Nelson Base was a giant station, hanging in geostationary orbit over Britain.  It was actually older than Ark Royal, although it had been extensively modified in the ninety years since it had been constructed and then activated.  Ted frowned as there was a series of security checks, all of which had to be cleared before the shuttle was allowed to dock.  Inside, a pair of armed Royal Marines escorted him to the First Space Lord’s office.  But what was going on?

“Commodore Smith,” the First Space Lord said, as Ted was escorted through the hatch and into the office.  “Please, have a seat.”

Ted nodded.  The First Space Lord had once been a classmate of his, years ago.  They’d gone through Portsmouth together.   Now, one of them was the most powerful uniformed officer in the service and the other ... was a drunkard in command of a carrier most officers regarded as a national embarrassment.  The First Space Lord had put on a little weight, he noted, but his hair was still as red as ever.  Ted wondered, in a moment of insight, if his old friend dyed his hair.  He’d certainly been vain when they’d been younger.

The hatch opened again, revealing a thin-faced young man wearing a Captain’s uniform, but without a ship name on the jacket.  Ted scowled, not liking the implications.  By long tradition, the only people allowed to claim the rank of Captain were actual starship commanders.  In some ways, it was possible to be both a Commodore and a Captain, although Ted himself was a special case.  It didn't mean he drew two salaries.

“Captain Fitzwilliam,” the First Space Lord said.  The newcomer managed a perfect salute; Ted found himself disliking him on sight.  “Be seated.”

He waited for the newcomer to seat himself, then continued.  “There has been an incident,” he said.  “The Vera Cruz colony has been attacked.”

Ted frowned.  War seemed the only reasonable explanation for so much military activity in Earth orbit, but Vera Cruz?  If he recalled correctly, the world was on the edge of the expanding sphere of human settlement – and not really considered worth fighting over.  The Mexicans had won the settlement rights and started to settle the planet.  But who would have attacked the planet?  There wasn't anything worth taking.

“To be precise, the attack was carried out by aliens,” the First Space Lord continued.  “There have been three more attacks since then, although we only found out about them seven hours ago.  News moves slowly along the edge of the sphere.”

“Aliens?”  Ted repeated.  He would have sooner believed in pirates than aliens.  “Are you sure?”