The Galactic Imperial Navy, led by High Admiral Reinhard, launches an attack on the Free Planets Alliance. The latter has surrounded them on three sides with forces that double the Imperial Navy's in number.

The Free Planets Alliance counters the Galactic Imperial Navy's advance in the Astarte Starzone, still divided into the 2nd, 4th, and 6th Fleets to surround the latter on three sides. The Alliance top brass are certain that their victory is assured.

Annerose, Reinhard's older sister, lives in the palace as the kaiser's favorite mistress. When Reinhard and Kircheis pay her a visit, she asks Kircheis to continue looking out for her brother and to keep him from straying from the right path.

Until the age of 16, Yang Wen-li spent most of his life on an interplanatary merchant spaceship with his father. After his father's death, Yang entered the Free Planets Fleet Academy to study war history.

After its defeat at the Battle of Astarte, the Free Planets Alliance Navy returns to the planet Heinessen. A memorial service is held for the Alliance soldiers who died in the battle, but according to Rear Admiral Caselnes it's just a political show.

Sub-lieutenant Greenhill is added to the crew of the 13th Fleet along with several other officers. Captain Schönkopf and members of his regiment, the Rosen Ritter, begin implementing a plan to infiltrate Iserlohn Fortress disguised as Imperial soldiers.