War of the Seven Kings

by Sephiroth12285

With danger approaching the universe, seven candidates are selected by a mistress with the power over time with seven backers who support them. Extracted from his world, Lelouch is taken in as a selected candidate, supported by the mistress to compete against his rivals. Will he have the ability to take on the other six Kings and save the world from the threat facing everyone?

4. Chapter 4 The Miracle of Kyoto Part 2

A/N: Special thanks to Jameyofthemegacosmos, Icysnowsage, Darklord331, silkdreamweaver (chief beta reader and editor) and our Gundam consult and designer Redrat8. Greatkingrat88, F-14 Tomcat Lover, and Seerking have also contributed to the development of this story.

Thanks to everyone who has reviewed, favorited and followed the past chapters, they always appreciated.

Ok before getting into this chapter I should let you guys know that I had to make some changes to the past chapters, which thankfully I was prepared for so while minimum changes to the chapters had to be done it will cause some changes to the story, and limit the time before events of Code Geass happen.

You see I recently got The Imperial Capital Burns - Muv-Luv Alternative Total Eclipse on Steam (more so since it was on sale), looking for more ideas for Kazusa, Izumi, Aki and Shimako's characters since the story explores more events surrounding Yui's time leading up to and during the BETA invasion. But during it I noticed comments and dialogue suggesting Yui and her friends were sixteen, which also matches with a bit that drafting age was reduced to sixteen around the time of the invasion. Although tv tropes suggested Yui and her friends were fourteen, and no one else opposed this belief when I asked them about, but with the story making it clear they were at least sixteen during the invasion I went ahead and corrected everyone's ages, and bumping Lelouch up to match so they are sixteen.

As I said I was prepared for the possibility they were older than the tv tropes suggested considering that bit about the drafting age, so the edits I had to make were little, but hopefully I didn't miss any.

Before reading this chapter I should note this one and chapter three had been heavily rewritten four times, because the Gundams for Yui and Lelouch were of a different design, but I was forced to rewrite much of the chapter when Redrat8 got involved and redesigned the Gundam's completely.

Now that is out of the way let us move on with the chapter, I'll say responses to reviews I cannot reply to for the bottom of the chapter.

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Chapter 4

The Miracle of Kyoto Part 2

Everything has gone according to plan or better than planned, but now we are in no man's land, Lelouch thought.

Thanks to Yui's knowledge of previous events, their plan had worked remarkably well. Lelouch had even made some contingencies depending on how things played out, so far they've avoided casualties among the squadron. Still Lelouch was concerned and didn't want his sense of accomplishments to make himself lower his guard, although he was still confident he could survive anything in the Izanami. However, Aki, Izumi, Shimako and Kazusa were dangerously low on ammunition after they ran into more BETA during their retreat and their machines were more inferior compared to theirs putting them at much greater risk.

"Everything seems to be going well," Yui said through their private communication channel.

"Yes," Lelouch said, hoping Yui didn't jinx it, "Keep your guard up nonetheless, as the BETA do have a known history of surprises."

Lelouch wasn't superstitious or anything, but he was also concerned their success might make Yui relax their guard. Compared to the BETA they had faced earlier, Lelouch knew the ones attacking Kyoto numbered in the tens of thousands if not more, like a surging river crushing anything in their path. The battles they waged in the simulators reminded Lelouch that while each individual BETA was dangerous depending on its type, their deadest advantage was attacking in large numbers, using overwhelming numbers to overwhelm their foes.

Now in Kyoto, which was under siege from the BETA, they would have to watch out for some hiding in ambush within the buildings.

Our machines can detect them thanks to their advanced sensors, but how do we deal with them without the squad becoming suspicious? Lelouch thought, contemplating how to best proceed.

"Just remember the enemy hiding in the buildings," Lelouch said, reminding Yui who nodded in response.

"Roger that," Yui replied, remembering what had happened originally.

I hope I am wrong, but…

Lelouch's unease didn't diminish in the slightest, because thinking from their enemy's perspective Yui and Lelouch's Gundams represented a dangerous unknown. Up until this point the BETA had been able to steamroll their enemies, despite fierce resistance they would inevitably overwhelm their opponents . It was only a question of time.

But how would they respond to Lelouch and Yui's Gundams which managed to defeat an entire scouting vanguard with no losses and very quickly?

Claude said the enemy has a human-level intellect behind them capable of strategy and coordinating the BETA, Lelouch thought.

During the BETA's invasion of Earth, efforts have been made to communicate with the BETA, which humanity thought were some mindless horde that consumed everything in their path. Battles against them lead to situations that insinuated that something or someone intelligent was directing them given how the BETA conducted themselves and reacted to certain strategies. After some experiments humanity created humans, born in artificial wombs, with psychic abilities.

The amoral implications of the experiments that created such individuals aside, the results succeeded in which they gained a greater understanding of the BETA and communication was successful. However, the BETA do not see humanity as living creatures as only silicon-based lifeforms were the only living creatures to them, so peace wasn't possible. Defeating the BETA was humanity's only chance at surviving otherwise they would be wiped out.

Still if such an intelligence was behind such aliens, then Lelouch questioned how it would react.

If I was directing the BETA I would likely focus more of my forces to bolster their numbers, which keeps with their preferred tactic of overwhelming an enemy, Lelouch thought.

Lelouch wanted to be wrong, but he would soon learn his unease was justified.

Yui drew a beam saber before slashing a building in two, one she remembered a Destroyer-class had ambushed her from. The energy blade cut through the building easily, which caused the area around the slash to explode from suddenly being superheated. A few moments later, a dead Destroyer-class tumbled out, crumbling the building to the shock of everyone, except for Lelouch.

"A BETA? Hiding in the building," one of their squadmates exclaimed upon seeing the dead Destroyer-class.

"I am sorry for startling all of you, the Izanagi's sensors picked up a BETA class hiding in the building, its enhanced sensors were designed for such purposes to avoid ambush situations," Yui explained, but in her own cockpit Kazusa's expression hardened, suspecting something more behind it.

"Excellent work," Kaori said, praising Yui even as she rubbed her eyes, feeling the strain personally. "I want you and Lamperouge to check the buildings along our path to avoid any ambushes."

"Roger that," Lelouch and Yui replied.

"If the BETA have advanced this far into Kyoto to lay in ambush, we should assume the defensive lines on the city's outskirts and within it have been lost," Kaori said before noticing some fighting happening in the distance. "We should head towards one of the defensive lines, we'll head for Kyoto station, it's where one of the lines were established. Perhaps we can make contact with command."

"Roger that," the rest of the squad said together.

Lelouch and Yui were thankful Kaori wasn't questioning their actions, but the former was assuming it was due to their situation and their actions had kept everyone in the squad alive beyond the infamous Eight Minutes of Death. Since most inexperienced Tactical Surface Fighters pilots don't always survive their first sortie against the BETA.

It was an impressive feat to be sure, but now they would be entering unknown territory as they were in the path of the main BETA force literally flowing towards Kyoto like a river.

Is this what it was like for the Japanese Army when they faced Britannia?

Lelouch could only imagine what the Japanese Army might've thought and felt when they faced down the Britannian Army after they lost the battles for the sea and sky. To be faced with overwhelming numbers from the south, east and northeastern points of Japan. The BETA may have been attacking from one point in their invasion of Japan, but their numbers were much greater given the speed in how they've overran most of western Japan and those who tried to stop them. Despite the odds, Lelouch was certain most were defiant to the end, even if they knew victory was impossible.

I am sure Yui and her friends might be similar, but the rest of the squad? Lelouch thought, because while he knew a good deal about Aki, Izumi, Kazusa, and Shimako thanks to Yui, the rest of their squad he knew less about.

Advancing further into Kyoto, with Lelouch occasionally shooting a hidden BETA Destroyer-class in one of the nearby buildings with his wing mounted beam rifle. Yui used her beam sabers, since using the Beam Magnum in such close quarters was not only ill-advised, but it could upset the pilots in their ranks over Kyoto being destroyed and risk civilians still alive and in hiding, assuming they were alive somehow. The pair were finding one every few blocks they ventured through, and they weren't the only threats. Likely hiding among the deserted buildings and homes, were groups of Tank-class BETA.

The Tank-class is a smaller variant of BETA being over two meters tall, four-legged, two long arms and a set of powerful jaws that can bite through metal and concrete. Individually, they could be dispatched with infantry-portable heavy weapons, but the Tank-class BETA rarely travel outside of groups numbering in the hundreds or the thousands.

"Enemy contact," another squad member said, noticing a group of Tank-class BETA approaching them.

Lelouch saw them as did Yui, the red, four-legged BETA with powerful jaws rushing down one of the empty streets. Soon Lelouch detected more coming down another street near their location, noticing at least greater than a hundred more of them. The cadets with ammunition remaining began firing upon the Tank class BETA, but more kept coming. Tank-class were known for being remarkably fast in their movements. Lelouch and Yui joined in, using a combination of their CWIS head-mounted vulcans while Lelouch used the beam rifles mounted in his machine's wings to help, while drawing the Flame Beam Sabers, more powerful than the standard beam sabers with flame-like blades radiating intense heat. His Gundam's tactical and AI co-pilot, A.L.I.C.E. System (Advanced Logistic & In-consequence Cognizing Equipment), automatically adjusted the VSBR to high speed setting, which instead of high destructive power delivered penetrating shots. Lelouch fired a spray of beams down the streets, even the buildings themselves offered no protection for the alien creatures as Lelouch's shots went through the buildings hitting their mark as Izanami Gundam's sensors detected them.

The Izanami Gundam kept its Flame beam sabers at the ready, just in case any Tank-classes got close, occasionally firing a mega particle scatter shot at the incoming BETA to keep them back or break up their ranks disrupting the charge of the occasional Destroyer-class.

I don't recall Yui mentioning encountering this many Tank-class BETA until after their machines were downed, Lelouch thought, his fears confirmed that something had changed.

Yui was killing the advancing Tank-classes by the dozens, as were Lelouch, but they kept coming. But the rest of their squad wasn't as capable, because this remaining supply of ammunition was already getting dangerously low as some had to switch to swords to engage the Tank-class in melee.

"I'm on my last clip," Shimako reported, realizing she had only one clip left for her TSF's Type-87 Assault Cannon. She had already used up what she had left for the Type-87 Support Assault Cannon.

"Here, make them count!" Aki said, handing Shimako a spare clip, despite the fact that she was also running low too.

Among the squad they were giving their fellows what spare ammo clips they could, in the hopes of helping one another survive the BETA onslaught. Lelouch and Yui didn't face that problem other than the bullets for their head-mounted vulcans since their weapons were energy based and could be recharged once put away for a sufficient amount of time.

This is going to get bad if everyone runs out of ammunition though, Yui thought.

Unexpectedly another squad of TSF joined them, providing much needed support, but unlike the machines being used by Kaori and the others these TSFs were a Type-94-1C Shiranui Type-1C, having a more streamlined appearance than the Type-82F Zuikaku. Their arrival provided much needed relief for the rest of the squad and allowed them to hold back the hundreds of Tank-class BETA attempting to swarm them.

Lelouch and Yui didn't ease up in their own attacks as they continued killing the Tank-BETA classes attacking, with those slain quickly replaced by more arriving. The fight continued for another twenty minutes, as piles of Tank-class BETA began forming around them until finally the last of the attack swarm was killed.

The threat of the BETA was temporarily eliminated, for now, but it wouldn't be long before more would converge upon their location.

"Thank you for your timely assistance," Kaori said, talking to the squad leader of the second TSF squad.

"Not at all," A voice familiar to Yui replied.

"Instructor Sanada," Yui gasped, recognizing the voice.

"Its Captain Sanada now cadet, and congratulations on you and your squad surviving the Eight Minutes of Death," Kozou Sanada said from the cockpit of his Shiranui, he was a man in his late twenties or early thirties with a tanned complexion with one blue eye and one red, and brown hair. Just about every cadet in this unit was trained by him.

"I see," the Red Coat chuckled, "You've taught your students well," Kaori complimented.

"Thank you, but this isn't the place for idle chat."

"Agreed, what is the situation?" Kaori said as Kozou explained the current situation.

"The situation is bad for a lack of better words. The BETA have pushed all the way into Kyoto itself as you have seen. They began swarming in from Shikoku Island, and around the time we lost contact with the Arashiyama Base the Yawata Defense Line also fell."

"Why was this information kept from us?" Kaori was shaken and horrified that she hadn't heard a thing.

"'For the sake of morale and wanting those assigned to their part of the defense to hold the line as long as possible,'" Kozou answered in a high, condescending tone, but Kaori and Yui knew he agreed with Kaori's anger over this information being withheld. He had heard it from some higher up who didn't know what the hell was happening. Fortunately, his attitude changed a moment later with some good news, "However, all remaining forces in need of resupply are rallying at Kyōto Station. Some of the Americans are still present and are helping to hold the lines in several key areas. Those A-10s are really something else. They act like the mountain and the BETA have to assail the mountain in order to pass."

Kaori released a sigh of relief, "Understood, I'll take my squadron there to resupply before we return to the battlefield," Kaori said as her squad's next destination was set.

"We'll cover you," Kozou said as he reloaded his TSF's rifle, because in the distance an incoming horde of BETA including many Destroyer-class at the front and Grapplers just behind with many more in trail.

"Instructor," Aki said, fearful for their old instructor.

"You girls have done well to survive this far, and so I urge you to follow your commander. Live and keep fighting," Kozou said before he and his squad left to engage the approaching BETA.

"Let's go, you all need to be resupplied ASAP," Kaori said, but in her cockpit she saluted Kozou and his men as they hurried to hold off the BETA, knowing they wouldn't survive.

Yui knew it as well and so she saluted her former instructor, but regretted he was someone she couldn't save either. His wound was visible through the side of his TSF. Bleeding so extensively that he wouldn't survive even if he were able to pull back.

He was already prepared to give his life, I doubt anything we said could've swayed him and especially with that mortal wound, Yui thought as she and the rest of their squad left, heading for Kyoto Station.

The rest of the squadron was dangerously low on ammo, so they continued forward with Yui and Lelouch occasionally shooting a hiding BETA, mostly Destroyer-class, laying in wait for an ambush. Then, remembering a building Yui recalled from her previous experience of events used her Beam Magnum to shoot a building where she knew a Fort-class was hiding. Last time it had gotten the jump on her, Izumi and Kazusa, causing their TSFs to crash, leading to the deaths of the latter two.

Any potential alarm over discharging such a powerful weapon within the city limits was drowned out by the shock of a Fort-class having been lying in ambush.

Not this time, Yui thought as she saw the Fort-class fall over dead, half its body vaporized and the remains completely engulfed in flame as the acid in its body to be used by its stinger had flash erupted into flames.

"A Fort-class!?" Aki exclaimed, horrified. "How did one get so far in without it being seen?"

"Stay on your guard. It's possible the Kyoto Station might've been overrun if the BETA are this far in." Kaori warned, having a bad feeling about this, a feeling shared by Lelouch.

If the rest of the squad can't resupply we'll have a serious problem, Lelouch thought.

Already worrying was that they were now in unknown territory because at this point Yui and her last two friends were grounded by the BETA, leading to Izumi and Kazusa's deaths and Yui being rescued before she could share their fate. They were doing very well having survived to this point without any casualties so far.

Anything could happen at this point now.

---

The group approached Kyoto Station, but found it had been overrun by the BETA made up of Grappler-class, Destroyer-class and Tank-class. However around the station were Supply Containers, likely deployed to help the defenders resupply during the attack, if there was anything left they could take it. But the BETA in the area made that difficult, further complicated by the fact Kaori, Aki, Izumi, Shimako and Kazusa and the rest were nearly out of ammunition.

"Damn it, so the defense line has fallen here too," Kaori said, tightening her grip around the control sticks of her TSF in anger.

"What do we do?" Shimako asked, noticing the remains of two United Nations F-16 Falcons among the destroyed TSFs. Even the UN remained to fight to the bitter end.

"If we could get to those supply containers we could reload our weapons, but there are too many BETA around," Kaori said before Yui offered a suggestion.

"Lelouch and I can clear out the BETA, once the area is cleared that should be enough time to take what we can, if that is fine with you commander?"

Kaori weighed her options, it was too risky, but moving through a city infested with BETA without ammunition was even more so. Also fuel would soon start becoming a problem until they could retreat back to safety behind allied lines or, assuming if the Supply Containers had anything left, they could refuel now. She didn't like their chances of going further through Kyoto without either, so Kaori agreed.

"Alright, I'll leave it to you and Lieutenant Lamperouge then Warrant Officer Takamura," Kaori said.

"Thank you," Yui replied.

Lelouch prepared to fire the Izanami's primary weapon, but unlike before Lelouch set the mega particle cannon to a single beam, to avoid hitting the Supply Containers. He also adjusted the fire rate of the beam rifles in his wings, while he held his Gundam's Flame Swords, knowing they would be able to cleave through the tough hides of the Destroyer-class and Grappler-class BETA.

Lelouch was careful to avoid the Supply Containers, as Yui moved in and began attacking with flame beam sabers, cutting apart the Grappler-class and vaporizing the Tank-class BETA nearest to the Supply Containers. Lelouch used the Variable Speed Beam Rifles, gunning down the Tank-class and Grappler-class BETA in the immediate area, and another shot from the Izanami's Mega Particle Cannon to deal with the remaining BETA nearby.

Yui herself used her own beam sabers to cut down the remaining BETA, those too close to the supply containers that Lelouch couldn't risk shooting them. Then she moved on to deal with the BETA arriving to reinforce their fellows, seeking to eliminate them before they could join the battle as Lelouch dealt with the remaining enemies near the Supply Containers. Being extremely careful not to let the backwash or high energy intermix with the Supply Containers and risk an explosion. Outside of her Beam Magnum, Yui lacked any other ranged offensive options except for her machine's head mounted CWIS. However she spotted a discarded TSF rifle that was just big enough for her Gundam to pick up and use.

And use she did, discovering it was an American heavy rifle called the Avenger. Thankfully, it had a fully loaded swept the rifle through the ranks of Tanks and saw them just vanish into a fine, if somewhat meaty, mist. The Americans knew what they were doing when they decided to build their TSAs. This cannon is incredibly powerful!

The weapon soon clicked empty, but it had done its job well.

Seeing the enemy around the Supply Containers were gone as Lelouch and Yui continued working to keep the BETA at bay, Kaori saw their opportunity.

"Hurry to the containers, resupply as quickly as you can!" Kaori commanded as her squad hurried to the containers hoping there was something left they could use.

Luckily fortune smiled on them and the Supply Containers were still stocked with ammunition and weapons, Kaori even finding a trio of spare 36mm GAU-8 Avengers and their ammunition which she tossed to Yui and supplied Lelouch with. With that kind of covering fire, the remaining TSFs didn't waste time restocking their weapons and replacing those as needed, Kaori actually stowing her Assault Cannon to acquire an Avenger as did Aki who immediately fell in love with the weapon. Once the TSFs had replenished their ammunition and replaced their weapons, Shimako even found an improved Assault Cannon with Sniper functions and claimed it. They started searching the Supply Containers for fuel for their machines.

Meanwhile Lelouch moved with Kaori's group to help defend the others against BETA attacks, while Yui continued to fight to hold the flanks by herself. Lelouch had to holster his Beam Mangum for now, not wanting to deplete all of its energy, to allow it to recharge before using a third firing of Izanami's Mega Particle Cannon, to wipe out the enemies nearby. The hundreds of Tank-class BETA proving to be the most troublesome to keep in check despite how many BETA Lelouch kept killing. However, in the minutes since Kaori and the rest of the squad reached the Supply Containers, those who stocked up on ammunition and having been fortunate in finding a supply container with fuel inside, they joined Lelouch and Yui in fending off the BETA until the rest of their squad was done.

They couldn't have finished a moment sooner, the number of BETA were increasing as more were converging upon their location. Likely in response to the large swaths of losses they were sustaining.

"If everyone is done resupplying, fallback, we're going to head to the nearest defense line to rendezvous with any remaining allies," Kaori commanded.

If the situation here is this bad, then the Japanese might've been forced out of the city, Lelouch thought as he could see what appeared to be areas of the city on fire, likely from the battle and Destroyer-class just steamrolling through everything.

But it was at that moment distant help arrived.

Explosions began chaining up and down the BETA's line of attack on them. Entire groups of BETA were being wiped out with seemingly pinpoint accuracy. But those who knew the ordnance knew otherwise.

"It's the navy!" Aki cheered as naval artillery fire landed in the city, breaking up large groups of BETA. "They're firing on the BETA!"

"And it's being walked this way!" Kaori realized, "Everyone, we are leaving!"

"Reload now to keep yourself stocked!" Kazusa called out as she replaced what she's just used.

The BETA, ignoring the artillery fire from the Biwa Sea, pressed forward to overrun the group.

Lelouch and Yui covered their escape, shots from their Beam Magnums killing dozens more BETA with a lot more Tank-Classes killed by the intense heat and backwash of the passing shots. Buildings either were ripped apart or melted where they stood with a number bursting into flames. Kaori and the rest of the squad provided cover fire before Lelouch and Yui pulled back, following in their flight from Kyoto Station as the artillery shots finally began to land home and BETA were blown to pieces, along with everything else behind the fleeing machines.

"Are there any defense lines still intact?" Aki asked over an open communication line.

Kaori had no answer, but soon she started picking up an incoming transmission.

"This is Major Kyoko Takatsuka of the Regent Houses, if there are any survivors please respond to this channel!"

"This is First Lieutenant Kaori Kisaragi of TSF Squadron White Fang, responding."

There was a sense of relief from Kyoko's voice hearing their squadron was alive.

"What is the status of your squad?"

"We managed to resupply using Supply Containers left behind at Kyoto Station, which had been overrun by the enemy. We were able to temporarily neutralize the BETA, but reinforcements and the naval artillery fire they were drawing forced us to abandon the station. We are now retreating to one of the other defense lines to rendezvous with the main force," Kaori answered, glad to be in contact with anyone at this point.

"Understood, I am impressed you managed to pull that off. We lost Kyoto Station to the BETA about an hour ago at best. We are having all combat-able units to rendezvous at these coordinates to mount a defense against the BETA to hold them back. I am gathering other survivors to aid in the defense, can your unit make it?"

The coordinates popped up on Kaori's feed while Lelocuh and Yui got them by accident due to their machines' being able to intercept and decode them.

"Yes, we'll head to the location you provided at once," just as the sounds of very heavy caliber shells began to be distantly heard and, just barely, the flashes of the large guns firing them could just barely be made out.

"Understood I'll meet you halfway as I am still searching for survivors, if you find any downed pilots on your way please rescue them if you can," Kyoko asked.

"Understood, and we already are, Lieutenant Kisaragi out," Kaori said before relaying their new orders. "Alright by order of the Royal Guard we are heading to a new defense line. Should we find any survivors or downed pilots along the way we are to pick them up, let's move."

"Roger that," Everyone said as they proceeded towards their destination.

Unfortunately barring their path were a group of Fort-class BETA aided by Grappler-class, Tank-class and Destroyer-class BETA, and behind them another similar group was trying to catch up to them.

"So the BETA has deemed me and Yui as the biggest threats so they are converging upon us to eliminate us," Lelouch said, worried that something like this would happen.

He wouldn't have minded being wrong quite frankly.

"They are trying to get us in a pincer move," Kazusa exclaimed seeing what the BETA were doing.

Lelouch responded by using Mega Particle Cannon to clear the area of as many BETA as possible while Yui used the Beam Magnum to begin dispatching the Fort-class BETA ahead of them. With a battle cry Izumi began firing her Assault Rifle at the BETA ahead of them, wiping out scores of Tank-classes, but the Grappler-class and Destroyer-class enemies would difficult to eliminate as they used their armored portions of their bodies to shield themselves from the attacks of the TSFs.

Lelouch's own beam magnum managed to clear them out with three shots fired into the charging group ahead of them. Yui charged forward intent on clearing a path for the rest of her squads and friends, but called to Lelouch. They were hesitant to use them in the city, but given the sheer number of the BETA surrounding them and given no time to tell if the buildings around them had any BETA hiding within, the pair saw little choice.

Thankfully no one protested their choice to use the powerful weapons within the city, as they knew the danger they were in.

"Connective Lelouch!"

Lelouch understood, if there was a time to use Coupling, this was it.

"Acception!"

The two Gundams entered Coupling Mode as the speed and agility of the Izanami Gundam skyrocketed, as it surged forward into the BETA lines decapitating Destroyer-class and Grappler-class BETA. Beam rifle fire and more shots from the Izanami's Mega Particle Cannon, combined with support fire from the rest of their squad.

Together they plowed through the BETA line leaving dozens of BETA types dead in their wake, but once they were clear of the enemies in their path, a Laser-class BETA managed to snipe one of the TSFs in their squads. The shot itself was a hard one to make, due to the buildings, so it was akin to threading a needle. Likely other Laser-classes were attempting to get a clear shot at the enemy far ahead of them, but there were simply too many obstructions.

Except for the one that managed to down Kazusa's TSF. Thankfully the hit wasn't enough to destroy her TSF instantly, but it was enough to cause it to crash into a building.

"KAZUSA!" Yui cried out in horror.

"I am on it," Lelouch said, feeling Yui's alarm through their connection, and he was in a more ideal position to help, while Aki put her newly acquired Avenger to good use to provide cover.

With no BETA nearby Lelouch reached Kazusa's downed TSF, moving enough for him to see the cockpit which was undamaged. The hatch opened and Lelouch saw Kazusa inside, alive and well, other than being badly shaken from the crash.

"Get on," Lelouch called out, glad that Kazusa was one of the ones without passengers, as he brought the Izanami's hand to the downed TSF's cockpit, as Kazusa leapt onto the Gundam's hand and brought it up to the cockpit's hatch. Lelouch opened it to allow Kazusa inside who managed to grab onto the side of Lelouch's seat to secure herself.

"Thank you," Kazusa said, grateful for the timely rescue.

However, Kazusa's TSF exploded a moment later. A Laser-class had managed to get a clear line of fire and shot the TSF in order to destroy both machines. The cockpit shook, but Lelouch and Kazusa were unharmed thanks to the Gundam's very durable construction as the machine sustained no damage. Lelouch used the Beam Shield to block against further laser attacks, fearing the explosion could've compromised the I-field even if it didn't, before hurrying to escape the area.

But while Lelouch was occupied with saving Kazusa he was attacked by a pair of Grappler-class BETA, one attacking from each side. Lelouch dealt with one by shooting it point-blank with the beam rifle mounted in the wings, but the other had a clear shot at Lelouch's back.

Until Kaori came in and gunned down the Grappler-class, striking all of its vulnerable points with her Avenger cannon.

"Get moving!" Kaori snapped as Lelouch got out of the line of sight of the Laser-class.

The group proceeded along with the BETA hot on their heels.

"Damn! It's like we got every BETA in the city after us," Kaori said as she helped cover the rear.

"How did we lose the capital like this?" Shimako, lamenting the loss of Kyoto and the many fond memories in this city.

"Just focus on reaching the rendezvous. We'll have time to fight back and maybe try to take it back from them," Yui said, trying to keep everyone focused on reaching their destination.

As they hurried through the city while zigzagging around buildings to keep them from being targeted by any more Laser-class BETA, swarms of Tank-class were quickly moving to intercept them. Lelouch and Yui used their Beam Magnums to clear the path ahead of them, vaporizing most Tank-class BETA, with even a near miss being enough to kill them. Followed by using their other weapons to eliminate any surviving BETA to ensure they were not a threat, pawing a clear path ahead. However, in response the Tank-class BETA began using the subway tunnels as a way to get close to their quarry without detection, since their small size made it harder for them to be picked up, not giving off as large of a heat signature as the Destroyer and Grappler-classes.

Yui and Lelouch did their best to keep the Tank-classes at bay, as did those with Avengers, but the ones moving through the subway managed to emerge nearby from the exits. Seeing that Yui and her squad were in danger, Kaori attacked, emptying a clip from her assault rifle, while other members of her squadron and Lelouch were dispatching them as they continued to flee from their relentless enemy.

"Look out Izumi," Shimako shouted, using her assault rifle to eliminate a group of Tank-class BETA that had gotten dangerously close.

"Thanks Shimako," Izumi said before using her own rifle to cut down more of the pursuing BETA.

"There are so many of them," Aki said as she noticed how she was already low on ammunition again.

"Keep calm, remember your training," Yui said. If her friends panicked then they would be overwhelmed in seconds.

Barely escaping from the Tank-classes that had attempted to ambush them, the group was getting ever closer to their destination.

Lelouch had lost track over how many BETA he had killed. It was inconceivable an enemy would keep sending many of its own troops to relentlessly advance. The BETA were no enemy Lelouch had ever expected to encounter and unlike themselves, the BETA had the hundreds or thousands to commit to such a siege.

He wondered how many they would have to kill before the BETA would halt their advance.

"Keep moving, we are almost there!" Kaori shouted as they were closer to the rendezvous point.

Yui used her machine's beam saber to kill another Destroyer-class that tried to ambush them, cutting through its armored hide and beheading the two heads hidden behind it. Lelouch used his machine's beam rifles to put down more Grappler-class BETA that kept chasing them through the city. They couldn't stay in one place for too long, as the longer they stayed, the risks of being overwhelmed increased.

Lelouch couldn't use the Mega Particle Cannon in scatter shot mode without being stationary for a minute or two, to gain the ideal firing solution, which would be deadly with the BETA so close by. He could fire it without a target solution, but given buildings around them, Lelouch felt its effectiveness would be limited. The number of BETA attacking them was too much and it would put the rest of the squad at risk. Even when the Beam Mangum got low on shots, Lelouch had to holster it and use flame beam sabers and the wing-mounted beam rifles, to dispatch the BETA while also trying to protect the rest of the squad.

"Lieutenant!?"

Lelouch and Yui heard Aki's voice cry out as they saw that Kaori's machine was seized by a Grappler-class before it was slammed through a building and thrown into the path of a charging Destroyer-class. Yui was swift in avenging Kaori by decapitating the Grappler-class while Lelouch shot the Destroyer-class with his beam rifles.

"Lieutenant Kaori, are you alright?!" Shimako called out.

"Keep…keep moving, you are almost there. Takamura, you are in charge now," Kaori said as she was coughing up blood.

Tank-class BETA were already swarming her machine, using their teeth to begin tearing the machine apart while Kaori was badly wounded. She tried to trigger her Tactical Surface Fighter's self-destruction, but the device malfunctioned and the noise of the Tank-class trying to get into her cockpit grew louder.

"I need one of you to finish me," Kaori said, as she could barely move, a testament to the extent of her injuries. She couldn't even reach for the pistol she and all other TSF pilots kept in their cockpits to end themselves to avoid the worst case scenario.

Everyone hesitated, even Yui, but it was obvious they couldn't risk rescuing her yet alone lingering with the BETA after them. However, Kazusa put a hand on Lelouch's right hand before calmly asking him.

"Could you draw that powerful hand weapon you've been using?" Kazusa said solemnly before speaking into an open communication channel to reassure the squad. "I'll help him do it."

Lelouch was speechless. Although he hadn't known Kaori for very long, he didn't like the idea of delivering a mercy kill. Even if Kaori wasn't likely to survive even if they saved her, something about it just left a bad taste in his mouth. He set his finger on the trigger with Kazusa laying her's on top of his. Lelouch pretended to not notice her trembling.

With some reluctance and help from Kazusa, Lelouch pulled the trigger, striking the TSF and vaporizing Kaori, just as the Tank-class BETA had torn open her cockpit. Her TSF exploded, taking the Tank-class BETA that had swarmed it with her. Lelouch understood he would have to sentence people to their deaths' in his quest to overthrow Britannia, even stain his own hands, but to put a comrade out of their own misery? He did not care for the feeling and now was not the time to reflect on his actions so he buried the feeling.

No one had time to mourn the loss of their commanding officer, all they could do was keep running. As everyone ran for their destination before the BETA had a chance to recover and reorganize themselves once more. They still had some luck as the BETA that were still behind them were now struggling at catching back up due to the rain of artillery fire from the fleet in Lake Biwa. It bought them much needed time to flee and get ahead of the horde that had been nipping at their heels.

"WHY DO THEY KEEP COMING AT US IN SUCH NUMBERS?!" Shimako shouted in fear as a missile exploded at the head of the group and caused several Destroyer-class to topple over and slide across the ground, briefly acting as a barricade and stopping the BETA.

For now.

"Damn it, we're already low on ammo again," Izumi said, realizing they had nearly used up all of the ammunition they've taken from the supply drops.

"Where the hell is everyone?!" Aki shouted as they kept firing at the BETA as they continued making a run for their destination.

Other members of the squadron were on the verge of panicking, despite Yui's attempts to keep everyone calm.

"Remember your training, we have to stay calm!" Yui tried to reassure her friends.

"How can we stay calm? The BETA are right behind us and we are almost out of ammunition again." Aki said aloud what other members of the squad were thinking.

"Focus on surviving," Lelouch said, intervening. "We've made this far despite the odds. We know our allies are ahead, so we need to keep going!"

"What if the BETA has overrun them?" Shimako asked, terrified if Tango Line had suffered that fate by chance.

"Then we'll keep pushing forward until we rendezvous with them. You are supposed to be members of the Royal Guard, descended from samurai. Did anyone in your family panic during a battle, when they met on the battlefield with swords? I am certain none of you would be here if they did, and you are entrusted with Japan's defense despite your incomplete training. That is why we must survive, and endure. Or is this how you want your families to remember you?" Lelouch said, trying to inspire them to keep fighting.

"R-R-Right," Shimako said.

"We made it this far," another member of the squad said. She was a young woman around Yui's age with dark brown hair styled into a pair of small pigtails and brown eyes.

"Sayuri and Lelouch are right, we must as well keep going," another member of the squad, a girl with long brown hair with a blue hairband, and brown eyes.

"Yeah and I think the BETA seemed to have stopped," another girl with long black hair and gray eyes said, sounding hopeful.

"Be careful with that kind of thinking Kasumi and Ayame," Yui warned, worried about a last second jinx. "The BETA swarm as a whole might've given up on us, but we aren't out of danger yet. Stay alert until we rendezvous with allied units."

"Roger that," Kasumi and Ayame said together.

No one else said a word or showed signs of panicking, which Lelouch took as a positive, just not quite a good sign.

As Kasumi noticed, the explosions of artillery fire from Lake Biwa had seemingly shaken off the BETA pursuit for the time being. Perhaps they were organizing themselves for a continued push forward through the rest of Kyoto in order to silence those ships?

Regardless, Lelouch, Yui and the others didn't let this chance pass by and hurried ahead.

The Coupling System had finally worn off by this point, but Lelouch took a deep breath as he tried to relax his mind and body. He suspected it might be needed again once the cool-down period had passed, because he doubted their fight would end once they reached their destination. They had to endure the heavy bombardment of Kyoto that was carried out. Lelouch and Yui's Gundam's detected the long range assault on the city by Japan naval forces stationed in Lake Biwa and the United States Navy supporting from the coast off Osaka given the types of ammunition used and some random intercepts of radio chatter.

That had been by far the largest and heaviest of all bombardments that they had seen or endured.

So Kyoto has been declared lost then, Lelouch said as his Gundam could see in the distance behind them the areas lost to the BETA being the focus of their bombardment.

Lelouch didn't know it yet, but Japan wasn't ready to give up on Kyoto and would fight the BETA for every inch of the city. With revitalized allies at their side and a new commander to oversee the fighting, the Japanese had been reinvigorated and were ready to strike again. Already the reserves were moving into position. The battle wasn't over yet. It wouldn't be for some time.

After making it across the Kamo River, they were approaching their destination, the defensive line set up around Kyoto National Museum. The more open grounds made it a suitable staging area for setting up a defensive formation and receiving airdrops of Supply Containers. However, Lelouch noticed something relieving and worrying, he and the others found the area leading up to the museum littered with the bodies of the BETA. This was a good sign the BETA advance had been stopped, but what worried Lelouch was what kind of condition the defenders were in?

He, Yui and the others had their answer when they arrived.

The defenders had successfully held the line, but they had clearly taken some heavy casualties for it. Over a dozen Type-94-1C Shiranui TSF had been destroyed, and the three that remained were barely functional, some having lost an arm, or two, and were generally badly damaged.

Our approach must've given these defenders a temporary reprieve from the BETA onslaught to attack us, but they needed that break otherwise this line would've been lost too, Lelouch thought.

"Who is in command here?" Yui asked, calling out to the remaining TSF defenders.

"Who is asking?" one of the pilots inquired, sounding understandably stressed out.

"Eishi Takamura Yui, acting commander of White Fang Squadron, Imperial Royal Guard. We were ordered to come here at the direction of Eishi Takatsuka Kyoko," Yui answered strictly.

"Right, please forgive me," the pilot replied, realizing he was out of bounds and that Yui, as part of the Royal Guard, held authority over him. "Lady Takatsuka left some time ago to find survivors, ordering those she found to rally here. Your arrival proves she has been successful in finding some."

Or chose to die fighting to delay the BETA advance as long as possible, Lelouch thought, thinking of Captain Sanada and his unit.

"I assume she hasn't returned yet," Yui asked, worried for her cousin.

"No she has not, and we were beginning to fear the worst might've happened until you arrived," The pilot of the damaged TSF replied. "I'm confident now she is safe, no matter what."

Yui felt emotional, because Kyoko was like an older sister, even if they were cousins, but she also knew she was a highly capable pilot and wouldn't have fallen so easily. Regardless it was clear they had to hold this line as long as they could. Looking around Yui could see scores of injured soldiers and pilots recovered from their destroyed machines, those lucky enough to survive at least, and tank operators who managed to survive up to this point were being loaded onto trucks to take to safety.

"I understand, then we will help hold this line as long as we can."

As if sent by divine intervention, fresh Supply Containers were dropped just beyond the defense line for Yui and her squad.

"Lelouch I would like you to use the Izanami's tactical computer to track the BETA's movements, keep an eye on their movement patterns and call them out as necessary. Offer counter tactics as needed and use your machine's main weapon to carry out crowd control, and your I-field to create a safe zone for our allies to replenish themselves as needed," Yui instructed, which caused a light smile to appear on his face.

Thank you, Yui, you've basically given me tactical command of the defense line.

"Understood, I'll issue tactical counters as needed."He also punched in the communication line they had intercepted from the Japanese and American transmissions. The operator was surprised to hear from them, but happy to learn that another squad had survived the retreat from Kyoto and that a defensive line had managed to hold. He handed over his squadron's Callsign ID and current location.

"Welcome to the Net! Glad to hear you're still alive," the operator on the other end confirmed his unit's ID, "Units on standby for tasking. Callsign Starbase-Six is in command. Be advised, we're attempting to send reinforcements your way right now, but we got a lot of trouble in another area. A bunch of Fort-class showed up and are requiring special attention."

"Copy all," Lelouch was just glad for the support, "Connect me to Starbase-Six. Got a feeling I'll be making the call for support very soon."

"Copy that." Lelouch signaled Yui he had reestablished connection with command.

"Kazusa, since you are inside with Lelouch, help be an extra set of eyes for him. I am sure the BETA will attempt to flank us at some point," Yui commanded even as a surviving Tank platoon rolled past her feet, survivors on the decks looking up in amazement at the new machines.

"Right, I'll help him as needed," Kazusa said from inside the cockpit next to Lelouch.

"Shimako I want you to cover Lelouch along with any TSF unfit for direct combat against the BETA to both protect him, the Supply Containers and to provide support fire when needed," Yui said.

"Right, I won't let you down," the girl responded as she finally pulled out the sniper cannon she picked up earlier. She noticed it was British made instead of American.

"Aki, Izumi, Ayame, Kasumi, and Sayuri are with me," Yui ordered as the audible sound of orbital drop pods broke somewhere in the distance, signaling additional reinforcements for someone. "Now all of you who can fight resupply quickly."

"Roger that," Aki, Izumi and others replied even as a group of SPGs pulled in, calling for fuel and ammo as survivors were helped off the decks of the vehicles or out of their crammed interiors.

Thankfully they had enough time for Aki, Izumi, Shimako and the others to replenish their ammunition and fuel as needed.

Lelouch modified and expanded the I-field his Gundam produced to a wide area around him, which should be enough to protect the supply containers, but also any TSFs that entered. Providing a safe zone for the TSFs to resupply while at the same time offering protection from potential laser attacks, should Laser-class BETA take the nearby hills.

They completed their preparations, even getting four American A-10 Thunderbolts thumping in and a trio of Japanese A-6J/Type-81 Wadatsumi TSAs waddling in. Just in time as the BETA renewed their push forward, having reorganized the swarm with a line of Destroyer-classes leading the charge followed by Grappler-classes and at least ten Fort-classes following behind them. Likely hundreds of thousands of Tank-classes and the smaller Soldier-class BETAs ran among the advancing wave. It was terrifying. No matter how many they killed, the BETA swarm was relentless. Even more frightening was seemingly how fast they were able to replenish their numbers.

If creatures like the BETA ever invaded my Earth, I fear as it is now humanity wouldn't stand a chance, Lelouch thought, determined to face them, despite a part of him feeling anxiety at facing such an unrelenting and inhuman enemy.

"Firing first volley," Lelouch said as soon as the BETA were in range, using his Gundam's Mega Particle Cannon in focused beam mode, moving his Gundam from one side to the other creating a cleaving beam that demolished any remaintain buildings, and cutting into the BETA ranks. The focused particle beam cut down dozens of Destroyers, Grapplers, and more than hundreds of Tank-class BETA along with an unknowable number of Soldier-types.

The Izanami Gundam's beam rifles switched to low speed, focusing on high destructive shots, and further range. Whatever his mega particle cannon or beam magnum didn't get, Lelouch could deal with them from a distance and lay down some more cover fire for the others without fear of harming them with the beam magnum.

Then the Wadatsumi pilots opened up with their 120mm guns. With six of them available, the group had some serious firepower to add. They were picking off the most dangerous targets. Those were the Laser- and Heavy Laser-class types.

Lelouch would fire both his beam magnum and charged particle cannon again as soon as his machine could, but in the meantime Yui and the rest of the squad were not idle. Yui was firing shots from the Beam Magnum into the BETA advance, wiping out any Destroyers not slain by Lelouch's initial attacks. The shots vaporized the Destroyers and anything near enough as they cut into the BETA ranks. The Dual-Linked Variable Speed Beam Rifles of the Izanami Gundam sniped enemy targets, each shot was more than powerful enough to down the larger BETA, and when a group of Tank-classes were hit, the resulting explosions either wounded them or killed them, reducing their numbers.

"Enemy Destroyers are beginning to move towards the sides on flanking maneuvers from the north and south of your position Yui," Lelouch warned. "I advise dealing with the south and center, I'll cut down their numbers from the North. TSAs, hold the line slightly off axis from me. You should be able to fire into one group's flank."

"Roger that," Yui replied, holstering her Beam Magnum so it could recharge.

"Moving to intercept," one of the Americans replied.

Yui began using the Izanagi's Beam Magnum to begin taking out any BETA within range that approached while Izumi, Aki and the others focused on the BETA attacking from the front and trying to flank them from the south. Meanwhile Lelouch fired another volley, but this time used his own Beam Magnum to devastate the BETA's flanking advance from the north, given their angle as they were about to encircle Yui and her friends Lelouch was able to secure a higher number of kills.

Lelouch couldn't get a clear shot from his position at the advancing BETA with his own Beam Magnum, but considering the number of Tank- and Soldier-class BETA likely advancing through them Lelouch deemed it worth the risk. He fired four shots, being safe enough away, although most impacted buildings, the explosions and intense heat of each shot dispatching any Tank-classes trying to get a jump on his position, hopefully.

"Ayame, you have a pair of Grapplers and a swarm of Tank-classes heading your way from the northwest," Lelouch warned.

"Understood," Ayame replied, taking notice of the advancing BETA group.

"Aki, could you lend a hand to Sayuri and Kasumi? They are against a swarm of Tank-class. Just keep them at bay, I'll be firing upon them in a moment," Lelouch asked as he was already creating a firing solution.

"Roger that," Aki replied, swapping for her Avenger and moving to reinforce Kasumi and Sayuri.

"Everyone stay mindful of your ammunition, when you are down to your last mag say so, that way we can cover for you while you resupply," Yui ordered, hoping to create an efficient rotation to maintain the line while those in need of resupply can fallback without any concerns.

"Roger that," Izumi, Aki, Sayuri, Ayame, and Kasumi said together, as Lelouch rained down more death upon the BETA. He was cutting down their numbers as low as he could before they reached Yui's position.

We're doing well so far, but the BETA still far out number us, and we don't have the numbers to hold this position indefinitely, Lelouch thought. From a tactical standpoint they needed a greater number of TSFs for an ideal defensive strategy against such a foe, even with the advantage the seven TSAs were providing.

The tanks and SPGs that had rallied here were positioned to defend the line to their best of their admittedly not quite limited quality. Tanks were more than sufficient to kill Tank-class or smaller BETA. The SPGs were making themselves known to the Laser- and Heavy Laser-class and there was little the BETA could do to respond to them as they fired and relocated too quickly.

Several armored jeeps equipped with rockets and missiles were also adding their weight to the fight. As were other conventional vehicles. The few AH-64 Apaches, a mix of American and Japanese, that had arrived to support them were a big help as well.

But they needed more TSFs and TSAs.

Starbase-Six had been quick to provide support. At least two Battleships and six Heavy Cruisers were now on detail to support them. They also got the odd long range fire support from TSFs equipped with missiles as well. Those were launched from the USS Theodore Roosevelt.

He was still confident they could hold this defensive line, but how long was still the question.

And could they do it without any more losses?

Lelouch holstered his Beam Magnum to recharge it, but took a moment to calibrate the heat sensors of the Gundam to try and pick up any approaching Tank-class BETA. Aside from those that could still get around Yui and the others, there were some that could still attack from the subways using the tunnels to move unnoticed. Individually the sensors could probably not pick them up, but since they traveled in large groups, Lelouch hoped his Gundam could notice them well in advance.

As Lelouch continued to pick off the BETA from a distance with the Izanami's Mega Particle Cannon and occasionally when it was ready, the Beam Magnum. The Gundam's Dual-Linked Variable Speed Beam Rifles were being used to eliminate targets too close for comfort or at least to cut down the enemy to make them more manageable for Yui and the others. Lelouch continued to cut down their numbers as much as he could. Even if none of them reached their intended targets, clearing out the buildings eliminated the potential hiding place for Tank-class BETA.

The A-10 pilots had seen what he was up to and provided some advice while also throwing down some fire in areas that Lelouch suspected some Tank- and Soldier-class BETA to be.

So far, so good.

Yui and her friends were fending off the BETA, even if their numbers were considerable. Thanks to Lelouch's tactical directions and crowd control using his Gundam's main weapon the BETA were manageable. At least to a point they were not being overwhelmed, for now.

"They aren't moving forward another inch," Aki said as she mowed down a group of Tank-class BETA trying to swarm her.

Aki was fighting fiercely as was the other squad mates, using their assault rifles to eliminate as many Tank-class BETA as possible while assisted by Izumi's close support. Izumi was using her TSF's newly acquired Type-74 PB Blade in an effort to conserve ammunition. At the same time Izumi enjoyed cutting down the BETA with a blade even if she tried to convince herself otherwise.

"Die, die," Izumi said in a vengeful fury that wasn't easily satisfied. She was still more than mindful of her surroundings, pulling back from the Grappler-class she had killed to avoid being struck by another.

With a battle cry Izumi charged the Grappler-class, dodging one swing of its armored limb before cutting it off in response and cutting off the head-like appendage on top of its body before delivering a killing blow.

"They took him from me, I'll kill them all," Izumi said with barely restrained fury and sorrow.

"Uh, should we do something about that," Aki remarked, growing very worried about Izumi, even if she did understand her sorrow at losing her beloved boyfriend.

"She is being mindful of her surroundings, as long as it doesn't compromise her ability to fight, then nothing we can really do," Yui said. Although she did share Aki's worries about Izumi, this was not a good place to talk about it.

Yui wasn't wrong though, as much as Izumi was letting her rage and desire for vengeance for the loss of her boyfriend drive her, she did maintain enough clarity and awareness of her surroundings to avoid the BETA from getting the better of her. In essence this made her much more dangerous to the BETA as her drive for vengeance had given her a keen awareness of what was happening around her.

Furthermore, Lelouch's words had also caused that drive for vengeance to meld with an equally powerful drive to survive. The longer she lived, the more BETA she could kill until they were defeated. It gave Izumi more than enough cause to kill the BETA whenever she faced them, but also ensured her own survival to continue her cause.

Even then Yui was keeping an eye on her and Aki, intent on ensuring they would survive.

Yui herself killed another Grappler-class, before using a shot from a recharged Beam Magnum to kill an approaching horde of Tank-class and shooting at more Destroyer-class approaching from three different directions.

Please be alright Kyoko, Yui thought, hoping her cousin would show up and aid them.

One Destroyer-class did manage to survive long enough to get into a running charge towards Yui, but she used the Izanagi's Beam Magnum to cut it down by blasting a crimson beam through its main body.

"Yui, we got Sayuri and Kasumi falling back to resupply," Aki reported, now trying to cover for their two squad mates as one of the Type-81s moved up to support them.

"Understood, they know to hurry, and Lelouch's actions have been helpful in keeping the BETA more manageable," Yui said.

"Right."

"Yui, Aki and Izumi, you have a swarm of Tank-class BETA coming up from the south with a dozen Destroyers covering some Grapplers coming from the northwest," Lelouch warned even as the A-10 pilots reported they needed to start pulling back to resupply.

The Type-81s weren't much better off either.

"Understood. Did you hear him?" Yui said, addressing her question to Aki and Izumi.

"Roger that," Izumi and Aki said together, but the latter added, "What about those Fort-classes coming?"

Aki's question was answered by a crimson beam shooting across the sky, downing the one nearest to their location.

"Lelouch can hit them easily from here," Yui replied.

The Fort-class in the distance, while a danger, was in Lelouch's ability to manage and to deal with them. Not just by his Gundam's main weapon, their towering height made them easy targets for his Beam Magnum. And the switching between the low and high settings of the Izanami Gundam's Variable Speed Beam Rifles, enabled Lelouch to continue killing many BETA, even hiding behind buildings offered them no safety as a high penetration shot demolished any barriers, like buildings, they tried to use.

Meanwhile Shimako and the damaged TSF helping her defend Lelouch and the Supply Containers were fending off some Tank-classes that had managed to get around Yui and the others. Lelouch's earlier efforts had lessened their numbers, but they were a potential danger especially since Lelouch was dealing with the oncoming Fort-classes.

Yui asked me to defend Lelouch and our supplies, I cannot let her down, Shimako thought.

Among her friends, Shimako had known Yui the longest, having known each other since small children due to her family being good friends with Yui's father. They have since gone to the same schools together and have been friends ever since, although Shimako felt something different that went beyond being friends. The kind her family would never approve of. Even so, Shimako was determined to follow Yui wherever she went and support her without being a burden.

Furthermore she did owe Lelouch for saving her life and Yui trusted him, so that gave her even more reasons to defend this area.

Yet…

Why does Yui trust him so much? I've known her for ages, but she never mentioned him, and I don't recall any point in which she could've gone long enough for weapon testing, Shimako thought.

Shimako suspected Yui wasn't being completely honest, but knew well enough she would never lie which meant she must have a good reason to hide the truth.

They were questions that would have to wait until after the battle, giving her another reason to survive and not let Yui down.

"Shimako you got more Tank-classes incoming from the southwest," Lelouch warned, as he spared a Beam Magnum shot to cut down the incoming horde as much as he could.

Most were vaporized, but some scattered remnants of the hundred-strong horde managed to survive and continued charging at Shimako and Lelouch's position.

"Lelouch, focus on helping support Yui and the others, I can handle this," Shimako said, steeling herself.

"Very well," Lelouch said, he had his doubts, but the A-10s had managed to resupply and were clearing out the invading Tank-class, though if those Fort-classes got too close they could be a problem serious enough to undermine that effort.

I am not going to panic, not again. I will not, Shimako thought, gripping the control sticks of her TSF. I will not be a burden to Yui!

Aiming her assault rifle, Shimako opened fire, cutting down the scattered Tank-class BETA. She was joined by the other damaged TSF units, aiding her in eliminating the stragglers. More were still coming, but they were far enough away that Shimako could pick them off from a distance, the zoom features were wonders that made her grateful she snatched up the rifle when she found it.

"Kyoto Station has been reclaimed!" a jubilant voice abruptly reported over the radio, but most didn't catch it as they struggled to hold off the onslaught of BETA..

Some Tank-class were able to close the distance and get under the shield. Shimako attacked them, holstering her rifle and drawing her TSF's Type-65 PB Knife. The damaged TSFs opened fire while Shimako didn't allow her fear to get the better of her. She attacked using the knife, cutting apart any Tank-classes that got too close. Using the secondary-arm attachments of her machine, dubbed the Mount Pylon system, using both her assault rifle and her support weapon, the Type-87 Support Assault Cannon, to fire upon the Tank-classes, an idea Shimako got from observing the damaged TSFs using the sub-arms in place of their missing arms.

"Stay back," Shimako snapped, determined not to fail.

She impaled one leaping Tank-class on her combat knife, while the rest she was gunning them down with the rifles attached to her sub-arms. With a battle cry to push herself forward and power through her fear, Shimako began pushing back the BETA, leaving Tank-classes dead, but thankfully she was keeping them at a safe distance.

Lelouch breathed a sigh of relief. He worried that he was going to have to intervene, but Shimako proved he had nothing to worry about despite her earlier panic.

"We got her covered," one of the A-10s signaled Lelouch as the pair deployed their famed CIDS-1 Javelin System and Lelouch had to admit, that was a clever idea.

We just need to hold out, Lelouch thought.

The situation improved as Lelouch looked up to see what was above him as the Gundam detected a team of UN-affiliated F-16 Falcons belonging to Orbital Divers come in to land on their position even as a company of surviving vehicles and two Shiranuis arrived to join their defenses as well.

More reinforcements and survivors, Lelouch thought with some surprise. But will it be enough to last?

---

Watching the battle unfold as Lelouch and Yui made a stand to hold the line, Claude was amused by their struggle, but also impressed by the fact not only did they keep Izumi, Aki, Shimako and Kazusa alive, but they managed to keep the rest of the squad alive. Claude was sitting in a movie theater style room with a bucket of popcorn while lazily reclining in a plush pink seat.

"You two are doing so much better than I thought, but then again she has the Man of Miracles with her. Even if he hasn't become Zero, Lelouch has the touch especially in the right conditions," Claude said before eating a handful of popcorn.

She smiled wondering what would happen next.

---

Time passed with Aki and Izumi returned to resupply once Sayuri and Kasumi had finished their third and returned to rejoin Yui. As they did Lelouch noticed the sun beginning to rise. What Lelouch didn't know and what Aki and Izumi were discovering was that they were out of supplies. The containers were depleted of ammunition and fuel.

A situation made worse as other survivors wandered in or arrived to join them. Several more drops of resupply had happened through the night, but there had been nothing for a while now. Same with reinforcements as they were no longer getting anymore and Starbase-Six reported they had to withdraw to resupply themselves.

They had gotten a brief support from some American Rocket Batteries, but they had to withdraw to resupply as well. There was just too much demand and not enough ammo to go around it seemed.

"We made it through the night, but I don't think we can hold out any longer," Aki said, wondering if she should break the news before Izumi does.

It's morning I can't believe we made it through the night, Lelouch said surprised.

Looking around Lelouch sees BETA corpse piles around him and near where Yui was. In fact the corpse piles had grown so high she and the others had to pull back. Like him, Kazusa was surprised they had held out, but she knew their survival was thanks to the machines Lelouch and Yui had been piloting.

It only made her want to know the truth behind those machines and what Yui was hiding.

Suddenly her thoughts were interrupted by lasers hitting the Izanami Gundam's expanded I-field, causing Lelouch and Kazusa to call out to Yui and the others.

"Everyone pull back we got Laser-class on the hills," Lelouch and Kazusa shouted.

Yui reacted immediately as did Sayuri and Kasumi who followed suit. Using her beam shield, Yui deflected their shots while protecting her fellow squad mates. Izumi and Aki stayed within the I-field of Lelouch's Gundam, providing cover fire as they retreated.

"Crap! Everyone pull back!" one of the UN pilots shouted suddenly and Lelouch saw BETA advancing over the Orbital Divers' position before the Wadatsumis forced them back with devastating point blank fire.

But even so, the Laser-class in the hills made completely reclaiming the position impossible. Or even feasible.

In response Lelouch turned the Izanami Gundam to face the Laser-class on the hill, having already figured out their locations. He fired Beam Mangum, and they were just within effective range allowing Lelouch to eliminate them.

But this presented a problem.

If Laser-class BETA have taken the hills, then the rest of the swarm has likely begun trying to surround us, Lelouch thought, realizing it was no longer safe to hold this position.

But before Lelouch could recommend they retreat before they were surrounded, explosions erupted on the hills south and north of them. Another chain of explosions ravaged the advancing BETA, and they were followed by a new voice on the communications line.

"I apologize for returning late, but I brought reinforcements," Kyoko Takatsukasa said, arriving from the north towards their position.

She wasn't alone, following behind her were ten Type-77/F-4J Gekishin, the standard TSF used by the Imperial Army with limbs slightly bulkier than the Zuikaku. Kyoko's TSF, assuming she was piloting the lead machine, was blue making it stand out. The Type-98XR Takemikazuchi, Tactical Surface Fighter, painted blue as a symbol of belonging from one of the Five Regent Families. The Takemikazuchi was similar to the Shiranui, but with a more streamlined and advanced design.

Explosions continued erupting on the battlefield as Lelouch realized they were artillery strikes raining down on the BETA to halt their advance. Behind them, Lelouch saw more TSFs showing up, a mix of Gekishin, Zuikaku and Shiranui units with further units advancing on their flanks.

They immediately took the place of Yui and Lelouch's group as they took up positions to halt the BETA advance. Meanwhile the blue Takemikazuchi approached them, as the face of a young woman in her late teens or early twenties appeared on the screens in White Fang Squad's cockpits. She had long blue hair tied into a bun with blue eyes and wearing the same kind of flight suit as Izumi and the others, but hers was blue and black.

"I must apologize for my late arrival, but I must also offer my sincerest gratitude. I confess I was worried this defense line would've collapsed, but you managed to hold it throughout the night." Kyoko said, before letting her serious expression soften to one of relief and gratitude. "As a member of the Five Regent Houses, and representing the Shogun on her behalf, I commend your bravery and efforts, well done."

"Thank you, ma'am you are too kind," Yui said, while the rest of the group, which Lelouch followed along with to avoid offending her and causing unwanted trouble, bowed their heads in respect.

"Thanks to those I managed to find and bring to safety, and the time you brought us. We were able to mobilize and gather forces to reinforce this defense line," Kyoko said before her relief turned to one of regret. "I would've joined you, but I had heard the defense line was collapsing so I took those I found to a defense line further back. But when I heard from the wounded soldiers sent back from this defense line you have been holding it, I convinced the Shogun to let me mobilize reinforcements to provide support."

"Thank you, but what happens now?" Yui asked even as a pair of American F-16s skated by, above her head while helicopters began to land to recover any wounded and those without transportation to head for the rear.

"You lot have fought all night and accomplished more than what a battalion of TSFs couldn't. We can secure this defense line for now while the BETA regroup to resume their advance," Kyoko said, eying the heavily reinforced position as survivors from defeated units had streamed in to help bolster its defenses. "I would like you all to accompany me back to base, we have much to talk about."

Even as she said that, more Supply Containers and Orbital Divers arrived overhead. Additionally, more vehicles and conventional troops arrived. Along with Power Armored soldiers as well.

They began relieving the defenders, all of whom praised the White Fang Squadron and the two new machines for enabling them to survive the night.

To the surprise of various commanders, they learned that not one ally had been wounded or killed since White Fang had arrived at the FOB. Instead, they held the defense line without a break all night long. They even managed to protect those who had managed to break through the BETA to reach them.

Even civilians that hadn't evacuated had arrived and were now being loaded into trucks to carry them to safety. Not one of them had died. They all had made it despite the impossibility of it.

It truly was… a miracle.

One that people would come to call the Miracle of Kyoto.

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A/N: Whew the Battle for Kyoto is over, for now, and Yui and Lelouch succeeded in ensuring Shimako, Izumi, Kazusa and Aki survived the battle. Tragically the loss of Kaori was unavoidable. Its not that I wasn't against her surviving, it was debated between me and silkdreamweaver, and we ultimately concluded it would be best for Lelouch's plan to suffer one failure in that Kaori dies, but Lelouch would have to mercy kill her with Kazusa's help, something he won't forget easily I can assure you. It might not affect him much now, but you'll be seeing the signs.

But does this mean Lelouch will begin on going from world to world with Yui, well not yet.

Remember Japan in Muv Luv was badly devastated by the BETA, for those who hadn't played the game or watch the anime by the following month after the invasion was a staggering 36 million. Much of which was due to the navy being impeded by a hurricane and storms around the time of the invasion and evacuations from Kyushu, and while the Japanese had adequate equipment they lacked a solid defense strategy following the loss of Kyushu. The novel surrounding events even hint at signs of complacency among the people of Japan, while they had defenses ready at Kyushu the seemingly lack to take the threat of the BETA serious reflected in the general public. But not to be unfair to the Japanese, the USA, despite their alliance were hesitant to commit forces for head on assaults against the BETA, engagements the American military avoided and clashes on finding an agreeable strategy didn't help things. The Japanese high command withholding news on falling defense lines for the sake of keeping morale at the cost of lives didn't help matters as shown in the chapter.

Which is why, or part of it the early story is spend in sixteen chapters in the world of Muv Luv, Lelouch has to be sure his sponsors in Japan can hold out without loosing anymore ground to the BETA and the reason for events in the next chapter, to ensure Lelouch wouldn't be tied down in Japan fighting the BETA for the whole story.

Before anything else let me get those who reviewed the story, but I couldn't reply to them.

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Jay: Thank you, and yeah from what I've gathered about Lelouch's time in Japan before the invasion and how the sound dramas showed him wanting to be self-sufficient, so I imagine he likely learned from Japanese to talk to people out of necessity when going to the store on his own as one such sound drama episode showed.

Thanks I thought so as well, while Lelouch does want revenge he is smart enough to know he needs to be patient and bid his time given the enemy he wants to take down. In this way the BETA are similar, controlling most of the world and a leader behind them. Getting to said leader will take time, so Lelouch was indeed the best person to calm Izumi and get her head back in the battle, but future chapters will show she has taken his words to heart. I mean there is a reason too she could work as a harem member I figured.

Samurai seven (review 1 and 2): Yes, or at least the weapons Yui's Gundam uses as it was meant to have both beam weapons and kinetic weapons, and given IBO is involved, I think that covers the reason why.

Yeah, I am thinking of building Yui into an anti-Suzaku of sorts, but as for Claude she is actually a character from the Visual Novel game Sunrider that can be found on Steam, I believe the first game should be free for anyone curious because that series will be making its appearance soon.

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Now due to me changing the age of Lelouch, I did decide to reset the poll which I did use the chance to cut out those who were under performing among the Muv Luv candidates while adding in Martica Barchenowa (who only appeared in the light novel and was cut out of the anime) in response to people asking I include Cryska Barchenowa, which I wasn't expecting and I was planning to pair with Yuuna Bridges, although I did reconsider this I opted instead, at the suggestion to another after some discussion, to use Martica instead who is Cryska's twin sister and who was never paired with anyone...so.

I will say the only reason I considered it was because outside of Yui Takamura, Shimako Kai and Kazusa Yamashiro the rest of the harem hasn't been worked out for Lelouch. Part of this is intentional on my part, because given the other candidates, not just from Muv Luv alone, you got Gundam and other anime series I need to consider. So my plan was to have them interact with Lelouch and see which of them had the best chemistry.

Because remember I am putting a hard limit on the harem for a total of nine for Lelouch, meaning with Yui, Shimako and Kazusa in it, there is only room for six more candidates. So I got to figure who out of the potential one hundred potential candidates for Lelouch's harem who will be the very best candidates who can offer the most for the story and Lelouch's relationship with them, etc.

Which is why I hadn't put in Cryska into the harem by default or Martica for that matter. Because I do admit the Cryska and Yuuna pairing is a good one, and Lelouch might potentially end up with Stella or Cui so I am trying not to take too much away from him or Takeru for that matter. And I am not against Cryska and Lelouch ending up together if I can be convinced it will be better than any of the other possible pairings I am still deliberating on.

I am also trying to avoid being unfair to the other anime series involved in this story yet to appear by not stuffing Lelouch's harem with Muv Luv characters, but due to the state of their world and the characters I do admit I could work them into a polygamous relationship with Lelouch easily as well as possibly those from Infinite Stratos and Undefeated Bahmaut Chronicles.

BUT it still boils down to the question who would fit with Lelouch the best out of all of the candidates who could work? But with the ages for Lelouch and other being uped I am exploring ways on narrowing down the field of candidates so here are the direct links, just reassemble the links and replace the dots, to the polls. I've broken up the candidates into three separate polls to try and make it easier to vote. The goal is to narrow it down to a smaller candidate pool, like I did with the Gundam candidates with Redrat8's help, since not many Gundam characters are likely to be open to a polygamous relationship.

Muv Luv candidates:

www dot fanfiction dot net/topic/91656/173939581/58/Crossover-Chitchat-Corner

Everyone Else (Sunrider, Code Geass, Infinite Stratos, etc)

www dot fanfiction dot net/topic/91656/185850414/1/Super-Robot-Wars-Wars-of-the-Kings-story

Gundam candidate poll:

Its on my profile page.

Remember characters winning the poll don't win a spot in the harem automatically, it just means they'll be given a fair shot at Lelouch to determine if they can earn a spot. After all they have to be A: ok with a polygamous relationship since Yui, Shimako and Kazusa will be romantically involved with Lelouch before anyone else can join the harem. B: How they would meet (this applies to some characters who are part of nations and other worlds outside of Code Geass and Muv Luv chapter), and if they could stay with Lelouch's group. C: (most important) what can they bring to the relationship and the story by being part of the harem?

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Ok that is enough of this author note for me, I hope you enjoyed the chapter and coming up next Lelouch is going to meet his new instructor to give him some extra training and potentially a new squad he will lead. Yui will be his main companion, but the ship will need more than two Gundams to provide protection.

Thanks for reading the story so far. Next chapter in two weeks on Fanfiction, Archive of Our Own, Questionable Questing and Spacebattles.