There were other colonies, including a handful of mining settlements and a stake on an Earth-like world that might become a second colony soon enough, but Britannia was too important to lose.  The Royal Navy stationed seven of its twelve modern carriers in the system permanently, while the other five were never far away.  It seemed unlikely that anyone could break through the defences and take the planet.

He scowled.  Humanity hadn't really fought an interstellar war.  Sure, there had been the skirmishes between Edo and Ghandi, or the confrontation between Washington and Confucius over a third system, but nothing that had broken out into general war.  Hell, there were even agreements that Earth and the Sol System would remain neutral if war actually did break out.  No one really knew how the latest military technology would work in open warfare.  There were simulations and exercises, but they were never as useful as the real thing.

And now there was an alien threat.  What sort of technology would they have?

“So far, the media has not caught wind of the threat,” the First Space Lord informed him, shortly.  “The Prime Minister and other world leaders has ordered a total blackout.  However, I do not expect that to last long.  Rumours are already flying around the datanet and it won’t be long before someone breaks the blackout.  It will certainly be broken when we start calling up reserves and conscripting civilians.

“Go back to your ship, taking your new XO with you,” he continued.  “Requisition whatever you need; I’ll do my best to make sure you have it.  If we’re lucky, this will all blow over, but I rather doubt it.”

Ted nodded in agreement.  The aliens had just attacked.  Unprovoked, as far as anyone knew, they’d just attacked – and not one colony, but four.  It suggested either unhealthy confidence or careful observation of humanity before opening fire.  Ted wouldn't have been surprised to discover that the aliens had surveyed the entire human sphere.  There was enough civilian traffic moving through interstellar space to conceal a handful of alien spy ships, if the aliens showed up on sensors at all.  Whatever the civilians might think, there was plenty of space between the planets to hide the entire human fleet.

They think they can win, Ted thought.  He shivered at the thought.  Only a fool would start a war they didn't think they could win.  What do they want?

“Yes, sir,” he said, pushing his thoughts aside.  The prospect of actually taking his ship into harm’s way galvanised him.  “I won’t let you down.”