Prologue

To many, it would come as no surprise that war would follow mankind as it began it's spread into the stars. Many thought it would be between the two superpowers of the time, and the smaller nations that served as their allies. However, these projections were proved incorrect… With the discovery of the hypergate on Luna. Which allowed humans to reach the red planet, one thought to be far beyond their reach. The colonies that popped up around the cosmos had no doubt led to the increased militarization… Though, one planet specifically, was left mostly unchecked by the earth's governments, seeming useless in their eyes. It was here that Ray Regalia found the ancient technology, known as Aldnoah. The power he commanded made him somewhat of a folk hero.

One who continued to gain power, away from the eye of the earth's goverenents. With this, the various colonies dotting mars's surface grew to support him. He began pushing for militarization, leading for the governments to start to assert their control. This culminated into the declaration of the Vers Empire, in 1985, an event that shook the world to its core… Of course, the Earth did not take this lying down, seeing the possible threat, the Earth Federation was formed in response, a single year later.

The stance of the rogue state was clear, so much so that both had been preparing in the years since his ascension to the throne. Though there had been some scandals along the way, with a bit of propaganda based on the Vers Militarization, there had been more than a bit of support for the growing military effort. Scientists from the former superpowers, the USSR and United States found themselves working together, and they achieved a lot that way. Helping them out was the funding shoveled into expanding the Space program. The mass drivers were constructed across the world, to throw materials, and ships into space. Such as the Orion Class space Battleship, a design that had been thought up decades earlier. Though their nuclear reactors lacked the pure power production of an Aldnoah drive, they could somewhat compete, and that was what mattered.

Advancements in weapons and material technology would come next. As well as computers that would allow for better targeting. These innovations would certainly be needed, especially after what would happen decades later .

In 1997, Ray Regalia stepped down from his position as the emperor. Taking his place was his son, the second Emperor Gillsaia. He'd made it clear from the start, that he was not as level-headed as his father. Preaching directly to the E.F about Vers' superiority, and inching toward the Trans-solar DMZ with his forces. Something that put the population of both nations on the edge. Apparently, this much was not unfounded, Especially with what took place in 1999. Gillsaia, emboldened by the nobles, declared war on humanity's homeworld… Something beginning with the attack, and subsequent destruction of the EF colony on Lagrange 2.

As such, the flames of war began to consume the solar system.

Lagos, 1999 CE

Fire saturated the skies above Earth, as the Versian landing castles clashed with the defense points constructed by the Federation. Though many of the Castles had gotten through, some, such as one belonging to Count Azhvet, was destroyed in orbit by a Gigantic anti-ship Battery on the Earth's surface. Though, even so, many of the castles managed to reach their targets. Harassed as they were dropping into orbit, even more so as they landed on Earth. Though the Martian Katpharaks were nearly untouchable, the same could not be said for its conventional forces. Something Exemplified in the city Of Lagos.

Night had since fallen, and the Vers troops found themselves in the darkened savannas of the city's outskirts. The already burning heat was made worse by the humidity. It almost felt as if they were being baked within their armor. Clearly, living their lives in climate controlled habitats had not helped much. If not that, then the wildlife. Mosquitoes, which spread disease that ravaged them. This in addition to venomous bites from Vipers, Cobras, and Adders alike. Which certainly didn't help the troops with their lack of support and experience alike. It wasn't as if they had much knowledge of the local Area. The small force of infantry was on edge, especially as their numbers were whittled down by the Terran forces, and the homeworld itself. Which seemed determined to kick them off of its surface. Though, they were not the only ones to face this struggle.

1999- Taurus-Littrow Highlands, Site Of the Luna-Mars Hypergate.

The Earth federation had since begun what was to be called "Operation Typhoon". Their plan being to close the Vers off from their support from the hypergate, and close in on them, swirling around the encircled forces all the while, in an attempt to destroy the Assault. This plan was created by the Grand Admiral of the UFESF, Adelaja Seif. Who assigned more forces to Luna for this purpose. Though, in response, the Vers would send some of their Kataphrakts that were not already occupied with the invasion of Earth to stop this. Regardless, the battle was in a deadlock. The lights from the engines of the UFE's Orion-II class battleships, the ships were 250 Meters long, much larger than their precursors, no doubt. With, their appearance appearing more like what one would expect from something named a Battleship.

On the other side, were Vers Regalia class Destroyers. Just like their Terran counterparts, firing at their opponents, and dropping in supporting the squads of soldiers. They clashed around the Hypergate, firing their weapons into one another. Unlike the infantry who were unfortunate enough to get placed on earth, the Vers were in low gravity, a terrain they had more than enough experience in. The squads moved through the ruined remains of the buildings that had been constructed around the hypergate, trying to gain any advantage they could.

Some were less than fortunate, where any action they took was not likely to save them. Even with their armor, a tear in their suits could easily lead to their deaths. The one leading this force, one tasked with defending the hypergate, knew this very well.

Viscount Sighil, A fair-skinned man with a head of red hair, sat within a cockpit. The man was always one who liked to keep tabs on his enemies, gauge their strength from afar before rushing in. Traits that seemed to be lacking in many of the Orbital Knights. For these reasons, he had been watching the Terrans for years beforehand, and he was well aware of what they were capable of. It was for that reason that he and his machine, The Chryse, were directly on the battlefield. The black machine had more rounded armored plates surrounding it, much thicker than what one would expect on a Katpharak. Though, with its size, it would only make sense. While It did not have much in the terms of special abilities, it was heavily armed. Missile packs all over, capable of firing both those of small and large size and 300 MM cannons on its shoulders. Though the true danger wasn't just in the machine itself, rather, the man inside.

"Clear a path, I'm sending in a volley!" Sighil yelled over the comms.

"Yes sir!"

The ships around him continued firing bursts of beam fire from their turrets as they strafed out of the way. With that taken care of, Sighil's eyes went down to his sensors, as he went across the circular radar on his dashboard, as well as his cameras, he observed how many of the enemy's forces were in his reach. Five showed up on his radar, as well as a number of smaller fighter craft. Which bore a certain resemblance to the X-15. With the rest slowly but surely coming to join them.

"Targets found…"

He flew above for some more moments before he shouted out.

"Firing!"

As the ports opened, a storm of smaller missiles flew out of the Chryse. Barreling toward the wings of fighters, the viscount's first targets and impacting all over. Even if the hits were not hitting vital systems, they still left them vulnerable. It was to be expected, given that these types of weapons were a new development. Truth be told, the paradigm shift to the small craft was not expected. Not until Vers revealed its Katpharaks, that was. Though, even so, it looked to have been a good investment. What few had managed to get past Sighil regrouped behind him, Using their armaments to do as much damage to the ships as they could. Eventually, Sighil moved his focus from the fighters, and toward the ships themselves. The ports that previously remained unopened revealed the anti-ship missiles within. Followed by the firing of the Chryse's cannons.

While the battle continued, In Luna's orbit, more ships from UFE's 3rd fleet began to make their way to aid the forces sent in before them. They made their way through a debris field that was composed of allied, and enemy ships alike. The devastation, some of the largest they'd seen on any battlefield so far. The number of husks going into the hundreds. With erratic arcs flowing between them, a result of the residual electricity… This would be hell to clean up afterward, no doubt. Something that the crew of a ship known as the UFE Washi tried to ignore.

A ship that lied in the middle of the formation of about five other similar ships. In the bridge, that sat lowered into the frame, for combat, sat a man in the Captain's seat, Alexander Moore. He was fair-skinned, with Short auburn Hair, and blue orbs. But aside from that, was his age. Moore looked to be...Less than the right age to be in command, Though, one could say that for the rest of those in the ship. Youths living on the EF's first orbital colony, Luspetis. That was shot down when the war began months before. The inhabitants that survived the attack had to claw their way to survival, escaping in the warship, and fighting as they could. That brought them here.

Just in front of him, on the lower end of the Command deck, was another fair-skinned man. With a long head of black hair that reached the small of his back. As well as piercing eyes of the same color. The one who'd come to be the ship's 2IC, Kobayashi Yuichi. As he looked over the sensors, the Radar in front of him was quick to detect the approaching Machine. Especially as pings blared from the display, warning them of the approaching projectiles.

"Shit, Martian Kat is in front of us, the Black one! He just fired off a volley." Kobayashi yelled.

Moore clicked his tongue.

"Evasive Maneuvers, Sic the guns on whatever we can't dodge!"

Kobayashi Nodded

"Right!"

The CIWS guns on the Washi's surface, aimed at the missiles that came toward it, as the light streaking from the ship's thrusters intensified. The guns shot out hailstorms of rounds at the oncoming missiles, as they exploded prematurely in front of them, once again, rocking the moon's surface. Though one got exceptionally close, they'd managed to shoot it down. The rest of the fleet, however, was not so lucky. Out of the five ships that were pushing in, only two remained, the Washi and the Scrambelli. And from where it looked at that point, the rest had absconded from coming. Moore gritted his teeth as words came in from the dying ships.

"Sorry about this Moore- It's up to you and the rest-"

Feed lost...

"Good hunting M-"

Feed lost...

Moore arched his brows as he slammed his fist on the dashboard. He focused his eyes on the black Kataphrakt once again. He clenched his fist, as he finally decided on what to do.

"We're ramming him!"

This painted surprise over the looks of all those on the bridge. Kobayashi was the first to speak.

"Ram him?! The hell are you thinking?"

He glanced over at Kobayashi.

"Think about this for a minute. If we push him out of the battlefield, he becomes a non-factor. But even if we just distract him, we could keep him away long enough for us to start taking control of the gate!"

They went silent for a moment, but soon, another member of the Ship's crew, Lu Wei, a youth with a shaved head spoke.

"It may sound a bit Risky, but us being here already is, ain't it… That Vers noble created an opening for us, we just need to take advantage."

Soon, the silence was broken, as mutters of agreement came from the crew. They all knew what the risks were when they decided to stay on the ship, this much wouldn't deter them. As such, their choice was decided from there. A smirk found its way onto Moore's face.

"Alright, Increase thruster output, and charge right in! Those Vers are gonna pay for what they did to Luspetis."

Moore yelled, as the power of the thrusters increased once again, Now, the ship sped above the Lunar surface, the Vers captains of the Vers' Fleets took notice, and talks began between them.

"How did we let some Terrans get past us?!"

"I'm going after them!"

"Me as well!"

"No…"

The stern voice of their commander came onto the comms,

"Showing your back to the enemy is only going to get you all killed, if that happens, you know the consequences. I'll handle this myself!"

"But, My lo-"

"Once again, I'll handle this myself!"

He said, louder this time around.

"Maintain formation!"

"Adjust elevation!"

The fleet soon began barking out orders for their respective ships, while the Chryse began firing its shoulder cannons at the oncoming ship. That, along with any Anti-Ship missiles that remained. However, the missiles did not go far before they were shot down by the 30 MM CIWS guns. However, one particularly large missile would get through their defensive screen, smashing into the bow of the ship, the force of the impact felt across the ship, as it tremored from the inside out.

"We're hit!" Lu yelled.

"What are our damages?" Said Moore.

Kobayashi looked through a digital display, and then, out of the camera.

"The front bulkheads are Heavily damaged, that did a number on us!"

"Tch...Even then, we can't turn back, not just yet. Put our guns on him, We'll continue our charge, and attack him point-blank!"

The Viscount squinted his eyes at the display.

"Such foolishness, even with those damages, they're still charging me…"

His eyes moved along his Cockpit's display.

"Either way, my missiles are depleted...Looks like I'll be relying on rounds!"

Soon, the Chryse began streaking across the sky, Strafing back, and away from the Lunar surface.

"You're not going anywhere…" Moore thought.

"Max thrust, Bring us up, and fire on my Signal!"

"Right!" Kobayashi yelled.

Soon, the ship began its ascent, as the ship shook with the velocity. Though the man piloting the Chryse took notice, it was much too late. As the ship crashed into his machine, his cockpit shook with the impact, his body thrown back and forth as if he were a ragdoll.

"Danm!" He yelled.

Soon, grins covered the faces of Moore and all of those on the bridge. They could take down one of the knights right here, and, as they saw it, probably throw the enemy into disarray. After all, this was their head honcho. Now, with his tone Triumphant, he shouted out once more.

"It's time to end this, Fir-"

However, his words were interrupted, and soon, an emergency message came over the comms. Something that he could see on his console. Something that was noted by the other ships belonging to the UFE… And strangely enough, even the Vers received this message.

"Outburst of energy coming from the Hypergate, Rapid gravitational shifts detected, I repeat- Out-"

No sooner did violent tremors begin on the Satellite below them. the moon under them began violently shaking. This did not go unnoticed by Sighil, The Washi's crew, as their grins disappeared. Nor the rest of the ships in the opposing fleets. The troops on the ground stopped firing at one another as they looked around in confusion… Before it happened, what took place next was outside of anyone's expectations. A golden light soon flew out of the hypergate, as the ground under them began to fragment, Violently at that. The body continued to collapse, as the troops on the ground were crushed in the cascade of rapidly moving rock, and the ships of both fleets, in the very same way, were ripped apart.

With the Terran ships especially damaged as their reactors went nuclear, wiping out all that were inside. Above the former moon's surface, the rising rock that came shooting up would come to the Washi, and Sighil's Chryse. As both the Ship and the Katpharak were bombarded with the flying debris, both were soon sent spiraling into space, away from one another. Moore gritted his teeth, as his blurry vision moved around the cockpit...He took notice of something, his crewmates, those he had known since childhood… They were not moving. Whether they were unconscious or dead, that remained to be seen. Either way, he was shifting in and out of consciousness, his eyes fluttered as he took labored breaths. He couldn't even go to check. He looked down at his body, taking note of the shrapnel that pierced right through his spacesuit, leaving him bloodied. After all that, he had but one word to say.

"Dammit…"

The Heaven's Fall incident shook the world, more so than even the earlier stages of the war had. Much of the fleets of both the UFE and the Vers were wiped out within hours, Defense points and Landing castles alike, Nothing was safe. Not to mention the casualties on the ground, the Civilians that were exterminated within seconds. The bitter combat between both nations came to a screeching halt, especially as the 2nd emperor, decidedly fighting on the front lines, was killed. A ceasefire, and then a treaty came afterward, but that did not mean it was over. Deep-seated hate for the Vers began to form in pockets of the Earth's population. With the same happening to the earthlings on mars. This Volatile peace looked to be temporary.

July 2014, Novosibirsk, Russia

15 years after the heaven's fall incident, Tension had finally come to a head, with the assassination of Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia. Though one would come to expect that anyone else would have come up with some reason to declare war. Especially with how many Members of the Earth Federation's National assembly had a hate for the Vers. And how eager the Vers were to claw their way back into Mankind's homeworld. As the war began, Operation Earthfall, a plan of dropping the landing castles on major urban areas began. For many years- it was expected that the versian empire would crush the forces of earth, the Martian forces vastly outclassed that of earth's in terms of technology with the advantage of Aldnoah…

Or so it seemed. Within the drab, well-lit maze of hallways, filled to the brim with activity-whether it be strategic planning, or preparing armaments. In the united earth headquarters, there stood General Freidrich Albrecht. A tall fair-skinned man, with multiple scars covering his body, most were covered by his clothes, with only glimpses of them visible. But what one could see was a patch of darkened, pinkish skin on his right cheek, Burn scars from when his ship's reactor went off above earth's orbit. He had Short length blonde hair- that just barely touched his ears, as well as a thick beard that stretched past his neck. Soon, the man, followed by a squad of subordinates, entered a hangar room, where a sole machine sat.

"It seems as if Professor Minamoto was correct… War was inevitable…. Those Martians never desired peace in the first place."

Freidrich looked upon the professor's work and the last before his disappearance. There was a clear difference between this Katpharak and those that the earth had produced before. While it was the standard size, its armaments and weapons were another case. The armor was more durable, and armaments, Like the standard kats of the earth- it was armed with a railgun, in response to Martian armor. Though earth kats still used their rifles- and missile packs, these same weapons had also become a mainstay in Terran armaments. The machine was mostly black but had white and gold highlights on its outer layers. The most glaring difference, however, was the frame. From the analysis of the Deucalion- or what was left of it, the Versian Kats were more mobile, due to a Material known as Zolsatine, or rather an alloy used with aluminum, something they had a Wealth of. Though armor created from the Material was put into mass production types, they were ultimately less durable than the Versian Kataphrakts. Minamoto's machines were a different story. The soldiers surrounding the general looked on in surprise. The fact that his machine was not Versian, but Terran was a shock, even with the advancements they had made before the first war, and the dawn of the second. The general, decidedly walked toward the Machine- placing his left palm on the machine's leg. As he removed his hand- he circled around-looking closer at its features.

"So this is it, the KG-8 Cacus. One of the 5 machines Minamoto left us, the apparent "Hope" of the UFE.

One of his men stepped forward.

"Sir- Do you not believe that they'll live up to their name…."

"I won't say that… I will however say- that I'm skeptical… I don't believe that a few machines will turn the tide of the war...Even if they were Minamoto's works."

With this, Albrecht turned- walking towards the exit of the room, soon followed by the guards. Elsewhere, not too far from where Albrecht observed the Cacus, the supreme commander of the Terran forces watched camera feed of the Castles falling into the earth's atmosphere. One could say this was a clear repeat of the 1st war. But in his head, there was a difference between then and now. This time, the war would end, and they would win… Soon, one of his soldiers entered the room, Saluting.

"Supreme Commander Cook… Our defenses are prepared. We'll be able to weaken their advance…"

"Good… Notify all the Defense Points to begin the counterattack…. We shall not allow those aliens to take over our planet…"

Elsewhere- a man observing the computer screens, presumably- another leader within the base, looked down at the situational map, as he smirked.

"The fools… They aren't even in unison. It seems that they still rush to grab their power before their nation as a whole. That is the pitfall of your government- Vers…"

July 2014, New Orleans USA

Though New Orleans was already large before the war had begun, having been a major port on the gulf, it became so much more after heaven's fall. With the destruction of much of the Eastern Seaboard, and its major cities, jobs disappeared, and economic instability came with it. It was for that reason they came to the city. As corporations moved their manufacturing here, with them, came people from other areas. Which led to its current state, a major city of an entire five million.

Among its many occupants were those within the UFE's military. One of which lived in an apartment building in the city's outskirts. It was a one-bedroom, with mostly the bare necessities, aside from a TV and console located in the bedroom. Being a pilot, he was likely able to afford something better, so why exactly did he live here? Put simply, it was something that Micheal Grant never cared to think about. The dark-skinned man sat on the sole chair in the living room, sipping a cup of coffee. His hair was a short buzz-cut, with himself wearing a simple outfit, a pair of shorts and a t-shirt. Micheal was well known as a great pilot. However, he was notorious for going out to battle the enemy on his own. This man was otherwise known as the Jet-Black Comet, a namesake from how he did battle, speeding in and destroying his targets. Receding soon after he entered. A strategy to which his former Aerion custom was adjusted for. The UEF only kept him around for two things, his battle prowess- and his ability to lead.

But battle was far from his mind. For the time being, it seemed like the day was going to be calm. Keyword, "Seemed". The man soon heard a rumbling from the table beside him, where his cellphone lay. He placed the cup down as he tapped the power button, and saw the sent message.

"Back to Base, ASAP. The forces of Vers have passed the DMZ."

Seeing this, the man sighed, as he got to his feet. Sipping the last bit of his coffee, and strolling over to his kitchen, and placing it into the sink. Before placing his phone in his pocket

"Looks like it's started, Eh… Well, the brass and those aliens alike have wanted this war for years…"

The man stepped toward the apartment's front door, as he promptly grabbed his car keys, unlocked the door, and exited. Closing it behind him, as he began thinking of his next course of actions… What of his family, his parents, cousins, siblings? As it seemed now, he would have to usher them to the countryside, or the smaller urban areas. Their enemy clearly had no qualms with striking civilians, that much was made clear in the reports from the last war, and the history books alike. He would have to make his calls on the way.

New Orleans Base

It took about 30 minutes for Grant to arrive. After all, he knew the city like the back of his hand, and knew how to avoid traffic. His shoes clanged on the metal floors that lined the base's well lit hallways. Now, unlike before, he donned a dark gray pilot suit. Standard with Katpharak pilots. The man walked towards the hangar- where the rest of the Katapharaks were stored. The location was full of energy, pilots scrambling to their machines, mechanics doing the final checks before launch. The sounds of power tools, chattering, and whirring from the Humanoid machines filled his ears. Something he'd grown used to. Though, this being a hangar there were not only Kats here. On the wall flanking the door, there stood a tall, lanky man, who perked up as he took notice of who'd entered. He smirked, as he began walking as well, soon stepping into Grant's path. Towering over him entered his field of view, the man had long wavy black hair and blue eyes. His looked blank, Expressionless. There was a reason he was known for his soul-piercing glare, regardless of how he felt at the time. This man was Douglas bell- a graduate of the USAFA, at the top of his class.

"I hope you're ready- Grant… I'm gonna get more kills this time around…".

The man then smirked at his rival, which was returned with yet another smirk from the other. Grant crossed his arms as he looked up at the man

"That's funny… There's no way you're nabbing more of those Aliens than me, Bell. "

Bell moved out of Grant's path, as he began walking back to the wall he previously leaned on.

"I guess we'll just see how things unfold… Mr "Jet-Black"..."

Though the two had, in the end, walked two different paths, Grant did in fact- go to the very same academy as Bell. The two were known for their constant attempts to outpace one another in the academy. Grant joined the First-Ever Aerial Katpharak Wing in the end. He gained his fame through his exploits in battling against regional militias- that were opposed to the Earth Union Charter. It was no surprise that the man was being brought to mount a possible defense. But what was, both to himself, and those around him, was the new machine the Brass had transported about two days ago.

Grant then moved towards his new machine- the KG 9-Indra…It had the same black color as its predecessor, Its thrusters were located under straight "Wings" added to make the machine more aerodynamic. In addition to the thrusters hidden throughout the armor for directional movement. While its long-range weaponry was comparatively weaker than that of the Typhon- it had Blades stored within it- along with a shield on its right arm, Earth's first Katapharak designed for close combat. Grant looked up at the machine with a smirk.

"Quite the machine they've built... Let's see what it can do.."

Soon, the cockpit opened, as he prepared to enter.