Chapter 1: The Calm Before the Storm
Junolore System
UNS Nova
12th May, Sol Year 2470
Commander Roland Cartwright stood on the bridge of the small corvette. Tensions with the Poeblin Khanate were rising, and the ferocity of their fleet was renowned throughout the known galaxy. The First Fleet was at the border of the Divine Assembly, a fanatically religious offshoot from the days when the UFN first reached to space, with its capital located in the Eioafarvis System.
If -no, when the Khanate fleets crossed the border, his task wasn't to stop them, but the equally impossible task of stalling their advance long enough for reinforcements to arrive. He had no heavy-hitters with them, only a measly 20 corvettes. He had to hold out for other elements of the Second Fleet, colloquially known as the Arquebusier Fleet, to arrive. Comprised of nearly 150 corvettes, the reactionary force was split into 7 squadrons, garrisoning each of the systems bordering the Khanate.
Noticing Lieutenant-Commander Charles Holland step onto the bridge, Commander Cartwright decided to head back to his stateroom to check the UFN database on the combat capabilities of the Khanate ships. Upon reviewing the files on the ships, he concluded that the ships were inferior to theirs, at least in a one-on-one with their UFN counterparts. However, even a small fleet would heavily outgun his tiny flotilla. Knowing this, he started to draw up a plan to hold the system, focusing on defending the small garrison station in orbit around the inhabited second planet.
Just then, the Tactical Officer made the statement they had all been dreading.
"Commander, multiple energy spikes detected from the jump point to Eldome. Estimated size of force is 1 Cruiser, 16 Destroyers and 22 Corvettes. IFF Confirms they are Poeblin Khanate ships. "
AN: This story was before the Federations DLC and the 2.6 update dropped, so I'll be adding embellishments for story's sake.