Phase IX: Narita arc part I: Units assemble!
(Tokyo Concession)
Euphemia was in one word disappointed, disappointed namely in herself, for as she looked at Lelouch and Suzaku she realized she was the only one not working.
It had been a month since Lelouch made his speech towards the 42nd that shocked the world, and barely was she deciding to do some real work.
Since becoming vice governor or sub viceroy al she had done was watch as her sister Cornelia governed Japan.
Suzaku willingly went through all the abuse and denigration of the military in the hopes of proving to Brittannia that the number system was wrong, Lelouch literally fought and won so he could give them back their livelihood, while she who always had an ambition to change the country did nothing.
"Well no more!" she said to herself as her driver took her to her destination, she poured over the legislature and noticed that if a Brittanian suffers from drug side effects he or she would be placed in jail for about 3 years, but if a number had the same fate he or she would be thrown in jail for 20.
Deciding that she had to start somewhere she was now on her way towards Kofu Penitentiary, the policy regarding drug related felonies she had changed, but she still thought she had to supervise the transfer of drug victims from prison to rehab clinics herself.
(Stadfelt manor)
"So you're going to see your mother?"Millie asked over the phone.
"Yes, so I won't be able to meet up with you guys today, sorry about that" Kallen said over the phone.
Millie was the only person in Kallen's life who knew about her Japanese mother, she came to her house and found out a few weeks ago, Kallen by now had reconcile with her mother after realizing the only reason she remained in that house was for her sake, she had lied to Millie that she convinced her mother to move out off the house into an apartment, for she didn't really like the idea of her friends knowing she was arrested for refrain.
Kallen left her room and went passed her stepmother on her way out, they didn't talk but they did share intensive glares.
She took a taxi and when she arrived at Kofu prefecture she saw something that horrified her, Brittannians dressed in white taking her mother and other patients to some transport vehicles.
"Let go off her!" she said and ran towards the soldiers, Kallen tackled one of them and was about to brawl with the others when a voice was heard.
"Everyone stop!" Euphemia shouted and they complied.
"Princess Euphemia!" Kallen said amazed, Euhpie's face had recently been appearing constant in the papers.
"Miss Stadfeld!" Euphemia said surprised to see her, she knew her from Lelouch stories about his school mates, then she remembered that they didn't knew that Lelouch was a prince, the confused look on Kallen's face reminded her of that.
"How do you know my name?" Kallen asked.
"Eh..Well Duke Lamperouge is an acquaintance of mine and he told me about you." She said nervously.
Thankfully it wasn't such an unheard of notion for a noble to befriend a prince or princess so Kallen believed it.
"Besides that, where are you taking my mother?" she asked with slight anger in her tone and she stood between her mother and the brittannian soldiers.
"To a rehab center" Euphemia replied.
"Rehab?".
"But the law doesn't send elevens to rehab, only brittannians!" Kallen retorted.
"Yes, well we've started a crack in the law regarding ethnic discrimination and I came here to oversee it personally, since this is my first duty as sub-viceroy" Euphemia replied with a smile.
Kallen was a little taken aback by this, but was hesitant to believe it.
Euphemia saw this and decided to act.
"You can come with us if you like and see for yourself" she gestured towards her limousine, Kallen was hesitant at first, but she accepted, since she saw no other solution to this situation.
While in the limousine Kallen remembered that Euphemia said Lelouch's name
"You know him? You know Lelouch" she asked.
"He's a very important person to me.
He's like a brother to me" Euphemia replied and giggled softly, the irony of the situation only she was aware off.
"He mentioned Rivalz his gambling partner, Shirley, Millie "The party president" , and also you miss Stadfeld, are you his girlfriend?" she asked with a smile.
Kallen blushed greatly and said:
"No, that's not it! We're just friends!"
This reaction gave Euhpie's mouth a broad smile, she could tell that they weren'y dating, but also that she was smitten with her brother Lelouch, she wondered how Kallen would react if she knew Lelouch was keeping a mistress ( she herself could hardly believe it when Cornelia told her, and even she met her herself ).
"Lelouch really is a womanizer isn't he" Euphemia meant to say that in her mind and she accidentally said it out loud, she quickly covered her mouth realizing her mistake.
To this Kallen remembered that Shirley was romantically interested in him, and now she found out that a princess spoke highly of him too.
At this Kallen got angry and shouted.
"Yes he is! I DON'T KNOW WATS THE MATHER WITH HIM, EVERY GIRL HE MEETS IS SEMINGLY SMUDERED BY HIM, HE'S AN ENEMY TO ALL WOMEN!"
At this Euphie giggled whole heartedly, although she did not like Lelouch's apparent womanizing ways, she did appreciate the fact that he had a taste for very interesting people to surround himself with.
30 minutes they arrived at the rehab clinic.
Kallen saw it and was amazed at its beauty, it laid outside the city in an open field, it had gardens filled with beautiful flowers and there was a fountain also present.
It looked more like a holiday retreat that a clinic, she then saw her mother taken inside in a wheelchair.
She was immensely grateful that her mother was getting treatment but also curious why would somebody do this to what was considered in Brittannia a second class citizen.
"I don't mean to be ungrateful….but why are you doing this? This clinic looks like it cost a lot of money, so why are you spending it like this" she said as she saw other Japanese refrain victims of refrain been taken into the clinic, the hotdog vender she met before was among them.
At this a sad face covered her normally cheerful one and Euphemia replied:
"To these people living is so unbearable that they bury themselves in the past, we blame the drug dealers for this, but the one's to blame is us, if things weren't like this refrain would never have existed, " She paused for a moment and t hen continued "My brother commander Zero created the Phoenix Fund to give them back their livelihood and give them hope for the future , he created an army of Numbers to show the Empire they aren't as they say they are, I cannot simply stand by the sidelines and do nothing while he fights against injustice"
Kallen was speechless, so there were more of the royal family that did not agree to Britannia's colonial policy, and this was the third princess a high ranking member of the royal family no less!
Euhpie saw this and quickly said:
"Sorry, you had to listen to my ramble….nobody listens to me anyway….nobody but him( she thought of Suzaku) and blushed slightly.
After a few moments of silence Kallen broke them by saying:
"I thank you for helping my mother" and bow my head slightly.
"Domo" Euhpie replied which confused Kallen for a moment, but she did not have time to ponder upon it for her watch beeped reminding her that she was to be due at the JLF base in three hours .
She say goodbye and then departed.
Euphemia also looked at her watch and saw that she also was supposed to be somewhere and quickly departed as well.
(Cornelia's mobile command center, Narita mountain range)
Lelouch looked as Cornelia listened to the briefing, the forces brought to the operation where from the Japan stationed army, the 42nd still had two months of training so it was not deployed for this operation.
We're certain that the Japan Liberation Front's headquarters are in this Area." Dalton reported, standing before Cornelia as the command center drew close to the mountains "We've already split up four battalions and hidden them in the vicinity, all we need is the Viceroy's signal and we'll surround them in one fell swoop and wipe them out."
"Sister…" Euphemia voiced, the pink haired princess looking up at her elder sibling, who was seated once more on her command chair "Are you confident that the enemy won't show up outside the encirclement line?"
"You mean Todoh?" Cornelia asked, one leg crossed over the other as she sat in her chair, Guilford at her side as Dalton reassured her sibling "If he does that we can call up the reserve units to finish him off."
"We will block the main roads leading towards Narita when the operation begins" Darlton replied.
"Even with superior forces, we must not underestimate him! Narita must not become a second Itsukushima!" Lelouch said.
"And what do you suggest we do besides these preparations Lelouch?"Cornelia asked her brother.
Lelouch knew from the microphone he put on Todoh's blade that he was preparing for this day, the battery unfortunately only lasted 36 hours, but it gave him more than enough information.
Lelouch walked towards the field map and explained his plan.
"In any battle whoever holds the high ground has an advantage if he is attacked, he used that advantage at Itskushima, I suggest I take my personal guard, slip past the enemy lines, and position myself here and when they bring their full force out we'll catch them in the crossfire" he pointed out the tallest peak in the whole mountain.
"It is unlikely they'd have occupied hat area because of the difficult terrain and little room to maneuver" he continued.
Cornelia was not pleased with this plan; the peak would only allow for a handful of knightmares maybe 5 or six to be deployed there undetected.
"If you do this there is a risk you could be surrounded and killed!, I see the merit off using the enemy's own terrain advantage against them, but why risk you own life like that" she asked.
At that question Lelouch only smiled and said:
"If the king doesn't lead his knights will not follow, and besides you go to the frontlines yourself, sowe how is it any different from me going"
To Cornelia the difference was that although she herself had no problem with risking her life, the thought of her loved ones risking they're lives terrified her, this was an attribute shared by all humans.
"Alright! But you will only charge down if I say so, you remain hidden until I give the command is that understood general?" Cornelia said.
"Yes sir!" Lelouch replied and saluted, he then continued.
"Also I would like the civilians to be evacuated from Narita, here are suitable locations for their relocations" he pointed a few area's on the map.
"Do you think it is necessary, I doubt the fighting would spread towards the town?" Guilford asked.
"Please indulge me this one time, call me paranoid, but the sole reason I joined the army was to make sure that civilians do not get caught in the crossfire" Lelouch answered.
The answer was a sentiment shared by everyone in the room and the complied to it.
"It will take at least an hour for that, during that time I suggest you deploy your men General" Darlton replied.
Lelouch saluted and went to do just that.
Upon hearing this Euphemia gave her sister a worried look.
"I know what you're feeling Euphie, I don't like seeing him on the battlefield either….. but Lelouch is West Pointer after all, and if I hadn't permitted him to join he would have done so without my permission" she said an breathed a breath of exasperation.
Cornelia was make last minute checks when she remembered something and pulled out a memory stick from her pocket.
"By the way Euphie , before I give the order to assault transmit this towards the JLF, Lelouch gave it to and said it was for atmosphere" Cornelia said and gave the flash disk to Euphie, she then went to prepare for battle.
(Narita mountain hilltop, Lelouch's position)
Lelouch was surveying the field bellow a few hundred feet from his companions, who where Jeremiah, Viletta ,Kewell and Suzaku in their Sutherland, and Lancelot when C.C appeared.
"What are you doing here?" she walked up to her and asked angrily.
"Making sure you are safe, we have a contract after all" she replied indeferently.
"Lelouch, do you know why snow is white?
Some say that it is white because it has no name?" C.C asked him.
Lelouch at the moment didn't have time nor the patients for this woman, so he stomped to his Sutherland, and a minute later returned to C.C and placed an R.P.G in her arms.
"What's this for?"
"It's for the damn JLF if they show up, I can't just jump into battle and leave you here defenseless" he retorted.
"He ! How very gentlemen of you, does the thought of loosing me fill your heart with fear, I didn't know you cared for me so much!" she said and smile devilishly.
"Stop deluding yourself witch! I have a feeling if you died you'd haunt me for the rest of my life for not fulfilling you're bloody request, whatever it is!" he said and stormed off.
(Ashford Academy)
"Ha! You want to meet Princess Euphemia!" Millie said to Nina.
"We'll I'd like to thank her for Kawaguchi" Nina responded.
"Well you'd need rank in order to have an audience with her!
Hey Nina , what position in high society do you think the granddaughter of a school director has?" Millie asked while she waived her legs.
"Hmmm, so so?" Nina replied.
"Eh.. so so." Millie said.
"Well I may have a friend who could do that for you" Mille replied with a grin.
(Narita Mountains)
"ACHEWWWWWWWWWWW !" Lelouch sneezed violently.
"Someone must be gossiping about you "Suzaku said over the radio hearing Lelouch's sneeze.
"It's Millie" Lelouch responded.
"How do you know that?" Suzaku asked.
"Because all of a sudden a chill came over me, that only happens when Millie is scheming!" he said with a slight tremble.
At this Suzaku chuckled slightly, for in the past months they'd been at Ashford, he also went through Millie crazy shenanigans.
Just then a text message was received from home base.
"Civilians evacuations complete, everyone prepare for combat!" Lelouch said and they all complied.
Meanwhile Cornelia was preparing to began the battle.
"The Japan Liberation Front, you who have remained trapped in the past , you who have forgotten that the times have changed will now perish into forgotten, with your dream of an independent Japan," she said and then remembered the flash disk Lelouch gave her and send an order to play it.
The flash disk was inserted and a video transmission was broadcasted towards the JLH.
(JLF Base headquarters)
"Sir, were receiving a transmission!" one of the communication officers said towards Katase.
"Put it on screen1" Katase ordered.
The transmission appeared onscreen and they're was the image of the Iron Prince present, needless to say it made Katase and everybody else in the room jump up from their seats from shock.
"Japan Liberation Front….you who dare take the name off freedom fighters and drag it in the mud, you who claims the title of Rebels and the you rape it just for amusement, I say to you, YOU ARE NOT WORTHYOF THOSE TITTLES!…" Lelouch's booming voice said, which was also heard to the entire base courteously of a little worm virus which was too small in it's programmed target that the firewall was not able to detect it.
"What does he mean?" Kallen said to the other members of the resistance who were present in the knightmare hangar.
"IN ANY COUNTRY, IN ANY LANGUAGE, OF ANY AGE A REBELS IS SOMEONE WHO OPPOSES A CURENT GOVERNMENT OR ORDER AND FIGHTS AGAINST, AND I SAY TO YOU, YOU ARE NOT WORTHY OF SUCH A TITLE, FOR A REBEL ATTACKS A GOVERNMENT OF A COUNTRY , NOTE IT'S PEOPLE!"
"A REBEL KILLS ENEMY SOLDEIRS, NOT INNOCENT CIVILIANZ WHO CANNOT FIGHT BACK AND HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH THE CURENT POLITICAL SITUATION, HE BOMBES ARMY BASES, AMBUSHES MILILTARY CONVOIS, NOT HIJACKS AND DETONATES AIRPLANES AND BLOWS UP PUB'S, I SAY YOU ARE NOT REBELS, FOR YOU DO NOT ACT LIKE THEM" Lelouch said.
"YOU CLAME TO BE REBELS, BUT YOU ACTIONS AT KAWAGUCHI WAS THAT OF NOHING BUT COLD BLOODED TERRORISM, AND MUREDERING THE DEFENSLESS".
To Oughi this was pretty much true, he like many other fought against Brittannian, but they knew that what Kusakabe did was not what a freedom fighters did, it was murder plain and simple, and hearing it from the mouth of Zero made it feel much worse.
That sentiment was shared by Todoh and Katase.
"HOWEVER, YOU WILL GET THE CHANGE TO EARN THE RIGHT TO CALL YOURSELF REBEL,AND I ZERO THE IRON PRINCE AND NIDDHOG OF BRITTANNIA WILL GIVE IT TO YOU" Lelouch said and paused for a moment.
"HERE ,ON THIS BLOODY DAY, ON THIS FORGOTTEN MOUNTAIN YOU WILL EARN THE RIGHT TO CALL YOURSElF REBELS" he said and then Cornelia decided to not wait any longer and mobilized her troops.
"Enemy units spotted, we estimate over 300 knightmare units, and great numbers of infantry!" the communications officer replied.
This set a shock t rough the room, and Katase was appalled at seeing the great numbers of enemy soldiers appear on the screen.
"The enemy is also transmitting a demant for surrender, should we reply?"
"Idiot! If we do that, the resistance movement will end here!" Katase said, he then turned to Todoh and asked:
"Are the troops ready?"
"Yes sir! Our troops and our allies are in position, give the word general and I will lead the attacj myself!" Todoh responded to his commander.
"Very well,…All troops prepare to move forward, go knowing the pride and honor of Japan is with you!" Katase said over the base speakers.
(Knightmare hangar base 3)
"We are really going to do it!, Fight Brittannia!" Inoue said to the rest of the group.
Everyone in the resistance group knew what that meant and mounted their knightmares.
Oughi was in his knightmare praying to Buddha to give him strength, when Todoh face came on his knightmare screen.
"Major Oughi, the first wave will now deploy, you're squadron and the Guren will be part of the second wave, is that understood?"
"Yes sir!" Oughi replied, and he started mentally preparing himself for his first real battle.
(Narita mountain peak)
Lelouch saw as the JLF and Cornelia's forces started fighting with each other and indivertibly started reciting an old poem by James Joyce in his mind.
He saw the Sutherland's go up the slopes.
I hear an army charging upon the land,
And the thunder of horses plunging; foam about their knees:
Arrogant, in black armour, behind them stand,
Disdaining the reins, with fluttering whips, the Charioteers
He saw as the JLF units started coming out and both sides started firing at each other.
They cry into the night their battle name:
I moan in sleep when I hear afar their whirling laughter.
They cleave the gloom of dreams, a blinding flame,
Clanging, clanging upon the heart as upon an anvil.
JLF and Brittannian's flooded the air with noise from cannon and gun, and the earth shook from artillery, and rocks where being minced by bullets .
He heard from listening on the radio that the Sutherland pilots where cocky and overconfident, because of their overwhelming firepower and the same thing could be said for the JLF since they had Todoh and from what he could tell from intercepted radio transmissions the so called "Royal Killer " who allegedly "killed" Clovis.
He sighted in frustration, both sides were already thought they had won the battle when it had barely began, how stupid human could be they had filled their hearts with battle fever and he knew she was a fickle mistress which could kiss you now, and stab you latter.
They come shaking in triumph their long grey hair:
They come out of the sea and run shouting by the shore.
My heart, have you no wisdom thus to despair?
My love, my love, my love, why have you left me alone?
"Humans really are such disgusting creatures!" he blurted out loud over his knightmare speakers
"My lord?" Jeremiah asked confused.
"Nothing, just thinking out loud" Lelouch replied and the subject was put to rest.
READ AND REVIEW, LET ME KNOW IF I SHOULD CONTINUE
Also I would like to say that some parts where lifted from LilyFlowers1987 "Lelouch of the Revolution" so I am crediting her as co author for the previous three chapters.