"Damn these bastards! They are no different from those Britannians!" Kallen exclaimed with a furious look. She just saw piles of bodies of innocent people.
They were gunned down next to the government's building in the city centre.
It was quite clear to her that these guys were copying Britannians with their grandiose style of construction.
But it was not what the girl was looking at.
"I need to blow up more of them!" She looked around for more of the Gun-Ru units. But they were nowhere to be seen.
"Kozuki, relax. We have won." Tohdoh's face appeared on the screen.
"But these bastards… they need to pay for this!" The girl gnashed her teeth.
"I know. We will have our chance. The Chinese Federation is fracturing as we speak. People themselves will get their revenge for what the military did." The man said with his trademark serious expression.
"..."
Eventually, the crimson-haired girl sighed as she pushed that frustration down.
"I understand." With that said, her mech's thrusters ignited. Now that her machine was a 'Divine Arms' model, small thrusters dot the mech's body. It allows the Beast to rampage even more, but in a travel situation, it can fly faster than ever.
"I shall return to the base and wait for the next deployment."
With that said, Dagda disappeared with its absurd speed.
Tohdoh shook his head. The girl needs training when it comes to discipline. But apart from that, she was natural at taking apart enemies.
In a matter of minutes, Kallen was back in Solomon Base.
The Red machine walked to the main hangar, where a lift took it to a special hangar where KK-Units were being kept.
The machine lowered Kallen, who immediately walked away without even looking. The girl knows the AI will deal with the rest.
The crimson-haired girl ended up walking to Marcus' workshop.
What she saw there is what she sees nearly every day, the Inventor making something. Surrounded by holograms, the Exiled Prince will be here!
On one side, there were holograms with mobile suits; on the other, it was something related to the space stations, and then, third, it was something she couldn't even make out what it was.
"Do you feel better now? Now that you can join the war?" Marcus asked her without even looking.
"No!" She strolled over to him, passing through the holograms and then ending up sitting on his lap.
"..." The Prince looked surprised for a bit, but then he wrapped his hands around her and hugged her.
"Let me guess, you saw something that made you pissed, but you couldn't do anything about it?" He asked, hitting the nail on the head.
"YES."
She replied with a crisp 'yes,' not explaining any detail.
"I see. Then you can stay here." He hugged her tightly for a bit longer before one of his hands went back to the keyboard.
Before long, the crimson-haired girl relaxed in his hands.
After a couple more minutes, she was ready to talk.
"We should get something to eat."
"Alright."
~~~
More than ever, Marcus had work on his plate. He needs to make new machines for C.C. and Euphemia, conquer the world, build up the space industry… the stuff just kept on piling up!
But first, on the machines for two of his ladies who need them.
He was a bit dissapointed with the witch's simulations. Her regular pilot performance ratings are abysmal. Better than regular pilots but not at the level of good pilots.
She simply lacks caution. That's right, the green-haired girl doesn't give a damn about her well-being. So imagine that mixed with his state-of-the-art machine!
Legion immediately dismissed her. The AI declared that she is not suited for a KK-unit; the only thing she is good for is a Setanta unit that is rigged for self-destruction.
But Marcus found this a challenge. Since she lacks self-preservation, they can develop something with that.
Almost immediately, his AI understood what he meant, and they began with improvements to the cockpit.
Using the neural link technology, they will begin to develop the next generation of human-to-machine interface.
But at the same time, they had no idea what kind of model this should be. So far, they have developed a specific cockpit…nothing else.
However, soon enough, Marcus got an idea… a truly custom machine.
He wanted an interface for Geass; this was his chance. A prelude for that. Or more like a first dip into such technology.
A mobile suit that taps into the code C.C. has and just bombards people with psychic-like attacks.
But this opens a completely new can of worms. Geass energy, the energy from Collective Consciousness, Marcus will need to understand to develop this mobile suit.
Then there was the other pilot that is waiting for another suit.
It was completely different when it came to Euphemia.
The Princess was literally an incarnation of pacifism. One would say that such a person would never hurt anyone.
But that's not what it means. Pacifism in this situation means the complete removal of the enemy. Yes, when a pacifist is forced into a fight, it would either mean the enemy needs to be neutralised so that they can't fight OR the complete eradication of the enemy.
Removing a threat that can't threaten peaceful people.
Legion AI ended up with a solution to Euphemia's requirements…
Artillery unit.
Yes. His cute pink princess sister is good at blasting enemies into nothingness.
This revelation came at the right time as well. It means that he will have data to design orbital cannons from her data for long-range artillery uses.
Well, it's not normal artillery in the first place, more like a variation of beam rifle technology.
Apart from mobile suit development, Marcus' space industry took a turn as a single SWORD station is nowhere near enough for what he wants.
Such a conclusion didn't shock him at all. Construction of another two SWORD stations began. Sections A and B for them will be done in a matter of a few short weeks.
The magic of space forges! He has enough resources for all of that, and the moment two more forges come online, he will have enough industrial power to begin printing Setantas and the commander models Scathach en masse.
But with that, another issue arises: he needs manpower.
His three mobile suit and soldier battalions are already stretched thin.
Thankfully, Cornelia and her troops joined full-time and got converted into another two fully fledged battalions of mobile suits and regular troops.
However, these will soon be sent out to the Chinese Federation, where they will start carving out land for Anaheim.
What is concerning with all of this spreading out is that when Britannia is ready for war again, Anaheim's troops will be all over the place.
That is why Marcus is working overtime to train new soldiers and mobile suit pilots.
There are many people who want to join.
From civilians to people who fought before.
The issue is infrastructure.
'This gives me an idea.'
With the idea in mind, Marcus opened Setanta's design as he began to design Mobile Worker.
A mobile suit variant that would exponentially improve the pace of infrastructure and logistics of his newly formed nation.
There was already a Knightmare version of this thing employed by Britannia. It's what allowed them to rapidly build their new settlements in conquered land.
And now, Marcus will abuse it to build his space industry.
~~~
Anaheim's rapid expansion was not missed. The three superpowers were observing them very closely.
Especially Charles zi Britannia, his amusement only lasted for a day as he quickly realised that Marcus crippled him before beginning to expand rapidly.
There are riots throughout the entire Holy Britannian Empire. From Area 1 to Area 18.
He already lost the Middle East and North Africa, and Middle Europe was already showing signs of rebellion. Euro Britannia stopped with their advance and focused on holding land.
They have no means to take Area 11 back, simply because the army is focusing on stopping riots.
'Well played, Lelouch.'
"I have no choice. Deploy my round table. I assume their machines are finished?" The Emperor asked, as he was attending a cabinet meeting—something he had not done in years.
The council members were quite stiff.
"...Their machines are at the cutting edge of technology. However… the latest technology we got from Anaheim… it will take months to assimilate their technology into ours." The Minister responsible for Technological advancement said, while wiping sweat from his forehead. Just being in front of the Emperor is a bit too much for him!
"Anaheim…" The Emperor tapped his chair with a finger.
"For now, forget about my son's rebellion and focus on stopping the riots. Once our territory is secured, then we shall focus on regaining our lost lands." The 98th Emperor instructed them.
"Yes, Your Majesty!" The man nodded respectfully.
With that out of the way, Charles looked at Schneizel.
"Schneizel, I need you to manage resources and accelerate the technology advancement.
We can't stay behind."
At that moment, the Emperor's comms unit flashed. With a frown, he pressed, and the man began to speak through the speakers.
"Your Majesty, Anaheim just attacked Beijing."
"..."
"..."
"..."
'Already? Do they have such firepower to take the Chinese Federation Capital?'
Charles pondered.
"Your Majesty, do we have something like a direct link to the Federation's capital?" Schneizel asked the Emperor.
"Hmm… do you have a video?" The Emperor asked through his comms.
"One moment."
The large screen that was usually used to show the Emperor's face became a TV.
What they saw was the skyline of a Chinese city. Above the city, there was a single machine floating. It had strange wings; they looked like they were made from feathers.
"...that's KK-11 Andraste," Schneizel commented with a knowing look. He studied whatever he had on these machines that could destroy nations.
"...However… there is something strange about. It would seem it has been improved to some extent."
Charles didn't say a thing about these comments as he simply watched this single machine above the city.
It had its hands spread to its sides as it was holding a pair of long rifles.
Then… the feathered wings shattered into hundreds of small bits of some sort and moved forward, creating an energy field. The mech moved both hands forward and shot the two rifles at once.
Blue beams rushed into the energy field. The field glowed blue before hundreds of smaller beams rushed down. It was like these beams were guided.
In a single shot, the majority of the garrison of the capital was erased.
Not that the mech stopped, as it shot again and again before the energy field was gone, forming small daggers made of energy that fell to the ground, where they began to pursue the regular soldiers.
"..."
"..."
"...I see… no wonder you have trouble with Lelouch, Schneizel." Charles frowned.
If these are his opponents, then the Emperor won't be able to fulfil his goal…
'That can't happen. I need to switch tactics.'
The 98th Emperor was already thinking of employing his Geass Order, but that won't be easy now that Area 11 is no longer under his control.
The ocean is separating them.
'No doubt C.C. told him all about Geass Order.'
'If he has such technologies for machines, then he could have invented something to deal with Geass too.'
Charles stroked his chin while thinking. All of this has begun to frustrate him.
'To think that I need to interfere in person.'
"...We will have to work together to stop my wayward son." In the end, he said with a frown.
For a second, Schneizel lost his cool as he looked at his father with wide eyes.
"Don't look surprised. This is indeed dangerous for Britannia. I always had confidence in my Empire. But this…" He stopped the video and tried to focus on Andraste. But it ended up blurry.
"It has been a while since we were on the losing end… hmm, I should congratulate my son for making my Empire try hard again."
'Try hard again? Those things are wiping our butts!' One of the Ministers felt like crying when the Emperor spoke like that!
"Schneizel declare nationwide mobilisation and begins converting our industries solely for military use. Since Lelouch wants to fight, we shall accept his challenge." The Emperor declared to the cabinet.