Semper Ad Meliora (Code Geass/Britannian Royalty Quest)

Just to note a possible discrepancy for the canon omake the Obsidian Princess, Carine's mother is named as Constantine there while the 1st turn mentions her as Augustine.
Funnily enough I never intended to rename Carine's mother, for some reason Constantine got confused with Augustine in my mind and never noticed it until this.
Not to sound too nit-picking, there was a previous attempt to point out the accidental discrepancy before, it just didn't get addressed at the time since it was on the tail-end of a new update and got missed.
 
Do these actually apply in the CG universe? Because Schneizel did build the Damocles.....
Don't think so, considering the different tech path they took.

Edit: They'll likely do it when someone succeeds in building orbital weapons. Also Knightmare would probably stop being the highest tier of combat. Considering the float system just got built and a space version will probably take decades.
 
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Ya that's why there are treaties that don't allow certain weapons in space.
Do these actually apply in the CG universe? Because Schneizel did build the Damocles.....
Don't think so, considering the different tech path they took.

Edit: They'll likely do it when someone succeeds in building orbital weapons. Also Knightmare would probably stop being the highest tier of combat. Considering the float system just got built and a space version will probably take decades.
What's being referenced here is known as The Outer Space Treaty: Outer Space Treaty - Wikipedia

It's a common misconception that this treaty bans weapons or militarization in space, actually, when that's not true at all. The treaty specifically forbids the placement or use of weapons of mass destruction in space, such as in Earth orbit or on the moon. There's nothing in the treaty that forbids or bans arming space ships or space stations with weapons in general. The treaty also has various rules/guidelines about how the exploitation of resources in space should be conducted and how nations can't/shouldn't claim extraterrestrial bodies as an extension of national territory.

What's also worth consideration is the fact that this is a UN-organized treaty and, given the enforcement mechanisms are almost entirely economic and political, wouldn't be very effective in this world given the nature of superstates and their own trading spheres. This is as opposed to an environment of multilateral (semi-)free trade between (theoretically) equal member states across the world. That's also putting aside the fact that a 'United Nations' style international body really isn't a thing that anyone is looking to create or truly feasible under the current system of international relations. The closest you get is the Europa United Congressional Parliament which (more or less) governs Europe as a whole, but even that's a very limited body.

All of this is not to say that a similar treaty is impossible, mind you, it's just that it would look very different in the world of Code Geass than in the OTL real world. Bizarrely enough, you could count on a significant portion of the Britannian Empire backing this kind of treaty, at least in theory. WMDs are anathema to their feudal style of 'champion' warfare, where personal combat between peerless warriors is replaced by an indiscriminate apparatus which wipes out combatants regardless of their skill level or technical proficiency. The simple nature of weapons of mass destruction would offend Britannian sensibilities in most cases.

What complicates matters is when you get into the upper-tier KMFs and have to make adjudications as to whether or not the machines used by the Knights of the Rounds are or are not WMDs themselves, which would be a polarizing issue between the signers and devolve into political in-fighting.

Expect there to be serious legal arguments on whether or not a KMF carrying a FLEIJA-bazooka (as per Suzaku in canon) would qualify as a 'mounted space-based WMD.' Something like the Damocles, though, would probably be a step too far, insomuch as it has the power to launch WMDs. A space station with weapons mounts like railgun cannons or similar would be totally permissible as long as it didn't have the capacity to target land-based settlements, either as a result of the caliber of cannon mounted or the physical limitations of the weapons' aiming systems.
 
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A space station with weapons mounts like railgun cannons or similar would be totally permissible as long as it didn't have the capacity to target land-based settlements, either as a result of the caliber of cannon mounted or the physical limitations of the weapons' aiming systems.
To be fair, any decent physicist can calculate an accurate attack against a land based settlement. Those things don't move, and if your in space, just de-orbiting anything with a moderate amount of mass can be turned into a powerful weapon.
 
Code Geass: Dark of the Moon.

As if we didn't have enough crossovers to worry about. Same idea applies, though. Instead of Saren Arterius making a deal with the enemy to "insure" the survival of his race, we get Sentinel Prime instead.
 
We do already know Lelouch is expecting to find ruins on the Moon. First of all there is this fragment from the memories gained from the Orb:
It is the contrast that strikes you the most. The early memories are of a civilization at its peak, stretching its power up even to the body you know as the moon, an orb that is dotted with the pale-blue green of habitation in your dreams. Towering structures higher even than modern skyscrapers, gleaming in gold and pink and light and crystal...
So during the time of the ancient humans the moon bases were large enough that they could be seen from the surface of the Earth using the Mark One Eyeball. And there is also another mention of the ruins when discussing ancient civilization settlements and where they were.
"However, the lunar settlements should be relatively untouched." You smile suddenly, a sharp twist to the expression.
So Lelouch using his in character knowledge is expecting to find a lot more on the Moon than what is left on the surface of the Earth. He might be wrong but he is the closest to an expert on ancient construction and most likely can predict how it behaves over time in different conditions.

With that I am starting to lean away from selecting Recruitment or Alchemical Practitioners next turn and leaning towards Psionic Engineering. The ancient humans had space flight and while we might not be able to recreate their ships from scratch the knowledge they had will give us a leg up on our competition. Not to mention there is a possibility that this option could synergize with our Learning projects. I think delaying our psionic army and mass sakuradite production could be worth it. Especially if parts of the hybrid tree could make other research obsolete or easier.

EDIT: I looked at the character stats and realized that Kaguya's choice could be really good for us. Unless her reaction to our actions was a Nat1 we should really work on getting her to work with Sayoko. For the simple reason that while Sayoko is a genius in Intrigue and Martial she is just above average in Stewardship and Diplomacy. On the other hand while Kaguya is only above average in Intrigue her Stewardship and Diplomacy are really good (advisor level). With us turning looking over the reports to Sayoko to free up our time without help she could miss some diplomatic and business opportunities in the data she is compiling. On the other hand if she works together with Kaguya who has enough understanding about Intrigue not to be completely lost those facets will be covered.

In short Kaguya might be able to catch things in the reports that Sayoko would have ignored as not really important due to her experience with business and diplomacy. On the other hand Sayoko will be a genius in gathering information and working with agents. They would make a really scary team.
 
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Looking over the maps I think there might be a way to salvage Area 9 relations, and oddly its due to the deal we just made and Duke Stadfeldt. Sakuradite will be shipped from Indonesia to Japan, then to the Homeland. They will have to go through Area 9. Given that recently it seems that Area 9 is considered a fringe of the empire and now suddenly has a renewed importance we have an opportunity

"Ah, yes, we've faced a fair number of difficulties filing the proper requisition forms this far out on the fringes of the Empire." Jeanne confides after the count relays his own dissatisfaction at the turnaround of certain documents. "I've found that it's far easier to send them through some of the independent holdings in Britannian-Africa or to bypass the bureaucracy by using the Stadtfelt shipments to carry independent couriers."

The bald man's eyes spark as his wife forestalls him with an upturned hand. "Dear, I'm not going to authorize private, corporate, couriers for official government documentation. His Highness' relationship with the duke's daughter allows a uniquely reliable and confidential understanding between them. We have no such ability."

In essence we should try to forge an understanding between Stadfeldt Shipping and Area 9. If Area 9 assists in the defense of Sakuradite convoys it would be a simple matter for other official military transports to go along with them. If each Sakuradite freighter has a pair of regular military supply vessels with it, it can solve the supply problem Area 9, and the shadow of military transports does give Stadfeldt shipping a good degree more protection in contested waters even if not straight up military patrols tagging along.

Also we might be the only ones able to negotiate something like this, Indonesia wouldn't be crazy about Area 9 patrol groups, but we could smooth it over as a trading defense (given we have a very good example of someone blowing up a Sakuradite freighter). Carbez wants more shipping to make supplying Area 9 easier (and make some friends in the Homeland), and Stadfeldt wants to protect his sakuradite and shipping interests. Increased supplies to the Western/South Pacific even to Area 9 would have knock on effects of supplying the whole region better as instead of having to wait for shipments from San Francisco, Seattle or Durban, we would be building up Manila as a shipping hub, and an increasingly important one since it is the nearest Brittanian port to Indonesia with easy access to Japan and the routes straight back to the homeland. Thinking about it Duke Stadfeldt might even go along with it as it is a way to expand his business in what will become an important port in the Empire, given the proximity to China, Japan, and Indonesia.
 
Tunguska Conference: Wrapping Up
Tunguska Conference: Wrapping Up

It is a few days after you've arrived back at New Caledonia, thankfully whole and healthy. Milly has, of course, returned to one of her family's properties in the homeland, inevitably reaping the rewards of being the date of a now-international celebrity on a social level and the personal benefits of the in-process deal between the Ashfords and Steiner Konzern for a proposed high atmosphere delivery system. She'll likely ride that wave of popularity for all its worth and you wish her the best of luck with it.

In the meantime, though, you have your own matters to settle.

Specifically, with Kaguya Sumeragi.

Part of you, it should be said, and a not-insubstantial part at that, wanted to simply call the young woman into your office and play the political games that two of your social class were so accustomed to. Doubtless, you would spend a few hours poking and prodding at each other's defenses before forwarding an abridged agenda to the other, then agreeing to something both unspoken and intentionally poorly illustrated so that neither of you could be held to anything but the most basic of agreements of cooperation.

Then, you would do the same the next month.

And the next.

All the while creeping towards a much more concrete establishment of a working relationship between yourselves as each meeting gave you more and more understanding of the other party. The entire affair would be masterfully choreographed such that any misstep would demand concession on the part of the individual who had slipped up. It was so much a part of the world you moved in, it was somewhat alien to even contemplate disregarding it for an intimately casual and deeply revealing conversation.

It was one thing, after all, to take the aforementioned tack with Kallen or even perhaps Gino. Neither precisely held grand political ambitions, after all, and were maybe the closest thing to 'friends' you had ever possessed. You would like to add Jeanne to the list, but the woman was too much of a consummate professional to even consider the title of confidant, let alone 'friend.'

Kaguya, though... was not at that level.

Perhaps not ever, given her foreign ties and obligations.

But, that did not mean there wasn't a middle ground you could exploit.

Approaching the diminutive Japanese woman rapidly within the hallway, you discreetly signaled her security detail. It wouldn't do for them to open fire because of a simple misunderstanding. Kaguya turned, blinking as she caught your aggressive advance, taking an unwitting step back as you failed to slow. Finally, you stepped into her personal space and, in one smooth movement, slammed your open palm against the concrete wall behind her in such a way as to produce a thick, deep sound which numerous sources assured him would be pronounced 'don' in Japanese onomatopoeia.

Kaguya's eyes widened, the bridge of her nose stained with red as she looked up into your eyes, your face looming over her. Your strike was further punctuated by her sudden gasp, one hand coming up with the sleeve of her long robe to cover her open mouth instinctually.

You let those few seconds hang for an infinitely long moment, before you cracked a smirk, raising an eyebrow as you spoke. "Well, I do hope I performed the technique correctly."

The foreign princess blinked several times, obviously attempting to reboot her brain in the wake of something so fundamentally bizarre happening so suddenly. "T-t-technique?"

Okay, perhaps the Japanese were onto something.

The way she had just squeaked was cute beyond words.

Finally, though, you nodded, pulling out an extremely flowery book with incredibly stylized art of a swooning woman and handsome man in clothing from a few hundred years ago. Expertly, you flipped the pages to your key example and presented the man in the artwork to Kaguya.

Almost involuntarily, you saw her eyes dip to the page, another long moment passing between you as she took in what was pictured in the book. Blinking again, she looked back up to you, down to the book, once again up at you to trace your outstretched arm, then back to the 'manga.' After an unsure eternity in which you silently prayed you hadn't just made a horrible mistake, Kaguya began to giggle quietly, the sound blooming into full laughter as the girl doubled-over, almost collapsing into you bodily as she helplessly rocked with joyful amusement.

Several minutes and a fortifying glass of wine apiece, Kaguya was still shaking gently with mirth each time she happened to glance at you, her face still adorably flushed.

"You, Lelouch vi Britannia, are an absolute cad," she pronounced with all the noble temper of an especially irritable kitten. It didn't help that she couldn't quite keep the smile off her face either. You wished you were in a better position, though it would be a lie to say there weren't traces of abiding laughter in your smile.

You held your hands out, palms towards her. "Guilty as charged I am afraid. Many have often informed me of the same."

Kaguya chuckled, shaking her head before taking a deep drink of her wine. "You deserve it. I cannot believe you would do such a thing! What on Earth possessed you to make such a fool of yourself?"

Instead of the political dance that was second-nature to you, instead, you planted your feet and stood. Metaphorically, at least, given that you were currently seated with your legs crossed at the knee and quite relaxed.

Simply put, you place your glass back down on the table and look her directly in the eyes. "I wanted to see you smile again."

The Sumeragi heiress gasps sharply, her emerald eyes widening before she bites her lip and looks away from you.

You allow her time to consider her response, but do not take your eyes away. You can't help but consider the fact that, even in a moment of anguished internal conflict she looks strikingly beautiful.

"Do you believe you would be inclined to smile if your father banished you to a land which might as well be on the edge of the world for all that it differs?" Kaguya finally asks, her shoulders sagging.

You sigh and look towards the darkening evening sky for a moment as you think. It is no easy or simple question that the woman opposite you asks and it deserves consideration.

"I believe that, were my sister with me, I would smile." You answer after thinking on it. "If only for her sake, because she would smile for mine."

Kaguya sighs in response, shaking her head. "But I have no siblings, sometimes I think my parents barely tolerated the reality of one child, let alone the thought of more. My cousin, the closest thing to a sibling I have, is also not nearby. So tell me, Prince Lelouch, if there is no one for me to smile for, why must I smile?"

Tentatively, you reach out, grasping one of the curled fists resting on the table with your own hand, the contact of skin on skin startling the young woman before you and snapping her head upright to lock eyes with you once again.

"Did I not already say?" You ask, frowning as you attempt to convey care for the woman in your every movement. Perhaps you do not love her, if two of your peerage are allowed that luxury, but you can at least express concern for her. Beyond the use she has in loyalty to you, your own decisions have engendered this situation, such that you owe something to her. "Please, smile for me at least, and me alone, if you feel no one else deserves to see your happiness."

A shiver seems to run through her body, something she guards well enough that you only feel through the connection of your hand with hers. A shuddering breath produces another whispered rebuke, this one traced by a wet half-sob. "You absolute cad, your highness," she repeats, "you utter and absolute cad."

Unable to do nothing, you remove your handkerchief and stand, only to kneel and begin wiping away tears at the girl's side, which only sets off yet more soft cries. Eventually, when she comes back to herself enough, she pushes your hand away gently and removes her own handkerchief to dab at her eyes.

"Please, Prince Lelouch, return to your seat. If word got out that I made royalty kneel I don't think I could take the denouncements of my character." The heiress eventually says, though you pay her words little credence. Instead, you return to your chair only because of the tender upturn of her lips, because she has smiled.

You are not, though, heartless enough to deny her another moment to compose herself. Instead, you wave a servant over and issue a few quick orders for dinner.

"Thank you," she nods when you return, her glass of wine a bit lesser for your absence. "You did not need to do... any of this, you know?"

You deny her with a shake of your head. "If I did not, then who would?"

Kaguya's smile turns helpless and she sighs again.

You spend an age there, quietly contemplating each other, her emerald eyes met by your own violet orbs. It takes some time before either of you speaks again, but when one does, you are unsurprised by the fact that it is Kaguya, not yourself.

"You are not going to ask why I requested to work under the Shinozaki, are you?" She finally asks, but gives you no time to reply. "No, of course you are not. I do not know why I believed you should meet any of my expectations tonight after what has already passed between us."

You simply smile and cock your head. "When a lady puts it in that manner, I almost feel as though I should apologize."

A surprised giggle bursts its way from her throat and she hides behind one of her voluminous sleeves for a moment. "Your highness, please, you have nothing to apologize for."

Your smile fades for a moment and you can't help but press. "Are you sure?"

Kaguya's gaze turns down for a moment, suddenly solemn, but after a scant consideration, she shakes her head. "No, I do not believe you do. If anything, I am given to understand my father has much more responsibility in that regard. He came to you as a salesman would and, therefore, any fault one would find lies with him."

Not an explicit passing of blame or guilt, but the fact that she would even come close...

You disregard the thought. It would be easy to misinterpret things at this stage.

Instead, you press onwards.

"You've asked for a position underneath Sayoko, within the thinking brain of my organization. As I deigned to grant you your desired position, I will not go back upon my word." You state, setting your elbows on the armrests of your chair and allowing your tone to grow serious. "However, as you have brought the subject to the table, I fear there will be no better time to press for an answer then. I will not ask why, nor what you hope to accomplish as a result of this, because you will either be honest or you will not. In either case, I will either believe you or doubt your word. All things being equal, there is only a twenty-five percent chance of either of us coming away with a mutual understanding to our exclusive benefit. What is worse is that there is a six point two five percent chance of the two of us agreeing on a mutual interpretation of the other's intention, whatever the outcome of our exchange."

At the very least, you've sent Kaguya reeling again, her eyes wide at the sudden shift towards an onslaught of facts and figures. Giving her a moment to compose herself again, you take a sip of your wine to quench your thirst.

"In the interests of avoiding all of that, I will instead ask you what you believe your duties should be." You state calmly, smiling again, if with a hint of predation to it. "Tell me, Lady Kaguya, were your position and mine exchanged, what would you have yourself do when presented with such an audacious request as you have presented me with?"

Kaguya stalls a moment, the last scales seeming to fall from her eyes as the mind behind them sets to work with a will towards a problem you have given it. Her narrowed green gaze considers both you and your question as you wait patiently for a response.

"I would..." she begins, then whets her lips with a quick swipe of her tongue and tries again. "I would give an individual in my position work of a sensitive nature which, should I prove disloyal, would not compromise your organization and only produce minor setbacks or deny you an unexpected boon instead of disrupting already-beneficial arrangements." She pauses, and bites her lip. "At the same time, I would expect the individual in question to volunteer substantial information which I would have every expectation to be used against those I should have loyalties with."

You lean back, taking the pressure of an aggressive stance off the girl and think...

With the Sumeragi heiress agreeing to the intelligence equivalent of 'scut work' while volunteering to provide intelligence against her father's sakuradite trade and businesses, your options open up quite a bit. However, you decide to choose...

[ ] Kaguya will serve as Xiǎobāo's minder when she is not writing up reports on what she knows of Japan's businesses.
[ ] Kaguya will monitor relations between the governors of Area Eight and Nine when she is not writing up reports on what she knows of Japan's businesses.
[ ] Kaguya will monitor what intelligence you have coming in from the Chinese Federation when she is not writing up reports on what she knows of Japan's businesses.

Regardless of your decision, the fact that you and she have cleared the air means that the meal you share is all the more delicious afterwards and, you think, conversation flows much more freely between the two of you. You leave Kaguya, at the end of the night, on the doorstep of her room, your lips brushing the back of her hand, and feel that it was a night well spent.

Kaguya Sumeragi's SL Increases (+1)

QM's Note: As of the outcome of this update, Lelouch believes he has a good understanding of Kaguya. 'Trust' here is the wrong word, possibly, but he feels that he knows what to expect of her and that immediate betrayal is deeply unlikely. The choice presented is not whether your will give Kaguya responsibilities, but the question of how much you will give her. Minding the former sacrifice child will have few consequences if she screws it up, even intentionally. Monitoring Area Eight and Nine will have some, but nothing disastrous and nothing outside of your ability eventually correct. Placing her in a position of influence could go very badly, but given her connection to the Chinese Empress she would have to burn a serious bridge to screw you over, in Lelouch's estimation. As a last point of consideration, there is the possibility of trading the former sacrifice child to the OSI in the event people believe he's too much of a time-sink. Placing Kaguya in charge of him may make such a transaction difficult in the future.

ONE HOUR MORATORIUM! DO NOT VOTE FOR ONE HOUR!
 
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Kabe-fucking-don. How ingenious and also utterly silly. I agree with Kaguya, what a cad.

As for the nature of Kaguya's "scut work," I'd say put her on the Chinese? Doesn't seem appropriate to have her handle Eight and Nine, who are fellow Britannians, or the Child.
 
No, I do not believe you do. If anything, I am given to understand my father has much more responsibility in that regard.
The father is missing from that sentence, it is when Kaguya respond to Lelouch saying that he felt he should apologize.

All things being equal, there is only a twenty-five percent chance of either of us coming away with a mutal understanding to our exclusive benefit.
mutual, in the large paragraph of Lelouch not asking why Kaguya would want to join Sayako's division.
taking the pressure of an aggressive stance of the girl and think...
off, near the end of the update.
 
Once again, I have not come even close at guessing in how this would go. Fricking kabe-don. If we needed further truth that this is not canon!Lelouch, well, this would have been all that was needed.

On the choice... While placing her to look after the child is on the low-end of the responsibility-spectrum, it would be immensely useful for taking care of that time-sink. On the other end, better CF relations and hopefully Kaguya appreciating the trust we woud be placing on her... The only one I'm not interested would be the governors, we would get less benefit there from Kaguya's connections than with CF.
 
Having Kaguya monitor the Chinese sounds like high-risk, high-reward, especially given her connection with Empress Tianzi.

Not the sure how much she knows about psionics outside of New Heaven's troop capabilities and general public knowledge, so I'm a bit wary about revealing Little Bun to her. Plus, introducing the boy would mean introducing Crowley.

In any case, it's great to be back to New Caledonia. I'm anxious for our next meeting with Li jiāngjūn.
 
Once again, I have not come even close at guessing in how this would go. Fricking kabe-don. If we needed further truth that this is not canon!Lelouch, well, this would have been all that was needed.
You and me both. This update had three opposed background rolls. The first was an ice-breaker. Lelouch rolled very well and Kaguya... didn't. My interpretation was that Lelouch deliberately chose to act far outside of his normal character to catch Kaguya off-guard and put her outside the mindset of a political sparring match, which this otherwise would have been. But because it was such a high roll, he deliberately played it off for laughs afterwards, leaving Kaguya much more open than she would be. I might see about revealing the rolls later on.

Oh, and Vote's Open. I need sleep now. Knocking this out has me up a lot later than I should be.
 
[X] Kaguya will monitor what intelligence you have coming in from the Chinese Federation when she is not writing up reports on what she knows of Japan's businesses.
 
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