An intermittent crackle of laslock fire echoed across the foredeck of the Lyonesse as she powered through space, followed by a triumphant whoop. Doppler looked up from the eyepiece of the SIRIUS telescope in mild annoyance. There was a squad of marines at the rail behind him, practising firing against a target drone that was bobbing fifty metres away alongside them.

"Quiet, there!" Sergeant-Major Ko's voice cut across the celebration. "One hit out of three doesn't make you a sharpshooter! Private Baines, you're up! Charge and load!"

"Yes, sergeant!"

Doppler looked around as a skinny, pale-faced youth took his place at the railing and aimed his laslock at the target drone.

"Ready!"

Ko nodded. "Three rounds rapid, private! Fire!"

Doppler flinched as the laslock cracked. He tried to concentrate on the SIRIUS telescope, but failed as Ko's parade-ground bark rang out across the deck again.

"None for three! Are you sure you passed boot, Private Baines? You're sure you didn't stow away on this ship?"

"Yes, ma'am! It's just..." Baines hesitated. "The target in boot wasn't bobbing about, ma'am. And neither was I."

"No excuse! You're Royal Marines, not damned muddy-footed Imperial Army! You're soldiers and spacers too! Private Walsh, you do remember our motto, don't you?"

Another of the red-coated soldiers snapped to attention. "Per Terram, Per Astra, sergeant-major!"

"Correct, Private! By land and by stars! If you can't shoot straight from the deck of a ship then you joined the wrong service."

"I do hope their drill isn't distracting you." Amelia appeared behind Doppler, watching the group with faint amusement.

Doppler smiled ruefully. "To be honest, I have worked in quieter observatories."

"I'm sorry." Amelia looked down at him sympathetically. "I'd offer to postpone it, but I'm afraid they have a training regimen to adhere to."

"I understand." Doppler snapped shut the cover over the SIRIUS eyepiece. "Oh, well. My observations will have to wait until nightfall anyway."

"I'm glad it's not too much of an inconvenience." Amelia said. "But speaking of observing, would you like to join me?"

"Pardon?" Doppler blinked and then hastened after her as she strode over to join the marines. Ko saw her coming and called her squad to attention.

"Officer present!"

"As you were," Amelia returned her salute. "All proceeding satisfactorily here?"

"Not yet, ma'am, but it will." Ko nodded. "Once they get their space legs, they'll figure it out."

"Figure what out?" Doppler joined them.

"Basic space marksmanship, doctor." Ko pointed at the target drone. "Three hits on that target."

"Three?" Doppler looked out at it. The drone was a simple bronze rocket with a white round target on one side. "Is that all?"

A couple of the marines muttered under their breaths. Ko glared.

"Silence, there!"

"You seem to have some doubters, doctor." Amelia grinned. "Would you care to put them straight?"

Doppler laughed nervously. "I wouldn't want to show off..."

"Tish-tosh." Amelia stepped forward. "A moment, if you please, sergeant-major?"

"Ma'am?" Ko saluted.

"The good doctor here will give your troops a little demonstration." Amelia smiled. "You there. Baines, was it?"

"Y-yes, ma'am!" The young marine stammered at being directly addressed by a flag officer.

"Weapon, please, private." Amelia held out a hand. It took Baines a moment to realise what she was asking for. He snapped to attention and handed over his laslock rifle. Amelia took it, inspected it briefly, and handed it to Doppler.

"There you are, doctor. You may fire when ready."

Doppler took the rifle self-consciously and shifted it to sit more comfortably in his hands. He looked over at the target and raised the weapon to his shoulder as he took aim.

"Your safety catch is still on, sir," said Ko. "That switch just there by your thumb."

Doppler disengaged the catch, blushing hotly, and took aim again. Amelia glanced sideways at the young marines, noting the looks of condescending amusement most of them wore at the sight of the awkward civilian scientist hefting the brass and steel laslock. She suspected that she was the only one who could see into his mind, where she knew the wheels would be spinning, calculating ranges, shot-drop, astral drift, ether resistance and a dozen other variables too esoteric for most people to have even heard of and which certainly weren't taught in boot camp.

"Are you sure this is a good idea, ma'am?" Ko whispered.

Amelia saw Doppler's finger begin to tighten on the trigger, and smiled. "Watch this, sergeant."

The rifle cracked, sending a stinging blue bolt of energy streaking across space. It struck the target drone dead centre. Two more followed it a second later. There was a moment's silence from the assembled marines, which Ko broke with an appreciative whistle.

"Not bad shooting, doc. Not bad at all."

"Er, well, thank you." Doppler lowered the rifle, a little embarrassed as the soldiers gave him a small round of applause.

"Wish I'd had someone who can shoot like that with me on more than one occasion," Ko said, before raising her voice. "Right, my little lads! This civilian here just put you all to shame and showed you how it's done! Take your positions, and let's do it again until you get it right!"

Doppler handed the rifle back to Baines. "Thank you."

"No problem, sir." Baines said, in a voice not totally devoid of admiration. "Any time."

"Even so, we'll try not to make a habit of it." Amelia turned to Ko and nodded. "Carry on, Sergeant-Major."

"Aye, Admiral. I'll have this lot up to scratch by the noon watch, don't you worry." Ko touched her hat. Amelia returned the salute and began walking away with Doppler.

"I do hope you didn't mind that little exercise," she smiled.

"Not at all. I'm just flattered that you have faith in me." Doppler looked over his shoulder as rifle fire started up again. "It's been a whiile since the last time you handed me a weapon."

"It hardly showed." Amelia chuckled. "Perhaps we should include astrophysics in our basic marksmanship training."

"I suppose it couldn't hurt." Doppler said. "And I have to admit, the distraction was rather welcome."

"Your work is not progressing?"

"Well, the telescope works," said Doppler. "I got the first resolutions yesterday. It seems to working across all of the basic spectra. I was hoping to try some of the more advanced settings tonight."

"How will you know if it works?"

"Well, it might be a little difficult while we're in the shipping lane," Doppler admitted. "On some settings, the telescope can pick up the ionised trails left by ships. So there are signals all over the place here. A lot of false readings."

"Ah? Well, I'm afraid we can't leave the Gannic Route," said Amelia. "Not until we turn towards the Kovis Twins, at any rate."

"I know. It's all right." Doppler smiled reassuringly as they reached the bridge stairs. "I'll just apply some filters. They need testing as well."

"You know where to turn if you need any assistance," said Amelia. "Ah, Mr Constantine. Just who I needed to see."

Constantine, who was standing on watch behind the main console, touched his hat respectfully. "Ma'am?"

"I want to bring forward the first set of gunnery exercises," Amelia said. "Would you be in a position to conduct them this afternoon?"

Constantine frowned. "Well...yes, ma'am, if needs be."

"Gunnery practice?" Doppler raised a hand. "I'm sorry, but is that...I mean, would you be firing the guns?"

"Not during the first set, sir," said Constantine. "We'd just be using practice shells. Why do you ask?"

"Well, I assume that firing the guns would cause some vibration in the hull," Doppler said. "Some of the more sensitive components of the SIRIUS telescope may not react too well..."

"This is still a ship of war, doctor," Amelia pointed out. "I can't sacrifice crew training."

"No, no, I understand..." Doppler sighed. "Perhaps I could ask Commander Vendross to fashion some kind of cushioning for the base plate..."

"We're not scheduled to begin the live-fire exercises until next week," said Constantine. "Unless you're looking to advance those as well, Admiral?"

"I am," Amelia affirmed.

Constantine scratched the base of one of his antennae. "We could drill the crews on the after guns only. That would minimise the recoil vibrations at the bow where the doctor's instrument is."

"Would that be satisfactory, doctor?" Amelia looked back at him.

Doppler hesitated. "Er...well, I'm not sure. It would certainly help."

"Very well. Make it so." Amelia nodded to Constantine and turned to leave. Doppler caught her by the sleeve.

"May I have a word with you, Admiral? In private?"

Amelia looked up and saw the expression of concern on his face. "Of course, doctor. We'll confer in my cabin."

"You seem concerned." Amelia closed the door behind them as they stepped into the stateroom's luxurious surroundings.

"I'm sorry, but...yes." Doppler clasped his hands together. "You seem...rather...well..."

"Out with it, Delbert," Amelia smiled.

"Well, rather hurried." Doppler smiled apologetically. "All these drills...I know you said that it's a new crew and you have to get them into shape, and I appreciate that. I really do. But you had it all planned out and now you're bringing things forward, doing things quickly..."

"It's my prerogative," Amelia said, a warning note creeping into her tone.

"I know, I know, but..." Doppler looked up and saw the hardness in her eyes.

"I'll do everything I can to reduce the impact on your research," Amelia said. "But you must understand, doctor. This ship's primary purpose is to defend this sector. If there's a pirate on the loose..."

"The pirate isn't in the sector, though," Doppler reminded her. "And you said it wasn't your business. Isn't that true?"

"Of course it's true." Amelia narrowed her eyes. "What are you suggesting?"

Doppler, gathering up his courage, stepped closer. "Well...is it because you're worried that the pirate won't stay in Circe Sector? That they'll come here? That they'll come after you? That note-"

"Enough about the damned note!" Amelia snapped. "Gray should never have shown it to you."

"But that's what it is, isn't it?" Doppler insisted.

"So what if it is?" Amelia stalked past him towards her desk. "You saw what they did to the Advent Trader, Delbert. I don't want that happening in my sector. Not if I can prevent it."

"Which is understandable. Not to mention commendable." Doppler moved to stand in front of her as she sat down. "But..."

"We're still on course." Amelia said. "We'll get you to the Twins in time. But I will have this ship readied for action, too. The pirate who attacked the Advent Trader, the pirate who left that note...if he crosses into my territory, I want to be ready."

"I understand." Doppler sighed. "And I take your word that you won't let it interrupt my research. Although..."

"Yes?"

"You referred to the pirate as 'he' just now." Doppler raised an eyebrow and looked at her. "Not 'they'. Does that mean that you know who it is?"

Amelia cursed herself for the inadvertent slip. For all his own difficulty with words, her husband could be surprisingly acute in his observations.

"No. I don't know."

"But you suspect?"

Amelia held his gaze for a moment before she looked away. She stood up and turned to look out of the gallery windows at the ship's wake.

"I suspect. Yes. Such ruthlessness is not common practice amongst pirates, but I've seen it before. A long time ago."

"When?"

"During the Nebula War. I was only a lieutenant at the time." Amelia took a deep breath. "My ship was guarding a convoy when one of the merchantmen disappeared. When we found it, it was already under attack. We forced the attacker to retreat, but as they did so, they opened fire on her. She was unarmed. Unprotected. And they tore her heart out right in front of us to make sure we couldn't pursue her."

"How awful..." Doppler shook his head. "So you think it's the same pirate?"

"I don't know." Amelia kept her face turned away from him.

"You may be right," said Doppler. "That note was addressed to you, after all. As if the pirate knows you. If they're an old enemy..."

"Or they could just be well-informed," Amelia pointed out. "Flag appointments aren't top secret. There's no way to know without more information. And I intend to find it."

"Where?"

Amelia walked to the centre table and called up the holographic map. "There's a waystation about a day's sail ahead of us. Saint Albert's Hope. A staging post operated by the Eastern Iridium Trading Company to service their ships along the Gannic Route, though other ships dock there as well. We may be able to learn something there. News travels fast along the shipping lanes. At the very least, we could make sure that any ships nearby know to be alert."

"That sounds promising." Doppler scratched his head. "Though..."

"It's not too far off the route, don't worry." Amelia smiled. "We'll get you to your stars on time, Delbert. I promise."

"And I've never known you to break your word." Doppler smiled back. "Thank you."

Amelia patted his hand and went to open the cabin door to speak to the sentry outside.

"Pass the word for my Flag-lieutenant, corporal. And for Captain Rennier as well, if you please."

"Yes, ma'am!"

Amelia turned back to Doppler. "Will there be anything further, doctor?"

Doppler noted the formal tone that had returned to her voice and took it as a signal that their private conversation was over. He shook his head.

"No, Admiral. That's all I wanted to discuss."

The diversion to the waystation came as welcome news to the ship's company. Spirits were high as the Lyonesse altered course and powered away from the Gannic Route towards a distant cloud of planetoids.

"It's a break from all the drills and practice sessions," said Aurora, as she checked their new heading. "And the Company's outposts tend to offer good opportunities for trade or barter. If anyone on board is missing something, they're probably hoping to be able to obtain it there."

"I suppose I could do with an extra handkerchief or two," said Doppler, standing beside her.

Aurora laughed. "So much for exotic tastes."

Doppler chuckled. "Yes, I'm afraid I'm rather dull in that respect. Will we even have time for that sort of thing, though? Amelia – I mean, the Admiral – seems to be keen on pressing on."

"You can call her by her name to me, doctor, it's all right." Aurora smiled. "I think you're right, though. The crew may be about to be disappointed if they think they're going to have a chance to go ashore.

"Do you think we'll find anything out?"

"Maybe. Who knows?" Aurora shrugged. "The EITC keeps close eyes on all of its ships. And it won't just be the EITC there, either. Even rival shipping lines use their stations sometimes. So there'll be ships there from all over. No doubt at least one will have come from Circe Sector. They might have heard something."

"We can only hope so." Doppler looked ahead.

"Indeed. But if you don't mind me saying so, doctor, you don't seem very enthusiastic about it." Aurora looked up at him.

Doppler sighed and glanced over his shoulder to make sure nobody was listening. "Well...let's just say that I understand why Amelia wants to go there. But it wasn't on my itinerary."

"Try to treat it as a bit of a break," said Aurora. "It'll be a nice change from the ship's routine even if it doesn't last long."

Doppler grinned. "I've spent longer aboard ship than I have so far on this voyage."

"Ah, I remember. The Treasure Planet expedition." Aurora smiled. "The Admiral has told me all about it. You're tougher than you look, doctor."

"I'll take that as a compliment," Doppler said.

"I'm glad you can," Aurora grinned back. "Alas, my career to date has included nothing so memorable."

"You might have something to write home about before this voyage is over," Doppler said thoughtfully.

Aurora exhaled sadly and nodded. "Yes. That may be so."

Sensing a decline in her mood, Doppler changed the subject. "So...is there anything you'd be looking for at this waystation?"

"Oh, there are always things I wouldn't say no to, but nothing I'd go out of my way to find." Aurora shook her head. "I don't think I'll get the chance to go looking anyway. If I go ashore, it'll be with the Admiral."

"Yes. Of course." Doppler gave her a sympathetic look. "You know, I don't think I've really properly thanked you for looking out for Amelia the way you do. Being recalled to service and promoted so quickly came as quite a surprise to her. I don't know what she'd have done without you."

Aurora blushed modestly. "I could hardly have turned her down, doctor."

"Yes, but still...even when you're in space you're still doing it."

"It's not so bad." Aurora shrugged. "When we're at headquarters, I don't need to do any navigating. And when we're in space, there are far fewer meetings and documents to keep track of."

"There are some benefits, yes." Doppler agreed. "I don't miss having to teach at the university while I'm out here."

"I'm sure your students miss you," Aurora smiled fondly. "I'm sure you're a much better teacher than most of the ones I had at the Academy. I'm surprised that I passed basic astrophysics, let alone made the grade for Navigator training."

"I'm not surprised at all," said Doppler.

Aurora smiled shyly again. "You're too kind, doctor."

She checked the console one last time before she switched off the display and turned to face Lieutenant Pike, who arrived on the bridge and touched his hat.

"Afternoon watch reporting, Ms Mayflower."

Aurora returned the salute. "I stand relieved, Mr Pike. We're steady on course. You'll find all the details on the displays."

"There's still some lunch left in the wardroom, if you're interested," Pike said. "Although I'd hurry before Vendross and the engineers get there."

"Sound advice," said Aurora. "Would you like to come along, doctor? I'm sure we could make room for you."

Doppler shook his head. "No, no, I'd best get back to my cabin to review some of the observations from this morning."

"As you wish." Aurora touched her hat to him. "Good day, then, doctor."

Doppler left the bridge and headed for the companionway to take him below. As had become his habit, he cast a quick glance forward to check that the SIRIUS telescope was all right. It was sitting stowed in its cradle just as he'd left it, but a figure standing by the bows caught his attention. It was Amelia, her hands folded behind her back as she gazed ahead. For a moment, Doppler thought about joining her, but then he thought better of it. Shaking his head, he turned and went below.

Doppler had a transparent film unrolled on his desk. To the untrained eye, it looked as if oil had been spilled on the page, with patches and whorls of rainbow colour blending into each other apparently at random. He was measuring the colour bands with a small silver compass and noting the results on a piece of paper that was already covered with densely-written numbers in his spidery handwriting when the ship's loudspeakers crackled into life.

"Action stations! Action stations! All hands to action stations!"

Doppler sighed. Another drill? Still, he couldn't deny that it was a welcome distraction in its way. Glancing up at the cabin window, he could see that the colour of the etherium outside had dulled and changed to the burnished gold of evening. He must have lost track of time and worked through the afternoon. There was a cup of tea on his desk – stone cold – that he had no recollection of obtaining.

"Action stations! Action stations!"

Cursing himself for his absent-mindedness, he stood up, gathered his coat, checked that it was the right way around this time, and made his way out of the cabin towards the bridge. The crew were already well started on their race to their positions, and even Doppler could tell that they were doing it with greater sureness and alacrity than they had that first time the alarm had been sounded. Obviously all the practice was coming in handy. He arrived on the bridge and was about to nod casually to Captain Rennier when he noticed that there was a tension that hadn't been present before.

"The board is green, sir," Constantine turned to Rennier. "The ship is at action stations."

"Four minutes and forty seconds," Rennier nodded. "Thank you, Mr Constantine. We stand ready for your orders, Admiral."

Amelia was there, looking intense, a holstered sword at her side. She acknowledged Rennier and stepped forward.

"Very good, Flag-Captain. Lookouts aloft to report all contacts."

"Aye, ma'am."

Doppler crept across the bridge to join her. "What is it? What's going on? Have we arrived at the waystation?"

"That's precisely the problem," Amelia said. "See for yourself."

She handed him a telescope and pointed ahead of the ship, where a clutch of planetoids drifted in space. He raised the telescope and peered at them.

"I don't see anything," he said eventually. "Just some haze."

"Precisely," said Amelia. "No ships. No signals. And that's not haze. It's smoke."

"Smoke?" Doppler looked again.

"Yes. But we still can't get a clear view of it." Amelia turned. "Navigator!"

"Ma'am?" Aurora looked up from her console.

"Bring us in on a port arc. Cut speed to two-thirds as we enter the cluster but keep the engine capacitors charged for combat speed." Amelia took the telescope back from Doppler.

"Port arc, ahead two-thirds, aye." Aurora nodded.

"I wish we had a clearer view," Rennier muttered. "There could be anything in there."

"Keep your lookouts sharp and your batteries charged," Amelia said. "It's all we can do for now."

"Um, if I may," Doppler raised a hand. "If it's a clear view you need, my telescope might be able to see things yours can't."

"Ma'am?" Rennier hesitated, looking to Amelia. She smiled.

"He may have a point, Flag-Captain," she said. "Very well, doctor. Report forward and tell us what you can see."

"Aye, ma'am. I mean, right. Right." Doppler caught himself halfway through a nervous salute and hurried forward, pushing his way past spacers and marines on his way to the SIRIUS telescope. He climbed into the seat affixed to the side of its cradle and peered into the eyepiece as Sergeant-Major Ko directed two of her soldiers to drag the canvas cover from the aperture.

"Come on...come on..." Doppler watched the artificial colours bloom in the display as the telescope's filters began separating the visible and invisible light into constituent parts.

"What do you see, doctor?" Ko asked.

Doppler frowned in concentration. "I see traces of heat...and an usually high number of trace ozone readings."

"What does that mean?"

"Well, in simple terms, ozone is formed from breathable oxygen by ultraviolet light and the passage of powerful energy discharges," Doppler said. "And I'm detecting other trace readings as well...ion residue...acoustic shock patterns in the molecular substrates..."

"In Galactic, please, doc," Ko grinned.

"Weapons fire," Doppler looked up. "And explosions. Big ones. And lots of both."

"Weapons fire?" Ko narrowed her ice-blue eyes and glared ahead of the ship. "You'd best let the boss know."

"Right." Doppler stood up and hastened back to the bridge to give a brief report. Rennier and Amelia listened grimly.

"An engagement?" said Rennier. "We've received no word of any engagement here, ma'am. How old are these traces?"

"Well, it's hard to tell. I'd have to familiarise myself with the natural baseline readings for this area. But working from the cosmic standard background, I'd say perhaps two days. Maybe three. Not much more or less."

"Two or three days." Amelia crossed her arms. "Navigator?"

"Ma'am?" Aurora snapped to attention.

"As I recall, the Advent Trader was attacked in Circe Sector a fortnight ago. Would there have been enough time for a raider to cover the distance from there to carry out an attack here so recently?"

Aurora nodded. "Yes, ma'am. If she came directly and maintained a high average speed."

"You think it's the same attacker, ma'am?" said Rennier.

"It's too much of a coincidence to be otherwise." Amelia stepped forward. "All lookouts to stay sharp. Load the guns with high-impact shells. If they're still here, I don't want to be caught by surprise."

"Aye, Admiral."

"We're coming up on the waystation, sir," Lieutenant Macpherson called.

Doppler turned his head to watch as the Lyonesse crested a rise, soaring above one of the rugged planetoids, and obtained her first view of Saint Albert's Hope.

"Oh, my..."

"We're too late..." Amelia murmured.

The waystation was a ruin. A small town had been built across the upper surface of one of the flatter planetoids, centred around a tall stone lighthouse. Docks reached out like fingers from an open hand into space. But the few ships still at the docks were wrecks, listing and broken. A smoke haze hung over the town from a score of fires that still smouldered red among the ruins.

"It looks like you were right, doctor," said Aurora quietly.

Doppler nodded. "Yes...though I take no pleasure in that fact."

"Your orders, Admiral?" Rennier said.

"Are there any other ships in the vicinity?" Amelia asked.

Lieutenant Grath shook her head. "No, ma'am. All scopes clear."

"Then put us into orbit, Flag-Captain," said Amelia. "And assemble an armed landing party to search for survivors."

"Yes, ma'am." Rennier nodded. "Major Tansley? Muster your platoon on the quarterdeck. Mr Pike? Have your spacers prepare two longboats for launch and notify the sick bay."

"With your permission, Captain," Aurora stepped forward. "I'd like to volunteer for the landing party."

"Very good, Ms Mayflower." Rennier nodded. "Approved."

"I could come, too," Doppler offered.

Rennier shook his head. "I'm sorry, doctor. The Advent Trader was one thing. This might still be an active area. Besides, I could use you back on that telescope of yours, helping us to make sure that nothing gets the drop on us."

Doppler thought about protesting, but a warning glance from Amelia told him to think again. "As you wish, Captain."

Amelia was already on the deck, supervising the preparation of the two longboats. Surgeon-Commander Gray joined her at the head of a small column of medical staff, giving her a glance that dared her to make a comment. Amelia only grinned.

"First squad! Second squad! Third squad! Form ranks and present for inspection!" Tansley was calling his red-coated troops to order. Thirty soldiers formed up into three neat ranks, which Ko was stalking up and down critically, inspecting weapons and equipment.

"Longboats ready, ma'am." Pike dropped down from one of the small vessels and touched his hat. Amelia nodded.

"Very good, Mr Pike. Spacers and medics! Embark!"

Doppler watched as the landing party boarded the longboats and then launched, curving away from the ship and beginning to descent to the planetoid below. He tried to follow the lead boat in which Amelia and Aurora were riding, but the ship was already climbing into a higher orbit and they soon disappeared out of sight below it. He heaved a sigh and released the ship's side rail, which he realised that he'd been holding onto tightly ever since Amelia had joined the landing party. Ko joined him sympathetically.

"Always hard watching them go, isn't it, doc?"

Doppler sighed again and nodded. "That it is. I'm surprised you're still here, though."

Ko held up her cane and pulled a rueful expression. "Those days are behind me now, more's the pity. I'm lucky to be on this ship at all. Normally I'm stuck planetside. If Doc Gray hadn't agreed to let me come to keep up the recruits' training, I'd still be at the barracks."

"What happened?"

"On my last ship, some damn fool dropped some live ammunition on the deck," said Ko. "The explosion threw me into the mast. They didn't set my back straight and...well, the rest is history."

"I see. I'm sorry." Doppler nodded. "That must be hard for you. I know how Amelia feels when she can't go into space."

"It's not been easy." Ko's face clouded for a moment. "But you do what you can. Even if you can't go with them, you can still help them."

Doppler looked up, his eyes being drawn past Ko to the SIRIUS telescope on the foredeck. "Yes...perhaps you're right..."

"Perimeter at ten metres! Move!"

Major Tansley had his platoon scrambling out of the longboats before they had even finished touching down, their thrusters kicking up a cloud of grey dust as they settled onto the surface of the planetoid. Aurora watched the mad scramble as the thirty soldiers, bayonets fixed, leapt over the side and hurried into position, forming a circle around the boats about twenty metres across, those close to the ruined buildings of St Albert's Hope taking cover behind them and those less fortunate kneeling, rifles raised and levelled.

"Spacers, disembark!" Amelia led the Navy contingent over the edge. Aurora stood up, checked the cutlass that rode on her hip, and followed, jumping the couple of feet to the gravelly surface below. Gray and her medical team were close behind her. Aurora scanned the area but saw an unnatural absence of movement. Even the smoke rising from the smouldering fires seemed sluggish and slow-motion.

"Landing area secure, Admiral," said Tansley.

"Thank you, Major." Amelia nodded. "Leave one squad here to guard the longboats. The rest will form search parties by fireteam. Medical team will follow up behind. Report all contacts."

"Right, ma'am."

As Tansley moved off, calling out his orders, Aurora joined Amelia and shook her head.

"I don't see anyone, ma'am. They would have seen us land, surely?"

"Only if there was anyone here," Amelia said grimly. "Remember the Advent Trader?"

Aurora felt a shiver run down her spine. "Yes, ma'am..."

"Search parties ready, ma'am," said Tansley, touching his hat.

"Move them out, Major." Amelia stepped forward. "You stick by me, Flag-lieutenant. And you as well, doctor."

Gray wrinkled her nose, but complied. Amelia saw with amusement that she had a laslock pistol stowed in a pocket of her white uniform coat and guessed that she had obtained it from Ko. Gray believed in practising medicine as close as possible to the front lines. Aurora drew her own pistol and checked the safety catch as she followed Amelia. With a handful of marines as close escort, they began picking their way through the ruins.

"It looks like the assailant bombarded the town," said Tansley, noting the craters that marked the ground.

"And then landed and burned what was left," Amelia pointed to a building that had suffered no blast damage but which was gutted by fire.

"It was heavy-calibre shelling," said Aurora, eyeing one of the craters. "And a lot of it. Pirates don't normally carry this kind of firepower. Or use it so indiscriminately. They've probably destroyed everything of value."

"That depends what they wanted to achieve." Amelia looked down. A charred corpse lay halfway through the door of the burned building. "I'm starting to wonder whether you're going to have any work here, doctor."

Gray nodded. I'M INCLINED TO AGREE.

"They've expended a lot of ammunition to do this," said Tansley. "Even though it looks like there can't have been much opposition."

"They must be well-supplied," said Aurora. "Far better than most pirates."

"I fear you're right." Amelia looked up as they stepped out into a paved square in front of the ruined lighthouse. There were the remains of what looked like barricades set up at the entrances to the streets which led to the etherfront, but all were in ruins. Bodies, most of them wearing the dark red battledress of the Eastern Iridium Trading Company's armed forces but more than a few in civilian dress, lay scattered here and there in a pattern which suggested a retreat towards the lighthouse. Aurora turned her head and saw the large Company flag which had once flown over the waystation from the lighthouse's pinnacle lying in tatters on the ground, weighted down at one corner by a pile of rubble. She tightened her grip on her pistol as footsteps approached, but it was only one of the other search parties. Tansley briefly conferred with the second lieutenant leading it and shook his head as he reported back.

"No survivors found so far, ma'am," he said to Amelia.

Gray, who was kneeling over the body of one of the Company troopers, waved. Amelia nodded her thanks to Tansley and left to join her. Gray was already writing her explanation.

THIS MAN WAS SHOT IN THE BACK OF THE LEG. THIS IS CONSISTENT WITH BEING HIT WHILE RETREATING IN DISORDER.

"I certainly agree about the 'disorder', doctor," said Amelia. "What else?"

Gray turned the dead man's head around to show Amelia the laslock wound burned into the back of his skull. Amelia's eyes narrowed as she understood.

"Executed?"

Gray nodded. HE WAS TAKEN ALIVE. BUT NOT KEPT.

"Like the crew on the Advent Trader." Amelia stood up. Gray stood as well and nodded.

I'M SURE THAT AN EXAMINATION OF THE OTHER BODIES WOULD ALSO REVEAL SIMILARITIES.

"I have no doubt." Amelia turned as one of the other search parties arrived and reported to Tansley, who came over to join her looking solemn.

"No survivors anywhere," he said. "And Second Squad reports finding a...school."

"A school?" Aurora frowned curiously.

"For the children of the Company staff assigned here," said Amelia. "They're posted for two-year terms so they bring their families. Children. And the Company provides for them."

"Not this time, ma'am," said Tansley grimly. "There were no survivors there, either."

"I...I see." Aurora shook her head and turned to to Amelia. "What are your orders, Admiral?"

Amelia looked down at the body at her feet. "Command group will take one of the longboats and return to the Lyonesse. Continue the search for one hour and then bring everyone else back as well. Find what clues you can. There's nothing more we can do here."

"Aye, ma'am."

Aurora watched her go, not giving the ruined town a backward glance, and then turned to follow her.