PART I

ACT IV

SCENE I

(NERV's archives. CONN sits at a desk reading an advertisement he had gotten in the mail. His walking stick rests against the desk with his fedora resting on top of it while his blazer is on the back of his chair.)

CONN: Finally! A pizza place that includes corn as a topping! (He puts the advertisement down on the desk before him and then picks up the folder containing the Project Germanicus file. He opens it and stares long and hard at the text.) Now what manner of text is this? Could it be something modern? It certainly isn't Ancient Egyptian… If only it were, then I could translate it using one of the books I've got at home… (Sighing.) Maybe Commander Ikari really has translated Linear A. If so, I must tip my hat to him. (He puts the folder down and begins to tap a finger on the side of his face.) No Project Britannicus, but there is a Project Germanicus. Maybe the Commander doesn't have anything planned for Asuka Langley Soryu and this Mari Makinami Illustrious, maybe Project Germanicus is a plan to wipe Germany off the map! (Confused.) But what would that accomplish? Suppose Commander Ikari has successfully managed to decipher Linear A, what does that mean? That he has an interest in archaeology just as I do? Well, if that is the case wherefore would he want to wipe Germany off the map? Because a Heinrich Schliemann, a German, discovered the fabled city of Troy? That is nothing short of disproportionate… Perhaps there is a Project Britannicus, but it is simply elsewhere, somewhere other than here in the archives… I don't know, if there is a Project Britannicus, maybe it doesn't have to do with this Mari Makinami Illustrious. I still think Commander Ikari doesn't look entirely Japanese, Deputy Commander Fuyutsuki doesn't look entirely Japanese either, they both look somewhat British to me. If Commander Ikari does have British ancestry, then so too does his scion Shinji Ikari and so, if there is a Project Britannicus, then it might concern him rather than Mari Makinami Illustrious… But wherefore? Would Commander Ikari seriously consider killing his own son?... Wherefore do I keep referring to them by their full appellations? Only once have I just referred to Shinji Ikari by his given appellation. Wherefore can't I just do that with everyone who isn't family? If it isn't me referring to them by their full appellation, then I am referring to them by their rank and surname, even off duty. (He runs a hand through his hair then picks up some letters.) "Dear, Mr. O'Sullivan, we are sorry but your article 'On the Subject of the Supernatural' has been rejected." Doesn't even say why. (Looks at the next one.) "Dear, Mr. O'Sullivan, we are sorry but your article 'On the Subject of Mysterious Monsters' has been rejected due to a surplus of such articles having been received." That's fair. (Looks at the next one as MAYA ENTERS.) "Dear, Mr. O'Sullivan, your article 'On the Subject of Legendary Lands' has been accepted, but will be rewritten by and credited to out star writer Washington Hammurabi Hornswaggle. Sincerely yours, Nurunuru Bakkusutaba." What did I expect from a man whose appellation quite literally means "Slimy Backstabber"? At least he is upfront about it.

MAYA: I hope that isn't his real name.

CONN: (Putting the letter down.) If it isn't, then it is an incredibly honest alias. Good morning, First Lieutenant—

MAYA: Conn, please. Just call me Maya.

CONN: (Nodding.) Good morning, First Lieutenant Maya.

MAYA: (Sighing.) It's a start. (She walks over to the desk and picks up the letter that CONN had just put down.)

CONN: Yes, I suppose it is… I would like to apologize for calling you what I did. I had no idea that you hadn't grown up without—

MAYA: Conn, you've done nothing but apologize since I told you. Its alright. Now you know.

CONN: And I suppose the thought of being Commander Ikari's daughter is one you'd rather not think about.

MAYA: He isn't the one I'd want, but if he is then that means Shinji is my brother… I guess I can live with it. (Gesturing at the letter she is holding.) You should probably see a lawyer about this.

CONN: A lawyer can wait. I think this Project Germanicus is more important.

MAYA: Too bad we couldn't find a Project Britannicus to go with it.

CONN: (Rubbing his chin.) Perhaps Project Germanicus and Project Britannicus are one and the same.

MAYA: What do you mean?

CONN: Well, Germanicus' nephew Britannicus had not always been named that. He had been born Tiberius Claudius Germanicus. The name "Britannicus" had been given to his father Claudius following his role in the conquest of Britain, but he never used it and instead gave it to his son, who became Tiberius Claudius Caesar Britannicus.

MAYA: Good theory, but we have to figure out what this… (She picks up the file for Project Germanicus and stares at it.) What do you even call this?

CONN: Major Katsuragi called it chicken scratch, so I guess that is as good a name as any. I told her, if I didn't know better, I'd say it was Linear A, which the Minoans of Crete used, but unfortunately that writing system is undeciphered.

MAYA: (Smiling at CONN.) You really like history, don't you?

CONN: (Giving a small chuckle.) Yeah, well… My paterfamilias was a professor of history. Never thought such an interest would ever prove useful and to an extent, I guess you could say it still doesn't. I know what "Germanicus" means, but knowing what it means is useless when it comes to telling us what the project is about. What is the project's appellation referencing? The Roman victory title, the general, anyone who held the title?

MAYA: How many individuals are we talking about here?

CONN: That I know of? Well, lets see here… There was Germanicus and his brother Claudius, their paterfamilias Nero Claudius Drusus, Germanicus' son Caligula, Claudius' son Britannicus for a short time, Germanicus' grandson, step-nephew and adoptive nephew and Claudius' great-nephew, stepson, adoptive son and son-in-law Nero, (A look, half-disturbed and half-confused, appears on MAYA's face) then outside of the Julian-Claudian dynasty we have Vitellius, Domitian, Nerva, his adoptive son Trajan, Marcus Aurelius, his son Commodus… And I think that's everyone.

MAYA: C-Can you go back and explain Nero's relationship to Germanicus and Claudius to me? I think I might have misheard.

(CONN opens his mouth to speak when MISATO ENTERS.)

MISATO: Nice to see the two of you being more civil with each other. Anything to report, because what I have is big: the Fifth Child Kaworu Nagisa is here in Tokyo-3.

MAYA: What?

CONN: Already? Then that must mean Unit…Oh, God! Who has that list of pilots? How far away from that British girl with the pretentious appellation are we? Mari Makinamo Illustrious!

MAYA: Makinami.

CONN: Mari Makinami Illustrious.

MISATO: Conn, relax! Lets handle one thing at a time. Now, what have you found?

CONN: Neither me or First Lieutenant Maya have been here long enough. I've mainly been looking at my mail that I brought along with me.

MAYA: He does have a theory that Project Germanicus might also be Project Britannicus though.

MISATO: (Perking up with interest.) Wait a minute, did he just call you, First Lieutenant Maya?

CONN: Yes, Major. I did call her that.

MAYA: Conn thinks that due Britannicus having originally been named "Germanicus" after his uncle, the project might reference him as well as anyone who had the victory title.

MISATO: That might explain why you weren't able to find a Project Britannicus here in the archives.

CONN: Or it hasn't been sent down yet, there are just too many possibilities. What are we even (MISATO's phone begins to ring.)

MISATO: (Answering her phone.) Hello?... Ritsuko?... You've found what?... We'll be right there. (She closes her phone and looks at MAYA and CONN.) Guess what has just been found.

CONN: (Shocked.) No!

MAYA: Project Britannicus?

MISATO: Project Claudius.

CONN: Well, guess that throws the Carolingians out the window. (He stands up, putting on his blazer.)

MAYA: (In disbelief.) Claudius! Conqueror of Britain!

CONN: (Grabbing his fedora and walking stick.) I had us looking for the wrong relation, what an ass I was! Well, can't say I'm feeling optimistic. If these projects have something to do with Asuka Langley Soryu and Mari Makinami Illustrious it can't be something good. Germanicus was believed to have been poisoned and Claudius probably was! (EXEUNT.)