"Thank you for agreeing to let them return to the Empire." Müller said to Yang, fighting back his emotions.

"We had little choice ourselves, unless we desired mutual destruction. The victory was yours." Yang replied graciously.

"No, you were shackled to your government's orders. If you had your way, you would have blocked the corridor beforehand and this battle would have never taken place. Perhaps that would have been for the best." Müller said with regret.

"From the on set, I've wanted nothing more than to see an end to this war." Yang replied.

"Still-" Müller started bitterly. "I can't help but imagine how different things could have been if you hadn't always been in the way."

"I've wondered about that as well." Yang admitted. "There were many times where I thought about retiring, giving up, and becoming a historian. I never wanted to be a soldier from the start."

"Why didn't you quit?" Müller asked out of genuine curiosity.

"To be honest, I'm not sure." Yang muttered as he took off his beret and frayed his hair anxiously. "I suppose at the end of the day there were just too many people counting on me."

"Loyalty. I suppose there are worse answers." Müller said blankly. "It seems like you will get your peace. The galaxy is a different place now. I doubt the Empire will find the courage to return after this, even if it is possible."

"Perhaps it's for the best." Yang said turning Müller's own words against him.

"Yes, perhaps it is." Müller conceded. "I've let my emotions get the best of me for too long. I think it's time to let go of that anger."

"Even if we can let go of our reasons to fight, eventually in the future, people will forget the suffering of war and find new reasons. It's a cycle mankind has yet to escape from." Yang said dispassionately.

"There's little we can do about that though, is there?" Müller replied.

"Maybe not, but a few decades of peace, at the very least, that should be possible. Hopefully it's not asking too much." Yang answered uncomfortably. "Before you go, there's one thing I'd like to ask you."

"What is it?" Müller asked.

"Do you want to return to the Empire? There may be harsh treatment awaiting for you if you return." Yang said with concern. "We'd be willing to offer you a degree of comfort here, if you'd like to stay."

"Thank you for the offer, but no. I'm afraid if I don't return then the negative outcomes awaiting me will only fall upon my subordinates. I can't allow that." Müller said grimly.

"I understand." Yang replied somewhat downbeat at Müller's prospects.

"There's one more thing I'd like to warn you about before I go." Müller said strongly, regaining this composure.

"What's that?" Yang asked, noticing the change in tone.

"Phezzan. They've played us both for fools. Their actions may have been to your benefit this time, but that probably won't always be the case. Since you're stuck with them, I would keep an eye on them." Müller said bluntly.

Yang nodded slightly acknowledging the embarrassment and the risk. With this, Müller was led away by the Rosen Ritter to an awaiting shuttle. Müller headed back towards the Empire and an uncertain fate.

"It seems like your broadcast worked, sir." an operator aboard the Phezzani flagship said to Xavier Butler. "The Imperial fleets are beginning to withdraw from the corridor."

Rather than cheers, a collective sigh of relief passed through the vessel. Butler turned back to Julian with a stern look on his face that Julian met with a satisfied grin.

"That stunt you pulled could have gotten us all killed." Butler accused Julian.

"But it didn't, everything worked out in the end. Ultimately, this outcome will be better for Phezzan as well." suggested Julian.

"How so? Now the Alliance knows about our plan, if they choose to interfere this could happen all over again." Butler countered.

"I doubt they will. Because of how disastrously close we came to losing the fortress, it will look like you were merely acting in desperation and standing on your convictions. If you had carried the plan out secretly and trapped the Alliance forces within the corridor, it would have only been a matter of time before Phezzan's involvement was discovered and the Alliance's view of Phezzan could have easily turned hostile." Julian explained. "Now you'll be viewed as the saviors."

"Won't they just give credit to Yang Wenli? Everyone will believe he merely manipulated us to do his bidding." Butler asked skeptically.

"It might be an issue, but Yang probably can't afford to take credit for it. He's already been on thin ice for disobeying orders before, if he did it again there's no telling what the politicians might do to him. If anything, Yang will have to come out and actively deny it." Julian replied.

"What about you? Won't you out us that we were willing to trap your allies in the corridor along with the Imperials and you had to coerce us into making that statement?" Butler pressed.

Julian shrugged innocently. "I'd rather let you be the heroes. Ultimately, my loyalty is to Yang Wenli and releasing the details would only cause more trouble for him. There's a few people in the fortress who know about my mission here, but they can all be trusted to not leak the information. So long as we get home safely, you can rest assured." Machungo nodded along with Julian's explanation.

With this, Butler's defenses seemed to drop slightly, and the built up tension collected over the course of the battle flowed out of him. Finally, he extended his hand to Julian, as if to seal the deal, as a Phezzani would. Julian accepted the handshake with a smile.

At Iserlohn Fortress there was a great feeling of relief with the withdrawal of Imperial forces, but there was also an uneasiness that came with the widespread collective realization that Iserlohn Fortress was far more vulnerable to attack than previously thought. Although Yang Wenli had predicted the use of some form of near-light speed kinetic weapon, even the counter measures he put into place were not entirely effective against the assault. The damage to the fortress was extensive. Along with the loss of much of the liquid metal armor, many of the floating gun emplacements had been blasted away in the same impact that created the massive tear in the outer hull, causing an eighth of Iserlohn's docking space to be depressurized as well. Losses were also significant among the fleet, nearly ten thousand ships had been lost in the frantic defense after the collision with the kinetic weapon. In the end, the Alliance forces were only saved by the brazen actions of the Phezzanis threatening to close the Iserlohn corridor by engineering a supernova, and having the good fortune to capture Imperial Fleet Marshal Müller which stalled the progress of the internal attack. Had circumstances been even slightly different, the destruction of the fortress, and the complete loss of both the Alliance and Imperial fleets would have been likely.

The Free Planets Alliance government and the citizens at large were also shocked by the nature of the conflict within the corridor. Military technology had gradually improved over the span of the 150 year long war with the Galactic Empire, but never in that time had the tactics deployed changed so radically by all parties involved. While the signs were present for those able to see them, Yang's previous use of near light speed kinetic weapons to destroy the Artemis Necklace around Heinessen and the Imperial deployment of directional Seffel particles to destroy similar defenses in the Imperial's internal conflicts, most had not yet processed how the manner in which combat in space was changing, As predicted by Julian, several members of the High Council suspected Yang was the ultimate force behind the threat to close the corridor, but at the same time they were fearful at how close the fortress had come to being completely destroyed, and with it would have certainly followed the entire Free Planets Alliance. Unwilling to pull Yang away from the fortress while it was under repair, Yang was scheduled to answer their questions remotely, and official inquires were made with the Dominion of Phezzan to attempt to confirm their role in the traumatic event.

Meanwhile, Julian returned to Iserlohn Fortress to a modest celebration of his close friends.

"Welcome home, Julian." Yang said as he embraced Julian in a hug.

"Congratulations, Julian." added Frederica as she moved in line for a hug.

"Well done, young man." Schönkopf piled on.

"The wolf in sheep's clothing returns." Bagdash said playfully. "Perhaps a plot this devious deserves a promotion from wolf to devil."

"Thank you everyone, I couldn't have done it without everything you've taught me." Julian replied graciously.

"What exactly happened out there?" Bagdash pressed.

"The Phezzanis were prepared to activate their black hole device much earlier during the battle. Using the computer lock out you provided I managed to prevent them from deploying the system." Julian explained.

"I bet they weren't thrilled about that when it happened." Bagdash commented with a laugh.

"No, they weren't, they immediately suspected me as well. I managed to hold out until word arrived that Vice Admiral Schönkopf had captured Fleet Marshal Müller. When the fighting had stalled I knew we had a chance, so I convinced High Commissioner Butler to broadcast his threat." Julian continued. "I suppose we were able to sweeten the pot enough to make withdrawal look like the best option."

"Glad to know I was able to be of some assistance." Schönkopf said in relief. "When word came that the Imperials had taken one of the power generators, I was sure Müller would convince his men to sacrifice him and destroy the fortress."

"It's strange that were we saved in part due to the loyalty between men in the forces sent to subjugate us." Yang added the philosophical note. "If only we could extend this sentiment further."

"What is going to happen now?" Julian asked anxiously. "I heard the government has demanded your testimony again."

"Don't worry, Julian. In this case the truth should be enough for them. I hadn't anticipated the Phezzanis would act in such a way to try and block the corridor. I could hardly be expected to." Yang replied.

"Will the Alliance government try to interfere with them?" Julian asked.

"I doubt it. Without their intervention, the battle would have been lost. I think even they will be able to come to that realization." Yang answered.

"Enough with the worries. Isn't this supposed to be a celebration for our returning war hero?" Schönkopf complained. "Here, have a drink. A toast!"

Julian took the glass of champagne awkwardly as Schönkopf and the others raised their glasses. "To living to fight another day!" proposed Schönkopf.

"To peace." Yang added, drawing nods of approval.

"To peace." Julian concurred as he raised his glass towards the others.

In the great hall of Neue Sanssouci, the whole of the Imperial Admiralty knelt before Emperor Reuentahl in defeat. Foremost among them was Fleet Marshal Müller.

"I take full responsibility for the defeat at Iserlohn. Your orders were clear. When the kinetic weapons failed to destroy Iserlohn Fortress entirely, I should have withdrawn. Instead I allowed my anger to dictate my actions. I also failed to foresee the Phezzani's plot to seal the corridor, when securing one's supply lines and escape route is basic military strategy. I have no excuses for my failure." Müller documented the loss without sugar coating any of the details.

Reuentahl considered the pack of admirals with a disappointed look on his face. "Indeed, you should have withdrawn your forces. Instead you allowed yourself to be captured by the enemy. I understand why you did not, however in the end our fleets have suffered serious losses and ultimately we have nothing to show for the effort. Such a result cannot be rewarded. Punishment will be necessary."

"I am prepared to endure any judgment you render." Müller replied stoically.

Reuentahl stood and looked down from pedestal on which the Imperial Throne sat. "Fleet Marshal Müller, I hereby strip you of your position of Vice Commander-in-Chief of the Imperial Space Fleet. You will await further judgment at my pleasure. You may rejoin the ranks."

Müller slunk back into the line of admirals, then Reuentahl shouted two more names. "Steinmetz! Grillparzer! Approach."

The two admirals stood advanced out of the line then knelt again. Grillparzer shot a self satisfied grin towards Steinmetz as they did, drawing a grimace in return from Steinmetz.

"High Admiral Steinmetz, despite my order to not enter the corridor with your fleet, you ordered patrol elements under your command to do so, is this correct?" Reuentahl demanded.

"Yes, Your Majesty. It is." Steinmetz conceded.

"I hereby strip you of your position of Commander of Rear Forces. You will await further judgment at my pleasure. You may rejoin the ranks." Reuentahl said emotionlessly.

Steinmetz appeared momentarily shocked, but managed to regain his composure. "Yes, Your Majesty." he muttered before returning to the line of admirals.

"Grillparzer." Reuentahl said again coldly.

"Yes, sir!" Grillparzer replied enthusiastically.

"Is it true you turned your fleet's weapons on a superior officer while deployed?" Reuentahl demanded accusingly.

"Yes, Your Majesty, but only to ensure that your orders were carried out as you desired." Grillparzer replied unashamed.

"The actions you took for such a misstep on Steinmetz's part were too drastic. There were any number of ways you could have chosen to express your concerns, but instead you chose to act rashly and threaten a superior officer. I blame myself for promoting you too quickly." Reuentahl said solemnly. "I hereby demote you to Rear Admiral. Perhaps in time you can be retrained to be a more responsible officer."

"Your Majesty!" Grillparzer said in shock, standing up. "I only acted in order to ensure your orders were carried out!"

"I've heard enough, fall back into line, or I'll have you put in chains!" Reuentahl shouted.

With this the shocked Grillparzer immediately dropped back into line and fell to his knees, barely able to contain his emotions.

"Wahlen. Fahrenheit." Reuentahl rattled off, returning to his cold demeanor.

"Yes, sir!" They said in unison as they advanced and knelt.

"Explain to me how our new weapons failed." Reuentahl demanded.

"The weapons functioned as designed, however seeing as this concept was deployed previously by Yang Wenli, we should have anticipated he would have prepared countermeasures for such an attack. We failed to do so." Wahlen admitted somberly.

Fahrenheit continued the line of reasoning. "If we had applied the weapons in greater numbers, a fatal blow against the fortress would likely have been struck. As it remains, the indirect hit against the fortress has caused significant damage. Were we to follow up-"

"It's meaningless now that Phezzan has developed the means to suddenly seal the corridor." Reuentahl said interrupting. "We've let the Black Fox of Phezzan get one step ahead of us again. Any follow up attack could easily be cut off."

"It is as you say, Your Majesty." Fahrenheit was forced to admit.

"Return to the line." Reuentahl said with a dismissive wave, and the two admirals fell back into position.

"I cannot fully express how disappointed I am." Reuentahl complained bitterly. "We, the great admirals of the Galactic Empire. Once the galaxy trembled in fear of our power. Now we merely spend our energies reacting to the moves of our enemies, bleeding ships and men as they plot our demise at their leisure. We are not the driving force in this galaxy any longer. We've become complacent like those miserable old nobles we discarded."

The line of admirals gave a variety of reactions of shame as Reuentahl detailed the Imperial Fleet's degraded stature.

"The galaxy is changing and we are falling behind." Reuentahl concluded as he paced the length of the pedestal. "Radical change is necessary and not all of your services will be required in this new future we now live in. You are all relieved of duty for the time being. I will directly issue policing duties to officers as necessary. You will all await my orders until I see fit to give you new assignments. Dismissed."

The shocked admirals remained on their knees until a palace guard captain shouted the command to come to attention, then bow. The admirals reflexively responded to the group command before the formation was dismissed.

Reuentahl watched the admirals leave, then turned his back on them, retreating into the deeper confines of the palace. In one of the hallways, Empress Annerose was waiting for him.

"You were quite rough on them." Annerose said bluntly.

"Now is not the best time to intercede on their behalf." Reuentahl said dismissively.

"I'm not. I just thought you might like to know, Evangelin is in labor. The child could come at any time." Annerose replied.

"That's good news. You can have the servants keep me updated." Reuentahl said as he continued down the hallway.

"Where are you going?" Annerose asked.

"Now is not the time." Reuentahl only repeated as he continued away down the hall.

Eventually, Reuentahl ended up in the Western Garden. A pair of guards watching the front gate only saluted as Reuentahl passed them silently and entered the building housing Elfriede von Kohlrausch. Reuentahl reached the dark, but well appointed chamber in which Elfriede was kept. Elfriede was lounging in bed in her night clothes and only turned her head towards Reuentahl as he locked the door behind him and headed towards a decanter full of liquor sitting on a nearby table, quickly pouring himself a drink.

"Congratulations on your victory." Elfriede said cruelly to Reuentahl's back.

"Are you losing your mind?" Reuentahl replied bitterly after downing a shot quickly. "What would you know?"

"Even these walls talk, and the days are long." Elfriede mused playfully. "I may not understand war, but I understand people and you've accomplished exactly what you set out to do."

"You really are going insane." Reuentahl muttered. "Are you not made comfortable here?"

"My sanity is no worse than when I came here. I mean everything I'm saying." Elfriede said doubling down. "You wanted your comrades to fail." she added bluntly.

"Nonsense." spat Reuentahl. "If they had been successful I would have been the ruler of the known universe."

"But deep in your heart you know you're not worthy to rule over the galaxy." Elfriede sniped. "If you were merely one great man among many, your days on the throne would be short."

"You are a twisted woman aren't you?" Reuentahl replied bitterly.

"You gave them the chance to attack while bitterness over their loss still ruled their hearts." Elfriede continued to accuse him. "You knew in such circumstances their judgment would be clouded and they'd likely lose again. Now with their defeat you can strip them of all the honors you gave them to ensure your rise to the throne and secure all the power for yourself. It's exactly what you wanted from the start."

"Silence, you wench." Reuentahl snapped.

"Hmm...I seem to have struck a nerve." Elfriede said with a laugh. "I hope you didn't come to me for false comfort on your day of triumph."

"Take off your clothes." Reuentahl demanded, ignoring Elfriede's words.

"Yes, my Emperor." she replied mockingly as she rose out of the bed and started to strip. "What a lonely man you are. There's no one who understands you except a lowly slave."

"Be quiet." Reuentahl demanded as he seized her.

"Yes, my Emperor." Elfriede said again as she complied and wrapped herself around Reuentahl seductively while keeping her self-satisfied expression on her face.

Reuentahl began to lose himself in Elfriede's body, but his moment of escape was short, soon a knock came on the door.

"Emperor Reuentahl!" shouted a servant. "Are you there?"

"I told you I was not to be interrupted here." Reuentahl shouted toward the door.

"Yes, Your Majesty, but, but...it's Frau Mittermeier, the child is coming and there's been complications with the birth. You said you wanted to be kept updated." replied the servant through the door.

Reuentahl grunted in disapproval but started putting his clothes back on.

"Will you be so cold when I bear you a child?" Elfriede commented mockingly.

"Gods forbid such a child takes after your dark heart." Reuentahl spat as he finished rearranging his uniform.

"With two parents with dark hearts, is it a fate the child could hope to escape?" Elfriede said with a menacing laugh as Reuentahl went out the door.

Reuentahl moved with steady determination towards the residence in the Southern Garden in which Evangelin was staying as the servant sent to fetch him followed.

"You said their were complications with the birth?" Reuentahl asked with concern.

"Yes, Your Majesty. There seems to be some kind of internal weakness in the mother. You will have to ask the doctors for the details I'm afraid." replied the servant.

By the time Reuentahl reached the chamber in which Evangelin was staying the crying of a newborn child could already be heard. The child was being cradled in the hands of Annerose while Hilda looked on jealously.

All of the servants bowed as they recognized Reuentahl's entrance and Reuentahl immediately approached the Court Physician. "I was told there were complications with the birth."

The doctor nodded sternly at the question. "The child itself is healthy, a strong baby boy. We were able to save the mother, but she has lost a quite a bit of blood. She'll be in no condition to care for the child for some time. She needs to rest if she hopes to properly recover."

"This won't be a problem, I will arrange to have the child cared for. See to it that the mother receives whatever care she needs." Reuentahl ordered, receiving a bow from the doctor in return as he passed on towards Annerose and Hilda.

"You've arrived." Annerose said as she saw Reuentahl approach. "I present to you the heir to the Mittermeier name." she said as she handed the child over to him.

The contrast between the broad shouldered and regal Reuentahl and the crying infant in his hands could hardly have been greater. "The child seems to have a strong will." Reuentahl commented as he awkwardly handled bundled infant.

"Here, give him to me." Hilda demanded as she reached out to take the child from Reuentahl. "The poor thing has been through so much, and so has Eva."

"He's been born into uncertain times." Reuentahl complained as he handed the child off to Hilda. "One can't help but be concerned about the future when holding a newborn child."

"Time continues to march forward whether we're prepared for it or not." Annerose mused somberly. "All we can do is try to meet each day with our best."

The laughing of small children could be heard on the command deck of the Tristan, Emperor Reuentahl's flagship. Once the combat boots of courageous men filled these halls in order to make ten thousand light-year journeys to fight heroic battles, now toddlers used the bridge's various seats and stations as support for their still uncertain balance. Only a skeleton crew of soldiers operated the massive warship and encountering the enemy was something that only happened in simulations.

"Auntie Hilda, I'm bored." complained Wolfgang Mittermeier II, who was still a young child. "I want to go home and see mother."

"Your mother wanted you to see this, Wolf. It's going to start soon, it's very important." Hilda tried to explain to the child.

"It's about my father?" Wolfgang asked again, trying to confirm what he had been told before. "That's what mother said."

"Yes, we came to see your father's ship for the last time." Hilda said as she pointed to the array of external view screens.

"Your father was a brave warrior, and my only friend." Emperor Reuentahl explained as he came and picked Wolf up and put him on his shoulder then pointed to one of the many ships lined up near the entrance of the Iserlohn corridor. "There, you can still his crest on the side of the ship." Although much of the external armor and weaponry had been stripped off the vessel, the crest remained intact.

"What happened to my father?" Wolf asked curiously.

"He fought to protect your mother and everyone else. I tried to help him, but I was too late. He was killed by some bad people. They are all dead now, but I'm sorry I couldn't stop them in time." Reuentahl said mournfully.

Wolf seemed sad, but also seemed to understand his father had done something important. "Why are all the ships here?"

"We don't need them anymore." Reuentahl tried to explain simply. "All the people we fight with are on the other side of that black space with no stars. This is the last path to reach them. If we block it, they will not be able to get to us, and we will not be able to get to them."

"I guess if it will keep them away that is good." Wolf replied.

Annerose approached the three carrying an infant and with a two toddlers clinging to either side of her. "They're all here." she said with a somewhat tired voice. "I wonder if half of them will even remember this."

"The sealing of the corridor is going to shape these children's lives." Reunetahl said sternly. "Even if they don't remember, they'll be able to say they were here."

"All the preparations are ready, Your Majesty." an Imperial officer reported.

"Good, proceed." Reuentahl ordered, receiving a bow in reply.

Soon after, a chain of explosions lit the space around the corridor entrance. Thousands of warships that were damaged or nearing the end of their useful lives overloaded their warp engines then detonated their power plants producing a spectacular light show that managed to hold the small children in fascination for the time it lasted. The sheer number of subspace distortions caused by the event would ensure no warp traffic passed through the corridor for decades.

Over the course of the months and years that had followed the Tenth Battle of Iserlohn, there would be multiple efforts to reconcile the differences between the Free Planets Alliance and the Galactic Empire in order to preserve the last connection between the two largest galactic civilizations. Ultimately, none of them would bear fruit.

Fundamentally, both the Free Planets Alliance and the Galactic Empire had changed to the point that they no longer benefited from each other, even as enemies. Early in it's founding, the fear of invasion and oppression from the Empire spurred a golden age within the Alliance. Likewise, the Alliance served as a boogieman for the Galactic Empire that justified it's military excesses in the name of order, as well as a release valve for political troublemakers that otherwise would remain to destabilize the internal order.

Ultimately, the military adventurism that had be justified as being necessary to preserve the state had, in the case of both the Alliance and the Empire, become the greatest threat to stability of those states. The multiple failed invasion efforts on both sides of the over 150 year long conflict and the toll they had taken in resources and lives could only have been possible because both sides had convinced themselves that victory was not only possible, but desirable and within reach. Now, even the greatest of leaders saw even the costs of victory as being too high. Could a unified galaxy actually be ruled as a single nation, and if so for how long, at what cost, and for who's benefit?

The Galactic Empire was not the same nation founded by Rudolph von Goldenbaum. Even the later generations that carried the Goldenbaum name through the centuries did not engage in the same sort of mass genocide that was present in the early days of the Empire. The corruption of the late stages of the Galactic Empire was self-serving, not pathologically destructive, and this level of corruption could easily be found within the institutions of the Free Planets Alliance of the day as well. Even this level of corruption had been further reduced by the sweeping reforms of Duke Reinhard von Lohengramm that returned meritocracy, if not other democratic values, back into the Empire. The gap between the two nation's ruling philosophies was narrowing, even if they could not agree among themselves about how to rule and who had the right to. The motivation for the common man in both nations to risk life and limb for what amounted to squabbling administrative blocks was also decreasing particularly when so many had failed so spectacularly in their efforts before them.

In such an scenario, if the bloodshed could be avoided through simple means, why not take it? If the exhausted nations could be spared from the horrors of war cheaply and easily, was it not reasonable to do so? And so, the two branches of human civilization severed their ties.

"That's it for today class." the teacher said as the lights of the classroom came back on. "Remember your papers are due on the Alliance-Imperial War next week. Don't wait until the last minute to get started on them. Class dismissed."

Most of the children piled out of the classroom, except for one who seemed to have nodded off during the recording. The teacher approached the child and nudged him awake.

"Dwight, what did I tell you about sleeping in class? If you keep this up you'll never pass this course." the teacher said with concern.

"I'm sorry Teacher, but I already know everything about the Alliance-Imperial War." the child replied.

"Everything you say?" the teacher replied incredulously. "Who won the battle of Astarte?"

"Reinhard von Loghengramm." Dwight replied calmly.

"Oh, well then, that was an easy one." the teacher muttered. "How about this, which unit was able to capture the Iserlohn Fortress from the Empire the first time?"

"The Rosen Ritters." Dwight replied methodically.

"We haven't covered that yet...how do you know that?" the teacher asked.

"My father made me read all his books. He said it was to prove to me he actually does work like other adults." Dwight complained. "Even if I wanted to forget them I don't think I can."

"Who is your father?" the teacher asked again.

"Retired Fleet Marshal Yang Wenli." Dwight said with a sigh. "Can I go now teacher?"

"Yes, Dwight, you may go. No more sleeping in class." the stunned teacher replied as she tried to keep her composure.

As Dwight smiled and headed off to his next class, the teacher frantically checked her class roll until she found the child's name.

Dwight Alexandre Yang.

End Notes From The Author:

I want to thank those of you who have come this far on the journey with me. I largely wrote this fan fiction for myself, being a Yang Wenli fan who always wanted to see this scenario played out, but I'd like to say in the end I gave the Empire a fair shake after removing Lohengramm from the scene.

I see this as the end of a volume of the story at the very least. What would follow would be an extended period of cold war in my estimation, with neither side immediately able or willing to overcome the limitations of faster-than-light travel in the story universe until new technology is developed. Perhaps some kind of future story featuring descendents equipped with new FTL drives is possible; Wolfgang Mittermeier II, an heir of Annerose and Reuentahl, and a princeling from Reuentahl's romps with Elfriede, running into Yang's kid(s) and an older Julian? But at that point the work is become rather derivative, and is less likely to interest everyone who enjoyed the original content. For the time being I see the end here. I hope you enjoyed it.

I will probably make a few more passes through the story to catch minor typos and unify some times where I accidentally used different name translations from different sources, but that's about it.

Feel free to contact me privately about the story.

Thanks

-Dangime