Imperium of Man Terra Aeterna Season 01: Rise of Humanity's War Machin

Takagi Yuriko walked with steady steps at the front, while Takagi Saya followed close behind, their footsteps echoing across the cold concrete floor. As they entered the military supply depot within the Haneda complex, a squad of Cadian Shock Troopers immediately halted their activities and snapped into a sharp salute.

"Halt, ma'am," one of the troopers barked firmly. "This is a restricted area. Military depot. What business do you have here?"

Yuriko answered without hesitation, her voice calm but carrying a commanding weight that couldn't be ignored.

"I'm here under Reuel's orders. Take me to the depot. He sent me."

The moment Reuel's name was spoken-and more importantly, invoked with the authority of the God Emperor-the demeanor of the Cadian troops shifted completely. Their eyes filled with respect, and they stood straighter, more alert.

"Understood, ma'am. Please follow us."

With disciplined formation, the troopers escorted Takagi Yuriko and Saya toward the west side of the main hangar at Haneda. That was where the supply depot was located-a row of sealed logistics containers marked with special codes.

"Open the depot. Now," Yuriko commanded.

"Yes, ma'am!" one of the troopers replied immediately, signaling to his comrade.

The sound of scraping metal filled the air as the containers unlocked. A distinct smell of gun oil and old iron drifted out. Yuriko gave the faintest of smiles as they called her "ma'am" again-a quiet acknowledgment of her position as Reuel's consort, someone even the Imperium's soldiers dared not underestimate.

One by one, ten shipping containers were opened. Inside were neatly stacked military-grade supplies-all standard-issue American gear. M4A1 assault rifles, carbines, Glock pistols, M110 sniper rifles, M320 grenade launchers, M202 FLASH flamethrowers, and massive crates filled with millions of rounds of ammunition.

Saya Takagi's eyes widened. The sheer volume and organization of the arsenal left her momentarily speechless.

"Mom... all of this... is for us?" she whispered in disbelief.

Takagi Yuriko didn't answer right away. She simply looked at her daughter, her gaze cold but calculated.

"Saya, how many guards do we have right now?"

Saya exhaled briefly. "Around five to six thousand. Still fluctuating."

Yuriko gave a slow nod, then spoke with a strategist's precision.

"In that case, I'll prepare seventy-five hundred units of rifles and sidearms. NATO standard. Add twenty flamethrowers and five million rounds of ammunition. We need to make sure they can survive the next wave."

She looked directly at Saya, her expression firm but not harsh.

Saya swallowed, then gave a faint smile. Beneath her mother's icy tone, she could still feel the concern-not just for her father, but for the entire community they were trying to protect.

"Mom... I think that's enough. With this, they'll make it," she said quietly.

For the first time since they'd arrived at the depot, Yuriko didn't reply. She simply stared up at the hangar ceiling, as if weighing more than just logistics.

---

Takagi Family Residence

That evening, Soichiro Takagi stood tall in front of his residence. His eyes were fixed on the high steel gates and the rows of shipping containers now surrounding the Takagi family compound. The makeshift fortifications looked solid, but Soichiro knew better than to trust the illusion of safety.

He took a deep breath. His mind was riddled with concern.

It was too late to head to the police station in search of more weapons. The situation had grown far too dangerous. The majority of people inside the compound still relied on wooden sticks and improvised blades. Only around a hundred had actual firearms-and they were expected to protect over eight thousand survivors.

That wasn't security. That was a disaster waiting to explode.

Since morning, he'd been watching the skies. Today, unfamiliar aircraft with strange designs had flown over the city. They looked like a fusion between helicopters and futuristic assault ships. In the distance, the sound of explosions echoed through the air-in a rhythm that grew steadily closer.

He understood what that meant. The horde of zombies was approaching.

From dawn onward, the city's outskirts had become a battlefield. The sounds of heavy artillery and roaring tank engines dominated the atmosphere. The sky had never fallen silent-jets thundered overhead and bombs rained down from above. The undead were being bombarded without pause, and yet they kept coming.

For the survivors inside the Takagi compound, it was an unending nightmare. All they could do was watch from behind the fences-confused, afraid, and uncertain who was even fighting out there. Were these foreign troops here to help?

Or would they simply pass by, leaving the survivors to face death on their own?

Then came the sound.

"WHUUMM-WHUUMM-WHUUMM-WHUUMM..."

That unmistakable noise-the thunderous engines of the alien aircraft that the survivors had begun to recognize. This time, for the third time, Reuel's aircraft arrived over the Takagi compound.

Four Valkyrie Sky Talons flew in low, their maneuvers precise and their military discipline obvious in their tight formation. Each aircraft carried a large logistics container suspended beneath its fuselage. Slowly, one by one, the containers were lowered into the main courtyard.

One of the Valkyries descended further for a stable landing, while the other three banked and turned back toward Haneda Airport-their current operational base.

The survivors gathered in the yard panicked. They backed away in fear, startled by the strange and menacing machines. But Soichiro Takagi remained firm. His expression calm, though his eyes were sharp and calculating. He signaled a few of his men, and they moved forward toward the landing zone.

The aircraft door hissed open hydraulically. Moments later, a figure he knew all too well leapt down from the cabin.

Takagi Saya.

"Dad!" she shouted, running toward him.

Soichiro froze, though his expression remained stern.

"Saya? Why are you back? This place is too dangerous! What are you doing here?"

His tone sounded angry, but inside, Soichiro was flooded with relief. His daughter was alive. Still whole. But he didn't show that softness. This place... was no longer safe. Not just because of the zombies-but because of people.

Just yesterday, one of the survivors had tried to steal weapons from the storage. The perpetrator was executed on the spot. Others who had tried to stir up unrest were exiled from the compound. But Soichiro knew-those were only temporary solutions.

The more people came seeking shelter, the greater the risk of chaos from within.

Rebellion wasn't just a possibility anymore-it was a matter of time.

Even though Soichiro still had some personal weapons left, the numbers were meager-barely a hundred firearms with very limited ammunition. All of it was what remained from the last supply drop his wife, Yuriko Takagi, had sent. Deep down, he understood... Yuriko's visit to pick Saya up hadn't been just a family errand. It had been their final farewell.

Now, he was beginning to accept a truth he could no longer deny-he could no longer guarantee Saya's safety here. Not because he didn't want to protect her, but because he knew his own limits. He had started considering convincing Saya to leave. After all, Reuel had a massive military force. Under their protection, Saya would be far safer.

But before he could say anything, Saya's voice broke through his spiraling thoughts.

"Dad! I brought weapons-I brought weapons for you!" she shouted excitedly, her eyes shining. She didn't notice the change in his expression. Her small hand grabbed his, tugging him toward the line of containers that had just been dropped off.

Soichiro gave a quick signal to several of his men.

"Open them."

The containers were still tightly sealed. One of his men grabbed a steel cutter and sliced through all four locks at once. As the heavy doors creaked open, the scent of gun oil and cold metal rushed out.

And inside-an armory.

Rifles, pistols, flamethrowers, and an overwhelming quantity of ammunition, all neatly arranged on standard military racks.

For a moment, Soichiro was silent. The weight in his chest seemed to ease. But before he could speak a single word, Saya was already talking-her voice bursting with pride.

"Look, Dad! There are 7,500 standard-issue American rifles and pistols, plus 20 flamethrowers, and five million rounds of ammo. I even smuggled in dozens of light machine guns. And... this."

She opened a long metal case and lifted something wrapped in black cloth.

"I brought you a chainsword. It's the standard weapon of Reuel's troops."

Saya beamed as she handed over the heavy weapon to her father. Weighing nearly five kilograms, it was clearly not made for a high school girl. But she still lifted it with both hands-despite trembling-and presented it with respect.

Soichiro took the case from her, studying his daughter for a moment. His eyes were filled with questions.

"All of this... Reuel approved it?" His voice was low, sharp.

"Of course. Lord Reuel approved everything, Dad. Even Mom helped me choose the weapons," Saya replied proudly.

Soichiro fell silent for a moment, processing her words.

"Reuel approved it..." he murmured.

Then he asked again, this time with a probing stare.

"Those aircraft... the ones bombing the zombies today. Were those his too?"

"Yes. Reuel sent the air fleet today. I watched the whole battle from the command center monitors. Tokyo still has around 50,000 zombies, but only a fraction will probably reach this place. It's the capital of Japan, Dad-it's a huge area," Saya said calmly, her tone and expression reflecting the maturity that was starting to bloom amid the crisis.

Soichiro gave a slow nod. The weight on his chest eased slightly. But there was no time to relax.

"Dad, we should unload and distribute these weapons immediately. We can also use the containers to reinforce the perimeter. Mom's waiting for me for dinner," Saya said, glancing toward the aircraft that was preparing for takeoff.

Soichiro took a deep breath and issued an order without delay.

"Yoshioka! Move these weapons now! Distribute everything for tonight's defense!"

His soldiers sprang into action. Crates were pried open and weapons were handed out to the guards. In a matter of minutes, the Takagi compound was transformed into a fortress far more ready than it had ever been.

After making sure everything was running smoothly, Saya gave her father a quick hug, then climbed back into the aircraft. She glanced back one last time to make sure everything was okay, before finally taking off and disappearing into the sky.

The survivors who witnessed the event were left speechless. They had seen it with their own eyes-foreign soldiers delivering an enormous cache of weapons, all personally sent by Soichiro Takagi's daughter.

Soichiro stood in silence, his eyes following the aircraft as it vanished into the orange twilight clouds.

There was relief, but also a deep sense of loss.

Yuriko was now on Reuel's side. He didn't know exactly what was happening over there. But seeing all these weapons... he couldn't stop a dark thought from creeping in-had his wife sacrificed herself to send them?

The question lingered in his mind, refusing to fade.

He turned to look at the survivors. Faces worn out, but honest. Good people, who had put their trust-and lives-in his hands. And that, more than anything, was what kept him going.

Without Reuel and his soldiers, without these weapons and supplies-chaos would've already consumed them. Power struggles, conflict, even massacres.

Soichiro Takagi stood tall. In silence, he asked himself:

Should I be grateful to Reuel... or hate him?

On one hand, the Takagi family had once treated him coldly, even with disdain.

On the other, Reuel responded with food, weapons, and protection.

And worst of all...

He took his wife.

---

"Sir... did Reuel really send all these weapons?"

Takashi Komuro stood frozen, eyes locked on the heavy weapons neatly arranged in the container. He had seen the strange aircraft from a distance-they had bombed the zombie hordes with surgical precision. Still, Takashi hadn't dared to come out until the roar of the engines had completely faded.

Soichiro Takagi turned to him.

"Yes," he answered shortly. His gaze scanned Takashi's face-a young man he had once seen as a beacon of hope. After all, Takashi had saved his daughter from the school, bringing Saya through an unimaginable apocalypse.

But ever since Reuel's warning about Takashi's "true character," Soichiro had become more cautious. He'd seen many young men like him-brave, impulsive, but too easily swayed by ego and emotion.

"With all these weapons... can we really make it?" Takashi asked, voice tinged with hesitation.

"Yes, we can," Soichiro replied, firm and resolute.

Takashi let out a breath of relief.

"Thank God... I mean... I couldn't take it anymore... I mean, I'm sure we can survive now."

He smiled awkwardly, stumbling over his words.

Soichiro didn't respond. He turned his attention back to his men, issuing orders to distribute the weapons and tighten night defenses.

There was no time for naivety or uncertainty.

Soichiro gave a slow nod. The weight on his chest eased slightly. But there was no time to relax.

---

From Within the Shadows: The Secret Council

In a hidden place, cloaked in shadows and darkness, the red glow of the holy icons of the Mechanicus reflected off ancient stone walls. In the center of the room, Inquisitors and Battle Sisters of the Adepta Sororitas gathered around a glowing tactical map, with digital symbols marking their target locations.

"Infernal planning is complete," came the cold, authoritative voice of an Inquisitor, her bolter aimed directly at a kneeling Retinue Acolyte before her.

"What of the preparations for sending those vile creatures to the den of heresy? Have the zombie hordes been assembled?"

The Acolyte bowed deeply. "Your Grace, we have gathered approximately three hundred thousand infected creatures from across Tokyo. They are ready to be directed... to the Takagi residence."

"Inferno good." The Inquisitor's voice was as sharp as a freshly honed chainsword.

"But..." the Acolyte whispered, too softly for safety.

"But?" the Inquisitor hissed. "Choose your words carefully, or you'll meet the Machine Spirit sooner than your final prayer."

The Acolyte bowed even lower, his voice trembling.

"We found... a school bus. The same bus once used by His Grace... the Emperor."

The atmosphere in the room instantly shifted into something far more ominous.

A Battle Sister-in full armor, the symbol of the Ecclesiarchy emblazoned across her chest-slammed her fist onto the table. The ferrocrete slab cracked in two.

"What did you say!? They're... still alive!? Didn't we already send the horde to the bridge to ambush them?"

"Calm yourself," said another Inquisitor, this time with a cold smile that didn't reach her eyes. She tapped the holster of her bolter gently.

"I have a plan. Among those heretics is a young man-proud, impulsive, easy to manipulate. We mark the route to the Takagi estate. That bus... will carry them straight there."

"Two birds with one stone. That school bus is a death knell. Its sound will summon thousands of zombies, delivering the heretics straight into ruin."

The Battle Sister nodded, now more composed.

"An elegant plan. And the Emperor would not object if the Takagi residence is destroyed in the process. They've disgraced His name... by allowing a holy woman to wed an alien who dares call himself Emperor."

The Inquisitor bowed her head, then lifted her bolter again, pointing it at the Acolyte's head.

"Execute this plan. No traces. No reports. Do not let His Grace learn a single word of this."

The Acolyte bit his lip.

"Yes, my Lord."

---

Night Fell.

The cries of the undead echoed from all directions, merging with the suffocating silence of the night. At the main gate of the Takagi estate, a heavy machine gun had been mounted atop a steel container. Armed personnel stood motionless, their bodies tense, eyes fixed forward-ready to face the approaching tide of death.

Suddenly, in the distance, a group of people appeared-running in panic toward the gate, gasping for breath. Behind them, hundreds of zombies pursued relentlessly, unstoppable.

"Open fire! Clear the path!"

BRAKKA-BRAKKA!

The heavy gunfire shattered the stillness. Bullets sprayed down from the container's height, tearing through the roadway. The survivors ran as fast as they could while the rotten bodies chasing them dropped one by one, thick black blood bursting wildly.

Explosion after explosion rocked the night. Gunfire rang from all directions. Guards stationed along the perimeter of the container wall fired upon the encroaching undead without mercy.

"Open the gate! Please! Save us!"

screamed the survivors, pounding against the iron bars in near-hysterical panic.

But Soichiro Takagi stood firm, watching them from behind his round glasses. His gaze was cold-like steel that knew no hesitation. How many of them were there? Fifteen, at most. But inside, five thousand lives depended on his decision. And to him, the choice was already clear.

"Keep firing! Don't let them get close!"

he commanded firmly, not a hint of doubt in his voice.

The zombies kept coming, wave after wave, like an endless ocean of rotting flesh. They were gunned down and then incinerated alive by flamethrowers stationed at key points. Not a single one made it to the gate.

Soichiro shifted his focus to the southern flank-that was where the thickest crowd was forming. The front lines were still holding for now.

But behind the iron bars of the gate, the screaming continued-desperate, heart-wrenching, suffocating:

"Please! Open the gate!"

"We're begging you! Save us!!"

No reply.

Only the thunder of gunfire... and the silence that followed a leader's decision.

Takashi Komuro stood near the gate wall, gripping his baseball bat tightly. His eyes locked onto the trembling survivors drawing closer. As he stepped forward, his breath caught-he recognized them.

His teachers. His classmates.

Faces that once filled his school days, now smeared with blood, wounds, and dust. Among them, someone stared directly at him-Koichi Wisteria.

"Takashi Komuro! Save us! Please, save my friends!"

"Senpai, we don't want to die! Please!"

"Komuro, open the gate! Hurry!!"

The cries pierced through the night's chill. The sound stung-cutting deep.

Takashi's hand trembled. His eyes locked onto those faces-people who once sat beside him, joked in the hallways, laughed in their desks. A part of him screamed... Open the gate. Save them.

He took half a step forward. His hand rose, reaching for the gate's locking mechanism.

But before he could touch it, a shadow moved fast. A soldier stepped beside him, lifting a rifle and pointing the barrel straight at him.

"Step back."

The order was firm, direct, non-negotiable.

"You are not authorized to open the gate without direct orders from Soichiro Takagi."

Takashi froze. His hand hung in the air, his heart in turmoil.

Outside, his teacher still beat on the gate, eyes filled with hope and desperation.

But inside, the protocol had been set.

And any deviation... could lead to destruction.