A/N: Thanks again to Greatkingrat88 for his work on this chapter.
I must say this chapter was a doozy to do since we had to work together to fill in some blanks and amend some minor details not covered in the game.
Time to address some reviews first I couldn't PM a reply to.
Guest 1: Thank you and that is all in the realm of possibility.
Guest 2: Thank you and yes in this chapter you'll see some more diplomacy at work in this chapter.
Guest 3: Yeah and we all know what is going to end for Wikes, and don't worry on Ava she'll get a few moments in the chapter and more in the coming chapters.
Now on with the chapter.
Chapter 17
Sleeping Beauty
Three weeks after discovering the wreckage of the old Royal Ryuvian Ship, Lelouch once more returned to the moon base for another tour. Some intriguing discoveries had been made. His presence was also called for, to oversee Lloyd's plan to relocate the entire Twin-Drive Core. The idea was to install it into one of the new Assault Carriers. Lynn had already drawn up modified designs to both accommodate it and make the most of the additional power it could offer.
Its unfortunate we can't reproduce this on our other ships. Maybe with enough time and research, we could either develop it on our own or create a workable alternative, Lelouch thought.
Presently, he was being led to an area of the base previously blocked by rubble, now cleared away. Leading the way was Eugenia, explaining to Lelouch what they had found.
"After your last time here, we managed to uncover and access more parts of the base. Thanks to restoring passageways we assume were destroyed during battle with the base's automated defenses we've found something interesting," Eugenia said.
"Is there a reason you asked for Jeremiah to be present?"
"If what I suspect is true, then you two should be able to help me prove my theory."
Curious, but feeling he should hold back any further questions, Lelouch allowed Eugenia to lead them to what appeared to be a heavily fortified vault-like chamber. At first, he assumed it was where Prince Hadrian cu Ryuvia kept his most valuable treasures; gold, silver, priceless artworks, that kind of thing. Yet once they entered the vault itself, Lelouch was surprised. Instead of gold or silver, it held a collection of old artifacts, much of it looking almost like junk. Some of it appeared to be pieces of technology and tablets written on a slab of dark iron, and what appeared to be what remains of a Ryder, judging by the design.
"Is this some kind of vault," Lelouch said, knowing he was stating the obvious.
"Yes, and many of these objects according to our examinations pre-date the Holy Ryuvian Empire itself. I think Prince Hadrian was looking for Earth, the original and true cradle of humanity. I believe these treasures and artifacts the prince collected proves that, and hints that the founders of the Empire deliberately covered up Earth's existence," Eugenia said with exactment in her eyes.
Before Lelouch could inquire further, Jeremiah arrived on the scene.
"Jeremiah. I see you are rather late." Said Lelouch.
Jeremiah bowed politely. "Forgive me. I was delayed dealing with some last-minute reports and a few minor matters."
"Perfect, you are both here," Eugenia said, gesturing for the two towards the old remains of an ancient Ryder. "This Ryder is still functional on some level. I doubt it could be ever fully repaired, but I think Prince Hadrian collected it for a different purpose."
"What purpose?" Jeremiah asked, as he and Lelouch approached it.
"Why don't you climb into the cockpit and try activating it?"
Lelouch and Jeremiah exchanged looks, before Lelouch decided to try the machine. As he fiddled around inside the cockpit, trying to turn it on, the Ryder began powering up. Despite being millennia older than anything else that had been found, the machine activated. A little alarmed, Lelouch stepped out of the cockpit, and the machine shut down.
"What was the purpose of that?" Lelouch asked.
"This Ryder was supposedly used by the royalty of the predecessors to the Holy Ryuvian Empire, a forgotten line abandoned on Earth. These artifacts are ancient technology, even by Holy Ryuvian Empire standards, yet highly advanced. I am certain now that Prince Hadrian was actually seeking Earth, believing it held some forgotten technology that could've helped him to secure his succession for the throne. I think he even brought this Ryder along to try and determine if there were any survivors to a line of past rulers forgotten on Earth. I think his intent was to even take one in marriage if necessary, to gain possession of Earth and whatever technology it had," Eugenia replied.
"I doubt he would've found much, except for…" Lelouch said as his sentence trailed off before realization dawned on him. "The Thought Elevators."
"No one knows who created them, and yet, given what Charles tried to use them for…" Jeremiah began.
"Yes, a Ryuvian Emperor with a far better understanding of the technology and its origins could've used them in ways beyond his ability," Lelouch said. "Does that mean my Geass and C.C.'s code are a byproduct of these predecessors of the Holy Ryuvian Empire?"
"Its possible, but we can't say with complete certainly. But the evidence we have so far does suggest it's possible," Eugenia said.
"I see. So the discovery of this planet was a complete accident, then?" He asked.
"Yes and no," Eugenia said. "Actually, according to Hadrian's personal journal, it seemed this planet was once a resource colony founded by the prince himself. With that in mind, it does make more sense why the forefathers of the Holy Ryuvian Empire would put such restrictions on the usage of certain weapons."
"Because a civil war broke out that led to the near complete destruction of the Empire that came before the Ryuvians," Jeremiah said, as he and Lelouch realized what Eugenia was getting at.
"They likely had no limitations on what weapons they could use either, so the devastation was likely far greater than any of the wars recorded in their history. Such a conflict likely nearly destroyed the galaxy, which made it easier for Earth to be forgotten and for the winners of the war to rewrite Ryuvia Prime as the cradle of humanity and build itself up into the Holy Ryuvian Empire in its place. That is probably what happened to keep the Codes and the power of Geass isolated on Earth, along with the Thought Elevators. I am sure immortal rulers with a Code could've caused further issues for them, not to mention the powers a Geass user can gain," Lelouch said.
"So it was another dark age for the galaxy, assuming this Empire expanded that far before it fell," Jeremiah said.
"Possibly, but without further information, we can only guess at this point."
"Yes, but we do know that both you and Jeremiah are descendants of the original line of Royals who ruled this old Empire. In fact, I suspect a majority on Earth likely share a genetic link with them, given how wide spread the bloodline likely became. The device I found in this room does suggest Lelouch has a stronger bloodline connection, while Jeremiah's seems weaker," Eugenia explained, pointing to a spheric device in the room. "It glowed brightest when you entered the room and drew near to it, Lelouch. So Jeremiah, if you would?"
"Of course," Jeremiah said. Lelouch stepped away, and Jeremiah approached the crystalline sphere. The device still glowed, but notably dimmed.
"You don't suppose my Geass could be affecting the results?" asked Lelouch.
"Its possible, but I can't say for sure without testing more people from Earth. Of course, it could even glow brightly for C.C. given her possession of a Code," Eugenia replied. "However, this and some other interesting details we've gained from both the base's computer, the royal ship's database and this vault has given me an idea."
"What are you proposing?" Lelouch asked, folding both arms over his chest.
"We've found that Hadrian had everything on hand to enter his wife from Earth into the Royal Family, since certain weapons and vessels of Ancient Ryuvia could only be used by those belonging to the Royal Bloodline. We can create a genetic key for you to access Ancient Ryuvian tech as a member of its Royal Family, maybe not everything, but…"
"The dreadnought in the Mnemosyne Abyss," Lelouch said, realizing what Eugenia had in mind.
"Yes. If we can make this work, the ship will recognize you as a member of the Ryuvian Royal Family, allowing the Black Knights safe access to the ship."
"Are you certain this would even work?" Lelouch asked. "I know you understand the risks very well."
"Of course, sir. Naturally we will test our planned method before going through with it, as many times as it takes until we are confident. We still have a number of the computer cores from the other ships to test it on. The genetic key Hadrian was preparing to register for his future wife could be recoded to fit you, and we have key signal codes from Hadrian's ship too, given its status as a royal vessel," Eugenia said hopefully.
Lelouch quietly contemplated this for a few moments. While access to the dreadnought could be beneficial given the stores of Lost Technology aboard, he understood the dangers. Especially the Sharr' Lac's main weapon, as legends claimed it was capable of a destruction radius measured in lightyears. At worst, the ship could destroy itself, wiping out the graveyard and costing them a vital resource. On the other hand, PACT's invasion of the Neutral Rim was likely to commence soon, and the graveyard would become a liability, given how long it could take for PACT to reach their area of the Neutral Rim. The graveyard itself would be at risk of discovery.
Its loss would be regrettable, but we can't allow it to fall into PACT's hands either, he thought.
After a few more moments of silent contemplation, Lelouch spoke.
"Very well, Eugenia. Do whatever you must to assure the utmost success. You'll have whatever resources you need."
"Thank you, sir," Eugenia said happily.
"That will be a risky gamble, you know," Jeremiah cautioned.
"I know, but we can't ignore it forever. Not when our war with PACT draws close," Lelouch said. A beeping sound drew his attention, his holo reminding him about his appointed meeting with Hierarch Arvian Daelamos and the others on the planet below.
"We'll talk more later. I have a meeting to attend."
In the weeks following their obstacle course, Maray and her friend Hana had been doing training maneuvers in the asteroid field near the Black Knight base. Their days had gradually seen them spend more time in Ryders, learning everything from how to coordinate and fight as a unit to fighting on their own, should they be separated from their unit in a chaotic battle, as well as deal with sudden and unexpected moments in a battle, teaching them how to react, to survive and make it out of combat alive. Even outside of battle they were encouraged to work together, completing tasks to help build a level of camaraderie among one another.
"Hana, watch out," Maray shouted, blocking a disabling shot from a hidden enemy sniper.
"Thanks, Maray," Hana said with a sigh. "I think they've gotten more snipers involved compared to yesterday."
"Well, they say it'd help us survive battlefields where you'll have lasers, kinetics and torpedoes flying everywhere. Let's just be thankful they can't throw missiles at us," Maray said.
"Please don't say that, because they might just start doing that," Hana said nervously.
"Don't worry too much about it. Besides, I am sure once we are done, we'll be able to handle just about anything."
"Yeah, you say that. But real combat is different, you know."
"I know, which is why I am taking whatever training they are giving us seriously."
"And so am I," Hana said confidently.
Still, what happened to Ava? I haven't seen her for the last few days, Thought Maray.
At that moment, at the ship graveyard Mnemosyne Abyss, Ava was taken aback by the countless number of ancient Ryuvian Ships. She and the other new arrivals were being introduced to where they would be staying.
Before her eyes, Ava could see countless derelict Ryuvian cruisers stretched across the void of space, hundreds of miles out, as far as the eye could see. There was varying degrees of damage; some ships were nearly torn to pieces, some seeming salvageable, others still seeming like they could almost be functional. Whatever battle had taken place had to have been a titanic struggle, unleashing incalculable devastation. Out there, in the distance, she saw some of the vessels tended to by small recovery ships, salvaging parts from the ships wrecked beyond all repair, buzzing around like pilot fish around a shark carcass. It was a fascinating sight, and she found herself almost stopping, almost falling behind her group as they walked.
She was among those chosen to serve aboard one of the Black Knights' retrofitted Ryuvian cruisers for further on duty training. Ava was to serve aboard the bridge while undergoing training drills to prepare her and the crew for both combat readiness and vessel management in general.
How did Lelouch find something like this? But… this is probably how the Black Knights grew so quickly. Just the sale of ancient Ryuvian artifacts alone… this is an invaluable treasure trove for a military organization.
A young man stood at the head of the gathering with a holographic screen of the ship graveyard behind him. He looked to be in his late twenties, with black hair and brown eyes, his hair cut professionally short, wearing the black navy uniform with the gilded stripes of a captain on his sleeves.
"Now that I've given you all time to take in the view, you'll be spending a few months here, conducting patrols and training drills. I am your Captain, Max Horner. You'll be under my command for the duration of your training voyage here in the Mnemosyne Abyss. We will hold occasional mock battles with other ships. Some will be unscheduled, to test your alertness to situations. Most importantly, how well you handle yourself and adapt," he explained. "Is this clear?"
"Yes, sir!" the gathered trainees said in chorus.
"Good. I'll give you time to unpack and get aquatinted with the ship. I encourage you to take as much time to familiarize yourselves with the vessel as possible. Once you are situated, I'll summon you all back here to assign you to your posts and expected tasks, and go over your training schedules. Dismissed."
Ava made her way to the cabin she was assigned to deposit her belongings. Although the Knights practiced gender mixed recruitment, male and female quarters were strictly divided, with serious punishments for being in the wrong quarters. Once situated, Ava set about exploring the ship as encouraged. Nevertheless, her mind was still reeling from the shock of being in a ship graveyard, filled with the biggest treasure trove of Lost Technology known to the galaxy. Tearing her thoughts from the immensity of that, Ava's mind drifted toward her fellow trainees- and how carefully selected those sent to the Abyss were. From what she could tell, they represented the cream of the crop- highly educated young men and women, all motivated to fight, all eager to stand up to injustice.
Lelouch hasn't been just sending anyone here for further training, but those he and the Black Knights can unquestionably trust.
On the planet of the forgotten colony Lelouch, dressed as Zero, arrived to meet with Hierarch Arvian Daelamos and the council of. He was flanked by two. Now that the Black Knights had effectively dealt with their bandit problems, crime would be down and stability secured. They would owe him, which put him in an excellent bargaining position. Confidently, Lelouch strolled inside the council room, motioning for his bodyguards to remain outside; only his translator drone followed him inside, hovering behind. If against all reason some foul play would happen, he had hidden a pistol in his cloak, but he doubted he would need to use it.
The hall probably seemed grand to the hierarchs and the people they represented, but the ornate room with its stone wall was not much larger than any of the conference rooms aboard his own ship. Lelouch carefully looked at each Hierarch as he entered, his presence announced in old Ryuvian by the ceremonial guards who presided over the meetings.
Lelouch had gathered information on all of them ahead of time, collecting what was known from Ectebanian records through his own intermediaries. They all wore the same impractical, colorful flowing robes, a mix of purple and yellow. There was old Daelamos, giving Lelouch a nod and a small smile as he entered. He would be favorable to negotiation, Lelouch was sure of it.
Next to him sat Hierarch Parvia. An aging woman, not quite Daelamos' age, with a sneering mouth and skin that was beginning to wrinkle, her hair an even mix of black and grey. A haughty type, Lelouch had learned, invested in dignity and authority. He would have to tread carefully around her.
Then there was Hierarch Adrapos, a portly man with a bald head, a beard, and a bit of a belly. Easily the youngest of the four, he looked a bit simple- but Lelouch knew he had a reputation as a shrewd businessman, and owned more land than anyone in the room. He would be interested in wealth, which Lelouch knew he could play into.
Then finally there was Hierarch Dehlia, a middle-aged woman hiding half her face behind a fan, her eyes giving Lelouch a curious stare. She was the most inscrutable of them, having gained her position through meritorious service in the bureaucracy, without any political or familial connections to help her. In other words, she was very good at her job- and potentially the most dangerous of them all.
Lelouch was shown a seat, and he sat down with practiced grace. For once, his dramatic costume seemed entirely appropriate; next to the colorful, flowing robes of the hierarchs, his own outfit seemed quite modest by comparison. He inclined his head to each of the hierarchs, as was protocol- he'd taken a crash course in Ectebanian etiquette, to avoid offending them too much.
"I am Commander Zero of the Black Knights, seeking audience with the council of hierarchs, in the spirit of Ryuvian imperial light and by the grace of its authority," he said, the translator drone chattering away.
"The council of Hierarchs recognizes commander Zero of the Black Knights, and grants audience, by the light of the Ryuvian Empire," Daelamos said, his voice solemn.
"May I address the council?" Lelouch asked. It was important to at least keep up the pretense of submission; everyone already knew he had the firepower to wipe out the colony in an instant, and it would gain him nothing to remind these proud, pompous people of their impotence.
"You may," Daelamos said. "Speak, and let your voice be heard."
"I thank you," Lelouch said, nodding respectfully. "Now-"
"I object," said Parvia, her voice full of disapproval, "to negotiating with a brigand who will not even show us his true face. Who deals honestly who will not show his true self?"
"Peace, Parvia," Daelamos sighed, "The commander has shown good faith. He comes bearing gifts- he solved our bandit problem, did he not?"
"A problem meant for our own people to solve," said Parvia, her mouth thinning. Lelouch avoided sighing. Instead he breathed out, and smoothly said,
"Then as a gesture of good faith, I will remove this mask."
Parvia's lips curled into a triumphant smile. Lelouch reached up and released the mechanism holding the mask to his head, and placed the chess-like piece on the table next to him, leaving him with the half-covering face mask underneath.
"Deceit!" Parvia sneered. "Even now, he refuses to show us his face!"
"Negotiations often require compromise, revered Hierarch," Lelouch said politely. "I am disinclined to take off my mask, and yet I have done so. I am not ready to show my face fully to any one of my commanders; you are not singled out with disrespect."
"He has shown good faith," said Dehlia, her tone neutral. "Let him speak, Parvia."
"I thank you," Lelouch said, nodding to the hierarch.
"Now," he continued, "as revered Daelamos says, I come bringing gifts. We have swiftly and precisely delivered justice to the people of Ecteban, and we have ordered cargo ships carrying several tons of food, to ease the shortages your cities are suffering. I come here, eager not to conquer or impose my will upon you, but to offer a hand in friendship. A partnership, one that would leave your people fed, your nation prosperous, and wealth in the pockets of every last citizen.
"I propose simply this: allow the Black Knights to establish a permanent military base. A space port in orbit, from which we would dock, perform repairs and even manufacture new ships, and a base to support it here on the planet itself. Allow us the use of your mines, that these venerated old machines be put to their intended use at long last, and we will split the profits favorably. Do this, and the Black Knights promise eternal friendship, and protection against any and all who would seek to violate or besmirch the legacy of the Ryuvian Empire, may its light last forever. I am sure you have all read the proposal I have sent you- a first draft, of course, subject to negotiation."
"I was quite interested in the mining profit," said Adrapos, reclining in his chair. "The numbers you mentioned… even if we only saw ten percent of the profit, it would be an increase by several thousand percent. It almost sounds too good to be true."
"I assure you, precious minerals and metals are very much in demand," Lelouch said. "There is a vast interstellar market, which we would be happy to connect you to."
"I did read the proposal," said Dahlia, giving him a sharp look. "I appreciate the attempt at translation, although I found it somewhat lacking. What I take issue with is not what's in there, but what is not. The implications. Do you know of what I speak, young man?"
"Enlighten me, revered Hierarch," Lelouch replied.
"For two and a half millennia, we have gone undisturbed. Unnoticed. Now, we would be placed onto the map for all the galaxy to see… exposed, weak and outgunned, actual millennia behind everyone else. We risk being swallowed up, undone, entirely on your terms. All we stand for, unmade by rapid change. And what happens if we reject your terms? None of us could resist you if you did."
"Well said," Parvia said, nodding enthusiastically.
"Come now, he has chosen diplomacy," Daelamos pleaded. "We're talking about the one link to our great past, about finding the truth of our great empire. We cannot remain isolated forever."
"You are only concerned about your status, Daelamos," Parvia sneered. "To be the man who unraveled the great mysteries- oh yes, we see you for what you are!"
"Even so," said Adrapos, "it does matter that he has chosen this way. It makes me wonder why. Why not just take what you want?"
"I would say that it would be wrong to do so. I believe it to be true," Lelouch started, choosing his words carefully, "but I know that alone will not satisfy you. There are men out there who would. Those men, I desire to remove from power. Practically… since we do not want anyone dead, the less interference between us the better. I do not want to be the tyrant having to put down rebellions from the people I conquered. I want to rent space, and form mutually beneficial business agreements, with as much or as little interaction as Ecteban desires. It is not in our interest to waste manpower on subduing this colony. What if you reject us? Then you can rest safely, knowing that we will find somewhere else. Of course, you would also know that whoever finds you next might not be nowhere near as lenient."
"Because you exposed us," Dahlia said sharply.
Lelouch shrugged.
"Nothing lasts forever, revered Hierarch. We found you by chance, following a trail. You are not impossible to find. Whether you want it or not, this colony's position is already open to the larger galaxy. It is a known quantity. And the more people who know…"
This was only half true. They could easily hide this; it wouldn't be perfect, but right now, only the Black Knights knew. But she didn't need to know that.
"You twist our arms, and call it negotiation," Dahlia scoffed.
"That is what all negotiation is at the end of the day, Hierarch," Lelouch retorted.
"Man has a point," Adrapos laughed. "Come on, aren't we all tired of living poor, always on the edge? This place could be great, and… well, imagine a fleet of our own. Trade. Building. Not just preserving what our ancestors did, but doing as they did. It's not a bad offer."
"Suppose we were to consider this," Dahlia said reservedly, "then at what terms? You cannot expect us to believe we will be equals in this partnership. That is simply not realistic."
"The Black Knights would provide most of the funding, equipment, trained personnel… a lot of money and a lot of liability," Lelouch agreed, "so yes, we would take the lion's share. But at very little cost to us, we will improve your lives greatly. And as your position strengthens, so would your position to bargain. The treaty would be renegotiated every ten years, to ensure that you see the kind of goals we set realized."
"Inequal partners, but richer and better off…" Dahlia muttered. "You would make us like the client kingdoms of old."
"Client kingdoms were always respected, and had their sovereignty intact," Lelouch retorted. "There is nothing but benefit in this for you."
"And when these men you seek to battle come to our doorstep with ill intent?"
Lelouch sighed.
"It may well come to that. This place is remote and well hidden, though, and our fleet is quite mobile. This would be a home base and a source of income, not a military fortress."
"The council will… consider this," Dahlia said thoughtfully. "Let us discuss, then, some particulars. What sort of revenue percentage do you offer?"
"Well, as the proposal lays out on page six, section three…" Lelouch started.
He was making headway. This would take days, maybe even weeks, but it was a good start.
Three weeks later Lelouch arrived at the Mnemosyne Abyss aboard the Excalibur, accompanied by the Dominion and the Avalon. The negotiations had been a success. After a week's worth of haggling over the details, they had finally agreed to his terms- ten percent of profits to Ecteban, and a permanent military base on the planet. Mining guilds had been contracted to start the process, and after leaving a garrison and a couple of small patrol ships around the planet, he had moved on. Tyranny had, fortunately, not become a necessity. Within a year, the Black Knights would have a permanent base of operations.
The other cruisers were ordered to assume battle formations near the ancient Dreadnought, to avoid triggering an alert from the ship. Lelouch was aboard a boarding shuttle, with a squad of eleven well-armed Black Knight marines led by Captain Cisneros herself. These marines were her best, most battle-hardened men. They all wore combat grade space suits, Lelouch having a personal force field installed along with a sidearm. Engineers and more marines were on a second shuttle craft, ready to board the Sharr'Lac.
Lelouch knew the danger inherent to this operation, and if his genetics had not been crucial to the mission, he would have let the marines take care of at least a thorough recon sweep before approaching the derelict ship himself. Cisneros had insisted on coming along to protect him, although Lelouch suspected she was itching for a more hands-on assignment.
"Is everything ready?" Lelouch asked.
"We're ready to broadcast the signal on your command," Eugenia replied over the comms.
The research base had been evacuated of all non-essential personnel, any ships and technology also relocated to their main base. It was a precaution, just in case things didn't work out as planned. There was noticeable concern among the Black Knights, despite Eugenia's reassurances that the signal they would broadcast would allow them to board and explore the ship safely. Lelouch took a deep breath, collecting himself.
"Broadcast. All forces, stay on yellow alert."
On her cruiser observing the Excalibur, Ava was on the bridge crew as a communications officer. Captain Horner had issued orders to be ready for anything.
"All stations on standby. I want all weapons at full battle readiness, for anything unusual."
"Aye sir," Matt's XO replied, relaying the orders to the others on the bridge.
Ava sat behind her console, glancing out at the Excalibur, concerned for Lelouch's safety.
Please be careful, Lelouch, she thought.
After a few minutes of tense silence, Eugenia's voice was heard.
"Success. The signal is working, the ship's defenses are standing down, but…"
"But?" Lelouch asked.
"Its main weapon is still active, sir. The signal is impeding its activation, according to our scan. We'll need to continue transmitting to prevent its firing, and its defenses from reactivating," Eugenia reported.
"That might not be so bad. Should PACT discover this place, we can use that to destroy the graveyard if it ever comes to that," Lelouch retorted.
He wasn't exactly relieved by that news, but there was potential to use it instead, if it ever become necessary to destroy the graveyard. As tragic a loss as it would be, it could not be allowed into PACT's hands.
"Proceed," Lelouch said, signaling the pilot to head for the dreadnought.
Leaving the Excalibur, the shuttle advanced towards the derelict dreadnought. As they drew closer to the enormous four-kilometer-long vessel, there was a sense of worry and fear. The pilot of the vessel boldly advanced, remaining alert while searching for a landing bay of some kind. Flying along the ship's hull, the pilot discovered what appeared to be a hangar bay.
"Sir, I've found a potential landing location. I am heading there," the pilot reported.
"Proceed with caution," Lelouch ordered, turning to Captain Cisneros with a nod.
"All of you, I want weapons primed and ready. Four of you will stay with the shuttle to protect it. Any of you spot something suspicious, report it immediately," Cisneros commanded. "We don't know if this ship has automated defenses inside, even if we've disabled the external defenses."
"Second and third shuttles are standing by once the all clear is given," Jeremiah said from the Excalibur.
"Continue to hold position," Lelouch commanded.
The shuttle entered the hangar bay before locating a suitable landing area as the shuttle landed. Captain Cisneros gave the signal as the boarding ramp was lowered. The marines rapidly deployed, exiting the shuttle while she remained onboard to protect Lelouch. Lelouch waited for what seemed like forever as the marines did their sweep of the area, until there was a report over the comms.
"Area secured," Captain Cisneros said. Finally, she and Lelouch exited the shuttle.
As he stepped outside, Lelouch examined the hangar bay. It was quite spacious, with no signs of any shuttle craft. It was larger than Lelouch had expected, several times over.
"Commander, you should see this," One of the marines said. "The interior of this place looks like a honeycomb. There's a huge set of little chambers, each with a Ryder in them. This Dreadnought served as a carrier."
"Feels like almost the whole interior of this ship is like some kind of hive," a second marine commented.
"I see. This hangar bay doubles as not only a place for transports to land, but for the ship's compliment of Ryders can be deployed as quickly as possible. There are likely similar hangars that serve the same purpose. Perhaps with a Ryder launch system," Lelouch said.
"I agree. Having a battalion of Ryders would take too long to deploy through traditional launching methods. The quicker you can deploy them, the more useful such a compliment of Ryders could be," Captain Cisneros said.
"Captain, I've located what looks like an elevator," a third marine reported.
"Sir, I got a terminal here with access to the ship's overlay. I see no bodies or crew so far. Hell, I don't see any other corridors, or even quarters for pilots," a fourth marine reported.
Could the entire ship and its Ryders have been AI controlled just like the defenses at that base? Lelouch thought before correcting himself. Or maybe it was only meant to be crewed and controlled by the Princess of Ryuvia whose remains we will likely find on the bridge.
"Okay. Jones, Ramirez, Santino, Schultz, you will stay to secure the hangar as ordered. The rest of you, with us and the commander," Cisneros commanded.
The elevator was only large enough to allow for Lelouch, Cisneros and two soldiers to board. The remaining five marines went on the elevator ahead to secure the area. The elevator went to only one place on the colossal ship. Lelouch exited the elevator after the two marines, who proceeded cautiously down a long corridor. They stopped upon reaching a heavy double metal door. As the party stood there, trying to figure out the way ahead, a green light from an unseen source ran over Lelouch, as if trying to scan him. He realized what was happening.
Let's hope Eugenia's trick will work.
Upon scanning him, the light vanished before a beeping sound could be heard and the doors opened. A computerized voice spoke in the same language used by the Ancient Ryuvians, which the translator in Lelouch's helmet took care of.
"What was that?" one Marine questioned.
"It said 'Welcome, Emperor,' which means our plan to trick the system works. The computers think I am an Emperor of Ryuvia." Lelouch said, as he and the group proceeded forward.
"I thought ships like these were supposed to be used by the Princesses to be sacrificed, sir?" One Marine asked.
"Yes, but I think the initial activation of the ship requires an Emperor. Likely another safety precaution to prevent possible abuse from a suicidal Princess, if I had to guess," Lelouch said. They walked forward, but soon had to stop; there was another metal door ahead of them. The door behind them closed, causing the other three to tense in alarm, weapons raised, but Lelouch gestured for them to relax. There was a rush of air, as a decompression process started to take place.
"These are probably the living quarters of what little crew the ship needed up ahead," Lelouch explained. "Everything else is dedicated to the storage and launching of Ryders and its primary power core. Yet…"
"I see it too," Cisneros said as her suit picked up the signal. "I am detecting faint energy signals ahead, and the life support systems of the ship are fully functional in this area."
"I am shocked the equipment on this vessel is still functional, but I suppose it's the one vessel barely damaged after two thousand years," Lelouch said.
Once the group was through, Cisneros boldly removed her helmet after the sensors in her suit confirmed the air was breathable.
"The air isn't as stale as I was expecting. I am sure the scientists and engineers will appreciate working conditions like this," Cisneros said as they advanced further. "The bridge should be up ahead."
Following the corridor the group entered the bridge. To their surprise, the bridge consisted of a single room with four metal columns surrounding a pedestal, where a cylinder full of a clear, transparent liquid could be seen. The room was barely lit, the only light provided coming from the columns and the cylinder-like capsule.
"Only one control console. I guess this massive ship was really meant to be piloted by just one person," Lelouch said, inspecting the only command console on the bridge.
"Then Ryders we saw must all be AI controlled too," Cisneros said.
"Likely to defend the ship until its primary weapon was fired. I guess they didn't have much need for anything else. This whole ship is both a one-fleet army, and could wipe out anything within a lightyear or so when its primary weapon is fired," Lelouch said. "Given what was required to activate such a weapon, I guess the founding Emperors didn't want to risk such a dangerous weapon falling into the wrong hands, so a lot of restrictions were placed on it. With no crew, there would have been no risk of them mutinying, for one, or taking it for themselves.
"Yet for all of their precautions, the Empire still destroyed itself in the end," Cisneros said mockingly.
"Indeed. All empires fall, sooner or later. Stagnation, constant warfare, economic downturns, newer and stronger rivals… eventually, any one empire is replaced by the next. It happened to the ancient Romans, and it happened to the Ryuvians as well." Lelouch said, before speaking into his communicator. "Jeremiah, the bridge is secured, and the vessel is all clear. Tell the shuttles to begin their landings when ready. We have a lot of work ahead of us."
"Understood," Jeremiah replied over the comms.
As the marines began inspecting parts of the dimly lit bridge, Lelouch removed his helmet, keeping his lower face covered. He wanted to inspect the cylinder in the center of the room, to see it properly. Wondering what it was, he approached, but then he heard a noise from the floor around the cylinder, noticing what appeared to be water surrounding it. Confused, Lelouch walked around the cylinder inspecting it further. He soon noticed what seemed to be smaller puddles, further away from the cylinder itself in a pattern similar to… footprints.
These are recent, Lelouch thought, as realization dawned on him. Even if the life support systems were off, this water-like substance shouldn't be here, unless there was something or someone inside the cylinder just before they got here.
"Everyone set weapons to stun and group up, we're not alone!" Lelouch shouted, realizing the potential danger.
Before Cisneros or her men could react, someone suddenly tackled one of the marines, slamming him against one of the pillars. His weapon was taken, his assailant shooting him in the back, opening fire on the other marines. Even as Cisneros ordered her men to take cover and fight back, their attacker skillfully returned fire, rolling away to avoid the shots. Thankfully their gun had been set to stun before it was taken. With the skill and accuracy of a frighteningly skilled hunter, they took down the marines one by one despite their training. She moved fast, seeming to always be where the arc of fire was not. Lelouch staggered back, suddenly alarmed. This attacker moved with superhuman speed… these marines were good soldiers, an elite put through both rigorous training and real life experience, many of them coming from Cisneros' old guard. Yet despite their skills, despite their teamwork, this mysterious attacker was tearing through them like a hot knife through butter.
"Get behind me, commander!" Cisneros said, placing herself in front of Lelouch.
In a matter of seconds, a squad of seven had been reduced to only two marines. Their attacker picked up one of the unconscious bodies of the marines, using the man as a shield. At the same time, they fired their weapon at them, while closing the distance to attack. One of the Marines rushed their attacker, but a quick shot in the stomach disabled him.
This is getting worse by the second. I need to get an angle for my geass, or we're all done for, Lelouch thought.
The last marine fired his weapon but he kept missing, unable to get a clear shot. Then the attacker shoved their shield onto the last one, shooting him in the head. At this point Cisneros took her chance, and lunged. At this point, Lelouch finally got a good look at their attacker. It was a woman with short white hair and hazel eyes. Her skin was fair, and she was very noticeably naked. Her right eye began glowing, the iris turning a vibrant light blue and the pupil turning silver white.
Is she a Ryuvian Princess? But how is she still alive?!
Rosarita Cisneros was a seasoned veteran, who had fought across countless battlefields and earned the skills of an elite soldier, as skilled with a rifle as she was hand to hand. The girl attacking her looked frail next to the captain's athletic frame, but somehow she held her own. Cisneros brought a knife down with furious strength, only for the blow to be blocked with ease- as if the girl had superhuman strength. She seemed to predict every strike the captain threw at her, always blocking. She seemed completely calm, unphased by the vicious combat. To Cisneros' credit, none of the girl's blows had landed yet, the captain managing to stop the girl from moving any further for the time being.
Its more like she is anticipating her movements somehow, Lelouch thought.
Seeing that Cisneros wasn't gaining any ground, Lelouch moved around to try and get an angle. He doubted he could get a good shot in with his pistol, not without accidently hitting Captain Cisneros, so his Geass was his only option, especially if he wanted to take her alive. Just then, the girl found an opening, kicking Cisneros in the stomach, punching her in the face before she could recover, and slamming her into one of the pillars. The captain was out. Now turning to Lelouch, the girl advanced, but he was ready.
"I command you: obey my orders from this moment forward!" Lelouch said, his geass activating.
"Huh?!" The girl said confusedly. It was too late, the geass taking hold. Within moments the girl was pacified, obediently looking at Lelouch, a passive expression on her face. Even her right eye, which had been glowing a short time ago, returned to normal.
"I await your orders," the girl replied.
She understands our language too? Lelouch thought. He felt relieved; that would make things easier.
He had suspected this since she attacked the moment Lelouch alerted his men, so either she recognized his order or deduced its meaning. Even if she didn't understand his words, he had practiced what to say in Ancient Ryuvian, just in case.
"Right," Lelouch said. Suddenly, he became aware of just how naked their attacker was, standing before him as unclothed as the day she was born. Quickly, he averted his eyes. "First, are there any clothes you can put on?"
"Yes. Just my flight suit."
"That will do. Please clean up, get changed and come back here." Lelouch commanded.
The girl returned a few minutes later, having cleaned up and gotten dressed, wearing a silver and black Ryder flight suit, seeming no different from one worn by modern pilots.
"Now, who are you?" he demanded.
"My name is Princess Sola vi Ryuvia."
That's the same name as the Princess who was leading this fleet… but how is she even alive? Being in stasis for two thousand years is one thing, but how did she survive the activation of a weapon that demands the life of a princess? Lelouch thought.
"Commander, is everything alright?" Jeremiah's worried voice came over the intercom.
"Everything is fine, Jeremiah. We just had to fight off a unexpected inhabitant of the ship. A Ryuvian Princess, believe it or not."
"What?!" Jeremiah said, but his voice was overlapped by Eugenia's.
"Send some medics and more marines to the bridge, we have some injured. Jeremiah, prepare the interrogation room aboard the Excalibur. Prepare it for someone with superhuman capabilities. I'll need you there as well," Lelouch ordered.
"Understood. I'll prepare immediately."
"Before we leave, can you program this ship to allow my associates access to examine it and review its logs?" Lelouch said to Sola, who nodded. "I shall…"
Sola wordlessly went to the console, and began typing in a series of commands.
"I must caution you: the final tear is still in the preparation stage to fire. I cannot disable it, and I cannot risk powering up the rest of the ship," Sola advised.
"I understand. Just as long as my associates can safely access the ship's files and examine everything from the structure to its power core," Lelouch said, having expected that. "I didn't plan on using this ship for combat anyway, but I would like to examine and study it."
"Very well," Sola replied.
As useful as having such a powerful ship would be, Lelouch feared it would become more of a liability. Its primary weapon required sacrificing the life of a Ryuvian Princess, of which there were very few. Not to mention said weapon, called the Final Tear if Sola's words were correct, would cause far too much collateral damage. The battalion of Ryders within would be useful, but the Black Knights just didn't have the personnel to maintain so many Ryders, and after two thousand years, who knew if any of them would be fit to use? Still, studying and researching the vessel could yield something more useful for the Black Knights, maybe even a way to devise counters to a similar weapon.
Lelouch stayed on the bridge with Sola, until the medics and marine reinforcements arrived, along with a team of engineers and scientists. They quickly went to work, thanks to the access credentials Sola created for them. As far as the ship's security systems were concerned, there would be engineers conducting overdue maintenance and inspection upon the vessel.
Once Cisneros and her men were taken care of, Lelouch had Sola accompany him back to the Excalibur. After boarding the ship, Lelouch led Sola to an interrogation room, instructing her to remain seated. What he was about to tell her was likely to shake her; it was good that the effect of his geass was absolute. After changing from his space suit, back into his Zero attire, he was ready to begin.
"I can't believe you found the Princess said to have fought in the battle waged here over two thousand years ago," Jeremiah said, looking at the young woman.
"Neither can I. By all rights, she shouldn't have survived. I'll be sure to ask her about the last thing she remembered." Lelouch said.
He stepped inside the chamber, followed by Jeremiah. "Princess Sola, do you remember anything before you awoke to the arrival of me and my men?"
"I remember the battle before the Final Tear. The Fallen had overwhelmed our position. They would have ended us, but there was a flash, followed by utter destruction. To me, the sleep felt like an instant. I did not even realize the battle was interrupted, or my foe had changed. Then I woke up, and my chambers were breached by your men."
"I see. You thought we were enemies," Lelouch said. It could all have been a misunderstanding, then. "Who is the Fallen?"
"Third Prince Crow Harbor, leader of the Ebon Fleet. He opposed the Empire during the civil war after assassinating the Emperor and the First Prince, or so it is said," Sola answered.
Ah, so Prince Hadrian was assassinated as we suspected. That explains what happened, Lelouch thought. It had triggered the system trap to destroy all evidence of his secret project.
"I see. That connects with what we've learned so far," Lelouch said.
"I do not understand," said Sola, brows furrowed. "Who are you? What do you want? You do not look or sound Ryuvian. And why- why can't I stand up? Ever since your eye flared at me, I can't… I can't disobey."
"To answer the second question first, you are under the influence of… let's call it a potent form of mental compulsion. You did do a number on my men, and you're the key to a superweapon. I mean you no harm, but until I know what you want and what you stand for, it makes sense to keep you… subdued," Lelouch said. The idea of effectively enslaving another human being with geass made his stomach turn a little, but it wouldn't be forever. Jeremiah could cancel it later- but for now, she needed to be controlled.
"As for the first…" Lelouch sighed. This would be hard to break to her.
"It has been over two thousand and five hundred years since you fell asleep. The Ryuvian empire is long dead. The ship I found you on was the crown jewel of a long-lost graveyard. I am Zero, commander of the Black Knights, and I aim to protect the Neutral Rim from the advancements of PACT, a villainous and cruel faction of conquerors. That, in a nutshell, is our situation."
Sola blinked, seeming shocked.
Awakening in a time that is not your own after all you had fought for has died, I understand that too well. Lelouch said regarding Sola sympathetically.
"This…this is impossible," Sola said slowly. "How can I still be alive?"
"That is something we would like to know as well," Lelouch said. "I can't imagine what you've heard will be easy to accept."
"I don't understand what happened. I shouldn't be alive if the Final Tear was activated," Sola said, confusion written upon her face.
"I wouldn't mind finding out how you survived, but as the facts stand you are indeed alive." Lelouch replied.
"What happened? Did the Holy Ryuvian Empire prevail over the Fallen?"
"I can't say for sure. I do know is the Holy Ryuvian Empire did survive for almost a thousand years more, until it collapsed upon itself, plunging the galaxy into a dark age. Now Ryuvia has been reduced to a planet, a shell of its former glory," Lelouch said, trying to be as gentle with the news as he could. All things considered, Sola seemed to be taking the news of the Holy Ryuvian Empire's collapse better than he had expected- or perhaps she was still in shock.
"I'll answer what questions you have, but I must ask that you remain in our custody. The reason, I shall explain once I've brought you up to speed." Lelouch said.
This will not be easy, Lelouch thought.
A/N: with that another chapter is done, and so next on my update agenda shall be the Kingdom Hearts crossover followed next by my Fate/Grand Order crossover. The chapters are ready, I only need to wait for Greatkingrat88 to get through them, but I am not the only one who asks for his services.
As for this story I am pleased with how the diplomacy scenes turned out and the scenes involving Sola were greatly expanded upon with Greatkingrat88's help opening new doors to develop Sola's character in other ways while putting Lelouch himself in a morally complicated situation.
And a hint for the next chapter is that time has run out.