The most important elements of the Cherk Kingdom's border defenses facing the Fermo star system were the fortress and garrison fleet base in the Xuantuo system.
The country had concentrated nearly half its military strength there, along with most of its main fleet, including two dreadnoughts and three battlecruisers. Backed by the fortress defenses, such a force could put up a solid fight and hold out for quite some time, even against a surprise attack by the Galactic Empire.
And even if the worst came to pass, surely even an overbearing empire like the Galactic Empire wouldn't dare defy the whole galaxy by launching a surprise attack on a member state of the Galactic Civilization Council, would it?
With that belief in mind, when the Imperial fleet appeared in their system, the Cherk tortoise-people were thrown into a brief panic.
Fortunately, the Empire across from them didn't actually launch a surprise attack. Instead, it stayed where it was.
After their initial fright, the Cherks steadied themselves. They repeatedly warned the Imperial fleet while rapidly preparing for war, and sent an alert back home.
The Tianma received the news less than an hour after the Imperial fleet officially entered the Xuantuo system. In all fairness, the intelligence department had reacted fairly quickly this time.
It was 8:17 a.m. on May 2, Galactic Standard Year 834.
Marshal Paul Ferrago received the news while having breakfast. Although he had a habit of staying up late, he wasn't one to sleep in. He averaged less than five hours of sleep a night, yet still looked full of energy.
The marshal was certainly startled, but he somehow managed not to choke on his milk. With unprecedented willpower, he swallowed the food in his mouth, wasting not a bite.
He took a napkin and leisurely wiped