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Aboard the Ikaruga, 11:06 a.m., meeting room. Lelouch sat in front of all of the Black Knights, and certain members of the Tokyo Mavericks, his identity as Zero revealed.

Ohgi: When you first became Zero, were you motivated by revenge?
Lelouch: At first. But, there was also the buried feeling of wanting to stop the racism.
Tamaki: And, Alistair snapped you out of wanting solely revenge?
Lelouch: Yeah. Hearing his past from Nunnally reminded me of my meeting with Hawking.
Tohdoh: Ah. Now, meeting someone like that will definitely solidify morality.
Ohgi: Lelouch, I honestly get why you wear the mask. No glory, hiding your identity, creating a symbol for humanity...I can certainly appreciate that.
Lelouch: And, I've screwed up, along the way, I know.
Ohgi: ...No, just what I said. That's it.
Lelouch: What? Don't you have some sort of insult, for me?
Kallen: Don't you get it, Lelouch? You trusted us. So, we trust you.
Tamaki: You stood up for us, when nobody else would.
Ohgi: You dared to fight back against Britannia, despite the threat they posed.
Tohdoh: You left behind your moral neutrality, to ensure you could succeed.
Rakshata: You allowed others to join your cause, no matter where they came from.
Diethard: You put on a show, to not only get your message across, but to make it fun, as well.
Alistair: You became a hero, in a world where heroes can belong.
Ohgi: You're not just our leader, anymore, and we're not just your allies. We're your friends. And, nobody in the public is going to know about your identity. To them, you're just a really smart high school student. To us, you're Zero, a symbol of freedom and hope for humanity.
Lelouch: Thank you... Thank you, everyone...
Alistair: Not feeling alone, anymore, huh?
Lelouch: Yeah. I want this fight finished, today. Are you all with me?
Ohgi: I think the plan name we've been coming up with, for years, should answer your question.
Lelouch: Huh?
Ohgi: The name for our final battle, against the Emperor of Ego. Operation: Vengeful Sunrise.
Lelouch: (pauses) I love it. Not just for what happened to Japan...
Tohdoh: But, to America, as well. We refuse to forget what happened, let alone forgive such an atrocity.
Alistair: I, uh... I appreciate such kindness.
Tamaki: It's the least we can do, to repay your kindness, to us.

Meanwhile, in Lelouch's room, C.C. was relaxing, by herself, when Anya entered the room, her eyes glowing red, like she was possessed by a Geass command.

C.C.: What?! Who are you?!
Anya: (smiles) Ah, C.C.! You look...cuter, for an immortal. And, my, is this girl short. Perhaps, I should've chosen a more...worthwhile vessel.
C.C.: What are you talking about?
Anya: Hm? Oh, you must be going through your childhood, again. Let me handle that, real quick...

Anya approached C.C., with a smirk, and held onto her arms. The real C.C. was sitting at a table, in her head, where Lelouch and Alistair wound up, in the Sword of Akasha, A woman in an orange dress approached C.C., looking similar to Lelouch.

Marianne vi Britannia: There you are! How is it that you're here, and your childhood memories are controlling you, out there?

C.C.: Choice, for one thing.
Marianne: ...Seemingly understandable. Well, the day is finally here, C.C. Our goal is upon us, and our dream will finally become reality. Are you glad?
C.C.: Go to Hell.
Marianne: (stops smiling) Excuse me?
C.C.: You heard me. I thought I told you to screw off, several months ago?
Marianne: You were clearly in one of your moods, so I gave you some privacy-
C.C.: That's not the case, and you know it. I was too numb to the feeling of immortality, the fact that I can't die, through all the pain, to realize that you and Charles are deluded psychopaths. The Ragnarok Connection could never work, not in any reality. I won't let you sacrifice the freedom of humanity, and I'm sick and tired of that egotistical tone and that cocky smile on your face!
Marianne: You... You can't mean that. We're in this, together. Come to think of it...why haven't you died, yet?
C.C.: The contract's over, Marianne. I can't take away your Geass, but I can sure as hell aid in killing you.
Marianne: I... I don't understand. You wanted this! How could you betray us?!
C.C.: I betrayed no one. You betrayed humanity. Oh, and I don't think you met my new friends, from beyond the grave.

Marianne heard the sounds of guns cocking and being aimed at her, as she saw Cheryl pointing a Hecate II at her head, and Phoenix holding a silver Tommy gun.

Cheryl: Hi. I'm Cheryl Wake.
Phoenix: And, I'm Phoenix Wake.
Cheryl: Your husband killed us.
Phoenix: As well as 48,998 others.
Marianne: You're...Americans, then?
Cheryl: Correct. Now, vamoose, bitch.

Cheryl shot Marianne, who shouted in pain, and disappeared, forced out of C.C.'s head. Marianne wound up back in Anya's body, and was pushed to the floor, from the feedback.

Marianne: (through Anya) Fine! Be that way! You could never understand our idea of peace, anyway!

Marianne scoffed, and released her Geass hold on Anya, who then collapsed to the floor. C.C. woke up, and stretched her arms.

C.C.: I'll have to bring child me back, later. Right now, it's go time.

Meanwhile, on the Yatagarasu, Schneizel saw his completed Avalon, with a Tesla Cannon added to its arsenal.

Schneizel: Perfect. It's just what's needed, to have an even edge, in battle. The Avalon can only carry so many Knightmares, so it may as well be used for quick engineering emergencies.
Nunnally: Not a bad way of thinking, Schneizel.
Schneizel: It has been quite a long time, hasn't it, Nunnally?
Nunnally: It's certainly been a minute.
Schneizel: I've taken the name of Redgrave, you know. Akin to Euphie and Cornelia, of course. But, I took up a more mercenary life, helping anyone I see fit. But, I can't pilot a Knightmare, to save my life.
Nunnally: Understandable. I think I take after my brother, in terms of tactical thought process.
Schneizel: I'm glad that you do. When this is through, you'll be able to walk, again.
Nunnally: And, I was just getting comfy, in this chair, too...
Schneizel: I know where the comedic snark comes from, too.
Nunnally: Other than the realization about how life is, yes. I shot my mom's killer, by the way.
Schneizel: (pats Nunnally's shoulder) Hitting a small target, while blind, is an excellent accomplishment.

Suddenly, the alarms went off, and the TVs on the Ikaruga and Yatagarasu turned on, showing Charles in his seat.

Charles: (over TV) People of Area 11. It appears that your loyalty is lacking, due to the terroristic actions that have plagued you. It is with great regret that our first attempt at retaking our territory has failed. But, fear not. I shall see to it that the Tokyo Mavericks and whatever remains of the Black Knights are wiped from the face of the Earth. The war has only begun! Rejoice, Britannian brethren! Your Emperor will save you all! All Hail Britannia!

The screen then showed the battleship Charles was on, which had a design more akin to the Confederate Enclave, than a Britannian airship, and was larger than even the Yatagarasu and Yorktown, combined. Alistair recognized the ship, right away.

Alistair: They actually finished the damn thing, huh?
Lelouch: You know what that is?!

Alistair: The Daedalus. I saw a schematic for it, back in Raven Rock, but it seems a copy survived. Not as strong as Fort Helios, but it's a damn big weapon.

Tamaki: Understatement! It's frickin' huge!

Tohdoh: That thing can hold...20, 30 armies!
Lelouch: Nonetheless, we're fighting that son of a bitch!
Lelouch glared with determination, as he put on his ranger armor, then his mask.

Zero: Operation: Vengeful Sunrise...begins, now!