Phase XXI: Blackest Night Part IV
(Fukuoka city)
The rain which had plagued Cornelia in Honshu had by now reached Fukuoka, and was washing away the blood from the battlefield.
"Great rain usually falls after great battle" Lelouch said in his mind.
The victory was now total, Lelouch looked over the landscape and saw that George had rounded up all of the enemies infantry; the battle casualties were as followed:
The Black Knights started with a force of 50.000 men, 300 knightmares 500 tanks,600 cannons 200 helicopters and 150 fighter jets.
Sawasaki army started with a force off 900.000 Chinese and 300.000 European men, 4000 Gun Ru and 2000 Panzer Hummels, 5.000 tanks, 9.000 guns 2.500 helicopters and 2.000 fighter jets.
By the end of the battle the casualty list was as follows.
Black knights 2.000 dead, 8.000 wounded, 25 knightmares,80 tanks, 20 guns, 50 helicopters and 17 fighter jets.
Sawasaki expedition: 100.000 dead, 1.150.000 captured, 5.980 knightmares destroyed, 4.000 tanks captured by the enemy, 5.000 guns captured by the enemy, 2.000 helicopters destroyed, 1.500 fighters shot down.
Thirty minutes latter,Lelouch was sitting at a round table within Fukuoka Government facility, around that table Suzaku, Jeremiah, Viletta, George and Omar were also seated.
A smug expression was on their faces, one that was also present on the faces of Lelouch' soldiers, for he knew that what they did today is one of the greatest military feats ever achieved in modern warfare, perhaps the greatest military victory the world has ever known or will ever know.
And now like the kings of old which rewarded their knights with titles and a coat of arms it was Lelouch turn to do the same.
"Jeremiah, from the Siegfried's battle report I take it that you are responsible for 98 % of enemy air casualties?" Lelouch asked his second in command.
"Yes sir! The enemy helicopters and jets upon seeing the Siegfried immediately concentrated the majority of their fire power upon my frame, my shields however somehow managed to withstand the near endless barrage and I destroyed them using the spinning attack and the giant slash harkens!" Jeremiah replied, which sounded more like boasting than presenting a field report, but Lelouch did not mind, he actually enjoyed hearing a subordinate boast of achieving results.
"You truly are a valiant warrior, I was right to name you my knight!" Lelouch complemented him and Jeremiah face was filled with appreciation and he almost cried from sheer joy.
"Kewell, Viletta, George and Omar I had read your frames battle report and besides performing on a scale of one to ten, ten each of you I have noticed that each one of you has killed personally at least 50 to 80 enemy frames each, I have to say even I am impressed!" Lelouch said to the before mentioned officers and they all said thank you for his praise and that he overestimated their worth.
"But I see that Suzaku is top gun, during the baiting of the enemy and after springing the trap he in all has destroyed 298 enemy frames by himself, well done old fried!" Lelouch said and he clapped his hands in applause, the others followed suit and Suzaku blushed slightly and rubbed his head in embarrassment at their appreciation.
After the clapping died down Lelouch continued.
"And Last, but not in the least we have our prodigy of an artillery commander!" Lelouch said and he gestured to Odysseus.
"Who? Me? Surely you're joking general, I am no prodigy!" Odysseus replied, and when compared to Lelouch, Schneizell or even Cornelia it was true, but just as Lelouch stated before when it came to artillery he doubted that he himself would have done a better job than Odysseus did just now.
"Nonsense! Your cannons knocked out 100.000 enemy infantry and over 1.000 enemy knightmares, such a feat could not have been possible without a skilled commander leading the cannons….you under estimate yourself Colonel!" Lelouch replied to a Odysseus who like Suzaku was very much embarrassed by the high praise the received.
"And now it's time for rewards!" Lelouch said and he placed the MASSER katana in front of Suzaku, the MASSER sword in front of Jeremiah, and to George, Viletta, Bradley, Odysseus and Kewell he gave each a VARIS gun.
"Those of you who received pistols note that the handguns you received are miniature VARIS rifles, like how the Lancelot has, it is the same model as the one I used to destroy those seven Gun Rus when the battle was starting, and those of you who have received swords, those swords are actually MASER Blades like the ones the Lancelot has" Lelouch replied and those present looked with awe at the fantabulous gifts they just received.
"I figured if you Jeremiah and you Suzaku were going to be knights to Euphie and myself, then you would require proper swords, not those dull edge butter knifes they gave you for show….and as for the rest of you, I want you people to know that during Narita I found myself with a destroyed knightmare and facing a Burai with my handgun as my only weapon…..I can admit without an ounce off shame that during that moment I was never more scared in my life, and I don't want myself or any of my subordinates to find themselves in such a situation" Lelouch replied.
From what they just heard those present became even more loyal to Lelouch if that was even possible, after Siberia and for Omar and Bradley Fukuoka they developed an almost fanatical devotion to Lelouch, that combined with the Lancelots he gave to them, the personal weapons he presented them with which no doubt cost somewhere between 1 and 100 million pounds, would ensure that they would remain loyal to him until he lead them to ultimate victory or until they would be all dead.
Lelouch knew that from their expression and was pleased since he managed to become 'A Prince worth dying for'.
He then looked at his watch and saw that midnight had just gone and passed.
"Devil's night is over….but this blackest night is not yet finished!" Lelouch said as he looked at his watch.
"Now I want all of you to get a good night's sleep, we have a busy day tomorrow, also Jeremiah, I am sorry about this, but I require your help with the report could you please stay and help me?" Lelouch said to his men and asked Jeremiah.
"Of course my lord!" Jeremiah said without a moment of hesitation, and the others went to bed.
After they left Lelouch turned to Jeremiah with a serious expression on his face, Jeremiah could tell from his years in the army that his master did not need help with the report, but was going to say to him something which the others weren't suppose to hear.
"Jeremiah, if I gave you and order which would be against everything we stand for, would you do it?" Lelouch asked with a serious tone in his voice.
"Without a moment's hesitation sire!" Jeremiah responded immediately and was certain that he was going to be ordered to assassinate someone, he only prayed that it would not be someone he knew.
"Our reports have confirmed that one Chinese corps called the 'Dragon Cavalry' is still out there, also after the battle we captured 19 enemy Gun Rus, now here's what I want you to do" Lelouch said as he pulled out a small notebook from his shirts inner pocket and gave it to Jeremiah.
"Within this notebook there are the addresses of various companies, factories and businesses within Kyushu, all of which belong to the various nobles who oppose me here in Japan, it will take Cornelia two days to arrive in Kyushu, so here's what I want you to do!" Lelouch paused and Jeremiah prepared himself mentally for his of the record task.
"I want you to take the captured Gun Rus and destroy the companies listed within the notebook, and make it look like deserters from Xingke's army did it!" Lelouch said to him, and immediately Jeremiahs expression went from a nervous state to one of calmness and then of joy.
"So that means with this all those sons of bitches which have always made us take one step forward and three steps back will go bankrupt and penniless! I have to say sire that doing this is like receiving and early Christmas present combined with a birthday one on the same day!" Jeremiah replied happily.
"Brigadier Gotwald, I have no idea what you are talking about…I ask you to remain here so you could help me with the reports….I see that you finished early so you are dismissed." Lelouch said with a wide grin, Jeremiah understood the hint without the need for time to think, grinned, gave Lelouch a salute and exited the office.
Once he was outside and he closed the door, he immediately leaned his back against the door, closed his eyes, and let out a long breath of relief.
"For a moment I thought he was going to ask me to kill the nobles which owned the companies…..other members of the royal family would not hesitate to make use of the chaos which emerges from war to kill their enemies, my master only wants to leave them powerless…..I am fortunate to have such a merciful prince to serve!" Jeremiah said to himself and he immediately opened the notebook to take a look over the list of companies he had to destroy so he could plot his route, he then made his way towards the pilot quarters and from there he would make his way towards the captured Gun Rus.
As he walked towards there, he saw on the note book the various companies, addresses and owners, if the Battle had been the main course, then there could not be a sweeter desert than this, at least to Jeremiah.
Meanwhile back in his office Lelouch, was busy finishing the battle report, in the three months he had come to know Jeremiah he was certain that the only one who rivaled him in loyalty towards Lelouch was Suzaku perhaps.
He finished with the report and the decided to phone Nunnally and his friends had not heard high nor hare of him for almost three days and he decided he needed to put their worries to rest.
"Hello Rivals, this is Lelouch"
….
After Lelouch finished the conversation he decided to go and see how his troops were faring now that the battle was over.
(Ashford Academy)
Millie, Shirley and Rivals had been working late within the student council room, Shirley had conveyed her worried to them and now they shared their views on concern for their friend, especially Millie, since she knew that Lelouch was Zero he would be on the front lines and was in danger of getting killed.
Just then Rivals phone rang.
"Hello? Lelouch!" Rivals said jumping up from his seat.
"Millie, Shirley it's Lelouch" Rivals said to them and both girls jumped just like rivals.
"aha…..ehe….no way!...he did…..well that's amazing….okay see you later!" Rivals said and he hang up the phone.
"Well what just happened? Is he alright? Is he injured, is Suzaku alright?" Shirley asked frantically.
"He's fine Shirley! Also brace yourself…..Zero won!" Rivals said with glee.
"What do you mean?" Millie asked.
"I mean he was outnumbered like fifty to one, the battle started and the 'Iron Prince' won the battle, Lelouch said that they also captured over one million enemy soldiers!" Rivals replied.
"Well that's all fine and dandy, but what about Lelouch? When is he coming home?" Shirley asked in the manner in which a wife inquires about the date of her husband's return from a business trip.
This what not unnoticed by Millie.
"He said that he was needed and that he would be back in two days time" Rivals replied.
"Well…until then we have to make sure you upgrade your weaponry Shirley for a proper assault!" Millie said and she gestured towards Shirley's breasts.
Noticing this Shirley covered herself up, blushed and said.
"Stop it madam president, also what do you mean by ' for a proper assault'?" she asked confused.
"Well you see Lelouch had just been on a field of war, men who survive battle generally want to celebrate life after such a experience…and usually within the company of a lady!" Millie said and grinned and once Shirley understood this blushed like crazy.
"You first date may not have gone well, but do not despair…you can still win the day if you mount a secondary full scale offensive..do you understand?" Millie said with a mischievous smile.
Shirley nodded albeit hesitantly in agreement.
Rivals who was still in the room could not believe the scene he had just saw, it was like mixing the battle scene from the movie 'Patton' and the love scene from Casablanca, and the strange thing was that what he just saw was…actually a pretty good scene.
Love and war were after all two sides of the same coin.
(Fukuoka city, Kewell's private quarters)
"Yes, yes I understand!...Yes, I know what happens to those who fail!" Kewell said over the phone and after a few more words from the person on the other side he hanged it up.
"What should I do? I owe my allegiance to two masters…which one do I serve and which one do I abandon?" Kewell pondered in his mind, how he got himself in such a conflict only he himself was to blame and pretty soon, he would have to make a choice, one that could change everything.
The gravity of the dilemma he was now facing was enormous and he buried his head in his arms in frustration, confusion and fear of the future.
(Streets of Fukuoka city)
"Amazing! Simply amazing, outnumbered almost 30 to one, isolated, with no hope of reinforcements and he somehow managed to not only defeat the enemy army, but also capture it whole and with relatively light casualties!" Diethard said to himself as he walked the streets of Fukuoka, he was recording the after effect of the great battle, when from around a corner he saw and filmed a scene which he himself did not expect to film in his life.
Ten Black knights who were a mixture of brittannians, Mexicans, Canadians, and Japanese who were on patrol duty were guarding one of the western entrances to the city and were huddled around a fire which was shielded from the rain by a beach umbrella.
After the three months of training and tonight's battle bonds of camaraderie were formed between Lelouch soldiers and they were now at a point were when they looked at each other they didn't see brittannians, honorary brittannians or numbers, they just saw comrades who would be certain to watch your back and you would watch his.
Some were playing card games, other enjoying tee and a hot dinner, while some brittannian tried to learn Mexican, some Mexican tried to learn some Japanese and so on and so on.
That scene in itself was something of which you never through you'd see in Brittannia, one of citizens and numbers sitting together, eating together, laughing together and treating each other as equals.
"I'll win and Emmy award for this scene for sure!" Diethard said to himself.
Just then something happened which seemed even more astounding than the above mentioned scene, Lelouch in his Zero costume came up to the soldiers huddled around the fire.
"Your majesty!" the squads sergeant said as they all snapped to attention and saluted.
"At ease soldiers! I told you that this is not the royal court so you are to address me as general, commander or sir, also you call a prince your highness, your majesty is reserved for the king and him alone" Lelouch corrected the soldiers.
"Yes sir! Begging your pardon sir!" the sergeant nervously replied.
"Think nothing of it! By the way how's the western front been?" Lelouch inquired although with the radar system he had at headquarters he knew that everything was OK.
"All quiet on the western front sir! Not a sign of the enemy!" the sergeant replied, he somehow eased up his tension.
"That's good to know sergeant! By the way how are you boys faring? Do you require anything? Food? Clothing? Medicine? "Lelouch asked and he was sincere in his concern for his men.
"Well, the boys and I would do anything for some tobacco sir!" the sergeant replied.
Lelouch hearing that remembered that he still had half a pack of cigars in his pocket and her took it out.
"Here! I'm afraid it's only half a pack!" he said as he handed the pack to the sergeant and he took it hesitantly, his hands shaking with nervousness.
Looking behind him Lelouch saw that one Japanese soldier which looked like he was in his late twenties was covering himself up with a torn rain cloak.
Lelouch walked up to him and asked.
"What happened to your rain cloak soldier?" Lelouch asked.
"Well sir, I couldn't move well in it during the fight so I took it off and left it somewhere and after the battle was over I founded like this torn to shreds!" The soldier replied, Lelouch could tell he was trembling from the clod and could catch pneumonia and die.
He then took of his cloak, placed it in one hand and said to the soldier. "I'll trade you my cloak for your!".
"What! Oh…oh no I….I couldn't dream of doing something like that sir!" the panicked soldier said.
"Private Kan Naoto! (Lelouch knew his name all soldiers had their names written on their uniforms) you are going to bet wet to the bone in that cloak and you might catch pneumonia and as your commander I cannot allow that..now give me your cloak and I will give you mine, you may consider it an order if you'd like." Lelouch replied.
After that kind of answer all Naoto could do was slowly but surely and with much hesitation exchange cloaks with Lelouch.
Private Kan put on his body Lelouch's expensive, silk and velvet cloak, which was comfortable, pleasant to the touch and very warm , while Lelouch put on his body the ragged rain cloak, Lelouch wasn't fazed by this, his clothes were all rainproof so the change of cloaks didn't affect him the slightest.
"If there is anything else you lack please do not hesitate to inform me!" Lelouch said to the platoon gathered around him, he then shook hands with each one off the soldiers present and took his leave, he took a few steps forward when one soldier stooped him with a question.
"Will you be all right in that ragged cloak general?"
At this Lelouch looked back over his shoulder and said.
"I think of the comfort of my men, before my personal one, if all of my soldiers have everything they need then I am also with everything I need" he said to the now awe struck soldiers who looked at him like a once dying man looked at a doctor who miraculously cured him, Lelouch then took his leave, leaving the awe struck soldiers alone too admire the cloak he gave Naoto.
From around his corner Diethard could barely keep silent his excitement at what he just witnessed.
"To hell with the Emmy's, this story will be my magnum opus! My Civil War TV documentary, My 'Bohemian Rhapsody' song, this is what I will be remembered for" Diethard said in his head.
(Ashford Academy, Nunnally bed chamber)
Since Lelouch called her two days ago to tell her about the battle Nunnally had kept the phone in her hand, she waited desperately for Lelouch's reply that he was alright, during this wait the minutes appeared to be days and the hours seemed like years gone by.
She considered giving Lelouch a phone call, but the though then struck her that if he was in combat, her call could distract him and that distraction could possibly cost him his life.
That though filled her with terror, so she refrained from doing so and waited with the cell phone in her hands for the message which would tell her if she should rejoice or if she should be saddened.
After two days of waiting the phone finally rang, Nunnally heart skipped a beat when she heard this, she hesitated for a moment to answer it, fearing the news she may receive.
She gathered all her courage and answer the phone and for a moment for Nunnally time stopped, then she heard Lelouch's voice on the other end of the phone and time resumed its course.
Lelouch told her how other's were all right, how they won the battle and then started to go into detail about the victory's significance, and how he intended to exploit it, but that did not matter to Nunnally, the only thing that mattered was that her brothers, Suzaku and his friends were all right.
From her eyes tears of joy streamed down her cheeks and she listened happily to her brother over the phone.
(Fukuoka city)
After Lelouch gave Nunnally a call, he himself received a phone call it was from Cornelia.
"Lelouch! I am receiving reports that you somehow managed not only to defeat the Chinese and Europeans but also capture the whole enemy army..is this true!" Cornelia asked astounded.
"Yes sister, it's true, I will give you the full report when you arrive here in two days time!" Lelouch replied with a chuckle.
"A…al right..but tell me, did you really capture the whole enemy army?" Cornelia asked curious.
"Every enemy except one knightmare corps whose commander saw through my trap, someone called Li…Xingke I think, they are still on the prowl so I would greatly appreciate it if you'd still bring your army to Kyushu block sister!" Lelouch replied, Cornelia momentarily shocked by Lelouch great victory agreed and the phone conversation ended.
Lelouch then saw that a few feet before him was Suzaku, surveying the landscape with his binoculars.
He walked up to him and said:
"What are you doing here Suzaku? I thought I told you to get some sleep!"
"Oh, hey Lelouch" Suzaku saw that they were alone so he decided that it would be OK to be informal.
"I just…Xingke still out there and it worries me!" Suzaku said and stole a glance at the landscape once more.
"Don't worry about him old friend, his main concern is reaching Saga and escaping…besides…Cornelia will be here in two days time, so I suggest you g et some sleep, with you being Euphie's boyfriend , you're going to need it!" Lelouch said jokingly, which caused Suzaku to blush slightly.
"O…ok!" Suzaku was prepared to go to bed but was stop by an arm on the shoulder from Lelouch.
"Oh and by the way, if you break Euphie's heart….Cornelia will break yours! And I am serious, she will rip in out of your chest and crush it like she crushes walnuts' with her bare hands, I've seen her doing it before!" Lelouch said to him and he had a serious tone in his voice, whether he referred to the act of crushing a human heart or a walnut when he mentioned that he witnessed it he did not make it clear, ambiguity had its own charm, but the desired effect was achieved and Suzaku understood what he meant and went to bed with a worried expression on his face about his future love life.
A few moments after Lelouch talked with Suzaku he received another call on his cell phone.
"Your highness, there is something I must inform you off" the person calling said.
"Of course Lord Bismarck, what is it?" Lelouch replied.
(Slayers military base)
The battle had not been over for hours, but the Slayers still continued to watch their hidden camera footage with the fanaticism of star trek fans combined with the durability of star wars fans.
Their enormous 80 inch screen was divided into several smaller frames.
After a few hours of viewing troops recuperating after the battle, they saw that Zero approached a isolated position, the camera who picked it up was in the middle of the TV screen.
"What's he doing?" Ohgi asked.
Zero just stood there for while looking into the direction of the hidden camera, when all of a sudden he turned his head to the right, raised his right arm, and then quickly lowered it down and when he did the TV images on the left side of the Slayers TV screen all of a sudden went blank.
This caused everyone in the room to jump up from their seats in surprise.
"What the hell!" Tamaki shouted shocked at what just happened.
"He… found out that we were watching all this time!"Kallen said just as shocked.
Just then Zero turned his head to the left raised his left arm, let it drop and the images on the right side of the screen disappeared, the only thing that was left was the middle image which showed Zero.
"No, he knew we were watching all along!" Kaguya said after figuring it out.
"He let us view the battle, because it was like saying 'I am the Niddhog, behold my power and tremble'" Todoh added and what Lelouch just did to the screen scared him more than what he did to Sawasaki's army.
Lelouch then turned around, and once he was with his back to the camera, he then took both arms to his helmet and removed it from his head, you couldn't see his face since he had his back turned to the camera, the only thing you could see was the fact that Lelouch hair color was dark black, since he wasn't wearing his cloak.
Needless to say every slayer then jumped to the screen and glued their eye to it, trying to get a glance of his face.
Lelouch then moved his right arm to his right in a manner in which his finger were clearly visible and said:
"This concludes today's broadcast." He then snapped his fingers and the screen went blank.
Authors note:
Read and review, let me know if I should continue.
Also next chapter title is "At midnight all mask fall of"