In humanity's distant future, two interstellar states—the monarchic Galactic Empire and the democratic Free Planets Alliance—are embroiled in a never-ending war. The story focuses on the exploits of rivals Reinhard von Müsel and Yang Wen Li as they rise to power and fame in the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance.
The unexpected stalemate at the Iserlohn Corridor urges the Imperial Headquarters to muster a reinforcement fleet to be immediately sent in support of Reuenthal. Or at least this is what the Imperial crews believe... but as the fleet jumps out from subspace, it becomes clear that Iserlohn is not their destination. Then Mittermeyer, commander of the fleet, announces that they are about to turn the page in the book of history. On Fezzan, people are staring overhead with anxiety as the sky is filled with ships.
Kircheis returns to Reinhard after subjugating a frontier starzone. He wastes no time in asking Reinhard if there's truth in the rumor that he knew of the plans for the nuclear attack on Westerland, but let it happen anyway. With the final battle against the coalition of nobles looming before them, the pair's relationship begins to take a turn like none they have experienced before. Meanwhile, the Lippstadt Nobles Coalition, which had barricaded itself in Geiersburg Fortress, prepares to launch all of its forces in the final battle against Reinhard.
In a sudden public speech from Heinessen directed to all citizens, Chairman Trunicht announces that epoch-changing events are occurring as a most unexpected defector has arrived seeking protection under the ideals of freedom and democracy in the Alliance. Everyone on Iserlohn is puzzled, but Yang has a hunch that makes him feel aggravated. Then, news from Odin casts an ominous shadow across the entire galaxy.
The battle against the Lippstadt Nobles Coalition has ended, and a victory celebration and audience with the war prisoners is being held at Geiersburg Fortress. The guards forbid Kircheis from carrying his firearm inside, even though he always had permission to keep his weapons in Reinhard's presence before. As the war prisoners face Reinhard one by one, Braunschweig's adjutant, Ansbach, enters with his leader's body in a coffin...
The Free Planets Alliance Navy Expeditionary Fleet is fighting a severe supply shortage, and the supply convoy that was sent to save them has been destroyed by Kircheis in a fierce attack. Without their desperately needed supplies, the disheartened Alliance fleet takes a hard hit from the Imperial Navy. As Reinhard's subordinates take out the Alliance fleets one by one, Yang's 13th Fleet is attacked by the Kempff Fleet.
Only a short time has passed since the Alliance's failed invasion of the Empire, and an assassination attempt on Admiral Cubersly, a key figure in the Alliance Navy, further deepens the people's anxiety. On top of that, an accidental explosion the following day takes fourteen young soldiers' lives. Growing discontent has caused revolts to break out on several planets within the Alliance. Bewcock orders Yang to put down these revolts, but before Yang has a chance to deploy, a coup d'état is executed on the capital planet Heinessen.
The Lippstadt Nobles Coalition devises a plan to lure Reinhard's forces away from the Imperial capital, Odin, and capture the emperor while Imperial defenses are spread thin. While the nobles fight among themselves over who gets to lead this strike, the Mittermeyer Fleet lays a minefield that forces the rebels off-course, and then strikes them from behind. The defeated rebels flee to Rentenberg Fortress. Reinhard sends Reuenthal and Mittermeyer to occupy the fortress, but upon arriving, they are forced into close-quarters combat with the notoriously barbaric High Admiral Ovlesser.
After defeating Legrange at the Doria Starzone, Yang's fleet heads to the capital planet Heinessen, which has been taken over by the National Salvation Military Council. Though the council's chairman, Greenhill, understands the severity of the situation, he still believes there's no way Yang's fleet can even penetrate Heinessen's gravitational field because of its specialized defense system, Artemis's Necklace. But Yang had a plan to disable Artemis's Necklace...
After easily putting down a revolt on the planet Shampool, Yang is approached by Commander Baghdash, a Department of Intelligence official. Baghdash informs Yang that the 11th Fleet has joined the coup d'état and is headed his way. While the Yang Fleet and the 11th Fleet engage in the Battle of the Doria Starzone, the coup d'état faction remains steadfast, intervening with military force at a peaceful protest on the capital planet Heinessen.
After easily putting down a revolt on the planet Shampool, Yang is approached by Commander Baghdash, a Department of Intelligence official. Baghdash informs Yang that the 11th Fleet has joined the coup d'état and is headed his way. While the Yang Fleet and the 11th Fleet engage in the Battle of the Doria Starzone, the coup d'état faction remains steadfast, intervening with military force at a peaceful protest on the capital planet Heinessen.
Schönkopf and his subordinates from the Rosen Ritter successfully infiltrate Iserlohn Fortress by disguising themselves as Imperial soldiers on the run from the Alliance. He requests an audience with the fortress's commander, saying he wants to relay some vital information acquired during an espionage mission. The commander, Admiral Stockhausen, gives permission, but the captain of the control room guard grows suspicious...
The Galactic Imperial Navy, led by High Admiral Reinhardt, launches an attack on the Free Planets Alliance. The latter has surrounded them on three sides with forces that double the Imperial Navy's in number, but it has divided into three fleets for its encirclement, so Reinhard executes a strategy to destroy two of the fleets individually. During the battle, the flagship Brünhild taps the Free Planets Alliance's communications and intercepts a message saying "All that matters is that we win in the end."
An Alliance relief fleet is finally heading to the Iserlohn Corridor, but combat forces on the battlefield are limited, and a wrong move could turn fatal. Should the Iserlohn garrison fleet be unable to break the blockade imposed by Kempff's ships, the reinforcements from Heinessen would be easily destroyed. On the command bridge of Iserlohn, Caselnes and his officers animatedly discuss the countermeasures, but what sounds like the best plan comes from somebody most unexpected.
With the return of Yang to the battlefield, the Imperial fleet increasingly loses momentum and is now on the verge of collapse. Admiral Kempff has to come to terms with the fact that his forces are no longer capable of holding the front line, and sends an order of general retreat to all ships. But this is not necessarily an admission of defeat, because he has one last card to play.
The Imperial invasion force returns to the capital Odin, where Reinhard shows very different treatment to the personnel involved in the operation. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with the new leadership is unexpectedly growing in the heart of one who was once the Empire's most loyal war hero. At Iserlohn Fortress, where peace has temporarily been restored, Yang and Julian have a very frank conversation, and Julian reveals the path he has chosen.
Animosity continues to grow between Reinhard and Lichtenlade, the guardians of the young emperor Erwin, and the pure-blooded noble families with Braunschweig and Littenheim at their center. In the midst of all this, Hilda, the only daughter of Count Mariendorf, visits the Fleet Admiral's Mansion on Odin to meet with Reinhard. When he asks what brought on the sudden visit, she tells him that the Mariendorf household would like to side with Reinhard in the civil war that could break out at any moment.
The Free Planets Alliance counters the Galactic Imperial Navy's advance in the Astarte Starzone, still divided into the 2nd, 4th, and 6th Fleets to surround the latter on three sides. The Alliance top brass are certain that their victory is assured, but 2nd Fleet Deputy Staff Officer Commodore Yang predicts the enemy's attack on their divided forces before their encirclement is complete. He offers Vice Admiral Paetta a plan to counter this possibility, but...
With their respective conflicts handily wrapped up, both Yang and Reinhard spend their time in the afterglow counting their regrets.
The Imperial fleet relentlessly conducts their assault on the Iserlohn Corridor, one blow after another. As Caselnes is still struggling with organizing an effective resistance, Imperial armored infantry units have landed on Iserlohn, and threaten to establish a bridgehead. Then, former Imperial admiral Merkatz, who defected to the Alliance, asks to be assigned temporary command of the garrison fleet.
Kircheis suppresses the Castrop Rebellion in only two days of combat, earning a promotion to vice admiral. Meanwhile, Captain Oberstein, having abandoned the commanders at Iserlohn to flee on his own, seeks an audience with Reinhard. Despite Kircheis's misgivings, Reinhard recognizes Obersteins talent as a tactician and takes him on as a subordinate.
When the Free Planets Alliance Navy conquered Iserlohn Fortress, they took two million Imperial soldiers as war prisoners. And during the Battle of Amritsar, the Galactic Imperial Navy took two million Alliance soldiers as war prisoners. A deal has been reached to exchange all of these prisoners at Iserlohn Fortress. Representing the Alliance at the exchange is Yang, the commander of Iserlohn Fortress. Representing the Empire in place of Reinhard, the one who proposed the exchange, is Kircheis. The two men, who have fought one another with equal resourcefulness in battle, meet face-to-face for the first time at the prisoner exchange ceremony.
Kesler reports to Reinhard that the palace has been breached during the night. The sun has yet to rise when Reinhard urgently summons his senior admirals and orders them to keep all fleets ready to go into action at any time. Hilde is now beginning to see the byzantine game of power that is being played in cold-blooded cynicism, but in the midst of this, she overhears communication concerning Neue Sanssouci Chief of Security Molt.
On his way to Fezzan, Julian spends several days at Heinessen. Here, he pays a visit to Bewcock to hand over a strictly confidential letter from Yang, which exposes his conjectures about the possible move the Imperial forces are likely to make. As Julian finally reaches Fezzan, he is immediately mesmerized by the freedom and affluence that surrounds him, and starts seriously wondering whether he will ever be apt to his new mission.
Sub-lieutenant Greenhill, a woman with an unusually keen memory, is added to the crew of the 13th Fleet along with several other highly well-regarded officers. Captain Schönkopf and some members of his regiment, the Rosen Ritter, board a previously captured Imperial cruiser as part of Yang's plan to infiltrate and capture Iserlohn Fortress, disguising themselves as Imperial soldiers being pursued by the Alliance.
The Free Planets Alliance attempted a large-scale offensive within the Galactic Empire, but with a reversal strategy by Reinhard and the Galactic Imperial Navy, they lost three space fleets. Although the 13th Fleet, led by Yang, maintained 90% strength, the other fleets suffered heavy damage. But Lobos, the commander-in-chief, ordered all remaining forces to gather at the Amritsar Starzone, so Reinhard also ordered all of his forces to head there. Yet another battle between the two armies was about to unfold.
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