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

Tokyo Metropolitan Police Department

Inside the police station, now serving as a temporary refuge, survivors sat eating whatever food was available. Two groups shared the same space, but none of them acknowledged each other. Everyone was preoccupied, and each person remained on guard—ready to react to anyone outside their own group.

Takashi Komuro glanced at the weapons held by a group of men sitting not far from him. In his mind, he thought: If everyone worked together, our chances of survival would be way higher. With good intentions, he stepped toward the group.

"Hey! Stop! What do you think you're doing?" one of the guards barked, pointing a gun at Takashi the moment he approached.

"It's nothing," Takashi replied casually, though his eyes caught the gleam of the weapon now aimed at him. "I just want to talk. We're all survivors here. We should be helping each other."

"Let him come," said another voice, calmer this time.

Takeda Shimada raised an eyebrow, amused by the courage—or stupidity—of the high schooler before him. He gestured for Takashi to be allowed closer, curious to hear what he had to say.

"My name's Takashi Komuro," Takashi said eagerly. "Right now, we're all fugitives. We're being hunted, and the zombies out there don't care who we are. We've got weapons, you've got weapons. If we work together, we can all survive."

From a distance, Officer Tajima watched the conversation with a grim expression. He didn't understand what Takashi was thinking. Did he really not realize who he was talking to? Or was he hiding something?

Both groups turned their attention to the conversation. Tension hung in the air, thick and almost tangible. Shimada narrowed his eyes at Takashi and spoke in a mocking tone, "Then what if I want to lead all of them? Would the police agree? Can you make that decision for them?"

Takashi smiled broadly, thinking this was a step forward.

"The police leader here is my uncle's friend," he said confidently. "I think he'll agree. What matters is that we have enough people to fight the zombies."

"I'll talk to him. Wait here."

Takeda Shimada smirked. "Very well. My name's Takeda Shimada. I'll be waiting for your good news."

As Takashi walked away, Shimada rolled his eyes and turned to his subordinate, Hido Tamaru.

"This kid's really an idiot," he muttered, almost pitying him.

Tamaru—usually quiet—chuckled softly, amused by the boy who thought he'd just saved the world.

"You gonna let him join us?" he asked, still laughing.

"Of course not. He's the type who'd sacrifice the whole group just to save his own ass."

"And you're still acting friendly?"

"Just wait and see," Shimada replied coldly. "Once we get their weapons, we throw them all out onto the streets. The cops, the survivors, and that dumbass kid. I'm not letting dangerous people like them roam around inside."

Takashi returned to the police group with a light step, as if he'd just completed a crucial mission. He immediately approached Officer Tajima, who was standing guard with several other officers and civilians.

"Uncle," Takashi called cheerfully. "I talked to them. If we agree to let Takeda Shimada lead, they're willing to cooperate. We can unite and fight the zombies together!"

Tajima stared at him blankly. He didn't even react to Takashi's cheerful tone. Deep down, he wanted to curse, but he knew—the kid was still young, still didn't understand how the world worked. He simply glanced at his fellow officers—a silent signal for them to hold their tempers.

"Takashi," he said flatly, "Sit down. Don't involve yourself in this anymore."

Takashi looked confused but obeyed. Meanwhile, from the corner of the room, Asami Nakaoka watched everything with sharp eyes.

Who does he think he is? she thought angrily. Going off to talk with the Yakuza without telling anyone? Does he think this is some shounen anime where everything can be solved with good intentions and heartfelt speeches?

But before anyone could say more, a loud, rumbling noise erupted from above.

Everyone reflexively turned toward the windows. The sound was like rapidly spinning helicopter blades—but what they saw wasn't any ordinary helicopter. Dozens of strangely designed aircraft hovered in the sky in a tight search formation, as if sweeping every inch of the city from the air.

Civilians, police, even the Yakuza rushed to the windows to get a better look. They all froze as they gazed at the sky—watching the foreign aircraft circling overhead.

Takeda Shimada and the other Yakuza also looked up, and their expressions turned grim. Panic began to spread.

They hadn't expected that the green-uniformed soldiers—bearing the emblem of a double-headed eagle—would send so many heavily armed aircraft just to track them down. All they'd done was kill a few of those soldiers to steal their weapons.

They didn't even know who these soldiers really were… or what country they came from. But one thing was clear: their firepower was beyond anything they'd ever seen.

"Shimada, what do we do?" Hido Tamaru whispered, eyes still locked on the sky, filled with dread.

"We need to get out of here right now," Takeda Shimada said without hesitation, his eyes locked sharply on the outside. "If we stay, they'll find us. We can't wait for the police to make contact with those soldiers."

Meanwhile, a uniformed officer tried to raise a flare gun, intending to fire it into the sky to signal the newly arrived aerial fleet. They didn't know who these troops were, but they wore military uniforms. And if they had come in such numbers, maybe—just maybe—they were here to rescue civilians.

But then...

Bang!

A deafening gunshot shattered the tension.

The officer holding the flare gun collapsed instantly, blood gushing from his chest. Takeda Shimada had shot him without a second's pause. In that instant, the police station turned into a living hell.

The officers, watching their comrade die, immediately returned fire. The Yakuza fired back.

A brutal gunfight erupted inside the building.

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Bullets tore through the narrow corridors of the police station. Windows shattered. Dust clouded the air. Many officers fell—most overwhelmed by superior numbers and inferior firepower.

Hundreds from both sides were now locked in a deadly firefight in what was supposed to be a place of safety.

Police officer Asami Nakaoka cradled a terrified Marina, shielding her behind a concrete pillar near the wall. Her body protected the little girl as she whispered softly, calming her, "It's okay, Marina... don't be scared... I'm here…"

Above, one of the aircraft hovered lower—Valkyrie-10, part of the Astra Militarum's aerial fleet.

"Command, this is Valkyrie-10. We have visual on active gunfire between survivor factions. Civilian casualties confirmed. Situation deteriorating."

"Visual records suggest potential hostile engagement against Astra Militarum conscripts. Lasgun fire detected."

"Requesting permission to engage?"

Inside the Valkyrie-10 cockpit, the Imperium of Man's military crew observed the chaos below. Thermal cameras tracked every movement inside the police station, now a full-blown warzone.

"Negative, Valkyrie-10," came the stern voice from central command.

"Maintain surveillance. Cadia Shock Troopers and Kasrkin squads are en route to your location. Do not open fire. Remember the God Emperor's orders—we need as many humans alive as possible for the Imperium."

"Valkyrie-10 copies. Standing by."

Back on the lower floors of the station, all hell had broken loose. Takeda Shimada realized they weren't going to wipe out the police this time. Worse, a gunship was hovering directly above the roof, clearly tracking their movements.

He wasn't willing to take any further risks.

"Move! We're leaving now!" Shimada barked to his men. "Those soldiers know we're here!"

The Yakuza began retreating in disorganized formation, fleeing the building as fast as they could.

The remaining police and civilians could only stare in confusion. Just moments ago, the Yakuza held the upper hand—why were they suddenly running?

Takashi Komuro watched the chaos around him. People were running everywhere, gunfire still echoing faintly from the interior, and overhead, strange aircraft hovered in the sky, flying with rotor blades like helicopters.

As he stared at those aircraft, Takashi immediately remembered Reuel—when they were at the Takagi residence, with that mysterious private army of his. A wave of fear crawled down his spine.

If this really was Reuel's army, and they knew what happened at the Takagi estate… he could be seen as a defector—or even a target. Takashi couldn't take that risk.

Without wasting another second, he slipped quietly toward the rear exit of the building and made his escape. With everything in chaos and all eyes either on the front or skyward, no one noticed him slipping away.

As Takashi vanished into the shadows, a voice suddenly echoed from above, broadcast loudly through airborne loudspeakers.

"The people inside, listen carefully. Lay down your weapons and step outside with your hands raised high. I repeat — lay down your weapons and come out with your hands up, or we will open fire..."

The announcement repeated several times, echoing from the loudspeakers of one of the Valkyrie Starfighters hovering low above the building.

Officer Tajima looked up, eyes fixed on the strange aircraft as it began deploying troops from within. He saw several fully armed combat teams descend with precise, disciplined movements.

Then he turned to the remaining survivors—both police and civilians.

"Everyone, put down your weapons," he said firmly, though calmly. "We have to leave. They… the soldiers are here."

Without hesitation, Tajima dropped his weapon first, raising both hands high above his head, and began walking toward the front. The people behind him followed, one by one.

As they stepped through the front entrance, they were greeted by dozens of Cadia Shock Troopers who had surrounded the police station. Their uniforms were dark green, reinforced with thick armor, and their helmets bore the distinct design of the Imperium of Man—with the unmistakable double-headed eagle emblazoned on their chests and shoulders.

Among them stood several Kasrkin units—elite soldiers clad in full heavy armor, wielding weapons so large they looked like handheld cannons. Above, other Valkyries continued to circle in a tight overwatch pattern.

The moment someone emerged from the building, the troopers raised their lasguns, aiming instantly at the new arrivals. Tension spiked.

But when they saw the group consisted of unarmed police and civilians, the troopers lowered their weapons slightly—still cautious, but no longer immediately hostile.

Everyone who had survived inside the building was eventually brought out, now escorted directly by Cadia forces. They were herded toward transport vehicles en route to Haneda Airport, Tokyo. Meanwhile, a portion of the green-clad soldiers entered the police station, likely preparing for a thorough sweep.

Moments later, the Valkyries lifted off again, now carrying the evacuees. From the windows of the aircraft, Tajima and the other officers could see a breathtaking and overwhelming sight—hundreds of strange military vehicles scattered throughout the city.

"Oh my god… what is all that?" Tajima muttered.

Unfamiliar helicopters continued to patrol the skies. On the ground, bizarre and massive vehicles with unfamiliar silhouettes crawled across the landscape: Leman Russ, Chimera, Crassus, Gorgon, Taurox—and many others they couldn't begin to identify.

"Mr. Tajima, look over there!" Tsubasa called, pointing toward the window.

Outside, dozens of skull-shaped drones floated through the air, moving with unnerving, unnatural precision. Red lights pulsed from their sensory nodes.

"They're deploying so many drones and vehicles. What are they even looking for?" Asami Nakaoka asked, her sharp eyes scanning the skies.

"No idea… maybe they're searching for survivors," Officer Nakagawa replied quietly, uncertainty heavy in his tone.

Sitting beside them, Marina hugged her knees, staring up at the officers.

"Mr. Policeman… uncle… are we going to be okay?" she asked softly, her voice trembling with fear. A few other evacuees turned to look as well, their faces silently asking the same question.

Asami Nakaoka gently wrapped her arms around Marina, trying to calm her down.

"It's okay, Marina. We'll be safe. These soldiers… they're here to protect us."

---

Crassus Armoured Assault Transport

The Crassus is a heavily armored assault transport vehicle of the Astra Militarum, named after Borgen Crassus—one of the strongest and most loyal generals under the command of Lord Solar Macharius during the Macharian Crusade. When the chaos of the Macharian Heresy erupted after the conqueror's death, Crassus stood firm with the Imperium. His name now lives on in the form of steel, machinery, and the will of mankind.

The Crassus was born from the rediscovery of a Standard Template Construct (STC) blueprint on Forge World Zhao-Arkhad, an industrial world recently reclaimed from unknown forces. Its STC, buried within ancient vaults beneath the ruins, contained designs for the Crassus, the Dominus Heavy Siege Bombard, and the Praetor Heavy Assault Launcher. Since then, the Crassus has become an essential part of the Astra Militarum's modern arsenal.

Though considered a relatively new addition to the Imperium's armored vehicle roster, the Crassus has quickly gained an extraordinary reputation for its durability and offensive capability. In the southern and western regions of the Segmentum Tempestus, the vehicle has become a common sight on the front lines. After only a few standard centuries, Crassus production has spread across the Forge World of Lucius, supplying fresh vehicles to Imperial forces suffering heavy losses in the endless conflicts surrounding the Eye of Terror. In those ever-worsening warzones, the Crassus has become a symbol of strength and perseverance—so revered that some Astra Militarum units treat it as a near-lucky charm, a trend that has drawn concern from the Commissariat and the Departmento Munitorum.

Built to survive in the most brutal environments, the Crassus is a fully armored combat vehicle that is not only tough but also flexible. The standard version is equipped with two front-mounted Heavy Bolters and two sponson-mounted Heavy Bolters. Each of these weapons can be independently replaced with a Heavy Flamer, Autocannon, or Lascannon, allowing for up to four different weapon systems on a single chassis. The sponsons can also be removed and swapped with extra armor plates for additional protection. To boost its firepower, the Crassus can be fitted with a pintle-mounted Heavy Stubber or Storm Bolter, as well as optional accessories such as a Dozer Blade, Searchlight, and Smoke Launchers.

Its transport capacity allows it to carry up to thirty-five fully equipped soldiers within its armored compartment, or two Cyclops Demolition Vehicles along with their operators. While not designed for direct assault into enemy front lines, its weapons are highly effective in defensive roles, such as securing landing zones or infiltration routes. Some variants of the Crassus also include Hunter-Killer missile launchers as anti-vehicle options—usually deployed in massed formations alongside other Crassus units to maximize destructive output.

The Astra Militarum employs a number of Crassus variants tailored to different combat roles. The Praetor, for example, is a missile assault variant equipped with a unique system known as the Praetor Heavy Assault Launcher—a heavy missile launcher mounted in place of the Crassus' standard main weapon. This version is designed specifically to provide direct fire support for infantry units. The Dominus variant, meanwhile, is armed with a Dominus Heavy Siege Bombard, a triple-barreled heavy cannon capable of unleashing devastating firepower at close range. All three designs—the Crassus, Praetor, and Dominus—originate from the same STC cache recovered on Zhao-Arkhad.

Beyond the Astra Militarum, the Adeptus Mechanicus also relies on the Crassus for many of their own armored transport needs. Across the Imperium, this vehicle is becoming a fixture among mechanized and armored infantry units, including the 6th Cadian Armoured Regiment, which relied heavily on the Crassus during the Betalis III Campaign against the Asuryani of Craftworld Mymeara. In the icy and treacherous terrain, the Crassus played a key role in troop deployment, including during the Battle of Alnitac, where it enabled Colonel Empteda to reach a critical facility ahead of the xenos forces and destroy it before it could fall into their cunning hands.