A Small Colonial War (Ark Royal Book 6) by Christopher Nuttall, Justin Adams

allowed to send messages off the ship until the task force enters the Hannibal System.”
     
    John scowled.  “We can keep them from sending messages, Admiral, but it will still be a security risk.”
     
    “The Prime Minister is very determined to make sure the war is presented in the best possible light,” Fitzwilliam said, firmly.  “You, at least, will only have one or two reporters.  I will have a whole press corps on Theodore Smith .  They’ll all have signed the standard non-disclosure agreement and their stories will be checked prior to distribution.  I understand your doubts, Captain, but we have our orders.  We need to keep the press on our side.”
     
    John kept his face blank.  With friends like those, who needs the Indians ?
     
    “The looming war has already started to dominate the newsfeeds,” Fitzwilliam added.  “Our press corps, at least, is being reasonably responsible, but foreign media sources are going crazy.  We need to make sure we get our story out before the Indians have a chance to influence public opinion.  They’re already saying this is a war of choice.”
     
    “It isn't, sir,” John said.
     
    “Tell that to the reporters,” Fitzwilliam said.  He shrugged.  “In any case, Captain, if they cause trouble you have authorisation to stick them in the brig until the war is finished.  I believe that will be made clear to them too.”
     
    “Thank you, sir,” John said. 
     
    “The reporters we had on Ark Royal were pretty damn bad too,” Fitzwilliam added, with a thin smile.  “I know precisely how you feel.”
     
    He reached into a drawer and removed a datachip.  “These are your sealed orders, Captain,” he added.  “You’ll receive the standard orders through the datanet; you will, of course, ignore them once you reach Terra Nova and open the sealed orders.”
     
    “Yes, sir,” John said.
     
    “I don’t expect you to engage the enemy,” Fitzwilliam said, as he rose to his feet.  “Ideally, you should pass completely unnoticed.  We don’t want the Indians to know you’re there, Captain; I’d like to have a few surprises to point at them.  Don’t go looking for a fight.”
     
    His expression hardened.  “However ... if you are forced into an engagement and you can’t avoid it, I expect you to give them hell.  Beat the living daylights out of them.”
     
    “Of course, sir,” John said.
     
    “Good luck,” Fitzwilliam said.  “Do you have any questions?”
     
    “No, sir,” John said.  He rose and saluted.  “Thank you.”
     
    “Thank me when you come back,” Fitzwilliam said.  “Not before.”
     
    John nodded and strode out of the hatch, down towards the docks.  Nelson Base seemed to have come alive overnight; hundreds of officers and crewmen were transporting supplies from the stocks to the starships docked at the giant station.  He pushed himself against the bulkhead as a pair of carts rumbled passed, pushed along by a pair of burly Royal Marines who had been pressed into service.  Behind them, a couple of commanding officers strode past, probably heading for one of the innumerable briefings. 
     
    At least that explains why I wasn't invited , John thought.  The Admiral wouldn't want me to know too much if he was sending me into enemy territory.
     
    “Captain,” a voice called.  “How are you?”
     
    John turned and smiled as he saw Commander Juliet Watson.  She looked more confident than he remembered - but now, at least, she wasn't trying to serve as an XO.  He couldn't help feeling pleased to see her again, even if she’d been an unintentional nuisance on his first deployment.
     
    “I’m fine,” he said.  It would be nice to sit and have a drink with her, but he doubted he had the time.  “I’ve just got to return to my ship.”
     
    “I was hoping Mike would be free this evening,” Juliet said.  “I’ve got a great deal to show him.”
     
    John concealed his amusement with an effort.