"For those who have come to power, wealth and glory not by their own strength and effort, but simply through inheritance, what right do they have to complain? The very existence of such blood-lineage dynasties is disgusting. Power is the property of one generation. It shouldn't be transferred, it should be seized."
— Reinhard von Lohengramm, "Determination and Ambition"
In a world featuring a battle across the cosmos, audacious schemers seek to put forth the philosophy they believe will lead mankind to greatness. Of the many trying to do so, some stand out as truly remarkable geniuses.
All spoilers are unmarked. You Have Been Warned!
Original novels & Main OVA series
- Reinhard von Lohengramm, born von Müsel, is a young Noble of the Galactic Empire who vowed to destroy the corrupt Goldenbaum Dynasty when his beloved sister was taken as a concubine by the Kaiser. Rising in the esteem of the military due to his brilliance and daring, Reinhard is known for unconventional tactics such as targeting gas giant planets to destroy enemy fleets, while simultaneously building up loyal forces for the day his coup arrives. Able to outwit and best any Free Planets Alliance commander save only his rival and equal Yang Wen-li, Reinhard uses himself as bait to draw Yang into battle, while also masterminding the final fall of the Goldenbaum Dynasty even if it means the sacrifice of the planet of Westerland, something he alone allows in the novels. While warring against the High Nobles, Reinhard also distracts the Alliance by planting a spy amongst prisoners being released during an exchange, festering conflict for the opposition while he finishes conquering the Empire. Invading the Alliance, Reinhard is able to devastate and conquer it as well, claiming the title of Kaiser and instituting numerous reforms in his pursuit of enlightened dictatorship. Dying of a wasting illness, Reinhard treats with the Galactic Republic under command of Yang's successor, the young Julian Mintz, using his last days to leave instructions to his wife and closest allies to carry on after his death while also ensuring his son Alexander Siegfried, named for Reinhard's beloved best friend, has a new companion to inspire him to greatness as well. Devoted to changing the face of history and ultimately well-meaning, Reinhard became the template inspiring many magnificent Anti-Heroes to follow.
- Yang Wen-li is a brilliant and caring yet realistically pragmatic military commander and devotee of democracy. Saving three million civilians from the Galactic Empire's navy through guile, Yang later fights Reinhard von Lohengramm himself to a standstill by using his own ship to take Reinhard's flagship hostage. Sent to capture the nigh-impregnable Iserlohn Fortress, Yang uses a battalion of Imperial defectors to capture the stronghold and later manages to evade conspiracy charges from the Free Planets Alliance government whilst commanding Iserlohn from afar to deflect and destroy an attacking mobile fortress of the Empire's. Discerning Reinhard's scheme to conquer the Alliance, Yang masterfully outplays his rival's attempts to divert his attention and runs the Empire's supply line dry before baiting their desperate ships with decoys rigged to explode, killing many of the Imperial forces. Finally engaging Reinhard in open combat, Yang battles him bravely and through a gruelling battle lines up a shot on his rival's ship, only missing the chance when the Alliance officially surrenders to the Empire. Even after their defeat, Yang makes preparations lest the Empire regresses back to fascism, evades attempts to arrest him and gathers pro-democracy forces to battle Reinhard to the point of forcing peace talks even with a much smaller force. Killed along the way by terrorist assailants, Yang's efforts nevertheless change the course of history with his philosophy and genius touching even his former enemies.
- Paul von Oberstein is the most ruthless of Reinhard von Lohengramm's inner circle. A man infamous for his Dissonant Serenity and ruthlessly pragmatic advice, Oberstein devotes himself fully to Reinhard and his new dynasty, using his tactical and political brilliance to help entrench Reinhard as the rightful ruler of the crumbling Galactic Empire. Seeking to destroy the Goldenbaum Dynasty, Oberstein learns that its mad Duke Otho von Braunschweig is planning to nuke the rebellious colony Westerland, and in the anime even intentionally delays Reinhard from hearing the news to let the attack happen. This has the effect of the entire Empire unifying around Reinhard in revulsion against the High Nobles' forces, just as Oberstein planned. Oberstein makes himself a hated figure to keep any loathing directed away from Reinhard as he raises himself to ruling both the Empire and later defeated Free Planets Alliance, manipulating other admirals as he sees fit to keep Reinhard's Empire safe and even uses himself as bait to lure out the last of the Terran cultists in the final episode to eliminate the final threat to Reinhard's rule, seemingly aware the Empire he has forged has no place for him.
- Walter von Schönkopf is the head of the Imperial-defect Rosen Ritter unit and Yang Wen-li's trusted subordinate. Distinguishing himself as an Alliance commander against a much larger Imperial fleet, Schönkopf went on to serve Yang by infiltrating Iserlohn Fortress, leading his troops to trick the base commander and obtain the mighty fortress. After the conclusion of the Alliance-Imperial War, Schönkopf assists in breaking Yang out of prison when the incompetent figurehead leader of the Alliance attempts to execute Yang as a show of submission to their Imperial rulers, even taking said figurehead hostage as part of his ploy. When Yang is eventually killed, Schönkopf continues fighting for his ideals after a long battle that forces Reinhard's forces to concede and dies gallantly while merely asking his killer to know the man's name.
- Dominique Saint-Pierré is a singer and dancer of Fezzan who climbs the ranks of society using her own innate intelligence and charm. Attaching herself to Fezzan's Landesherr Adrian Rubinsky, Dominique becomes his confidante and assists in his schemes for Fezzan's financial domination while manipulating and betraying Rubinsky's son to head off the younger man's attempted coup. Disgusted by Rubinsky for murdering his own son when Dominique's information gives him the drop on his adversary, Dominique barely hides her disdain for him, even as she assists the schemes of kidnapping the noblewoman Elfriede von Kohlrausch for him. After Rubinsky's death, Dominique lasts under interrogation for two months, clearing herself in the process and slips away into history's annals without any punishment for her misdeeds.
A Hundred Billion Stars, a Hundred Billion Lights
- Richard von Grimmelshausen is a seemingly-incompetent admiral plotting the downfall of the High Nobles. Collecting notes on their misdeeds with his ability to charm people into trusting him, Grimmelshausen also uses his friendship with the Kaiser to see the rising of Reinhard von Müsel, knowing the young man can topple his hated Nobles. Entrusting Reinhard with his collected notes on their crimes, Grimmelshausen passes away knowing he has set the stage for a prosperous new era to blossom.
Spiral Labyrinth
- Bruce Ashbey was the audacious commander of the exceptional Year 730 Mafia unit. Frequently taunting defeated Imperial forces to break the composure of their leaders, Ashbey also uses a broken information system to full efficiency and scores numerous victories for the Free Planets Alliance. In his final outing, Ashbey uses a combination of perfectly-timed maneuvers and a borderline-inhuman ability to predict enemy movements to defeat an Imperial force nearly twice the size of his own, only dying by a stray shot, possibly set up by his own government fearing his influence.
