Chapter 1689
Coward!
Chapter 1689 Coward!
Although Clovis had gathered a lot of information about the Punishment Squad after the Second Tokyo City Cluster was recaptured, this was the first time he had actually seen the appearance of Colonel Akira, the commander of the Punishment Squad, a new legend in the Earth Federation Forces.
“Colonel Ming. I am Clovis LA Britannia. I am here to request an explanation.”
Clovis glanced at the masked man on the screen and stated his position neither humbly nor arrogantly, without making any attempt to leverage his status as a prince of the empire.
"Explain?"
On the other side of the screen, He Ming, seeing the other party's attitude, had a rough idea of what was going on.
“Your Highness Clovis, it seems that your Emperor does not take you, or rather, the Sakura Stone controlled by your city, seriously.”
As soon as He Ming said this, Clovis's face turned pale.
Clearly, he had understood the meaning behind He Ming's words.
"The Empire has launched a war?"
Clovis paused for a moment, then slowly asked.
He Ming did not answer, but instead had the Garuda send the video footage taken by the Earth Federation Forces that had withdrawn from North America directly to Clovis.
As the video played, not only Clovis, but even Batley, who had personally assembled the army, was sweating profusely.
Clovis's suspicions were confirmed, while Barthele kept wiping his sweat.
Because, when assembling the army, Bartley used the "hype" tactics and rhetoric commonly used by imperial generals, slandering He Ming's Punishment Army and the Earth Federation Army as invaders, thereby stirring up the bloodlust of his subordinates, making them fearless and willing to fight to defend the glory of the empire.
However, in the end, He Ming's Punishment Army and the Earth Federation Army came with a righteous cause.
This result caused Bartholomew to break out in a cold sweat and feel his limbs grow cold.
Previously, he was able to deceive his subordinates with rhetoric such as imperial glory.
Now, having learned the reasons for the punishment and the Earth Federation Forces' arrival, a sense of powerlessness almost overwhelmed him as he looked again at the mobile suits hovering above the city.
"Your Highness..."
Bartley's voice trembled even more.
Clovis's expression was gloomy, his eyes sometimes fierce, sometimes struggling.
Not to mention Barthele, even he, the third prince of the empire, didn't know what to do.
Died in battle?
surrender?
Or perhaps...
"Rumble..."
While Clovis, Bartley, and others hesitated, another Garuda-class carrier, the Menot, entered the airspace above the city, deploying more mobile suits into the city.
As the GM IIs carrying the aircraft flew over the city, the Imperial pilots, who had yet to receive orders from Clovis and Bartley, seemed to begin to stir with restlessness.
"Your Highness, why haven't you given the order yet?!"
As a representative of the pureblood faction within the Imperial garrison of the First Tokyo City Cluster in Area 11, Jeremiah Goldbald felt increasingly irritated.
(Jeremiah Goldbald)
"The Earth Federation Forces invaders have already breached the city. Why haven't they ordered us to attack? Is General Bartley afraid?"
"Sir Jeremiah, what should we do?"
Jeremiah's subordinate, Viletta Nu, sent an inquiry via the squad's communication channel.
(Villetta Nou)
"General Bartley has probably developed a fear of the Earth Federation Forces' mobile suits!! He might even be trying to persuade the Third Prince Clovis to surrender to the evil Earth Federation Forces!! We, the soldiers of Holy Britannia, absolutely cannot stand by and watch this happen!!"
After repeated unsuccessful inquiries, almost always met with the excuse that General Batley was discussing tactics with His Highness Clovis, Jeremiah Goldbald finally lost his temper and roared out in anger.
"Wait! Lord Jeremiah!! What are you doing?! This is not the time to act on your own!"
Upon hearing the commotion from Jeremiah's side, Bartley was immediately terrified and shouted loudly.
"General Bartley! Why are you delaying giving the order? We soldiers of the Empire are not afraid of death, we only fight to defend the glory of the Empire!!"
Jeremiah's outspokenness drew many echoes of agreement.
"you!!!"
Barthele turned pale on the spot.
Why not order an attack!
It's because our military strength is inferior!
It's because the greater good doesn't lie with us!
More importantly because...
Although Clovis neither admitted it nor showed it, how could Bartel, who had been by the side of the imperial prince for a long time and helped Clovis manage the army as his confidant, not understand the sordid affairs behind the seemingly glorious imperial family!
It seems that Clovis has been regarded as a pawn by that emperor, used to slightly alleviate the pressure of the Earth Federation Army's counterattack.
Faced with such a situation, Clovis, who was already worried about being targeted and ordered by the emperor to seize the throne, and who had been demoted to a mortal, could hardly muster the courage to fight for the empire that no longer offered him even the slightest protection.
Unwilling,
Swaying—that was Clovis's feeling at that moment.
"Your Highness Clovis, it seems you have made your choice. In that case, I hope this is not the last time we meet."
He Ming observed the changing atmosphere on the bridge of G-1 and the restlessness of the Imperial garrison surrounding it, and made arrangements accordingly.
"Feng, you'll be in charge of the attack. But, make sure to avoid attacking that land vessel! The rest of you are responsible for eliminating any threats in the surrounding area!"
He Minggang had just issued a new order when he sensed that the situation seemed to have changed.
On the bridge of G-1, everyone stared in astonishment at Batley, who was holding Prince Clovis hostage at gunpoint.
"General Ba... Batley!! What are you doing?! Put Prince Clovis down at once!!"
Among the crowd, some quick-thinking individuals tried to rush to the rescue, but were shot through the thigh by the swift-witted Batley.
"Bang!!"
Amidst the deafening gunshots that left everyone's heads buzzing, Clovis heard Bartley's whisper.
"I'm sorry, Your Highness. This should be the last time I serve you!"
"You! Bartlie!! What do you want to do?"
Clovis's head was buzzing, and his expression changed drastically.
The cold muzzle of the gun was then pressed against Clovis's temple.
"Give the order, Your Highness Clovis! Order all soldiers to abandon all equipment and surrender to the Earth Federation Forces!!"
"General Batley!! You!!"
Everyone stared at Bartley in shock, while some instinctively reopened their communications with Jeremiah.
"Bartle!! You coward!!!"
Jeremiah's roar instantly echoed across the bridge.
Barthele remained unmoved and continued in a deep voice.
"Your Highness."
Clovis's expression changed several times before gradually returning to calm.
He nodded slightly.
"In the name of the Third Prince Clovis, order all garrison troops to immediately cease resistance and surrender to the Earth Federation Forces and the Punishment Force!!"
"In the name of Britannia, execute this order immediately!! Those who disobey will be considered traitors!! I, Clovis LA Britannia, will join forces with the Punishment Force to exterminate the traitors!"
"what?!"
"what?!"
"Your Highness!!"
"Your Highness Clovis!! Why?"
Exclamations of surprise and roars continued to rise, but they could not sway Clovis, or the pistol pressed against Clovis's temple, in the slightest.
"implement!"
Clovis coldly gave the order.
"I hereby inform Colonel Ming, Commander of the Punishment Force, that I, Clovis LA Britannia, have decided to surrender to the Punishment Force! During this period, any unauthorized attacks on the Punishment Force or Earth Federation Forces will be dealt with at Colonel Ming's discretion, regardless of life or death!"
"Go!"
After Bartlett and Clovis finished speaking, he roared, startling the messenger into immediately doing as he was told.
"Bartle!! You deserve to die!!! His Highness has treated you well! Why did you commit such a cowardly act!!"
Seeing the changes on the bridge, Jeremiah was filled with resentment but could only roar a few times before leading his subordinates to pull out the keys to their aircraft, step out of the cockpit, raise their hands, and await the Earth Federation Forces' takeover.
"Is that alright, Lord Barthel?"
Clovis said in a low voice as he felt the cold muzzle of the gun leave.
"Yes. That's enough, Your Highness! Please forgive my rudeness!"
Behind him came Barthele's calm voice and the sound of a trigger being pulled.
"I forgive..."
"Bang!!"
Gunshots rang out, and Bartley, the rebel who had taken the third prince of the Empire hostage and forced Clovis LA Britannia to surrender to the Earth Federation Forces, committed suicide.
(End of this chapter)