Above the planet, the battle raged on in the Lexis system. The starbase-- Lexis 5-- shot torpedoes and massive disruptor blasts at the Pinnacle fleet assaulting the system. The Colonial reinforcements had just arrived, almost immediately wiping out the Pinnacles rear flank and pinning the fleet between the starbase and the Colonial fleet. Within an hour, the Pinnacle fleet had been destroyed, the space debris being harvested by scavengers and intelligence gatherers.
This was the Pinnacles' fifth attack in just as many days- and two of the systems they'd attacked hadn't stood up. Usually the High Command left system defense up to the system commanders, but nothing could prepare the systems for this. The Pinnacle had constructed an armada-- almost 250 capital ships-- and were taking the border systems, one by one. The fleet that had been destroyed in Lexis was just the vanguard-- the main fleet would dwarf the Colonial fleet that was present.
The High Command on Y'renar came together, considering their options. They had almost 30 ships in Lexis already and the starbase would help to even the odds, but reinforcement fleets wouldn't arrive for almost 5 days, and the armada would arrive in 3. Admiral J'kar, a native to the Lexis system, was the only voice providing any kind of solutions.
"Look, how I see it, we have two choices. We can either detonate the starbase and withdraw the fleet, regroup in another system and make our stand there, or we can reach out to other nearby species and see if they're able to provide assistance. We may even have to do both." He said, saying what they were all thinking.
"Who would come to help us? It's our war anyway, they won't help us." Interior Chief I'star said.
"It can't hurt to ask!" J'kar shouted, raising his voice. "What're they going to do, invade us? They'd have to get through the Pinnacle regardless! Now I know you don't like the idea, but frankly, I don't care whether or not you like it I'star. We're backed into a corner here, and this is our only solution that gives us a chance of not getting killed!" Silence filled the command center for a moment, and then Chancellor F'nos nodded his head.
"Do it, J'kar. Send the message."
To whom it may concern:
This is Admiral J'kar, of the Colonial Alliance of Leerenar. We are currently on the frontline, fighting an armada that threatens to conquer this entire sector. While we have mounted a strong defense, we cannot face them down alone. We need your help to stop this armada from conquering and either enslaving or killing all they cross. With permission from the Chancellor, I have also been granted the ability to offer you free trade within the CA for at least 1 year if we are able to defeat the armada.
With all urgency,
Admiral J'kar