Paul von Oberstein

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Revision as of 12:53, 22 September 2013

Fleet Admiral Oberstein (801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE))
Gender:	Male
Affiliation:	Galactic Empire
Rank:	Fleet admiral
Occupation:	Chief Minister of Military Affairs
Status:	Deceased (murder)
Died:	801 UC (3 NIC / 492 IC / 3601 CE)
Played by:	Kaneto Shiozawa (Deceased)

Paul von Oberstein (Japanese: パウル・フォン・オーベルシュタイン) was both an admiral in Lohengramm's fleet and an advisor to Lohengramm himself. Known for his ruthless nature and artificial eyes, Oberstein used every means at his disposal to obliterate the Goldenbaum Dynasty and ensure Reinhard von Lohengramm's rise to power.

Early Life

Little is known of Oberstein's childhood, other than that he caught a disese rendering him blind. More than once, Oberstein commented that, had he been born but a century earlier, he might have been murdered as an infant because of his blindness in accord with the Inferior Genes Exclusion Act. Oberstein was granted sight through the use of a pair of cybernetic implants: artificial eyes.

It is likely that Oberstein was forced to endure ridicule as a child for his percieved physical inferiority, and equally likely that this abuse is what fed a deep-seated resentment in him toward the nobility of the Empire and the Goldenbaum Dynasty. At some point, Oberstein contemplated attempting a revolution of his own, but abandoned the ambition, realizing himself to be lacking the charisma required of a revolutionary leader.

Military service

Iserlohn Fortress

Paul von Oberstein was a staff officer to Admiral Hans Dietrich von Seeckt, commander of the Imperial garrison fleet stationed at Iserlohn Fortress. Oberstein thought his own talents were wasted under an incomptent commander, and approached Siegfried Kircheis shortly after the Battle of Astarte, indicating a desire to serve under Reinhard von Lohengramm, having successfully discerned Reinhard's true political ambitions.

Shortly after Oberstein returned to Iserlohn, the fortress was attacked and subsequently captured by Free Planets Alliance Rear Admiral Yang Wen-li's 13th Fleet in the Seventh Battle of Iserlohn. Oberstein attempted to persuade Admiral Seeckt to press the attack when Yang was at a disadvantage and the fate of the fortress still undecided, but Seeckt chose to ignore Oberstein, insisting on waiting, then later upon a futile attack when the fortress had already fallen. Yang killed Seeckt with a single well-placed shot from the Thor Hammer, prompting the Imperial Fleet to withdraw from the star system. Despite the loss of the flagship, Oberstein was able to successfully flee the ship before it was destroyed. (LOGH: 'Iserlohn Captured!')

Vilified as a deserter, the Imperial Navy commanders sought to punish Oberstein for the loss of Iserlohn Fortress: they sought to court-martial and execute him. Obertsein, in response, arranged a meeting with Reinhard von Lohengramm. Oberstein openly expressed his hatred of the Goldenbaum Dynasty, and his desire to help Reinhard destroy the Goldenbaums and rule over a new, reformed Galactic Empire.

After their meeting, Reinhard decided to take Oberstein in as a subordinate and advisor. To accomplish this, he advised Kaiser Friedrich IV not to accept the resignations of the three military joint chiefs of staff, arguing that the fault for the loss of Iserlohn Fortress lay solely with Seeckt, who was dead, and Stockhausen, who was a prisoner of war. Secretary of State Klaus von Lichtenlade agreed with Reinhard's assessment, and the resignations were turned down. In exchange for this intervention on their behalf, the three joint chiefts of staff dropped any plans to punish Oberstein. (LOGH: 'Cool, Clear Artificial Eyes')

FPA Invasion

Oberstein was promoted to commodore as Reinhard's staff officer, which is unusual given that Oberstein gained no battle accolade since joining Reinhard's admiralty. During the FPA's invasion of Imperial territory, Oberstein served at the front line, at Reinhard von Lohengramm's side.

Imperial Civil War

Oberstein recommended that Ovlesser, upon capture, be allowed his life and freedom. He predicted Duke Braunschwieg's paranoia of the unharmed Ovlesser, and the Lippstadt nobles executed Ovlesser. When Oberstein learned of Westerland's impending doom, he recommended that Reinhard not prevent the eradication and use it instead to turn public opinion in the Empire against the Lippstadt Alliance, thereby shortening the civil war. Torn between the cold logic of Oberstein's words and his own moral compass, Reinhard asked when the attack was to occur to give himself time to reach a final decision. Oberstein thereupon lied to Reinhard in order to allow the incident. He told Reinhard the attack would occur in 6 days, but in reality the attack occured in 4 days and Oberstein had secretly dispatched a ship to record images of the attack. Reinhard was furious with Oberstein for the filming of the event and the clear manipulation he had been the victim of, but did not punish Oberstein over the dissimulation.

The Golden Lion Throne

....

Chief of Military Affairs

During Reinhard's second invasion of the Free Planets Alliance, Oberstein handled military administration from Fezzan. During this time he was injured in a terrorist bombing. Unlike Cornelius Lutz, who was injured in the same attack, Oberstein received little sympathy as he was highly unpopular with the other Fleet Admirals.

After the Battle of the Corridor Oberstein proposed that a senior officer be sent to Iserlohn as hostage against Yang Wen-li's safe return. However, once Yang was in Imperial hands he should be executed regardless of consequence to the hostage. Oberstein explicitly stated his own readiness to be the hostage in this scenario but Reinhard rejected the plan.

Later when Oskar von Reuenthal rose up in rebellion against Reinhard, to a considerable degree due to the strong dislike he had for Oberstein and for Heydrich Lang, Oberstein expected to be sent as a special envoy to von Reuenthal. When Lang protested his own inclusion in the proposed delegation on the grounds that von Reuenthal would probably shoot him on sight, Oberstein unemotionally observed that the rebel admiral's hatred for him was just as strong.

Death

Despite constantly being viewed with distrust, and despite occasionally toying with the idea of seizing power for himself, Oberstein remained unflinchingly loyal to Reinhard von Lohengramm and the Lohengramm Dynasty for his entire life, never faltering in the least.

After the Battle of Shiva when Reinhard returned to Fezzan, aware that he was terminally ill, he agreed with Oberstein to use himself as a lure to draw out the remaining Terraists. Oberstein let it be known that Reinhard expected to recover and would then resume to destroy the organization entirely as a blow against the Terraists. As expected this led to an attack on the temporary Imperial Residence, repeating their earlier attempt that had been foiled by Kessler.

Although the Terrarists were unsuccessful, Oberstein was mortally wounded by a bomb and refused futile medical efforts. He left a message for his butler advising of where his will could be found and instructions as to how his dog should be treated. He died within thirty minutes of the attack.

Appendices

Appearances

Memorable quotes

1. "I am the only living survivor of the Iserlohn stationed fleet. Just by surviving I am to be punished.*"
2. "As you see, both of my eyes are cybernetic. I had no right to live, as a weakling. If it had been during the reign of Kaiser Rudolf, I would have been killed long ago. Do you understand? I hate them: Kaiser Rudolf, his descendants, and all those influenced by him."
3. "The Galactic Empire — no, the Goldenbaum Dynasty must perish. If it is possible, I want to destroy it with my own hands."
4. "There is nobody other than your Excellency who can build a new empire."

Background information

Oberstein is part of Idar-Oberstein, a joint city in Rhineland-Palatinate.^{[clean-up needed]}

Apocrypha

Stage

Played by Hiroyuki Takami

Oberstein is played by Hiroyuki Takami in the 2011 stage adaptation of LOGH.