Two hours after Yang's return to Heinessen on 13 February 799, Yang was promoted to Fleet Admiral - the youngest Fleet Admiral in the history of the Alliance.
Meeting with Chairman Islands, Yang noted there would be only one way to defeat the Imperial invasion - Reinhard von Lohengramm would have to be killed in battle.
With Reinhard not yet Kaiser, and with no male heirs, his loyal retainers would not be able to continue a Lohengramm dynasty in his name. His subordinates would then fall apart, and likely return to the Empire to fight amongst themselves and find a successor. In that time, the Alliance could replenish its depleted forces.
Lohengramm and his subordinates
The plan
Yang therefore decided that he would attack Lohengramm's subordinates one by one, until Lohengramm, as was his nature, would take the field to defeat Yang personally.
However, Yang had to win against those subordinates as easily as possible to conserve his strength. He decided to avoid Reinhard's two best men - Mittermeyer and Reuenthal, altogether.
Imperial situation
Leaving Iserlohn Fortress under Admiral Lutz, the fleets of High Admiral Reuenthal and Admiral Lennenkampt met up with the main Imperial force at Planet Urvashi, where the main base for Imperial forces in Alliance territory was being built.
Brunhild and Planet Urvashi
Tristan and Galga Farmr arrive
With the fleets so combined, the Imperial Fleet in Alliance territory totalled 180,000 ships and 20,000,000 soldiers.
With such a massive force, the length of Imperial supply lines back to Imperial space had become an issue. Further, even though the main Alliance fleet had been eliminated, the Yang Fleet had complete freedom of movement.
Admiral Bittenfeld, as was his way, did not see the point in sitting around Urvashi, and advocated an immediate attack on the capital.
High Admiral Mittermeyer advocated caution, and noted taking the capital would not ensure the defeat of the Alliance. Instead, the former Alliance territory could be rife with rebellions. He advocated a campaign of attacking the areas surrounding the capital to stop the flow of Alliance supplies, and force the Alliance into a treaty.
It was at this time that Reinhard fell ill with a fever. His doctor advised nothing was particularly wrong with him - it seemed to be the result of overwork. Not wishing to make decisions whilst his body was weak (and his reasoning possibly impaired) Reinhard left the operational decisions for later, and took some rest as recommended.
Yang sets out
At the end of February 799, Yang set out on his mission.
In addition to the Yang Fleet itself, Vice Admirals Mouton and Carlsen (formerly of the 14th and 15th Fleets, respectively) launched with Yang and their remaining forces.
High Admiral Merkatz (who had been on Heinessen in his meaningless position as part of the Imperial government-in-exile) also decided to accompany Yang on the flagship Hyperion, with Schneider at his side, as always, to assist in the defeat of Duke Lohengramm, on behalf of the young Kaiser.
In all, Yang's forces numbered some 17,000 ships.
Imperial Supply lines
Lohengramm tasked Rear Admiral Sombart with guarding the supplies, ordering him to maintain communications with the main force and call for help if he detected any danger. Though Mittermeyer offered to go in his stead, Reinhard left the task with Sombart, in part due to Sombart's confident promise that he would place his life in Reinhard's hands should he fail, as an example to the entire fleet.
Sombart is bored
Nevertheless, Sombart got lax in the unexciting task of guarding the supply ships, and was ambushed by the entire Yang Fleet. By the time Vice Admiral Turneisen arrived to investigate Sombart's failure to report, the supply ships had been destroyed, only 30 ships of Sombart's fleet remained, and Yang was long gone.
Back on the Brunhild, Sombart, who survived the battle, was severely rebuked by Reinhard. He was taken away by Reinhard's personal guard. It is unknown whether Reinhard held him to his promise.
Reinhard decided the Yang Fleet would have to be hunted down and eliminated.
Steinmetz Fleet vs Yang Fleet
It was known that the Yang Fleet did not return to Heinessen. Admiral Steinmetz was called up to hunt Yang down - once he was found, they could move with all their forces to destroy him.
Yang tasked Vice Admiral Fischer to lead Steinmetz to where the rest of the Yang Fleet had set up its formation - with its rear to a black hole. Vice Admiral Attenborough would have Steinmetz find them after the formation was ready.
Steinmetz' flagship Forkel hunting
On 1 March 799, Steinmetz found the enemy between Ritarl and Triplar, way off the regular routes.
The black hole's presence was detected - it was approximately 9km wide, with a danger zone extending for 960 million kilometers. Steinmetz' staff determined they should get no closer than 1 billion kilometres - which was also the exact distance the Yang Fleet was maintaining from it.
The Yang Fleet, with the black hole at its back
Steinmetz approaches
Steinmetz decided on a half-encirclement strategy, figuring that Yang had positioned himself with his back to the proverbial 'wall' to prevent being encircled, and to produce a psychological effect on his men that there was 'nowhere to run'.
Duke Lohengramm received Steinmetz' report that contact was made, and sent Admiral Lennenkampt to assist.
Yang opens fire
Forkel in battle
Steinmetz advanced slowly, spreading his fleet out to half-encircle Yang as planned.
Yang, Lieutenent Commander Greenhill, and Mintz
His line spread thin, Yang concentrated his formation and broke through Steinmetz's centre at high speed, then executed a 180 degree turn - trapping Steinmetz.
Triglav attacks
A Spartanian strafes an Imperial battleship's ventral hull
The Yang Fleet, red, breaks through and encircles Steinmetz, blue
With the black hole now at his back, Steinmetz realised that Yang's initial position hadn't been a defensive ploy at all - Yang had counted on Steinmetz to attempt a half-encirclement from the beginning - thereby making his centre vulernable to a breakthrough.
One of Steinmetz' battleships is destroyed as it tries to turn
Ordering his fleet to turn 180 degrees, Steinmetz attempted to turn the tables on Yang, concentrating his fleet formation to penetrate Yang's centre.
Yang was ready - the moment Steinmetz' fleet finished concentrating its formation for a breakthrough, all ships were ordered to execute a pinpoint artillery attack, cutting a swathe through Steinmetz' fleet.
Steinmetz had no choice but to spread his fleet formation out again. At this stage, Yang detected an additional enemy fleet was detected approaching from behind, three hours away.
Yang noted they therefore had two hours to defeat Steinmetz, and another hour to run away from the Imperial reinforcements. He ordered the fleet forward, to push Steinmetz into the black hole.
A battleship is sucked into the black hole
The Forkel struggles to hold position
With his ships tumbling into the black hole, Steinmetz decided to take a big risk - setting his fleet on a hyperbolic course along the edge of the black hole's danger zone, to slingshot out of danger.
Though they would be defenceless against Yang whilst doing so, Steinmetz figured it would be better to sustain heavy damage and save the fleet rather than face certain annihilation.
Steinmetz' fleet begins moving, under heavy fire
With Steinmetz' fleet devastated by flanking fire whilst escaping, Lennenkampt's fleet was 750,000km away. The Hyperion identified the flagship as Lennenkampt's Galga Farmr.
The Galga Farmr approaches
"Oh, its Mr Lennen's ship."
Remembering what had happened to Lennenkampt back at Iserlohn Fortress, Yang gave orders for the fleet to fire three salvos before Lennenkampt got in range, and then slowly retreat to the Rainharl system.
Lennenkampt pursued the retreating fleet at full speed - but as Yang came into range, he feared a trap and ordered a retreat himself. As Lennenkampt pulled back, Yang turned around and attacked again.
Lennenkampt's forces were thrown into chaos - by the time they had recovered at 1300 hours on 2 March 799, the Yang Fleet had disappeared.
Lennenkampt is annoyed
Reinhard mildly rebuked Lennenkampt and Steinmetz, stating that Yang was above their level, but otherwise did not punish them. They did not know that Hildegard von Mariendorf had talked him out of harsher measures - he had originally planned to send Lennenkampt to replace Lutz at Iserlohn Fortress (Steinmetz could not go as well, as it would reduce their fleet by too much).
Mariendorf advised against such a course of action for three reasons:- first, his subordinates would feel it unfair if he punished Lennenkampt, and not Steinmetz. Second, Rear Admiral Sombart had already been punished, and anymore could intimidate his own men. Finally, sending Lennenkampt to Iserlohn could send the message that being the commander of Iserlohn Fortress was a position to be taken likely.
Wahlen Fleet vs Yang Fleet
With the Imperial supply situation in disarray after Sombart's failure, Admiral Wahlen - using the information obtained from Phezzan, proposed stealing the Alliance's own supplies from the 84 supply bases scattered around its territory. Lohengramm agreed.
Wahlen sets out ...
Under the watchful eye of a Spartanian scout
At 1600 hours on 24 March 799, Wahlen's Fleet detected enemy supply ships in front of them, with supply containers in front of them - making them incapable of responding to a frontal assault. Wahlen took the disorganization as an indication that an attack was not expected, and moved in to steal the supplies, moving forward to surround them.
Wahlen's fleet moves in
Attenborough's battleships amongst the contianers
Triglav responds
Vice Admiral Attenborough feigned retreat on Wahlen's approach - Wahlen was cautious, and stuck to his objective of stealing the supplies, declining to pursue, and ordering that the supply contianers be checked.
Attenborough advanced again. To protect the supplies, Wahlen ordred the Salamander herself to proceed to the rear of the fleet to protect the supplies.
Salamander defends the containers
Once more, Attenborough retreated. Satisifed, Wahlen ordered his ships to pull back. As his ships moved through the containers, weapons fire erupted from them. The fire was light, causing no apparent damage. Wahlen assumed that the containers had soldiers onboard, and the entire situation was a setup to take advantage of the Imperial need for supplies.
Fire erupts from the containers
Wahlen then ordered the destruction of the containers. Unfortunately, they were all filled with helium. A runaway explosion resulted, sending his fleet into disarray.
Salamander escapes the fireball
Fleet Admiral Yang, watching in the distance, ordered an attack on any remaining ships. Wahlen retreated at full speed, and Yang did not give chase.
Hyperion looks on as Wahlen makes good his escape
Wahlen, dejected
"Duke Lohengramm's anger has probably reached the boiling point by now."
Aftermath
As Yang guessed, Duke Lohengramm was indeed incensed. But Wahlen had discovered one important thing - the Yang Fleet did not have a regular supply base, but changed where they got their supplies after every battle, moving as they fought.
Reinhard's admirals discussed the situation, dismayed. They were short on time, and Yang could use all of Alliance space as his base, attacking wherever and whenever he wished. Of the various proposals, High Admiral Reuenthal mused that Yang would have to be drawn out, so he couldbe trapped and destroyed. But the question was with what?
Duke Lohengramm was about to give them their answer.
