Black Knights Submarine
The submarine's cramped command room buzzed with tension. Black Knights in tactical gear smoked silently; Dreadnoks lounged like wild dogs, teeth bared in grins. This wasn't just a meeting—it was a power play.
Zero stood at the head of the table, voice cold and razor-sharp.
"We've reorganized. Effective immediately: Kyoshiro Tohdoh takes command as Chief of Military Affairs."
The Black Knights exchanged nods—Tohdoh's combat record was unassailable. The Dreadnoks barely reacted, preferring chaos over order.
"And overseeing intelligence, espionage, and PR... Diethard Reid."
The room cracked like a gunshot.
Tamaki growled, "That Britannian pretty boy? You're kidding."
Urabe sneered, "A media suit running intel? Give me a break."
Nagisa Chiba stepped up—her voice clipped and tactical.
"Zero, I'm not usually the one to bring up nationality, but putting him in charge of intelligence? That's a liability."
The Dreadnoks burst out laughing.
"Racist much, sister?" one called out, flashing a crooked grin.
Black Knights tensed. The docks incident still stung—the Dreadnoks' savagery like a fresh wound.
Tohdoh's eyes burned. "My concern? Mercenaries. They're unregulated, unpredictable killers."
Buzzer smirked. "Says the guy whose ass we pulled out of the fire."
The two commanders locked eyes—a silent challenge, like two battle-hardened generals on the brink of open war.
Zero slammed his fist down.
"Enough! Dreadnoks are mercenaries, yes—but disciplined. And Nagisa, I'm no native either. We measure by results, not bloodlines."
One Dreadnok nodded toward the screen behind Zero—Taizō Kirihara's face flickered on.
"Boss, what's the old man up to?"
Zero's voice dropped, sharp as a sniper's shot.
"He funds us. Respect the chain of command."
The Dreadnok shrugged.
"You pay us to kill, not kiss boots."
Zero exhaled.
"Kaname Ohgi is deputy commander. Rakshata handles R&D."
All eyes turned to the scientist, smoke curling from her pipe like battlefield smoke.
The Dreadnoks wolf-whistled.
"Hot damn, lab rat!"
"Let me be the test subject, babe!"
Rakshata smiled slyly, unfazed.
Buzzer chuckled. "Cut it out. Give her room to breathe."
Zero pressed on.
"Captain of Zero Squad: Kallen Kouzuki."
Kallen blinked.
"Zero Squad?"
"My personal strike team. Elite operatives at my command."
Her lips curled in a rare, sharp smile.
"Elite, huh? I'm in."
The door hissed. Torch entered, carrying a bloodied duffel.
"Torch, where the hell have you been?"
Torch ignored Zero, fixing Ohgi with a hard glare.
"Did you sanction an assassination squad against Cobra?"
The room froze.
Ohgi's face paled.
"No! I stopped it before it started."
Torch dropped the bag. Heads spilled onto the floor.
Gagging and gasps echoed.
Dreadnoks? Unfazed.
"Damn," one muttered.
Zero knelt, examining a head. A message was carved in blood on the forehead:
Better luck next time.
Inside the bag lay a blood-soaked data disc. Zero's gloved hand trembled as he grabbed it.
"Recovered near the docks," Torch said. "Marked Black Knights Eyes Only."
Zero slipped the disc into the console.
Video Footage
Cobra Commander walked into his office, peeling off a pilot's suit. He reached for his sword—
Suddenly, floodlights snapped on.
Black Knights swarmed, rifles trained.
"Sorry for the wait," Cobra said coolly. "I was busy breaking your leader out of prison."
"Shut your mouth, freak!" one spat. "Ohgi said no—but if Zero kills royalty, so can we!"
"You're surrounded!"
Cobra chuckled.
"All I see is fear... and corpses."
Gunfire roared.
Cobra vanished.
A scream.
A soldier's hands hit the floor.
Bullets zipped—but Cobra moved like a ghost, dodging, weaving, countering.
A soldier collapsed, chest shattered.
The woman fired wildly. Cobra closed in lightning-fast.
His blade sliced her throat.
Three soldiers trembled.
"Want a secret?" Cobra said, voice low and dangerous. "When I was burned alive, they didn't just rebuild me—they upgraded me."
A bullet screamed.
Cobra split it midair with his sword.
"Faster. Stronger. Not invincible—but it'll take more than amateurs to bring me down."
A soldier whimpered.
"Why tell us?"
Cobra leveled his blade at the camera.
"I wasn't talking to you."
Limbs flew.
Screen cut to black.
Silence
Even the Dreadnoks sat stunned.
Buzzer swallowed.
No wonder we follow him.
From the shadows, C.C. watched—not with fear, but interest.
11: Capital Castle
Suzaku marched to the throne. Nobles whispered, venom dripping.
An Eleven knighted? A scandal.
Sam snickered.
"Princess must be desperate."
Onstage stood Euphemia. Cobra Commander, sharp in a new uniform. Beside him, a girl in military dress—Kycilia Britannia.
"Who's she?"
Euphemia raised her sword.
"Suzaku Kururugi, do you swear fealty to Britannia?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
"To be sword and shield for the realm?"
"Yes, Your Highness."
She tapped his shoulders.
"I dub thee Sir Suzaku Kururugi."
Silence. No applause.
A single slow clap.
The girl.
Cobra joined her.
Nobles hesitated, then followed.
Euphemia smiled.
The girl's gaze was cold steel.
Cobra took her hand as they left.
Victory Palace — One Hour Later
A roaring celebration. Cobra's soldiers at attention. Firefly announced:
"Presenting Cobra Commander and his daughter—Kycilia Britannia!"
Kycilia looked up; Cobra squeezed her hand.
A soldier shouted:
"HAIL COBRA! HAIL THE PRINCESS!"
The crowd erupted.
Kycilia gasped.
Cobra hoisted her onto his shoulders.
"A daughter of Cobra deserves nothing less."
Firefly smirked at Baroness.
"How long's this been in the works?"
"Months," she laughed.
Destro kissed Baroness's cheek.
"Maybe we should think about kids."
Baroness grinned.
"Later."
Australia
Fireworks exploded overhead. Citizens chanted.
In the outback, a lone figure watched smoke curl into the shape of a serpent.
"The snake has a child. What's next?"
Black Knights Submarine
The news hit the Black Knights hard. Some felt pity for the girl.
The Dreadnoks toasted in dark corners.
"TO THE BOSS!"
Victory Palace — One Day Later
Cobra slammed down a call with Cornelia.
"You adopted a disowned noble without consulting Father?"
"They died screaming," he hissed. "Harm her, and I'll slaughter every last one of you."
Another call buzzed.
"Dagger Unit reporting. Father plans to kill Kycilia."
Cobra's fist clenched.
Cobra Conference Room
Generals assembled. Some in person, others via shadowed feeds.
"My father moves against Kycilia," Cobra said. "It's time."
Mindbender hesitated.
"The cyber-soldiers aren't ready—"
"Then we proceed without them."
A suitcase opened.
Inside—a red button.
Cobra pressed it.
Britannia Homeland
The sky blackened.
Lasers rained down.
Cities burned.
Earth cracked.
Millions died.
Worldwide Chaos
Earthquakes. Tsunamis. Panic.
Britannia—turned to ash.
Five Hours Later
Cobra watched the reports.
His enemies broken.
He shut off the screen.
Time for dinner with his daughter.