Sena of the Liberation

by S.H. the Writer

Fate swings to a fro, back and forth as does a pendulum. And with each swing, possibilities change and shift. The path of one can be decided simply by the small changes in fate's flow, and perhaps possibility itself can be ever changed. This is a story of two, of brothers ever parallel, shaking the fate of the world itself in calls for liberation and rebellion.

7. Stage 7

Stage 7: Discovery

At a certain hideaway in the Shinjuku ghetto, the sounds of whirring tools and machinery filled the space. The illumination from aging fluorescent lights lent a soft light to the garage, some more light provided by the slightly open garage door, also ensuring good airflow during the work being done.

Naoto stepped back from his newly acquired Glasgow as he finally got a panel of the leg armor off, careful to lower the object to the floor without dropping it.

"Geez, this tungsten alloy doesn't kid around…" Naoto chuckled as he shook his hands. With the panel free of the leg, he could finally start prodding around the internals to check their proper condition. He didn't have much, but he was determined to find and replace what he could to make sure the thing was running in as good a condition as possible.

He certainly had the time to get some work in while he waited on Sena to get information on that facility.

"Hmm… in better shape than I was worried about," carefully, Naoto ran his fingers through the exposed machine skeleton of the leg, finding some wires he was quite thankful to be wearing gloves for. "Thing must've had less use than we figured… only things I might need to replace would be what was actually exposed… can probably just get those things from the scrapyard then… wouldn't be the best fix, but if it works."

"Oi! Naoto! You got some new project car in there or something?" Naoto flinched when he heard knocking on the garage door, spotting boots shifting around nearby.

"Ohgi!? I didn't think you'd be coming by!" Naoto shot to his feet, hurrying to the door as Ohgi's hands grasped the underside.

"Didn't say I was. But I just wanted to check in with that thing you said you were planning. It wasn't some…" Naoto could only give an awkward look as the door flew open. His longtime friend and second on their rebel cell, Kaname Ohgi, stood stunned in the doorway the second he saw that it was a Knightmare Naoto had squirreled away in this garage.

"Surprise!" Naoto threw his hands up, and Ohgi slammed the garage door shut in an instant.

"Where the heck did you get ahold of a Knightmare?!" Ohgi snapped as he approached Naoto, the man's jacket flaring as if to add to the brown-haired man's annoyance. "Is this what you were telling us you planned to get your hands on?!"

"We've needed one, haven't we?" Naoto wasn't surprised that Ohgi didn't seem quite that convinced. "Look, if we're going to be serious about this, we need a Knightmare, especially with what I'm planning."

"Naoto… ugh, fine, I'm listening," Ohgi pinched his nose, and Naoto gave his old friend a clap on the arm. "Please tell me this at least has a full explanation."

"Oh, more than that! See, I've got us a new ally!" Naoto chuckled as he trotted over to his workbench, grabbing the files he'd previously shown Sena. "Remember how a bit ago that contact of mine fed me some intel on a black site in the settlement?"

"Yeah, you said it was a case you thought was worth looking into," Ohgi took the offered files, his brow furrowing when he saw for himself just how heavily redacted they were. "This was the best they could get you? These are hardly helpful."

"Ah, but, what if I said now, I know somebody who can get us the full file?" Ohgi raised a brow, Naoto chuckling. "It's the person who got me this Knightmare. I… well, the how of how we met isn't that important, did kind of try to shoot him though."

"I think that's kind of important!"

"What matters now is that he agreed to help us. This KMF is proof of it. Trust me, if I wasn't, I'd probably be in some prison cell right now," Ohgi let out a groan of annoyance, Naoto rubbing the back of his head. "It was worth the risk! Ohgi, it's not just some guy, this kid's a Sumeragi!"

"Wait, what?!" Ohgi about jumped back from surprise. "But I thought the only Sumeragis were Juzo and his wife in Hokkaido, and then the current head back here in Tokyo. And we don't even know who that is!"

"Ah, but there was another!" Naoto chuckled, leaning back on his bench. "Way back from before the Second Pacific War, rumors say the Sumeragi house married one of their daughters off to the Britannian Emperor as part of some appeasement deal. What if I said that not only was that rumor true, but that she and her son have been in Japan since the occupation started?"

"What?!" Ohgi's eyes fluttered, looking aghast at the mere idea. "But that kind of thing… Naoto, you know how crazy you sound right now, right?"

"But I'm not crazy!" Naoto flicked his nose. "This is the biggest move we could get! Someone with eyes on the inside who can go further up than even I could!"

"We're talking about a Britannian Prince!" Ohgi countered, throwing his hands up. "So what if he's half-Japanese? I doubt the guy knows a lick about this country and why we're even fighting for it! Messing with a member of royalty is the last thing a cell like ours should be doing! If this goes wrong, it won't just be us who's necks go on the chopping block!"

"And why do you think I vetted the kid?" Naoto leaned on the Knightmare, Ohgi groaning. "Like I said, I wouldn't have this Knightmare if this kid was actually playing some deep cover. I'm asking you to trust me, not him. I promise I'll introduce him properly… consider what we're about to do… a test. Proving he's really on our side."

"And if he isn't?"

"Well then I guess we'll be dealing with some special forces tearing Shinjuku apart to look for us."

"I swear…" Ohgi pinched his nose again. "You can't be so reckless, Naoto. Kallen worries about you enough as is y'know?"

"Kallen'll be fine," Naoto turned and got to work on the Knightmare, Ohgi grumbling again. "She's at that fancy academy for Britannians, so she's safe. Sure, Mom isn't exactly in a good spot, and Dad's legal wife is a piece of work, but I know she'll be fine as long she keeps her head down."

"Kallen? Keep her head down? Yeah, that's likely," Ohgi huffed, Naoto snickering. "Hagh, fine. If this Sumeragi kid really does get us that data, then I'll put faith in you. Until then… let's get this Knightmare fixed up."

"That's the spirit!"

Soon enough, the garage was filled with the sounds of power tools at work, sparks flying and lighting the space up as the two men got to work on the machine.

It was time to wait and hope the outcome Naoto promised was coming.

---

Sena had to admit to one nice thing about the occupation zone's main tower, and that was privacy. A facility of its sheer size had countless rooms, and the upper floors reserved for the leadership and military offered plenty of that.

As such, Sena was able to keep many a thing to himself when he was tucked away in some corner going through a stock of books or tending to business via a computer in one of the many private study offices littered across the palace.

Although today wasn't one of offhand study, but of practice of more practical skills.

Over the years, since he had gained a more vested interest in military matters and their procedures, he had taken to practicing his mind for tactics with more than simply chess. Strategy games had proven a working testbed, be it of the physical or video sort, the latter especially as it allowed him to test and optimize results far faster than a board game would through multiple games.

But playing against a computer would only take one so far. It was far better to play against another.

And Sena knew quite the opponent to help him test his tactical acumen.

"Hmm… excellent move Sena. Though I'm not sure how accurate a reflection it is of the EU's stratagems."

"I've had my studies of their battles, Schneizel. Based on their current production abilities and battle reports, I feel I'm making a fairly accurate simulation."

From the other end of the video call, Schneizel chuckled as Sena's fingers tapped across his keyboard.

While the elder Prince and current Prime Minister was more of a statesman, he also held credit as one of the best tactical minds in the Empire. Sena's now years long losing streak against the man in chess and any other game of strategy was proof of how far he had to go as a tactician, but also how far he was getting.

And as now had become regular between the brothers, they'd moved on from chess to active war game simulations.

The program was perhaps admittedly rudimentary, being scant more than a rough battle map and icons standing in for the allied and enemy forces, not unlike that of a Britannian battle radar, while another window flashed various names and numbers of things like troop counts, armored vehicle strength and other such necessary data.

But with it, it was possible for one or more people to play out scenarios between forces based on known data and come to possible predictions of potential battles. In this case, Sena and Schneizel had spent the past several hours running scenarios for the ongoing conflict between Britannia and EU, which as of then was currently in a stalemate.

"I must say though, your newfound knowledge on Knightmare Frames is certainly handy." Schneizel said. "For as little as we know about the EU's Panzer type KMF, you've made quite the situation with that defensive line here."

"Considering the little we do know is that they're walking artillery platforms, of course." Sena mused. "The Panzer Hummel may not have anything going for it in close range, making them susceptible to melee combat, but I can be fair and admit the Europeans know how to make big guns that do their intended job. It's almost surprising how quickly they were able to match Sutherlands after their initial models couldn't even come up to par with a Glasgow."

"You're speaking of the Gardmare type, I assume." Schneizel took a drink of tea as he started moving his side in response to Sena's latest moves. An inward sweep trying to close the distance the simulated Panzer Hummels had on the Britannian Knightmares. One that as real life had proven was hard to break though. But Sena had long learned not to underestimate his brother. "Hardly able to be called a Knightmare, wouldn't you say? It's more of a mobile weapons platform. It's no wonder it proved difficult to use against a Glasgow."

"Yes, but it still mounts the technologies that qualify something to be a Knightmare… at least on paper," Sena's brow knitted as, despite his moves to hold the line, Schneizel's forces were starting to force his defensive line back.

Actual battle strategy is far different… so many things to manage all at once. Thought the young man.

"So technically the Gardmare counts. I'd say the Panzer models are an improvement. It's almost funny they're actually a bit better than our Sutherlands. More armor, superior guns, even a bit faster… but as said, shame they're totally useless in close range. Seems for now, Britannia will always hold the advantage in close combat with Knightmares."

"And our technological might," Schneizel added. "Even if the EU can match our Knightmares, it's only a matter of time until we start forcing more of their lines back through sheer force. Britannia has always been willing to accept small losses on the path to greater victory." The fact Schneizel wasn't fazed at losing some units to the continued barrage Sena output to his forces told of that mentality. Britannia wasn't the type to put out commanders who would outright waste resources, especially soldiers, but it was common strategy to live with "acceptable losses" so long as victory was achieved.

Sena personally didn't favor that mentality.

"Though speaking of foreign Knightmares, there's also the Chinese Gun Ru."

"Oh please!" Sena groaned and rolled his eyes. Schneizel chuckled at the teenager's annoyance. "Those things can scarcely be called Knightmares! Metal coffins are more like it. Sure, they run off of a Yggdrasil Drive, but the damned things don't even have an ejection system. The only thing I can say is good about that excuse of a Knightmare is how cheap they are to produce! Otherwise, they barely have the firepower to dent a Sutherland, are slower than one, and their armor is as thin as a Glasgow's! If people think Britannian strategy is brutal, they've never seen the Chinese throw bodies at a problem."

"And again, your passion for the technology continues to prove amusing. Clovis must be run ragged listening to you go on about these topics over in Japan," Schneizel let out a hum, then pausing the simulation mid combat. "Now tell me, from our projections so far, what do you think of the situation in the African front?"

"Breaking into Europe itself will take some time," Sena said, leaning forward on the desk. "Depending on how Cornelia's forces perform, we'll perhaps we could see another Area added to Britannia's territories in the next couple of months. It also depends on Euro-Britannia. However, all the strategies in the world can only get us so far. The true war is in logistics. When it comes to Europe itself, the EU will have a homefield advantage in having their production facilities mere hours from any frontlines we push through. Euro-Britannia obviously has the eastern front handled… it's breaking the blockade around Spain and the British Isles that will be the homeland forces' deciding factor."

"My thoughts exactly," Schneizel chuckled again and folded his hands. "Plus, direct conquest need not be the only way we make progress against our longstanding foe. Negotiations may be found in some cases. And while logistics will be a deciding factor, mayhap even the EU's ability to rapidly move new supplies will run into issues. After all, unlike us their forces aren't quite as standardized in their equipment."

"True. Our infantry forces and non-KMF armor can easily be supplied due to standardizing ammo and parts. The EU on the other hand… well, we'll have to see how it pans out once conflict actually gets underway there. For now, we can just hope for Euro-Britannia to hold the line in the Russian territory we've taken so far. Of course, Brother, this war is yours to see. I'm merely helping you solve the puzzle."

"Well perhaps soon it will be more than just entertaining ourselves with these war games," Schneizel mused. "I'm quite eager for the day I get to see your skills applied in proper combat. Your newfound appreciation for logistics leads me to believe you'll think of some interesting strategies once you're actually in the field with me and Cornelia. Your understanding of the need to strike and secure supply lines is always helpful."

"In line with that, I'd suggest funneling suggestions to our Euro-Britannia friends about where to go next," Sena changed his map around to the current Eastern Front, the border of Britannian controlled territory within Russia and the headway into Germany that followed. "If they can strike the chains coming from Moscow to the border towns, well… first they need to take those towns and then some. But I'd advise leaving the infrastructure intact. We could use those production facilities and highways ourselves. Turn the EU's homefield advantage into our own, wouldn't you agree?"

"I was thinking the same. Pushing through to Germany would be beneficial to our push in the East, and with that production cut off it would also make our breakthrough in the West far more likely to happen sooner than later," Schneizel shut the program down, leaning back into his chair. "Now enough hypotheticals. I understand that today you'll be taking part in demonstration duels with the other rookie Knights, yes?"

"Yeup… and they're being overseen by that prick Helman, the guy running the Purist Faction."

The Purist Faction, or simply the Purebloods, an emergent wing of Britannians who were considered radicals even by the Empire's standards. They'd cropped up in Area 11 not long after Clovis took over as viceroy in part due to his leniency regarding the Japanese population. As their name implied, they were a group of hardline blood purists, who believed that Britannia shouldn't "sully itself" by accepting those of foreign blood into its ranks, particularly the military.

Their main sticking point was the Honorary Britannian system, a route by which Numbers could attain an "Honorary" recognition as a Britannian citizen. A second-class citizen, sure, but a citizen nonetheless. It wasn't exactly a system Sena liked himself, but his idea wasn't necessarily the same as the Purebloods. Quite the opposite, in terms of the paradigm he was looking at this from.

And, needless to say, a half-blood like Sena, be it as a Prince or his identity as a Squire, wasn't exactly someone such a group had a favorable opinion of.

"Ah yes, him. Clovis has told me about the problems he's been dealing with from Helman and the Purebloods," Schneizel hummed, his expression betraying nothing about his deeper thoughts, as usual. "Well then, I suppose these duels will be a good time for you to show him even a half-blood has merit within Britannia. With the training Cornelia gave you, I'm sure barely any Knight in Area 11 could stand against you!"

"I mean my record against Jeremiah is flat even… then again he could probably become a Rounds in the future with how he's been going the last few years."

"Hmhmhm, indeed, your Knight is quite strong. And speaking of futures, I wanted to bring up a proposition, while I have you here," Sena raised a brow, Schneizel folding his hands together. "As you know, I oversee the Advanced Special Envoy Engineering Corps who are currently testing new generation Knightmare technologies for a true successor to the Sutherland."

"Yeah, I remember reading those articles in the news," Sena leaned on a hand, scrolling to a new window and quickly bringing up several articles with headlines such as The Next Era of Knightmares and whatever else. "There's been all kinds of talk about what this ASEEC of yours is going to cook up, but none of it's public yet."

"Of course. Such things can't become known until they're viable… and that's why I'd like you to join ASEEC. They're in search of a pilot to test their new Knightmare, and I believe you have the skills to do just that."

"Whoa whoa, hold on!" Sena put his hands up, Schneizel chuckling. "You do remember that concerning the military I'm just a commoner! A squire under a proper knight for training! Won't it look suspicious if this half-blooded squire is suddenly reassigned to a special research division under your command?! It'd blow my cover right out of the water!"

"On the contrary. ASEEC is autonomous in function, able to operate outside of usual norms, meaning you would have much more freedom than most. Also, it is mostly because it's head wouldn't listen to protocol even if he was forced to. Earl Asplund is an interesting individual," Sena only let out a hum, tapping a finger on the desk. Schneizel did have a reputation for surrounding himself with interesting people. "For now, just give it some thought. ASEEC won't be arriving in Area 11 for another couple of months as it is. They're currently making the finishing touches on the proper prototype, and that requires some more time. But it will require a Devicer with a certain skillset. As you can imagine, for a new generation Frame, this leaves very few candidates available."

"I can only imagine. New tech always has more kinks than you'd expect it to…" Sena let out a sigh. "I'll keep it in mind. But I think for now, I got other things I should be worried about. See you next time."

"Until then. Do come with some new strategies next time. I'd like to test new formations next time we play."

"Meaning my losing streak will just get longer again…" Sena sighed, Schneizel giving a laugh before hanging up. Now that he had privacy, Sena leaned back into the chair, letting out a long sigh. "Can't be too put out. Learning from Schneizel has its benefits, definitely useful for keeping track of a fight. But…" Sena leaned his head around, checking the wall mounted clock. "Hehe… an hour to go. More than enough time to go digging."

Cracking his knuckles, Sena then reached into his pocket and pulled out a thumb drive. Pressing a switch on it, he inserted it and got to typing, closing his main windows and opening new ones.

For the sake of security, facilities like the administrative palace functioned on isolated networks rather than the wider internet, making sure security was good and tight. To any normal person in the facility, accessing the file archives required several degrees of security checks to ensure things like level of access and what was even allowed to be searched.

The highest level was obviously in the hands the top membership of the viceroy and his staff. Or, say, the Viceroy's younger brother who liked to sneak into the palace under everyone's noses every now and then.

"Let's see… the facility Naoto got those documents for is located somewhere near Shinjuku… going by what I remember, it should be… here!" Muttering all the while as he tapped away, Sena chuckled as he located an identical copy of the front document Naoto had shown him. "Bingo! Let's see… Production Facility Number 108… huh, Bartley runs the place. Not surprising… all of this looks like what Naoto had on hand… hmm… all that's different so far is the redacted portions being clear. Let's see…"

Sena scrolled over the pages, taking the new information in. It wasn't anything out of the ordinary. As far as he found, the redacted portions of the manifests had just been the facility's outputs. Just weapons, mostly infantry small arms and ammunition. Some of it was research on new equipment for later upgrades. Yet, just as Naoto had noted, the number of materials was still too small for that kind of facility to be anything serious.

Meaning there was no way it was functioning off of that alone.

"Which means this 108 place has to be some kind of black site. These main manifests are just a cover. Maybe it's a testing facility for new Knightmare tech? No… Clovis doesn't like focusing on military infrastructure. He limited production to Sutherlands because he wanted to focus funds on the restoration projects… so then why a place like this? And why have General Bartley running it?"

Sena's brow knit as nothing else seemed to come of it. It was just the same files he'd seen already. He kept scanning the pages, trying to see if maybe there was some kind of code hidden in the manifests, anything of actual use that'd hint at what he was missing. And just when he was about to give up, the last page he flipped to changed his mood.

Staring at him now were large bold letters, only making up one statement: Code-R.

"What the…?" Raising a brow, Sena clicked to move the page again.

Only to be met by a massive wall of black, any text on the page blotted out entirely.

"Huh?! How?! I've got top level access!"

Clicking his mouse, each page Sena found was just as redacted as the last. The only thing that remained clear was that "Code-R" statement atop each page.

"You're kidding me? It is a black site… but then what the hell is being made there that not even I have access to anything besides the name?" Grinding his teeth, Sena sucked in a breath. "No use grumbling about it. Best to just get these to Naoto and figure the rest out afterwards!"

Opening the thumb drive, Sena set the files to download to it. He had to admit, he felt a worrying bout of anxiety as he watched the file copy over. He'd done his share of digging into the classified section of the network's archives, but he hadn't come across anything even his level was barred from.

And a total blackout on the file, whatever this "Code-R" was, meant it didn't just run to the top sector of the viceroyship.

"The only people with access to files like this are people directly involved with the project," Sena leaned on a hand, a troubled look on his face as he eyed the progress meter. "My only guesses… would be Clovis himself and his closest aides alongside whoever was brought on to manage it. So, what the hell is Code-R supposed to be?"

Scanning back to the start of the file, Sena's eyes widened when he realized he had missed something. Right on the first page of this "Code-R" section, right at the top yet so easy to miss when one was skimming out of frustration.

"Register facility as weapons production. Particularly for clandestine chemical weapons research."

"Huh?!" Sena leaned forward, eyes on the segment and his surprise causing him to miss that the download had finished. "Chemical weapons?! There's no way Clovis would… there's gotta be more here. What could this thing be that Clovis was use chemical weapons as a cover story?!"

Gritting his teeth, Sena pulled the thumb drive and started closing down the files, along with running a routine to wipe his data until just after his call with Schneizel. He wasn't about to have someone check the system history and find out he'd been digging into the classified files.

Again.

Sena wasn't keen on getting chewed out by Reina for a stunt like this any more than he'd already been.

As he pocketed the drive and stormed out, Sena's thoughts were whirling with questions about just what was going on here.

Why use chemical weapons as a cover?

What was so important to hide even a royal was barred from access?

Was Code-R a weapon? A Knightmare? A person?

Why would Clovis, someone who despite his flaws was honestly trying to improve Area 11, approve such a project?

Getting to the bottom of this was suddenly all that Sena had in mind. But, he had other things to attend to first. He could get his answers another time.

---

"Achoo!"

Clovis grumbled to himself over the sudden sneeze, rubbing his nose and all too glad that, currently, he was seated with only his main advisors and not the rest of the Viceroyship's council.

"My Lord, is something wrong?" asked General Bartlely, the portly gentleman looking all too concerned behind his monocle. Clovis was ever glad for the old man's concern.

"Nothing, Bartley. Just a brief tingle," Clovis adjusted his ascot, turning to his left. "I apologize for the interruption, Lady Reina. You were giving your report on the state of the ghettos, yes?"

"Just be sure you're in good health," Reina chuckled while adjusting the papers before her. If there was anyone in this room that Clovis relied on as much as Bartley, it was his ever gracious and wise stepmother. "As for where I was, the survey conducted on the ghettos for potential reconstruction is primarily focused on the old residential infrastructure."

As Reina spoke, Clovis drew up the files she'd slid him, containing various images of the derelict ghettos the Numbers lived in, the shattered remnants of their former great metropolis. Some part of him felt bitter over seeing the architecture in ruins, finding the bombardment tactics that had caused this damage so long ago utterly tasteless.

It certainly made his work all the harder when it came to reconstruction. Another part of him wished they'd have just leveled the damn place, at least then he'd have been saved some of the trouble.

But that was the part of himself Clovis found just as tasteless.

"Though, considering the other members of the council, I'm sure your plans for residential plans that don't involve the continue expansion of the Settlement zone will be met with quite the resistance," Reina rolled her fingers along, Clovis humming as he set the images down. "Helman especially. He and his Purebloods are getting more outspoken by the day, especially after that recent batch of Honorary recruits."

"Helman is a boor focused far too much on his pride to see the bigger picture," Clovis sighed, leaning a hand on his forehead. "Area 11's main strife, aside from the internal issues, is the fact we are but a stone's throw from the Chinese Federation. The Homeland is so distant yet some of these fools act as if this is the other way around. If we're to ensure we don't come under siege, than a powerful military is necessary."

"For threats both without and within," added Bartley, Clovis nodding. Though Reina seemed far less pleased by the prospect. "I must ask my Lord, why bother with the idea of rebuilding the ghettos for the sake of the Numbers? The point of the settlement is the eventually build it over all of the old city, to replace the old with the brilliant and new."

"What then will become of the Numbers?" Clovis rolled his head a bit. "Underclass they may be, but they are still people under my purview. If we wish our workers to work, then they must be accommodated as much as we are able. Why do you think I've done little to crack down on the less offensive black markets?"

"You could simply just lower the prices on goods for the Japanese in general…" Clovis wouldn't say it aloud, but Reina's embittered whisper did catch his ears. Unfortunately, he felt such a thing would only embolden those who were against him.

"What was that, Lady Reina?" Clovis had to be thankful that with his age, Bartley's hearing was far from the best.

"Nothing," Reina let out a steadying breath. "I'd advise setting up more proper markets for the Numbers. Get in touch with their community leaders and try to coordinate more cooperative efforts to aid the people in need. Rebuilding residences will only do so much if the people cannot be fed as well."

"Preposterous!" Bartley almost spat at the notion, and Clovis prepared himself for yet another shouting match. "I understand your position, Lady zel Britannia. But aside from what is necessary to ensure the Numbers continue to work, such as going after the sources of that damned Refrain drug, extending further charity would defeat the purpose of their place in our system! It's already enough we have Helman and his Purebloods prattling on about wanting to abolish the Honorary Citizen system, how do you think he would react if we were to begin extending charity to the Elevens?!"

"Those conditions you seem so content with allowing are why Refrain has spread to begin with! Refrain will be impossible to address unless we also tackle the problems driving people to turn towards such a drug! Being stuck in squalor in filth isn't even the core cause!"

"Those monkeys falling victim to the scheme of such a thing is their fault to begin with! It's on our hands to even find these dealers since—"

"Bartley, I'd ask you to hold your tongue," Clovis' words were firm, and the older man quickly shut up. Especially when he saw just how glaring Reina's own gaze had gotten. "I will remind you that my stepmother is of the people you have just insulted. An insult to her and my brother is an insult to me. Are we clear, General?"

"Yes, Your Highness. Forgive my indiscretion. I let my emotions get the better of me."

"That's one way to say it…" Reina sighed, folding her arms. "To put it another way, General Bartley, it is within our best interest to not give certain groups within the Area more reason to be against the Viceroyship than they already have. If you wish to see Area 11 elevated in status so that you can secure better fundings from the Homeland, despite your misgivings I highly advise ensuring the Numbers can do more than simply get by."

Every word out of Reina's mouth was dripping with tension. Over half a decade in her homeland since the occupation, and she had to play the role of a key figure in the oppression of its very people. And try as she might, she was in a den of wolves with very different ideas than her, and they were all too happy to overrule her ideas with their majority.

It was no wonder many in the nobility saw her assignment as an aid to the Viceroy as more of a punishment from the Emperor than something positive.

And Clovis really couldn't blame her. Frustrating as he found it, it was near impossible to easily root out and fight corruption willy nilly. Plenty of the upper nobility helping rule Area 11 were, as Sena had put it to Clovis, "greedy, scheming rats only in it for themselves." Granted Sena had used much less polite language when doing so.

"Bartley, I do believe Lady Reina is correct here," Clovis stood, spreading his hands across the table. "While the Nobility will be against it, expanding the Settlement must also come with accommodating the Numbers. An underclass is still a class, and as they are under my jurisdiction, I will see to it they are cared for to the degrees I am able… I may not be able to negotiate statecraft like Schneizel or wage war like Cornelia. Lady Reina, leave the plans with me, and I'll begin drafting the proper proposal for the next cabinet meeting."

"Thank you, Clovis, now if you'll excuse me, I have business with Baron Stadtfeld to attend to," Reina stood, giving a bow of her head and leaving the room. When she was gone, Bartley let out a groaning sigh, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

"Your Highness, need we truly accommodate Lady Reina so much? I understand you hold great respect for her as one of the Empress Consorts, but she is a Number even despite that."

"Last I checked, Lady Reina was regarded as Britannian from the moment she became my father's consort, wasn't she?" Clovis picked up a pen, tapping it between his fingers. "I doubt the Elevens hold much love for her either. Who else will help her in this task if not myself and Sena, her sons?"

"Understood," Bartley and Clovis sat down, the portly man clearing his throat. "Addressing other things, the latest progress report on Code-R will be ready soon. Though the subject has been… less than compliant, to say the least."

"That's only to be expected," Clovis put a hand to his forehead. "This discovery of ours is the most frustrating thing about all of this. I have to applaud your hand in this, General. The idea to hide the research facility within a shell weapons lab was a better idea than I'd have ever had."

"Please, Your Highness, I'm sure with enough thought you would have imagined a cover even better than man," Clovis could only roll his eyes in amusement. "Although we do need to tread carefully. Our choice of cover will throw some off sure, but, if some foolhardy group of terrorists finds out about 108 and buys it… well, there may be risks."

"Then just manage them," Clovis waved a hand, Bartley nodding. "The research on the subject is paramount. Whatever her secret may be, we'll find it's origin and present our findings to the Emperor. I'll go over your latest findings after the demonstration duels today."

"You're actually going to watch them, Highness?" Bartley raised a brow as Clovis chuckled, the young viceroy having an excited look.

"Why of course! After all, it means I get to watch Sena put those blasted Purebloods in their place. I just hope Sena doesn't get too reckless with it."