She gave Descroix another smoldering glance, but obviously restrained herself from adding an “I told you so” to her analysis. Then she looked back at Janacek.

“Was that what you wanted to hear?” she asked harshly.

“Not what I wanted to hear, no,” Janacek replied. “But that doesn’t mean it isn’t what I expected. And the reason I asked you is that I agree with Elaine; if they choose to break off negotiations, that decision is tantamount to a decision to resume active operations. In other words, if they’ve decided to stop talking to us, they’ve also decided to start shooting at us again. Would you agree that that’s a reasonable conclusion?”

“I don’t think I’d apply the word ‘reasonable’ to anything that’s going to unnecessarily cost so many lives,” New Kiev said unhappily.

“I understand your position, but you’re still avoiding my point. Technically, we’re still at war with them, you know. Pritchart wouldn’t even need a declaration of war. All she’d need would be to decide, as commander in chief of their military, to resume operations. Wouldn’t you agree that it looks very much as if that’s what she’s decided to do here?”

“I don’t—” New Kiev began, then stopped and visibly bit her tongue. “All right, Edward,” she sighed. “I don’t like your conclusions, but, yes. I’m afraid I’d have to agree that that’s precisely what a decision to terminate negotiations could amount to in practical terms.”

“I see we’re in agreement, then,” Janacek said. “I won’t say I’m happy we are, because I’d rather not be faced with the situation at all. But since we are in agreement, I would further submit to you that if they’ve decided to resume operations, it’s our responsibility to prevent those operations from succeeding.”

He raised an eyebrow and held New Kiev with his eyes until she nodded, then shrugged.

“Well, the only way to do that is to… remove their ability to attack us.”

“And exactly what sort of black magic do you intend to use to do that?” New Kiev asked skeptically.

“Not black magic,” Janacek demurred. “Just Her Majesty’s Navy.”

“What do you mean?” High Ridge asked, leaning forward across the table and regarding the First Lord through narrowed eyes.

“I mean exactly what you think I do, Michael,” Janacek said flatly. “I’ve pointed out once before that if we know they’re going to attack us, the logical thing for us to do is attack them first. If ONI’s right, the bulk of their new fleet is still concentrated in the Haven System. If we act quickly and decisively, a preemptive strike by our own SD(P)s and CLACs would destroy or at least decisively cripple their modern combat capability. In which case, they’d have no choice but to return to the negotiating table whether they want to or not.”

New Kiev stared at him in horror, which was hardly unexpected. Descroix looked suddenly thoughtful, as did Stefan Young, but MacIntosh’s expression had gone completely blank. Janacek felt the consternation his proposal had generated, but he’d anticipated exactly that reaction, and so he simply sat there, looking reasonable and confident.