What the hell is a private enterprise?

Chapter 557 Issues of Principle
Terren's words immediately caused an uproar:
If what he said is true, the Royal Air Force can only muster about 30 attack aircraft today, and at most, it can only launch less than 100 sorties before tomorrow.

Meanwhile, HMS Ark Royal has 12 Sea Harriers, which can only manage 30 sorties at most, for a total of no more than 130 sorties!

Bander couldn't help but interrupt him:

"Mr. Teren, the enemy has 100 submarines alone, which means at least 100 Gnats, and other surface warships can carry even more. The total number of Gnats fighters is at least 300!"
Even considering frigate support, if the air force and navy were to fight off all their aircraft, they still couldn't stop the gnats from invading, let alone destroy the Third Fleet on the high seas!

Terren immediately retorted:
"That's enough. Don't forget about Lakensi base! They have 38 F-15s to provide auxiliary air defense, and it's on high alert right now!"

That's right. Like other European countries, England also had imperial troops stationed there. However, due to the special status of the two countries, the empire also had troops stationed in England, and quite a few of them.

There are more than 20 imperial military outposts of varying sizes in Britain, but the largest ones are Lakensis Air Base and Milden Hall Air Base. These two large air bases have considerable combat and transport capabilities, making the Empire's combat readiness several levels higher.

Moreover, just over a hundred kilometers away across the strait, Helan and Bilis also have large forces assembled. As long as Daiying survives the first wave, the rest can be left to the Heavenly Army. No matter how much the latter wants to weaken Daiying, they cannot sit idly by and watch their homeland fall.

However, Band whispered dejectedly:

"Has the United Kingdom become so desperate that it can only rely on others for its own protection?"

Blair felt a pang of sympathy for the Sea Secretary's behavior and was about to offer him some advice when there was another knock on the door. His assistant quickly went to Terren's side and said a few words, after which the latter paused for a moment before giving everyone a wry smile:

"The latest news is that although we have enough anti-ship missiles, they are too scattered. It will take at least three or four hours to assemble enough equipment for the first round of reserve strike groups. We can only launch the first round of Tornado low-altitude attacks at least by 5 p.m. The fastest we can assemble now is 7 Tornado missiles by 12 p.m., which will be enough to launch an attack."

Alternatively, the already positioned HMS Ark Royal could be sent ahead to intercept, but if its location is found, it would likely be sunk by a saturation attack from gnats!

This caused the other generals present to close their eyes in pain, but just then, someone else pushed open the door and entered, panting and looking panicked, bringing new information:
"The Third Fleet has been deployed. According to the latest satellite images, more than 10 ships are moving forward at speeds of 60 to 70 knots, and there is also a moving smoke screen at sea, with a speed close to 40 knots!"

As the Secretary of State for Maritime Affairs, Bande immediately recalled the events of last year and knew that the worst had happened.

It's noon now, and at a speed of 60 knots... the Hans destroyer will definitely be able to approach the coastal waters before midnight on the 25th!

What's hidden under that eerie smoke screen must be a fast battleship. It's probably around four or five in the morning, practically within arm's reach!

Air Force Secretary Terren's eyes bulged out:

It takes the Air Force three to four hours to mobilize missiles, but the Third Fleet only takes 10 hours to cross 1500 nautical miles!
If they rush to release gnats in the near sea, how long can those expensive and scarce anti-aircraft missiles of the British last?
Blair couldn't hold back any longer and immediately screamed:
"Go quickly and call Prism Building! This crisis must be stopped!"

He then hurriedly left. After speaking to President Jefferson on the phone, explaining the importance of civility and appealing to the father-son relationship, the latter immediately stated that the Imperial Air Force was fully mobilized and would never abandon its allies. However, he then demanded that Britain fully open its airspace and hand it over to the Joint Command, and further requested command of the HMS Ark Royal.

Blair readily agreed to open the airspace, but the Royal Ark... ugh!

Don't assume that Band ordered the Royal Ark northward for a final battle. To be precise, carrier-based aircraft could do it, but aircraft carriers couldn't.

In reality, the decision was made out of necessity because it was uncertain how close Hans had gotten. Once it was confirmed that the main force of the Third Fleet was still in Greenland, the operation was immediately halted.

New orders have been issued: the carrier-based aircraft, destroyers, and frigates of the HMS Ark Royal task force will remain in the north as air defense, while the carrier itself needs to head south as soon as possible. The HMS Invincible in dry dock has been urgently flooded and is ready to sail out, joining the HMS Ark Royal to immediately head south to Holland for refuge.

There's no other way. If carrier-based aircraft are lost, we can squeeze out some money and replace them in a few months. As for destroyers and frigates... well, the upgrade plan is already in place, so we can grit our teeth and bear it.

If an aircraft carrier is lost, it's truly gone. It's estimated that there won't be enough funds to build a new one within the next five years, which would be a devastating blow to Britain's overseas strategy.

Without overseas forces, how can they siphon off resources and make up for lost military spending and equipment?

The Empire's desire for command of the aircraft carriers was wishful thinking, and Blair skillfully evaded the question. After hanging up the line, he paused for a moment and looked at his secretary, Frenk:
"What's Hans doing now? I mean Hans in the south."

Frenk: "Cole's hotline is probably bursting at the seams, but on the surface they don't seem to know it."

Blair: "It's not good to leave Hans out of it... What if Hans orders the Third Fleet to obey orders and return to command?"

Frenk: "I think those elusive guys are more likely to see themselves as orthodox and won't be affected at all..."

Blair: "So, for the Third Fleet, is it more important to fight us or to return to the homeland?"

Now Frenk was uncertain, mainly because there was very little information about the Lost Empire, and no one knew about the group of people behind it or their characteristics, making it impossible to conduct any analysis.

But he still dared to speculate:

"Even if they don't care about losing hundreds of ships and hundreds of submarines, it will still cost them a lot. And the fact that they specifically chose this time to set off makes me feel that... it doesn't matter whether they attack the United Kingdom or return to their homeland. The demonstration is the most important thing, as if they want to tell everyone that they are going to launch a major war."

"Who are we protesting against?"

"It's...oh, it's the Empire, it's the Empire!"

As if grasping something, Frenk hurriedly spoke, and Blair slowly nodded in agreement:
"I don't think there's any power in the world that can disregard the Empire. Although Prism Building suffered a setback, the military strength and resources of New Ceylon and South America have been increasing. The IAA is still hiring Argentinians to clear mines from the Falkland Islands and has not given up on developing it into a base."

If the Third Fleet's objective is to force the Empire to shift its focus to Europe, then it makes perfect sense, thus eliminating any immediate risk to Antarctica.

As he said this, Blair picked up a cigar, and Frenk immediately lit it for him.

Blair's voice continued to ring out from the rising clouds:

"The Third Fleet is not the United Kingdom's mortal enemy, nor can we regard them as such. In some ways, they are even beneficial to us... not very obedient partners, just lacking a little guidance."

Do you know what's going on with the London Stock Exchange right now? Good heavens, if the country really gets involved in a war, I don't know how many businesses and funds will flee overseas.

Let the Empire bleed! Don't give up contact with the Third Fleet; it's just that our interests haven't swayed them yet. Remember, the United Kingdom has no principles; its only principle is itself!

(End of this chapter)