Fire!
Block RU-77, damaged!
send help for the wounded!
Assess the damage and
Hurry!
No life signs detected in block!
That can't be!
gathered in there!
We had over four thousand troops
They've been annihilated!
I can't believe this!
Repairs to the hull are impossible at this time,
but the liquid metal layer is naturally recovering.
However, it's penetrating Block RU-77.
We have no choice! Abandon the block!
off-limits to non-combatants!
And declare all blocks near the hull
Acting Commander!
How should we counterattack?
Counterattack?!
We have no choice, do we?
We can't sit here and wait for the second blow!
But you saw just now!
we'll destroy each other!
If both sides fire their main guns,
Exactly!
they won't go firing their main gun so recklessly!
And if we teach that fear to the enemy,
That will put us into a stalemate and buy us time!
We can't show the enemy weakness now!
Right... You're right.
Prepare to fire Thor's Hammer!
Begin energy charge!
Energy charge, complete! Target, locked!
Fire!
for the 1st Fleet to sortie?
Then, you won't give permission
Of course not.
how would we defend the capital?
If the 1st Fleet were moved,
Much as it shames me to mention it,
during the coup d'état last year,
we had several fleets stationed in the capital
but the coup d'état still happened, didn't it?
the capital's defenses wide open.
Even so, we can't just leave
the Artemis Necklace, is gone now-
At any rate, Heinessen's last hope,
But if we don't mobilize the 1st Fleet,
have Admiral Yang lead?
which troops are we going to
security forces of each stellar region.
You can muster the police and
That should give you five or six thousand, right?!
But...
National Defense Committee's decision.
At any rate, it's the
the parameters I've just given you.
You are to deal with this only within
Don't misunderstand your role!
Chairman!
we'd have about five thousand or so ships,
True, if we gathered the independent units,
but it would be a thrown-together, ragtag fleet.
but please don't go to too much trouble.
I can't say it will be enough,
mobilizing the 1st Fleet, even within the military.
The truth is, there's strong opposition to
because of his wounds from last year.
Director Kublesree has been hospitalized again
We have no allies.
he'll be forced to resign.
If he's hospitalized for too long,
I'll be an isolated, powerless old man.
If that happens,
You have me.
And I appreciate it.
Four independent squadrons?
but I do know Rear Admiral Morton.
I don't know these two commodores,
of the 9th Fleet, right?
He was the deputy commander
Yes, during our defeat at Amritsar,
the complete destruction of his fleet.
he took command and avoided
He's a fairly cool customer.
this Rear Admiral Alarcon before?
And where have I heard of
slaughtered civilians and POWs.
He was court-martialed for having
Oh, yeah...
due to lack of evidence, right?
They dismissed the trial
He'll probably be hard to use, but...
No, sir, forces are forces.
rendezvous with these units.
Anyway, let's set out and
I'm counting on you.
I wonder how they'll come at us next?
their fleet and challenge us to a fleet battle,
First of all, while there is a way for them to mobilize
the probability isn't that high.
they'll just fall prey to the main gun.
If they move the fleet carelessly,
So, then...
of electromagnetic waves and jamming signals,
At the moment, with the surrounding sectors so full
are limited to optical methods.
communications and search
a small vessel with infantry in
They're likely considering how to sneak
to infiltrate through cracks in our defenses.
What's the defense commander's opinion?
The chief-of-staff's opinion is reasonable.
let's not wait for the enemy to come.
However, if I may add,
of the same trick from this side.
We should take advantage
What are the guest admiral's thoughts?
Report from Observation Post 24:
descent to the fortress' surface.
Enemy infantry unit has begun
We need to mobilize our own infantry.
Rear Admiral Schönkopf, if you would, please?
Why does the enemy have to move so fast?
Linz!
Yes, sir!
Muster the Rosen Ritters, ASAP!
I'll take direct command.
to personally engage in hand-to-hand combat.
Hey, there's no need for the defense commander
Stay here.
I'm just going to go get a little exercise.
I'll be right back.
How naive!
R-Rosen Ritters!
The Rosen Ritters?!
Those Knights of the Rose!
The Rosen Ritters!
Run!
W-withdraw!
Wait! Don't follow them!
Damn...
Attack!
Blumhardt, send up a flare!
Withdraw!
Our landing force failed?
Well, it can't be helped.
we'd never have to work hard.
If things went as expected,
At any rate, our opponent is Yang Wen-li.
holds in high regard.
He's a man even Duke Lohengramm
Yang Wen-li, eh?
The man's good at running away.
just before the Battle of Amritsar,
The year before last, in a battle
he managed to get away.
He'd won, but still fled.
He's a strange man.
what sort of tricks he might try.
As you'd expect, it's not easy to predict
Except we won't wait for him to try any.
before he tries any annoying plans.
We're taking the initiative to stop him
on what we discussed?
Are preparations proceeding
All that's left is the timing of its commencement.
We managed to drive them back.
about trying to infiltrate infantry and engineers?
Well, how about what we discussed before
No, we can't.
Why not, Chief of Staff?
You took a few of the enemy's engineers prisoner.
What would happen if the situation were reversed?
I get you. There is that risk.
in that battle just now, were they?
Nobody from our side was captured
Much as I'd pray there weren't...
we're treating as KIA are actually dead.
We can't say for certain that those
when you fight in space,
Since bodies aren't always left behind
you end up treating the missing like they're dead.
But even so...
What?
What do we do from now on?
From now on?
until they take a few of us captive.
If we fight, it's only a matter of time
There's no way to eliminate that possibility.
to die to avoid capture.
We can't just order our soldiers
And so?
The secret will leak out eventually.
So, it would be wise to turn that to our advantage.
Shall we lay a trap?
But that's dangerous.
I'm afraid of any tricks we try biting us in the ass.
Let's just watch the enemy's moves a little more.
Right.
then followed with something small-scale.
Anyway, they tried something big,
So, what will they try next, I wonder?
Imperial military is attacking now?
Why do you suppose the
their efforts into domestic affairs now.
I'd think the Empire would be putting
to the expedition itself.
Maybe there's no great significance
Maybe they're just trying out a new tactic.
And they'll be lucky if they win?
Duke Lohengramm himself will come out.
Right, which is why I don't think
to have me called away at just this time.
Rather, I sense that somebody else contrived
You mean, the Empire was behind that, too?
No, it probably wasn't them.
the inquiry was instigated by Fezzan.
According to Chairman Rebelo,
The Empire is thought to be in charge of Fezzan,
we've gotten so far,
but according to the information
to know I'm not there.
the Imperial military doesn't seem
getting the Empire to destroy the Alliance?
Then, you're saying it's possible that Fezzan is
And it might just happen.
bad premonitions is coming true.
Great, another of my
Ah, Julian...
how my family's doing?
sorry, but could you go and see
Every second that passes
how my family's doing?
sorry, but could you go and see
Every second that passes
It's been four days.
brings Admiral Yang closer to Iserlohn!
It's been four days.
brings Admiral Yang closer to Iserlohn!
but I can't leave here.
The kids are probably worried,
Which means victory draws nearer for us!
Yes, sir.
Which means victory draws nearer for us!
Old Man Patrichev is one to talk!
About what?
The first half is right, but I don't buy the second half.
falling before Admiral Yang returns.
He's ignoring the possibility of Iserlohn Fortress
Everybody prefers optimism to pessimism.
That's what's called morale.
to being disheartened.
Well, I guess bravado is preferable
is glare at each other.
Still, all we've done for three days
This isn't how I like to do things.
Are we ready to begin?
Yes, sir!
from the enemy fortress!
Movement! A fleet has deployed
of Thor's Hammer and moving around behind us!
They appear to be skirting the firing range
What's the enemy up to?
meant to draw our main gun onto the fleet,
It's probably a diversion,
to move in and try to attack us.
whereupon they use the chance
So, do we have a countermeasure?
by an enemy fleet's bombardment.
Iserlohn's defenses probably won't be broken
Thor's Hammer trained on the enemy fortress
Then, we should probably keep
floating batteries to attack the fleet.
and we should move the
behind their fortress!
The enemy fleet is circling around
Move the floating batteries to deal with them!
N90 to S90!
Move to NS00/E48!
Floating batteries E68 to W248:
on the surface of Iserlohn Fortress!
Multiple batteries confirmed
They fell for it.
Müller's fleet has arrived at the designated point.
Good! Begin!
It's approaching!
The enemy fortress has begun to move!
I knew it!
Prepare Thor's Hammer! Initiate energy charge!
surface of Iserlohn Fortress!
Thor's Hammer confirmed on the
They're preparing to fire!
The target is this fortress!
Never mind!
Fire the Geiers Haken as soon as possible!
Enemy fortress, still approaching!
Can't they see Thor's Hammer?
Incoming energy wave!
Can't they see Thor's Hammer?
Incoming energy wave!
Gun Turret 79 destroyed! No survivors!
Block LB-29, heavily damaged! Heavy casualties!
Abandon Gun Turret 79.
Rescue the casualties in block LB-29 at once!
Acting Commander!
Fire Thor's Hammer!
Hold fast! Continue!
Are they prepared for mutual destruction?!
Their armor isn't as heavy as ours!
Are they insane?!
Damage report: Block RG-25, heavily damaged,
but not as badly as the previous impact site.
Keep firing!
Has their energy output dropped?
No, something's weird!
Oh, no!
What's wrong?!
liquid metal armor is thickening!
The enemy fortress'
What? That's impossible.
Thor's Hammer has submerged!
Acting Commander,
What?!
What do you mean?!
The enemy fortress is still approaching!
On screen!
What...
Gravity?!
What?
You mean we're having a high tide?
Was this what they were after?
They're using Geiersburg Fortress' huge mass
but strengthen their own armor as well!
to not only seal off our main gun,
Dammit! Behind us!
Enemy fleet, closing in, fast!
They've got us!
Fire! Fire!
to ever breech Iserlohn's hull with ship's cannons!
History will record the Müller Fleet as the first
Müller, you did it!
Stop engines and maintain distance!
Enemy battleship at point B796!
Have Turret 215 open fire!
Enemy fortress has stopped!
because the gravity field's been changed.
Maybe they can't go back
just that they can't do it immediately.
It's not that they can't,
Just deal with it!
The garrison fleet is ready to sortie.
Stand by!
If we wait where we are, we'll be defeated.
Please let us deploy!
Just wait!
Acting Commander!
you'll be prey for Geiersburg's main gun!
If you go out now,
We could sortie from Iserlohn's shadow, right?
There's an enemy fleet there!
Isn't there some blind spot?!
Laser fusion missiles have struck point FZ25!
Outer hull is breached!
Launch Walküren!
within Iserlohn's gravity field,
Once we've secured air superiority
begin landing operations!
with 50,000 armored grenadiers
We'll invade the fortress
and attempt to take the control center.
who will act in concert with our external attack
If this works, the Iserlohn Corridor is ours!
fighter craft from the enemy fleet!
Confirming launch of
Number, approximately 2,000!
Fighter Wings 1 and 2, emergency scramble!
Brother Julian, be careful!
Julian, did you know?
have you marry Charlotte.
Cazerne says he's going to
Please don't tease me!
Charlotte is like my little sister.
For now.
Charlotte will be 18.
But in ten years, when you're 26,
Won't you make a good couple?
and Lieutenant Greenhill is 24.
Admiral, you're 31 now,
You make a better couple.
When will the admiral just tell her?
seize the throne, he'll kill the kaiser, won't he?
If Duke Lohengramm is planning to
No, I don't think he'll do that.
Whatever the politics,
bathe him in humanitarian criticism.
killing a seven-year-old child would clearly
He wouldn't make a foolish choice like that.
I suppose not.
He's a talented man.
have gathered under him.
That's why so many great commanders
at Iserlohn last year, was a fine person, too.
Admiral Kircheis, whom we saw
Yeah...
I felt as if an old friend had died.
When I received the news of his death,
of fellow combatants,
You might call this the hypocrisy
the coexistence of the Alliance and the Empire.
but he might have become a bridge to
I thought so, anyway.
coexistence with the Empire?
Sir, are you hoping for
For the time being, I'm hoping for the war to end.
need to be united into one nation.
All of human society doesn't necessarily
and the Empire existed in peace.
I wouldn't mind it a bit if the Alliance
With a dictatorship?
Dictatorship itself isn't absolutely evil.
It's just another form of government.
The point is to run it for the good of society.
a good government that's efficient and just.
Duke Lohengramm would probably impose
being reformed in that direction.
Actually, the Empire is already
rather than democracies
The truth is, it's dictatorships
that drastically advance government reforms.
That is true.
being united by a dictatorship.
But I think that human society ought to avoid
Why's that?
might have that ability.
For instance, Duke Lohengramm
But what about his heir?
What about his descendants?
will always be a wise one.
There's no guarantee that the ruler
that happen every few centuries.
Rather, they're like singular miracles
shouldn't be ruled by a system
I think that the entire human race
one person's character.
where everything depends on
Hold it!
Oh, you're headed out too, kid?
you're enjoying yourself, aren't you?
Lt. Commander,
to have a philanthropic spirit.
I have a duty to teach the ladies of Iserlohn
then launch on signal.
Unit 28, proceed to magnetic catapult,
Roger!
Be careful the instant you exit the bay!
Launch!
before the admiral comes back!
I won't let Iserlohn fall
Vodka, Rum, Applejack, Sherry, Cognac:
All squadrons assembled, right?
and think about "protecting the nation."
Okay, don't get out of character
Think of the girl you have unrequited love for.
her smiling face again.
Pray that you'll survive to see
some nice devil might protect you, instead.
Do that, and while a jealous god may hate you,
Got that?
Okay!
All right, follow me!
launch all units in Fighter Wing 1!
Once Fighter Wing 2 is away,
Get me a cup of coffee.
Half a spoon of sugar, no cream.
Make it a little weak.
so make it taste good.
It might be the last coffee I ever have,
Y-yes, sir!
the taste of our coffee, we're still okay, aren't we?
As long as there's time to custom order
I suppose.
on my women or my coffee.
Even in death, I refuse to compromise
Acting Commander!
I request temporary command of the fleet.
I think I can make the situation a little easier.
I'll leave it to you. Please see to it.
more intense than expected,
The enemy fighters' resistance is
affecting our forces' dominance.
but on the whole they aren't
You could call it overwhelming.
to the Geiersburg Corridor.
This corridor will finally have its name changed
Or perhaps even to the Kempff-Müller Corridor.
What's the matter with Commandant Kempff?
considering we haven't won, yet.
He seems strangely flippant,
If we take too long, it may end up tripping us up.
I hate to resort to it,
but using that trick may decide this in one stroke.
ram Iserlohn's docking port.
Have some unmanned cruisers
Six should be enough. Ready them, at once!
defensively for the return of Admiral Yang is sound.
I think the acting commander's policy of waiting
that policy on the tactical level.
Accordingly, it is my duty to effectively enforce
For the time being,
who plan to land on the fortress.
we must stop the Imperial forces,
Gentlemen, I request your cooperation.
I support Admiral Merkatz.
I completely support Admiral Yang.
whom Admiral Yang supports.
And therefore, I support Admiral Merkatz,
but to support Admiral Merkatz.
At this point, I have no choice
I'll explain the operation.
Preparations are nearly complete.
Abnormality on the fortress' surface!
What?!
Thor's Hammer?!
Thor's Hammer is a type of floating battery.
to depress the liquid metal
It's possible that, by using magnetism
adjust the optical axis within the firing range,
and then using that as a reflector to
they could fire along that angle!
Fleet, temporarily retreat and regroup!
if we crowd together, they'll wipe us out!
Even if that was a lucky hit,
Turn us to starboard!
Regroup in the blind spot of Thor's Hammer!
Enemy fleet, launching!
What?!
Dammit! We failed to seal the enemy fleet inside?!
Your Excellency, our fleet still has dominance.
You're right.
If they want a fleet battle, then we'll give them one!
Intercept the enemy!
The enemy fleet isn't turning towards us!
It's falling back along the fortress' perimeter!
What?! They're running away without fighting?
Yang is a strange man.
This is a trap.
and lure us into range of Thor's Hammer!
They'll get us to chase after them
Detour around Iserlohn, counterclockwise!
We'll head off the enemy fleet!
Damn! This is a trap, too?
Come about and rise!
Incoming!
Enemy fleet charging in from 4 o'clock!
Evasive, up and down!
It's no use!
Close ranks!
with weakly armed and armored ships inside!
Take a spherical formation,
reinforcements will be here, soon!
If we can hold out,
What's Müller doing?
We can't fire the main gun.
Our own forces would be caught in it!
Eichendorff! Patricken!
Sir!
We can't just watch him get killed.
deploy, and save that brat Müller!
Take command of 8,000 reserve ships,
Yes, sir! Moving out!
The commandant seems a little flustered now.
but if he should fail...
If it succeeds, it will be an unmatched feat,
but maybe even given a desk job.
He'd not only get demoted,
reaching Mittermeyer and Reuenthal's level.
And then he'd have to give up ever
from Geiersburg Fortress.
Reinforcements are launching
and try for a one-point breakthrough!
Good! We'll act in concert with their attack,
Concentrate gunfire!
Don't make it too hard for them to escape.
Open a slight path for them.
and concentrate fire on their rear.
Now, maintain a concave formation
to deplete their forces even a little,
We shouldn't miss a chance
but don't pursue them too far.
retreated to the fortress.
The enemy fleet seems to have
And our ships are returning in turn.
Admiral Merkatz is impressive.
so much talent assembled on its side.
Yeah, it's unfair that the enemy has
You fought well, but that's all you did.
you accomplish nothing.
If you can't bring it to fruition,
Y-yes, sir...
Is that clear?!
For now, withdraw to the rear!
all the glory for himself, is he?
He isn't planning to hog
What will we do, Your Excellency?
We have to follow our orders.
Not much we can do.
Besides, we need to regroup our wounded fleet.
requesting a situation report.
Your Excellency, headquarters is
What shall I tell them?
"Our forces have the advantage."
Sir? Just that?
They don't need any more than that.
Tell them our forces have the advantage.
Yes, sir!
Is that true?!
but a dying POW with a high fever said it.
I can't vouch for its accuracy,
He died soon after, so we can't verify it.
But is it even possible?
That fearsome man isn't in the fortress?
Is Yang Wen-li really that fearsome a man?
so much as a drop of your allies' blood?
Could you capture that fortress without spilling
No, sir.
Then Yang Wen-li is definitely a fearsome man.
shouldn't we, Lt. Commander?
We should show a great enemy suitable respect,
There's no shame in our doing that.
Yes, sir.
the enemy fleet a little while ago, wasn't it?
By the way, his battleship was among
Yes, sir, it was definitely Yang Wen-li's flagship.
Even so, look how troubled our Imperial forces are
that man Yang Wen-li is here.
over the question of whether or not
He deserves to be called "Yang the Magician."
Universal Calendar 798,
Reich Calendar 489, April 15:
Fortress vs Fortress
The battle lines were again set.
NEXT EPISODE
Yang rushes back to Iserlohn.
the reinforcements' arrival,
Meanwhile, having learned of
and break out of the corridor in one fell swoop.
the Imperial forces plot to turn it to their advantage
has seen through their plan.
But someone aboard Iserlohn Fortress
Next time, on Legend of the Galactic Heroes,
"The Return"
Episode 34:
Another page turns in the history of the galaxy.
The Return
Next Legend of the Galactic Heroes