Legends of Galactic Heroes - The Sleeping Dragon

Chapter 15

The people who moved from Earth out into the surrounding galaxy established the Galactic Federation in 2801 AD. This became the 1st Space year of the Universal Calendar. It was the beginning of a golden age of progress and vitality for the human race.

Space year 296, Rudolf bon Goldenbaum, a young Confederation hero, became a politician. Possessing powerful leadership qualities he came to hold a strong position in the Confederation Parliament.

Then in Space year 310 of the calendar, Rudolf, who held concurrently the posts of Prime Minister and Head of State, established the Galactic Empire and put himself in the position of Kaiser. The Space year was abolished and the 1st Imperial year began.

Rudolf's rule fell into tyranny. Eliminating and suppressing any who objected, he ruled through intimidation.

Imperial year 164, a young leader, Ale Heinessen, escaped the Empire and became the head of a group of Republicans. Crossing a dangerous zone of space that is Iserlohn Corridor, he escaped the Orion arm and into the arm of Sagittarius and founded the Free Planets Alliance, and resurrected the Space year and the Universal Calendar.

On Space year 640, Imperial year 331, first contact between the Galactic Empire and the Free planets Alliance was made in the February Encounter which was the 1st recorded defeat for the Galactic Imperial Navy. It was then followed by the Battle of Dagon which almost crippled the Imperial's back at the almost near start of the war. For the next 150+ years, the war dragged on. In particular, the Empire's construction of Iserlohn Fortress in the Iserlohn Corridor, the only navigation route between the Empire and the Alliance was the cause of this bloodshed.

Now, Alliance Forces, under the command of Yang Wen-Li, have captured Iserlohn Fortress.

The Thor Hammer fires as the flagship, Aachen is destroyed.

"Second firing of the Thor Hammer, confirmed! It appears that His Excellency Seeckt's flagship has been destroyed! Other ships are also deserting the battle lines!"

"Iserlohn... Iserlohn Fortress has fallen. That's..."

"Calm down. We can take Iserlohn back at any time." Says Oberstein as they are simply flying back past Amritsar as the other two in the room look at him. "But the problem is choosing someone to do it."

~ Valhalla Starzone ~
Planet Odin
- Imperial Admiralty and Ministry of War-

For the big three of the imperial military heard Iserlohn Fortress fell to the Alliance was something that was not possible.

Ehrenberg: "Iserlohn has fallen?! That's unbelievable! Surely, there must be some mistake."

Steinhoff: "Wasn't Iserlohn Fortress impregnable?"

Muckenberger: "Those Idiots! What in the world were they doing?!"

The Empire's three Chiefs of Staff, the Secretary of War, the Supreme Command HQ Secretary General, and the Space Fleet Commander, via Secretary of State Lichtenlade reported the situation to Kaiser Frederick the IV.

"Imperial territory must be sacred and inviolable from foreign invasion. Your subjects are solely to blame for causing this situation. It's disgraceful." Says Lichtenlade as Frederick looks at him he holds a glass cup of white wine.

Meanwhile in Reinhard's Admiralty, the other commanders are, except for Bismarck and Kircheis, are on edge. Reinhard is sitting in his chair as his left is crossed over his right.