Code Geass and its characters belong to Gorō Taniguchi and Ichirō Ōkouchi.
I only own my OC, Lynn 'Rin' Rossellini and her family.
Zero's Lady
Chapter 7: The Battle in Saitama Ghetto
It was the middle of Spring and a nine year old Lynn was spending time in Aries Villa with her royal friends; Prince Lelouch and Princess Nunnally vi Britannia.
Lynn wore a stylish scarlet red dress with white frills on it and red flat shoes. Her chestnut brown hair had red string ribbons on them and white short gloves on her hands.
Lelouch wore a periwinkle white suit with a matching tie and black shoes.
Nunnally was a five year old dressed up in a beautiful frilly pink dress with many ribbons and lace. Her sandy brown hair was done up in two ponytails on the side of her head.
The little princess wore the brightest smile and her purple eyes were wide with innocence.
"C'mon, Nunnally!"Lelouch protested. "Mother's hat is not a play thing!"
"Look, big brother and Rin!"Nunnally giggled as she held Marianne's hat on her head. "Don't I look like a proper lady?"
"Hey!"Rin called out. "Don't run so much!"
As the three children played together, Marianne sat down in the marble gazebo with Cornelia standing next to her.
Cornelia had on a white top with red pants and a matching red cape, all with a sword dangling from her waist. Her fuchsia violet hair was tied in a ponytail that laid on her left shoulder.
Empress Marianne was a beautiful young woman in her late 20s, who had a slim yet strong build and wore a dark blue dress. She had big violet eyes and black hair that were much longer and wavier.
"Nunnally is such a tomboy."Cornelia remarked.
"Not as much as you and Lynn, Cornelia."Marianne giggled.
Lynn caught Nunnally in her arms and smiled at her.
"A lady wouldn't run around while wearing a skirt, Nunna."Lynn reminded with a small smirk.
Nunnally frowned and gives an adorable pouty face.
"Hmph!"Nunnally huffed. "You're such a meanie, Lynn!"
"Hey. Come on."Lynn chuckled. "If you wear that kind of expression, you would waste your cute face."
"Nunnally!"A voice called out.
Lelouch, Lynn and Nunnally turned around to see Euphemia sitting in the flower area of the villa with Marrybell mel Britannia.
Euphemia li Britannia had long pink hair, bluish violet eyes and wore a dark orange dress. The pink haired princess was the younger sister of Cornelia and the second daughter of the imperial consort, Victoria li Britannia.
Marrybell mel Britannia had stylish Spanish pink hair that went up to her back and violet eyes. Her dress was bright green and wore matching shoes with it. She was the daughter of the Imperial Consort, Julia mel Britannia.
"Let's pick up some flowers here!"Euphemia encouraged.
"Okay, Euphie!"Nunnally giggled.
Lynn placed Nunnally down and the little princess rushed off to play with her half-sisters as Lelouch quickly caught his mother's hat from dropping on the ground.
"Hey, Lelouch."Lynn remarked. "Were you able to beat Schniezel in chess this time?"
"No."Lelouch sighed. "Trying to figure out where I went wrong in my last game with Schneizel."
"Lelouch, you're forgetting Schneizel is called the Chessmaster."Lynn explained. "He must have had like ten times more experience than you do. Even I know the game is mostly about memorising board positions and what works best in each situation. At least on the professional level."
"That doesn't invalidate the skill aspect."Lelouch reminded. "I guess I need to practice more though."
Lynn simply shrugged, still not knowing why chess was such an interesting game for boys like Lelouch.
The brown haired girl then gives Lelouch a kiss on the cheek causing the raven haired prince to blush a bit.
"That's for good luck in your next chess match."Lynn remarked and took Lelouch's hand to drag him. "Now let's go play with your sisters!"
"Okay."Lelouch answered with a bashful expression.
In Ashford Academy…
Rin smiled at the happy memory of her childhood when she was still living in the homeland with her parents and spending time with the members of the Royal Family. But mostly, Lelouch and Nunnally.
"All of us were so happy back then."Rin thought before her smile vanished. "But what happened after that, everything was never the same again. We learned the world can be a cruel place beside gentle. That is why I am working to change that."
Rin snapped out of her thoughts when she heard her phone ringing causing her to answer it.
"Hello?"Rin asked and smiled lightly when she recognised the voice. "Hey, Naoto."
"Hey, Rin. Have you heard?"Naoto asked. "Princess Cornelia is planning to lure out Zero by doing exactly same thing as Clovis did to Shinjuku ghetto. Her forces are in Saitama ghetto where the Yamato Alliance are. There are innocent people living there and she is planning to start a massacre."
Rin frowned, not happy that Cornelia planned to massacre the Saitama ghetto just like Clovis did with Shinjuku to only lure Zero into the opening.
"I know. Mostly likely to bring Prince Clovis' murderer to justice."Rin complemented while using her free hand to change the channels on the television. "Zero contacted me yesterday and said our job is to evacuate the civilians in Saitama ghetto before our mission to fight off Cornelia's forces until they retreat and."
"Really?"Naoto asked in surprise. "We are going to take on Cornelia and her forces?"
A soft chuckle escaped from Rin's mouth.
"You did say you wanted to take the path that will lead to Britannia's destruction."Rin reminded with a hint of amusement. "Looks like your wish is coming true."
"Right. I did say that."Naoto remarked. "We'll see you at Saitama Ghetto."
In the A.S.E.E.C. Hanger…
Lloyd showed off the Lancelot to Cornelia and she promoted Suzaku Kururugi to warrant officer due to his recent success.
"It's a seventh generation Knightmare Frame, making its abilities far greater than normal…"Lloyd started.
"I understand that the Lancelot's pilot is an Eleven."Cornelia commented.
"That's correct."Lloyd agreed."An Honorary Britannian. However…"
"I'm promoting this man from private to warrant officer, that should satisfy him."Cornelia declared."I'm trying to win without having to rely too much on the Numbers."
In the Government Bureau…
Euphemia was sitting at her desk in her office looking over the reports with a troubled look on her face.
The pink haired princess was the sub-viceroy of Area 11, but her older sister had all the power to do things.
Part of her was glad that Cornelia allowed her to come with her to Area 11 and leave Pendragon. Mostly, from sparing her from the gossiping nobles and men that were only interested in her just because of her rank as the 3rd Princess of Britannia.
However, being in Area 11 also caused Euphemia to remember Lelouch and Nunnally (her two favourite siblings) and their childhood friend, Lynn.
Those three people meant a lot to her.
Lelouch and Nunnally had been sent to Japan as hostages and their father had sacrificed them like pawns during the Second Pacific War seven and a half years ago. Along with Lynn.
She and Cornelia first met Lynn when she came to Aries Villa to be taught in the ways of being a lady and piloting Knightmares by Lady Marianne.
Euphemia knew Lynn was half-Japanese, but that didn't matter to her. The pink haired princess treated her as a sister figure every time she came to visit to Aries Villa. She never treated Lynn horribly like her younger half-sister, Carine and the other horrendous spoiled rich girls in court did.
When she heard that Lynn was killed alongside her two favourite siblings, Euphemia had grieved a lot.
It has been nearly eight years and she still missed them terribly.
"Cornelia, you are fully aware that Lynn would be against you killing people. Especially, innocent civilians."Euphemia thought with a troubled expression."Yet you still do this to spread our father's ideals. Those who risk their lives on the battlefield are the ones who deserve to rule. I understand the theory, sister. But still…"
In the A.S.E.E.C. Hanger…
Suzaku was doing his homework while Cécile sat down next to him and a soldier was busy cleaning the Lancelot.
"Sorry, you have to sit here watching me do my homework."Suzaku apologised.
"Oh, don't worry about it."Cécile assured with a smile."You've never attended a regular school before, so it can't be avoided."
"The guys on the Student Council are helping me, too."Suzaku admitted."But…it's still hard."
"Hehehe."Cécile chuckled."To be perfectly honest with you, I've been a little bit worried. It's supposed to be a liberal school, but I was afraid you weren't fitting in well."
"Me, too. I was expecting that."Suzaku said and smiled."But I happened to run into old friends of mine there and they smoothed everything out for me."
"Be sure you never take those friends for granted."Cécile explained."If your friendship continues, your reunion won't have been coincidence. It will have been predestined."
"Okay."Suzaku replied.
Cécile looked at the onigiris that she had prepared for Suzaku.
"Anyway, please try one of these."Cécile insisted.
Suzaku looked at the onigiris and grabbed one.
"Thank you, I will."Suzaku answered.
After taking one bite, Suzaku's face contorts one that expressed a mixture of disgust.
"I'd like your opinion of them."Cécile said.
"There's…jam."Suzaku replied.
"Yes."Cécile agreed lightly."I just happened to get some lovely blueberries."
Then Lloyd came into the hanger.
"Alright, everyone!"Lloyd shouted, drawing everyone's attention in the room."Pack it up, pack it up! Well done today! Don't do anymore! Hip, hip, hurrah! That's all folks."
Lloyd brought his hands up before lowering them back down.
Suzaku blinked and looked at Cécile.
"Go to school."Cécile insisted."Classes might be over for the day, but it's important to meet your friends and have a social life too."
In Ashford Academy…
Alice and Nunnally were helping Shirley decorate the cat house in the Student Council room for Arthur's Welcoming Party.
Rai and Rivalz were outside the academy buying supplies for the event.
Shirley had a troubled look on her face as she took out a fluffy scarf from one of boxes.
"You okay, Shirley?"Nunnally asked. "It sounds that something is bothering you."
Shirley let out a sad sigh.
"I don't know, Nunna."Shirley replied. "I feel a little lost."
"Lost?"Nunnally said in confusion.
"About what?"Alice questioned.
"About Lulu and Rin."Shirley commented. "I think they're going out."
This caused both Alice and Nunnally to get surprised by Shirley's respond.
Nunnally went into her thoughts of the idea that her older brother was dating their childhood friend.
"My big brother and Rin? Are they really dating?"Nunnally thought and blushed a bit. "Could that be why Lelouch is going out lately?"
"Shirley. You know you can't learn something unless you have evidence."Alice reminded with a small frown. "If Lelouch and Rin were really going out, they wouldn't hide their relationship."
"I guess your right."Shirley replied with a smile.
Arthur meowed as he relaxed on his little pet house.
In the Principal's Office…
Milly was in the principal's office on a call with her mother.
It was at this time that she finds out that her mother was planning to arrange her into marrying into a noble family to regain the Ashford family back to nobility.
But Milly wasn't interested into marrying someone she didn't know or even love, but her mother was too selfish to understand her.
"But an arranged marriage is so…"Milly started and got a respond. "I understand how much you want to re-establish the Ashford family. But mother, it's just that…"
The blonde haired girl flinched when she got a strict respond from her mother.
"I…I understand, mother."Milly responded.
Milly sighed sadly as she placed the phone down.
"I guess there's no choice, Milly."Ruben stated. "You have to marry a noble as your mother said."
"I know."Milly answered as she rubbed her arm. "But I don't feel like having a nobility again. If I end marrying into a noble family, what will happen to Lelouch and Nunnally?"
Ruben looked down at his granddaughter's respond before replying back to her.
He didn't want anything bad to happen to Lelouch and Nunnally since they were the children of the late Lady Marianne, the former Knight of Six and the 5th Imperial Consort of Emperor Charles.
Supporting Lady Marianne made the Ashford family be established to nobility and help create her Knightmare the Ganymede when she was knighted by the Emperor even though she was born a commoner.
However, when the 5th Empress was assassinated, the nobility of the Ashford family ended.
"I don't want to imagine what would happen to them."Ruben responded and glanced at Milly."But there is no denying that nobility is so much important better than being a commoner. It's either that or your mother will have to admit to the authorities that Lelouch and Nunnally are alive."
Milly looked down, feeling sad she couldn't follow her own destiny or do anything to help her close friends if they were discovered.
The only thing she would do is obey her mother's order into marrying into a noble family.
In the G-1 Mobile Base...
Cornelia ordered Britannian forces to surround the Saitama Ghetto to create an attack in order to create similar conditions to those of the skirmish in Shinjuku Ghetto in hopes of drawing out Zero.
"The Saitama Ghetto is now completely surrounded. The Yamato Alliance's hide out is located at somewhere in here."Darlton explained."Half the people in this neighbourhood are cooperating with them. So, if we proceed now…"
"What will be the effect on production?"Cornelia asked.
"Primary sector output should decrease by 0.2%."Darlton replied.
"Within expectations, you mean."Cornelia commented and looked at Clovis' staff officers. "All right. All of you here participated in the Shinjuku disaster. Is that correct?"
"Yes."One of Clovis' staff officers answered. "And we're indebted to you Princess Cornelia for your mercy."
"That's not what I'm asking."Cornelia responded. "Do you think the conditions are similar?"
"Huh?"the Subordinate said in confusion.
Cornelia smirked. "To those in Shinjuku."
In the Tokyo Settlement...
"Military authorities report that they have surrounded the Saitama Ghetto, a known hiding place for terrorists."the female reporter announced. "Viceroy Cornelia is also on the scene and entry to that area is restricted."
Diethard looked at the report with slight disgust.
"She's trying to lure Zero out."Diethard thought and rubbed his chin."What will he do now?"
In Ashford Academy...
C.C hummed as she placed an 8th stamp on a Pizza Hut card as Lelouch walked in with an angry look on his face.
"Oh, well?"C.C said and notice Lelouch's serious glare."What has you looking so serious?"
In the G-1 Mobile Base...
"Zero is a criminal with a flair for theatrical."Cornelia declared."I've recreated the same conditions that existed in Shinjuku in order to draw him out. If he's the over-confident type, I predict he'll come here to try to kill me."
Prince Clovis' staff officers were surprised at Cornelia's declaration.
"Viceroy, you'd really risk your own life like this?"A staff officer asked.
"What you fail to understand is war is a struggle between pride and life."Cornelia stated.
In Ashford Academy…
Lelouch was putting his equipment inside his briefcase as C.C watched while laying on his bed.
"You're not falling for the enemy's provocation?"C.C asked.
"They went to such trouble to invite me, though."Lelouch said with a smile."Besides, there's something I'd like to ask Cornelia personally."
"Destroying Britannia or discovering who murdered your mother, which is more important to you?"C.C asked.
"The two are of equal importance."Lelouch replied."The royal family members are competing with each other to see who will ascend the throne and become the next ruler."
Lelouch narrowed his eyes as he remembered his father, the Emperor.
The very being, who took away all the happiness and dreams that he and his sister had.
"Or rather, they're being forced to fight by that man."Lelouch scowled.
"But the very thing you hate is the same thing that makes Britannia strong."C.C explained. "The royal heir who is best fit become the next ruler of Britannia is the last one left standing."
"Exactly."Lelouch agreed with a slight bitter tone."The weak ones lose and they're cast aside. Britannia is that kind of nation. That kind of world."
"Survival of the fittest is the most basic rule of all."C.C admitted.
"If that's true, then what happens to Nunnally?"Lelouch questioned as he closed his briefcase. "Should I simply give up on my sister because she's frail? I refuse to accept that. I'll wipe out that sort of world myself."
Lelouch suddenly heard his phone causing him to pick it up to answer it.
"Hey, Zero."Rin greeted."We have started evacuating the civilians at the Saitama Ghetto? Are you on your way?"
"Yes, I'm heading down there right now. I'll contact you as soon as I get in."Lelouch declared. "How's the situation there?"
"It's going smoothly. Right now, we're moving the civilians out through the tunnels."Rin responded."We are going to try and get the Yamato Alliance to work with us. Hopefully, they will before Cornelia starts her charade. Better hurry though, they'll start within an hour."
"Right."Lelouch said."I'll see you when I get there."
"Great."Rin replied with a hint of relief."Later then."
"Bye."Lelouch answered.
Lelouch then hang up the phone and grabbed his bag, only for C.C to block his path while pointing a gun at him.
Meanwhile…
Naoto, Kallen, Rin, Yoshida, Sugiyama, Minami, Inoue and Tamaki went to Saitama Ghetto to start evacuating the civilians through the underground tunnels.
The group directed the civilians along with everyone in charge to the tunnels.
Rin wore an entirely bright green hoodie that had drawstrings and a pocket. The colour of her jeans were bright blue and her boots were dark brown.
"Come on! Come on!"Tamaki instructed."Pick up the pace!"
"The assault will begin as soon as the Britannians are given the word."Minami warned. "Just stay calm and walk in an orderly manner. Women and children first."
"That's it, easy now."Inoue said.
"Keep it going."Yoshida ordered.
"That's it."Kallen encouraged. "Keep going."
Later, the group had arrived at the secret base of the Yamato Alliance to meet up with its members.
A man opened the door and everyone went inside.
From there, they were in a room with several other Japanese resistance members.
There was a TV while on top of it was a flag of Japan attached on the wall.
The leader of the Yamato Alliance, Tamahome Mendez, was the one sitting on the chair.
Tamahome was a handsome tan skinned young man with dark teal hair and grey eyes. He had an athletic build due to training. He wore a black turtleneck tucked in his indigo pants pulled up to his waist with a bright light brown belt and black loafers.
"Which one of you is Naoto Kozuki?"Tamahome asked.
Naoto stepped forward.
"That's me."Naoto responded.
Tamahome stood up from his seat and shook hands with Naoto.
"It's been a while."Tamahome said with a smile. "I thought you were dead."
"Same here."Naoto chuckled lightly."I was starting to wonder if you were alive to begin with."
Tamahome smirked. "I'm not easy to get rid of."
As Naoto and Tamahome sat down and began to talk to one another, Rin glanced at Kallen.
"Hey, Kallen."Rin whispered."How come Naoto knows this guy?"
"Well, they've been good friends for some time before the war."Kallen explained.
"Of course, they'd get into some mischief here and there."Sugiyama added."After the war, they got separated and haven't spoke to each other since then."
"I see."Rin said quietly.
Naoto told Tamahome of the event that was going to come at Saitama Ghetto.
"So that's Princess Cornelia's plan?"Tamahome asked. "Cause another massacre just like in Shinjuku to bring Zero out?"
"Yeah, I'm certain of it. She's going to lure Zero out with the only way she knows how."Naoto replied. "It'd be insulting his intelligence and hurting his pride to do that."
"Is that why you're here?"Tamahome assumed. "You want to help us?"
"You're goddamn right about that assumption."Naoto replied. "There's already been one massacre already, like hell there's gonna be another one."
"So what do you have in mind?"Tamahome questioned.
"Why it's that simple really."Naoto said with a confident smile. "What she wants is another Shinjuku massacre. But we're gonna give her the complete opposite."
"By giving her different changes while sticking to the original script?"Tamahome guessed.
Naoto smirked. "Exactly."
A girl that was with the Yamato Alliance named Miaka spoke up.
Miaka had long auburn hair with a full fringe and brown eyes. She wore a yellow jumper, peach trousers and white socks with black shoes. Her hair was tied in unadorned ox-horns by using her red ribbon.
"Is it true that Cornelia wiped out the Blood of the Samurai?"Miaka asked with a hint of fear.
"Yes. She did. But don't lose hope."Rin replied with a firm yet strong tone. "That is why we are here to help you guys out."
The Yamato Alliance were shaken upon hearing that and began muttering to themselves.
"I know you are all scared, but you have to trust us."Naoto insisted. "With Zero aiding us, we can win. I'm sure of it."
A young woman around Kallen and Rin's age known as Yui, who was Tamahome's deputy commander, spoke up.
Yui had blonde cropped hair with bangs, pale skin and light blue eyes. She wore a white shirt with silver coloured trousers and black flats.
"What makes you think we will stand against Cornelia and her Royal Guard?"Yui questioned strictly.
"If we are not together, Cornelia's forces will easily wipe us within seconds."Naoto exclaimed. "But if we join forces, she won't know what will hit her. She thinks this place will be where she kills Zero. Instead, this place is going to be a reminder of her soon-to-damaged pride."
This caused a couple of members within the Yamato Alliance to mutter with unsureness.
"You want us to fight against Cornelia's Royal Guard?"
"You can't be serious."
"Wouldn't it best to wait for the Japan Liberation to fight against them instead?"
Naoto glared at the members of the Yamato Alliance for their cowardly behaviour.
"Come on! What's wrong with all of you? You all call yourselves Japanese, right?"Naoto scowled. "The Japan Liberation Front hasn't done anything since the Shinjuku Massacre happened! Times are changing and we got to accept that! If we don't take Cornelia on, then we're just bringing down the people that are relying on us!"
In the G-1 Moblie Base…
"It's nearly time to set our plan motion."Cornelia declared. "So shall we begin?"
Darlton nodded at Cornelia.
"Right."Darlton answered as he starts using the communication device to give orders to soldiers out of the vehicle. "Attention all forces. Commence eradication of the Saitama Ghetto. All forces, assume No. 1 battle stations."
In the Saitama Ghetto…
Different soldiers rush through the ghetto with some going in in tanks, knightmares or on foot, but they all advance without the slightest fear.
Jeremiah Gottwald and his squad were not permitted to engage as the recent Orange Incident had put his loyalties into question.
"I don't understand."Jeremiah said in dismay."Why won't Princess Cornelia order us to attack as well?"
"She won't because Orange is here."Kewell retorted. "Just be thankful that you haven't been disposed of. You're to blame for this. It's due to you that our careers are over."
"You're wrong."Jeremiah argued. "Zero's the one who did it."
Kewell scoffed. "That again. Hmph."
Villetta glanced at her companions before going into her thoughts.
"Zero. Could that student I saw in Shinjuku be working for him?"Villetta thought."I need evidence. I need to find a way to figure things out. I'll start with Ashford Academy."
In Ashford Academy…
C.C keeps pointing her gun at Lelouch.
"You can't go, Lelouch."C.C said. "You need to fulfill your part of our bargain, so I won't have you dying before that."
"Notice that what you're saying and what you're doing are contradictory."Lelouch complemented with a calm look and then smirked a bit. "Tell me, has there been other people you've made a contract with? Or am I just the first one?"
"That doesn't matter."C.C replied bluntly. "You're not going anywhere."
"You say you won't kill me. Yet you look like you well."Lelouch commented. "Let me guess. If I move even an inch, you just shoot me in the leg?"
"You are correct."C.C answered. "I will not let you die because of your stubbornness."
Lelouch let out a chuckle.
"Care to tell me what you find funny?"C.C questioned.
"I won't die from my stubbornness. But that's where your wrong."Lelouch declared. "There are only a few options."
Lelouch smiled as he reached into his pocket and drew a gun out which he quickly pointed it at his head.
This caused C.C to become shocked by his action.
"You either let me go or I'll blew my head off."Lelouch stated."You got 60 seconds to choose what is far more important to you. Your wish or my life. 1, 2, 3…"
C.C glared at Lelouch.
The Immortal Witch know the former prince of Britannia was trying to threaten her by ending his own life.
"Before I met you I was dead. Dead before you and I formed this contract."Lelouch informed."I am nothing but a corpse living in a corrupted world."
Lelouch prepared to pull the trigger causing C.C to speak up.
"Stop it."C.C demanded as she lowered her gun down."You can go. But you better not die."
A smirk grew on Lelouch's face as he withdrew the gun from his head.
"That's good."Lelouch answered."I am going to pay Cornelia a visit after all. And I don't intend to keep her waiting."
At the G-1 Mobile Base…
There were ruined buildings just ahead of the G-1.
The preparations had been made.
The scouts have reported that there hasn't been a sign of any activity in the ghetto.
No sound was heard and no civilian was caught in their sight.
It was a ghost town.
Darlton scowled after he heard it and thought about everything all over.
"Ma'am, something isn't right." Darlton said.
"Hm?"Cornelia hummed, looking at Darlton. "You mean there hasn't been any report of Zero or any terrorists, correct?"
"No, princess. That's not it."Darlton responded. "The Ghetto is nothing more but a ghost town from what the scouts told me."
"Yes, I can see that."Cornelia said and glanced at her knight. "Guilford? Your input?"
"It may not look like it, but it feels that the terrorists have fled."Guilford assumed.
Cornelia frowned in suspicion.
"It sounds like a trap."Cornelia commented.
"So do we go as planned then, your highness?"One of Cornelia's staff officers asked.
"Of course."Cornelia replied. "Darlton, you have the orders."
"Yes, Your Highness."Darlton answered and gave the forces their next order. "All forces, commence the destruction of the Saitama Ghetto!"
Somewhere…
Naoto, Kallen, Rin and the rest of their allies were already in their positions as Cornelia's forces began to extend their search at Saitama Ghetto to find and shoot down any civilians that they would come across.
Naoto was inside a Sutherland that he took during the Shinjuku massacre. His was sprayed in a black colour with deep red slash designs on it.
"They haven't any civilians because they all left. With this, the first phase of the plan is complete."Naoto thought."Now for the second phase."
The others stood in the dark, waiting for the right moment to strike.
"This is awful."Rin said with a tone mixed with sadness and disgust."Cornelia's pride is as corrupted as Clovis' was."
"What do you expect, Rin?"Sugiyama questioned."The Britannians are always the same as murderers. Killing civilians to justify the lust of glory."
"Damn it. All this for luring Zero out?"Kallen scowled. "Britannia is going too far."
"Princess Cornelia is known to be an expert at the battlefield and many terrorist groups that faced her, ended up dead."Minami complemented. "But hopefully that will change thanks to Naoto's plan."
"She maybe a Britannian Princess, but no one can be invincible."Inoue responded.
"I say we'll kill her as our bonus mission."Tamaki suggested.
Rin frowned. "No."
"Huh?"Yoshida said in confusion.
"If we kill her, we have another new viceroy who is more fearsome and dangerous than her."Rin exclaimed, thinking about Emperor Charles and Schneizel."We can fight her in the battle, but don't kill her. As far as I want to rid of Britannia from Japan, this is not our mission unless Zero says it is. Understood?"
"Fine."Tamaki retorted."Whatever."
At Saitama Ghetto…
Darlton had ordered the search in the Saitama Ghetto to be extended.
This caused Sutherlands, tanks, infantrymen and APCs to check every part of the Ghetto for the civilians or terrorists.
But the results were the same.
Every house and alley was empty.
Lelouch was watching over using a Britannian soldier disguise. He stood on an overpass.
"Always the same."Lelouch thought."Cornelia replaces Clovis, yet Britannia never changes."
A soldier in a Sutherland jumped up and landed where Lelouch stood.
"What unit are you from?"the pilot asked. "Your unit name and ID, soldier."
"Private Dario Torres, sir. With Third Reconnaissance Company."Lelouch replied as he held up a disk. "I obtained this item from one of the terrorists. Could I ask you please transmit it to headquarters for me, sir?"
"Disc, huh?"the pilot said as he opened the cockpit of his knightmare. "Well, I still need to verify your ID first."
"Right, understood."Lelouch answered and activated his Geass. "But before we do that, sir, I'd like to borrow your Sutherland. So, hand it over."
"Sure. No problem."the pilot replied. "Just take good care of it."
Lelouch smiled. "Thank you, I really appreciate it."
Somewhere at Saitama Ghetto…
Two Sutherlands were moving about, looking around with suspicion hanging them by the neck.
"Do you see anything?"the first soldier asked.
"No."the second soldier replied. "It's too quiet."
From her hiding place, Rin held up a trigger and then pressed its button causing the confetti bombs to explode and it released confetti and smoke, blinding the view of the Sutherlands.
"What the hell is this?!"
Then two rockets were fired out of a building and slammed right into the chests of the two Sutherlands.
The pilots were killed in the explosions, following up with the destruction of their Knightmare Frames.
Yui and a few members of the Yamato Alliance were inside the building, revealing they were the ones who launched the rockets.
A tank then was hit with three consecutive rockets and exploded while Inoue and Sugiyama looked amazed by the sight.
"A direct hit!"Inoue chuckled.
From his Sutherland, Lelouch was issuing the orders as he watched the map screen and found it a bit strange that the terrorists were going along with his directions quite well.
"Rin and the terrorists are such skilled fighters. If this keeps up, Cornelia will eventually get isolated."Lelouch thought and smiled smugly before giving out an order. "P-6, close the enemy route now."
A bridge was destroyed with some well placed explosives, sending all who were on the bridge to fall right into the watery moat of Saitama itself.
In the G-1 Mobile Base…
"Point 1-7 has fallen."An operator reported. "Hally team, contact lost."
"That's enough."Cornelia declared. "Order all troops to fall back. Further damage and casualties serve no point."
This caused Prince Clovis' staff officers to look at Cornelia with surprised expressions.
"Fall back?"the first staff officer questioned.
"With all due respect, we can still fight them."the second staff officer insisted.
"We can't fight them like this."Cornelia stated and suddenly smiled. "This is the first condition of the plan."
In Saitama Ghetto…
"All forces, fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once."Diethard ordered. "Formation doesn't matter. Fall back behind Ghetto perimeter at once."
The Britannians soldiers began falling back towards the G-1 while Naoto and the others were watching them from their hiding places.
"Well, would you look at that."Tamaki sneered. "The Britannians are falling back."
Kallen frowned. "They're up to something."
"It's a trick without a doubt."Naoto commented.
"Huh?"Tamaki said in confusion.
"They look like they're retreating but they are only doing that just so they can lure us out and shoot where we stand."Naoto exclaimed. "Cornelia wants to still try to repeat the Shinjuku massacre to try and lure out Zero."
"So what do now, Naoto?"Yoshida asked.
Naoto's eyes narrowed a bit.
"We wait for the signal."Naoto declared.
Somewhere in Saitama Ghetto…
Lelouch smirked at seeing the Britannian soldiers retreating back to G-1.
"What? No stomach for it?"Lelouch asked with a smirk and checked at his screen. "If I blend in with the retreating units that'd put me right next to Cornelia. Have I cleared the task at hand already?"
Lelouch began considering his options, a Knightmare was unknowingly sneaking behind him.
A familiar voice on the phone Lelouch was using as a communicator to the terrorists suddenly startled him.
"I wouldn't do that if I were you."
"Huh?"Lelouch said in shock. "Who did-"
Lelouch glanced behind him and saw a Sutherland that was sprayed dark pink next to his Sutherland.
"Lady Rin?"Lelouch assumed.
"The one and only."Rin chuckled and became serious. "You are not falling for it, are you?"
"Falling for what?"Lelouch questioned.
"The obvious trap that Cornelia has set for you."Rin declared. "Don't you see how all of this almost mirrors Shinjuku?"
Lelouch became silent at Rin's question and a realisation immediately struck his mind.
It all made sense.
Cornelia would have forced all the pilots out of their Knightmare Frames, putting him on the spot if he went through it or tried to break out.
He would have been finished for sure.
"Hey! You're right!"Lelouch responded. "She set all of this up just so she could capture me."
Lelouch let out a weak chuckle.
"You knew I would come here without me knowing it was all a set up?"Lelouch assumed.
Rin smirked. "A woman's instinct is a very strong one."
"I feel foolish to think I could easily outwit the Goddess of Victory."Lelouch commented, feeling upset of his overconfidence. "I would've fell for Cornelia's bait, if you didn't tell me."
"Hey. No one is perfect, Zero. But its never bad to ask someone for help."Rin reminded. "Anyway, now we can turn this around and give Cornelia the element of surprise."
Lelouch became intrigued of Rin's respond.
The brunette was different than the other girls in Ashford Academy, but in a special way. She was witty, intelligent and a strong-willed girl. But also, dignified, proud, and loving when she needed to be. And that was the very reason he fell in love with her.
"Tell me the rest of the plan that you and your comrades have in mind."Lelouch insisted.
"Alright."Rin replied with a hint of amusement. "This is what we'll do."
In the G-1 Mobile Base…
Cornelia looked at Guilford.
"Shall we go, then, Guilford, my knight?"Cornelia asked.
"It is my pleasure to serve and obey you, my Lady."Guilford answered with a bow.
At the Saitama Ghetto…
Lelouch took out his phone when he saw he was receiving a call from the Student Council Room.
"Hmm? Student Council room?"Lelouch said in confusion."I thought the Cat Festival meeting was scheduled for tomorrow."
Suddenly the call was placed off causing Lelouch to become a bit confused before putting his phone away and focus on the battlefield.
A scowl crept on Lelouch's face at seeing Cornelia's Royal Guard head into the Saitama Ghetto.
From above a building, Inoue and Sugiyama spotted Cornelia's Royal Guard arriving to the ghetto.
"Heads up, everyone."Sugiyama warned."We see Gloucesters heading right this way."
The Gloucesters were moving in a formation with Guilford as the lead.
"Judging from their appearances, they must be Cornelia's Royal Guard."Inoue assumed.
Rin contacted Naoto from her Sutherland.
"Hey, Naoto. Zero agrees with our plan."Rin reported. "Shall we go with Phase 2?"
"Then let's begin."Naoto remarked and contacted Yoshida."Do it, Yoshida!"
Yoshida switched on the IFF as he quickly headed out to go to a safe area to hide.
In the G-1 Mobile Base...
Darlton and the Staff Officers notice one Sutherland was transmitting an IFF signal on the screen.
"One Knightmare left transmitting an IFF signal within the city area."Darlton reported.
"Can't you contact it?"the first staff officer asked.
"It's friendly!"the second staff officer suggested. "Scrabble the rescue team!"
"No, destroy it."Cornelia ordered.
"You can't!"the first staff officer protested.
"He might be a captive of the enemy."the second staff officer added.
"I ordered all troops to fall back."Cornelia reminded. "I have no use for soldiers who can't follow my orders."
"You heard the Princess."Darlton stated.
"But-"the first staff officer started.
"Do your duty even if it costs your life."Cornelia declared. "My subordinates follow that code without question."
At the Saitama Ghetto…
Guilford and four Gloucesters behind him went to surround the Sutherland that previously belonged to Yoshida.
They all simultaneously pierced the Knightmare with their lances.
A member of the Royal Guard, who was at the back noticed that it was empty.
"Lord Guilford, this unit is empty."the man declared.
Suddenly, three small bombs with strange pink fluid came out from the damaged Sutherland and went on the floor. And then…
BOOM!
The three small bombs gave out a loud and noisy diversion causing Guilford and the four Gloucesters to be trapped in strange pink sticky substance.
Guilford tried to move his Gloucester, but was unable to move.
"What is this?!"Guilford demanded.
"I don't know, Lord Guilford!"One of the Gloucesters shouted. "It appears we are stuck!"
Naoto contacted his companions from his Sutherland.
"This is our chance, everybody!"Naoto declared. "Let's take them down!"
A bright red sprayed Sutherland piloted by Kallen rushed toward a Gloucester that she spotted.
The Gloucester tried to stab her with his lance, but the red haired girl was too fast for him and he met his demise.
"Eat this, Britannian swine!"Kallen retorted.
"Cowardly eleven!"the pilot scowled.
The Gloucester then exploded in front of Kallen's Sutherland.
In another area, Tamahome and the Yamato Alliance started attacking the Gloucesters coming their way.
They tossed smoke bombs and pressed on a detonator, causing bombs to explode.
One Gloucester attempted to attack Tamahome's Sutherland, but he suffered the iron grip of Yui's silver coloured Sutherland and was stabbed to death.
The Gloucesters began employing their favourite tactics that included hit and run and other attack methods.
However, Naoto and Rin came to the Yamato Alliance's aide.
Rin quickly moved and fired at the Gloucester that was firing at her.
The brunette felt hostility coming from behind and turned to see a Gloucester coming down with his lance coming at her.
Rin quickly blocked the attack and forced the enemy soldier back.
Naoto fired a shot and managed to score a right arm off the soldier, leaving him with only his gun.
The pilot quickly moved out of the way and retreated from his Gloucester before it exploded.
At the G-1 Mobile Base…
Cornelia became surprised at the report of her enemies destroying five Gloucesters and several of her soldiers getting killed.
"Your Highness, a group of enemy Knightmares have appeared in the city and now have destroyed our soldiers."the first staff officer reported.
"And what of Guilford's unit?"Cornelia asked.
"It seems that Lord Guilford and his soldiers are struggling to get out of a trap done by the enemy, Princess Cornelia."One of Clovis' Staff Officers reported.
Cornelia let out a scoff.
"So the terrorists decided to give the element of surprise."Cornelia complemented and then narrowed her eyes. "Kill them."
At the Saitama Ghetto…
Tamahome went after the next Gloucester and disarmed it in a quick attack and swiped the tonfa on the Gloucester's chest, killing the pilot and disabling the unit.
Two members of the Royal Guard was chasing after Rin's Sutherland, but she was too fast and dodged his attacks, she then used her Knightmare to punch the Gloucester hard.
Rin's Sutherland then snatched his Jousting Lance using it at the moment to impale the Gloucester and kill the pilot.
Kallen's Sutherland was confronted by three Gloucesters that started shooting at her.
The red haired girl let out a battle cry as she used her Sutherland's slash harkens to smack down two of the Gloucesters hard on the ground and take a Jousting Lance to destroy the one left standing.
One of the Gloucesters attempted to use his gun to shoot Kallen's Sutherland, but was disarmed and destroyed by Naoto's Sutherland.
"Kallen, are you alright?"Naoto asked in concern.
"I'm fine, big brother."Kallen assured. "Thanks."
Rin made her Sutherland go the other side and saw there were only four Gloucesters remaining in the battlefield.
"There you are, eleven!"A soldier snarled.
"Prepare to burn!"Another soldier scowled.
A smirk grew on Rin's face.
"Sorry."Rin apologised sarcastically. "But I don't like pushy boys."
Rin snapped her fingers and signaled some of the resistance members to fire rockets.
From their hiding places, Minami and Tamaki fired off two cannon shots that hit two Gloucesters.
Miaka's Sutherland tackled one of Gloucesters from behind before bringing out her knife and stabbing it to death.
She then got behind the remaining Gloucester and severed its left arm, leaving him with only his lance.
Rin thrusts her lance into the Gloucester's metal abdomen and charged into a building.
The Gloucester was heavily damaged and then exploded as Rin's Sutherland went away from it.
Not far from where they stood, Inoue and Sugiyama spotted Guilford and the four remaining soldiers' cockpits flying away in the sky.
The Royal Guard was defeated.
"It's seems that those clowns couldn't get out of Rin's sticky bombs."Inoue sneered.
Sugiyama smiled at his girlfriend.
"Other than that is we just smack Cornelia's forces right in the face."Sugiyama remarked.
Inoue and Sugiyama chuckled as they did a high five together at their victory.
A smile sprung on Lelouch's face as he watched Rin and her comrades take out the remaining Gloucesters.
"Rin. Naoto Kozuki."Lelouch thought in awe."You both understood how to set up things the way you want them to be, you plotted the course ahead and made sure everything was as you had planned it. Since you prevented me from falling into Cornelia's trap, you showed me how remarkable you really are, Rin."
At the G-1 Mobile Base…
Cornelia was lost for words.
She just witnessed the first loss in her career as a military commander and the defeat of her Royal Guard.
"Princess, the Royal Guard just…"Darlton started.
"The Yamato Alliance...they...they beaten the Royal Guard!"Clovis' first staff officer exclaimed.
"That's impossible!"A staff officer argued.
Cornelia growled lightly as she clenched her fists in anger while sitting on her throne.
Suddenly, the screen inside went fuzzy as Zero's image appeared, surprising everyone.
"It appears you have underestimated me, Cornelia li Britannia."Zero declared.
Cornelia became angry at seeing Zero on her screen.
"Zero."Cornelia scowled.
"You are nothing like Clovis due to your reputation as the Goddess of Victory."Zero commented. "But it seems today you were beaten by me. How unfortunate."
"You are a fool, Zero."Cornelia retorted. "You shall pay dearly for murdering my half-brother Clovis and members of my Royal Guard."
"Clovis la Britannia was nothing but a corrupted man that begged pathetically for his life to the very end."Zero informed. "He pleaded with the same tongue that ordered the deaths of harmless people in Shinjuku."
Cornelia glared at Zero for insulting Clovis.
"How dare you."Cornelia snarled.
"Your Highness."Darlton said worriedly.
"Since your Royal Guard has been defeated, the victory today goes to me and my comrades."Zero declared. "But one victory doesn't entirely been the complete success of the fight because the main reason that all of us came here was only to challenge you."
"So be it then, Zero."Cornelia said in a firm yet strict tone. "But I'll wipe you and everyone that stand against me from the face of the earth in the end."
"We shall see."Zero responded. "Until next time."
The screen went fuzzy and Zero disappeared from everyone's view.
"Continue you to fight all you want, Zero."Cornelia thought coldly. "But in the end, you'll be mine."
Later that Day…
Naoto, Kallen, Rin, Yoshida, Sugiyama, Minami, Inoue, Tamaki and the Yamato Alliance raised up their drinks in toast for defeating Cornelia's Royal Guard in the Saitama Ghetto.
They were celebrating the success of their mission in another part of the ghetto that was their secret hideout.
This was their very first victory against Britannia since Japan's humiliating defeat against the Empire.
It may not be their official goal, but they proved to everyone that Cornelia or her men were not invincible as she claimed themselves to be.
Next time things were going to get harder, but this was actually their very first step of becoming an independent nation to fight Britannia with their mysterious leader known as Zero.
In Ashford Academy…
Lelouch returned to his room, where C.C was waiting for him.
"I take it your day was successful?"C.C assumed.
"More than you can imagine."Lelouch stated."But I have Rin and Kallen's older brother to thank since it was because of them that it was a triumph against Cornelia."
"So you suggest to continue using your girlfriend and her squad until you wipe Britannia out from Area 11?"C.C assumed.
Lelouch frowned at C.C's reply.
"I'm not using them as pawns in a game, witch."Lelouch retorted in a strict tone."We'll continue working together as a group to gather more people for our nation."
"A nation?"C.C said in confusion.
Lelouch gives a nod.
"Yes."Lelouch agreed with a determined look."We'll raise an army that can't lose to Britannia, of people, an independent nation."
Next is the Birth of the Black Knights. See you all in the next chapter :)