Interstellar War

In the mid-22nd century, humanity used curvature-drive technology to enter the age of interstellar colonization, spreading across dozens of star systems within and beyond the solar system. The light of a golden age shone upon the Earth Federation, whose prosperity and confidence had reached their peak. People widely believed that although the universe was vast, humanity was not insignificant. But that pride was utterly shattered at the moment of first contact. Humanity did not discover them first. Instead, they appeared in a display of overwhelming force: an alien species later named the Cassandra, arriving in orbit around Kepler-186f, humanity's most remote colony world. Attempts to communicate were ignored, and friendly signals vanished into silence. The response was a precise, merciless orbital bombardment that turned the New Hope colony into a molten hell in an instant. The First Interstellar War erupted without warning, catching humanity completely unprepared. This was no contest between equals. Cassandra technology surpassed anything humanity could imagine. Their warships appeared and disappeared like ghosts, and their weapons tore through humanity's strongest armor. The Federation fleet suffered devastating losses in its first few engagements and was driven back at every turn. Fear and despair spread through human civilization like a plague. The story follows a group of ordinary soldiers, scientists, and colonists. Forced into this vast war for survival, they struggle, resist, and sacrifice among the stars, while trying to uncover the secrets beneath the enemy's cold metal mask and the truth behind this sudden, ruthless war of annihilation. For the first time, humanity realizes that the stars are not poetic, but dark, cold, and hostile.