes at his brother's ignorance. "You mean Hokkaido?"
"Is that what the Elevens call it?" A nod from Lelouch answered him. "Yes, then you are in charge of recapturing Hokkaido."
"What about Kyushu?" Seeing the blank look that met his words, he expounded. "The southern island under the JLF."
"No offense Lelouch, but you're not trained in counterterrorism and anti-insurgency tactics. A straightforward war is more in tune with your strategic capabilities." Clovis said dismissively.
In less than a month's time, he would be eating his words.
To: Lelouch Lamperouge (irockchess.a11)
Fr: Jeremiah Gottwald (jeremiah_gottwald .mil)
Re: 1st Brigade
Your Highness, first of all, I would like you to take note of my ongoing protest as to being left behind in Montreal.
With that said, I am pleased to report that your massive popularity has caused recruitment to swell. I expect the 1st Brigade to be up to full strength in another two days, and training to finish in three months. Retraining goes as well as can be expected, but most of the men are taking it easy for now. General consensus appears to be that we will not be seeing active warfare until May of next year.
Reorganization of the Brigade and redistribution of veterans and officers goes smoothly. The 2ns Quebec Regiment is now under the newly promoted Colonel Simon Haywood, son of Lieutenant General Conrad Haywood from the 3rd Corps. It seems the lack of officers must be far greater than we expected if Command is promoting people at an alarming rate. I suspect this is a result of the officer targeting during the North Africa Campaign. Surprisingly, when I asked for recommendations for the post of Lt. Colonel as his second-in-command, he nominated his long time rival, Alan Wood. The Colonel and Lt. Colonel are your staunch supporters and are showing signs of improvement in adapting to your tactics. A few more battles and they will be competent enough officers that can be allowed sufficient autonomy.
Command of the 1st Ontario Regiment was left to us and I have attached to this email the portfolios of the most promising and most senior of the regiment for a final decision. Major Cromwell from the MAM was kind enough to forward the information to me.
Our support companies and equipment are now fully stocked. However, the resupply of essential knightmare frames and parts for repair go slowly. We are currently under 50%, well below combat ready status. At the rate we are going, it might be a full two years before we are complete at this rate.
Best of luck in Japan,
Jeremiah Gottwald, KoH
To: Jeremiah Gottwald (jeremiah_gottwald .mil)
Fr: Lelouch Lamperouge (irockchess.a11)
Re: 1st Brigade
Protest noted and ignored.
Excellent work with the Brigade and send the good Major my thanks. I shall inform you of my decision before the new year.
Keep the training up, and have all the men tested for knightmare combat with the simulators. I don't want any aces like Suzaku or that damn Kenji slipping by us. As for the problem of supplies, I'll see what I can do from my end. Ashford should be of some help now that his first factory is soon to be completed, thanks to the generous donations of interested third party investors.
Don't forget to send the men home for Christmas break, but remind them that redeployment to Area 11 might occur if things go badly.
Best of luck in Canada,
11-15
Lelouch eyed the half-robot, half-man seated across him, before turning his gaze to the four teenage girls that stood at attention behind him, the rigidness of their stance betraying their nervousness.
"I must say," Lelouch began, taking in the aroma of his freshly brewed green tea, "you lot aren't quite what I expected from the Britannian Special Honorary Foreign Legion." He took a sip from his beverage, nodding in appreciation, before setting his dainty cup down on the table. "That's quite a mouthful, by the way. You should think about shortening that or something."
Colonel Madd, the cyborg commander of the group, remained stoic and calm. He was the only one in the group to do so. "My unit's a work in progress, but I am proud to say they have performed admirably so far."
"It's not every day someone can claim to have saved the life of a Britannian royal. Let it never be said that a vi Britannia left debts unpaid." Lelouch watched as Madd's eyes gleamed, delighted like any other man of ambition. "As an irregular, you must receive a lot of scorn from the formal hierarchy, especially for running a unit that employs numbers primarily, correct?"
"There is truth in your words, Prince Lelouch."
"Then here's my offer." Madd leaned forward, as if an excited child waiting to unwrap his Christmas presents. "I would like to appoint you as one of the commanders for the Hokkaido Campaign. Keep in mind, this isn't a promotion. I'm not authorized to do that since I'm just an advisor. Rather, this is a chance for you to prove yourself. If you do well enough, the brass is always looking for talent to fill the ranks. I'll even put in a good word for you."
It didn't take much more to convince the megalomaniac. He was out of the room in five minutes, a spring in his gait as he skipped like a schoolgirl. In his wake were the stunned members of the foreign legion, shocked that their leader and founder had basically abandoned them for greener pastures, without so much as a hint of concern for their futures.
"Now, what to do with you four." Lelouch's words snapped them out of their daze. Their bodies, if it were even possible, became even more rigid in anticipation of their fate. "What would you like?"
Alice blinked stupidly. A choice wasn't quite what she was expecting. "I'm not exactly a psychic." The prince continued. "Madd was easy enough to read as power hungry. You four, however, are much harder to read. At ease and take seat, soldiers."
The four reacted instinctively to the words, a result of years of training and mental conditioning. "With respect, sir, we've never really given life after the legion much thought." Sancia admitted frankly. "Like most, we took it as a given that we'd die before that would ever happen, given the horrible casualty rate the legion suffers."
"I understand. Please, take a moment to think on this." Lelouch said, no signs of impatience showing in his cool demeanor. "A word of advice, follow your heart."
"If it's all the same to you, sir, I'd like to continue serving in the military." Alice spoke up, eliciting sharp looks from her comrades.
"Alright, I'll look into enrolling you into an officer's academy." Lelouch said.
"I do not have the temperament or the aptitude to be an officer." A noticeable amount of venom was injected in those words.
Lelouch snorted. "If you think being an officer is about temperament or aptitude than you are delusional. Being an officer is about power, and you currently have one of the most powerful people in Britannia backing you. The question at hand isn't about capability, it's about desire, which you clearly have none of." He deduced with frightening accuracy.
"Forgive her, Your Highness. My sisters are not terribly fond of officers in the military. Too many bad experiences, sir." Sancia interjected hastily, before any further damage could be done. With luck, Alice wouldn't be executed. Men had been killed for far less.
Fortunately for them, this prince wasn't anywhere near as fickle as having people killed on a whim, especially when it served no purpose. "No worries. I myself dislike most Britannian officers a great deal." He admitted to them, chuckling lightheartedly. "And it would be counterintuitive of me to punish those I'm rewarding." The girls visibly relaxed, though Alice remained defiant as ever for some reason.
"To be honest, I wouldn't know what to do with my life outside of the army. School is too boring and it's not like I have any friends to go back to and my family is right here." Dalque said, leaning into her chair in a laidback manner. "Piloting knightmares are really the most interesting part of being alive for me."
Lelouch pondered on the issue, while gesturing for the others to speak.
"I would like to stay with my sisters, above all else, Your Highness." Lucretia said next, succinct, meek and to the point.
"It seems to me the four of you aren't ready to make a decision right now and I can hardly keep the status quo. One of you'd be dead within the week if the statistics of the legion are to be believed. I can offer you a position on the Zero Squad under Captain Suzaku Kururugi, a Number and one of my most trusted men, until you are ready with your answers. Is this acceptable?"
The four looked to each other, silently communicating, before answering as one.
"Yes, Your Highness."
Captain Victor Wolfe, head of the only company Lelouch brought with him to Japan, watched as his friend suffered from a migraine.
"How," Lelouch began, "did the Federation penetrate our ships and reach Ominato Bay?"
Colonel Curtis of the colonial guard, the man in charge of Kyushu's northern front, fidgeted under the scrutiny. "We simply don't have enough ships, sir. Most of them are at port, undergoing repairs after Tsugaru Strait." He replied feebly.
"Then use our air superiority." Lelouch countered, quickly shooting down his excuse. "Or have you forgotten that it was that same battle which gave us this advantage? No more slipups, Colonel, or I'll have you stripped of your rank." The prince warned. "Do I make myself clear?"
The colonel gulped and nodded fervishly, aware that the prince could have sacked him that instant if he wanted to. "Yes, General."
"Get to it then. I'll take care of the Federation." Lelouch dismissed him without another word, instead concentrating on the tactical display that showed the city of Mutsu, which was the nearest city to the Chinese force's beachhead.
"Lelouch, shouldn't we fall back to a safer area? We're ridiculously vulnerable right now." Wolfe pointed out.
"We're on a mountain, Victor. Besides, it's good for moral to stay near the frontlines. Shows the men we're confident."
"Not much point to moral if you're dead." Victor murmured, and was promptly ignored.
"Major Soresi, give me a sitrep." Lelouch ordered over the intercom.
"Sir, we have Federation forces surrounded. We have them down to a few isolated pockets of resistance and are about to renew our assault."
"Belay that order, Major. I'd like to test something out."
"Copy that, sir."
Major Xiao of the Chinese Federation watched with dread as Britannian units all across the city ceased their advance on the last few positions his men held. Allowing himself a brief respite, he dried his sweaty palms on his shirt before taking hold of his 5th generation Mao-Quiang frame's controls.
"What are those Britannians waiting for?" His second-in-command muttered, though it was audible over their channel.
"Britannian forces engaging!" Screamed one of his scouts, just before the sound of his frame exploding reached them.
"Fire! Fire! Take that thing down!"
"Ahhhhh!"
"Fall back!"
Xiao gripped his controls tightly. "How many are we facing?"
"One sir!" Gunfire could be heard through the radio. "I don't-!"
Silence reigned once more.
"It's here! Take it down!" A few rockets exploded in the distance, but the struggle lasted for just a few seconds it seemed.
Suddenly and unexpectedly, a Britannian voice filled his frame. "Soldiers of the Federation, lay down your arms and you will be processed as POWs. Resist, and you shall be killed. This is the one and only time I will accept your surrender. Lelouch vi Britannia, out."
It was no wonder they had lost so quickly. The Britannian's were led by the Blitz. To his pride, none of his men accepted those terms.
He saw a white knightmare frame, holding a sword of colored light, like some angel of death coming for them. Then, with speed he didn't even know existed, it blurred forward.
December 25, 2017
The grand ballroom of the Viceroy's Palace wasn't nearly as embellished as the one in Pendragon, but for the time being, it suited Lelouch's purposes just fine.
In a scene that was reminiscent of the one in Pendragon, Lelouch smiled at the kneeling form of his long time supporter, Ruben Ashford.
"I, Lelouch vi Britannia, 11th Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire, 15th in line to the Imperial Throne and Earl of Montreal, whatsoever to whom these presents shall come greeting, know ye that I do advance and create Ruben K. Ashford the style, dignity, title and honor of Baron of Ashfordshire."
While it wasn't exactly the original Ashfordshire, which had been somewhere in Brazil, Lelouch had gone through the trouble of changing name of one of the smaller holdings in his dominion in honor of his line's staunchest ally.
Tears streaked down Ruben's face as he rose lock eyes with Lelouch. His lips parted to say something just as he was knocked down to the floor as a violent tremor shook the building.
In the distance, one could see the city illuminated by orange lights. Red circle on white flags rose in the air.
"There is often great confusion about the role a Knight of Honor (KoH) plays within a royal's entourage. In particular, they are often interchanged with the Royal Guard. Part of this confusion stems from the fact that many members of the royal family do not make proper use of the position themselves.
First of all, a KoH is not a post created as an excuse for a lover or romantic partner to remain close by. While romances do occur between a KoH and their sponsor, this is due to the nature of the relationship, which, by strict definition, is one of absolute trust. Second, a KoH is not an advisor. This role is secondary, at best, to their real job. Neither is the KoH some form of a glorified secretary, caretaker or bodyguard.
The KoH is, first and foremost, a champion. This person is an embodiment (as much as humanly possible) of the ideals and beliefs the sponsor holds. As mentioned before, the relationship between sponsor and KoH is one that is fiduciary in nature. This brings us to the second point: a KoH is, for all intents and purposes, the representative of their sponsor. A KoH has been described by scholars as an extreme form of being granted Power of Attorney. This means that in the absence or incapacity of the sponsor, the KoH is given full discretion to act on his/her behalf.
This explains why the post is held in great regard for it is likely the closest a non-royal can legitimately get to being part of the royal family, barring marriage of course. A KoH's authority comes not from the favor bestowed upon him/her by their sponsor, but rather as a result of being acknowledged as an extension of their very selves. This assignment continues until the death of the KoH, even if his life exceeds that of his sponsor. The case of Prince Alexander si Britannia (1952-1973) shows this clearly where his Knight of Honor, Sir Matthias Wellington, stood in his place as Viceroy of Area 3 twice. The first during his coma after a car accident; the second instance was after his death. He ruled as Viceroy for three years until he was replaced in 1976, after which he returned to Pendragon to handle the Prince's estate. There are very few instances where a KoH can be revoked of his title.
Assigning multiple KoHs is permissible (see Anastasia nu Britannia vs. Imperial Senate, 1991) although declaration of their precedence is necessary in order to prevent disruption of the chain of command…"
-excerpt from: Demystifying the Knights of Honor by Theodore Maxim