C.C stared at the screen. The recording taken by one of Lelouch's geassed JLF troops. A precaution to make sure the plan went as intended, and to know what went wrong if it didn't. From what the immortal woman could tell, it was entirely successful. "That was certainly a bold plan," she remarked as he returned from the restroom. He had taken multiple trips over the past few hours as he forced himself to watch the footage. His reaction was audible to those who cared to listen. The maid had offered him tea to help settle his stomach. He carried the cup in with him on his return.

For all his attempts to appear strong, his paler than usual complexion and slight tremor he couldn't suppress declared the facade. "A necessary step," he responded as he sat down next to her. He couldn't help but stare at the screen even then as he sipped his tea. "The JLF needed to be removed as an active force and potential threat. Without their leadership, they're nothing. Any attempts to undermine Britannian efforts will be far easier to manage, especially as I still have some of their number feeding me information." He took another long drink from the cup, forcing his eyes away from the screen. "Even in the unlikely event that they reform, it won't be until after the conflict with the Federation is closer to the ending than the beginning, if it isn't already done. One less thing to worry about." He set the cup down, resting his elbows on his knees and threading his fingers under his nose. "It was necessary."

"Hmph. You're telling yourself that, not me." Though she could understand why he had such misgivings after seeing the fruits of his labour. It might have been evocative of the Japanese samurai tradition, but seppuku was not a pretty sight. Those men suffered violent and painful deaths. Though it could be said, after they were stripped of all free will, they were already dead. "Getting cold feet?"

"No," he answered without hesitation. "It was n–" At least he caught on he was developing a mantra and stopped himself. That sort of approach wasn't healthy. "There are some outcomes that can't be avoided. People will die in this conflict. People worthy of respect. There is no kindness in war and war was what those men wanted. So I gave it to them. This is the result."

"Even so, this wasn't the first time you have been responsible for deaths," the immortal woman noted. She wasn't entirely certain of that, but she had to assume getting her away from Code R wasn't bloodless. "Did you know them? Was that why you reacted so viscerally? Why you spared him?" she asked, referring to the man desperately trying to stop his leader's suicide.

"They were the first I can say I personally killed," he admitted, "even if it was their own hands holding the weapon. As for if I knew them... No. I saw some of them before the invasion, including Tohdoh. But I never met Tohdoh. I knew of him, both for his reputation as a commander and his desire to see myself and Nunnally executed."

"An odd choice for mercy in that case."

Once again, Lelouch sipped his tea. He glanced at the screen again, only flinching at the sight. A significant improvement over the need to vomit. "I suppose. It obviously wasn't for sentimental reasons, though from a certain view he was correct in wanting us dead. We were political hostages to keep the peace, and Britannia attacked anyway. Our deaths were the expected response. Then again, murdering children is an unsanitary political move from a sentimental perspective. I suppose in that sense we were a poison pill. Britannia broke the peace, but if Japan killed us, they were still monsters. If they didn't, they were too weak to follow through with the implied threat." He blinked, realising he had gotten into his own head. Gotten distracted. "No. I spared him because he was an able commander. My hope and intention is the remnants of the JLF can be turned to my side."

"That's certainly an ambitious plan," the witch commented with a little mockery. "Perhaps even an arrogant one."

"It's an outcome I would like to see, but not one that is essential to my long-term aims," he was careful to say. "Kyoshiro Tohdoh is the most accomplished strategist and tactician Japan had to offer. If he can be convinced to work for Britannia by way of Japan, he would be a valuable asset. His greatest feat is defeating a force of knightmares with antiquated equipment. That's a difficult task but not impossible. Many nations have accomplished the feat in the course of a protracted war, given the chance to familiarise themselves with Britannian military doctrine. The impressiveness of it was how quickly he enacted the plan to secure such a victory. It may have only happened once, and Britannia made sure it would never happen the same way again, but Britannia walked over every other Area's military that fought to the end. In a matter of days, Kyoshiro Tohdoh found a weakness of Britannian military doctrine and exploited it. If there's a chance to get that kind of mind on my side, I'll take it."

"Still arrogant then," the witch sighed, closing the recording and falling backward, her hair splayed out beneath her. "A strong heart, a defiant will, a sharp mind. Valuable qualities, but also dangerous ones for one who remains a potential enemy. All it takes is for that man to realise your deceptions–"

"He won't. You saw the precautions I took. Tohdoh has no choice but to believe Katase and the others meant every word, came to their conclusion of their own volition. He may choose to remain an enemy, but there is no way for him to know my interference. And if he chooses to remain an enemy, I'll put an end to it just the same."

"Just the same." An interesting choice of words. So even after his strong reaction to his own deeds, his conviction remained the same. If he felt it expedient, he would do exactly this once again. In truth, they were simply casualties of war. There was little difference between how the JLF leaders died and a prisoner used as propaganda. Brutal, but that was war. Such actions were common, the important difference was that Lelouch's efforts would work. Would be believed. He had successfully subverted their understanding of themselves, shaken their faith in their leaders and their cause and as a result, castrated the resistance movement in one stroke. Still... "Arrogant it is, then."

If this man was as impressive as Lelouch described, he wouldn't be swayed so easily. All the boy who would be emperor had achieved in sparing him was to leave an enemy at his back. A challenge to overcome? A lesson to learn from? Well, all men had their failings, especially young men.

-(-)-

Tohdoh walked the corridors of the JLF base. They had become emptier since the incident. The effect on the soldiers had been devastating, it was no wonder after seeing something like that a number of them simply left. Others had clung harder to the stability of their positions, as though if they simply followed orders and did their duty the JLF would come back from this. Altercations had broken out in some places, fiercely and fanatically loyal soldiers subduing would-be deserters by force.

It was perhaps selfish. But for Tohdoh, the last remaining officer of the command staff, the formal resignations were the worst. And the worst was that they weren't always immediate resignations. They came to him, often in groups, often in units. "If you will lead us Colonel, then we'll follow you to hell." What they said was often something to that effect. And... He had nothing for them, and no intention of hiding it. That was when the prepared letters came out. The apologies, the pleas, the requests that they be allowed to return to what family they had. In every one of those men, he saw the death of the JLF in the form of a solemn final salute.
Against his better judgement, he found his way down to the hangar. From the catwalk, he looked upon rows upon rows of Burai, the 'Japanese' knightmare. They stood solemnly like the samurai their appearance was modelled after. Ready for war. Ready for nothing.

"Colonel Tohdoh, sir." He didn't look as he heard Chiba's voice. "This is where you were."

"... Report, Chiba."

He didn't need to see her to sense her enforced stoicism at his curt response. "Yes sir. Senba and the others have finished their investigation of the incident. Shall I instruct them to return to your office?"

'His' office. The remnants of the JLF had been quick to insist he take the general's office out of desperation for stability. They needed someone to be in charge, ironically not letting him refuse it. He couldn't blame them for their mad confusion. He felt it too. "No. No, they can come here."

"... Understood, sir."

He continued to silently watch the machines below. They had gone through preparatory maintenance already. Ready for the operation that might have changed the fate of Japan, for better or worse. He wasn't convinced of the plan in the first place. The strategic aim of equalising Britannian and Chinese forces to deny either side an advantage. Weakening each side. Drawing the war out. It could have worked. The big picture was more Katase's area but Tohdoh understood the logic of the strategy. Weakening the Chinese and Britannians, building themselves up stronger until they could achieve a true victory.

Katase believed in it to the point he didn't appreciate misgivings about it. Was that a sign of his own doubts? It seemed absurd. But then... Something like this also seemed absurd.
"Colonel!" Asahina's hurried footsteps made a heavy metallic ring on the catwalk, stopping as he planted his feet and saluted. Two more sets of footsteps following him, belonging to Urabe and Senba.

"Strange place to give our report, Colonel," Urabe commented.

"These are strange times." The supposed miracle worker looked at the eldest among his Holy Swords. "Senba, your report?"

The older man sighed. "We searched the quarters of all the command staff, except yours of course, Colonel. There wasn't anything out of place."

"Nothing?"

"Nothing," Urabe repeated. "And I mean that. Everything was arranged perfectly, beyond military precision. All of their belongings organised not for use but for... Well, for removal, sir."
"They planned this," Asahina stated with certainty. "Their death poems could've told us that, even if the state of their belongings didn't."

"Death poems?" Tohdoh asked with open skepticism. "Kusakabe doing that I can understand, but Katase wasn't the type." He wasn't the type to commit seppuku either. He didn't style himself as an old shogun or samurai.

Urabe gave a humourless laugh. "Yeah, no kidding. Tell you the truth, they all kind of read like Kusakabe. I get the feeling it was something he wanted them all to do and the others humoured him, maybe even let him help write them. But they're written in their own hand, sloppy calligraphy and all. General Katase's wasn't even in calligraphy, just scribbled on a page from a notepad."

"Hm, yeah, that sounds like..." Tohdoh frowned as he trailed off. The not quite laugh of familiarity caught him off guard. "That sounds like him."

"Do you still suspect foul play, Colonel?" Urabe asked with uncharacteristic seriousness. "We checked everything we could think of. Nothing on security, no sign of anything off. Just a real, uh, drastic action."

He wanted to say yes. He wanted to believe they wouldn't do something like this of their own will. He wanted to say no. Everything pointed to them choosing this outcome. "All of this," he said, knowing he could speak openly and honestly with these four. "They planned all of this, a public suicide as they disbanded the JLF. And they didn't show a single sign of their intentions. Not to me, not to anyone. Leaving just me. Why? How?"

"Colonel... Sir..." Chiba spoke with hesitance. "With all due respect, they couldn't involve you, not in this. I don't pretend to know or even understand their thoughts. But I know if you died with them, the flame of Japan would've died too. There would've been nothing left."

"She's right, Colonel," Senba agreed with a shrug. "You might not appreciate the hero worship, but if Tohdoh of Miracles opened his belly, well... The fight would've died in every man of the JLF. You're the hope of the Japanese."

"And they knew if you knew, you'd try to stop them doing something crazy like this," Asahina added.

"Maybe they wanted you to continue the JLF!" Chiba suggested.

Urabe shook his head. "Or maybe they didn't, what with them dissolving the whole thing. But whatever they wanted, they trusted you to do what needs to be done. Whatever you decide that is."

"I guess that's the question now," Asahina said as he turned and leaned on the railing of the catwalk. Looking at the idle machines. "What needs to be done."

"We'll follow you, Colonel," Urabe's pledge followed. "So will everyone still on this base. Tell us the play and we'll run it. Just say the word."

And that was the other problem. Beyond that frustrating pit in his stomach telling him something was wrong here. Beyond the loss of men who perhaps weren't friends but at least men he trusted and respected. Now, the question of what happened next fell to him.

Kyoshiro Tohdoh wasn't a leader. He was a tactician who played at strategy. He was a soldier, a field commander. He wasn't a leader. He wasn't a general. The loyalty he earned, the admiration he received, it all came from a singular accomplishment that gave him an overinflated value in the minds of the Japanese. The men of the JLF thought he could simply step into Katase's shoes and work miracles as he once did. As heoncedid. The skillset was entirely different. Both he and Katase knew it. It was why Tohdoh didn't care that Katase traded on Tohdoh's reputation more than a little. Katase knew how to play that reputation to their advantage, working with the Six Houses, whipping up support of civilians. That and handling logistics... Those were Katase's strengths. Without him, the JLF were far more diminished than the rank and file could realise.

"I'll need your support," he said finally. "Now more than ever."

"You know you have it, Colonel," Urabe said.

Tohdoh nodded. Their position was very much insecure. All of these machines, they no longer had the personnel to maintain them all. Who knew what the Six Houses were thinking now that the JLF command staff were gone. It wasn't impossible they would reduce their support. More likely they'd increase it. An act of desperation not unlike the soldiers trying to force deserters into line. Trying to repair what was broken. "The old plan can't go ahead. If we tried to use Katase's plan, it would end with the Britannians and Chinese weakened, but it would also destroy us, leave us unable to capitalise on it to liberate Japan." Too much was lost that couldn't be regained. Liberating Japan became even more of a pipedream than it already was. "We'll need a different approach as we move forward."

"The JLF isn't disbanding?" Asahina asked.

"Not today. We still have a job to do."

-(-)-

"The JLF are dead."

For all the stoic formality of a meeting between members of the Six Houses of Kyoto, the dreadful pronouncement sent a chill through the room.

"Perhaps premature, Osakabe," Munakata suggested. "The loss of General Katase–"

"And every other command officer save one," Osakabe interrupted. "An organisation is nothing without leaders and that goes triple for a military. They–"

A heavy thud from Taizo Kirihara's cane vibrated the air. "This is a dire situation Osakabe, but that is no excuse for disrespectful interruptions."

"... My apologies."

Waiting for Kirihara's nod, Munakata continued. "As I was saying, the loss of those officers is terrible. But this is no time to abandon the JLF. Even diminished as they are, they are still the largest resistance group in Japan. Abandon them now and everything we invested in their growth and success will be wasted. We can't lose such a crucial force at such a critical time."
"A critical time for them, or for Japan?" Kubouin asked.

"Both, of course."

From behind her curtain, Kaguya Sumeragi looked to the current leader of the Six Houses, indicating her desire to speak. He nodded back to her. "In addition, the gap between the JLF and other resistance groups has only widened. Many others have been eaten away by the growing pro-Britannian movement of groups like the JSDF."

Osakabe tried to hold back his inarticulate growl. "To think such a thing could happen. The ferocity of the Japanese is dwindling if so many are submitting to a master's whip."

"People are people, Lord Osakabe," Kaguya continued. "They do not enjoy the protection of money and influence as we do. They already suffer and will only suffer more in a war between Britannians and Chinese. They seek security that we have continually failed to offer them."
Kubouin sighed. "As the Britannians say. 'Better the devil you know than the devil you don't', is it?"

"Devils are devils. There is no difference." Osakabe grumbled.

"Then perhaps better a devil than a duel between devils," Kubouin offered with humourless humour. "And here we were, prepared to make that a reality no matter the cost to ourselves. Now here we sit, paralysed by impossible choices."

"Not impossible," Kirihara insisted. "The options before us remain simple. Regarding the JLF, I propose we provide them increased support. Colonel Tohdoh has indicated his intent to reform the organisation and continue operations. I believe Lord Munakata is correct that they are too valuable to discard or undermine."

Osakabe, the strongest voiced opposition, grunted. "Their value is diminished, but they aren't yet a waste."

The others readily agreed, pushing the proposal through. "My second proposal is that we send an invitation. To the leader of this JSDF."

Kaguya looked at him like he had gone mad, her break in composure thankfully hidden behind her curtain.

"It is important to know one's enemy," Munakata agreed.

"Their leader... Which one?" Kubouin asked. "The traitor Kaname Ohgi, or the Britannian who calls himself Zero and hides his face?" They had of course been informed of the shadowy figure's true nature by groups who had attended the formation of the JSDF, but hadn't joined. It was understood to be a persistent rumour, one that the JSDF didn't deny, and yet it did distressingly little to discredit them.

"... Both," Kirihara decided after a moment's thought. "Considering the situation, Kaname Ohgi, in fact, he and leaders of other groups who joined the JSDF, they already know our status as resistance collaborators. Thus, this mystery Britannian also does."

"Is there any better reason to not bring them here and confirm it?!" Osakabe demanded hotly. "We haven't kept our positions to facilitate the resistance this long with that kind of carelessness!"

Kirihara's cane thudded again. "This is our time. The Britannian Civil War, their Emblem of Blood, they will never be this vulnerable again. In this time of uncertainty all opportunities must be taken, even involving ourselves in their foolish familial schisms and grabs for power. The Chinese and Britannians are enemies. The Britannians and Britannians are also enemies. Any weakness we can cause, any infighting we can create or facilitate, it favours Japan. It favours the Japanese."

Kaguya's brows furrowed. She was starting to see what he was getting at. It was a bold approach, had potential to backfire...

"This Zero is grasping for power," Kubouin realised. "And you intend to assist him, and thereby undermine Clovis."

"Britannians fight Britannians, tear their settlement apart," Osakabe nodded along. "And the Japanese get left out of it. The Witch of Britannia fights off the Chinese, Clovis fights this Zero. All weakened, while the JLF rebuilds."

"Give the Britannians as many enemies as we can," Munakata nodded, clearly coming around to the idea. "If this fails, we can expect our heads to roll."

"We were prepared for that anyway," Kubouin reminded them with a smile.

The proposal passed. Kaguya couldn't hide her astonishment. The traitors to Japan, the Britannian lapdogs, the secret backers of the Japanese resistance, would secretly back the pro-Britannian Japanese and their mysterious Britannian benefactor. Quintuple agents.

The political games the Kyoto House played.