Legend of the Galactic Heroes Gaiden (Ginga Eiyuu Densetsu Gaiden)

Legend

about

Heroes of the Galaxy

Chapter 1

DUELIST

792 Space Age, 483 Imperial Calendar, January

In January 483 according to the imperial calendar

... Reinhard, promoted to Lieutenant Commander for his actions aboard the Hamelin II

Planet "One"

...together with Kircheis, who remained a lieutenant

... were assigned to clerical work in the Control Department of the Ministry of Defense

...and returned to Odin.

Ministry of Defense of the Empire

What a disappointment.

I was transferred to a clerical job at the Department of Defense,

... to be buried under these boring papers.

If I continued to serve on the destroyer, I would at least

... probably would have had the opportunity to make a name for himself on the battlefield.

Aren't you bored, Kircheis?

Boring.

If you continue to fight only with piles of documents in a place like this,

... then you lose sight of the true nature of war.

The number of victims will become just a statistic

... and make you forget that every soldier has his own life.

You're right.

At the front, I fully realized this.

Most aristocrats hate going to the front and prefer clerical work.

So it turns out that they do not notice the suffering of others.

Staying within these walls makes me feel it deeply.

Reinhard, you will never forget this, will you?

When I lead a large fleet, I will always be at the forefront.

I will stand under enemy fire at the head of my fleet and I myself will command all my troops.

That's the kind of commander I want to be.

What's this?

Something is wrong?

Take a look at these numbers.

These are resource statistics

... which the fortress of Iserlohn sends to each front base.

But there is a big difference between the amount shipped and the amount consumed.

And it does not seem that these figures can pass for a statistical error.

As expected from Reinhard.

Even when he doesn't seem interested, he pays close attention to what he has to.

Kircheis, I need more proof.

Collect more data.

I obey.

Excellent investigation.

I wish I could say that, but it doesn't make sense.

I'm sorry to say this, but it doesn't seem "meaningless" to us.

I agree.

This indicates a possible misappropriation of resources sent to the front.

I think it is advisable to bring this to the attention of the command

... and demand the immediate dispatch of an inspector.

You're young, so it's only natural that you don't know

... but everyone knows about it and without special instructions.

This is called "necessary evil".

If it weren’t for such extra work, there would be no people willing to serve on the front lines.

But if that's the case, what is the Control Department even for?

Keep "necessary evil" within limits.

Even private appropriation must be moderate to some extent.

We are here to prevent the complete loss of this "moderation".

But what kind of official explanation

... can these discrepancies be given in numbers?

They will be explained by "transport losses".

For example

... products can go bad in the port warehouse while the destination is being decided.

This often happens in fact.

In fact, about a third of what you indicated is probably spoiled food.

In addition, we can make up for losses by simply collecting them again from the people.

Nothing to be upset about.

No one has anything to gain if we make a big deal out of this.

You just have to understand how the world works.

What kind of inertia, negligence, degradation - sheer corruption!

I agree.

If you are transferred from the front line, is this how you go down?

No, there's real crime on the front lines

... so the front line is also corrupt in its own way.

Kircheis, the army of this state is completely rotten, from the core to the tips of the branches.

You are right, Reinhard,

... but you speak too loudly.

Reinhard, precisely because the army is corrupt,

... as this state is corrupt, what we intend to do makes sense.

You have to stick to your plan for the time being.

Now is the time to lay low.

When you get more power, you can root out all these lawlessness and degeneration.

Until then, please be patient.

I know, but without being able to discuss even such petty matters with them...

From within this great organization, I am completely powerless.

Reinhard...

Kircheis.

I want more power.

As a simple lieutenant commander, there is nothing I can do.

Including for my sister.

I want power.

I want to quickly climb the corporate ladder.

Please don't rush.

Only six months have passed since graduation from the cadet corps and you are already a lieutenant commander.

You make your career faster

... than any offspring of noble aristocratic families ever managed.

And yet, how tired I am of doing petty work in such a corrupt place.

Can't you smell the rot, Kircheis?

I feel like I'm suffocating.

I hate to breathe the rotten air of Odin!

Would you like to request a transfer somewhere else?

To the front.

I want to go to the front.

The front line has its own corruption

... but it's still better than a stagnant place like this.

But if you stay on Odin, we will have the opportunity to see Lady Annerose.

Mda, you're right

...but no, I can't.

I want to save my sister from this stinking swamp.

Besides, every time I want to meet her,

... then he must ask the permission of the emperor, and this is disgusting!

Reinhard...

Permission to visit the Annerose House, located on the territory of the Imperial Palace

... not easy to get even for Reinhard, her blood relative.

A few days later, they finally had the opportunity to visit Annerose,

Manor of Viscount Schaffhausen

...but it was an organized "chance" meeting at the residence of Viscountess Schaffhausen,

... court lady and friend of Annerose.

Moreover, they told me not to do anything about it for my own good.

... and what's more - for yours too.

Countess Annerose von Grunewald

What spinelessness.

After all, the Department of Defense is a government agency.

So, is this the end of it?

Formally, they accepted the report, but...

Baroness Magdalena von Westphal

Well, yes, they will say that they will do something, but they will not do it.

At least no one will take any responsibility.

It's their style.

They believe that if they take action and somehow interfere in the interests of the aristocratic elite

...then their careers may be in jeopardy.

Useless people.

Oh, you two are all right.

You still have the opportunity to grow up worthy people in the future.

And you don't have to pay too much attention to the little things when you grow up, okay?

Reinhard may not be happy about being treated like a child,

... but generally speaking, we shouldn't be subject to this baroness's demands.

Of course, we can depend on her as an ally of Madame Annerose.

As for the two of you, in this unfair world, working too hard can make enemies.

So be careful.

Viscountess Dorothea von Schaffhausen

Is something wrong, Viscountess?

Something you are sad today.

There is nothing...

It's because of "that case", isn't it?

"That thing"?

In truth...

Baroness...

It's okay, you can tell them.

But...

Do not worry.

Annerose, do you know who Count Herxheimer is?

Yes, but only the name.

I suppose he's from the clan of the Marquis of Littenheim, isn't he?

Have you heard of his reputation?

Not...

Did this dude do something?

This mess.