17

Before Hartmann could enquire as to how that could happen, Lelouch snapped his knightmare's left arm out and launched the harken embedded there, sending it flying out a nearby broken window. At the same time, Lelouch withdrew the first harken from the wall, or specifically foundation, it had impacted before, which had already began to spider web with cracks. Moments later, the sound of rumbling and the sensation of falling dust and debris landing on their knightmares and surroundings alerted both devicers to an all too inevitable truth about their current environment.

Realizing all too late what was about to happen, Hartmann began to move the Loewe once again. Unfortunately for him, Lelouch was faster, and so launched his hip mounted slash harkens next, sending them into the Loewe's feet, destroying the landspinners within and causing the European knightmare to lose its balance. And just as his opponent began to fall on top of him, Lelouch tapped his left rollerball trigger, causing the left arm harken, which had clamped into another building across from the current one, to pull the Mordred away, thereby allowing the European knightmare to fall on its face. That was the last Lelouch saw of it before the Mordred was flung out into the street once again and several metric tons of ruined building systematically collapsed in on itself.

Once outside, Lelouch used the momentum to reorient his knightmare and then relaunch his right arm harken, anchoring it into the target building's higher levels. From there, Lelouch pulled the Mordred upward, using the moment to launch himself straight onto said building's roof. Now with a full bird's eye view of Tobruk's newest collection of debris, Lelouch watched to see if anything, or anyone, emerged out of it. None did.

"Rest in peace, Oberst Hartmann," Lelouch said out loud, hoping that wherever his opponent had ended up, his words would reach him. "And do not worry; you will have plenty more company on your end when we have finished winning this war."

As if on cue, a communications window appeared, displaying the image of one of Lelouch's knightmare commanders. "Your Highness, the EU forces are falling back in all sectors, and those that are unable to have surrendered," the officer reported. "It's over."

Lelouch took a moment to consult the Mordred's Druid System for that. Sure enough, fighting had ceased completely through the city, and whatever European units that were left were now surrounded by Britannian ones. The battle, at long last, had concluded.

"Then victory is ours." Lelouch proclaimed, unconsciously settling upon his trademark grin, the one that was known by both his allies and his enemies, which perfectly reflected upon his self-confidence and his indomitable will. Knowing full well that all eyes were now looking up to his new perch, waiting for the response of the one who gave them this great victory, Lelouch quickly decided what he would follow up with.

Raising the Mordred's right arm, still clutching its MVS, into the air, he then called out with every inch of his being. "ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!"

"ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!" Suzaku, Gino and Anya echoed, raising the blades or fists of their knightmares as well.

"ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!" the soldiers roared, the numerous Sutherlands and Gloucesters raising their own fists, machine guns, lances and MVS into the air as well. With great speed, the chanting spread like wildfire, until almost every Britannian soldier within the city and around it had joined in, their cries of victory heard over the radio for miles. The only ones that weren't were currently occupied with holding down the latest prisoners of war.

All in all, another victory for the Britannian Empire in the North African Front.

"ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA! ALL HAIL BRITANNIA!"