Stokes was an Alliance rear admiral and vice commander of the 11th Fleet.
He participated in the National Salvation Military Council's coup d'état against the Alliance government, alongside his commander,Legrange.
After Yang Wen-li refused to take part in the coup, the 11th Fleet mobilized to face the loyalist forces, meeting them in a decisive engagement at the Battle of Doria.
Catching the 11th off-guard, Yang succeeded in cutting it in half, and Dusty Attemborough's squadron was sent to occupy the forward forces under Stokes. That Stokes' forces continued forward for quite some time was presumably due to the sudden loss of communications.
Eventually realizing the situation, Stokes turned to aid Legrage, but Attemborough's forces attacked fiercely, convincing him to turn and engage the smaller force first. Unknown to Stokes, he played right into Yang's hands. Attemborough mostly stayed just out of reach, only attacking when Stokes would begin to turn back towards the main battle. This way, Stokes was kept away from Legrange, who was defeated.
Eventually, the rest of Yang's forces joined Attemborough's squadron, critically outgunning and outnumbering Stokes's forces. Despite Yang's repeated offers of surrender, Stokes refused to relent, and was lost with the rest of the 11th Fleet.

(Source: Gineipaedia)