-Do nothing and hope the enemy fades away.

Fabius Maximus

Oberstein was a man without fear plain and simple, as someone born with a genetic defect that would have got him killed under the Inferior Genes act, he accepted death as an old friend, perhaps his only true friend.

But even so it was terrifying facing Reinhard's wrath, even for a man who does not fear death.

"What is the meaning of this organization plan? You want me to put Merkatz as my second in command and put Kircheis under him!?"

"As his Chief of Staff. Admiral Merkatz is a respected warrior from the old guard, Admiral Kircheis is a respected warrior from the new guard. It would be favorable for our propaganda drive to make such a move."

"You are asking me to give half my fleet and my best friend to a man who was our enemy yesterday!"

"I agree that there is a chance of that happening, which is all the more reason to have Admiral Kircheis there to keep him in line. Also, that way Merkatz's victory will be shared with Kircheis so he does not become to powerful."

"So, you'd have our best officer be wasted as a glorified guard dog and on top of that make him a thief!" Reinhart said in outrage.

"I would have our two of the best officer available work together for our victory. Your excellency I know that you are hesitant with this plan, but shouldn't we ask Admiral Kircheis on his opinion on the matter?" Oberstein said and that caught Reinhard off guard so they summoned Kircheis and told them of the current topic.

"I'm fully onboard with this idea. It sounds like the ideal combination of my youthful vigor and Merkatz experience, when do I take up my new Chief of Staff post?"

Reinhard wanted to protest but this had caught him off guard, he reluctantly agreed as Reinhard's forces started to deploy in order to subjugate the Lippstadt League forces at Geiersburg.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Reinhard's Flagship Brunhilda meeting room xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"It appears the Nobles have deployed forces around the 9 bases that stand between us and Geiersburg. It's a blatant attempt to get us to use up our strength on the way to the fortress." Oscar von Reuenthal said and the other Admiral nodded.

"The theory is sound but this is not a scenario that applies to it. I say that we teach these foolish nobles a lesson in war. Admiral Merkatz what is your opinion on the matter?" Reinhard said with a tone that made it clear that it was time for Merkatz to fully commit to their side willingly, even if initially he'd been force to defect along with Fahrenheit after Reinhard captured the Admiral's family.

"There is an opportunity here. With your Excellency's permission I'd like to lead a force against those 9 bases." Merkatz said surprising those present.

"What forces would you need Admiral?"

"Admiral Fahrenheit, my fleet, Bittenfeld and Reuental's forces for the first phase along with Admiral Kircheis' force that he commanded before assuming his newest post. Also, after phase one I'd like to deploy Admiral Mittermeier and Admiral Reuenthal near the Rentenberg system, I have no doubt that the Lippstadt forces will try to outflank us in a foolish maneuver to sneak up on Odin while the fleet is mobilized." Merkatz said surprising everyone present at his bold but sound plan.

Reinhard was still apprehensive about this, but he must admit that Merkatz seemed like someone who earned his rank.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Geiersburg command room xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"It appears that that blonde brats' forces have left Odin. My lord out plan is working! As you see the enemy shall exhaust his forces plowing trough those 9 bases and …" Duke Braunschweig's speech was interrupted when the reports came of where Reinhart's forces had attacked as the nobles all looked in a panic to where is was.

"He's attacked the 7th base instead of the first which is closest!"

"Mobilize, we this is an opportunity to catch that blonde brat when he is vulnerable!" Marquis Littenheim said as he and Braunschweig shared a glare as the two leaders even now struggled over power.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Barbarossa, conference room xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"This is the island hoping strategy used by America during WWII is it not?" Rear Admiral Bergengrun said towards Rear Admiral Von Bullow as the two lieutenants of Kircheis watched their commander look at the strategical situation as Merkatz participated trough a comm screen.

"Yes, we are at the very limit of our logistical situation and we are besieging the one base that we need in order to establish a chain towards Geiersburg. This cuts of the other 6 that lead towards our rank. The nobles have stationed a lot of ships and supplies there so their option is to either fight us now or retreat from the other 6 so they are not captured or surrender from starvation." Von Bullow replied.

"But where's the enemy fleet? They should have been here by now." Kircheis asked in surprise.

"A lack of experienced mid to low-ranking officers is my guess. The League forces should be arriving by tomorrow at the earliest, there may be an opportunity here." Merkatz replied.

"I agree. They are slow to move in any coherent unit we must take advantage of that. I've drafted a proposal for your consideration sir." Kircheis replied and gave the file to Merkatz.

"The number of ships is much lower than I'd recommend for such an operation. If you won't have more than at least double the number of supply ships. Situations like are always gas guzzlers and give more tactical flexibility. Admiral perform your proposed plan and then proceed as you see fit with any developing opportunities. " Meerkats said and Kircheis nodded.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Braunschweig flagship Odin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"There are the blond drats forces let us…WHAT!?" Braunschweig said as he saw the enemy fleet withdraw from the 7th star base.

"Incoming message from the base. Zephir particles and mines have been deployed around the fortress, unable to disarm mines until particles dissipate, particle dissipation seems to be diminished from the mines magnetic field." A bridge officer reported.

"Ignore it! Head towards the enemy fleet! Such shameful and cowardly tactics, though I'd expect nothing more from a traitor like Merkatz." Littenheim said over the coms from his own ship as he and Braunschweig were for once in agreement.

"A pity we won't have two fleets stationed here join us, we could have used those extra 13.000 ships, but even with that we have 180.000 ships against a poultry 50.000 of the enemies. Still a shame that we must leave a fleet behind to guard our supplies now that base 7 is in this sorry state. But that still leaves us with 190.000 ships." Braunschweig said as they did just that as they now chased Merkatz's' fleet that withdrew to another system.

The Lippstadt forces had dispersed almost 100.000 ships at the 9 bases and as they marched forward, they had gathered the forces of the 8th, and 9th bases to them but now they could not do the same with the 7th.

And the distance kept getting bigger and bigger.

"How is this possible?" Braunschweig asked.

"It appears the enemy fleets is composed out of the Bittenfeld, Fahrenheit, Reuenthal and Merkatz forces, they are all fast attack specialist fleets." Commodore Ansbach his Chief of Staff answered.

"We are coming up on the 6th base and."

"Comms from the base coming in. It reads the same status as base 7!"

"The enemy is retreating towards the 5th base!"

"Incoming enemy fleet! Enemy forces have been supplemented by an estimate of another 15.000 ships!"

The bridge crew reported.

"Commander, it seems that their strategy is to bottle up the garrisons and lure us in making us leave supply defense forces in order to deplete our numbers and overstretch our supplies while increasing theirs and with a shorter supply line. I recommend that we withdraw." Ansbach suggested.

"Withdraw!? Even with that we have 150.000 ships vs 65.000! We still have the advantage advance! It's not like that coward Merkatz will run away forever! Even a traitor like that must have soldier's pride. What is he going to do? Run all the way to Odin without fighting once" Braunschweig said in outrage at the very notion of that.

"That's exactly what's going to happen." Ansbach trough but he kept his mouth shut, he knew how to survive in the noble's court as exactly that happened.

With every base that they chased Merkatz too more and more of Lohengram's forces joined the enemy fleet, more and more Lippstadt forces where either trapped in the bases or left behind to guard the supply line.

They had left Geiersburg with almost 180.000 ships and faced less than 80.000. By the time they reached the 1st base they now had 100.000 ships and the enemy forces had swollen to 105.000 ships. They where at the very limit of their supple chain while the enemy was sitting on a supply dumb almost.

"Enemy fleet is retreating to Odin!"

"Incoming data from the long-range patrol crafts!" Mecklinger fleet has reached Odin.

"Sir, should we not withdraw?" Ansbach asked.

"Nonsense! Staden has 50.000 troops that are flanking Odin as we speak. Once we join forces it will be 150.000 vs 120.000 we still have the advantage!" Braunschweig said in anger.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Golgotha System xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Engines at full speed!" Staden said as they hopelessly tried to outflank the Mittermeier fleet once more as it continued to move to block their advance to the jump point towards Rentenberg and then Odin itself, but its swift movements kept them from doing their holy mission to at first rescue the Kaiser early, but with the news of what has currently happening Staden knew that the whole League was in danger of losing the war here and now.

Mittermeier's and Reuental's 25.000 troops were making a mockery of Staden's 35.000

"Incoming jump signature from the direction of Geiersburg. 15.000 ships have made the jump."

"Reinforcements from the fortress and base 8th and 9?" Staden said in delight.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Braunschweig flagship Odin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Incoming transmission. 8th and 9th bases are reporting enemy forces that have deployed minefield and Zephyr particle fields!"

"What!? How! Every enemy admiral is accounted for! Who did this?" Braunschweig asked.

"It appears to have been a newly expanded half fleet commander by the Chief of Staff of the Merkatz forces. Admiral Kircher's fleet."

"The damned red-haired brat!? Like traitor, like common filth they both run away in a cowardly manner and send the only ones beneath them to sneak and trick around instead of fight! Ignore the news. We still have enough supplies for one journey and battle. Inform Geiersburg to expect an assault from the Red-haired brat and give me a report on Staden! Tell him to get his ass to Odin now!" Braunschweig said in anger as they now prepared to chase Reinhard's forces to Odin itself.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Golgotha System xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"Signature detected! Enemy forces calling themselves the Kircheis fleet!"

"What!? Impossible!" Staden said in disbelief.

"Retreat! All forces retreat!" He with haste added.

"Sir, we still have a 5.000 ship advantage!"

"Fool! Look at from where he made the jump, that can only mean one thing!"

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Braunschweig flagship Odin xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"The red-haired brat ignored Geiersburg and travelled thousands of light years to aide the fight in a less important sector? This can't be!" Braunschweig said in disbelief as his forces reached Odin.

"Enemy forces have regrouped around Odin, total number 105.000 ships."

"Mechanical breakdown and raiding activity reported from out last jump point. Recommend garrison to protect the ships and lines message from the rear formations."

"Sir. Transmission from Admiral Staden's forces. Supplies cut off, enemy forces to great. Retreating from Golgotha and Rentenberg is under siege."

"Good! There is still a chance of winning before Mittermeier and red haired brat's forces return here. All forces advance towards Odin. The battle is even now at 105.000 ships a piece, but the will of the Gods is with us! Let us liberate our Kaiser today!" Braunschweig said with pomp to the other noble commanders of his forces as they all roared in an arrogant way.

"Incoming transmission…Rentenburg…..Rentenburg has been captured by the enemy!"

Braunschweig remained silent as he trembled with rage and disbelief.

"Sir, shall I issue a retreat to Geiersburg?" Ansbach asked.

All Braunschweig could do was not.

"I can see it, Odin…..the throne…victory….. all within my grasp." Braunschweig said as he held his hand towards the planet as they turned around and left.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Reinhard's Flagship Brunhilda meeting room xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"We are pursuing the enemy forces as of now with Admiral Bittenfeld and Fahrenheit's fast attack fleets being our vanguard. Admiral Kircheis bold maneuver has secured Staden's retreat and the complete neutralization of the enemy forces operational capacity from Geiersburg towards Odin." Merkatz reported.

"It was all made possible by Admiral Merkatz insistence to take extra supply ships that permitted such an opportunity along with his flexible order." Kircheis added.

"Most excellent. You two together is like watching an old master and a prodigy of an apprentice destroying their opposition." Reuenthal commented

"Good work the both of you." Reinhard said with a bit of jealousy in his voice before realizing how idiotic it was to be mad at the fact that Merkatz and Kircheis where a good team, even if they where comparable to him and Kircheis.

"What are your recommendations for our next step?" Reinhard asked Merkatz.

"Advance towards the 5th base to besiege it for capture or isolation and establish out own supply point there. We ignore the first 4 bases and starve them out while gathering supplies at the 5th. We fortify and hold against any future attacks from Geiersburg while our forces take the frontier and domains around it so as to weaken the fortress before an assault." Merkatz replied and Reinhard approved.

And that was how it happened, when the League forces returned to Geiersburg they had deployed a month before almost 250.000 ships in the field and bases. Now they lost 15% of their forces to either mechanical error, desertion, trapped inside the 9 bases, a heavy number of supplies, they lost reputation and face all without firing a single shot.

"Some of the enemy forces have defected from Rentenberg and the besieged supply bases. We can supplement our troops with an additional 20.000 officers who wish to serve directly under Admiral Merkatz and him alone."

"It seems that there are many benefits of making him the second in command of our forces. I suppose you want to keep Merkatz and Siegfried together and have them conquer the frontiers in this manner." Reinhard replied.

"Yes. Also, there is a message from Odin. Countess Grunewald is asking for your permission to make Merkatz's daughter her official companion."

"Sister is worrying about something as trivial as that. I leave such affairs in her capable hands. Any other news?"

"In regards to the League no. But worrying developments have been reported from our spies in the Alliance. Yang Wen Li has moved the 12 Artemis Necklace units towards the Fezzan Corridor." Oberstein said and showed Reinhard the report.

"We expected that."

"Yes, but your Excellency 14 minutes ago it was announced that the Alliance had sold 5 out of the 12 units to Fezzan." Oberstein said and Reinhardt's eyes bulged out.

"With that Fezzan can now be fortified at the Imperial side without the Alliance violating its territory. Also, the money spent on them will fill the Alliance coffers and those things need a lot of resources. Resources that Fezzan can only buy from the Alliance since Imperial tech and Alliance ones are incompatible. This will also reduce the upkeep cost of their forces while simultaneously increasing the budged for the Alliance Fleet." Oberstein added.

"It's not just in terms of resources, with this many qualified personal can be released from those 5 units and be put back into the Alliance Fleet or the civilian sector. With this the quality and quantity of the personal both support, fighting and civilian has just increased. Yang Wen Li is ahead of us." Reinhard replied.

"I agree. At this stage the coup should be delayed until after we defeat the nobles and invade the Alliance." At Oberstein's words Reinhart got up and walked towards his office space window.

"Any other enemy would have invaded or supplied a faction in this war by now either trough Fezzan or Iserlohn. But not Yang Wen Li. He's preparing ships, a stockpile of resources, increasing the efficiency of his forces a true military man who puts emphasis on logistics not the amateurs of the High Nobles who just fight. Oberstein, what is your recommendation on our strategy?"

"If we launch an assault on Geiersburg we will lose valuable personal perhaps even high ranking ones that will affect us badly and needing extra time to recover from the loss, if we continue with the plan to capture the frontier we will suffer less casualties but it will take longer and the Alliance will be stronger. Either way we will face a superior opponent. Your Excellency it might be necessary to delay the war with the Alliance by years if not a decade until Yang Wen Li is no longer in power, either way the true fight ahead shall not be quick or easy."

Oberstein said and this did make Reinhard smile.

"A long war vs a mighty army and worthy opponent." Reinhard said wistfully.

Oberstein was concerned at that.

Xxxxxxxxxxxx Heinessen. Chairman office xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

"The coup is not happening and Lohengram's is winning effortlessly. The backlash from selling some of the necklace is starting to pile up. Ugh….and Trunich's numbers are rising…Yare….Yare when it rains it pours. Commodore Mashengo please inform Admiral Greenhill that it's time for Operation Loki to commence, inform the other Admirals that we must convene in order to fully implement it." Yang said and made his way towards the space port in order to board for starlight.

Xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx Reinhard's Flagship Brunhilda meeting room xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx

A heavy breathing personal aide ran inside the room where Reinhard held his meeting.

"What is it Emil?" Reinhard asked.

"News…..big news from the Alliance! A ship has been destroyed in a terrorist attack! No survivors! A ship carrying Admiral Greenhill, Bewcock and

….AND YANG WEN LI!