AN: Hello dear readers, and before I begin, I would like to address what I believe to be a malicious, snap judgmental comment that was clearly written by someone not bright enough to understand what was presented in this fanfiction.
One of you was kind - or malicious, I leave the interpretation to you - to call what I wrote "pro-genocide and pro-fascist". Although I try not to suggest what is "good" and what is "evil" and I have no intention of doing so, I also do not intend to moralize people, because I do not have and do not feel the need to elevate myself above others and thus feel better than you, my beloved readers. I do not intend to look at you and treat you as ignorant people who need enlightenment and cheap, therefore worthless, moralizing.
Certainly, I am not one of those people who believes that he has always been right and who feels the need to lecture others on what they should believe and what they should do, just out of a pathetic desire to feel better than others and judge people. Only because of different views or different values.
Still, despite all my - I dare call it - humility, I feel compelled to respond and make obvious to you what I wanted to say in this fanfic.
First of all, it is - as I present at the very beginning - a story about the tragedy of an individual, caused to a greater or lesser extent by the main character. However, he treats it as a starting point for further events. In short, causality. An event becomes a cause that leads to a specific effect. Meanwhile, an effect becomes the cause of another effect. I hope you understand this.
The loss of his family by an individual - in this case by Lucius - and his hasty belief that the Japanese are responsible for it, simply and over many years of strengthening this view in him, leads directly to his - to put it mildly - reluctance , towards this group. Not to mention his turning a blind eye to something that, by the standards of our world, would be classified as either war crimes or crimes against humanity.
At this point, it is worth mentioning what I wrote in my profile: "we are nothing more and nothing less than the result of the combination of some or other genes of those who came before us, and the environment in which we grew up." This fragment is absolutely crucial because Lucius is, in fact, a product of the culture in which he was born, grew up and generally was brought up, plus his personal tragedy and we have an explosive mixture, the effects of which can be seen in the presented events. Although, in fairness, I will point out that Lucius could have done much more. For example, I have made it clear that he refrains from murdering people blindly, for pragmatic reasons and not wanting to be called or seen as crazy.
And now, just so you don't have any doubts. What I wrote is not and was never intended to be glorification or condemnation. If I really wanted to write a "pro-genocide and pro-fascist" fanfic, I would never include some brutal details and I would not try to describe the presented world and events in a more or less impartial, non-judgmental way. If I wanted to, I would either omit some brutal and inconvenient details, or I would present it directly and brazenly as a "good" and right action, or as a lesser evil and historical necessity. In other words, I would use the same rhetoric used by the propagandists of all genocidal totalitarianisms, not only fascist ones. While Lucius and his men would have no qualms about blindly killing or torturing anyone.
I may be accused of using euphemisms to describe certain things, such as execution, mass execution, but it serves a purpose. This shows that often the last word and decisions about the life and death of thousands of people are in the hands of people who use this type of language to make decisions easier for themselves and their subordinates, to make it easier for them to carry out and accept orders.
Hannah Arendt, a philosopher who survived the Holocaust, described it in her book "Eichmann in Jerusalem", as a banality of evil. However, let me call it differently - because I do not believe in any objective morality or in the concepts of "good or evil" - as the "banality of cruelty", or "banality of crime", or even more broadly, as "the banality of uncomfortable and difficult decisions". I will also mention here that Mrs. Arendt's book was attacked as "blaming the victim". The philosopher herself was accused of the so-called "insidious anti-Semitism", of whitewashing the figure of Eichman, and in general, Mrs. Arendt was presented in this pseudo-criticism - to put things somewhat simplified - as the greatest evil of this world and a crypto Nazi.
As for "Hated Brother", it is an attempt to show a different perspective than the one we are constantly presented with in films, TV series and books.
You see, we often witness works of popular culture that treat colonialism, imperialism and fascism - whatever that last word actually means - as pure evil, as well as the people behind it, who are often portrayed as caricatures that only kids can believe in exist of it. However, I would like to remain objective and tell you how complicated, strange, absurd and ambiguous the reality can be, which popular culture and its creators try hard to simplify and reduce to a simple, even primitive narrative: Good Vs Evil. Whatever these two terms actually mean.
Therefore, each part of this fanfic, written from Lucius' perspective, is presented in perspective and is a clear reference to how the world and the inhabitants of the "wilderness" could often be perceived by citizens or decision-makers of colonial powers. I will not even mention that the concept of the superiority and inferiority of individual races came from the countries that were colonial powers in the 19th and early 20th centuries, the Republic of France and the British Empire. Moreover, during the Boer Wars, the British built the first extermination camps, which were not intended to be mass graves for Boer civilians, but the logistical challenges were too much for the Anglo-Saxons and resulted in the death of tens of thousands of people due to hunger and disease.
What is important, however, is the fact that the story is also intended to present the perspective of a colonial country in which there is a belief in the absolute superiority of Britannians over all others. Here, however, accusing me of writing a "pro-genocide and pro-fascist" fanfic is once again a fallacy, because Lucius - like any intelligent person - does not believe in all this, especially considering the fact that although he grew up as a member of the royal family, However, he fought on the front line and understood that the belief in absolute superiority over the enemy is a direct path to disaster.
However, this does not change the fact that Lucius, due to the fact of losing his family - as he believes at the time of publishing this chapter - at the hands of the Japanese, results in his reluctance and hostility towards this defeated community of people, but it can hardly be called hatred for racial reasons.
It is also difficult to call him a racist, because, as mentioned many times in the narrative, he does not consider people categorized by the Britannian law as numbers, as weaker and therefore worse than others.
At most, Lucius can be considered haughty, a bit arrogant and vengeful towards those who hurt people important to him. But a racist? I don't think so. Undoubtedly, he is the hero of his own story - just like each of us - brought up and growing up in an alternative world of values, different from those we know from our world and which were instilled in us from birth, like medicine or poison, it's a matter of perspective. Values that are inevitably going through quite a serious crisis in our world. If they collapse - just like Hitlerism or Stalinism - it will mean that these values were as worthless as all those that have collapsed over the centuries.
As for what the long-term effects of Naoto's death will be, it will be shown in more detail in the sequel to "Hated Brother", if it is made at all, because it is not certain.
I hope my answer makes it more than obvious what type of story this is. It is intended to show how easily a person can kill and give orders to kill, if only he has received appropriate incentives to do so in the process of growing up and socialization. Also, if he has a personal motivation to do so. That said, you could take it as a commentary on how easily any of us can become a murderer.
This is not an attempt to moralize or exalt oneself over others, but instead, it is an attempt to tell - in the best possible way - an ambiguous, often full of paradoxes story that has no villains or heroes, only those who survive or achieve their goals.
I would also like to remind or inform you that I am Polish. I know the history of genocide, ghettos, deportations, exterminations, genocide and locking people in extermination camps. I know the history of these events like the back of my hand, as a person interested in history. Moreover, my great-grandmother was in Germany during World War II, as a forced laborer and de facto slave. For this reason, accusing me of writing "pro-genocide and pro-fascist" fanfiction is simply absurd and - at least until I have evidence that my intentions are different - hasty.
Equally absurd were the accusations and controversy directed against the film "Downfall"/"Der Untergang", simply for presenting a realistic - at least in my opinion and that of many others - portrait of Adolf Hitler.
So I ask, since when and why should an attempt to realistically present political decision-makers, dictators and leaders be an expression of the "pro-genocide and pro-fascist"?
I will only add this much that it is undoubtedly typical fascist, or more broadly totalitarian, to function and believe "you are with us or against us", without allowing for any other perspectives, or to call attempts to present the world in a realistic, complicated way, full of contradictions and therefore absurd, as fascism or the promotion of fascism or genocide.
At this point, let me quote a still - at least in my opinion - extremely current fragment, from "Thus Spoke Zarathustra: A Book for All and None":
Lo, this is the tarantula's den! Would'st thou see the tarantula itself? Here hangeth its web: touch this, so that it may tremble.
There cometh the tarantula willingly: Welcome, tarantula! Black on thy back is thy triangle and symbol; and I know also what is in thy soul.
Revenge is in thy soul: wherever thou bitest, there ariseth black scab; with revenge, thy poison maketh the soul giddy!
Thus do I speak unto you in parable, ye who make the soul giddy, ye preachers of equality! Tarantulas are ye unto me, and secretly revengeful ones!
But I will soon bring your hiding-places to the light: therefore do I laugh in your face my laughter of the height.
Therefore do I tear at your web, that your rage may lure you out of your den of lies, and that your revenge may leap forth from behind your word "justice."
Because, for man to be redeemed from revenge—that is for me the bridge to the highest hope, and a rainbow after long storms.
Otherwise, however, would the tarantulas have it. "Let it be very justice for the world to become full of the storms of our vengeance"—thus do they talk to one another.
"Vengeance will we use, and insult, against all who are not like us"—thus do the tarantula-hearts pledge themselves.
"And 'Will to Equality'—that itself shall henceforth be the name of virtue; and against all that hath power will we raise an outcry!"
Ye preachers of equality, the tyrant-frenzy of impotence crieth thus in you for "equality": your most secret tyrant-longings disguise themselves thus in virtue-words!
Fretted conceit and suppressed envy—perhaps your fathers' conceit and envy: in you break they forth as flame and frenzy of vengeance.
What the father hath hid cometh out in the son; and oft have I found in the son the father's revealed secret.
Inspired ones they resemble: but it is not the heart that inspireth them—but vengeance. And when they become subtle and cold, it is not spirit, but envy, that maketh them so.
Their jealousy leadeth them also into thinkers' paths; and this is the sign of their jealousy—they always go too far: so that their fatigue hath at last to go to sleep on the snow.
In all their lamentations soundeth vengeance, in all their eulogies is maleficence; and being judge seemeth to them bliss.
But thus do I counsel you, my friends: distrust all in whom the impulse to punish is powerful!
They are people of bad race and lineage; out of their countenances peer the hangman and the sleuth-hound.
Distrust all those who talk much of their justice! Verily, in their souls not only honey is lacking.
And when they call themselves "the good and just," forget not, that for them to be Pharisees, nothing is lacking but—power!
My friends, I will not be mixed up and confounded with others.
There are those who preach my doctrine of life, and are at the same time preachers of equality, and tarantulas.
That they speak in favour of life, though they sit in their den, these poison-spiders, and withdrawn from life—is because they would thereby do injury.
To those would they thereby do injury who have power at present: for with those the preaching of death is still most at home.
Were it otherwise, then would the tarantulas teach otherwise: and they themselves were formerly the best world-maligners and heretic-burners.
With these preachers of equality will I not be mixed up and confounded.
There will be no authors note at the end and I leave you with that. I took the liberty of quoting this fragment here, because perhaps it contains the answer as to why I was accused of this, but this is just my speculation.
I hope this will be an opportunity for reflection for you -King's Snake.
Holy Britannian Empire, Area 11
Tokyo Settlement
September 2017 A.T.B.
It was a sunny and apparently quite calm day, during which life - exceptionally - seemed to be unusually calm for the city's inhabitants, with no reports of attacks. Cars with drivers and passengers drove around the city as if nothing had happened. Meanwhile, buses and trains throughout the settlement operated without any problems, transporting passengers to appropriate places.
Everything seemed to be functioning normally until an explosion occurred in one of the warehouse districts, which may not have started a chain reaction, much less destroyed half of the district, but undoubtedly interrupted the afternoon and somewhat peaceful routine for hundreds of residents. settlements.
In one of the larger warehouses secured by the army, the main gate leading inside was blown up. Out of the resulting flames and pitch-black smoke, a huge truck, slightly reminiscent of a tractor-trailer, emerged and drove onto the city street in just a few moments.
Initially, the Sutherlands soldiers and pilots did not react at all, as if they were under a spell or in some kind of frenzy. Nevertheless, they quickly got over their shock and started shooting at the fleeing truck, but it was far too late.
Despite everything, it was not even a problem for them to notify their superiors and immediately evacuate all available personnel from the masked research facility. In just a few seconds, the entire machine of procedures, developed especially for this type of moment, was activated and set in motion.
Lower-ranking officers passed appropriate messages to higher-ranking ones, and soon the whole thing reached General Asprius himself, who issued an immediate order to find and track the stolen transport.
Meanwhile, in the apparently stolen truck itself, in the front, in the driver's and passenger's seats, a young man and next to him a girl, a teenager of about 17 with disheveled and red hair, reminiscent of lionesses.
"Looks like we made it, Kallen." A young adult with long hair and a determined expression stated.
"Indeed, Nagata-san." Kallen answered him, raising her eyes that had been focused on her lap and looking at the road they were driving on. "Now we just need to get to the point Ohgi designated and then pick up this cargo."
Takeshi Nagata noticed her slightly gloomy mood and determination, which seemed to act like a theatrical mask on a deformed face, intended to mask the wounds inflicted.
"Kallen." The teenager drew his attention, to him, the moment the words - spoken with warmth and almost familial concern - left the young adult's mouth. "Did something happen?"
He almost slapped himself in the face for asking this type of question, which he and the vast majority of seasoned observers would classify as simply stupid. It was more than obvious that something had happened. Especially since Nagata himself witnessed this moment that almost broke the once steadfast girl, turning her into a red dragon eager for revenge on the Britannians.
"I am calm and ready for any circumstance, Nagata." The girl answered him coldly, but otherwise showed no more emotion and looked at the road in front of them. "We better look at what's ahead before we collide with one of the oncoming cars and the whole operation is thwarted for trivial reasons."
In fact, they almost collided with an oncoming car. This did not happen because Nagata was an experienced enough driver to avoid it.
Looking at the window of the car he passed, the young man saw a total of 4 people. A man and a woman are in the front seats, while two children of different sexes are in the back seats. The Britannian family of Tokyo Settlement residents. The so-called colonists who colonized the land conquered by the empire.
Although the vast majority of Japanese people described the Britannian colonists in the worst possible terms as invaders, degenerate subhumans, and absolutely no one among the inhabitants of any of the ghettos was more than determined - and certainly would not mind - killing any of the Britannians, regardless of age or gender. , but Nagata wasn't ready for it. They look at the photo in front of them, he remembered the reason.
The reason he had no intention of killing anyone, especially children, was because he had become a father himself a few months ago. Seeing all the care his wife, Yoko, put into caring for their daughter, he simply could not imagine taking the life of anyone who did not wield weapons and was not directly contributing to the enslavement of his people. At least that's how he saw it and how he rationalized his reluctance to kill civilians.
On the other hand, he was in a decided minority - just like the resistance cell to which he belonged - among all those Japanese who did not give up their dignity for a comfortable life, lived in ghettos and took up arms in the fight against Britannia.
Nagata sighed loudly, then his gaze returned to the red-haired girl once more before finally focusing on the road ahead of them. This was important because he had no doubt that they were being followed by the Tokyo Garrison soon, or even now.
Meanwhile, Kallen stared at the road ahead with an expression of cold determination to recover what they believed were stolen capsules of poisonous gas that was described as Zyklon D/2.
She had heard about Zyklon B, it was hard not to do it, considering that this chemical substance was used by the authorities of the Chinese Federation over 40 years ago to exterminate the Uyghurs and Tibetans. The two largest and still rebellious ethnic and cultural groups that - since the founding of the modern federation in 1900 A.T.B. after the Boxer Insurrection - they constantly tried to fight for their independence, independence and freedom.
"I suspect it could be worse." Kallen said to herself in her heart, remembering all the details she had once read about the destruction of both peoples. "Placed in specially isolated zones called internment camps. Tens of millions, women, old people, men and children. The vast majority were either tortured to death or gassed using this chemical substance."
Just remembering one of the bloodiest events in recent history, a thought arose in her heart, quite unusual considering her fierce attitude, befitting someone with a weaker heart and weaker will. "Looking at it, I guess I can't complain about who took Japan."
After these inner words, straight from the bottom of her heart and not beyond her thoughts, she quickly shook her head, dismissing it. "However, can I in any way compare the planned and deliberate extermination of over fifteen million people to the brutal invasion of an entire country? First mass massacres of civilians, then brutal occupation and colonization aimed at destroying our culture and heritage. At the end, pacification actions and hundreds of victims, while fighting with our brothers and sisters fighting for freedom."
One of the victims in particular shocked her and what she had been saying in her heart, deep in her bowels. "Naoto…"
Tears welled in her eyes at the memory of her dead brother, or rather what was left of his corpse and what this man once was. A severed head, almost completely stripped of all skin and hair, torn nails, wide cuts on the body and the absence of some internal organs - for example all kidneys and gallbladders - are just some of the examples of what was done to her brother.
"This…" She wanted to continue her internal monologue, but remembering the sight of what was left of the young man who was once basically her entire life effectively took away her courage and even the slightest desire to continue.
If there was one thing that could break even the most hardened and determined soul, it would undoubtedly be the sight of the person you loved most. Killed in such a way that what was left of him could only be called a grotesque remnant of who he once was.
As if all this wasn't enough, her older brother's corpse was abandoned in the Shinjuku Ghetto. Initially, found and miraculously recognized by other members of this resistance cell, who tried unsuccessfully to mask Naoto's identity. Kallen, however, was an extremely intelligent girl, definitely much smarter than her less intelligent peers at school. Even among the aristocracy, her razor-sharp and penetrating mind could put to shame many noblewomen, who often ignored this seemingly weak and sick teenager at parties or meetings.
The moment of painful reminder was compounded by doubts in her heart and mind. Doubts that naturally arise in the hearts and minds of every living being. Often in moments of breakthrough.
"Can we win?" This question echoed in her heart and mind, but it turned out not to be the last one. "Will today's action change anything? Will stealing this gas change anything? Does further bloodshed in a doomed fight against the almost omnipotent and largest empire of all three that exists at this time make any greater sense? How to oppose such a powerful war machine that is constantly growing? How can you stand up to the Imperial Family, composed of many extremely talented people, of which the Purple Beast seems to be just one of many?"
At the reminder of that offensive nickname for the Purple Prince, time seemed to stand still for Kallen. All the thoughts, worries and doubts seemed to pass through her mind in just one second and then there was no trace of them left.
The being, known to her friends as Kallen Kozuki and to the wider world as Kallen Stadtfeld, seemed to be a blank and therefore blank slate.
All this until the image of a man who, a few weeks ago, had started in Area 11 what was called - by some commentators from around the world and especially from the Holy Britannian Empire - the war on terrorism, materialized in her mind.
Quite tall for being 17, quite handsome - as Kallen herself admitted with great reluctance - a young man in a purple uniform, with sandy blonde hair. Prince Lucius vi Britannia, one of the best commanders and - apparently - pilots of the Knightmare Frames. On this last point, Kallen wasn't sure, as all mentions of his skills come primarily from the beginning of his military career. The more Purple Beast rose in the ranks of command, the harder it became to find any confirmed battles involving Knightmare Frames in which he participated. This element could therefore be considered the greatest unknown.
"However, I have no doubt that this is a man filled with contempt and hatred towards my people!" Kallen gritted her teeth wildly as she said these words in her heart, but she didn't even raise her upper lips or lower her lower ones. "This beast only lost a brother and a sister, while among the Japanese, dozens of families lose someone close every day! Not to mention the days of the invasion! Besides, he is a member of the Imperial Family, these beasts know no scruples or mercy!"
Her mind then filled with memories of her dead brother. All those carefree moments, all those years during which Naoto tried to raise his younger sister and at the same time cool down her fiery temper.
She remembered very clearly all the times when her brother took her to the lakes, outside of Tokyo, to the gym to work out her muscles, or when he taught her how to pilot the Knightmare Frame. It was also him who taught her self-defense and how to use cold and firearms. It was also him who, in early childhood, helped her return to sleep when the worst nightmares tormented her mind, heart and soul.
The thought that after burning his massacred corpse, she would never see him again seemed surreal to Kallen, even strange. On the other hand, the same feeling of loss was also an extremely strong incentive for her, which was currently driving her to continue fighting like Sakuradite Knightmare Frames.
"Lucius vi Britannia, you will regret the day you were born! Even if I have to die in the end, I still intend to take you with me!" The gears in her mind clicked in a clear way, only someone like her imagination of Prince Lucius vi Britannia could be responsible for killing her brother, especially with the Purple Prince fighting terrorism in Area 11. "Naoto, you have my on my word, your death will be avenged as I hold that son of a bitch's bloody corpse before me! Him and his whole gang!"
Her thoughts, or rather a dialogue straight from the heart, were interrupted quite abruptly, because bad luck or fate - depending on the interpretation - would have it that in front of them, slightly unhurriedly, was driving a motorbike with a sidecar, driven by a blue-haired teenager, accompanied by a raven-haired a boy, about his age.
"Is this some kind of bad joke!?" Kallen asked, but this time out loud and with pure disgust mixed with her still-present fury.
Holy Britannian Empire, Area 11
Puretress
September 2017 A.T.B.
Lucius sighed, leaning over the ornate round table in his de facto personal office. The main object of his sighs, however, was the tablet he was holding and a whole pile of more or less important reports and messages displayed there.
Although the Purple Prince had never complained - at least since the age of 15 - about the work that involved reviewing documents, reading messages, and sending replies, he had never really liked this type of work either. The main reason was the inevitable monotony that appeared until he came across something extremely interesting or that could increase his powers or provide access to new technologies.
At the moment, however, he was stuck dealing with insignificant details, and the last of the numerous messages and reports that could be considered at all interesting was the message from the Marquis of Dhabi, about the completion of construction of several dozen new factories, built by his construction corporation in cooperation with commissioned by Flash Robotics. Another investment that will pay off for both of them sooner or later. There was no doubt about it.
At the news of another business success, Lucius felt that specific and characteristic feeling of warmth on his back, followed by a smile on his lips. Succeeding and gaining power and wealth was something he would never tire of, despite the fact that, in a sense, he had already become used to being on the winning side. In a way, it had become almost a daily occurrence for him, and sometimes he felt like he was on the path to no longer waiting or even considering anything else. Any other alternative.
Despite the potential danger in the future, Lucius pushed the thought aside and returned to work. An additional stimulus that motivated him that day to continue all this was the prospect of seeing the fruit of many months of work, Doctor Zimmad.
Lucius was already a man interested in technology and news from the world of science. Nevertheless, it was only after Carl's death that he gradually began to gain the conviction - which had recently resonated more and more strongly within him - that it was not the tactical or strategic advantage alone on the battlefield that would win him, but the hidden tricks and technical advantage over the enemy. A technology that made it possible to effortlessly eliminate all or most of the advantages on the opponent's side.
The next and last report that Lucius had the opportunity to review for the day was the state of production of Sutherland Swordmans, which was currently expected to be around 20 pieces per day, not including spare parts or weapons for Knightmare Frames. It is undoubtedly a satisfactory success, which will soon give his formation the opportunity to exert a much stronger influence on the battlefield, and after proper integration of the pilots, it will further increase its technological advantage over local terrorists.
But then, further browsing was interrupted by the sound of the door opening, and a moment later Garma walked in, his expression a mixture of consternation and concern. In his right hand, he held an active tablet.
"What happened, Garma?" Lucius asked as he placed his own work tools on the table.
"An unusual terrorist attack took place in the Tokyo Settlement." The purple-haired young man answered him and then took a seat opposite Prince, his senior.
Lucius became curious about this information. "What's so unusual about it, Garma?"
"The terrorists attacked one of the warehouses secured by the army and stole some of what was stored there." Garma informed him.
Lucius, meanwhile, refrained from snorting and just smiled coldly, but slightly, and actually more to himself than to signal any feelings to his friend. "Just like that, they attacked a warehouse guarded by a separate unit from the local garrison and left the scene with their loot? Add more details, I doubt that even soldiers from this type of second- and sometimes even third-line units would be able to be approached so easily."
"Information on this subject is very confidential and appears to be closely monitored as well, Luc." Garma replied, unfazed even in the slightest by his friend's attitude. "General Asprius, personally oversees the search for stolen resources, whatever they are. However, I managed to determine that the terrorists first infiltrated the warehouse and only then committed the theft."
"If this was an infiltration, why did they give it up and decide to escape, attracting the attention of everyone interested in this warehouse and its contents?" Lucius' question did not remain unanswered for long.
"Well, I can only guess, Luc." Garma shrugged. "However, this does not change the fact that this is what happened and now, if the intercepted information is correct, General Bartley has ordered the sending of quite large forces. This also includes the mobilization of some Panzer Infantry units."
It was then that Lucius remembered that some of his forces were also present in the Tokyo Settlement. "Have there been any messages from Jeremiah or the rest of the Purists."
"Yes, your brother also ordered their mobilization to be ready for a possible summons."
"What did the terrorists steal to cause such a reaction from him?" Lucius asked no one in particular, and the answer appeared in his voice a few moments later. "Poisonous gas? The same one they tried to steal a few days ago? Is one and the same resistance group responsible for this?"
"I can only guess." Garma shrugged in response, timing it with a verbal response. "However, it is difficult for me to consider such a coincidence a coincidence."
"My thoughts, my friend." Lucius then stood up, while looking at the ceiling as if he was overcome by some great vision that only he could see. "However, what worries me is that terrorists were able to so easily infiltrate, let alone steal, anything from a warehouse guarded by soldiers. Members of the Tokyo Garrison, who, although in terms of the quality of training are literally nothing compared to my knights or Purists, still represent a certain quality."
"Are you suggesting that this is much more than just another of the terrorist cells from the ghettos surrounding the settlement?" Garma seemed decidedly skeptical of his conclusions, not for the first time and certainly not for the last.
"It only suggests, Garma, that perhaps they have someone extremely gifted in their ranks, or even several of them." Lucius headed towards him, smoothly circling the table and having previously deactivated all the devices he used for work. "This is the only logical way to explain this unusual situation. Nothing more than that seems to me to be equally probable in this particular case. It would certainly be a mistake to assume that this is just a façade hiding some organization operating in the shadows that, for one reason or another, has deemed the development of recent events appropriate to present itself to the world."
"Well, it's possible and it's certainly not the strangest of scenarios." After this explanation, Garma nodded, as if in acceptance of this type of argument. "Still, they went to quite a lot of trouble to get the gas your brother's people are working on. Of course, this is assuming that this is an attack on the same cargo as a few days ago."
"If it's the same type of cargo." Lucius muttered, for a moment after reaching the vicinity of his longtime friend, he seemed to think about it before continuing the conversation and looking up. "Still, I'm curious about the target and why terrorists are trying so hard to get it."
Garma just shrugged in response. "I can only guess, but I doubt it's a matter of wanting to use this substance against Elevens. Ultimately, it is not without reason that poison gas or biological weapons are classified as weapons of mass destruction, of mass destruction."
"So I doubt Clovis would use it against the Elevens, even during the pacification of the ghettos, let alone other, more rash attempts to use this type of weapon." Lucius stated with complete conviction and after a while he expanded on this topic a bit more. "Well, considering how easily such a weapon can get out of control - assuming that something carried by the air itself could be in any way sensibly controlled - and my brother is extremely concerned about his public image, I highly doubt the possibility of his sudden madness , then my conclusion is one."
Garma frowned, straining his mind and quickly coming to a similar conclusion. "That it's not gas, but some other project. Some new type of weapon?"
"It is highly probable and personally, mainly due to lack of evidence, I consider it to be true. Regardless, I'm still not sure why exactly such weapons would be kept in pressurized capsules."
"Experimenting on humans and then storing them in capsules?"
"Speculations on this subject no longer make sense at this point and are just a waste of time that is slipping away from us minute by minute." Lucius put an end to any further speculation on this subject and headed towards the door. "Now at least with me, I'm going to go with the Amethyst Guard to Tokyo once. If not to intervene directly, then at least observe and assess the entire battle from a safe distance."
"As you wish, Luc." Garma bowed and followed, and a moment later all the masked guards joined them.
When they were halfway to the large hangar, where the transports prepared from Garma's order were already waiting for them, the purple-haired young man remembered something else.
"By the way, just a few moments before receiving the news about the attack, I received the news that in about half an hour, the shipment you were expecting, with new Knightmare Frames, would land at the military airport in Tokyo."
Lucius only glanced at him briefly, not slowing down, although internally he was more than pleased with this report. "So I finally got the tool I had been waiting for."
"It's not everything." Garma added somewhat laconicly and without revealing too many details too quickly. "Plus, a pilot has joined the transport and is perfect for testing the second machine and acting as your wingman."
"Who's that?" Lucius stopped, because he didn't remember anyone among the pilots emerging so easily who would be worthy of piloting the machine at his side. "Is this someone associated with the higher circles of the Britannian Army or close to the Emperor?"
"In some sense." Garma replied to him. "Despite everything, this is someone more than capable of trusting and she is loyal to you, almost like a real family."
Lucius didn't comment on this, but resumed walking and the others followed right behind him. Right now, he couldn't think of anyone who met all these standards. Not to mention the fact that it was supposed to be a woman. With a subtle shrug, he entered the hangar and immediately headed to the VTOL transport, which had two special hooks for Knightmare Frames. In this case, two Tallgeese Unitroopers.
Next to the main transports, there were four more, which this time had one attachment for a single Knightmare Frame each.
It didn't take long for Lucius and his guards to reach the appropriate aircraft, after which the hangar doors were opened by the technical staff and all 5 machines finally took off almost simultaneously, immediately forming a wedge and heading towards the Tokyo Settlement .
It took just over fifteen minutes, even with Lucius' demands that the pilots hurry up. Although he was far from rushing his subordinates, due to his knowledge and belief in their abilities, he did so anyway. Meanwhile, the pilots, both in the VTOL transport carrying Lucius, Garma and a pair of Amethyst Guards, assured the Purple Prince that they were doing everything in their power to arrive as quickly as possible. Despite everything, they could not overwhelm the engines or cause the steering systems to fail. Basically, if used too hard, there was some small - but still - risk of failure or even breakage of the transport. Add to this the fact that surviving a plane crash was generally unlikely, and no one on board wanted to risk the death of Prince Lucius, including the person most concerned.
The journey, despite the omnipresent rush and the clearly tense atmosphere, was quite peaceful. Mainly because Lucius had ordered his friend to observe high-level military communications in the Tokyo Settlement while he focused on clearing his mind and calming down. He observed the landscape from behind one of the machine's windows, sometimes it was a green land, full of various types of forests, bamboo or hills, or even ruins, being a testimony of a defeated civilization that was experiencing cultural destruction and almost disintegration.
Temples that were once great were ruined or burned almost to ashes, as were houses with characteristic tile roofs. Everything that for many was once home and a testimony to their culture has been abandoned either as ashes, ruins covered with moss and other vegetation, or home to wild animals.
"A miserable end for those who thought that open, direct, brazen and provocative toying with one of the greatest economic and military powers was a good idea to force us to negotiate, not to mention submission." Lucius thought in his heart as he looked at the ruins of ancient Japan and especially, finally, at the ruins that were now the ghettos around the Tokyo settlement, where all those who refused to accept the new order lived. "This is the fate of the defeated, i.e. captivity, contempt and cruelty of the victors. Truly, the world is cruel, but on the other hand it is a human world and it clearly could not be otherwise, as you can see. People are fools who think that our species can exist in peace and without bloodshed or exploitation.
Observing what was left of pre-war Japan was, on the one hand, extremely instructive for him and prompted him to engage in an internal and completely honest dialogue, something he used to refrain from doing.
"Those and their fate are miserable, who try to bend the world, nations and all living people to their will. People like Napoleon, who did not understand where their possibilities ended, are - in fact - beings doomed to annihilation by literally everyone who will be terrified by the scale of their successes. It's even worse in the case of those who try to influence the entire world without having the right tools and without being prepared for the full consequences of playing a global game. It may seem that in the modern world, the economy and this type of power play the main - not to say superior - role. Only a fool could think so, because in fact, in the modern world, the army plays as important a role as diplomacy or the economy, not to mention the method of leadership, which plays no less a role."
His further considerations on this matter were interrupted by another thought, which took the whole thing in a completely new direction. Isn't Britannia following the same path as Napoleon or Japan?
"Foolly, we are not as weak internally as Napoleon in Europe, or Japan militarily and politically before the fall. In fact, although we are competing with two other superpowers at the same time, whose economic, military and population strength - not to mention enormous natural resources - should have swept us away, or at least effectively prevented further expansion. Despite everything, however, we are doing better.
Activating his personal phone, he immediately began scrolling through the latest information regarding both of the remaining world powers.
"Our enemies help us themselves and unwittingly give us a metaphorical rope with which to hang them all. United Europa is experiencing a deep political crisis. Early elections and subsequent scandals involving those in power and the termination of obedience by police officers led to the election of a new Chancellor, Reinhard Goldenbaum, but his position is weak and proposals for changes in the army require time if they are to be implemented properly. On the other hand, the Chinese Federation is in a state of decay and permanent economic crisis. Although this country entered the 20th century as backward but stable, the intensification of separatism pushed subsequent Emperors, but above all members of their courts, to commit genocide and planned extermination of the most rebellious minorities. Extermination camps are only a minor episode compared to death squads, entire execution brigades or forced slave labor on unnecessary but expensive projects. In addition, an attempt to rule a large, extremely populous and multi-ethnic country through constant terror as a remedy for all internal problems. All this had a predictable effect, in the form of enormous corruption in the army, police and civil administration, a huge famine in villages and towns that continues to this day, and the powerlessness of the current Empress, who is only a small child.
Lucius smiled, for he understood perfectly well what this all meant.
"No, unlike the fools of the past, we are more than ready for the goal of actually taking over the entire Earth. We have a strong and numerous army, a large population, many outstanding military commanders, not to mention a powerful and dynamic economy driven by war. We have not reached beyond our capacity and we have not tried to bend the world to our will. Simply put, the world gave us the opportunity and tools to take over it and establish our order. Now, all of this just seems to be an inevitable matter of time not too distant."
However, his reflections were interrupted when the pilots announced that they were approaching landing at a military airport. It was then that Lucius hurried to take off his purple uniform with half cape and replace it with a tight latex flight suit. He almost felt nostalgic when he dressed up like in the old days, when he was still a junior officer.
His completion of this process coincided with the landing, so he hurried to the exit while the two guardsmen went to their Knightmare Frames. Meanwhile, Garma was instructed to remain in his place, monitor communications and if any major changes occurred, notify him immediately.
Lucius hurriedly descended and began to subtly but carefully look around until he saw another transport approaching landing and eventually landing quite close to the VTOL transport that had brought him here.
So he headed in that direction, while the entire 6th Amethyst Guards, in their personalized Unitroopers, followed him once.
Basically, Unitroopers of the Amethyst Guards stood out in that the plume element was made of tinted glass, which was intended to best replicate the purple mineral, and to some extent it succeeded. Similarly, the armor and the varnish covering it seemed to imitate amethyst and in the sunlight it seemed to glow intensely with every movement, shimmering with colors.
Seemingly, it seemed to be more of an aesthetic than practical measure. However, this is only an appearance, because this extravagant form of a quasi plume was to become a living symbol and herald of Lucius' presence. Besides, it added a certain level of mystery, uniqueness and, given the natural aesthetics of amethyst itself, something approaching somber elegance to this elite of the elite.
However, not paying much attention to it, he moved as quickly as possible to the transport and in front of it, a young Lieutenant, undoubtedly responsible for commanding the soldiers and crew of the transport, stood and quickly saluted.
"Did everything arrive in a condition ready for immediate use?" Lucius asked matter-of-factly, only getting a quick nod from the Lieutenant. "Very well, now open the main ramp and let me see this engineering marvel."
The officer obeyed the order almost immediately and without a word, but at the same time he caught Lucius' attention with something else, very easily visible nervousness. The reason for this state of affairs eluded him, nor did it seem to be the most important issue at the moment. Especially with the ramp slowly descending a few moments later, allowing him to step inside and get a closer look at both machines.
His dark purple eyes examined it carefully and Lucius couldn't hide his admiration, both in his expression and in his tone of voice.
"Otherworldly" Purple Prince stated, staring at the two towering Knightmare Frames, the first of many Deathtroopers that would be produced sooner or later.
Basically, the two were extremely similar in appearance. Heavily armored - especially the lowest parts of the lower limbs, protecting the Landspinner Propulsion System - with streamlined shapes and the main color dominating in black, only the 'shoulders', the armor close to the camera and all the parts resembling and somehow imitating medieval armor, were colored dark purple in order to somehow... stand out and make the whole thing elegant. Additionally, the 'head', with a single 'eye' which is a camera with the option to activate Factsphere Sensors, combined with the anthropomorphic nature of both Knightmare Frames, seemed to evoke the mighty and great cyclops known from ancient Greek mythology.
Additionally, both units had Heat Swords mounted on specially prepared hinges on their backs, a much cheaper alternative to Beam Sabers, but still as efficient - or perhaps even slightly more - than Maser Vibration Swords.
Meanwhile, the ranged weapons for both copies were different. The first one on the right - looking from Lucius' perspective - had a large machine gun with a magazine whose length allowed, without knowing the exact data, to estimate the number of bullets at about 30. The second one, however, had something else as a weapon, a certain prototype, a foldable cannon, which could easily be used described as a mortar for Knightmare Frames. At least for the parameters of machines of this type. From the perspective of ordinary infantry, ordinary infantrymen, the type of firepower that the foldable cannon had to offer could easily be considered at least medium artillery, and at most heavy and close range.
At this point, however, Lucius' attention was drawn to some aesthetic differences of this KPR-02, which was equipped with this powerful cannon with missiles filled with Sakuradite. The second one had, instead of dark purple, a light and almost bright color, which was enriched with golden patterns. In particular, Lucius drew the Britannian Military Gold Military Cross.
He was so absorbed and focused on admiring the machines that he didn't hear the slight sound of a pair of white high-heeled shoes, the owner of which soon stood behind him and covered his eyes.
Lucius flinched for a few moments before he finally realized who was behind him and when it dawned on him that just a few moments ago, someone behind him had been approaching him. Despite everything, the feeling of the delicate skin of her hands, which the sandy haired teenager knew all too well and had experienced so many times, very quickly revealed the girl's identity.
"Monica." Lucius announced, pleased and uplifted by her presence.
When, with a gentle but firm movement of both hands, he uncovered his eyes and turned back, he could not enjoy the sight of his beloved and fiancée for too long. The blonde-haired, extremely beautiful girl immediately attacked his lips with a passionate kiss.
Although Lucius usually melted and pretended they had a moment like this, this time was a bit different. Instead of closing his eyes and giving in to the feeling sparking between them, he watched his fiancée carefully. Her face was as shiny and unearthly beautiful - at least from his subjective point of view - as ever. Her hair is tied in two ponytails and tied with red ribbons.
One thing caught Purple Prince's attention, and that was the sheer clarity of her raw, yet so refined and tame feelings, as if they were something that a human being could control to a greater degree and in the long run. The most obvious expression of this were tears that almost immediately flowed from the corners of her eyes.
"Lucius." Monica whispered, almost silently, as if the person standing in front of her was the most precious possible treasure in this world to her. "It's been way too long."
Only then did the Purple Prince melt into their shared physical contact and close his eyes as well. For a time that was difficult for them to define, the two of them were together in this state, devoted to each other and unable to see the world outside of themselves. For this reason, they could not notice a certain purple-haired young man who was about to report to Lucius, but seeing the scene full of passion, he decided not to disturb them. Especially since this young man knew perfectly well about the incident during the now iconic party, when Lucius and Monica had an interrupted moment of passion.
Now, however, no one interrupted them and the lack of external stimuli seemed to be only an additional incentive, because his mouth slid down to her neck and a moment later, Lucius began to nibble this part of her body extremely aggressively, like some snake or other type of predator .
"Luc!" Monica moaned passionately in response, lifting her head up and tightening her grip on his athletic back, well hidden under his uniform.
"Nica." Lucius responded to her with one of her nicknames during the short break between their shared connection, and then attacked her even more passionately, until a certain moment when he refrained from further escalation, not wanting to let this intimate moment of theirs turn into pure copulation, especially in the face of being merely engaged and not married.
Some would call Lucius old-fashioned, and on the surface, that's exactly what it seemed like. In fact, his main motivation for not having sex with his fiancée was the potential prospect of conceiving a child, and he did not believe in the possibilities of contraception, at least not fully, and this, combined with his caution, resulted in this effect.
Meanwhile, however, only two things made him reluctant to have a child so early. First, he did not consider himself mentally ready for the role of parenting yet, although he was well aware of how many commoners and nobles alike already had at least one child his age. At the same time, there was a much more important reason, and that would be the lack of claim - or at best a weak and doubtful claim - to the throne of the empire on the part of his potential illegitimate child.
In this respect, both the elite and the lower layers of society did not perceive bastards positively, but as a bad omen. In some respects, children born to unmarried couples had it worse than the numbers. Lucius had not the slightest desire to condemn potential blood from his own blood to a fate that could easily be described as one of the alternatives worse than death itself, undoubtedly.
"It was definitely too long." Lucius answered her, not intending to tell her half-truths or use understatements. "I'm sorry that our only contact for the past few weeks has been text messages, but my schedule has been extremely tight and considering that you've never requested it either, I figured you have quite a lot of responsibilities yourself as the person responsible for commanding the Emperor's Guard "
"Unfortunately." Monica sighed heavily and with obvious regret in response to his conclusions, but then she gave him another quick kiss, straight on the lips. "Despite everything, it's hard for me to be angry about the consequences of the decisions we made together. Even though I may regret to you here and now that I didn't find time for a longer conversation with you, I intend to enjoy this moment and our time together.
They both held hands, but then Lucius looked down at the metal floor of the transport, then remembered the reason he was here. "I would like to enjoy this moment with you, however…"
"The situation requires you to go to one of these ghettos where fighting is currently taking place?" Monica asked him firmly, and his questioning look immediately prompted her to respond appropriately. "Well, when I flew here with these two machines, I just couldn't resist abusing my power as Knight of the Round."
She smiled and giggled at her fiancé's slight annoyance at those words. "Don't be so gloomy and don't blame poor Garma, he only subordinated himself to someone who is higher in the military and social hierarchy than him. I gave him orders to, on the one hand, keep silent about my arrival and also to inform me of any important event in which you may be involved. "You are well aware that your brother, Prince Clovis, has decided to go after his stolen treasure like some robbed dragon."
Lucius liked the comparison and lifted his lips into a small smile, but one that Monica could see. "If my brother - as absurd as it may sound - is a dragon searching for his stolen treasure, then aren't we his black knights?"
"Probably." Monica shrugged. "I know perfectly well that you are looking and want to know a little about his secret projects, it's not a big secret. Regardless, and although I would rather spend a nice day with you, we should take care of our duties first."
"Yes, you're absolutely right." Lucius nodded, then shouted. "Garma, come here!"
The purple-haired young man walked in almost immediately with a report on the situation. "Luc, from what I can currently gather, all the companies of Knightmare Frames and several motorized infantry battalions assigned there. However…"
"However?" Lucius asked as his friend fell silent, and as he finished his sentence, his voice became tense with obvious reticence mixed with nervousness.
After a moment of short silence, Garma replied, clearly dissatisfied and a little paler than before. "Prince Clovis, faced with the resistance of the local resistance cell and the impossibility of quickly recovering the stolen so-called medical equipment, issued the order Delat Carthage."
Lucius exchanged a look of confusion with Monica before deciding to make sure of an order he knew existed but had never had the opportunity to see before, nor had the Britannian Military, especially the Britannian Army, the need to follow. "An order to completely wipe out an area and dispose of the population living there?"
"Murdering, Luc, let's use proper and factual terminology, not euphemisms, my dear." Monica prevented an immediate answer by looking significantly at her fiancé.
"Undeniably." Garma replied, taking a handkerchief from one of the inside pockets of his uniform and rubbing his forehead, which indeed had quite a few drops of sweat on it. "The order, as far as I know, is currently in the enforcement phase and ghetto perimeter…" Gama took out his tablet and looked at the screen, intending to remember the name of the area in question. "...Shinjuku, they're currently well on their way to being completely unpopulated, if I may say so."
"Knightmare Frames soldiers and pilots, simply murdering the ghetto population on Clovis' orders?" Monica asked, receiving only a nod, which disgusted her a little, but at the same time and to a much greater degree piqued her interest. "What exactly did the terrorists steal from the Prince?"
Lucius and Garma quickly exchanged glances, but the Purple Prince forbade him to speak and decided to explain it to her himself. "Officially, it is supposed to be either medical equipment or - according to our knowledge and guesses - some type of biological weapon or gas stored in pressure capsules. We believe it may be more than that, but we lack evidence to confirm it."
"I see." Monica accepted everything without further questions and instead decided to take her own initiative. "Will we join the fight in this ghetto?"
"There are no plans to do so at this time, despite the involvement of some portion of the Boudica Task Force." Lucius admitted honestly, then rubbed his chin. "Nevertheless, I intend to observe the battle with my personal guard and, if you don't mind Monia, of course. In case the situation becomes more complicated, we will join the battle and now I propose…" He nodded towards both newly arrived Knightmare Frames. "...So that we can check our machines and their capabilities as quickly as possible."
"With pleasure, Luc." She extended her hand to him and he took it, and soon after, the two of them made their way to a simple elevator that took them to the scaffolding that had been added to both machines and facilitated both the work on the Knightmare Frames, but also the potential maintenance of the machines.
Before the lovers separated in opposite directions, they placed kisses on each other's lips, which Garma watched with some joy at their shared happiness. After that, they both turned their backs to each other, heading immediately to the cockpits of their machines.
Lucius, as soon as he saw the inside, had to admit that it was truly a huge improvement compared to what he had seen so far. Almost and despite his high cognitive abilities, he had some trouble fully understanding the layout due to its sheer aesthetic appeal.
The interior, even in the slightest, seemed to have nothing in common with what Knightmare Frames pilots were normally accustomed to. Instead of the standard consoles and screens, Lucius encountered - for lack of a better term - numerous displays, touchscreen displays, which Lucius almost realized after turning the access key, writing the code on the key on the main display, and activating the machine.
All systems inside the cockpit - or at least those that could - flashed with various lights depending on their function, but the dominant color among various mixtures of red, green and yellow was light purple, which even seemed to strongly border on blue.
Additionally, the two controllers, responding after activation and following the appropriate machine start-up procedure, seemed to be much lighter and easier to use, move, and in other words, sensitive, than anything he had been able to pilot so far. This brought a smile of satisfaction to his lips, as it only showed how good a job S.K.F.D. had done. Institute.
After a brief moment of wonder and looking around the interior for some time, he then decided to focus all his attention on the individual touch screens and in particular focused his attention on the one responsible for establishing and monitoring communications. Remembering standard procedures, he tried to make contact with the second Knightmare Frames, piloted by Monica. He used the same button combinations and soon after established a connection on a specially created communication channel.
"How do you like my friend's work, Nica?" Lucius asked her, not expecting her tone to convey the purest possible timbre of excitement that an ordinary human voice could convey.
"This is perfect!"
Lucius smiled warmly at the joy on his lover's lips. "I'm glad to hear it, but I think you should send your thanks after the ghetto skirmish is over, straight to S.K.F.D. Institute. Doctor Kinnon Zimmad and all his staff, old and new, fully deserve our praise."
"I will undoubtedly do so, Luc. But now I propose that we focus on events that are relevant at this moment."
"Of course." After these words, Lucius made contact with the youngest representative of the Zabi family, who remained on board the intercontinental transport, but went to the bridge. "Garma, can you hear me?"
"Loud and clear." The young man answered his call. "I would ask you how you like this machine, but we still have this miserable ghetto..." Once again, in the last dozen or so minutes, Garma had to remember the name of the place of the clash with the terrorists. "Shinjuku, which from moment to moment deepens its terrible condition, seas of ruins, misery and mass grave."
"Details." Lucius said quietly enough that the microphone didn't register his words before he thought better of it and raised his voice. "Regardless of this, these desperate actions of my brother do not bode much good."
"What do you think might happen?" Garma asked him, and his voice, slightly distorted by communication, seemed to be a mixture of concern and intrigue.
"Everything and nothing." Lucius replied laconically, before elaborating on the topic, receiving a preview of the tactical map of the battlefield, along with the active friend or foe identification system. "Fundamentally, these types of ill-considered escapades can be a recipe for disaster. On the other hand, fortune often favors the brave and daring, and sometimes even the reckless. On the third hand, nothing interesting may happen during this clash and we, too, will not obtain any interesting information."
"Everything and nothing." Monica repeated, a little annoyed but also understanding that no matter how intelligent Lucius was, even he couldn't say much for sure with the limited amount of information he had. "Anyway, shall we start?"
"Undoubtedly." Lucius smiled, and then his smirk transformed into a cool and calm expression, perfectly suited to a warrior or knight going into battle. "Now."
Lucius reached for the controls on his Knightmare Frames, took a moment to prepare the machine for take-off, and then took off at breakneck speed. Monica followed him and into her cockpit, she couldn't hide her joy at piloting such a technological marvel. The Amethyst Guard followed them in their machines, trying to keep up.
All 8 Knightmare Frames headed towards the place where the fate of the world would change once and for all, irreversibly. Lucius had this strange premonition, resulting from his connection to the Collective Unconscious, that every other living human being has, thanks to which they are able to have premonitions about certain things.