Angels fall first

[Alley]

Prologue - 0 A.S
Sol System

Eliza began to speak in the microphone.
"Crew of the ANS-Eternity, this is the Lieutenant Emmagan. As you might have heard, our commander, Andy Laidlaw, has been killed in the attack of the ANS-Retribution. May he rest in peace. But our journey isn't over. Today, we have been tasked with a critical mission, today... we will save humanity.
I want this ship to be ready in two hours, I want all the batteries fully loaded, as many torpedoes as we can load! I want this ship to be in perfect condition like it has always been!
We can't afford to loose. And We. Will. Win."

The speech gave hope to the crew, a meaning to their life. Everyone knew the Alliance was outnumbered, but they would win together, or fall together. Two hours later, the ship was completely refilled and the technical inspection complete. A technical officer arrived on the bridge.

"Lieutenant. We're ready"
"Perfect. We shall join the fleet as soon as we can."
"Understood, we'll be in orbit in a few minutes."

Eliza pondered, sleeper ships made as a last minute resort in an attempt to save mankind and make sure that such wars never happen again, would it work? No one knew, but they had to try. The outcome was already known, the Alliance would be able to keep this position for a few weeks before being overrun by the Coalition, and destroyed forever. The sleeper ships were the only hope.

A few minutes later, the ANS-Eternity arrived in orbit of the sleeper ships launching site, what was left of the Alliance fleet was in orbit.
"General Freeman, this is the ANS-Eternity, at your orders my general."
"Welcome to hell, Eternity. Make sure you're ready, the Coalition could arrive at any moment."

---

Alley was right.