(This is my first time writing anything like this, so it might not be perfect. I tried to format it to look nice, but the forum didn't seem to be too happy about that. Oh well.)

Chapter 1: Might of The Serco

“Why do we fight?” said Captain Jallus Merick. “We were a peaceful nation once, prospering and living free under a single banner. Our own great minds saved mankind from extinction. We transformed our new home from a hellscape to a paradise. But soon there were those who grew jealous of our accomplishments.
“The Itani. Once our kin, our own blood, they distanced themselves from us. Drowning in their pride and their misguided ideals, they rejected our way of life. Their jealousy turned to hatred, and soon, to violence. They committed acts of terrorism against our nation. They massacred our people. And then, centuries later, after defeating them in combat, they beg for our forgiveness. They beg, like dogs!
“Yet they persist. They continue to wage war on the mighty Serco Dominion. With each passing day, our military grows stronger. They cannot hide behind their cannons forever. Soon comes the day that we break through. And when that day comes, we will purge these zealots from the galaxy. We will avenge our ancestors. The Itani treachery will never be forgotten. That is why we fight. And the Nemesis will always do her part.”
The Captain turned his attention back to the command bridge. Ensign Dylan Hurst watched from the port side gunner pit. “It never ceases to amaze me how many speeches the old man has up his sleeve.”
Seated next to him was Ensign Raden Sharus. “He probably spends more time on his speeches than his battle plans.” He paused, chuckling quietly. “How do you think this one’s gonna go?”
“Oh, y’know, the usual. Both sides take too many casualties. They retreat, we retreat, no clear victor. We’ll be back in the drydock for a week, and before you know it we’ll be back in another Deneb sector, ready to do it all over again.”
This was how it had always been for the entirety of the war. Victories were sporadic, and always at a high cost. Neither side had ever broken through past Deneb.
Raden laughed. “Yeah, that sounds about right... Hey, you think they’ll ever get through our shields?”
“A Heavy Assault Cruiser?” Dylan scoffed. “Not in a million years.”
Heavy Assault Cruisers were the biggest warships to ever see active service by the Serco and Itani navies, the SMV Nemesis being one of them. Their formidable firepower and shielding was rivaled only by Valent Robotics’ new capital ship, the Capella. However, due to the exorbitant cost of the latter, they had yet to find their way into the hands of either nation. HACs were not cheap, either. Although their actual cost in credits had never been revealed to the public, it was estimated to be in the hundreds of millions. As such, they were few in number and heavily prized by both nations. In over 200 years of perpetual conflict, not a single HAC had ever fallen in battle.
“Well, the Nemesis is a good ship. She takes good care of her crew. And she’s taken out more than her fair share of those Itani bastards,” Raden said. “They don’t stand a chance.”
The blaring tones of the general alarm cut through the air.
“Speak of the devil… that’s ten minutes to Deneb.” Dylan checked the gunner terminal in front of him, then glanced at Raden. “Your stuff all calibrated?”
“Yup. Green to green. Ah, screw it. Might as well check it again.”
Dylan fastened his safety harness. “Ladies and gentlemen; please fasten your seatbelts. We may experience some turbulence.”
“Uh… what?” Raden asked as he reached down to fasten his own harness.
“Old earth joke.”
“I see… You’re gonna have to explain that one sometime.”
Dylan laughed. “Remind me after Deneb.”

Nice.

Didn't read it but it's pretty fucking good at a glance.