War confusion

I recently declared war on a free country. Several strange things have happened.
1) the amount of forces they have are like 3 times the last time I declared war on a free country.
2) when I selected a target (from the list) to attack it told me that I couldn't attack for 9 months (was Jan, said not until Sept)
3) I sent 320 fighters against 125 interceptors (by selecting from the map) and all the fighters got destroyed with only 31 interceptors destroyed.

Can anyone explain?

What war level are you? What is the level of the war you declared?

Is it possible you are at a higher war level, meant to declare at level 3 to expand the empire, but clicked the wrong tab, and declared at your current war level, or one above that?

Something like that would explain the different force levels, and the combat losses.

No idea on the 9 month wait time. Are you sure it is a free country?

I am at 2 and declared at 2. It offered to take me to 3 immediately but I chose 2.

Yes it was a free country.

You might want to check the ammo and weapon quality as well. Also, when you attacked, did you have adequate ground support, like a land unit within 35km and was the target defended by a garrison that would have assisted the interceptors.