Ark Royal hadn't needed more than a tenth of the output of one fusion core to keep her essential systems running while she’d been in the reserves.  The power requirements were minimal; Ted knew he could have reduced them still further, if he hadn't wanted to keep the starship in something resembling fighting trim.  Now ... inch by inch, his starship was coming to life around him.  Section after section responded to the call and came online; sensors activated, sweeping space for hostile threats, while weapons systems prepared themselves to fire on potential targets.

“We have four sections that need urgent replacement,” Anderson said.  Red lights blinked up briefly in the status display, then faded away.  “I don’t think our work was up to scratch.  I’ve dispatched repair crews now.”

“Good,” Ted said.  He wasn't too surprised.  Given Ark Royal’s age and the number of different components that had been worked into her hull, he’d expected more than a few minor problems when they powered up for the first time.  “Are we ready for deployment?”

“Main drive system; online, ready to go,” Anderson said.  “Puller Drive; online, ready to go.”

There was a long pause as Ted closed his eyes, feeling his ship coming to life around him.  In the reserves, she had felt as if she were sleeping.  Now ... power was thrumming through her hull, her drives, weapons and sensors were online and her starfighters were ready to deploy.  The oldest starship still in service, anywhere, was ready and raring to go.

He smiled.  “Contact Nelson Base,” he ordered.  “Inform them that Ark Royal is ready for deployment.”

“Aye, sir,” Lieutenant Annie Davidson said.  The communications officer had not been best pleased to be assigned to Ark Royal, once she’d been called from the reserves, but she’d started to change her mind after hearing about the loss of two modern carriers.  At least Ark Royal was capable of taking a beating and remaining functional.  “Message sent.”

Ted nodded.  Hardly anyone, apart from the First Space Lord and his staff, knew about Ark Royal’s mission.  To everyone else, she was just another ancient starship, pressed into service to fight a dangerously powerful foe.  Just like one of the civilian ships hastily being fitted with popguns, according to one reporter who’d been embedded on Nelson Base.  Ted had been offended for his command, but the truth had to remain concealed.  The reporter could be made to eat his own words later.

“They’re ordering us to proceed to our destination at once,” Annie said, after several minutes had gone by.  “There's a classified data package for you, sir.”

“Forward it to my console,” Ted ordered.  He looked over at Lightbridge.  The helmsman was looking keenly determined, staring down at his console as if he expected to have to react within a split second.  “Have you calculated an appropriate jump point?”

“Aye, sir,” Lightbridge said.  “We can reach our destination in two jumps.”