03

He debated for a moment, even as his head turned back to face the sea that was between his fleet and the Area. There were very few options he could use now, and none of them he particularly liked, but the stakes were too high not to consider them. Even without the Chinese in the equation, there was no way Britannia could allow Area 11, no, Japan's liberation to become a reality like this. Internal strife had always been the Achilles' Heel of empires of the past, and Britannia was no exception. The moment the world caught news of Japan challenging and winning against Britannia, other rebellions would rise up in the other Areas, and the accumulated loss would be seen as a sign of weakness by the European Union and the Chinese Federation. And once the weakness was detected, it was only natural that Britannia's neighbors would do everything within their powers to exploit it. If such a thing were to happen, there was no doubt in Schneizel's mind that the Britannian Empire would cease to exist.

Fortunately, Britannia had been farsighted enough to set up an alternate solution should Area 11 fall from its control. Schneizel was one of the few people who knew of this solution, as well as the lasting effect it would cause. To make it all worse was the fact that there were still Imperial citizens and loyal soldiers on the island. Was he to order their deaths along with those of their enemies? Could he make such an order with good conscience, even though in the long run it would save his home nation from certain demise?

One last time, he turned to Admiral Keyman. "Is there anything that we can do for our forces at Area 11? Anything at all?"

Keyman was quick enough to recognize the darkness within Schneizel's tone, and although he wished to say otherwise, he was duty bound to give the prince the full and honest truth. "No, Your Highness. There is nothing we can do that can change this outcome."

Schneizel closed his eyes at that, solemnly nodding. The part that hurt the most was the fact that this could have all been avoided hours ago. The Japanese would have gained their freedom while Britannia would have retained access to the country's sakuradite, if only Euphemia had been herself. She especially would have been against what was about to happen. Forgive me Euphie. I know this goes against everything that you had wished for, both for the Japanese and for Britannia, but…

With no more words spoken, Schneizel walked over to the radio station. "Give me your microphone." he ordered straight away.

The young crewman did as he was told, to which Schneizel slipped on the headset and hit the 'TRANSMIT' button on the console. "Attention, this is Second Prince Schneizel el Britannia. By my command, Sir Gilbert, all essential staff and any present noncombatants are to move to the bureau's roof, where the Avalon will be redirected to evacuate them. All other forces are to hold their defensive lines for as long as possible."

The prince paused there, once more silently wishing that Euphemia would forgive him in time, wherever she was. "I also order the execution of Operation Nero," he called out, to much confusion of those within earshot. "I repeat, Operation Nero is to be executed within five minutes of this transmission. Over."

With that, Schneizel toggled off the system and handed the headset back to the crewman. He then walked back to where he had been standing, ignoring the still confused glances that were upon him. It was natural as none of them knew what Operation Nero was, outside the reference to a certain infamous Roman emperor. One who had engineered the Great Fire of Rome.

After a long and uncomfortable silence, Admiral Keyman finally spoke up. "Sire, if I may," he inquired, somehow forcing back the urge to gulp. "What exactly is Operation Nero?"

"A final solution," Schneizel said, without turning around. "One that will give us victory, but at a great cost."

Those were the last words Prince Schneizel spoke to anyone else that day.

Tokyo Settlement, Duchy of Kanto, Area 11 (Japan), Britannian Empire

"Above!" he heard Asahina yell out, just as a shadow had cast itself over the field. Making a side glance as he moved with the rest of the troops, Tohdoh looked up to see what its origin was. Sure enough, blacking out the sun itself was that Britannian airship, the one that the Order's intelligence network had identified as the Avalon. At first Tohdoh thought it had come to provide additional defense for the government bureau, but after a second he noticed it wasn't firing at them with its CIWS emplacements. Instead, it simply flew toward the bureau.

"What are they doing?" Chiba questioned. "Shouldn't they be firing at us or air dropping knightmares?"

"They're moving to evacuate the bureau," Tohdoh answered, having immediately connected the dots. "Probably of high ranking staff."

"Which means we've just about won this battle," Asahina chimed proudly.

"It's not over until it's over Asahina. They likely still have knightmares to throw at us from the building, just to buy time." Urabe spoke up. His point was proven no more than a moment later.

"They're coming out now!" Tohdoh heard one of the Burai pilots yell out, almost in excitement as new blips entered sensor range. Tohdoh looked on and before him, it seemed as though the floodgates had finally opened as an entire legion of Britannian knightmare frames charged out of the government bureau. It was a mixed bag of Sutherlands, Glasgows and Gloucesters. As he half-expected, the latter were all armed with their trademark lances and equipped with billowing capes.

However, upon seeing the the high-mobility units, Tohdoh noticed something that struck him as peculiar. Of the varying colors that the Gloucesters were painted in, none of them were sporting a familiar vibrant purple color scheme. Where's Gilbert? Shouldn't he be leading the charge? Or is he evacuating as well?