So, whose up for Chinese? (I'm kidding, I'm kidding, I always wanted to use that Joker quote!)

I think this may be the longest chapter I've ever written. I am so burned out from having done so, it's not even funny. There is...a lot here. Hopefully you like it. If not, my apologies. It's a mediocre story from a second-rate writer.

Six years, friends. Six years I've been writing this. More than that, actually. There's something almost bittersweet in the writing of this chapter.

Incidentally, I don't know if I've been doing this in other chapters, but I've been referring to Jeremiah as 'Marquis' rather than his actual title of 'Margrave' in this chapter. I may have been studying the French Revolution way too much.

Now to get back to reading Goblin Slayer, Tanya the Evil, Master of Ragnerok, Star Wars, and just about everything else I have.

Edit: I made some changes while using my phone. Hopefully it turned out okay.

Edit 2: Okay, now that I know this will work, here goes. I originally intended to put up a separate author's note, but this will do. I will be taking a month away from the story in order to rest from it and focus on my own creative works. After that, I will begin researching and outlining the R2 of Redo. I will only start publishing chapters when I have a comfortable lead. Most likely, once I'm about halfway through. That said, what I really want is to write a first draft, that being the most important lesson I have learned. So, that's the ideal timetable. Just to give you an idea, I have already done some preliminary research for the story, and I'm already writing the outline for my own original work. Hope to see you guys again soon!

As always, I do not own Code Geass.

…...

Mount Fuji Conference Room, Area Eleven, 2017

Inoue pointed an extendable baton to the map on the wall. "The north is still under our control, but only just," she said. "The Federation Expeditionary Force in the north has been crippled. Most of their heavy equipment has been destroyed. They took at least fifty thousand casualties in the bombings, likely more. Most of their provisions went up in flames, as well. Less than a third of their troops are still capable of fighting.

"The bigger problem, however, is that their chain of command has been completely destroyed. Between the loss of the General Staff and much of their radio equipment, there are a bunch of majors, colonels, captains, and everything in between running around, with no one sure of who is in charge, and no effective means of communication."

She pointed the baton to just east of Toyama. "What's left of the Federation Fleet is anchored off the coast of Toyama; the rest is either sunk or sinking. Rear Admiral Song is in command, and he refuses to move his ships. They're awaiting new orders from Beijing."

Zero grunted. "They'll be waiting for a long time, then," he said, flipping through a file Inoue had given him earlier.

Inoue nodded. "Yes," she agreed. "As per Lady Sumeragi's report, the Tianzi and her loyalists have fled Beijing for Shandong. Though Lady Sumeragi did not say, we believe they are heading for Shanghai. Fighting has broken out all over the country. It's safe to say that we won't be receiving any more help from the Federation."

She shifted her baton to the Tokyo Settlement. "The Empire has the entire Tokyo area on lockdown. They've managed to evacuate the rest of the civilians and their ground troops. However," she turned back to them, "the Imperial airship Avalon is still hovering over the city, and the Pacific Fleet is still anchored just offshore."

She pointed her baton again, this time to the south and west of Mount Fuji. "There is some good news," she told them. "Thanks to the efforts of Commander Zero and Captain Kozuki, more than half of the RAF was destroyed in the south. While they were able to deploy their ordinance, the damage was minimized."

Zero saw Kallen wince next to him. He placed his hand on her shoulder. "We did what we could," he reassured her quietly.

She stiffened, and, after a moment, nodded.

Inoue folded up her baton. "That concludes my report." She sat back down at the round table.

"Thank you, Director Inoue," Zero said. He looked to the rest of the leadership around the table. "I'm opening up the floor. Any thoughts? Suggestions?"

"We can still kick their asses!" Tamaki declared, slamming his fist onto the table. "Just say the word, and it's go time!"

Kallen rolled her eyes. "It won't be that simple, dumbass!"

"Who you callin' dumbass!"

"You, dumbass!"

I'm regretting this already. "Let's get this back on track." He turned to Ohgi. "What's your read, Ohgi?" he asked him.

Ohgi frowned. "This isn't good," he said.

"Stating the obvious right there," Sugiyama remarked.

Ohgi shot him a look before continuing. "Most of our equipment's wrecked. Knightmares," he ticked off his fingers, "tanks, armored cars. We took inventory while you and Kallen were out. We have, on average, one hundred rounds of ammunition per foot soldier, and roughly forty rounds of anti-armor ammunition for our Burais. We have all the fuel in the world, but we don't have the gear to launch any major assaults."

"Nor, for that matter, the men," Yoshida put in. "There's less than fourteen thousand soldiers here on Mount Fuji, and less than two hundred working Burais."

"And the troops outside of Mount Fuji?" Zero directed at Sugiyama.

"We've got some armor and weapons in the south," he replied, "but we don't have the fuel. A bunch of the Britannians emptied out their stockpiles when the garrisons were falling, and the RAF deliberately targeted the fuel we did have." He waved his hand. "And, like Inoue said, it's even worse up north."

"To top it all off," Inoue said, "the RAF has total control over the skies. They'll bomb anything they see, and the napalm started fires in the thick woods, so we can't even rely on the forests for cover. And with the Royal Navy anchored just offshore, any ground assault will be subject to withering bombardment. I doubt we could get anywhere near the Settlement."

"In other words," Sugiyama said, sagging back in his seat, "we're screwed."

Zero closed his eye. Damn you, Katase!

Tamaki smacked his hand on the table. "Come on, man, we can still do this! Zero and his weird ass eyes'll get us outta this!"

"My geass can't magic us up troops and supplies," Zero retorted. "Nevertheless, we do have options." He turned to Oghi. "Our first step is to reestablish our lines of communication. Ohgi, select three hundred men and equip them with as many radios as we can spare. Have those delivered to units in Shizuoka, Hamamatsu, and Nagoya."

"You got it, Lel-Zero!"

"Sugiyama, I want our troops ready to move within the hour," Zero continued. "Our target is the Pacific Fleet anchored in the harbor. We'll leave a thousand men behind to garrison Mount Fuji."

Sugiyama frowned. "What about the RAF? And the Navy?" he asked.

"Schneizel isn't stupid enough to sacrifice his air forces in a storm," Zero replied. "I strongly doubt he has much more than a minimal air presence to perform reconnaissance. And even if he does," he allowed, "we have the Gawain. It may have bad fuel efficiency, but it can work as a mobile AA gun if we transport it by land. The roads between Mount Fuji and Tokyo are largely intact, so we should arrive within a few hours. As for the Navy, the thick cloud coverage should help in obscuring our movements from their satellites. And if the worst comes to pass, we'll still have the Gawain's Hadron Cannons to strike their ships. Any casualties we take will be worth it to destroy the fleet."

There was a collective shudder around the table. A lot of people were going to get killed doing this, but they didn't have a choice.

Zero stood up. "This meeting is adjourned. Let's get to work."

…

The Avalon, Above Tokyo Harbor, Area Eleven

"Knight Leader to Avalon Base."

"Avalon Base to Knight Leader, we read you."

"We have arrived at the designated coordinates. Detecting no sign of the Pacific Fleet."

Prince Schneizel frowned deeply. "They have arrived at the correct coordinates, haven't they?" he asked a communications officer.

"Yes, Your Highness," the officer replied. "Sir Weinberg is at the location where we last made contact with Admiral Halsey."

Nonette asked, "Then where are they?"

The officer shook his head helplessly.

I don't like this. They had lost contact with the fleet two hours ago, at roughly around the same time that the tropical storm moving in from the south was upgraded to a category two hurricane. The coincidence was unsettling. Meteorological reports indicated that Hurricane Elijah, as it was being called, was moving south again, having come dangerously close to the fleet anchored off of Tokyo Harbor.

All of their aircraft had been grounded in anticipation of the storm, but Gino and his wing had volunteered to lead the search and link back up with the rest of the fleet.

"Avalon Base," Gino said, "I'm picking up something in the water. Transmitting visual data."

A moment later, an officer said, "Received," and the image appeared on the display. For a moment, all Nonette could see was the blue of the ocean, shaded by the still gray clouds overhead. She squinted when she saw something just beneath the surface of the waves.

Her eyes widened. "That's..."

It was a Union Jack.

"Well," Prince Schneizel said, "that doesn't bode well."

…

HMS Indomitable, Tokyo Harbor, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven

Lelouch and Nunnally are dead.

Suzaku staggered slowly through the ship, his shoulders sagging. Rain smashed against the hull of the carrier.

Kallen's missing. Nina's still missing. Shirley's brain dead.

Suzaku stepped into his temporary quarters, a cramped room with barely enough space for the cot, closet, and lamp that occupied it. He slumped onto the cot, pulling the blanket and sheet over his shivering body.

Japan is ash and cinders.

He buried his face in his hands.

What was the point of it all?

The only consolation was that Milly and Rivalz were alright. Rivalz would be right as rain in a month or so. Under ordinary circumstances, Suzaku would marvel at the miracles of modern Britannian medical technology; but what good was a doctor to the dead?

Euphie.

She lived only in his memory. He tried to remember only the good times, the fun they had, the love they shared; but all he could see was her broken arm and desperate eyes; the rubble of the medical wing tumbling with the bodies down below.

Suzaku slipped out his father's pocket watch. There were new scratches on it it, new dents, new cracks in the glass plate over the frozen dead hands. He flipped it open and shut, open and shut, the clicking sound as loud as cannons in the silent room.

"Suzaku?"

He jumped. Cecile stood in the doorway, her hand against her breast, framed by the white light of the hallway. Her blue-gray eyes shimmered with concern beneath the sheen of sweat that covered her forehead.

Suzaku snapped shut the pocket watch and stashed it back in his coat. "What is it, Miss Cecile?" he asked her. "Do you have any orders for me?"

"No, nothing like that," she answered. "I just wanted to make sure you were alright."

"I'm fine."

"But, you-"

"I said I'm fine," he repeated firmly. He doffed the covers and stood up. "Why shouldn't I be? We won, didn't we? We beat them. We beat the Chinese. We beat the Black Knights. We beat Zero. That's all that matters, isn't it? Winning? That's all anyone wants."

"Suzaku-"

"And it doesn't matter how we do it, does it?" he asked coldly. "Just so long as we win. Burn the cities, burn the fields, pile the bodies up. Kill the women, kill the children, kill the old, kill the sick. We have to win, and it doesn't really matter how. It's just a bunch of filthy Elevens, after all."

He had more to say, a lot more, but tears were flowing down Cecile's cheeks, and he never wanted that. He turned away from her, placing is hands on the end table. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "I didn't meant to take it out on you, I-"

"Eight of our pilots are dead," Cecile interjected. "They killed themselves."

Suzaku's head jolted up. He whipped back around to see her scowling face.

"Five more are in intensive care after they attempted the same," she continued. "Another two dozen have been benched pending psych eval." Her lips trembled. "We're not all murderers."

She left before he could say another word.

He sat back down on the cot, opening and shutting his pocket watch, trying to lose himself in a world where his friends were all alive.

….

I'm so sorry, Suzaku, Milly thought. The sight of her friend, broken down and defeated, tore her heart in two.

She ran her hand across Rivalz's forhead, brushing away some of the sweat still on his face.

"I hope he'll be alright," she told the sleeping boy.

Boy? No. She smiled down at him. This is a man.

"You and Suzaku are all I have left now," she said. "We're all that's left of the Student Council. Everyone else is gone."

She rubbed his cheek. "I don't know where your parents are. But you can come and live with us." She smiled. "It'll be a lot more fun that way, anyway. I'm sure your parents will find us eventually." She placed a finger to her chin. "We can take out an ad in the paper. Or," she giggled, "maybe even put you on TV." She twirled his hair around her finger. "Would you like that Rivalz? We'll turn you into a TV star. Maybe we can even rope Lulu in too-" she stopped. "No, that's right," she said tonelessly, "they're dead."

She shook her head, put her hand up against it. "Did I just black out for a second?" she wondered.

"You didn't take a hit on the head, did you?"

She jumped. Lloyd stood before her, a smile on his face. "Good to see you're still alive," he said. "It's hard to marry a dead woman, you know?"

That's what you're concerned about? Milly frowned. "I'm glad to see you made it out, too, Lloyd," she said aloud.

"Yes, they got me out rather early," he replied. He scowled slightly. "A little too early if you ask me." He looked down at Rivalz. "One of your friends, I take it?"

Milly bit her lip. "My-" She broke off, took a deep breath. "My boyfriend, actually."

"Oh! I see." If Lloyd was put out, he didn't show it. "How long have you two been together?"

"Four days," she answered. She caught herself, astonished. "Has it really only been four days?"

It seemed like a lifetime.

"I suppose I had to meet the side squeeze I'll have to get in fisticuffs with eventually," he said jokingly.

Milly opened her mouth, shut it. Her mind was racing a mile a minute. She put a hand to her chest, only to be surprised by how calm her heart was.

It seems… I already made my decision.

"No, Lloyd," she said gently. "Rivalz's going to be my husband."

His eyes widened just a fraction. "Wait, what?"

She clasped Rivalz's hand. "He saved my life, Lloyd," she explained. "It won't happen immediately, of course. We'll still go through a courtship and everything, but," she smiled down at him, "this is the man I intend to marry."

"I-That is-We-" Lloyd was genuinely at a loss for words.

Milly kept herself from laughing at him. She wasn't cruel.

"But we already pored over the Ganymede," he protested. "We already got copious amounts of usable data!"

"Well," Milly said, shrugging, a smile on her face, "I guess you got what you wanted for free."

Unable to think of anything else to say, Lloyd turned around and left.

Milly turned back to Rivalz, and planted a soft kiss on his sleeping lips.

"You better get well soon," she told him. "I'm expecting a Hell of a wedding."

…...

HMS Victory, Tokyo Harbor

Margrave Gottwald knelt before the Princess' bed. "I never would have thought this possible," he said. "To be before Lady Marianne's daughter again." He bowed his head. "I am not worthy."

"Can any of us be?" Sayoko asked him.

She had felt a great deal of trepidation when the former leader of the Purist Faction had stepped into the room and given the command phrase; now, she knew she had nothing to fear. Her Master had chosen his chief subordinate wisely.

"When will she wake?" the Margrave asked her.

"The doctors say she'll be safe to come out of her coma in a week," she answered.

Margrave Gottwald stood. "Good, very good."

"Have you heard anything more from His Highness?" Sayoko asked.

To her disappointment, the Margrave shook his head. "I'm afraid not," he said. "We received intelligence that Zero struck a heavy blow against our air forces in the south, but we still succeeded in hitting our designated targets." He grimaced sourly as he said that.

"How successful were we?"

"We didn't just hit their troops and equipment," he replied. "We also struck the major industrial areas, the places Zero will need to rebuild the Area's economy and infrastructure. And," he finished tiredly, "we burned the main farmland in the north, to ensure that the enemy armies and civilian force would starve. Even if Zero was able to push us out of the colony, he won't be able to build any manufacturing plants for lack of equipment, and he won't be able to feed his people."

Sayoko clenched her fist. "A masterstroke," she said bitterly. "The Empire has left Area Eleven bare."

….

Nasushiobara, Area Eleven

The landscape was charred black, little flowers of orange flame wilting beneath the rain that fell on Tohdoh's back. Wounded Black Knights and Chinese soldiers lay scattered across the ground, carefully tended to by the few doctors they had left. There was little remaining of Katase's army, those proud men and women in gleaming Burais, there eyes shining with the promise of freedom. Victory had been just within their sight.

Was it only a mirage? Tohdoh wondered.

Senba groaned beneath him as the medic sawed through his leg just above the knee with a battered-looking combat knife; the skin below had sloughed off like old pudding, burned to mush by the napalm that had engulfed him. Half of his body was covered in burns, his green flight suit was fused to his skin, his hair was burned away on the left side of his face. Asahina and Urabe helped to hold the older man down, while Chiba went about organizing the survivors.

In truth, it was little more than busy work. No woman should have to see this.

Senba whimpered.

"God's sake, man!" Asahina griped at the medic. "Can you hurry this up?"

"I'm going as fast as I can," the medic replied. Grime, mud, and blood framed his tired brown eyes. "Your friend isn't the first, and he won't be the last. The blade has nearly gone dull."

"Is this what we're reduced to?" Urabe said. "Back to sawing off limbs to survive. We may as well find some muskets, too."

The medic said, "If you have a better solution, I'm all ears."

"Would that I had my sword," Tohdoh mused aloud. His katana had melted away with his Gekka, annihilated when his Sakuradite cell was struck. It burned away, with the rest of Japan.

The blade finally passed through Senba's bone, cutting through the remaining tendons on the other side. "We need something to cauterize the wound," the medic told them. "Find me something piping hot."

"Urabe, go," Tohdoh said.

"Right."

After Urabe had gone, Tohdoh asked the medic, "Will he live?"

"Will any of us?" the medic replied. Tohdoh didn't have an answer.

Urabe returned a few minutes later, a warped piece of Knightmare steel in hand, the tip glowing with heat. He handed the piece of metal to the medic carefully.

"Secure his legs," the medic ordered him.

Urabe sat down dutifully on Senba's legs. Senba screamed when the hot steel was pressed against his leg, a howl that sent shivers down Tohdoh's spine. The smell of cooking flesh suffused the air.

Mercifully, it lasted only for a minute before the medic pulled the steel away. Senba breathed heavily afterward, his eyes glowing feverishly.

The medic marched away from them without saying another word.

Asahina approached Tohdoh. "Colonel, what do we do?" he asked him.

Tohdoh looked around at the broken remnants of the Black Knights and Federation soldiers.

"Give the men an hour to rest," he said. "Then pack up the wounded. We'll retreat further north, try to link up with a larger force. See if we can't salvage anything from this."

"We should have waited," Urabe said quietly.

"What do you mean?" Asahina asked.

"For Zero," he answered. "We should have waited longer."

"We waited three days!" Asahina retorted. "How much longer should we have waited? Till perdition came?"

"Then we should have gone to him," Urabe said listlessly. "We should have gotten the truth from him."

"He slaughtered Kyoto!"

Urabe shrugged. "Maybe they needed killing," he said. "Maybe they were holding us back this whole time." He stared up at the black clouds. "We'll never know."

Asahina scowled. "You can't-"

"That's enough, both of you," Tohdoh interrupted. "Asahina, get me a number on our supplies, particularly provisions and medical supplies."

Asahina pressed his lips into a thin line. "Yes, Colonel." He got up stiffly and left.

"Colonel?" Tohdoh looked over at Urabe. "You agree with me, don't you?"

Tohdoh gazed around him, at the blackened landscape, the dying men and women.

"Colonel? You do, don't you?"

Tohdoh looked him in the eye. "Zero was going down, no matter what," he answered. "He signed his death warrant the moment he slaughtered Kyoto. Whether that was today, or tomorrow, or a hundred years from now, General Katase would have never stood for it." Tohdoh stood up.

"And I would have always stood with General Katase.

…

Atsugi, Area Eleven

Kallen tapped her finger idly at the control yoke. She scanned the digital map before her, keeping her eyes peeled in case unfriendly IFF's popped up. So far, she hadn't seen anything.

"Do you think the others are alright?" she asked Lelouch.

"I had my agents in the Occupation prioritize their evacuation," Lelouch replied. He lapsed back into silence.

I hate this, Kallen thought.

The assault forces had split up over two different roads, moving by way of Otsuki and Gotemba. The rain fell on them in thick sheets, forcing them to drive slowly down the road. They'd been driving for two hours now, and that whole time Kallen had been trying to strike up a conversation with him. Lelouch had evaded her every attempt, answering her questions with short, mechanical statements. She was growing frustrated.

"Why do you think the RAF left the roads intact?" Kallen tried again.

"If I had to guess," Lelouch answered, "it's so Schneizel can move on Mount Fuji immediately once the rest of the Pacific Fleet shows up."

"How many troops will that bring?"

"About forty-five thousand men, with fresh equipment and armaments."

Kallen shook her head. "Jeez," she complained. "How are we going to beat that?"

"We aren't."

Kallen whipped around, her eyes wide. "What do you mean, 'we aren't'?" she asked incredulously.

"I mean precisely that," Lelouch replied, his visible eye tired with resignation. "This is an unwinnable war."

"How the Hell is this unwinnable?" Kallen demanded. "We smash the fleet here, and we smash the one coming our way. What's the problem?"

"The problem is that we'll be facing the full might of the Britannian Empire," Lelouch replied. "Japan fell within a month of the invasion, and that was with an intact military, chain of command, and manufacturing industry. We don't have any of that."

"But, we've practically pushed them off the island!" Kallen protested.

Lelouch sighed heavily. "Yes, but we've in no way diminished their ability to fight." He looked at her directly. "There are three prerequisites you have to meet to fight the Empire. You will note I said 'fight' and not 'win.'

"The first is an industrial base from which you can build ships, weapons, tanks, planes, and Knightmare Frames, as well as the bullets, rockets, and fuel tanks they all need.

"The second is a massive population, with large enough reserves to replace the copious amounts of troops you're going to lose in the fighting.

"The third is a means of invading the Britannian mainland." He clicked his tongue disgustedly. "We don't meet even one of those requirements. The Federation was supposed to fulfill all three. It had a huge industrial base that was capable of churning out a hundred Gun-Ru's a month; the world's largest population, after Britannia itself; and, while it wasn't the best in the world, it had a powerful navy."

He snapped his fingers. "All of that's up in smoke now. They're too busy killing each other to help us. Almost half of their naval forces are at the bottom of the sea. And, frankly, we don't even know anyone we can trust." He chuckled bitterly. "If I thought we could have evacuated using the ships they have left, I'd do it in a heartbeat; but, the damn Britannians would just hit us with their naval forces before we got away." He lowered his eyes. "Sugiyama was right. We're screwed."

Kallen gaped at him. "The-Then why are we trying to hit the Settlement?" she asked. "Why even bother striking the fleet?"

His expression turned ugly. "You want the truth?" he asked her. "Spite. Pure, naked, spite. That man may take this island back, but I'll leave him with nothing but ash and corpses. I'll cripple all of his operations in the Pacific. I will make him rue the day his Empire ever set foot in the Land of the Rising Sun."

The hate in his eyes shivered down her spine. She licked her lips. "That doesn't sound like the talk of a beaten man," she said. "That sounds like a man still looking for victory."

Lelouch scowled. "I told you, we can't win."

"Of course we can win," Kallen said. "We can win because you're leading us. Anyone else, they would have given up at this point. They would have abandoned us to our fate. But not you. You're still fighting." She raised herself from her seat, climbed up, and straddled his lap, placing her hands flat on his chest. "We're going to win this, because you're leading us."

Lelouch flushed at how close she was. "I'm not invincible, Kallen," he mumbled. "I'm no messiah."

"We're not asking you to be," she replied. "We're just asking you to be you." She coiled her arms around his neck, pressing her body against his. "And after we win, there's this great sushi restaurant in Tokyo you're going to take me to."

Lelouch looked away from her uncomfortably. "Kallen," he said hesitatingly, "there's something I have to tell you."

Kallen leaned in, her face close enough to breathe on his lips. "What is it?"

She felt his hands rest on her hips. "I...Me and..."

"If it's so difficult to talk about," Kallen said breathily, "you can tell me after we win."

As she came closer to him, he said desperately, "What if they open fire on us."

"We'll probably be dead anyway, right?" she whispered.

She gave him just enough time to nod before she closed the distance between them.

…

The Avalon, Above Tokyo Harbor, Area Eleven

"I think we lost every carrier," Gino said. He stood at stiff attention, his expression uncommonly grim. "There were men floating in the water in life preservers, and my boys only found six of our destroyers."

"Which means," the Prince said, his solemn expression giving nothing away, "the Pacific Fleet is at the bottom of its namesake."

He paced around the office, his hands clasped behind his back. "Can we retake the rest of the island without them?" he asked Nonette.

"It will be hard fighting, Your Highness," she told him. "There are eight thousand marines aboard the present fleet, and half as much from the occupational troops. We'll be outnumbered the whole way, and it will take time to subdue every pocket of resistance, but a win is conceivable. We do have an advantage in the air and the sea, but nature's god appears determined to nullify both."

"Yes, the weather has been especially bad," His Highness agreed. "Still, we have little choice. We'll have to make do with what we have." He nodded to himself. "We'll begin the assault in one week's time. That will give our troops time to rest. The primary objective will be Mount Fuji. It is imperative that we retake the mountain and its Sakuradite reserves."

"What about the civilians, Your Highness?" Nonette asked. "Where should we evacuate them to?"

"Sail them back to Pearl, then to California Base," the Prince answered. "They can make stops at our island holdings along the way. That was the original plan, and I see no need to change it. We'll supply them with two destroyers as an escort."

A loud rapping at the door cut him off. Annoyed, Schneizel said, "Enter! And do not waste my time."

An intelligence officer entered the room swiftly, offering the prince a quick bow. "Your Highness, our satellites managed to pierce some of the air coverage caused by the storms. We've detected a large force moving towards Tokyo."

Schneizel frowned. "Were they Chinese or Elevens?"

"We're unsure. The cloud coverage moved back in before we could confirm."

"Which direction are they coming from?"

"The southwest. We believe it may be coming from Mount Fuji."

"Any airborne units?"

"None that we could see."

Schneizel considered for a moment. "I see," he said. "You may return to your station."

"Yes, Your Highness." The officer bowed and left.

Schneizel observed the people in the room with a raised eyebrow. "This may have just become much more complicated," he said.

"Do you think it's Zero and the Gawain?" Nonette asked.

"That would be my guess," he agreed. "The Gawain doesn't have to be airborne to be a threat, and we can't put our planes in the air in this weather. It's a testament to your skills that you were able to fly in this, Sir Weinberg."

"Thank you, Your Highness," Gino said, bowing.

Schneizel placed his hand against his chin. After a moment, he said, "Issue orders to begin withdrawal. We'll fall back to the Marshall Islands, restock and resupply, and sail for Pearl."

"We're abandoning the Settlement, Your Highness?" Nonette asked, careful to keep her shock from her tone.

He nodded. "The battle is unwinnable," he explained. "We can't land our forces quickly enough to put up a defense, and even if we did, the Gawain's Hadron Cannons will chew right through us. We cannot win a defensive siege against that kind of firepower."

"But what about the fleet?" Gino asked.

"It is to protect the fleet that I make this decision," the Prince replied. "We might be able to bombard Zero from the coast, but we would need to hit the Gawain on the first strike. Can you guarantee that we will?" he asked pointedly.

Gino shook his head. "No, Your Highness."

"Neither can I," the Prince said. "And if we don't hit the Gawain on the first strike, it will simply put to the sky. How many civilians will be killed in that engagement? And how many of our own ships will we lose? We might very well see the fleet annihilated. No, it's far better to retreat now, rearm, and come back to fight another day."

"I don't believe His Majesty will be happy about your decision, Your Highness," Nonette said.

The Prince narrowed his eyes. "Then His Majesty should have acted two months ago, when the situation could have been stabilized. His Majesty should not have grown complacent."

"Watch your words carefully, Your Highness," Nonette warned. "You skirt perilously close to sedition."

The Prince considered. "Sir Weinberg, Lord Maldini," he said, "leave us. I wish to speak to Lady Enneagram privately."

Kanon bowed obediently and departed. Gino shot a look at Nonette, seeking her approval. Nonette nodded, and he followed Kanon's lead.

Once the door shut, Nonette snapped, "Are you out of your damn mind? Talking that way in front of a Knight of the Round? Two, in fact!"

"Do you know why the Emperor ordered this expedition, My Lady?" Schneizel asked her breezily.

Nonette crossed her arms. "I would imagine the attempted assassination of the Sub-Viceroy might have something to do with it," she said dryly.

Schneizel's eyes were hard. "His Majesty doesn't care about any of his children, Lady Enneagram," he said softly. "The Lady Marianne, may she rest in peace, was his favored wife, and everyone knew it. It didn't stop him from killing her children when it suited his agenda."

"Your Highness!"

Schneizel lifted a photograph. "This is why the fleet was ordered to Area Eleven." He threw the photograph onto the table.

Nonette picked it up. A beautiful girl with lime green hair and amber eyes stared boredly into the camera, a pizza slice hanging from her mouth.

"We were given strict orders to begin the hunt for this girl as soon as we had the Area stabilized," the Prince explained.

"Who is she?"

"We don't know. All we know is the Emperor wants her, and he has reason to think she's in Area Eleven."

Nonette snorted. "If that's the case, he shouldn't have ordered the Area torched. She's probably ash at this point."

"His Majesty assured me that would not be the case. It matters little now; we can't retake the Area with the troops we have, and we can't hold the Settlement with the Gawain on the way. That is why we must leave."

Nonette raised an eyebrow. "And what about the girl?"

"If the Emperor wants her so badly, he can look for her himself," Schneizel replied. "My priority is the Empire and her people. We shall do everything we can to protect them. Even if it means defying the Emperor."

Schneizel smiled, a cold turn of the lips that made Nonette queasy. "Besides," he said, "I have no intention of simply handing the Area over to Zero. We're going to leave him with a little surprise on our way out the door."

…

HMS Victory

Viletta lay limply in her restraints. Lord Jeremiah had ordered her put in a restraining jacket and bound to a medical gurney, her mouth gagged to prevent her from biting her tongue. They couldn't put her in her own room due to the lack of space, but they did put up a curtain to give her some privacy.

If only they had put plugs in my ears, she mused.

All around her were the moans of the wounded and dying, a cacophony of misery and suffering that Viletta was powerless to stop. She moved her arms and legs against the straps that held them, but she was too tightly bound. She tried to call over an orderly, but the gag muffled her into effective silence under the weight of the cries around her.

Kaname's smiling face swam before her.

He's out there somewhere! Let me find him!

Fear and frustration mixed within her. She thrashed against her restraints, the gurney rocking as she attempted to escape. The restraints held tight, but the commotion she was making brought over a white clad nurse.

Viletta tried to speak again. Please, let me go! I just want to find him! Please!

The nurse said nothing. She grabbed Viletta's arm and pressed a mechanical needle to it. Viletta felt herself become immediately calm, her corded muscles relaxing into mush, her mind becoming distant from the body it inhabited.

She wasn't sure how much time passed in her semi-lucid state. Jeremiah appeared by her side, saying words she couldn't make out, his expression concerned as he spoke to her. She saw more than felt him put a hand to her shoulder. She wondered, vaguely, what it was he was saying.

She blinked, and the ceiling above her had changed from the antiseptic white tiles of the infirmary to a dull gray steel. She moved her arms to rub her eyes, wiping the weariness out of them. Across from where she lay was a tray of food: salted ham, eggs over easy, a sliced orange and a glass of tea still steaming from the pot. She sat up sluggishly, her body heavy from whatever chemical compound had been running through it.

"Glad to see you're awake."

Viletta looked up to see Jeremiah standing in the doorway, a smile on his face.

"Where are we?" she asked him.

"Still aboard the HMS Victory," he answered. "I had you moved to my quarters from the infirmary. The docs pumped you full of drugs because you were making a racket and scaring the other patients. I offered to take you off their hands, and here we are."

Her mouth felt like it was wadded with cotton. "How long was I out?"

"A full day," he said. "You must have been exhausted; the drug should only have put you under for a few hours."

"Is there a reason I'm no longer restrained?"

Jeremiah frowned, his eyes downcast. "A lot has happened since you were put under, Viletta," he explained. "The fleet is no longer docked in Tokyo Harbor. We are no longer in Area Eleven."

Viletta's jaw dropped. "What's going on?" she demanded.

"Prince Schneizel ordered the Area abandoned. Zero has taken Tokyo. The Black Knights won." He didn't look especially disappointed saying that.

"So everything, everything we did was...it was all for nothing?"

Jeremiah looked at her darkly. "No, not nothing," he said quietly, tone hot with anger. "We did something alright."

"What?"

"We bombarded Mount Fuji."

…

Office of the Viceroy, Viceory's Palace, Tokyo Settlement, Area Eleven

"That dirty son of a bitch," Zero growled, his fist clenching and unclenching above the desk.

The Black Knights had marched into the Tokyo Settlement cautiously, wary of the lack of enemy fire, expecting at any moment to be roped into a trap. They had taken close to ten hours to secure the city itself, advancing house by house, building by building, carefully approaching the government district and, finally, Tokyo Harbor. Zero had been shocked to see the harbor empty, with no trace of the fleet or where it had gone.

Celebrations had broken out almost immediately, as any sense of military discipline broke down in the face of victory. The Union Jack had been ripped down from its pole, burned, and replaced by the silver crane of the Black Knights. The streets were filled with drunken revelers partying beneath the still gray skies, even as trucks were used to ferry the corpses of those killed in the fighting to a series of mass graves being dug in the outskirts of the city.

Only Zero had been concerned about the lack of Britannian presence, and he had just received vindication for his skepticism.

Inoue flinched at the cold hate in his metallic tone. "We're still tallying up the casualties," she said nervously, "but we can confirm that Imperial guns have destroyed the mining complexes at Mount Fuji. Considering the scale of the bombardment, combined with unfavorable weather conditions, we have determined that naval armaments were used to strike the mountain."

Zero fumed. "Brilliant," he hissed, the microphone in his helmet transforming it into a growl that made Inoue take a step back. "Just brilliant. We take the Tokyo Settlement, and conceivably the rest of the island, but we lose the most important resource in the world." He ground his teeth. "Goddammit!" He pounded the desk with his fist. He glared at Yoshida. "How long will it take to repair the facility?"

Yoshida licked his lips. "If we had the right equipment, about a month and a half. That's to dig it back out, and contract out the engineers and construction workers. Due to the damage the facility has sustained, we'll have to rebuild the entire complex."

"But we don't have the right equipment."

Yoshida nodded. "No, Lord Zero. We don't."

Zero fumed. "God damn you, Schneizel," he said. "We'll have to make do with what we have. Have all nearby units begin digging the place out. Use our Knightmares sparingly. Which reminds me." He turned to Ohgi. "What about the coastal refineries? How many do we have?"

Ohgi held up his report. "Of the five coastal refineries, only two are still operational. Britannian guns hammered the rest, two of which have since collapsed into the sea."

"Better than nothing. Did the Imperials leave any tankers behind."

Ohgi shook his head. "None, My Lord."

"Minami," Zero said, "are there any nearby nations that would be willing to furnish us with tankers?"

"I wouldn't even bother asking," Minami replied. "There's no one in Asia that can do it. The Southwest Chinese Federation has declared independence, and they're already throwing themselves into the civil war over there."

"I'm sure Rakshata is thrilled," Zero said wryly. "Still, surely they'd like to purchase Sakuradite from us, even in a limited capacity."

"They might," Minami agreed, "were it not for the fact that the Empire has broadcast the destruction of our Sakuradite mines to the entire world. The first thing they asked was whether or not the Empire was telling the truth, and I had no choice but to confirm it. The phone calls dried up shortly after that."

"So they'll rely on their stockpiles in the short term, while they're busy killing each other," Zero mused. "The Russians are going to make a killing. They're the only other power in Asia with equivalent mining reserves." He turned to Tamaki. "Please tell me the clean up is at least progressing."

Tamaki gave him a grin and a thumbs up. "Right as rain, buddy. Tokyo should be cleaned up inside a couple a weeks!"

"Well, there's at least that." Zero turned once again to Inoue. "What about Tohdoh? Have you managed to make contact with him?"

"Not as yet," Inoue answered. "We are still trying. It's possible he doesn't have any way of communicating with us."

I sincerely doubt that.

"Well, that's as much as we can do right now," Zero said. "You're all dismissed."

After they filed out, he turned to Kallen. "I almost wish they had won," he admitted. "This is an absolute trainwreck. Our people are almost better off under the Empire."

"That's not true, and you know it," Kallen retorted. She grinned brightly. "We're free, Lelouch. Free to choose our own destiny. Compared to the nightmare we've suffered through these last seven years, rebuilding Japan will be a piece of cake."

Zero huffed. "I hope you're right."

"I am," she said. She sat down on the desk, smiling shyly at him. "That sushi restaurant is open again, and from what I hear, it's been doing gangbusters." She curled a finger in her hair. "Would you, well, like to go up for lunch tomorrow?"

Zero swallowed. "Kallen...about what I said before...in the Gawain..." He couldn't continue. He was about to hurt her irreparably.

"What?" Kallen asked, raising an eyebrow, the smile not leaving her face. "What's so bad you're having trouble telling me?"

…

HMS Indomitable, Pacific Ocean

Area Eleven was a small dot against the backdrop of a bloody sun, just close enough for Suzaku to make it out in the evening hour. He pulled one more time on the cigarette in his mouth, the fourth this hour, and flicked it into the sea.

"So you won, huh?" Suzaku said. "You killed my friends, the woman I loved, burned my homeland to ashes, and yet still...still… you won."

He ran his thumb over the pocket watch, his teeth grinding.

"What am I supposed to do with this?" he wondered aloud. "I played by the rules, worked within the system, obeyed my orders, even," he swallowed, "even when it killed me to do so." He looked down at his watch. "And I lost everything."

He glared back at the small island. "You murdering, terrorist bastard. You slaughtered civilians, murdered royalty, brought fire and doom upon my nation." He squeezed the metal railing tightly. "And now, Japan's free." His throat grew tight. "What am I supposed to do with this?"

He wasn't sure what he felt. Was it hatred? Grief? Despair? Was it all of that, and more? He couldn't figure it out. His chest throbbed. He pulled out another cigarette.

"Suzaku!"

He stashed it hurriedly away as he turned to face Cecile. He was surprised to see her running.

"What is it, Miss-"

"She's alive!" Cecile cried out. "Princess Euphemia is alive!"

Suzaku's mouth dropped open. "She-but she-"

"She was evacuated before the battle even began!" Cecile interrupted him joyfully. "Come on! She's summoned you!"

She didn't give him time to say anything else. She grabbed his hand and jerked him along after her, dragging him several feet before his own brain took back over and he was sprinting past her to a waiting helicopter.

"She's aboard the Avalon," Cecile told him once he was inside. "His Highness had her brought her onboard earlier today." She smiled at him. "She wanted to see you immediately."

Suzaku's hands trembled. What if this is all a trick? he wondered in a panic. Some great, monstrous gag? Or a dream, one which I will soon wake up from? What if-

Cecile clasped his trembling hand, running her thumbs across the back. "It'll be okay, Suzaku," she assured him. "Everything will be alright!"

An instant later, the door slid shut, and the helicopter lifted off. Suzaku's heart hammered in his chest. The sea before him was vast, endless, a never ending expanse of dark blue beneath twilight.

It was almost dark when the helicopter landed aboard the Avalon, guided in by green and orange lights that designated the helicopter pad. Suzaku climbed out in a rush, only to be met by an honor guard consisting of three of the Glastons, each covered in a variety of bandages, rings of exhaustion around their eyes.

"Warrant Officer Kururugi," the lead Glaston, Sir Claudio Darlton, said, "come this way. Her Highness is expecting you."

Suzaku bowed, impatience mixing with guilt. "Yes, My Lord," he replied. "However," he trailed off, feeling unsure of himself.

Sir Claudio raised an eyebrow. "What is it?" he asked, his eyes hard.

Suzaku drew himself to stiff attention. "Sir David was a great man," he said. "It was an honor serving under him. Please accept my condolences for your loss."

Sir Claudio's eyes widened slightly. For a moment, silence fell over the group. Finally, Sir Claudio's eyes softened. "Thank you," he said in a subdued tone. "I am proud of my brother, and the noble sacrifice he made." His eyes flashed dangerously. "One day, we shall repay Zero in kind. For him, and Bart, and Princess Cornelia, and all the others." He raised his hand. "I am glad my brother died in such stalwart company."

Suzaku hesitated, surprised, but grasped Sir Claudio's outstretched hand. His grip was firm but friendly, and when he turned around Suzaku fell into pace just behind him, ahead of his brothers. They hewed to a fast pace, marching past scrambling orderlies, some of whom gave Suzaku dark looks that he steadfastly ignored. His mouth was dry, his palms clammy, tingling.

When they arrived at the door, Sir Claudio announced his presence, and Suzaku stepped inside.

"Welcome to the Avalon, Warrant Office Kururugi."

Her voice was cold, stony, but that did nothing to dampen the heat in his heart. Suzaku Kururugi was, in that moment, the happiest man alive.

Tears welled up in his eyes. "Euphie..." He reached out to her.

"Lower your hand, Warrant Officer," a new voice said, grabbing his wrist. Suzaku turned to see a blonde man, taller than himself, a firm yet strangely sympathetic look to his eyes. "It's inappropriate to behave so."

It was then that Suzaku noticed that the room was occupied by other people, including a scowling green haired woman in Rounds regalia; a man in his late twenties with light brown hair and a green and gold uniform; and-

"Prime Minister el Brittania!" Suzaku snapped, bowing. "Forgive me, I did not see you!"

"It's quite alright, Warrant Officer," the Prime Minister replied. There was a slight smile on his face. Suzaku spotted a small blue case being held in his hands. "I'm hardly the prettiest person in the room."

"Warrant Officer Kururgi," Euphemia said stiffly, "you are summoned here today to accept the thanks of a grateful Empire. Were it not for your heroism during the Siege of Tokyo, the city would have been overrun, and the civilian population surely massacred. For your gallantry under force of arms, the Holy Empire of Britannia, in the sight of God and these witnesses, do award you with the Distinguished Service Order."

His Highness stepped forward and presented the medal to Suzaku, whose green eyes shone with surprise.

"I-I-" He swallowed. "I am not worthy, Your Highness." He bowed and accepted the medal from the Prince.

"In addition," Euphemia continued, "you are hereby promoted to the rank of second lieutenant, effective immediately. You will continue your assignment with the Camelot program at your new rank." She brought her hands beneath the desk she sat behind. "You are dismissed."

Suzaku's head shot up. "Dismissed?" he asked incredulously. "But, but I just found out that you-"

"Please leave, Lieutenant," Euphemia demanded. "I have a great deal of work to do, and little time to do it."

For the first time since he entered the room, he realized Euphemia hadn't looked at him even once.

"Euphie-"

"Do not call me that!" she interrupted harshly. "Do not speak to me so familiarly! You have no right!"

"But we're-"

"How many people did you murder, Lieutenant?" she asked suddenly, her eyes blazing. "How many innocent men, women, and children did you kill, Lieutenant?"

A block of ice settled in Suzaku's chest. He gripped the medal case in his hand. "I didn't count," he said, his voice low and hoarse.

"Perhaps you should have. Their blood bought that medal." She turned away from him again. "Leave. I never want to see you again."

Suzaku swallowed. He gave her a bow, said, "As you wish, Your Highness," and stepped outside.

The Glastons left him standing there, Sir Alfred remaining in the now closed room as Euphemia's bodyguard. Suzaku pulled out his pocket watch, clicking it open and shut for a moment, his jaw working up and down, back and forth. He looked down at it.

Everything.

He let the watch fall to the floor with a metallic ring, and left.

…

"That was excellently done, Euphie," Prince Schneizel complemented her. "A masterful performance."

"Don't say that," the Princess replied, her eyes swimming with tears. "You made me hurt the man I love."

"Euphie," the Prime Minister said kindly, "you said it yourself: he bought that medal with the blood of civilians. Do you really think you could have still loved him?"

Nonette watched the Princess's mind work, her lips trembling. "I don't know, big brother," she admitted. "But we deserved the chance to try." She rubbed her eyes with trembling hands. "He'll be okay now, won't he?"

"Of course," her brother reassured her. "There will be no court martial, not after today. I'll be able to head off any attempt to do so, now that politics will no longer be in the way. Lieutenant Kururugi will be able to have a long, successful career. You just ensured that."

Princess Euphemia nodded. "Good. That's all I want. For him to be safe and...and happy."

The Princess stood from her seat behind the desk. "Sir Alfred, would you be so kind as to escort me to my quarters?" she asked. "I am feeling very tired."

Sir Alfred bowed. "Happily, Your Highness."

The Princess stepped out of the room, Sir Alfred in tow, but she stopped in the doorway, looking down at the floor. Her Highness reached down and picked something up, what Nonette couldn't see. Whatever it was, it caused the Princess to suddenly choke and begin running down the hallway, a surprised Sir Alfred taking off after her.

Once they were gone, Nonette turned to Prince Schneizel. "Politics? A court martial?" she asked him archly. "He's a hero for what he did in Tokyo. There isn't a judge in the Empire that would throw that kid in prison."

Schneizel raised an eyebrow. "Certainly," he agreed. "But Euphie doesn't know that." He chuckled. "You disapprove?" he asked.

"Not entirely," Nonette admitted. "Even without the misfortune of his blood, he was reaching way beyond his station."

Schneizel smiled faintly. "So was Lady Marianne," he reminded her.

Nonette blushed. "They're hardly comparable," she argued weakly. "But if that's not your problem, then what?"

A dark look passed over Schneizel's face. "Four of my beloved siblings were killed on that island," he said. "I'll be damned before I let an Eleven lay his hands on my sister."

…..

HMS Victory, Marshall Islands

"Are you sure this is what you want?" Jeremiah asked.

He and Viletta stood on the dock, her equipment and personal items wrapped up in a large duffle bag. She had requested, and received, permanent reassignment to the Marshall Islands as chief of base security.

She nodded. "We still have troops in some of the smaller islands off the coast of Area Eleven," she confirmed. "They'll need our support to be resupplied so they can continue the guerrilla campaign. And..." Her eyes shimmered. "And it's the best chance I'll have of finding him."

Jeremiah nodded. "Good luck, Viletta," he said, shaking her hand.

"Thank you, Lord Jeremiah. It was an honor to serve with you."

"The honor was mine."

Viletta hefted her bag and left him standing there, watching as she walked away.

"I truly hope you find him," he murmured.

He reboarded the Victory, the light of the rising sun at his back, an energetic hop to his step.

His Prince would face difficulties, all manner of challenges as he consolidated his rule over his new Empire. These were the challenges young kingdoms faced, challenges Jeremiah was sure his Master would overcome.

One day, Marianne would have her revenge. The children of vi Britannia would bring her enemies crashing to their knees.

And I will help to bring it about.

He imagined his Prince sitting on his father's throne, scepter in hand, a golden light around his head.

Emperor Lelouch. It has a nice ring to it.

…

Temporary Imperial Palace, Shanghai, Chinese Federation, One Week Later

It was a small room in a small building, adorned with little more than the flags of her people, but it was the best they could do in such drastic circumstances. The Loyalist nobles lined the walls, their heads bowed to her. General Hong Gu, the man of the hour, knelt before her.

"For actions of stirring loyalty," the Tianzi said, "and heroism above and beyond the call of duty, we award the title of Vice Commander of the Chinese Imperial Army to General Hong Gu."

There was a round of applause around her as the general bowed, his face glowing with delight. "We shall be working you to the bone, general," the Tianzi told him with a smile. Polite laughter chorused around her.

"I promise to serve you well, Your Majesty," Hong Gu assured her. She gestured, and he took his place among the coterie.

She took a deep breath, her heart uneasy. That was the easy part.

"Send in General Xingke and Xianglin," she commanded.

The door opened, admitting the both of them to the sound of hisses and mutterings. There was a part of the Tianzi that wanted nothing more than to silence them all, to welcome her friend in with open arms. She smothered that feeling of guilt inside of her.

He brought this on himself.

The two of them knelt once they reached her, their faces parallel to the floor. The Court fell silent as the Tianzi stared down at them. That silence dragged on for several minutes as the Tianzi struggled to decide what she was going to say.

"You betrayed us," she finally decided. "You swore an oath of loyalty to us, and you betrayed that oath. Because of that betrayal, our nation is now embroiled in civil war. Indochina, India, the Philippines; all have declared independence from the Throne of Heaven. Ambition, deceit, and treachery have brought the Middle Kingdom low." She narrowed her eyes. "All of that began with you. What have you to say for yourselves?"

She paused, waiting for them to speak. To her surprise, it was Xianglin that spoke. "There can be no excuse. We will accept whatever punishment you deem appropriate, Your Majesty."

"Of course you will. Do not speak the obvious to us," the Empress commanded. "What have you to say, Xingke?"

Xingke did not look up at her. "All I did, I did to protect you, Your Majesty," he said. "I will go to my grave regretting my betrayal. However," he looked up at her, an intense passion in his eyes, "I will never apologize for what drove me to do it. I am your loyal servant, now, and forever."

"Even if that means acting against us?" the Tianzi asked.

"Yes," he answered without a hint of hesitation.

A wave of sadness washed over her. "And that is how you have truly betrayed us, Xingke. You look upon us and see only a child, to be coddled and protected, even from herself. But we, I," she drew herself up, "am the Will of China given flesh. My duty is to my people, as yours should have been. This is the Mandate of Heaven to which I was born, and there is no more sacred duty than this."

A hot poker was brought forth. "Tear off their jackets," she ordered. Neither resisted. "Under ordinary circumstances, you would both be executed for your crimes. However," a hint of relief entered her voice, "we have need of your warrior skills to restore our nation." The poker was brought forth. "You are traitors to the Throne. There is no disputing this. From this day forth, you will bear the mark of treason over your hearts, where your betrayal began."

She gestured with a finger. A moment later, the sound of sizzling flesh filled the room as the poker was jabbed against Xianglin's chest. The woman grunted, her skin white, fists shaking, but she acquitted herself admirably. After a few minutes, the poker was lifted from her body. She collapsed onto the floor, breath heaving in great huge gasps, her hand gripping her tunic to keep from grabbing her burned chest.

When the poker was brought to bear on Xingke, he looked up at her sharply, his eyes holding hers. There was no hate in them, no fear, no anger. Only grim determination.

The Tianzi returned that stare, even as her hands gripped her throne so hard she drew blood. His face did not so munch as wince as the hot iron was drawn across him, his skin chalk white.

After what seemed an eternity, the iron was pulled away. The only reaction he gave was to let out a long breath.

The Tianzi held out her hand. Xingke stood up shakily, approaching the throne with a stiff stride that bespoke his pain. He knelt before her and kissed her hand, his eyes fixed on hers.

She knew then. All was at it should be. All was right once more.

"Rise, General," the Empress commanded him, "and save our kingdom."

…

Office of the First Consul, Consul's Palace, Tokyo, United States of Japan

Progress on Mount Fuji was slow; multiple Burais and stolen Sutherlands and Glasgows had to be hauled away after they broke down digging out the mining complex. Trucks were drove in when they began to unearth the bodies of the garrison from their muddy graves. At the rate they were going, Yoshida's month and a half projection was beginning to look optimistic.

They were more fortunate when it came to the offshore refineries: a number of yachts and fishing boats had been left untouched by the storms and the Pacific Fleet; they were now be used to ferry Sakuradite back to the mainland. It wasn't much, but it was better than nothing. First Consul Zero already had it earmarked for their military forces.

First Consul, he thought with bitter amusement. They hadn't been able to hold a true election; a parliament had been called, but it was made up of the members of the officer corps. He had been declared First Consul by acclaim, rather than selection by the people. The USJ was, for all intents and purposes, a military dictatorship.

Communications had been reestablished with the south. Even with their limited mobility, they were still successful in policing the areas they found themselves stuck in as a result of the bombings. What troops could be moved rapidly, however, were being force marched back north, to deal with what was quickly becoming Zero's biggest headache.

"How many agents do we have left in the north?" he asked.

"Three, technically," Inoue answered, looking concerned. "But one has already gone dark. He's missed three scheduled communiques. Frankly, I doubt he's still alive."

Zero tapped his fingers together in contemplation. He glanced over at Kallen, but the young woman stubbornly avoided his gaze. For the third day in a row, she'd joined him with eyes rimmed red from crying.

He swallowed tightly. I'm sorry, Kallen.

C-Two still had not reappeared. Zero would have liked to begin the hunt for her and Mao, but he had no idea where to start looking; and, more importantly, he had larger concerns at the moment.

He returned his focus to Inoue. "I am increasingly disliking the sound of this," he told her.

Inoue swallowed. "There's more, Lord Zero," she said. He waved his hand for her to continue. "Colonel Tohdoh still will not respond to our attempts to communicate. He and his troops have linked up with the remnants of the Chinese forces, and they're consolidating their control over the north. Admiral Song is also not responding to any of our hails."

Zero narrowed his eyes. "What are you telling me, Inoue?" he asked coldly.

She clenched her report tightly in her hands. "It is the opinion of Intelligence that Colonel Tohdoh is preparing for war."
…..

Yamanashi, Democratic Republic of Japan

Tohdoh patted the soft earth in which Ryoga Senba now lay. The older soldier had lasted five days before succumbing to his injuries. He'd had no last words, no final hour of heroic glory; one moment he was there, and then he wasn't. It was as simple as that.

"Rest in peace, my friend," Tohdoh said quietly. "We will finish the work that General Katase started."

He shifted the coat he wore more tightly around himself. Autumn was becoming winter early, the cold chill brushing against his face. When he turned around, he was greeted by a column eight hundred strong, mostly on foot, though they did have some armor still available to them. They still wore the black uniforms of the Black Knights; there was neither time nor opportunity to transfer back into their old Japanese field greens. That was fine. Mourning colors seemed appropriate for the bloody business that was to come.

Chiba stepped forward. "General Tohdoh!" she cried out. "What are your orders?"

He looked over the faces of the men and women before him. He searched for a hint of nervousness, for even the slightest trace of doubt. He could not find it.

Tohdoh pointed to his right. In the distance, a body hung from a tree. "The Holy Britannian Empire has been vanquished," he declared. "No more will our people bow and scrape before the throne of Charles zi Britannia. Now, they bow and scrape before a tyrant and murderer born from our own ranks. He pretends at democratic values, but makes himself a dictator with sham elections. Our war for liberation is not finished. So long as a tyrant rules over Japan, it can never be finished!" He brought his clenched fist out before him. "My orders? We fight! We fight today, as we always have, for a free Japan!"

He raised his fist high above his head. "Banzai!" he shouted.

"BANZAI!" they shouted back.

"BANZAI!"

"BANZAI!"

"BANZAI!"

…

Cabinet Conference Room, Imperial Palace, Pendragon, Holy Empire of Britannia

The Cabinet teemed with life. Soldiers, accountants, cryptographers, cartologists, scientists; in a room that was meant to hold a hundred people, one could not turn without bumping into someone else. Also present were the Knights of the Round, with the notable exception of Sir Bradley, who was still attempting to pacify the Mohammedans. At the head of this table was the Emperor himself.

Schneizel stood from his seat, report in hand, seeking Charles' permission to begin. He gave it.

"Let us begin with the bad news," the Prime Minister said. "With the loss of Area Eleven, we have seen an 85 percent drop in the import of Sakuradite." The sound of choking interrupted him. He waited a moment, resuming when no further noise was made. "Areas Three through Five, Eight through Ten, and Twelve and Fifteen have entered open revolt. They're shouting 'Hail Zero' in the streets. It is the opinion of Intelligence that they are being coordinated by Zero." He flipped a page.

"We sustained over one hundred thousand casualties as a result of the Black Rebellion," he continued. "This includes three hundred fighter, fighter-bomber, and heavy bomber planes; three super carriers, five strike carriers, eight light carriers, and twenty-six ships of a mixture of destroyers, missile boats, and frigates; and over one thousand Knightmare Frames.

"More damaging than the loss of equipment, however, is the loss of tens of thousands of trained, hardened veterans from our campaigns in Europe, Africa, and Asia. That is thousands of years of experience and knowledge that cannot be replaced, no matter how many ships, planes, and Knightmares we build."

He flipped the page again. "There is some good news," he assured them. "For starters, the rebels in the colonies lack sophisticated fighting equipment. They are limited to small arms and guerrilla warfare tactics. It is the recommendation of the Ministry of War that we focus on retaking the major industrial and mining areas. The Ministry requests permission to Raise the Dragon." Schneizel looked to Charles, who nodded.

"Permission is given," he said.

Shcneizel inclined his head briefly. "The Chinese Federation has collapsed into warring factions," he continued. "The Empress and her forces have control over the southeast; the High Eunuchs and the 'Free Republic of China' controls the northeast. However, the southwest has completely seceded, and are now fighting each other for control of each other's mineral resources." He smirked. "Western and northwestern China have also gone into revolt. The north calls itself the 'Republic of China', while the south calls itself the 'People's Republic of China.'" He turned to the assembled audience. "There are quite a few republics in China these days."

That drew a hearty laugh.

"Russian troops are also beginning to mobilize at the border," Schneizel added. "Whether they are there to preserve the sovereignty of their own borders or are preparing for invasion remains unclear. Nevertheless, China has been knocked out as a Great Power for the foreseeable future."

He flipped the page, and a true smile rose on his face. "As for the 'United States of Japan'," he said mockingly, "they, too, are split. Reconnaissance suggests that civil war is about to erupt on the island. And, with their Sakuradite reserves limited thanks to our bombardment of Mount Fuji, it's looking to be a rather long one at that."

There was a triumphant rapping on the table from all the seated ministers. Those who were standing applauded. Only the Emperor refused to do so.

"Why do you applaud?" he demanded loudly. The revelers halted in their cheer, fright appearing on their faces. "What have you accomplished? What did you do that achieved this out come?" He scowled. "Nothing. You have done nothing. The foolishness of our enemies is what has brought them low. What did you do, Prince Schneizel," he asked, turning to his silver-tongued son, "besides cut and run?"

Schneizel looked like he'd sucked on a lemon. "I struck Mount Fuji," he dared to say.

Charles laughed derisively. "A child could have done that. I sent you to bring the Area back under control, not break your toys like a brat throwing a tantrum." He eyed them all coldly. "Sir Bismarck," he commanded, "tell them what I have done."

The olive skinned, long-haired, goatee sporting Knight of One stepped forward. "While His Highness was busy retreating," he said pointedly to the still standing Schneizel, "the Emperor engaged in secret negotiations with Madrid and Rome. They have both agreed to surrender their nations to the Empire, and turn their forces against the EU. The European democracies," he spat the word, "are now outflanked and divided."

"Eight months," Charles announced. "Eight months is all we need to conclude the war in Europe. Perhaps even less than that. Within one year, my Empire shall rule the entire world." He kept his silence for a moment, savoring the nervous glancing and awe-filled faces. "Well?" he said. He raised his hands. "Where are your applause?"

The clapping started almost immediately, as the lords and peons raced one another to be first. They reminded him of nothing so much as a group of clapping seals, slapping stupidly with their fins. He glanced over to see Schneizel clapping only tepidly, his expression carefully neutral.

Charles raised his hand, and the clapping ceased. Schneizel sat back down.

"How long will it take to rebuild the Pacific Fleet?" Charles asked.

Duke Merrick, Minister of Business, Industry, and Innovation, stood up. "If we work around the clock, we can have two new light carriers within the next five months," he said.

"Then get to work," Charles ordered. The Duke bowed and sat back down. He turned to Duke Calares, the Minister of War. "Draw up plans for the invasion of Asia. Assume that we will be coming from every direction." Because we will be.

Calares inclined his head. Charles turned next to the Minister of the Interior, Duke Polliver. "Set up a rationing program for our remaining Sakurdite. If we are frugal, we should be able to make the reserves last for at least a year. Once we take control of the European Sakuradite fields, we will not have to worry as much."

"It will be done, Your Majesty," Polliver promised.

"See that it is," Charles warned, "or it will be your head. Duke Calares," he said, and the mustachioed ginger snapped to attention, "you will not have to worry to much about the South American colonies. I am sending the Knights of the Rounds as well." He smiled cruelly. "Their insignificant rebellion will not last long." Calares bowed his head, stammering his thanks.

He turned his attention to the rest of the people in the room. Simpering fools, the lot of you.

"We are the greatest power in the history of the world," he said. "We have not lost a war in one hundred years. We rule one third of the planet. So then, how could we have possibly lost to a flamboyant terrorist?" he asked. Silence greeted him. "No one? No one has the answer?" He smirked inwardly. "It is because we were weak. Victory has made us soft. Triumph has made us arrogant. In our conceit, we allowed for this power to rise in the East. Well, no longer!" He slammed his fist on the table. "We have entered the greatest crucible of our existence! From this fire will be forged an Empire stronger than ever! We will rule this world, or we will die trying!"

Loud cheers greeted his words. Inside, he sneered at them. Patriotic fools. Is a rousing speech what you need to do your jobs properly?

Later, in his chambers, Anya (Marianne) crossed her arms across her tiny chest. "'Foolishness', Charles?" she asked, glaring at him. "You dare to call my son a fool?"

"Yes." Charles burst into laughter when her eyes bulged angrily.

"I'll not have anyone mocking my son," Marianne warned him. "Not even you, Charles."

The angry scowl that would have made men quake in their boots was reproduced as a cute pout on Anya's young face. Charles laughed even harder.

Marianne stamped her foot. "Dammit, Charles, it's not funny!" she cried petulantly, sticking her bottom lip out.

"Then why am I laughing?" he struggled to say, grabbing his forehead as he heaved great big laughs.

After a couple of minutes, he was able to get himself back under control. "Lelouch squandered what should have been an insurmountable lead," Charles pointed out once he could speak without laughing. "Had I known the lengths he had gone to, I would have moved sooner. That boy had a burgeoning empire ready to take me on." He waved his hand. "And now it's gone."

Marianne huffed, her frustration nothing more than cute to him. "Lelouch has never had to play the game," she defended him. "He's a soldier, not a politician."

"He needs to be both, if he's to be an Emperor," Charles retorted.

Marianne eyed him shrewdly. "You made many of the same mistakes early on," she reminded him.

Charles nodded agreeably, "Yes, I did," he confirmed. "I am here today because I survived long enough to learn. Lelouch will have to do the same."

Marianne smiled lovingly. "He'll learn it quickly, if C-Two's experiences are anything to go by."

Charles perked up. "Have you found her?" he asked.

She shook her head. "No, I have no idea where she is. I still can't get into contact with her."

"Has the connection been cut?"

Marianne turned away from him, her arms crossed. "No," she denied, "not cut, but...muffled, as if there were some great shroud over her mind keeping me from talking to her." She grunted. "V-Two won't be happy about this."

"He'll just have to make do with that new pilot he has for the Siegfried."

Marianne smiled. "She's quite pretty, isn't she?" she asked rhetorically. She shook her head, chuckling. "Or she will be, once her hair grows back." She giggled. "Oh, Lulu, what is it with you and redheads?"

Charles smiled at her. He relaxed onto his bed, a strange feeling welling up within him.

What is this feeling? he wondered. Is it satisfaction? Triumph? A vague sense of happiness?

Marianne sat down next to him, resting Anya's face on his shoulder. She sighed happily. "Look at what our son has accomplished, Charles," she said. "A kingdom of his own. I'm so proud of him."

Pride. Yes, that was it. Pride. Charles realized it for the first time.

He was proud of his son.

…...

? ? ? ?

She fell through darkness, lost in the murky black. Indistinct voices spoke overhead, whispering, murmuring, what she did not know.

There was a great feeling of loss within her, a sense that she had lost something integral to who she was.

Who was she? What was she? Where was she? Was there a where? A what? A who?

Questions without answers, function without form.

A body with no heart.

I can help you find him.

Him? Who was he? What was he?

The one who is your heart.

Her heart?

She felt the pang of loss, the unbearable pain of absence. She had no chest, but still it ached.

Where is he? Show me!

As you wish.

Cool fingers touched her forehead. Light broke through the endless darkness, blinding and painful to eyes that had not gazed upon the sun in seven long years.

Where is he? Where is he? Where is-

…...

County of Gainesville, Duchy of Florida, Holy Empire of Britannia

Jeremiah stepped inside his estate. It was Spanish in design, once the home of a Viceroy before the Revolution in Europe tore the colonies from its grip. The Margravate of Gainesville encompassed both the County of Gainesville and the Earldoms of Windsor and Rochelle. The mansion overlooked Newnans Lake, where Jeremiah swam in his very rare leisure time. He had not been to his home in years, his duties, and his shame, keeping him away from his ancestral lands. He had returned for the first time a few days ago, the Princess and her attendant in his charge. Princess Nunnally had been installed in his own chambers, as was fitting for royalty, while he occupied the guest chambers.

Jeremiah would not be here long. He was in between assignments, but he'd been privately assured of a prestigious position in the coming campaign in Europe. He felt reluctant at leaving the Princess on her own, but the Lady Sayoko had assured him that she was more than capable of protecting her.

"Remember, Margrave, I was looking out for them long before you arrived," the Japanese maid cum bodyguard had said.

It was a stinging reminder, but well deserved.

Jeremiah stepped out onto the veranda, looking over the garden. It was of tasteful size, consisting of a variety of fruits and flowers that were appropriate for the home without being too lavish. Or, for that matter, expensive.

Perhaps a grove of oranges can be planted. Jeremiah considered it carefully. A secret declaration of my true allegiance?

He would look into it more later. For now, he wished to check in on Her Highness. Today was supposed to be the day that she would finally be awakened from her slumber.

He felt a thrill of excitement. Finally, the chance to introduce himself to Marianne's daughter!

He worked hard to temper his expectations. The little Princess would have no idea of who he was, and there was also her blindness to consider. Chances were he would never see her smiling blue eyes again.

They will all pay, Lady Marianne, Jeremiah promised.

As he approached the Princess's quarters, he was surprised to hear raised voices.

He opened the door, only to be brought up short by the raging inferno roaring from the cornflower blue eyes of Princess Nunnally vi Britannia.

"Where is he?" she demanded. "Where is my brother?"

Redo of the Rebellion: End