SL: The Journey in Search of the Exit

Yang Wen-li narrates the findings of his investigation regarding the alleged murder of Free Planets Alliance hero Bruce Ashbey, summarised from Christopf von Köfenhiller's own research, to Alex Cazerne and Dusty Attemborough. Yang surmises that Martin Otto von Siegmeister, having republican tendencies, founded a massive espionage network in the Galactic Empire with the help of Christopf von Michaelsen in an attempt to subvert Imperial rule by leaking confidential military information to the Alliance. Siegmeister, who had defected to the Alliance, found an ally in Bruce Ashbey who proceeded to make full use of Siegmeister's network and heaped victories upon victories in the battlefield. After Ashbey's untimely death during the Second Battle of Tiamat, the network slowly unravelled and ended with the mysterious death of Michaelsen. Upon finishing his narration, Yang adds that the actual truth may not be known until both the Alliance and the Empire cease to exist. A few days later, Yang receives his new appointment as an Operations Staff Officer under the 8th Fleet. Before his departure to the front lines, he attends the wedding of Alex Cazerne and Hortense Milbelle.