Read The Trafalgar Gambit (Ark Royal) for Free Online

shaved his hair close to his scalp.  His eyes were hard and cold.
     
    “I trust that everyone here is cleared for this information,” Doctor Russell said.  His voice was as cold as his eyes.  “I shouldn't have to remind you that certain matters are classified well above most security clearances ...”
     
    “Everyone here is cleared,” the Prime Minister snapped.  “And besides, it may not be long before the truth comes out.”
     
    “Yes, Prime Minister,” Russell said.  He nodded to Ted.  “As you know, one of the great successes of the Ark Royal’s first long-range mission was to recover a number of samples of alien life from their colony world, both living and dead.  The living aliens were transported to a secure facility on Luna where they were examined, while we attempted to communicate with them.  In the meantime, the dead aliens were transported to another facility on the edge of the Solar System.”
     
    Ted felt a chill creeping down his spine.  Whatever Doctor Russell was about to say, he suspected, he wasn't going to like it.
     
    “Our principle purpose was to crack the alien genetic code and untangle the mysteries of their biology,” Doctor Russell continued.  “Our secondary purpose was to develop a biological weapon that could be used against them, if necessary.”
     
    Janelle gasped.  She wasn't the only one.  It was clear, Ted realised, that several of the people at the table, the men and women trying to steer Britain through the greatest crisis in British history, hadn't heard anything about the project until now.  The Leader of the Opposition looked particularly shocked.  Even the First Space Lord looked disgusted.
     
    “This was not an easy task,” Doctor Russell continued.  If their reaction surprised or annoyed him he showed no sign of it.  “The alien biology is completely different from anything native to Earth.  We might have prayed for a War of the Worlds scenario, where our diseases bring them down, but it is flatly impossible.  Our diseases will not infect them under any circumstances.  However, we did find something new.”
     
    The Leader of the Opposition looked revolted.  “Are you saying you developed something that will kill them all?”
     
    “We believe so,” Doctor Russell said, flatly.  “I’ll spare you the details.  Suffice it to say that we uncovered alien germs and viruses within the alien bodies and cultivated them ourselves, then modified their genetic codes to make them more dangerous.  The aliens should have no natural resistance to the newly-created disease.”
     
    Ted shuddered.  Humanity had managed – barely – to prevent the genetically-engineered disease genie from getting out of its bottle.  God knew there had been several terrorist plans to build tailored diseases to wipe out everyone they didn't like, with the diseases targeting physical features like black skin.  But there was so much intermingling these days that such a disease would almost certainly spread out of control.
     
    On one hand, he had to admit, a virus targeted on the aliens would be unlikely to infect humans.  But, on the other hand, the aliens would definitely retaliate in kind. 
     
    “This is madness,” the Leader of the Opposition snapped.  “You’re talking genocide.”
     
    “I’m talking survival ,” Doctor Russell said.  “The aliens started this damn war.  They haven’t told us what they want; hell, we can't even surrender to the bastards.  If it’s a choice between them or us, who do you want to survive?”
     
    General Stewart looked grim.  “Can you guarantee the aliens will be affected by your disease?”
     
    “I believe it will work,” Doctor Russell said.  “But ...”
     
    The General held up a hand.  “I am not qualified to discuss the morality of using biological weapons tailored to exterminate an entire race,” he said.  “Perhaps the Archbishop of Canterbury would be better placed to give us a ruling.