Dioscuria

Dioscuria (ディオスクリア) is a Martian Kataphrakt that appears in the ALDNOAH.ZERO television series. It was piloted by Count Saazbaum, an Orbital Knight.

Technology & Combat Characteristics
31 metres tall, the Dioscuria is equipped with multiple Aldnoah Drives that allows for it to create a Dimensional Barrier, Blade Fields, to make its arms into Rocket-propelled Fists that can become a single molecule, and to allow it the ability to combine its different segments. The Dioscuria with its superior flight capabilities is able to manoeuvre throughout space and the atmosphere of the Earth. The Dioscuria is also capable of splitting itself into 3 separate mechas, one main body and two identical detachment mechas. Each separate mecha is also equipped with flight packs in order to retain aerial superiority.

Additionally, it seems to have stealth capabilities, allowing it to approach undetected and intercept encrypted transmissions.

Special Equipment and Features

 * Aerial Cameras
 * The Dioscurias' barrier can absorb light, yet the pilot requires external cameras in order to see his surroundings as long as the barrier is up. The Dioscuria controls eight cameras at any given time, which can fly anywhere within a limited range, allowing the pilot to get a bird's eye view of the whole battlefield. The cameras are small and may be undetectable to the naked eye.

Flight Configurations

 * Flight-Mode
 * When Dioscuria is "complete" it then has the ability to transform into a plane-like spacecraft. In this form, the Dioscuria possess impressive flight capabilities and is able to maneuverer throughout space and Earth's atmosphere.


 * 2x Mecha-detachment
 * The Dioscuria can detach parts of itself to create separate Aircraft/Mecha for combat. These identical, detachment mechas are mostly formed from the "Complete" Dioscuria's forearms, meaning that the detachment mecha can use a smaller version of the blade field. While the two mechas are detached, the Dioscuria is unable to use its special abilities such as the dimensional barrier, rocket-propelled fists, and blade field.


 * Flight Packs
 * The Dioscuria can detach parts of itself to create flight packs for each part of its separated form in order to retain aerial superiority even when split. The main body stands on its flight pack which is flat and hovering board like, while the Mecha-detachments ride their flight packs in a motorcycle like fashion.


 * Thruster Pack
 * When the main body of the Dioscuria is on the ground, it can use a thruster pack for nimble movements just like the one used by the Tharsis, and it could be used to easily evade heavy fire from multiple Terran Kataphrakts. However, instead if relying on melee weaponry while using the thruster pack, the main body of the Dioscuria relies on missiles or machine guns on its flight pack.

Armaments

 * Machine Guns and Missiles
 * Each of the 3 flight packs for the separated form of the Dioscuria are equipped with machine guns. The main body of the Dioscuria in its separated form can also use missiles concealed within its frame.


 * Dimensional Barrier
 * In its "complete" form, the Dioscuria can activate a dimensional barrier, which is a unique characteristic inherent of the Nilokeras. However, it has the same weaknesses: there needs to be a gap in the barrier to allow the aerial cameras to transmit visual information to the Kataphrakt; the barrier also cannot be raised along the ground otherwise the Kataphrakt won't be able to stand, but this makes it vulnerable to mines or explosions near its feet.


 * The dimensional barrier also interferes with the Blade Field and the Rocket propelled fists and must be completely turned off for those to be used.


 * Blade Field
 * The plasma swords are similar to those of the Argyre. The plasma swords are formed from the hands of the Dioscuria. The heat from the swords are so intense they can cut through Kataphrakts and even large asteroids with ease. The plasma swords can also be used by its two Aircraft/Mecha detachments as the hands of the "Complete" Dioscuria. This also means that when the detachments are not on the Dioscuria, the Dioscuria becomes unable to use the blade field, and thus has to rely on its machine guns, missiles, stealth capabilities, and mobility to defeat its enemies.


 * 2x Rocket-propelled Hardened Fists
 * When combined with its detachments, it can utilize the rocket-propelled hardened fists, which is a unique characteristic inherent of the Hellas. Each fist is condensed into a single molecule when launched, making them almost impervious to all attacks, the only vulnerable part being the rocket propellers at the back of the fists.

History
The Dioscuria was present on Tanegashima along with Viscountess Orlane in her Kataphrakt, the Deucalion. During Heavens Fall, the Dioscuria was slightly damaged by a meteor. Later, Count Saazbaum used it in the raid of Castle Cruhteo to find and get Slaine Troyard and then to kill Count Cruhteo. The Dioscuria invaded the United Earth HQ through the holes made by Sazzbaum's own Landing Castle's bunker buster missiles. Afterwards, he went about the base destroying both the Shire Platoon and Falabella Platoons. Then in the stratosphere he attacks the Deucalion, damaging its starboard anti-gravity devices causing it to lose altitude. The Dioscuria returns to Castle Saazbaum, where he encounters Inaho Kaizuka and everyone. While trying to chase and kill Princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, he is held off by Inaho to buy the others time for Princess Asseylum to deactivate the Landing Castle's Aldnoah Drive. The two fight between one another, dodging each other's missile attacks. Saazbaum recalls the rest of the Dioscuria to transform it into its complete form. He destroys the Oldenburg Platoon before knocking Inaho into the Landing Castle where he encounters Inko Amifumi and Yuki Kaizuka who attack the Dioscuria. By using its weaknesses in due part thanks from the barrier and rocket fists, Inaho heavily damages the Dioscuria. After a bout of hitting one another with their fists, Inaho is stopped by Slaine Troyard in the Tharsis.

Notes & Trivia

 * The Dioscuria appears to use its own jet equipment to create a Sub-lifter Flight Pack like the "Fatum-00/Subflight Lifter" as seen in the anime Mobile Suit Gundam SEED used by the ZGMF-X09A Justice Gundam