Action Stations

Recap

The Terran Republic, with its ever expanding boundaries, commissioned a new class of super battlecarrier designated the "Hand of God" class supercarrier, the first ship, named the "Hand of God" (TNS-9001), was commissioned as part of the Terran Republic Fleet in 2225 AD.
The Hand of God was ordered to the Wolf 359 sector where TN recon had reported some unusual readings and signs of a potential First Contact scenario. The Hand of God was to stay in reserve, getting no closer than two days jump from what the Terran Antiquities Service designated "Arak 4", a small planetary system near a diffuse nebula that blocked Terran long range sensors.
If this was a First Contact scenario with another race, every effort would be made to first take a peaceful approach to Mankind's first contact with another species. However, if the "natives were not friendly", the Hand of God would provide military support as a last resort.

Update

The Arak system is a Red Supergiant with a mass of 200 x1030 KG. Eight planets that make up the solar system surrounding the Red Supergiant. The planets have a preliminary designation of 1-8; four have moons (10) large enough for designation. For example, 4-alpha, 4-beta, 4-gamma, etc.
The Arak system has a diffuse nebula nearby (5 light years) which fills most of their night time sky. It also affects, even at that distance sensor readings. Therefore, preliminary attempts to probe the Arak System using long range sensors failed, so a probe was sent into the system for a preliminary look.
What the probe found was devastation. Arak 4 had until recently, been a thriving, insectoid-based civilization it appeared. However, TR Archeologists found a world devastated by massive planetary bombardment?and it was quite apparent the Arkains had not done it to themselves.
The damage was fresh?the alien bodies showing fresh wounds, so the word went out immediately for a tactical alert to the "Hand of God" and her accompanying ships.
The accompanying photo is a gun camera shot from one of the Hand of God?s F-92 Falcon fighters as the task force enters the Arak system. Also in the frame are the Devastator-class battle cruisers "Sheffield", "Rogers", "Eugen", and "Vostok". Bringing up the rear and hidden by the "Hand of God" are the Osprey-class light cruisers "Hanson", "Mao", and "Victory". The destroyer and destroyer escort screens are off camera leading the insertion.