Years in the past mankind discovered that they were trapped – stuck within the solar system despite years of striving to escape. A force of unknown nature and origin, ships and powered satellites alike were destroyed as they passed beyond what became known as the Barrier.
When a new technology is developed that allows travel through man-made wormholes or portals an exploratory ship is built and sent out beyond the Barrier. The ship is immediately destroyed, but a small piece is sent back into the solar system holding the recording of a vicious attack by alien ships waiting just outside the Barrier.
As aliens secretly contact Earth authorities a new ship is quickly put into production and a new military force stood up, as the aliens