“Our paltry numbers mean we don’t have—”

“John,” Cook said. “You didn’t let me finish in my office. You left too soon. The Grand Fleet will have more Star Watch vessels than any fleet we’ve ever put together.”

“That will strip Earth of its protective warships.”

“We’ll be weaker for a time, until the Fifth Fleet finishes its repairs and new battleships join Star Watch. But we’re talking with the Spacers. It’s possible they’ll add their ships to ours. You have to look at the positives here.”

Fletcher turned away, studying the mountains. The idea of hell-burners raining down from the stratosphere made vomit rise, burning the back of his throat. Regular humanity had to stop the New Men. He understood that all too well. But he didn’t know if he could accept such an awful responsibility again. The fate of billions resting on his choices… Once, he would have eagerly accepted the new command. The truth was he wasn’t the same man after those six months in the void fleeing from the New Men. That dread time had stolen precious self-confidence from him.

“The Windsor League will add twenty-five hammerships to the Grand Fleet,” Cook said. “Each of those is worth two Star Watch battleships. In addition, you’ll have fifteen Scimitar-class Wahhabi laser-ships, all that’s left of the caliphate’s navy.”

Fletcher felt the air go out of his lungs. This would be a coalition fleet in the truest sense of the word.

“It’s getting worse out there for the average person,” Cook said. “People are frightened. Many here don’t know it yet, but the Commonwealth is starting to unravel at the edges. Some of the signatory planets are acting on their own again, just like in the old days. It took some hard negotiating, but the Social Syndicate and the Chin Confederation have agreed to send their fleets with you in the counter-attack. They’re the two most powerful dissenters. We need those battle groups going with the Grand Fleet instead of sticking around and causing trouble for the Commonwealth.”

“I understand all that,” Fletcher said. “But why does it have to be me?”

“That should be clear to you. You have a magic name now. It’s one of the prices of being a winner. Surely, you know what people say. ‘Admiral Fletcher defeated the New Men in the Tannish System. He can do it again because he already has.’”

Fletcher squeezed his eyes shut. If that was true, why did he feel like a fraud ready to fold at the first sign of trouble?

“If we don’t counter-attack soon,” Cook said, “the fear will grow too powerful all across the Commonwealth. Everyone will think of themselves first. Star Watch itself might splinter.”

Fletcher stared at the Lord High Admiral.

“Oh, yes,” Cook said. “In some units, the morale is awful. The alien Destroyer seemed like the last straw to a few.”