Nunnally of the Insurrection

Chapter 37

Out on the Chinese borders, orders were received as well as messages sent to the Britannian forces: China wished to end hostilities and sue for peace.

"I am the rightful Empress of the Chinese Federation, Tianzi," the attractive sliver haired woman smiling serenely in her formal wear, the broadcast going out to the front as well as across the whole country.

There were shocked reactions from all sides, as the young woman had been held in the palace for years. Few people had even seen or spoken to the girl, but she was recognized from official portraits and such.

"The whole war against our Britannian neighbours was instigated by the Eunuchs, who had seized power from me," Tianzi continued, "and held me against my will." Sbhe smiled shyly, "But now brave, loyalist troops have freed me from captivity, and I look forward to having fruitful discussions with Britannia."

There was some dissatisfaction at being told there would be peace talks but... this was the EMPRESS. The 'divine ruler' of their country. If she said it was so, it must be true. Right?

Tianzi gazed into the camera with utter sinceritry, "My people, the Eunuchs have lied to you. This war is needless! We must stop the slaughter, now."

The broadcast ended there...

"You don't want to reveal you freed me and overthrew the Eunuchs?" Tianzi asked from the office they had just sent the message out from.

Nemo smiled back slightly as she explainedx, "I have enemies in Britannia, I do not wish them to know."

"Again, I must thank you." Li Xingke bowed, "but..."

"You wonder what we want for our help," Kallen noted, the redhead and CC sticking close to Nemo as bodyguards.

The palace guards had all been ordered to stand down by the Eunuchs and Tianzi, but there might be loyalists who refused to just give up. Or someone might get the idea they needed to 'rescue' the Empress. Therefore, guards.

"Well, yes," Li Xingke said.

"Nothing right now, other than your gratitude," Nemo said calmly. "Someday, when I ask, we may call upon you then," she said.

"I understand," Tianzi nodded. Tentatively she added, "I hope you have a plan?"

"You saw how she pulled off this operation?" CC pointed out mildly.

"True. But Britannia is a far more dangerous foe," Li Xingke said.

Tianzi was looking at Nemo thoughtfully, "And Britannia has been dancing to your tune for this whole time?"

Nemo shrugged, "I'm good at making and seizing chances."

"Nemo, the Britannians have all ceased operations, I assume waiting for orders," Todoh entered to report.

"Tianzi, do you have a cadre of loyalists?" Nemo asked.

Li Xingke answered, "We have retainers and staff loyal to the Empress, yes. Why?"

"Our forces can't stay here too long," Nemo noted, "we have obligations back in Japan."

"And classes," Kallen muttered.

"Hey, Nemo," Ohgi trotted in, "we caught some Britannians. They were here guarding Prince Odysseus, but he fled..."

"They probably don't know anything, but it would be wise to question them," Todoh noted.

"Agreed," Nemo nodded and followed Ohgi out.

"Nemo is SO COOL!" Tianzi squealed aloud once she left.

CC and Kallen both looked amused. "Yes, and very popular too," CC said, deadpan.

"Wait..," Kallen started.

"We are her two consorts," CC told the young woman.

"She has TWO?!" the girl squealed.

"CC!" Kallen scolded.

"I think she's joking, ma'am," Li Xingke told the Empress with a sigh.

"Still," Tianzi sighed, "I would willingly become her consort..."

Li Xingke sighed.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Well THAT'S a twist," Lloyd Asplund noted, the head of Camelot Labs monitoring the situation. There had been the possibility Lancelot might be deployed, after all.

"The casualties tho...," Cecile Croomy shook her head sadly.

There bad been HORIFFIC Chinese losses, where they had thrown sub-standard Knightmare Frames against Britannian forces. And their losses hadn't been small either, advancing against defended positions staffed by crazy loyal troops.

Basically, the short 'war' had been a disaster for both sides.

"Do you believe it was really just the Eunuchs fault?" Suzuku Kururugi asked, the brown haired young man doing practice runs in the Lancelot.

"It's possible," Lloyd admitted.

"Or the Empress is sacrificing them for politics," Cecile noted dryly.

"Could be either one," Lloyd agreed.

Alice Dewit, an Academy student, was watching the Lancelot move enviously. She CLEARLY wanted to be piloting it...

"Miss Dewit," Cecile nodded, "you asked about interning here, correct?"

"Yes, ma'am," the young woman blurted.

Cecile smiled gently, "Well, academinally it won't be a issue, and I understand the Viceroy supports you in this."

"Ma'am," Alice nodded.

Cecile paused, wondering how to put it delicately.

"You're not here trying to get into Suzaku's pants, are you?" Lloyd asked bluntly.

"What?" Alice blurted.

"Lloyd!" Cecile scolded.

"What? It's a thing," Lloyd wandered off.

Cecile sighed as she addressed Alice, "Since he was awarded a medal by the Viceroy, Lt Kururugi has become VERY popular. So much so that young noble ladies have come here pursuing him."

"Ah," Alice blinked. Sheepishly she admitted to her, "I'm not... uhm... interested in boys that way, actually."

"Good," Cecile accepted that calmly. "Can you start now? I should warn you, the work will mostly be go-for duties."

"Yes please!" Alice beamed.

"Good," Lloyd swooped back in, "we'll get your security pass made up then put you to work."

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"We should refuse any peace overtures! We can win this!" Luciano Bradly demanded, the Knight of Ten at the meeting of Knights and the Emperor.

"Not without hideous losses," Schneizel el Britannia noted, attending the meeting via video link from Europe.

"Even with our superior Knightmare Frames?" Charles, the Emperor, asked.

"The Chinese ones are crap," Gino Weinberg, the Knight of Three added, "but there are a LOT of them. We can win, but we'll pay heavily."

"They'll lose ten of theirs to one against us, but they have LOTS of them," Anya Alstreim pointed out dully.

Changing the subject Nonette Enneagram, the Knight of Nine, brightly said, "I heard Prince Odysseus and Dorothea escaped! Good for them."

"Hmph," Charles grunted.

Also sitting in via video link, Cornelia was considering the situation. She had some insider knowledge the others lacked, and what she was wondering disturbed her.

'Did Nemo engineer this whole thing? And if so, WHY?' Cornelia wondered.

What really worried her was... the whole point of this battle might have just been to blunt both the Britannian and Chinese forces. Such a idea was incredibly cold blooded but looking at the facts it was certainly possible.

'What kind of person does something like this?' Cornelia wondered grimly.

"Princess?" Gino repeated himself. "How are things in Area 11?" he asked.

"Stable," Cornelia quickly replied. 'For now,' she thought with a sigh.

To be continued...

Notes: I need to decide if the EU will jump the Britannians, after their forces got smashed. As well as if certain Areas will attempt to rebel. I'm ASSUMING North America is basically secure, but the rest of the world? Had to say.