Shambled (Aldnoah Zero X Nihonkoku Shoukan) [Abandoned]

Prologue

The skyline of Vladivostok was dominated by the silhouettes of giant orange and black bipedal machines, their imposing forms is looking characters straight out from manga and anime, standing sentinel at every major intersection. These towering Kataphrakts, each over 13 meters tall, were standing positioned throughout the city. Their armored exteriors gleamed menacingly under the pale sunlight, casting long shadows across the streets below.

Above, the rhythmic chopping sound of helicopter blades filled the air as military choppers buzzed overhead, surveying the city with an unyielding gaze. On the ground, squads of heavily armed soldiers moved with precision, their boots pounding against the asphalt as they swiftly secured roads, setting up barricades and checkpoints at every major thoroughfare. The city center was rapidly transformed into a militarized zone.

As the soldiers tightened their grip on the city, a massive shadow began to loom over Vladivostok. The Deucalion, a colossal flying battleship painted in a deep, ominous red, descended from the clouds, its engines roared with an almost predatory resonance. The sheer size of the vessel blotted out the sky, and as it passed over the city, it seemed to drain the very light from the streets, casting everything in dark. The ship made a beeline for the city hall, its presence an undeniable declaration of the military's intent.

With a deafening thud, more bipedal robots—Kataphrakts—landed around the city hall, their massive feet cracking the pavement as they touched down. They quickly formed a tight perimeter, their weapons trained on the building, ready to respond to any threat. The soldiers swarmed the area, flooding the steps of the hall and establishing fortified checkpoints in every direction. Within minutes, the seat of civilian power was surrounded and rendered impotent by the military.

Inside their homes, the people of Vladivostok cowered in fear. Curtains were hastily drawn, doors bolted shut, and windows barred as families huddled together, seeking comfort in each other's embrace. The streets, now eerily silent, were lined with anxious faces peering out from behind curtains and through the narrow gaps of hastily closed blinds. Stores, restaurants, and entertainment venues were abandoned as crowds frantically sought shelter, their murmurs of worry blending in crowd.

In the streets, children clung to their parents, their cries resonated the tense silence. The anxiety in the air was overwhelming, feeding off the growing uncertainty and fear on the population.

Suddenly, a booming voice erupted from the speakers mounted on one of the towering Kataphrakts, echoing through the streets and into the homes of every citizen.

"This is the United Earth Federation Forces. Effective immediately, the entire Primorsky Krai is under direct military command. I repeat, this is the United Earth Federation Forces. The entire Primorsky Krai is now under direct military command until the situation is stabilized. Due to potential military aggression at the borders, the civilian government, which has proven inflexible and incompetent, can no longer handle the crisis. We are taking over from now on. Instituting martial law."

The cold, mechanical voice of the announcement sent a shiver down the spines of those who heard it. The message, intended to reassure, only deepened the sense of dread that had settled over the city. Whispers of fear spread quickly through the populace, their voices trembling with anxiety and doubt.

"Is that... Martian?" a man muttered, his voice tinged with disbelief.

"Martians... invading us? But there's a ceasefire!" another exclaimed, his face pale with shock.

"Ceasefire or not, can we really trust those Martians?" a woman added, her tone bitter and fearful.

The crowd’s murmurs grew louder, frustration and fear bubbling to the surface as they stared at the bipedal machines outside. The imposing Kataphrakts, were met with wary, distrustful eyes. The people, feeling powerless in the face of such overwhelming force, could do little but watch as their city occupied, the familiar streets now patrolled by machines and soldiers.