Operation Event Horizon - The UIF Invasion of Jool
Security in the Jool System has long relied on the impracticability of a large adversarial force to cross the vast distances of space to reach it. A burn from Kerbin would take well over a year, and would require an immense logistics effort to fuel any warships en route. Plus, with the amount of preparation time the Joolians would have when a fleet was detected, the system could prepare for a siege.
In 2212, the UIF Starfleet burned en masse from the Duna System to Jool, evading the majority of sensors that were instead aimed at Kerbin, and coasted towards past Dres on a 400-day journey. When the Isaac was destroyed, the task forces received their Emergency Action Messages, and a secondary burn commenced. Accompanying them, the hundred-ship logistic fleet of the UIF Cosmerchant Marine, the allied Atreus Aerospace Command, the partnered Novenadian Space Force, and the reinforcing Republic of Basil Space Force prepared to burn, to rendezvous in the system.
Operation Event Horizon had commenced, and the Jool War began.
Accompanying the several hundred UIF, AASC, NSF, and BSF warships - a fleet numbering over a thousand strong - the combined strength of the UIF Space Marines pressed onward into the system, embarked on several dozen Suborbital Assault Ships and Orbital Transport Docks, prepared to deploy to surface targets on drop pods and shuttles. The Foreign Legion and regulars of the UIF Army II Corps - the divisions historically activated to space during the System War - accompanied them, providing the numerical strength for a ground offensive on the shores of Laythe. Two divisions of the Imperial Guard, Magdalene’s personal elite units, committed to the offensive. Several hundred exofighters of the Starfighter Corps launched from the escort carriers, preparing to cover the SSTOs as they deorbited to the planet’s surface, and organizing into squadrons for the impending orbital battle.
The Starfleet organized the largest spaceborne armada in Kerbal history, and synchronized their arrival through a chain of aerobreaking task forces through Jool’s skies. Two-thirds of the fleet proceeded to Laythe, to rendezvous with the Basilic forces launching from the surface. The remaining third burned to Vall, where the AASC and NSF prepared to meet them in full.
There was no element of surprise, and alarm bells were ringing in every SEA headquarters as soon as the first plume drives ignited. Their space forces, already aware for years of the fleet movements of the inner systems and long since prepared for war, sorted immediately in full force. The stage was set for the largest space conflict Kerbalkind had seen in over a century - and perhaps the most decisive sequence of battles since the same amount of time.
“My fellow citizens: in this poignant hour, I ask you to join with me in prayer.
Almighty Providence: Our sons, pride of our nations, this day have set upon a mighty endeavor, a struggle to preserve our civilization, and to set free a suffering Kerbalkind.
Give strength to their arms, stoutness to their hearts, steadfastness in their resolve. They will be sore and tired, by night and by day, without rest until victory is won. The darkness of the night sky will be rent by noise and flame. Everyone’s souls will be shaken by the violences of war. Some will never return.
Give strength, too, in our daily tasks, to redouble our contributions we make in the physical and the material in support of this great struggle. With blessing and diligence, we shall prevail. Lead us to the saving of our peoples and our sister nations in a system of unity that will spell a sure peace, an invulnerable peace, that will let all live in dignity, reaping the rewards of their perseverance.”
-First Consul Kasparov’s “Prayer on J-Day,” delivered to the system as UIFSTARCOM announces the commencement of Event Horizon; tens of millions of citizens within the UIF would join with Kasparov in this moment of prayer in support of the coalition forces which have arrived in the Jool System.