Chapter Seven Interlude I The person that represented the interests of the Galactic Empire within the Dominion of Fezzan was the Imperial high commissioner (帝国高等弁務官), CountJochen von Remscheid (レムシャイド伯ヨッフェン).

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This n.o.ble with whitish hair and nearly transparent eyes was dispatched from the Imperial capital Odin when Rubinsky became the landesherr. Behind his back, people called him the “white fox.” Needless to say, the term was meant to contrast Rubinsky’s nickname, the “black fox.” Tonight, he accepted Rubinsky’s unofficial invitation. The location he was invited to was not Rubinsky’s office or his official residence. In fact, it was not even at his private residence. A quarter of a century ago, this location was still a salty-smelling basin in the mountains, but today, it was a manmade lake. Lakeside, a villa legally unrelated to Rubinsky was constructed, and its owner was one of Rubinsky’s many mistresses. “Landesherr, how many mistresses do you have?” Someone once asked him. Rubinsky did not respond immediately, and he appeared to have seriously pondered it. Then, he gave a cheerful, shameless smile, and answered: “I would not be able to count them without counting by the dozen.” Even though it was an exaggeration, he was not just bragging. The impression his appearance gave people was that his mind and body were not meant to betray him at all. Rubinsky lived life on the principle of enjoying life to its fullest. He loved mellow liquor, cuisine that melted on the tongue, music that tugged at the heartstrings, and graceful, beautiful women. However, these were only his secondary entertainments. His favorite activity was something else. The game of politics and strategy was a game where the fates of nations and people were played as invisible chips. That game could bring him excitement that neither wine nor women could. Rubinsky considered sophisticated Machiavellianism to be a form of art. Threatening someone with armed forces, on the other hand, was the lowest of the low. In that respect, while the Empire and the Alliance posted different messages on their billboards, there was no real difference between them. Rubinsky often nastily considered them the two mutually hateful twins born to the monster named Rudolf. “So, Landesherr, you specifically invited us over tonight. Do you have something you wish to discuss?” After placing his wine gla.s.s back on the marble table, Count Remscheid asked. Rubinsky replied while cheerfully observing his expression of vigilance: “Yes. I think you might find this interesting… The Free Planets Alliance is plotting a full-scale invasion on the Empire.” The Empire n.o.ble needed a few seconds to comprehend the meaning of that response. “The Alliance?” After he uttered that, the count noticed and restated his words. “Your Excellency, did you say the rebels are plotting an insubordinate act against our Empire?” “After capturing the Iserlohn Fortress that your Empire was so proud of, the Alliance’s belligerence seems to have boiled over.” The counts eyes narrowed slightly. “Since they are occupying Iserlohn, the rebels do possess a bridgehead within the Empire’s territory. That is a fact. However, it might not immediately be tied to a full-scale invasion.” “Yet, the Alliance are clearly preparing for a large-scale attack.” “What do you mean by large-scale?” “More than twenty-million servicemen strong. No, it might be more than thirty-million servicemen strong.” “Thirty-million.” The Imperial n.o.ble’s near colorless eyes flashed white under the lights. Even the Imperial Fleet would not be able to mobilize a military of that size on short notice. This was not simply a matter of quant.i.ty. It also involved the ability to organize, manage, and operate a fleet of that size. Did the Alliance possess such capabilities? Whatever the case may be, this was definitely an important piece of intelligence… “But, Landesherr, can you tell me why you are sharing this kind of intelligence with me? Do you have an ulterior motive?” “High Commissioner’s words are a little unexpected. Did my Fezzan ever do anything to disadvantage the Empire?” “No, not that I can recall. Of course, the Empire has complete trust in Fezzan’s loyalty and fidelity.” Both sides were conversing with full knowledge of the hypocrisy Soon after, Count Remscheid departed. His ground vehicle drove hurriedly away. As Rubinsky watched him on the monitor, he let out a malicious laugh. As soon as the high commissioner went back to his office, he would probably send out an urgent message to the Imperial capital Odin. After all, this was not a piece of intelligence that could be ignored. Would the Imperial Fleet that lost Iserlohn become fl.u.s.tered and commence a counterattack? Additionally, would Count Reinhard von Lohengramm lead the counterattack? Preferably, the Imperial Fleet would not win by too much this time. Should that happen, it would actually be troublesome. When he received information that Yang was going to attack Iserlohn with half a fleet, Rubinsky did not notify the Empire. He thought there was no way Yang could have succeeded, and a part of him also wanted to see Yang’s ingenuity. The result amazed even Rubinsky. Apparently there was also that method. Rubinsky was impressed. However, he could not just sit around being impressed. The balance of military power was sloping towards the Alliance, and that must be somewhat brought back to the Empire’s side. It was imperative that they were made to receive more and more damages from the battles. II The Imperial minister of state acting as the interim prime minister, Marquis Lichtenrade, received an overnight visit at his residence from the minister of finance, Viscount Gerlach. The minister of finance visited to report that the matters related to the Castrop Rebellion had been concluded. The Empire’s customs dictated that subordinates could not stay home and report to their superiors via video conferences. “The matter concerning Duke Castrop’s territory and properties have been taken care of for the time being. After converting the a.s.sets to money, they totaled roughly 500-billion imperial marks.” “He sure knew how to h.o.a.rd money.” “Definitely. However, it will all be returned to the treasury. Considering how hard he worked to store that wealth, I find it quite pitiful…” After he thoroughly enjoyed the rich aroma emitted by the red wine, the minister of finance took a sip. The minister of state then put his gla.s.s down, and changed his expression. “I have something I want to discuss with you.” “What is it?” “A moment ago, we received an emergency message from Count Remscheid in Fezzan. The rebel fleet seems to have gone on an all-out invasion against our Imperial territories.” “The rebel fleet!?” The minister of state nodded. The minister of finance put his gla.s.s on the table, and the remaining half a gla.s.s of wine violently shook within the gla.s.s. “That is a serious matter.” “Yes, and also a good opportunity.” The minister of state folded his arms. “We must win this battle. According to the reports from the minister of the interior, revolutionary sentiments are fostering among the commoners again. They appear to have noticed that we lost Iserlohn. To destroy this type of sentiments, we must defeat the rebels to restore the prestige of the Imperial household. We should also offer them something to placate them, such as giving amnesty to thought-criminals, or lowering the taxes, or reducing the alcoholic beverage prices, etc.” “We must not indulge them too much. If you give these people a centimeter, they will take a kilometer. I have read the underground literature from the radicals, and they have been writing outrageous things like ‘men have rights before they have responsibilities.’ If you give them amnesty, they will just become presumptuous.” “Even so, we cannot rule by only tightening the ropes.” The minister of state reproved him. “That is true, but it is still unnecessary to pander to the people… No, let us discuss this at another time. Did the intelligence about the rebel fleet attacking the Empire come from Rubinsky?” The minister of state nodded. “Fezzan’s black fox!” The minister of finance commented with a raised pitch. “Sometimes I feel like the misers in Fezzan pose more danger to the Empire than the rebels. I wonder what they are plotting.” “I feel the same way, but for the time being, we must deal with the threats posed by the rebels. Who should we give the defense responsibility to?” “Doesn’t the blond boy want to do it? You should let him do it.” “Do not be rash. If we give it to that boy and he succeeds, he will become more renowned. If that happens, we will not have the ability to counter him and eliminate him. On the other hand, if he loses, it will place us under an extremely unfavorable situation when we fight the rebel fleet. We may be fighting their thirty-million-people-fleet with their victorious morale at the center of the Empire.” “Your Excellency is too pessimistic.” The minister of finance said, and then he leaned forward and started to explain. After battling Count Lohengram’s forces, even if the rebel fleet emerged victorious, they would not be unscathed. The count, after all, was not incompetent. It was certain that he would deliver considerable damage to the rebel fleet. Additionally, the rebel fleet’s expedition would bring them far away from home, which would make it difficult for them to maintain the supply line, and deprive them of a geographical advantage. After the enemy became battle-weary, then the Imperial Fleet would be able to leisurely intercept them. No, this being the case, there may not even be the need for another battle. They would simply need to drag out the war and cause the enemy to suffer psychological anxiety from the lack of supplies, and the enemies would eventually be forced to withdraw. If the Imperial Fleet then pursued them, victory would not be difficult to obtain. – This was the minister of finance’s opinion. “I see. It is to our advantage if the boy loses. But, what if he wins? He is already out of our control as it is. If he wins the kaiser’s favor and gains another distinguished service, then he will grow to be even more arrogant.” “It may not be a bad thing to let him grow. He is merely an arriviste. We can take care of him anytime we want. It is not as if he can live with his military around the clock.” “Hmm…” “When the rebel fleet is eliminated, the blond boy will fall too. While we need him, why not make use of his talent?” The minister of finance said cold-heartedly. III August 12, 796 UC. A council of war was held in the Free Planets Alliance capital, Heinesen, regarding the invasion of the Galactic Empire. Fleet Admiral Sithole and thirty-six of his officers gathered in the conference room in the bas.e.m.e.nt of the Joint Operations Headquarters. The commander of the 13th Fleet, Yang Wen‑li, was also among them. He was recently promoted to the rank of vice admiral. Yang was still gloomy. As he told Captain Schönkopf before, he thought with the fall of Iserlohn, the risk of additional wars would fade away. The truth was the complete opposite of what he believed. Yang felt he was too young and too naïve. Even so, regarding the current invasion proposal, Yang still could not bring himself to acknowledge the logical justification of the war expansion theory. The victory at Iserlohn was only Yang’s personal success. The Alliance Fleet was not necessarily equipped with the appropriate skills for the invasion. Furthermore, not only was their military fatigued, the reality was that the support structure for their national strength was also on the decline. However, Yang was aware of the fact that none of this was understood by the leadership in the government or the military. Military victory is like a drug. The luscious drug by the name of the-occupation-of-Iserlohn seemed to have blossomed the belligerent hallucinations lurking in the minds of the people in one fell swoop. Even the ma.s.s media that should have remained calm were unanimously calling for the “invasion of the Imperial territory.” But, that could also be the result of clever information manipulation by the government… Perhaps, too little was lost in the capturing of Iserlohn, Yang thought. If that was the result of the blood of tens of thousands of people, then the public would have said, “Enough is enough.” They would say, “We won, but we are tired. It is time to take a break, remember the past, and plan for the future. There is nothing else worth fighting for.” However, that was not what happened. What people were thinking now was, “The victory came easily, and the fruit of victory is delicious.” Ironically, the person who caused the public to think that was Yang. It was a situation wildly against the will of the young vice admiral, so recently the amount of alcohol he had been consuming increased. The lineup of the expeditionary force had not been officially announced, but it had been decided. The commander-in-chief would be undertaken by the Alliance chief s.p.a.ce Fleet commander (宇宙艦隊司令長官), Fleet Admiral La.s.salle Lobos (ラザール・ロボス). He was second only to Joint Operations Chief Sithole in the military chain-of-command, and he had been rivaling Sithole for over a quarter of a century. The position of the vice commander was not appointed. The person occupying the position as the chief of staff would be Admiral Dwight Greenhill, Frederica’s father. Under his command, there were: Chief of Staff for Operations (作戦主任参謀), Vice Admiral Konev (コーネフ); Chief of Staff for Intelligence (情報主任参謀), Rear Admiral Virolainen (ビロライネン); and Chief of Staff for Logistics (後方主任参謀), Rear Admiral Cazerne. For Alex Cazerne, who was renowned for his administrative capabilities, this was his first front-line duty in a long time. There were five operations staff officers appointed to the operations staff team. Among them, Commodore Andrew Falk (アンドリュー・フォーク) was a prodigy who graduated summa c.u.m laude from the military academy six years ago. He was the young officer who first drafted this expedition plan. There were three intelligence staff officers and three logistics staff officers respectively. The above sixteen officers, along with the high ranking adjutants and other important communications and security personnel, const.i.tute the general headquarters. Eight s.p.a.ce fleets were mobilized as the combat forces. The 3rd Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Lefebvre (ルフェーブル).The 5th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Bewc.o.c.k (ビュコック).The 7th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Horwood (ホーウッド).The 8th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Appleton (アップルトン).The 9th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Al-Salem (アル・サレム).The 10th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Ulanhu (ウランフ).The 12th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Borodin (ボロディン).The 13th Fleet: Commanded by Vice Admiral Yang (ヤン). In addition to the survivors from the 4th and the 6th Fleet that were destroyed in the Battle of Astarte, this time, the residuals from the 2nd Fleet were also incorporated into Yang’s 13th Fleet. Out of the ten fleets within the Alliance s.p.a.ce Fleet, only two fleets would remain at home: the 1st Fleet and the 11th Fleet. Also mobilized in the expedition were the other independent branches that were often collectively referred to as the Army: the Armored Infantry Division, the Air Force, the Marine Corps, the Navy, and the Ranger Corps. Additionally, heavily armed personnel within the National Security Force also partic.i.p.ated. As for non-combat personnel, the maximum number of people possible was recruited from each of the following fields: technology, engineering, supply, communications, administration, maintenance, electronic intelligence, medical services, and lifestyle services. Altogether, 30,227,400 people were mobilized. This meant approximately 60% of the Free Planets Alliance’s entire military, or 0.23% of the Free Planets Alliance’s entire 13-billion-people population was mobilized. Even the battle-tested admirals could not be careless when they were faced with this unprecedented, enormous operation plan. Some could be seen wiping the nonexistent sweat off their foreheads, some drank the prepared chilled water in rapid succession, and some exchanged whispers with their neighboring colleagues. It was 9:45 am. The Joint Operations chief, Fleet Admiral Sithole, and the chief adjutant, Rear Admiral Marinesk, entered the room, and the meeting immediately began. “The expedition into Galactic Empire’s territory had been approved by the High Council…” There was no sense of elation in Fleet Admiral Sithole’s tone or expression as he spoke. The officers attending this meeting were all aware that he was against this deployment. “The expeditionary force’s detailed action plan had not been established, and the meeting today is intended to determine that. It goes without saying that the Alliance Fleet is the free military of a free country. With this mindset, I hope we will have lively proposals and discussions.” Some may have noticed the chief’s distress from his statement lacking in enthusiasm, and some might have felt slightly annoyed by his teacher-like, boring tone. For a while after the chief stopped talking, it was silent. They each seemed to be immersed in their own thoughts. What Yang heard from Cazerne the day before yesterday ruminated in his mind. “At any rate, there is a general election in three months. Since domestic scandals had been continuing for a while, in order to win, it is necessary to divert the attention of the citizens to affairs abroad. Therefore, this expedition.” Yang thought it was a commonplace practice for the rulers to gloss over misgovernment. If Founding Father Heinesen (ハイネセン) knew, he would no doubt mourn. His wish was not to have a fifty-meter-tall white statue of himself erected. What he wanted was to build a social system where civilians’ rights and freedom were not in danger of being attacked by the arbitrariness of those in power. However, just like how humans were promised old-age, perhaps countries have also been promised decadence and degeneration. Yet, even if that was the case, the notion of sending thirty-million officers and men to the battlefield in order to win the election and maintain power for another four years was beyond Yang’s comprehension. Thirty-million people, thirty-million lives, thirty-million destinies, thirty-million possibilities, thirty-million happiness, thirty-million anger, and thirty-million sorrow. – All would be sent to the verge of death, to be added to the ranks of the sacrificed, and the profits would be monopolized by those people in safe places. The unreasonable, aberrant relationship between those who fought wars and those who instigated wars had not been the least bit improved since the start of the civilization. The ancient rulers who risked themselves on the frontlines may have been better than those people. It could be said that the ethics of those who instigated wars continued to decline…… “I believe this expedition is the greatest endeavor since the beginning of our country. To be able to partic.i.p.ate as a general staff officer is an honor. There could be no honor more precious than this for a serviceman.” This was the first statement. The owner of the voice that lacked intonation and sounded as if he was reading monotonously off a script was Commodore Andrew Falk. Although he was a 26-years-old young man, he looked much older than his age. Compared to him, Yang appeared to be younger. His cheeks appeared to be too thin and his complexion was pallid, but his facial features were not bad. However, his upward glances as if he was scoping out a target, and his crooked mouth, caused people to have a slightly gloomy impression of him. Of course, Yang, who was never close to being an honor student may have viewed him through the lens of prejudice. After Falk endlessly praised the military’s greatest endeavor with beautiful words – an endeavor he himself planned – the person who spoke next was Vice Admiral Ulanhu of the 10th Fleet. Ulanhu was the descendent of an ancient Eurasian nomadic group who once conquered half of earth. He was a middle-aged man with a muscular build, and his dark grey eyes shined keenly. Among the various admirals of the Alliance Fleet, he was regarded as a warrior and was popular with the public. “Since we are servicemen, if there is an order to advance, we will go anywhere, let alone attacking the home of the tyrannical Goldenbaum Dynasty. Of course we will go to the frontline with pleasure. But, needless to say, an ambitious endeavor is not the same thing as recklessness. Since careful preparation is essential, I would first like to ask what the strategic purpose of this expedition is.” After invading the Empire’s territory, was it acceptable to engage the enemy in battle? Would the armed occupation of a portion of the Empire be permanent or temporary? If it was permanent, would they need to fortify the occupied territory? Or, after they annihilated the Imperial Fleet and the kaiser swore to maintain peace, would the territories be returned? Most importantly, would this expedition itself be a short-term or long-term operation? “These are the questions I would like to ask.” After Ulanhu sat down, as if they were prompting a response, both Fleet Admiral Sithole and Fleet Admiral Lobos turned towards Commodore Falk. “We will invade deep into the Empire’s territories with a large fleet. That, by itself, will strike terror into the hearts of the Empire’s citizens.” That was Commodore Falk’s response. “Then, do we retreat without a fight?” “For that, I think we should maintain a high degree of flexibility, and address the situation on a case-by-case basis.” Ulanhu frowned with dissatisfaction. “Can you be a little more specific? It is too abstract.” “In short, it is arbitrary and haphazard.” This sarcastic voice caused Falk’s lips to be even more distorted. That was the voice of the 5th Fleet’s commander, Vice Admiral Bewc.o.c.k. Along with Fleet Admiral Sithole, Fleet Admiral Lobos, and Admiral Greenhill, he was one of the few seasoned admiral in the Alliance Fleet. He was not a graduate of the military academy. He was a s.p.a.ceman who worked his way up. Even though he was ranked lower than the other three admirals, both his age and experience exceeded theirs. He had the reputation of being a skilled commander. As expected, Falk still had some restraint. Since Bewc.o.c.k’s statement was not a formal statement, Falk seemed to have decided to respectfully ignore it. “Anything else?” He deliberately asked. After some hesitation, Yang asked to speak. “I want to ask why you chose now as the time to invade the Empire.” Surely Falk would not say it was because of the election, but Yang wondered what kind of answer he would give. “There is a thing called the opportune moment to fight.” Commodore Falk turned to Yang, and began to carefully explain it to him. “If we were to pa.s.s it by, then we would be going against fate itself. One day we will wonder, ‘What if we did that decisively…,’ and it will become a regret of ours, but it will be too late.” “In other words, you believe this is the opportune moment to launch an attack against the Empire?” Although it felt a bit ridiculous to verify the statement like this, Yang asked anyway. “It is a great invasion.” Falk corrected him. He was a man who liked excessive adjectives, Yang thought. “With the loss of Iserlohn, the Imperial Fleet is probably in a panic. At precisely this moment, the Alliance Fleet will lead an unprecedented large fleet in the shape of an enormous snake, and charge in while carrying the flag of freedom and justice. Except for victory, what else could our future possibly hold?” Falk talked as he pointed to the 3D display, and his voice was colored with narcissism. “But, this operation brings us too far into enemy territory. Our formation will become too long, which will cause supply chain management and communication to become difficult. Furthermore, should the enemy attack us from the side of our elongated formation, the enemy can easily divide our fleet.” The tone of Yang’s refute was tinged with enthusiasm, which did not necessarily match his true feelings. The strategic concept itself was inappropriate, so what was the point of considering some implementation detail? …That being said, he could not help but to point that out. “Why do you only emphasize the danger of us being divided? If the enemy attempts to cut through the center part of our fleet, we will use the pincer maneuver to attack them from the front and the rear. There is no doubt that they will suffer a crushing defeat. The danger that poses is insignificant.” Falk’s optimism exhausted Yang. Yang suppressed his desire to say, “Do whatever you want!” and countered further. “The commander of the Imperial Fleet is probably going to be Count Lohengramm. His military talent is unimaginable. Taking that into consideration, should we not plan this a little more carefully now?” Before Falk could reply, Admiral Greenhill chimed in. “Vice Admiral, I understand that you hold Count Lohengramm in high regard, but he is still young. Is it not possible for him make mistakes or fail sometimes?” What Admiral Greenhill said did not seem to be significant to Yang. “That is true, but the result of war is either victory or defeat. If we make more mistakes than he does, then he will win, and we will lose.” What Yang wanted to say was in the grand scheme of things, this idea itself was a mistake. “In any case, that is only speculation.” Falk concluded. “To overestimate the enemy and to fear more than necessary are both extremely shameful for a serviceman. Additionally, if such actions stripped us of our esprit de corps or hindered our actions or decisions, then it would be considered aiding and abetting the enemy, regardless of your intentions. Please take note.” An intense noise sounded. It was Vice Admiral Bewc.o.c.k slamming his palm on the conference room table. “Commodore Falk, your remark is rude.” “How so?” The old vice admiral’s scornful eyes shot towards him, and Falk cowered. “Just because he disagreed with your opinions and advocated for prudence, you called him aiding and abetting the enemy. Is that remark at all gentlemanly?” “I was speaking in general terms. It would be unfortunate if it was taken as slander against a certain individual.” Falk’s thin cheeks twitched. It was clearly visible to Yang, but he did not become angry. “… Most importantly, this expedition is intended to achieve the n.o.ble cause of liberating and rescuing the twenty-five-billion Galactic Empire citizens who are suffering under brutal tyranny. I am compelled to say that those who oppose this expedition are friendly with the empire. Am I mistaken?” Compared to his shrill voice, the other attendees appeared to be temperate, but instead of feeling moved, they were probably just apathetic. “Even if the enemy has a geographical advantage, or if they have a large military, or even if they possess some unimaginable new weapon, we still must not falter. We are the liberation fleet, the protection fleet. Our actions have their basis in a n.o.ble cause. The people of the Empire will welcome us with cheers, and cooperate with us willingly…” Falk’s speech continued. There were no such things as unimaginable new weapons. If one of two opposing camps invented a functional weapon, in most cases, the other camp would have at least considered the theoretical possibility of implementing such a weapon. That was the case with tanks, submarines, nuclear fission weapons, and beam weapons. The sense of defeat from the less advanced camp was often not in the form of, “How is that possible!” but in the form of, “Of course.” Although there was large disparity between the imaginations of the individuals, when viewed as a group, the difference was reduced significantly. Furthermore, the emergence of new weaponry had its basis in the acc.u.mulation of technological capabilities and economic strength, so there was no possibility of a plane being invented in the Stone Age. The term unimaginable was more often used when warfare strategic concepts transformed. Sometimes, the transformations were triggered by the invention or introduction of new weaponry; for example: the ma.s.s utilization of firearms, utilizing an air force to dominate the oceans, and high-speed maneuvers utilizing a combination of tanks and airplanes. That being said, Hannibal’s siege extermination tactics, Napoleon’s piecemeal attacks, Mao Zedong’s guerilla tactics, Genghis Khan’s cavalry group tactics, Sun Tzu’s psychological and intelligence warfare, and Epaminondas’s diagonal phalanx formation utilizing heavy infantry, were all devised and invented without the introduction of new weaponry. Yang was not afraid that the Imperial Fleet would have a new weapon. What he was afraid of was Count Reinhard von Lohengramm’s military talent and the mistake the Alliance Fleet made. – The idea that the people in the Empire sought imaginary freedom and equality over tangible peace and stability. – That was their hope, but not their prediction. There was no reason to take that element into account when forming the strategic plan. Not only was this expedition incredibly irresponsible in terms of the motivation with which it was conceived, the operation itself might become irresponsible as well. Yang thought somewhat dishearteningly. …… The arrangement of the expeditionary fleet had been determined. The vanguard would be Vice Admiral Ulanhu’s 10th Fleet, and the second strike would be Yang’s 13th Fleet. IV As far as Yang was concerned, the meeting ended with nothing accomplished. As Yang was about to leave, the Joint Operations chief, Fleet Admiral Sithole called him over, so he stayed behind. The residue of the wasted energy flowed through the air without a sound. “You’re probably going to say, ‘I should have quit.’” A sense of futility eroded Sithole’s voice. “I was too naïve. I thought if we occupied Iserlohn we would move away from war, but, this is the reality.” Yang was at a loss for words, so he remained silent. Of course, Fleet Admiral Sithole schemed to secure his position and strengthen his voice and his influence through the arrival of peace, but compared to the irresponsible adventurism and political ideas touted by the pro-war faction, Yang was able to empathize with Sithole’s sentiments. “At the end, I was tripped by my own scheme. If Iserlohn had not been captured, the pro-war faction would never have placed such a dangerous bet. I brought it unto myself, but I have also caused you trouble.” “…Are you planning to resign?” “I cannot right now, but once the expedition is over, be it victory or defeat, I will be forced to resign.” If the expedition failed, the top ranking military personnel, Fleet Admiral Sithole, would be compelled to accept the responsibility and resign. On the other hand, if the expedition was a success, the only promotion that could be given to the expeditionary force commander, Fleet Admiral Lobos, would be to promote him to Joint Operations chief. Additionally, since Fleet Admiral Sithole was opposed to the expedition, he would be given an honorable retirement, and chased out of his position. Whatever the outcome, his future had already been determined. The only thing Sithole could do was to gracefully prepare for the worst. “The only thing I can say now is I hope this expedition fails with minimal sacrifice.” “……” “If we suffer a crushing defeat, then of course, there will be a lot of unnecessary bloodshed. But, what will happen if we win? The pro-war faction will gain support, and whether it will be by way of reason or politics, it is obvious that soon they will not accept being controlled by either the government or the citizens. Then, the situation will become uncontrollable, and eventually fall to the bottom of the valley. Throughout history, there were innumerable countries that won when they should not have won, and were ultimately driven to defeat, but I think you already know that.” “Yes…” “You probably understand now why I rejected your resignation. Although I did not expect the situation today, your presence in the military is ever more important as a result.” “……” “Because you are familiar with history, sometimes you hold power or military strength in contempt. That is understandable, but no country can exist without both of them. a.s.suming that, rather than having incompetent and corrupt people in those positions, it is best to give those positions to people who operate according to their consciences and reasons. I am a serviceman, so I will not comment on politics. However, speaking within the military, Commodore Falk is a regrettable existence.” His harsh tone surprised Yang. Then, Sithole spent a considerable amount of time controlling his emotions. “He sent this battle plan directly to the secretary of the Supreme Chairman through the backdoor. I know he persuaded them by suggesting this as a means of maintaining power, but his motivation was his own fame and success. He is aiming for the top position in the military, but now that an extremely strong rival appeared, this person is attempting to achieve more than this rival. There is also this peculiar mindset that the summa c.u.m laude graduate of the military academy cannot lose to mediocrity.” “I see.” Yang casually gave a supportive response, and Fleet Admiral Sithole smiled for the first time upon seeing that. “Sometimes you are really dull. Who do you think his rival is? It is you.” “Me?” “Yes, you.” “But, Chief, I…” “At this point, it does not matter how you view yourself. The issue is how Falk sees things, and what means he would use to achieve his goal. To speak negatively, he is too political. Even if that is not the case…” The fleet admiral sighed. “…You probably noticed his personality to some extent in the meeting today. He does not have the track record to demonstrate his talent, but he does have his eloquence, and he builds up himself by diminishing others. Besides, he is not as talented as he believes he is… It is too dangerous to entrusting other people’s lives to him.” “Earlier, you said my presence is ever more important…” As he was thinking, Yang spoke. “…Were you talking about countering Commodore Falk?” “I did not mean for you to treat Falk as a specific target. If you were to reach the highest position within the military, then you will naturally restrain and eliminate people like him. I am hoping for that, even though I know you will find it troublesome.” Silence covered the two of them like heavy wet clothes. Wanting to shake it off, Yang had to actually shake his head. “Chief always gives me these challenges that are too burdensome. It was the same last time when you told me to capture Iserlohn…” “But did you not succeed?” “That time I did, but…” After saying that, Yang was nearly silent, but he started again: “It is not that I hold power and military strength in contempt. No, the fact is I am afraid. After obtaining power and military strength, most people turn ugly. I know too many examples of this, and I do not have the confidence that I will remain unchanged.” “You said most. That is exactly it. Not everyone will necessarily change.”
“In any case, because I want to remain a gentleman, I do not want to go near danger. I just want to do the work that are within my abilities, and live comfortably and leisurely. Perhaps I am lazy by nature.” “Yes, that is lazy.” Antic.i.p.ating Yang’s speechlessness, Fleet Admiral Sithole laughed in amus.e.m.e.nt. “I have also struggled a lot with this. I watched others live comfortably and relaxingly while I struggled, and it was not a pleasant feeling. However, if you did not have to bear the burdens that are commensurate to your abilities, then that is unfair.” “…Unfair?” Other than giving a bitter smile, Yang did not know how else to express his feelings. Yang thought that, in Sithole’s case, he voluntarily sought out his burdens, but Yang did not do that. In any case, it was a definite fact that Yang had missed his opportunity to resign. V In front of Reinhard stood the young admirals who belonged to his fleet admiral’s mansion. Kircheis (キルヒアイス), Mittermeyer (ミッターマイヤー), Reuenthal (ロイエンタール), Bittenfeld (ビッテンフェルト), Lutz (ルッツ), Wahlen (ワーレン), Kempff (ケンプ), and Oberstein (オーベルシュタイン). Reinhard believed that these people were the best and the brightest of the Imperial Fleet, but he must further align the quant.i.ty with the quality. When people were recruited into the fleet admiral’s mansion, it must be accepted that they were evaluated to be talented individuals. Although that was currently the case, Reinhard wanted to further the situation. “We have received this report from the Imperial Fleet Intelligence Department.” Reinhard scanned over all of them, and the admirals straightened their backs. “Recently, the frontier rebels who falsely claim to be the Free Planets Alliance have managed to rob the Imperial outpost, the Iserlohn Fortress, but you are already aware of this. After that, the rebels gathered an enormous force in Iserlohn. According to the estimation, they have 200,000 vessels and thirty-million servicemen, and this is the minimum number we suspect they have.” The sound of exhalation flowed between the admirals. To be able to command a large fleet was the dream of every military man. Even though these were the enemies, they could not help but admire the grandeur of the size. “The meaning of this is very clear. There is not a shred of doubt. Basically, the rebels have launched an all-out invasion towards the nerve center of our Empire.” Reinhard’s eyes were fiery. “The minister of state has given us an informal notice. In response to this military threat, we have been given the mission to defend the country and intercept the invasion. The imperial command will be granted in two business days. This is the highest honor for military men. I hope you will all fight bravely.” Up to here, he spoke with a stern tone, and then he unexpectedly smiled. Although it was a smile full of charming courage and vitality, it was not the transparent, innocent smile that was only shown to Annerose and Kircheis. “In short, the other fleets are all ornamental puppets of the imperial palace, undependable. This is a good opportunity to gain promotions and awards.” The other admirals also laughed. They shared the same antipathy towards the n.o.bles who gorged on statuses and privileges. Reinhard did not appoint them based on talent alone. “Next I would like to consult with all of you. Where should we intercept the enemy…” Mittermeyer and Bittenfeld shared the same opinion. The rebel fleet would invade through the Iserlohn Corridor, so they should strike when the rebel fleet left the corridor and entered the Imperial territory. They would be able to identify the specific coordinates where the enemy would appear and attack the enemy’s vanguard. It would also be possible to employ a semi-encirclement. The battle would be easy and they would have an advantage… “No…” Reinhard shook his head. The enemies would have antic.i.p.ated an attack at the coordinate where they exited the corridor and entered the Empire. They likely arranged to have their elite forces at the vanguard. If they were attacked, as long as the remaining forces did not exit the corridor, we would have no recourse, and there would be no way to attack. “We should lure the enemy deep into our territory.” Reinhard stated his opinion. After a brief discussion, the admirals also agreed. When the enemies were lured deep into the Empire’s territories, their frontline and supply-line would be extended to their breaking points, and then Reinhard would launch a full‑on attack. For the side intercepting the invasion, this was a sure‑fire tactic to victory. “But it will take time.” Mittermeyer stated his concern. While pet.i.te, he was a physically fit and agile young officer with poorly kept honey-colored hair and grey eyes. The Alliance rebels had referred to this invasion as an unprecedented endeavor, so their battle array, equipment, and supply would all be abundant to their fullest extent. With that amount of preparation, it would likely take a significant amount of time before their fighting spirits waned. It was expected that Mittermeyer would have some concerns, but Reinhard looked at his subordinates with an expression that was full of confidence. “No, not too long. At most fifty days. Oberstein, explain the basics of the battle plan.” The nominated grey-haired staff came forward and started explaining. An air of astonishment spread among the admirals without a sound. August 22, 796 UC, the Free Planets Alliance’s Imperial Territory Expedition Fleet General Headquarters was established within the Iserlohn Fortress. Around that time, thirty‑million servicemen and their warships formed a line, day after day, deploying from the Capital Heinesen and its surrounding starzones onto their expeditionary journey.

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