~~~~~~Next Day~~~~~~
An array of researchers, scientists, software developers, engineers and mechanics gathered in Schneizel's office to give their reports to the Prime Minister.
"My Prince, we have checked the data you have provided to us."
"All we can say is that the recreation of these technologies is not the easiest job simply because they are built on separate systems." One of the more timid researchers began to speak.
"What he wants to say is that these technologies require dedicated infrastructure.
The Anaheim mechanical joints are something we do not have factories to build them. The only place you could do it is in the Anaheim factory.
Something that doesn't exist on the Homeland." One of the bolder ones explained in more detail.
"Followed by the Sakuradite/lithium batteries, these things are ticking time bombs without proper tools to take care of them."
'In other words, you all are useless. I need someone at Lloyd level.'
At that moment, the Prince recalled that there was someone who could challenge the genius of Lloyd. His old classmate!
'Though… to make her work for me… that could be tricky.'
"I want you all to start developing means to utilise these technologies. You can use any of the Knightmares as testing beds for these technologies." Schneizel spoke with finality in his tone.
'If this continues, Lelouch will overrun us before we can release a single decent machine to keep up with those Knightmare Killers.'
With that in mind, Schneizel was ready to make a trip to India, but he got interrupted.
"My Prince… I got some bad news." Kanon interrupted him.
"What kind of news?"
"His Majesty demands your immediate presence," Kanon answered in a neutral tone.
The blonde man grimaced for a second.
'When it's related to Britannia, we can't find him, but when he needs something crazy, he is first to demand something, typical father.'
"Understood, I will leave at once." The Prime Minister left his office and walked through the corridors, a considerable distance before arriving at the throne room.
"Announcing! Schneizel el Britannia, the 2nd Prince and the Prime Minister of the Holy Britannian Empire!" The guards announced who was entering the throne room.
Not that it was necessary, as the Throne Room was empty, only a single man was sitting on the throne.
"Schneizel, can you tell me why Area 11 is declaring Independence?" Charles asked as he was not happy at all!
"It's Lelouch and Cornelia working together. Lelouch is the one who developed those extremely advanced machines. He is dominating our Knightmares."
'A Geass that allows the development of technology? That is indeed a tricky one.' Charles' immediate conclusion was that Lelouch awakened a Geass that allows him to develop technology at an advanced pace.
"I see. However, that doesn't excuse us from losing our main source of Sakuradite. We can't continue our conquest without it.
See to it, Schneizel, you are dismissed."
With that said, the blonde man left the throne room, and Charles began to laugh.
"Show me, Lelouch! Show me your resolve! Otherwise, my Britannia will consume you!"
The Emperor was amused that one of his younger sons was rebelling like that.
But that is given, he was Marianne's and Charles' son.
With that in mind, he rewatched the live broadcast from a few minutes ago.
~~~~~~A Few Moments Ago, Tokyo Settlement~~~~~~
Cornelia rushed back to Tokyo and the government building. It was no longer necessary for her to hide her machine from anyone, so she used Morrigan to land right in front of the main entrance.
Marcus was already waiting for her; he was with his purebloods.
"All is set for the broadcast." He said while spinning in her office chair.
"This should give us extra time to build up our power base while Britannia deals with insurrections." Cornelia walked over.
"Indeed, let's go, we are going to make it more dramatic, for father's sake." Lelouch grinned while saying that.
"...Fine by me."
They walked out, followed by a group of soldiers.
They got out of the building and towards an open area. Soon enough, five KK-Units landed behind them and dropped on one knee, as knights do.
Of course, there were dumbfounded TV reporters who stared at these machines with awe and fear.
Soon enough, a life broadcast started not just in Area 11 but the entire World. The only reason such a thing was allowed was due to Cornelia's reputation. She was the 2nd Princess and the 'Goddess of Victory' for Britannia.
~~~
"What now? A live broadcast?" Shirley asked Milly as they were walking to the auditorium.
"More than that~." The blonde winked at the orange-haired girl.
"Moah! Can't you just tell me what is going on!"
To that request, Milly slightly leaned forward and whispered to her fellow council member.
"Lelouch is about to do something."
Shirley's eyes widened as she looked around immediately, to make sure no one was paying attention to them.
"N-Now? Didn't you guys just return from space?" The girl said that with a bit of jealousy.
To think that he would take people to space! The girl was jealous!
"Yes. But it was coming, Marcus' company and influence is becoming far to big to be hidden, it was about time for him to get clean with the world."
'Not many would agree with his world-conquering ideology.'
She thought to herself. It will be an uphill fight.
As the pair arrived in the auditorium, they were joined by hundreds of other people.
Not long after that, Cornelia's face appeared on the screen.
"This is your Viceroy. I am here today to announce that Area 11 is declaring independence from the Holy Britannian Empire!"
"..." Shirley's and the rest of their eyes grew big as they did not fully grasp what this even meant to them!
The Britannians don't even understand what this even means. Britannia was always the powerhouse that never had such things!
For a normal Britannian, such a thing was alien!
"This is not a joke. I simply cannot accept the treatment of the Empire that betrays its own Prince and Princess.
I announce that I cede my position of Viceroy to my little brother Lelouch vi Britannia, also known as Marcus Goldman of Anaheim Robotics."
The camera zoomed out and showed Marcus, who was standing next to her.
The greatest shock was for the students who knew Marcus for several years.
While many Japanese who saw this immediately perked up, they knew Anaheim and how well they treated them.
The same could be said to Britannians living in Area 11.
They only have a good opinion of Anaheim.
"Good morning, citizen of Area 11, my name is Lelouch vi Britannia, I was the Eleventh Prince of Britannia.
The reason why I was exiled to such a distant land, halfway across the world, was that I was betrayed. My mother, the Empress, was assassinated by Britannian Special Forces. They even chased me to Japan; on the eve of the war, they tried to assassinate my sister and me.
Because of that, I decided that I shall end all wars and unite the world by any means necessary!"
As he said that, the camera zoomed out slightly, revealing the machines that were kneeling on one knee.
"It doesn't matter who you are. Britannian, Japanese, European, Chinese, Indian, we are all humans who live in this world.
We were all distracted by small conflicts that happen in our blue marble."
Marcus used this opportunity to take over the broadcast as Legion showed the footage of space.
"Instead of continuing these pointless wars, we should look forward, towards the final frontier, towards the limitless potential that is space.
That is why I will fight to unite humanity so that wars should end once and for all on this small world, and then we could focus on our destiny, that is to claim space that is rightfully belong to us."
While people didn't see Marcus on their screens, they saw footage of space, SWORD being built, and even the footage that Anaheim had of Mars, followed by the deep space telescope pictures.
"Only this once, I shall extend my hand to the people of the world, join me, and together we shall make mankind's destiny a reality.
Mars, Venus, this Solar system, even the Milky Way will belong to humanity!"
"..."
"..."
"..."
At that moment, something inside humans awakened. The same primal desire mankind always had.
One of the greatest driving forces in a human… curiosity!
The same curiosity that made cavemen desire to tame fire, and then lightning.
Explore unknown waters and land, to circle the planet and spread through every corner of the globe!
That same curiosity that became muffled because of the oppression of Britannia, the corruption of Europia United and the greed of the Chinese Federation.
That day, a new term was born… Anaheimian, followers of Lelouch vi Britannia.
Men and women who desire to reach space, to explore and discover the vastness of the void.
~~~
Charles zi Britannia, in his obsession to reach Ragnarok Connection, missed what Marcus had stirred up in humans worldwide.
Because the very next day, strikes and riots erupted throughout all of the Empire.
Even the territories that were conquered many years ago began to wake up from their slumber.
The Emperor forgot that the Earth slowly became a gunpowder keg that was just waiting for that spark.
After all, in Charles' eyes, space is pointless, empty nothingness.
Why should humans care? In a normal situation, if humans are satisfied with their lives, this step would be dangerous as space is unforgiving, but at the moment?
Britannian oppression, E.U politician corruption, and sheer greed of eunuchs in the Chinese Federation… people simply snapped. There is a chance for peace, and… Hope for an amazing future!
~~~
In Solomon Base, the gathered soldiers were dumbly staring at the hologram screens.
"..."
"..."
"Beijing, Seoul, Delhi, Jakarta, Cairo, Rome, Madrid, Berlin… all of those cities… they are rioting!" People with wide eyes looked dumbfounded at the scale of this!
People were holding blue and golden flags. All of a sudden, Marcus' simple idea to pay respect to the original Gundam franchise with the name Anaheim became a symbol of something greater!
"Those are the capitals of provinces; smaller cities around the world are no different," Tohdoh replied, a small smirk appeared on his lips. He understood what this move was for.
Anaheim has technology, but it lacks soldiers and manpower in general.
Now, the biggest populations are leaning towards them!
"...Damn, Prince Lelouch with a single move crippled the whole world."
"The world simply desired a change, and the prince was at the right time and place to deliver the crippling move."
A couple of moments later, the alarm blared through the whole base.
"Attention pilots! We are moving out at 2200! Our destination is Hokkaido, the island that is still under Britannian control." One of the officers spoke through the comms.
"You heard the comms officer! Everyone, begin your preparations!" Tohdoh barked orders, and everyone scrambled. The awe they felt for the Prince morphed into sky-high morale as they were ready to play their part in Humanity's Destiny to rule the Cosmos.
~~~
"I wasn't expecting that… Lelouch." Cornelia looked surprised; she herself felt goosebumps when listening to him.
"It was a risky move; we need to balance out our odds when it comes to people.
And now…"
Marcus looked at a tablet he had; he could see where his speech impacted the most. All of the conquered lands of Britannia were on the move.
'Even large territories of the E.U. are reacting. Not to mention the Chinese Federation.'
China was crumbling right before his eyes.
"And now, we secured manpower." She finished for him.
"Indeed." He put the tablet away and looked at her.
"First, we are going to secure immediate territories around Japan and Solomon Base before we begin to chop bit by bit the world itself." The Inventor, Prince, explained this to his sister.
As they were talking, Euphemia blasted into the office.
"Lulu! I heard the speech! How can I help!?" Her breathing was heavy as she ran the whole way from the landing pad.
Marcus chuckled, seeing her like that.