Disclaimer: I do not Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It is owned by Yoshiki Tanaka.

Our Universe

Chapter 9

"What?"

Reinhard turned angrily at Oberstein's report. "More than a hundred men were killed during the exercises?" he demanded.

Oberstein nodded in confirmation. "Yes, sir." He said. "However, given the exercises were live fire in nature, it was inevitable. Indeed, given the scale of the exercises, the number of casualties is fairly light."

Reinhard looked furious, but after a moment let it go and resumed walking towards the meeting room, Oberstein walking a step behind him. "We've also confirmed through our own channels that Boltik has indeed been feeding false information back to his government on Fezzan." He continued. "As such, it can be concluded that they remain unaware of the full scope of our plans for the upcoming operation."

Reinhard nodded in acknowledgement. "Speaking of Boltik, however," Oberstein said. "I would advise against putting too much confidence in his ability to effectively govern Fezzan. Furthermore, I would like to draw attention to the postwar value of Fezzan, and the desirability to place it under direct control."

"I know." Reinhard said. "However, immediately annexing Fezzan after a military occupation is likely to cause problems with the populace. Problems best nipped in the bud, by gently easing acceptance of their inevitable annexation. Hence starting off with Boltik's promised post of viceroy having less authority than that of the current post of territorial lord."

"Certainly," Oberstein conceded. "It would be best if Fezzan's populace were to meekly accept if not outright welcome direct imperial rule. A slow, but steady annexation drawn out over time would facilitate that…as would, in the event Boltik fails to govern Fezzan, drawing Fezzani antipathy towards him, allowing us to portray ourselves favorably when we restore law and order in the aftermath of his failure."

Reinhard nodded, inwardly disgusted by such Machiavellian but necessary measures. As they approached the meeting room, two Imperial Court Guards standing on guard duty saluted smartly before opening the doors leading into the room.

The Imperial Fleet's commanders were assembled in the room, seated not at a table but standing at attention in neat lines before the dais and its throne on one side of the room. Today would be the day unit assignments for Operation Ragnarok would be given, and anticipation was high.

Reinhard took his place before the throne, and returned the salutes of his commanders before taking his seat. "As you know," he began. "The first phase of the operation will be to send a large force into the Iserlohn Corridor. The commander of the Iserlohn Front will be Fleet Admiral Kircheis."

Kircheis gave a small bow in acknowledgement. "In addition to Kircheis and his fleet," Reinhard continued. "Admirals Wahlen and Lutz along with the fleets under their command will also be dispatched to the Iserlohn Front."

Awed murmurs rose up at that, as between the three commanders the Iserlohn Front would be allocated an estimated forty thousand ships. For their part, Admirals Wahlen and Lutz merely saluted sharply. Indeed, they'd somewhat expected to be placed under Kircheis' command, given they'd already served under him before, during the Lippstadt War, with their forces being tasked to secure the outlying starzones while Reinhard and their main force focused on Geiersberg.

"Once the Alliance's attention has been focused on the Iserlohn Front, we will proceed to the second phase of the operation." Reinhard continued. "That is, to capture the Fezzan Corridor, and secure a bridgehead for the invasion of the Alliance. High Admirals Mittermeier and Reuenthal will have joint command of this phase of the operation."

Again, awed murmurs rose up, not just at the deployment of both the Twin Stars to a single front, but also the allocation of ships: between them, Mittermeier and Reuenthal would have an estimated thirty thousand ships to seize the Fezzan Corridor with. The two admirals calmly saluted to express their acknowledgement.

Reinhard nodded. "Once the Fezzan Corridor is secure," he said. "The rest of our fleets will launch for the next phase of the operation. The second formation of the main fleet will be under Admiral Muller. I will personally command the third formation, with Vice Admirals Altringen, Brauhitch, Carnap, Grunemann, and Thurneysen supplementing my fleet with their forces. Executive Secretary Mariendorf will also be joining my command staff for the operation, to advise on political matters with regard to military occupation of the Alliance. The fourth formation will be under Admiral Steinmetz, while the rearguard will be under Admiral Rennenkampf."

Reinhard paused to allow the admirals to take his instructions in, and again awed murmurs were going around, as the Fezzan Front would ultimate see an allocation of an estimated ninety thousand ships once the main fleet arrived. "Furthermore," Reinhard finally continued. "High Admiral Kempff will also launch at that time, taking Geiersberg Fortress and its station fleet to reinforce the Iserlohn Front. Upon breaking through the Iserlohn Corridor, their forces will also participate in the invasion of Alliance territory."

Again, Reinhard paused, as more whispers rose up. Once the Iserlohn and Fezzan Fronts were won, then the Empire would be invading the Alliance with an estimated one hundred and fifty thousand ships, as well as one mobile fortress with firepower comparable to Iserlohn's.

"Admiral Eisenach and his fleet will have the task of occupying the Fezzan Corridor, and securing our line of supply back to the Empire." Reinhard continued. "With regard to the Iserlohn Corridor, occupation after the fall of Iserlohn Fortress will be the duty of Admiral Lutz. Admirals Kessler and Mecklinger will remain on Imperial Capital Odin, and continue with their duties as Capital Defense Commander and Military Police Chief Superintendent, and Head of Logistics, respectively. Admirals Fahrenheit and Bittenfeld will also accompany the fleets headed for the Fezzan Front, but will be withheld from the fleet formation as tactical reserves. The operational launch date will be November Fifth, with the departure of Fleet Admiral Kircheis and the other fleets under his command."

The admirals saluted as one, acknowledging their orders. Later on that same day, information was sent from the Odin High Commissioner's office back to Fezzan, and there quietly passed sub rosa to the Alliance Commissioner in Residence on Fezzan, who then sent the information back to the Alliance. The information confirmed a large-scale military operation to be launched by the Empire on November Fifth, with a force of forty thousand ships to be dispatched to the Iserlohn Corridor.

Additional fleets were also being prepared for launch…but as far as the Alliance was concerned to reinforce the initial group of fleets sent to the Iserlohn Corridor. No information on an attack on Fezzan, or on the Alliance through the Fezzan Corridor, were leaked to either Fezzan or the Alliance.

"…normally such a large-scale deployment would call for the declaration of a State of Emergency," Defense Secretary Negroponte was saying at a high-level meeting at the Alliance Department of Defense in Heinessenpolis. "But given the impregnable state of Iserlohn Fortress, it hardly seems necessary to take such extreme measures. It is unlikely in the extreme, if not outright impossible, for the Imperial Fleet to actually invade Alliance territory."

Agreement rose up from the gathered officials and officers…with one exception. Face set stoically, Admiral Bewcock raised a hand for the defense secretary's attention. "You have something to say, Admiral Bewcock?" Negroponte asked.

"With respect," Bewcock began. "I'm not too confident in placing all our eggs in one basket. You say Iserlohn Fortress is impregnable…and yet we ourselves proved that not to be the case. And behind the Imperial Fleet is a strategic genius who was able to crush our forces two years ago, with only then-Vice Admiral Yang saving us from complete annihilation at the time."

"What are you trying to say, admiral?" Alliance Forces Joint Operations Chief Admiral Dawson asked.

"I'm saying that I cannot believe that Prince Lohengramm would begin something that he'd have no chance of winning." Bewcock answered. "I'm not saying Iserlohn would fall…and indeed, that may in fact be the whole point."

"What do you mean?"

"By attacking Iserlohn first," Bewcock continued. "He'll draw our attention in that direction, and while we're looking there confident in our ability to hold out, the main force of the Imperial Fleet will strike through the Fezzan Corridor."

There was dead, utter silence for a few moments, and then chuckling broke out across the meeting. "The Space Fleet Commander's concerns are not unheard of," Alliance Forces Chief of Staff Admiral Osman began. "But outside of staff exercises beyond the bounds of possibility. There is absolutely no reason for Fezzan to discard its neutrality, set in stone for nearly a century, and conspire with the Empire."

"Agreed," Dawson said. "If anything, doing so would be tantamount to suicide for Fezzan. After all, if the Empire wins the war, then there's absolutely nothing stopping them from annexing Fezzan outright."

Agreement went up from the meeting. "Let's not forget that with all our loans from Fezzan," one government official said. "They have vested interests in our nation's continued existence. Interests that would cease to exist if the Empire ever managed to conquer our nation. I doubt if Fezzan would accept such an outcome."

Bewcock silently weathered the storm of agreement before speaking. "It's true that Fezzan has interests in our nation," he said. "However, the collateral for those are mines, properties, enterprises, and the like in our territory, and not the Alliance itself. If such collateral is guaranteed by the Empire, then I doubt Fezzan would care much if the Alliance ceased to exist. Unless of course…the Fezzani have been investing in the Alliance government itself…"

Outrage exploded at the admiral's words. "Are you trying to say that Alliance officials have been taking bribes from Fezzan?" one official demanded angrily, and slamming a fist on the table.

Bewcock stayed silent, and Negroponte coughed diplomatically. "Admiral," he said. "Please be careful of what you say. There's no need for baseless accusations to be thrown around, is there?"

Agreement went up again, though Bewcock continued to stay silent. "In any case," Negroponte said. "As long as there is no proof for the Space Fleet Commander's worries, they must be dismissed as baseless speculation. With that said however, I believe we can all agree that we must prepare our defenses in the Iserlohn Corridor. The admiral does have a point in that Iserlohn Fortress isn't nearly as impregnable as we might think. The Empire lost it because they got careless…there's no need for us to make that same mistake, is there?"

"That's certainly true." Dawson admitted. "At the very least, we need to have Rockwell and his command to go on alert."

"We should also prepare reinforcements, just in case." Osman added. "It might not be needed, but let's be prudent at any rate."

Negroponte nodded in agreement. "Are there any objections?" he asked.

There were none, and the defense secretary nodded again. "Well then," he said. "If there's nothing more, then we're done here for the day."

As the gathered officials and officers began leaving, Bewcock remained seated, arms crossed and head lowered in thought.

November 20, Universal Calendar 798, Imperial Calendar 489

On November 20, fifteen days after departing from Imperial Capital Odin, the first echelon of the Imperial Fleet's Iserlohn Front commenced the Eighth Battle of Iserlohn. At the heart of the Imperial Fleet was the twenty thousand-strong Kircheis Fleet, positioned like a large, three-dimensional diamond. To its left and right, the Wahlen and Lutz Fleets, numbering ten thousand ships each, were positioned in conical formations but with individual ships oriented facing their flank and Iserlohn Fortress beyond.

"Admiral," Rear Admiral Bergengrun reported to Kircheis. "All ships are in position and report battle readiness."

Kircheis nodded, seated on his flagship, the Barbarossa's command throne. "Very good, rear admiral." He said. "Commence operational maneuvers."

"Yes sir."

Barely a minute later and the Imperial Fleet opened fire, neutron beams lancing out from the Imperial Fleet's main batteries, searing through open space to strike at Iserlohn Fortress. Liquid metal rippled at the impacts, but to no real effect. The neutron beams either scattered on impact, their force and energy absorbed harmlessly by the fortress' liquid metal armor, or were deflected into space.

"It doesn't even shudder." Bergengrun remarked.

"There's no reason it should." Kircheis admitted. "Nevertheless, even if this phase of the operation is essentially a distraction, let's do all we can. Continue the bombardment for one hour, and then as planned, reorganize the fleet with ourselves as a reserve, and the Lutz and Wahlen Fleets prepared to strike directly at the fortress."

"Yes sir."

Kircheis nodded as Bergengrun began relaying orders, and then turned back to the main display. He watched in silence as beams continued to burn through the void to strike harmlessly at the fortress beyond, patiently but confidently conducting the battle as per the predetermined plan.

As planned and ordered, the Imperial Fleet bombarded Iserlohn Fortress for an hour, and then ceasing fire, reorganized their formation. The Kircheis Fleet withdrew to the rear, taking up the role of tactical reserve, while the Wahlen and Lutz Fleets positioned themselves before the fortress.

The Wahlen Fleet took up a standard diamond formation, while the Lutz Fleet positioned itself just outside the Thor's Hammer's effective firing range, and arranged in a half-enveloping position.

"Now then," Bergengrun worriedly said. "Will the enemy take the bait?"

"We will see soon enough, rear admiral." Kircheis calmly said.

In Iserlohn's command center, Admiral Rockwell and his command staff quietly conducted their side of the battle. "Admiral," Rockwell's adjutant began. "The enemy's lead formation has taken a half-enveloping formation just outside of the main gun's effective firing range."

Rockwell sat silent for a few moments. "What do you think, Rear Admiral Murai?" he asked, turning to his chief of staff.

"Most likely," Murai replied. "The enemy is planning to take advantage of the main gun's dead angle, by forcing us to keep it oriented at the fleet in front of us."

"And in the meantime they'll strike elsewhere on the fortress?" Rockwell asked, and Murai nodded. Rockwell thought for a few moments. "Standby on floating gun turrets and the Thor's Hammer but don't surface them just yet. Rear Admiral Fisher,"

The deputy fleet commander saluted on the display linked to his flagship, the Shiva's command deck. "Take ten thousand ships from the station fleet," Rockwell ordered. "And chase the enemy's lead formation off. But don't go too far either, and stay inside the fortress' effective firing range."

"Yes, sir!" Fisher said with another salute, before the display cut out.

"Rear Admirals Huu and Alarcon," Rockwell continued, the two wing commanders saluting in acknowledgment. "Stay on standby for now, just in case Fisher needs to be reinforced in a hurry."

"Yes, admiral." Huu replied. Alarcon looked unhappy in contrast, though.

"Admiral," he began. "Why are simply sitting here and letting the enemy take the initiative? We should take the fight to the enemy, and drive them off for good!"

"Calm down," Rockwell said. "The battle has only just begun. There's no need for us to show our hand this early on."

"…yes sir."

Rockwell settled back on his seat, watching the main display as the ten thousand ships under Rear Admiral Fisher launched and moved to engage the enemy. He expected them to open fire, ranging shots at least…

…but no one certainly expected the Imperial Fleet to suddenly advance at high speed, and slip into the spaces between Alliance ships and squadrons. Rockwell and the rest of the command staff were stunned, listening as the chatter of their forces were dominated by sharp orders from Fisher to hold fire, that the enemy was too close, and the danger of friendly fire or getting caught up in the destruction of enemy ships too great.

Suddenly, Rockwell realized what this was: parallel pursuit. A tactic pioneered by then-Vice Admiral Sydney Sithole during the Fifth Battle of Iserlohn, wherein he'd position his ships right next to the enemy's, and keeping the Empire from firing the Thor's Hammer without hitting their own ships.

At least, that had been the idea. The Imperial commander had fired the Thor's Hammer regardless of catching multiple Imperial ships in its line of fire, and forcing Admiral Sithole to retreat. And it wasn't something Rockwell could do himself.

Judging from the outburst behind him, Murai had also realized what the enemy had done. "…at this rate," the chief of staff said. "The enemy will be able to get close to the fortress without worry for return fire!"

"I know!" Rockwell snapped. "We need to open up the space between our fleet and the enemy. Rear Admirals Huu and Alarcon, launch and flank the enemy fleet. Hurry before the enemy can send in reinforcements. Rear Admiral Fisher, open up your formation as best you can, and chase the enemy off before they can get close."

"Admiral," Bergengrun reported. "The enemy has sent out reinforcements. Furthermore, what ships they've already on the field are opening up their formation, likely to open the space sufficiently to engage without risk of friendly fire."

"It can't be helped." Kircheis said. "Send in Admiral Wahlen's fleet, and order them both to engage as needed. Cancel the planned boarding attack on the fortress as well."

"Yes sir." Bergengun said, relaying the orders. Several minutes later and flashes erupted in the distance as battle was joined.

Kircheis leaned forward, studying the tactical display. Surrounded by the enemy on three sides, Lutz had reorganized his fleet into a spindle with the heavily-armored battleships on the outside, and had launched Valkyries to start a melee to force the enemy to likewise launch their Spartanians, and also tone down their artillery fire to avoid friendly fire.

Meanwhile the Wahlen Fleet had also joined the battle, but while they'd launched their own Valkyries to reinforce Lutz's fleet, the Wahlen Fleet as a whole was keeping back, and focusing on long-range bombardment to support Lutz's fleet. "Well," Kircheis finally said. "At least the enemy won't be able to fire the Thor's Hammer."

"However," Bergengrun said. "The fortress is able to provide artillery support with its floating gun turrets, and of course add their own fighter squadrons to the battle."

Kircheis nodded slowly. "In any case," he said. "The parallel pursuit tactic to get close to the fortress has failed. Not that it really matters, given our goal isn't really to capture the fortress, but still: signal Bulow. We'll split our fleet into two, and redeploying above and below the battlefield, bombard the fortress to force them to submerge the floating gun turrets. In the meantime, with the Wahlen Fleet providing cover fire, have the Lutz Fleet withdraw as quickly as possible. Likewise, have the Wahlen Fleet withdraw in coordination with the Lutz Fleet. Let's not give the enemy a chance to use the Thor's Hammer against us, shall we?"

"Yes sir."

Kircheis sat back as Bergengrun relayed the orders. It took a couple of hours to pull off, but in the end, the Wahlen and Lutz Fleets successfully withdrew without getting fired on by the Thor's Hammer. "We'll withdraw an additional light-second," Kircheis ordered. "But we'll keep a force of five thousand ships as an advance guard to warn us of an enemy sortie. In the meantime, we'll repair damaged ships, resupply, treat our injured, and have our troops get a rest. We'll resume the battle tomorrow morning."

"Yes sir."

"The enemy fleet is withdrawing for the most part, however five thousand ships are positioning themselves between their main fleet and the fortress."

"We've beaten them off for now." Brigadier General Jawaf, Fortress Defense Commander remarked.

"However," Colonel Linz of the Rosen Ritter said. "They're probably just regrouping and licking their wounds. They haven't actually left."

"Should we perhaps launch an attack ourselves?" Huu asked over the encrypted line.

"No, they outnumber us." Murai disagreed. "Even if launch the whole station fleet, the enemy has twice as many ships as we do. Until we're reinforced, we shouldn't attempt to engage outside of the fortress' effective range."

"I'm in agreement with the chief of staff." Rear Admiral Cazerne, Fortress Inspector-General said. "We should keep our losses to a minimum, at least until reinforcements arrive."

"As am I." Fisher said.

Huu and Alarcon looked mutinous, but all looked to Rockwell. "What is the commander's decision?" Murai prompted after several moments.

Rockwell stayed silent for a few more moments. "I am in agreement with the chief of staff." He finally said. "Two on one are bad odds, at least outside of the fortress' effective range. If we're to go on the offensive, it'll be after we've been reinforced, or we should draw them into the Thor's Hammer's line of fire and wipe them out in one blow."

There were nods of agreement at that, reluctantly on the part of Huu and Alarcon. "In any case," Rockwell said. "The enemy does seem to be regrouping for now. Let's take advantage of this lull in the fighting to do the same. All ships, withdraw back to the fortress. Have our men rest in shifts, and send out search and rescue to pick up as many survivors of what ships were destroyed as we can. Rear Admirals Murai and Cazerne, I'll leave it to you two."

"Yes sir."

"Yes sir."

On the following day, November 21, at ten in the morning, the Imperial Fleet resumed its offensive.

The fortress shook slightly at an explosion. "The enemy is sending individual squadrons on randomized courses around the fortress' circumference," Rockwell's adjutant reported. "And while staying out of our effective firing range, are launching missiles at the fortress."

"What's the status of the liquid metal armor and the fortress' outer hull?" Rockwell asked.

"The former is holding up very well." Cazerne replied. "The latter is as well, but not as well as we'd like. Nothing's really compromised, but the outer hull will take a beating if this goes on for too long."

"I'm more worried about the psychological effect this bombardment has on our troops and the civilians." Murai said. "Unlike a beam bombardment, this bombardment is actually shaking the fortress."

As if to drive home the admiral's words, the fortress shook at that moment. It wasn't much, but it did shake. "Anti-ship laser-fusion missiles, is it?" Rockwell mused, and his command staff nodded. "Alright, while overall we're holding out, we can't let this go unchallenged. We'll respond similarly, sending out two squadrons for every enemy squadron. Have our floating gun turrets provide supporting fire. Don't get too close though, just chase them off."

Rockwell settled down as his orders were given. Within minutes, ships were being launched, and several minutes after that and skirmishes were erupting all around the fortress as Imperial and Alliance ship squadrons exchanged fire, the latter supported by the fortress' floating gun turrets.

"Can't you predict the enemy's courses?" Rockwell demanded an hour into the battle. "Even if they're randomized, we should be able to follow a squadron as it approaches the fortress, and pinpoint the closest it will get to our effective range."

"We can, but it'll take time."

"That's fine." Rockwell said. "Standby to fire the Thor's Hammer, and target the squadron closest en route."

"If they're outside the effective range, it won't do much good." Murai pointed out.

"Yes, but that doesn't matter." Rockwell said. "The psychological effect should be enough to force the enemy to back off. Once we throw them off a few times, the enemy might just decide to pull back to regroup."

Cazerne and others nodded, though Murai looked skeptical. Several minutes later, and the report came in. "Target locked," a petty officer said. "Firing in four minutes and forty seconds."

"Keep the Thor's Hammer submerged for as long as you can." Murai ordered. "Surface it only for as long as needed to charge a shot, and then submerge it again before moving it to the next target."

"Yes sir."

Rockwell nodded in agreement, tapping his console as the minutes ticked by. Finally, the Thor's Hammer surfaced, those able to watching with anticipation as energy built up on Iserlohn's liquid metal armor before lancing out in a ravening beam of x-rays, visible only thanks to the sheer intensity of the radiation surge rendering interstellar gases along the laser's line of fire incandescent.

Cheers broke out soon after, as while the approaching Imperial ships avoided destruction (barely), they quickly backed off. Rockwell cracked a smile, while below the command deck petty officers and enlisted worked quickly and with anticipation as they moved the Thor's Hammer to fire on another target.

"That was the Thor's Hammer!"

"Yes," Kircheis nodded. "So they're going for the psychological effect, I see. Rear admiral, what are our losses so far?"

"Sir," Bergengrun acknowledged before moving to check on a nearby console. "We've lost six hundred ships so far, along with about forty-five thousand men. However, the majority of those were from yesterday's fighting, and we've inflicted similar casualties to the enemy."

Kircheis nodded. "That should be enough then." He said. "Have our ships withdraw away from the fortress, reform the formation, and then withdrew all fleets back to the Imperial exit of the Iserlohn Corridor. Also, send an encoded transmission to Imperial Capital Odin, and request reinforcements."

"Yes sir."

"It's begun."

Reinhard and Hilda stood on an observation platform, the wind blowing through their clothes and hair, watching as Mittermeier and Reuenthal launched to commence the second phase of Operation Ragnarok. "Yes," Reinhard agreed. "It's begun. The beginning of the end, Fraulein."

Hilda glanced at Reinhard for a moment, and then back at the sky, at the tens of thousands of ships rising into the skies, from carriers and battleships to destroyers and engineering ships. And beyond, past the moons of Odin, she knew Geiersberg Fortress was also launching on its long-delayed journey to the frontlines of Iserlohn.

The countess lowered her head and closed her eyes. "I'll be going away for quite a while." She thought. "I should pay Heinrich a visit before I leave."

Universal Calendar 798, Imperial Calendar 489, Imperial Standard Calendar December 09, far beyond Reinhard and Hilda's sight, the sea of the stars stretched out to infinity, awaiting the conquerors to come.

A/N

Well, it's finally begun: Operation Ragnarok.

Just a technical note: the guns mounted on Imperial and Alliance warship are particle cannons, and while they fire at relativistic speeds, they don't actually reach light speed. However, the main gun of Iserlohn is explicitly a laser cannon, an x-ray laser to be specific, and thus its beam moves at light speed. Hence it should be invisible…but it is not. However, I can and would put that up to interstellar gas along the laser's line of fire being excited and thus left incandescent by the sheer intensity of the radiation surge that is a fortress' x-ray laser.