COMM ID: Marechal Leon Chavalier - Legion Tricolore - GRN Primary fleet. TARGET: The people of Gallia. SUBJECT: Gallia's hope. ENCRYPTION: PUBLIC
Leon Chevalier stands infront of the camera, clearly on board a Gallic 'Aurochs' freighter.
He is in full Legion Tricolore formal uniform.
LadiesandgentlemenofGallia. I am unused to giving public address, even if this is purely by electronic means, so I apologise for any lack of clarity in my words.
What I am about to say will cost me much. Perhaps my life... But that is a risk I have resigned myself to take. My name will be vilified, my actions and words distorted over time, altered and changed to paint me as a spineless coward, or perhaps a murderer and traitor. I am none of those things. Perhaps some of you already know of my actions and deeds, the titles, rank, decorations and status I have gained from my service to the Crown.
I, Leon Chevalier, stand before you as a Marechal of the Gallic Royal Navy, a decorated veteran, head of the Legion Tricolore, a Duc, and a patriot. Many of those things may change, but the last will always remain true. Gallia is my home, the country I love, my root, my culture, my life.
But it is rotten. Rotten to the core. This deterioration takes many forms, each more worrying than the last.
You may have noticed the absence of the royal family from public life in recent weeks. The King, His Majesty Charles XI DeFrance has not been seen in public for many weeks. His eldest daughter, Princess Aurelia DeFrance has retired to Planet Lyon. Prince Joseph DeFrance is, as always, more concerned with his looks and his whores than he is the welfare of the state to which he has a duty. As for Princess Alice DeFrance, I will come to explain her absence later.
As you are aware, the valiant men and women of the Navy, are fighting in Bretonia at present. Their courage and valour is expanding the borders of our great nation. However, troubling developments have occurred on the front.
An alien group, known to the Sirians as “Nomads” have, I believe, made contact with many high ranking and influential navy personnel. As I understand, the Nomads have an insidious and deceptive manner of projecting their influence through a people. Their warfare takes no account of ships, men, valour and skill at arms. Instead it attacks the mind. Infiltrating a people, destroying them from the inside. I believe this is happening to our nation.
The absence of the Royalty from public life and the repeated occurrences of these Nomads engaging in “conversation” with officers in very high ranking positions within the Navy indicates that this disease has already spread to many of the people who stand at the core of our lifestyle and our nation.
At this point, you may seek to label me as a crackpot and a lunatic. That is your choice, however I ask you all to take care and remain vigilant. A little less than two weeks ago, a transport departed Gallia, carrying on board a group of refugees. This transport was flown by a man who watched his son's mind infected by these aliens.
However, I come back to how I begin. This deterioration takes many forms and the rot at the core of Gallia was present long before these aliens. Alice DeFrance, to whom I was assigned as bodyguard, saw this all too clearly.
Contrary to the media's outpourings, Princess Alice is very much alive. I know this because I have seen it with my own eyes.
Alice's departure from Gallia was in protest. Protest at the actions of her sister, Aurelia, protest at the actions of her father King Charles, protest against the subjugation of the Gallic people, and protest against the war on Sirius. A war which has and will claim many brave and valiant Gallic lives. A war which will bring misery not only to the people of Bretonia and Liberty, but to our own nation and our own people. Sons, fathers, husbands, wives, sisters, mothers, friends, will be lost by millions.
I ask you, people of Gallia, to stand on your own two feet. To stand up and say “I will bow to no man who does not have my interests at heart”, to make your protest and make it known now. The price and the risk may be high, and the courage to stand and make known your dissatisfaction is huge.
However it is less than the price we have already paid for the whims of his Majesty Charles DeFrance, and it is less than the truly terrible price we will pay in subjugation to these Nomads.
I am leaving to join Princess Alice DeFrance. To join the fight against the decay and rot in our home. To join the fight against these aliens. To join the fight for justice, honour and truth. You deserve better, Gallia.
We are a brave people and a good people. Remain true to yourselves, be watchful, and prepare for what is coming next.
Au revoir.
I will return. Alice will return. Sanity, good grace, our strength and pride, will return.
A sound is heard in the background as Leon looks off camera.
He turns, then the transmission abruptly cuts out.
In the small cabin he resided in onboard the Gawain, Lelouch D'Aramis was sitting in a lounge chair, head lightly craned back to stare at the ceiling, a cigarette resting in the ash tray on the table near his feet.
The screen snapped on. He lowered his head, to find Leon.
Putting his feet down, Lelouch leaned forward to listen.
Before Leon had finished, Lelouch had poured himself a glass of wine. He held it idlely, listening to the message. It was unexpected, to be honest...but it was a brilliant move by the man.
Lelouch raised his glass.
"Godspeed, Leon. Pray for my success...and above all, protect her. She is the hope Gallia sorely needs."
Lelouch took a generous drink, then picked up his cigarette and breathed the sweet smell of it. He had allowed himself few vices; these cigarettes were his.
But one last drag, and he ground it out before throwing the entire ashtray into the trash.
He needed the room.
The table glowed, and the hologram sprang to life.
"You are doing your best. It is time to do mine."
Natsumi Hideyoshi (The Order) | Alexis Hunter (Liberty Navy) |
People of Gallia, this is Maréchal Xavier here. Before you so readily consider this broadcast, listen to my words as well. I have with me, a command all the way from the King himself. He is in good health, just a bit stressed by the difficulties of being the shepherd of the people, and resting. He'll be back with us shortly...
But I digress. The Royal decree directly relates to it. I've chosen to make it public prematurely, in light of Chevalier's recent...actions.
Quote:In light of the evidence revealed to me by the Office of Naval Intelligence and my loyal adjutants in the Gallic Royal Navy...I, King Charles, Ninth of his name, do hold Duc Maréchal Leon Chevalier guilty of the following crimes.
*High Treason against the king. Chevalier has been conclusively proved to be involved in plots spearheaded by ex-Colonel Henri Lavalle, a non-person to overthrow my rightful rule and shatter House Gallia to it's foundations.
*He is also centrally involved in the events that led to the defection of the Normandie battlegroup from the Gallic Royal Navy, now under the ownership of the Liberty Navy.
Keeping in mind these crimes, I do hereby strip Leon Chevalier of all titles, commands, ownership of land and properties and denounce him as a non-person, sentencing him to death. I command my leal servants in Gallia and beyond to capture him alive so he can be brought to my Court on New Paris and be given justice.
My guess in this matter is, Duc...ah, Monsieur Chevalier prematurely learned of this decree and he swiftly fabricated this tale to salvage some vestiges of his pride. Any sane man would laugh at these accusations. Aliens? Nomads? While I do not know enough to say with certainty they do not exist, they're certainly not a concern to our people. Our brave men and women in the Navy are already at work trying to learn more about these Aliens and their motives, and rest assured...we will not let them harm our home.
Chevalier's actual master is Henri Lavalle, another non-person. Remember this, people of Gallia. His words are Lavalle's words, and calculated to gain support for his pathetic rebellion. I know this, for I have seen him and the Normandie in Magellan, one borders of liberty. Flying Liberty colors.
What trust can you put in a person who serves a traitor, and who seeks the support of a House clearly deluded by it's own grand power? The answer is...
none.
Chevalier is a deluded fool, and by believing in his words...you're insulting your own intelligence, citizens. Our men in the Gallic Royal Navy shall soon find him and bring him to justice, and Lavalle shall follow soon after.
*The civilian broadcast ends, and Ansel starts a private line to Chevalier's last location.*
Not a bad attempt, Leon. I believe your hand was forced. But be sure of one thing...
We'll surely cross lines in battle soon enough, and when we do, remember...
*his eyes glow a faint blue for a moment before fading out, any casual observer would be unable to catch it.*
Joseph is seen leaning on his arm, bored faced and tired.
You must excuse my late reply. I seemed to of been lost in a tumble of whores or something. I had great respect for you, Leon Chavalier. I found your duty to Gallia strong, your mind firm and ready to serve your King. I can see now that a little water has torn you like tissue paper.
Now you must be under some sort of stress or something. Nomads? The King? Corruption? The only corruption is the Police and the only thing wrong is this announcement of yours.
Now I'd like to offer you to stop your silliness. My sweet sister is gone and you have your place here. I don't care for whatever feelings you have towards her, making up some ridiculous tale and insulting the Crown isn't the way to do it. I suggest waking up and reporting directly to your station to wait for us to clean up this mess.
We don't need to lose someone like you, but if we must, everyone has a thin neck.
"Capitaine Dupont, we have an incoming transmission from Marechal Leon Chevalier... take a look."
The expression on the Count's face as he reads the transmission is unnerving, 'What in the King's name?!', there was silence in the bridge.
"Capitaine, you... contacted someone before... a certain Monsieur Chamberlain?"
His eyes widen... clearly something came back to him.
"Oui.. Oui.. Send out a transmission at once...", the Count's voice was shaky at best. Jacques could sense this but did not chose to question the uneasiness of the Count. The Count knew something was very wrong...