The War hit us unprepared and unready, but we survived.  We rebuilt.  Third Fleet took us two years to assemble from the dribs and drabs of new construction, demothballed ships, or stray ships that got home.  We launched from Earth ready to kick their asses to the other side of the galaxy.  We smashed the Russians at Procyon, Mayer, and Zeta Reticuli.  We crushed the Chinese at Cygni, Alsafi, and Eridani.  We were feeling pretty ducky after that.  Epsilon Reticuli was supposed to end The War once and for all.  It didn’t work.

Angel Flight at Amazon

Angel Flight on Nook