Großadmiral Reinhard von Lohengramm vom galaktischen Kaiserreich folgt nicht den Empfehlungen seiner Berater und zieht trotz zahlenmäßiger Unterlegenheit in den Kampf.

Die Allianz rückt dem Feind immer näher. Flottillenadmiral Yang schlägt eine mögliche Abwehr der kaiserlichen Kräfte vor, wird jedoch zurückgewiesen.

Reinhard besucht in Begleitung von Kircheis seine Schwester Annerose. Kircheis erinnert sich daran, wie die Geschwister sein Schicksal verändert haben.

Yang Wen-li, später als unbesiegbarer Stratege bekannt, kommt nach dem Tod seines Vaters auf die Militärschule und begegnet Jean und seiner Freundin Jessica.

Die besiegten Allianzschiffe machen sich auf den Rückweg nach Hause. Yang besucht eine Gedenkfeier für die Gefallenen, wo ihm eine Frau eine unerwartete Frage stellt.

Yang ist jetzt Konteradmiral und befehligt die neue 13. Flotte. Seine erste Mission: Er soll eine als uneinnehmbar geltende Festung erobern. Er schmiedet einen Plan.

Schenkopp und seine Rosenritter sind an Bord und geben vor, geheime Infos zu haben, um weiteren Zugang zu erhalten, doch es müssen unzählige Hürden überwunden werden.

Das Kaiserreich konfisziert das auf unredliche Weise erworbene Vermögen eines Ministers. Dessen Sohn wehrt sich und Kircheis soll die Rebellion unterdrücken.

Der Hohe Rat bespricht die durch den anhaltenden Krieg ausgelösten wirtschaftlichen Probleme. Yang ist auf seinen Rücktritt vorbereitet und besucht das Hauptquartier.

Mitten im Machtkampf, an dem auch Reinhard beteiligt ist, warnt Rubinsky den kaiserlichen Hochkommissar vor einer großangelegten Invasion der Allianz.

Die „Befreiungskräfte“ der Allianz fallen ins Kaiserreich ein, wo eine Hungersnot herrscht. Ihnen geht selber der Nachschub aus und es kommt zu einer Krise.

Kircheis vernichtet die Versorgungsflotte, wodurch die Allianz keinen Nachschub mehr bekommt. Dies führt zu einem erbitterten Angriff auf das Expeditionskorps der Marine.

Die freie Planeten-Allianz führte eine Großoffensive innerhalb des galaktischen Imperiums durch, dies konnte man allerdings durch Reinhards Mitwirken kontern, infolgedessen wurde das imperiale Aufgebot um drei Raumflotten dezimiert.

Kaiser Friedrich der IV. des galaktischen Imperiums ist unerwartet verstorben, ohne einen Nachfolger zu bestimmen. Sein einziger direkter Nachkomme, Edwin Josef ist grade mal fünf Jahre alt, demnach schmiedeten die Familie Braunschweig und die Familie Littenheim Pläne, um ihre jeweiligen Töchter als Thronkandidatinnen zu unterstützen.

Als die Marine der freien Planeten-Allianz die Festung Iserlohn eroberte, machte man zwei Millionen imperiale Soldaten zu Kriegsgefangene. Zudem nahm auch die imperiale Marine zwei Millionen Kriegssoldaten in der Schlacht von Amritsar gefangen. Da man enorme Mengen Kriegsgefangene auf beiden Seiten hat, schlug Reinhard einen Austausch vor.

Der Konflikt und die Feindseligkeit zwischen Reinhard und Lichtenlade spitzt sich zu, auch die beiden reinblütigen Adelsfamilien stehen in einem primären Konflikt gegenüber. Mittendrin besucht Hilda, die einzige Tochter des Grafen Mariendorf, die Villa des Flottenadmirals auf Odin, um sich mit Reinhard zu treffen.

Seit der gescheiterten Invasion des Imperiums durch die Allianz ist nur wenig Zeit vergangen. Die Bevölkerung ist aufgrund des Mordes an Admerial Cubersly, einer Schlüsselfigur der Marine der Allianz, sowie einer versehentlichen Explosion sehr verunsichert. Diese Verunsicherung führte letztlich auf mehreren Planeten zu einer Revolte.

Die Lippstädter Adelskoalition schmiedet einen Plan, um Reinhards Streitkräfte von der kaiserlichen Hauptstadt Odin wegzulocken und den Kaiser somit gefangenzunehmen. Während die Adligen untereinander darüber streiten, wer diesen Angriff anführen soll, legte die Mittermeyer-Flotte ein Minenfeld aus, um die Rebellen vom Kurs abzubringen und so von hinten zu flankieren.

Nachdem Yang einen Aufstand auf dem Planeten Shampool niederschlag, wird Yang von Kommandant Baghdash, einem Beamten des Geheimdienstes, angesprochen. Baghdash teilt Yang mit, dass sich die 11. Flotte dem Staatsstreich angeschlossen hat und nun auf dem Weg zu ihm sei. Während die Yang-Flotte und die 11. Flotte in der Sternenzone Doria kämpfen, ist die gegnerische Fraktion standhaft.

Kircheis zog sich wegen eines Geheimauftrags in ein anderes Sternsystem zurück, da das Leben der Braunschweigs bedroht war, hierbei zwang Kircheis Kommandant Littenheim in die Reserve. Ein untergebener Littenheims, der wegen der Feigen Flucht auf eigene Kosten, von Littenheim erzürnt war, jagte sich, mit samt des Kommandanten und teile der Festung in die Luft.

Nach dem Sieg über Legrange in der Doria-Sternenzone begibt sich Yangs Flotte zum Hauptplaneten Heinessen, welcher vom nationalen Rat übernommen wurde. Obwohl der Vorsitzende des Rates, Greenhill, die Schwere der Situation versteht, glaubt er nicht, dass Yangs Flotte imstande ist, das Verteidigungssystem von Heinessen zu kapern.

Das Gerücht, Reinhard hätte vom Atomangriff gewusst und nichts unternommen, um die Adelsfraktion schlechter darzustellen, verbreitete sich. Auch Kircheis erfuhr davon und wollte wissen, ob es wahr sei, so kam er nach Unterwerfung einer Grenzsternzone zu Reinhard zurück und konfrontierte ihn damit.

Die Schlacht gegen die Lippstädter Adelskoalition ist beendet, und auf der Geiersburg findet eine Siegesfeier und Audienz mit den Kriegsgefangenen statt. Die Wachen verbieten Kircheis, seine Schusswaffe mit sich zu führen, obwohl er zuvor in Reinhards Gegenwart immer die Erlaubnis hatte, seine Waffen zu tragen.

Nachdem ihre jeweiligen Konflikte beendet sind, verbringen sowohl Yang als auch Reinhard ihre Zeit damit, ihr Bedauern abzuwägen.

January 798 UC: A squadron of the Iserlohn Garrison Fleet under the command of Dusty Attenborough conducts a patrol and training mission in the Galactic Empire side of the Iserlohn Corridor, during which it encounters an Imperial patrol fleet under the command of Eihendorf. Hostilities ensue and Attenborough's squadron, largely comprised of trainees, is quickly forced into the defensive. Julian Mintz, one of the trainees, undergoes his first battle as a fighter pilot. The outmatched Attenborough Squadron is on the brink of defeat when it is saved by the entirety of the Iserlohn Garrison Fleet led by Yang Wen-li.

Wolfgang Mittermeyer and Oskar von Reuenthal, two renowned admirals under the command of Reinhard von Lohengramm collectively dubbed as the "Twin Pillars", get together and reminisce about their respective pasts, culminating in the event that would lead to the defining moment of their careers: the Klopstock Incident. In March 795 UC, after thirty years of life in exile from Imperial high society, Marquis Wilhelm von Klopstock plotted an assassination of Kaiser Friedrich IV that was to occur during a party organised by Duke Otho von Braunschweig.

Oskar von Reuenthal ran out in a stormy night to seek help from Reinhard von Lohengramm (then Müsel), a rising star in the Imperial Navy that was also known to be disdained by the high nobles. During the meeting with Reinhard and Siegfried Kircheis, Reuenthal convinced Reinhard to save Wolfgang Mittermeyer, in exchange for the absolute loyalties of both of them to Reinhard. Mittermeyer was promptly freed from captivity, and together with Reuenthal, became the first people outside Kircheis to join Reinhard's cause.

Back in the present, Reinhard is busy consolidating his authority as supreme commander of the Imperial Navy and prime minister of the Galactic Empire, and to facilitate that he expands the number of commanders under his direct command.

As if to fill the void caused by the death of Siegfried Kircheis, Reinhard von Lohengramm devotes his energies entirely on reforming the Galactic Empire. His wide-ranging reforms earn him tremendous goodwill from the populace, and despite considering them to be publicity stunts, even his sceptics are suitably impressed by the breadth of the reforms.

The head of the Galactic Empire's Science and Technology Department, Anton Hilmer von Schaft, is a man known for his sheer ambition. He is now presenting to Reinhard a large-scale plan to retake the long-lost Iserlohn Fortress.

The planet Fezzan is an autonomous dominion located in one of the only two safely navigable zones that connect the Galactic Empire and the Free Planets Alliance. Every Fezzani head of state, or Landesherr, has protected the independence of the dominion by maintaining strong ties with both its much more powerful neighbors. However, the current fifth Landesherr, Adrian Rubinsky, also known as the Black Fox of Fezzan, seems intentioned to change this long-standing policy.

The Empire moves forward with its experiments to warp Geiersburg Fortress through space to attack Iserlohn Fortress. Reinhard and several of his subordinates watch anxiously from the safety of his flagship as the countdown begins. Amidst the tension, some of Reinhard's most trusted men discuss how he has changed since Kircheis died a year ago.

A sudden recall order from the central government of the Free Planets Alliance forces Yang to head for the capital planet Heinessen. Yang assigns the command of the Iserlohn Fortress to Caselnes and von Schönkopf, and departs aboard the cruiser Leda II with minimal personnel, including his second-in-command Frederica and his guard, Machungo.

When the massive Geiersburg Fortress suddenly materializes in the Iserlohn Corridor, Caselnes immediately forwards a request for reinforcements to Heinessen, but now he must prepare for the imminent Imperial attack. Meanwhile, in Heinessen, Frederica is desperately looking for allies to save Yang.

Admiral Kempff, Commander-in-Chief of the Geiersburg Imperial expeditionary force, sends a peremptory declaration of war to the Alliance garrison of Iserlohn. Then Geiersburg's main gun suddenly opens fire with devastating results. On Iserlohn, a confused Caselnes and his officers do not seem to agree on the best strategy to take...

The Imperial fleet relentlessly conducts their assault on the Iserlohn Corridor, one blow after another. As Caselnes is still struggling with organizing an effective resistance, Imperial armored infantry units have landed on Iserlohn, and threaten to establish a bridgehead. Then, former Imperial admiral Merkatz, who defected to the Alliance, asks to be assigned temporary command of the garrison fleet.

An Alliance relief fleet is finally heading to the Iserlohn Corridor, but combat forces on the battlefield are limited, and a wrong move could turn fatal. Should the Iserlohn garrison fleet be unable to break the blockade imposed by Kempff's ships, the reinforcements from Heinessen would be easily destroyed. On the command bridge of Iserlohn, Caselnes and his officers animatedly discuss the countermeasures, but what sounds like the best plan comes from somebody most unexpected.

With the return of Yang to the battlefield, the Imperial fleet increasingly loses momentum and is now on the verge of collapse. Admiral Kempff has to come to terms with the fact that his forces are no longer capable of holding the front line, and sends an order of general retreat to all ships. But this is not necessarily an admission of defeat, because he has one last card to play.

The Imperial invasion force returns to the capital Odin, where Reinhard shows very different treatment to the personnel involved in the operation. Meanwhile, dissatisfaction with the new leadership is unexpectedly growing in the heart of one who was once the Empire's most loyal war hero. At Iserlohn Fortress, where peace has temporarily been restored, Yang and Julian have a very frank conversation, and Julian reveals the path he has chosen.

Military Police Commander Ulrich Kesler informs Reinhard that Count Alfred von Landsberg and Leopold Schumacher, two former members of the now-dissolved Lippstadt Nobles Coalition that fought against Reinhard during the Civil War, have reportedly infiltrated the Imperial capital of Odin. Unsure of their true intentions, Reinhard first asks Hilde to assure Annerose's safety, then summons Fezzani High Commissioner Boltik. It's June of the 489th year of the Imperial Calendar...

Count Landsberg's family had loyally served the Goldenbaum dynasty for five generations. His ancestors were even involved in the construction of a labyrinthic system of tunnels beneath the Neue Sanssouci Palace, devised to provide a safe escape for the Emperor in case of an emergency. Now this underground maze will prove instrumental in rescuing the Emperor from the usurper.

Kesler reports to Reinhard that the palace has been breached during the night. The sun has yet to rise when Reinhard urgently summons his senior admirals and orders them to keep all fleets ready to go into action at any time. Hilde is now beginning to see the byzantine game of power that is being played in cold-blooded cynicism, but in the midst of this, she overhears communication concerning Neue Sanssouci Chief of Security Molt.

In a sudden public speech from Heinessen directed to all citizens, Chairman Trunicht announces that epoch-changing events are occurring as a most unexpected defector has arrived seeking protection under the ideals of freedom and democracy in the Alliance. Everyone on Iserlohn is puzzled, but Yang has a hunch that makes him feel aggravated. Then, news from Odin casts an ominous shadow across the entire galaxy.

Reinhard's speech has thrown the whole High Council of the Free Planets Alliance into complete chaos. Public opinion is polarized between disapproval of a folly populist decision, and support for a resolution that honors the core values of the Alliance. For Trunicht, there couldn't be better opportunity to further strengthen his influence over the military. As the future of the galaxy seems to hinge upon a bratty seven-year-old, Julian is appointed with a new assignment that would take him right to the eye of the growing storm.

Julian is deeply hesitant about his new assignment in Fezzan. Wouldn't he be more helpful to the Alliance's cause by staying at Iserlohn, where the Imperial fleet is more likely to strike, making any available pilot sorely needed in the near future? However, Yang believes that this otherwise unwelcome top-down decision may actually turn out to be crucial to obtaining invaluable insight on where the struggle for power in the galaxy is heading.

As the new wind of war seems to reinvigorate the will to fight among the Empire's youth, the military machine moves on to mobilize an attack force of unprecedented proportions. At the Supreme Operations Council, Reinhard reveals his audacious plan, not without sparking bewilderment and skepticism among the assembled admirals. Meanwhile, Heydrich Lang, former chief of the much-feared Department of Social Discipline, tries to find himself a role in the new regime, and a replacement for the Imperial throne is about to be announced.

On his way to Fezzan, Julian spends several days at Heinessen. Here, he pays a visit to Bewcock to hand over a strictly confidential letter from Yang, which exposes his conjectures about the possible move the Imperial forces are likely to make. As Julian finally reaches Fezzan, he is immediately mesmerized by the freedom and affluence that surrounds him, and starts seriously wondering whether he will ever be apt to his new mission.

A massive fleet led by Oskar von Reuenthal appears in the Iserlohn Corridor. Boasting overwhelming numerical superiority over the defending Alliance forces, the Imperial commander is confident he can crush his opponent in a quick and easy victory. Back on Heinessen, Bewcock warns admirals and MPs that the Empire may be following a less-obvious strategy this time, thus immediate action must be taken to avert the worst. And Yang realizes that his greatest problem of all may not be the approaching enemy ahead, but the supposed friends behind him.

The unexpected stalemate at the Iserlohn Corridor urges the Imperial Headquarters to muster a reinforcement fleet to be immediately sent in support of Reuenthal. Or at least this is what the Imperial crews believe... but as the fleet jumps out from subspace, it becomes clear that Iserlohn is not their destination. Then Mittermeyer, commander of the fleet, announces that they are about to turn the page in the book of history. On Fezzan, people are staring overhead with anxiety as the sky is filled with ships.