Nunnally of the Insurrection

Chapter 28

Suzaku was in his dress uniform, while Nemo was there for the Black Knights. "Nervous?" Suzaku asked politely.

"A little," Nemo admitted. "You?"

"Yeah," he admitted before the Viceroy's aide entered.

Guilford nodded to them both, "I see you are ready. When we are given our cue, please follow me out to the studio."

"Right," Suzaku nodded.

The award ceremony was being held at the palace, and would be broadcast across the entire Area. Euphemia would be giving the award to them both, along with a speech from Cornelia.

Nemo had mixed feelings about the whole thing. On one hand she did appreciate the Black Knights being recognized, but on the other she also knew the event would shore up Cornelia's power. Still, their alliance required it...

"Follow me," Guilford ordered when it was time.

Nemo was a bit startled by the loud cheer as they emerged from back stage. Including a large number of people shouting her name. 'I thought the Britannians didn't like me,' she thought.

"Today, we have here to honor the heroes of the fight against the Chinese invaders," Cornelia declared as Nemo and Suzaku took their places. "Suzaku Kururugi was born Japanese, but put aside that to serve Britannia. Piloting the Lancelot unit he saved my life repeatedly, and showed the invaders what a true warrior could do."

Suzaku looked profoundly embarassed. It was cute, really.

"But even Kururugi's valiant efforts were in vain. We were outnumbered, exhausted... then Nemo and the Black Knights arrived," Cornelia said. "With only their older Knightmare Frames and Nemo's tactical skill, they were able to ambush the Chinese, fight their way to the commanders and force their surrender. If not for them, we would be under Chinese rule."

'Well, no,' Nemo thought as she tried not to blush, 'Japan would be a smouldering wreck as Britannia and China fought over us. Still...'

"My sister, Co-Viceroy Euphemia, has asked to present the awards," Cornelia continued.

Euphemia smiled warmly at them both. She took a box from a fancily dressed aide, "Suzaku, please bend your neck."

Suzaku did, she opened the box and put the medal around his neck.

"Thank you for saving my sister," Euphemia murmured, then she kissed his cheek.

Suzaku blushed, "Just doing my job."

Euphemia moved over to Nemo as she said, "Thank you for saving Cornelia, Suzaku and... well, everyone."

They were about the same size, so Euphemia gracefully put the medal around her neck as the crowds watching cheered.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

"Suzaku was so cool!" Shirley squeed as the student council (and guests) watched the ceremony.

"He was so cute when Euphie kissed him," Milly observed.

THAT made Shirley scowl suddenly.

"Nemo looked fairly awesome," Rivalz quickly changed the subject.

"She's SO COOL!" Kaguya declared. "If she was a man I'd marry her."

Nina bit back a chuckle, too. She was also in the Nemo fan club, even if she knew Nemo was actually Nunnally.

Kallen looked equally amused. The 'sickly' redhead had to fight back a giggle.

CC, interestingly, also looked cranky at the 'marry her' comment. "So, Suzaku got an official medal, but not Nemo?" she noted.

Milly nodded as she explained, "Yeah. As Nemo isn't actually in the military, she can only get a civilian award."

"Hmph." Nina frowned.

"Where's Nunnally?" Shirley asked, pouting.

"She's visiting an ill friend," CC deadpanned calmly. Of the group there, interestingly, only Rivalz and Shirley didn't know that Nunnally was Nemo. Annoying.

"Well, one bonus is, Nunnally can't object if we want to hold a party to celebrate the recent victory," Milly said cheerfully.

"Should I be here?" Kaguya asked.

"Wanna participate? The food is usually really good," Milly shrugged.

"Hmmm," Kaguya licked her lips.

"Stop tempting the nice woman with fair food," Kallen scolded. She added, "Considering the losses we also suffered, isn't a party kind of tasteless?"

"Well, this is Milly we're talking about," Rivalz noted.

"I HEARD THAT," Milly scolded.

"I think if we're going to hold a party it shouldn't be about that specifically," Shirley suggested.

0o0o0o0o0o0o0o0

Villetta Nu bowed respectfully as Nemo left the secret tunnel back to the Black Knight's headquarters. "My lady...," Villetta hesitated, "must I continue to serve apart from you?"

Nemo put a hand on the taller woman's cheek, watching her tremble slightly. Once again Nunnally was both impressed and disturbed by how powerful her Geass was. The adoration that Villetta felt seemed to overwhelm all reason.

"I need Euphemia alive, for now," Nemo said, "and I trust you to make sure that happens. Please. Carry on a little longer."

Villetta sighed in adoration. "As you command," she agreed.

"Return to Britannian controlled areas," Nemo ordered, "do not be seen."

With that, Nemo slipped into the base hidden under Shinjuku.

"Nice medal," Ohgi noted dryly.

"I really couldn't refuse it," Nemo pointed out.

"She's right," Tohdoh reminded him. "Plus, all the people of Japan just saw the leader of the Black Knights, their champions, get a medal."

"Okay, point..." Ohgi conceded.

Nemo went into her 'office' with the two men. "You said it was urgent?" she asked, the two men having summoned her earlier.

"We got an odd message via former Japan Liberation Front sources," Ohgi admitted.

"Odd?" Nemo asked.

Tohdoh activated a view screen on the desk, "Well, see for yourself."

A attractive silver/white haired young girl appeared on the screen. It was tightly focused on her face, and her large brown eyes were narrowed intently. "I am Jiang Lihua aka Empress Tianzi of the Chinese Federation," she declared.

"WHAT." Nemo yelped.

The Empress' message continued, "I am being held captive by members of my government. I beg you, Black Knights, free me."

"WHAT," Nemo repeated.

"In return, I will throw the full support of the Chinese Federation and our military behind your rebellion," the Empress finished. "If needed, via a marriage pact with Sir Nemo," she added, blushing as the message ended.

Nemo, amusingly, was blushing a bit too.

"Well, that's a thing," Ohgi noted, "I hadn't seen the whole message."

"Ahem," Tohdoh cleared his throat.

"All right," Nemo waved that off as she mused, "so what she wants is us to remove the Eunuchs, and put her in charge?"

"Essentially," Ohgi agreed, "I have no idea who she'd put in charge with them gone too."

"That would be a complication, too," Tohdoh nodded.

"That would be her problem," Nemo decided.

Ohgi called up a map of Area 11 and China as he muttered, "But could we actually DO it?"

"Of course not," Tohdoh said.

Nemo, though, was just studying the map thoughtfully. "I agree," she muttered, "on a purely army against army situation, we'd be toast. But the Chinese Federation military is in fact spread very, very thin."

"Hmm," Ohgi prompted her.

"They have to keep forces on all their borders," Nemo added, "and they lost a good number of Knightmare Frames in their failed invasion bid."

"But if we attempt to attack, they'll just delay us at the border until reinforcements arrive," Tohdoh said pointedly.

"Unless something else was distracting them," Nemo mused quietly.

"You have a plan?" Ohgi asked.

"I have a idea," Nemo corrected, "I need to figure out if it could actually work..."

To be continued...