Reinhard von Müsel proceeds with the plan of using a predicted solar eruption to provide the destroyer Hameln II the necessary speed boost to escape from the rapidly closing in Alliance ambush squadron. One bridge crew member, fearing that the ship will be drawn by the gravity of the star into oblivion if the predicted eruption does not occur, tries to escape in an escape pod but is prevented with the combined effort of Reinhard and Siegfried Kircheis. Meanwhile, repairs on the ship's engines are unable to be completed due to a malfunctioning thruster that has to be repaired from the exterior of the ship. Lieutenant Beltram volunteers to take on this extremely dangerous outboard mission, hoping to atone somewhat for his killing of Rolf Zaidel. He is then paired with Rolf's brother. While the repairs are finished on the nick of time, Beltram and Zaidel are jolted into space as the ship turns to position itself for the eruption. Beltram sacrifices himself to push Zaidel back into the ship, and Hameln II succeeds in escaping from the Alliance ambush. Soon after Hameln II returns to Iserlohn Fortress, Reinhard is promoted for his efforts in saving Hameln II and its crew from possible destruction and he and Kircheis are then transferred to a new posting.