A/N: In this chapter a new type of vessel is introduced and please don't be too critical about it. Anyway a lot of you have asked/begged for me to have some sort of a struggle for the UNSC because many of you have said that they are "Over Powered" I will try to do so, but then again when the UNSC have access to Forerunner tech, it may not be easy to do.

As always please leave a review and tell me what you think. It helps me a lot to know what you guys think, so I know what to do in the next chapter. Now that is over with, one to the story!

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[ Andromeda Descending...]

( Glinn's Field, Angelika Island )

In the years following the rise of the Galactic Empire, the United Nations Space Command had begun to invest hundreds of billions of credits into the research and development of new weapon systems, vessels and other equipment for their forces to use in the event that another major conflict were to occur. As a result, a number of new vehicles and ships had been created and had been successfully deployed through out UNSC controlled space. One such class of vessel to come out of this arms build up was the Eagle-class littoral combat vessel.

At 210 meters in length, 150 meters in width and 40 meters height, the "Eagle" was by far one of the smallest class of warship to enter service with the UNSC Navy. But then again, it was never meant to be a large ship, in fact its size was its greatest asset. Its relative small size, coupled with its speed and maneuverability, gave the vessel an advantage that the larger vessels of the UNSC did not have.

The UNSC command were very much impressed by the ship's performance during its trial runs and as a result, they placed an order of a record breaking fifteen hundred vessels to be added to the fleet. Making it one of the largest orders ever placed for a warship of any kind. By the year 2634, there were hundreds of these vessels were already in service and many of them had been deployed to the Andromeda Galaxy as part of the UNSC's Andromeda forces.

One such vessel labeled LCV-990 had not too long arrived in Andromeda and was currently sitting on the tarmac of Glinn's Field for its new commander and crew to take charge.

"Well... there it is." Commander Rebecca Stepson commented, as she gazed upon her new command for the very first time. As it was customary for all new ship commander, the young naval commander had arrived a a few hours before the rest of her crew, so as to personally inspect her new vessel and to tell you the truth, she could not have been more excited.

"Yep, Eagle-class." General Stepson remarked, as he accompanied his daughter and eldest child to see her new command. Originally, Riyo was supposed to accompany them as well, for she too wanted to see her daughter's new ship. But the administration council had been called into an emergency meeting that very morning and as a result the Governor was unable to go with her husband and daughter. But she promise to be there for the commissioning ceremony later that evening. "I have to admit, it is a lot bigger than I thought it would be."

"And it's all mine!" Rebecca said happily, as the duo walked up to the vessel to get a better look at it. As the general saw his eldest child enter the ship, he could not help to think just how she had developed over the years.

Like many men, Daniel was both surprised and happy when he learned that is wife was carrying their first child. Mainly because many people did not know if it was possible for a Pantoran and a Human to conceive a child. But with the birth of Rebecca, it was proven possible and for the exception of her platinum colored hair and amber colored eyes, she looked liked a normal human. Oddly enough it was her youngest brother Ryo, looked like a Pantoran male.

In school, Rebecca excelled among her class mates and as a result, she was able to enter the NPMA at an relatively young age. Now here she was about to take up her first command and as her father, he could not be any more prouder. "So when is your crew due to arrive?" the general asked, as the two of them now stood in the vessel's small bridge.

"They should be here by eight hundred hours." the young woman replied, as she sat in "captain's chair" for the very first time and fidgeted a bit in it. "This is going to get some use to."

"I bet." the general smiled, as her looked at his watch. "I got to get to the academy, but I could stay longer if you want."

"No no." Rebecca replied, as she got up from her seat..

"Very well." the former Spartan replied, as he began to make his way off the bridge. "But expect me and your mother to be back later to see you off. Brace yourself, remember what she was like when you left for the Milky Way?"

"Oh yea..." Rebecca groaned in reply, as she could still remember her mother hugging her tightly in the tether station's main terminal and crying as if she was never coming back. Hopefully there would not be a repeat performance later in that day. "How could I forget?"

"Indeed." General Stepson replied with a slight chuckle, as he began to make his way off the ship. "See you in a few hours, Beccaberry."

"Bye dad." the UNSC's newest ship commander replied, as she saw her father disappear behind the bridge door. Leaving the naval officer all alone in her new vessel.

Over the next few hours, the first members of her crew had begun to arrive and Stepson did not waste any time to get down to the business of getting her ship ready for launch. For the next few hours, Rebecca over saw the preparations which her crew were taking to get the vessel ready for launch and it was during this period that the office took the time to get to know the people that she now had under her command. It was not too hard for her to do since her vessel had a small crew to begin with.

It was during this time that Rebecca noticed that there were number of Twi'leks that were among the crew, but it was not very surprising to her that there was. Within the last couple decades a large number of Twi'leks had actually joined the military arm of the Terran Union and it was something that had caused quite a stir within HIGHCOM back on Earth. But none the less these "aliens" wanted to serve the UNSC, the very same UNSC that had liberated their fore fathers all those years ago on Zygerria.

One such Twi'lek by the name of Syara Lahee, was in factthe son of former slaves that settled on Mesa after their liberation, and would be serving as one of her vessel's helmsman. While another Twi'lek by the name of Kosha Zebb, was listed as the head of the ship's engineering contingent. There were many more that were there and Rebecca made note that she would get to know each and every one of them over time. Right now though she had to make sure that her vessel would be ready for launch, which was due later that day.

"Excuse me, Commander?" Rebecca heard someone call out from behind her and as she turned to see who it was, Rebecca saw young man dressed in a gray jumper with steel tipped boots and bright yellow helmet. "My name is Benjamin Rhodes, I am here to install your vessel's artificial intelligence." the young man said in a calm tone.

"Ah, from the tech department. I have been expecting you." Rebecca replied, as she walked up to the civilian engineer. "Where is our new AI?"

"Right here, ma'am." the engineer replied, as her held out the small data crystal that contained the construct. Pausing for a moment to look at the small device, Stepson picked up said crystal and inserted it into a nearby data port. Suddenly the image of a cute young girl with shoulder length hair, doe eyes and dressed in some kind of school uniform, appeared on the bridge's holoprojector.

"Greetings." the artificial intelligence said with a slight bow, "I am United Nations Space Command artificial intelligence CTN H074-0. But you can call me Hotaru."

"Well Hotaru, welcome on board the LCV-990." Commander Stepson greeted her new artificial intelligence with a smile. 'Hotaru' nodded and replied "Thank you, commander."

"Um, I need you to sign off on the transfer of the A.I Hotaru to your command." Benjamin commented, as he held out his data pad along with a pen like device.

"Ah yes, of course." Rebecca replied, as she took the two items and proceeded to sign her name on the pad. Once that was completed the young engineer confirmed the transfer and said made his way off the vessel, leaving the young commander finish up her duties for the day..

But while the naval officer got ready to launch the UNSC's newest warship, events were taking place thousands of light years away that would shake the Terran Government and the United (Nations Space Command to it's very core.

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( Terran – Imperial boarder )

Located just a couple hundred light years from where the official line between the Terran Union and the Galactic Empire existed, was one of the many bases/outpost that the United Nations Space Command had set up after The Fall. These bases, which were all located well inside Terran controlled space, were to act as early warning monitors in case the Imperials across the boarder decided to invade. But while most of these bases and outpost were nothing more than converted orbital defense platforms that were unmanned and fully automated, the remainder were much larger and served as fleet anchorages that serviced the many vessels that patrolled the area.

On such anchorage known as Truk, was located within a small star system that was close to the boarder. In fact, the base itself was actually built into a rather large asteroid and had a number of defense platforms around it. Add to the fact that is was the home base for three carrier battle groups and Truk was more than ready to fend off any would be attackers. Long enough for reinforcements to arrive.

Right now though only the carrier Taiho and her battle group were currently docked at the station after a three month long patrol along the boarder.

Within the anchorage's command and control center, the station's command crew were busily going about the day to day task of both coordinating the movements of the two remaining carrier groups still out on patrol, as well as over see the maintenance of the vessels that were currently berth in the anchorage.

"Commander, sensors are picking up a strange anomaly originating within Imperial space." an young ensign called out, as he sat at one of the many consoles there and looked at the holographic display in front of him.

The officer in charge of the anchorage's C&C heard the young man inform him of this recent development and went over to see what the problem was. "What is it ensign Morgan." the older male asked.

"Sir, sensors are detecting a number of energy distortions emanated from within Imperial space." ensign Morgan replied, as he manipulated the controls of the console in front of him that displayed the highlighted areas where the anomalies were detected.

"These readings are rather faint. Did you run a diagnostic to see if the system was malfunctioning?" the older male asked, as he looked at the readings in front of him.

"Yes sir, and everything checks out."

"Sir!" another ensign called out from his position, "I have lost all contact with the the Illustrious carrier group!"

"Sir!" another voice called out, "I've lost contact with sentry posts 11 through 20!"

"Sir!"

"Sir!"

"Sir!"

Soon the entire command center was flooded with reports of lost communications with either certain ships, or other sentry post that were under their supervision and it did not take the C&C's command officer to place two and two together and realize what was going on.

"Get me the Commodore!" the officer ordered, as he began to make his way to the exit. "Contact New Plymouth! Tell them the Empire is starting to move!"

"Sir! Unknown contact detected an inbound! Impact in-" another young ensign began to call out, but never got the chance to finish her statement, as a massive explosion suddenly engulfed the entire command and control room. Instantly killing everyone inside in a ball of smoke and flame.

Soon more explosions began to rock the asteroid that housed the the Truk anchorage, causing the base to violently rip itself apart. At one point the carrier Taiho and three of the escorts attempted to cast off from the doomed station and for a moment it looked as if they would have made it. But another large explosion struck the destroyer Texas and caused it to slam right into the very same ship it had been assigned to protect. With devastating results for both vessels.

Suddenly one final, massive explosion erupted out of the the once proud anchorage, as the base's reactors went critical and the resulting explosion destroyed the entire facility. Leaving one a large debris field in its place which was laced with space rocks, ship wreckage, and the odd dead body.

Meanwhile a few thousands light years away, a rather large and almost cylindrical "star ship" slow maneuvered itself behind a large moon, as hundreds of Imperial star ships of various types and classes moved into formation and jumped to warp.