Episode 19, “The Battle of the Doria Starzone”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  After taking control of the rebel-controlled planet Shamploo, the Yang Fleet engages the 11th Fleet in the Doria Starzone. Yang repeatedly requests their surrender, but Admiral Legrange is stubborn, and their fleet is eventually all but wiped out. Legrange shoots himself instead of surrendering and the battle is over. Yang accepts National Salvation Council spy Bagdash’s genuine offer to work for him now that the 11th Fleet is defeated, but Julian doesn’t trust him. On Heinessen, Jessica Edwards organizes a massive protest against the coup which is violently put down by the military. read more

Episode 18, “Bloodshed in Space”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  The boyar nobles, who have made Geiersburg Fortress their base of operations, launch their forces against Reinhard’s. However, their strategy is flawed, and Wolfgang Mittermeyer is able to chase them off to Retenberg Fortress. From there, Mittermeyer and Oskar von Reuenthal’s forces engage armored troops in a corridor in armed combat. Leading the Lippstadt forces’ armored division is Ovlesser, an enormous brute, who Mittermeyer and von Reuenthal lure into a trap. Reinhard, on the advice of Oberstein, returns Ovlesser to Geiersburg, where he’s executed in suspicion of treason. Oberstein’s plan to throw the nobles into a state of uneasiness is a success. read more

Episode 17, “The Yang Fleet Mobilizes”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  After an assassination attempt on Admiral Cubersly by Andrew Falk, it appears that rogue elements in the FPA military are ready to foment rebellions. Yang is ordered to put down revolts on several FPA planets, but before he can, there’s a coup on Heinessen. The National Salvation Military Council, led by Dwight Greenhill, takes control of the government and military, even taking Admiral Bewcock into custody. Despite her connection to the ringleader, Frederica is surprised to learn that Yang still values her participation. The Yang Fleet disembarks from Iserlohn Fortress to fight the insurrectionists. read more

Episode 16, “Ignition Point”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis: Hildegard von Mariendorf, daughter of Mariendorf County’s overseer, determines to ally herself and her family with Reinhard before a civil war breaks out in the Empire. She sees to it that the young admiral guarantee the rights of her family and their property via a document. Powerful nobles opposing Reinhard form the Lippstadt Noble Coalition. Grenadier Commander Ovlesser is dismayed that he couldn’t recruit former Chief Commander Mückenberger for the noble’s cause. Mückenberger, like Mariendorf, is convinced that Reinhard will create a new age. Lippstadt leader Braunschweig recruits a reluctant Admiral Merkatz to being the commander of the coalition’s military forces. After an assassination attempt fails to kill Reinhard or kidnap Annerose, Braunschweig and other nobles flee planet Odin to organize elsewhere, but Reinhard’s men are able to prevent some of them from leaving. read more

Episode 15, “Before the Storm”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  The Empire sends an convoy for a prisoner exchange, which Yang reasons will work in Reinhard’s favor in his struggle against the nobles. Yang meets with Admiral Bewcock on Heinessen, where he suggests the Empire will foster unrest in the Free Planets Alliance to keep them distracted during their own internal conflict. A secret cabal of Alliance officers, including Dwight Greenhill, meet to discuss their plans for a coup, hoping to keep a close tail on Yang to prevent him from interfering. It seems that the defeated Arthur Lynch, an commander taken captive at the battle of El Facil, was injected into the returned prisoners, and has inspired this revolution on Reinhard’s behalf. read more

Episode 14, “The Death of the Kaiser”

*****SPOILERS*****

Synopsis:  After the Kaiser dies with no named successor, various related parties jockey for position. Reinhard decides to side with the Kaiser’s young grandson, Erwin Josef II, a puppet of the Minister of State, Lichtenlade.

Comments:

You see that two sentence synopsis? That’s because that’s about all that happens in this episode. Oh, not that the story didn’t need a breather from combat for the political moving and shaking, because it’s all good, but at this particular stage, it’s all just beginning, so it’s not at its deepest or most engaging. read more