The Devil of Vermilion (Legend of the Galactic Heroes AU)

[Tannenberg]

History of humankind seems to be defined by a constant need of humans to dominate its fellow man and impose them their own rules and systems of ideas. This became the founding stone of many of the existing nations throughout history, and the Galactic Empire was no exception. From the very foundation of the Empire, Rudolf the Great established the superiority of the strongest as the basic principle that ordered society: those who possessed the best physical and mental characteristics were entitled to dominate others and those who possessed weaknesses were condemned to perish. As a result, hundreds of millions would die to make room for a new group of privileged citzens that would control Imperial politics for years to come. Those who refused to accept this reality created the Free Planets Alliance to protect human freedom and equality through a democratic society, starting a conflict of titanic proportions that will last a century. Given this into account, one can appreciate the irony of the birth and death of the Galactic Empire: it began its history with one of the most destructive totalitarianisms in human history and it would end with a tyranny of the same nature. For decades, this would be the prevalent position among historians to describe this particular time period. By its own fragile nature, autocracy was doomed to fail because it would become unsustainable on the long run either by becoming a tyranny or an anarchic chaos. The roots of the system were already the seeds of its doom. While the systemic issues within the autocratic system cannot be ignored, history is not that simple of an affair and the Empire was not necessarily doomed to perish.

Climbing the social ladder to the position of Prime Minister, Count Reinhard Von Lohengramm improved the situation of the less fortunate classes of society and respected the individual rights of the citizens of the Empire. His military abilities were no less impressive than his poliitical ones, beating the Alliance time and time again. Unfortunately, his successors did not live up to the circumstances. Reinhard Von Lohengramm's former collaborators did their best efforts to salvage the Empire and achieveing his dream of the human race united under one banner, but a variety of factors led to the most resounding failure. As the political and economic situation deteriorated further, the Imperial Government became increasingly radical in its methods to end the war. In theory, this escalation of events should be enough for the population to reject the authority of those who seek to justify their own rule through oppression and fear. But this wasn't the case. Like Rudolf's reign on the past, citzens embraced another opressive tyranny that left a trail of death and destruction across the cosmos. Therefore, the recurring question remains, what leads citizens to support the worst of authoritarianisms?

As could be seen with Rudolf's reign, what led citizens to support him first as President of the Galactic Federation and then as Kaiser of the Galactic Empire was the guarantee that their lives would be improved without the need for any democratic formality that would only foster bureaucratic inefficiency, crime and corruption. Rudolf proposed an easier path to prosperity that would use the marginalized classes as a scapegoat for every evil that ills society, which gathered him the support from those disaffected with the Federation's government. In this case, what legitimized the "last" ruler of the Galactic Empire was not only the guarantee of well-being like Count Lohengramm or the guarantee of a strong and powerful nation like Rudolf, but the guarantee that the enemies of the Empire would be crushed for all the problems they caused against its integrity with the most cruel and efficient violence. Unlike Rudolf's reign where the extermination of people was a mean to an end, in this case the extermination itself was the final goal: the total and complete destruction of the Republicans and their allies. The constant military setbacks and internal conflicts only increased the militaristic fervour and favoured the narrative that the achievements of Count Von Lohengramm were constantly under siege because of the Republicans and their vassals of the Goldenbaum Dynasty and the Republic of Phezzan. In this way, some of the most heinous crimes of the long conflict between the Empire and the Alliance / New Federation were committed and the most delirious projects were devised to delay the inevitable end. Why did none of the Admirals try to do something to end the Imperial madness? Why did all the opportunities the Empire had to prevent its collapse failed? How could it be possible that the Empire resisted for so long despite all the economic and political conflicts it was going through? These questions remain a subject of debate and controversy amomg scholars. The best starting point to answer them all is to go back to what can be considered as the main source of most of the problems that affected the Empire during its last phase of existence. The main event that caused the Empire to spend most of its resources in conflicts over power and in recovering lost ground after Operation Ragnarok: the death of Reinhard Von Lohengramm at the First Battle of Vermillon.

"Second Fleet with almost no ammunition and only 30% of its original strength. We need reinforce .. "

"Our position in Friedrichstadt is being annihilated. We don't know the whereabouts of Admiral Brauhitch. At this rate … "

"Anti-aircraft artillery completely destroyed.. We will fight until the end in the name of Kaiser ... "

"The Rosenritters are already here, but we still have the warheads. We will launch them towards ..."

"The rebels are aware of our plan! They know where we are going to hit them. Excellency, please interrupt the attack. It is likely that enemy reinforcements will be on the planet in a couple of days. Please think of the women and children of Odin. We still have time to… "

"The enemy broke the Kummel Line. This is the end. Glory to the Galactic Empire! "

The red lights on the walls of the bunker started to flicker intensely, releasing an unnerving screeching noise. "The enemy has Zephyr Particles!" screamed a soldier whose name was forgotten by history. "Deploy counter-measures now.." But a huge explosion shut him up forever, and the heavy infantry started to break through the complex. It was an unfortunate turn of events for the young man in charge. An agitated panzer grenadier started to rally the defenders inside. "Follow me! We have to stop the rebel scum before they reach the Regent!" The war finally came home.

Year 807 Universal Calendar, Year 3 New Imperial Calendar. January 4th. The longest war in the history of mankind enters its 167th year. For decades, the Empire and the Alliance followed the same synchronized dance from which millions and millions of people perished: the Empire hit the territory of the Alliance and the Alliance rejected the blows. The same situation remained for more than a hundred years until Reinhard came to place the balance in favour of the Empire. But Vermillon changed everything and the war extended for seven agonizing years. And that was the very reason why Emil Von Selle was there on the Subterranean Imperial Complex Gesit outside of the Imperial Capital in Odin. The year 167 of the Imperial-Alliance war was going to be the last, there was no doubt about that at this point.

The scene could not be more depressing for the young leader. The proud Imperial badge on the wall had a huge crack in the middle, like a cruel joke of fate for methaphorically fitting it was. Not even the ceiling light was working well. More than a thousand years of space travel but some things never seem to change. But the worst thing had to be that noises of explosions combined with screams of pain began to be heard only one minute ago. The only thing that kept his sanity in this situation was the glass of whiskey in his hand. Emil wasn't a drinker himself (he was aware of the effects of drinking after all) and even the drink itself wasn't very good (courtesy of the extreme rationing) but apparently alcohol was useful to calm the nerves. After all, Reinhard's Admirals drank all the time before and after their missions. None of them were with him at the time. Some walking in the Valhalla, others left with the rebel scum. Either way, he was the only one in the meeting room drinking at the tip of the table. The unhealthy and wet bunker near the mountainous regions of the Imperial Capital was not the most heroic and elegant place for a last battle. But it wouldn't be for long.

Emil reflected on the long way he had come in recent years while looking at his reflection on the glass. Seven years of war had completely changed him. There was very little left of that innocent teenager who miraculously survived the destruction of the Brunhild. It was not a mere physical transformation: now he felt that after everything he had seen, he lost a lot more than what he had gained from experience. The feeling that his path would reach a hopeless end only got stronger as he got older. That's why his last desesperate move had to turn out well or else there would be nor future for him or Galactic Empire. The butchers of the Alliance have come to destroy the legacy of Reinhard Von Lohengramm. They are going to burn the cities, desecrate the women, and massacre the elderly and the children. But worst of all: they are going to put their puppets from the Goldenbaum Dynasty to oppress the people of Odin for at least another thousand years. Is that why they didn't bother to erase them from the galaxy like the Earth centuries ago even after everything they did? Would the suffering of the citizens of Odin be a compensation for the millions of deaths in recent years? The rebels wanted to extend their missery? Emil though that should be the answer. They conspired against the Empire all this time, and they bit their hand every time the possibility of a negotiated exit to the war came up. There was no other possible explanation. To prolong its obsolete and worthless existence, democracy had to ruin its ideological opponent. The Alliance deserved everything that happened to them for their arrogance and cruelty. The sound of the automatic metal doors opening interrupted his thoughts.

Admiral Bergengrün entered the room. With his combat armour full of blood and with a red thread coming out of his head that stained his beard, the officer leaned on one side of the door to catch his breath. But even in this deplorable state, the Admiral bothered to bring his other hand to his forehead to perform the military salute. "They are already here? Isn't it?" Emil asked without taking his eyes off the glass. Bergngrun responded with a grim expression on his face: they were running out of time. "Unfortunately, Excellency" Emil immediately got up from the chair, making noises with the armour he was wearing. The rebels got them first.

"Excellency, we have to get out of here immediately! Your presence is the key to the success of the operation." Emil stopped for a few moments, like he needed something " Give me a few seconds" He then lifted his white cape from the back of the chair and put it on his back. It had no practical function. What's more: it would be inconvenient if he has to enter combat. But his men needed to feel that there was someone leading them in the front with a plan in mind. If not, they would escape like the worms that lowered their weapons as soon as they saw the enemy ships in the atmosphere. Although Emil knew he couldn't fool himself. The cape gave him a sense of security and authority, with the feeling that he was able to conquer the entire universe with his own hands. Maybe it would give him some of the spirit that drove Reinhard Von Lohengramm's heart to reach the stars.

Little importance did Bergengrün give to this act that seemed childish and meaningless, and began to delineate the escape plan. "Right now, the enemy is trying to flank the North corridor. If we take the access from the East and then continue through the tunnels at 50 meters, we can reach the surface. There we can meet with the First Imperial Army." For a moment, Emil stopped paying attention to Bergengrün. What would his father think if he saw him right now? Would he be proud of him? Would he reproach him for continuing a useless fight? What seemed to be the sound of a metallic object hitting flesh took him out of its thoughts again. "We still have numerical superiority but not for much longer. There are between 60 and 70 men defending the entrance. At most they can give us 20 minutes." Bergengrün said. The redheaded man nodded. "Let's go. We have a war to win".

Both men started to walk through the door of the rooml. Bergengrün sttattered for a little bit before managing to incorporate himself. The brown-haired Admiral was still willing to fight for the Empire one last time. Emil always respected the determination of the Chief of Military Affairs. Honor is a thing that the coward vultures from the Alliance didn't have. They only knew how to fight dirty by stabbing in the back, following every order that the demonic bastard in charge (some of the most fervorous citzens believed him to be non other than the god Loki) commands. Aftef all, everyone in the Federation is nothing but a puppet of Yang Wenli. Chairman Monteli, Kaiser Erwin Josef II, President Konev and even that filthy snake, Admiral Fahrenheit. But he was not like those drones without brains that obeyed every command of that despicable man. He was the one who decided to prolong the fight to guarantee the freedom and security of the citizens of the Empire. He planned Fall Golden to end the danger of democracy that threatens the Empire. And he would be the one to decide where the final battle would be.

Gambling the fate of the entire universe in one dangerous last move, Emil Von Selle left the room.


What is this exactly?

A what-if (you can call it an AU) of Legend of the Galactic Heroes.

So, what is the premise of this particular story?

Basically it takes one of the most popular what-If scenarios of LOGH. Kircheis surviving? Nope. Our Universe already answers that question very well. The Devil of Vermillon goes for another alternative that is also really popular inside the fandom: what if Reinhard Von Lohengramm was killed in the Battle of Vermillon?

So what happens? Does Muller arrive late? Yang shoots the Brunhild even with the order to stop?

It's a little bit more complicated than that. You'll see it soon enough

How accurate is this with the OVA or the books?

I haven't read personally the books but I gonna give my best effort to respect the universe created on the OVAs. My knowledge of the LORE could possibly be lacking in some details to fit the events of the story I want to tell. Sci-fi writting is something new to me. That's why feedback (specially criticism, even if it's harsh) is always appreciated

Boy, the Prologue seems pretty optimistic

Yeah, I'm going for a very "grim-dark" style. Not edgy "total Holocaust of everything" style but things can get pretty ugly. After all, a void was left in the universe by the death of the "blonde brat".

Who is the person behind all this mess?

A little clue: is not Emil

Wait, I think I saw this story in Space Battles

I usually post stories in two or three forums. Diverse feedback always helps.

I personally wanted to thank Jeremy and Jaenera Targaryen. Two wonderful LOGH fanfic writers that have inspired me to create this story. Also, shout-out to Dangime that also adressed this possibility on the wonderful Path of Fire. While our narrative paths will go to very different places, he also inspired me to think about other possible repercusions about Reinhard's death.

 

[tankdrop24]

Weirdly, I was just going through the latter episodes of the OVA myself wondering why no one seemed to post this sort of thing when you did.

Interesting so far, going to be keeping an eye on this.