A Small Colonial War (Ark Royal Book 6) Read Online Free PDF

state,” Murchison said, quietly.  “We cannot send in the troops to give her a damn good thrashing.  They may thrash us back.”
     
    “That’s what they thought during the Crazy Years,” Uncle Winchester said.  “They were so scared of getting hurt, even if they could inflict far more harm on their foes, that they allowed threats to grow until they nearly proved lethal.  The death of a single soldier was seen as grounds to surrender and walk away.  And look how badly it cost them!  The Troubles might have been averted if someone had stood up and said enough .”
     
    “India is not a rogue state,” Murchison repeated.  “And if we concentrate the level of force we would need to deal with her, we would leave the border gravely weakened.”
     
    “We may be able to convince the Americans or the French to move additional forces of their own to the border,” the First Space Lord said, quietly.  “They might not be willing to take overt steps to support us, but they’d understand what’s at stake.”
     
    “The longer the Indians remain in possession of our territories, the harder it will be to dislodge them,” the Prime Minister said.
     
    “Then we seize their territories,” Uncle Winchester said.  “They have two Earth-type worlds we could capture.”
     
    “Neither of them is a worthwhile target,” the First Space Lord said.  “The bulk of the Indian shipbuilding industry is in the Sol System.  Off-limits.”
     
    “This is war,” Uncle Winchester said.
     
    “The logic behind the Solar Treaty remains in place,” the Prime Minister said.  “We cannot afford to break it.  Everyone would turn on us.”
     
    James nodded.  Acts of aggression were banned within the Sol System, if only to preserve humanity’s infrastructure and prevent collateral damage.  It was one of the few treaties that every interstellar power honoured. 
     
    Or every human power , he thought, wryly.  The Tadpoles didn't sign the treaty before they attacked Earth .
     
    “Parliament will have to make the final call,” the Prime Minister said, “but I will need to advise them.  If we go to war, and Parliament may well vote for war, can we win?”
     
    “Numerically, we have the advantage,” Uncle Winchester said.
     
    “They may have advantages of their own,” Murchison insisted.  “Most of their ships are post-war designs.”
     
    James felt his eyes narrow.  Someone had been briefing Murchison ...
     
    “We have modern ships too,” Uncle Winchester said.  “The fact remains that we cannot let the Indians get away with this.  If we fail to defend our interests now, when we have advantages, when will we start to stand up for ourselves?”
     
    “And if we win, we win at a terrifying cost,” Murchison snapped.  “We could lose everything in the crossfire.”
     
    The Prime Minister looked at the First Space Lord.  “Admiral Finnegan?”
     
    “We have been looking at our options,” the First Space Lord said.  “Admiral Fitzwilliam’s team has devised a number of potential operational concepts.  With your permission, sir, he will brief you on them.”
     
    “Granted,” the Prime Minister said.
     
    James opened his briefcase, removed a datachip and plugged it into the processor slot beside his seat.  The holographic starchart vanished.  James took the control and opened the files, displaying another starchart.  This one showed potential angles of approach to Pegasus, Vesy and Cromwell.
     
    He took a breath and began.

Chapter Three
     
    10 Downing Street, London, Earth
     
    “Time is not on our side, Prime Minister,” James began, “but it may not be on their side either.  We have to act fast before they can fortify their possessions; they have to secure recognition of their possession before the other interstellar powers bring pressure to bear on them.  Accordingly, we have good reason to seek a quick decision and so do they.”
     
    He paused for effect before proceeding.