Read Ark Royal 2: The Nelson Touch for Free Online Page B

cities.”
     
    Ted nodded.  The government, which owned the entire Britannia System, had been offering very generous settlement grants to prospective emigrants.  If they chose to take the government’s offer, they would be assigned land on Britannia to develop how they chose or a homestead among the asteroid belts.  The policy, he knew, had helped swell the new colony world’s population remarkably.  In the long run, the projections suggested, Britannia would expand rapidly.  The planet’s birthrate was already considerably higher than its founding country’s birthrate. 
     
    Probably end up with another revolution on our hands , he thought, cynically.  Britannia already had representation in the Houses of Parliament – there was no point in repeating the mistakes that helped start the American Revolution – but some of its settlers wanted more autonomy.  But they already had more than anywhere else in Britain, being so isolated from the mainstream.
     
    He pushed the thought aside as the First Space Lord placed his fingertips together.  “You’ll be pleased to know that we have a rough idea of Task Force Nelson’s size and composition,” he said.  “Apart from Ark Royal herself, the Royal Navy will be providing two modified bulk freighters that will serve as escort carriers.  Each one can carry and support a squadron of starfighters, giving you some additional punch.  There will also be nine frigates that will provide an escort for the fleet.
     
    “In addition, the Americans have volunteered three carriers, while the French and Japanese are providing one apiece.  The Americans will also be providing the lion’s share of the ground combat element.  This means, I'm afraid, that they’ve demanded the right to nominate both your deputy and the ground combat commander.  Under the circumstances, we can’t really argue.”
     
    “They’re providing three carriers,” Ted mused.  “I’m surprised they didn't demand overall command as well.”
     
    “Luckily for us, you’re a hero in America,” the First Space Lord said, dryly.  “And both the Chinese and Japanese refused to serve under American command.  I doubt the French were too enthusiastic about serving under our command, but they’re bringing only one carrier to the party.”
     
    Ted wasn't surprised.  While Britannia and Washington were on the other side of Earth from New Russia, New France and Edo were both closer to the front lines.  Cutting loose a carrier apiece had to have worried their defence planners, even if they did want to make the joint defence of humanity’s space work.  Battles had been won or lost before, based on the presence or absence of a single ship.
     
    “So we’ll have six carriers,” Ted mused.
     
    “The Americans and Chinese are both sending twelve frigates,” the First Space Lord added.  “In addition, there will be a large transport element for the ground troops and the fleet train.  You should be capable of sustaining your operations for close to a year before returning to human space.”
     
    “Assuming there’s any human space left to return to,” Ted said, darkly.  “Where do we stand on new weapons and starships?”
     
    “We’ve finally managed to get a design worked out for a battleship,” the First Space Lord said, “one armed to the teeth with mass drivers and missile tubes.  But we’re looking at around two years before the first one can enter service.  By then, we should have standardized technology throughout human space, allowing our ships and components to become interchangeable.  As for modified carriers ...”
     
    He shrugged.  “Building another Ark Royal seems a waste of time,” he added.  “But we have a plan for a carrier that combines the best of Ark with the modern designs.  Still, we’re looking at two to three years before we have a working model.  We’re sheathing the modern carriers in armour in the hopes of providing some additional