April 4th UC 0102 / 2017 A.T.B

Shinjuku Ghetto

Amidst the ruined city and recently destroyed Knightmares and other military equipment of the Britannians, Lelouch Lamperouge, aka, Lelouch Vi Britannia, former Prince of the Holy Britannian Empire was looking down at his wounded half brother with disdain in his eyes. Even though he was smirking.

"Le...lelouch?" Clovis asked. "H-How...? T-They said... t-they said you died w-when...Japan was brought into Britannia..."

"Reports of my death have been greatly exaggerated," Lelouch said, still smirking, before he frowned. "But if you think you can bring me back to the homeland to use me as some tool of diplomacy, your greatly mistaken. Don't forget why we were used as tools in the first place."

Clovis' face immediately became frightful as he remembered that day, after Lady Marianne was killed, their father exiled Lelouch and Nunnally to Japan, after calling the latter a weakling, and the former dead to him the moment he was born. And now here he was, pissed, and having had enough of Britannia's bullshit.

"That's right..." Lelouch said. "It was because my Mother was killed...Mother held the title of Knight of Honor, but was a commoner by birth. No doubt the other Imperial Consorts held her in contempt. Even though you made it look like the work of Terrorists... I know full! You people killed my mother!"

Clovis immediately screamed. "It wasn't me! I swear I had nothing to do with it!"

"That is irrelevant! I will find out the truth!" with his eye glowed with the bird sigil of the power the woman gave him. "Now, by whose hand was she slain!?"

Once again, Clovis's eyes gained the faint red glow as the woman from the Knightmare Frame did. "My brother, Second Prince Schneizel, and Second Princess Cornelia," he said in his trance-like state. "They can tell you."

Lelouch's eyes widened in surprise. "They were at the heart of this?" he asked, but Clovis couldn't answer. Lelouch's eyes narrowed. "That's all you know, isn't it?" he asked, before he deactivated the power.

The moment the power deactivated, Clovis immediately went back to panic mode.

"Please, Lelouch! It wasn't me!" he screamed, while Lelouch just gave him a stoic look.

"I believe you..." he said and Clovis almost felt relieved until he saw the smirk form on his younger brother's face. "...But..."

Lelouch then brought up the standard Britannian sidearm and proceeded to aim it at the 3rd Prince's forehead.

"No...wait Lelouch! You and I may have had different mothers but we're still blood!" he said, now hysterical.

"Maybe..." he said, but just as he was about to squeeze the trigger and end the life of the badly wounded prince.

"Stand down!" a voice shouted on a loudspeaker and the 11th Prince jerked his head to the source. He looked up and saw one of the massive 'Mobile Suits' standing above them, one colored red with black and gold trimming. "Don't do it, kid," the pilot said. "We still need him."

Lelouch narrowed his eyes. "Do you know who this man is?" he shouted. "He's the one who ordered this whole attack! He's the one who let the Britannians do everything they wish to the Japanese! HE'S THE REASON FOR ALL OF THIS!"

"That may be, son. That may be, but still, we need him to tell us everything about the Empire." the pilot of the Mobile Suit said. "Their military strength, their bases, individuals in the government, everything. Then we'll put him on a military tribunal, and convict him of the crimes he committed against the people of this nation. Then, we will execute him, publically if possible. Or if all else fails, life in prison."

At that moment a squad of armed men dressed in what Lelouch could guess was body armor (A.N.: ECOAS Normal Suits, but colored like Zeon Uniforms), and face concealing helmets arrived on the scene and surrounded him and Clovis, weapons readied but not aimed. "Don't do something stupid that you'll regret later, kid," The pilot said. "Let us handle this piece of trash."

Lelouch glanced up at the Mobile Suit, before he stared back at Clovis. He was still very tempted to just pull the trigger right then and there...

He then sighed as he eased his grip on the trigger. "Fine... he's all yours," he said as he put away his gun. "Just make sure he pays for everything he's done..." He then proceeded towards his captured Sutherland. "If you'll excuse me... I'm late for something."

The Guards looked as if they were about to move to stop him, but the red Mobile Suit raised its hand. "Let him go," he said. "Capture 'Prince' Clovis La Britannia, and take him into custody. He is who we're after."

The guards nodded and moved to restrain Clovis, who was looking at the Mobile Suit fearfully. Its single green eye glaring at him.

"No...wait! Lelouch wait! HELP ME! PLEASE, DON'T LET THEM TAKE ME! PLEASE!" the man screamed, but Lelouch just kept walking toward the Sutherland, his former brother's screams falling on deaf ears.

"Shut up!" One of the guards shouted, slamming the but of their rifle into the Britannian's head, quickly knocking him out. "Get this bastard to the brig after he's been patched up."

Inside the Mobile Suit, Char watched as the young boy, Lelouch, step back into the Sutherland before it moved away. 'Lelouch, eh?' he thought to himself. He recalled the look that young man had in his eye... and how much it reminded him of himself, when he sought vengeance against the Zabi Family... and almost lost himself in the process.

'I better keep an eye on him,' he thought, 'And make sure he doesn't suffer the same way I did.'

Meanwhile,

with the Remnants of Clovis' Forces

"WHAT THE HELL DO YOU MEAN 'HE'S MISSING'?" shouted Margrave Jeremiah Gottwald, founder and leader of the Purist Faction as he gripped the uniform of a foot soldier.

"W-We looked everywhere, Lord Jeremiah!" said the frightened man. "And we can't seem to find him anywhere, and it's possible he was killed during the enemy counter-attack!"

Jeremiah growled as he shoved the Soldier away. "Then where is General Bartley!" He shouted. "We need to find Prince Clovis!"

"We h-haven't heard from him either m-my lord!" The soldier said. "H-he may have been killed as well!"

The Margrave just growled more at the incompetence of these idiots. "Get a squad. Get back in there. And find him! And if you dare come back without him, I will shoot you in the head myself, ARE WE CLEAR!?" he roared, which caused the frightened man to snap a hasty salute.

"Y-Yes my lord! Right away!" the soldier said and immediately left the pissed off nobleman.

'We never suffered a defeat like this before...,' he thought as he turned to what was left of the forces that went into Shinjuku. '...And this is all that's left? A few infantry squads, a dozen Sutherlands, the Special Corps, and a Medical Unit?'

"Lord Jeremiah!" a voice he recognized shouted, and he turned and saw his faithful lieutenant, Viletta Nu. "Are you alright?"

Jeremiah sighed. "Physically, yes..." he said, before looking around again. "But all of this... how could we have lost like this? Since when did the Elevens get weaponry like that?"

Viletta sighed as well. "I heard..." she said. "And saw them... they knocked out our Sutherlands like they were ants, I heard even the Special's Prototype model got pretty banged up."

Jeremiah gave a gruff sigh at that. "So even Prince Schneizel's Camelot weapons couldn't stop them, and the Lancelot is a Seventh Generation Knightmare Frame," he said, and Viletta nodded.

"Yes, and I heard that Earl Asplund is throwing a fit over it." she said, and then her eyes narrowed at the ground, which Jeremiah caught.

"Viletta, what is it?" he asked.

"It's just, after the retreat order was given, I heard a voice on the radio." she said and the Margrave blinked.

"A voice?" he asked, and Viletta nodded.

"Yes. A woman," she said. "It was on all of the channels... someone shouting out a phrase... 'Sieg Zeon'."

The Margrave looked at Villetta in surprise and confusion. "Sieg... Zeon?" he asked, as she nodded. "Sieg is German for Victory... do you think they were part of the European Union?"

"No, Impossible," she said, shaking her head. "Their Machines... there is no way Europeans could develop machines like those... those monsters..."

Jeremiah had to agree with his subordinate at that. Europe had some decent Knightmare Frames, but not THAT well developed as the ones that attacked them. Then there was the second part of the phrase Villetta told him. Zeon. And he had to ask himself, 'What the hell is Zeon?'

Before he could think anymore, another Foot soldier came toward him and Villetta, out of breath, as he tried to speak. "My...Lord..." he gasped. "Nee...need to..."

"Hold on a moment, soldier!" Jeremiah ordered. "Catch your breath first, and then tell me what?"

The soldier took a few breaths, before he spoke again, more clearly this time "My Lord... Y-you need to come and see this..." he said. "East Lookout... to Shinjuku... you're not going to believe this..."

Jeremiah blinked, and turned to Villetta who had the same look until they turned back to the soldier.

"Lead the way, then," Jeremiah ordered, and the soldier nodded and led the two Purists in the direction of the Lookout.

A few minutes later

It didn't take them too long to reach the said Lookout Post, and the Purists were shocked at what they were seeing.

Soaring over the Shinjuku Ghetto were massive... flying warships, unlike anything any of them had seen. Some of them were as small as 200 Meters, while others were over 400 to even 600 meters in length! They were all colored a variety of different colors, many of the vessels were colored either crimson red or Dark Green, while others had more militaristic grey and steel colors.

And if that wasn't enough, launching from each of the vessels were more of the massive machines, only even more models than before. Some with the same cyclops-head design as the ones before, while others maintained more humanoid appearances similar to the Lancelot. And descending from the skies appeared strange spherical objects which landed on the surface, which opened as more of these machines stepped out, along with other vehicles, supplies and troops.

Jeremiah saw a Foot Soldier with binoculars and went over to the man.

"Give me those!" he said, while snatching them away, surprising the soldier.

Jeremiah then looked through the binoculars and zoomed in on the spherical-shaped-pods, or whatever they were. He saw several tanks of unknown design moving out, and infantry wearing uniforms never before seen. However on the pods in which they came out of, he saw one thing that stood out: A Golden emblem, of a large 'A' with a hawk in the middle, its wings spread. And in the center of the hawk, was a symbol he could not recognise at all. (AN: Its Char's Zeon Flag)

'Hmm, interesting symbol, I'll give em that.' he thought as he continued to look around until his eyes landed on something, or someone, that made his blood ran cold.

"Ah hell," he said, as he saw the missing Prince Clovis who was restrained by two well armed and armored men.

"My Lord?" Villetta said. "What is it?"

Jeremiah answered her, a look of dread on his face, as he watched the two men take the obviously out cold Prince to a transport of some kind.

"They have the Prince."

Meanwhile

In Shinjuku

(BGM: Gundam 0083 OST/ Konpeitoh.)

As soon as the Britannian Forces had been kicked out of Shinjuku, Char wasted no time in sending out the relief forces, as they sent in whatever medical teams they had available to help the people of Shinjuku who survived. The New Zeon Army had begun setting up a perimeter around Shinjuku, to keep an eye out for any potential Britannian counter-attacks. However Char himself seriously doubted they would be stupid enough to attack when they had the Rewloola, the Argama, a Gwazine-class, three Salamis Kai-classes, two Musai Kai-classes, and a Magellan Kai-class flying above them, with full stores of Mobile Suits ready to deploy, not to mention the ground forces already being deployed as well.

Nanai herself had decided to help with the medical division, since there wasn't much else for her to do on the Rewloola since Mineva had offered to take care of her son. She walked the streets of Shinjuku, as wounded citizens were brought to the medical area as quickly as possible. From what she had been told, a lot of the people would make it... but many more would not. The numbers of who had died were expected to be in the triple digits, if not more.

She passed by the morgue, and her heart wrenched at the people who had loved ones as they mourned their losses.

"It's terrible..." said a voice, and Nanai turned and saw Loni Garvey, the former pilot of the Shamloo. "How can...how can those Britannians treat these people this way. This kind of oppression is worse than the Federation's... maybe even the Titans..."

"I agree with you on that..." Nanai said, looking at the grieving citizens. "These Britannians... they don't value human life at all unless they are other Britannians... they make the Titans look tame in comparison."

Loni could only agree with the older as she looked at the bodies covered in body bags, until she spotted one sight that made her heart ache. A single child, a girl no more than 5, crying over the body of her dead mother. Loni then began to walk forward toward the grieving child and when she arrived, knelt down and placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Is... this your mother?" She asked, somewhat fearing the answer before the child nodded.

"She... she won't wake up..." She said, "I tried, but... s-she won't wake up! Why won't she wake up!"

Loni then brought the young orphan into an embrace, who also wrapped her arms around Loni's neck.

"I'm sorry dear, she's gone." Loni said, and immediately after that, the girl began to cry even harder, crying on Loni's shoulder, but she didn't mind as she did everything she could to comfort the orphaned child, while rocking her at the same time. She also noticed that the girl had malnutrition from the lack of food her parents probably had. "Do you know where your daddy is?"

The girl shook her head. "Daddy...bad men...came...and took him away," she cried, and Loni knew that members of the Britannian Military came and took the girl's father away.

"I'm so sorry..." Loni said sadly, before she forced up a smile. "But... at least now your mother is in a better place, sweetie," she assured her as the girl looked at her. "And the day will come where you will see her again, but it won't be for a long time."

The girl sniffled as she dried her tears. "You...you promise?" she said.

Loni smiled. "I do," she said. "And until then, I'll take care of you for her. I will not be able to replace her, but I promise, I will be the best mother to you that I can."

The girl then wrapped her arms around Loni's neck. Nanai watched the scene and smiled. She knew Loni went through a lot after the One Year War ended. And she believed that by adopting that little girl, Loni's mental wounds will begin to heal faster.

Meanwhile

With Ohgi's Group

"Look at those things!" Tamaki shouted, as a Zaku II F3 Type walked between ruined buildings on patrol, while Ohgi and their group moved through the camp that their new apparent allies had set up. "They really are bigger than Sutherlands! And look at those ships! Their even bigger than the Airships I heard the Brit's have!"

"Yeah, no kidding," said Sugiyama. "And despite their size, they teared the Britannian Army a new one!"

Kallen meanwhile was watching a group of Zeon soldiers, one who had a cutting torch, opening the cockpit of a downed Sutherland. The hatch opened and the cockpit seat popped out. A soldier approached the still form of what Kallen could see was a female pilot. He placed his fingers on the woman's neck looking for a pulse.

"Got one!" he said and hand signaled a group of medics over.

"What are they doing?" Tamaki practically shouted. "Are they actually trying to help a Brit Pilot?"

"Of course," A familiar voice said ahead of them, as they looked ahead and saw Char approach them, still in his flight suit as he carried his helmet under his arm. "We are no longer in an active combat zone. What else would you expect? Did you think we would simply murder a defenseless prisoner like a Britannian probably would?"

The Resistance Fighters looked at the Commander of Zeon, and they were silent for a few moments until Tamaki spoke.

"Well, no, now that I look at it...but still-!" he began only for Char to cut him off.

"But nothing." the Red Comet said firmly as he went over to the group of soldiers who immediately stood up and saluted him. Char told them to be at ease as he knelt next to the unconscious woman, who had light tan skin, and shoulder blade length auburn colored hair. She had a bruise on a part of her forehead, which would explain why she was out.

He reached down and picked up her dog tags that were out of her pilot suit and read the name.

'Wanda Richardson. Chief Warrant Officer. Serial #:149555-90132. Age: 24.' he thought to himself and placed the dog tags down. "Get her to Medical tent B, make sure she's alright." He ordered the troops. "When she wakes up, alert me."

"Yes sir!" The Soldiers said as a medical stretcher was brought in, and the pilot was placed on it before she was carried away.

Char then turned around and faced the Japanese resistance fighters. "Allow me to introduce myself," he said. "My name is Char Aznable, Commander and Chief of the Republic of New Zeon. Though you know me as the Red Comet from our earlier battle."

The group's eyes widened at that.

"Whoa wait! You're the Red Comet guy!" Tamaki yelled, only to receive an elbow from the only other female member of the Resistance aside from Kallen and Hitomi, Inoue. "Ow! What was that for, Inoue!?"

"You yell too much," the bluenette with an irritated frown.

The one with purple hair and wearing glasses, Minami spoke up next. "I hate to be rude, but what is 'New Zeon'?"

"It's alright," Char said, nodding. "But for now, all you really need to know is that we are an independent nation from Britannia, and we have every intention to liberate Japan from Britannian rule, making us your allies. I wish I could tell you more, but a lot of our information is classified... at the moment, once we get the people of Shinjuku evacuated, we will be able to explain more."

"Evacuated?" Hitomi asked, surprised. "What do you mean Aznable-san?"

"Please, just call me Char," Char said. "I plan to officially announce it in a few hours, but we will be evacuating the civilian populace of Shinjuku to a more secure location. It is highly likely the Britannians will commit a large Counter-attack on our force, and I would prefer to avoid civilians getting caught in the crossfire. We will not force them to come with us, but given the circumstances... I believe it's in their best interest."

The Resistance groups all looked at each other at that.

"But...where is it exactly are you taking them?" Kallen asked.

Char just gave a small frown as he looked around the ruined city. "Somewhere a lot better than here," he said.

"Commander Aznable!" an approaching soldier said as he stopped and saluted. "Sir, we checked all the wrecked frames, and we found 12 pilots still alive." he then handed the Red Comet a clipboard. "Here are the names, sir."

Char accepted the list and looked through all the names. He saw Wanda's name on the list, along with 11 others.

"Have any of them given any problems?" he asked and the soldier sighed.

"At least half of them. They're spouting nonsense how their parent's a noble or some shit. Sorry, sir." he said, and Char chuckled.

"It's to be expected," he said. "Once its been assured they have no life-threatening wounds, have then sent to the brig we set up for the POW's. Also, send word to the Rewloola that I will need to speak with Foreign Minister Serrana Karn and Chief of State Mineva Lao Zabi. They will want a full report on what happened here."

As the soldier nodded and moved off, another of the machines from the battle - the dark blue and black one with the V-Fin head crest - approached and set down. Its hatch opened, and a man in a pilot's suit of the same color as his machine descended on a zipline.

"The techs are looking over that arm I retrieved from that prototype machine now, Commander," the pilot said as he walked over. "Even if it's not a complete unit, it should give us a glimpse as to the latest technology the Britannians have been developing." He pulled off his helmet, exposing his dark brown hair, moustache, and violet eyes. "Also, got word from a few other groups that what's left of enemy Sutherlands are going to be salvaged as well. It'll help us get an even better grasp of their-"

Takeshi was cut off as he heard a sharp gasp, causing everyone to look at Hitomi, who looked at Takeshi with wide eyes and her hands over her mouth. "N-No... it can't..." she whispered. "O...O'nii-san?"

Takeshi looked at her blankly, though he did notice the similarities she seemed to share with him, namely hair, eye, and skin color. "I take it I resemble someone you know, miss?" he asked her, curious.

Hitomi looked at Takeshi for a moment, before she regained her composure. "I... forgive me..." she said. "I... you look like my older brother, Takeshi... someone who died after the initial Britannian Invasion..."

Takeshi's eyes were wide. This woman's older brother looked just like him, and even shared his first name? This was really weird, and probably something that should be cleared up in private. "Commander," he said, looking at Char, "do you think it would be okay to fill her in on us now, in private? I think that might be the easiest way to go about this."

Char looked at the two in confusion before he sighed. "You may, Captain Yamato," he said, shaking his head, muttering something about things getting even stranger. "In the meantime, which of you is the leader of your group? I would like you to accompany me to my flagship."

Ohgi appeared a bit hesitant before he stepped forward. "That would be me," he said. "I'm Ohgi Kaname, I'm in charge of the Shinjuku Resistance cell."

Char nodded. "Very well," he said, "Follow me, we'll take my Mobile Suit there."

Meanwhile, Takeshi brought Hitomi into the cockpit of the Tempest with him, and used the monitors to help tell her about the history of New Zeon and where they come from. "So you see, Miss Hitomi," he said at the end of his explanation, having been told her name as they had gone into the cockpit, "even though I somehow seem to share the same name and appearance as your older brother, the fact that I come from another world would make me being him impossible."

Hitomi looked at Takeshi in surprise and shock at everything he had just explained. She tried to think of a way to believe he was lying... but then again, what would he gain by lying? "You're... not from this world?" she asked.

"No, I am not," he said. "None of us in New Zeon are from this world. We came here searching for a new home, but we didn't expect this world to be so similar to our own... and yet so different at the same time."

Hitomi still looked shocked before she sighed. "I... this... this is a lot to take in..." she muttered. "How is Sayane supposed to handle this...?"

One of Takeshi's eyebrows went up. "Sayane?" he asked. "I take it she was... close... to your Takeshi?"

Hitomi nodded a bit regretfully. "Yes... she was... Takeshi's Fiancé before the war started," she said. "They were going to get married before the Britannians invaded... ever since it ended, she's been grief-stricken since Takeshi was... the Yamato clan has been helping her out since then, since her family died in the invasion as well..."

Takeshi sighed. "Things are never simple, are they?" he muttered. "Not only did another... me... exist on this world, but he was part of an entire clan..." He then had a bit of an idea. "Hey, why don't I take you to one of the ships? One of our doctors could probably run a simple DNA test - even if we aren't related, I am curious as to how similar we are genetically, given how similar I seem to be to your brother."

Hitomi blinked at that before she thought about it, admittedly she was just as curious as Takeshi was. "Well...I'll have to let the others know, but I think it's worth checking out, at least." She said, before a thought hit her. "Oh, and can we bring my Burai Kai? I'm curious to see what New Zeon will think of it, and see if they can improve it somehow."

"Sure thing," Takeshi replied. "I can get the Commander to approve it while you let your friends know."

Hitomi nodded, and as she stepped out onto the platform in front of the cockpit to talk to the rest of the group, Takeshi opened a channel with the Sazinju, which he spotted flying up to the Rewloola. "Commander," he began, "I'm bringing Miss Hitomi up to the ship so the doctors can run a DNA test - given how similar I seem to be to her brother, it seems we're both curious as to how similar we are genetically. She also wants to bring her machine along, see what the techs think about it and if they can improve it in some way. Do we have your permission to bring her unit aboard?"

It was a few moment before Char answered.

"Granted. Besides, I'm curious how a Japanese machine ticks." Char said and Takeshi turned to Hitomi, who had just finished talking to the rest of her group.

"Well, the Commander approves! Let's go then!" he said, and Hitomi nodded.

The cockpit hatch closed, and then the Tempest began moving, first moving over to Hitomi's Burai and picking it up, and then proceeding to take to the skies, cradling the Japanese Knightmare in its arms as it flew back to the Rewloola.

Later,

On the Rewloola

Once they had entered the Rewloola, Char guided Ohgi and Kallen, the latter of whom was acting as Ohgi's 'Guard', as they entered a large room with a large screen near the back of it, and several individuals sitting around typing on consoles.

"Has the link been set up yet?" Char asked one of the Officers, who nodded.

"Just about got it, sir," he said. "Putting them up on the view screen."

The screen blinked on, and it showed Mineva Lao Zabi herself, dressed in a female white violet version of the Neo-Zeon uniform.

"Char, I came as soon as I got the call," the former Princess of the Principality said. "What's the situation, now?"

"We've pushed the Britannians out of the Shinjuku Ghetto with the help of a local resistance group," Char said, pointing to Ohgi and Kallen. "This is Ohgi Kaname and Kallen Koizuki, their leader. We've already begun setting up a perimeter around the Ghetto, and preparing transports to evacuate the civilian populace if, or rather when the Britannians pull together a counter-attack. Ohgi, Kallen, this is Mineva Lao Zabi, current Head of State of the Republic of New Zeon."

Mineva nodded at that, "Pleasure to meet you, and It's probably for the best. Fortunately, we have enough room, since one of the Gründer Colonies isn't populated yet," she said. "Selena is here as well, and she plans on establishing negotiations with the non-aligned Nations, since we just got word that Australia is not aligned with either of the Superpowers. I'm actually surprised neither Britannia, the EU or the Chinese have made a claim for it."

"That's because they don't need it," Ohgi said. "Australia doesn't have anything Britannia, China, or Europe would be interested in enough to establish a long-term colony. No Sakuradite reserves, or other natural resources that they could go without. Although Britannians owned Australia for a short while, it was just to mine it dry of what little Gold was there. After the Gold mines dried up, those who didn't leave with the Britannians were left there to fend for themselves. The only notable settlements of Australia now are used as Penal Colonies for Britannian war criminals and prisoners."

Char thought about that. "Prisoners as in POWs from other nations, and war criminals who disobeyed orders?" he asked and Ohgi nodded.

"Yeah, Britannian soldiers who actually saw what the Empire really was, but who the Empire can't really kill outright for different reasons. They are actually soldiers who still had moral codes and honor in them." Ohgi said. "And not to mention the local natives have been very helpful to them in surviving."

"Not to mention some of the POW's have formed their own Mercenary Groups, and found ways to come and go from Australia as they please," Kallen pointed out as well. "They usually fight for nations opposed to Britannia. During the war 7 years ago, Australian Mercenaries fought with the Japanese during Britannia's invasion. Helped slow their advances... but not halt them outright. When the war ended, a lot of the former Japanese army retreated to Australia with them, and even today Australian Merc's work with the Japanese Liberation Front."

"Why does Britannia not do anything about it?" Mineva asked, as Kallen sighed.

"No one knows, really," Kallen says. "Some say the Emperor just doesn't care, or thinks they can't possibly change the course of his campaign. It's an enigma to a lot of people..."

"Hm. Arrogance and pride," Char said, and the two Resistance looked at him in confusion. "He doesn't believe that a group of criminals, even though they were trained by the military, are a threat to his power. So, he turns a blind eye, not knowing that he will pay dearly."

"The Emperor isn't known for being cautious." Ohgi said. "Even before the Second Pacific war, the Britannian Emperor has basically been steamrolling over their opposition. The African Nations, Japan... even now the Middle Eastern Federation is expected to fall soon, and be renamed into a new Area. They have had no genuine opposition to their military forces... well, until you guys showed up," he then chuckled a bit. "By god, I never thought I'd see Britannia on the receiving-side of a major defeat in all these years..."

"All of that aside," Kallen said, looking at Char and Mineva on the screen "Exactly, what is New Zeon? We've never heard of a nation on Earth called Zeon..."

Char thought about that for a moment before turning to Mineva, who nodded.

"I will tell you when I address the survivors of this Purge," he said. "Just be forewarned. What I am about to tell you will change the view of your world, forever."

Both Kallen and Ohgi gulped at that thought, but nodded.

Meanwhile

Rewloola Hangar Bay

At that moment, the Tempest was now landing inside the Rewloola's hangar bay. As Takeshi moved the Gundam over to the space that had been cleared out for Knightmare Salvage, Hitomi looked around them in awe, the cockpit's panoramic display showing everything around them.

"Amazing..." she muttered. "Your ships, your machines, the cockpits that display all of your surroundings... it just drives home how much more advanced you are than us..."

"Mobile Suit cockpits weren't originally like this," Takeshi remarked. "Originally they were actually closer to what your Knightmare cockpits look like, only our entry hatches were still in the front of the torso. Who knows? You guys might have developed Panoramic Cockpits of your own eventually, even if we didn't show up."

He then reached the Salvage zone, gently setting Hitomi's Burai on its feet before moving the Tempest over to its storage cubicle, the walkways rotating and extending into place as he powered the machine down. "Well, here we are," he said as he unstrapped himself from the pilot's seat, leading Hitomi out of the Tempest and onto the primary access walkway. "Welcome to the New Zeon Flagship Rewloola."

"Yo! Takeshi!" A voice shouted, as Takeshi and Hitomi turned to see a young man about as old as Takeshi, if not a year or two older, with short ear length white hair and yellow colored eyes wearing a New Zeon mechanic uniform. "You got a new unit for us? Great, we've been needing some more functioning Knightmares to run tests..." The man then glanced at Hitomi and blinked "Who's this?" he asked, grinning teasingly a bit. "Takeshi, you do realize Linda will Kill you if she realizes you're going out with other girls..."

"Zip it, Yuri!" Takeshi snapped. "This woman is the pilot of the unit I just brought in, which is apparently a Japanese-made Knightmare. She also had a brother who apparently looked exactly like me and shared my name - she agreed to a DNA test for curiosity's sake, just to see how closely related the two of us turn out to be, genetically."

Yuri blinked as he looked at Takeshi and Hitomi, before he just shrugged. "Eh, sure," he said, "Well either way, Miss, pleasure to have you onboard the Rewloola, I am Yuri Minovsky, Chief Engineer and Mechanic, and as of yesterday, current head of New Zeon's research division of Knightmare Frames."

Hitomi nodded in greeting. "A pleasure to meet you, Minovsky-san," she said. "My name is Hitomi Yamato." She then turned to look at her Burai and asked, "So, what's your assumption on the frames you've collected already?"

Yuri sighed as he scratched the back of his head. "In all honesty, despite being mobile while on the move, they have very light armor, and not made of the top notch material our mobile suits are made of."

"That's for sure," Takeshi remarked, thinking back to the fight. "The Exius went through those 'Sutherlands' like a hot knife through butter, and didn't even encounter any resistance when slicing off the arm of that prototype the Britannians had. Speaking of, anything interesting in that arm so far?"

"We've got techs working on it now," he said, as he gestured to where a Sutherland, recolored dark green with gold trimming, was equipped with the Prototype's left arm. "So far, we found the arm had a built-in Grappling device called a 'Slash Harken,' which seems to be standard issue among these Knightmares. Also built into the arm is a type of energy barrier it can project, it seems the amount of energy required to maintain the shields is proportional to the amount of energy being blocked by the shields. So the more energy behind the attack, the more energy the shield takes in order to block it. From our tests though, a blast from a Beam Rifle is too much as it can't make enough energy to repel the force of the blast. However..." he then grinned. "This is where I start thinking... if we used a Minovsky Fusion reactor, theoretically the shield would be capable of deflecting anything, since the reactor never runs out of energy. In fact, imagine what our ships would be like if they had this same shield system? They would be able to shrug off enemy fire like nothing! Of course, that has some drawbacks... as it seems that in order to return fire the shield would have to turn off, it works both ways it seems."

Takeshi looked thoughtful as he thought about the potentials of the shield. "It seems like something like that would be very useful indeed," he said. "However, I can also see potential adaptations that could be done. I remember hearing discussion about a Beam Shield a couple months before we left, do you think you could repurpose the shield in that arm in order to design a prototype Beam Shield?"

"Probably," Yuri said, nodding. "It may take a while though, still need to integrate their tech with ours... not to mention I think we can use Knightmare's in New Zeon's military forces. If they were modernized with our tech, they could be much more effective in battle. Not to mention they would be perfect for combat in areas where we would like to avoid large amounts of collateral damage thanks to their size, making them ideal for Colony defense and combat within Urban environments. They would be able to get to places most Mobile Suits wouldn't be able to. I've already working on the first drafts on some reverse-engineered Knightmares for Zeon use."

"That sounds good," Hitomi remarked. "I'll let you take a look at my Knightmare, as well, just don't take it apart. In fact, you could even use it as an experiment in integrating your tech with ours - I certainly wouldn't mind it having one of your 'Panoramic Cockpits'."

"We'll give it a shot," Yuri said. "It shouldn't be too hard, though, we just need to downscale the size of a standard MS's Panoramic Cockpit to fit a Knightmare's. I'll have some other mechanic's give your suit a looks-see, we'll see what upgrades we can make to her, though by the time we're done with it it'll be an entirely new unit in itself." He then grinned. "A totally badass unit, might I add."

"Well, we'll let you get to it, Yuri," Takeshi remarked, even as Hitomi bowed. "The two of us should probably get to the medbay for that DNA test... and we might even be able to catch the Commander's speech - the medbay should have a monitor to let us watch it."

Meanwhile

Tokyo Settlement, Purist Faction HQ

"I can't believe we've been defeated!" said a strawberry-blonde-haired, blue-eyed man named Kewell Soresi. "We haven't lost this badly since our people lost Britain to Napoleon!"

"It gets worse! Prince Clovis has been captured and somehow the media got a hold of this information. We've got reporters outside demanding answers!" said another Purist.

"How did they get that information to begin with?" Viletta demanded. "It hasn't even been a full day yet!"

"Enough!" Jeremiah shouted, slamming his fist on the table silencing them all. "Look, we all know this is bad. But we need to be focusing on what we do now. With Prince Clovis captured, it will be up to us in the Purist Faction to maintain order in Area 11, and to make sure the 11 resistance movements like the JLF do not attempt to take advantage of this!"

"Shouldn't we be more focused on finding out exactly who this 'Zeon' faction is?" Viletta asked, "Even if we finally get control, it won't mean anything if these Zeon forces make a full push into the Tokyo Settlement!"

"The Tokyo Settlement is prepared for defense," Kewell said confidently. "These 'Zeon' forces from Shinjuku merely caught us by surprise is all, now we will be ready for their next move."

Before any reply could be made, the door burst open as an ordinary soldier ran into the room. "L-Lord Jeremiah!" he said, shock and a minor amount of fear coloring his voice and face. "T-the news! Turn on the news!"

Viletta immediately rushed over to the television in the room and turned it on. It was static for a few moments until it cleared, showing a light-blonde-haired, cobalt-eyed man in his mid 30's wearing a bright red, military-style dress uniform. In the background was a bright red screen, with the same emblem Jeremiah saw on the Zeon Vehicles in Shinjuku placed over it.

The Margrave blinked at the image of the man, before said person spoke.

"I deliver this message to the Holy Britannian Empire, the Japanese People, as well as every other human being on this planet. For the Britannians, you face a new enemy...the Republic of New Zeon..."

Meanwhile

With Char

"We are a nation, formerly known as Neo Zeon, and before that, the Principality of Zeon," Char spoke before the cameras in the room that was set up for the world-wide broadcast. "Founded by my father, Zeon Zum Deikun, nearly half a century ago. I used to go by the name of Casval Deikun... but now, my people know me as Char Aznable, their Commander and Chief."

"We, of the Republic of New Zeon, are not of your world." Char announced, "We come from a planet very much like your own, ten point five light years from your own planet. We left our planet, to save it from being crushed by the weight of its own growing human population, as the Earth Federation government established space colonies, my father declared Side 3, the colonies furthest from our homeworld, Independent, as Zeon."

Meanwhile in the EU

Paris

The Central Hemicycle Government members of the European Union, watched in awe and trepidation as Char continued his speech.

"But...shortly after Zeon declared it's independence, Gihren Zabi, son of Degwin Sodo Zabi, a close advisor and friend to my father, betrayed him, and had my father assassinated. Then he began a purge of many of my father's supporters. Myself and my sister survived the purges, as Degwin assumed control of Zeon. Years later, with tensions between Zeon and the Federation rising, Degwin launched a war for Independence against the Earth Federation, where in the first few months alone in the conflict, over half of the human population of Earth and the colonies had been wiped out, atrocities committed in the name of Gihren's vision of 'Independence'."

As Char spoke a single woman was watching this with interest. She appeared to be in her mid 30's, with shoulder length brown hair, and hazel colored eyes. She was wearing the typical business suit of a politician, but any soldier could have seen the experience that was in her eyes.

'Maybe...,' she thought to herself. '...Just maybe...'

Pendragon, Holy Britannian Empire

Knights of the Round HQ

Twelve figures sat in a large room around a round table, as they watched the television before them as the broadcast continued.

"The war lasted for 12 months before it ended with the Federation victorious, but the Federation abused its power, as they created groups like the Titans, who cared nothing about the true value of human life, as they committed countless war crimes on the people of the colonies, and on Earth to keep their power. Atrocities very much like those of the Britannian Empire!"

A young man with a orange mullet-like style hair with one individual bang hanging down, purple eyes, and wearing an orange cloak, chuckled at the sight. "Oh, this is rich!" he said. "Do they honestly think we'll believe this?"

"You obviously haven't been keeping in touch with the news, Bradley," a woman with long light green hair and blue colored eyes wearing a white cloak said. "Shinjuku was overrun by massive Knightmares of unknown origins... these people may be legit."

"Not to mention they wiped out Prince Clovis' Forces as easily as swatting a fly," said a man who had red hair in a wolf-tail, and jade green eyes and wearing a brown cloak. "Not that Clovis was a really good tactician."

"However, it was far from over. As Zeon refused to surrender to the Federation, as those Zeon who did not surrender, rose, becoming Neo Zeon as they went to war with the Federation, bringing forth two wars fought for the Independence of Zeon. It was not until the second Neo Zeon War, where I returned to Earth, reclaimed my birthright, and not only liberating Zeon, but caused the downfall of nearly the entire Earth Federation!"

Everyone of the Knights of the Round blinked at that.

"Is he serious? He succeeded in bringing down an entire world government?" said a young who looked to be only 18, with steel grey hair, grey eyes, and wearing a gun metal grey cloak.

"He does not seem like the kind of man who would lie," A man in his 30's with long dark blue hair, and a blue right eye as his left was sewed shut, his one open eye narrowed as he watched the broadcast. "This man..."

Meanwhile

Chinese Federation Armed Forces Base

A man stood in his office as he watched the news broadcast. He looked to be in his early 50's with some minor grey streaks in his black hair. He was wearing the uniform of a general of the CFAF and was in top physical condition, with a jian sword by his side. His burgundy eyes squinted at Char as he continued his speech.

"After I had secured Zeon's Independence, forming the Republic of New Zeon you now know, I had decided Zeon and her allies must leave the Earth Sphere, to find a new home to call our own, for five years we've traveled across space, until finally... we found your world." Char's eyes on the camera narrowed. "And we are not pleased at the actions of the Britannians, as they bully those they view as weaker than them, and hold no value to human life. As demonstrated in what you know as 'Area 11', but what I will always know as Japan! Where Third Prince Clovis La Britannia ordered the 'purge' of the Shinjuku Ghetto, resulting in Five hundred and seventeen innocent civilians being slaughtered, leaving thousands more wounded, and now homeless!"

"General..." said a voice, and the man turned and saw one of his most trusted subordinates.

"Ah, Xingke..." the general said. "I trust you've been watching the news."

The other man, Li Xingke nodded as he stood beside the General. "Yes... as have the High Eunuchs," he said. "They're trying to cut the video across the nation... but all of their attempts are failing. Some are starting to panic from all of this, while others think this is just a ruse by the Japanese or even Britannia."

The General scoffed at that. "It is no ruse. I can tell when a man is acting and when he's serious." he looked at the image. "This man, Char Aznable, the way he speaks, and the look in his eyes. What he is telling the world is the truth Xingke, no matter how hard the High Eunuchs try to deny it."

Xingke nodded in agreement. "I know, I thought so as well," he said. "We're already getting reports of Britannia facing a major defeat in Shinjuku... just as Char has explained."

Meanwhile

Ashford Academy, Student Council Room

"And this act of Slaughter, carried out by the Third Prince, was done as a cover up! As it seems the Japanese Resistance had discovered the Britannians under his orders had been developing Chemical Weapons to use against the people of Japan, and the Japanese stole the weapon, so it may never be used against the innocent! And it was thanks to them that we have found the Weapon, and disarmed it."

"Chemical Weapons?" said Rivalz Cardemonde. "Geesh, I know that Prince Clovis can be a big fibber, but build Chemical Weapons?"

"Not all the Royals are very...clean-minded, Rivalz." Milly Ashford, the Student Council president said. "I should know, since my family once had a connection to the Family. But something like this... what was Clovis thinking?"

Nina Einstein said nothing, as she just sat back and watched the Broadcast with eyes wide with shock, as did Shirley Fenette.

"It is because of these War crimes, and more," Char continued, "that after Clovis's capture, The New Zeon Republic senate has voted unanimously in court, that due to undeniable proof of his crimes, Prince Clovis La Britannia shall be sentenced... to Death."

The scene then changed to what looked like a courtyard, and in the center, tied to a post, blindfolded, was the Third Prince himself. Who was practically begging for mercy. The student council watched as a group of eight men in military uniforms, and each carrying a bolt-action rifle (A/N: The K98k Mauser. Used by the German Army in the Second World War, it is now used by Zeon for ceremonial occasions, and firing squad executions).

"A firing squad!" Rivalz said in shock.

"Ready!" The firing squad commander shouted, as the soldiers readied their weapons. "Aim!" The soldiers aimed their weapons right at Clovis, who was bawling and begging. "FIRE!"

Eight shots rang out, and moments later, Third Prince Clovis La Britannia, slumped to the ground, unmoving and dead.

"Oh my!" Shirley said in fright, as they watched the commander approach the body and knelt down, to check to see if the prince is actually dead. After confirming Clovis' death, the Commander signaled a duo of men with a stretcher over.

"Wow, these guys are serious!" Rivalz said.

The screen then switched back to Char, as he continued...

Meanwhile

Lelouch's Room

"With this act, the Republic of New Zeon has also unanimously agreed to my next declaration to all of Britannia, as well as anyone who would abuse their power against the weak. As of this moment, a state of War has been declared against the Holy Britannian Empire, as well as any other factions or nations who side with Britannia."

Lelouch watched this all unfold on his own Television in his room, as he chuckled before he began to laugh out loud. "Perfect! This is perfect!" he said. "Not only do I have this new power... but now Britannia faces an enemy stronger than they could ever dream to be!"

He smirked as he watched the broadcast continue, "Old Man... you've finally met your match," he said.

Meanwhile

Pendragon, Imperial Throne Room

In the throne room of current 98th Emperor, Charles Zi Britannia, said Emperor watched the scene unfold before him. Although his face showed uncaring to how his son died, his eyes glared at Char as he and his nation declared all-out war on him.

"Very interesting, eh Charles?" said a young voice, which prompted the man to look and saw a young boy with long blonde hair and purple eyes, wearing clothes like that of the Royal family. "It looks as if we incurred the wrath of an entirely new nation... one from Space from the looks of it."

Charles was silent for a few moments before he spoke. "Whether they be from space, or from Earth... it does not matter," he said. "Like all others before him, we will become triumphant. Only fools resort to war from the very beginning."

V.V. looked at the Emperor with a small smirk. "Now, now, Charles, there is no need to underestimate your opponents. But, in the end, you're still a child."

Charles smirked as well at that. "Perhaps I am. Big Brother," he said as Char continued his speech.

"Though New Zeon declares war on Britannia, our war is not directed at the people who are ignorant of what happens in their own nation, but rather Britannia itself! The nobility, the aristocracy, the many corporations, it's fanatical following of Social Darwinism, as well as certain members of the Royal Family, are the true images of Britannia's corruption, arrogance, and warmongering," he said. "Who are they, to have the right invade other nations? Who are they, to have the right to strip these nations of their names, cultures, rights, and dignity!?"

Meanwhile

Japanese Liberation Front HQ Narita Mountains

"The answer is simple: They do NOT! No one has that right! The Britannians have been allowed to run amok in your world, doing whatever they please for too long! And we ask of you, people of the world, to join us! And to help us bring an end to the Tyranny of Britannia, once and for all!"

A man wearing a uniform of the Japanese Self-Defense Forces Colonel, sitting in the lotus position with a traditional Japanese katana by his side, watched the speech along with four others. This was Colonel Kyoshiro Todoh, and the Four Holy Swords.

Another person walked into the room, a man with dark brown hair and amethyst eyes, clad in a dark blue long-sleeved shirt with black pants. "What do you think of this, Kyoshiro?" the man asked.

Todoh was silent as he watched the video. "I am... uncertain," he said. "We know little about this 'New Zeon' faction, however... from their actions of Shinjuku, at the very least we know they hold no hostile intent towards the civilian populace..."

"And they have machines that are five times the size of the Britannian Sutherlands and our Burais," the man informed, causing Todoh to raise an eyebrow while the Holy Swords looked at the man in shock. "Hitomi-musume is part of the Shinjuku Resistance Group," he explained, "and sent me a report about this as soon as she could, although she had to send it through the group itself as she was preparing to head to their flagship to confirm something at the time. The report didn't have any details about their past, but it mentioned the oversized Knightmare Frames that they seem to call 'Mobile Suits', which destroyed any Britannian weapon they went against - including what seemed to be a prototype Britannian Knightmare."

Shōgo Asahina let out a low whistle. "Well, these guys certainly have the firepower and skills," he said. "And I definitely like the sound of that... 'Mobile Suits'... sounds better than Knightmare Frame, sounds less Britannian-ish."

"Indeed," Todoh remarked, before noticing something else the man had said. "What was your musume going to confirm, Tetsuya?" he asked.

Tetsuya Yamato gained an expression showing an intense feeling of irony. "It seems that an alternate version of my son is a part of these 'New Zeon' forces," he admitted. "He was about as shocked about it as she was when they realized it, and they both wanted to satisfy curiosity with a DNA test to see just how genetically related they are."

Kyoshiro nodded at that, knowing how the Yamato was badly affected by the loss of their heir.

"And it will be a possibility that your clan had long distance cousins on another world." he said.

Tetsuya nodded at that. "Very true," he said. "Though, we're keeping the knowledge of this alternate version of my son away from Sayane as long as we possibly can - according to Hitomi-musume, he's already happily married to a woman from his world."

"True..." Nagisa Chiba said, sighing. "But we can't keep her in the dark forever... she'll find out eventually."

"That is true," Tetsuya admitted again. "However, I plan to break it to her gradually - let her get used to the idea of New Zeon's existence and the existence of humanity on other worlds first, and only tell her about this alternate Takeshi when I believe she is capable of handling the news."

Kyoshiro nodded at that. "It's probably for the best," he said.

Meanwhile

In Australia

"We, the Republic of New Zeon, will bring the Holy Britannian Empire to Justice, and the hundreds of years of tyranny they wrought upon the world will come to an end! And all we ask of you, the people of your world, is to help us!"

Within a large room around a circular table, sat seven people as they watched the T.V screen in the center of the table, as the broadcast continued. The first one to speak was a man with short brown hair, with a beard across his chin surrounding his face, and dark blue eyes wearing a set of black sunglasses "Well... I think it's safe to say nobody saw this one coming."

"That would be the understatement of the year, Grodek," said a man who had a scar across his right eye, which was closed and his only eye being a royal blue. He had copper brown messy hair with sideburns, and tan skin. "Of all the things to happen... aliens? And not just that, but Human Aliens?"

"This will not bode well with the Britannians," Another man, an older man who looked in his late 40's with short light brown hair and a short beard, with brown eyes. "But these people... they could be the key to turning the entire crisis with Britannia around." He then glanced to the figure sitting at the end of the Table. "What do you think, Supreme Commander?"

The figure at the end of the table was the only woman among them, appearing almost as old as the man, she still had much of her beauty with long shoulder length rose colored hair, and pale Cerulean colored eyes wearing a dark purple military uniform.

"We should at least try to contact them, and hear them out," she said. "If anything, we could at least try to convince them to lease a few of their machines to us. Our R&D technicians will drool at the mouth at the chance to study them."

"That's for sure," A man with short blond hair and blue eyes wearing a teal colored uniform said, "Even if they give us an outdated model by their standards, it would be a great boon to us regardless. And in exchange we could provide them with local troops of our own. We'd likely be able to assist them more, given that we know more about our world than they probably do."

A man with greying brown hair and a trimmed beard nodded at that. "True, but we must also be careful. The Empire has mostly avoided us for decades, but it will be a matter of time before Charles does something," his eyes then narrowed. "Also, I received word from Tetsuya that Kusakabe is planning something, and whatever it is, it can't be good."

"Let's hope he doesn't do anything stupid then, Uzumi." Said the scarred man, Andrew Waltfeld said, with a sigh as he leaned back in his chair. "If he does one wrong move, he could ruin any chance of the JLF becoming allies to the New Zeon's if he makes them look like the villains."

Another man with blonde hair and a moustache only sighed at that. "Knowing that fool, he will do anything to get attention, and not for the Japanese," he said. "Even Katase is having a hard time reeling him in."

"We can only hope Katase can keep him under control long enough for us to secure the alliance," Said Fleet Admiral Todaka Uzumiha. "But for now, we should discuss exactly how we're suppose to contact New Zeon to begin creating the Alliance."

Everyone nodded at that as they continued to listen to the speech.

"I know that this war will be long and arduous, considering the previous wars my people had experienced in order to obtain their freedom. And I know the casualties we will undoubtedly suffer will break the hearts of families on the Colonies of New Zeon. But...I can assure you now: we WILL succeed! We WILL achieve victory! And above all, every. Single. Nation, under the boot of a tyrant, WILL be liberated!"

Meanwhile

North American Rockies

At the foot of the North American Rocky Mountains, a large villa compound stood, with a 12 foot wall surrounding it, and guarded by men in Britannian Army Combat gear, but were colored black and white, and made for the cold. In the office of said villa, a young man who appeared to be in his mid twenties watched Char's broadcast with interest. He had viridian green eyes, and his hair was a pale white as it reached his shoulders.

His hands were crossed over his chest as he watched, as he held an amused smirk on his face 'This is it,' he thought. 'This is the chance I have been waiting for...' He glanced to his office table, where a picture frame sat on the table. In the picture itself there was an image of a young woman with long black hair and violet colored eyes, along with two young children beside her, a young boy with hair and eyes just like hers, and a little girl with long light brown colored hair and blue eyes.

'Marianne...Lelouch... Nunnally...' He thought, as he touched the photo. He closed his eyes as he remembered a day he would never forget. He was among one of the nobles who had attended when Lelouch came in to demand justice for his mother, and why his father didn't do anything about it. The man's blood boiled as he remembered how callously the Emperor just waved off Marianne's death like it was nothing, and how he declared the little girl, Nunnally, a weakling. Then came Lelouch's declaration of giving his claim to the throne and Charles disowning him in response, and sending both Lelouch and his sister to Japan. Only for the two to be reported killed during the Britannian Invasion seven years ago.

'I swore I would seek vengeance for what Charles did to you...' he thought with a small frown. 'For years I was unable to do anything... but now... now things will finally change.'

Meanwhile

ASEEC Trailer

"Well now it seems we're going to be more busy than usual." said Lloyd as he and everyone of the ASEEC watched Char's Declaration of War Speech. "Though I wonder what they're going to call this conflict?"

Cecile looked at Lloyd with a stern expression. "Lloyd, this is serious!" she said. "A whole Division was wiped out by just four of New Zeon's machines!"

"Yes, I know that. But still..." he then smirked. "This will probably give us a golden opportunity to collect more data for the Lancelot once it's repaired." He glanced up at where the Lancelot was already going under repairs, a new arm and head unit being built. "It'll take me days to fix my baby up...but it will be worth it if we can use this opportunity to push for more development on the project, and with Suzaku at the helm given his synchronization rating, and with this whole 'Britannian-Zeon War' about to start... they're going to get desperate for machines to match Zeon's."

Cecile sighed at that, but nodded. "Yes, that's true. But we won't be able to build one if we don't have an example of just one of those 'mobile suits'," she said. "Plus, with Margrave Jeremiah and the Purist Faction taking control for now, it will be difficult to get close to Shinjuku, since he quartered it off from the rest of Tokyo."

"I doubt that will be a problem for long," Lloyd said as he leaned back in his chair. "This is too big of an issue for just the Purists to handle... no doubt they'll send Area 11 a new Viceroy to replace Clovis to take command."

Cecile blinked at that. "Who do you think the Emperor will send here to Area 11?" she asked, and Lloyd held up two fingers.

"I can think of two people he could send," the white haired man said. "Princess Cornelia, or Princess Marrybel... last I heard Cornelia was just mopping up what's left of the armies of Area 18, so she seems to be the most likely candidate."

"Or, if by some luck, both of them will be sent here. Cornelia could handle the New Zeon, while Marrybel will handle the terrorist groups in Area 11, since the latter is specialized in anti-terrorist operations." Cecile said, and Lloyd nodded.

"True, true," he said. "I just pray Cornelia doesn't underestimate them like Clovis."

Meanwhile

Streets of Shinjuku

"And when this war is finished," Char spoke, as everyone within Shinjuku gathered around the nearest T.V set to watch the broadcast, "When Britannia has fallen... all will finally be at peace, and your world and New Zeon shall work together to create a brighter future for us all! We do not wish to rule or conquer anyone from your world, we shall like to help everyone if possible, Chinese, European, Japanese, and Britannian."

Watching one of the screens was a woman with long green hair and golden colored eyes wearing a white suit, who watched the broadcast with interest. 'This is unexpected...' she thought.

Meanwhile

With Char

"So I ask you, all of you." Char continued, "Please... lend Zeon your aid! For we promise you, we shall bring forth a world of peace you have never known! And we shall be triumphant, that I promise you!" He then raised his hand into the air, and shouted "SIEG ZEON!"

With that, the broadcast ended. And even from the room in which Char was in, he could hear outside in the Shinjuku Ghetto, the shouts and cries of appraise, and additional shouts of 'Sieg Zeon', 'Long Live Japan' and 'Down with Britannia.'

He sighed, as it was a very long speech. But he smiled knowing he had just won the support of the Japanese people, here in Shinjuku and the whole country, and quite possibly those who were abroad when the Home islands were taken.

"And so...," he said, "A new war begins. But this time, a war of Liberation."

Meanwhile

With Takeshi and Hitomi

As the monitor in the Rewloola's medbay turned off, Takeshi, now clad in a dark blue New Zeon Uniform leaned back in a chair and sighed. "And so it begins..." he muttered.

"Yes..." said a woman to his right, with dark red hair, blue eyes, caucasian skin, and clad in another New Zeon Uniform, this one a more common dark green. "I thought we'd seen the last of war when we left our home, but here we are, about to start another one. At least it's for a good cause."

Hitomi nodded. "Yeah," she said. "After what Takeshi-san here told me, I thought you guys would have been tired of war by now. But I'm glad that you've decided to go to war again to free our country, as well as all others that have been brought under Britannia's heel."

"And once this is over," the woman continued, directing her gaze downward to a small bundle she carried in her arms, "we'll hopefully get a chance to settle down so Takeshi and I can properly raise little Larcei here."

Takeshi turned to look at his wife, smiling. "We will, Linda," he said. "I promise you, I won't die in this war. There is no way I'm leaving you to raise our daughter on your own."

Linda Allster-Yamato smiled, before kissing her husband, Hitomi smiling at the happy couple before directing her gaze at the baby girl Linda held, who seemed to have Takeshi's hair and eye color, but Linda's nose and facial structure.

She sighed mentally, dreading what she was going to tell Sayane when they next met.

Her thoughts were interrupted, however, as the doctor came back in.

"Alright, I have the results right here," he said as he held a clipboard.

All three adults turned to look at the doctor. "What do they say, doctor?" Hitomi asked.

"Well," the doctor began, "despite the fact that you were born here on this world while Takeshi was born on our world... you two share a remarkably high number of genetic similarities, enough for you to be siblings if you had been born on the same planet."

Takeshi blinked at that. "...Damn," he said and the doctor nodded.

"Indeed Mr. Yamato, but the question is now, how did members of your family end up here in the first place?" he asked, while Hitomi thought about that.

"The first recordings of our clan say that our founding was established 500 years ago, during the Sengoku period," she said. "A Samurai named Jūtarō Yamato, married a princess from a destroyed clan, and gathered together vanquished samurai and rogue ninja. Thus was born the Yamato Clan."

"Hmm..." Takeshi thought. "Where did Jūtarō come from? And who was this Princess he married?"

Hitomi shook her head. "No one knows. And the princess he married was named Yurika, formerly of the Funmu Clan. The only one who knew where Lord Jūtarō came from was her, but that secret died with her."

Takeshi frowned. "If only our records hadn't been lost during the chaos that came before the Universal Century..." he muttered. When Hitomi looked at him curiously, he said, "Before the Earth Federation came about, there was a time when the various nations of our world warred with one another. The Federation came about as a result of that war, but during that time a lot of the records of my family were lost. We might have been a clan before then, we might not have been, but after the Universal Century began the Yamatos were limited to a small family, no more than three to four individuals per generation. And with the loss of our pre-UC records, there's no way of knowing just how our family originated, or if any of us set out for other worlds..."

Linda sighed. "This whole thing is getting more confusing by the minute..." she muttered.

"I know what you mean," Takeshi remarked. "And the information that could provide a definite answer as to how we're linked has been lost in one way or another." He frowned. "It's like trying to solve a puzzle when all you have are the edge pieces. You can put them together just fine and get a look at the outside, but without the inside pieces, you can't see the whole image."

"Well... maybe someday we can find those missing pieces?" Hitomi said, shrugging. "I don't know why... but I have this feeling we may find the answers we're looking for, sometime in the future... I mean, there has to be some clues, right? I mean, there were humans on both your world and our world, and on top of that, both of our worlds look virtually identical from what you've shown me! There has to be some sort of link..."

"We will find it in time..." Takeshi said. "But for now, we must focus on the present, and the war with Britannia."

Meanwhile, back with the Purist Faction

"They executed a member of the Royal Family!" Shouted Kewell. "And declared war on us!"

Viletta looked in shock before her eyes narrowed. "The empire won't stand for this!" she shouted. "We need to rally the Purist Faction and all other forces and-"

"Silence!" Jeremiah shouted, causing all of the purists in the room to jump as they turned to the Margrave. "Yes, this situation is dire... and yes, this New Zeon faction must be dealt with..." He then sighed as he leaned back in his chair. "But this is far out of our league for the Purist Faction alone to lead..."

The other Purists looked at their leader with worry. "Then if we can't lead the counter-attack, who will?" said Kewell.

Jeremiah gave a sigh at that. "I already received word that their Royal Highnesses, Princess Cornelia, and Princess Marrybel are on their way here. And, if possible, I requested the Emperor to send reinforcements along with Margrave Oliver Morgan and his Legionnaire Battalion."

That caused everyone's eyes to widen.

"M-Margrave Oliver Morgan?" Villetta said in alarm. "He's coming here?"

"Hopefully, yes." Jeremiah said as he stood up and looked out the window overlooking the Tokyo Settlement. "I hate to admit it myself... but these Zeon Forces outclass our Knightmare forces severely as demonstrated in the last battle. The only advantages we hold over them at this moment are numbers, and a homefield advantage. And even those may not last very long. Our only chance is to hit them with as much force as we can muster in a short amount of time."

"And what about those Air Battleships we saw?" Kewell said. "I saw a lot of firepower on those things."

Jeremiah looked toward his fellow Purist with a stern look. "Don't play smart with me Kewell, I know how much of a threat those ships pose." He then sat back down in his chair. "We will bring in the 7th Imperial naval fleet, as well as the 4th Imperial Sky Brigade. We can only hope our own Airships will be able to match theirs."

"Let's hope so. Our reputation is on the line here," Kewell said as he left the room.

"He's right, my Lord," Villetta said. "Because of Prince Clovis' capture and execution by New Zeon, our reputation is being called into question by those pigs who dare call themselves nobles."

"We have done all we can, Villetta," Jeremiah said, sighing. "There is nothing more I can do with the power I have now... in the end, I regret to say I am still only human. We must adapt, and make due with what we have."

"But still, Lord Morgan and the Legionnaires?" Villetta said. "You know that he barely has any love for the Empire, if no love at all."

"I know that," he said. "and it's not the Empire he hates it's the man in charge of it in general. He will do as ordered, just as he always has, he is still a loyal Britannian Noble after all."

Villetta sighed at that. "I hope to Heaven above you're right, my Lord."

Jeremiah nodded. "As do I Villetta, as do I."

117Jorn: BINGO! Yet another chapter finished!

Patriot-112: Yep, and in record time, too!

117Jorn: True! And we will be working on the next chapter ASAP!

Takeshi Yamato: We do have some other projects we're working on, but rest assured we'll be working on this whenever we are able. :D

117Jorn: So until then...

Everyone: Ja NE!