Chapter IV
Welcome, Area 5!
6th of August, 1972
Being an emperor was interesting and easy…only in the beginning. Current, 96th Emperor Bradwick rei Britannia knew it quite well. Truth be told, this phrase was absolutely wrong. Even before one could become an emperor, he should learn how difficult the position is. But those, who know nothing about it, should never be let to the throne.
Bradwick never expected this burden to fall on him, as during his father`s reign he was only a minister of Agriculture. Surprisingly, his success in lowering imports of foreign products and growing exports to South America and other mini-states got the Empire out of recession it suffered throughout 1940`s post Pacific War. It was advertised as an economic miracle, and he got a lot of clout for the crown to fall on his head when his father suddenly passed away.
In reality, he made a lot of promises for the big corporations on car market to mechanize agriculture, and sometimes he wondered whether that and his father`s utter reject for some modernization in both the economy and army led him to get a suspiciously undercooked fugu fish during a banket.
Either way, he was about to meet his grandson, who had miraculously survived assassination of his father. He wanted to speak with him earlier, but the spree in deaths of nobles kept him busy on the funerals. Only for yesterday he visited funerals for Duke of New York and of his wife, who officially suffered an accident, during which they were burned alive during fishing trip on Lake Ontario. And this is the second Duke of New York, to suffer this way in a span of 5 years! He didn`t quite understand how they managed to die in this way, but the amount of work on his table never ceased for him to wish not to investigate such cases.
Ruling this empire was chaotic, and his son`s death was yet to be fully investigated!
"Announcing, 21st in line for the Imperial Throne, Prince Charles zi Britannia!" The guard spoke, opening the door to let the young prince inside.
While Charles was young again, his determination never disappeared. In his 17 years of age, he was one of the most prominent members of the Royal Family.
Sole remaining member of First Prince`s royal bloodline, with all of them dying one day in their manor because of unknown terrorists attacking them, Charles held fast against any kind of threat in court. He was not the type to not respond to the attack, and all of his retaliations were deadly. Nobody could confirm that he was behind deaths of some conservative nobles in court, who tried to push him out of power completely without any hint of subtlety. Sometimes, he himself launched attacks on some powerful opponents, and he`s yet to suffer defeat from them. One day, Bradwick learned from his Secret Service the number of attempts at his grandson`s life in the last year, and he was nothing but shocked.
Coincidentally, his subtle tactics were silent and effective. Right now, he is sponsoring rival to Duke of Texas`s oil company, which was unable to compete with duke`s company before getting his patronage. Now, no kind of government institution ever tried to make a move against them, and their business is booming.
That`s not to say that there are a lot of rumors about his possible marriage with daughters of rising noble families, who had gotten their hands on some of the most important spheres of economy or society. Right now, there are at least two possible candidates that he`s aware of: Gabrielle Landon and Flora Morgan.
The doors opened, revealing the subject of this recent gossip.
"Your Majesty"
"Sit, Charles. Now, what was it, that my grandson wished of me?" Bradwick tried to analyze him from his posture or body movements, but failed. Nothing betrayed his true thoughts.
"I`m asking to be given Viceroyalty of Area 5." He gestured to the map of the Empire, hung on the wall.
"Oh, the one in South America? Though the local Viceroy has passed away, the Area itself isn`t that much popular. Why do you ask a boon for…it?"
"I`d like some fresh air over there," he shrugged, "being in the Imperial Court among vipers isn`t the best experience I`ve had. And, this Area is enough challenging for me to be interested in ruling over it."
It was true, Area 5 was one of the most unstable Areas in the Empire. Relatively recently conquered, with major tensions between local population, surrounding tribes and Britannian Administration left a lot to desire for a governor.
Oh, and the fact that cutthroat politics in the Imperial Court left the Area mostly uninteresting for Pendragon to really invest in it.
Not many tried to compete over controlling this Area, mostly fighting for the influence within Area 1, 2, 3 or in Homeland. And, realistically, local governor was disgruntled about the situation, so Charles`s proposal wasn`t that bad to think about.
"I see. Wish granted; you will depart in three days. Remember your duties."
He nodded, "Yes. To expand Britannian influence, to strengthen the regime and not to fail. I won`t fall short of your expectations."
The doors opened, letting Charles from the room. Bradwick stared at the doors as Charles left. 'If only everybody was as direct and not disloyal as you, my grandson.'
"Did everything go well?" Charles glanced to V.V.`s voice, with him appearing on his right. His brother didn`t age a day for 6 years. "Yes, V.V., it did."
"Area 5 isn`t that good at the first glance, however ruling it gives complete freedom of movement, as well as access to the second Thought Elevator under Britannia," V.V. mused. "My Geass research continues, and we do need a lot more elevators for the plan to proceed."
Charles grinned. "You slightly misunderstood, V.V. The point of taking Area 5 doesn`t rely only within its freedom. The point is with the number of weak neighbors around it. There is no better way to get more power than by directly conquering it off somebody."
"It is a hard challenge, brother. You sure you won`t have difficulties in it?"
"I won`t, V.V. At the very least, I contacted Lord Waldstein, he will be arriving shortly after me, bringing 3 mechanized divisions with 2 wings of A-10`s. Aside from that, you will get some land and equipment for furthering your research. There`s no better cover for it than the Amazonas."
It also will give Charles more control over his brother`s actions and will help him to get enough influence to subdue him if anything goes badly. Or, at least, he hoped for it, as his regained Geass could help him get a lot of agents into the future Directorate.
"Oh, it`s wonderful!" V.V. exclaimed. "With it, we will be one step closer to our dream!"
The two of them strolled in the corridor, passing before countless marble columns and paintings. As they went, Charles greeted a passing lone woman, who had blushed at his voice. The quick discussion quickly caught V.V.`s attention.
"Who is she, brother?" he spoke, with some interest in his voice.
"Gabrielle Landon. Her father is quite influential, so building a good relationship with her is a good idea."
V.V. looked at him suspiciously. "The entire court is filled about gossip about your possible marriage. Don`t let her stray away you from our plan."
"You`re speaking like you`re jealous of her getting any attention, brother." V.V. snapped his mouth shut, letting Charles continue. "Please, she won`t be able to do it. Simple political marriage is a useful instrument nowadays and in the past."
He pouted, but yet had to step down. "I hope you`re correct, Charles. There will be time, when such things won`t be needed, and we will enjoy sincerity in everybody else."
"I`m sure, brother, I`m sure," Charles spoke. In the past he may`ve believed it, but with every word V.V. spoke the less he started to believe his and his own intentions. 'At the very least, that will be so until I meet Marianne again, and you won`t take her away from me, brother.'
9th of August, 1972
Charles glanced away from the documents on his table by his chair. Window on his left was no longer showing the view over the skies of Caribbean, but a concrete landing strip.
Lights on the exit flickered, signaling it was now safe to leave the plane. He approached the door, stopping himself before it. Sighed and mentally prepared to see dozens of nobles, trying to get favors off him, he gestured for the guard to turn the handle on the exit.
Sun shined directly into his eyes, forcing him to cover his vision with his hand. Fresh wind sprung around him.
He opened his eyes. Where everybody was? Where are the nobles, generals, or anybody of such sorts?
"Welcome to Area 5, Your Highness!" Colonel Eric Smith greeted him.
Colonel was a man around in his late twenties, with brown hair and his hair tanned to some degree. His family lived in the Area for three generations, and he was well-acquainted with the countryside. From a few bits of information he got on the Area, Colonel was pretty much in charge since passage of late governor 2 months ago. Yet, he faced a massive backlash from all sorts of people Charles personally grew despised of: petty lords, greedy local corporations and connected to drug traffic nobles.
And yet, the Area 5 he saw was far from what he imagined or remembered.
"What…is this?" He was quite surprised to see the airstrip this much empty when he landed. Charles opened his mouth but couldn`t find any words to say.
Colonel saw his confusion. "Oh, you mean this airbase? Well, we know that Homeland has much more resources and is more important, and they can allow themselves to build enormous bases, but here we don`t. This single airstrip is all we got ever since 1920`s. It`s not like local terrorists have any air units."
"I understand that, but you did not understand my question. Where`s everybody?" He swinged his hands around himself. Only Colonel Smith, four guards, three jeeps and their drivers were present. The conditions of brought cars were also not the best, all from Pacific War period, and some looked as if they even participated in combat on Guadalcanal.
"Everybody?" he asked confused.
"Yes, as in local lords or dukes, where are they?"
"Oh, you`re about them. Well…we don`t have many" Smith shrugged, "and most of them are quite egoistic, they don`t care about anything outside of their holdings."
"Most, if not everybody at the base never saw a true royal in their lives. Being on duty here is deemed as a punishment, to get here you should really fuck up." He opened the door for prince to enter, slowly letting his breath out, trying not to curse this Area more in a dialogue with the new Viceroy, "Even those higher ranks who committed a crime against the Crown, are sent to Falkland Islands or to Area 2, bribing and pleading their way out of here."
"By the way," He slapped a mosquito sitting on his door, "When we`ll get you to the base, you`ll have to get to the medical bay to get anti-malaria vaccines, as the disease is prevalent in the Area. We`ll find you the best translator there is and in a few days of work the Area will be ready for you to command it."
Charles entered the jeep, standing and looking down at the officer. "I expected the situation to be slightly better, but it doesn`t matter. First order of business," he pointed to the airbase, "get those airstrips repaired and expanded. I will bring here some major reinforcements to the Area, so expanding the logistics is top priority.
Secondly, I`ll need a briefing on the overall situation in the Area. Reports from here are scarce and Pendragon usually doesn`t know or care about our forces here."
Smith saluted. "Understood, sir. If you have anything else of us to do – tell us through your secretary. I hope you`ll like it here"
He turned his face away to observe the landscape. Charles mumbled under his breath "I hope so as well, because I don`t feel that I will."
10th of August, 1972
"Viceroy! We`ve begun expanding the airbase, as you ordered!" Smith entered the room, placing his report on the table.
Charles glanced away from his window, from which he could see the entire Bogota Settlement. It had a decent amount of population, and yet it was underdeveloped.
"Good. Prepare everything for quartering my reinforcements. Lord Waldstein will arrive shortly."
He took for himself translators from the Spanish, Portuguese and Mapudungun. His secretary, Winston Blair, a man in his forties, with clear and working mind, sat outside of his cabinet.
V.V. wasn`t in the Area 5 yet. He agreed to come over in a different route, taking a train with research equipment, bypassing Bogota Settlement and going straight to Amazonas. Charles was slightly worried as to what his brother may come up with in such secluded location, but as long as he didn`t threaten Marianne, he wasn't planning on alienating him, thinking of it as 'needless'.
"What about the local insurgencies?"
"Your Highness, most of the Area 5 insurgencies are quite weak. Aside from communists in the port cities, the biggest issue is rampant crime from drug dealers and human-traffickers."
He glanced at him. "Let me guess: police units are also corrupted and close their eyes on this?"
"Sadly, yes," Smith admitted, "I can`t speak ill of the dead, but it was suspected previous governor got his share from it."
Corruption, crime, terrorism, lies. A perfect miniature of what Britannia was before his ascension and what could`ve been fixed by Ragnarok.
Though it could`ve remained as such even after this, Charles couldn`t admit it to himself.
"So, this is how the Area looks like… Colonel, we have a lot to discuss about future of this Area. What I intend to do," Charles drew his knife, pointing it at the map, "is conquering the entire South America, from Area 5 and Amazonas to the Drake Passage."
Smith stood shocked. "Did I hear you correctly, Your Highness? You`re planning on waging wars in this situation?"
"The Area will remain unstable, as long as we do not cleanse it with sword." Charles argued. He knew, that Lelouch would`ve certainly tried to move in a more peaceful way, or even D.S. could try to punish him even further, but he didn`t want to go against himself and what he believed was right. "Moreover, victory here will signal to the entire world that Britannia can be effective and ruthless. That we still value the same things as our predecessors. That the state is still more valuable towards us than any personal interests of those below it. We will show the world our force, cleansing the Area from corruption and expanding Britannia!"
In reality, only some of it was true to Charles. He didn`t believe that he should tell Colonel about his intent on returning back to the throne. If Smith was as good as he thought him to be, he will understand. He wished his power, and he strifed towards it. If he became emperor again, strengthened Britannia again, he would protect Marianne. He wished that V.V. understand his moves, but he was feeling even more jealous than he originally was. Even towards Gabrielle of all people!
Charles lost his trust to original V.V., and now he started to see how this one went in former`s footpaths. He will have to get her safety up, and it drives him to become Emperor even more.
Colonel was undecisive, but he buckled more and more to Charles words. "Pendragon may be tainted with conspiracies, but we, soldiers of Britannia, will strife to make your vision true, Your Highness! We will make Britannia mighty once again!" He rose his fist into the air, in a trademark fashion that Charles used in his speeches.
"Eric Smith, it seems I can find some use for you. From now, I`m appointing you as Chief of Police in the Area 5. Bring me the results in cleansing the police from such elements, and you will gain my full trust."
"It`s an honor, Your Highness," Colonel bowed before Charles. "I won`t fail you."
"Excellent. Rise now, Colonel, for we have an Area to cleanse and Britannia to forge.
A/N: Thanks for the reviews!
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