A rouge faction of the Japan Liberation Force, a resistance group made up of remnants of the Japanese military, takes a hotel and its occupants hostage, including Lelouch's friends and a disguised Euphemia. As such, Cornelia cannot make a move against the hostage takers, which Lelouch realizes and takes advantage of. He mounts a rescue operation with Ohgi's resistance cell, and as he speaks with the hostage takers, Suzaku sinks the floating hotel using the Lancelot. However, Lelouch derails any rescue efforts by the army so he can take credit for the rescue. Broadcasting publicly to the nation, he announces the creation of the Black Knights, allies of justice who will protect the weak from those with power.