The impregnable Iserlohn Fortress:
by the Imperial forces in the Iserlohn Corridor,
a huge artificial heavenly body constructed
Free Planets Alliance and the Galactic Empire.
the only navigable route that links the
the Alliance could not invade Imperial territory.
So long as this fortress existed,
For that reason,
to the capture of this fortress.
the Alliance forces had devoted all their energies
Six times in the past quarter century,
they had deployed large scale capture operations,
resulting in countless losses.
but all ended in complete routs,
There were two commanders in Iserlohn Fortress.
Admiral Thoma von Stockhausen.
One was Fortress Commander
stationed at Iserlohn,
The other was the commander of the fleet
Admiral Hans Dietrich von Seeckt.
The two opposed each other at nearly every turn.
disdained and insulted one another,
However, as much as they
they competed with each other for the victory.
when the Alliance attacked,
This resulted in a great many military victories.
Iserlohn hosts two powerful military forces.
garrison fleet led by Seeckt,
These are the offensive
led by Stockhausen.
and the defensive fortress garrison
And their greatest weapon is
the hammer of the thunder god.
the giant cannon called Thor's Hammer,
Capture Iserlohn Fortress...
This was the first command given to Yang Wen-li
as the commander of the newly-formed 13th Fleet.
Aw...
So, you're still asleep.
Please get up, Rear Admiral Yang.
C'mon, get up!
Julian...
If I'm...
If I'm ever elected to the Supreme Council,
a felony to disturb a guy's morning snooze!
the first thing I'll do is write a law making it
What are you talking about?!
you'll be late for your big ceremony!
If you don't hurry,
What big ceremony?
Have you forgotten?
The inauguration of the 13th Fleet!
is an elite unit of our forces.
Gentlemen, the 13th Fleet
Veterans who survived the Battle of Astarte,
to defend our homeland
joining hands with up-and-coming young men,
and crush the Galactic Empire's plans to invade!
Up and coming, my ass.
stragglers and novices," right?
That translates to "scraping together
to capture Iserlohn Fortress.
Word is this fleet's going
just so we can go to our deaths again?
So, we missed getting killed at Astarte
Hey, no whispering!
Who cares?
doesn't show up at his own fleet's inauguration?
First of all, what kind of commander
I dunno about him being the Hero of El Facil,
but it looks to me like he's run away, as usual.
to defend that which we hold dear!
...and so let us fight together
Oh, there you are!
You're late!
Yeah, sorry about that.
C'mon, you're up next!
first commander of the 13th Fleet,
And now, let me introduce the
Rear Admiral Yang Wen-li!
Okay, how do I put this...
Basically...
or "risking our lives."
This isn't about "doing it for the homeland"
It's...
good tea while you're alive,
Since you can only drink
everyone, let's fight so that we don't die, okay?
This commander's a weird one.
He's got common sense, huh?
but it was still unprecedented,
That was typical of you,
for his fleet's inauguration
both the commander being late
and what you said in that speech.
I was panicking.
My mind was blank.
By the way, how's the capture of Iserlohn going?
Is there a possibility of victory...
with half an ordinary fleet?
Well, maybe, maybe not.
Hey, are you keeping it a secret, even from me?
you'll be all the more grateful.
This way, when you find out later,
Okay, fine.
please don't hesitate to ask.
If there are any resources you need to prepare,
I can request them without having to bribe anyone.
I'm sorry! Please, forgive me!
defiling our military!
Defiling our uniforms is the same as
a man who picks a fight with a young girl.
There's nothing more pathetic than
Who the hell are you?
Walter von Schönkopf...
Rosen Ritter regiment might jog your memory.
Perhaps saying I'm captain of the
Careful!
You people seem concerned about getting stains!
You think you can insult us, you son of a bitch?!
of Chairman Trunicht!
We're officers under the direct command
He'll court-martial you!
Please, by all means.
And at that court-martial,
an officer assaulted a civilian?
how about I testify that
Why, you...
I'll take you on, any time you want.
Let's go.
corruption in the military is the same.
Empire or Alliance,
Thank you very much!
The Knights of the Rose, huh?
formed of the children of Imperial exiles,
As a close-combat unit
their battle prowess is unmatched.
However, no fleet can manage them.
You mentioned resources before.
Please procure one Imperial vessel.
I believe we captured some in previous battles.
I'll also need about 200 uniforms.
And...
And?
Those Rosen Ritters in my fleet.
The Rosen Ritters?!
What?
13th Fleet is that man?
The commander of the newly formed
Yes, sir.
Defense Ministry has from Fezzan.
It's the latest report that the
It's been treated as insignificant intelligence, but...
individual movements are insignificant.
Among the stars that shine in space,
also change the map of all the heavenly bodies.
But the appearance of a single fixed star will
Yang Wen-li...
or are you a new, shining, fixed star?
Are you only a planet,
gossiping over drinks, saying...
So, the other fleet commanders were heard
"Yang's fleet going to capture Iserlohn
is like a lion being beaten to death barehanded
by a baby still in diapers."
Well, it's a fair criticism, isn't it?
Y-you think so?
the 5th Fleet says one word,
Still, if old man Bewcock of
everybody will probably shut up.
Oh?
So, how about tonight?
that people won't gossip about?
How about a promotion celebration
but can we do it some other time?
No, sorry, Attenborough,
and I don't have any spare time at all.
We've barely got a day till we ship out,
Okay! Next chance we get, though.
It's Cazerne.
So, how's the fleet commander's seat feeling?
you requested from Personnel.
By the way, about the aide
but I found just the one you want.
Getting you a brilliant young officer was a tall order,
794th class of the Command Academy.
The salutatorian graduate from the
below-average, right?
Not exactly somebody who was
analysis section of the Joint Operations Division.
They're currently assigned to the intelligence
Chief of Staff Greenhill.
Personally recommended by
They'll be sent to you later.
Come in.
Reporting, sir.
Rear Admiral Yang.
I've been assigned as your aide,
Sublieutenant Frederica Greenhill, sir.
Frederica Greenhill?
Don't tell me...
You're Admiral Greenhill's...
Yes, sir.
I heard all about you from Father, Admiral.
Dammit, Cazerne, you did this on purpose.
Sir?
Oh, nothing!
I don't know what to say.
Anyway, I look forward to working with you.
Universal Calendar 798, April 27th:
under the command of Rear Admiral Yang Wen-li,
The Free Planets Alliance's 13th Fleet,
Imperial military's Iserlohn Fortress.
set out to capture the
You gave a bold order, didn't you, Sir?
If he fails, will it mean your resignation?
As it stands, I'll probably be forced to retire
next election for director general.
when they hold the
That's also considering our defeat at Astarte.
Mr. Trunicht's influence is sure to increase.
If that happens,
So, you're gambling on Rear Admiral Yang?
You seem confident about it.
Not as much as you.
Sir, all ships are prepared for launch.
13th Fleet, set sail.
a training mission to outsiders,
Since this deployment is being called
in the opposite direction of Iserlohn Fortress.
we'll start off headed for the Burhan system,
After that, we'll assume this course for Iserlohn.
That will take us two weeks to reach the corridor.
Commodore Fischer, I'll leave that to you.
driving around Heinessen by himself,
Seeing as how they say the admiral gets lost
master fleet manager like old man Fischer.
he's leaving everything to a
Can we depend on this guy or not?
So, that's the plan I've come up with.
Iserlohn Fortress from the outside.
It's impossible to take out the impregnable
and seize its nerve center.
Our only option is to infiltrate
Infiltrate it?
for the commander of the Rosen Ritters?
Admiral Yang, is that the vital duty you have
Yes, exactly.
people still get careless.
No matter how solid a fortress is,
There's a high probability of success.
However...
about the Rosen Ritters?
Admiral, have you heard the rumors
I've had them looked into.
Twelve successive regimental commanders...
with the Imperial forces.
Of those, four died in battle
and afterward retired.
Two were promoted to flag officers,
ran back to the Imperial forces.
The remaining six betrayed our army and
In this expedition as well,
regimental commander may also turn traitor.
rumors are flying that the thirteenth
I'm the seventh traitor, what will you do?
Admiral, if, as the rumors say,
Be embarrassed.
Yes, you will be.
But you won't just be embarrassed, will you?
some way to deal with it?
Can I assume you're thinking of
Not especially, no.
Then you're saying you trust me completely?
Yup!
I'd like to know why you trust me that much.
clashed with some of Trunicht's officers.
I was there the other day when you
I wanted to treat you to a glass of champagne.
Maybe that's the reason.
That's the only reason?
That's insane!
For a mission this important?!
my inability to judge character...
If he turns traitor, it will be down to
vanish from this world.
and a lone, made-up hero will
Admiral!
the fleet management to me.
The admiral has left all of
Now it's our turn to trust him.
Thank you.
May I ask one question?
Go ahead.
I'd like to know what you're after in this battle.
Glory?
A promotion, maybe?
No, I don't think it's a promotion.
To be called "Sir" before the age of 30 is enough.
I intend to retire.
Besides, if I'm alive at the end of this battle,
Retire?!
Yeah...
I'll also get a retirement disbursement.
Well, along with the pension,
and one other, if we eat frugally.
It should be enough to support me
under the present circumstances?!
Are you saying you'll retire
That depends on the circumstances.
our nation will gain a military advantage.
If we succeed in capturing Iserlohn Fortress,
a satisfactory peace treaty with the Empire.
That may allow us to work out
allow me to retire with peace of mind.
If we do, we'd achieve a peace that would
But will that peace be permanent?
"permanent peace" in human history.
There has never been
we've had decades of peace and prosperity.
However, there have been times when
a few decades of peace.
In short, my hope is for, at best,
thousands of times greater
However, I think the odds are
that 10% of that time would involve war.
There is a 14-year-old boy living in my house.
dragged off to the battlefield.
I don't want to see that boy
That's all.
I've heard you were an odd one.
Pardon my saying this, Admiral,
or the greatest sophist since Rudolf the Great?
but are you an exceptionally honest man
Well, I got more of an answer than I expected.
Now that it's come to this, I'll do what little I can,
for the sake of a permanent peace.
Here, I put some brandy in it.
Thanks.
This operation?
Sublieutenant, what do you think of it?
It will succeed! Absolutely!
Why are you so sure?
Eight years ago, you succeeded at El Facil, too.
The heroic young Sublieutenant Yang Wen-li,
El Facil Stellar Region just before it surrendered.
who evacuated three million civilians from the
Is that how they tell it, now?
When you did that, Admiral,
absolute trust in one girl's heart.
you succeeded in planting
because her family home was there.
At that time, I was on El Facil with my mother
a young sublieutenant taking command,
I clearly remember the figure of
because he hadn't the time to eat.
gnawing a sandwich
forgot a long time ago
But I suppose that sublieutenant
brought him coffee in a paper cup
about the 14-year-old girl who
when that sandwich got stuck in his throat.
he drank the coffee that saved his life?
Do you know what he said after
What did he say?
"I hate coffee. I wish you'd given me tea."
Sorry about that.
memory I've heard about.
I see, there's that exceptional
Universal Calendar, May 13th:
into the Iserlohn Corridor.
The Alliance 13th Fleet charged
There's no room for doubt now!
is proof that the rebel army is approaching.
This jamming of our communications
Granting you that, Admiral,
the enemy's position, do we?
even if you deploy, we don't know
a strange transmission.
Your Excellency, we're receiving
What is it?
Sir!
is currently under enemy attack!
A light cruiser dispatched from Odin
They request assistance.
We'll sortie!
We can't wait a moment longer!
Your Excellency, please wait.
Captain Oberstein, the new man.
What is it?
Shouldn't we be cautious?
What?
This appears to be an enemy diversion.
and see what develops.
We should wait here a little longer
If we go out, the enemy is waiting.
Are you saying that if we fight, we'll lose?!
Not at all.
Then what?!
As soldiers, it is our duty to fight!
Not to mention to help an ally in distress!
What's your decision, Admiral Seeckt?
Your officer makes a good point.
perhaps we should wait a bit longer.
While we don't know if that ship's friend or foe,
I am the fleet commander! I will decide!
All ships: Deploy at once!
so you have to retreat!
I hope they give you lots of trouble
Looks like the enemy got impatient and came out.
Number of ships, approximately 15,000.
That's nearly the entire fleet on station.
the enemy they're facing,
While they don't know the strength of
to keep the battle line from extending too far.
they're charging in with all the firepower they have
Admiral, we're all set.
You may give the order to sortie at any time.
only impatient ones, huh?
Wow, seems the enemy aren't the
from that light cruiser from before.
Your Excellency, there's another message
but are still under attack from the rebel forces.
They've managed to get close to the fortress,
They're requesting assistance.
What's happened to the station fleet?
Communications remain blocked.
Dammit, Seeckt, where are you wandering about?
Prepare to open fire!
Sir!
Don't use the main guns.
We have a friendly vessel here.
Yes, sir!
Attention, air defense personnel!
All gun turrets, prepare to open fire!
Surface floating batteries!
Your Excellency!
an enemy fleet outside the orbit of Anshar,
We're picking up what looks like
the fourth planet in the Tiamat system.
So, there they are. Good!
Head for them at once.
Ship silhouette, confirmed!
Magnify the image.
It's the Bremen, a light cruiser from our forces.
I think the ships behind it are the rebel army.
Open fire!
Don't hit the friendly ship!
Wait, make the situation clear to each gun turret!
Sir!
The rebel army isn't coming into firing range.
The rebel army is retreating!
the power of this fortress from their last six defeats.
It's because the rascals know all too well
A message from the cruiser.
Read it!
Sir!
"Appreciate your assistance.
Our ship is heavily damaged.
Request emergency port entry."
Good, guide them into port.
Looks like they managed to get in.
The real question is what happens next.
If he really is a Knight of the Rose, he can do it.
key military position
Iserlohn Fortress was the Imperial forces'
located between the Empire and the Alliance.
tried to capture it with large armies,
Six times in the past, the Alliance forces
with each attempt ending in failure.
Iserlohn Fortress with a half-sized fleet,
And now, charged with capturing
Yang's strategy began to unfold.
To be continued next time...
The Knights of the Rose
NEXT EPISODE
Iserlohn Fortress, said to be impregnable.
And so begins the operation to capture
the others face an unforeseen situation!
But after infiltrating, Schönkopf and
Next time, on Legend of the Galactic Heroes,
"Iserlohn Captured!"
Episode 7:
Another page turns in the history of the galaxy.
Iserlohn Captured!
Next Legend of the Galactic Heroes