The background to story may need some explanation. It starts following the events recounted in Amelia's memory sequences in my story Coming to Terms and includes two characters from Disney's Tarzan, namely Archimedes and Jane Porter, as well as the relationship between Amelia and the latter referenced in another story called Amelia's Past and Promotion as part of her backstory. If anyone was wondering where that came from, this is where, and if anyone opposes or dislikes the F/F nature of that relationship then you should consider yourself warned from this point onwards - though that said, I hope that the story stands up well enough even if you ignore the relationship thread.

Precisely where the unconventional pairing came from I don't know, but there are some short videos on YouTube (one by TheNamelessDoll in particular being worth a watch if only for some pretty spectacular visual editing) as well as some artwork on Deviantart (notably some daring pieces by Strawberryloveu, who deserves as much credit as anyone for the concept). I have to admit, despite not really liking crossovers, they're a very fun couple of characters to write for as well! All the usual caveats about ownership apply (ie, that it's pretty much all Disney), plus all praise to Ken Duncan, the animation genius behind both Jane and Amelia.

So, anyway. Here we go.

The astral rain was falling on the windows of the brightly lit officer's wardroom of the Royal Light Ship Resolute, leaving trails as the droplets ran into each other and merged. The big ship-of-the-line was ploughing through the haze of the Lagoon Nebula, leaving a swirling wake behind it. In the wardroom, Acting Lieutenant Amelia stood with her back to the windows, buffed the triangular gold patch on her hat with her sleeve and smiled at the way it caught the light. As a badge of office went, it wasn't bad, even if she had her doubts about the durability of the black rosette attached to it.
"Have you ever seen anybody look as pleased with themselves as that?"
Amelia looked up at Midshipman Buckley, who was grinning at her from the other corner of the wardroom, his feet up on the table. She rolled her eyes and grinned.
"Of course I have, Buckley. I see you every day."
"Ah, but I'm not the one who got the brevet promotion," Buckley wagged a toe at her. "Nor am I the one who saved the ship."
"I'm sure the Captain will let you lead the next boarding party," said Amelia. "Or you could always volunteer."
Buckley laughed. "Volunteer? I don't think so. Don't you know that's bad luck?"
"I didn't know you were superstitious," Amelia said.
The young man grinned. "Well, it's probably bad luck to volunteer for anything the Captain suggests. Isn't that so?"
Amelia looked around as the wardroom door opened. Midshipman Dunn came in off watch, her long brown oilskin cape dripping on the floor. The orange stripy-furred feline took off her hat and shook the water off it.
"Hmm? What was that?"
"I said, it's bad luck to volunteer." Buckley tried to dodge the spray of droplets.
"I'd certainly say it was back luck for whoever has to go on watch next," said Dunn. "This storm doesn't look like letting up any time soon."
"I suppose that's me," Amelia sighed.
"See?" said Buckley. "Bad luck."
"That would be, 'bad luck, ma'am', thank you," Amelia tapped the rank insignia on her hat meaningfully. "Don't let the midshipman's collar fool you."
"Sorry. Bad luck, ma'am." Buckley threw her a salute. Dunn was drawing a hot coffee from the samovar kept in the corner of the room. She turned and handed it to Amelia as she passed.
"You'll be glad of it," Dunn grinned. "And don't say I didn't warn you."
Amelia smiled and took a mouthful before handing it back. "I won't, Dunn. I promise."
She closed the wardroom door behind her and stopped briefly by her small cabin- barely large enough for her bed to hang from the wall- to collect her own oilskin. Donning it and pulling it tight, she proceeded out of the officers' quarters and into the wind and rain. She wedged her hat firmly on her head- one of the benefits of a lieutenancy, even a brevet one, was that the officer's cocked hat was worn fore-and-aft instead of sideways, much to the benefit of anyone born with feline ears. The ship was sailing through a nebula and the drifting clouds hid the stars. Amelia squinted up into the ship's rigging, shielding her eyes from the squall, to check the sails before reaching the bridge.
"Acting Lieutenant Amelia reporting, sir."
Commander Chad, who was standing by the wheel, nodded to her.
"Good to see you, Lieutenant."
He was smiling as he said it. Amphibian that he was, the soaking rain didn't seem to be bothering him at all and he seemed to be wearing his heavy oilskin mainly to keep his uniform dry. Amelia stepped beside the Benbonian and took up the accepted officer's stance, feet a shoulder's width apart, hands folded behind her back.
"Congratulations on your promotion, by the way," said Chad.
"It's an honour, sir."
"And one well-deserved." Chad looked up at the dripping sails. "That was a daring piece of spacemanship."
Amelia nodded modestly. "I only hope I can fill Lieutenant Spicer's place satisfactorily, sir."
"Spicer was a good officer," Chad agreed. "This is not the easiest of callings to follow."
"Indeed not, sir."
"But nor is it without reward." Chad smiled. "You are aware, are you not, of the rules of brevet lieutenancies?"
"Sir? I don't follow."
"Well, should you survive this patrol and should Captain Forsythe approve upon our return, your promotion will be made permanent. No need to take that damned exam." Chad looked sideways at her. "And believe me, Ms Amelia, you should be glad of it should it happen. No action has ever intimidated me as much as standing before the examination board!"
Amelia laughed. "I hope I will only have to take your word on it, sir."
Chad looked up again. "I don't like running so much sail in weather like this. We'll reef in the topgallants, Ms Amelia, if you please."
"Aye, Commander." Amelia stepped to the bridge rail and raised her voice. "Second division! Reef topgallants!"
Spacers scrambled up the rigging, braving the gusts of rain. The shell-shaped sails began retracting as they hauled in the lines
"Make them fast to the uprights, there!" Amelia called. She turned to Chad and touched her hat. "Topgallants reefed, sir."
"Very good." Chad agreed. "Better safe than sorry, in these conditions. I recall a storm we ran into once, just after I joined Resolute as a lieutenant. We ran before it for three days before- hold on, what's this?"
A light was blinking on the bridge console. Amelia glanced at it. "Long-range communication, sir. Coming in over the ethernet."
"Get to the communications room, lieutenant. See what it's about." Chad's face was serious.
"Yes, sir." Amelia left the bridge, secretly glad of the excuse to get out of the rain. Chad didn't seem to mind it but felines were made for different things. She opened the door to the small communications cabin and nodded to the spacer on duty in front of the humming bank of equipment.
"As you were," she said. "There's a message being received?"
"Yes, ma'am. On the low-band aethernet. Maximum priority. I think it's a distress call."
Amelia's blood ran cold. "A ship in distress? Is it one of ours?"
"No, ma'am, it's not a ship." The spacer touched a hand to his earphones and adjusted the controls on the desk. "According to the origin code, it's a planet."
"A planet? Which one?"
"Naztar, ma'am."
Amelia blinked in surprise. "Can you get a picture?"
The spacer flipped a switch and a brass circle about the size of a dinner plate lowered itself in front of Amelia. It looked like a bubble was held between it, a shimmer not-quite-there layer. It dissolved into static and flickered once or twice before a picture developed. A young woman, probably about Amelia's age, dressed in yellow and with a mass of brown hair.
"...-orter, calling from the settlement Naztarville. We are under attack, I say again, we are under attack. We call for assistance. If there are any ships within range of my voice, we need help. We are citizens of the Empire. I say again, this is Jane Porter, calling from the settlement..."
The transmission fuzzed out again. The crewman cursed under his breath and struggled with the equipment. The picture and sound returned for a moment and Amelia caught a few half-formed words, almost inaudible, and a background suddenly filled with gunfire. Then the signal cut out and the shimmering screen returned. She looked down at the crewman, who tried a few more controls and then sat back in defeat.
"Signal lost, ma'am. I'm sorry."
"Can we reply?"
"One-way signal only, ma'am. The band has gone dead."
"Did you get it on record?"
"Yes, ma'am."
"Very good." Amelia left and returned to the bridge. If anything, the storm had become worse. A small waterfall was forming at the back of her cocked hat as the water ran off it.
"Commander Chad, sir!"
"Ah, Ms Amelia. Glad you made it back." Chad grinned. "What news from the void?"
"An emergency transmission, sir. A distress signal. The Naztarville colony. It's under attack. They call for assistance."
Chad's face grew grim. "Did they say who they were?"
"Yes, sir."
"Blasted civilians...if that was an open transmission, half the galaxy could have heard them calling. The last thing they'll be needing is to attract the attention of the Confederacy."
Amelia nodded at the name of the loose affiliation of pirate groups that the Royal Navy was attempting to clear out of the Lagoon Nebula. "Perhaps it's them doing the attacking, sir."
"One can only hope," said Chad. "In a roundabout fashion. Very well. I'll inform the Captain. The bridge is yours, lieutenant."
"Aye, sir." Amelia stepped over to the bridge console and called up a star chart. The holographic projection hovered brightly in front of her, the sharp green lines broken by the falling rain. Naztar was about two days' fast sailing from their current position. Just as importantly, perhaps, if the information on the map was up to date, it would also take them well clear of the storm. Amelia smiled and looked up, standing back at attention from the console as Chad returned with Captain Forsythe. The old man's ornate hat was sitting atop the hood of his raincoat and the few white curls of his wig were already plastered to his lined face.
"Good evening, Captain," she said politely.
"Lieutenant." Forsythe acknowledged her. "Mr Chad has informed me of the situation already. A distress call."
"We have the message on record, sir, if you wish."
Forsythe nodded curtly. Amelia touched a control on the console and the projection changed from the star chart to the distress call. Forsythe listened closely, despite the hissing rain. Perhaps it was the noisy distraction, or perhaps it was because she already heard it, but Amelia found herself paying more attention to the speaker than the message, despite the fact that her image was constantly having flickering holes punched in it by raindrops.
"Didn't leave us much choice, did they," Forsythe grunted. "Hah! 'Citizens of the Empire', as if that was some kind of protection by itself these days. Do they even know there's a war on?"
"Probably not, sir," said Chad. "I've heard of the colony on Naztar. It's only been there a matter of months. It's a jungle planet. Totally undeveloped. It hasn't even officially acceded to the Empire yet. The Confederacy would doubtless have looted it already if it had anything worth keeping. There's no industry there, nothing valuable. Just a few farmers and families."
"It would seem that they have some uninvited company," said Forsythe. "Very well. Ms Amelia, set a new course. To Naztar, at best speed."
"Aye, Captain!" She recalled the star charts and made a quick mental calculation. "Helm, come to port, three three zero, negative ten. Steady as she goes."
"Three three zero, negative ten, aye, ma'am. Steady as she goes it is." The Petty Officer at the helm span the wheel.
Forsythe grimaced approvingly as the ship began to turn and looked up at the masts. "We appear to have reefed topgallants," he remarked.
"My decision, sir," said Chad. "In view of the rain."
"How much speed have we lost?" Forsythe frowned.
Amelia checked the instruments. "No more than ten percent, Captain."
"Very good, then. Proceed."
"Yes, sir." Chad and Amelia saluted as Forsythe swept past them and disappeared. The Commander stepped over next to Amelia and smiled wryly.
"An unexpected diversion," he commented.
"Yes, sir."
"But hopefully not too much of an inconvenience."
"Yes, sir." Amelia smiled to herself. Perhaps it was the prospect of seeing action again, but there was a part of her that was looking forward to whatever there was to be discovered on the planet Naztar.

As soon as the Resolute was clear of the storm, Forsythe insisted that they raise as much sail as possible. Despite his grumbling, Amelia had the sense that the Captain was as eager as herself to reach the colony. He had posted an extra crewmember in the communications room and ordered the ethernet scanned for any further transmissions from the planet, but all their efforts had met nothing but silence. So it was almost with a sense of relief that Amelia was able to look over the ship's side to see the planet Naztar rotating beneath them. The emerald of the jungles was a brilliant contrast to the azure blue seas and the spotless white clouds. Buckley joined her in looking down. He whistled appreciatively.
"Looks nice," he remarked.
"Quiet there!" snapped Forsythe, who was stalking the bridge behind the young officers.
"Sorry, sir," Buckley stood to attention.
"Don't be sorry, be quiet, damn you," Forsythe glared and turned away from them. Buckley and Amelia shared a long-suffering look. Midshipman Whiting, a young canid, standing nearby, grinned.
"Do you hear anything, Mr Chad? Ms Dunn?"
The two other officers were wearing headphones plugged into the bridge console. Chad shook his head.
"Nothing, sir. No transmissions."
"When will we be over the colony?"
"Approximately thirty standard minutes, sir," said Lieutenant Costell, the ship's third officer.
"Very good. Mr Buckley, stand by on opticals."
"Yes, sir." Buckley moved next to a bronze stand with a viewing visor set into it. He adjusted a couple of controls on the column and put his face to the visor, seeing the view of the planet as it was seen from the ship's powerful telescopes.
"And keep an eye on the sky for any visitors," Forsythe went on. "We don't know who is behind this, ladies and gentlemen. I want no risks to be run!"
"Aye, sir." Chad nodded to the senior petty officer. "Mr Bryce, post two extra lookouts in the tops."
"Where are they, damn them," Forsythe growled, turning back across the bridge. "Well, we might as well make use of the time. Mr Arrow?"
The tall red-coated man snapped to attention. "Sir?"
"Prepare a landing party. Take two longboats. One division of spacers and a platoon of your Marines. You have my permission to draw on the ship's stores for equipment and provisions."
"Aye, Captain." Arrow saluted and left the bridge, calling out orders. "Sergeant Sackett! Summon your platoon to the main deck!"
"And a Fleet officer to lead the party and to take my warm compliments to the colonial authorities," Forsythe smiled grimly. "Any volunteers?"
Dunn and Chad were suddenly very intent in their listening. Buckley grinned and buried his head in the optical viewer. Forsythe turned to Amelia.
"Ms Amelia?"
"Yes, sir?"
"The honour falls to you, then. You will command the landing party. And Mr Whiting, would you like to act as second-in-command?"
Whiting hesitated and then stood to attention and saluted.
"Yes, sir!"
"Good hunting."
"Thank you, sir." Amelia saluted and cast a cheery grin at Buckley, who rolled his eyes. "Permission to pack our kit, sir?"
"Granted, granted." Forsythe waved a hand.
Amelia and Whiting left the bridge. Arrow, who was piling up equipment beside the longboats, smiled as he saw her passing.
"So you'll be coming with us, ma'am?"
"So it seems, Mr Arrow." Amelia stopped and smiled back.
Arrow touched his hat. "It'll be an honour to serve under your command again, ma'am."
"Thank you, Mr Arrow." Amelia bowed her head modestly. "I will return presently."
She went to her cabin, hauled her duffel bag out from under the bed and began packing it with clothing and equipment. She took her sword belt down from the wall and buckled it around her waist, adjusting the ride of the scabbard on her hips. Her hand closed around the butt of her sidearm and she stowed it in her belt as well. Hoisting her bag over her shoulder, she cast a last look around the homely little cabin and locked the door behind her. By the time she returned to the deck the ship had crossed over to the night side of Naztar and the crew were working to lamplight. Arrow had already got the longboats swung out over the side. They were piled high with stores and armed soldiers and spacers. Arrow had kept a space free for her in the back of the first boat and he helped her aboard.
"Are you ready to depart, Ms Amelia?" shouted Forsythe from the bridge.
Amelia glanced at Arrow, who nodded.
"Yes, sir!"
"Very good! You may depart when ready."
"Thank you, sir!" Amelia turned to her crew. "You heard the Captain! Lower away there!"
Spacers began hauling on the ropes holding the longboats, lowering them away from the ship. Amelia watched the view appreciatively, the Resolute's curving white, blue and gold hull hiding dozens of gunports seeming to stretch out in front of them. Then they were below it, looking up at the enormous flat underside of the big ship and with the planet spread out beneath them.
"Let go the lines!"
The crew released the ropes and the longboat was floating free. Arrow yanked the cord to open the longboat's solar sail and the engines whirred into life. Amelia took the controls and watched the navigator screen flicker into life, describing a course to the colony below. She turned her head and saw Whiting's boat following close behind. The bulk of the Resolute was quickly out of sight as the swift-moving craft cut through Naztar's atmosphere. Amelia shielded her eyes as they sliced through a layer of thick cloud, which left behind a layer of water droplets that began soaking into her uniform.
"Permission to speak, ma'am?" said Arrow.
"Freely granted," Amelia replied.
"I recommend against landing in the colony, ma'am. If it's still under siege, we would be making ourselves the target. I suggest making landfall nearby. We can fly the boats in later if it is safe."
"Good idea," said Amelia. She looked at the map. "It looks like there's a river running southwest past Naztarville, just a few hundred yards away. We'll be able to avoid the trees while flying low enough to hide behind them."
"An excellent idea, ma'am." Arrow held his hat on his head as winds threatened to sweep it away. Amelia smiled and guided the longboat down towards the darkened surface of the planet. The solar sail was drawing the last of the energy from the night, but it was clear that fancy flying was not going to be an option. At least they wouldn't have to fear their engine flares being spotted by anyone. The turbine behind her whined and cut out as the power failed and the boat began descending on inertia and anti-grav alone. Watching the numbers flashing on the map, she made a careful turn to starboard and increased the vertical descent. Looking over the side, she could see the river- a meandering band of even deeper blackness against the jungle, but as the boat neared it the moon burst through the clouds and the smooth surface suddenly shone silver. It wasn't the secret arrival that Amelia had hoped for, but she was privately grateful for the new light and the solar sail managed to deliver a small increase in power, making the engine hum as it powered up again. She throttled back and brought the longboat to a halt a few feet above the riverbank. A splash behind her indicated that Whiting had brought his boat in as well, albeit somewhat lower.
"Disembark," Amelia ordered quietly. "Disembark and stay with the boats. Mr Arrow, pick four men and come with me. We'll go and make contact with the colony. Mr Whiting, you're in charge here until we return. Make camp here tonight and prepare to move out at first light tomorrow."
"Yes, ma'am." Whiting saluted. "Good luck."
Amelia dropped onto the riverbank neatly and strode to the edge of the forest through a narrow field of waist-high grass. Arrow joined her with four Marines in tow.
"Stick together," Amelia hissed. "And move carefully. Watch underfoot."
They set off into the jungle. Amelia flipped open her compass and read the luminous dial to get her bearings. The going was not easy in the dark and, after a while, she had the distinct feeling that they were being watched. She raised a hand to signal a halt. Arrow and the soldiers responded instantly, but Amelia's keen ears heard a sound that went on for longer than it should have done.
"Did you hear that?" she whispered to Arrow. He nodded.
"Off to the right, ma'am. Not too far away."
Amelia scanned the trees. "Can't see a thing, damn it. Keep your eyes peeled."
She signalled to continue, but kept her other hand on the butt of her pistol. Her eyes constantly glanced off to the right, straining to catch a flicker of movement. Every now and then she thought she saw something. Then she heard a clatter of wood and a low voice said something she couldn't quite hear. She waved to her squad.
"Down!"
She dropped to the ground. Arrow was close behind her and she heard a series of soft whines as the Marines charged their rifles. Amelia drew her sword- not her favourite weapon, but one with the benefit of silence. She crept forwards and took cover behind a tree. She looked around it. The ground sloped away towards a narrow defile. Running water could be heard and she guessed it was a tributary of the river they had landed near. A few figures were gathered near the edge a little way off, but one of them had wandered off and was only a few feet away. Amelia narrowed her eyes and gripped her sword tight. She looked back to Arrow and signalled him to move forward. As the Marines crept through the undergrowth, Amelia stood and braced herself. The figure was moving steadily closer. It was now or never.
"Drop your weapons!" Amelia's shout broke the silence in the jungle. She leapt out from behind the tree and was on the figure in a heartbeat. To her surprise, it didn't put up a fight at all, but cried out and fell back into a bed of ferns, Amelia still on top of it. There were shouts from further up the stream as the others noticed. Lamplight flashed around the jungle, illuminating Arrow's bulk as he raised himself, rifle levelled. There were shouts and the click and whine of other laslock weapons being loaded. The Marines burst out of the trees, yelling and gesturing with bayonets fixed.
"I said drop your weapons!" Amelia's lips were drawn back into a snarl and she raised her sword, the tip of it poised beneath her quarry's chin.
"Don't! We surrender! Please!"
The voice caught her by surprise. It wasn't like any pirate she had ever heard. In fact it was oddly familiar. And the body beneath her was slender, and softer and warmer than Amelia had been anticipating. A beam of light fell across her and she realised that she was holding at swordpoint the young woman from the transmission. Her brown hair was a mess and her blue eyes were wide. Her features would have been striking indeed, had they not been drawn into a look of terror. The poor girl was so scared that she didn't even look at the blade at her throat. Her eyes looked nowhere except at Amelia.
"Who are you?" Amelia demanded.
"Jane...Jane Porter. Of Naztarville. I'm unarmed." The girl stammered, staring into Amelia's eyes. "Who...who are you?"
Amelia breathed a sigh of relief and smiled knowingly. "Your salvation, if I'm not terribly mistaken. We received your message a couple of days ago and arrived to assist. Amelia, Acting Lieutenant, Her Imperial Majesty's Royal Light Ship Resolute."
"You're...Navy?" The figure holding the lamp stepped forward. It was a man in civilian clothes, wearing a questionable fur hat, a rifle in his other hand.
"Indeed we are." Amelia grinned. Then she realised that she was still on top of Jane and, quite literally more to the point, was still holding a sword at her neck. She coughed, stood up and sheathed it, extending a gloved hand to help the other young woman to her feet. She took it gratefully and began brushing down her yellow shirt.
"Then thank the stars for you," said the man sincerely.
"We didn't know whether anyone had heard our signal," said Jane. "The aethernet is faulty...it was difficult to make it work at all."
"We picked it up a couple of days ago," said Amelia.
"We?" Jane looked past Amelia to Arrow and the others. "How many of you are there?"
"Fifty four. Spacers and soldiers. I'm in command. This is Captain Arrow, by the way, of the Royal Marines."
The big Cragorian stepped forward and bowed politely. "Ms. Porter."
"Uh...my pleasure." Jane seemed somewhat uncertain about the looming figure. "And, um, this is Bock. He's in charge of our militia." Jane waved to the man with the rifle, who stepped forward and nervously offered Arrow a hand that seemed suddenly very small.
"You have a militia?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.
"Well, that might be overstating things a little," admitted Bock. "What we have is me and few fellows with mismatched laslocks."
"How many?"
Jane and Bock looked down at the ground. Jane bit her lip.
"Not...quite as many as we had when the attacks began. There's not even a score of us left."
"And the civilians?"
"There's only my father and I left," said Jane. She looked around again. "But I thought you said there were fifty of you?"
Amelia nodded. "We landed by the river. Two longboats. The rest of us are back there. We needed to be sure that it was safe to approach. It is safe, I take it, since you're out here?"
Jane smiled. "Oh, yes. The enemy don't seem to come around this side of the town at night, so we come out to replenish our water supply." She waved at a pile of buckets and barrels stacked up by the stream. "Luckily, they don't appear to have figured that out yet."
"Indeed." Amelia made a mental note. "Would it be possible to move my boats to the colony at dawn tomorrow?"
"I'm sorry?"
Amelia sighed. "Mr Bock, if two Navy longboats suddenly fly overhead, are your militia likely to take any pot-shots at them?"
"They'd probably be too busy staring," said Bock. "But the town's not far by foot. If you're by the river it'll take longer to get back there than for us to get to Naztarville. We'll let them know you're coming."
"If it's all the same to you, I'd rather come with you." Amelia turned her head and nodded to her party. "Mr Arrow? Pick two men, send them back to the boats with my compliments to tell Mr Whiting he can proceed to the colony as soon as there's enough sun to charge the sails."
"Yes, ma'am. You two! Back to the boats!"
"You and the other two will come with us." Amelia hitched up her sword belt and smiled at Jane. "So long as you don't mind having an escort, Ms Porter?"
"Oh, not at all, not at all!" Jane smiled back. "It's very kind of you."
Amelia touched her hat. "I'm quite something. Now, about this water?"

The small group tramped back through the jungle. Every two men carried a long pole between them, suspended from which were filled barrels or buckets. The exception was Arrow, who had one over each shoulder, much to the awe of the Bock and his colleagues. Jane and Amelia were each carrying a canister as they walked ahead of the group, Amelia bowing to local knowledge to let Jane lead the way.
"My father's going to be so glad to see you," said Jane. "Everybody will. But especially him."
"How so?"
"Well," Jane looked a bit embarrassed. "He's...he's the colony's governor, to tell you the truth. But I don't like to wave that around."
"How long have you been under attack?"
"The trouble only really started a couple of weeks ago," Jane stepped around a twisted root that stuck out of the ground. "Watch your step there. At first it wasn't too serious. But it got worse and worse. So bad that my father ordered most of the other people to evacuate. Women and children first, of course. They took our only ship and left. We haven't heard anything from them since. And the tribes are using proper weapons now, too. Laslock weapons, I mean. We've never seen them use anything better than bows and arrows before."

"Have you had problems with the locals for a while?"

"A little, at first. But then we sort of got used to each other. Oh, there was the odd bit of cattle-rustling, but nothing, you know, dangerous. Sometimes we'd even trade with them. But then suddenly they just disappeared. We thought they'd left, but then the attacks started."
"Did they steal the laslocks from you?" Amelia stepped around the root and indicated it to Arrow, who was following behind them.
"That's the funny thing. They're not ours. We don't know who they got them from."
Amelia raised an eyebrow. "You think somebody gave it to them?"
"How else could it have happened? But I can't imagine why. Nothing important is happening out here."
Amelia laughed. Jane looked puzzled. Amelia's amusement died away quickly and she stared in surprise.
"You...really don't know, do you?"
"Know what?"
"The Lagoon Nebula pirates?"
"They don't bother us here. We've got nothing worth their time anyway."
"The Empire disagreed. The Fleet's been mobilised. My ship is part of a task group clearing the nebula out. We were on patrol when we got your message."
It was Jane's turn to look shocked. "You think it could be pirates?"
Amelia shrugged. "Who knows?"
Jane was quiet for a long moment. "I've heard about pirates...what they can do. You hear all the stories."
Amelia gave her a sympathetic look and decided that a white lie was appropriate. "That's all most of them are, Miss Porter. Just stories."
It didn't work. Jane looked even more downcast. "Even so...the thought of that happening here..."
"It won't," Amelia cut her off. "It won't. Not now that we're here. The Navy won't permit it."
She looked at Jane's face and reached out a white-gloved hand to place it on her shoulder reassuringly. "I won't permit it."
"You?" Jane looked up hopefully.
Amelia shrugged. "I don't want to have to report a failure to my Captain. I...don't take well to letting people down."
Jane smiled and looked over to her. "I'm sure you won't, lieutenant."
For some reason, Amelia was suddenly glad of the darkness of the night. She shifted the strap of the canister over her shoulder and raised her eyes.
"So, um...how far is it to the colony?"
"Oh, not far at all." Jane pointed up to a gap in the tree canopy, through which could be seen glowing clouds. The party emerged into a clear area where the grass was only knee-high. Amelia could see the walls of a stockade ahead of them, taller even than Arrow, made of cut-down tree stumps hammered vertically into the ground. Jane motioned her to stop, and Bock stepped forward to flash a signal from his lamp. The signal was repeated by someone up on the wall, and a gate creaked open.
"Well. Here we are, then," Jane smiled with satisfaction and set off. Amelia waited until Arrow drew level with her and walked alongside him, nodding towards the wall.
"Impressively done, wouldn't you say?"
"I still prefer the wooden walls of a ship," Arrow remarked. "But it's better than nothing. It will certainly make our task easier."
They stepped into the stockade and began unloading their water. Jane dropped her canister and brushed a lock of brown hair out of her eyes.
"With respects, Miss Jane, the governor asks that you see him," said one of the gate guards, picking up the water himself. "And...blimey..."
The man had noticed Arrow and Amelia and stared in amazement.
"Yes, thank you, Parol," said Jane. "Does he want to see me immediately?"
"Um, I think that was the intention," said Parol.
Jane sighed. "Well, no time like the present," she said. "Lieutenant? Captain? Would you like to come with me?"
"Thank you, yes," Amelia indicated the two Marines. "You two, find a suitable landing area for the boats."
"Yes, ma'am!"
Amelia smiled to Arrow. "Well, my friend, shall we go and meet the natives?"
Arrow grinned. "With pleasure, ma'am."
They followed Jane through the darkened town, their uniforms getting them more than a few glances of surprise. Amelia sensed that the path had turned uphill as they moved towards the only stone building they had yet seen. A golden light shone from its windows and the occasional sound of music could be heard. Arrow took off his backpack and rested it against the side of the building as Jane knocked on the door and raised her voice.
"It's me, father!"
She turned the handle and motioned them to come with her. Amelia took off her hat, partly out of respect and partly because the doorframe was too low to let her pass under while wearing it. Inside the stone hall a fire was burning in the grate, a gramophone was playing an archaic record and a small man was sitting at a desk.
"I said, it's me, father," Jane repeated. "We're back from getting the water. And...there are some people you should meet."
"Hmm? Ah, Jane, you've returned. I'm glad to see you." The figure looked up. It was a small man, probably not as old as he looked, whose mouth was hidden by the almost-comically oversized walrus moustache he wore. A gold chain rested around his shoulders, glowing red in the firelight. A quick pair of eyes bestowed a caring gaze on his daughter before they spotted Amelia and widened in surprise. "Great Scott..."
"Allow me to introduce...um..." Jane looked appealingly to Amelia, who took pity on her and stepped foward.
"Amelia, Acting Lieutenant, RLS Resolute." She put her hat on again and touched the side of it in salute. "We received your message and answered the call."
There was a prolonged scraping sound as Arrow squeezed himself sideways through the door. He put his hat on again and dusted down his uniform, although he had the decency to look a bit embarrassed when he realised that everyone was staring at him. Amelia coughed to break the silence.
"And this is Captain Arrow of the Marines. I have two longboats of supplies and reinforcements with me, waiting for daylight to take off and meet us. And my Captain sends his regards to you, your excellency, on behalf of the Fleet."
"My excellency?" The old man chuckled cheerily. "I'm afraid you've been misinformed there, what, doubtless by my kind-hearted daughter! There's not much excellence going on these days."
"You are the governor, are you not?" Amelia frowned.
"Oh, yes. Well, by default, I suppose. But we don't stand on ceremony around here." The man got up and went to shake Amelia's hand. Amelia found herself having to bend down to reach his. "People generally just call me Archie. Short for Archimedes, don'tcherknow."
"Governor Archimedes." Amelia wasn't sure what she had been expecting, but this wasn't it. She cast a sideways glance to Jane, who gave her a friendly smile. Aside from the apparently natural disposition to cheeriness, it was hard to see how she and the governor could possibly be related.
"You say you answered my daughter's call, then?" Archimedes said.
"Yes, sir. We arrived as soon as possible."
"And in good time too, I say!" Archimedes pumped her hand again and released it. "Another good idea of yours, Jane, to send that message."
"Thank you, father." She smiled.
"And you say you only just arrived?"
"Yes, sir." Amelia tried to get some life back into her hand. The little man had a surprisingly strong grip.
"I did see a star moving against the sky tonight, just before the clouds closed it," said Archimedes. "That must have been your ship, I suppose. There have been so many stars moving recently, though, so it's hard to tell. You must be tired after racing all the way out here just for us. Can I get you some tea? I'm afraid the coffee ran out a week ago, but tea is a much more civilised drink, wouldn't you say, eh?"
"Um, yes, your excellency?" Amelia hazarded.
"Ah, an officer and a gentleman!" Archimedes beamed. "Well, an officer, anyway. Glad to have you with us. I'm sure we can make you comfortable."
"Thank you, sir," Amelia said. "If you can excuse me, however, I need to be sure that there is a suitable landing area for my boats. They should arrive at first light tomorrow."
Archimedes smiled. Or at least his moustache changed shape. "Oh, jolly good! Can I come and see?"
Amelia tried not to look surprised. "I imagine, governor, that you can do as you please. Mr Arrow?"
"Yes, ma'am?" Arrow stood to attention.
"Let's go and guide Mr Whiting in."
"Yes, ma'am. May I suggest that you take Miss Porter and his excellency out first, and I shall bring up the rear?"
Amelia grinned, knowing that Arrow was not keen on passing through that doorway again and did not wish to slow her down. "Sterling notion, Mr Arrow."
She followed Jane and Archimedes outside and down the path into the little town. It seemed to be no more than a collection of huts assembled apparently at random within the confines of the wooden stockade, but there was a large open area on the northern side. Amelia paced it out and nodded in satisfaction.
"This should do nicely. Don't you think, Mr Arrow?"
Arrow, who had lost a piece of epaulette on the doorframe, grunted and nodded. Amelia gave him a sympathetic smile and turned to Archimedes.
"With your permission, your excellency, we'll land the boats here and set up an encampment."
"Oh, permission granted, granted indeed." Archimedes waved a hand. "The old town square might as well be useful for something. Now, you'll be needing somewhere to stay tonight. There is room at the town hall if you wish to stay in there."
Arrow made a sound like a nascent landslide. "With respect, governor, I would prefer to establish my tent out here."
Amelia chuckled. Archimedes shrugged cheerfully.
"Well, fair enough, fair enough, I say. Why not, after all. And you, lieutenant, as a woman you must have somewhere especially suitable. I believe there is a spare bed at my daughter's, isn't that right, Jane?"
"Um, yes, father, but-" Jane began.
"Splendid! All settled then!" Archimedes rubbed his hands together. "I'll see you all in the morning, then."
He turned, almost bumped into Arrow, and bustled off into the night. Amelia watched him go and turned to Jane with an enquiring look on her face. Jane sighed.
"He's a good man. A very decent...sweet old man. Sometimes I'm not sure he realises just how bad the situation is."
"I understand." Amelia said reassuringly. "But we're here now. So it can't be all that bad."
"No. No, it's not any more." Jane smiled and for some reason Amelia found herself smiling back. "Anyway. Come with me."
"Will you be all right here, Mr Arrow?"
"Yes, ma'am. Certainly better out here than stuck in a doorway all night."
Amelia laughed. "Well. I'll see you in the morning, then. First light, remember."
"First light it is, ma'am." Arrow smiled and touched his hat. Amelia returned the salute and set off after Jane.
"So what is it you actually do here?" asked Amelia, following her through the town.
"Well, I'm a veterinarian by training," said Jane. "Father asked me to join the colony to tend to the livestock. There was going to be farming, you see. But we lost some of the herd to theft, and once the attacks began...well, we lost the rest rather quickly. So now I suppose I'm the closest thing we have to a doctor."
"Ah...and how have you been managing?"
Jane looked down. "Better than I was at first...but to tell you the truth...I'm not sure that I'll ever get used to it. I've seen people hurt...die...it comes as a bit of a shock. Especially when you know...used to know them. I mean, it probably doesn't to you, of course."
"That depends on who it is," Amelia said quietly. "I apologise, Miss Porter. I shouldn't have asked that."
"Oh, no, it's quite all right." Jane smiled bravely.
Amelia put her head on one side and smiled back. It was hard not to warm to Jane. She was such a naturally bright soul, so lively, that it was easy to forget that this little community had been through hell in the recent past. Amelia couldn't help but be impressed at the way she must have risen to the occasion.
"Here we are," she said. "This is sort of the infirmary now. It's not much...but I did what I could, and some of the other women lent a hand before they were evacuated."
Jane pushed open a door, ushering Amelia through into a small house. There were only three rooms, one larger central one with two smaller ones off to the side. The central room had a desk in it, three beds so close together they were almost touching, a stainless steel refrigeration unit, and nothing else. A fourth and fifth bed were in the side room to the left. Jane closed the door behind her and looked around apologetically.
"I'm sorry, it's really not very much...my room is this one here on the right, but you're welcome to any of these. I don't know what we'll do if I get too many patients, though. I'm sure father can arrange somewhere else for you if this doesn't suit. Or you could even sleep in my bed."
Amelia raised an eyebrow. Jane turned pink.
"I mean...while I stay with father in the town hall."
"That's very kind of you, Miss Porter." Amelia smiled. Jane's blush diminished slightly and she gave Amelia a small smile in return.
"Please, lieutenant, as my father said, we don't stand on formalities here. Especially if we're going to be in close quarters together for a while. My name is Jane."
"In which case, mine is Amelia," replied Amelia, taking off her hat and tucking it under her arm.
"Amelia." Jane said the name almost softly. "Well. Goodnight, then, Amelia."
"And the same to you, Jane."
Amelia watched her step into the adjoining bedroom, and saw a last flash of her blue eyes as she closed the door behind her. Alone, she turned off the light and blinked until her night vision started working. She selected the bed at the end of the room by the desk, hung her hat on the frame along with the black cravat from her collar and carefully draped her sword belt nearby, ensuring that the handgun was kept within easy reach. She sat on the mattress, which compared rather favourably to the one she was used to back on the ship, and began unbuckling her shoes. It wasn't until she had almost removed the second one that something which had been preying on her mind finally used its teeth. It had been easily overlooked in Archimedes' effusive greeting, but it was there, and Amelia couldn't ignore it.
"There have been so many stars moving recently", he had said. That could only mean ships in orbit. But, aside from Resolute, who else had been here? And what had they come for?