“I know,” Ted agreed.  Hereford was the home of the SAS, still the best special forces unit in the whole damn human sphere.  For the Royal Marines to be feted so openly meant that they’d done something truly extraordinary.  But then, who else had captured an alien ship?  “He’ll be back soon.”

He smiled at the thought.  The Admiralty had handed out promotions all round, although most of the senior crew had refused to leave the carrier.  Given their fame, the Admiralty hadn't bothered to argue.  Besides, who else was more experienced with the ancient carrier?

His smile grew wider.  The aliens probably knew Ark Royal now, knew her and feared her.  For a ship that had come alarmingly close to being scrapped, it was no small achievement.

And for a drunkard, the medals on his chest – from every spacefaring human power and some of the ones that remained trapped on Earth - were no small achievement either.

“Yes,” he said, finally.  “We did very well.”

The End

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