E30 - A Single Fine Thread

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(Please feel free to edit the speaker names if incomplete or inaccurate. Names are handled on a best-effort basis depending on the info on the source file. Dialogue is left as is.)
[00:01] Na
    There are only two safely navigable
    locations in the Milky Way
[00:05] Na
    in which the territories of the Galactic
    Empire and the Free Planets Alliance
[00:11] Na
    can directly interact.
[00:13] Na
    One is the Iserlohn Corridor,
SIGN    Dominion of Fezzan
[00:16] Na
    and the other is the Fezzan Corridor.
[00:20] Na
    Fezzan, which claims dominion
    there, is quite a strange nation.
[00:25] Na
    To be precise, it is not even a nation,
    but a self-governing region.
[00:29] Na
    Although it is officially a unit of local
    government within the Galactic Empire,
[00:34] Na
    it has essentially maintained
    full independence.
[00:36] Na
    Monopolizing the exceptional instances of
    trade between the Empire and the Alliance
[00:42] Na
    has allowed it to surpass both
    nations in economic strength.
SIGN    Ballantine Kauf Memorial University of Commerce
[00:46] Na
    What allowed Fezzan to achieve
    this unique position
[00:50] Na
    was the extraordinary passion of
    the great merchant Leopold Laap,
[00:55] Na
    the dominion's first leader,
    who was born on Earth,
[00:57] Na
    along with his political and
    financial maneuvering.
[01:01] Na
    Since the days of his rule,
    Fezzan has been the center
[01:05] Na
    of the flow of people, goods, money,
    and information in the Milky Way.
[01:11] Na
    The economic activities of independent
    merchants seeking a quick fortune
[01:15] Na
    and corporate investments into
    both the Empire and the Alliance
[01:20] Na
    have made Fezzan a massive economy.
[01:23] Na
    If the Iserlohn Corridor is the
    front line for military activity,
[01:27] Na
    Fezzan is the front line in the battles
    for information and economic power.
SIGN    Dominion of Fezzan Leader
    Adrian Rubinsky
SIGN    Legend of the Galactic Heroes
[03:04] Na
    In Fezzan, information is more
    valuable than any precious gem.
[03:09] Na
    Even the whispered rumors at Delacour,
    a pub frequented by independent merchants,
[03:14] Na
    may be raw gemstones just
    waiting to be polished.
[03:19] MerchantA
    Lohengramm's so-called new order in the
    Empire is already showing results.
[03:24] MerchantA
    All the poor, starving nobles
[03:26] MerchantA
    are giving up their estates,
    their jewels, anything worth money.
[03:31] MerchantB
    Whenever the system is reformed,
[03:33] MerchantB
    the privileged class becomes a
    target for revenge overnight.
[03:36] MerchantB
    I guess I do feel sorry for them, but...
[03:38] MerchantA
    The ones I feel sorry for are the citizens
    they've been exploiting for 500 years.
[03:43] MerchantA
    Even if those nobles suffered
    the same way for 500 years,
[03:46] MerchantA
    I wouldn't have an ounce of pity for them.
[03:49] MerchantB
    Yeah, I get it.
[03:51] MerchantB
    Anyway, I heard a weird rumor from a
    bureaucrat at the dominion leader's office...
[03:55] MerchantA
    Do tell.
[03:56] MerchantB
    Some kind of weird priest has been
    visiting Landesherr Rubinsky's home.
[04:02] MerchantB
    A priest and the Black Fox...
[04:04] MerchantB
    Talk about a creepy duo.
SIGN    Episode 30
SIGN    A Single Fine Thread
[04:24] Guest
    Finally.
[04:26] Guest
    Huh? Ah...
[04:29] Rupert
    I apologize for the wait.
[04:31] Rupert
    The Landesherr will see you now.
[04:34] Rupert
    Right this way, please.
[04:37] Guest
    Um, I was... next...
[04:47] Adrian
    Bishop Degsby, thank you for
    taking the time to visit.
[04:53] Adrian
    This is tea from Assiniboia.
[04:55] Adrian
    I hope it is to Your Grace's liking.
[04:59] Degsby
    Is your proposal true?
SIGN    Earth Cult Bishop
    Degsby
[05:02] Adrian
    It is.
[05:03] Adrian
    Fezzan will change the policy
    it has upheld until now
[05:06] Adrian
    and tip the ratio of cooperation and
    aid it provides in the Empire's favor.
[05:11] Degsby
    That will damage the Empire's balance
    of power with the Alliance.
[05:15] Degsby
    Is it not Fezzan's policy to avoid siding
    with either the Empire or the Alliance?
[05:21] Adrian
    Not so weak as to be taken lightly,
[05:23] Adrian
    not so strong as to be feared.
[05:26] Adrian
    Past Landesherren skillfully
    managed the coexistence
[05:29] Adrian
    of the Empire and the Alliance
    using wealth and finesse,
[05:32] Adrian
    allowing Fezzan to remain independent.
[05:35] Adrian
    But the time has come to revisit that policy.
[05:39] Degsby
    What does this mean?
[05:41] Degsby
    What is your objective
    in backing the Empire?
[05:45] Adrian
    The unification of the entire Milky Way
    by Duke Reinhard von Lohengramm.
[05:56] Adrian
    He will usurp the crown of
    the Goldenbaum Dynasty.
[06:00] Adrian
    Then, after Reinhard becomes emperor,
    we will have him assassinated,
[06:05] Adrian
    and Fezzan will assume control
    over the new dynasty.
[06:10] Degsby
    Do you not find all this
    too good to be true?
[06:13] Degsby
    The blond boy should not be underestimated,
[06:17] Degsby
    and the actions of his tactician,
    Chief of Staff Oberstein, are unpredictable.
[06:23] Degsby
    I have my doubts that they will fall
    in line with our plans so easily.
[06:27] Adrian
    I see you are quite familiar
    with our circumstances.
[06:30] Adrian
    But there will surely be an opportune moment.
[06:33] Adrian
    If there is not, we can create one.
[06:36] Degsby
    Then what will you do about
    the Free Planets Alliance?
[06:39] Degsby
    The Earth Cult has deeply penetrated the
    upper echelon of power in the Alliance.
[06:44] Degsby
    Surely we need not allow such
    convenient pawns to die in vain.
[06:48] Adrian
    It would not be in vain.
[06:50] Adrian
    We will use them as the corrosive agent
    that destroys the Alliance from within.
[06:55] Adrian
    When a nation rots, it does so from
    the top, not from the bottom.
[06:59] Adrian
    There are no exceptions to this rule.
[07:05] Degsby
    Fezzan proclaims itself a dominion,
    but in truth, it is a nation.
[07:10] Degsby
    The top has not already
    begun to rot, has it?
[07:15] Rubinsky
    Now, that is harsh.
[07:17] Rubinsky
    I will bear in mind my
    responsibility as a statesman.
[07:22] Rubinsky
    Now, then...
[07:23] Rubinsky
    That will be enough formal discussion.
[07:25] Rubinsky
    I have arranged a feast for you.
[07:28] Degsby
    No need for that.
[07:45] Rupert
    Babysitting a bishop
    must be tiring, Your Excellency.
SIGN    Aide to the Dominion of Fezzan Leader
    Rupert Kesserling
[07:49] Adrian
    Honestly, what pleasure do
    dogmatists find in living?
[07:55] Adrian
    For thousands of years, religions have
    indoctrinated those in power at the time,
[08:00] Adrian
    suppressing and stamping out other religions
[08:03] Adrian
    in order to control nations and cultures.
[08:06] Adrian
    It is, by far, the most
    effective form of invasion.
[08:09] Adrian
    I'm offering to let the
    Earth Cult recreate that history,
[08:13] Adrian
    but it seems these fanatical zealots
    can't keep up with the changing times.
[08:18] Rupert
    I've heard my predecessor was pleased
    that he didn't have to deal with them.
[08:23] Adrian
    Boltik is better suited to his
    commissioner work on Odin.
[08:27] Adrian
    I am having him report on the progress of
    the new Galactic Empire in full detail.
[08:34] Rupert
    Your Excellency, I support your
    backing of the Empire's new order,
[08:38] Rupert
    but the ultimate goal of the Earth Cult,
    as you say, is control over all humanity,
SIGN    Earth Cult Grand Bishop
[08:44] Rupert
    and the establishment of a theocracy.
[08:47] Adrian
    You do not intend to allow
    them to achieve that, do you?
[08:51] Rupert
    The moment any previous Landesherr showed
    signs of trying to escape Earth's yoke,
[08:56] Rupert
    they were rewarded with death.
[08:57] Rupert
    I pray Your Excellency
    does not walk that path.
SIGN    Fezzan Izmail Region
[09:11] Rupert
    Thank you for agreeing to
    see me, Count Remscheid.
[09:15] Remscheid
    No thanks necessary.
[09:17] Remscheid
    I would never turn away a
    representative of our Landesherr.
SIGN    Former Imperial High Commissioner
    Count Jochen von Remscheid
[09:21] Rupert
    You honor me.
[09:23] Rupert
    Now, I mean no disrespect,
[09:26] Rupert
    but Your Excellency is in an extremely
    difficult position at the moment.
[09:30] Rupert
    Correct?
[09:34] Remscheid
    That does go without saying.
[09:37] Remscheid
    I held a key position as the
    Imperial High Commissioner.
[09:40] Remscheid
    I can't swear my loyalty
    to that blond boy now.
[09:44] Remscheid
    That is why I asked the Landesherr
    to permit me to defect
[09:47] Remscheid
    so that I could shelter myself
    in a life of boredom.
[09:50] Rupert
    Please do not speak of it that way.
[09:52] Rupert
    The reason I have come here today
    concerns Lohengramm's new order.
[09:58] Remscheid
    What?
[10:00] Rupert
    The Landesherr wishes to propose a plan.
[10:04] Rupert
    Are you interested in hearing it?
[10:12] Remscheid
    That is a bold proposal indeed.
[10:16] Remscheid
    And an attractive one.
[10:18] Rupert
    Thank you for saying so.
[10:20] Remscheid
    But there are parts of it
    that I do not understand.
[10:23] Remscheid
    It is certainly a beneficial deal for me,
[10:26] Remscheid
    but what does Fezzan stand to gain from it?
[10:29] Rupert
    The reforms that Duke Lohengramm
    is advancing in Imperial society
[10:34] Rupert
    are both too radical and too dogmatic.
[10:38] Rupert
    Some of the interests Fezzan owns in
    the Empire have already been affected.
[10:44] Rupert
    Reforms are fine, but not when they
    turn in a negative direction.
[10:49] Rupert
    That is our stance.
[10:51] Rupert
    Of course, if this plan is successful
[10:54] Rupert
    and the Goldenbaum Dynasty is saved from
    the clutches of that loathsome usurper,
[10:58] Rupert
    Fezzan will be rewarded in kind...
[11:01] Rupert
    and you will earn your
    reputation as a great patriot.
[11:07] Rupert
    Is this not a profitable
    deal for both of us?
[11:12] Remscheid
    You Fezzani are using the very survival
    of a nation as a bargaining chip?
[11:17] Remscheid
    How very bold.
[11:20] Remscheid
    I see...
[11:21] Remscheid
    If that vitality and ambition can
    be restored to our nation...
[11:30] Rupert
    To the Alliance Commissioner's office.
[11:32] Driver
    Yes, sir.
[11:35] Rupert
    A wise man recognizes difficulty,
    but a fool sees no impossibility.
[11:40] Rupert
    I don't believe he's incompetent,
[11:42] Rupert
    but it may be a challenge to rid him
    of the idea that the Empire can never fall.
SIGN    Free Planets Alliance Commissioner's Office
[11:58] Rupert
    Fezzan currently holds over 500 billion
    dinars in Alliance-issued bonds.
SIGN    Free Planets Alliance Commissioner
    Henslow
[12:04] Rupert
    Bearing in mind your country's
    deteriorating financial situation,
[12:07] Rupert
    we have no choice but to pass on buying
    any of your newly-issued bonds.
[12:12] Henslow
    P-Please, no!
[12:14] Henslow
    That would cause the financial
    breakdown of our country!
[12:17] Henslow
    Please reconsider!
[12:20] Rupert
    Of course, personally, I would be
    willing to try to talk our Landesherr
[12:26] Rupert
    into continuing to buy your bonds as usual.
[12:30] Henslow
    P-Please, if you would—
[12:31] Rupert
    However, that will only last as long as
    your country remains a stable democracy.
[12:37] Henslow
    What... do you mean by that?
[12:43] Rupert
    The coup d'état that occurred
    in your country last year.
[12:46] Rupert
    A repeat of that fiasco would
    be highly problematic.
[12:50] Rupert
    It would denigrate the massive amounts
    of funding Fezzan has invested.
[12:54] Henslow
    Y-You are absolutely right...
[12:57] Rupert
    Fortunately,
[12:58] Rupert
    that coup d'état plot was halted
    thanks to the work of Admiral Yang Wen-li.
[13:03] Rupert
    He is truly remarkable.
[13:05] Rupert
    To this day, no one else in the Alliance Navy
[13:08] Rupert
    can match his talent,
    reputation, and capability.
[13:12] Henslow
    Indeed, he is an outstanding admiral.
[13:16] Rupert
    Now, Commissioner...
[13:18] Rupert
    Have you given any thought to how much
    longer Admiral Yang's allegiance
[13:23] Rupert
    to the current administration will continue?
[13:27] Henslow
    A-Are you saying...
[13:29] Henslow
    you think Admiral Yang might
    defy the Alliance government?!
[13:35] Rupert
    During his subjugation of the coup d'état,
[13:37] Rupert
    Admiral Yang destroyed Artemis's Necklace,
    the ring of attack satellites
[13:41] Rupert
    that protected the capital planet Heinessen.
[13:53] Rupert
    But was it really necessary to
    destroy all twelve satellites?
[13:58] Henslow
    When you put it that way...
[14:01] Rupert
    Did it ever cross your mind that
[14:04] Rupert
    perhaps Admiral Yang did so to remove
    an obstacle that prevented him
[14:07] Rupert
    from capturing Heinessen later?
[14:09] Henslow
    Y-You have a point...
[14:11] Henslow
    There were those in the government who felt
    he sent too may troops in that fleet...
[14:16] Rupert
    In which case...
[14:19] Rupert
    Perhaps it would benefit you to seek
    an explanation from Admiral Yang.
[14:30] Rupert
    And that is what both of them said.
[14:32] Adrian
    You seem dissatisfied, Kesserling.
[14:35] Rupert
    To see both Count Remscheid
    and the Alliance Commissioner
[14:38] Rupert
    so easily swayed feels unsatisfying.
[14:41] Rupert
    I was hoping for negotiations so
    intense that sparks began to fly.
[14:45] Adrian
    How extravagant.
[14:47] Adrian
    You'll eventually learn to
    wish for easier targets.
[14:51] Rupert
    Right...
[14:52] Adrian
    Anything else?
[14:54] Rupert
    Though it is a rather small detail,
[14:56] Rupert
    it seems complaints have been raised
    by the commissioner's office
[15:00] Rupert
    in the Free Planets Alliance
    about a man named Boris Konev.
[15:09] Rupert
    They say he shows a striking lack
    of cooperativeness and diligence.
[15:14] Adrian
    Oh?
[15:15] Rupert
    Wouldn't confining an independent
    merchant like him to government work
[15:20] Rupert
    be like forcing a nomadic
    tribe to cultivate farmland?
[15:24] Adrian
    You don't think he's cut out for the job?
[15:27] Rupert
    Of course, I'm sure Your Excellency made
    the decision after careful consideration.
[15:31] Adrian
    He may indeed be a man best
    left to his own devices.
[15:35] Adrian
    But there are some pieces in play that,
[15:38] Adrian
    while they may seem useless
    now, will be useful later.
[15:41] Adrian
    It takes hundreds of millions of years
    for oil to accumulate in the earth,
[15:45] Adrian
    but humans can show results
    in just half a century.
[15:48] Adrian
    There's no need to rush.
[15:51] Rupert
    It may not be a problem if nothing
    is done with Boris Konev,
[15:55] Rupert
    but we need the key figures in this
    plan to act according to our will.
[16:01] Rupert
    I feel as if that may be quite difficult.
[16:04] Adrian
    Nonsense. To make people do what you want,
[16:07] Adrian
    you need only simplify their circumstances.
[16:09] Rupert
    Meaning?
[16:11] Adrian
    Take away their freedom
    and limit their options.
[16:17] Adrian
    The goal of a first-rate power-wielder is
    to use that power to achieve something,
[16:22] Adrian
    but the goal of a second-rate power-wielder
    is simply to keep that power.
[16:27] Adrian
    It's clear which one the people
    in power in the Alliance are.
[16:31] Adrian
    In the case of the Alliance Navy's Yang Wen-li,
[16:33] Adrian
    he currently stands on a fine thread strung
    between the Alliance and the Empire.
[16:38] Adrian
    Fezzan only needs to wear
    that thread even thinner.
[16:42] Adrian
    Eventually, he will be forced to
    choose one path or the other:
[16:46] Adrian
    to be purged by those in
    power in his own country,
[16:48] Adrian
    or to overthrow them and take their place.
[16:52] Rupert
    There is a chance that Yang will lose to Duke
    Lohengramm in battle before it comes to that.
[16:58] Rupert
    The reverse is also possible.
[16:59] Rupert
    What will you do if either
    of those scenarios happens?
[17:03] Adrian
    My aide, it seems I've said too much...
[17:06] Adrian
    and you've heard too much.
[17:09] Adrian
    There is much to be done other
    than waxing philosophical here.
[17:14] Adrian
    Lifting up Count Remscheid as
    a leader is well and good,
[17:17] Adrian
    but you seem to lack a leader
    for the men that will do it.
[17:21] Rupert
    Forgive me.
[17:22] Rupert
    I will choose someone and report
    to you at a later date.
SIGN    The Assiniboia Ravine
SIGN    Former Galactic Imperial Navy Captain
    Leopold Schumacher
[17:47] Na
    Leopold Schumacher, former captain
    of the Galactic Imperial Navy,
[17:51] Na
    served as a staff officer for
    Baron Flegel's fleet in the Lippstadt War.
[17:57] Na
    When Baron Flegel became heated after being
    admonished for recklessly continuing the war,
[18:00] Na
    his men shot him dead.
[18:02] Na
    Schumacher took them all with
    him to defect to Fezzan.
[18:05] Na
    He then sold their weapons and
    the ship they flew in on,
[18:09] Na
    and used the money to lead a
    peaceful life running a farm.
[18:14] Leopold
    Could you please just leave us alone?
[18:18] Leopold
    Whatever happens to the Galactic
    Empire and the Goldenbaum Dynasty
[18:21] Leopold
    is of no concern to me.
[18:22] Leopold
    It's all I can do right now to
    build a good life for my comrades.
[18:26] Leopold
    I've long since thrown away my past.
[18:29] Rupert
    You're more than welcome
    to throw away your past.
[18:32] Rupert
    But there's no reason to throw
    away your future along with it.
[18:35] Rupert
    Captain Schumacher.
[18:40] Rupert
    This is a fine tea plantation.
[18:42] Rupert
    I can't imagine how hard you must have
    worked to reclaim this barren land.
[18:48] Rupert
    Sadly enough, though,
[18:50] Rupert
    it's all meaningless if you can't
    sell your produce at the market.
[18:53] Rupert
    I'm sure a wise man such as
    yourself understands this.
[18:56] Leopold
    And that's how Fezzan handles things?
[18:58] Rupert
    View us with contempt, if you like.
[19:00] Rupert
    But I personally believe there's
    nothing more meaningless
[19:03] Rupert
    than the loser's contempt for the winner.
[19:06] Leopold
    I'm sure it's easy to believe
    that while you're winning.
[19:10] Rupert
    You will cooperate with our plan.
[19:13] Rupert
    Please come with me.
[19:22] Alfred
    Fantastic!
[19:23] Alfred
    This is a plan befitting us, the legitimate
    heirs of the Goldenbaum Dynasty!
[19:29] Alfred
    We will serve Count Remscheid as our leader
SIGN    Count Alfred von Landsberg
[19:31] Alfred
    and make the whole universe see
    our loyalty to the Empire!
[19:35] Alfred
    It makes my heart dance!
[19:37] Alfred
    Good sir, I, Alfred, am prepared
    to lay down my life for this plan!
[19:42] Rupert
    Thank you, Count Landsberg.
[19:47] Rupert
    This is Captain Leopold Schumacher,
    the man who will take the lead
[19:50] Rupert
    in carrying out this plan.
[19:52] Alfred
    Yes, pleasure to meet you, Captain!
[19:55] Leopold
    Likewise...
[19:57] Rupert
    Count, Captain Schumacher fought as a member
    of the nobles' coalition in the Lippstadt War.
[20:05] Alfred
    Oh, you did?!
[20:07] Alfred
    I don't recognize you, but that
    makes you a comrade in arms!
[20:10] Alfred
    And from now on, we'll be on the same level!
[20:13] Leopold
    I look forward to working with you.
[20:16] Alfred
    Yes, yes! I expect great things, Captain!
[20:34] Spy
    Do you know anything about the aide
    Landesherr Rubinsky's been using?
[20:40] Spy
    His name's Rupert Kesserling.
[20:42] MerchantC
    I haven't heard anything
    in particular about him.
[20:47] Spy
    I'll pick up the check for tonight.
[20:51] MerchantC
    Hah. If I knew anything, I'd already
    have a hand in your wallet.
[20:58] MerchantC
    Good luck.
[21:06] Dominique
    Are you the one looking for
    information on Rupert?
[21:13] Dominique
    I'll tell you about him.
[21:14] Spy
    What do you know?
[21:16] Dominique
    There's only one way to determine
    how many carats a gemstone is.
[21:19] Dominique
    It depends on that.
[21:21] Dominique
    Let's talk in the back.
[22:12] Fellner
    Regarding Nidhogg, with whom we
    lost contact some days ago...
[22:16] Fellner
    It seems he "died in an accident" on Fezzan.
[22:20] Paul
    It appears the walls are
    thicker than I thought.
[22:24] Adrian
    I must not allow them to imagine
[22:27] Adrian
    a future ruled jointly by Fezzan
    and the New Galactic Empire.
[22:33] Adrian
    There's no need to draw borders.
[22:35] Adrian
    The Empire will rule
    militarily and politically,
[22:39] Adrian
    and Fezzan will rule economically.
[22:42] Adrian
    The Alliance will be the fertilizer for
    the soil this new order sprouts from.
[22:49] Adrian
    No one must be allowed to realize
SIGN    One Person Killed in Traffic Accident
[22:52] Adrian
    that the Free Planets Alliance's true
    enemy is not the Galactic Empire,
[22:56] Adrian
    but the Goldenbaum Dynasty...
[23:00] Adrian
    Or that when they recognize the
    Goldenbaum Dynasty as their shared enemy,
[23:05] Adrian
    Lohengramm's new order and the Alliance
[23:08] Adrian
    can, in fact, coexist.
[23:11] Adrian
    It doesn't need to last forever.
    A few more years is enough.
[23:16] Adrian
    Humanity will only learn after the
    flames of war have subsided...
[23:22] Adrian
    just who it is that controls the Milky Way.
SIGN    Episode 31
SIGN    What Was Lost
[25:01] Na
    Next time, "What Was Lost."