Even though the Resolute was deserted, guarded by day and night by Canningbell's marines, the ship's officers still took turns standing watches and Amelia had to play her part, though even this was no longer the burden that it was in space. Jane would accompany her and, with no other souls on board, they would stand together on the bridge or, when Amelia felt the need to check something in some other part of the ship, roam the empty passageways, talking in a way that was impossible under normal circumstances. It was strange to hear the Resolute in silence, her engines silenced and with no pounding feet, straining ropes, creaking timbers, shouted orders or the other sounds that formed the background whenever she was in space. At first it was almost haunting, at its worst on the gun decks that Jane knew had surely been the scene of great violence during the battleship's long career, but Amelia's presence by her side comforted her and she soon grew accustomed to it.

"You still haven't told me what you needed the convoy manifest for," said Amelia conversationally one day, as they moved along the catwalk in the centre of the upper gun deck.

"Haven't I?" Jane blinked. "I'm sorry, I thought I had..."

"I just assumed it was something for your father's book," Amelia stepped off the catwalk and went to check one of the ready-use lockers set into the floor beside one of the heavy guns. She unlocked it and ran a critical eye over the blue-tipped shell and the brass-bound charge inside.

"Well...yes, I suppose it could be." Jane nodded. "But it was also because I was wondering about that ship we lost."

"The Preston Castle? What about it?" Amelia closed the locker and looked up.

"Just what it was doing there." Jane shrugged. "It just seems...strange. I mean...it left the convoy, which is strange enough. Then it ran into that pirate. And you remember the note we found on the captain's body with those navigational coordinates?"

Amelia nodded. "Yes, the new course the ship took."

"Well...it just seems strange to me, that's all." Jane looked down. "And I thought that maybe the convoy manifest would have some clues."

"Is that so?" Amelia smiled wryly. "You're quite the detective, Jane. Every day, I find out something new about you."

Jane blushed. "There's not much to find out..."

"On the contrary, Jane," Amelia took her hand. "You never cease to amaze me. What have you uncovered?"

"Nothing we didn't already know," Jane sighed. "Mixed cargo, captain plotted that new course and so on...but I still don't understand why they did it."

"It could have just been panic," said Amelia. "Convoys move at the speed of the slowest ship. Sometimes the faster ones lose patience and think they've got a better chance of escaping the enemy if they make a dash for it."

"Yes...maybe." Jane nodded. "And the pirates could have been waiting for them."

"Exactly. And a ship that size wouldn't need a home base, if it could keep raiding," said Amelia. "It could take all the food it needed from its victims. All the supplies, too."

"And the Preston Castle certainly had those," said Jane. "Guns, ammunition, food, medical supplies...everything you'd need to survive, all on one ship..."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "What are you saying, Jane?"

"Nothing...it's just..." Jane shrugged. "It's just a lot of coincidences, that's all. The exact ship you'd want to capture wanders off from the convoy, following exactly the course to take it exactly into your trap? How did the pirates know to be there? I suppose it might just have been luck, but..."

Amelia frowned. "Yes...it does paint a rather ugly picture, doesn't it. Have you taken any of this to Captain Forsythe?"

Jane shook her head. "No, none of it...I wanted to talk to you first...I suppose to make sure I wasn't going crazy..."

Amelia chuckled. "Well, you're certainly not that."

Footsteps on the companionway made them look up. Surgeon-Lieutenant Gray, carrying her medical kit, descended to the gun deck and looked up at them in apparent surprise. Sergeant Ko was following her a few paces behind. Jane smiled a greeting. Amelia touched her hat.

"Welcome aboard, Doctor. Sergeant."

"Ma'am." Ko touched her hat politely. Gray nodded economically and wrote her reply in her notebook.

I AM RETURNING SOME ITEMS TO THE DISPENSARY.

"I didn't realise you'd been aboard, ma'am," said Jane.

I WAS CALLED TO ATTEND A PATIENT IN THE TOWN, Gray told them. A CIVILIAN. A DIFFICULT BIRTH.

Amelia smiled. "You are on liberty, you know, doctor, just like the rest of us. And that goes for you as well, sergeant."

"I was with the doctor when she received the call-out, ma'am," said Ko, a little too quickly. "There wasn't time to find anyone else in case she needed help."

"Is that right?" There was a flicker of amusement in Amelia's eyes as she turned to Gray, who was already writing her response.

THEY ARE SHORT OF SOME MEDICAL SUPPLIES. IT SEEMS THAT SOME CRUCIAL BASIC MEDICATIONS WERE LOST WITH THE PRESTON CASTLE.

Jane glanced at Amelia at the word 'crucial'. "Yes...it seems that quite a lot went missing on that ship."

Gray nodded. YOU HAVE TAKEN AN INTEREST IN THE CASE?

"Oh, just some idle thoughts, ma'am," said Jane.

"Miss Porter has drawn my attention to some elements that may warrant further attention," said Amelia.

THE ROMPER MEETING THE PIRATE? THE FORTUITOUS NATURE OF HER CARGO?

"Nothing gets past you, does it, doctor?" Amelia smiled.

YOU SUSPECT A CONSPIRACY?

"Well, I don't know about a conspiracy," said Jane. "But...well, thinking about it..."

WHO WOULD HAVE BEEN INVOLVED?

Jane frowned. "Well...there aren't many people it could have been. The captain of the Preston Castle? The man the pirates killed as soon as they went aboard?"

"To stop him from talking, you think?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Maybe. If he knew. If he'd been the one who arranged it. They did steal everything from his cabin, after all."

"But they missed the orders in that pouch in his coat," said Amelia.

WHY WOULD HE HAVE CARRIED ORDERS THAT WOULD INCRIMINATE HIM? Gray looked dubious. IF IT WAS HIS PLAN, HE NEED NOT HAVE COMMITTED ANYTHING TO PAPER.

"Who else could have given it to him, though?" asked Jane. "He was under Company orders to stay with the convoy."

"Which means that whoever it was who gave him the orders was someone with authority over both..." said Amelia. "Oh, dear..."

Jane bit her lip. "Mr Callario did seem reluctant to let us go and look for the missing ship..."

"And he hadn't asked for us to escort the convoy, either," said Amelia. "You'd have to be supremely confident to pass up an offer of naval escort in an area where pirates are active."

AS CONVOY DIRECTOR, HE WOULD HAVE HAD THE POWER TO DETERMINE THE CARGO, pointed out Gray. HE COULD LOAD THE SHIP AND TELL IT WHERE TO BE.

"And he decided to abandon it rather than try to salvage it, didn't he?" Amelia murmured. "Rather quickly, too."

"Are you sure about all this, ma'am?" Ko raised an eyebrow.

Jane shook her head. "No, none of it. It's merely...a string of coincidences. But it might not be Mr Callario. After all, Captain Bennings would have known what was on the ships he was protecting, too. He might have seen his chance and taken it."

"He did say that he didn't see the Preston Castle leaving the convoy and neither did his other escorts..." mused Amelia.

HE COULD HAVE REDEPLOYED THE SLOOPS ANYWHERE HE WANTED, Gray pointed out. HE COULD HAVE ARRANGED A GAP IN THE DEFENSIVE SCREEN.

"That's a suspicious mind you have there, doctor," said Amelia. Gray shrugged, apparently taking that as a compliment.

"But…there's not actually any evidence for any of this, is there?" said Ko. "You'd have hung the bastard by now if there was."

"It's not very comprehensive," admitted Amelia. "I certainly wouldn't be making accusations against a Company agent or a Company officer without something a bit more conclusive."

Gray nodded.

"Yes, I'm inclined to agree," said Jane. "It is all rather hard to believe. I'm just glad you didn't laugh me out of the room."

Amelia smiled. "As if I would."

A RATIONAL PERSON WOULD ADMIT THAT IT IS AT LEAST PLAUSIBLE, said Gray.

"I've known people who'd sell out their own family for a few pieces of silver," said Ko. "There's not much that you won't find someone to do for a price."

"But we must keep these suspicions to ourselves for now," Amelia said firmly. "Word travels fast in port. If he finds out that we're even thinking this…he could bury any trail that there is to follow."

"Aye, ma'am." Ko nodded. "He won't hear it from me."

"And you, doctor? I trust that we can count on your confidentiality." Amelia turned to her.

OF COURSE. Gray looked offended.

"Any signs, any thoughts, though," said Amelia, "And I want us all to know about it. Are we understood?"

"Perfectly," said Jane.

Amelia nodded. "Well, then...carry on, doctor. And you as well, sergeant, if you are determined to accompany her."

Ko coughed awkwardly. "Aye, ma'am."

Amelia grinned. "Come on, Miss Porter. Let's finish our inspection."

Although the Resolute and her crew were at liberty in Fort Loyalty, the Company convoy under Callario's control was still busy. It took over a week for all the military supplies to be unloaded, and some of the Company ships made short journeys to other settlements in the archipelago to make deliveries or try their luck with what little commerce could be found. Bennings had sent his sloops to accompany them and it was with some relief that they reported no contact or sightings of the enemy. Having explored Loyalty's modest diversions, Amelia and Jane began spending more of their time simply enjoying each other's company either in their rooms, at some secluded vantage point in the hills or on board the ship during Amelia's watches. Late in the morning of the tenth day in port, Jane was sitting in her room sorting through the latest pile of papers from her father. The surface of the bed had long since vanished and Jane had begun using the floor as auxiliary storage space. Amelia stood in the doorway and watched her with interest.

"We are going to be able to fit it all back on the ship, aren't we?" she asked.

Jane laughed. "I certainly hope so! It's all these questionnaires, you see. Daddy did manage to get them onto the Company ships after all, and a lot of your shipmates must have run out of things to do in town because there's been a deluge of responses from them."

"Anything interesting?"

"Oh, I have no idea," said Jane. "I'm just categorising them, I'm not reading them yet."

"I don't suppose that Captain Forsythe has replied?" Amelia looked over Jane's shoulder.

"Not yet," Jane grinned. "But Commander Chad has. And Captain Arrow. I think I saw one from Mr Bennings in here, and Mr Callario as well."

"Callario?" Amelia raised her eyebrow. "You know, Jane, in light of our discussion with Dr Gray..."

"I've already thought of that," Jane smiled proudly. "That was one of the few that I have read."

"And?"

Jane's expression fell. "Nothing. No clues at all. In fact it's a rather boring summary of the shipping regulations and Company procedures. Well, the parts of it that don't read like an advertisement, at least."

"And anything from Captain Bennings?"

"Nothing from him either," said Jane. "He mentions that ship going romping and being attacked but there's no indication that he knew about it ahead of time."

"Oh." Amelia sighed. "Well...I suppose it was a bit much to expect our spy to incriminate themselves."

"Yes, they probably wouldn't have replied at all to daddy," said Jane. She paused. "Unless they thought that staying silence would be suspicious, in which case they definitely would have replied..."

Amelia smiled at her sadly. "Don't get yourself tied up in knots with that kind of thinking, my dear. That way lies madness."

Jane nodded ruefully. "Yes, I'm afraid you're right...as usual. I just can't help thinking that it wasn't right, what happened, and how it happened. And I'm sure there are clues I haven't seen...I just can't fit them all together yet."

"You seem to have a taste for this kind of detective work," said Amelia. "Not to mention something of a knack."

Jane blushed. "You can probably thank my mother for that. She loved those detective stories. She left a whole bookcase of them behind when she...when she left us. I read some of them when I was a girl...I suppose I was sort of trying to get to know her."

Amelia put a gentle hand on her shoulder, noting the sadness that came into her face whenever her mother was mentioned. "I understand."

Jane gave her another of those brittle, brave smiles. "Anyway. I'd best get back to it."

"Can I help?" asked Amelia.

"Well, I do sort of have a filing system," said Jane. "It'll take me a while to explain it, though...what's wrong?"

Amelia's pointed ears had suddenly and instinctively flicked erect as if reacting to a sound. The felinid frowned and blinked.

"Hmm? Oh, I thought I heard..."

"Heard what?"

A series of dull booms rang out over the town. Amelia shot to her feet. Jane hastily put down her papers and joined her.

"What? What is it Amelia?"

"That's cannon fire," Amelia muttered.

"Cannon fire? But who's shooting?"

The dull sounds came again, rolling over the town like thunder. Amelia grabbed her hat and took Jane's hand.

"We should go!"

"Where?" Jane scrambled to keep up with her as she left the room.

"To the Resolute, of course!"

They raced down the stairs. The sailmaker and his workers looked up in surprise as they burst into the workshop.

"Officer? Miss? What's wrong?"

"Get your people under cover right now, sir!" Amelia shouted. "Do you have a cellar here?"

"Well, yes, but it's just full of old -"

"Get down there right now, sir! Right now!" Amelia hurried towards the door and out into the street. Jane tried to follow her as she raced for the docks.

"Amelia! What's happening?"

The rumble of cannon fire sounded out again, but this time it was followed by a terrible whirring sound. Even Jane knew what that meant and she went pale as the sound grew louder.

"Oh..."

Amelia looked up as a series of brilliant streaks flashed overhead. The mists that gathered every morning had dissipated by now, revealing everything in nightmarish clarity. The shells slammed into the town somewhere up the hills behind them, sending flickers of flame and shattered wood flying. The bell in the naval fort began ringing urgently. Townspeople in the streets were struck dumb for a moment, flinching as a second salvo hammered down, but their uncertainty soon turned to panic. Amelia and Jane forced their way through a maddened crowd onto the etherfront and began running towards the reassuring bulk of the Resolute. More shells whirred overhead, the arrival punctuated with explosions and screams. The marines standing guard at the foot of the Resolute's gangway were crouching in fear, rifles in hand as if taking cover behind the big ship itself. One of them looked up at Amelia in shock.

"What the hell's happening, ma'am!"

"We're under attack, man! What does it sound like?" Amelia snapped. "Now come on! You two, on your feet and follow me!"

She raced up the gangplank, not waiting to see if they were behind her. The two soldiers looked blankly at each other and then at Jane, who narrowed her eyes.

"You heard the lieutenant!" she shouted. "Move! At the double!"

The sharp tone worked wonders and the marines almost ran into each other in their haste to obey. Jane followed them on board. Midshipman Buckley had been on watch and was conferring with Amelia.

"They came out of nowhere, ma'am! The guardship tried to intercept them but they just blew it away! And then the shore batteries opened up, and, well..."

Jane looked out across the harbour. Plumes of smoke were coiling up from the gun emplacements meant to defend the port. The guardship that was normally stationed between the headlands was nowhere to be seen. Her blood ran cold as the cannon fire boomed out again and she saw where it was coming from. The Malevolence, the powerful renegade battlecruiser that had so callously destroyed the Preston Castle, was well inside the harbour, both broadsides firing indiscriminately. Even as one side poured another salvo of high explosives into the defenceless town, the other bracketed one of the civilian fishing vessels and smashed it apart.

"Where's the Company frigate?" Amelia asked.

Buckley shook his head. "Captain Bennings took the Entreprenante and the sloops out on a sweep during first watch!"

"Damn! We have to get our guns into action, then!" Amelia shouted. "Do we have any power going to the gun decks?"

Buckley nodded. "Yes, but only just! The shell hoists are all offline! I can power them up but I need more sails open!"

Amelia nodded. "That bell should be bringing the crew running! Get hands aloft as soon as possible and open the sails."

"Yes, ma'am!"

"And then get the magazines opened and start the loaders! I'll be on the upper gun deck. You marines! Follow me! You as well, Miss Porter!"

"But my action station is the dispensary! What are we going to do?" Jane hurried after her.

"Shoot back, of course!"

"What, us?" Jane glanced nervously around. "Are you sure?"

"They didn't want to fight us before!" said Amelia. "And they may not be looking for a fight now! If we can put on a show of strength and make ourselves look ready for action they might break this off!"

They reached the deserted gun deck and Amelia gestured to the marines.

"You ever work one of these, soldiers?"

"No, ma'am!"

"Well, never too late to learn." Amelia chose one of the starboard guns, reached up to punch in the circuit-breaker in the equipment board above it and bent to open the ready-use locker by its base. "Come over here and do exactly as I tell you! Miss Porter? You see that wheel at the back of the gun? Spin it open!"

Jane gripped the brass handle and braced herself, though she found that the well-oiled metal turned easily enough and the breech block slid open. Amelia directed the marines to load the cannon.

"Shell first, then the charge! Yes, like that! Quickly, now!"

She opened the gunport and looked out at the harbour. The Malevolence had come about but was still keeping up a punishing barrage, guns now firing at will instead of by salvo so that the thunder of her cannonade was constant. She raked the naval fort from one side to the other as she turned leisurely in space. The blasts of the shots and their impacts echoed off the hillsides, making Jane wince even as she span the wheel again to close the gun's breech.

"Ready, ma'am!" called one of the marines.

"Take up those cables!" Amelia said. "Those ropes there!"

"These ones?" Jane picked one up. It was surprisingly heavy. Amelia joined her, spitting on her hands before she gripped it. The marines took up the other one and nodded the readiness.

"Run her out!"

Jane strained at the rope, putting all her effort into it. The gun creaked into the firing position slowly, the barrel protruding from the open port.

"Miss Porter! Give me a reading on the target?"

"Pardon?" Jane looked confused.

"Is the gun pointing at the enemy, Miss Porter!" Amelia snapped.

"Oh, right!" Jane bent down and sighted along the barrel. "Er, yes, more or less..."

"Very good! Stand clear!" Amelia stepped behind the gun and took up the firing lanyard. Stepping to one side, she briefly checked the aim for herself before she yanked hard. The gun fired, jerking back on its rails. For a moment, the smoke of the discharge obscured the view but then Jane saw the shell arcing out and past the big raider.

"We missed!"

"Won't matter! They'll think it was a ranging shot! Next gun!" Amelia shouted, sincerely hoping that she was right, moving to the next weapon and opening the gunport. "Marines, prepare to load! Miss Porter, open the breech!"

Jane moved to comply, her head ringing from the discharge of the first gun. Footsteps pounded on the deck above them as more of the crew arrived. A handful of spacers raced onto the gun deck. Amelia saw them and waved them into position. Mr Arrow loomed briefly in the companionway as he joined them.

"We seem to have some unwanted visitors, ma'am!" he remarked.

"Indeed we do, Mr Arrow," Amelia glared at the raider.

"The gun's ready, Amelia!" Jane shouted, forgetting protocol in the heat of the moment.

"Very good! Run her out!"

"Permit me, ma'am." Arrow touched his hat and took up the ropes. With a grunt of effort, the big Cragorian achieved what it had taken Amelia, Jane and the two marines all their strength to achieve. The gun ran forward and locked into position.

"Much obliged, Mr Arrow!" Amelia grinned. "You may fire as you bear!"

"Aye, ma'am!" Arrow squinted along the cannon, stood to one side and pulled the lanyard. Jane, her ears still ringing, was able to cover them with her hands in time but even so the blast of the gun was like a physical blow.

"Ms Amelia! Lieutenant!" Buckley was on the stairs. "Mainsails opened! We have power!"

"Then open all starboard gunports!" Amelia shouted. "Do it now!"

"All ports, ma'am?" Buckley hesitated. "But the guns aren't-"

"We can bloody well make them look like they are!" Amelia glared. "Open the ports, Mr Buckley!"

Buckley nodded and ran back to the bridge. Jane looked at Amelia with admiration and concern.

"Will that work?"

Amelia glanced out of the gunport. Part of her wanted to be honest for Jane, but there were others present and an officer never expressed doubt in front of the crew.

"Next gun!" she called. "Open the shell hoists!"

A light came on and the gunports along the starboard side of the Resolute hummed open. As the cannon next to her ground into position, Amelia glared at the enemy.

"Come on, you bastards," she whispered. "I know you can see this."

"They've stopped firing, ma'am!" Arrow was two guns down, working a cannon single-handedly.

"So I see..." Amelia narrowed her eyes and watched the Malevolence. "Come on..."

The guns of the fort were beginning to fire now, their first ranging shots going wide. One of the heavy guns on the Resolute's lower deck fired, the streak of its shell passing close enough to the Malevolence to scar the fore topsail. As Amelia watched, the big raider came about, turning for the entrance to the harbour, her engine flares brightening as they began accelerating away. She held her breath, hardly daring to hope, until it was clear that the pirate was withdrawing. The Malevolence cleared the harbour and headed back out into deep space.

"They appear to be retreating, ma'am!" Arrow smiled.

"Indeed they do, Mr Arrow!" Amelia straightened up. "But stand to your guns a while longer! If they show any sign of doubling back, I want them to get a warm reception!"

"Aye, ma'am!"

Jane joined her, wiping the oil from her hands on her dress. "Did we...win?"

"I wouldn't call it that." Amelia looked grim. "But we've driven them off for now, at least." She looked around as more spacers began arriving and nodded. Petty Officer Bryce, with his shirt untucked and his blue coat missing, saluted her.

"Came as soon as I could, ma'am. You're wanted on the bridge."

"Very well. You're in charge here, Mr Bryce. Come with me, Miss Porter. I don't think the guns need your service now."

"Absolutely." Jane looked around and shivered.

They emerged on deck, passing yet more spacers summoned by the bell. Captain Forsythe was on the bridge in conversation with Buckley and Chad. Amelia touched her hat to him.

"Reporting, sir."

"Very good, lieutenant." Forsythe nodded. "Mr Buckley has informed me of the circumstances of the raid."

"Yes, sir. I'm afraid I didn't see them until they had breached the harbour, sir."

"Nevertheless, you took command of the situation?"

"I was the first superior officer on scene, sir. I thought it best."

"With commendable initiative," said Forsythe. "Presenting a full broadside with only a handful of guns loaded? Quite a bluff."

"We're just lucky the enemy didn't call it, sir."

"Even so. It will be noted." Forsythe nodded. "And you, Miss Porter? Your presence here comes as a surprise."

"Oh, I just thought that the ship was safest place to be," Jane said quickly.

"Perhaps a wise choice." Forsythe looked at the town. Jane raised her eyes to it and slowly raised a hand to her mouth in horror. Smoke and flame billowed up in dozens of places from among the buildings.

"Oh, no..."

"Your services may be needed, Miss Porter," said Forsythe. "No doubt the surgeons will require support."

"Yes, yes, of course, Captain." Jane nodded, still shaken. "I'll prepare the sick bay at once."

"Very good. Carry on." Forsythe turned away.

"Shall we prepare for space, sir?" asked Buckley.

"No, Mr Buckley...no." Forsythe shook his head. "We stay. For now, anyway. Keep the guns charged and manned and post lookouts aloft. Mr Chad? Try to make contact with Lieutenant-Commander Canningbell at the fort. Ms Amelia? We may be required to supply work parties to assist in the town."

"Aye, sir!" Amelia touched her hat and turned to go. Jane had been waiting for her at the stairs and Amelia discreetly took her hand as Commander Chad hastened past.

"Are you all right, Jane?"

Jane smiled bravely. "Well, it did rather take me by surprise...but yes, I'm all right."

"I'm glad. And I'm grateful for your help, too." Amelia smiled back.

Jane blushed. "Yes, well, you know, needs must...and now I suppose we've both got work to do."

"I'm afraid so." Amelia sighed.

"But it was a good idea, what you did," Jane added. "With the guns and everything."

"I got lucky," said Amelia.

"I don't think luck was everything to do with it," Jane said gallantly. She looked up as Dr Gray came up the gangplank and let go of Amelia's hand. "Anyway...we'd better get on with it."

"Good luck," Amelia smiled and watched her go.

"I do not need to tell you all how serious the situation is," said Captain Forsythe.

The ship's officers nodded. They were gathered in Forsythe's grand cabin, and smoke drifting from the town could still be seen through the stern gallery windows. The Company escorts had arrived an hour after the attack and Captain Bennings had been summoned to the conference along with Director Callario. The civilian looked distinctly uncomfortable in the martial surroundings and seemed relieved when Jane also joined the group.

"No, sir," said Chad.

"The Admiralty's worst fears seem to have been realised," Forsythe went on. "A rogue raider that powerful loose on the fleet's supply lines could threaten to break up the entire advance."

"What was the extent of the damage here?" asked Bennings.

Lieutenant-Commander Canningbell, a dirty bandage around one hand, shook her head. "It's not good. At least thirty houses destroyed in the town, plus all but one of the civilian trawlers. One of my storehouses is gone and my spacers are trying to save a second. We don't know how many lives we've lost. The port facilities such as they were are mostly intact, but the shore batteries are out of action and they took out the guardship so I doubt that anyone will be using them for a while."

"Forty-nine," said Jane quietly.

"Miss Porter?"

"Forty-nine lives," Jane said. "Lost, that is. And perhaps a few more by tomorrow morning. Mostly civilians. Dr Gray and the ship's surgeon are working with the fort's medical staff and the town doctor."

Amelia looked at her sympathetically. The young woman's white apron was stained with soot and blood in almost equal measure and her eyes were tired.

"We're lucky that the Resolute wasn't damaged," said Costell.

"Not luck, navigator. Good judgement." Forsythe looked at Amelia and Buckley.

"We were fortunate that they didn't fight it out, sir," said Amelia. "They could have destroyed us."

"Nevertheless," said Forsythe. "And now, ladies and gentlemen, our question is what to do. Captain Bennings, did your sweep locate anything of interest?"

"Nothing, captain," Bennings looked angry. "And I must register my apologies to the base commander. I don't know whether our presence could have deterred the corsair, but I regret having been...unavailable during the action."

"With due respect, captain," said Canningbell, "unless your ship was already cleared for action, I fear that you would have merely presented another target."

"We are left to chart our own course, then," said Forsythe heavily. "And it is for this reason that I summoned you all here. Our orders are quite clear. We are to escort the convoy to its next destination. Yet I believe that I know you all well enough to know that this will not be satisfactory to you."

"We should pursue them, sir," said Harburn. "We're less than half a day behind them."

"And leave Loyalty undefended?" said Callario. "And my ships are all still here! Unless we take to space on schedule, if the pirate returns, it could wipe them all out!"

"I think that your customers would rather you be late than never, Mr Callario," said Canningbell. "But you do make a good point. If the raider returns, we wouldn't be able to repel them. It could burn this whole place to the ground and destroy any ship still in harbour. The Standing Orders would suggest that our only course of action is to batten down until our position here is secure."

"Will the corsair return, though?" said Amelia. "They came here and met resistance. They might not expect us to put to space and go after them."

"Or perhaps they do," said Callario. "They could double back and attack again while we're in space. I think it would be best if Sir Edmund stays here with the Resolute to defend the port."

Amelia looked across at Jane, remembering their earlier conversation. Jane didn't meet her gaze, and appeared to be lost in thought.

"We could leave part of our forces here," said Bennings. "I could detach the sloops to form a guard squadron."

"And what about your own ship, captain?" asked Harburn.

"I'd take her to space with yours, of course," said Bennings. "I concur with your senior lieutenant, Captain Forsythe. This corsair is too much of a threat. We should join forces, locate and destroy them before they strike again. Even the act of our pursuing them might be enough to keep them from finding another target."

"But your orders are to stay with the convoy!" objected Callario.

"My orders are to defend the convoy," said Bennings, accentuating the key word. "And the best way to do that is to find and kill the enemy. You'd still have the sloops with you."

"Two sloops against that pirate?" said Callario. "They wouldn't last five minutes! We should follow our orders! We take the convoy on to the next port, and the Navy stays here on guard!"

"That leaves the pirate free to roam, sir," said Amelia.

"Perhaps...um..." Jane hesitated.

"Miss Porter?" Forsythe looked at her. "You have an opinion?"

"Er...well, more of an idea, captain..."

"Should we really take the advice of a civilian, Sir Edmund?" said Callario. "On a military matter such as this..."

"Miss Porter has insights that belie her appearance, Mr Callario," said Forsythe curtly. "Insights that have proven instrumental to the Navy's conduct of this war at least once once before. And I will take my counsel wherever I choose to do so."

"What was it you were saying, Miss Porter?" said Amelia, smiling encouragingly at Jane. Jane, blushing, smiled back gratefully.

"Well...I was just thinking that...maybe it's the orders that are the problem, so to speak. When we first met the pirates, when they were attacking the Preston Castle, they fired on that ship to force us to stop and rescue it instead of chasing them. I think they did that because they knew that standing order you have about protecting the ships of a convoy."

Amelia smiled as she realised where Jane's train of thought was going. "And we've all heard the rumours about the pirate's identity, sir. The Crimson Corsair? The Navy renegade?"

"Yes, that's right," Jane looked up, feeling more confident in Amelia's support. "I think that the rumours might be true, sir. And if they are, it means that the pirate knows what we'll do next because he knows the Navy's rules. Or rather, he knows what we should do next...what we've been ordered to do next."

"Which would mean that he expects us to stay here and defend a vulnerable port," said Amelia. "They won't expect us to abandon Fort Loyalty or the convoy to go after them."

Forsythe frowned in thought. "Commander Chad? Your views?"

"You'll recall that I mentioned Miss Porter's note of the enemy's exploitation of our standing orders once before, sir," said Chad. "I can find no contradictory evidence. And if she's right, there's no danger of the raider returning. All they want is us to stay here, where we can't seek them out."

"It'd be just the thing a renegade would do, sir," said Amelia. "Use our own discipline against us."

"From my knowledge of the Crimson Corsair's exploits, sir," said Arrow, "I believe that such a notion would appeal to Inigo Scalten. He considered himself to be something of a philosopher. Even a freedom fighter. A natural rebel. The irony of trapping and defeating us with our own rules would be extremely tempting to him."

"They won't be expecting us if that's true, sir," said Harburn.

Amelia nodded, sensing the gathering consensus. To see an enemy escape even once was a bitter disappointment to most naval officers. To have been taken by surprise and then forced to watch the enemy escape a second time was a personal affront. Her own instincts were pushing her to declare herself in favour of sailing in pursuit but she restrained her counsel for a more appropriate time.

"And the convoy?" Forsythe turned his gaze back to Callario.

"Every day we're delayed costs the Company money," said Callario. "I'm accountable for that as I'm sure you are for following your orders."

"If the convoy sails with us, sir, we risk it sustaining further losses," Chad pointed out.

"But it takes losses idling in port!" said Callario. Amelia saw a flare of scorn in Forsythe's eyes at the Company man's limited understanding of the word 'losses' and what it implied in wartime.

"I think we have greater concerns that your balance sheet, Mr Callario," said Forsythe curtly. "As the senior officer of the escort, I must insist that the convoy remain here. Time is cheaper than ships and crews."

"But you've no idea how long the delay could be!" Callario protested. "I must insist that the convoy sail on time."

"I will not permit that risk to be taken," said Forsythe. "The convoy will stay until we are able to report that the raider is gone."

"But-"

"I said I will not permit it, damn you!" snapped Forsythe. "I am an officer of Her Majesty's Royal Navy, Director! Neither you nor the Company hold authority over me!"

Callario looked like arguing for a moment, but gave up and visibly deflated. Forsythe glared at him for a moment before turning to his first officer.

"How soon could we be ready for space, Mr Chad?"

Chad shrugged. "Two hours, sir? Give or take. But that would mean withdrawing our work parties from the town."

"Commander Canningbell?"

The base commander looked thoughtful. "Well...if this theory about the raider is true, we have no need to fear their return so we won't be needing the Resolute here on defence."

"And your immediate situation is in hand?"

Canningbell nodded. "The fires in the fort are under control. I can detail some of my spacers to replace yours. And if the convoy is staying here, perhaps the Company would be good enough to lend us some hands?"

"Well, I suppose we could negotiate a suitable hourly pro rata contract rate and..." Callario stopped as he caught the warning look in Forsythe's eye.

"Do we have your orders, sir?" said Amelia, seeking clarification.

Forsythe sat at his desk, grimacing at the movement. "Before we go any further, ladies and gentlemen, I must make one thing absolutely clear. If we pursue the raider, we do so in breach of our orders from the high command. You know the consequences that could mean, for every one of us."

Amelia nodded and looked at her fellow officers as Forsythe went on.

"If we are to proceed, I need to know that we are of one mind." He looked up. "Do we have an agreement?"

There was a chorus of assent. Amelia smiled at Jane.

"I think we do, sir," she said.

"Very good." Forsythe stood again. "Captain Bennings?"

"Two hours would be enough for me to get the Entreprenante underway as well," said Bennings. "If you'd have us with you, that is, Captain Forsythe."

"We would be glad of your company," said Forsythe.

Bennings bowed his head slightly. "Then if you will excuse me, sir, I would like to return to my ship and give the necessary orders."

"Very well." Forsythe nodded. "We will confer again once in space."

"As you wish, Captain," said Bennings.

Callario blinked as the Company captain left the room. "Did I miss the part where a decision was made? Captain Bennings is an officer of my escort detail!"

"And I, if my memory serves, am the senior officer of the escort!" Forsythe stood decisively. "Commander Chad? Prepare the Resolute for space. We shall pursue and destroy."