"There are a few criterion to decide where to fight a pitched battle," Admiral Tang lectured her students. "First, we need to decipher the enemy's aim."

The trio, after some discussion, took the conclusion that, although the enemy's aim seemed to be to return to the Empire, they were also going to pillage a supply base in the frontier. The intelligence division supported this conclusion.

Thus, when Weyhern, his fleet's supply nearly exhausted, headed for a major republican supply base, he found himself facing around 50,000 warships. With no other option, he steadied himself for battle. The only other option was retreat–and a death by starvation.

"The Tiangong ...," he groaned at the sight of that gargantuan jade-colored ship. On the other hand, Admiral Tang also recognized her opponent.

Weyhern was commanding the Faithful, an older design warship that was state of the art at its time. Its bronze coloring was easily identified. "Wait, I know this guy. Isn't he Karl's second in Istoria?" she muttered. "Communications to Yue and Abbas: be careful. This enemy is experienced."

Carefulness aside, both sides formed their formations. Weyhern, knowing the unreliability of his officers, prepared a near-total defensive formation.

Admiral Tang deployed her own fleet on the right and Yue's fleet on the left. Abbas was positioned in the middle, some distance away.

The battle was joined when Admiral Tang threw Yue and herself at the enemy in a frontal charge. A few particular light signals sparkled.

"That's the signal. All ships: charge in the middle, cut the enemy in two!"

This time, Alice Black stood firm next to him. She was the one to transmit Abbas' orders to the entire fleet.

"Enemies to our left, right, up, and down! No need to aim–fire at anything bearing imperial colors!" Abbas said, standing from his command chair. Mathematical precision wasn't the only deciding factor in battle; often, vigor could swing the tide of luck's favor.

Abbas' fleet cut their opponents like hot knife through butter. In this crisis, Weyhern gave a simple order: "All units, fire on the enemy fleet attacking us".

At this point, the remainder of the republican forces launched a combined, ferocious assault of their own. The entire Tollerwald fleet was buckling under tremendous pressure, and only Weyhern's calm, level-headed orders kept the fleet intact. He himself led a massive counterattack down the center, and even Abbas had to switch to defense.

"The enemy commander is very strong, isn't he?" Black asked.

Abbas nodded slightly. He looked at the interface. "Yue's fleet is quite advanced ...."

Trusting in Yue, Abbas momentarily withdrew, baiting Weyhern to push forward and stabilize his line of battle. "Ah, I see what he's doing," Yue said, smiling in satisfaction. She directed half of her fleet to perform a pincer attack. At this moment, Abbas stopped his withdrawal and attacked again. In this confusion, the Faithful broke into pieces, and Admiral Weyhern passed unto the gates of afterlife. When the lion leading the army of sheep fell, naturally the sheep would crumble.

The rest of the battle was a natural, dynamic slaughter as republican ships preyed on their hapless, demoralized enemies. The three commanding officers were content to watch. Many of the Tollerwald nobles committed suicide by planting the muzzles of their pistols on their temple.

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The adrenaline of the battle was calming in Abbas' blood. He was sharing a toast with Alice Black when alarms rang.

Another Imperial fleet, larger this time, sped through black void and was rapidly approaching. "Reform the formation," Admiral Tang instructed calmly.

Abbas couldn't help but feel uneasy. It wasn't everyday two imperial fleets came to invade.

The Imperial fleets were that of the First Fleet and half of the Royal Fleet. Marshal Karl had decided to lead this fleet to search and destroy Weyhern's fleet; the reason for this was that he realized Weyhern's fleet could potentially circle around republican space unto exposed imperial outskirts. The two fleets arrayed themselves.

"I see the republicans have finished the job before us," Karl commented.

"Do we fight them, Marshal?" his young second-in-command asked.

"And for what purpose? No, I'll negotiate to bring the Tollerwald prisoners back to the Empire. Otherwise they could be used as leverage later. Come with me and prepare the green signals."

"Oh, fuck," was Admiral Tang's response to the new arrivals. Any imperial fleet she could've beaten even if she were outnumbered, but this one commander ....

The Illustrious and Admiral Valentina's new flagship, the Curacao, advanced ahead of formation with green lights.

"He's seeking negotiations," Black helpfully tells her commanding officer, who really couldn't be bothered to memorize things like that.

"Then we'll let our supreme commander handle it."

A moment later, with orders for Yue and Abbas to prepare in case hostility broke out, the Tiangong marched out to meet the imperial envoys. Yue and Abbas had special communication links to the Tiangong, and could hear the contents of the negotiation.

When communications opened, Admiral Tang and Marshal Karl saluted each other briefly. Admiral Valentina held her salute a second longer.

Admiral Tang let out a small smile. "Well, Marshal, since you didn't immediately begin opening fire, I presume you have another reason to bring almost 60,000 vessels here that doesn't involve the two of us fighting to the death. If you're thinking about having a joint picnic, I'm afraid we don't have enough champagne for everyone."

"Haha, we have plenty of ale and dark beer to substitute for champagne," Marshal Karl said. "I'm afraid we're not here to drink. Truthfully, I came to destroy the rebel fleet that went into your space. But it looks like you got there first."

"I see," Admiral Tang said, nodding. "I'm aware you imperial folk have been hacking each other to bits for quite some time now. Though I'm sure your side will win."

A smile formed on Karl's lips. "I'm glad for your confidence," he says. "Let me get straight to the point then. Since Admiral Weyhern is dead, I'd like to recover his body, and also take the Tollerwald personnel you took as prisoners."

"They're traitors, you know–from your perspective, at least."

"They're still imperial subjects."

"I see. Well, normally I need formal approval from our government for this, but I presume you can't afford to stay around for a month or two."

"I'm afraid not."

"Screw it, then. Go ahead and take the prisoners, Marshal."

"You have my thanks." At his command, imperial ships began extracting the Tollerwald prisoners.

"Is this really fine?" Abbas wondered aloud.

"Silly as it may be, given that they're supposed to be mortal enemies, but the two of them are about as close as enemies can get," Yue said. "If there's any meaning in this, it's emotional."

"I'm talking about what our government will do," Abbas said. "Won't this be a perfect excuse to drag Admiral Tang to a court-martial, or worse?"

"If they could, they'd have done it long ago. Even they must admit Admiral Tang is the key defense of the frontier; without her, imperial invasions would be far more dangerous."

As the Tollerwalds, both living and dead, were extracted by the Imperial Fleet, Karl prepared to withdraw. He and his archenemy exchanged another salute.

"Oh, and Karl–be well until our next fight."

"You think the war will continue?"

"Generations change. Emperors and council leaders change. And yet the war always continues."

"Not this time. Our empress is preparing for peace."

"Then let's hope for peace. But prepare for war."

"In that case, Tang–be well until our next fight."

Uncountable light years away, Empress Katharin began the Siege of Thalassa Fortress.