Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Battles (Spoilers)

[Bright]

Well, damn, that game actually looks pretty awesome. It seems like something I wouldn't mind playing.

How does the larger RTS-style view fit together with the closer panoramas of the ships? Are the latter from some sort of cinematics?

[Crossroads Inc.]

Welcome to the bored Kalnaf!

Also wish to thank you for the awesome screencaps! Wish the game was here in the west it looks simply stunning! I really like the look of the Tristan and it along with the Beowulf are my current favorite ships

On the Berlin evidently those large ships ARE supposed to be physically connected, but it was an animation mistake? How curious.

[Srelex]

Here's a trailer for that game if anyone wants it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JaPl4DSFUQI

[SAMAS]

On a similar note, this is a fake movie of LoGH done Super Robot Wars-style.

[KlavoHunter]

Does anyone remember offhand where the couple of frames in WHAT episode this bit of fanart is styled after? I remember seeing Reuental and Mittermeyer back-to-back on some ice world somewhere once for a few frames...

[Vympel]

It's Episode 28, called "Portraits" IIRC.

[kalnaf]

Does anyone remember offhand where the couple of frames in WHAT episode this bit of fanart is styled after?

And... that's not a 'fanart', by the way.

It's 'official' art, from official comicbook version of the series.

[KlavoHunter]

It's Episode 28, called "Portraits" IIRC.

Ahhh, thanks, that was it.

Hmm, seems Imperial Valkyries *can* enter atmosphere to perform attacks on ground targets... Didn't think they could do that, with their unusual shape.

[White Haven]

Slight fix, having just watched the episode in question. During the assassination attempt on Reinhard, Oberstein jumped into shield Reinhard from the rocket, but as it misses, the view cuts to the aftermath of Kirscheis having apparently matrixed over and uppercutted a firing rocket launcher to spoil the aim. Oberstein tried, the redhead succeeded.

[Vympel]

That does make more sense. I'll make the change after I finally finish the Alliance civil war (I've been busy with Fallout New Vegas )

[Uraniun235]

It's Episode 28, called "Portraits" IIRC.

Ahhh, thanks, that was it.

Hmm, seems Imperial Valkyries *can* enter atmosphere to perform attacks on ground targets... Didn't think they could do that, with their unusual shape.

I wouldn't have expected it either, although it does kind of fit with the Imperial starships also being able to land on planets. Which episode was that in?

[Gunhead]

It's Episode 28, called "Portraits" IIRC.

Ahhh, thanks, that was it.

Hmm, seems Imperial Valkyries *can* enter atmosphere to perform attacks on ground targets... Didn't think they could do that, with their unusual shape.

I wouldn't have expected it either, although it does kind of fit with the Imperial starships also being able to land on planets. Which episode was that in?

There are several for example episodes 13 and 26.

-Gunhead

[Vympel]

The Alliance Civil War

Background

In preparation for his conflict with the high nobles for control of the Empire, Marquis Reinhard von Lohengramm conspired for a civil war to take place in the Free Planets Alliance at the same time, to ensure there would be no outside interference. For his purposes, it wouldn’t even matter whether the coup succeeded or not.

For this task, Vice Admiral Oberstein selected former Alliance Rear Admiral Arthur Lynch – a prisoner of war – to be their agent. He was tasked by Marquis Lohengramm with fomenting a coup in the Alliance by stirring up discontented elements in the fleet- with the promise that he would be made an Imperial Rear Admiral if he succeeded. He was given a plan to follow.



Lohengramm, Kircheis and Oberstein meet with Lynch

Nine years prior (Space Year 788), as the commander of Alliance forces on El Facil, he had escaped the planet with other senior officers as Imperial forces were about to conquer it, leaving the civilians and troops under his command to their fate (in the same incident, then Lieutenant Yang Wen-li then saved the civilians through a novel exit strategy- establishing his reputation as “The Hero of El Facil”) – but was captured by the Empire in the attempt.

Lynch had become extremely bitter in captivity – blaming the events on El Facil on the lack of reinforcements and (bizarrely) Yang Wen-li, he railed against his characterization as “a coward with no sense of shame” – even in his own POW camp, he was shunned. Determining the Alliance fleet was full of scoundrels who were no better than him, Lynch readily agreed.

To facilitate Lynch’s return to the Alliance without raising suspicion, Marquis Lohengramm declared that 2,000,000 Alliance POWs would be repatriated to the Alliance as part of a prisoner exchange for Imperial POWs.

Though correctly surmising Marquis Lohengramm’s motivations, Yang Wen-li had no authority to stop it, and no proof in any event. The Alliance government agreed – it meant up to around 5,000,000 extra votes (the POWs and their families) for the current High Council in the coming elections.

The agreement was effected at Iserlohn Fortress by High Admiral Kircheis.


Barbarossa arrives at Iserlohn


Kircheis and Yang Wen-li exchange copies of the treaty following its signature

Yang returned to the Alliance capital, Heinessen, to attend the welcoming ceremony for the freed soldiers. He took the opportunity whilst there to meet surreptitiously with Admiral Bucock and share his thoughts on Lohengramm’s motives for the prisoner exchange. Bucock agreed he would try to stop any coup before it began.



At the same time, the leaders of the coup plotted. Identifying Yang and his fleet as a threat, and with no opportunity to persuade him of the righteousness of their cause, they determined to place a man close to him, to do away with him if he could not be convinced to support them.

Multiple Rebellions

On 30 March 797, Joint Operations Headquarters Chief, Admiral Kubersly, arrived at Alliance Fleet Strategic HQ and was intercepted by Commodore Andrew Falk.

Asserting that he had recovered from his blindness, he requested to be reactivated. Kubersly noted that the appropriate course of action would be to take his request through the proper channels, with a doctor’s certificate and references.

Protesting it would take too much time, Falk, clearly unbalanced, grew angry when Kubersly further rebuked him, and shot him.






Fork’s shot

The assassination attempt precipitated the coup that followed. On 3 April, a unit staged an uprising on planet Neptise. Similar coups took place on planets Kaffer, Palmelend, and Shampool in the days that followed. The rebellions were staged at widely dispersed planets to disperse loyalist military strength.




Admiral Bucock was ashamed– not being military police, and unused to investigative work, he had failed to stop the coup before it could begin. Bucock resolved to prevent the coup happening on Heinessen – but without Admiral Kubersly (who was wounded) to depend on, he was without support. Kubersly’s proxy, Admiral Dawson, was anticipated to be less than helpful.



As expected, Admiral Dawson, Acting Joint Operations HQ Chief, gave Yang orders to take his fleet to put down the rebellions on Neptise, Kaffer, Palmelend and Shampool – with the Empire embroiled in civil war, Dawson reasoned it was unlikely that Iserlohn would be attacked.


Admiral Dawson

Yang was perplexed as to why he had been ordered to pacify all four planets at once. Rear Admiral Cazerne, newly arrived at Iserlohn, noted that Dawson was the type to hold a grudge – he was giving Yang a difficult task because he was bitter at Yang holding the same rank as him, despite his youth.

On the positive side, Yang’s fleet taking all four planets ensured that the Alliance’s largest fleet, the 1st Fleet (which had not participated in the ill-fated invasion of the Empire), would not have to leave the capital – possibly avoiding a coup on Heinessen itself.

Coup on Heinessen

On 13 April (three days after Shampool fell to rebel forces), in the midst of planning to put down the rebellions, Yang and his staff received a broadcast from Heinessen, indicating a coup d’etat had occurred:

April 13th, Space Year 797, we the Free Planets Alliance National Salvation Military Council have placed the capital, Heinessen, under our control. The Alliance Constitution is suspended. The laws and orders of our National Salvation Military Council will take precedence. The following edicts will replace the Alliance Constitution:-

Item: We establish a national unity system for the sake of overthrowing the Empire.

Item: The Council is dissolved indefinitely.

Item: Political activity and speech are regulated for the good of the country.

Item: Martial law is in effect indefinitely over all of Heinessen, and all spaceports are placed under military control.

Item: Those who hold anti-war or anti-military views will be purged from office. Also, the death penalty will be applied to corrupt politicians and public officials.

We intend severe punishment for those who refuse military service. Civilian police are placed under military command for the prosecution of these people.

Item: Welfare is abolished as weakening the public. Also, we will restore quality and vigor to public morals …

Following this screed, the broadcast introduced the Chairman of the National Salvation Military Council – Admiral Dwight Greenhill. Reinhard had chosen Arthur Lynch well – he had been a junior classmate of Greenhill, in Officer’s School.



Greenhill’s motivation for leading was the rebellion was seemingly good – he would seek to eliminate political corruption, and serve as a moderating influence to restrain the other members of the coup.



Admiral Greenhill had executed the coup under cover of ground maneuvers he had scheduled for April 18th. Fleet movements in the city leading up to those maneuvers were therefore not seen as suspicious. Further, Greenhill had the assistance of other high ranking Alliance officers, including Fleet Information Chief, Vice Admiral Bronze, and the commander of the 11th Fleet, Vice Admiral Legrange.


Troops on the streets in Heinessen


Greenhilll and the plotters seize control

The nerve centres of the government and military (the High Council Building, the Council Chairman’s Residence, Joint Operations Headquarters, Space Defense Control Headquarters, Heinessen Military Spaceport, the Interstellar Communications Center, City Traffic Control Center, Police Headquarters, several banks, and the broadcasting stations) were quickly occupied. Admiral Dawson and Admiral Bucock were detained. Job Trunicht went into hiding.

Yang moves out

Yang formally refused to join the National Salvation Military Council. Determining that he had no choice but to defeat him, Greenhill assigned Vice Admiral Legrange to lead the 11th Fleet and defeat the Yang Fleet. (As a side note, there was the question of Greenhill’s daughter, Frederica, who served as Yang’s adjutant – but Greenhill had wrongly assumed Yang would relieve her of duty, due to the family connection.)


Vice Admiral Legrange

Using the authority he had received from Admiral Bucock to maintain law and order in case of a rebellion as a legal basis, Yang decided to dispatch his fleet from Iserlohn and lead it against the rebels. The ultimate destination would be Heinessen.

The fleet departed on April 20, Space Year 797.


Hyperion, along with Rear Admiral Fischer’s flagship, the Airged Lamh, with Commodore Attenborough’s flagship the Triglav just coming into view, all departing Iserlohn


Commodore Guen van Hugh’s flagship, the Maurya, alongside Hyperion and Airged Lamh

Putting down the rebellions

Planet Shampool was Yang’s first objective, being directly between Iserlohn Fortress and Heinessen, it was in a position to threaten Yang’s supplies if left alone. Brigadier General Walter von Schönkopf, commander of the Rosen Ritter, led a blitzkrieg attack which caused the planet to fall to Yang in 3 days.


Rebel positions


Schönkopf, Desert Fox


Schönkopf, Ladies’ Man

After Schönkopf’s victory, a Commander Baghdash, of the 11th Fleet, was brought aboard the Hyperion. Claiming he had escaped from Heinessen when the 11th Fleet left, he advised that Vice Admiral Legrange wished to engage Yang in a decisive battle, with no tricks, and gave them the 11th Fleet’s position. He also asked after Lt Greenhill, noting she was not present among Yang’s staff. Yang, smelling a rat, lied, saying she had been left at Iserlohn. As Lt Greenhill had a reputation for an incredible memory, Baghdash was likely worried that he would be recognized by her.



Out of sight, Lt Greenhill expressed her reservations about Commander Baghdash to Schönkopf. Baghdash had visited her father in the past, and expressed dissatisfaction with the Alliance government.

Schönkopf surmised Baghdash intended to assassinate Yang at his first opportunity. With Baghdash tired from his ‘escape’ – Schönkopf gave the timer on his tank bed a minor adjustment – he would be sound asleep until the 11th Fleet was defeated.


Tank beds – provide eight hours sleep in a fraction of the time

Battle of the Doria system: Yang Fleet vs the 11th Fleet

Commander Baghdash had of course lied about the position of the 11th Fleet – one of Yang’s scout ships had picked up their true position.

“Inform all troops – the success or failure of the National Salvation Military Council and the destiny of our homeland depends on this one battle. Each man must devote his body and soul to his responsibilities with dedication and self-sacrifice for our country. We must honor devotion and sacrifice above all else. We must despise cowardice and selfishness. I expect each man to show his courage and patriotism!” – Vice Admiral Legrange’s speech to the 11th Fleet


Leonidas II, flagship of the 11th Fleet

“In a moment, a battle will begin. It’s a good for nothing battle, that’s true. But even so, there’s no point in losing. I have a plan, so just take it easy and don’t overdo it. Our national destiny depends on this battle. Not so important, compared with the individual freedoms and rights at stake. So, everyone, let’s get started, shall we?” – Admiral Yang’s speech



Fischer, Attenborough and Nguyen

Moments after Yang’s speech ended, the 11th Fleet was detected, moving orthogonal to the galactic plane, from port to starboard, at a range of 6.4 light seconds. Yang had successfully caught the enemy’s flank, using the false information provided by Commander Baghdash to ascertain the 11th Fleet’s real position.


The opening disposition

Yang ordered that all ships were to concentrate their firepower at a single point in the enemy formation.



Luglanju, caught off guard, quickly ordered the fleet to turn to starboard and reorganize.

Meanwhile, Yang ordered Commodore Nguyen van Huu into the breach, with the intent of cutting the 11th fleet in two. Reveling in the chaos, Commodore Nguyen's fleet cut through the enemy with enthusiasm. The rear half of the fleet, with Vice Admiral Legrange, was cut off from the front.




Commodore Nguyen would've probably been in the Black Lancers if he had been born in the Empire


Elements of the 11th Fleet fire down on Nguyen, Maurya's port and starboard cannons blast away

With Rear Admiral Fischer’s precise deployment orders, Yang’s fleet then moved to surround the two halves of the 11th Fleet. The front half, under the command of Commodore Stokes, was left to Commodore Attenborough.




Triglav fighting


Lt Commander Poplin, ace Alliance flyer


Commodore Stokes


Stokes' flagship, the Abai Geser

With Attenborough causing too much trouble for him. Stokes was forced to discontinue his attack on the enemy in front of him and turn to attack Attenborough at his rear. Once he did so, Attenborough retreated, pulling Stokes away from the remainder of the 11th Fleet. When Stokes tried to withdraw to assist the main fleet, Attenborough would advance, preventing him.


The main part of the 11th fleet surrounded by Yang, Nguyen, and Fischer, whilst Attenborough leads the remainder on a chase

Although Yang, having split the enemy in two, had an overwhelming advantage, Legrange refused repeated calls to surrender. The battle was an extremely prolonged affair. Finally, with only 10% of his fleet remaining, Legrange opened a communications channel to the Hyperion. Paying his respects to Yang as a famous commander, he declared his final allegiance to the National Salvation Military Council and the Free Planets Alliance, and then committed suicide.


Leonidas II, damaged


Legrange kills himself

But the battle was not over – Commodore Attenborough was still engaged with the remainder of the 11th Fleet. Refusing surrender, the 11th Fleet had to be completely annihilated. The National Salvation Military Council had lost its mobile battle power.

It was only after the battle that Commander Baghdash got up from his tank bed to find out what had happened. He then offered to change sides and work for Yang. He had no interest in getting killed fighting for a lost cause. Yang accepted, and left him to Schönkopf, who would keep him in the brig for the short term.

Unrest on Heinessen

Whilst mulling over the consequences of the loss of the 11th Fleet, Admiral Greenhill and the rest of his council were informed that a crowd of over 200,000 had gathered in Heinessen Stadium to protest the coup, led by Representative Jessica Edwards, from the opposition party (and close friend of Admiral Yang).



Colonel Christian volunteered to go and disperse the protesters – he was firmly advised by Admiral Greenhill to do so peacefully.


Colonel Christian arrives at the stadium

Arriving at the stadium with troops, Colonel Christian traded words with Representative Edwards, and then had 10 people from the crowd lined up and began to beat them whilst brandishing a pistol, asserting peace could only be maintained through military force.


Jessica Edwards



Furious, Edwards rebuked him further, denouncing him as another Rudolf von Goldenbaum, founder of the Galactic Empire. Christian responded by beating her viciously. A riot then erupted. Admiral Greenhill ordered all troops to withdraw, fearful of making enemies of the public.



The situation gets out of hand

By the time the riot was over, 1,500 soldiers were casualties, with civilian casualties being 20,000. Edwards did not survive her injuries. Colonel Chrisitian did not get out of the stadium alive.


Colonel Christian, dead

Upon hearing of Jessica Edward’s death, Yang did not say a single word. He suppressed the remaining planets, gathered support from all over the Alliance, and then approached planet Heinessen, which was now completely isolated. It was the end of July, Space Year 797.

Destruction of the Artemis Necklace, and the end of the coup

The leaders of the coup did not think they were defeated yet. Heinessen itself was still defended by the “Artemis Necklace” automatic defence system – a series of twelve unmanned weapons emplacements, clad in hydro-metal armor, ringed around Heinessen, creating a seemingly impregnable defence that could decimate a fleet before it could reply. As long as the Artemis Necklace was in place, they believed Yang could not touch them.


The Artemis Necklace

In truth, Yang was not too worried about the Artemis Necklace – a war could not be won by reliance on hardware. The necklace would be destroyed, and the shock of losing it would induce them to surrender. His real concern was Heinessen’s population of 1 billion people, and their potential as hostages.

In that regard, Yang would rely on Commander Baghdash – he asked him to testify that the coup d’etat was instigated by Marquis Reinhard von Lohengramm – it was the truth, after all, even though Baghdash did not believe it. Baghdash agreed to help. His ‘testimony’ was broadcast to Heinessen, where it was heard by all.

Following the transmission, Greenhill was surprised Yang would tell such clever lies. Arthur Lynch could no longer help himself, and burst out laughing. Handing over Marquis Lohengramm’s plan, he gloated, having made fools of them all, the people who had self-righteously condemned him.



At that moment, a report was delivered that the Yang fleet was approaching Heinessen.

Yang’s method for destroying the necklace was to harvest massive chunks of ice from the 6th planet of the Barlat system, Srinagar, and fitting them with Bussard ramjets. Under continuous acceleration, they would be flung at the components of the Artemis Necklace, absorbing interplanetary matter and converting it to energy for propulsion. Approaching the speed of light their mass would have increased rapidly. So long as the angles were correct, Heinessen would be unharmed, and the necklace would be destroyed.


The ice missiles are created

The Necklace components detected the ice chunks approach, but their weapons had little effect. Each component was rammed and destroyed.


The ice chunks speeding towards their target


The necklace opens fire with beams and missiles


To little effect


The Necklace components explode



Greenhill declared that they were beaten, rejecting any suggestion that they hold Dawson, Bucock, or the population of the planet hostage. He suggested any of the council who wished to surrender and stand trial could do so. He would take another path – but not before killing Lynch. He would not allow there to be any evidence that the revolt was concocted by Marquis Lohengramm.

A standoff ensued as Lynch pulled a pistol. Lynch mocked Greenhill one last time - Greenhill fired, but missed. Lynch did not, shooting Greenhill in the head. He was then killed by the rest of the Council. His final words were to say that he had saved Greenhill’s honor by killing him – and that honor was worthless. The remaining conspirators then had Lynch’s corpse disposed of, and began burning all their files.







With the Yang fleet in orbit and commencing landing operations, Captain Evans, the new acting chairman of the National Salvation Military Council surrendered, claiming Greenhill had taken his own life. He defended the righteousness of their cause to the end, and then made clear that he too, would commit suicide.

Aftermath

Fair and lenient treatment was promised to all soldiers who took part in the coup. They were ordered to rejoin their units.

Job Trunicht, ever the survivor, emerged from hiding – he had been sheltered by the Earth Cult – a pro-war, right wing religious group intent on remaking human society to be centered around its old home on Earth (in the territory of the Galactic Empire), now a largely abandoned backwater. He claimed to have been working covertly to overthrow the coup. In the ensuing months his power increased, making appointments to ensure that the military power base was pro-war, and interfering with Admiral Kubersly and Bucock's running of the military.


Job Trunicht with the helpful members of the Earth Cult


One can’t miss the opportunity for a photo op!

Whilst on Heinessen, Yang received news that Admiral Merkatz from the Empire had arrived at Iserlhon Fortress, requesting asylum. Yang gladly agreed to do so.


Yang, Admiral Merkatz and Lt Commander Schneider

Marquis Lohengramm’s plan had been a success – the Alliance had been unable to interfere in the Empire’s own civil war. In the bargain, the Alliance, already depleted from the Amritsar disaster, had lost another fleet.

[SAMAS]

I think it was mentioned here earlier, but you really can see the redshift effect when the ice missiles are accelerating.

[Marcus Aurelius]

It's too bad the designers of the Artemis necklace didn't give the components even local maneuvering capability. Considering the very high normal space velocity of the ramjet missiles, it probably would not have required very much maneuvering to simply dodge them.

[White Haven]

Ah, but consider the supplier of the Artemis Necklace system. It's in Phezzan's best interest to leave exploitable holes in its 'impenetrable defense' given the multiple layers of covert ulterior motives involved.

[Marcus Aurelius]

Ah, but consider the supplier of the Artemis Necklace system. It's in Phezzan's best interest to leave exploitable holes in its 'impenetrable defense' given the multiple layers of covert ulterior motives involved.

Yes, you're absolutely right. I forgot the Artemis Necklace was provided by The Friendly Phezzan Weapons Company

[KlavoHunter]

Phezzan supplied the Artemis Necklace that they gave to Planet Greek, and Kircheis annihilated it with a previously-unknown technology (The directional Zephyr Particles). Yang used a far, far older technology to do the same to the Necklace over Heinessen.


I thought the Alliance invented the Artemis Necklace on its own, though.

[Vympel]

I'd have to watch the Kastrop Rebellion episode again, but I'm pretty sure they say the necklace is a Phezzan invention.

I must note, it's really hard for me to work some Alliance characters into this - specifically Rear Admiral Murai and Commodore Patrichev. They're always there on the Hyperion, but they very rarely do anything but give the odd order or comment on what's going on. Murai is especially perplexing. What's a rear admiral doing there?

[takemeout_totheblack]

I think it's implied during the formation of the Iserlohn Republic that he is to the fleet what Cazellnu is to the battle station, organizing the minutiae for the sake of the other more combat oriented admirals. Of course I could be mistaken.

[Simon_Jester]

Higher-ranking flag officers may well have lower-ranking flag officers on their staff.

[Vympel]

Yeah, its just frustrating that these characters are always there and yet I can never describe them as contributing anything to any battle

[Uraniun235]

Phezzan supplied the Artemis Necklace that they gave to Planet Greek, and Kircheis annihilated it with a previously-unknown technology (The directional Zephyr Particles). Yang used a far, far older technology to do the same to the Necklace over Heinessen.


I thought the Alliance invented the Artemis Necklace on its own, though.

No, it was a Phezzani product.

I would guess that in a "normal" scenario, you would be able to run a fleet over to harass the enemy fleet and prevent them from building huge ice missiles right in your capital star system, or to attack the ice missiles before they'd built up tremendous velocity. I doubt that the Necklace was considered the sole line of defense for Heinessen - it seems likely to me that it would have always been intended to work in concert with a fleet to ensure the security of the capital. Even Iserlohn was considered defensively incomplete without a stationed fleet.

[Vympel]

Yeah, as the last entry I did says, the 1st Fleet - the largest fleet in the Alliance - was permanently stationed to defend Heinessen. Which makes the fact they totally neglected to mention it on Yang's approach really strange. Its like it didn't exist when in the previous episode relating to the civil war it was directly mentioned. Something of a plothole. There are a few possibilities (i.e. Bagdashu's testimonial as to the instigator of the coup may have caused the 1st Fleet to be unwilling to move, forcing them to rely on the Artemis Necklace exclusively - or they couldn't hope to defeat Yang without the Necklace so the 1st Fleet's existence became irrelevant?)

[Uraniun235]

Bucock says later to Yang that they had 1st fleet at Heinessen and weren't able to stop the coup, so I'd wonder if the 1st fleet's commander (and, presumably, most of his staff) were loyalists. That said, they may have surrendered in the face of being caught right in the middle of a now-enemy-held Necklace; the one at Kastrop was able to shred a fleet pretty quickly. Or, they may have received false orders to head off for some other planet, just before the coup struck, and weren't able to return because of the Necklace.