Nunnally of the Insurrection
Chapter 32
Viceroy Cornelia was, generally speaking, actually pretty happy with the state of Area 11. Civil unrest among the Elevens had stopped, the Britannians were generally happy, and the local economy was steadily recovering.
Much of the improved posterity was coming from suggestions by Nemo, annoyingly. Public works to rebuild old Japan and specifically around Tokyo was putting money into the economy. That in turn went to the construction companies, that went into other spending and so forth...
Cornelia knew several of her relatives were deeply jealous of how she was doing, so that was a bonus too.
On the other hand, Cornelia still had a decimated force to try to defend and patrol the area. She couldn't request more troops from home without revealing how bad the Chinese attack and rebels had damaged them. Which left her relying on Nemo.
"Ma'am," Guilford addressed her, "the irregulars are here."
"Show them in," Cornelia nodded.
The Irregulars were an attempt to solve the troop problem. A team of women pilots, all volunteers, who were interested in advancing in Brittanian society. Cornelia was explicity promising them titles or at least, knighthood.
"Ma'am!" Alice saluted, the blonde leader a bit shorter than Cornelia.
"Welcome," Cornelia nodded.
Dalque, Lucretia, Sancia and Alessandra were introduced, each dressed in the same modified uniform. All looked ready and willing to go out and fight.
"Ma'am, when can we expect to be deployed," Alice asked briskly.
"Don't be so eager, young ladies," Cornelia chided her gently.
"I'm looking forward to fighting against the Black Knights," Alessandra musged, the oldest woman smiling coldly.
"Damn right,' Dalque agreed.
'Yes, I think these women are good choices,' Cornelia mused.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The China/Britannia situation continued to simmer. Various Areas around them were building up troops and preparing logistics.
(People often forgot logistics. Even in an era of Knightmare Frames you needed food, water, power cells, amunition depots and more, before the battle began.)
At the same time, China had resource problems. They had burned through a lot of their Knightmare Frames in the Area 11 attack. Worse, all their units were individually less good than Britannia's, due to poor construction and shoddy materials.
Dotothea was reporting to Schneizel via a secure line. Well, in theory secure... she wouldn't risk any state secrets over the line.
"How go the negotiations?" Schneizel asked.
"Not as well as planned," Dorothea admitted as she explained, "we're being bogged down with picky details."
"Stalling?" Schneizel mused.
"I think so," Dorothea answered.
"A source I trust in China has informed me they're doing a crash program to build up Knightmare Frames," Schneizel said.
Dorothea blinked, "Even if they succeed, where will they get qualified pilots?"
"The new control system they're using is quite simplified," Schneizel answered her dryly, "They'll be even less combat effective than their usual Knightmare Frames, but they hope to compensate with numbers."
A experienced warrior, Dorothea scoffed.
"Agreed," Schneizel nodded. He paused, considering the situation, running various scenarios through his head.
"Sir?" Dorothea prompted him after a moment or three.
"Let them stall," Schneizel decided. "We can win, even if they do reach their building targets. And our victory will be even more disheartening to them."
"Understood," Dorothea nodded.
Schneizel sighed quietly as he said, "Now please put Odusseus on. I need to let him think he's in charge there.'
"Yes sir,' Dorothea nodded.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
The festival was winding down as Nunnally watched with some amusement as the Lancelot successfully made pizza.
"This is debasing our technology,' Lloyd Asplund, the head of Camelot labs, and creator of the Lancelot sighed.
"I am impressed by how fine Suzaku is controlling it," Cecile Croomy, his assistant and general aide admitted.
Lloyd brightened a bit, 'Point."
Cecile looked thoughtful as she wondered, "Maybe we should test what other precision tasks he can do with it."
Listening to them talk Nunnally thought to herself, 'This is going to make even more work for you, Suzaku.'
The pizza dough was spun out, the toppings added then the Lancelot put it in the special, oversized oven.
"Why...?" Euphemia had to ask, still followed by her protector Viletta.
"Because they can, I suppose?" Nunnally said.
"Best idea ever," CC declared, being a pizza lover.
"Is Suzaku in there?" Shirley still in her barely there costume.
"Oh my," Lloyd blurted.
Cecile covered his eyes, "Don't look."
"Yes, he is," CC confirmed.
"Hmph," Shirley pouted, "They've kept him busy in there all day."
"Sorry?" Lloyd offered mildly.
"Ma'am," Viletta quietly said, "We need to get back soon."
Euphemia puffed out a sigh, but nodded obediently. "Thank you for reminding me," she said. She addressed Nunnally, "Tell Milly I had fun."
"Will do," Nunnally agreed.
They watched lancelot remove the pizza from the oven after about ten minutes, then students hurried over to try some, including CC.
"Suzaku," Shirley waved as he opened the mech up, and descended to the ground.
"Shirley! You shouldn't be running around in that!" Suzaku yelped.
"Everything's covered,' Shirley waved that off.
"That girl is clearly on a mission to get laid,' Cecile noted.
'Suzaku needs to relax more,' Nunnally thought, unaware that CC often thought that of her.
0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0
"New elite military unit?" Nunnally asked, getting a update from Ohgi. He was passing on intelligence, data she suspected came from Viletta...
"Apparently. It's very hush hush... I think the Viceroy was specifically trying to keep it a secret from you," Ohgi noted.
"I'm hurt," Nunnally noted mildly.
Ohgi chuckled.
"So what are we dealing with?" Nunnally asked.
"It's all women, from families that lost titles or rank," Ohgi said. "Apparently, the deal is they do Cornelis's jobs, and she rehabilitates them in the nobility."
Nunnally nodded as she mused, "There are families where I could see that being a strong motivator."
Ohgi shook his head, "I'll never understand Britannians."
"Me too, some days," Nunnally conceded.
"The only thing we don't know is where they'll be based," Ohgi sighed.
The next morning Nunnally blinked as the new teacher, Alessandra, was introduced. Then several new students transfering in.
"Please introduce yourselves,' the teacher invited.
"My name is Alice Dewit, please take care of me."
Following her Dalque, Lucretia, and Sancia all introduced themselves.
'What are the odds...?' Nunnally wondered.
To be continued...
Notes: Wanted to finish up the festival bit. Next chapter will start the China stuff, I think. Bringing in a version of the Irregulars from Nightmare of Nunnally, but without the Geas powers.