HOME | DD

Description
Shizuoka, 1:15 p.m. A majority of the Japanese and Britannian populace surrounded a stage set up for a sudden announcement, from the Black Knights, despite all of the Black Knights being in the crowd. An air transport slowly flew over the area, Xingke and his accomplice, Zhou Xianglin, watching from above.

Xingke: Thanks for coming to pick me up.
Zhou Xianglin: It's no problem, but...the situation here seems-
Xingke: It's out of hand, because of Britannia and their new allies. Besides, politics aren't my thing. We need to deal with the Eunuchs, somehow.
Xianglin: Huh?!
Xingke: They're up to something, and it involves the Empress- (coughs)
Xianglin: What's wrong?!
Xingke: (looks at hand, notices blood) Shit. Remind me to have an American doctor fix this. I don't even know what the hell it is, but it's actually annoying me to death.

Back at ground level, Villetta surveyed the crowd, alongside other Mavericks, making sure there were no immediate threats.

Villetta: (thinking) Ohgi... You're here, somewhere, right?
Maverick: Hey. It's all clear, here. Let's head back.
Villetta: (out loud) R-Right...
Maverick: You'll see him, before he leaves.

As Villetta and her crew head back toward the stage, Nunnally approached the microphone.

Nunnally: People of Japan, good afternoon. My name is Nunnally Lamperouge, captain of the Tokyo Mavericks' airship, the Yatagarasu. It makes me happy that Japan has been freed from Britannia's tyrannical control, and that Britannians and Japanese are living together, in harmony. Now that Japan is free, however, the rest of the world must be freed, as well. That is why Zero and his Black Knights will move out, to gain support from other countries, to fight against Britannia, Civility and the Confederate Enclave. For those willing to join the Black Knights, at this time, please evacuate alongside them. I apologize for this short speech, and for wasting your time.
Japanese Citizen: No sweat! We were getting bored, anyway!
Britannian Citizen: How are they all gonna get outta-? The hell is that?

One by one, people in the audience turned around, and saw an iceberg, with concrete and railing surrounding it.

Black Knight A: Is that...a ship?
Black Knight B: An iceberg ship?! How?!
Rakshata: The insanity of science, my friends. The ice has been outfitted with insulating polymers and super-peltierfilm, so it won't be melting, anytime soon.
Black Knight C: Well, at least we'll have more new members, after this. Hell, we haven't been attacked by the Enclave-

A woman in the crowd screamed, as everyone looked toward the sky and saw Enclave airships, including the Yorktown, heading towards their position.

Black Knight C: Ffffffff-!
Maverick: Move it, people! Either get to safety, or evacuate with the Black Knights! Make the decision, and make it, NOW!

The people in the large crowd panicked, most running away from the area, to safety, while the rest went to join the Black Knights, on the iceberg ship. Ohgi was on his way toward the iceberg ship, when a hand on his shoulder stopped him.

Villetta: Ohgi!
Ohgi: (turns around) Villetta?
Villetta: Ohgi... I... (hugs Ohgi) I've missed you, so much.
Ohgi: (hugs Villetta, back) I missed you, too. I'm sorry our reunion has to be so short, but-
Villetta: (kisses Ohgi) I know. Be safe. And, tear Britannia and the Enclave a new one. Okay?
Ohgi: I promise.

Villetta let go of Ohgi and pushed him on his way to the iceberg ship.

Villetta: Much better. It's time to act, Alistair. Get yourself some karma.

Aboard the Yatagarasu, cloaked behind the stage, Alistair was sitting in the Yoshitsune's pilot seat, when he got a call from Lelouch.

Alistair: (opens phone) What's up, Zero?
Zero: (over phone) Well, the Enclave's here. Before the iceberg ship had a chance to reach the shore.
Alistair: I'm sorry, iceberg?
Zero: Long story, as well as scientific explanation.
Alistair: I'm not too much of a fan of science. It can confuse people. Does the Guren have space to land, if it can take off?
Zero: Yeah. You have no idea how much room there is.
Alistair: Right, then. We'll handle it. (closes phone)
Yoshitsune: Nunnally's back on the bridge. We're about to take off.
Alistair: Let's just see what the Rangers can do, with Knightmares.

The Yatagarasu uncloaked itself and began ascending into the air, Knightmares preparing to launch and engage the Enclave.

Alistair: Roll call!
General Chase: General Chase, here. Nobunaga, ready.
Ranger Jericho: This is Jericho! Pyrotechnics are all set!
Ranger Nicole Grey: Ranger Grey, reporting.
Ranger Raymond Dudley: Ranger Dudley, reporting.
Alison: Tex, here! I'm ready to rock!
Null: Null, ready to kick ass.
Alpha: Alpha, here. My Vincent's prepped.
Alistair: Move out!

The Knightmares took off into the air, moving to engage the Enclave forces. As they engaged the Enclave's Knightmares, different colored ones appeared, each different models.

Alpha: Move it!
Civility AI Garuda: Hello, again, Alpha.
Alpha: Garuda...!
Alistair: Garuda?!
Garuda: I admit that this Vincent is very much to my liking. Bathory, how is that Gloucester?
Civility AI Bathory: (chuckles) I'm in so much need for a massacre, right now.
Garuda: Noted. Cerberus, yours?
Civility AI Cerberus: Pretty nifty, moving this thing around.
Alistair: So, you can hijack Knightmares, huh?
Alpha: None of you are getting away with this! All of you are going down, and we're rescuing Suzaku!
Garuda: Who? Ah, Sigma's vessel. It's surprising that a human with such mental damage could cling to life, for so long. How pointless, simply wandering through life, without purpose.
Alistair: You're one to talk. You don't have purposes, at all, do you?
Garuda: You're correct. And, we don't care. It doesn't matter that we don't have lives, it doesn't matter if these metallic husks are destroyed, we'll just move on to the next.
Alpha: They were physically copied from me, and molded by Hawking's design. There really is no reasoning with them.
Yoshitsune: All the more reason to kick their asses.
Alistair: Agreed.

The Yoshitsune engaged Garuda's Vincent, leaving the two Civility Gloucesters with Alpha's Vincent.

Alpha: Oh, shit.

Kallen got into the Guren as Black Knights and those wanting to join them got onto the iceberg ship.

Kallen: Not letting these sons of bitches get away, unscathed!
Zero: (over radio) Kallen! Be sure not to take too long!
Kallen: Speed is my game, not just hitting hard!

As the Guren took off, a man in a trench coat and hat sprinted onto the iceberg ship, stopping next to Tohdoh, Asahina and Chiba.

Chiba: You alright?
Asahina: Everything's gonna be alright, pal.
Urabe: (takes off hat) You're damn right.
Tohdoh: Urabe...! You made it.
Urabe: Had to ditch my Gekka, unfortunately.
Asahina: You're in need of an upgrade, like the rest of us.
Chiba: Welcome back, Urabe.

The Yoshitsune fought evenly with Garuda's Vincent, damaging it slightly.

Yoshitsune: Yeah, these guys are cakewalk, for you, but to us, they're god damn unstoppable!
Alistair: I'm sorry! Alright!? I never asked for this life!
Yoshitsune: I'm not mad, I'm being factual! While fighting!
Alistair: So am I!
Garuda: You're an annoyance, Alistair. To think that someone like you could exist, for so long.
Alistair: Well, Hawking was the second half of the reason my parents died. Determination goes a hell of a long way.
Garuda: Very well. Hm?

Back on ground level, the ground shook and a black Knightmare's hand dug through the surface. Then, the Gawain emerged from the hole, floating up then landing.

Alistair: Gawain Nexus?! But, who's piloting it?!
Seth: No need for fear! The action President is here!
Alistair: Seth?!
Seth: I can pilot these bad boys, too! Now, let's see what it can really do!

The Gawain Nexus looked at a group of Sutherlands heading for Alistair's poisition, then folded its arms, preparing to fire the Hadron Cannons.

Seth: Heads up!
Yoshitsune: Oh, shit!

The Yoshitsune quickly got out of the Gawain Nexus' line of fire, and Garuda merely watched as two large streams of energy heavily damaged his Vincent and destroyed the Sutherlands, behind him.

Garuda: Impressive. Heavy damage sustained. Returning to base.

Garuda left the system of the pilotless Vincent as it exploded.

Seth: Alright! Who's next!?
Alpha: Seth! I could use some help, here!

The Gawain Nexus saw Alpha's Vincent fighting against Bathory and Cerberus' Gloucesters, with some difficulty.

Seth: Hang on! Alright, there's a button for... Aha! Axes!

The Gawain Nexus pulled out the axes that were scavenged from the Barbatos, and charged at Cerberus' Gloucester.

Cerberus: Huh?! The independent candidate! Why's he here?!

Cerberus' Gloucester blocked the Gawain Nexus' axe with it's MVS, but didn't account for the second axe cutting through the cockpit.

Cerberus: Dammit! Gotta head back!

Cerberus exited his Gloucester's system as it exploded. Alpha's Vincent disarmed Bathory's Gloucester, with his MVS polearm.

Bathory: You know, you're really annoying!
Alpha: I learned from Alistair. Mr. President?
Seth: With pleasure.

The Gawain Nexus's fingers changed to their Slash Harken form and launched at Bathory's Gloucester, piercing through the armor and dragging it towards the Nexus. The Gawain Nexus sent its right hand through the cockpit of Bathory's Gloucester.

Bathory: Spoilsport! Loser! Hero!

Bathory left her Gloucester and it exploded.

Seth: Doesn't seem like Roddy's out. He must be taking a back seat.
Alpha: Either way, we need to make these assholes retreat! We can't destroy the Yorktown, but we can wreck the rest of those ships! To the Yatagarasu!
Seth: Actually, I've got a weapon that might help, already. I'll still join you, though.

The Gawain Nexus, Alpha's Vincent and the rest of the Maverick Knightmares made their way back to the Yatagarasu, standing on it.

Ranger Jericho: Let's just see how many missiles these sons of bitches can handle!
Alison: A giant robot, holding a chaingun. Never thought I'd live to see the day.
Null: I'll hit 'em with the Gauss cannon. God, this thing is cool.
Yoshitsune: Never really had an opportunity to fire this missile launcher, huh?
Alistair: Nope. Never thought about it.
Seth: Well, if we're hitting hard...

The Gawain Nexus drew a rocket launcher that extended from a smaller form to its normal form, and took aim at the fleet of Enclave airships.

Seth: Face the hope of the people! The Rocket's Red Glare!

The Mavericks' Knightmares opened fire on the fleet, the Gawain Nexus' rocket launcher rapidly firing rockets. The ensuing impacts destroyed all of the airships, save for the Yorktown, which began leaving with its Blaze Luminous active.

Alistair: Got 'em!
Seth: The Black Knights have set sail!
Alpha: We've got stragglers!
Alistair: Kallen's got this.

Near the iceberg ship, Enclave Gloucesters and Sutherlands tried to attack the Black Knights, but the Guren destroyed them with its unmatched speed, the commanding Gloucester being destroyed by the Radiant Wave Surger.

Kallen: That was for torturing Alistair.

Zero looked out at the continent he was leaving, as the iceberg ship continued moving.

Zero: (thinking) I'll be back, as soon as I can. To deal with the corruption of the world...I need to take one step at a time.