Legend of Galactic Heroes- Wrath of the Magician.

Liberty does not exist where rights are on one side and power on the other. To be liberty, rights must be armed with vital powers.

A people cannot be free who do not participate in the control of the government which operates upon them.

-Lucius Quintus Cincinnatus Lamar II

History often hinges on a single moment in time, one second's decision alters the fate of humanity.

A single word, glance, deed or whisper slays one future and from it's ashes a new one is birthed.

This moment happens when after the meeting in Heinessen for the planning of the invasion of Imperial territory after the capture of Iserlohn fortress.

"The fleet needs you more than ever with this disaster looming over us." Admiral Sidney Sithole told his protégé Vice-Admiral Yang Wen Li.

In one universe his reply would eventually lead to the slaughter at Amritsar, in another it would mean the Battle of Dionysus , but in this third universe his reply was this:

"Sir. Not to long ago I wanted to leave the military after we captured Iserlohn fortress from the Empire, you stopped me saying that I had to stay for the sake of the 13th fleet. Well in this crisis I know exactly what the fate of the 13th fleet, of every fleet will be. "Yang said as he looked out one of the conference room's windows, in the direction he thought Iserlohn was.

"We are gonna cross the border and leave Iserlohn with it's strategically sound corridor and it's defenses and venture into imperial territory. Once there if we are lucky there's gonna be a fleet under either Admiral Muckenberg who will outnumber us and fight us just as we'll be entering their territory. But that's only if we are lucky, if Admiral Mussel is our opponent then he'll adopt the most effective means to counter the invasion, scorch earth. He'll retreat, lure us into deep until we're starving and tired, then he'll strike us with all he's got. And after it's over, if we manage to return to the Alliance, we'll be doing so with I would say more than half of our ships and personal destroyed, dead, or captured."

"Why do you think Admiral Mussel will not fight us as we enter the Empire from Iserlohn?"

"Admiral Mussel controls half the imperial fleet and is the enemy of most of the nobility due to this background as a commoner. The current Kaiser is old, he'll be dead soon and there's no clear heir, there will be a civil war and for that Admiral Mussel will need as many ships and men as he can get. That's why he'll employ scorch earth, not just to preserve his numbers, but also because he does not want a victory, but 'the victory'. I learn that lesson when he slaughtered two fleets at Astarte and tried to do the same to the one I was on. It's either everything or nothing with him. And if we go trough this we'll be in his sights."

Admiral Sithole smiled at that, ever since his days as the Dean of the Military Academy, he could see the huge potential in Yang Wen Li.

And here and now he showed his military talent once more.

"Admiral…..sir…..I….I think I have a plan to avoid that disaster. "Yang said still looking out the window. It was a good thing it was locked, because Sidney though the look in Yang's eyes was that of a man that was a moment away from throwing himself out because of the horrid decision he was about to make.

"If it staves off disaster for our armed forces than the plan is a worthwhile one. And as a Vice-Admiral you have a duty to implement it."

"Then I will do what the fleet, the country needs me to do. But Admiral….I….I will need your help for I have an idea in my head, but I cannot do it alone." Yang said to him.

"What do you need me to do?" Admiral Sithole asked.

"Help me celebrate my wards decision to apply to the military academy with a party." Yang finished. He still refused to turn away from the window.

"|'m guessing that the party is tonight and that you want me to invite all the Vice-Admirals and Rear-Admirals that share our views to it." Admiral Sidney said with a knowing smile, thinking that he clearly predicted what was being conspired.

"And those that do not share our view." But this was Miracle Yang and even his master and mentor could not predict what a magician would do.

"It will be impossible to refuse Julian's request to join the fleet after this." Yang thought with guilt, in truth Julian had not looked at any of the brochures for the military academy or any other college.

This was just a ruse to gather as many influential individuals in one room for his purpose and he was using his adopted son to do it.

"Power really does corrupt. I'm just a Vice-Admiral and I…heaven forgive me." Yang thought mournfully.

He would continue to stay and look outside that darkened sky until he was forced to leave in order to join the cabal that he had summoned.

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The next day's F.P.A high council there was 3 absent members to today's meeting.

"What immature children they are. Not attending a meeting of this honored council just because their motion failed." Cornelia Windsor, the Secretary of Transportation said in the time honored tradition of politicians speaking ill of whoever was absent.

But this sacred ceremony was interrupted by an aide that burst in the room.

"Turn on the TV now!" He said and Chairman Sanford did just that.

As soon as the image came to life and showed what the big news was about all the blood run cold.

It was a press conference where all the vice-admirals, Admiral Greenhill, Admiral Bewcock, Admiral Sithole, Huang Rui the Secretary of Human Resources, João Rebelo the Finance Secretary, Job Trunich Defence Secretary and Jessica Edwards, the leader of the Peace Party.

All of these figures where behind none other than Yang Wen Li. And on the screen beneath the images was the subtitles that shocked them to the core.

'Miracle Yang announces his candidacy for Chairman of the High Council."

There and then many things happened.

The High Council was shocked, the Imperial Admiral Reinhardt smiled, Rubinsky took a drink of wine in anticipation for this interesting development, the Emperor Rudolf the 2nd chuckled as he watched report along with Annerose.

And then Miracle Yang opened his mouth to speak.

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''Keeps the reader turning the pages''- Pennie Mae Cartawick, author of 'Sherlock Holmes: The Gaslight Collection'

"Think of Lovecraft and Poe, and then put on 3D glasses." -Howard Lipman- Author of the 'Delphic Oracle' and Tesla's Tower'

What if in the struggle between magic and science, magic was the victor?

What if technology disappeared and magic became what was used to colonize the galaxy?

What if now magic is used to wage war across the stars?

The imperial fleet's only hope for victory is the 'Hero of the Empire' Metternich. Too bad that the man many consider to be their greatest hero, is in fact their greatest coward.

Metty once more finds himself in a desperate situation on the Planet of Volun 4. Newly promoted to the rank of Commodore, he must take command of the defeated 378th fleet cops and lead it to victory against a superior foe, and he must do that before the arrival of an even greater enemy force, while also keeping his secret cowardice hidden from his own troops, lest they turn on him.

Meanwhile rebellion stirs in the Occupied Territories, as a mysterious figure called 'Nobody' emerges to rally the rebels and lead them to victory against the Empire. But is he truly their salvation?

Enemies to his front, vengeful rebels to his rear and surrounding him are allies that may betray him at any moment.

Just another weekday for poor ol' Metty.

-Riddle of Ruin-by RMSolea.

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