Episode Title:
This Side of Paradise.
Episode Description:
19 months after the events at UFE HQ in Novosibirsk, a UFE raiding party is shot down by the Tharsis, piloted by Slaine himself. Slaine has become a Vers Knight under Saazbaum, and the Vers Empire has been slowly conquering North and South America under the new support of Princess Asseylum as they plan to expand their reach. On Earth, the crew of the Deucalion prepare to finish their R&R when they come under attack from a Vers Kataphrakt named "Frozen Elysium" (piloted by Baron Yacoym), which projects an "Entropy Dilution Field" that saps all molecular energy in a 1 kilometre radius, causing UFE Kataphrakts to be unable to approach without their pilots freezing to death and their machines losing all power. Additionally, bullets and projectiles fired from UFE guns cannot hit Frozen Elysium, as they enter a superconductive state in the low-temperature Entropy Dilution Field and veer away from Frozen Elysium due to the Meissner effect. Inaho appears in his restored KG-6 Sleipnir, and he uses airburst grenades to create a small path through the Field and destroys Frozen Elysium. Inaho later reconnects with Inko and Rayet, who greet him with happiness. The episode flashes back to the moments after Asseylum and Inaho were shot in the wreckage of Saazbaum's Landing Castle. Slaine decided to spare Saazbaum and escape with him and Asseylum in the Tharsis, and a wounded Inaho is left behind, who Slaine shot through his left temple and eye. Things look grim with Asseylum absent and the Deucalion still unpowered. However, the blood from Princess Asseylum that had splattered on his face (as well as her saliva from when Inaho performed CPR on her) was ingested, giving Inaho the ability to activate Aldnoah Drives as well, which is used to reactivate the Deucalion. In the present, with its repairs complete, the Deucalion launches into outer space. Meanwhile in Earth orbit, the Princess Asseylum giving the war speeches to the Vers Empire turns out to be Princess Lemrina ver Envers (a bastard daughter of the previous Emperor, Grelizia, and half-sister to Asseylum) who impersonates Asseylum under Saazbaum's supervision. As the night ends, Slaine goes to visit the real Asseylum, who is comatose and kept alive in a medical tank.
