Ok, done. Sheesh. I ended up putting more in this entry than I originally planned - that should make doing the next battle much, much eaiser, because I've pretty much covered everything in the leadup except for what Bucock was doing at this time.
The resumption of hostilities and the Tenth Battle of Iserlohn - Episodes 55, 58 - 62, 64 - 70
Yang's retired life
After his marriage to Frederica Greenhill, Yang Wen-li settled into a quiet retirement. But with the Alliance "standing on tiptoes with a noose around its neck", João Rebelo was not willing to take any chances that would give the Empire an excuse to destroy the Free Planets Alliance completely. Legislation was enacted against anti-pacifist groups and activities that harmed relations with the Empire in general. A state of emergency was also put in place - restricting debate and the right of free assembly. Further, surveillance teams from Alliance Fleet Intelligence were placed to watch Yang.
Meanwhile, High Admiral Lennenkampf commenced his administration on Heinessen - stationing four battalions of armored grenadiers and twelve battalions of light infantry on the planet. Though his staff protested the force was too light, Lennenkampf had no fear.
"If the Alliance bastards want to kill me, let them try! I'm not immortal. But if I die, so does the Alliance."
Lennenkampf harbored intense suspicions about Yang. He too put Yang under surveillance, believing there were close ties between Yang and various anti-government movements. Imperial soldiers were even stationed at the front door of his house (and that of Alex Cazerne and his family) on a permanent basis.
Commissioner
Udo Dater Fummel (Lennenkampf's Chief of Staff) sent a report to Odin to that effect. Rear Admiral
Anton Fellner expressed concerns that Lennenkampf might employ heavy handed tactics that would drive Yang into taking action against the Empire and start off a new war. Fleet Admiral Oberstein ordered him not to interfere, noting that Lennenkampf would resent the intrusion onto his authority. Fellner left thinking that Oberstein had hidden motives - but whether they were to use Yang to gather up the forces that would fight the Empire, or causing a fracture in the Alliance, he could not say.
Yang gave Lennenkampf no reason to believe he was plotting against the Empire - but Lennenkampf was adamant in his belief, calling his quiet retired life a "farce".
Merkatz makes his move
Ironically,Yang was plotting such a treason. Julian Mintz had relayed Yang's message to the secret fleet of High Admiral Merkatz on his way to Earth, and Merkatz' small force of 60 ships were on their way to 'liberate' Alliance warships slated for dismantling.
The Shiva leads the fleet
On 16 July 799, in the Reykjavik System, Rear Admiral
Mascagni, overseeing the dismantling efforts from his flagship
RK-387, received a call from unidentified friendly forces offering 'assistance'. Though he had received no notice, he did not see the point in refusing, and gave them permission to dock with the flagship as requested.
Only when he saw that the ships approaching were battleships did he realize something was amiss, but there was nothing he could do. The flagship was buzzed by Spartanian fighters and surrounded:-
The Shiva approaches the RK-387
On an open channel, the 'attackers' announced:-
"We are freedom fighters, sworn against the Empire's oppressive rule! We will not stand idly and watch while the Alliance government, cowering to the Empire, meekly obeys them and destroys these precious vessels! We will take them, and let them labor for true freedom and independence! Do not put up a futile struggle. Hand them over! In addition, we welcome any comrades with open arms!"
Construction ships make off with battleships
The Shiva places two cruisers under tow
Inspired, 4,000 men of the Alliance fleet made for shuttles and left with Merkatz fleet, which had seized 464 battleships and 80 carriers.
Back at Dayan-Khan, the pennant numbers of the warships are removed
The events of 22 July
Rumors began that whilst Merkatz (himself only rumored to still be alive, at this point) had carried out the hijack of the warships, it was Yang who had instigated it. Though the rumors were true, those who spread them did not have any factual basis for their beliefs. Yang's enemies in the Alliance - men like Negroponte and his ilk - wrote anonymous letters to Lennenkampf in that regard, hoping to bring Yang down.
Though Lennenkampf didn't believe those letters, he wanted to believe them - and on 20 July, accepted Fummel's advice to advise the Alliance government to arrest Yang for actions violating the National Security and Counter-Rebellions Act, and ordered a unit of armored grenadiers attached to the commissioner's office to make ready.
The Alliance government was trapped. If they refused to arrest Yang, that could result in war. If they arrested Yang, that could fracture the Alliance (particularly if Yang's subordinates refused to accept the arrest). João Rebelo, after seeking counsel from his advisors (
Huang Rui who was aghast, and later
Enrique Martino Borges de Alantes e Oliveira), had Yang arrested on 22 July. He was placed in the Central Public Prosecutor's Office.
Yang being interrogated
The night of 22 July, Rebelo came to see Yang in custody, asking him to sacrifice his life for the survival of the Alliance. Yang flatly refused. Realizing that his wife wouldn't accept the situation, he resolved to buy time to be rescued.
Soon after Yang's arrest, Oberstein called Lennenkampf from Odin, having been made aware of Yang's arrest. He recommended that, in order to deal with Yang and Merkatz in one blow (offering the chance of surpassing Reuenthal and Mittermeyer in distinguished service), Lennenkampf should take Yang into his own custody, and bring him to Imperial territory. When he did so, Merkatz was sure to attempt a rescue. Lennenkampf thanked him for his advice.
Fellner expressed his concerns that if Lennenkampf failed, then the Alliance government might unite with Yang and present a united front of resistance against the Empire. If they did so, that would be another reason to go to war and complete the conquest of the Alliance. Oberstein noted that if he failed, they would simply send someone else. In Oberstein's plans, both Yang and Lennenkampf were potential sacrificial lambs.
"Lennenkampf cannot become a Fleet Admiral while he lives. But were he to die performing his duty, he would. Being alive is not the only way to serve your country."
While Yang was in custody, surveillance on his former subordinates increased - which served to alert them to the drastic change in situation. Dusty Attenborough met with Walter von Schönkopf over dinner - and came to the conclusion that the government had surely seen through the Empire's intentions. Therefore, the only way they could avoid Imperial intereference was for the Alliance to eliminate Yang:-
"
Anyway, this is the scenario that the government has penned. Here, there's this bunch of anti-Imperial agitators. They don't understand the labor and the worries the Alliance government suffers, preventing the Empire from completely subjugating us, and instead keep trumpeting the cause of democracy. Those men would raise the national hero, Admiral Yang, above them, and plot to topple the current Alliance government, in order to challenge the Empire, damn the consequences.
But, as a disciple of democracy, Admiral Yang refuses to use violence to topple the government. The angered agitators treat Admiral Yang as a traitor, and want to murder him. When the Alliance forces rushed in, they were able to exterminate the agitators - but they were unable to save Admiral Yang.
The Admiral becames an important sacrifice, for the preservation of his nation's principles.
What do you think? A thoroughly thought-out scenario, isn't it?" - Walter von Schönkopf
Attenborough and Schönkopf were only too happy to play the role of agitators, and rescue Yang. Alliance Police and special operations troops under the command of Colonel
Jawaf attempted to pick them up after leaving the restaurant - but Schönkopf led them on a car chase, eventually leading them straight into a Rosen Ritter ambush. Heinessenpolis' Highway 8 was strewn with wreckage.
Attenborough and Schönkopf, partners in no actual crime (except possibly DUI)
In a wooded area overlooking the capital, Attenborough and Schönkopf met up with
Captain Baghdash and the rest of the Rosen Ritter and formulated a plan for Yang's rescue.
Rebelo ordered a media blackout to hide the news of the Rosen Ritter revolt from Lennenkampf. On the way to the opera (also that same night) the Rosen Ritter attacked Rebelo's motorcade. Using rocket launchers, they destroyed his escorts and forced his limousine to a stop.
Rebelo, captured
From a
armored vehicle, Baghdash tapped into Admiral
Rockwell's desk at the Underground Tentative Headquarters (beneath the ruins of the
Strategical Planning Centre) . Schönkopf demanded Yang's release, threatening Rebelo's execution and an attack on Imperial troops in the capital if he did not comply.
Rockwell advised that he couldn't make that decision, and asked for time. Hoping to avoid a war, he resolved to kill Yang and then suppress the Rosen Ritter with the Alliance military. As for Rebelo - he would have to be sacrificed.
What Rockwell didn't know was that Baghdash had purposefully leaked the conversation onto Imperial communications channels. Lennenkampf, attending the opera (which Rebelo was supposed to be attending), received the report of Rebelo's kidnapping soon after. Lennenkampf ordered his armored grenadiers to battle stations.
Imperial troops deploy in defence of the Imperial Consulate
As Yang watched the Imperial preparations from his cell, an officer entered to execute him. Buying a little time with banter, Yang managed to dodge the first shot by falling out of his chair. The second shot never came - he was shot by Frederica, who had arrived with the Rosen Ritter to rescue him. Infiltrating the building had been easy - apparently Rockwell hadn't realised they would try to rescue Yang whilst still negotiating.
Time to go
Fighting their way out was unecessary-
Rainer Blumhardt's announcement as to their identity was enough to put the guards to flight.
The kidnapping of Lennenkampf
At their hideout, Yang met with Rebelo. He offered him terms - Yang and his subordinates would take Lennenkampf hostage, fleet Heinessen, and the Alliance would not interfere, and act as if they were threatened not to pursue. In exchange, Yang would take full responsibility for the unrest. All the Alliance need do was ask the Empire to find and capture Yang. Further, he asked that those who had served under him and remained with the Alliance military not be punished - Cazerne, Fischer, Murai and Patrichev and many others who had played no part. Obviously, they would also release Rebelo, and bring no trouble to the civilian populace.
Rebelo agreed. Yang gave Schönkopf the command.
Lennenkampf was set up at Hotel Shangri-la. Having kept the situation from High Admiral Steinmetz on Urvashi, he was preparing for the troops under his command to seize key locations in the capital when the Rosen Ritter assault began, at approximately 5:40am on 23 July.
With heavy
frontal defences, the Rosen Ritter infiltrated via underground communications conduits to reach the basement of the hotel, and used elevator repair shafts to reach the 14th Floor. They cut elevator cables and blew up stairways with
explosive charges to keep Imperial reinforcements below at bay.
Panzer Grenadiers are caught in an explosion
On the eastern stairway, Imperial troops caught up to Unit 7 of Rosen Ritter before they could finish setting charges . When Schönkopf arrived to reinforce the defence, a bloody melee on the stairwell ensued, with a
Seffle particle generator prohibiting the use of energy weapons.
With the Rosen Ritter having the high ground, many panzer grenadiers went to their deaths, repeatedly cut down with ease by Schönkopf and his men. Eventually, Schönkopf directed Blumhardt to take 10 men and capture Lennenkampf.
Charging through continuous enemy fire, Blumhardt and his men
cut down Lennenkampf's last defenders and took him hostage.
Lennenkampf doesn't go down without a fight..
...But he does go down
The Rosen Ritter and their captive left the building the way they came, then blew up the shaft to prevent pursuit.
The bloody aftermath
A prisoner at Yang's hideout, when Lennenkampf laid eyes on Yang and Rebelo, he realized he had been beaten by Yang once more, and further, had been sold out by Rebelo. Rebelo was released that morning, dumped in the woods. Lennenkampf, deeply ashamed of his failure, used the rope that had originally been used to bind him to hang himself.
Lennenkampf's end
In a difficult position, Yang decided that in their demands they would act as if Lennenkampf was still alive. Though he was loathe to dishonor the dead, Lennenkampf's body was placed in a medical capsule, with make up applied for him to look alive.
The next day, 24 July, Yang's men took over Heinessen Military Spaceport, boarded the shuttles they had demanded from the government, and launched for the cruiser
Leda II, which was waiting in orbit, with Dusty Attenborough in command.
Despite the pleas of his superiors, Vice Admiral Cazerne resigned from his position and left Heinessen with his family to join Yang.
Imperial response
On 30 July, the same day that news of the destruction of the main Earth Church headquarters was received, the Empire received news of the unrest on Heinessen.
Kaiser Reinhard had taken ill that day, so the news was discussed solely amongst his subordinates. The news ignited discord between Fleet Admiral Oberstein and the rest of Reinhard's top admirals. Armed with information from Captain Ratzel - one of Lennenkampf's assistants (who had objected to Lennenkampf's single-minded hounding of Yang) - Mittermeyer, Reuenthal, and others blamed Lennenkampf for his unfair treatment of Yang and advocated punishing him.
Oberstein was not concerned with Yang's treatment at all - he noted that Lennenkampf's intentions were to safeguard the Empire, and furthermore, Yang's kidnapping of Lennenkampf was a grave crime, and ignoring it trivialized both the Empire and the Kaiser.
Following the meeting, Oberstein reported to Kaiser Reinhard - who (after reproaching himself for picking Lennenkampf) ordered that High Admiral Steinmetz replace Lennenkampf as acting commissioner. He also ordered that someone be sent to negotiate for Lennenkampf's release. Privately, Reinhard was actually happy at Lennenkampf's failure.
On 8 August 799, Reinhard decreed that Odin was too far from Alliance territory - the new Imperial capital would be permanently established on Fezzan. Count Mariendorf was ordered to remain on Odin as regent, whilst military and diplomatic functions moved to Fezzan with him. All high-ranking officers would go as well, but for High Admiral Kesler, High Admiral Mecklinger, and High Admiral Wahlen. The transfer would be completed within a year, with Reinhard arriving on 17 September. Mittermeyer would depart first, on 30 August, whilst everyone else would travel with the Kaiser.
In noting his orders down, Hildegard von Mariendorf could tell he craved battle. Mittermeyer and Reuenthal understood his intentions as well - the transfer of the capital would serve as a launching point for the conquest of the Alliance.
El Facil Declares Independence
On 13 August, El Facil, a planet near the Iserlohn Corridor, declared independence from both the Free Planets Alliance and the Empire.
El Facil
No other planets followed suit - isolated, the government of El Facil aggressively tried to recruit Yang to its cause.
Francesck Romsky, leader of the El Facil Revolutionary Autonomous Government
Yang, having united with the forces of High Admiral Merkatz at Dayan-Khan (which he named "the Irregulars"), was spending his days idly, uncertain of how to proceed. El Facil's decalaration of independence gave him and his fellows the inspiration required. He agreed with Attenborough that Iserlohn Fortress should be retaken, and to use El Facil as a bridgehead to unite the surrounding star systems and establish a liberated territory.
Yang's thoughts turned on his intention to negotiate with the Kaiser - for example - in exchange for the return of Iserlohn to the Empire, the Empire could acknowledge El Facil's autonomy. Yang had absolute confidence that Reinhard would never break any promise he made.
However, Yang would not go to El Facil immediately. If they did, he reasoned that other star systems would be drawn to its cause, and with their very limited fleet, would not be able to defend them against the fleets the Kaiser would send. Worse, rushing to El Facil could make the Alliance declare Yang's Irregulars an enemy, and side with the Empire.
Another possibility to consider was that if an Imperial invasion began before they made for El Facil, it might drive the Alliance to recall him and place him in overall command of the military (i.e. Chief of Strategic Command and Supreme Commander of the Space Fleet).
As Yang waited, the Empire attended to the relocation of the Imperial capital (the relevant fleets having relocated to Fezzan on schedule). Kaiser Reinhard made no decision in relation to the situation in the Alliance - waiting for reports on events from High Admiral Steinmetz and Vice Admiral
Sahm (one of Lennenkampf's men stationed on Heinessen).
Steinmetz had initially planned to go to Heinessen himself - but as he reached the outer rim of the Gandharva system, Steinmetz received a summary of events from Vice Admiral Sahm. With the whereabouts of Yang unknown, he worried of the possibility of a surprise attack on Urvashi, and turned back to defend it.
It was in October that Steinmetz received a communication from Yang's group regarding the return of Lennenkampf's body. The body was placed in a capsule and was retrieved from a designated sector of space. Inside the capsule was a letter explaining Lennenkampf's death. With that letter and his own investigations, Steinmetz believed he had uncovered as close to the truth of the affair as possible, and reported his findings to the Kaiser.
The capsule
The Forkel turns and heads for home
On 9 October 799, after reading it, Reinhard summoned Oberstein, Mittermeyer and Reuenthal. Reinhard's first comment when the meeting began was that he felt sorry for Lennenkampf - whilst he was not a man of perfect character, he did not deserve to die in the manner that he did. Now, he would take advantage of the break betwen Yang Wen-li and the Alliance government, and invite Yang into his camp. Asking Oberstein's view (who had been vehemently opposed to Reinhard's original overture to Yang after the Battle of Vermilion), he was surprised when Oberstein agreed - provided that he sever his ties with the Alliance completely. Still, Oberstein argued there was no way Yang would ever serve Reinhard.
Setting the issue aside, Reinhard avoided committing to an immediate re-invasion of the Alliance. With the Alliance government dancing a 'crazy dance' to avoid war, the Kaiser was content to watch a little more. Later, Hildegard von Mariendorf would speculate that Reinhard's indecisiveness was borne from his inability to decide what to do about Yang - whether to let him gather up the threats to the New Empire and destroy them in one fell swoop, or eliminate Yang and the rest of the Empire's enemies piecemeal.
"The problem is that if Yang Wen-li's popularity, the Alliance's military power, and former Fezzan's economic power form an alliance, it might pose a threat to the New Reich."
Lennenkampf's funeral was held on 1 November 799. After the funeral, he summoned his top admirals (High Admiral and above) to renew the discussion on the future course of action.
It was a statement by Bittenfeld that roused Reinhard out of his months-long period of passivity:-
"The reason your majesty has been proudly ever-victorious lies in the fat that you've always held firm control of history. On this particular occasion, are you going to fold your divine arms and let history control you instead?"
Hell No!
Reinhard shot out of his chair and declared Bittenfeld correct - he would ignore the smaller legalities of the Treaty of Barlat and resume the unification of the universe, the utmost just cause. He ordered Bittenfeld to take the Black Lancers to Alliance territory immediately - he would join Steinmetz on Urvashi and maintain security until the arrival of the main fleet.
In the near future, Reinhard would announce Lennenkampf's death and announce a punitive expedition against the Alliance to hold it accountable.
Finally, with the new Imperial capital on Fezzan some years from completion, Reinhard declared the capital was wherever he was - the
Brunhild would be his throne for the foreseeable future.
The Black Lancers launched on November 10 - the first expedition carried out by the New Empire under its new military flag, and only 141 days since Reinhard had been crowned.
The Black Lancers launch
On the same day, the Kaiser's speech was broadcast. The Alliance population, under a media blackout, were shocked by its content - the suicide of High Admiral Lennenkampf, the escape of Yang Wen-li, the admission of Lennenkampf's intervention in domestic affairs, and the Alliance government's conspiracy were all detailed.
"I say to the citizens of the Alliance: The time has come for you to consider if your government is worthy of your support ... I admit to my lack of sagacity and the disgrace of the Imperial government. These acts deserve criticism, and I am profoundly saddened that a man of such talent was lost and that world peace was disturbed.
At the same time, however, I cannot overlook the Alliance government's incompetence and insincerity. High Commissioner Lennenkampf was unwarranted in his demand for the arrest of Fleet Admiral Yang. But that is all the more reason that the Alliance government should have appealed the wrongfulness of such a demand to me, and protected the rights of Fleet Admiral Yang, the most important contributor to the Alliance.
By pandering to the strong, they broke their own laws. Moreover, when that scheme fell through, in an effort to deflect retribution, they sold out the High Commissioner. For temporary profit, they sold out their greatest contributor, and then my agent. Where did the pride of republican democracy go? At this stage, it is an injustice to continue acknowledging such a political body. The spirt of the Peace Treaty of Barlat has been desecrated. The only way to rectify this is by force.
While Fleet Admiral Yang is not entirely blameless, he was a victim, and was merely protecting his own rights. If Fleet Admiral Yang turns himself in to my camp, I will treat him and his party with due courtesy."
Imperial Invasion Plan
On November 11, Reinhrd announced the fleet formation for the 2nd Ragnarok Operation. Following the Black Lancers was the Mittermemyer Fleet. After that were the fleets divided from the former Lennenkampf Fleet, led by Admiral
Alfred Grillparzer and Admiral
Bruno von Knappstein, respectively. In addition, the fleets of Admiral
Grotewohl, Admiral
Wagenseil, and
Vice Admirals Kurlich and Meifocher would follow, with the middle section fortified by High Admiral
Eisenach.
Bridging the section between Reinhard's directly commanded fleet and the forward fleets would be High Admiral Fahrenheit. The position of Chief Staff Officer to support the Kaiser fell to Fleet Admiral Reuenthal, with Admiral Bergengrun being in charge of fleet deployment. Guarding the rear would be High Admiral 'Iron Shield' Müller. High Admiral Lutz on Iserlohn would also be given an order to join the battle.
Fleet Admiral Oberstein would stay on Fezzan and assist in overseeing civil affairs.
Later that month, the Imperial Fleet entered Alliance territory from the Fezzan Corridor. A 10 ship fleet carrying Alliance special emissary
William Odets, which had been earlier fobbed off and ignored by the Black Lancers, met the Mittermeyer Fleet just before it entered Alliance territory. Fleet Admiral Mittermeyer sent it on to Fezzan, for Odets to make representations for the cessation of hostilities directly to the Kaiser (he was ignored on Fezzan, as well).
To El Facil
"Um, won't he give us a downpayment?" - Yang reacts to Reinhard's offer
Yang realized his path to return to the Alliance was now completely blocked. Waiting to go to El Facil was pointless. They would go to El Facil, and recapture Iserlohn Fortress. Most likely, the Kaiser would order High Admiral Lutz to launch from Iserlohn - a large-scale pincer movement was a favorite tactic of his. That would give them the opportunity required.
Julian Mintz, Louis Machungo and Olivier Poplin heard the speech whilst they were on Odin, having arrived there with the Wahlen Fleet after the subjugation of Earth. Julian was certain where Yang would go, and departed Odin to meet him.
Yang's "Irregulars" had since left Dayan-Khan, and were wandering from place to place, replenishing their supplies (which had dwindled whilst they waited at Dayan-Khan) and collecting additional personnel. These efforts soon reached their limit, and they too made for El Facil without further delay.
Yang's new flagship, the lucky Ulysses
Lusiana Attacked
On 2 December 799, the Mittermeyer Fleet launched the first attack of the new campaign, against the strategically located planetoid Lusiana. In the arms manufacturing plant on the planetoid, cruisers and destroyers, which weren't restricted under the Treaty of Barlat, were being constructed.
A destroyer, foreground and cruiser leaving Lusiana
Vice Admiral Baunsgoal, with the permission of Fleet HQ, ordered Commodore Desch (part of the Yang Fleet prior to its disbanding) to launch all ships capable of navigation, and to lead them to find Fleet Admiral Yang with as many crewmen as they could take.
Vice Admiral Baunsgoal and Commodore Desch
Baunsgoal remained behind and attempted to buy time.
Lusiana's defence batteries
The Mittermeyer Fleet returns fire
Lusiana is destroyed
The escaping ships endured pursuit from the Imperial fleet, with only half managing to escape. While gathering personnel and supplies, they also made their way to El Facil, expecting to find Yang's fleet.
An Alliance destroyer a split second before destruction
Yang's fleet arrived at El Facil on 9 December. The El Facil Independent Revolutionary Government set off a public relations blitz on his arrival, hailing Yang. The Irregulars were soon renamed the El Facil Revolutionary Reserve Force.
Alliance resistance
The Black Lancers were still proceeding towards Heinessen, wiping out several ineffectual attempts at resistance along the way. But its supply lines were cut off at one point by guerilla tactics of Commodore Bufort, and its advance was temporarily halted. Bittenfeld destroyed Bufort's headquarters and dispersed them in the process - learning from POWs that High Admiral Merkatz was indeed still alive. The information that he was with Yang was forwarded to the main Imperial fleets that followed.
Imperial transports destroyed
Königstiger wipes out resistance
"In other words, Lennenkampf acted upon biases that were actually truths."- Fleet Admiral Reuenthal.
The recapture of Iserlohn
Planning for the recapture of Iserlohn began in earnest after Julian Mintz arrived on El Facil. Whilst Yang intended to lead the operation himself, the government of El Facil objected, ostensibly because they feared attack whilst he was away, either from the Empire, Alliance, or an anti-revolutionary group. Yang suggested leaving High Admiral Merkatz behind in his stead, but Dr. Romsky found him unsuitable. Yang surmised that the real reason they wanted him to stay behind was because they feared his wielding military power without oversight.
In any event, Yang relented, and tasked High Admiral Merkatz with executing the operation, whilst Brigadier General Schönkopf would do the actual fighting. Vice Admiral Attenborough would remain behind with Yang so that he could learn about managing an operation away from the front. Julian Mintz volunteered to participate in the boarding operation with the Rosen Ritter.
On New Years's day, Space Year 800, High Admiral Merkatz' fleet welcomed the change of the year in one corner of the Iserlohn Corridor. The operation was officially launched on 2 January.
On Iserlohn, High Admiral Lutz received a message from Imperial Fleet Supreme Headquarters:- they Iserlohn Fleet was to immediately launch and to advance to the rear of the Alliance capital.
High Admiral Lutz and Vice Admiral Wöhler in the Iserlohn command centre
Confirming that the message was encoded, he ordered all troops to prepare to launch. However, on the following day, Lutz received another order, conflicting with the first:- "The duty of the Lutz Fleet is to staunchly defend Iserlohn Fortress. The sortie is not approved. Yang Wen-li often employs fraudulent tricks. Also, there are Alliance and Fezzani sympathizers hidden inside the Fortress, and there is a chance that they might take over the Fortress and seal the Corridor once the stationed fleet leaves. I repeat my order: Don't move."
The order was soon followed with a postscript:- "In relation to the present order, there appears to be those who are committing dishonest actions, who have been taken advantage of by the Fezzani because of it, and are attempting to weaken the Fortress from within. Conduct an investigation immediately."
Lutz decided to suspend the sortie and conduct an internal investigation. With over one million soldiers stationed on Iserlohn, it was inevitable that some corruption cases would be discovered by the investigation - a double-digit number were uncovered, with dozens of soldiers arrested.
Lutz took the results as confirming the authenticity of the second order, and decided to remain at Iserlohn.
Soon after, a third order arrived:- "Admiral Lutz, why haven't you launched yet? Leave only a portion of your defensive units at the Fortress, and head for Heinessen with your fleet."
Lutz ignored the order as another trick.
By 7 January, a fifth order had come. This was actually the first authetic order from the Kaiser - the rest had been fakes sent by Captain Bagdash from the
Shiva, hiding in the corridor.
On the
Brünhild, the Kaiser was furious that Lutz had not followed orders. Vice Admiral Streit suggested that it was a result of Fleet Admiral Yang's trickery, but did not see what benefit he would get from Lutz not leaving the fortress. Hildegard von Mariendorf advised leaving Lutz' temporary disobedience alone, given it did little harm to their position.
Reinhard did not agree - he decided that with Yang roaming about, it was all the more important to have Lutz mobile to keep Yang's movements in check. The order to Lutz was repeated. However, Reinhard still had doubts - the launch order was not strictly enforced, and with the appearance of a fleet of 1,000 Alliance ships in between the Black Lancers at the vanguard and the Mittermeyer Fleet, the Iserlohn matter faded from Imperial attention.
The presence of this small force signalled the presence of the main Alliance fleet behind them - Reinhard intentionally avoided battle, whilst High Admiral Müller at the rear was ordered to take extra caution in case it was a feint aimed at sealing off retreat. At Mittermeyer's request, fleet movements were halted in order to conduct intelligence collection with reconnaissance ships.
Imperial Reconnaissance Ship
Based on the intelligence gathered, it was discovered that the Alliance Fleet under Fleet Admiral Bucock was about 20,000 strong. Reinhard's attention shifted to thoughts of Alliance tactics, and the Iserlohn matter was set aside.
Meanwhile, Reinhard's second authentic order was also ignored as a fake.
Captain Baghdash then sent a final message: "If you intend to disobey my orders and not launch, I will hold you accountable for your crime after I annihilate the entire Alliance fleet."
Lutz decided Yang Wen-li was trying to lure them out of the fortress and capture it while they were away - after all, he had used the same scheme before. Confident of success, he thought that for Yang to use the same trick twice meant that the spring of his intellect had dried up. The Lutz Fleet would lanch with all forces - he would make Yang think he had fallen into his trap, draw his fleet out of hiding, and at the right time, turn his fleet around and push Yang's fleet into the Thor Hammer's effective range and destroy them at will. It was 12 January 800.
"Sages drown in their intellect. Yang Wen-li's calendar has few days left."
On the next day, the 13th, the movement was discovered by Merkatz' fleet. With the fleet from Iserlohn numbering approximately 15,000 ships, it was clear the entirety of the station fleet had taken off.
Merkatz celebrates the success of their ploy
Yang's plan had depended on Lutz wanting to entrap their fleet from the very start - hence Lutz being subjected to Baghdash's scheming from the beginning. In wanting to execute an entrapment, Lutz would have to maintain a certain distance from the fortress, which would make it easier for the operation to succeed.
"We've entrapped Lutz, but Lutz probably thinks he entrapped us, too. Lutz is a renowned tactician, and his fleet outnumbers us by about ten times. Unless we seize control of the Fortress before his fleet returns and encircles us, our window of opportunity will be closed for good. We will initiate the operation at once." - High Admiral Merkatz.
The fleet fires up
The Lutz Fleet detected the enemy fleet at its 6 o'clock position, 800,000km away, closing on the fortress. Lutz ordered his fleet to immediately turn and close the trap.
The Skirnir comes about
As Merkatz' fleet approached, Baghdash sent a code to Iserlohn throuh the comm channels - "For health and beauty, take a cup of tea after a meal."
Lutz could only watch as Merkatz' fleet entered the firing range of the Thor Hammer with no activity from the surface of the fortress whatsoever. In the Iserlohn command centre, the Thor Hammer was not responding, nor were the floating gun platforms. Worse, they had lost control of the fortresses' magnetic structure, and the automatic defence system was not accepting commands. All computers on the station were neutralized.
"This ... must be the souvenir from Yang Wen-li!"
Vice Admiral Wöhler tried to override the computers and switch to manual control, but the lockout was complete.
Shiva descends into Iserlohn's hydro-metal
The time until the Lutz Fleet's return was five hours - unless the fortress defence system could be seized before then, they would be defeated. The
Shiva rammed into a (too small) docking bay and directly deployed the Rosen Ritter (joined by volunteers Mintz, Machungo, and Poplin).
May require some body work.
They were greeted by a horde of Imperial grenadiers.
Imperial defenders
Battle is joined
Julian and Olivier get stuck in
As the battle went on, the Imperial troops realized they were fighting the Rosen Ritter, and their morale flagged, sending them into retreat. The Rosen Ritter seized the 4th Reserve Control Room just as the Lutz Fleet returned. Julian input another message to unlock the Thor Hammer:-
"One cup of Russian tea, not with jam, not with marmalade, but with honey."
The Skirnir approaches Iserlon Fortress as the Thor Hammer begins to activate
Lutz realised what was happening and ordered an immediate retreat.
Before it could get away, the Lutz Fleet was hit.
The Skirnir just out of the firing line
The Lutz Fleet scattered and escaped. Inside the fortress, Imperial morale was shattered. Though they still outnumbered the enemy, they nevertheless surrendered or retreated one by one. The battle carried over into the early hours of the next day, January 14. At 0045 hours, Vice Admiral Wöhler proposed to surrender so long as his men were safely evacuated. Schönkopp left the decision to Julian, who accepted.
Wöhler, however, did not join the evacuation, and shot himself in the fortress command centre.
Imperial forces are loaded onto a ship for evacuation
Aftermath
It had been a year since Yang had reluctantly abandoned Iserlohn. In recapturing the fortress, Yang had secured a base for support at which he could gather anti-Imperial forces to the cause of El Facil. However, in taking Iserlohn he had made one miscalculation - he had not though that the Alliance would be able to manage a credible military response to the Imperial invasion. The Alliance Fleet under Fleet Admiral Bucock had departed Heinessen for its last sortie around the same time that Merkatz had set off to recapture Iserlohn.
