Episode
Legend of the Galactic Heroes: A Challenge to Arms
Overview
Wahlan orders his fleet to investigate after learning of fleet movements inside the Iserlohn corridor. On the Imperial side of the corridor, Julian approaches Imperial admiral Wagenseil's fleet. Using strike craft and a slow withdrawal strategy, Julian infuriates Wagenseil. The Wagenseil fleet is lured into range of the Iserlohn Thor hammer cannon and loses a large portion its ships. Wahlan's fleet tries to attack Iserlohn from the back before the Thor hammer recharges. Merkatz ambushes Wahlan's fleet from a blind spot while Julean approaches from around the fortress, executing a pincer formation. The Thor hammer fires two more times, causing massive damage to the pincered Wahlan fleet. Reinhard prepares for a counterattack from Phezzan, but is bedridden with a high fever.
Details
- Series
- Legend of the Galactic Heroes
- Season
- Season 4
- Episode
- Episode 16
- Air date
- 1996-12-01
- Runtime
- 27 min
Episode context
A Challenge to Arms is Episode 16 in Season 4 of Legend of the Galactic Heroes. It aired on 1996-12-01. The runtime is 27 min.
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Episode 15: Invitation to Rebellion
In January of Space Calendar 801, New Imperial Calendar 3, the chronic shortage of basic consumer goods caused riots throughout Heinessen. The distribution system is attacked by terrorism, complicating the problem further. Wahlan suppresses the riots and hands out a portion of the military food supplies to cool the riots. The Imperial admirals consider a campaign against Iserlohn, but decide not to due to the Imperial Treasury running low from continuous military expeditions. On Iserlohn, Julian thinks if the riots around alliance territory would be a good time to re liberate old Alliance territories. Many republicans are distrustful of the Iserlohn government for letting Mecklinger through the corridor. Julian decides to go to battle, citing the opportune moment and the fact that Reinhard's personality would look down upon a risk adverse successor in Iserlohn.
Episode 17: Cosmic Mosaic
Princess Grünewald visits Hilda and the sickly Reinhard. Although Reinhard's expedition was canceled, the problems of the insurgency and Iserlohn fleet remained. Oberstein is chosen to handle the new problems for the Empire. Oberstein takes Müller and Bittenfeld with him on the campaign. News of the Iserlohn victory bypasses Imperial news censors, causing many protests. Oberstein orders the arrest of all former public officials in the Alliance. Oberstein infuriates Müller, Bittenfeld, and Wahlen with his plan of using hostages to draw out the forces of Iserlohn. On Iserlohn, the Julian fleet wonders what to do if the Empire were to abandon Heinessen and use it as a lure.
More episodes from this season
Episode 14: Long Live the Empress!
Kaiser Reinhard publicly announces his marriage to Hildegard von Mariendorf at the Imperial new years party. Hilda's father, Count Mariendorf resigns from his position recommending Mittermeyer as the new Chief Minister of Internal Affairs. Many of the ministers discuss joint rulership and succession rights for the upcoming Empress. Princess Grünewald visits Reinhard and Hilde on Phezzan. On January 29th, Reinhard and Hilda's are wed. Oberstein interrupts the wedding midway through to report riots on Heinessen.
Episode 18: Peace by Way of Bloodshed
Reinhard learns of the rift between Oberstein and his admirals. Word of the rift leaks to all the soldiers and civilians on Heinessen. Bittenfeld is put under house arrest by Oberstein for assaulting him. Street fights between Bittenfeld's forces and the military police under Oberstein erupt. Müller tries to convince Bittenfeld to apologize to Oberstein in hopes decreasing further violence between Imperial troops. The Iserlohn group gets the news of the trouble on Heinessen. They decide to divide up their leadership and accept negotiations on Heinessen for the release of the hostages.
Episode 13: Running Start Toward the Future
Mittermeyer and the other admirals return to Phezzan. All the admirals are debriefed by Reinhard. Mittermeyer meets with Hilde and discusses the adoption policy for Reuenthal's child. Mittermeyer adopts Reuenthal's child and servant and brings them home to meet his wife. Hilde reveals to Reinhard she is pregnant with his child, she accepts his marriage proposal. The Terraists feud leadership now that Reinhard has a successor. A deranged Landsberg leads Imperial police to the mummified corpse of Erwin Josef II. In Iserlohn, the staff celebrates the new year with a large party.
Episode 19: Planet of Confusion
A riot breaks out at Rugpool prison, where the 5000 political prisoners were being held. The rioters are somehow well armed and the situation deteriorates. Bittenfeld's lancers fight with the military police. At the end of the night, over 4000 of the prisoners are dead or injured. Julian's envoy fleet heads back to Iserlohn on news of the riots and martial law on Heinessen. Rubinsky is captured by Obersteins agents. Reinhard releases all political prisoners and sends Müller to ask the Julian envoy to come once again to Heinessen.
Episode 12: The Final Requiem
Reuenthal returns to his office and assigns all domestic political matters to Elsheimer. Trüniht is killed by Reuenthal after they both discuss their ambitions and Reinhard. Reuenthal is visited by Elfriede von Kohlrausch and her baby. Reuenthal requests that she give the his son to Mittermeyer. On November 14th, Space Calendar 800, New Imperial Year 2, Reuenthal dies at the age of 33. Mittermeyer arrives on Heinessen, but is too late to meet with his old friend. Admiral Bergengrün, who also served under Kircheis commits suicide, after hearing of Reuenthal's death. Bergengrün had lost both his commanders to underhanded political schemes. Lang confesses to all his actions and implicates Rubinsky. Rubinsky is nowhere to be found.
Episode 20: Schtehibalm Schloss Burns!
Terraists attack multiple critical infrastructure locations on Phezzan. Communications with High Admiral Kesler are not re established till later when Terraists storm Stehibalm Schloss, the provisional home for Hilde and Grünewald. Marika von Feuerbach, a servant to Hilde leads Kesler and his military police to Hilde and Grünewald before they are assassinated. Hilde is rushed to a hospital where she gives birth to the new prince of the Lohengramm dynasty. Kesler uses torture and truth serum on the Terraists, cleaning out all Terraist influence on Phezzan. Reinhard names his new son Alexander Siegfried von Lohengramm.
Episode 11: Die by the Sword
Mittermeyer's fleet catches up with Reuenthal's fleet as they head to Heinessen. Grillpalzer betrays Reuenthal's fleet and fires on his former allies. Reuenthal's flagship is hit by long distance artillery. Reuenthal is impaled in in the chest by a piece of metal. Reuenthal continues to order tactics as he becomes pale. Grillpalzer surrenders to Wahlen's fleet. Mecklinger discovers Terraism evidence on Uruvasi hidden by Grillpalzer. Mecklinger orders Grillpalzer arrested. Reuenthal returns to Heinessen with only 10% of his fleet remaining.
Episode 21: The Crimson Star Road
In late May of Space Calendar 801, New Imperial Calendar 3 a refugee ship chased by Imperial ships runs into the Julian fleet. The Julian fleet decides to engage the Imperial ships. Eventually both sides send reinforcements and the full number of ships for each fleet is present. The Imperial fleet includes 51,700 ships while the Julian fleet has 9,800 ships. Both fleets act cautiously rotate their front line forces. Reinhard collapses midway through the battle. A communications blackout results in frustration from the Imperial admirals. Poplan intercepts some communications betweet Mittermeyer's ship and Reinhard's flagship. The Julian fleet decides to board the Brunhilde with melee infantry.
Episode 10: Live by the Sword...
Reuenthal plans to divide up his fleet into a formation which would surround incoming fleets. Mittermeyer arrives first, quickly attacking before Reuenthal tactical plans are set up. Mittermeyer uses quick fleet movement to prolong the battle and limit casualties. Over time, Bittenfeld and Wahlen's fleets arrive as well. Wahlen is nearly killed and loses his artificial arm. Bittenfeld's fleet formation is unstable due to it being 1/2 survivors from his fleet and the remainders Fahrenheit's fleet. Admiral Knapfstein is killed in battle. Eventually the battle becomes a war of attrition. As it is reported that Mecklinger is approaching the battlefield in the Rantemario system, Reuenthal orders a hasty retreat.
Episode 22: The Beautiful Princess Wants Blood!
The Rosenritter soldiers latch on to Flagship Brunhilde. The Imperial doctors reveal to the admirals that Reinhard has an unknown and incurable disease. General Schenkopp holds off the Royal guard with his soldiers. Reinhard prepares to meet with Julian, should Julian make it to his room. Bittenfeld frustrated with inactivity, rushes into the Merkatz fleet. Admiral Merkatz is killed in battle. Mashengo dies protecting Julian from gunfire. Schenkopp is fatally wounded in battle while Poplan fights off Reinhard's Imperial guard. Julian reaches Reinhard's room for negotiations. A truce is announced.