Standard Disclaimer: I don't have any rights to the property of what I'm about to use. I only declare the crazy idea I'm putting into story format for you is mine. The source material is not.

Opinion: Is there still a point to these disclaimers? I think by now, everyone gets it.

Space Knights Yamato

Chapter Three

Charting Course!

XXXX

May 11th, 2017 ATB

Master Bedroom Suite, Ashford Student Council Clubhouse

Ashford Academy, Tokyo Capital Settlement, Area 11 (Japan)

0654 hours JST

XXXX

Lelouch Lamperouge, formerly the 11th Prince Lelouch vi Britannia of the Imperial Family of the Holy Empire of Britannia and first born to the Fifth Empress Consort, Empress Marianne vi Britannia, began to awaken when he noticed there was a minor chill in his bed.

Slowly, his hands and mind worked out the details as he slowly began to come to life once more.

On his left side, or rather behind him as he was on his side, he could feel the warmth and form of his Second Fiancee Millicent 'Milly' Ashford.

Readily identifiable by her height, build, the way she is breathing, the size of her bust, and the fact she's completely naked.

As for the warmth and body in front of him, well from the feel and the fact she's partially dressed, Lelouch could tell that it is his First Fiancee, Shirley Fenette.

The orangenette had the third largest bust in school. Her hair is also longer than Milly's hair and he can feel it against his bare chest. He notes her top came off again during their sleep and her bottoms are sliding, revealing she isn't wearing panties this time.

A brief tease is considered in some part of Lelouch's mind, but he also recognizes that there is a third female body missing and immediately his mind boots up and takes note of his First Consort, Sayoko Shinozaki, carefully putting her clothes on.

Quietly swinging slipping out of the bed and ensuring the pair of girls in it find each other, Lelouch begins stepping over even more quietly as Sayako finishes putting her garter belt on, Lelouch manages to surprise the woman with a hug and a kiss, causing his First Consort to moan into his mouth as he gently moves his hands over Sayoko's body to gain her complete and undivided attention.

"Ma-aahh!" Sayoko tries to speak, but the Japanese woman finds it impossible as Lelouch gently pins her against a wall, next to a dresser and chair.

All the while, the young man makes sure that Sayoko enjoys the moment. It is not the beginning of more to come. They've already been there. But there is definitely more to come as Sayoko, somewhat reluctantly, begins to kiss back and respond to her lover's manipulations of her body.

Things move rather quickly from there.

Sayoko quickly and eagerly responds to the ministrations, rubbing herself against her Lord Master and lover. Showing she is heightened to the desire. The want. The need.

Even as the two Fiancees awaken to the sounds of the other half of their foursome being together and in another part of the room.

Something the blond doesn't let last as she and her future sister-wife join in.

XXXX

May 11th, 2017 ATB

Sado Island, Niigata Special Economic Zone

Much later in the day

XXXX

"Enjoying yourself out there Shirley?" Lelouch looks through a pair of binoculars as Shirley's Fighter cuts through the air over Sado Island, "Because you're looking like your enjoying yourself more than this-"

"LULU!" the Fighter could be seen going into an aileron roll as the pilot squeaks in surprise after shouting her fiance's nickname.

"Ye-yup," Rivalz Carmonde chuckles next to his friend, "She's enjoying herself. So now that she has somewhere to be, what are ya going to do about her ship and Nina's ship for that matter as well?"

The two males were dressed not in their school uniforms, but in their Cosmo Naval uniforms.

Black full coats with yellow trim joined by color coded markings for their rank and assignment with patches for what their branch is on their left arms. White scarfs tucked in behind the tunics to cover the white uniform dress shirt underneath the tunics. Dark long trousers with dark shoes and yellow trim and color codes on the lower cuffs. Their white naval peak caps with black bills and headband bodies trimmed in yellow and with the Cosmo Navy Seal centered in the middle.

"Well, you're getting Wakatsuki, don't forget," Lelouch chuckles as he thinks things over, "I have four, maybe five choices. I'll have them figured out soon, but I intend to have a meeting to discuss additional promotions, especially after we found that Frigate."

Rivalz is wearing a green color code to show he now commands a ship, the UNCN Wakatsuki herself, while Lelouch wears the red of a Flag Command Officer with his flag to be flown from the Heavy Cruiser, UNCN Amagi.

"By the way," Rivalz notes how Shirley pulls off a Split-S that tells she needs more time in the saddle, "What made you three late for class today?"

Lelouch didn't take his eyes off Shirley's Fighter as she tried to reduce her turns and tighten the angles, "I noticed the hickey on Nina's neck earlier. Good place to put it, I bet she loved it."

A fully blushing Rivalz trained his eyes on the remaining Fighters being moved for transport back to the Tokyo Settlement and their new, hidden hangars and airbase.

"What is the new Squadron we put together called anyways?" Rivalz asks as he eyes the pilot suits, all of them narrowing at the waist and protruding at the front no less, "Are all our pilots girls?"

"The First Fighter Squadron are the Mermaids, since its made up of the entire Girls Swimming Club now," Lelouch shook his head, all the girls from the Swimming Club had transferred to form the Squadron with Shirley, "The Second Fighter Squadron are the Fairies and made up of the Girls Book Club, don't ask, please," Rivalz bit his tongue, "And the Third Squadron are the Valkyries and made up of the girls from the-"

"Wait?" Rivalz interrupts to show his surprise, "All of our pilots are girls?"

"Yes," Lelouch looked as dour and sour as he could get to say that, "We can't find the male flight gear anywhere for one thing."

"And the other thing?" Rivalz questions.

"No boy has volunteered yet," Lelouch shrugs with both hands in the air as he showed he can't explain it either.

"Well…" Rivalz couldn't find another word, "Shit."

"Ye-yup," Lelouch agrees.

"So who are the Valkyries again?" Rivalz wants to hear that one out.

"The Girls Lacrosse Club," Lelouch states and Rivalz sighs as he drops his head.

Why did he even bother asking?

"Master Lelouch," Sayoko suddenly interjects, causing Rivalz to shout and jump at the abrupt appearance of the woman.

Everyone in the control tower looks over at Rivalz as he covers his heart. His hat had landed upside down on the woman's head and keeled over ever so slightly. A rather comical look for the pair from the other occupants' perspective.

"Sayoko…" Lelouch simply pinches the bridge of his nose as the woman takes off and returns Rivalz his cover, "Please don't give my new Destroyer Captain cardiac arrest before he takes his ship on their first mission together as such."

"Yes Master Lelouch," the woman dips in a curtsey to show her acknowledgement.

"That said, what is it?" Lelouch frowns as Sayoko was normally with Nunnally right now.

"I found a potential issue," the woman simply replies.

"What potential issue?" Lelouch blinks at being told that.

XXXX

May 22nd, 2017 ATB

Student Council Conference Room

XXXX

"Okay, we've confirmed it?" Commodore Lelouch Lamperouge inquires as he looks his Commanders over.

Everyone was formally dressed in their uniforms for this. Since it was an issue for them, as the Cosmo Navy, it was best to discuss this matter accordingly. It drove home the importance of this meeting to each.

As did the armed guards outside the conference room and the aides standing behind the officers who had them.

"We've confirmed it," Captain Nina Einstein had moved over to where her intelligence and book smarts served her best as head of the Science Division, though she was pulling double duty right now as head of their still nascent Intelligence Division, "The daughter of Marquess Garland Stadtfeld, Kallen Stadtfeld is a Hafu of Britannian and Japanese heritage and a Resistance Fighter with a group based out of the Shinjuku."

"That would be the Stars of Liberty," Captain David Roebach pointed out the moment he heard the location, "They're known for taking in Hafu and Ex-Pats trapped in Japan during the Second Pacific War. One of the better groups no less, as they have far more discipline than is the norm."

"They have military membership," Sayoko supplied from where she sat next to Nina, being a Kunoichi, they really wanted her to take over the Intelligence Division, but at the same time, she was needed next to Nunnally, "I believe their numbers of former Japanese Military personnel numbers about 6,000 or 7,000. Most are formerly enlisted, but they seem to have gotten some officers and non-commissioned officers as well."

Lelouch and the others hummed at that.

The numbers weren't quite high. But at the same time only the Stray Dogs in Shikaku and the JLF itself had higher numbers of military personnel.

The Stray Dogs were isolated members of the Japanese Military. They numbered some 80,000 at their peak two years ago. Now it was estimated they had only half that and had recruited a lot of civilians into their ranks. So there is no idea real telling on their numbers at this time either, which has been a saving grace for them.

Incidentally, they were also starting to take in Hafus as well as well as Foreigners that got trapped in Japan when the nation fell. So it was said they were larger in numbers than ever before, but short on weapons and supplies for them. At least for now, as they were known to get creative and inventive.

They gained the moniker Stray Dogs, after being abandoned by the Kyoto House and supposedly the Japan Liberation Front shortly after both were founded.

Which, on the topic of the JLF, they were still a powerful military force. While only a Major General was left to lead them, they had over 200,000 military personnel that never surrendered and were left after nearly a decade of resistance. They were professionally trained, led, and were the best equipped force in all of Japan to resist Britannia.

Unfortunately, they were strict about who joined them. They also had a major issue of leadership as there was a large and vocal faction opposed to the said Major General.

Political and Ideological differences among other things.

Birth appeared to be one of them.

The Major General was a Japanese commoner compared to his rival, a mere Lieutenant Colonel, who was from a powerful, influential, and wealthy political family.

The only thing holding them together was the fact that Major General had the support of Colonel Kyoshiro Toudoh, Toudoh of Miracles.

The only commander in the Japanese Army to defeat the invading Britannians in a straight up campaign. The Itsukushima Campaign was only a month long and was really more of a siege than a campaign. But Toudoh outmaneuvered and defeated a combined force of Britannian Air, Land, and Naval forces including three Mobile Battalions of Knightmares.

He then led the survivors and gathered more troops, as they retreated northward to join up with Major General Tatewaki Katase and help form the Japan Liberation Front.

All in good order and with all of their supplies and equipment.

"Who leads the Stars of Liberty?" Commander Shirley Fenette inquires, looking curious and clearly wondering if the Cosmo Navy could include them?

Sayoko had the answer to that one as well, "A Naoto Kozuki, though he was born Naoto Stadtfeld himself and is Kallen Stadtfled's elder blood brother through the same mother and father."

"Correct me if I'm wrong here," Lieutenant Commander Miya I. Hillmick spoke up, "But isn't Kallen Stadtfeld the heiress of her father?"

"Yes," Sayoko nods in confirmation, "But it appears that instead of protecting Area 11, Marquess Stadtfeld is a major backer and source of resources for the Japanese Resistance groups unsupported by Kyoto House."

"Say what?"

"Huh?"

"The hell?"

"How?"

"That's new."

"You gotta be shitten me."

"Well, fuck," Captain Millicient 'Milly' Ashford concluded the outbusts with that eloquent statement, "That's not something you hear about every day."

"With a wife like he has, you will believe he wants to be able to remarry his true First Wife," the head of Intelligence adjusted her glasses as she activated a holographic projector, this one actually bought from the Black Market in India back in March and only just now installed to support the meeting.

The images were of three people. The first was of the Marquess himself. Red haired and looking like a stern, but otherwise normal man. Strong jawline was probably the only other thing to stand out about him. Built somewhat like a brick, even his head and face were almost squared off.

The next was of a woman familiar to three people in the room.

"Oh geez, not her!" Commander Rivalz Carmonde groaned as he fell into his arms on the table, "I hate that woman."

"You and me both," Commodore Lamperouge looked like he had eaten as sour lemon, "Sayoko, didn't you give her a firm warning?"

"I did Commodore," Sayoko responded as she promptly drank some tea, that appeared out of nowhere, and those that knew her, knew she was trying to center herself rather than try to toss a kunai into the image, "She simply does not learn."

The woman was good looking. Really beautiful was an overstatement though. She was more like a board with a bust, thin waist, and angled female features. She also had her blonde hair done up, literally up, like a wave held in place by a band and a single long bang hanging free forward over the left side of her face.

Her blue eyes and her expression, though, left a lot to be considered.

"The First Wife has a history of possibly sleeping with other men," Captain Einstein informed everyone and there were groans around the table, "Yes, very adultrus, but she also appears to be possibly barren. As such, Ms. Kallen Kouzuki was adopted by her father to be his heir, though it appears he wanted his son and may have made the arrangements for when Japan would be liberated."

"Considering we're changing things, that's going to change," Captain Roebach stated as he leaned back, "To change the world and to recover the knowledge of the past, so we may learn and move forward again. That feeling of change, whenever we walk into there or touch something of the past."

"It breaks some kind of spell," Captain Ashford nodded in agreement, "Like there is something in the back of our minds, compelling us and the moment we cross that threshold or touch an artefact, it goes away and there is this feeling of something having been lifted. Like seeing for the first time."

"Indeed," Commodore Lamperouge agreed as he leaned back, thinking it over.

How quickly they learn everything. Learn to operate complex systems. Become comfortable aboard ships that sail the Star Ocean. An innate desire to go forward, a feeling of once more into the breach. To boldly go where man once did and to proclaim to whatever took it away, 'Here we are again! Once more, free to roam the stars and there is not a means to stop us. To hold us and bind us as prisoners. For we are meant to be independent and roaming.'

"Heh," Commander Carmonde made the sound, "Bet if we put the Emperor in one of our ships, he'll change his tune in a hurry. Might even become a pacifist and abdicate to become a monk or something."

"So tempting," Commodore Lamperouge responded, actually getting a mental image of his father as a Japanese monk, "Just so tempting, but we don't know if it goes that far. He's far older than anyone in this room. Also more closed minded. Not to mention…"

"Proximity and time," Captain Einstein nodded, "Those who were further away from the base or haven't been around it and our ships as much are still feeling the change. While those who were closer or have been around longer, are completely changed."

"It was a nice, happy thought," Captain Roebach points out and everyone has a good laugh.

"Now, this meeting's purpose," Commodore Lamperouge brings things back on course as everyone feels the heavy atmosphere descend.

Captain Einstein nods and indicates the third image. A Japanese woman of normal brunette hair and common ethnic Japanese features. A rather simple beauty that doesn't need much to make her beautiful. Like the first one, she isn't something that could be overblown, but there is also kindness in her face and eyes that are softer features that add to her allure.

The only thing that would hint of difference to Japanese norms, is her blue eyes.

The same shade as her daughter's eyes.

Unlike Lady Stadtfeld's sharper features, Mrs. Kouzuki has far more gentler features. She's more graceful in her appearance. Her hair down and tied back neatly.

A photo that they had gotten of her in her younger years, what can be presumed to be her son on one side and the obvious child was Kallen Stadtfeld with Mt. Fuji in the background, showed that the daughter definitely inherited a lot from the mother.

"Unlike Annabelle Louise Ellen Angelise Chastity-" that part of the woman's name drew numerous snorts, "de Angeles," a 'Say What!?' left more than one person, "du Anne," Commodore Lamperouge let his own opinion be known, "Helena Est Spencer Stadtfeld, Kouzuki Tsubaki is born to no family of note. Her family history can be traced back to Japanese Samurai, but they never amounted to much and eventually traded in their swords for a bakery. Other than that, they are not worthy of note, though they served some of Japan's finest Daimyo during the Warring States Era and served the last Shogunate until the final Imperial Emperor before Japan converted to a Democracy. After that, they just had their bakery," Captain Einstein finished her report with a shrug, "A small number did break off and lived in the woods and mountains of Japan in various towns and villages. Which would explain a number of things we've discovered."

"Such as their movements of resources, such as supplies, personnel, and even weapons such as Knightmares," Commodore Lamperouge didn't have to guess.

"Correct sir," the three images remained, "Marquess Stadtfeld is still very much in love with his original First Wife, Kouzuki Tsubaki. His remaining Wives are all in good stead, but a notable thing is that not one of them is from a particularly prestigious branch. As such, he's not moving up and few of them moved up themselves. He has two more Japanese lovers in secret, three girls and two boys between them," Captain Einstein continued her report on the difference and what they were finding.

Sayoko interrupts for a moment, "There appears to be a number of times when he's been called back to the Empire. Most of his Wives are still in the Empire Proper, the Homeland, but the Consorts are actually in Euro Britannia strangely enough. We haven't been able to confirm the reasons for his constant recall, though, as it appears to have nothing to do with Euro Britannia or his activities here in Japan."

"Interesting," Captain Ashford frowns, "What if he were to bring all of his Wives, Consorts, and Children into one place?"

"He would be declaring his position to remain," Captain Einstein states, "As any Marquess would."

"He's giving them a choice," Commander Carmonde realizes with a start, "To either be with him or remain with the Empire."

"That," Captain Einstein nods, "we've established."

"Good," Commodore Lamperouge indicates for the continuation of the report.

The report is pretty straight forward. The Lady Stadtfeld does appear to have some involvement with other men. She's known to go partying quite frequently and has directed the Britannian maids to make Ms. Kouzuki's life hell. Only the Ms. Stadtfeld would put an end to it when she discovers it, mostly because the redheaded girl hates bullies and not out of some sense of love for her birth mother.

It appears the pair are strained in that regard. The same with her relationship with her father. Though she is clearly in disgust of her stepmother and has been quick to defend her birth mother and father's honor on more than one occasion in verbal spars with the blond.

Other than that, Lady Stadtfeld is pretty much another run of the mill noble woman. Though one fully aware of her potential status as being barren. Which is probably why she agreed to adopt Kallen Stadtfeld as a daughter. To keep her place as First Wife.

As for Ms. Kouzuki, she's been trying to bear with it. But there is only so much a strength of will can endure on its own, without something to support it. Sayoko had to keep the woman from wandering off to get Refrain when gathering her information.

"Find out where that den is!" the Commodore orders at once, so loud that the guards outside heard it and were startled by their senior commander's outburst, "We'll make sure the place is dealt with, personally!"

No one disagrees. It was about time they did more than just blow up robotic ships. Time for them to do something for the people directly.

After that outburst from their leader, the officers proceeded to listen further into the report.

Which was so mundane and commonplace in the Empire, they didn't even need to think about it. Such was the tragedy, that it could be found in any number of places. Across a wide variety of fields and specialities. People being reduced to something below even sub-human by those that didn't understand the realities of their world and accepted their own views as the very cornerstone of truth.

"Funny thing of how many of us Britannians that aren't actually of British heritage," Commander Fenette points out, realizing in hindsight, how stupid they had been to accept such ridiculous beliefs in the first place.

"Very true," Captain Ashford agrees.

"So… The question," Commodore Lamperouge looks to his resident Kunoichi and head of Intelligence and RnD and gets the nods they are done, "What do we do?"

"Pfft!" Commander Carmonde waves it away, "Like it's that hard of a choice?"

"True," Captain Roebach agrees.

Seeing the nods all around, "Very well, moving on to Refrain Interdiction and Location Raids. A new topic, but since we are all here…" Commodore Lamperouge let's it hang in the air as everyone nods.

And across Japan and elsewhere in the world, Refrain Dealers suddenly feel a sudden chill down their backs.

Like something big, mean, and looking right at them… Just put them in its sights and crossed over their graves to say hello for the first, last, and only time.

XXXX

Ashford Academy

Pool Recreation Gym

May 28th, 2017 ATB

XXXX

'Stupid Britannians,' the redheaded Kallen Stadtfeld, Primus Heiress of the House of Marquess Stadtfeld, thought as the secret resistance fighter and Daughter of Liberty, Kouzuki Kallen, thought as she once more thought that the massive pool and its facilities were way over the top.

That's even ignoring the design was actually approved by the previous Japanese Government for the original Ashford Academy. A multi-use facility for swimming and diving that would have been open to the public and even taught such things as real world skills for aquatic related skills, such as underwater diving and construction. So it wasn't a little surprising it was so massive and included so many different facilities.

It's just that it wasn't being used for all of its intended purposes… Until quite recently and very secretly.

Suddenly Kallen's blue eyes widen as she witnesses an extremely complex, yet beautiful dive performed by a Japanese woman for all the students to see.

All the students present give a thunderous applause as the woman easily comes back up from beneath the water and swims with a grace that is envious to the nearest ladder and climbs out, giving a humble bow for her show.

But as students that had been previously nervous line up to make the little plunge into the water, under their teachers' strict supervision, Kallen quietly retreats to a different corner and gently removes the note that had been slid into the seat of her school issue swimsuit.

"I'm going to break whichever boy slid this in," Kallen angrily grumbles, unaware that a wall of students were masking her from anyone's notice and teachers were not even trying to look for her, the sickly girl in class.

Kallen expected a love note. She also expected someone to know her status as a Hafu. What she wasn't expecting was that someone knew she was a Daughter of the Star and remarked it had to be fate because they were of the Cosmo.

Whatever that meant.

Still, it was a note that only gave her a time and that she would know the person when she saw them when they contacted her.

Kallen quietly returned to class, waiting her turn. Strangely, no one she was with called her out of being out of her class group. Also, the teachers ignored it too. Anyone else, just ignored it, figuring it was because she hadn't been feeling well or had only just worked up courage.

XXXX

Kallen could only stare in shock at the pistol that had been put into her gym locker.

She was the last to get changed. So there were few people near her. That allowed her to examine the weapon closely.

It was shaped like an old Japanese Military Pistol, but with a longer barrel with a reinforced support and strut over the back near the grip and a mechanism at the back that looked like it cocked the pistol into action. The color was grey with a brown handle and came in a brown holster with a belt already attached to it with a strange seal she didn't recognize on the buckle.

"It's supposed to be Cosmo Disco tonight at bowling alley on Heath Street," Kallen overheard a couple of girls talking close by, they were being loud and obnoxious, "I heard it's going to be a real blast of night, with some boys hoping to let off their pistols, can you believe that?"

Cosmo and pistol in the same paragraph?

It couldn't be? No way.

"Yeah, I heard some stars were going to show up and liberate the trophy from the current champions," the other girl laughed, "We daughters of Ashford Academy better get over there tonight. They're saying there's been some changes lately in all the scenes. That some people are waking up to doing things right as they should, ya know what I mean?"

"Totally!" the first girl responds as both giggle like mad before moving on, "I bet the boys are going to be seeing red if we should show up and win though!"

Now Kallen was beyond suspicious, but she took the time to get dressed and take the pistol and its ammo with her.

She also found a note, letting her know it was alright for her to call in to her leader, but not to call for backup.

The location would not be friendly otherwise.

XXXX

Kallen could immediately tell how true that warning had been.

There was a Cosmo Disco going on. And multiple schools were battling it out for the trophy. A number of which would have given a lot of trouble on their own had they known that Kallen was a Hafu.

Worst, though, were the number of Student Defense Force members from Ashford.

She grit her teeth and did her best to slip by them. That was until a hand landed on her rear and then moved up to her waist in a way that suggested she would be familiar with the hand. Which she was most certainly NOT!

"Just go along," the owner of the hand stated, "Lean into and wrap an arm around me," the boy gently kissed the side of her head before just leaving himself as though he was smiling her hair, "My sister used to use that shampoo and conditioner mix. Where do you get it?"

Having done as he said, Kallen felt her face flush red as she favored a pre-war Japanese soap, made by some cousins in the inland areas of Japan.

"I'll tell you later," Kallen blushed, managing to keep the stutter out of her words, "Nice to meet you," then she noticed the male guiding her around and she realized, "You're wearing a military uniform."

"And yet no one has noticed," the boy smiled, looking like he couldn't believe it either as they arrived at a small room with a closed door, "Last chance to back out."

"You called me," Kallen pointed out.

"I was giving you the choice," he opened the door and the two entered, a banner for Ashford suddenly descending to hide the door as tables and chairs with occupants suddenly filled the void in front of the now hidden door.

While Kallen hadn't seen what happened outside, she could see the arrangements inside as the blue clad boy headed over to where the Japanese woman from earlier in swim class provided a moderate change of clothes behind a screen.

Several males and females, all around her own age, stood at military attention. Dressed in cosmic navy blue uniforms with either normal jackets or double breast tunic coats with orange ascots and various colors of rank and service seals. They had black or brown boots or shoes with some wearing white helmets with brown belts with the same kind of pistol she had found in her locker earlier at their waists.

A few others stood wearing black full coats with white ascots, various colors on their sleeves and shoulder boards with markings for different ranks, and white with black brim peak caps with that seal that was on the belt buckles as well.

A few others wore more simple versions of the same uniform behind them, but with less address on them.

Then the boy that she had met stepped out from behind the screen. The Japanese woman was wearing a grey, form fitting suit with black rank and service markings on it. She also has a tactical vest over it, knee and elbow pads, lower leg armor, forearm guards, and a hip skirt that covers part of the upper legs and below the tactical vest. A helmet hung off her armor.

The boy on the other hand, had the only red markings in the room. A full black coat with white ascot, the most prominent shoulder boards, and as he stepped out, putting on his peak cap, one of the female officers spoke up.

"Attention! Commodore on Deck!"

Everyone shifted and saluted as one. The style was vaguely reminiscent of European and Japanese style salutes. But other than that, it was not very noteworthy beyond the angles of the arm and where the fingers brushed the bills of caps or the front pieces of helmets.

The boy simply returned the salute, "As you were," he responded before turning to Kallen and indicating the seat at the table in the center of the room, "If you may be seated Miss Kouzuki, I believe we have some things to discuss."

"Sure," Kallen replied unsure actually, but she took the seat, a guard stepping forward to gently pull it out for her and then to push Kallen in gently once the redhead was seated before returning to her own post in the room.

The officers had stepped out with their aides and also sat once their leader had sat down first.

For Kallen, it was very surreal. These were teenagers like her, the only adult being the Japanese woman, and yet they acted like professional soldiers. Right down to the etiquette that was to be expected of such a meeting.

"I now open this First Contact Meeting between ourselves, the Cosmo Navy," Kallen blinked at hearing that, "And the Stars of Liberty," the 'Commodore' declared, "Any objections to this meeting?"

Silence.

"Let the record show, this meeting has unanimous approval," the Commodore states before he turns to Kallen, "Let the record also show, that I, Commodore Lelouch Lamperouge, current Fleet Commander of the Cosmo Navy, am in attendance and that I welcome the Stars of Liberty representative, Kouzuki Kallen, younger sister of the leader of the Stars of Liberty, Kouzuki Naoto, first born child and son of the Marquess Garland Stadtfeld and his Original First Wife, Kouzuki Tsubaki."

"Record shows," the recorder responds.

"Good," Commodore Lamperouge responds before speaking to Kallen, "Welcome Miss Kouzuki and I apologize about earlier, but unfortunately, a SDF member had been looking in your direction and I decided the risk was too great to let happenstance get in the way."

"I… see…" the redhead shifted, more than a little uncomfortable by nearly being ratted out, even if only a possibility, "Thank you and apology accepted."

"You're welcome and thank you Miss Kouzuki for understanding," Commodore Lamperouge nods to her, "First and foremost, I would like to welcome you to this meeting between our two respective factions. We are more recent and are largely made up solely of Britannians, Captain Shinozaki here being the sole exception at this time, but I do sincerely hope that this meeting will prove fruitful for us both as we both stand on the side of the people rather than some lofty ideals that cannot keep them warm, fed, nor clothed at this time. Something we both strive to achieve for them all."

"Ah…" Kallen finds herself a little put out of place, but nods, "Thank you for your welcome and I appreciate this meeting that has formed on such a short... notice?"

"Less than a week," the blond that had called attention earlier smiles with a slight laugh and the humor goes around the table and even to the guards, "This is the second major meeting like this that we've ever held. Up until now, we've been more informal than formal. But as we grow and build, formality has its place to ensure discipline."

Kallen could agree with that. Her brother's group was undergoing the same. They were finally reorganizing from a loose collection of cells that answered to Naoto, into a formal force. Time had been their ally so far, so they needed to hurry if they wished to keep it from being their enemy.

Kallen had to wonder about these people as well. They not only knew she had a brother, few people outside of Japan did, but who her parents were and that they had been married originally. They were extremely well informed.

"If you're also wondering, it was me who passed the first note," an orange haired girl waved her hand, to let Kallen know it was her, "I tried to tuck it in the shoulder, but too many people were watching. I apologize."

Kallen now felt embarrassed, but waved it off and let the girl know that there was no harm, no foul.

Explains why it had to be slid up against her butt. Hopefully it's something of a one time thing and not going to happen again with something like a machine gun next time! She wonders how she would hide something like a disc or old cassette tape even!

The meeting then proceeds from there. Pleasantries are first exchanged as well as names, leading Kallen to realize that all of the seated officers are important members of Ashford Academy. From the President of the Student Council and granddaughter of the Academy Founder to her Vice President, who in a reverse of roles is the superior now, to all the members of the Student Council to well respected and known leaders of various Clubs and sitting members of the Student Government.

That leaves Kallen a little overwhelmed, but she manages to push through it as they give her time. Though they do warn that they have to move along as well. Noting that the bowling alley won't be open all night.

Unfortunately.

The second thing is the discussion of a potential alliance between the two groups to eventually form into a single entity. Forming a national government and converting their joined forces into the standing military.

Kallen also learns that the Cosmic Navy isn't just a name. They have powerful warships at their command. The problem, though, is that someone else, an unknown, but old and dangerous party, has equally powerful ships that are all automated. At least thus far. Which is why they haven't turned their firepower on Britannia.

"We've been fighting them for nearly a year," Commodore Lamperouge explains, "We ran into an ambush earlier in the year," indicating Captain Einstein, "We nearly lost Captain Einstein's Destroyer in the ambush with one other ship. At the time, I commanded the Squadron Flagship, the UNCN Wakatsuki-"

'New... Moon? In... Japanese?' Kallen's mind processes in surprise, but she listens on.

"-and we were the focus of the ambush and took damage ourselves," Commodore Lamperouge narrates to her, "With just five Destroyers in a single Squadron, we dispatched an enemy Battle Group at most, a Task Group at the very least, composed of one Heavy Cruiser, two Light Cruisers, and assorted Destroyers and Frigates for escorts for all three."

'They took five ships into an ambush and managed to turn it around and destroy at least 15 to 20 ships?!' Kallen could only find herself very impressed.

But then her impressed opinion turned to horror when she learned her mother had attempted to get Refrain. Kallen was encouraged to talk to the woman, that she is under severe and constant strain. Commodore Lamperouge even offering to hire her mother to look after his younger sister who was about to start treatments to hopefully regain her legs, as soon as Ashford Foundation doctors cleared the procedure.

Kallen began to realize just what kind of bitch she had been to her mother.

She thought her weak, but these people had learned that her mother had only been wanting to stay by her daughter.

And she had treated her terribly.

"I'll… speak with my mother and see if my brother can visit her as well," Kallen admitted, feeling very shaken.

"Perhaps your father can return to meet with us and then spend time around his home, keeping an eye on things," Commodore Lamperouge supplied as a possibility, "Especially as he is an active member of the Japanese Resistance."

Kallen shoots to her feet, knocking her chair back and over as she screams, "NANI?!" at the top of her lungs in disbelief.

Thankfully, someone outside got their third strike in a row and so the crowd was even louder.

"Tou-san is a Britannian Marquess!" Kallen defended the man's dignity and honor, without realizing, "He can't take that risk without endangering everyone around him!"

"But he is supporting groups that Kyoto Group itself have abandoned," Captain Shinozaki points out to Kallen who nearly falls on the floor if not for an attendant who had been bringing out food and drinks for everyone throughout the meeting stopping her from sitting back as her chair is brought back up and she sits back in to be pushed up to the table again, "Your brother's group, the Stars of Liberty, are one such faction he directly supports, not just with finances and arms, but with constant resupply, intelligence, base placement, supply routes, and recruiting and training. There isn't a component of your brother's group that he hasn't helped with and it is suspected your brother is well aware of this."

"Unbelievable," Kallen puts her head in her hands, she hadn't even known that!

"But he can only supply what he can get," Captain David Roebach suddenly states, "We, on the other hand, can actually make our own weapons and have a hidden military base to do so. One we found and had the resources. Strangely, that base has its own history, which we are still uncovering at this time."

Kallen was about to ask, but stopped short. The pistol they had given her. It was to be a simple introduction into what they could further give her and the Stars of Liberty.

"I'll speak with my brother," Kallen states, getting what they are getting at, "And my mother and father as well."

"I would like to meet with him," Commodore Lamperouge states, "We'll are well aware of the pressure you are being put under to find a husband. One of our members, including the personnel and officers present here, can potentially help buy you time to avoid anything forced of that matter."

Kallen swallowed hard, "Thank you."

"I am also of sufficient birth," Commodore Lamperouge caught everyone's attention with those words, "To simply declare any matter between your birth mother and your father cleared. A favor to allow them to be together again. Your father has my respect, as does your mother," then the Commodore closes his eyes as a sight of pain ripples over him, "I lost my mother and father and all of my siblings, especially those that cared for my sister and I. I know what Britannia can do and what can happen," he opens his eyes, those royal purple eyes holding the attention of sky blue eyes, "I will do what I can, to bring even the smallest happiness where I can. To right what wrongs I have the power to do so. By the decree of my forebearers and by Alwin I," his fist slamming into his chest as he bowed his head, made Kallen realize she was dealing with someone of Pendragon Birth!

"I...I… Arigato!" Kallen bows her head as she struggles to speak.

That is when tapping is heard from outside. A guard goes to the door and listens in. Then closes the door and steps back.

"Things will be winding down soon," the guard reports, "Our time is also almost up for this room."

"Please give that pistol a try and speak with me soon," Commodore Lamperouge states and Kallen agrees as the meeting begins to break up in a hurry to move things and for people to change and disappear back into the crowd.

XXXX

"What the fuuucckk!" Shin'ichirou Tamaki, as always, puts it so eloquently.

Kallen blinks in stunned surprise at the power of the pistol she just fired. The pistol she had gotten from the Cosmo Navy.

Once the meeting broke up, she had gone straight home. Forcing her way into her mother's room, she found the graffiti on the walls. The vandalism as well.

The Britannian maids had all looked nervous. While they did hate the Eleven woman, they knew there had to be limits to what they could get away with. In this case, they had instructions and perhaps they did get a little too far ahead of themselves.

Then again, they could have simply been combining the stress of dealing with Lady Stadtfeld with their own hatred of Elevens and now that was coming home to roost.

And return home to roost it did.

Though Kallen had told them she would be fair. She would give them all another chance and not inform her father. Provided they cleaned up their act and the room too. Reminding them all, that it was a room in the Residence of the Estate of the Stadtfeld Family.

None of the maids could hurry any faster. They got their one warning, so they did promptly correct it and themselves.

Once the maids were at work, Kallen sought out her mother and found her stuck in a side room.

When Kallen questioned the maids later, none of them had been responsible for that. Though they had seen Lady Stadtfeld over there earlier. That woman had been in a rather foul mood and so they had kept clear of where they thought she was.

"Figures," Kallen muttered at the time before taking her mother up to her own room and sitting her down for a long, overdue talk.

Well… It had turned into a crying session as Kallen had thrown herself into her mother, wrapping her arms around her and began weeping out that she was sorry over and over.

For calling her weak. For doubting her. For not trusting her. For being a terrible daughter.

Kallen had let it all out and asked her mother to stay away from the Refrain Dens.

The stunned Tsubaki had only held her daughter and promised she would. She even made a mental note to destroy her last supply and see about help. Maybe she would contact Garland directly and ask him for assistance.

That evening, Tsubaki had ended up staying with her daughter. The two sleeping in Kallen's oversized bed, like the redhead was such a small girl again. The two slept peacefully for once, in a long while.

Then the next day dawned and one of the maids had approached Kallen with the last vial of Refrain found in Tsubaki's room by accident.

Kallen informed the maid she was aware and the matter was being addressed. She thanked the maid and informed her that there would be no further concern on the matter. The maid acknowledged, glad that Kallen was being calm about it.

The redhead wondered how long as she looked at the vile poisoning sweeping many in the world up into its deadly embrace before she destroyed it without hesitation.

The redhead then made a call to her father and informed him he needed to return. That the matters in the house were getting out of hand. He had grumbled, but agreed to return immediately. Especially when informed that the maids were being encouraged to misbehave, if only to avoid being caught up in a senseless wrath.

"Damn that woman," Marquess Stadtfeld had grunted out in annoyance, "I'll be back sooner than I'd expect, just to put that woman on the spot."

Afterwards, Kallen had checked in on her mother. The woman would try not to use her last Refrain, not that it would matter. Kallen destroyed it already. Her mother so informed, the woman nodded when Kallen told her to take the day off and look through the memories of old, because they would make new ones soon.

Kouzuki Tsubaki smiled at that and nodded as Kallen had headed off, promising to bring Naoto by for a visit, surprising the woman.

Then she had made her way to the main base of the Stars of Liberty in Shinjuku.

An old and formerly popular mall had been destroyed not far away. This old mall they operated in, was not as popular, but still had steady clientele back then. Now it served as the Stars of Liberty's main base, since it had subway access.

It was also large enough to act as a military depot complete with an area for barracks, motor pool, supply center, command center, a small clinic building that had been attached at some point and now was their hospital, and there was even a firing range, the latter she went to.

And once she finished reading the instructions, she had loaded a magazine, pulled the cocking lever back, taken careful aim with both hands, and pulled the trigger.

The kick back from the recoil still caught her by surprise. Despite expecting it, as the barrel's base had a reinforcing strut and brace on it. The strength of the single shot still surprised her and caused her to fall on her rear after firing.

When she had gotten up, the one round had gone through the target board, rather higher than was her norm, and passed through all the layers of protection they had placed behind the target boards.

It also shattered the sandbags, split the reverse wooden board, and smashed the cinder block filled with sand.

That lone bullet had done a lot of damage.

"The hell you get that thing?" the redheaded Tamaki helps his fellow redhead up, "Never seen anything like it."

"I got it from some guys who are offering an alliance," Kallen replies as she looks at the pistol and steps back up to the firing line.

This time, she takes very specific aim and blows the crotch off of the lifesize picture of Viceroy Third Crown Prince Clovis la Britannia.

"If only that were really him," one of the other Stars states at seeing the massive hole where the Viceroy's balls would have been.

"I agree," Kouzuki Naoto suddenly spoke up from his spot where he had seen everything, "Though I wish you would have spoken to me first, Kallen," the older brother didn't take the fact she didn't come to him first before arriving at the Firing Range to test fire her new pistol.

"Ah… Ehehe?" Kallen knows she's in trouble and gulps audibly when her brother shoots her a glare.

"My office, now," Naoto orders and Kallen dutifully follows her brother's order while he leaves two of his best to keep things going and has Tamaki go fetch the bullets that did all the damage.

"I'm curious as hell," the male redhead stated as he decided to er on the side of extreme caution and put on a blast suit with a team helping him to retrieve the bullets.

Just in case, you know, there are more surprises to them.

Once both siblings were in Naoto's office, a former manager's office in one of the larger retail areas. It was only chosen by him, because it met the needs that Naoto knew would be needed to be met. As such, it wouldn't have looked out of place in the EU Military, especially at a base or FOB that was close to the action.

"Okay," Naoto pointed to a seat and Kallen couldn't sit fast enough as he also held out his hand and she turned the weapon over to him, "Where did you get this? And what's this I've heard, that you abruptly ran herd over the Estate as well?"

The brighter colored redhead started off explaining the conditions of the Estate to her brother. The young man growling at the fact that his 'stepmother' had been going behind their father's back.

What he hadn't expected to hear from his sister, though, was that their mother had been using Refrain to cope with everything happening to her.

"REFRAIN?!" Naoto shouted loudly and only by the grace he had told his staff to take a mass break, that no one heard, "Kaa-chan wouldn't!" he pointedly declared.

"One of the maids found the last vial," Kallen looked on the verge of tears, "Kaa-chan," the girl abruptly hiccuped, "even admitted to it."

"No…" Naoto's voice was a bare millimeter above whisper.

Then his sister abruptly shot up and tackle-hugged him, crying out that it was her fault. That she was responsible for their mother taking to Refrain. That she was to blame as their mother only wanted to be close to her and she pushed her away.

It took nearly an hour for Naoto to calm his distraught sister. But he was successful and made it clear that Kallen was moving towards making up for lost time. That she was cracking the whip on their Stepmother as well. Also she was putting order and honor back into their House, something any ancient Japanese lord would be proud of for her doing.

Kallen preened at that last part.

Kallen may not have looked Japanese, but she had been raised in Japan. To her, Japan was her country. Her appearance meant nothing compared to her heart. That it was her National Identity as being Japanese that mattered to her.

"So what's this now, about an alliance?" Naoto asked once he was sure his sister was sufficiently calmed down.

"They call themselves the Cosmo Navy," Kallen shrugged at her brother's incredolous look, "But from what they admitted, only one of them is Japanese."

"Only one?" Naoto frowned at hearing that, "The rest are EU then? From the Asian Mainland?"

"Britannian," Kallen answered, "And not just that, but they're all from Ashford Academy. Including all of the important members of the Student Government and especially so the Student Council."

"That's-" Kallen interrupted her brother.

"At least one, the leader, is Pendragon Born as well."

Naoto reeled at hearing that.

Pendragon Born.

They were elite of the elite. Always with a connection to the Royal Family. Some great history to their name. There was nothing that wouldn't be noticed about them.

To think, a Pendragon Born was taking up arms and doing so in Japan.

"Nii-chan," Kallen looked worried, "They know that tou-san has been supporting you in many ways and that he's been supporting everyone cut off from Kyoto House."

That nearly floored Kouzuki Naoto.

Yet at the same time…

"How do we meet?"

XXXX

The next day, Kallen's face was as red as her hair.

She had accidentally walked in on Lelouch and his future Wives and one Consort trying to get in a foursome quickie. Which they had started about two hours earlier.

Now the four knew the feeling of being walked in on themselves. It was very embarrassing. Though the redhead couldn't keep the fact that for such a skinny fellow, Lelouch could make three women happy by himself and even when-

The redhead shook her head.

This was worse than the time she walked in on her brother and his girlfriend, Miyase, that one time.

It's one thing to walk in on her brother, who she is related to.

It's another to walk in on four people she wasn't related to, especially the well endowed, lone male that appeared to-

She shook her head again.

Coughing into his hand, the said lone male then tried to speak.

"Yes," Lelouch coughed to get rid of the high tone in his voice that squeaked a little, "Yes Miss Stadtfeld? How can I assist you today?"

Kallen, grateful for his recovery, "My brother would like to meet you as soon as is possible, preferably in the next day or two."

Lelouch nodded, "I'll make arrangements for tomorrow," Lelouch indicates, "Where at?"

"The Stadtfeld Estate Residence if possible, if not-" Lelouch held up her hand to stop her for a moment as someone knocked.

"Enter," Lelouch called and it was Sophie Wood, "Lelouch! We've got a problem!"

"What now?" the boy was thankfully cleaned up and dressed as he followed Sophie out along with the cleaned up and dressed Milly Ashford, Shirely Fenette, and Sayoko Shinozaki with Kallen bringing up the rear as they ran after the pair.

"Well, damn," the redhead stated when they arrived to find a glaring match ready to explode into a full on fight between the Student Defense Force and the few Eleven and many more Common-born Students.

"Oh by the Goddess' tits," Lelouch cursed causing five shades of red to appear.

Four of the five have noticed that he had been more prone to crass or foul language in recent months. Perhaps a sign of mounting stress because of how he was juggling his life, Nunnally, the Academy, and the Fleet all at once.

Sophie was not much into males, but Lelouch had three very fine ladies to his name, so she could make an exception.

"You care to repeat what you said!" an Eleven student shouts suddenly.

"Very well, I shal-" that was as far as the SDF member got before David Roebach struck with a Rugby ball from the side.

"What the hell is this mess!?" he roars at the top of his lungs, as the large student stomps through, knocking over members of both sides as he gets to the center, "You all want a riot?" he demands looking at both sides, "Well tough shit! Because the Student Government WILL NOT ALLOW IT!" he roars at all the would be rioters.

Lelouch then stepped forward, drawing attention to himself, "You heard Mr. Roebach!" Lelouch stops looking down the ranks of both sides, "Anyone who fights, packs it up and gets expelled, do I make myself clear?"

"You can't expel us!" one of the SDF's members shouts.

"But my grandfather can!" Milly suddenly declares, "Do not forget, I'm also Student President and can convene Expulsion Reviews as well!"

Despite the threats, the combative leaders weren't backing down. They rallied their respective faction back to the edge. It looked like a riot was about to break out alright. One that would have serious repercussions.

Of course, as anyone knew, the situation was just worsening because of confusing demands, guidance, recommendations, and lack of governance on the part of the Area Government.

The Viceroy didn't even try to govern if it wasn't important to him. Which was generally everything and anything in general. There were exceptions, but only if they really stood out in his few attention zones.

"THAT!" a new, deeper sounding voice cuts through, "IS ENOUGH!"

And everyone turned to see Marquess Garland Stadtfeld standing before all the students.

Rather average in height, a mere 182-183 centimeters. He really did look like a man that was simply squared off, but he was also the type of man known for how much like an oak stump he could be.

He was well muscled and as easily pushed aside physically as the oak stump. He didn't lumber as he walked, more like he took very measured steps. He had previously once been a Combat Engineer and dealt with unexploded ordnance. As such, his 'bulk' of muscle made it clear he could take on an explosion of ordnance and barely be rocked.

Not to mention having built bridges, dug trenches, and constructed bunkers, he had arms so strong that it took a double glance when one saw that his wives were rather willowy when compared to him.

His temperament was probably where Kallen got her temperament as well. Though he was less excitable and more in command of himself. Which was a very good thing at the moment.

The man was like being around one of those unexploded rounds he used to clear.

Caution was not only the watch word, by the way of life.

Every student froze, especially as the man's personal guard spread out before him and Dean Reuben Ashford who was looking beyond displeased.

The guards with Ashford Academy Security arrayed themselves evenly before the two riotous factions. The students are getting a very blunt message. They were beneath them, no matter who they were born to. Because only the Marquess mattered.

Immediately, the Eleven and Common students departed without fuss. They broke up and began withdrawing. The SDF students took a little more time, but they were slowly trickling away.

Typically there should have been an order to it, but it was clear that there wasn't. The SDF students broke up and began to withdraw as a whole after it became clear that there wouldn't be the united front needed. So the main ringleaders also departed along with everyone else.

Kallen, though, had approached the line.

Two members of her father's guard promptly stepped aside and bowed in acknowledgement of her. She acknowledged the two back, even by name, gaining a friendly greeting from the pair.

She was soon by her father, giving him the appropriate acknowledgement of his position as a noble and her father. The man merely grunted before putting his hands on his daughter's shoulders and gently turning her side to side. He then carefully cupped her chin to examine her face at different angles.

"My daughter, you look so much like your mother," Marquess Garland began, his voice like a quiet rumble of a mountain, "I'm very proud of her for producing such a fine and beautiful daughter," he chuckles as Kallen's face flushes brightly, "And that you have a strength to make our home right, for that I am glad, as you appear to finally be growing up and into a position that you will someday have."

Students that were still close enough had witnessed the entire event. Word was quickly getting around that Kallen was that Lord Stadtfeld's daughter. That she was easily acknowledged by his guards and that he was clearly pleased with his daughter as well.

For students who hadn't realized it, it was a major shock to them.

And that those who would be her would be tormentors, would be wise to tiptoe around Kallen until she forgot they even existed.

"Now, what of this young man from Pendragon that has expressed interest in you, hmm?"

Kallen now knew there was more to her father's unexplained visit, than just his abrupt return.

XXXX

"By the Blessed Saints of the Ancient Homeland herself!" Marquess Garland finally allowed the surprise he had felt when he first saw and heard the name of Lelouch Lamperouge, "You look so much like your mother, why I would suspect you to have been a woman in disguise and a clone of her as well!"

Lelouch blushed deeply while others had a laugh at his expense.

He had been called girly one too many times now. If not for the fact he was now developing a much more developed manly appearance, he was certain that Milly would try to keep in dresses for the rest of his life!

How was it, that he could disguise so easily as a woman!?

And what made it worse, was that Sayoko was extremely skilled at appearing as Lelouch himself.

Despite an age gap of seven years, him being taller by six centimeters, and the fact that Sayoko had a rather impressive pair on her chest!

Kunoichi!

He'll never figure them out.

But to the matter at hand.

"So," Lelouch gently began, eyeing Naoto Stadtfeld in his first official appearance as the eldest of all of the Stadtfeld heirs in years, most likely.

Dressed the same as his father, though with a less prominent shoulder cape. The two were well dressed in single, off center military tunics with long trousers and a pair of cavalry boots. This lent to the aire that they were a martial family. Which is what the Marquess was ultimately.

He was below the Margrave Jeremiah Gottwald and the Area's Marcher Lord, but he was one of the four most powerful military noble leaders in all of Area 11.

"You command a fleet apparently, hm?" the man's eyes matched that of his son, which was a different shade of blue from the mother and daughter, a Prussian Blue.

"Ah," Lelouch chuckled, "I see," he snapped his fingers and suddenly Sayoko handed him a report, with the Cosmo Navy's seal on it, "I was hoping to get around to meeting much more formally," Sophie leaned in and whispered, "No surprise Commander Wood, please let them know we'll have a meeting once everyone is available," the teenage straightened up, saluted, and turned on her heel to go make the arrangements, "I would have preferred to have my officers assembled, but the recent incident, that you so successfully kept contained and controlled, is keeping far too many busy."

"And that?" the Marquess noted the folder.

"A Daily Report," Lelouch admitted with a laugh, "But it has the Cosmo Navy's Seal on it," Lelouch showed it, "We are still organizing, even restructuring, some of our forces now that we have more assets."

"Taking on a superior force when it ambushes you and emerging with all ships and personnel is truly a feat worth noting," Sayoko vanishes without being instructed as the Marquess finishes speaking.

"I'll have Captain Shinozaki supply you with our combat data and recordings," Commodore Lamperouge replies as he straightens up into the bearing of a military man, "I would also invite you to visit our base of operations. It is quite large enough. We could move the settlement down into it and still have enough room to grow for at least 200 years."

"Why wasn't it used in the Second Pacific War then?" the Marquess found that strange.

"Because it has something to do with some recent intelligence reports about the Empire looking for something," Commodore Lamperouge explains, "Ancient Ruins scattered across the world, apparently, and code named Thought Elevators, as odd as the convention is to have such names."

"Odd indeed," Marquess Stadtfeld had heard the name be tossed around in the Homeland.

Apparently the Emperor was interested in such a thing. No one knew what the code name stood for and many suspected a red herring. Interest had dried up after three years as there was no indication what a Thought Elevator was. So most thought the Emperor had achieved it or it had been a distraction. No one knew, now he knows something more.

"We'll provide you with everything we have," Commodore Lamperouge explains, "We'll still feeling things out due to lack of information. The evidence is there, but we're struggling to recover specific information. Whatever happened long ago, someone had intended for it to be remain lost. But a simple accident, allowed it to be found once more."

"Hmm," the Marquess rubs his chin as the two leaders began speaking back and forth.

It soon became apparent that the Cosmo Navy was ready to supply arms and body armor of higher grades than what the Marquess could ship in.

More importantly, uniforms could be made and provided as well. Though the Fighter Forces were being restricted to female pilots only, due to the lack of male flight gear.

"We still haven't found it," Captain Ashford supplied from her seat, "We're still looking, but for some reason, we just can't find it. What we have, though, is enough flight gear to equip no less than twenty additional squadrons to what we already have."

"How many squadrons do you have?" Naoto inquired, he had some female pilots from before the war.

They'd kill to get into the air again.

"Four squadrons are currently raised, but only three are in active service," Captain Einstein supplied as she recalled the squadrons, "The First Squadron is the Mermaids, Second Squadron the Fairies, and Third Squadron are the Valkyries with Fourth Squadron, still being worked up to status, known as," abrupt hesitance, "the Amazons."

"Which club was that one again?" Captain Roebach inquires, trying to remember the Amazons with a sinking feeling in his stomach.

"It wasn't a club," Captain Ashford explains.

And it dawns on Captain Roebach.

"Oh hell no," the young man replies.

"It was," Captain Einstein sighs as she rubs her temples, feeling the migraine return yet again, "All of the delinquent girls, regardless of their class, social standing, and heritage."

The loud slap of Commodore Lamperouge's hand on his face, gives his muted opinion.

"And you had enough to form a Squadron?" the Marquess looks over at the Dean who shrugs.

"First I heard we had so many," Dean Ashford turns to his daughter who can only laugh in a totally fake way.

"We never said they were just from Ashford Academy," Captain Roebach groans rubbing at his face and recalling that one specific delinquent girl was always trying her best to prove she was worthy of him.

As that sinks in, the Dean and Marquess both share a surprised look. Still, it was likely better having those girls doing something constructive with their tendencies. After all, it helped fill out the ranks.

Hopefully.

Clearing his throat, "Well," the Marquess begins, "having 24 Fighter Squadrons would be impressive."

"We have three Transport, one Rescue, and two Patrol Squadrons, as well," Captain Ashford explains, "We're just short handed in those areas right now for lack of immediate need or the ability to hide them."

Naoto actually whistles at the impressive array of capability. He actually could help cover all three of those sections with his own membership. This alliance could work out.

After that, discussions went back and forth.

The two sides haggling a bit, discussing others. An agreement made to tour facilities. The fact that UNCN Wakatsuki was docked nearby in hiding allowed for an immediate show of proof as well.

XXXX

Commander Rivalz Carmonde stood at rapt attention with his officers. The bosun piping the Commodore, several senior officers, and guests aboard his ship. The crew and officers coming to attention as the Marquess and Commodore stepped before them.

"Welcome aboard the UNCN Wakatsuki, gentlemen and ladies," Commander Carmonde greeted his guests, "For those unacquainted with myself, I am Commander Rivalz Carmonde, Commanding Officer of the UNCN Wakatsuki. I will be accompanying you throughout your tour and I will endeavor to explain all that I can, pending security reasons or if I simply have to tap another to explain it because I wouldn't know the details."

The smile the young Carmonde had on his face, revealed he was making a joke and there was some groaning, but a few smiles at his attempt of humor.

With the following introductions quickly out of the way, he led the tour group along.

Naoto had brought some of his own people along, especially those with Naval backgrounds. The Marquess brought in those he trusted and could discern the truth as they toured the ship. Reuben Ashford knew the ship already, so he was simply there with a couple of secretaries to assist him with the two new arrivals.

For Rivalz Carmonde, this was a great change to him in his short life and even shorter military career.

A year ago, he knew nothing and then he was the Helmsman of the ship.

Then he was the Senior Helmsman, followed by the Helm Officer, and then he had reached Navigation Officer.

Just a few weeks ago, he had been bumped up to Executive Officer.

Then days ago, he was promoted to Commanding Officer.

New faces also appeared as others were promoted and sent off to command or crew other ships or sections of the Cosmo Navy.

He was now in command of their oldest combatant. At least in the form of the Cosmo Navy they made. The most storied of their ships, whereas what history they now wrote themselves.

It had been quick, but he would not let down his friends and fellow shipmates.

So with that thought, he conducted a tour that the Marquess would later remark as very professional and astute.

The Marquess would also find that he much prefers being on Earth than in space. Not because of the ship or how it was commanded. He just found the vastness of space to be a bit intimidating for a man such as him.

Being in a gravity field was one of his main strengths after all.

XXXX

Kallen lay in her bed, back at home.

It finally felt like home, she realized. Her brother didn't stay long, but her mother was in bed with her father.

Kallen knew her stepmother was gone for the next couple of days. By the time the woman returned, she would be in a lot of trouble. Though by that time, her mother would be able to briefly live again as Tsubaki Stadtfeld.

The maids, chasitized, had been on their best behavior.

Letting the maids know that while Kallen had not promised to tell him anything, there were other staff who were still absolutely loyal to him and told him instead.

He, in fact, knew more than Kallen could even begin to suspect. As such, he had the ideal punishment for them. They were to all wear Japanese Maid kimonos until he said otherwise.

That would mean they would have to ask Tsubaki Stadtfeld for advice and to learn how best to dress and move, warning them, they only get two weeks to learn and will be working as such until he absolved them to wear Britannian Maid uniforms again.

The women had all nodded and then set about getting their measurements turned in.

They would have the outfits in a few days.

And yet, that was very, very light.

The maids seemed to have turned around when Kallen had cracked the whip at first. The rest of the stuff had followed quickly, though, surprising there had been few that been bullying her mother. They had merely been indifferent and the butlers appalled to learn of the graffiti and vandalism inside the Estate's Residence.

Things were quickly turned around and as Kallen turned onto her side, she couldn't help but wish for some warmth next to her.

As her eyes closed, she could really only think about the sight of her new fiancee with his three other women.

Women, that he would never deny, were his wives.

And yet… Kallen could see, with her eyes closed, herself in that mix of bodies. Finding joy and pleasure as well as love and warmth.

She didn't know why, but that's how she felt.

And she would wake up the next day to a maid blushing at the mess Kallen had made of her panties in her sleep and would swear the maid to absolute silence on the matter.

But later on, the maid would report to Tsubaki.

"It would seem the young miss is finally interested strongly in a boy Lady Stadtfeld," Tsubaki had to remember, that was her the maid was talking to, "She, ah, made a mess of her, er, chosen sleepwear last night."

Translation, Tsubaki realized, was that Kallen had cummed her own panties in her sleep.

"Must be her new fiancee, Pendragon and High Born no less," Tsubaki informed the maid who gasped, "I don't know the details, my husband does and is, as always, tight lipped on the subject, but he finds it to be a fitting pairing, given who the mother of the boy was."

XXXX

A/N:

Well, I feel I had to get this chapter on the move folks.

Don't worry, more world building is coming in the next chapter.

Sorry this took longer than expected. Not only has COVID-19 been a concern, but I've been trying to vary what I do so as not to establish routine where I go nuts.

He had three damn months, plus warning flags from Intel one month before that and he still fucks it all up.

Like they say in certain fields, all it takes is one mistake and no matter how good or great you were, that's end of it.

Hopefully. Because 200,000 dead, with 90% of them being preventable, is NOT a good thing for a President to achieve!

Anyways, rant aside. So more world building will occur later. As you can see, though, things are far more developed.

Rather than a small force, the JLF now numbers a real military. They aren't guys who called it quits, but have been fighting for a long time. They're remnants, but they aren't alone either.

When Cornelia arrives, she's going to have a hand full of trouble waiting for her.

In addition, things are building up in other areas. So we're going to see how this all goes. Eh? What's that? You want more?

Of course you're going to get more!

In the next chapter of course.