Slaine Troyard

"That's far enough, do not touch the princess."

- Slaine, shortly before shooting Inaho Kaizuka

Slaine Troyard is a major character in the 2014 sci-fi alternate history anime Aldnoah Zero. Slaine was born on Earth as the son of a scientist, who, in 2009, joins his father in visiting the Mars-based Vers Empire. In the final re-entry to Mars, Slaine's space capsule crashes into a water-filled structure- possibly some sort of cistern given the rarity of water on Mars- associated with the (presumed) Vers Imperial palace. The capsule crashes through the cistern, into the (waterless) floor below, but the capsule is flooded. Slaine manages to open the capsule, but the slips into unconciousness before it can fully drain.

Fortunately, Slaine is rescued by Vers princess Asseylum Vers Allusia, who gave him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation, saving his life. Slaine subsequently develops a close friendship with the princess, and possibly a romantic interest in her. Slaine considers himself deeply indebted to Asseylum, and presumably joined the Versian military in an effort to protect her. In spite of his young age, Slaine learns to expertly pilot a Versian transport aircraft or "Sky Carrier".

In 2014, Asseylum visits Earth as part of a peace envoy, but she is apparently assassinated using anti-tank missiles. Slaine, now part of the invasion fleet, sent in retaliation for the death of the princess. By this time, however, Slaine has discovered that the assassination was a plot by Count Saazbaum and other Versian noble in an attempt to drag the empire into war with Earth.

Slaine initially acts as the pilot of transport carrying Orbital Knight Sir Trillram's Kataphrakt mech, Nilokeras. The transport is attacked by a squadron of F-22 Raptors, but the energy shield covering the Nilokeras was extended to cover the Sky Carrier as well, and the missiles and cannon fire do no damage. Slaine, however, refuses to shoot his fellow Terrans, Trillram takes control of the Sky Carrier's defensive guns and shoots down all of the aircraft.

Slaine later assists Trillram in battle against United Forces of Earth militia pilot Inaho Kaizuka, who challenged Trillram in a training Kataphrakt, in spite of the fact that Nilokeras had already destroyed platoons of Terran mechs, in the Battle of Shinawara

Slaine's aircraft, however, is shot down by Inaho, who subsequently destroys the Nilokeras as well. After encountering Trillram, who escapes the destruction of his mech, Slaine shows his true colors, drawing his pistol and shooting Trillram, one of the conspirators in the assassination of the princess. During the battle, Slaine also catches a glimpse of Asseylum, who survived the assassination- a body double was killed in her place. This fills Slaine with a new determination to eliminate the conspirators and protect her.

Slaine later goes on to use the armaments of his Sky Carrier to aid Inaho Kaizuka in crippling the mech used by Vers Countess Femieanne, who is killed by Rayet Areash shortly afterwards. In spite of his assistance, Inaho fires on Slaine for a second time, Inaho stating that he viewed Slaine's Sky Carrier as an enemy aircraft.

However, when Slaine attempts to contact the Vers Emperor about the fact that his daughter is still alive, Slaine is captured by Count Cruhteo, and tortured for an extended period of time. Slaine, however, refuses to reveal anything about the princess.

Slaine is later rescued by Count Saazbaum, who admits to plotting the assassination, and tells him he only rescued Slaine out of a debt he owed to his father. He then gives him the choice to join the battle on the side of Vers or go to Asseylum's side.

Slaine remains aboard Saazbaum's spacecraft, or "Landing Castle", as it lands near the United Forces of Earth headquarters in Siberia. Slaine manages to activate the Martian Kataphrakt Tharsis, in spite of not having an Aldnoah activation factor. Slaine uses the mech in the defense against a UE attack in an attempt to push through UE forces, and get to Asseylum, who was with the UE entry team as she had the capability to shut down the Aldnoah drive powering the Landing Castle.

Slaine, however, seems to side with Saazbaum, preventing Inaho from finishing him off, however, after Asseylum deactivates the Aldnoah drive, shutting down both Slaine and Saazbaum's Kataphrakts, he comes upon Saazbaum, who draws hims pistol and shoots Asseylum, apparently killing her.

Infuriated, Slaine shoots Saazbaum several times until his pistol suffers a stovepipe jam. Saazbaum is wounded, but not killed, hit multiple times in the limbs and torso. Saazbaum points to his forehead, inviting Slaine to kil him, but does not, instead, after clearing the jam, Slaine walks over to Inaho and commands him to step back from the princess' body, referring to Inaho as "Orange", after the color of his KG-6 Sleipnir training mech. Inaho does not move away from Asseylum, only responding "Bat", referring to the bat-wing design of Slaine's Sky Carrier, and draws his sidearm. Slaine, however, shoots Inaho in the head before he can fire, apparently killing him.

The fate of Inaho and Saazbaum are unknowN after this point, though it can be presumed previews of the second season that Slaine escapes the Landing Castle, which has now fallen to UE forces, and that Asseylum was not actually killed, though she appears bound to a wheelchair in the previews.