Notes:
[[Speech]] – translated from alien language
Speech – intercepted transmissions
My first attempt at a published fanfiction, so any input to improve would be appreciated. I'm publishing this concept at this time so I can get it out of my head and receive feedback. I haven't sketched out the entire planned story out yet, so further chapters will take time. Think of this as an "open beta" fanfic of sorts. However, some key points are already planned out, and yes, this includes the pairings.
In 2010 a.t.b., the Holy Britannian Empire, an expansionary empire under the totalitarian rule of its Emperor, Charles zi Britannia, that occupied a third of the world, waged war on the island nation of Japan. The Britannians ravage and conquer other nations, replacing their very names with mere numbers, and believing that it is the nature of the strong to feed on the weak. Japan was no exception, suffering losing battles one after another, with the sole exception of the Miracle of Itsukushima. It surrendered in a month, as the Prime Minster Genbu Kururugi was murdered by his very own son, Suzaku. Suzaku, in his belief that the system of the Empire could be changed from within, gave his allegiance to the conquerors. While the Japanese fighting spirit never went away and continued to rebel for years, the Japanese Liberation Front being the largest resistance organisation among them, they were not able to move the imperial regime.
The arrival of the masked revolutionary Zero changed all that. After executing the mass murdering prince Clovis la Britannia, Zero made his grand debut saving Suzaku from an unjust execution by the hands of the Purist Faction, a radical group with a strong belief on pure-blooded Britannian supremacy. He had established the Order of the Black Knights, thwarting a terrorist attack by the rogue Japanese general Kusakabe. Under Zero's leadership, the Japanese people found new hope, even after the Japanese Liberation Front was destroyed by the warlady Princess Cornelia li Britannia.
One night at Kamine Island, Princess Euphemia li Britannia was able to confirm her suspicions that Zero was in fact her long-lost brother Lelouch vi Britannia.
Recently, Euphemia had announced the proposal of the Special Administrative Zone in the school festival at the prestigious Ashford Academy. This proposal was met with consistent disapproval by the Britannian administration and her older sister Cornelia. The Black Knights are now faced with a dilemma - join and disarm, or fight against a proposal of freedom and equality. Tensions are growing...
But while humans busied themselves amongst their various concerns, serene and complacent in the assurance of our empire over the world, they never spared a thought on if they were being watched, studied by intelligent beings from beyond. While they have looked to the skies and wondered what might have been out there, they never truly thought of the other worlds across the vast gulf of space as potential sources of danger, or thought of it only to dismiss the very idea as improbable. Many people even believed that we were alone in the entire universe. But in a universe so mind-bogglingly gigantic that the ninety-three billion light-year bubble that we can see is almost certainly only a very small, miniscule part of the true extent of the cosmos, what are the chances that life has not evolved elsewhere in this incomprehensibly vast space? We have life here on Earth, we know they can arise in the right conditions, so why couldn't it arise elsewhere with similar favourable surroundings? Can we really say that extraterrestrial life is not out there, watching us?
September 7, 2017 a.t.b.
Area 11, Tokyo Settlement, Administrative Building, 8:30 am
It was in an undisclosed room within the basement floors.
It was rather dimly lit, enclosed by grey walls, and within, the nobility of Area 11 have formed a council. Some were seated around a long table, while others stood.
They were currently discussing the situation regarding the Special Administrative Zone of Japan, announced by the Third Princess Euphemia li Britannia and now in its final stages of preparation. They were certainly less than pleased - the very idea was incomprehensible to them. An area where the Elevens are treated with the same rights as Britannians, a move that goes against the very core tenets of their glorious Emperor Charles and the Holy Britannian Empire.
And thus, they brew a conspiracy as their answer.
"I suspect that Princess Euphemia is consorting with Zero. They have both been on Kamine, haven't they?" a nobleman stated. "They must have made contact with one another."
"A good possibility if I've ever saw one," a noblewoman replied. "Princess Euphemia had always been among the more liberal members of the Imperial Family. Not inconceivable that she would willingly join the cause of a terrorist who aims to topple down our nation's order."
"The viceroy has yet to make a public statement regarding this matter," the first noble said. "However, I doubt Princess Cornelia would support such a travesty."
"We must seek approval from the other members of the Royal Family first," another nobleman said. "We are plotting to arrest a Princess of the realm. But if we get the backing of, say, Princess Guinevere, Prince Schniezel, or even His Majesty himself, we would have sufficient authority to arrest Princess Euphemia for treason against the Empire."
"I am in agreement," the earlier noblewoman concurred. "We should contact Princess Gu—"
She was interrupted as General Andreas Darlton, accompanied by General Bartley, knocked open the door.
"You are all under arrest for conspiracy against Princess Euphemia," Darlton said. By his command, several soldiers came in to apprehend the scheming nobles. "Furthermore, all the evidence for your other illicit activities have been gathered, namely the N.A.C. profit-sharing bribe."
"I appreciate this, General Darlton. We can finally sweep away all those dirty rats that have been living off from Prince Clovis like parasites," said Bartley.
"There are more of those rats than expected…," Darlton said.
"And all of them are confused by Princess Euphemia's proposal, aren't they?" Bartley said. "They have been circulating some unpleasant rumours about her."
"I can understand why," Darlton answered. "It goes against our Empire's national policies. However, this situation can be used to our advantage. With this zone, we can draw out the Black Knights and put a stop to their terrorism."
The two generals walked away, with the arrested conspirators in tow. The latter were going to be sent back to the Homeland, while Darlton and Bartley joined Princess Cornelia li Britannia and her knight Gilbert Guilford in the Viceroy's office to further plan for the situation regarding the SAZ.
Tokyo Settlement, 9:01 am
By the side of the streets, yet another one of the palpable scenes made by bigoted Britannians against the Elevens took place.
An unscrupulous nobleman was beating down on a hapless Eleven with his cane as he openly voiced out his disapproval of the Zone. His ID bore the name of Wilfred Lemaine, and he was a middle-aged man with greying brownish hair. Several metres away, Lelouch and Rivalz were passing by.
"I don't give a fuck about your Special Zone! I'd rather die than sign up to that!" the bastard growled as he stomped on the Japanese man. "Lower classes like you Numbers should just obey your betters with no protests!"
Lelouch's blood boiled as he looked upon the abuse.
"A nobleman...a shining example of high class. This is the true nature of the Sub-Viceroy's benevolence: the Zone is not a solution but a mere bandage to cover up the real problem," thought Lelouch. "Euphemia is inexperienced and thus has a naive viewpoint, thus I can't entirely blame her. Nonetheless, I have no choice if I am to continue in my revolution. There's too much at stake."
Lelouch approached Wilfred. Said noble, noticing his presence turned to him. "What do you want?" Wilfred asked, displeased. Lelouch was a full eight centimetres taller, but Wilfred in all his hubris didn't look the least bit intimidated.
"Does it feel good?" Lelouch asked. "Does it feel good to look down on others from above as if you were a god?"
"Lelouch, I don't think that's a good idea...," Rivalz said nervously.
"Schoolboy, hold it and back off," Wilfred said to Lelouch angrily. "I think you should get lost and go home right now."
"Very well, I will. Better get going," Lelouch said nonchalantly, unfazed by Wilfred's threatening tone. This further angered the nobleman.
"Huh? How dare you act like that around me, punk!" Wilfred screamed at Lelouch in rage as the latter walked away. "Come back here at once you insolent boy! Do not think you can act like that with a highborn noble like me!"
Lelouch stopped at his tracks and faced Wilfred, a sinister smirk across the exiled prince's face.
"What's wrong, Sir Nobleman? Confusing borrowed power with your own abilities? How much work did you do to attain your position?" Lelouch asked. "Are you so insecure in your own power that you must abuse those who are less fortunate, just to validate your self-serving highs? Trash like yourself should just die alone in a dump where nobody—"
"Whoa man, Lelouch. Alright, let's break this up," Rivalz interrupted. "Mister...can I have your name please?" he asked the nobleman.
"I am Wilfred Lemaine, and you better remember it, middle class schoolboy!" the nobleman arrogantly proclaimed.
"Mr. Lemaine, why don't you apologise? What do you say?" Rivalz asked, motioning to the beaten Eleven on the ground.
"Apologise!? To a trash Eleven?" Wilfred replied, livid at the very idea. "You insolent whelp—"
He was then stopped when Lelouch activated his Geass. "Your eye, what is that!" the nobleman muttered out before his mind fell under Lelouch's control.
"You will take your leave here," Lelouch commanded.
"Yes, my lord," Wilfred droned before walking away.
"Damn, what did you do?" Rivalz asked incredulously, trying to believe what he just saw.
"Well, I can be rather persuasive," Lelouch said coolly. He and Rivalz turned to the beaten man and helped him up.
"Thank you very much," the Japanese man said. "I don't see too many kind Britannians like you here."
"You're welcome," Rivalz said. "How did you get into a fight with that bloke in the first place? Just asking."
"Well, I-I was simply overjoyed by Princess Euphemia's Special Zone, and I suppose he caught me at the wrong time," the Japanese replied.
"Just as I thought. Mere Britannian nobles like him could not take it out on Euphemia herself - that would be a death sentence. Thus, they take it out on those who cannot defend themselves. How despicable," Lelouch thought sadly. "Now if only she could have seen this herself - she needs to wake up from her rose-tinted worldview, which is no doubt caused by Cornelia's coddling. I only wish I don't have to tarnish her name and possibly earn her hatred."
"I'm sorry," Rivalz said to the man. "We'll be on our way, stay safe man!"
As the Britannian duo walked away, the Japanese man could only lament at what his world had become over the last seven years.
"I lost my wife and my precious son to the oppression of the Britannians, and they treated me like dirt simply for being Japanese," he thought sadly. "Because we lost that damned war. Those high-up Britannians think they can do whatever they want simply because they have power. They lack in morality, lack in humanity, lack in compassion. Those schoolboys and Princess Euphemia are good people, but are few and far between these days."
He looked up to the sky, while continuing his train of thought. "Why couldn't they all be like that? Why must they be so cruel? If only these Britannians knew what it felt like to be on our place…if only they knew how it was like to be trampled underfoot, to be conquered by greater power as we have been. If only they can be humbled, then they might finally realise how inhuman they've been acting. To finally realise how horribly they've been treating us."
"Maybe, just maybe, one day they will be humbled and learn some humanity. Maybe, someday..."
Black Knights Headquarters, 9:38 am
The core members of the Black Knights were being pressured to take a course of action by the impending establishment of the SAZ, a pressure which only grew as time passed.
As they await Zero, they have formed a meeting to discuss the situation amongst themselves as they suggested various plans.
"This situation is truly serious...," Kyoshiro Tohdoh said. "Even some of our ranks have applied to join the Special Zone."
"Well, this is just bullshit. We can't trust those Brits to keep up their end of the deal!" said Shinichiro Tamaki in an aggravated tone. "For all we know this is some trap for that pink hair princess to kill us all!"
"Well," Diethard began, "unlike the Black Knights, signing up for the Special Zone carries much less risk."
"Besides, when you compare a princess with a mysterious masked man, it's obvious which one of them exudes the greater appeal," Rakshata said.
"We've received rumours that Kyoto's cooperating with the Zone too," said Yoshitaka Minami.
"What's up with that?" Tamaki asked in response incredulously.
"They offer equality, that's the simple reason why," Kento Sugiyama said.
Kallen did not buy it in the slightest. "Equality my ass!" she exclaimed. "Don't just take their word for it, you've seen how those Britannians are like! Even if they don't slaughter us there like Tamaki says, they still control that Zone!"
"I agree," Kaname Ohgi said, "but unless we have a solid plan for a quick response...," he added. His mind was focused on Villetta, or as she was currently known now in her amnesiac state, Chigusa, telling him that she wanted to join the SAZ.
"Are you telling me that you intend to join this Zone?" Nagisa Chiba asked.
"There, it would make no difference whether one is Britannian or Eleven," Ohgi said.
"Like those Britannians would ever honour a promise!" said Kallen in response.
"I think we should support the Zone. It doesn't contradict Zero's words, doesn't it?" said Ohgi.
"Have you gone crazy?" Tamaki screamed at Ohgi incredulously. "Can't trust a Brit!"
Ohgi was about to reply but was then rudely interrupted. "Tamaki—"
"Did that Euphemia chick use some mind control on you!?" Tamaki asked. The others looked incredulously at him.
"What!?" Ohgi replied in disbelief at what Tamaki just insinuated.
"Ignoring that idiot, if we agree to their terms, the Black Knights will be forced to disarm," said Nagisa.
"This would be a huge problem," said Tohdoh in support. "We will get swallowed up by their regime, losing the independence that we've been fighting for."
"On the other hand," said Ohgi, "going against it would be going against freedom and equality."
"Then," Rai, a silver-haired boy with blue eyes, said, "Let's support this Zone."
"What!? Without any guarantees, no conditions in place?" Nagisa said in response.
"We can't ignore it, either," said Diethard.
Tohdoh was deep in thought. "Damn, we need Zero for this. I never thought I would see the day when it would be Euphemia who brings down our revolution. She has so far showed clear goodwill for our people, but does she really know what she is doing?"
Special Administrative Zone registration site, 10:10 am
Set amidst the background of the towering Mt. Fuji and clear sunny morning skies with little cloud cover, was the stadium which would hold the SAZ ceremony, located not too far from the base of the once sacred mountain.
Masses of Japanese people have gathered within the admission booth of the stadium to sign up for what they viewed as their hope for a better life was to be established. Standing in a balcony above was the Third Princess, accompanied by her knight and friend Suzaku Kururugi.
"Over 200,000 people have applied for the Special Zone so far," Euphemia said, "and the number continues to grow. This is all thanks to you, Suzaku."
Suzaku looked at her in confusion. "Huh?"
"Everyone is rallying here due to what you represent for the Japanese people," Euphemia said. "They believe in what we are doing here."
"You're giving me too much credit, Princess," said Suzaku. "It must be due to your proclamation. They look up to you and see the hope you have brought them. I'm truly thankful to you for this, I really am."
"I'm also thankful to you as well. And I hope you're going to help me with everything that's still to come. That's what friends do, right?" said Euphemia.
"Yes, your high—" Suzaku was then interrupted by Euphemia.
"No need for such formalities with me. Just Euphemia will do," the pink-haired woman said.
"Yes, Euphemia," Suzaku said.
They continued setting up the final stages of the SAZ. The next day, they would host the opening ceremony with the Kyoto Group and Zero.
Meanwhile, unknown to them, something else is taking place far, far away…
Something that could change their lives, and that of the whole world, forever…
Space, approximately 29,000 kilometres over Mars' surface
A flotilla of gargantuan ships orbit the Red Planet. Dark-coloured oval-shaped ships around 30 kilometres long, half as wide, and three kilometres deep. And in the centre of it all, the mothership, the same shape as the others but even larger at 50 km long, commands this monstrous armada.
Within the behemoth spacecraft were creatures from beyond the solar system. Their appearance made no concealment for their alien nature - their skin bore a pale grey colour, their heads triangular in shape, and they walked on three skinny limbs. Smaller, two-fingered arms extended from their relatively small chests, and they averaged around 150-200 centimetres in height.
Their black eyes scanned over highly advanced screens, as they received feed intercepted from Earth.
"We are under fire! 132nd Regiment requesting backup! The Britannians have us surrounded!"
"Grandmaster Michele Manfredi has been found dead in the Grand Palace. The cause of death is suicide..."
"Zero, help me build a new future within Britannia. A place for everyone!"
More kept coming from all around the planet. With each intercepted signal, the repertoire of knowledge possessed by the creatures only increased, and with this knowledge, they formulated their plans…
[["The inhabitants of this planet have made rapid technological advancements over the last few centuries. In a matter of time they might even match us,"]] one of the operators informed its commander. As it spoke with a guttural voice, two sets of sharp teeth could be seen in its mouth.
[["This will make conquest of this planet much more difficult if our Empire waits too long,"]] the commander responded. [["Our Queen realises this and has ordered a large-scale invasion. We shall strike when they are still unprepared. Status on attack force preparations?"]]
[["All weapons clear."]]
[["All fighting machines clear."]]
[["All troop transports clear."]]
[["All wing fighters clear."]]
The operators, one by one, reported that the invasion force was now fully ready.
[["Excellent. The assault will begin in approximately 24 hours. Fleet, set course for Earth!"]] the commander ordered.
By this order, the imposing fleet began to move towards the blue planet, its inhabitants currently preoccupied with their intra- and international disputes, unaware of what is to come…
The Empire of Britannia is currently the strongest superpower on Earth. But in the vast universe, Earth is not the only inhabited world out there...