Annerose, Reinhard's older sister, lives in the palace as the kaiser's favorite mistress. As Reinhard and Kircheis make their way to her residence for a visit, they both recall memories of their childhood together. Then Annerose, after greeting them with a smile that hasn't changed since they were young, asks Kircheis to continue looking out for her brother and guide him back toward the right path if he ever goes astray.

Sub-lieutenant Greenhill, a woman with an unusually keen memory, is added to the crew of the 13th Fleet along with several other highly well-regarded officers. Captain Schönkopf and some members of his regiment, the Rosen Ritter, board a previously captured Imperial cruiser as part of Yang's plan to infiltrate and capture Iserlohn Fortress, disguising themselves as Imperial soldiers being pursued by the Alliance

A meeting is underway at the Free Planets Alliance Navy Integrated Tactical Operations Center to plan the Alliance's large-scale invasion into Imperial territory. Commodore Falk, an operations staff officer, proposes a plan, but Vice Admirals Bewcock and Yang raise concerns about the dangers of invading with widely separated forces and an excessively long supply line. Meanwhile, Reinhard is concocting a plan to draw the Alliance Navy deep into Imperial territory and destroy them in one fell swoop.

The Free Planets Alliance Navy Expeditionary Fleet is fighting a severe supply shortage, and the supply convoy that was sent to save them has been destroyed by Kircheis in a fierce attack. Without their desperately needed supplies, the disheartened Alliance fleet takes a hard hit from the Imperial Navy. As Reinhard's subordinates take out the Alliance fleets one by one, Yang's 13th Fleet is attacked by the Kempff Fleet.