The last spacer was barely up the gangway before the Resolute left the dock. The usual ceremonies of a ship's departure – the guard of honour and the band playing anthems on the shore – had been dispensed with in the hurry. A handful of men stood ready on the dock to work the ropes and cables, but otherwise Amelia felt almost as if the ship was slipping away in secrecy, with the sole exception of the little figure of Archimedes jumping up and down and waving a handkerchief in farewell. Only the pall of smoke from the town and the fort that still hung overhead, swirling around the small harbour, reminded her of the reason for the haste.

"Cast loose!" Commander Chad shouted. "Let go forward! Let go aft!"

"Loose headsails!" Lieutenant Harburn shouted. "Hands aloft to loose the topsails!"

"Take us out, Mr Costell," said Forsythe, watching the crew respond to the orders.

"Aye, sir! Helmsman, eighty to starboard! Prepare to feed power to the main drives!" Costell stepped forward.

Amelia watched as the bows of the ship began swinging across the bay, pointing themselves towards the entrance to open space. She heard the planks creak beneath her as the timbers absorbed the momentum and turned her gaze to where spacers were hauling in the heavy ropes that had secured the ship to the dock.

"Stow those cables securely, there!" she called. "Keep them clear of the shrouds!"

"Open courses and topgallants as soon as we clear the harbour, Mr Chad," said Forsythe. "We have a quarry to catch and I'll not have us dawdling."

"Aye, sir! Ms Dunn, take your division aloft and prepare to unfurl the upper sails!" Chad nodded to Midshipman Dunn, who touched her hat and left the bridge, calling out her own orders. They cleared the headlands and Amelia felt the deck rock slightly as the ship caught the ethereal tides again.

"Main engines, all ahead two-thirds," said Costell. "Engage the drives."

"Very good, Mr Costell," said Forsythe. "Mr Whiting, are we being followed?"

Whiting raised a telescope, holding it carefully rather further along the tube than was usual to keep the instrument's balance despite being held by only one hand. "Aye, sir. Entreprenante is forming up in our wake."

Amelia stole a glance over her shoulder and saw the big frigate rounding the headlands of Loyalty harbour as she followed the Imperial warship into space. She saw her opening her own upper sails, only a fraction slower than the Resolute had done. Arrow was watching as well and Amelia was amused to see a flicker of grudging acknowledgement in his eyes as the Company frigate accelerated to hold her station behind them. She considered making a comment but a curt command from the captain brought her mind back to the matters at hand.

"Ms Amelia! Inspection below decks, if you please. Mr Harburn, Mr Buckley, take inventory in the hold."

"Aye, sir!" Amelia touched her hat and left, moving smartly down the companionway and making her way along the upper gun deck. Spacers touched hats or foreheads and stood back to allow her to pass. She acknowledged a favoured one or two with an economical nod, her hands folded behind her back and eyes moving from detail to detail. While there was a formal point to conducting the inspection, especially in light of speed of their departure, she knew that there was another reason as well. The crew had been looking forward to shore leave with great anticipation and now it had not only been cut short, but cut short to pursue an irregular mission that could well claim their lives. It would be only natural for there to be some resentment and Amelia's eyes and ears were alert to any sign of ill-discipline as she made her way along the catwalk.

"Very good, Master Gunner," she said. "See that the ready-use lockers are checked and replenished where necessary."

"Right away, ma'am!"

She nodded and descended the stairs to the lower gun deck. Her normal inspection route would take her forwards again, but she decided to change her route and made her way aft to the sickbay. The orderly at the triage desk looked up as she entered, saw her officer's uniform and stood to attention. Amelia took off her hat to duck under a low roof beam and waved the man back to his work. The inspection of the sickbay was usually a cursory routine, as that part of the ship was firmly the domain of the ship's surgeon and deck officers were more likely to present there as casualties than as commanders. Surgeon-lieutenant Gray was in the main area, her white coat still smudged with blood and grime, was directing a pair of assistants who were working in a cloud of steam at the brass and copper autoclave in the corner. Gray saw her enter and waved to attract her attention.

"Doctor," Amelia acknowledged her. "Your preparations for space are in hand?"

Gray nodded and began writing in her notebook. YES. WE WERE BUSY IN THE TOWN.

"I'm sure they were glad of your assistance."

THEY STILL WOULD BE, Gray noted, with what Amelia imagined to be a hint of reproach.

"We had to leave quickly if we're to stand a chance of catching the raider, doctor," said Amelia, knowing the surgeon's strong feelings about leaving a job half-done. "Your services will more than likely be needed here before very much longer."

YES. Gray didn't seem particularly mollified.

"Ma'am?" one of the orderlies called for her. The surgeon gave Amelia one of her inscrutable gazes for a long moment before she turned to her work. Amelia made her way to the dispensary, where Jane was working at her little table, which was covered with small glass vials and bottles. She looked up as Amelia knocked on the doorframe and smiled.

"Amelia! I wasn't expecting to see you here."

"I move in mysterious ways," Amelia grinned. "I see you've got a lot to get on with, though."

"Oh, this? I'll be done with it in just a moment." Jane wiped her hands on a towel. "We had to take a lot of it to help the casualties after the attack so I just have to put it all back. Well, most of it. We left some of it there because they still need it..."

Amelia detected a hint in Jane's tone as well, but hers was of regret rather than Gray's reproach. "You did everything you could."

"Yes, of course. You're right." Jane put another bottle away. "Is everything all right up top?"

"So it seems," said Amelia. "The Captain has me doing an inspection round."

"Of course. Well, I hope everything here is to your satisfaction, lieutenant," Jane grinned.

"Very much so." Amelia grinned back.

"Um, I actually have something for you, since you're here," Jane fumbled in one of the desk drawers. "I know it may not be the best time because you're working, but still, I'd like to give it to you, if you don't mind."

Amelia smiled. "Jane?"

"Well, I went back to that tailor's shop where you got your new uniform, and I got you this..."

Amelia glanced down. Jane had a small open box in one hand while her other fingers carefully folded back a layer of tissue paper to reveal the box's contents. At first, she thought that Jane was offering her a scrap of dark material but she saw how the light played on the satiny surface and smiled.

"I...I know it's not much," Jane looked down. "But I thought you might like it..."

"It's very nice." Amelia picked it up and unrolled it. It was a new black silk cravat, the sort of finery normally worn only on the most formal occasions or by the wealthiest officers. It was clearly brand new, the surface being completely smooth and unmarked by the kinds of creases the even the most careful untying and stowage inevitably left behind. Amelia looked up at Jane and smiled. "Thank you, Jane. That's very thoughtful of you."

"I just thought it would go well with your new dress uniform," Jane smiled shyly, clutching the towel in her hands.

"I think it would go well with anything," Amelia stroked the soft, smooth material with her thumb. She couldn't help being reminded of her classics classes back in the Academy, where they had studied tales of ancient chivalry in which fair maidens would show their favour to their chosen champions by gifting some small article to them to wear in battle. "Thank you."

Jane blushed and wished she could say more. "Well...I'd better let you get back to your inspection."

Amelia smiled and tucked the carefully-rolled cravat into her coat pocket. "Carry on, then, Miss Porter," she said formally.

Jane grinned and saluted playfully.

"Aye, aye, Lieutenant Amelia."

Amelia returned to the deck and touched her hat to the bridge as tradition dictated. To her surprise, the salute was returned by Whiting rather than one of the senior officers, none of whom were in sight. Looking to her right, though, she saw a longboat alongside and a handful of Company spacers standing by it and guessed that Captain Bennings had come aboard. She made her way up to the bridge, nodding to Arrow who was standing by the binnacle, and delivered her report.

"All in order below, Mr Whiting."

"Thank you, ma'am," Whiting nodded. "I'll inform the Captain when he returns."

"I'm guessing he's in conference now?"

The young canid nodded. "Along with Captain Bennings, Mr Costell and Mr Harburn. They've been in there for ten minutes already. Oh, and Mr Callario."

"Callario?" Amelia's eyes widened. "He's on board?"

"He insisted on embarking on the Entreprenante at the last minute," said Whiting. "Goodness knows why. Said he wanted to be able to signal the convoy to set sail the instant the way was clear, but he could have stayed back in Loyalty and waited to hear from us if he wanted that. I suppose he just wants to be sure."

Amelia nodded, but said nothing as she remembered her suspicions. Jane emerged on deck and looked around. Spotting her on the bridge, she began climbing the stairs.

"Um, excuse me? Do you mind if I join you?"

"Not at all, Miss Porter," said Amelia. "Are conditions in the sickbay still satisfactory?"

"All quite shipshape, yes," Jane smiled.

"We're steady on course, sir," said the spacer at the helm.

Whiting touched his hat to Amelia. "In that case, ma'am, if you don't mind, I'd just as soon leave the bridge to you while I attend to some business below."

Amelia nodded and returned the salute. "Of course, acting lieutenant. You stand relieved."

Whiting disappeared. Amelia checked the displays on the ship's console and headed to the stern. Jane joined her, looking back to where the Entreprenante was cruising.

"So everything is all right, then, Amelia? I mean, lieutenant?" Jane hastily corrected herself, knowing that she shouldn't be too familiar when there were others nearby.

"All squared away," said Amelia. "Well enough, anyway, given the haste of our departure."

"Yes, it was all rather sudden, wasn't it." Jane rested against the ship's sail. "So what happens now?"

"The Captain will decide," said Amelia. "He's meeting with Bennings and the senior officers now."

"Oh." Jane looked surprised. "And not with you?"

Amelia chuckled. "I think you overestimate the standing of a lieutenant in the Queen's service," she said kindly.

"Oh, no!" Jane waved a hand. "I know you're not very...I just meant that...well, we all met to talk about whether to go and chase the corsair."

"That was a different decision," said Amelia quietly.

"I heard the Captain say that there could be consequences," said Jane nervously. "What did he mean?"

Amelia looked over her shoulder as footsteps came behind them, but it was only the familiar bulk of Arrow.

"Well...we weren't exactly ordered to do this," she said. "We were ordered to take the convoy on, but we've left it behind."

"So you're...disobeying an order?" Jane's tone was doubtful, so hard was it to countenance such a thought.

"Very much so," said Arrow solemnly. "Their Lordships of the Admiralty take a dim view of such things."

"What could happen to us?" Jane looked worried.

"To you? Nothing," Amelia tried to sound comforting. "But...the rest of us could face court-martial. The Captain, certainly."

"Court-martial?" Jane bit her lip. "What could they do to you?"

"Cashier us," said Arrow solemnly. "Our commissions would be revoked, Miss Porter."

"So you see why the Captain consulted us all and wanted to be sure we were all in agreement," said Amelia. "But the next decisions, where to go and how to fight...those are decisions that a commander has to take by themselves."

"The burden of command," said Jane, remembering the phrase.

"Precisely," said Arrow. "I see that Lieutenant Amelia has taught you well."

Jane smiled. "Even so, I feel I'm only just starting to understand the world you two live in..."

"It's not such a bad world," said Amelia. She pointed to the Entreprenante. "And we do have some friends, after all."

"Yes, I'm glad to have a ship like that at our side," said Arrow.

"What about it?" said Jane.

"She's a razee," said Arrow. "Ex-Royal Navy, if I am any judge."

"A razee?" Jane frowned at the unfamiliar word.

"She used to be a much bigger ship," Amelia explained. "Probably the same size as the Resolute. But she was razed down to a single gun deck to turn her into a frigate."

"Which means she has the speed of a frigate, but the strong hull of a capital ship. And I'll wager she has a capital ship's guns as well," said Arrow. "Although not as many as us, of course."

"The Company probably bought her from the reserve," said Amelia. "I wonder who she used to be?"

"So long as she is handled half as well as she used to be, she should be of some use," said Arrow.

Amelia grinned at her friend's deep-seated dislike of the Company. "That's as close to a vote of confidence as I think we'll get from you, Mr Arrow."

There was a small commotion on deck as the captain's cabin door opened and the conference broke up. Amelia saw Bennings and Callario making their way to their longboat and watched Forsythe stumping his way up to the bridge. Amelia touched her hat.

"Mr Whiting's respects, sir. He is engaged below."

"Noted," grunted Forsythe.

"Do we have a course, sir?" Amelia asked.

"We do." Forsythe nodded. "We will conduct a sweep of the central archipelago."

"That's some distance from the convoy route, sir."

"Indeed. But our quarry is still at large and there are other places in the archipelago that they may strike if they are not brought to heel." Forsythe folded his hands behind his back. "Mr Costell will give you our new heading."

Amelia touched her hat. "Aye, sir."

Forsythe turned to go. "And you will pass my compliments to Miss Porter for her insights, won't you?"

Amelia smiled proudly. "I would be honoured to do so, sir."

Later that night, Amelia watched Jane sorting through the voluminous papers that she had somehow found the time to bring with her. She was working on them quietly as Amelia took notes from a textbook.

"That pile of paper seems to get bigger every time I see it," Amelia said.

Jane laughed. "It does, rather, doesn't it. I wonder if they're multiplying by themselves."

"A worrying thought," grinned Amelia.

"And daddy did tell me to take notes of everything that happened," said Jane. "He seems to think that this would make a good chapter for his book."

"He may well be right," said Amelia. "Hunting down the Crimson Corsair? The most wanted renegade in the galaxy?"

"If we can catch him, that is. I don't understand why they retreated so easily back at Fort Loyalty," said Jane. "They could have destroyed us if they'd wanted to, just like you said."

"They didn't know they could," said Amelia. "And they were handicapped. A pirate like that doesn't have shipyards and friendly ports like us to put into for repair. Even if they'd managed to destroy us, they knew they might have been crippled in the process. And that would have been as good as the end for them, with nowhere to go."

"So that's why you had us man the guns," Jane smiled with understanding. "You knew they wouldn't risk staying once we started shooting back."

Amelia shook her head. "I hoped that. I didn't know. It was very fortunate that the gamble paid off."

"It was very brave," Jane said earnestly.

"We didn't seem to have many options," Amelia smiled wryly. "Besides, when pirates start blowing things up I have an irresistible urge to return the favour."

"Don't be so modest," Jane chided her gently. "It was quite brilliant."

Amelia blushed. "I recall that you played a part in the incident as well, Jane. I hope that's going into your father's book as well."

"He did ask me to write it all up," said Jane. "Perhaps I could get your help with that?"

"I'd be glad to," Amelia smiled. "Any time."

"Perhaps when it's all over," said Jane. "I'm sure you'll be much too busy in the meantime."

"I always have time for you, Jane," Amelia closed her book and moved closer to her. Jane smiled shyly.

"Of course. I know you do."

Amelia smiled.

So do you think we will catch the corsair?"

Amelia smile fell from her face. "Well...that depends on whether we're looking in the right place."

"You think we're not?"

"I don't know. But..." Amelia shook her head. "I don't trust an counsel coming out of a meeting that involved anyone from the Company."

"Callario and Bennings?" Jane looked up at her. "I didn't know that it was their idea."

"It might not have been, but even so...someone in the Company won't want us to find the enemy," said Amelia. "I think you've been right all along, Jane, about there being something wrong."

"I just wish I could prove it," Jane sighed. "I can't help but feel that we already have all the clues we need...all we have to do is find them and put them together."

"It's hard to find something when you aren't sure what it looks like," said Amelia.

Jane sighed and looked down at the paper. "Yes, I know. It's just that...hang on a moment..."

Amelia looked up. "Jane?"

Jane was studying the orders intently. "This looks familiar...like I've seen something like it somewhere..."

Amelia closed her book and moved to look over Jane's shoulder. "What do you mean?"

Jane hurriedly pushed the paper into her hands and turned to rifle through the nearest pile of documents, scattering them heedlessly on the floor in her impatience. "I've been so stupid...it's been here right in front of me the whole time..."

"What are you looking for?" Amelia frowned.

Jane grabbed a piece of paper triumphantly. "This!"

Amelia looked at it. "It's one of your father's questionnaires. The ones he gave out to everyone."

"Yes! But this one is the one that Mr Callario returned!" Jane showed it to Amelia. "Look at it. And then look at the paper that we took from the Preston Castle."

Amelia looked from one to the other. Jane's eyes were bright and insistent as she went on.

"Do you see what I mean, Amelia?"

Amelia opened her mouth to say that she didn't. But then, suddenly, she did. It wasn't the words themselves, or what they said, which was why she hadn't seen it at first.

"The handwriting...it's identical."

"Which means that Mr Callario wrote these orders. These orders that sent the Preston Castle into that ambush!" Jane shook the paper. "It was him all along!"

"By all the stars..." Amelia murmured. "I think you're right..."

"So what do we do now?" Jane was bubbling with excitement.

Captain Forsythe looked up from his desk on which Callario's statement and the secret order paper were sitting side by side. Jane and Amelia stood by the desk and met the old man's piercing eyes.

"You are sure of this?" he said.

"Quite sure, Captain," said Jane. She was wringing her hands nervously. "I mean, it's all there...the writing is identical..."

"And Callario would have had the authority to give the order, sir," said Amelia. "And have it obeyed. Perhaps he offered the captain a percentage of whatever he was paid to do this."

"Let's not get ahead of ourselves, lieutenant," said Forsythe. "This suspicion, if I'm not mistaken, has been harboured by you for some time now."

"Since the loss of the Preston Castle, sir," Jane said. "I thought there was something funny about it, so I studied the convoy manifest."

"It was the ship's cargo, sir," said Amelia, taking up the explanation. "It was a mixed cargo."

"Bits and pieces of everything," Jane agreed, her eagerness leading her to uncharacteristically interrupt Amelia. "Not a large amount of any one thing, but taken together..."

"Taken together," said Amelia, hiding a smile at her lover's enthusiasm, "It was everything you'd need to keep a ship in space for a month or two independently. Food, fuel, ammunition, sundries...a rogue raider couldn't have asked for better."

"And you think that Callario ordered the Preston Castle to leave the convoy?"

"I can't argue with the evidence in front of you, sir," said Amelia. "And if you recall, we were diverted to escort the convoy by our own command. We were never called up. Mr Callario even said that he didn't ask for reinforcement."

"So he did." Forsythe stood up and moved to look out of the stern gallery windows of his cabin to where the Entreprenante cruised in the darkness.

"And when the pirates boarded the Preston Castle, they killed the captain right away," said Jane. "Only the captain. And then they stole all of the ship's books and papers."

"Destroying the evidence, sir," said Amelia. "And killing the only man who knew that the ship had been ordered to be there. But they didn't know that he'd kept the orders on his own body. Or maybe they did and our intervention forced them to abandon their search. But they still tried to cover it all up."

Forsythe nodded, making no reply.

"And then we left the ship behind," said Jane. "And we destroyed it for them."

"On Callario's instructions, sir," said Amelia. "He must have thought we were doing him a favour."

"And then he was very reluctant for us to leave in pursuit of the corsair after he attacked Fort Loyalty," Jane went on.

"This is largely circumstantial evidence," Forsythe said pointedly, but Amelia could tell that he was taking it seriously.

"Yes, sir. But with the evidence of the handwriting on the secret orders..."

"Yes." Forsythe turned and went back to his desk. "As you would realise, Ms Amelia, this puts us in a difficult position. If what you say is true, Mr Callario presumably knows the Corsair's whereabouts."

"He was very keen on keeping to his convoy's schedule, sir," said Amelia. "Perhaps there was another ambush arranged?"

"Which would suggest," said Forsythe, "That the Corsair is somewhere further along the convoy routes."

"And not in the central archipelago," said Amelia. "Yes, sir."

Forsythe drummed his fingers on the desk. "Damn him. He's leading us on a merry dance to nowhere."

"Yes, sir."

"So you believe us, sir?" asked Jane.

Forsythe looked up at her for a moment and nodded. "I do. I am prepared to accept certain coincidences, but there are altogether too many to ignore in this particular instance."

"What shall we do, sir?" Amelia stood to attention.

"We need to speak with Mr Callario," said Forsythe meaningfully. "On our own terms. Every minute we sail towards the central archipelago takes us further from the convoy route. And if this suspicion is correct, the convoy route is where we should be."

"Yes, sir. Shall we change course?"

Forsythe shook his head. "That would alert our Mr Callario. And much as I would like to send a boarding party over there to drag him out of his cabin in chains, I do not think it wise to risk arresting a senior Company official aboard a Company ship. We do not know how far his corruption may have spread."

"You don't trust Captain Bennings, sir?" said Amelia.

"I don't know. And that's reason enough not to risk it." Forsythe steepled his fingers for a moment. "Who is on watch at the moment?"

"Commander Chad, sir."

Forsythe nodded. "Then pass the word for Mr Chad. And prepare to signal the Entreprenante. I believe that another conference is in order."

Amelia watched the longboat from the Entreprenante approaching, the flare of its engine bright against the gloom of night. Arrow approached her and touched his hat respectfully.

"Preparations complete, ma'am. I have a squad stationed in the companionway to the upper gun deck and another will be stationed on the bridge with Sergeant Ko."

"Keep them scattered, Mr Arrow," Amelia warned him. "We can't make it look like we're greeting them with a firing line."

"Aye, ma'am. They'll notice nothing amiss." Arrow nodded.

"They'll only have an honour guard with them," said Amelia. "But since we're about to accuse either Mr Callario or Captain Bennings, or both, of treason, we can't be taking unnecessary risks."

"Aye, ma'am." Arrow rested a huge hand on the butt of his sidearm.

"Longboat coming alongside!" A spacer called. Amelia nodded and stepped forward.

"Reception party muster! Sideboys, take the lines!"

The longboat drew up alongside the ship's rail, the pilot throttling back the engines to match the speed. Two ropes were picked up and thrown across to the Resolute, where Amelia' waiting spacers took them up. The tiny vessel scraped up against the rail, drifting back out again before it was made fast. Bennings touched his hat.

"Ahoy, Resolute! Permission to come aboard?"

"Permission granted, sir," Amelia returned the salute. "Captain Forsythe awaits you in his cabin."

Bennings nodded and dropped neatly onto the deck. "Thank you. Lieutenant Amelia, I believe?"

"Yes, sir." Amelia looked past Bennings as Callario lowered himself gingerly to the deck. "Welcome aboard, sir."

"Yes, well, I should hope that there's some reason for interrupting us at such short notice," Callario dusted off his coat. "Whatever Sir Edmund has had better be important."

"I'm sure it will be made clear, sir," said Amelia politely, noting the two Company troopers who had also disembarked the longboat. Aside from them and the handful of spacers crewing the boat itself, there were no more. She nodded to Arrow and touched her hat.

"Secure the deck, captain," she said. "Captain Bennings, Mr Callario, if you'll follow me please?"

She led them across to the door on the captain's cabin, on which she knocked and waited for Forsythe's call. On hearing it, she opened the door and waved the Company men through. Following them, she nodded to the marine sentry and lowered her voice.

"Keep your ears out for trouble, private."

"Aye, ma'am."

Amelia glanced over her shoulder at Arrow, exchanged glances, and entered the cabin. Forsythe and Chad were at the table apparently studying a map, the latter wearing his long oilskin coat. Amelia saw the papers on Forsythe's desk and scanned them for anything that might tip off Callario as to the real reason of the meeting.

"Sir Edmund," Callario said.

"Good evening, gentlemen," Forsythe said, giving Callario and economical nod. "Thank you for answering the signal."

"We assumed it had to be a matter of some urgency, sir," said Bennings. "Does it concern our search for the enemy?"

"It does," said Forsythe. "Albeit indirectly. Some new intelligence has recently been brought to my attention."

Amelia glanced across the room to where Jane was standing quietly in a corner and caught her eye.

"Intelligence?" Bennings looked interested. "You have a source of information, sir?"

"Ironically, I believe it is our enemy that has the source," said Forsythe. "The attack on the convoy, followed by the attack on Fort Loyalty, is a coincidence that can't be overlooked."

"Coincidence?" said Callario. "Couldn't it just be that the pirate followed us?"

"They withdrew away from the convoy routes when we drove them off the Preston Castle," said Chad. "It would have been difficult for them to get back on our track."

"You think they knew where we were?" said Bennings.

"Yes. And certain aspects of the enemy's behaviour suggests that they were seeking to eliminate incriminating evidence," said Forsythe. "In particular, their summary execution of the Preston Castle's unfortunate master."

"Intimidation tactics?" suggested Callario. Amelia wondered whether it was her imagination or whether he was speaking even faster than usual.

"Perhaps. But perhaps they knew that he was carrying this."

Forsythe drew the secret orders pouch from his coat pocket and placed it on the table. Amelia kept her eyes on Callario's face. There was a momentary look of nervousness there.

"And...what are those?" he asked.

"Navigational instructions," said Jane, stepping forwards. "I attended the captain to see if he could be saved. But I was able to recover that from his body."

Callario looked up at her and seemed to recognise her with a flicker of irritation. "Ah...you, miss. You say they are instructions?"

"Very precise ones," said Forsythe. "Courses, speed, coordinates. Everything the Preston Castle needed to leave the safety of the convoy and be brought to the very place where she was attacked."

"You think that the corsair was being passed information from the convoy, sir," said Bennings, stating it as a fact rather than a question.

"Under the circumstances, I see no alternative," said Forsythe. "We can presume that the instructions were confidential to the Preston Castle's master and that his murder, along with the theft of the ship's papers as well as the cargo, were to conceal them forever."

"But perhaps he wrote them himself?" said Callario quickly.

"Why would he write down his own idea and incriminate himself?" said Amelia. "The instructions could only have been given to him by someone else."

"But who?"

"And thus," said Forsythe, "we come to the reason for this conference. Miss Porter? Your paper, if you please."

Jane looked at Amelia nervously as she crossed the room to Forsythe's desk, with every eye on her. She picked up a piece of paper that Amelia recognised as the statement Callario had given for Archimedes' book. Forsythe pushed the order paper across the table and gazed levelly at the Company agent.

"I would value your insight as convoy director, Mr Callario."

"Of...of course." There was no mistaking Callario's anxiety now. "Er..."

Jane put the paper on the table next to the secret orders and took a step back.

"Take a look, Mr Callario," said Forsythe. "Tell me what you see."

Bennings peered over his shoulder and raised an eyebrow. "If my eyes don't deceive me, the documents appear to have emerged from the same hand."

"Indeed they did," said Forsythe. "Mr Callario, is that your signature at the bottom of the statement that was given to Miss Porter's father?"

"Are these forgeries, sir?" Bennings looked up at Forsythe, who shook his head.

"The genuine article, I assure you, Captain Bennings. Mr Callario? I await your answer."

Callario sighed, looking as if his opponent had just displayed a good hand of cards. "Very good, Sir Edmund. Very well played indeed."

"This is no damned game," said Forsythe.

"No. No, it's not." Callario straightened up again. "What is it that you want?"

"Want?" said Amelia. "Is that an admission, sir?"

Callario ignored her. "If it's money, that can be arranged. I can't say that my profit margins on this deal are particularly large, but I could perhaps see to a reasonable percentage going to you."

"A percentage?" said Bennings, looking up. "What the hell are you talking about, sir?"

"A small private venture of my own, Mr Bennings," said Callario casually. "One which I'd hoped to keep to myself, but I can see that our Navy friends here are also open to opportunities."

"Opportunities!" Chad exclaimed. "We're talking about collusion with the enemy here, sir!"

"Trade!" Callario insisted. "The commercial potential of this nebula is immense! It is imperative that it be opened up for commerce as soon as possible! By any means possible!"

"That's not what we're paid for, Mr Callario," said Forsythe.

"No. But I am," said Callario. "My job is to make a profit for the Company, and I have to admit that I'm rather good at it. The Company has to be able to operate in the nebula. And to do so, certain...accommodations may be necessary."

"Accommodations!" said Jane, shocked. She remembered the carnage and chaos aboard the Preston Castle and realised that her fist was balling up by her sides.

"Are you really so surprised, Miss Porter?" said Callario. "Pirates are not so hard to buy off. It's an operating cost, really. And luckily the Crimson Corsair, to use that regrettable nickname, is a man with whom business can be done."

"The word is 'treason', Mr Callario," warned Forsythe.

"It was merely an exchange of supply and demand," Callario shrugged. "All in the name of business."

"It was a ship and a crew!" Jane said. "People died!"

"That wasn't part of the deal," Callario admitted. "But that, too, is a risk of doing business in this environment. And sometimes, to be enterprising requires the taking of risks. Don't you see?"

"I see a traitor and a friend of a traitor, sir," growled Amelia. "Nothing more."

"This convoy," said Callario, seeming to change tack as the atmosphere cooled and hardened, "Will make enough money to buy this ship and pay the wages of all her crew for a month! Haven't you thought about what's at stake here? How you – all of you – could benefit from this situation?"

"I think we can add attempting to bribe Queen's Officers to the charge sheet, Mr Chad," said Forsythe darkly.

"You set up the pirate attack, sir?" said Bennings angrily. "Is that what this is all about?"

"I arranged an exchange," said Callario. "Oh, don't look like that. Do you really think you'd have been able to protect the convoy by yourself?"

"I would have tried, sir!"

Callario sighed. "I suppose I should have known that the Navy wouldn't understand, but I'd hoped for better from a Company officer like you, James."

Bennings bridled. "I wasn't hired to turn a profit, sir."

"Evidently not," said Callario. "Well, Sir Edmund. What happens now?"

"You will be arrested and detained pending trial," said Forsythe.

"Ah. I thought as much." Callario murmured. "What a pity it had to come to this."

Amelia watched as he closed his eyes for a moment. Suddenly, he sprang to one side, shoving Bennings out of the way with one hand as he drew a compact laslock pistol from his coat with the other. Amelia turned her head and shouted for the sentry at the same time as she began moving to put herself between Callario and Jane, who was hurriedly stepping back from the table, her eyes wide with shock. Commander Chad shouted a warning and raised a pistol he had suddenly drawn from under his oilskin.

"You will stand down!" shouted Chad. "Stand down and be disarmed!"

"Don't threaten me, commander!" Callario shouted back, his weapon flitting from one target to the next as he tried to cover everyone in the room. "All of you, stay back!"

The door behind Amelia burst open and Arrow's marines burst in, with Arrow himself in the lead and Ko calling out orders. A dozen laslock rifles were suddenly aimed at Callario's back.

"Mr Callario?" Forsythe hadn't flinched, and was still gazing coolly at Callario, whose eyes were suddenly wide with fear. Amelia reached Jane and stood protectively in front of her.

"What treachery is this?" Bennings demanded. He moved to draw his own sidearm, but three of the marines turned their rifles on him and he paused, raising his hand away from his holster to show that he meant no danger. "Director?"

"I...I was...it was a private undertaking!" Callario shouted, his confidence diminishing in view of the number of weapons now aimed squarely at him. "There would have been no net harm done! The rest of the convoy would have had safe passage assured!"

"I take it that you confess to issuing these instructions, then?" demanded Forsythe.

"What were the terms the Corsair gave you, Mr Callario? One ship, specially loaded and packed like a gift box? Handed to the enemy on a silver plate? Or was it more than one ship?" Amelia glared.

"Is all of this true, sir?" said Bennings.

"What was the price, Mr Callario?" said Arrow. "How many pieces of silver for the Company's coffers? Or was it all for your pocket?"

"It's not too late for us all," said Callario, a hint of desperation in his voice. "I...look, only the people in this room know about it. I could see to it that you're all well-compensated!"

"I think you misunderstand our motivations, Mr Callario," said Chad, tightening his grip on his pistol.

"I could set you all up for life! Anything you wanted!"

"It's over, sir," said Amelia. "Put the gun down. Rich or poor, it's the only way you'll leave this room alive."

Callario looked at her for a moment, slowly turning to take in the line of armed marines behind him. His laslock finally clattered onto the floor and Amelia stepped forward to kick it away under the table. The tension in the room abated somewhat and Chad lowered his own pistol.

"I suggest you now do your best to help us, Mr Callario," said Forsythe grimly. "As it stands, you do not have many cards in your hand to play. And yet you may still hold the key to all of this."

"What...what do you mean?" Callario's face was white.

"You know where the Corsair is," said Forsythe. "Or rather, you know where the Corsair told you to be. Ironically, your treachery in supplying information to them may prove to be your own saving grace if you are able to return the favour to us."

"You wanted to set sail again with the convoy," said Jane. "Does that mean you were planning another attack?"

"Not an attack, just a...transaction or a..." Callario shook his head, the sentence trailing off as he failed to find a defensible word. "Yes. Everything is arranged."

"Then," said Forsythe. "I suggest you tell us where, and when. And I suggest you tell us quickly."

Amelia led Captain Bennings back to the longboat, which was waiting patiently, its crew apparently unaware of what had just transpired in the captain's cabin. The Katydian officer signalled to them to make ready, and then shook his head.

"Of all the misfortunes I expected to encounter on this commission, I have to admit that treachery was not one of them."

"It's a hard thing to contemplate, sir," said Amelia.

"At least we know now where the enemy may be found," Bennings said. "And if we set all sail we can still reach the position in time."

"Yes, sir. There is that." Amelia coughed, wondering how to delicately put the question that was on her mind.

"Another bad situation well resolved, then," Bennings remarked. "You and I seem to meet frequently under these circumstances, lieutenant."

Amelia nodded, remembering the drunken confrontation she and Bennings had broken up in Fort Loyalty. "That we do, sir. Sir, may I ask a question?"

"Of course, lieutenant."

"When you return to your ship, sir..."

"I will conduct a thorough investigation," Bennings preempted her. "Mr Callario's clerk, alas, did not sail with us. In fact, there is nobody on my ship who has had much contact with him aside from myself."

"You're probably safe, then, sir," said Jane, who had followed them. "I imagine that Mr Callario would have dealt with any co-conspirators personally like he did when he gave those secret orders to the captain of the Preston Castle."

"Then we may need to interview the other merchant captains when we return," said Bennings. "Especially if you were right about a second attack being planned. There must be at least one sacrificial lamb amongst them, wittingly or not. May I ask a question?"

"Naturally, sir."

"I assume that you and Miss Porter have harboured these suspicions for a while," Bennings glanced up at Jane wryly before continuing. "And I assume that you must have suspected me at some stage."

"Er...well...we weren't really sure who to trust..." said Jane, embarrassed.

Bennings smiled and shook his head. "You would have been foolish not to suspect the commander of the escort, Miss Porter. I mention this because I hope that the recent revelations have cleared me in your eyes."

"They have, sir," said Amelia.

"Good. If we are to fight our ships alongside each other, it is best that we trust each other." Bennings turned to leave. "But for now, I must take my leave. There is much to be done, and much to be explained, back on my ship."

"Of course, sir. Proceed." Amelia clicked her heels and saluted. Bennings touched his hat and climbed into the longboat, which set off back to the frigate. Amelia could only imagine the conversation among its crew when Bennings told them what had happened. She watched it go and then turned to Jane, smiling.

"Well. That was that."

"Yes, it was." Jane smiled back, her heart still racing with excitement. "Are we going to go after the pirate now?"

"Indeed we are." Amelia made her way up to the bridge and exchanged salutes with Lieutenant Costell, who raised an eyebrow.

"Well, Ms Amelia? Do we have a new course?"

"We do, sir, with the Captain's compliments," said Amelia. "We are to return to the convoy route, as far along it as we would be had we followed it on schedule all the way from Loyalty."

Costell nodded, rubbing his chin. "I see...we'll need to set extra sails to make up for lost time."

"The Captain said to make any arrangements necessary, sir."

"Very well." Costell nodded. "I'll begin the calculations in the chart room, but we might as well be pointing in the right quarter. Helm! Come to starboard! New heading southeast by east, one-two-five degrees!"

"Southeast by east, one-two-five, aye, sir!"

"The bridge is yours, lieutenant," said Costell. "Until Mr Chad returns."

"Aye, sir." Amelia took up a position behind the ship's console. Jane stood aside to let the navigator pass and looked up at the sails as the ship began turning.

"Loose the flying jib!" Amelia called. "Hands aloft to open fore, main and mizzen topgallants and royals!"

Jane enjoyed the sound of Amelia's voice, crisp and professional, when she was plying her craft, and she watched the crew hasten to obey with something approaching pride.

"Steady on the new course! Full power translation from the sails! Engines all ahead!"

Jane smiled and tucked a lock of hair back behind her ear.

"Well, I can see that I'd better leave you to it," she said. "Shall I meet you in the wardroom?"

"As you wish, Miss Porter," Amelia smiled. "I won't make you wait long."

"You did very well today," said Amelia, later that night. She was sitting against the wall of their shared cabin with a textbook open on her knees.

Jane was sitting cross-legged on the bed, making notes on pieces of paper she was adding to the pile in front of her. She looked up with her blue eyes and blushed.

"Oh, no. It was really nothing."

Amelia grinned. "Arresting a senior EITC agent for treason is hardly 'nothing', my dear."

"Well, I didn't really do that," Jane smiled. "I just...put things together, really."

"All those detective stories must have paid off," said Amelia.

Jane chuckled. "I suppose they did. I must say, I never expected them to. At least, not like this."

"It'll make a nice chapter for your father's book," Amelia said. "I do hope you give yourself due credit."

Jane looked away modestly. "Oh, well, you know, one doesn't like to exaggerate..."

"It's not exaggerating." Amelia closed her book and moved to sit beside her. "You heard what the Captain said back in the harbour. He values your judgement. There are more than a few officers who've never heard him say that about them."

"I've just been lucky, that's all," said Jane.

"Lucky? My dear Jane, you may very well have changed the course of this war." Amelia grinned. "Who was it who first guessed about the pirate weapon to control the void whales? Who was it who found out about the slavers on New Genswick?"

"Only because I was captured by them," Jane pointed out, smiling. "That hardly counts. I'm sure that even you would have noticed a clue like that."

Amelia laughed. "I'd like to think so! But my point is...don't underestimate yourself. Or what you've done. Or how much people think of you."

Jane took her hand gently. "Thank you...it really does mean a great deal. Sometimes I still feel as if I'm not really a part of this world. After all, I'm really only on this ship for a ride..."

"You've done more than most of us have," said Amelia. She felt her heart vice at the thought of the fact that the 'ride' would, inevitably, have to come to an end, and pushed the feeling aside before it could be reflected in her face. Jane was looking up at her and Amelia knew she could read her like a book.

"I've just been lucky," Jane said again. She smiled and raised a hand to Amelia's cheek. "In all sorts of unexpected ways."

Amelia kissed her gently. Jane reciprocated. Arms slid around bodies and the two lay back on the bed together. Jane smiled up at Amelia and sighed happily.

"Did you ever think you'd feel this way about someone?"

Amelia smiled tenderly. "I can safely say that I didn't."

"So can I." Jane stroked Amelia's auburn hair. "Especially someone who..."

"Is another female? Felinid? A naval officer?" Amelia grinned. "There are a few more characteristics I could note as being unusual in the circumstances."

Jane laughed. "No, no...although, yes, to all of those things. No, I just meant...well...someone who feels the same way about you...I hope."

Amelia sighed. "You don't need to hope about how I feel for you, Jane."

"I know. I can see it in your eyes." Jane looked into the adoring emerald gaze. "It's beautiful."

"Then it must be a reflection of what I see," Amelia murmured quietly, kissing Jane once more. Jane blushed deeply and returned the affection.

"Oh, Amelia..."

"I understand why you might not feel wholly a part of this world, even now," Amelia murmured. "But you should know that you're most definitely a part of mine. The best part."

"Sweet Amelia," Jane kissed her. "How could I ever doubt you."

"I hope you'll never have to," said Amelia. "Especially...especially over the next few days."

"Why?" Jane sat up, looking concerned.

Amelia hesitated, uncertain of how bluntly to put her concerns. "Well...if we are able to engage the corsair...it won't be as easy a fight as it was in harbour," she said softly.

Jane bit her lip. "You think they'll fight back?"

"They won't have a choice. And they'll fight hard." Amelia sighed. "Their ship looks about our size. It probably carries about the same firepower. And with the Crimson Corsair, they've got an ex-Navy captain in command. I wouldn't be surprised if he's trained his spacers into something resembling a crew instead of the usual mob you find packed into a pirate ship."

"Oh." Jane looked down. "I suppose that makes sense...but do you think we'll win?"

"I do." Amelia nodded. "But..."

"It'll cost us," Jane finished the sentence for her.

Amelia nodded sadly. "I'm afraid so."

Jane lowered her eyes again. She was looking at the paper by her side, but her eyes were focused on something entirely different and she wasn't registering the words on it. "And...will you be all right, Amelia?"

"When have I ever not been?"

Jane thought of the perils they had been through together and shook her head. "It's just that...I know that if there's a danger that has to be faced, that you'll face it. And you'll make sure that you're the first to face it, too."

"It's my duty, Jane," Amelia took her hand.

"Yes, I know...I know. And I love you for it. Your courage, your devotion..." Jane squeezed her hand warmly. "But...oh, I shouldn't be talking like this...it's wrong of me to put my fears onto you this way."

"I understand," Amelia moved closer. "I worry about you as well. It's only natural."

"It shows," Jane smiled. "Everything you've done...the times when you've saved me. Even tonight when you stepped in front of me as soon as Mr Callario pulled out that gun. I just don't want you to think of me as a burden. As if you have to do something different from your duty just because of me."

"Oh, Jane. There's only one thing I do differently because of you." Amelia smiled reassuringly. "Fight twice as hard, to make sure that I can see you again."

Jane sighed happily. "Dearest Amelia..."

"I'd do anything to protect you," Amelia stroked her hand gently. "No matter how bad it gets. I want to be there for you."

"I know you will be." Jane smiled. "You always are. I only hope I can be there for you in the same way."

"As I recall, you've saved me on more than one occasion to date," Amelia grinned back.

It was Jane's turn to blush slightly. "Just doing my job, as I'm sure you'd say."

"And doing it well," said Amelia.

Jane gave a small smile. "Well, I wouldn't want to let you down."

"As if you ever would." Amelia kissed her.

"I love you," Jane whispered. "Whatever happens, remember that."

Amelia purred as she felt her heart skip a beat and marvelled at the fact that it still did so when she heard those words.

"I'll never forget them," she said, lowering her head for another soft kiss. "Never."