A/N: Special thanks to Jameyofthemegacosmos, Icysnowsage, Darklord331, silkdreamweaver (chief beta reader and editor) and our Gundam consult and designer Redrat8. Greatkingrat88, and Seerking have also contributed to the development of this story I had begun in-between projects since early last year.
There was a delay in posting this chapter due to F-14 Tomcat Lover making unauthorized adjustments to the chapter without asking me, so his beta privileges' and role in consulting for the story, since he hasn't made any effort to respond or reply to any messages I've PM him even before the email notification issues.
That being said there will be some sections in this chapter that were not beta-ed by Silkdreamweaver, because those were the sections I had to fix, but Jameyofthemegacosmos did do a quick beta over the new sections, so hopefully that amends it all.
This chapter begins with Lelouch's time in boot camp, where he'll meet the first member of his squad to be.
Thanks to everyone who has read, reviewed the chapter and added favorites and follows to it.
Now for the reviews I can't PM a response to.
Guest: I am not familiar with Solo Leveling, while it sounds funny I just don't know enough about that series. But rest assured I could do an omake later where Euphy realizes the kind of forces Lelouch will bring to bear against Britannia much later in this story, and tries to talk her sister and Schneizel into making peace with Zero instead XD.
Jay: Oh that would be funny, and I haven't given up on my Fate/Grand Order and Code Geass story, just stuck on deciding if Astolifo should be killed for his antics in the last chapter.
Samurai seven1: Well Claude could give him that easily, which Lelouch might deny at first. But the prize will be highly advance tech and this would come from a civilization that one ruled a galaxy which had tech that was considered nearly magical and allowed their Emperors to be worshipped as gods before they destroyed themselves and sent the galaxy into a dark age.
Samurai seven2: I don't know what series that comes from, but the betrayal of the Black Knights won't happen here, because as this chapter and the ones to come he's going to have more loyal followers and friends, who Lelouch will have some fire-forged friendships.
Now on with the chapter.
Chapter 6
Making a Man out of you
Following the initial first meeting with Marimo, Lelouch was encouraged to rest thereafter for the whole day. As Lelouch followed the instructions to where he would be staying on the base, he was met by Claude when he entered his new room who was lazily lounging on his bed.
"Not bad, you got your own modest room, a desk, a closet and your own bathroom," Claude commented with a smile.
"Is this some social call?" The fatigue from battle had finally caught up with Lelouch and was beginning to gain on him, so he was in no mood, or condition for that matter, for antics which he was definitely feeling like this woman could, and would, give Milly a run for her money.
"Oh, don't be so serious," Claude said, waving her hand dismissively before leaping off the bed to face Lelouch who was already annoyed with her. "Afterall with everything going on I thought you would like a chance to visit your sister to check in on her."
"How would that work while I obviously have obligations here?"
As much as Lelouch wanted to check on his sister, fearing she would be worried for him, he doubted he could just simply return.
"Normally, this would be difficult for me. But because of how messed up this world has been with all kinds of branching alternate versions connected to it and more, I can bend the rules for you a little letting you return while you would normally sleep here and likewise when you go to sleep at Ashford Academy," Claude said with a devious smile.
"Difficult? That is something that shouldn't be possible?!" Lelouch was flabbergasted.
"You're right it wouldn't be possible normally, but this world's situation is unique enough that I can bend the rules a little. You'll wake up back at Ashford Academy, barely an hour after you left, but you'll feel rested. Just remember to change back into your uniform before you go to sleep again," Claude warned, while Lelouch looked at her with a very doubtful expression.
"It can't be that convenient?" Lelouch deadpanned.
"It wouldn't be normally," Claude admitted, "but since you have this chance I suggest you take full advantage of it. I'll be busy making arrangements so you can be away from Ashford Academy without people raising any questions or causing trouble for your sister so you can focus without any worries," Claude said, trying to sound reassuring.
And boy was that a chore for even her, though, only that. A chore.
Lelouch was even more skeptical than before, but knew Claude possessed some kind of powers and abilities that defied common sense.
As much as he wanted to ask where her powers came from and how they work, every time he and Yui would attempt to inquire, she would steer the discussion to a different and inappropriate subject matter Lelouch didn't want to recall.
She makes Milly's antics look like those of Saint, Lelouch thought.
Lelouch couldn't help, but compare Claude to Milly Ashford, the granddaughter of the academy's headmaster at the school he attended and lived at. Lelouch was well-acquainted with her, and unlike her parents who lived up to everything he resented about the nobility, Milly was very different. Like Claude she was whimsical, devious, but not in a malicious way, and overly cheerful with an appetite for strange parties, costumes and fascinated by the bodies of her more well-endowed friends. Claude was this and more, but with far less restraint than Milly while difficult to get a read on when not flaunting her sex appeal.
"Just like that?"
"Just like that," Claude said, before noticing the skeptical expression Lelouch had. "Don't give me that look, when I say I can do something then you better believe I can do it."
Lelouch wanted to question that, but decided against it.
"Now just lie down and go to sleep," Claude instructed.
"Before I do, I have a question," Lelouch had just enough energy to ask this one question.
"And that is?" Claude raised an eyebrow.
"Yui," Lelouch had run the details through his mind. Something didn't quite add up, until just now, "Is this Yui the one who saw her friends, or did she dream it and you simply made it look like she participated in the battles that killed all of her friends?"
Claude smirked, "I knew you were a good choice," she began, "But the truth is not so simple?"
"Would you care to elaborate then? I may not understand the full mechanics of what you are capable of, but I would like to understand how there isn't two Yuis? The one I trained with in your dimensional space and the one who should've been there when we arrived? You didn't kill her did you?"
Claude merely laughed, "Oh heavens no I simply merged them into one."
"Merged them?"
Claude nodded, "Even if I killed the past Yui that could've caused some problems, so believe it or not the easiest solution was to merge them. Because even if I did kill her in the future Yui would've ceased to exist, the same thing would've happened if I didn't."
"So merging them, however that is possible, was your only option then?" Lelouch said, realizing the mechanics of Claude's manipulations was more complex than he realized.
"Bingo, but it was easier for me to do here because it already happened to someone else, or rather it will happen to someone else unless my efforts can prevent it?"
"Someone else?"
"That's he would originally die when the BETA overrun his hometown, a city. But simply being killed by the BETA would've been preferable, which he was once they took him and others prisoner."
"This person was taken prisoner by the BETA, I thought they didn't take prisoners?" Lelouch said intrigued and confused by this new information about the BETA.
"Normally they wouldn't, but remember in how I said they don't see humans as living beings as to them carbon lifeforms are an impossibility for their creators? Naturally the intelligence behind the BETA was no doubt confused greatly by lifeforms that shouldn't exist putting up a fight against them. So it took prisoners to begin experimenting on them, not so much to understand humans but rather find other ways to defeat them."
A cold and dark realization began to dawn on Lelouch, recalling what Claude mentioned by "simply being killed by the BETA would've been preferable."
"Judging by your face, I think you realize what the BETA did to those poor people, and trust me it was worst than you thought."
"I won't question you on that," Lelouch said, feeling hesitant to inquire to what happened.
"I'll spare you the horrible details, otherwise I doubt you'll be able to sleep well. Among those prisoners was a girl, a childhood friend to the boy who died protecting her. A simple ordinary girl, who was experimented on in cruel and unimaginable ways, until they realized they didn't need her body so bit by bit they took her apart until she was reduced to a brain and her spine."
Lelouch felt horror and revulsion from this realization, keeping quiet because if she was ultimately reduced to a brain and a spine then just what were the BETA doing to her. What kind of experiment where they running?
The more he thought about it, the more Lelouch believed he was better off not knowing.
"However, despite the horrors she endured, she had but one simple wish, and the wish of a girl can be a very powerful thing. Especially when the hive her brain was kept in was bombarded with bombs that can have abnormal effects on reality, so those bombs and their unknown effects resonated with that wish in a one in a million chance opportunity bringing the boy she loved from an alternate timeline, but unknowingly merging him with the version of himself who died stabilizing his existence here yet turning him into something more as he connected and fused with various versions of himself overtime," Claude explained, seemingly impressed with the girl's wish, but Lelouch realized something else.
"There was some kind of catch, which is actually the problem you want to deal with?"
"You nailed it again," Claude replied with a smile. "Yes, as miraculous as this wish might've been, there was a terrible catch to it. It's one that poor girl couldn't have known about let alone intend it. The boy became a Casualty Conductor, a harbinger of despair in which he causes the gradual memory loss of those close to him, who will forget him in time. But even worse for the poor man he'll cause those close to him and eventually everyone else to die a grim end."
"It's not something he can control then?" Lelouch said, trying to imagine such a person existing.
"Sadly no, and trying to return to his own timeline will just make a much more destructive existence because he hails from a timeline where the BETA never invaded his world. Returning to it as it is will invite an apocalypse in time."
"I see, and you want to prevent this from happening?"
"That's right, his mere existence is a danger and if he were to move around to other timelines he could be a bigger problem for everyone, and the clean up for me would be a lot more troublesome," Claude said, folding her arms over her chest looking displeased.
"Then what about Yui, is she some kind of counter since she was merged in much the same way this Casualty Conductor was?"
"Ding-ding, you nailed it again," Claude cheered, very pleased. "Yes, I made Yui into an anti-Casualty Conductor, whose existence has the opposite effect. It did help in ensuring most of you survived Kyoto despite all of those close calls, and keeping her near you will be of help to you too."
"I see, so Yui was an opportunity for you to create this counter-casualty conductor and involving me was another benefit to prevent the Casualty Conductor from coming into existence then," Lelouch said, deducing Claude's other intentions. "You simply didn't choose this world for just me."
"That's right, let's just say I saw a way to kill two birds with one stone. Besides, given the dire state humanity was in, it was all that much easier for me to get them to back you in exchange for the cool tech I've been giving them, so bonus points right there," Claude replied with a smile.
"I see…"
"If you were wondering Yui does get some extra benefits, while she doesn't get the memories of all of the Yuis who had a bad end, only the one you worked with she does inherit the muscle memory of the others as the Casualty Conductor did, so while it doesn't make her super human, her piloting and fighting skills will improve quickly through as a result," Claude explaining.
"I see, so no other benefits then?"
"Well her mind might get a boost in learning, but like I said, nothing superhuman. But she might have moments of things or someone being familiar to her, but unable to understand why. It could be some help in the right situations, but who can say since this is new territory even for me," Claude replied with a mischievous smile.
Lelouch nodded. That answered his questions, but he had one question left.
"Will you tell her?"
"Not yet, I feel a better time to reveal this will come later. The girl has a lot on her mind right now."
"I see."
"Good," Claude nodded, "Now off to bed."
Lelouch reluctantly did as instructed due to being wary of Claude. But as soon as he was comfortable, it didn't take long for Lelouch to fall asleep due to the sheer exhaustion slamming into him like a Destroyer-class. And so, once asleep, he dreamed, but when he awoke, he found himself back in his room at Ashford Academy. Lelouch felt relaxed being in a place more familiar to him, although he might've written off what had happened in the other world as a dream, he looked down to see he was dressed in the black uniform he had been given.
Somehow, I need to find out that woman's secrets, especially how she does things that are flat out impossible, Lelouch thought sitting up in bed.
Looking around Lelouch saw the bag he had previously put away his clothes in on the chair of his desk. Seeing the sun was rising as the light of dawn began shining through his window, Lelouch got up to clean up and change. He didn't want anyone to see him in the uniform he had and ask unwanted questions, knowing even if he answered truthfully no one would believe him.
Not that he could blame them if he did try telling anyone who had happened to him.
Dressed in a fresh set of clothes, Lelouch went to the dining room, where he found his younger sister Nunnally sitting at the head of the table in her electric wheelchair. She was able to confidently move herself around their living area thanks to her familiarity of where they lived. Unlike her older brother, the thirteen-year-old girl had long wavy sandy brown hair. Her eyes were the same as Lelouch's, but remained close as a result of her blindness due to the horrific trauma of the same incident that left her paralyzed from the waist down.
The day their mother was murdered, she had died protecting Nunnally. Then instead of doing something, like finding those responsible, their father the Britannian Emperor did nothing. Instead he banished them to a foreign nation to be used as political hostages when Lelouch confronted him on the matter. Then they were flat out abandoned to die when Britannia invaded months later, likely expecting them to die and provide a better justification for the invasion.
Seeing his sister reminded him of the injustices they suffered and was a driving force behind Lelouch's desire for vengeance.
"Brother, is that you?" Nunnally asked, seemingly aware of her brother's presence.
"I am here Nunnally, and good morning," Lelouch said, warmly greeting his sister.
"I am glad you are home brother, you worried me last night when you didn't return on time," Nunnally with an expression of worry.
Lelouch joined her at the table, "I am sorry Nunnally. Something unexpected came up, but it…worked out."
He regretted not being honest with Nunnally, but Lelouch knew telling her what he had been actually doing could cause her to panic. It was the last thing he wanted to do to her after all she had been through as a child.
"Were you challenged again?"
"Yes, but this time my opponent was tougher, but I prevailed in the end. Not to mention I got quite the prize for it."
Nunnally looked at her brother with a mixture of worry and disapproval, she didn't like her brother's habit of taking part in these underground chess tournaments. However, her brother was too prideful to get a part time job, and there were risks of their own to just even trying to apply for one since every place conducted a background check which could be risky for him.
She wished her brother didn't have to gamble, but had to reluctantly acknowledge it allowed her brother and by extension her a secure source of income. Nunnally didn't like it, but they had no other alternatives.
"I see, but please be careful brother," Nunnally said, hoping at least he would be cautious with those he challenged.
"Don't worry Nunnally, I always make sure I don't bite off more than I can chew. I know there are people who never take losing well," Lelouch said reassuringly to his sister.
"Ok, as long as you are careful."
Don't worry Nunnally I will be, Lelouch thought, but he held back from saying any more.
The last thing he wanted to do was to make Nunnally worry needlessly. Hearing about him fighting a dangerous alien race would be the last thing she wanted to hear. He didn't feel good about withholding such information, but Lelouch knew it was for the best. Yet seeing her only made Lelouch resolute in his decision to follow the path before him. He had plans for achieving revenge against the Empire that abandoned him and Nunnally, and the father, ruling it, who casted them aside to die in a foreign land.
The world needs to change, so Nunnally can find happiness, Britannia's way of life that the strong dominate the weak has to be destroyed with the rest of it, Lelouch thought.
Formed from the beaten remains of the British Empire, chased from their homeland of the British Isles, the Holy Britannia Empire grew into a world superpower after rebuilding itself among its colonies on the American Continuant before eventually bringing the entire continent under their rule as a new empire. They continued aggressively expanding, seeing this as a defensive act, determined to not allow a repeat of their near destruction in Britain from happening again.
However, when Charles Darwin's theories of evolution came into play, they took hold in Britannia using it to justify their aggressive expansion while treating all who weren't Britannian as lower class citizens for them to rule over and discriminate. The Royal Family was not exempt from this, in fact, those who ascended to the throne were usually the last heir left standing while other contenders for the throne died under suspicious circumstances ensuring the worthiest heir ascended the throne.
Either that or they had to fight to hold onto the throne for all the time they had the throne. Which would explain why Britannia had such a large number of Emperors and Empresses for a country barely 200 years old. Because the slightest weakness, real or perceived, could prove fatal.
It was such a world he grew up in that claimed his mother's life, a commoner by birth who rose to become the youngest Knight of the Round, the most elite of soldiers who directly serve the Emperor before becoming one of his many consorts.
The other Imperial Consorts likely envied her because of her commoner status, Lelouch thought, suspecting they were potentially involved in her demise. Not to mention his mother, Marianne, was known to have picked fights with the other consorts.
Lelouch and Nunnally only survived because his mother's old allies, the Ashford Family, was willing to shelter them, but only to serve as liability insurance since the death of Marianne. A series of unfortunate events combined with their patron's death caused them to be cast out of the nobility, losing much of their status and wealth. But they still had some resources and old connections that allowed them to retain some wealth and prestige even if it was all a far cry from what they once had. Using those connections the siblings were given new identities while their old identities were declared dead.
Our lack of value kept the Ashfords from exploiting us, but how long can that last? If anyone finds out we are alive we'll end up assassinated as a potential contender for the throne or used as tools of royal ambition that could get us killed, Lelouch thought. It was this knowledge that had him accept Claude and Yuuhi's offers.
Because even among allies, enemies can be found readily enough. Such was the Britannian way of life.
Therefore, Lelouch knew, even if he began his plans of retribution against Britannia, or not he would need to keep Nunnally safe and remake the world so she wouldn't have to hide in fear.
Even if I don't have full control I can still turn this to my advantage given time, and this will be my best shot to make my goals a reality faster than I could've on my own, Lelouch thought, and if something did go wrong he had another place with people Nunnally could interact with to move her to if the situation demanded it.
Meanwhile back on the other Earth, Kazusa was sitting on a bench in the indoor gym of the base, she had just completed her usual workout wearing a white towel draped over her neck, a sleeveless black top and matching gym pants with sneakers, and a water bottle in one hand.
Since all of her clothes were either still at her home in Kyoto, which she didn't even know if it was still standing or not, or at her academy dorm, which she knew had been the scene of fierce combat and had since become a field command post and forward medical station, and thus why she was dressed in the clothes she wore.
Only her underwear, socks, and shoes currently fitted her. The current attire was a smidge too small. Allowing a band of skin between the bottom of her top and the top of her shorts to be visible and cling to her. Her shorts were riding higher than they should, but at least it wasn't uncomfortable, but she had noticed the outlines it was making of her body as she was dressed.
That only added to her frustrations.
Which was another reason why was in the gym. Kazusa was working off some of her frustrations. Chief among those were not only was she denied a chance to question Yui, but it seemed Lelouch was also unavailable, which wasn't surprising given his physical condition and weary state after an all-night battle.
Though, even she needed to rest and get some sleep. They all did. But whereas they were able to rest and refresh in a few hours, Lelouch was reportedly out cold. The medical staff had checked him and found him still completely asleep, just exhausted, but nothing dangerous.
Someone like Lelouch could not have piloted a TSF with barely any training. It was one thing to hear it said, but another to believe it. More shocking was the fact that Yui had trained Lelouch herself, while deducing the Coupling System, if it worked as she was told, likely transferred Yui's piloting experience to Lelouch accelerating his training through multiple uses.
She would've had to spend days at a time with him, and yet, Kazusa thought, unable to find any moments for Yui to have been able to teach Lelouch without them knowing.
The entire situation was unbelievable, making Kazusa want answers.
"Mind if I sit with you," Shimako asked, shaking Kazusa from her thoughts.
Kazusa had been in such deep thought, she didn't notice Shimako approaching. Like the former she had gone to the base's gym to work out as part of her daily routine. She wore a white T-shirt, which had stains from perspiration, and black form fitting gym shorts with a water bottle of her own in one hand.
And like Kazusa, the outfit was of the wrong size. Though in Shimako's case, the shorts were a little larger, requiring a band to help keep them in place and up and the legs to be tied off. The shirt was notably a size too small, leading to Shimako to be cautious of who was around.
Something telling of priorities right now. As troops were transitioning through the base heading for the front. A mix of UN units and Americans were the most common. The bulk of the Japanese units already in battle… or destroyed.
"Oh not at all," Kazusa said quickly, giving herself a mental shake before she could go down that morbid lane, though she was surprised she didn't notice Shimako coming.
"Thank you," Shimako said, joining Kazusa by sitting next to her on her right.
After a moment of silence Shimako spoke.
"I think Yui is hiding something."
"I agree. You've known her longer than the rest of us do you have any idea what it is?"
"Yes we've known each other since we were kids," Shimako confirmed with a nod, while smiling as she recalled some pleasant memories. " But I don't know what she's hiding."
"She is afraid of telling us," Kazusa said, having sensed some kind of reluctance.
Now that I think about it, Kazusa thought back to their escape to Kyoto; Lelouch and Yui were clearly expecting those Laser-class to attack them. Did they somehow know what was going to happen, if so how?
"I can't help, but feel they knew exactly what was going to happen that night," Shimako said, having reached a similar conclusion. "Remember how she reacted upon seeing us at the base following her meeting with the commander, where we met Lelouch?"
"Yes, that's right," Kazusa said, which only cemented her suspicions
"Did…did something happen to us? I know it sounds crazy, but what if she knew what was going to happen?"
"Considering how she reacted right before we met Lelouch," Kazusa began, but she did acknowledge the thought sounded crazy, but if Yui somehow did know what was going to happen did that mean something happened to them?
It should be impossible, but Kazusa couldn't think of any other explanation to understand Lelouch and Yui's advance knowledge of events.
"If something did happen to us, maybe that could be why Yui could be scared. Assuming my suspicions are right," Shimako said, doubtful of her own suspicions, but given the evidence before them.
"You're right. There is just no other way to explain it, no matter how impossible it sounds. We'll only know for sure unless we can talk to Yui," Kazusa said, more resolute in talking to their friend.
Around the same time Yui was in her room. She was avoiding Izumi, Aki, Kazusa and Shimako, because she knew they would seek to question her about Lelouch and other things. As much as she wanted to tell them, she just couldn't do it. Because how could she even explain it, where would she begin?
How do I tell them they all died, Yui thought, replaying the memories of their deaths to play in her mind.
Yui feared they wouldn't believe her, not that she could blame them, but she was certain Kazusa was suspicious, given how observant she tended to be.
I can hide from them as long as I want, not long enough either, but I know sooner or later I'll have to tell them, Yui thought, thinking she might have to prepare for the day she must tell them the truth.
Thinking back on it now, Yui also understood another truth she didn't fully understand until now, a memory of her uncle expressing sadness over someone as young as her going to the front. At the time she just brushed it off as concern for her safety, which wasn't unreasonable yet it was different from her mother who had nothing but pride for her going off to fight.
I am sorry uncle, I didn't understand your sadness then, but you knew what horrors would await me against the BETA. How many friends did you lose I wonder?
Hours later as night time came, Lelouch returned to his room after wishing his sister good night. Lelouch changed back into the uniform he had received before going to sleep as instructed by Claude. Closing his eyes it wasn't long before he drifted into slumber.
Lelouch didn't know how long he slept, but an alarm woke up.
Waking up, and feeling fully rested, Lelouch sat up in bed. He found himself in his room back at the Fukushima Military Base. Getting out of bed, Lelouch saw the time was just after four a.m. Turning on the lights Lelouch saw a pink note and a fresh set of clothes set out on top of the desk for him, given the hearts decorating the card it was likely from Claude.
Sighing, Lelouch picked up the card to read it.
"Dear Lelouch, in thirty minutes you'll be met by someone who will take you to join other new recruits for basic training under your new instructor. Be sure to change and get ready by then, good luck, Claude! P.S. - There are a number of good songs to choose from to describe what you're about to go through. But I left a couple and I highly recommend them."
As much as Lelouch was not looking forward to basic training, but if such pain was needed for him to get what he needed to bring down Britannia then he was prepared to pay for it with blood, sweat and tears. But arrogantly Lelouch had no idea what he was truly in for, though intellectually he wondered how different it would ultimately be?
Doing as instructed Lelouch changed, now wearing a pair of black and gray battle dress uniform pants, black military boots and a black sleeveless form-fitting shirt. Lelouch also noticed he was given his own dog tags, so he put those on as well too. Lelouch was ready with time to spare, which allowed him to use the small facilities and get rid of the smell he realized he had too, when a knock came at his door, which Lelouch promptly opened to find Marimo on the other side, dressed in dark green and brown battle dress pants, boots and a black tank top.
Behind her was Mana and beside her was another woman, she seemed younger than Marimo with short auburn hair, matching eyes dressed in the same manner as Marimo. Unlike Marimo who looked at Lelouch with considerable disapproval in her eyes, the woman was shocked by how skinny Lelouch was.
"I am glad you are very prompt Cadet Lamperouge, but despite your impressive accomplishments in Kyoto, you will be under my care from this moment on, and don't think it means you'll get special treatment from me. In fact seeing your physical condition I'll be giving you my personal attention," Marimo said professionally, yet she conveyed an air of intimidation.
"I understand," Lelouch said politely, but he was silently defiant, something Marimo seemed to notice in his eyes.
Without a change in her expression or tone, Marimo continued.
"Since most of the cadets given to me to train for the new Minamoto models are all female, they'll be sleeping in their own barracks. You'll have to sleep in your own room separate from them for obvious reasons. That being said, my assistant to get you all trained and in shape will be a former student of mine, Lieutenant Michiru Isumi. She'll be fetching you every morning so I can awaken the others on time, or we might switch."
Michiru nodded her head in a silent sign of consent while remaining a professional expression.
"If you expect to lead our soldiers then you need to not only go through the same training as them, but earn their respect. So expect me to be especially hard on you," Marimo said with a steely gaze.
"I understand," Lelouch said, trying to mentally prepare himself.
"Very well, follow me so you can be introduced to your fellow cadets who will be training with you," Marimo said, beckoning Lelouch to follow her.
Mana and Michiru followed close behind and after some twists and turns the two took an elevator before exiting the base. They had exited into a training yard, as the base housed the needed facilities for training new recruits on site, to serve not only as TSF pilots, but also test pilots for new weapons and technologies. The field was wide with an obstacle course on one side, and a pair of buildings on another, which Lelouch assumed were the barracks the cadets were staying at.
Ahead of them, Lelouch saw a group of young girls, most were around his age. One of them seemed older compared to the others, but one of them noticed Marimo approaching, she acted quickly.
The woman was wearing the same BDU pants, black form fitting top with no sleeves, and boots. She appeared to be around Lelouch's age, with short spiky blonde hair and red eyes.
"Company, ten-hut!" The blonde haired woman shouted.
Whatever conversations they had been having ended as the new recruits quickly formed a single line before standing perfectly at attention. Lelouch was silently instructed by Michiru to join the line up while Marimo approached the maroon haired woman who saluted her.
"The squad is formed ma'am," The woman said as Marimo returned the salute, prompting the maroon haired woman to rejoin the line of cadets.
"Well done, rejoin the line up Cadet Minori," Marimo instructed.
"Ma'am," Asagi Minori said with a salute before joining everyone else.
"My name is Sergeant Marimo Jinguuji, my task is to get you all into shape and prepared to pilot Tactical Surface Fighters for the battle against the BETA!" Marimo began addressing the group of nine other cadets plus Lelouch. "Let me be clear about one thing, I will push you to be the best I can make you. I will not hesitate to do what I must, so consider this your only warning. Perform well we won't have a problem, but perform poorly and you will get my personal attention, which none would want. If anyone has any stupid ideas about our fight against the BETA or shows signs of being a cocky shit I will make you regret it. Do you understand me!"
"We understand ma'am!" Everyone said together.
"Good, Lieutenant Michiru Isumi shall be assisting me, and I expect all of you to show them the same respect and willingness to follow orders as would me. You have been chosen to pilot experimental new weapons, so I've been instructed to turn you all into capable pilots by the end of the month. So let's begin, I want to see just how tough all of you are. We will be running ten kilometers, beginning now," Marimo said with a seriousness in her voice. "If any of you falls behind Cadet Lamperouge on the end there, I will not only shock you, but put you through the physical workout of your lives! His physical fitness is woefully pathetic, but unlike the rest of you he actually has combat experience against the BETA and survived."
Lelouch said nothing, but something she said about shocking someone worried him.
"But don't assume I'll be giving him any less special treatment, because I'll be shocking him if he stops running," Marimo said as Mana brought out what appeared to be an electric cattle prod. "Don't worry the voltage is low enough to avoid serious injury, but it will be enough to hurt, a lot, just the same. Maybe a little fear will push Cadet Lamperouge to perform better."
Lelouch's face paled, but he kept his mouth shut fearful Marimo would actually shock him to make an example of him. However, someone would do it instead, and prove his fears correct.
"But that is barbaric!"
"Who said that," Marimo snapped. "Step forward and identify yourself."
In the corner of his eye Lelouch saw a cadet boldly step forward, she was as old as Yui was with long dark blue hair, and antique fuchsia, dressed in the same attire as the other cadets.
"Cadet Yuzuka Sendou, ma'am."
"I see," Marimo said before calmly approaching the young girl, but once she was close enough Marimo punched Yuzuka in the stomach.
No one saw it coming, and Yuzuka's eyes went wide in pain with tears, before she dropped to her knees clutching her stomach coughing, unable to voice her pain, but Marimo wasn't done.
"First warning, never speak out of turn. You ask for permission to speak first," Marimo harshly scolded before shocking Yuzuka with the cattle prod causing her to collapse onto the ground in further pain, causing the teenage girl to cry out in agony. "And second, there are instructors much harsher than me if you think I am bad. Eight minutes is the life expectancy of a pilot fighting the BETA. They make idiots like you panic and wet your pants and that panicking will get you killed. If you can't handle a little pain, or least of all me, then you won't even last five minutes against the BETA."
Lelouch kept silent, knowing he couldn't do anything about it, but he was outraged by Marimo's treatment of Yuzuka. Even if this was somehow acceptable training practices, Lelouch didn't agree with them.
I know survival against the BETA is slim, but this is going too far, Lelouch thought before he deduced something based on Marimo's words. Did she lose someone herself?
"None of you have anything else to say," Marimo said, daring the others to say something. No one said anything as Yuzuka was still on the ground in pain, trying to recover.
"Get up Cadet Sendou," Marimo said, grabbing Yuzuka by the arm and forcing her back onto her feet, which she barely managed even as her legs were shaking. "All of you start running!"
'Told you one of those songs will cover this for you,' Lelouch heard Claude's voice like a breeze whispering in his ear and he really didn't want to know.
Everyone started running as Michiru started running to follow them, meanwhile as Lelouch was about to run he noticed Yuzuka was having trouble trying to run as the shock and hit to the stomach had taken the wind out of her. Marimo glared at the woman and was likely going to shock her again until.
"I can carry you," Lelouch said approaching, causing Yuzuka to look at him in surprise.
To Marimo's surprise and even to that of an onlooking Mana, Lelouch ran back and offered to carry Yuzuka on her back, so she could be given time to recover.
"You can't," Yuzuka said as she struggled to even walk.
"Do you want her to shock you again?"
Yuzuka looked back at Marimo who held the cattle prod in a threatening manner. Realizing she was going to be facing her wrath, reluctantly accepted Lelouch's offer. Marimo did nothing to stop him. While surprised by Lelouch's action she knew he was just making things harder for himself, but believed this could be more of a benefit to him.
Running ten kilometers while carrying a girl on his back, well that will help put some muscle on him for sure, Marimo thought.
Once Lelouch had Yuzuka on his back he started running. His fear of Marimo and that cattle prod pushed his body, even as his muscles began screaming, to force his weak body to keep going. Marimo didn't have to run much to keep up with them, and she already knew Lelouch wasn't likely to catch up even without Yuzuka on his back.
Still she was troubled if this didn't push his physical fitness to develop.
However, whenever Lelouch showed signs of showing down she brought the cattle prod close to his head, which hearing the electric sounds spooked Lelouch enough to keep going. Despite his odds Lelouch managed to make it one lap around the track, but everyone else was on their fifth lap passing Lelouch. Some were surprised there was a boy in their training group, even more so at how despite looking ready to drop he forced his exhausted body while carrying Yuzuka on his back.
Watching him, and surprised by his act of aiding Yuzuka despite being a complete stranger, Mana remembered something Claude said about Lelouch.
"No matter how old and aloof he acts, Lelouch will step in and help others. He won't ask for a reward or praise, treating the whole thing as mundane. He does so believing people should help when others are in trouble, and is disgusted with those who rather just sit back and do nothing," Claude said, actually appearing behind Mana causing the woman to snap to full alertness as she turned around to face the smirking woman. "He has that chronic hero syndrome trope pretty bad, even if he wouldn't admit it. Same thing with "Always save the girl," but that one will bite him in the ass if he isn't careful."
"You, how?" Mana snapped, angry someone had managed to get that close to her without her knowing.
Ignoring her, Claude continued.
"It was for these reasons I picked Yui to be his partner, her plight and the desire to save her friends I knew would appeal to Lelouch because of his willingness to help others and he can't ignore a girl in need especially, because of his sister's influence. Not to mention the temptation of access to technology to put him above Britannia and more were additional incentives, just as I hoped," Claude said grinning deviously.
"So you manipulated him?"
"A little," Claude admitted. "Besides, it's his chronic hero syndrome trait that actually set events in motion causing him to become Zero, and ultimately bring about Britannia's downfall as it was and Japan's liberation even if his intentions...weren't so selfless in the beginning. So there was no reason I couldn't appeal to it myself to get him to agree to play my game and help you lot in the process."
Mana glared at her, while Claude was amused by it.
Truth be told, Mana didn't like Claude, aside from her admitted manipulations of a sixteen-year-old boy and her lack of respect towards the Shogun. But she also managed to unnerve Mana at the same time, being able to sneak up on someone not only trained as a ninja, but also a skilled infiltrator, so no one should be able to sneak up on her without being noticed. Claude being able to do so easily disturbed Mana, along with Claude's ability to seemingly appear anywhere at will, no doubt having access to technology surpassing what their world has.
As much of a carefree and seemingly lazy tease she could be, Mana was instinctively on guard around Claude, suspecting she was far more dangerous than her appearance and attitude suggested otherwise.
Later that day, Yuzuka had recovered enough so she spoke up to the boy who helped her.
"Uh, could you put me down, I think I can run now," Yuzuka said, aware that trying to carry her and stay ahead of Marimo and her cattle prod must've been hard on Lelouch's body.
"You can put her down," Marimo said, overhearing Yuzuka's request, allowing Lelouch to stop long enough to allow Yuzuka get back on her own feet.
"Thank you for your help," Yuzuka said, thankful for Lelouch. "Uh…"
"Lelouch, Lelouch Lamperouge," Lelouch managed between deep breaths, his body drenched in sweat.
"Yuzuka Sendou," Yuzuka said, returning the introduction.
"Alright, you're done with introductions, back to it," Marimo said holding up the cattle prod prompting the pair to start running, and Yuzuka being in far better physical fitness managed to get far ahead of Lelouch.
Lelouch managed to run a little faster now that he was no longer carrying Yuzuka, but he couldn't help but wonder how he was still managing to keep going despite knowing too well that in the past he could barely run a lap.
Wait, are there still some lingering effects from the stimulates in my body? No that can't be, Lelouch thought as his mind tried to explain how he was able to keep going.
Suddenly Lelouch felt a sharp pain in his lower back causing him to jump in shock and pain, releasing an anguished howl.
Marimo was surprised too, but unlike Lelouch she saw what caused him to cry out in pain.
"Ta-da," Claude announced, approaching riding an electric Segway colored in pink, while holding a dart gun in one hand. "Don't worry Lelouch I got you, this potent endurance and muscle boosting supplement will help you. It's all natural and it encourages muscle and endurance growth."
"You SHOT ME!" Lelouch snapped, pulling out the dart that had been stuck in his back.
"Because I care," Claude said with a big smile. "Besides without regular injections it could take you months to get where they want you to be, and I don't think you would've survived that long."
"Regular injections," Lelouch inquired, not that he was afraid of shots, but it was really the person offering that he was concerned about.
"Uh-huh," Claude said before smiling as she put away the dart gun. "You should be noticing a change right about now."
Lelouch did notice as he was starting to run faster and his previous exhaustion was gone as he began pulling away from Marimo, much to the latter's surprise.
"I trust you'll be giving him those injections every morning?" Marimo questioned.
"Of course, did you want to shoot him in the back too?" Claude offered jokingly.
"No," Marimo said bluntly. "It will be a normal injection."
"Oh," Claude replied, sounding disappointed. "I thought you'd be fine with shooting him."
"I am no sadist, I am simply doing my job to prepare these kids for hell," Marimo answered coldly before running faster to catch up to Lelouch.
"She's no fun," Claude said with a huff.
Despite the odds and thanks to Claude's injection, Lelouch was able to complete his ten kilometer run, although he was the last to finish, the fact he was able to finish at all was a miracle. It was mid-afternoon and everyone else had long finished the run, however Marimo approached him as Lelouch leaned against a lamppost.
"I actually didn't expect you to finish without collapsing," Marimo complimented, even if her expression was stone faced.
"Thank you, ma'am," Lelouch barely managed in between breaths.
"Now it is getting late and we're not done yet," Marimo said before noticing Michiru approaching. "Lieutenant, I'll leave Cadet Lamperouge in your hands to continue physical fitness, but tomorrow I'll be expecting him to keep up with everyone else once Miss Triello gives him an injection in the morning. I'll be checking on the others."
"Yes, ma'am," Michiru said with a salute, which Marimo returned before she left.
Once Marimo was well out of earshot, Michiru sighed.
"You dodged a bullet with her, she was a lot more brutal and uncompromising with us when we were trained by her."
"Really," Lelouch inquired, taking advantage of the chance to regain as much strength as he could.
"What you saw her do to Cadet Sendou paled what she did to a friend of ours," Michiru warned ominously. "But, I have to acknowledge she has her reasons for it. I think having engaged the BETA in battle, you've gotten a glimpse of it haven't you?"
"She lost someone didn't she?"
Michiru nodded.
"Yes, I found out later she was assigned to the Japanese Expeditionary Force that was sent to Dalian, China. She was made squadron leader and many of her fellow classmates from training made up her squad," Michiru said before continuing the story. "However a surprise BETA attack wiped out the rear guard leaving Marimo and her squad completely surrounded. She barely survived but many of her friends and squad members didn't."
Lelouch was quiet, but he couldn't help but think of how Yui was when they met first, fresh out of Kyoto having lost her friends.
"She felt the weight of their losses, because as squadron leader she felt responsible for their lives. Marimo would fight recklessly in the following battles trying to avenge them while I think some part of her was feeling suicidal wanting to join them. Instead she kept surviving those battles until she was transferred to become an instructor."
"Now she instills her students in a way to prepare them for the horrors of facing the BETA?"
"Yes. Although I didn't agree with her methods, after getting command of my own squadron and finding myself in her position, I understood why she was so harsh," Michiru admitted, and Lelouch recognized what she meant. She commanded a squad of her own, then something happened that caused most of those under her command to end up dead.
"I see," Lelouch said, but his tone suggested to Michiru that he understood the meaning she was conveying.
"Which is why I think she'll be a lot harder on you than the others. You want to be a leader to command others don't you? Well I think she intends to instill on you the responsibility of the lives of those who serve under a leader leading soldiers to battle."
"I understand."
"Good, now come on, you still have training ahead of you."
Lelouch said nothing further, but he willed his body forward.
No matter if this is what it took to gain what he needed to bring Britannia down and remake his world into something better, then he would endure whatever Marimo threw at him.
But quietly, deep inside of him, burned the need to help those living in their own personal hell, be free from it.
Claude smirked, "You're not alive unless you're actually dying," she sang before quietly disappearing as she did so.
"Now… When will you tell others it isn't a good day to die?"
With those words echoing in his mind, an exhausted Lelouch followed Michiru into a nearby building; it was mostly empty, but it had rows of tables upon it. They were left bare, but one spot, likely reserved for him, had parts of what appeared to be an assault rifle; it wasn't a model he had seen before but Lelouch was guessing based on its size and magazine. Nearby were parts for a pistol, which made it easy for Lelouch to understand what the next test was.
"Just because you'll be piloting a machine doesn't mean training on firearms and hand to hand combat will be ignored. After all there might be times you might be caught outside your machine in a dangerous situation.
"I suppose that is true," Lelouch began, but paused when a knife suddenly embedded itself causing him to reflexively move back.
"Try not to sound so lazy, I'll take it as a sign you are taking this seriously. And yes you'll be taught how to use a knife in a fight. However, given your woeful lack of physical ability we're going to how off on close quarters combat and knife training for now," Michiru said, before pulling her knife off the table's surface.
I barely saw her draw it out, Lelouch thought, as the display left him sweating a little.
"Now show me how much you know about firearms, can you assemble one?"
Lelouch would've said no, but under Michiru's steely gaze Lelouch decided to attempt it. However, he found, almost knowingly despite never having done it before, he knew exactly what to do. Marimo seemed surprised watching Lelouch assemble the weapon, as if he had done it before. It wasn't long before Lelouch assembled the handgun as well, surprising Marimo even more so.
"I wasn't aware you handled a firearm before, but not bad. You just beat all of your fellow cadets," Michiru said, checking her stopwatch.
The only explanation is that I must've inherited Yui's training she was given, not just her experience in piloting, Lelouch thought, deducing his unexpected knowledge of handling a weapon.
"Thank you ma'am," Lelouch said.
"Lieutenant, take care of the cadets, I'll handle his next training," Marimo said, approaching causing Lelouch's blood to run cold.
"Yes ma'am, Cadet Lamperouge completed his assignment in a impressively timely manner," Michiru said, saluting.
"Very good to hear, you are dismissed," Marimo said, as Michiru left.
"Normally we would have you work on the study of tactics at this point. However, given what I've heard of being a natural with tactical planning we'll skip it for the first few days for you.. But I believe you need more of a workout, otherwise you'll never come close to the fitness of your fellow pilots," Marimo said, as her words sent a chill down his spine. "You have a lot of work ahead of you, so follow me."
Lelouch could do nothing but follow, because he knew to say no or to fall behind would just result in more pain.
This time Lelouch was led to a gym, where he was instructed to work on lifting weights, but his body hadn't had time to recover from the long run he had endured in the morning. Being lead to a mat, Marimo pointed to it.
"Get on that mat and give me thirty push ups," Marimo commanded.
Lelouch did as instructed, not wanting to get shocked, but his body was barely moving. Yet someone he hadn't collapsed yet, it seemed whatever injection Claude gave him was helping him. But only just as, since Lelouch recognized he'll need more injections to properly adapt and get the most out of them.
After Lelouch performed his first two push ups, which took about three minutes due to how exhausted his body was, Marimo shocked him with the cattle prod. Lelouch howled out in pain before he felt Marimo's knee on his back, holding him down. Marimo knelt down close to Lelouch's ear to whisper something into him.
"Just know I take no pleasure from this, but you haven't seen the horrors of the battles against the BETA. You had a highly advanced piece of hardware to make it easy for you, or maybe I should say you've never fought against them using what the rest of us had where eight minutes is the life expectancy against the BETA," Marimo said, although her voice sounded menacing there was something else.
Lelouch said nothing, knowing that talking back would result in another shock or something worse, forcing him to hold back his anger.
But Marimo noticed the rage in Lelouch's eyes.
"Good to know you are smart enough to not lash out. If you have the strength to do that, then you certainly have the strength to do more. Now get moving!"
The verbal abuse pressed him more, made him comply with orders much to his wounded pride. Already, he thought himself thrown for a loop despite the warnings about his extreme lack of fitness. He would probably be dead before the end of the month, or even the day. But if he survived Marimo's training, then perhaps it could be worth it in the end.
A/N: You know Jameyofthemegacosmos, as a fun fact, is among those who would like to see Marimo apart of Lelouch's polygamous relationships, considering the hell he is no doubt being put through I admit I am curious on how such a relationship would happen between them, but its good to remember she has some serious competition.
Anyway you've met two people who will be apart of Lelouch's squad, Yuzuka Sendou, and Asagi Minori, both are from Muv Luv Alternative the Day After, which was a hard decision to use them since I am being VERY cautions on the number of women surrounding Lelouch since most female characters are potential love interests who could potentially join with Lelouch in a polygamous relationship, which as a reminder nothing of the sort will happen until Lelouch and Yui are officially a couple in every way (They are my main focus before anyone else).
And there is HOW for it best to happen and getting Lelouch and Yui to be okay with it, I got some ideas, but its one of those I must wait and see where the story stands at that point especially after Yui and Lelouch are more romantically involved.
As for the rest of the squad to be, you'll see them in the next chapter.
I wanted to do more of Lelouch's training for this chapter, but I didn't want to drag it out too much especially given that Lelouch can't fight his way out of a paper bag at this point, so I focused on giving just enough to show what Marimo intends for him. And tactics are taught in basic training in Muv Luv, and we all know Lelouch would be the top of his class for that one, but its everything else he'll have trouble on.
Thankfully Claude is helping him, in his own way.
And there is some reveal on how Yui was brought into the past after training with Lelouch in the early chapters, and she did have another motive for what she did.
And lastly there is Lelouch going back to his world while he sleeps in the Muv Luv world, which was a move I was worried about but none of the betas seemed to oppose it and its well within Claude's abilities, BUT this only last while Lelouch is on the Muv Luv world. This was to keep people on the CG world from wondering where Lelouch is, and to provide an easy way for me to introduce some of the Code Geass characters more easily and at my leisure like Nunnally.
Speaking of Code Geass, I did decide to move the "everyone else" polygamy candidate poll for Lelouch to my profile page, while it has the objective of narrowing down candidates for Lelouch's polygamy relationships (the limit is seven-nine as a reminder), I am worried about character bloat and there are just too many candidates so I am trying to narrow it down to a smaller number, and these choices were considered and debated by me and the other betas, but there are too many.
However, the poll serves another purpose in deciding if series like Gun x Sword, Aldnoah Zero, Darling in the Franxx, Valvrave the Liberator, and especially Full Metal Panic since its at risk of being cut completely, partly because no way in easily introducing it without too many hoops to jump through. So the higher they are, at least making it to the top twenty might ensure they stay in, but not assured yet it will convince me to work harder to keep them in. I am allowing fourteen votes on this poll only because I KNOW Code Geass characters will get the most votes, but keep in mind I will only pick one or two from those that score the highest and ignore the rest.
For the Infinite Stratos folks, it has been deemed Lelouch will a few IS user for his side so if any of them at least make it to the top twenty they might tag along with Lelouch's group.
So the poll is a way for me to kill two birds with one poll in this case.
As for the other two polls to narrow down the love interest candidates for Lelouch who will form a polygamous relationship with, the Muv Luv candidates (because there are enough candidates for their own poll), are located in my Code Geass Crossover R&D fanfiction forum under Crossover Chitchat Corner.
For the Gundam character candidates, which is ongoing, is located in the same forum Code Geass Crossover R&D, but under the thread "Super Robot Wars crossover plans" with impressively, Secelia Dote from Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury winning, with Shirin Bakhtiar (Gundam 00), Norea Du Noc (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury), Loni Garvey (Gundam Unicorn: she would be a combination of her novel and OVA selves) and Marina Ismail (Gundam 00) all tied for second. I didn't think Shirin would do so well if I am being honest and the same for Norea.
And in third are Dorothy Catalonia (Gundam Wing) and Miorine Rembran (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury), Mirorine being in third place is shocking since I do like the Mirorine and Suletta relationship, and lastly in fourth and fifth are Ingrid Tradoll (Gundam Seed Freedom) and Rena Imelia (Gundam Seed), and Sophie Pulone (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) and Suletta Mercury (Mobile Suit Gundam: The Witch from Mercury) respectively.
As a reminder these polls are just to narrow down the candidates, out of worry for character bloat, but most important especially for characters outside of Muv Luv, Infinite Stratos and Undefeated Bahamut Chronicles, who would be okay in a polygamous relationship with Lelouch? I'll swap out the polls for one of the three aforementioned polls, likely I'll switch back to the Gundam poll and relocate it to my profile again, but I will eventually put the Muv Luv one on my profile once enough of its cast has been introduced.
Ok enough with this big author note, I wanted to thank you all for reading and thank you for enduring this big author note. I thank you all in advance for any favorites, followers and reviews. If you want direct links to these polls you can ask for it in a review or just PM, I do check my boxes as often as I can and if you have been leaving reviews on my other stories, even before the email notifications going down again, I wasn't getting any notifications on them so I apologize.
But before I leave here are the specs for Shimako's Gundam, which was designed to be the bane against the Laser-class BETA, which are what killed her. I chose a fusion reactor from the Sunrider series, since they are likely more advance, but sadly don't offer much detail on them so my apology for that one. And I do regret not having the artistic skill to draw these Gundams, because I am sure they would've looked awesome or at least I would've liked to be so.
Model number: TMP-05X
Code name: Sadamitsu
Unit type: Prototype Psycho-Frame High Speed Assault Mobile Suit
Pilot: Shimako Kai
Manufacturer: Unknown
Operator: Order of the Black Knights, Empire of Japan ("sponsors" of the Black Knights)
First deployment: September 29th 2016 A.T.B
Accommodation: pilot only, in panoramic monitor/linear seat cockpit in torso
Dimensions: head height 19.3 meters
Weight: 55.1 metric tons
Armor: Gundarium Alloy Ceramic Composite painted with Anti-Beam Coating: Not Gundanium Alloy, but rather something else known as Lunar Titanium Alloy. When the Earth Federation designed the RX-78 series of mobile suits, they also wanted a material that was strong, lightweight and durable for its construction; at that time they did not possess an adequate number of facilities to effect very-large-scale production and maintenance. Titanium isn't considered ideal as it becomes brittle if subjected to large amounts of stress over time as well as being slightly more complicated to work and weld when compared to other alloys like Steel, prompting the engineers to develop a new lightweight alloy that eventually came into being U.C. 0064, known as Luna Titanium.
Introduced in the U.C. 120s following the miniaturization of mobile suits. This material added a ceramic composite material similar to the earlier armor's used on mobile suits during the mid to late UC 0080s and UC 0090s. With the advent of miniaturized mobile suits in the early U.C. 0100s, multiple mass production suits (such as the RGM-109 Heavygun) could be made out of Gundarium for the price of a single mobile suit of an older design. Unfortunately, the hybridization of Gundarium and Ceramic composites degraded the protective qualities of Gundarium. This meant that while mass production mobile suits were armored with Gundarium instead of a cheaper Titanium/Ceramic based composite; they were more vulnerable to physical attacks, whereas the older prototype mobile suits with pure Gundarium armor were almost impervious to attacks that would severely damage or destroy the former.
Powerplant: Ultracompact Fusion Reactor (Sunrider-series model, due to having more advance fusion reactors)
Equipment Design Features:
Sensor: 23,700 Meters
Psycho-Frame: only the Cockpit is laced with Psycho-Frame due to the rarity of said material
Geschmeidig Panzer Energy Deflection Armor: Mounted on the shields, this system utilizes colloid particles to repel and redirect energy beams away from the mobile suit. The particles used are different from those in Mirage Colloid stealth system, but both systems are similar as powerful magnetic fields are needed to hold the particles in place above the armor. This deflection system however seems to be ineffective against close combat beam weapons, as ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam's beam boomerang is able to damage the shields' surface. This system is also used for moving through water and counteracting water pressure.
Coupling System
Magnetic Field Generator: To make the "Hresvelgr" Plasma Induction Cannon- more effective in battle, the two "Eckzahn" railguns are equipped with magnetic field generators. These devices generate a magnetic field between the railguns that can alter the direction of the Hresvelgr's plasma beam, making it difficult for enemies to evade the attack and allowing the beam to hit unsuspecting enemy units.
Fixed Armaments:
60mm Vulcan Guns
2 X Butterfly Buster Bs, Improved and more powerful version of the Mass Produced Butterfly Busters, mounted on the hip section.
1 X "Hresvelgr" Plasma Induction Cannon: Most powerful Beam Weapon and mounted in the Abdomen.
2 X "Eckzahn" 88mm Railguns, each Railgun is mounted on the side Shield for offensive and variable range fire attack.
1 X EEQ7R Extensional Arrestor: A Wire Rocket Anchor quipped with small caliber beam cannons. Additionally, a beam pick can be generated from the muzzle of the beam cannon. The Extensional Arrestor is also connected to the suit's backpack via a cable and can be launched to strike enemy unit tens of meters away. It is a type of hidden weapon and is difficult to master. Mounted on the back Geschmeidig Panzer Shields as a surprise back attack and to use the Wire Rocket Anchor to move better across the environment and make tricky turns.
3 X Geschmeidig Panzer Shields: Unlike most Defensive Systems, the Geschimeidig Panzer Shields are Physical Shields mounted on sidearms with two on the side for offensive penetration and one on the back for extra defense. Only the two Side Shields carry the Hellguns. The Back Shield carries the Extensional Arrestor.
1 X Beam Glaive: An Naginata Beam Weapon, it's main advantage is its length in CQC with the Beam Blade being able to pierce its target's weak spots with pinpoint precision, the shaft itself is made of Gundanium Alloy and can still be used as a hard hitting quarterstaff. It can be retraced and stored away on the back skirt.