The news of Justified's alleged betrayal has reached Ichiro Kyousuke. With some doubts in mind about their reason violating the agreement nothing to gain from, these had Ichiro worry. Brittonia can't afford another enemy right now, the army haven't ready yet; needless to say, next, before it even begun the Third Civil War is going to be a multi-party war with each factions, with their own agenda in mind—selfish, noble or otherwise will jump into the chaos.
Under pressure from the Brittonia's foreign allies, Ichiro had to take an action. Which is he did: going with his guts, started a military operations eliminating numerous unnamed mutant-terrorists across Imperium States. Later publicly announced that the military conducted "surgical strikes" against militant launch pads across the borders in Mutant extremists-administered State, and inflicted "significant casualties". Imperium media reported the casualty figures variously from 400 to 700.
Comes with the deserving promotion of Ichiro: being the Supreme Commander of the Brittonian Imperial armed forces. All in all, was in the paper as propaganda. In reality--
After a successful attempt to lure Akagi Shinsuke away from Island-City and leave TYZ's southern coastal zone open for an attack, Ichiro's infantry invaded the surroundings of the Union Territory, prepared for a siege to retake Ninth Island-City. This left his army free to sack and pillage the southern side of coastal zones which previously had under Fraternity's sphere of influence.
The battle is fought over an extremely wide front, encompassing fronts to the south and east of coast, and features the main Fraternity army garrison mustered near the shore. Weeks before the navy blockade the Island-City. The S.D.W (Special Divisional Wing) forces charged in, despite being are fewer in number but skilled and efficient, hold the strategic high ground on each side of the fronts, and can subject the Fraternity's forces to withering bullets as they attempt to cross.
Some questioned his decision, make opposition about how Ichiro's oppressive rights policy but all are disposed of, and everybody knew who ordered the "disappearance" of the opposing public figures.
"What do you think my Supreme One, you made the right choice? Engaging in a proxy conflict in our territory is dangerous." remarked General Kakehashi Yuzuru: middle-age, long black hair that reaches up to his shoulder, with a short beard, purple eyes travelled beside Ichiro on the Imperial convoy.
"I know," Ichiro replied, with a stoic expression gazing at the window frame, as their convoy passed the bridge, "Even more when one's within own capital. Sometimes, these mutant ethnic groups across the colonies are subject to prejudicial attitudes and actions by either of our government or their own race, being oppressed, discriminated, while they couldn't do themselves because of the awful diversity— All They needed a strong leader who unite them all, and a new nation for their own."
"You mean Redtron? My Supreme One?"
"Yes. He thinks himself as a 'mutant's Messiah'. The one who will use underhanded tactics, pre-emptive strikes, and other acts of radical terrorism in his quest to bring about that perfect world he desires. In the coming age, people began to argue that conflicts among human-mutant groups or between members of an ethnic group and the state can and should be ended or resolved in any way?"
"Well, what's your answer?"
"No... There will be no chance of coexistence, too much hostility between the two races until as many countries and factions kept rebelling and plotting. Total extermination of one of race. Only one race will survive."
"Gezz.. You shouldn't have gone public with our military operations if didn't need to, painted a target on your back, the Justified or the Fraternity: both are equally dangerous, one of the lesser evils."
"Don't forget there's Voltaire socialist's guerrilla in the Bronze. Non-ideological 'Imperian farmer armies' on the south and three or more factions in the capital. The time has long passed, where there is a clear distinction between good and evil, mustn't forget: The lesser of two evils is still evil. And the enemy of my enemy is not my friend."
Kakehashi exhaled in concern.
"Relax Kakehashi. Mine and Brittonia's best caution is to avoid war, wasn't my first time dealing with mutant terrorism, something I truly despised than—one of those 'revolutionary ideals'. There's only way, must find out who did it and why? Had to be sure which one faction was responsible before declaring war against any of them. Apparently, they've being cautious before striking."
"I don't think they suspected it was a trap?"
"Well of course, we just brought down major operations... As I said: steady Kakehashi and relax, the bigger the fish the greater cost to catch it."
"We both know the Fraternity won't stopped after occupied Ninth Island-City, knowing they will as an Incursion try to get into the main TYZ's land,"
"That's why you being in charge of the Head of Imperium Senate, none dared to question your decision, just repelled Fraternity's aggression, keep it away from the Imperium's mainland."
"Wait-wait! You want me in charge of the Imperium government?"
It was tremendous shock to Kakehashi, he repeated the phase to Ichiro,
"Of course, you are the most eligible candidate to handle internal bureaucracy. When I'm done with the other garbage in the North. You handle TYZ, can't be that hard, I executed and imprisoned the rest of the criminal underworld, just let things flow smoothly and keep an eye on the RMS's Royalists. Note their movements."
"Thank you Supreme One, it's an honour," Kakehashi showed his gratitude towards Ichiro, "Now I understand the naval blockade, any trespassing into the mainland will be an act of war—"
"Not so much. High possibility Fraternity already build a Fallen Gate. But in low quantity. Meaning they could teleport men in smaller numbers."
The Brittonian military — with their overwhelming sea power — Ichiro intend to establish a naval blockade of Fraternity-occupied Island-City which could result an outbreak of war, currently the battleships dock at Brittonian main harbour to be inspected and then escorted—less any "illegal" cargo destined for Fraternity—through the Brittonia's minefields to their destinations.
While the convoy going its way, but Ichiro's instinct quivered sensing something's wrong.
Horn! Horn!
Suddenly truck's loud siren emerges below, struck Ichiro's limousine. Followed by couple of trucks smashed the frontal vehicles, get off tracks towards the river.
Gun cocks.
"Get down!"
Gun blaze intensely.
Heavy-armed group of rebels come out riddled Ichiro's bodyguards with bullets, including his driver and Kakehashi heavily injured but alive due to Ichiro's early warning.
"Is he dead?"
"Fuck gotta reload!"
Hearing their conversation, Ichiro kicked out of his limousine', activates the Noryoku-blade jumped at the top, grabbed the nearest Assassin, stabbing him merciless, finds cover as the gunfire started.
Under the round of gunfire, Ichiro had a glimpse he's only left standing survivor. The rest of the bodyguards died immediately, as shocked he is how could mere rebel group surrounded him like this.
Assassin reload again after let off a couple of volleys, Ichiro unleashed his flexible Noryoku grabbed Limousine's door to use as a shield and charge forward to the Assassin at full speed.
The door's sharp edge plunged into first assassin's stomach, while he groaning in agony being mounted, Ichiro slits the second one's throat before he took a shot.
Find cover before the gun starts blazing again, counted four enemies remains and him alone.
Kaboom!
The one of the convoy's car explodes, shattered glasses sound and flames of burning flesh both ignited.
After a deep breath and focused on enemy's position, they didn't use Noryoku, therefore humans. Ichiro's brain flicker within seconds, refuse to be assassinated, along bit of luck, talent to survive, special skills, and Mutanic prowess, begun to smash the Assassins.
Bang!
Starts with gunshot right to the nearby Assassin's shoulder used him as a shield Ichiro charge forward, sliced up the other two: first go down with slit throat blood sprayed forward, while the second's neck Ichiro's firmly held, breaking it like a twig
"Somebody just shoot that fucking guy." Said one of the Assassins in disgruntled tone.
"It's great Supreme One asshole! Forgot someone?"
"Aragh..."
Ichiro lunged in no time throws the corpse, with him distracted thrusts the Noryoku into his heart.
"Ahh-ugh fucking bastards!" Ichiro rubbed up the blood off the chin, uniform's front view stained with their blood, none of his own.
The last remaining one fleeing, but shot in the knee and elbow, dropping some device.
With the last Assassin crawling to reach the device, soon enough,
"Let's see what kind of rebel are you?" Ichiro's inspected the Assassin's belongings, hold him at gunpoint, "That's unusual. The Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Anti-Brittonia, the Anarchists? Underdogs from the slums? What kind of resistance you people represents I still wonder?"
"You're a freak! Great Brittonia's leader is some mutated monster, county who supposed to protecting from this creature, how could we stay silence; like the rest of the Mutant Terrorists who wants to rule over us, use us humans as slaves or livestock! You supposed
"Interesting topic but I got no listen to this bullshit. You're not smart enough to organise such high-profile assassination."
Captured by Ichiro himself, seize the Assassin's device turned to be a camera, proving Ichiro is a Darkfallen-Variant.
"Very smart, aren't you?"
Ichiro scoffed, whispered near Assassin's ear,
Eventually series of reinforcement, law enforcement forces ambulance arrived, after Ichiro killed most of the enemies, captured one.
"You just another pawn in the game. I want to know who gave the order, to kill as an Anti-Brittonian human anarchist, you're not from the Mutant's cultists that's for sure. Who human enemy I have?"
An attempt on Supreme One's life performed a strategic ambushed is no easy task.
However, Ichiro more concern Kakehashi's critical condition.