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Chapters (42)
  1. Cover Blurb
  2. Contents
  3. Chapter One
  4. Chapter Two
  5. Chapter Three
  6. Chapter Four
  7. Chapter Five
  8. Chapter Six
  9. Chapter Seven
  10. Chapter Eight
  11. Chapter Nine
  12. Chapter Ten
  13. Chapter Eleven
  14. Chapter Twelve
  15. Chapter Thirteen
  16. Chapter Fourteen
  17. Chapter Fifteen
  18. Chapter Sixteen
  19. Chapter Seventeen
  20. Chapter Eighteen
  21. Chapter Nineteen
  22. Chapter Twenty
  23. Chapter Twenty-One
  24. Chapter Twenty-Two
  25. Chapter Twenty-Three
  26. Chapter Twenty-Four
  27. Chapter Twenty-Five
  28. Chapter Twenty-Six
  29. Chapter Twenty-Seven
  30. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  31. Chapter Twenty-Nine
  32. Chapter Thirty
  33. Chapter Thirty-One
  34. Chapter Thirty-Two
  35. Chapter Thirty-Three
  36. Chapter Thirty-Four
  37. Chapter Thirty-Five
  38. Chapter Thirty-Six
  39. Chapter Thirty-Seven
  40. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  41. Chapter Thirty-Nine
  42. Chapter Forty

The First Space Lord didn't seem annoyed by the question.  “Right now, the government is in a very weak position,” he said.  “A number of MPs are threatening to desert – or are facing the risk of having their seats challenged in recall elections.  If they lose their seats, we may face a reformed government that wants peace with the aliens, peace at any price.  And Britain isn't the only country having problems.  Both Russia and America may face political disasters in the next few months.”

“The aliens timed their attacks well,” Ted observed.

“Indeed they did,” the First Space Lord said.

Fitzwilliam looked over at Commander Steenblik.  “Coincidence?”

“We don’t know,” Steenblik admitted.  “It’s quite possible that they were watching us for years before finally starting the war.  There were all of those reports about unknown starships being detected on long-range sensors ...”

The First Space Lord cleared his throat.  “You’ll take the reporters and like it,” he growled, addressing Ted.  “You’ll have them bound by the War Powers Act, even the foreigners, so you can put them in irons if they really make a nuisance of themselves.  But it is vitally important that we regain the public’s trust.”

Ted sighed.  “Very well, sir,” he said.  He had a vision of the reporters walking through his ship, harassing his crew.  “I shall have them assigned quarters onboard Ark Royal.  However, I will not tolerate my crew being harassed.”

“That is understandable,” the First Space Lord said.  “You will have the power to deal with them, if necessary.”

Ted sighed, again.  The War Powers Act did give commanding officers considerable leeway to deal with reporters and other subhuman forms of life, but it was subject to review.  He could put a reporter in irons ... and, if the Admiralty found it politically embarrassing, they could renounce him after the war.

“Understood, sir,” he said.  “We’ll do our very best.”

Chapter Fifteen

Chapter Fifteen

The Captain, James decided, as he waited in the shuttlebay, must have realised that James had been speaking to the First Space Lord behind the Captain’s back.  It was the only explanation, he felt, for why the Captain had given him the assignment for babysitting the reporters, even though there were more junior officers – including Lieutenant Abramczyk – who could have handled the task.  But then, he had to admit, he certainly deserved some kind of punishment for breaking the Captain’s trust.  Having to deal with reporters was definitely cruel and unusual punishment.