Rolling Thunder

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Desperation, that was all the man felt, if he could just get this right it would change everything. Yet desperation forgoes caution. He ran up the machine again, raising the output to 10%, 20%, then up to 50%. It wasn't enough. He drove his creation further, 80, 90, 100. Still not enough. He overcharged the system causing a small tear in reality. His pride swelled, he just cracked the code, he created an artificial rift! Yet this, this was only the beginning. With a thunderous boom the machine, his masterpiece, failed him. The rift expanded faster than he can react, faster than anyone could. A thunderous shockwave rang through the cosmos as the rift expanded. Bigger, bigger, it now encompassed the planet it started on, yet it grew even bigger. In a fraction of a second the rift grew to encompass the Commonwealth's heartland, and as quickly as it grew it imploded. A release of massive boom resulted, one comparable to the death of a star, rending nearby systems and scorching the remaining planets humanity resided on. Yet that was no concern to those caught in the rift. For they were not just in a different point in space, but in an entirely different reality. Confusion, that was the first thing that spread. Rolling blackouts caused by the rift put the entire Commonwealth on pause, the greatest minds of the Commonwealth scrambled with the government to figure out just what happened. Yet this, nor the Commonwealth's very existence, was relayed to the wider galaxy. For them they simple reported a release of energy not unlike the one caused by the rift's collapse in what is known as Inner Quadrant-4.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Rumors...for the unfathomably large place the galaxy is information, and rumors, spread like wildfire. Rumors of a scorched ring of systems from around the location of the aforementioned shockwave, and of something far, far older at its center. Though this is of no concern to the people of the Commonwealth as they scramble to reactivate their disabled power grids. Although, little effort would need to be put into said grids as across the Commonwealth electronic systems would slowly spring back to life over the following days after the initial event.

Darkstar

These rumours spreading like wildfire had reached the outer colonies of the Unified Earth Government. A few freighter captains had mentioned something of a strange phenomenon in local bars and taverns once they returned from their positions. Through the vigilant eyes and ears, and simple interrogations of the Office of Naval Intelligence, the tales of these strange events made their way through to the military and science communities.

After weeks of planning, the UEG dispatches a group of ships to investigate. The escort destroyer Rubicon, two heavy corvettes, the Gladius, and Catch Me If You Can, and the science ship Sagan Blue.
The ships leave the comforts of UEG space and head toward the unknown.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Darkstar As the ships venture out into the void they'd soon reach the aforementioned ring of destruction. The systems would be completely destroyed, with many planets shattered, and those lucky enough to have stayed intact had their atmospheres demolished. There would also be noticeable evidence of planets being thrown off their orbit. In fact, the only thing in the system not greatly affected would be the star, still glowing a brilliant blue.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat As the UEG vessels drew near to the outskirts of Commonwealth space, the Commonwealth high command would be alerted to their presence via the sensor arrays accompanying their defense installations off world. In a rush, assuming the vessels to be an American task force sent to capitalize on the Commonwealth's disarray, they'd begin to prime their fleets. Panicked at vessels’ sheer size the high command would swiftly dispatch a carrier assault group to intercept the threat. Comprising of a Moskva-class Carrier, 3 Kamanev-class Cruisers, and an assortment of smaller patrol boats, coming to 9 ships in total. Additionally the nearby missile silos and hanger bays concealed by the asteroid belt at the edge of the system would be put on high alert. The only thing left for the Commonwealth to do would be to wait. Wait and pray.

Zendikarofthewest

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat
Dimensional submarine UX-01, Unknown location.
"Interesting. It seems a rift has been opened.
"Perhaps... Perhaps it is time to reveal our presence to the wider galaxy."
"Not yet. We must watch and bide our time, and let them discover us themselves"
Unbeknownst to the UEG forces, they are being followed. At every jump point, at every place they pass, there are eyes. Undetectable, observing eyes.

Darkstar

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat The Sagon Blue deploys a handful of observation drones to investigate the system anomaly. The drones are launched out of their small bays and begin firing their small thrusters in microbursts toward the shattered planets to gain a better view of the destruction.
The Rubicon and the other heavy corvettes begin to scan the system for hazards or unknown craft that could be threatening to the science craft. The escorts continue on their path staying by the side of the Sagan Blue as it burns toward the ruined planets.
The escort's radars pick up the Commonwealth's ships as they start on the vector toward the UEG ships.
The Rubicon sends a general transmission stating that they are a part of the Unified Earth Government escorting a ship whose mission is for scientific research only.
“Judging by the size of the force, it seems to be a system defence fleet. All ships prepare for a possible attack. Sabre pilots, get your ships into the black boys. Deter anything that might threaten the Sagan.”

The escort destroyer sends a dropship loaded with a fireteam of marines to the Sagan in case boarding actions ensue.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Darkstar As the observation drones scatter across the system, they begin to uncover what exactly happened, the planets not shattered into pieces would show great craters on their surface. In addition there would be large amounts of celestial mass jettisoned into the atmosphere, with further digging in and around the craters showing abnormal levels of mineral compounds on the surface level. All in all the evidence would show that celestial bodies, most likely asteroids and planetoids, collided with affected planets at speeds abnormal outside of artificial means. As to the defense fleet on the edge of Commonwealth space, they'd stay put. While the fleet would be more numerous than the UEG's escorts, even the larger ships would be a good 200 meters short of the escort destroyer.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat Meanwhile, in the Commonwealth itself, panic would surge once again. Not only had unknown ships, one of which was far larger and presumably more armed than anything the Commonwealth had, positioned themselves on the doorstep the the Commonwealth, they had lost all contact with the rest of the Commonwealth, 6 systems and 3 inhabited worlds would be unable to be reached, and upon further investigation the scorched remains of the systems around the Commonwealth had been uncovered and the worst was assumed.

Darkstar

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat
The science vessel was mesmerized by the shear astronomical size of the destruction that the drones feeds were broadcasting. The ship sees that a closer view of these would suffice. However, the Rubicon gives the order not to until it is clear that these unknown ships identify themselves.

The Sagan instead deploys a couple drones to collect small samples of the cracked planets to take back to it for analysis and testing done in a secure environment where anything that might harm the crew will be dealt with accordingly.

Zendikarofthewest

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat
Darkstar
And so the poison spreads. They are playing right into their enemy's hands. We can only hope that they have the wisdom to not go too far._
"Indeed. If they do-
Then we must interfere.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Darkstar As the Sagan's drones spread out to collect samples the UEG fleet would pick up a second fleet similar in size to the first, though this one would creep past their comrade's defensive position. Briefly, only for a moment, would the fleet flicker off the Sagan's radar before reappearing. This time at the edge of the system. The fleet would consist of 2 Dzerzhinsky-class Battlecruisers and 3 Zashchitnyk-class Destroyers. Though to the UEG this force would be more akin to a small task force. The battlecruisers would top out at around 500m in length with the destroyers around 300m. The ships would begin advancing cautiously towards the Rubicon.

Darkstar

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat The navy ships were well aware of the ships patrolling and remained distanced from them. The destroyer could launch its long range missiles to deter them, but it won't until the ships reach a certain threshold.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Darkstar Stopping just outside the Rubicon’s missile range, the fleet would mirror the destroyer’s movements before sending out a transmission to the Rubicon. “This is the CNN Vladislav, identify youself or we will assume you as hostile.” Following this message, the task force would continue to follow the Rubicon’s movements, though they would not make any offensive action opting instead to take a reactionary stance.

Zendikarofthewest

Darkstar
Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat
"Very well. Let the great play begin. Bring us up to firing depth, and load torpedo tubes one and two. Prepare to fire on my command."
Meanwhile, at the edge of Neu Garmilas space...
"Flakken sends a message. The little birds have been struck down in the dark. The great rift has been opened."

Darkstar

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat
The Rubicon sends a general transmission stating that they are a part of the Unified Earth Government escorting a ship whose mission is for scientific research only again.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Darkstar The fleet was silent for a short while, assumingly due to discussion among the commanding officers, before a message was spat out in response to the Rubicon's message. "Your presence here violates the Armistice Agreement of 2141, vacate the system immediately, the Commonwealth will not tolerate a breach in national security."

Zendikarofthewest

Darkstar
Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat
They do not know where they tread. I hope they do not ruin it all. Take care, Flakken. May we meet again.
"Farewell."
He turns.
"Hold us at fifty meters depth. Do not fire until I command. We must approach this very delicately."

Darkstar

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat The Rubicon and its support fleet fire their engines and move towards the edge of the system, teetering just on the brink of metaphorically stepping in it.

The Rubicon, fires off a couple Clarion spy drones to get a closer look at these new ships. The drones small enough to seem like a piece of space debris quietly move towards the Commonwealth ships to gain a closer look.

The Rubicon also logs energy outputs, radiation flares, and the overall sensor profile of these vessels in case they may be encountered in a future hostile environment.

Supreme_Midwestern_Asshat

Darkstar
The Clarion Drones, once within visible range, show the Commonwealth fleet in much greater detail. The ships are not far from the stealth vessels used on Earth's blue waters before the genesis of interstellar exploration, with concealed guns and plenty of missile silos. In addition, the ships lack a noticeable command center, with sensory equipment in various positions depending on the vessel. While observing the Commonwealth's fleet, the drones would pick up one last thing, a wing of fighters streaking from the ventral hangar bay on the Vladislav. These fighters, shortly followed by a large amount of smaller shuttles, would disperse across the system to the various planets and stellar bodies within it. All the while the fleet holds it's position, no doubt tracking the Rubicon's movements to the edge of the system.