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

Cromwell or Vesy.  Once Cromwell was recovered, we could seek peace terms from a position of supremacy.”
     
    “We would have nothing to gain from kicking the Indians while they were down,” Murchison commented.
     
    “Except for the certainty they wouldn’t be able to threaten us again,” Uncle Winchester snapped.  “We made damn sure that Iran couldn't do more than bluster during the Age of Unrest.”
     
    “The Indians could lose their colonies,” the Prime Minister said, “but they couldn’t lose their industries in the Sol System.  Not unless we were prepared to throw the Solar Treaty out of the window.  I think we must accept from the beginning that any victory we win will be limited in scope.”
     
    “And we may need their firepower if we end up fighting another war with the Tadpoles,” the First Space Lord added.
     
    And if we take the gloves off here, they’ll do the same , James thought, privately.
     
    The Prime Minister nodded, once.  “How long will it take to gather the ships and assemble the task force?”
     
    “We’ve already ordered the ships to prepare for redeployment,” James said.  “I believe it won’t take longer than a month to ready the entire task force - maybe less, if we aim to deploy to Hannibal within the fortnight.  The real problem will be logistics.  I’d prefer to have our fleet train deployed with the task force, rather than risk having the freighters move in small convoys.  The Indians will understand our weaknesses, Prime Minister, and will try to target the convoys where possible.”
     
    “I was under the impression that tracking a convoy in interstellar space isn't easy,” Murchison said.  “The Tadpoles didn't intercept many convoys, did they?”
     
    “The Indians will have spies watching our bases,” James pointed out.  “The Tadpoles never had that sort of advantage.  They shouldn't have too many problems noting departure times and then it wouldn't be too hard to calculate a rough location.  In the longer term, we will need to pull additional smaller ships away from the border just to provide escorts to the fleet train.”
     
    “I imagine the Admiralty can handle it,” the Prime Minister said.  He looked James in the eye.  “ Can we win?”
     
    “Nothing is certain in war, sir,” James said.  “However, I believe we have an excellent chance of whittling them down and defeating them.  I do not believe they are willing to fight to the last.”
     
    “We would just need to weaken them badly,” Uncle Winchester noted.  “Their position is nowhere near as strong as ours.”
     
    “Unless we push them into a corner,” Murchison countered.
     
    “The point is that we cannot allow them to get away with this, as I keep saying,” Uncle Winchester hissed.  “This is not a dispute over who discovered a particular system first, but a schoolyard bully nicking your crisps and then kindly offering to give half of them back!  We cannot compromise beyond allowing the Indians to leave without a fight.  There’s literally nothing to compromise.”
     
    He looked at the Prime Minister.  “I propose telling the Indians to leave now or face the consequences,” he said, flatly.  “And then we assemble the task force and gird ourselves for war.”
     
    “We could always offer to concede their Great Power status if they left now,” Murchison offered.
     
    “That would still allow them to benefit from their crimes,” Uncle Winchester said.
     
    “People will die,” Murchison snapped.  “British spacers will die!”
     
    Uncle Winchester’s face darkened.  “Yes, they will,” he said, finally.  “But how many more will die if we look weak ?”
     
    James kept his thoughts to himself.  Privately, he agreed with Uncle Winchester; the Indians couldn't be allowed to benefit from their crimes.  But, at the same time, he knew that war was a gamble.  Victory would be costly and defeat was unthinkable.  If there was a way to