Throne of Glass
Part Two: To Wage a War
Summer's been hot as hell man.
I hate working outside sometimes.
Chapter 30: The end of the Game
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New Dehli, India; 2017 ATB
As the G1 rumbled across the empty roadways on the outskirts of the city, Cornelia took in the sights of her last quarry. It was certainly a more prosperous city than what she had witnessed beforehand, as much as a nation oppressed by its own government could be. Among the three superpowers of the world, the Chinese Federation was far and above the most tyrannical to its own citizens. The High Eunuchs treated their common people the same as the empire did its number populace. Really, it was no surprise these people wanted to break free from the Federation. Unfortunately, that wasn't in the cards for them. They may have prepared a substantial supply of weapons and knightmares, but it would never be enough to deal with the combined might of the Britannian Empire and the Chinese Federation. Even with the help of the Black Knights, it was a futile attempt.
That was the one part of all this that made the general uneasy. For too long she had enjoyed the overwhelming superiority knightmares provided. She had faced foes who could never hope to match quality or quantity. Gefjun technology, the Templars, and the godforsaken Megumi were all part of a rude awakening. She had grown complacent, and the empire's foes were fast surpassing her own strength. It was all the more terrifying to think it was a group of rebels hiding away under their nose that had gotten as far, not the EU or the Federation who developed such powerful weapons. How they managed it, she had no idea, nor why they would bring them here. But she had a strong feeling she would find out soon enough, in Area Eleven.
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Cornelia's forces were visible on the horizon once again, having chased her all the way here. That was what Kaguya wanted of course. This would be the final battle, and they would leave India to their fate. It still left a bitter taste in her mouth, having been the one to lead India's forces in a hopeless attempt to fend against insurmountable odds on all sides. All this time, they believed her orders to have come from their own government, the man Lelouch eliminated before this all began. Soon enough, they would learn their leader had been dead for a while now, that their military force and resources were completely exhausted. And their nation divided in half by two superpowers, neither side having a better outcome than the other. There was a reason for it all, no matter how it ate at her. At one time she'd have made the justification that it was her people who benefited from the fate that would befall this country. But now she could no longer say to herself that was the reason.
This was what Lelouch wanted, and that was enough.
Kaguya placed a hand upon the white mask in front of her. It made her indescribably happy that she alone was given the privilege of sharing his likeness. True her time as Megumi was to be brief, but she relished in the trust he showed her. Out of all the powerful and influential allies Lelouch had acquired, he chose her. No one else could be relied upon to stave off both the Chinese Federation and the witch of Britannia. Though it was only now that she was separated for so long that she realized how badly she needed to be with Lelouch.
Absence makes the heart grow fonder, she supposed.
Kaguya had no more reservations on her feelings however, no matter how outrageous the very notion was. That she, Kaguya Sumeragi, the princess of Japan in all but name, would forsake her duty to her nation, her people and her culture for one man. She was in love with Lelouch, of that she was absolutely certain. She might have felt what she had done to be deplorable, but at last she knew why she had done it anyway. She would stand beside Lelouch no matter what, and help him in any way she could, as only she could; as he took the world for his own. Kaguya was his Goddess of Victory. And he was everything to her.
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Pendragon, Britannia; 2017 ATB
Schneizel read through the report he was just given with avid interest. It seemed the game in India was soon to be coming to an end. He was surprised to see Allen Ashford had so brazenly saddled up to Cornelia through Euphy, and to such shocking success. The young lord was one of few, no perhaps the only noble to truly earn his sister's favor. In such a short time, he had become one of Britannia's most influential figures, completely on his own terms. Even now. Schneizel could not understand what it was the boy was after. Were it as simple as power, wealth or prestige, it would be far easier to bring him to heel. But many of Allen's actions seemed to serve another purpose, or even harmed such base motivations of greed. It was clear he was after something, and had scaled staggering heights to reach it. But what he wanted was unclear, and all that Schneizel truly could make of it, was an understanding that Allen could not be controlled. And to Schneizel, that made him a threat that needed to be dealt with. Area Eleven was one of a select few places outside his realm of control. Its volatility led him to keep his hand out of its affairs lest he get burned trying to manage it. That's why he left its fate in the hands of Clovis, while keeping a close eye on his half-brother. That being said, he would have to do something about Ashford before he returned to Area Eleven. Especially now, with how things were progressing, it would be nearly impossible to reach him there. What to do however, was yet to be decided.
"So it seems Cornelia will be closing that campaign in India soon won't she?" Kanon commented as he returned to the prince's side.
"Indeed. It wasn't a particularly long effort, but directly after her time in Africa I'd imagine she would be eager to finally wrap that up. And with the threat of Zero still looming in the shadows it seems she won't be allowed even a moment's rest."
"Three campaigns in succession certainly is more than she has ever been required of, but there is no choice is there?" His assistant said.
"There simply is not another general as reliable as Cornelia. Something as delicate as Area Eleven must be handled by her. We haven't produced many competent leaders in some time, not at all in fact." The prime minister frowned as he reminded himself of the far more pressing concern, one he himself hadn't been able to ignore, unlike his father.
"This nation is in decline." He muttered. "From our numbers, common citizens and the nobility alike. We cannot allow this to continue, or else…"
But that was what he was working toward all this time, after all.
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New Dehli, India; 2017 ATB
A single blemish stood against the clear blue sky above the battle raging below. As all of Britannia's might converged upon the greatest city of India, a paltry icon of a nation choked by its own allies. Soon however, the slums surrounding what little opulence the country possessed would all be wiped away, replaced by the imposing megastructure of a Britannian settlement capital. Heavy supportive fire rained mercilessly from the defenses within New Dehli, including many gefjun installations Cornelia had not seen since the were first encountered. Though Ashford had succeeded in making a rudimentary countermeasure, it was not a widespread modification. Thus they were still brutally effective against many of her forces. Far more Templars were present here than she had ever seen as well, nearly as numerous as the older frames supporting them. As terrifying as they were, nothing was as devastating to her advance as the ever present Megumi, still directing her enemies in a flawless defense.
For the first time in her life, the shadow of doubt crept over her as she wondered if this was a battle she could win. Pressing into the slums may have offered reprieve from artillery fire, but it was the exact scenario in which the Megumi was the most effective.
"Your highness, additional forces have appeared at point three, our line cannot sustain the enemy advance." Darlton warned her. Cornelia frowned as she examined the field map, observing how precarious her position was.
"Reinforce them with units fourteen and nineteen, we have to hold that position until we can break their line." Megumi knew exactly where her weakest link was, and had attempted to crush it in a swift counterattack. Currently, the only unit that had been making progress was the Ashford's Lancelot. This was turning out to be far more difficult than she could have imagined. At best, all she could hope for was a pyrrhic victory that would cost far too much.
"Guilford, it's time I joined the battle." She said as she stood. "Our men are in desperate need of a morale boost."
"Of course, milady." Her knight replied with a bow.
"Lord Ashford, can I trust the G1 to you?" She asked. As demanding as this battle was, she was the only commander not fielded. Deploying to join the frontline would leave her command without a leader.
"It would be my honor." The blonde noble nodded.
"Very good. Come, Guilford." She said as she immediately departed for the hangar. She would not allow that woman to beat her here.
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Lelouch analyzed the pieces on the board with great interest. He was pleasantly surprised to see Cornelia having as difficult a time as she was.
"She's having a hard time out there, isn't she?" Euphemia commented as she made sense of the map.
"That's right. Even though the general has a significant numerical advantage there is a much bigger factor at play." He told her. "For seven years Britannia has taken full advantage of its overwhelming technological superiority. Now for the first time, her enemy has not only leveled the playing field, but flipped the tables in a decisive advantage."
Gefjun technology, the templars, command frames and the SAGE system; these were only the tip of the iceberg. Britannia held so much confidence their enemies would never hope to match their military might, and under normal circumstances they would be correct. But it was him they were dealing with.
"Princess Cornelia, a unit of Templars appears to be approaching you from the east, they will be in your position in two minutes." Lelouch told Cornelia. He did have a job to do, and he didn't want her to die here, after all.
"I would assume as much. Don't worry about me."
He grinned a little at her tenacity. Cornelia was not one to cower at any odds. Looking over the rest of the map once again, he decided to have a little fun at Britannia's expense. "Unit six, please move back to point twelve and hold for an ambush." He ordered.
"Uh, yes my lord!" Though they hesitated a moment, the Knights obeyed his command.
Let's see how you handle this, Kaguya.
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Finally utilizing every asset she had brought with her in one final battle, Kaguya was thoroughly enjoying tormenting Cornelia across the entire battlefield. Though it came as a surprise that she actually managed to fend off the Templar squad that engaged her directly without too much trouble. She supposed the prior experiences the princess gained against the superior frames significantly improved her chances against them. That said, it wasn't like Kaguya wanted to actually kill her, just toy with her enough that she genuinely struggled to win.
"What's this?" She muttered. As one of her units was on route to flank an enemy knightmare squad, they were intercepted and beaten by a hidden armor group. And moments later, chaos mines took out another pursuing retreating foes. It was as if someone was anticipating SAGE'S directions, someone who understood its weakness.
She pouted as the answer came to her. "Honestly Lelouch, is this really the time for this?"
As more of her forces kept falling to clever tricks she sighed in exasperation. "Fine then, I accept your challenge."
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Soon enough, the movements made by India's forces and the Templars began to change. SAGE suggested the most optimal tactics based on the information it was given. That made it easy to guess what it thought as long as you yourself were able to make the same decision. Of course, not everyone was as strategically competent as that. Moreso though, SAGE's most glaring problem was that it could not identify enemy units that didn't utilize sakuradite. Infantry, tanks, and other vehicles were practically invisible, like they should be in ordinary circumstances. He developed SAGE knowing however, that such a weakness would be negligible in the face of Britannia's modus operandi. The empire relied so heavily upon knightmares and the sakuradite that powered them, that what little conventional weapons still left were rarely used effectively if at all. In any other situation, that was the best option after all.
He could easily turn things around for Britannia if Kaguya did nothing to stop his unconventional tactics. Though at the end of the day, she wouldn't be able to hold them off forever. He could still crush what she had if she did nothing about it.
Still, it seemed that she was trying to maintain her defense a while longer still. As soon as her line broke, she was to retreat and return to Japan. He didn't want to lose any valuable assets, or more importantly, the devicers piloting the Templars. Nearly all his most elite pilots were present here, to ensure they had real combat experience while the opportunity was available. They were no longer pressed for time, this was now more for appearances sake, than anything else.
"Sorry I'm late, your highness!" A new voice spoke out.
Lelouch watched as a new IFF entered the field. It appeared that Nonette had finally joined the battle. It wouldn't be much cause for concern, except…it was moving far too quickly, cutting right through the battle.
"I've brought a new toy with me, straight from Camelot." The knight proclaimed. "I'm sure you'll find it worth the wait!"
The knight of nine was flying.
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Without warning, something collided with the Megumi, knocking the knightmare from its place above the city. Kaguya cried out as she struggled to gain control of her frame.
"Hello there little Goddess." She heard, the image of another knightmare filling her vision as it continued to push her away from the fight. "Aren't you going to smite me for such a blasmephous act?"
Kaguya sneered at the offending thing before her, trying in vain to break away from the knight. "You Bitch!"
"No? That's a shame. Maybe you aren't a real goddess after all."
An MVS was embedded in Megumi's right arm as she brought it up to defend against Nonette's attack. She was not meant for this kind of combat, no one was supposed to be able to confront her directly like this. "How dare you." She snarled.
The Knight of Nine laughed. "Where did all that arrogance go, don't tell me you can't fight back like this?"
The painful truth was that she really couldn't. Panicking, Kaguya did the only thing she could to escape. A sinister red glow began to emit from the Megumi's chest. Sensing the danger, Nonette backed away just before the red arc of a hadron cannon burst forth where she had once been.
Using the window she bought, Kaguya immediately turned and fled from the other knightmare. This wasn't a battle she could win. As humiliating as it was, it wasn't worth it to stay and fight this battle.
"I won't let you get away with this." She growled as she sped at full speed away from New Dehli and the second knightmare flying above it.
"All Templar units, full retreat. We're returning home."
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"Hey Ashford, should I chase her?"
Lelouch watched the exchange in mute horror. He had no idea Camelot had successfully constructed a float system, and without him knowing of it at all. That failure had nearly been catastrophic. Silently, he urged Kaguya to flee, knowing full well she had no chance in close combat like that, it wasn't what she was meant for. Seeing that she had managed to escape, he felt a great deal of tension leave him. If he had lost Kaguya, over such a negligent mistake…
"Hey, Allen!"
"N-no!" He stammered out. "Without the Megumi their defenses will fall apart. This battle is now as good as won."
He narrowed his eyes in a cold fury. "Excellent work, Lady Enneagram."
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Mount Fuji, Area Eleven; 2017 ATB
When did his life fall so completely out of his control? Seven years ago Britannia invaded this land, wresting it from its people and stripping them of everything they possessed. He understood, back then, that his people were going to fight tooth and nail to their last breath.
Then Genbu Kururugi died, and everything changed.
Lelouch vi Britannia. Several years ago he made a deal with that young prince in a bet for the future of Japan. Tatawaki Katase also signed that contract, and the devil came to collect. He was no fool, he understood well what kind of person Lelouch was. He knew the consequences, and saw through the lies the boy presented him with back then. He imagined Katase did as well, and the price he would pay. Lelouch's Japan was not going to be the one he grew up in. But it was one that could survive in the world that had grown, while they remained transfixed maintaining their pride. The birth of that new Japan was nearly at hand, he just wished he would be able to see it.
"I know you are there." He called out to nobody. "There is no reason to remain hiding."
After a few seconds of silence, footsteps echoed as the other person approached him. He knew who she was: the Shinobu utterly devoted to Lelouch. And he knew why she was here.
"Kirihara-sama." Sayoko Shinozaki bowed to him. "I have come on behalf of master Lelouch."
"I know. I was expecting you." He told her. Katase was gone. And Kirihara was no longer needed either.
"I believe you may be mistaken, Kirihara-sama. I have not been ordered to take your life." The ninja revealed.
The old man raised an eyebrow. Surely that was a lie.
"I have come to tell you however, that the other members of what was once Kyoto have been dealt with as you might have imagined."
He closed his eyes, letting out a heavy breath. "I see. But why then am I to be spared?"
"Master Lelouch made a promise to you, did he not?" She answered. Kirihara raised an eyebrow.
"Sakuradite is Japan's most vital resource. The importance of that will only be compounded in the coming future." Sayoko explained. "No one knows Fuji better than you do."
"So I still have a use after all?" He mused. The others were more of a hindrance, so they were purged as well. He didn't need to concern himself over Kaguya either, she was as loyal to the prince as the woman before him.
"It is my personal belief that master Lelouch acknowledges your understanding of the necessity of what he has done." She added. "Your patience, and your faith. will soon be rewarded, Kirihara-sama. Yours, and all the Japanese people."
With that, the Shinobi departed into the shadows, and Kirihara was alone once more.
He felt oddly free. It wasn't just the release of his impending death sentence however. He had sacrificed much for this country, over many long years, and endured much. Now he could simply sit back and bear witness to the beginning of a new era.
The road ahead was to be difficult. But he had every confidence they would endure that as well.
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I'm gonna try to go back to a chapter a month. We had a lot of work over summer, but it's starting to slow down a bit. Chapter 30 is the official halfway point of the series, I was pretty hyped about that. Can't wait for the next couple.