Legend of the Galactic Heroes OAV Series Episode #1 "In the Eternal Night" Translation 6/18/89 Opening Title appears, "Herdensagen von Kosmosinsel" with the galaxy in the background Song, "Skies of Love - Legend of Galactic Heroes" Begin Initially a view of space, then the scene changes to the surface of a desert planet. Sandstorm whirls throughout the planet surface. In the distance are ruins of some ancient civilization. Zooms into the ruins. Narration In any era war continues. In any era war only leaves deserted waste land. And the marked scars disappear with the passage of time. Fade to a close up of one of columns of the ruin Narration Perhaps these scars are seen and remembered only by the clusters of stars in the sky. Many strange symbols are inscribed onto the column. The sandstorm still continues. Narration Even those stars are destined to vanish someday like the shooting stars. View of space fades in, and zooms onto the rim of the galaxy. Narration This was a tale told between such stars in the old days. A record, almost forgotten, of battles fought by some humans. At that time, a small galaxy called the Milky Way was divided into two major powers and fighting. Scene changes to a map display of the Free Planets and the Galactic Empire. Then zooms into the Phezzan area, between the Free Planets and the Empire, of the map. Narration They were the Free Planets and the Galactic Empire. There also was das Dominion Phezzan Land which did not participate in the battle, but was carefully watching the outcome of the battles. The war had been continuing for 150 years. The map fades out, returning to the view of space near the Astate system. The Imperial Space Fleet (die Reichsflotte) approaches. It is early in Space Era 796, Imperial Era 487 In the approaching die Reichsflotte is a beautiful white ship, the flag ship Brunhild (das Flaggschiff Brunhild). Several shuttle crafts approaches and docks onto the Brunhild. As soldiers salute and the doors are opened, Admiral Willibald Joachim von Merkatz, Vice Admiral Staaden, Rear Admiral Erlache and two other admirals step out of the shuttles. They head for the bridge. On the bridge, Senior Admiral Reinhard von Lohengramm quietly stands and watches the screens. Captain Siegfried Kircheis enters and stands by Reinhard. Kircheis Are you watching the stars? Reinhard The stars are nice. They are not moved by anything. They always continue to twinkle at the same place. They always watch us. Kircheis Yes. Compared to the clusters of stars, perhaps our fight is only a small matter. Reinhard Of course, compared to what we are trying to see, it is a small fight. And? Kircheis The enemy we stand against is twice as much as our fleet with approximately 40000 ships. They are attempting to surround us from three directions. The five admirals have come wishing to talk to you immediately, Your Excellency. Reinhard I suppose the old men of our fleet are coming with blue faces. The five admirals have just arrived to the bridge. They are not so old as Reinhard indicated. Merkatz, the oldest, seems to be in his late 50's, while the youngest admiral seems only in the early 30 or the late 20. They enter in a single line with Merkatz in the front. They stop before Reinhard and salutes. Merkatz Admiral, thank you very much for allowing our opinions to be heard. Reinhard (with a more or less a mechanical voice) I know what you want to say. You say that we are at the disadvantage. Staaden We have not said so, but it is a fact that we are in an unfavorable situation. We need a mean to minimize the damage. Reinhard (sitting down) You probably conclude that we should retreat, but that is out of the question. Staaden Why is that? Can you please explain your reasons? Reinhard (strongly) Because we are at an overwhelming advantage. The admirals are surprised. Mean while in the Phezzan Land, Landesherr (Governor?) Adrian Rubinsky eagerly watches the battle on a tactical display, which displays the die Reichsflotte surrounded by Free Planets Star Fleet from three directions. Rubinsky (smiling; to himself) According to numbers, it's the Free Planets' victory this time. But no matter who wins, the mist surrounding the galaxy won't fade away easily. We, das Dominion Phezzan Land, will only watch for a while. The more the Free Planets and the Empire fight and are fatigued, the one profiting will be the the Phezzan. The scene changes to the bridge of the Brunhild. Reinhard is just about to finish explaining his plan to the five admirals. Reinhard We only continue forward for now. This is my plan. Staaden (emotional) It is only a theory on a desk. There is no way this plan will succeed, Your Excellency. This is ... Reinhard (calmly) Enough. You are under my command. (pause) If you do not obey my orders, I will simply relieve you and punish you according to the Imperial Regulations. Staaden tries to argue, but Reinhard seized him with a gesture. Reinhard Enough. Our talk has ended. Leave. The admirals salutes and exit the bridge in a single line. As soon as they are out of the bridge, Staaden starts complaining. Staaden (angry) That conceited blond brat Erlache (angry) That brat is taking advantage of His Imperial Majesty's affection for his older sister! Merkatz (calmly) It's because of his youth. An adult shouldn't get angry to a person about his child's age. Meanwhile on the bridge, Kircheis speaks to Reinhard. Kircheis Is it okay to say that much? Reinhard Don't worry, their frustration will disappear when we win. Kircheis Today is our elder sister's birthday. Reinhard There is no way I will forget about that. The birthday present is the victory of today's battle. The scene changes to the Neue Sanssouci, the Imperial Palace. Annerose von Grunewald sits beside a pond and watches the reflections. Few meters away, in the background, Klaus von Lichtenlade reports to der 36. Kaiser Friedrich IV about the battle about to begin. The Kaiser listens while drinking a cup of wine. Lichtenlade I have received a report that the force of the rebel calling itself the "Free Planets" is twice our force. Friedrich IV So we will lose this time? Lichtenlade (bowing) I am very afraid to report but... Friedrich IV (turning to Annerose) Oh yes, the commander of the suppression force was your young brother. Lichtenlade His first battle since succeeding the house of Lohengramm. A work of very bad luck. Friedrich IV It is him. He probably will not lose so easily. Annerose quietly watches some flowers. Flashback Young Annerose holds some flowers and talks to Young Kircheis. young Annerose Sieg, please take care of Reinhard. young Kircheis Yes The flashback ends by fading onto Kircheis on the bridge of the Brunhild with Reinhard. Reinhard Don't worry. We can win. But... Kircheis Is there a problem? Reinhard If there is a problem... Kircheis Yes? Reinhard It is whether that man is in the enemy fleet. Kircheis The man once called the Hero of El Facil. Reinhard Yes... The Free Planets Star Fleet Second Fleet fades in. Aboard the Flagship Patoroklos, Commodore Yang Wenli is in a conference with the fleet commander Vice Admiral Paeta and several other officers. Paeta Commodore Yang Wenli, we HAVE read your plans. But it is too cautious. Our force is twice in numbers than the opponent. It is not the time to think of ways to escape. Why must we think of ways so we will not lose? Yang But anything can happen on the battlefield. We must not be careless. Paeta throws the plan report back to Yang. Paeta Anyway, I reject this plan with everyone's agreement. I'll just add that we don't have anything against you. Yang Those words are enough. Then. Yang salutes and leaves the conference room. In a small room, Commander Dusty Attenborough sits on the sofa. Yang enters and sits on the table. Attenborough Again? Yang (jokingly) It seems I have no luck with teachers. My answers never get good grades. Attenborough You can't help it. Those guys have gotten old and their beads have hardened. Yang Yup. I don't want to get old. Attenborough And? Can we win by leaving it to the old people? Yang (somewhat seriously) According to numbers, victory is almost as if promised. But. Attenborough But? Yang The enemy commander is him. Attenborough Reinhard von Lohengramm. If I remember correctly, he is a senior admiral. Yang That's right, the commander of the white ship. There's no telling what he will do. Attenborough I don't like it. I don't want to die. Yang Ya, so I can't take my eyes off, even if it's the commander who rejected my plans. Let's go. Yang stands up and head for the door. Attenborough picks up the report. Attenborough I would like to read it. Yang It's no use. Yang leaves. Meanwhile in the Iserlohn Fortress (die Festung Iserlohn), Iserlohn Fortress Commander Admiral Thoma von Stockhausen and Iserlohn Space Fleet Commander Admiral Hans Dietrich von Seeckt discusses the possible outcome of the battle. Stockhausen Our fleet at Astate is only 20000. Seeckt This time, we will be able to see that blond brat crying. Stockhausen But it's him. He might defeat the enemy with another strange plan. Seeckt But his fleet is not the same as the one that came up here before. Stockhausen What do you mean? Seeckt Because of personnel changes inside the Empire, almost non of the former staff who fought with him are with him this time. A battle can not be fought alone. Only with fine staff officers and an accurate execution of the plan can you win. Stockhausen Then, I suppose you have a great staff officer. I have never heard of you winning. Seeckt I have never heard of you winning either! The two commanders turn away from each other. In the officers' club, a tactical display shows the Free Planet and Imperial fleets entering the Astate System. Announcer The number of enemy in the battle at Astate has been reported to be twice as much as our force. Let us look forward for an Imperial victory. At one of the tables, Vice Admiral Oskar von Reuental and Vice Admiral Wolfgang Mittermeyer are having a meal. Reuental It has been four months since parting with him. Mittermeyer We can't interfere with the personnel management of the military. I heard the others are not with him either. Reuental Hmm. The only one with him is the red haired man. Can he succeed without us? Mittermeyer Well, there's no way to help him from here. There's nothing to worry about. He will succeed without us. Reuental Ah, yes. I would like to believe so too. Someone is having a drink at the next table, alone. It is Captain Paul von Oberstein. In the downtown part of Iserlohn, everyone stops to listen to an announcement. A display shows the fleet moving through space. Announcer The Battle of Astate is about to begin. In Phezzan, Rubinsky smilingly watch his tactical display as the Imperial fleet is just about to be surrounded by the Free Planets Star Fleet. In the Astate System, Reinhard's fleet approaches its enemy. INTERMISSION The two fleets are getting closer to each other. In the bridge of the Brunhild Reinhard orders. Reinhard All ships, head for the enemy in front. Meanwhile aboard the Patoroklos, a tactical displays the situation. Operator Enemy fleet is not staying in the assumed space. They are moving forward quickly and making contact with the Fourth Fleet. Paeta (half panicking) What!? That's illogical. That's impossible. Yang and Attenborough are few meters behind Paeta. Yang If I was him, I would have thought of the same thing. Attenborough Haaah, that's a problem. He always get the first move. Aboard the Brunhild, Reinhard All ships, attack the enemy ahead. The Imperial fleet begins firing onto the Fourth Fleet. As the range closes, the Walkures are releases. Aboard the Patoroklos, Attenborough reads Yangs prosed plan. Attenborough (reading) "If the enemy is aggressive, they will see the situation not as a danger of being surrounded but as a chance to attack each fleet separately." So the enemy was thinking about this. The countermeasure to this is... Yang It's no use reading it. There is no time to use that plan now. But there is another way. If this isn't done, 40000 ships will be destroyed by 20000, and the enemy won't have much damage. Aboard the Brunhild, Reinhard and Kircheis watch the tactical displaying, showing the Free Planets' Fourth Fleet losing. Operator Enemy fleet 13000 ships. Reinhard It is only a matter of calculating numbers. It's natural for us to win. Kircheis It is exactly as you say. Aboard the Patoroklos, Paeta is beginning to realize the situation. The tactical shows the enemy fleet attacking the Fourth Fleet. Paeta (thinking to himself) Instead of surrounding the enemy with 40000 ships, if each fleet is attacked separately...each fleet has 13000 ships. 13000 against 20000, we will lose for sure. Paeta turns around a little and takes a peak at Yang, who quietly watches the tactical. Meanwhile, the Fourth Fleet is on the verge of losing. The Flagship Leonidas is under enemy fire. On the bridge the Fourth Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Pastoll is giving the already late order. Pastoll What's the meaning of this. Attack. All ships prepare for total fleet battle. All Spartanians launch! Operator Enemy fighters approaching. Impossible to launch in time. The Spartanians are destroys as they try to get ready to launch. The spartanian carriers are destroyed by the Imperial Walkures before they serve their duties. Operator Fourth Fleet impossible to launch fighters because of fires approaching fighter ammunitions. Due to enemy interference, further details are unknown. Paeta listens to the report on the bridge of the Patoroklos. Paeta Damn it. That's like carrying a bomb in the stomach and asking for a fire. (orders) Second Fleet, all fighters prepare to launch. In the launch deck Lieutenant Junior Grade Oliver Poplan and Ivan Korneff run towards their fighters. Poplan We are saved. We can get outside. Korneff Yup, I can't stand dying not being able to go out. Poplan (smiling) That's right. I wouldn't want to die in a ship like this. On the bridge of Patoroklos Paeta listens to further reports. Operator Second Fleet, fighters are ready to launch. Paeta Okay, Second Fleet sally forth to aid the Fourth Fleet. Yang steps forward. Yang (strongly) Please wait. The battle would be finished by the time we get there. The enemy will leave the battlefield and get behind either the Sixth or the Second Fleet and attack before we can. We have allowed the enemy take the initiative and they have been taking the initiative until now. I believe we should not act the way they want us to any more. Paeta Then what are we to do? Yang steps to the console and shows his plan on the tactical. Yang We do not join with the Sixth Fleet at the battle zone, but instead take the shortest route for rendez-vous at a different location. The two fleets together will be 26000. It will be more than a fair match against the enemy of 20000. Paeta Then, are you suggesting we leave the Fourth Fleet in the lurch? Yang We will not be able to get there in time. We are in the vast space. How many hours do you think we need to get to the battle zone? Paeta But we can not leave our friends in danger. Yang Then the enemy will destroy all three fleets one by one. Paeta (sadly, pounding on the console) That may not be the case! The Fourth Fleet won't lose so easily. If they can hang on... Yang I have said that they will not be able to do so. Paeta The commander of the Fourth Fleet is Admiral Pastoll. He is a good friend of mine, and well experience in battle. He won't lose easily. Enough commodore. We will not leave our friends in lurch. Yang Friends are important. I have a good friend in the Sixth Fleet. I don't want the live Sixth Fleet to be destroyed, nor this Second Fleet. Even if we have to let the Fourth Fleet be destroyed. Operator The fate of the Fourth Fleet is unknown. Paeta If it's unknown, there's hope. The Second Fleet will go for the aid of the Fourth Fleet. Yang If you say so, there is no more for me to say. Then. Yang salutes. Shortly after, Yang is looking out from a window in a room, sitting on the table. Attenborough stands next to Yang. Yang We are in trouble. I'll have to think of another plan ... a way to at least live. Attenborough This is like climbing a mountain and meeting a double disaster. Yang I wonder how the other Sixth Fleet will react. The operation advisor there is a good friend of mine. He's a sharp person. Attenborough You mean senior Lap. Yang Yes. If he has a good superior his advices should be heard, unlike me. Yang continues to look through the window. Meanwhile on the Sixth Fleet Flagship, the Pergamonn, the Fleet Commander Vice Admiral Moore and Lieutenant Commander Jean Robert Lap are having a meal in the dining hall. Moore What? What did you just say, Lieutenant Lap? Lap Sir, I predict that the Fourth Fleet has already lost. Moore Are you saying that we should forsake the Fourth Fleet? Lap Yes. Instead of that, we must join with the undamaged Second Fleet as soon as possible. Moore Yes we will rendez vous with then, at the battle zone where the Fourth Fleet is fighting. Lap We will be too late. We will become a bait to the enemy. Moore The enemy's bait? The enemy will become our bait. We will go help the Fourth Fleet. Lap Yes...I will say no more....(to himself) What will Yang do if it was him? The Fourth Fleet is completely defeated now. Merkatz reports to Reinhard. Reinhard and Kircheis listens to the report on the Brunhild bridge. The tactical show the imperial fleet still between two Free Planets' fleets. Merkatz Enemy resistance has ended. It is a complete victory. We will be switching to sweeping now. Reinhard No need for that. Merkatz Ha? Reinhard There is no need to fight against the helpless. The enemy still has two more fleets. Save your strength for the next battle. Merkatz I understand commander, sir. Merkatz turns the comm off. Reinhard Their attitude should be changing a little now. Kircheis They have to. The admirals' antipathy too. Reinhard Which fleet, left or the right, do you think we should attack next, Kircheis? Kircheis We can go either way, but you must already made you mind up. Reinhard How much time until that one. Kircheis Less than four hours. Reinhard (smiling) Right. You knew it, didn't you. Then report that to all ships. We will head in the clockwise direction and attack starting with the enemy Sixth Fleet. Kircheis Yes sir. Kircheis answers but does not leave to give the order. Reinhard Do you have any objections? Kircheis No, it is not so. I just thought we could use this time to give the soldiers some rest. Reinhard Oh yes. I didn't think about that, and that time? Kircheis One and half hours, two shifts. Reinhard Okay. In one of the gun rooms, Recruit Tonio and Chief Petty Officer Kurt relax. They leave and room and head for the tank beds. Tonio After all, perhaps we are lucky. Kurt Ya. Our young commander is doing a good job. But to us soldiers the battle still continues. We should rest while we can. Emergency pods runs by them carrying injured men. Tonio Heavily wounded, aren't they? Kurt Now a days, you can't die with only wounds. Even my hand is... Kurt moves up his uniform and shows an artificial fore arm. They continue heading for the tank beds. Kurt ...the battle today, you are blown up with a single shot. So there aren't many wounded men. After all, it's either life or death. They arrive at the tank bed compartments. Tonio and Kurt enter the compartments, which are rectangular boxes just big enough for one man. Kurt Okay, let's sleep. Tonio But only an hour sleep in the tank beds... Kurt With these, one hour is good as eight hours. Tonio But they only get rid of the fatigue. We can't even dream. Kurt You don't need to dream during battle. Even if you do, it'll be a nightmare. They fall asleep. later, the imperial fleet is approaching the Sixth Fleet from behind. Operator Enemy Sixth Fleet located ahead. Reinhard Commence attack. On the bridge of the Sixth Fleet Flagship Pergamonn, tactical shows unknown fleet approaching from behind. Operator Ships located in the 4:30 direction. Moore 4:30? Lap Enemy! Please prepare for an battle. Moore Don't panic. The enemy is supposed to be ahead of us. They can't be in that direction. Lap But sir, the enemy probably moved the battle zone. Moore Leaving the battle with the Fourth Fleet? Lap I have said that the Fourth Fleet has already lost. Moore Don't say such an unpleasant thing! Lap Reality is even more unpleasant! Operator Enemy attack! At this moment, the attack has began. The Sixth Fleet is attacked from behind. On the Pergamonn, Moore attempts to react. Moore Return fire. Turn around and return fire. Lap Not sir. The outcome is obvious. We must minimize the casualty now. Moore Shut up. I can't become a coward! Then, the Pergamonn is hit, and explosions occur on the Bridge, destroying it instantly. Lap is sandwiched between one of the columns and the wall. Lap (suffering) Yang...don't end up this way... Lap takes out a 3-D picture. Lap Jessica...I can't see you anymore. Please forgive me...I'm finished here. He dies and drops the 3-D picture. The Pergamonn explodes into pieces. Paeta hears the report on the bridge of the Patoroklos. Operator Sixth Fleets seems to have been annihilated. Paeta What? Yang and Attenborough stands few meters behind as always. Yang (to himself) Lieutenant Lap!? Attenborough Bright personnels are useless under incompetent superior. The tactical shows the imperial fleet approaching the Second Fleet. Operator Enemy fleet approaching the Second Fleet. Paeta (weakly) With the Fourth and the Sixth Fleet lost now, we are at the disadvantage with numbers. Yang steps forward. Yang Sir, all ships must prepare for battle. Paeta (recovering a bit) Oh...Oh yes. Yang (to himself) Lap, I won't loose so easily. The two fleets approach each other and begins firing at each other. On the bridge of the Brunhild, Reinhard discusses the situation with Merkatz thorough the comm. Merkatz The victory is ours now. Reinhard Don't loosen the leash until the end. We don't know what may happen. (to himself) If that man is in that fleet. Kircheis Commodore Yang Wenli... Reinhard Yes, that's right. Narrator But Reinhard, who was later called the omni-victorious hero, was sure of the victory. The imperial fleet closes onto the Second Fleet. End. Subtitle "In the Eternal Night" and "Ende" appears. Fade out with the Brunhild approaching the Second Fleet. Ending Song: "Beyond the Bridge of Light" Preview Tactical shows the Free Planets Fourth and Sixth Fleet annihilated, and the Second Fleet under attack from the Imperial fleet. Commander Paeta is injured. Yang takes command. Narration The situation is set. Under the attack from victorious Reinhard, the Free Planets Second Fleet is as good as dead. But Yang had a plan to reverse the situation. Second episode "The Battle of Astate." Another page of the history of the galaxy. Translation by Yoshiyuki Karahashi Translation copyright 1989 Yoshiyuki Karahashi Special thanks to Takayuki Karahashi and Tony Lane Original Novel "Ginga Eiyu Densetsu" by Yoshiki Tanaka Ginga Eiyu Densetsu OAV series by Kitty Enterprise