"...What on earth is this man saying?"
The air in the Government Bureau command center grew heavy with confusion. It goes without saying that the Chinese Federation lies across the Sea of Japan, not the Pacific. Yet, the report claimed a fleet had appeared in the Pacific Ocean and was steaming toward the Tokyo Settlement. Common sense dictated that such a thing was impossible.
Even in the original story, when the Chinese Federation made their move during the Black Rebellion, they came from the direction of the Sea of Japan.
"Impossible. Is there some mistake?"
"We have a radar signature, and reconnaissance aircraft have visually confirmed it."
"Damn it! Not now, of all times!"
"Hmph. It is precisely because of the timing. Looting a burning house is the Chinese Federation's specialty."
"But how did they cross the Pacific in the first place? There were no reports from the Hokkaido or Okinawa districts!"
The staff officers and military personnel in the command center broke into a clamor. It was a natural reaction; a fleet appearing in the Pacific as if by magic was beyond comprehension.
"Silence!"
Cornelia's thunderous command silenced the room instantly, her sheer presence suppressing the panic.
"Making noise here will solve nothing. Can my brother handle this?"
Cornelia addressed the Glaston Knights, who were on standby in the command center. She was likely referring to their connection to the Britannian homeland.
"The Pacific Fleet will arrive in 75 hours."
"Within Area 11, the air forces from Sado and Tottori have already sortied."
"Which means another thirty minutes... That is too long. We cannot hold off the Chinese Federation and the Black Knights for that long."
Cornelia paused for a few seconds, calculating. Once her thoughts coalesced, she issued her orders.
"Leak this information to the Black Knights. After the leak, you lot will join Guilford in defending the front of the Government Bureau."
"And you, Princess Cornelia?"
"I shall prepare for the banquet."
"What shall we do about the Chinese Federation?"
The one who answered the Glaston Knight wasn't Cornelia, but me.
"I'll go."
"...Can I entrust this to you?"
I nodded at Cornelia's question.
"Princess Cornelia, who is...?"
"Ah, that's right. You Glaston Knights haven't been introduced yet. This man is Axel Almer."
Introduced by Cornelia, I turned my face toward the group.
"Axel Almer. Pleasure to meet you. This is my adjutant, Echidna Iisarki."
Standing beside me, Echidna gave a slight bow. A brown-haired man watched her, then bowed in return.
"Apologies for the delay. I am Claudio of the Glaston Knights. And in order, these are Edgar, David, Alfred, and Bart."
The members of the Glaston Knights bowed lightly as Claudio introduced them. I shook Claudio's outstretched hand.
"Now that introductions are out of the way, I'll head out immediately to deal with the Chinese Federation. You don't mind?"
"No. I'm counting on you."
"Captain, what are your orders for me?"
Echidna, who had been silently observing the flow of conversation, spoke up.
Hmm, what to do with Echidna... The Grousavior is one thing, but the Guarlion might be at a slight disadvantage against the sheer mass of a Chinese Federation fleet.
"It'll be tough to handle them with just the Guarlion. Stay here and assist in the defense of the Government Bureau. Is that acceptable?"
I directed the last part of the question to Cornelia.
"I appreciate the extra firepower, but how skilled is this woman?"
"Let's see... I guarantee she's skilled enough that she could take on Todo and the Four Holy Swords simultaneously and handle them solo."
The command center buzzed at my words. The Glaston Knights looked at Echidna with expressions of disbelief. It wasn't unreasonable; Todo was a warrior on par with Guilford. To say she could handle him and his four lieutenants meant she was claiming to be superior even to Cornelia, the strongest pilot in this room.
Though, to be accurate, in terms of pure piloting skill, she's likely equal to or slightly better than Cornelia. The real difference lies in the machines. The Guarlion can fly; standard KMFs cannot. Flight offers an absolute tactical advantage.
"If that is true, I am grateful."
"I vouch for her skill. And since I'm heading out, you don't need to worry about the Chinese Federation. Focus on the Black Knights."
I lightly patted the shoulder of Cornelia, who still looked at Echidna with a hint of skepticism. After getting the coordinates of the enemy fleet, I left the command center.
"ASRS, activate."
I engaged the Anti-Sensor Radar System in the Grousavior's cockpit and ascended into the sky. I activated the stealth system to avoid being spotted by Lelouch. I didn't have time to play with the Gawain right now; I'd leave Zero to the cyborg Jeremiah.
"...Hm?"
I felt a subtle sense of wrongness just now... What was it? Something was nagging at me, but I couldn't quite place it.
"I'll have to worry about the unknowns later. System XN, activate. Input transfer coordinates. Generate transition field."
Over the course of about ten seconds, a transition field resembling a cocoon of light formed around the Grousavior. It was a flashy sight, but since I was high above the clouds, neither the Britannian forces nor the Black Knights clashing on the ground would spot it.
"Transition field generation complete... Teleport!"
The world filled with light, and in the next instant, the Grousavior was hovering over the Pacific Ocean. However, the Chinese Federation fleet was nowhere to be seen. The Mass-Production System XN installed on my unit only had a maximum jump range of about 30 kilometers, so that couldn't be helped. I'd have to fly the rest of the way to find them.
Still, that sense of wrongness before the jump. What was it? It stuck in my chest like a lump.
Come to think of it, why is the Chinese Federation in the Pacific instead of the Sea of Japan? In the original story...
Wait...!? The original story. That's it.
It's the result of my biggest "canon break" in this world so far. I had my Slime predate and absorb Mao, the Geass user gifted by C.C.
That act in itself was fine. But in the original anime, after Mao was outsmarted by Lelouch and shot by the police, C.C. left to act as a special envoy to the Chinese Federation to request reinforcements. While she was there, she realized Mao had returned to torment Lelouch again, so she abandoned her mission and returned to kill Mao with her own hands.
But in this world, I killed Mao. He never came back. Which meant C.C. never had a reason to abandon her mission. She successfully went to the Chinese Federation as the Black Knights' envoy.
The appearance of a Chinese fleet in the Pacific, undetected by Hokkaido or Okinawa, wasn't a mystery at all. If you factor in Lelouch's Geass, it's perfectly logical.
"To think the consequences of intervening in the plot would show up in a place like this."
Just as I finished gathering my thoughts, a blip appeared on the radar. A carrier likely loaded with Gun-Ru units and tanks, along with Aegis destroyers and frigates. Seven ships in total. Considering the loaded troops, it was a significant fighting force.
"However, unless they have Portmans or flight-capable KMFs with Float Units, a force mainly composed of ground-bound Gun-Rus isn't much of a threat here."
The primary threats in this fleet were the anti-air fire from the Aegis destroyers and the frigates. The carrier was the least of my worries. I flew straight toward the fleet and spoke the command.
"[Love], [Direct Attack]."
I utilized the Spirit Commands. Simultaneously, I deployed the four cannons extending from the Chronos system and pulled the Gun Rapier and Halberd Launcher from the weapon racks, holding one in each hand. I launched every Phantom bit, deploying their laser blades as they hovered in formation behind the Grousavior.
"Disengage ASRS. Time Flow Engine, Full Drive. T-LINK System, Full Contact... Full Burst!"
With those words, the bombardment unleashed by the Grousavior assaulted the Chinese Federation fleet without a shred of mercy.
Beam rounds from the Gatling guns shredded the armaments on the Aegis destroyers. Slugs from the linear railguns punched through the hulls of the frigates. Beams from the Lanze Kanone pierced the aircraft carrier, slicing it clean in half. The long, thin beam rounds of the Gun Rapier struck the decks of the destroyers, followed by the multi-beam blasts of the Halberd Launcher, which blew massive holes in the ships as a finishing blow.
Before the bombardment even settled, the ships that had somehow survived were set upon by the swarm of Phantoms. With laser blades bared, the remote weapons tore into them, sending the vessels to the bottom of the sea.
Ten seconds after the Full Burst. The Chinese Federation fleet had completely vanished from the surface, save for a single aircraft carrier that had luckily survived the initial volley.
There were likely helicopter squads on the sunken ships, but caught by the surprise attack from the ASRS-cloaked Full Burst, they had no chance to launch and went down with their motherships.
"Is it good luck, or bad luck...? No, since they're sinking here anyway, the fate is the same."
With a bitter smile, I aimed the Gun Rapier at the final carrier... then changed my mind. I holstered the weapon and descended onto the carrier, which was still floating despite taking several hits.
As I landed, a transmission came through that was so laughable it nearly broke my composure.
"Surrender! You are already surrounded. You have no chance of winning!"
Are you serious? Are you sane? I don't think I can be blamed for wanting to ask that. And though he said "surrounded," only a few Gun-Rus had just managed to crawl onto the carrier's deck.
"You call this surrounded? It seems your definition of the word and mine are vastly different. Then again, coming from the type of scum who would distribute a drug like Refrain to an enemy nation, I suppose I shouldn't expect much."
I broadcast the mockery over an open channel.
Yes. I could have destroyed them from long range, but I landed on the deck hoping to get a verbal confirmation that the Chinese Federation was using Refrain. ...Of course, considering the nature of the Chinese Federation, I expected they would ignore such evidence, but having proof never hurts.
"I have never seen nor heard of a drug called Refrain! Stop this charade!"
"...I never said Refrain was a drug. How did you know?"
"Th-That is... Yes! I heard rumors floating from the intelligence division!"
"But you just said you'd never seen nor heard of it."
"I-I know nothing! I know nothing! Kill him! Kill him nowwwww!"
At the commander's shrieked order, the Gun-Rus began to move.
That transmission alone is plenty of evidence. I have no more use for you... None!
"Adaman Harper, Nine-Tails Mode!"
I swung the Adaman Harper, now transformed into a nine-lashed whip, slamming it onto the carrier deck.
The whip sliced through the Gun-Ru frames without the slightest resistance, smashing and pulverizing them. Parts, oil, and chunks of pilot flesh and blood scattered into the air. Ignoring the gore, I opened my chest armor and fired the Fire Daggers. I slammed them directly into the 'nest' from which the Gun-Rus were emerging.
"While I'm at it, take this too!"
I deployed both barrels of the Lanze Kanone, leaped into the air, and fired straight down into the carrier. The sheer power folded the ship in two... and sent it sinking beneath the waves.
With so many ships already sunk, the sea was rough. Between those who made it to lifeboats and those floating in life jackets, a fair number of survivors bobbed in the water. Since the fleet itself was annihilated, there was no need to hunt them down. I'm not soft enough to hesitate in killing enemies, but I don't have a hobby of slaughtering helpless infantry either.
Luckily, these waters are close to the Tokyo Settlement. A passing ship will likely pick them up. ...Whether the fools of the Chinese Federation will be grateful for the rescue is another matter.
If they aren't rescued, that's fine too. They just ran out of luck.
As I considered this, a familiar white machine appeared on my monitor.
The Lancelot. It was equipped with a Float Unit, and true to the canon, one of its arms had been replaced with a purple Sutherland arm.
"That unit... Suzaku Kururugi?"
"You are...!?"
The Lancelot drew its MVS and took a combat stance. I smiled wryly and opened a video channel.
"It's me. Axel Almer."
"Axel!? What is that machine? Or rather, why are you here?"
I pointed down at the water for Suzaku.
"What is that?"
"A Chinese Federation fleet. Maybe they tried to invade in the confusion, or maybe they were reinforcements for the Black Knights... Either way, they're scrap metal at the bottom of the ocean now."
"This... You did this all alone, Axel?"
Suzaku looked at me with eyes full of disbelief. I couldn't help but smirk.
"It's nothing special."
Compared to the Hagane and Hiryuu Custom squads I fought in the other world—and above all, compared to the Einst—opponents of this level were barely a warm-up.
Still, having Suzaku here, this far from the Tokyo Settlement... that might be bad.
"So, why are you here?"
"I'm chasing Zero. Viceroy Cornelia told me he headed for Kamine Island."
"Cornelia did?"
"Come to think of it, you're the Viceroy's direct subordinate. She fell for Zero's Gea—no, his trap, and suffered some injuries, but her life doesn't seem to be in danger."
"...I see."
I breathed a sigh of relief. It seems Cornelia survived, just like in the original story.
"What is the situation at the Tokyo Settlement?"
"It was close at first, but with Zero gone, the Britannian forces are gaining the upper hand."
"Understood. I'm done here. You're chasing Zero, right? Go, before it's too late."
"Thank you!"
The Lancelot bowed slightly on the screen and flew off toward Kamine Island. After watching him leave, I moved above the clouds to ensure the survivors in the water couldn't see me.
"System XN, activate. Input transfer coordinates. Generate transition field."
Once again, the cocoon of light wrapped around the Grousavior.
"Transition field generation complete. ...Teleport."
Name: Axel Almer
LV: 35
PP: 485
Melee: 246
Shooting: 264
Skill: 256
Defense: 253
Evasion: 281
Accuracy: 303
SP: 422
Ace Bonus: SP Boost (Consumes SP to increase Slime performance)
Growth Type: Versatile/Special
Terrain Ratings:
Air: S
Land: S
Sea: B
Space: S
Spirit Commands:
Accel (SP 4)
Gain (SP 8)
Focus (SP 16)
Direct Attack (SP 30)
Awake (SP 32)
Love (SP 48)
Skills:
EXP Up
SP Boost (SP Up Lv.9 & SP Recover & Focus Force)
Telekinesis LV.10
Attacker
Gunfight LV.9
Infight LV.9
Limit Break (Spirit Limit Break)
Geass (Gray)
???
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Shot Down Count: 254
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