This Mighty Scourge by Adam Yoshida

Author:Adam Yoshida
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Publisher: Yoshida Media Company
Published: 2014-11-10T05:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER FOUR

The Clash

HMS Queen Elizabeth (R08) , Mid-Atlantic Ocean

Vice-Admiral Travis Childers watched from the bridge of the Royal Navy's flagship, the aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth , as the Russian aircraft carrier Admiral Kuznetsov pulled up alongside the rest of the group.

The Admiral, who had begun his career in the Royal Navy in the days when their primary mission had been to fight the Soviet Navy for control of the North Atlantic sea lanes in a projected Third World War had never expected that he would see a day like this. Nor did he ever expect that he would be asked to undertake the politically sensitive duty that had now been thrust upon him.

"I'll be in my quarters," the Admiral called out as he began to step below.

The Admiral has barely managed to amble through the door and sit down when there was a knock on the door.

"Admiral?" came a voice through that could be heard clearly through the closed door The Admiral got up and opened it to allow the man on the other side in.

"Your Grace," said Admiral Childers with a reverent tone of voice.

"I would prefer Lieutenant-Commander Windsor, if you please, sir," replied the middle-aged sandy-haired man who had stepped through the door.

"In this case, I think that the more formal style is appropriate," said the Admiral, "as I have been asked to address you as a member of the Royal Family, and not as a naval officer."

"I see," said the Lieutenant-Commander, who also happened to have been created the Duke of Edinburgh a few years earlier.

"This is a very sensitive business, your Grace. I have been asked to personally convey to you a message from His Majesty, on account of your refusal to speak to him directly with regard to this matter."

"If you must, sir," said Lieutenant-Commander Windsor with a sigh.

"His Majesty conveyed to me - conveyed to me personally mind you - that he is very anxious with regard to your position on this ship. Specifically, that he is very concerned as to... As to, well, your position in the action in which we are about to engage."

"Though I do not communicate with my father at the moment," replied Lieutenant-Commander Windsor, "I would think that my position here would be to his benefit, would it not?"

"I don't specialize in politics, Commander," replied the Admiral, "though I would tend to agree. In any case, there is no question of reassigning you off of the ship, simply one of changing your billet."

"You mean to send the rest of the wings off of this ship and Prince of Wales into battle while I fly a computer console somewhere? I don't think so," said the Prince stiffly.

"I could peremptorily order you to another station," said the Admiral without malice in his voice.

"Don't," said Lieutenant-Commander Windsor.

"I won't," replied the Admiral quietly, his shoulders relaxing.

"Thank you, sir," replied the Prince.

"You know," said Admiral Childers, "there are more than a few people in the fleet who would have jumped at the chance to avoid this battle in particular.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.