Episode
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: Portraits
Overview
January, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: Admiral von Schaft, head of the Science and Technology Division, works out a plan to take Iserlohn back. The Geiesburg fortress is to become a mobile fortress by adding warp engines: its firepower is a match to Iserlohn's, so the Imperial fleet will be able to defeat the Iserlohn Fleet. The operation will be under Admiral Kempf's command, with Admiral Müller as second-in-command. In Phezzan, Rubinsky decides to support the plan and asks Kesselring to find a way to move Yang away from Iserlohn. Some of Mittermeyer and Reuenthal's background is revealed.
Details
- Series
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes
- Season
- Season 2
- Episode
- Episode 2
- Air date
- 1991-06-01
- Runtime
- 24 min
Episode context
Portraits is Episode 2 in Season 2 of Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It aired on 1991-06-01. The runtime is 24 min.
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Episode 1: Baptism of Fire
January 1, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: Reinhard von Lohengramm is now Premier and Commander-in-chief of the imperial military. He implements many reforms for the welfare of the people. Meanwhile, an training sortie, under Dusty Attenborough's command, turns out to be Julian Minci's first battle as a fighter pilot. The Attenborough Fleet is on the verge to be crushed, but Yang Wen-li, with the help of Admiral Merkatz, goes out of Iserlohn with the whole fleet and saves the day (January, 16).
Episode 3: One Narrow Thread
In Phezzan, Rubinsky explains his plans to a bishop of the Earth Cult. He will use his contacts in the Free Planets Alliance, such as chairman Trüniht, to make the Alliance crumble from inside, paving the way for an Imperial victory. Then, Reinhard is to be murdered. Kesselring is sent to the Alliance's commissioner in Phezzan, saying the financial support can continue only if the Alliance is a stable democracy, hinting that Yang is willing to seize power. In Iserlohn, Alex Cazellnu is concerned about Yang's safety: for the time being, his skills are needed, but he fears that Trüniht wants to dispose of him in the end. In Heinessen, Trüniht, who dislikes Yang's popularity, asks the Secretary of Defence, Negreponte, to form an inquiry committee about Yang's action during the coup.
More episodes from this season
Episode 4: I Am Lost
Yang is summoned to Heinessen, where the Secretary of Defence is holding an inquiry. This move shocks his staff because such a committee has no legal basis. In Phezzan, Kesselring enlists two former members of the Lippstadt League, Leopold Schumacher and Alfred von Landsberg to carry out a plan we know nothing about. March 13, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: the test of the warp drive of the Geiesburg fortress is a success. The fortress and its supporting fleet can now move to the Iserlohn Corridor and attack the Alliance's fortress.
Episode 5: Court of Inquiry
On his way to Heinessen, Yang thinks about the current situation. The Alliance's disrespect for human rights, democracy and freedom on the pretense of the war is leading the nation toward its destruction; moreover, the failed invasion of the Empire and the civil war have drastically weakened the Alliance's military. In Heinessen, Yang is separated from his companions, Louis Mashengo and Frederica Greenhill. While Yang's personality and actions are questionned by the committee, Greenhill and Mashengo try to reach him, but any contact is denied. They go to Admiral Bucock for help, but are attacked by the P.K.C. (which appears to be related to the Earth Cult) and rescued by Bucock's staff. April 10, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: the Geiesburg Fortress enters the Iserlohn Corridor.
Episode 6: War Without Weapons
While the inquiry continues, Greenhill tries to find out where is Yang and discovers that the government controls the media and leaves little room for the opposition: the Free Planets Alliance is a democracy in name only. When the news of a new imperial attack reaches Heinessen, the inquiry is suspended and Yang sent back to Iserlohn. However, the journey will take at least four weeks: Yang's staff thinks about a strategy to hold on and not let the enemy know that Yang is not there.
Episode 7: Fortress Against Fortress
Geiesburg and Iserlohn fire at each other, causing little damage to the fortresses. After that, Schenkopp and the Rosen Ritter repel a boarding party. Kempf then decide to use the firepower of Geiesburg and the Müller Fleet to make a breach in Iserlohn's outer wall. The operation succeeds, but the Imperial forces can't get through because Admiral Merkatz launches the Iserlohn Fleet and drive off the Müller Fleet. Meanwhile, Yang is on his way back with some reinforcement. April, 15, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: in spite of the numerical advantage of the Imperial fleet, the situation is deadlocked. However, Müller learns from a dying prisoner of war that Yang is not in Iserlohn.
Episode 8: Repatriation
Reinhard is displeased by Kempf's report and decides to dispatch Mittermeyer end Reuenthal Fleet; he thinks the best tacticts was to smash Geiesburg against Iserlohn and destroy both fortresses (Yang has the same idea). Imperial scout ships detect Yang's reinforcement fleet. Kempf plans to lure the Iserlohn Fleet out of the fortress by pretending to retreat, then strike and seal it in the fortress, which will allow him to attack the reinforcements. Julian Minci sees through his plan. Merkatz, leading the Iserlohn fleet, pretends to fall into the trap, thus the Imperial Fleet is attacked from behind when it engages Yang's fleet. Kempf finally decides to smash Geiesburg into Iserlohn, but the Alliance's fleet destroys the engines, and the damaged the fortress moves randomly, destroying many imperial ships, before blowing up. The Imperial Fleet falls back but, against Yang's order, some commanders decide to pursue the Imperial Fleet.
Episode 9: Determination and Ambition
The Mittermeyer and Reuenthal Fleets meet the retreating Imperial fleet and destroy the Alliance's pursuing ships before falling back when the Iserlohn Fleet shows up. In Odin, Müller is forgiven by Reinhard. Reinhard tells Hildegard von Mariendorf that power should not be inherited, but seized. In Phezzan, Kesselring explains to Rubinsky that the Free Planets Alliance is on the verge of bankruptcy; they decide to go on with their plan. It is revealed that Kesselring is Rubinsky's illegitimate son. Back in Iserlohn, Yang shares with Julian Minci his thoughts about military strength and how it is often used against the citizen it was supposed to protect.
Episode 10: Thunder
Admiral Kessler, chief of the Military Police, informs Reinhard that two former members of the Lippstadt League (Landsberg and Schumacher) have arrived in Odin, and may be involved in some plot. Reinhard asks Hildegard for her advice: shes thinks they are in fact sent by Phezzan and will try to abduct someone, probably the young Emperor. later, she pays a visit to Annerose von Grünewald (Reinhard's elder sister) and persuades her to let Reinhard increase the security measures. Reinhard summons Boltik, the Commissioner of Phezzan, tells him he knows everything about their plan, and asks what is Phezzan's interest: Boltik answers that Phezzan expects to control the space communications and trade in an unified Empire. Reinhard agrees to act according to Rubinsky's plan, only if Phezzan grants a free passage through the Phezzan Corridor to the Imperial Fleet.
Episode 11: Abduction of the Young Kaiser
July 6-7, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: Landsberg and Schumacher kidnap the young Emperor under hidden underground tunnels within the palace grounds. Admiral Molt commits suicide over his failure to guard the grounds and product the Emperor. Hildegard sees through the kidnapping and confronts Reinhard over why he allowed the kidnapping to take place. Reinhard explains he cautiously joined with Phezzan as a method of justification for the Empire to invade the Alliance.
Episode 12: The Arrow Released!
The young Emperor passes through Phezzan into Alliance territory. The Alliance government declares that they will shelter the refugees while the nobles announce a government in exile. Merkatz is appointed as secretary of defense without his own consent. August, 20, 798 S.C. / 489 I.C.: Reinhard declares the government in exile kidnapped the young Emperor in an underhanded act of cowardice. The public within the Empire mobilizes in support of Reinhard's declaration of total war.
Episode 13: The Journey Begins
Julian is assigned to Phezzan by central command. Yang and his staff decide to assign Mashengo to be Julian's body guard. Yang shares with Julian his thoughts about the possibility of Phezzan allying with the Empire due to the power balance being shifted. Julian mentions the possibility of Phezzan allying with the Empire not because of realist means, but instead out of ideological or religious reasons. Julian agrees to be of use to Yang and go to Phezzan to spy on any developments. The Iserlohn staff say their goodbyes to Julian.