“They don’t have to be in more than one place at a time,” Janacek told him. “Eighth Fleet was essentially an offensive instrument, a means to project force against an enemy. Now that we’ve folded its modern units over into Third Fleet, of course, it also serves a powerful defensive purpose as a deterrent at Trevor’s Star, but it remains an offensive asset. Third Fleet’s superiority to anything it might face is so pronounced that it would be able to cut its way directly through any opposition to the capital system of any opponent, much as it Eighth Fleet was in the course of doing to the Peeps when the current truce was arranged.”

He unaccountably failed, High Ridge noted, to mention the name of the officer who’d been in command of Eighth Fleet at the time.

“Given that capability, what we really need to be concerned about is the protection of our own territory and the defense of the Havenite star systems we currently control against the purely obsolescent ship types any potential adversary might be able to bring to bear against them. The most cost-effective and efficient way to do that is to use the new light attack craft. We can build and man LACs in enormous numbers compared to superdreadnoughts, and enough of them will be able to hold any star system that needs to be held. In the meantime, the ships which we’re not currently completing will still be available if we need them later. We’re not scrapping them, after all. We’re merely halting construction. The hulls will remain in their building slips and docks, and all of the materials already acquired for their completion will be kept in orbital storage, as well. The money we save in the meantime can be used to build up the force of LACs we require for system defense and also to support the construction of our anti-piracy forces, not to mention the many vital domestic programs which urgently require funding,” Janacek added, glancing sideways at New Kiev.

“And,” Descroix murmured, also flicking a glance at the Chancellor of the Exchequer, “suspending construction will be a demonstration of our own desire for peace. Superdreadnoughts, as Edward so rightly points out, are used to project power. They’re offensive weapons systems, unlike the cruisers he wants to build as an anti-piracy measure. And LACs are even less suitable for aggression against our neighbors, because they’re not even hyper-capable without a carrier.”

“An excellent point,” New Kiev said, nodding vigorously as her anti-imperialism reflex triggered.

“I see.” North Hollow frowned thoughtfully for a long moment, then nodded himself, slowly. “I see,” he repeated more briskly, “and I completely agree, of course. Nonetheless, I continue to have some concerns about the way in which an alarmist jingoist might try to attack the new policies. In particular, I’m concerned about White Haven and Harrington.”

The effect of those two names was remarkable. Every other face in the room tightened with expressions which ranged from hostility through revulsion and contempt to just a trace of outright fear. North Hollow alone seemed unaffected, although all of them knew that was a lie, for he had even more reason than any of the others to hate and loath Honor Harrington. Nor was he likely to have forgotten that Hamish Alexander had been president of the court-martial which had ended his dead brother’s military career in bitter disgrace.