A Savage War Of Peace (Ark Royal Book 5) by Christopher Nuttall Read Free Book Online Page A

dismissal.  “Thank you, sir,” he said.  “I won’t let you down.”

Chapter Four
     
    “There she blows, sir,” the pilot said.
     
    John nodded, leaning forward as HMS Warspite slowly came into view.  She was definitely sleeker than the pre-war frigates and cruisers the human navies had used to picket systems and escort the giant fleet carriers, but her dark hull was studded with weapons and sensor blisters.  She looked almost like a flattened arrowhead, he recalled, her dark armour providing protection against everything short of heavy plasma cannons or laser warheads.  Or a direct nuclear hit.  The heavy plasma cannon at her prow seemed to glow with deadly light.
     
    “I can fly you around her, if you wish,” the pilot said.
     
    “I’ve already seen her,” John said, a little wistfully.  No matter how many times he was shuttled to Warspite, he would never see his command for the first time again.  “Take us to the airlock.”
     
    The pilot nodded, then cut speed as the cruiser grew and grew until she dominated the horizon.  John braced himself, half-expecting a collision, but there was only a dull thud running through the craft as the shuttle latched on to the airlock.  He smiled to himself as he felt the gravity wobble, then rose to his feet as the airlock hissed open.  It was impossible to escape the sense that he was coming home.  He picked up his duffle bag, slung it over one shoulder and stepped through the airlock, back onto his ship.
     
    “Captain,” Commander Howard greeted him.  “Welcome back.”
     
    “Thank you, Commander,” John said.  “And I congratulate you on your well-deserved promotion.”
     
    “Thank you, sir,” Howard said.
     
    John allowed himself another smile as they walked towards the bridge.  He hadn't expected to be able to keep Philip Richards after they returned to Earth, not when his appointment as XO had only ever been temporary.  But he had no doubts about Howard’s competence - or, for that matter, of his ability to handle the crew.  If nothing else, Juliet Watson should have been disqualified for her inability to discipline her subordinates.
     
    “There’s a full briefing for you in your terminal, sir,” Howard said, “but basically we’re at full fighting readiness.  Armed and dangerous, ready for a scrap.”
     
    “We may need to be,” John said.  He’d spent two days reading intelligence reports and they’d all agreed that everyone was setting course for Vesy.  Three British warships and a troop carrier wouldn’t be enough to control the chaos, even if they held undisputed rights to the system.  “And the new tactical officer?”
     
    “I knew her from Sidney Smith as the assistant tactical officer , sir,” Howard said.  “She’ll fit in well, I think.  So far, her work on simulations has been perfect.”
     
    As long as she doesn't freeze up when she faces actual combat , John thought.  He pushed the thought aside.  He knew Sidney Smith’s commanding officer and he wouldn't have allowed an incompetent onto his command deck.  She should do fine .
     
    “Weapons loads are complete, sir; one hundred percent,” Howard continued.  “The bureaucrats don’t seem to have got in our way for once.”
     
    “Glad to hear it,” John said.  He sat down in his command chair and hastily reviewed his two private monitors, then looked up.  “I relieve you.”
     
    “I stand relieved,” Howard said.
     
    He didn't look too happy, John noted.  Being promoted alone had been a heady responsibility, but he’d been in effective command of Warspite for the last month.  John wouldn't have blamed him for feeling a little resentment, not now someone else had come in and taken over command.  But then, Howard had known that John was the ship’s formal commanding officer.  He’d just have to deal with it.
     
    “We’ll meet in my office for a proper chat in an hour,” John said, after a moment.  He’d need time to review