01x04 - Alliance

[bunniefuu]

[wind whistling]

[seagull cawing]

[footsteps approaching]

You still haven't explained
your reasons to me.

We came out here looking
for any fragments of Geass.

So tell me, then.
Why did we give a Geass to that girl?

Was it for fun?

Or was it because
she's Kaguya's blood relative?

Who knows?

[chuckles softly]

But you aren't planning
on getting further involved, correct?

In the end, we exist outside
the natural order of the world.

[C.C.] I suppose so.

[♪ opening theme song playing]

[reporter] Princess Sakuya's mother
was Princess Sherry me Britannia,

the eldest daughter
of the late Charles zi Britannia,

our ninety-eighth emperor.

Unfortunately, she married
into another family

before Emperor Charles was crowned,

which meant she forfeited
any claim of succession.

BLACK KNIGHTS HACHINOHE BASE

With all that said,

it is evident that Empress Sakuya
is of legitimate imperial claim to--

We've been outplayed.

Sumeragi's blood ties her to us.

Given that and the connection to Kaguya,

I'd expect the United Federation
of Nations to be cautious.

Our third liberation campaign
will likely need to be further delayed.

Commander-in-Chief Cornelia...

It's been three months since
I've come back to the Black Knights,

and yet I'm still not
used to being called that.

I find myself frustrated.

We should have had you
and Mr. Tohdoh with us sooner.

If you were there
at our first and second operations,

there's no way we would have
lost as easily as we did.

You overestimate me.

The Situmpe Wall is powerful,

and Norland von Lunebelg is formidable.

What concerns me most
is that the other side has the Damocles,

along with the F.L.E.I.J.A.
it's equipped with.

They won't be easily defeated.

Naturally, I have
no intention of rolling over.

Just to confirm, the girl posing
as the empress is a decoy, is that right?

Correct.

Princess Sakuya has hidden her identity.

She's currently collaborating
with Kuroto's organization.

That sounds prudent.

I've secured the budget.

Prepare the second convoy
of transport ships.

[Shiro] Understood!

So then that's Sherry's daughter, is it?

I'm surprised that a niece of mine
could be so reckless.

NEO-BRITANNIA GOVERNMENT OFFICE
FRONT SHRINE

[man] So a girl like her
gets crowned empress overnight.

[man 2] And I hear she's even half Eleven.

Are we going to be all right?

[woman] But it seems the real power
remains with Lord Norland.

[man 2] I see. Well, that's a relief.

[Sakura] I... I wasn't wrong about this,
was I Saku?

[Rozé] In accepting the throne as empress,

she may have some power to implement
policies to help the Japanese.

SEVEN SHINING STARS HAKODATE HIDEOUT

It's possible she might be able to change
the course of Neo-Britannia even a little.

She believes the real Sakuya Sumeragi
would think this way.

I imagine that's the reason
why Sakura accepted the role at all.

But I guess it's more accurate to say
it was Norland who allowed her to do it.

But, doing it that way...

Yeah, it makes things difficult.

We're talking about someone
who k*lled a peace delegation

and sent back their corpses.

Trying to change things from the inside
would take way too long to do.

How many lives
would we lose in the meantime?

So we'll fight.
Until we finally take it back.

Our homeland... and Sakura.

[Kuroto] Agreed.

[Oda] Say that again!

[Wakui] We've no idea where
Princess Sakuya has been all this time,

and now she's showing up out of nowhere,
and as an empress?

Are we sure she hasn't sided
with the Britannians?

How dare you say that about her!

It's not impossible.
After all, half her blood is Britannian.

Hey look, it's not like any of us
have forgotten that fact.

But just think about it.

Lord Jugo fought hard
to keep this area safe

in his negotiations
during the Far East Incident.

And when Britannia took over,

Princess Sherry
tried to protect us right away

with the Special Administrative District.

-That's why--
-[Wakui] Yeah, but I'm worried!

Can we avoid fighting?

Or are we gonna have to face off
against Empress Sakuya?

Someone tell me. Please.

SCISSORMAN DOMAIN, ASAHIKAWA

-[device trilling, crackling]
-I'm telling the truth!

I don't remember anything!

The door was unlocked!

I know just as much about this as you do!

I don't know anything
about who opened the door!

You can say that
as many times as you want,

but we have surveillance footage
clearly showing you unlocking the door.

You've gotta believe me!

-I did nothing! I swear it wasn't me!
-[door opens]

[grunting in pain]

[staff member] Lord Christoph,
I've been informed it's nearly time.

Please, I really don't need
to be reminded, so leave me be.

[staff member] But, sir...

Hunting down remnants?

I believe we can leave that
to young Divock.

He does seem rather eager
to do it after all.

-[all panting]
-[rumbling]

[men grunt]

Damn you, Neo-Britannian b*stards!

Are you all right, sir?

I'm fine.

Let's head straight
to the rendezvous point!

Go!

-[people clamoring]
-This way, sir.

Does it really mean that much to you?

Completely crushing
the seeds of our cause?

Go on, you cattle.
Hurry up and get moving.

If you don't get out of there soon,
I might actually k*ll you!

[Rozé] So? How are things going?

[Natalia] We're doing fine over here.
Everything's been calm.

Although the government's
still in total shambles.

Unfortunately, a handful of people
in the military faction

withheld the news till the last minute,

so we're scrambling to do damage control.

Well, thanks for the hard work.

What about on your end?

We're fine. Still kickin'.

Although things have been
a bit chaotic lately.

That's not what I was asking.

-I meant you.
-[gasps softly]

[Rozé] I'm fine, yeah.

I'll talk to you later.

-[device beeps]
-[meows]

[knock on door]

Rozé, it's time.

The meeting is starting.

I'll start heading over!

I think...

I might be in love.

[Sakuya] Ugh. Ridiculous.

We've received a report.

The North Wolf Army
and the Eastern Dawn Brigade

were just decimated by Neo-Britannia.

Iwamoto and Tomi did manage to escape,

but they lost a lot
of their remaining forces.

We're gonna go up against
the Neo-Britannia Army like this?

And Empress Sakuya?

I was hoping I could
say something about that.

One hour ago,

we received word that Sakuya Sumeragi
was just released from Abashiri Prison.

[all gasp]

When we recaptured Kuroto,
the White Queen showed up, right?

I looked into that since it stuck out.

I couldn't find any public records,

but there was something I noticed
in Apollo's battle data.

This.

[people gasp]

I'm glad that I at least found this image.

[Yoko] What does this mean?

Sakuya Sumeragi was confined in Abashiri,

then transferred to a government office
for unknown reasons.

And the Young Emperor's death?
Might have been an assassination.

His official cause of death
is heart failure.

But is that true?

It's a well-known fact
that Callis was a puppet of Norland.

All that's changed now
is that the puppet has a new head.

All this said,

it's reasonable to assume that
Sakuya is being manipulated by Norland.

We know our enemy,
and it's not Sakuya Sumeragi.

It's Norland.
And his army of Neo-Britannians!

That's right!
Couldn't have said it better myself!

Down with Norland and Neo-Britannia!

I am so relieved to hear you say that.

Yeah, me too!

[all clamor in agreement]

[Yuri] He had me worried!

While you're all so fired up,
I have some good news to share!

A second convoy
of transport ships is coming!

[all exclaim]

NEO-BRITANNIA GOVERNMENT OFFICE
IMPERIAL PALACE

I have failed in keeping
my promise to the emperor.

It's hard for me to accept.
No matter who he was, he was only ten.

[Kosaka] Okay, over here!

[Hinagata] Come on, hurry up!

The ships are almost here already.

Wait... where did Haruka run off to?

Didn't show up.
She wanted to get some target practice in.

She said she wants
to get better at sh**ting,

so she feels like she can contribute more.

Fighting's not the only way.

There's lots of things
that she can do to help us out.

Whoa! You actually
sound reasonable for once!

Wait, hold on a second!

Is she practicing because she wants
to be the one to pilot the Ace unit?

Oh, man,
that Knightmare we saw was so sweet!

[exclaims] I want a ride!

Yeah, you don't say. Good luck with that.

But to tell you the truth,

it would be even cooler
to see our leader piloting it.

His track record in battle during his time

in the Japan Liberation Front
was totally insane!

Especially with spears!

They say no one can match him
when it comes to technique!

Hey! You four there!
The boat is just arriving.

Where exactly?

-[water gurgling]
-[all] Huh?

What is that thing?

That's not a boat, it's a submarine!

[Rozé] It's a large-scale submarine
that's been modified for transport.

Let's avoid a backlog,
and start moving the cargo.

Second-Lieutenant Minato Sakai,
Black Knights, Hachinohe Base.

I've been assigned
to accompany this transport vessel.

Not to mention,

escort this individual as well.

It's nice to meet you.
My name is Nina Einstein.

This is the latest model
developed by our lab.

We call it the F.L.E.I.J.A. Eliminator.

In the 19 seconds prior to detonation,

environmental data
had to be input manually

into the program with the initial model.

Even then, it's efficacy
was only point-zero-four seconds.

It was also necessary that the user
hit the F.L.E.I.J.A. directly,

which was a restrictive condition.

But thankfully this new model's
design has added a switch

that allows it to input
the environmental data automatically

after it's been launched.

If it's within 100 meters
of the F.L.E.I.J.A. when it detonates,

it will neutralize the expl*si*n.

This should allow us to simplify things
a bit for you out there.

That's simplified, huh?

But doesn't the F.L.E.I.J.A.
move ridiculously fast?

Trying to get within


it's not going to be an easy job.

I understand.

Well, Ash? Can you?

It's doable.

If we predict it's trajectory
by identifying its target,

that would increase our odds.

It's a lot better than
point-zero-four seconds, anyway.

Still sounds a lot easier said than done.

The truth is, I created the F.L.E.I.J.A.

When I was making them,

I was so caught up
in validating my calculations

that I never stopped to think...

[voice breaks] ...and fully
consider the consequences.

And now there are...

there are millions of people dead
from what I've done.

I'll do anything to stop the F.L.E.I.J.A.!

Please, I need your help.

[door opens]

[Rozé] And here's where
you'll be staying, Dr. Einstein.

You'll be bunking with Ms. Sakai.

We don't have enough rooms here.
Sorry about that.

It's fine.

-I'm glad things turned out okay.
-Huh?

It really seemed like
everybody took what you said to heart.

Although I'm sure some of them
have mixed feelings about it.

May I ask, aren't you a Britannian?

Why are you here, helping the resistance?

Me? Aren't you one to talk!

You're the one who took the risk
coming all the way out to Hokkaido.

But it's a good question.

It might sound cliché,

but I've got something
I wanna protect, I guess.

[knock on door]

Pardon the intrusion, Doctor.

-Rozé.
-I'll be right there.

Try not to leave the room, Doc.

We don't wanna stir stuff up.

Of course.

-Keep her safe. Okay, Sakai?
-[Sakai] Understood.

[all] Huh?

Finally showed up.

Apologies for keeping you waiting.

[Iwamoto] It's been quite a while, Kuroto.

Yes, it certainly has, Iwamoto.

We're well aware of the reasons
why you dragged us all the way out here.

You're planning something
with the decimated

North Wolf Army and Eastern Dawn Brigade.

You're aiming to get them
both under your control, am I right?

No, that's not the case.

We're facing an existential threat.

The organizations resisting Britannia
are being repeatedly attacked.

Now is the time we unite
and work together as a parallel force.

Sounds convenient for you.

If you do decide to cooperate with us,

we'll provide you with these Knighmares
as well as other weapons and ammunition.

[men exclaim, clamor]

[Iwamoto] How exactly
did you acquire all of this?

The Black Knights sent them over.

They were brought in to us
via a particular channel.

I knew it.

The only reason you're giving this to us

is so that you can get us
under your thumb.

[Kuroto] You're wrong.

Even if that's not what you're after here,

we'd all feel like we owe you
something just the same!

Well then, what should we do?

Commander Tomi and I spoke a bit earlier.

The three of us should form a council.

That way, we can plan
and conduct joint operations.

A council?

That will cr*pple our ability
to move quickly!

We're quite aware of that.

If you're not able to accept these terms,
then our cooperation's off the table.

I guess we should have known trying
to unite the factions was a dumb idea.

Maybe it was.

[Rozé sighs]

I can't believe
any of you call yourselves adults.

All I see is a bunch of idiots.

[grunting]

Enough! You better watch your mouth, kid!

And another thing,

I don't like sittin' back
and relying on a Britannian!

Have you forgotten
what it means to be Japanese?

That's not exactly relevant, is it?

Let me put it to you like this:

What was it that brought
you guys together here today?

I mean, you already know what's at stake.

None of us have a future
if things keep dragging on like this.

[sighing]

Look, I get it.

It's not like I can't understand
where you're coming from.

But with all that said...

What would you say about
forming an alliance?

Forming an alliance?

[Rozé] Yeah! If you're standing here,
that means we share a common goal.

We all wanna reclaim Japan
from Neo-Britannia.

So why don't we try
working towards that together?

It'd be bad if we didn't have
some kinda chain of command,

so I'd like to have Kuroto
in charge of that.

But during combat,
Iwamoto will lead the North Wolves,

and Tomi will command
the Eastern Dawn Brigade.

They'll remain independent units
like they've always been.

That way, it'll allow you to receive
supplies from the Black Knights,

as well as guarantee
that your groups live on.

That doesn't sound like
such a bad arrangement to me.

What do you think?

We'll take it under consideration.

Did you allow the t*rrorists to escape?

[Divock] Yes, just as you planned.

Very well. Do as you please then.

I certainly shall.

And you'll be most satisfied
with the results, Lord Norland.

I'll show you that shortly.

-[comms beeping]
-[gasps softly]

What is it at this hour?

[woman over comms]
A message from Lord Norland.

[gasps]

[Rozé] Interesting.

Her record isn't the greatest,

but I feel like she'd improve overnight
with a change in equipment and tactics.

Might even go beyond my expectations.

-[Kuroto] Rozé.
-Huh?

We have a response.

They just sent over an official agreement
to join the alliance.

Come on down.

That's great!

We are looking forward
to working with you.

Likewise, sir.

If I become the ace pilot,
you better make sure to follow my orders.

[Haruka] Yeah, good luck with that.

Whoa, hold up.

The ace unit is super decked out.

Oh! Took you long enough to notice!

This Knightmare is--

[Rozé] It's been modified
for close-quarters combat.

I asked Kuroto
if we could make the change.

Haruka.

You'll be piloting the Keisetsu.

Huh?

I took the time to review the data
in your combat records in depth.

You make decisions calmly,
and have an instinct for quick attacks.

Not as good as my brother,

but still pretty amazing,
any way you look at it.

It seems like all this time,

the Akatsuki wasn't able
to physically keep up with your abilities.

The Keisetsu has been customized
to be easier for you to operate.

All right. I guess I'll be nice
and let you have the win this time.

It's okay, you can cry if you want.

[Rozé] It's all yours.

[grunts]

[Rozé] With this unit,

not even an Einberg
has a chance against you.

Haruka, you're the ace
of the Seven Shining Stars.

[exclaims softly]
Good! I won't let you down!

[chuckling]

-[Hinagata] Huh? What the hell?
-What's going on?

There's a news report on Neo-Britannia!

It says that they're about to wipe out
all Japanese in the Sapporo Ghetto!

[Rozé] Huh?

There've long been reports
regarding Sapporo,

and we know that numerous t*rrorists
have been hiding in that ghetto.

They know that's a lie!

We've set up in Hakodate!

It is for that reason,
and that reason alone,

that we will completely
obliterate it using the F.L.E.I.J.A.!

All transportation networks
will be sealed off by the military.

Britannians in the vicinity
are ordered to evacuate.

No Elevens are allowed to escape!

We carry out the operation in 24 hours!

[Shota] Only 24 hours?

[Oda] What the hell are we gonna do?

SKY FORTRESS DAMOCLES

[man] Activating Floating System.

-[alarm beeping]
-Releasing lock.

Opening gate.

Preparations complete.

All hands, ready! Launch the Damocles!

[rumbling]

So what, are we just
gonna abandon that ghetto?

What else is there?

Are you saying
we oughta take on the Damocles?

-[Rozé] We have no choice.
-[both gasp]

For us to beat Neo-Britannia,

we would've had to attack
the Damocles sooner or later.

This just pushes that plan up.

Plus, don't forget
we have the new Eliminator.

We're doing this.

We're going after the Damocles!

[♪ closing theme song playing]