Reinhard is bored of his administrative duties and branches out to the arts in his free time. Lang and Rubinsky meet and discuss plans to provoke Reuenthal's betrayal of Reinhard. On Phezzan, rumors about an assassination attempt by Reuenthal on Reinhard spread like wildfire. The rumors suggest that Reuenthal will invite Reinhard to Heinessen for an assassination attempt. Oberstein discovers Lang has been meeting with Rubinsky, but takes no actions. Reuenthal decides to test Reinhard's belief in the rumors, effectively inviting Reinhard as the rumors suggest. Reinhard accepts the invitation to Heinessen. Mittermeyer, Lutz, and many other admirals discuss the possible outcomes of the invitation and preemptively plan their positions.