In preparation for a siege of Geiersburg Fortress,
the implacable Lippstadt allied forces
the colony planets under their control.
now intensified the exploitation of
had loosened because of this civil war.
But the masses intuited that the yoke of noble rule
one of Duke Braunschweig's territories,
Even here in Westerland,
the trend towards defiance was growing.
clamped down even harder,
Baron Scheidt, the duke's nephew who ruled there,
and the baron was killed by the commoners.
but that provoked large-scale insurrection,
That news enraged Duke Braunschweig.
How dare those commoners kill my nephew?!
of living in my territory?!
Have they forgotten the blessings
a hammer blow of justice!
I'll deal those ungrateful commoners
Launch a nuclear attack on Westerland!
Don't let a single person survive!
But that's...
but using thermonuclear weapons on a planet
Your Excellency, your anger is understandable,
nearly exterminated the human race.
has been taboo since the Thirteen Day War
Your Excellency?
And isn't Westerland your own territory,
is unreasonable!
Wholesale slaughter of the populace
We could just punish the ringleaders!
Shut up!
Westerland is my territory!
I have the right to do with it as I please!
With this, the Goldenbaum Dynasty is finished.
How can it stand when it cuts off its own limbs?
What?! You heard Ansbach say that?
Yes, sir, that the Goldenbaum Dynasty is finished.
Even if he is your chief retainer,
deserves death, Uncle!
saying something so inauspicious
Even Ansbach...
Fine, arrest him!
Lock him up till I can investigate this later!
is requesting an audience.
By the way, Admiral Merkatz
Merkatz?
He wants to talk about Westerland, I believe.
I won't see him! Tell him I'm unwell!
we infiltrated into Geiersburg.
I have a report from a subordinate
I see...
They've begun to isolate Merkatz.
Yes, sir.
Braunschweig's repository of wisdom,
And Commodore Ansbach, who could be called
has been cut off.
we can't ignore the Westerland matter.
Good as that news is,
and stop the attack.
We must dispatch a fleet at once
Please wait, Your Excellency.
to carry out this brutal attack.
We must rather allow the crazed Braunschweig
What?
we prove the inhumanity of the nobles
And then, with footage of it,
under their rule and in their forces' ranks.
and foment dissent among the commoners
It would be more effective than stopping the attack.
Are you suggesting we leave Westerland to die?!
If this civil war ends in victory for the nobles' side,
will be repeated again and again.
the same sort of brutal acts
it will show that they are unfit to rule space.
By exposing it to the entire empire,
already clear to anyone's eyes?!
But isn't the outcome of this war
conclusively capture Geiersburg.
Except that we cannot
resist a siege to the last man,
If the enemy intends to
our long supply lines will put us at a disadvantage.
I know!
to cause discord in their ranks?
Isn't that why we're working
to secure a deciding factor.
This offers us the means
But there are two million citizens on Westerland!
Women and children among them...
They'd be...
Your Excellency, think about it rationally.
While those two million lives would be lost,
if this civil war drags on.
it's clear that many more will die
Please consider that!
a simple matter of numbers!
You can't discuss peoples' lives as
Your Excellency...
You're going to be a ruler, Your Excellency.
sacrifice some for the greater good of all.
And there are times when a ruler must
Machiavellianism, isn't it?
That's the logic of rudimentary
Rudimentary perhaps, but fundamentally true.
Your Excellency, make the decision now!
of the whole empire.
For the sake of the 25 billion citizens
Your Excellency!
When will the attack on Westerland begin?
In about six hours.
Have the fleet stand by to move out.
Your Excellency!
Don't misunderstand.
till the very last minute.
The decision is that they will wait
Leave me until I call you.
Kircheis...
ever allow me to do this.
If you were here, you'd never,
Is this the path we chose?
to Westerland, at once.
Dispatch a reconnaissance craft
And do it secretly.
Yes, sir.
Make sure it arrives within four hours, all right?
Yes, sir, four hours.
I'm glad we drove out the nobles,
but the question is now what will we do?
a friend to the people, don't they?
They say that Marquis Lohengramm is
Let's ask him to protect us.
That's it!
That's good!
It's all we can do.
Mama, what's that?
Hey, that's...
This is...
What's the meaning of this?!
It seems that the enemy attacked early.
I'm afraid that the dispatched fleet was too late.
What?!
Then how did we get this video?
I sent out ahead as a precaution.
It's from a reconnaissance ship
Oberstein!
We will beam these images throughout the Empire.
whether justice is on our side or the nobles.
Even a child will be able to judge
The nobles have put their own necks in the noose.
Is something the matter, Marshal?
to prevent this, but...
It's true, I never gave a decisive order
You did send the fleet to prevent it.
and the fleet was too late.
However, the enemy attack came early,
That's all it was.
You did this deliberately!
about what's already done.
There's no point in complaining
what's happened as best we can,
What we must do is use
so that those two million sacrifices were not in vain.
your hands dirty, is that it?
You can't conquer without getting
Very well, then.
We'll do as you say.
Your Excellency Kircheis.
Sorry for being out of touch for so long,
Welcome back, Admiral Steinmetz.
I bring you Frontier Sector 17 as a gift.
Please accept it.
I appreciate your saving us the work.
Marquis Lohengramm is also happy,
you promoted to vice admiral.
and is already having
I'm honored, but...
concerning Marquis Lohengramm?
Are you aware of the disturbing rumors
Rumors?
Admiral, this way, please.
What?
massacred Westerland, and Lord Reinhard-
You're saying the nobles' allied forces
Marquis Lohengramm deliberately overlooked it?
For the sake of political propaganda.
But I heard the fleet he dispatched wasn't in time.
was in time, though.
The recon ship that took the video
It may just be rumors,
to record that footage in the first place?
but isn't it odd that it just happened to be there
Marquis Lohengramm how true that is
Admiral, I will confirm directly with
the next time I see him.
issued on the entire fleet.
Until then, I want a gag order
Is that clear?
Yes, understood, sir.
Well, then...
And after you've verified it, what then, Siegfried?
I hope it's a false report.
But if it is the truth...
justice are no longer the same...
When your own justice and Lord Reinhard's
what are you going to do, Siegfried Kircheis?
caused an uproar throughout the Empire.
The massacre on Westerland
was brought into sharp relief,
Duke Braunschweig's brutality
rose proportionately.
while faith in Marquis Reinhard Lohengramm
had become the hero of the Imperial citizenry.
The young hero of the Imperial forces
hitherto controlled by the nobles' allied forces
As all of the colony worlds that had been
Geiersburg was completely isolated.
rose against them simultaneously,
And in Geiersburg itself,
open among the troops,
sabotage and defiance were now
with many deserting to join Reinhard's forces.
one after another,
Surrendering nobles and officers appeared,
suicide was now rampant.
and among the despairing nobles,
It's all so empty.
there were thousands of nobles here,
When the war began,
from Neue Sans Souci.
as lively as if they'd just come here
Exactly.
is just them running away from reality.
All that meaningless merrymaking
It's as pitiful as can be, isn't it?
We'll have to decide soon, won't we?
Decide what?
To die fighting, to take our lives,
to escape to Fezzan...
or else, surrender?
But even if we do surrender now, will the brat-
I mean, will Marquis Lohengramm forgive us?
Not after all that's happened.
True, it would be hopeless empty-handed,
but if we had a gift to offer him...
A gift?
Like, for instance, Duke Braunschweig's head...
after felling a sworn enemy,
They say that, long ago,
some kings made cups of their skulls.
Perhaps I should do the same to the brat!
That's a fine idea!
Indeed!
then everything will go our way!
If we take the brat's head,
Past defeats will be paid back!
Then history will change!
Why don't we challenge them to one last battle?
There's no other path than that!
Isn't that right?!
Yes!
We must go out and make a decisive strike!
Hear, hear!
All or nothing, with one battle!
Uncle!
Yes!
Uncle!
Right! Muster our remaining troops!
We'll commit them to a final decisive battle!
Yeah!
Madness!
take advantage of the fortress
The best strategy is to
that has to bring its supplies here.
to prolong the siege and exhaust an enemy
going out after them now?!
So what point would there be in
You'll just be hastening our defeat, won't you?!
not masters and servants!
First of all, we're comrades,
You, Duke Braunschweig,
giving what seem like orders to impose your will
seem somehow confused,
not to invite the worst possible situation!
on a military expert who is advising you
I have no use for cowards who are afraid of death!
to the Empire, follow me!
Those who have true loyalty
Aye!
Admiral Merkatz!
Are you going as well, Your Excellency?
Yes.
But why?
You must see that this is a reckless battle.
as a soldier for over 40 years.
I have served the Goldenbaum Dynasty
then my final duty is to share its fate.
If it's to be destroyed,
It's my clumsy way of making amends.
Your Excellency!
Vice Admiral Fahrenheit, you're still young.
You mustn't sacrifice yourself for a dying dynasty.
Stay alive.
Stay alive, and live your life as a soldier.
Admiral Merkatz...
Farewell, we'll never see each other again.
Go forth!
All personnel, fight them to the death!
So, here they come.
As predicted.
and Müller's three fleets intercept!
Have Mecklinger's, Kesler's,
Your Excellency, we have no opening!
Stand fast! I don't care how many we sacrifice!
Unexpectedly stubborn, aren't they?
fighting for their lives, now.
They've become cornered rats
This is their fifth charge, isn't it?
Yes, sir.
It won't be long, now.
The enemy is taking the offensive again.
push the enemy back in one stroke!
Right! Have the three forward fleets
has reached its limit.
It seems the enemy's offensive
Now! All ships, attack!
Maximum battle speed!
All fleets, follow me!
Why don't we join the chase, as well?
Have the fleet close ranks. Protect the rear!
Sir!
when he stands on the front lines, can't he?
Marquis Lohengramm can shine
It seems it's begun.
with Marquis Lohengramm!
We've decided to throw in
You soldiers guarding the main gun control room,
you saw Westerland, didn't you?!
you should point your weapons at!
Think carefully about who
Don't shoot! We'll cooperate, too!
Understood!
for the fortress' main gun.
Our infiltrator has occupied the control room
Dispatch landing craft and occupy the fortress.
Yes, sir.
Don't let Braunschweig escape!
We can't return to Geiersburg, now.
Call out the golden-haired brat!
Open a comm line!
What do you intend to do?
single combat, ship-to-ship!
To challenge him to fair and honorable
Single combat?
Yes!
but we could salvage this situation by killing him!
He has us outnumbered now,
It's no use!
except offers of surrender!
They're not accepting any messages
How dare they belittle me?!
Fine! It needn't be the brat!
or Heterochromia Reuenthal!
The Sturm Wolf will do,
of the Schwarz Lanzenreiter into doing it!
I know! We might be able to easily bait Bittenfeld
Please, sir, enough!
What will fighting them get us?
someplace to fall back to, and be glad for our lives!
Right now, we should be thinking of finding
Shut up! I don't care about my life, now!
in battle with a renowned enemy!
Besides, it would be a glorious death
aesthetic of destruction for a noble of the Empire?!
What more perfect way can there be to fulfill the
"Aesthetic of destruction"?
It's nonsense like that that's lost us this war!
I'm sick of it!
Do it by yourself!
to die in vain for your narcissism!
There is no reason for us
What?
You son of a-
Long live the Empire...
Captain, now what will you do?
At this point, I'm sick and tired of fighting.
even if I have to live plowing reclaimed land.
I'll escape to Fezzan,
Can we come with you?
I owe you my life.
Of course I don't mind,
but anyone who doesn't want to, please say so.
You're free to decide what you wish to do.
Please, don't! Don't throw your life away!
Lt. Commander Schneider...
Forgive me.
I removed your gun's energy pack, as a precaution.
You were prepared for it to come to this.
Still, when did you remove it?
I didn't notice it at all.
So, you tricked me.
You'd go that far to tell me not to die?
Yes, sir!
But as a soldier, I know shame.
to Marquis Lohengramm at this point.
I think I'm too proud to surrender
Marquis Lohengramm doesn't control all of space.
beyond even his reach.
There are places in this galaxy
and making a comeback there.
Please, consider preserving your life
You're saying I should defect?
Yes, Your Excellency.
you don't mean for me to defect to Fezzan.
And when you say "comeback," I assume
No, sir.
The Free Planets Alliance?
calling them a rebel army.
But I've fought them for over forty years,
Would they even accept me?
Let's rely on Admiral Yang Wen-li.
I hear that he's eccentric, but a tolerant man.
Yang Wen-li?
And if it doesn't work, you won't be alone,
because I'll be at your side, too.
Don't be absurd. You have your life.
Have you even turned thirty, yet?
might give you an important position.
If you have talent, even Marquis Lohengramm
I don't hate Marquis Lohengramm,
are my commander, Your Excellency.
but I've decided that you alone
Please, Your Excellency, make your decision.
All right, then.
Let's put our trust in Yang Wen-li.
Hello?
Is anybody here?
Your Excellency!
It's me, Ansbach.
Ansbach!
So, here you are.
so I thought you'd escaped.
You weren't in your cell,
but I had my subordinates release me.
Forgive my impudence,
Fine, it's all right.
Anyway, we've no choice, now.
We need to make peace!
"Peace," did you say?
Yes.
We recognize the brat's hegemony,
will support him completely.
and all the nobles who began with me
I know! Elisabeth!
I'll give him my daughter!
of the late kaiser, Friedrich IV.
If I do that, he'll become a grandson-in-law
without the dishonor of usurpation.
Then he can ascend the throne
That's not a bad deal, is it?
It's futile.
doesn't need the support of any nobles.
Marquis Lohengramm probably
You mean...
You mean, he intends to kill me, no matter what?
among the imperial nobility?!
I, the head of a distinguished family without equal
Don't you understand yet?
Marquis Lohengramm can't let you live!
For that reason alone,
With Westerland as the example,
cruel treatment and exploitation of the masses!
the imperial nobility will be purged for its continual
He has to do it in his position.
I understand.
Then I shall die.
But I cannot allow that brat to ascend the throne!
don't allow him to usurp it!
Ansbach, whatever it takes,
Promise me that, and I won't regret my life!
Understood.
Marquis Lohengramm cast into Hell.
I swear, you will see
Please, wait in Valhalla.
I see...
I see, good.
By the way...
I was hoping for a painless death.
Poison will do for that.
I actually took the liberty of preparing some.
A-Ansbach, I th-think...
he might spare my life.
P-perhaps, if I gave him my territories and fortune,
I... I... I...
I don't want to die!
What are you doing?!
How dare you?!
can't you at least die like a man?!
As the last of the distinguished families,
No! Stop, please!
to the medical room.
All right, carry the duke's body
Sir? But he's already dead.
That's why you must! Do as you're told.
With this, the Goldenbaum Dynasty has truly fallen.
a Lohengramm Dynasty must follow.
But it is not yet decided that
Secure the artwork that the nobles brought.
We mustn't let it be damaged by war!
Sir!
reduced to such a miserable state.
I never imagined I'd ever see high nobles
Can we say that this is the beginning of a new era?
it's definitely the end of the old one.
At the very least,
I'm sick of them...
With this, the nobility is finished.
Yes, their time is over.
Now comes our time.
Universal Calendar 797,
Reich Calendar 488, September:
Geiersburg Fortress fell.
Lippstadt Coalition were defeated.
It was here that the forces of the
The Fall of the Goldenbaum
NEXT EPISODE
the capital planet of Heinessen,
A billion civilians are held hostage on
Artemis Necklace defense system.
which is protected by the
Yang detests bloodshed,
surrender without resistance?
so what will his plan be to make them
Next time, on Legend of the Galactic Heroes,
"Victory, For Whose Sake?"
Episode 24:
Another page turns in the history of the galaxy.
Victory, For Whose Sake?
Next Legend of the Galactic Heroes