The Zoellik faction[5] was a faction within the Greater Garmillan Empire's Defense Force headed by Imperial Marshall Herm Zoellik. A descendant of an ancient aristocratic family, Zoellik held the position of Inspector General of the Central Army for most of the Desler administration and had effectively become one of the most influential people in the empire, second only to Supreme Leader Desler himself.
In 2199, his faction would attempt a coup against Desler to restore the old aristocracy of the Garmillas Grand Duchy. Still, they would be stopped by the combined efforts of the Imperial Guard and the Department of Propaganda and Information. Despite their failure, their actions would go on to significantly influence the political scene of Garmillas for the remainder of Desler's rule.
History[]
Zoellik was one of the most powerful men in the Greater Garmillan Empire
Origins[]
Following the end of a violent civil war that tore apart the Garmillas Grand Duchy, Abelt Desler took power and declared the Greater Garmillan Empire. In a wave of reforms, Desler abolished the powerful garmillan aristocracy that had ruled over the planet for centuries. Despite his efforts, the nobility maintained a firm grip over the country, with many aristocrats still occupying various positions of power throughout Garmillas's military, the Imperial Garmillas Defense Force. Chief among these nobles was Imperial Marshall Herm Zoellik, the arrogant scion of one of Garmillas's most influential aristocratic families and a well-known supporter of the radical principles of Garmillan blood purity. The man was officially the head of the Central Army, but his real power extended well beyond his branch and throughout the entire political structure of the empire. Effectively, Zoellik was the second most powerful man within the nation, ranking only below the Supreme Leader himself.[3]
Attempted insurrection[]
In 2199, Zoellik and his faction planned an assassination on Supreme Leader Desler, to seize power within the empire and restore the aristocracy.[3][1] While the Supreme Leader was traveling aboard his flagship toward the Balun Military Base for a secret inspection, the ship's previously sabotaged geshtam engine[6] malfunctioned, blowing up the craft. In theory, only Admiral Ditz of the Astro Fleet and Balun Base's commander Elk Domel should have known of Desler's visit, a fact that Zoellik used to use as a scapegoat. The two were some of his last remaining enemies within the Imperial Defense Force, and with Domel already the target of the Imperial Guard due to his wife's suspected anti-government activities, they were immediately imprisoned.[7]
Desler's videomessages Zoellik
With his enemies out of the way, on May 14,[8] Zoellik organized a massive naval review at Balun, where his subordinate, Major General Gremdt Goer, had taken command after Domel's arrest. 10,000 ships, the bulk of the empire's naval forces, gathered at the planet. There Zoellik intended to publicly announce Desler's death, which had been kept a secret from the government, and rouse the gigantic fleet to march over the imperial capital. However, his video message was interrupted by a raid carried out by a Earthling battleship, which was seemingly sunken by the overwhelming garmillan force. But before the Marshall could resume his address, he was interrupted once more by a transmission from Desler himself, who had been informed of Zoellik's plan by the Department of Propaganda and had been monitoring his actions through the Imperial Guard. Desler publicly denounced Zoellik's treachery and, before he could defend himself, the Imperial Marshall was shot by Goer.[1]
The fleet flees Balun
Soon after, the thought-to-be-destroyed Earthling ship emerged from Balun's atmosphere and destroyed the planet's artificial core before quickly escaping to the Large Magellanic Cloud through a subspace gate. The resulting planetary collapse engulfed the fleet and destroyed the subspace gate linking Balun with the Magellanic Cloud. 70% of all ships were lost, and the survivors now had a months-long journey ahead of them before returning to the empire's home planet.[1]
Fugitives[]
In the aftermath of Zoellik's death, the Imperial Guard apprehended all of the Marshall's co-conspirators present on Garmillas. Additionally, with its Inspector General dead, the Central Army's Homeland Defense Fleet fell under the guard's control. With all charges on him cleared, Domel was released and was tasked by the Supreme Leader to destroy the ship responsible for Balun's fall. Ditz however, did not receive such treatment, possibly for his moderate ideals clashing against those of the administration, and remained in prison.[9]
The Zoellik faction under attack by Gatlantis
The remaining ships loyal to the Marshall fell under Brigadier General Pasiv Vandevel, the commander of Zoellik's flagship. They separated from the rest of the fleet heading to Garmillas and began wandering intergalactic space. In August of 2199,[4] news reached Vandevel's forces that Desler's regime had fallen. The General believed that to be their occasion to repatriate, but his fleet was soon attacked by an expedition force of the Gatlantis Empire and was completely wiped out.[2]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 1.5 1.6 "Over the Black Light"
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 "Space Battleship Yamato 2199: Odyssey of the Celestial Ark"
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 3.2 Yamato 2199 character data for Herm Zoellik
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 Mikage Kiryu states that the events of Odyssey of the Celestial Ark (outside of the prologue and epilogue) are set one months after Yamato's take off from Iscandar, as that event is stated to take place on July 27, 2199, it can be deduced that the movie takes place in August of the same year. See Yamato 2199 timeline inconsistencies for more details
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Model Sheet Design Collection GARMILLAS p.175
- ↑ Space Battleship Yamato 2199 Model Sheet Design Collection GARMILLAS p.161
- ↑ "Point of No Return"
- ↑ "The Era of Space Battleship Yamato: Choice of 2202"
- ↑ "They're Coming!"
Japanese language information[]
ゼーリック派 Zērikku-ha