Gene Smilas

Gene Smilas (ジィーン・スマイラス, Jiīn Sumairasu) was a general of the E.U. Army. He appears to be a sort of mentor to Leila Malcal, offering advice and praising her on her accomplishments, as well as being generally supportive of her ideas. During a car ride with Leila he shared his stance on the E.U.'s republic system of government, stating that it has caused "irresponsibility and self-interest" and that the E.U. would've been better off with Napoleon Bonaparte as its emperor. He states that he and Leila's father both shared a similar ideal and were best friends before Leila's father was murdered.

During the Ark Fleet attacks, General Smilas and the military watched in disgust as the EU council crumbled beneath the public unrest. They revealed their desire and plan to coup and to use Lelia as a Joan of Arc figure to turn the tide against the Britannian forces as Joan herself did against the English during the Hundred Years War.

He was visited by members of the Geass Order and seems to have knowledge of Shin Hyuga Shing.

True enough, he had Lelia give a motivating speech to stop the rioting and reveal the truth of the Ark Fleet's plan. She also revealed that she was the daughter of Bradow von Breisgau, a deflected Britannian popular political leader. The speech endeared the population as many stopped to chant her name.

However, later when Castle Weisswolf came under siege by the Knights of St. Michael, Smilas prematurely declared her killed by the knights and used public anger to rally the EU population for war against Euro Britannia.

It was later revealed by Major Klaus Warwick that Smilas used Leila for personal power and was trying to become Emperor of Europe.

Trivia

 * The name "Smilas" is of Greek origin.
 * It has been implied that he has connection to the Geass.