The 43rd episode of Legend of the Galactic Heroes primarily focuses on the battle between Yang and Reuenthal at Iserlohn. Predictably, the battle turns out to be highly tactical while both commanders realize the whole exercise is serving as a diversion.
The episode begins with Reuenthal’s fleet taking potshots at Iserlohn. Yang cannot help but be impressed by the formation being deployed against him even though it is a diversionary operation from the Empire’s point of view. Reuenthal then has Lutz move into a half-enveloping formation in an attempt to force Yang to do something.
Standing by on Iserlohn is Attenborough, but Yang tells him to wait so he can determine what they are doing. Murai interjects and says if they allow things to continue as they are, the Imperial forces could linger in the dead areas where the Thor’s Hammer cannot hit them. Yang relents and has Fischer join Attenborough in an attempt to disrupt the enemy’s movements.
Lutz’s forces charge at the fleet as it comes out which presents a new problem to Yang. Attenborough and Fischer are concentrating more on avoiding collisions with other ships, regardless of affiliation, and Yang cannot fire on the mass of ships without hitting any of his own. Yang wonders what he can do to overturn the advantage the Imperial ships now have, but Schenkopp has an idea of his own.
Reuenthal waits for an what Yang will do next, if he sends out reinforcements Reuenthal can send out his own reinforcements and turn the battle into a war of attrition. With the reputation of his opponent, Reuenthal knows Yang will try something that will live up to his nickname as “the Magician.” Reinforcements do eventually come out of Iserlohn, which has Attenborough wondering if a war of attrition would work. Reuenthal sees the reinforcements coming out and instructs his reinforcements to move in, until he sees that Yang’s flagship Hyperion is part of the reinforcements. Reuenthal directs all of his ships to attack Hyperion as he sees it as a chance to end the battle quickly.
Before they can get within firing range, Reuenthal’s ship is attacked by an Alliance ship which attaches itself. Reuenthal and his crew are then forced to worry about hand-to-hand combat, but Reuenthal laments at being beaten by such a simple trick. Schenkopp and the rest of the Rosen Ritter emerge from the ship and begin taking on Imperial soldiers. Schenkopp makes it clear their objective is Reuenthal. On Iserlohn, Yang is pleased that the plan seems to have worked, but he is quick to acknowledge that only second-rate tricks would work against someone as skilled as Reuenthal. Even if they do not capture or kill Reuenthal, they still would have forced him into withdrawing.
Schenkopp and his men fight through waves of men through the ships corridors before Schenkopp enters a room where Reuenthal happens to be getting equipped for combat. The situation quickly turns into a duel between the two men. Reuenthal is able to fight off Schenkopp for long enough to allow reinforcements to arrive, which forces Schenkopp to withdraw. Reuenthal says that it is farcical for a fleet commander to be forced into hand-to-hand combat against the notorious Rosen Ritter. He orders his forces to withdrawal while acknowledging that he was a bit to quick to try to end the battle.
The Imperial fleet retreats, and Yang asks Attenborough if there is any chance of pursuing them. Unfortunately, Attenborough can’t see any openings, so Yang has his fleet return to Iserlohn. Schenkopp arrives on the bridge, and says they let the big one get away but at least they were able to board the enemy’s flagship. Schenkopp describes his battle with Reuenthal, and Yang disappointingly says that Schenkopp was unable to change history.
It is interesting to me anyway that Yang realizes that Reuenthal’s capture or death would have changed everything. Perhaps he realizes it would have been his first chance to take the initiative against Reinhard rather than being forced to react to everything he knows he is going to do.The debriefing on the fleet battle begins later. Yang says Reuenthal could have won if he had continued to press on, but he says that makes him as one of the Empire’s Twin Stars different. Cazellnu laments that the skilled commanders always seem to be coming from the other side, while Schenkopp asks if Yang could win if it became a battle between fleets. Yang says that based on Reuenthal’s superior abilities to Kempf and the fact they barely won against the latter that it would just come down to luck. Schenkopp is disappointed with the answer and restates his point that he thinks Yang can beat Reinhard, but asks what he would do if he can’t beat Reinhard’s subordinate. Yang responds by saying that Schenkopp is free to think what he wants, but self-confidence does not translate into results.
As far as the ongoing battle was concerned, it had quickly turned into one of attrition. Reuenthal’s fleet would not enter firing range, and would withdrawal at any sign of being challenged by the Iserlohn fleet. Murai says they are trying to exhaust the soldiers on the fortress because the prospect of an enemy lurking just outside will fray at a soldier’s nerves. Frederica then asks Yang to get some rest because he looks more depressed than tired. Yang decides to take up the offer.
In the cafeteria, Poplan and Konev have another discussion on battlefield tactics. Poplan is frustrated at being powerless to change the situation, but Konev says they are safe inside the fortress and this is really a job for their defenses. Konev, though, wonders how serious the Empire is in trying to take Iserlohn back. Poplan says he much prefers someone who would take the job of seizing the fortress like a game than someone who would just do it seriously. Konev is still worried about the Empire’s intention, but Poplan says that Yang has it covered since no one is a better strategist.
The conversation moves on to the topic of conversations. Poplan says he talking to someone who effectively “plays catch” makes it easier for him to focus. He could do that with Julian, but not with someone like Konev. Konev then asks Poplan if Julian’s absence is more important to Yang. Poplan says yes and says Julian’s value is greater than most people think. That they can both agree on.
I think this conversation gets into the cultural differences between the Alliance and the Empire. With the exception of perhaps Reuenthal and Mittermeyer, conversations amongst those affiliated with the Empire seem based almost entirely on relative power. While on the Alliance side, even two people with vastly different ranks usually go into strategic conversations as equals to build a consensus. That does not apply to those in government in the Alliance though.In his quarters, Yang talks to his cat, who he says is as inconvenienced as he is by Julian’s absence and wonders if he should have Charlotte take care of it. The cat meows, which Yang jokingly interprets as the cat gaining the ability to understand human speech. He begins talking strategy, and expresses his own frustration at the fact that he is powerless to act despite knowing what Reinhard is doing. He looks over at the cat which has now gone over to sleep on the couch and wishes that Julian was still there. His rest is interrupted by Frederica who calls to tell Yang that there are movements in the enemy fleet.
Upon returning to the bridge, Schenkopp tells Yang that groups of 500 Imperial ships have been engaging in hit-and-run attacks on the fortress. Yang orders the Thor’s Hammer to be fired while also deploying Iserlohn’s mobile turrets. The battle takes on a pattern of an Imperial ship lost for each turret damaged on Iserlohn. That changes when an Imperial ship crashes into Iserlohn’s surface which creates a weak point for other Imperial ships to fire on. Yang instructs turrets to be moved into the area while having the main gun fire inside the flowing metal. While this would destroy many of the turrets, it would move the metal back into place. Cazellnu, though, is thinking about the cost of all of this. They fire the gun which takes out a couple of Imperial ships who were too close and shores up the defense.
Reuenthal is impressed at Yang’s fighting strategy, but decides they need to press on since many of Iserlohn’s turrets would be unusable. Yang has the Thor’s Hammer fired at less than full strength to break up Reuenthal’s formations, which is successful. Reuenthal asks how much damage has been done on each side. Reuenthal’s fleet has lost 200 ships while destroying 200 of Iserlohn’s turrets. Reuenthal elects to withdraw and says they should have done enough damage to the enemy and any more would be pointless. Reuenthal then says the real drama is about to begin.
On Heinessen, the High Council receives word that the Empire has failed in their attack on Iserlohn and retreated back into Imperial space. Based on the imformation they have received from Phezzan, Reuenthal is asking for more reinforcements to stage another attack on Iserlohn.
On Phezzan, Kesselink reads from the same set of information and continues saying that Reinhard expressed regret at Reuenthal’s difficult fight, but he is now expressing the need to take Iserlohn in one blow. He intends to bring in the fleets of Mittermeyer, Steinmetz, Wahlen and Müller to take out Iserlohn. Phezzan also included a video of Reinhard giving out these orders in person while also stating that he will also be waiting should they need more support.
On Odin, the fleets depart, with Reinhard commenting that this is the beginning of the end to Hilde. She thinks she is about to go on a long journey, and must see Heinrich before departing.
Thoughts: I am liking the fact that it is being made obvious just how badly the Alliance government is being played by Phezzan and the Empire…I could have done without the exposition dump in the form of talking to a cat though…It looks like Phezzan will be revisited soon as that’s where the Imperial forces will be headed in all likelihood. Will Julian be able to make a difference?
Lower Mid-Table 
I think this conversation gets into the cultural differences between the Alliance and the Empire. With the exception of perhaps Reuenthal and Mittermeyer, conversations amongst those affiliated with the Empire seem based almost entirely on relative power. While on the Alliance side, even two people with vastly different ranks usually go into strategic conversations as equals to build a consensus. That does not apply to those in government in the Alliance though.
Good observation!
I really like how the battle between Wenli and Oskar played out… between similarly skilled fighters it doesn’t often become such decisive engagements: may it be chess, collectible card games, table top battle games, you name it. Routs often happen when someone is dumb enough to let it happen (exceptions exist, of course).
In this way LotGH has been consistent with its pitting skilled vs skilled and skilled vs unskilled. Mittermeyer once lamented at how unworthy the people they fought were, and that battle at the least resulted in a lopsided fashion. Here we are shown how it could happen between two masters. Love it.
Ah, I remember this episode for Reuenthal backflips. I used to follow chess games on the Grandmaster level, and they tend to be long, with both sides aiming for small, long-term goals that transform into decisive advantages by the time most of the pieces have been cleared. This battle is reminiscent of them, but despite any clear victories, I was still excited by how both sides tried hard to outdo each other.
Now I want to play chess again, ha ha.