"A message from Fleet Headquarters for you, admiral." a junior officer said note in hand within the command room Iserlohn Fortress.

"Read it." ordered Admiral Lutz.

"Yes, sir." the aide replied. "Rebel uprisings through out the Empire are increasing in number and it has become necessary to deploy the Iserlohn Fleet in the neighboring star zones in order to restore order. Deploy your fleet immediately and provide support to the local garrisons."

"The situation must be worsening if even the Iserlohn fleet must be deployed." commented Lutz. "With most of the fleet in mothballs, the loss of Phezzan, and the fighting on Hermstadt our forces are running thin. Was it an Imperial encoded message?"

"Yes, sir." the aide replied.

"What is it?" asked the executive officer who noticed Lutz's troubled appearance.

"It's nothing. I'm probably just thinking too much." Lutz replied.

"These rebels must know that they are no match for the Imperial Fleet, despite any recent setbacks." added Lutz's executive officer.

"We will prepare the fleet to sortie immediately." Lutz ordered.

"Yes, sir." the officers replied as they set out upon the task.

The next day another message from Imperial Fleet Headquarters arrived at Iserlohn Fortress.

"Admiral Lutz, as you know the Alliance fleet was recently spotted operating in coordination with rebels in the Phezzan corridor. With the sealing of that corridor, it makes it all the more likely that the Iserlohn Fortress will come under attack. Do not move your fleet from the fortress and heighten your defenses. In addition, it is suspected that there may be rebel sympathizers among populace and the fleet who may seek to take the fortress from within. Conduct an immediate investigation before these agitators can undermine the defenses of the fortress."

"It contradicts the original order." complained Lutz. "One of them has to be a fake."

"But which one is the correct order?" pondered the executive officer.

"In any case we'll suspend the sortie for now. In the meantime we'll conduct an internal investigation immediately." ordered Lutz.

"Yes, sir!" all the assembled officers replied.

Since there are over one million soldiers in Iserlohn Fortress the number of those who commit dishonest actions could not be zero. A double-digit number of corruption cases were discovered and dozens of soldiers were arrested by the military police.

"As we thought, the second order was the correct one." commented the executive officer as the military police provided their findings.

"His Excellency, High Admiral Reuentahl is quite perceptive." commented a junior officer.

"In other words, it would be His Excellency's intention for us to defend the fortress." Lutz determined. "We nearly fell for Yang Wenli's trick. We shouldn't make a move. Cancel the order for the fleet to sortie."

"Admiral, there was another message from the Fleet Headquarters." announced an aide.

"Huh?" blurted Lutz in surprise.

"It says..." the aide hesitated.

"Read it." demanded Lutz.

"Yes, sir. Admiral Lutz, why haven't you launched yet? Leave only a portion of your defensive forces at the fortress and head for the previously designated star zones with your fleet."

"What a petty trick." Lutz said with contempt. "I won't fall for such a move. We will keep to the true order and defend the fortress."

A few days later, another order arrived from Imperial Fleet Headquarters.

"The Iserlohn Fleet isn't moving." announced an Alliance station operator aboard the Hyperion.

Captain Bagdash whistled in appreciation and offered a thumbs up to the rest of the Alliance officers. The last order had been the first authentic one to sortie in response to rebel activity to be sent from Imperial Fleet Headquarters to Iserlohn Fortress.

"It worked! The enemy within the fortress has weighed the two conflicting orders and they seem to believe the order to sortie is the false one." stated Bagdash. "It doesn't seem like they'll be moving even for an order from their Headquarters."

"What a swindle." commented Schönkopf.

"Yeah, someone who cooks stuff up like this isn't a magician, he should be called a swindler." added Olivier Poplin commander of the flagship's Spartinian fighters.

Julian could only look on the commentary incredulously.

"Even so, it's a swindle that we're betting our lives on. Can't you be a bit more excited about it?" complained Bagdash. Receiving no response from the officers, Bashdash turned his attention back to the communications station.

"Captain Bagdash sure is excited isn't he?" commented Louis Machungo an officer that had been assigned to Julian as a body guard since his time as an Alliance attache to Phezzan.

"Intelligence warfare is his specialty." explained Julian. "It looks like he's finally regained his original niche."

"In other words, he's the partner of the swindler." added Poplan.


"Admiral Lutz's fleet isn't moving?" asked a disappointed High Admiral Reuenthal. "Is he ignoring my order? Has discipline with the Empire degraded to this degree already?"

"Perhaps this is somehow due to Yang Wenli's trickery." suggested Bergengrün. "Could it be there is a reason why he hasn't launched?"

"Trickery? Perhaps, but wouldn't it benefit Yang more to have the fleet leave Iserlohn, even if it means the Imperial frontier remains overwhelmed by rebels?" Reuentahl said while considering the situation.

"I'm sorry, Your Excellency. With my meager intellect I cannot fathom the reason." admitted Bergengrün. "But since it does not benefit Yang for the Iserlohn fleet to remain, why not leave it as it is? There will be time enough to re-establish order on the frontier later, but if Iserlohn falls we cannot easily retake it. If it benefits our forces in the end, we need not punish Lutz's temporary confusion."

"If Yang is out there, it's all the more reason to launch the fleet. His force has to be weakened. With Lutz's fleet at full strength even Yang doesn't stand a chance against it." mused Reuentahl. "Modify the order. Give Lutz full discretion to deploy his fleet against the Alliance side of the corridor." Since Reuentahl had doubts about what Yang might be attempting to accomplish, the order he gave was extremely flexible. Despite this, the second order sent Lutz at Iserlohn was also ignored as a fake.


"The Iserlohn stationed fleet is still not moving." came the report of an Alliance observation craft hidden near the fortress.

"Let's give it a final blow." said Bagdash with a devious smirk.

"Usually when there are two conflicting orders we'd think one is authentic and the other is a fake, right?" suggested Poplan. "They don't realize they were receiving two fake orders from the beginning."

"They must be really confused now." added Julian.

"If there's someone who can see through Bagdash's disorderly array of orders he must be..." Schönkopf paused for dramatic effect, "...insane."

The crude comment drew some muted laughter.


The Imperial operator's eyes widened as the message came across. He hurriedly took down the message and headed with it to Admiral Lutz. "If you intend to disobey my order and not launch I will have you branded a traitor to the Empire and dealt with after I crush the remaining rebelling planets."

"I wonder if perhaps we should actually launch..." commented one of Lutz's aides.

"But if we don't know which one is the authentic order..." added the executive officer.

"I see." Lutz blurted as he had the epiphany. "Yang Wenli is trying to lure us out of the fortress and rob the emptied castle while we're away. Come to think of it, he used the same scheme when he captured Iserlohn the first time."

"Then...?" Lutz's aide asked in anticipation.

"No matter how clever the scheme is, the fact that he is using it twice seems to indicate the spring of Yang Wenli's intellect is drying up." declared Lutz forcefully. "Give an order to all personnel. We will launch with all forces."

"Admiral, if we launch won't we be falling for Yang's trap?" asked the executive officer with concern. "Even if it is the Headquarters's order to launch, I humbly suggest that we should defend the fortress and not make a move. Even if we temporarily displease our superiors as long as we have this self sufficient fortress we can always launch and crush the rebels at will."

"Your suggestion is sensible." admitted Lutz. "I, too, think the order to launch is a false command sent by Yang Wenli.

"Knowing it you'll...?" asked the executive officer.

"Yes. I'll launch with all forces to make Yang think I've fallen for his trap, but we're the ones who will entrap him." explained Lutz. "If our fleet departs, the Yang Fleet which is hiding someplace in the corridor, will take advantage of the opportunity and approach the fortress. At the right time I will turn around our fleet and push the Yang Fleet within the effective range of the Thor's Hammer. We'll pincer attack from there. In this way we'll be able to destroy him. Yang is too smart for his own good. His days are numbered."

The Lutz fleet launched from Iserlohn Fortress.


Not long after the fact was discovered by the Alliance's fortress re-capture forces.

"We did it!" "They fell for it!" "It'll be a piece of cake!" "Our victory is all but guaranteed!" cheered the soldiers manning the stations. An impromptu celebration was held by the Alliance officers, with a bottle of liquor making the rounds which eventually reached Admiral Merkatz, who Yang placed in command of the operation. He took a swig then raised the bottle triumphantly to cheers before passing it along and grabbing the internal microphone. "We've entrapped Lutz, but Lutz probably thinks he entrapped us too. Lutz is a renowned tactician and his fleet significantly outnumbers ours. Unless we control the fortress by the time he returns and encircles us our window of opportunity will be closed for good. We will initiate the operation at once."

"Vice Admiral Schönkopf, I ask that you take field command." said Merkatz.

"I acknowledge your orders for peace." Schönkopf replied with a whimsical bow.

The battle to recapture Iserlohn Fortress had begun.


"Enemy forces spotted at six-o-clock. They're closing in on Iserlohn Fortress." announced an Imperial sensor operator.

"They've fallen for the trap. All ships come swiftly about! We'll return to Iserlohn Fortress immediately." ordered Lutz.

"FOR HEALTH AND BEAUTY TAKE A CUP OF TEA AFTER A MEAL." Bagdash typed the code into a darkened command console. Undaunted, the Alliance fleet continued it's approach towards the fortress.

"The enemy is now within range of the fortress's main cannon." announced an Imperial officer as Lutz looked on in anticipation. However, the Alliance fleet continued well within range without taking fire.

"Why!? Why aren't they firing the Thor's Hammer!?" demanded Lutz.

"The Thor's Hammer is not responding!" announced an operator aboard the fortress.

"The floating gun platforms are not responding!" announced another.

"This can't be happening!" complained an exasperated Imperial officer.

"We've lost command of the exterior magnetic structure!"

"The automatic defense system is not taking commands!"

The shouts came one after another.

"It's not working, admiral." explained one of the computer operators. "Because of the code sent through the comm channels all the computer systems have been neutralized."

"This must be a present left behind by Yang Wenli." said the executive officer as he came to the realization. "Override the computer and shift to manual control! Fire the Thor's Hammer at all costs!"

"It's impossible!" a weapons officer reported.

"There must be some other password to unseal the lockout." explained the computer operator.

"The enemy is charging inside the fortress!" shouted a sensor operator.

"Close the gates! Don't let them inside!" ordered the executive officer.

"We can't do it!" shouted back an operator.

"Prepare for close combat! All hands to battle stations!" the executive officer ordered once more.

Thousands of Alliance warships poured through the liquid metal armor into the fortress interior. Sensor masts and cooling fins snapped off ships and sparks flew as they forced landings wherever they could.

"The time limit before the Lutz fleet returns is about five hours. Unless we seize the fortress defense system within that time our chance for victory will all but vanish. Moreover, the defense units of the fortress alone probably outnumber us greatly." Julian explained to Poplan and Machungo who had informally joined the Rosen Ritter brigade for the assault on the fortress as the Alliance's manpower had diminished greatly.

"Just like always. We have to do it." commented Poplan.

"We're going in!" declared Vice Admiral Schönkopf who was leading from the front as usual.

Clouds of smoke billowed through the landing ports as the first Alliance armored troops disembarked from their ships and set foot on the fortress. Almost immediately a heavy crossbow bolt narrowly missed Poplan and bounced off the landing ship's hull. Poplan whistled in appreciation as he examined the deep ranks of the opposing Imperial armored grenadiers already waiting for them. The first formation swiftly broke towards them in a charge.

"Here's the welcoming party." Poplan remarked snidely. "Let's go, Julian!"

"Right!" Julian replied along with a nervous nod.

Metal clashed on metal as axes were swung, each side fearing the potential use of Seffel particles which could detonate an entire block of the fortress if set off by an explosive or energy weapon. Hot blood poured onto the metal decking and screams of agony erupted from the frantic mass of humanity as blows struck home.

After besting the first formation of Imperial grenadiers, Julian's party found themselves staggering under another volley of crossbow bolts. Seeing Julian phased by multiple rocking bolt impacts, an Imperial grenadier rushed towards him to finish the job. Julian barely raised his ax with enough strength to block the blow, only to have Poplan fell the attacker from behind.

"Commander!" Julian said thankfully as he realized who his savior was.

"This isn't fun at all." complained the rarely serious Poplan.

"What isn't?" Julian asked as they both engaged and dropped an enemy each as they pushed forward.

"Well, I've been forced to get used to fighting with my feet on the ground." lamented the ace pilot. "What's more disgusting than that?"

"They're formidable." admitted an Imperial trooper as they watched the butchery unfold. The Imperials responded with a steady stream of crossbow bolts.

Ensign Machungo charged forward, having abandoned his ax for a decorative marble column ripped from the walls lining the corridor, hurling it into a formation of Imperials that were crushed or effectively scattered by the force of the impact.

"Alright, let's go." Poplan said, seeing the chance to advance, the group pushed forward. Waiting for them behind a corner though was an opportunistic Imperial grenadier.

"Die!" the Imperial screamed as he swung his ax towards the unsuspecting Poplan, but before the blow could strike home, Captain Kasper Linz the Rosen Ritter's second-in-command, speared the Imperial in the back, who then collapsed in a heap on the floor.

"You're still not good enough." commented Vice Admiral Schönkopf smugly who watched the scene unfold, drawing a dismissive scoff from Poplan.

The mortally wounded Imperial looked up at emblem on the shoulder of the man who had felled him. "Rosen...Ritters." he managed to say in horror. The unit's brutal effectiveness in battle had by this point been well established, and the few Imperials still holding the line repeated the name in fear as their posture shifted from fight to flight.

"Let's go!" Schönkopf erupted with a monstrous shout as he charged forward, drawing the rest of the Alliance troops with him. Schönkopf single-handedly cut down two armored Imperial troopers before the rest broke and ran.

"It's just ahead!" Julian announced as the Alliance troops rushed forward in the surrealistic surroundings of classical era sculptures and architecture, lit dimly by flashing red emergency lights and accompanied by the clatter of metal armor and boots.

"The enemy has seized the fourth reserve control room!" announced an Imperial operator within the command room of the fortress.

"Why such a place?" asked the stunned executive officer left in charge of the fortress's defense.

"I don't know." admitted one of the junior officers.

"It's our fleet, our fleet's returned!" announced a hope filled sensor operator, drawing cheers from the entire command room.

"They've come." said the executive officer in relief.

"Unlock the Thor's Hammer." said Poplan as he made way for Julian at a control station.

Julian typed in the command hurriedly. "ONE CUP OF RUSSIAN TEA, NOT WITH JAM, NOT WITH MARMALADE, BUT WITH HONEY."

Poplan snickered sadistically as Julian spelled out the nonsensical command line.

"Admiral, the computer has reactivated!" announced the Imperial computer operator within the command room.

The entire fortress began to hum with power as the Thor's Hammer began to charge.

"No, retreat!" commanded Admiral Lutz in horror from his flagship as he watched the streams of power gather on the surface of the fortress. "All ships reverse course! Get out of the Thor's Hammer's firing range immediately!"

"Fire!" ordered Vice Admiral Schönkopf. The Thor's Hammer roared to life, releasing it's incredible power upon the fleeing Imperial fleet. The blast entirely engulfed thousands of Imperial ships destroying them instantly, and just narrowly missed Admiral Lutz's flagship.

"Fools! Don't bunch up! Scatter!" ordered Lutz as he clung to his command chair.

Within the fortress's command room, the beleaguered Imperial officers could only look on in horror as the fortress's own super weapon disintegrated millions of their allies in a single moment.

As the initial shock of the incredible blast began to wear off, all sides began to take measure of the damage inflicted. "Battleship Luitebolt, no further communications!" "Battleship Trittenheim, no further communications!"

"All ships, retreat outside of firing range. Continue to report damage." ordered Admiral Lutz grimly, who had regained his composure.

The firing of the Thor's Hammer had also shattered the morale of the Imperial troops. The fortress defense units were still supposedly superior in terms of numbers, but they retreated or surrendered one by one. Early the next day, the Imperial Fleet finally proposed the evacuation of the fortress.

"I demand safe passage for my subordinates." said the executive officer sternly. "If you don't accept these terms I will not hesitate to resist to the end and destroy the fortress."

"As Marshal Yang's deputy, what will you do?" Schönkopf asked Julian.

"Naturally, we should accept." Julian replied instantly.

"Wait. Don't respond immediately." insisted Bagdash who had joined them in the seized reserve control room. "In negotiations, one shouldn't appear too eager."

Julian promised the Imperials a response in fifteen minutes, but ultimately only waited seven. "I don't think there's any need for further casualties. I'm sure there are many wounded who will survive if they get treatment soon." Julian explained his reasoning to his seniors who only silently assessed him.

Upon entering the Fortress's command room the group found the Imperial executive officer in charge dead, having committed suicide. Julian and the others stopped and offered a salute.

Admiral Lutz's fleet retreated towards the Imperial homeland, as Admiral Merkatz observed the caravan of evacuating Imperials. "This truly is a new hope." he mused.

"Indeed." added Yang, who had spent the entire unorthodox battle on the sidelines.

Iserlohn Fortress was once again in Alliance hands.