Jane awoke the next morning feeling oddly refreshed. She stretched and yawned and lay for a moment contemplating the first light falling through the window. The sounds of a new day were beginning to filter through and she swung her feet out of the bed. Remembering the night before, she strained her ears to see if her neighbour was still there. But all was quiet next door. She dressed quietly and pushed the door open, peeking around cautiously. The infirmary was empty and Jane had to look closely to see which of the beds had been slept in, so neat had Amelia been in remaking it. Secretly rather impressed, she stepped out of the building and looked around. High above her, mounted atop a slender, skeletal steel tower that dominated the town, a pair of rectangular solar sails unfurled and began sparkling in the sun.

She grew aware of new sounds, ones unfamiliar to her despite her familiarity with the usual morning chorus of the jungle. Sounds of fabric, wood and metal interspersed with occasional shouts. It seemed to be coming from the town square. Curiosity got the better of the thoughts of breakfast and Jane made her way there. It was a hive of activity by the time she arrived. Civilians and militia were gathered around, but to Jane's surprise they were for the first time outnumbered by the new arrivals. Spacers were gathered around two longboats, resplendently coloured in ivory and maroon. Their blue coats and colourful shirts were an unusual sight as they laboured to unload equipment and supplies from the boats, passing them to chains of red-coated marines who passed the boxes and bundles from one to another before piling them on the ground.

"All supplies present and accounted for, Mr Arrow?"

Jane recognised the crisply-accented voice and she followed it through the crowd of moving figures until she found Amelia. She was standing with her back to Jane, gloved hands folded neatly behind her back. Arrow loomed next to her, checking a clipboard.

"All present and accounted for, ma'am."

"Very good." Amelia turned as she heard Jane approaching them. "Ah, Miss Porter. Good morning to you."

"Good morning to you, too, Ame...lieutenant." Jane hesitated, unsure if their agreement of the previous night regarding formalities applied only between themselves. "I...hope you slept well."

"Splendidly, thank you," Amelia lied. "Now, there are a couple of people you need to meet around here. Mr Whiting!"

Whiting looked around. "Ma'am?"

Amelia gestured to Jane. "This is Miss Jane Porter. Daughter of the colonial governor, no less."

Whiting took her hand and bowed. "Honoured to meet you, Miss Porter. Excuse me, lieutenant, but do I have your permission to tie down the boats?"

"Permission granted. Just make sure they aren't in anybody's way." Amelia nodded and turned to Jane. "Midshipman Whiting is my second-in-command. Now, the other person you'll be glad to meet is- ah, there you are! Corporal Tulip?"

A long-faced marine with a white chevron on his sleeve and silver insignia on his starched collar glanced around and sighed. "Please, ma'am. It's Flower. My name is Cedric Flower."

"Of course it is," Amelia was grinning. "Lance-Corporal Flower is our friendly and long-suffering corpsman, Miss Porter. A field medic. I'm sure you and he will be able to work together."

Jane tried to hide a sigh of relief at the thought of not having to perform her medical tasks alone. "I'm very pleased to meet you, Mr Petal. I mean, Flower," she quickly corrected herself.

Flower rolled his eyes. "Even people I've only just met think it's funny to do it."

"Perhaps you could show the Lance-Corporal the infirmary later." Amelia looked up and raised her voice sharply, pointing an accusing finger at a group of her spacer who were piling up supplies. "Not with that! Keep the ammunition separate from the victuals! And stack those rifles properly, there!"

She turned back to Jane and smiled apologetically. "Sorry about that."

"No, no, it's quite all right." Jane smiled back. "I should go and tell my father that the rest of your crew have arrived. I'm sure he'll want to know."

Amelia looked back over Jane's head. "Well, it's funny that you mention that..."

Archimedes had wandered into the square and was staring around him in amazement. He would have been getting in the way were it not for the fact that his small stature made it possible for things to be carried over him instead of past him. He spotted Jane and almost danced over to join her.

"Do you see this, Jane? Isn't it amazing! After all that waiting!"

"I see it, father," Jane laughed. "And it is rather amazing, yes."

Amelia smiled. Archimedes clapped his hands.

"It calls for a celebration! Have you had breakfast yet, lieutenant?"

"Just a ship's biscuit and a cup of water, sir," said Amelia.

"Well, that's no way to start a day! I insist that you and your officers join me at the town hall for a proper breakfast! We have...well...I suppose we could fry up some jamleaves or something. But I insist nevertheless."

Amelia touched her hat and smiled. "We'd be pleased to join you, your excellency. Is that not right, Mr Arrow?"

Arrow, who had grimaced at the word 'town hall', grumbled and forced his rocky face into something approximating a smile.

"Yes...ma'am."

Amelia winked and turned back to Archimedes. "We'll be there momentarily, sir, once we've finished unloading our equipment."

"Oh, yes, of course. Needs must, what." Archimedes nodded.

"Must...what?" Arrow asked.

"What?"

"What, what?"

"Eh?"

There was a moment of silence until Jane coughed. This seemed to break the spell. Arrow turned back to supervising his troops and Archimedes ambled off somewhere. Jane looked over at Amelia, whose shoulders were shaking with silent laughter. Jane caught a flash of her green eyes before she realised she was being watched and stood straight again, smoothing out her blue coat.

"Ahem. My apologies, Miss Porter."

"None necessary, lieutenant." Jane was smiling too. "I'd...better go and help my father with that breakfast."

"Ah? Then I'll look forward to it even more." Amelia touched her hat again. "We won't keep you waiting."

Jane put the plate in front of Amelia and gave her a small smile.

"It's not much, I'm afraid. Our supplies aren't very good. But we found this type of leaf that fries awfully well. Once you take the spines off it, anyway."

Amelia looked at the plate. It held a pair of fat oval leaves that were probably once a grey-green colour but which had turned yellow where the cooking iron had touched them. The smell they gave off was a peculiar combination of sugary sweetness and a vegetative bitterness. But one did not pursue a career in the Navy with the expectation of high cuisine.

"Actually, it looks rather interesting," she said.

Jane passed a plate to her father, who was sitting in the middle of the table. Amelia sat immediately to his right. Whiting had been given the seat on his left. Jane took her seat next to Amelia and drew her own plate closer. Arrow, who had taken his red coat off before forcing his way through the door, was next to Whiting and was looking at his breakfast dubiously.

"Well, do start." Archimedes smiled. Amelia returned the look politely and picked up her knife and fork. She poked at the leaf hesitantly and then speared it. The hot flesh parted easily enough and a white liquid oozed from inside it. She cut a triangular piece and tasted it experimentally. Jane watched a curious expression pass over her face, but it soon turned to one of approval.

"Hmm. Not altogether that bad," Amelia said.

Jane smiled happily. "I'm so glad you approve. They've become rather a favourite of mine since I arrived. They remind me of the sweet bread we used to bake back on our home planet."

"And where was that?" Amelia asked.

"Kingshome-on-the-Cusp," said Jane. "I don't expect you to have heard of it. It's a small blue kind of planet about halfway back towards the centre of the Empire."

"I think I recall visiting there as a pup," said Whiting, across the table. "Rather a pleasant sort of place. Quiet and out of the way."

"I recall seeing it on the star charts, at least," Amelia said. "What brought you all the way out here, then?"

Jane shrugged and grinned. "I don't know. A sense of adventure, I suppose. Nobody know anything about this planet other than that it was here. How could anyone resist the chance to get to know a whole new planet? To discover a new world?"

Amelia found herself smiling back. "Careful, Miss Porter. With an attitude like that you could find yourself in the Navy if you're not careful."

"It's true," said Whiting, "The Service is a devil for finding that sort of person."

"Oh, dear me, no!" Jane waved a hand. "Me in uniform? It would hardly suit!"

"I wouldn't go that far," Amelia grinned, giving Jane a sideways glance that made her blush.

"Well. In any case, I don't think I would much like all the fighting." Jane coughed and directed her attention to her meal.

"Smashing breakfast, Jane!" said Archimedes. He waved his fork. "Did you do anything different with them today?"

"No, father," Jane smiled. "Just the usual."

Archimedes chewed on a piece and swallowed it happily. "You know, I do believe it could do with a light dusting of pepper. Could you pass it over, please?"

Amelia looked up. The pepper shaker was on the table to her right. She reached out and closed her hand around it. Jane's hand got there a fraction of a second later and landed on top of hers. Amelia's ears flicked upright and she glanced sideways. Jane was staring at her, and quickly removed her hand under Amelia's emerald gaze.

"My...my apologies, lieutenant."

"None needed, Miss Porter." Amelia passed the pepper shaker to Archimedes and took a suddenly renewed interest in her own meal.

"How frequent have the attacks on your colony been, governor?" asked Arrow.

Archimedes shrugged. "Sometimes two or three times a day. Sometimes not at all. The local Naztarii do as they please, it seems. Dashed inconvenient of them. Can't even schedule game of cricket without wondering whether you'll lose an innings."

"How very inconvenient," said Arrow. Amelia wondered whether that deadpan remark was genuinely commiserating or whether he was exercising a rarely-seen sense of humour.

"Precisely," said Archimedes, either oblivious or ignoring him. "Almost unsporting of them."

Amelia looked to her left and had to stifle a chuckle at the expression on Whiting's face as he rotated a finger next to his head, a gesture he turned hastily into a casual scratch when Archimedes turned to see what he was doing. Arrow opened his mouth to ask another question, but he was interrupted by the sharp, insistent ringing of a bell from somewhere outside.

"What's that?" Amelia looked up sharply.

"It's the alarm!" Jane's face was almost pale. "The sentries must have spotted something!"

"In that case," Amelia stood quickly and swept up her hat. "I'm afraid you'll have to excuse us, your excellency. Duty calls."

"Oh, yes, of course." Archimedes stood up as well, his cheery little eyes suddenly serious.

Amelia nodded to Whiting and Arrow, who were on their feet. "Gentlemen, shall we?"

"Yes, ma'am." Whiting checked his sword. Amelia turned to Jane.

"Get your infirmary ready, Miss Porter. No telling if we might need it."

"I will." Jane wiped her hands and gave Amelia a brave smile. "But here's hoping you don't."

Amelia smiled back and led Whiting and - after some door-related delays - Arrow back down from the town hall. The sail tower creaked in the wind above them as they ran into the square. The spacers and soldiers had been busy in their absence, constructing a neat little city of white tents. They now hurried to and fro between them. Up on a watchtower built into the stockade over the main gate, Parol was ringing a bell furiously.

"Mr Bock, report!"

Bock stopped in his tracks and looked back at Amelia. "Eh?"

Amelia sighed. "Blasted civilians trying to be soldiers. What's happening?"

"Oh. Parol and some of the lads saw some movement at the edge of the jungle." Bock hoisted his rifle over his shoulder. "Don't know anything else at this stage."

"Very well." Amelia turned to Arrow. "Deploy your marines, Captain."

"Aye, lieutenant. Sergeant Sackett! Two squads up on the wall, immediately! Third squad to form reserve!"

"Yes, Captain Arrow!" An elephant-nosed alien, short but as about as wide as he was high, saluted, and began barking out orders. Amelia turned approvingly to Whiting.

"Get our spacers armed as well, Mr Whiting. Must do our bit."

Whiting grinned and touched his hat. "As you command, lieutenant."

Amelia grinned back and strode towards the watchtower. The ladder shook as she climbed it to the platform. Parol was still ringing the bell and she waved a hand at him.

"Yes, thank you, damn it! I think we're all aware of the situation!"

"Yes, Miss...er, ma'am." The militiaman picked up his rifle and fumbled with the magazine. Amelia crept towards the edge of the tower and looked over. There were shadows at the edge of the forest, but there were deeper shadows within them. As soon as Amelia caught sight of one it seemed to slip away. She drew her pistol and armed it, trying to find a target.

"I thought you might appreciate this, Miss Amelia." Whiting had scrambled up the ladder to join them. Amelia took the telescope he was offering her and nodded her thanks. She extended it and put it to her eye. The autofocus whirred as she panned the instrument along the treeline. Behind her, the ladder rattled again. Amelia looked around to see Jane enter the tower, a leather satchel over her shoulder and a pith helmet on her head.

"What in all the skies are you doing here?"

"First aid, of course," Jane patted the satchel. "I can't be waiting around in the infirmary if I can do more good out here."

"Very kind of you, Miss Porter," said Amelia. "But we have Corporal Daisy for that."

"Flower," muttered a voice from the ground. Jane fixed Amelia with a stern look.

"You do your job, lieutenant, and I'll do mine, if you don't mind."

Amelia was going to argue, but there was a look in Jane's blue eyes that made her think better of it. She turned back to the jungle and put the telescope to her eyes again, trying to understand what she saw. A dark shape seemed to move towards the edge of the treeline, ducking behind trunks and ditches as it came. The shadow flitted forwards, hunkered down behind a tree, and raised something towards the tower.

"Down!"

Amelia and Whiting dropped into cover. Jane and Parol were close behind. A red flash of searing energy spat out of the jungle and punched a hole in the watchtower walls. A second and third bolt followed it. Amelia felt splinters falling around her and she clasped her hat protectively over her head.

"Mr Arrow!"

Below, on the stockade walls, Arrow levelled his rifle and began firing into the trees. Bock joined him and Parol began firing down from the tower. Amelia felt the splinters stop falling and she got to her feet, following the bright blue lines of laslock fire. She tightened her grip on her pistol and added her own firepower to the fight. Whiting helped Jane to her feet.

"Due respect, Miss Porter, I think you'd do better out of the line of fire!"

Jane nodded and bit her lip. "Perhaps...perhaps you're right, Mr Whiting."

Whiting assisted her to the ladder and looked up, across the town. "Ma'am?"

"What is it, Mr Whiting?" Amelia knelt to stay out of the firefight. Whiting pointed to the other side of the stockade.

"Movement over there!"

"Take our spacers and get it covered!" Amelia snapped. Whiting ducked back and followed Jane down the ladder. Amelia raised her handgun again and took careful aim, firing a shot which hit the shadow in the middle. A hoarse cry went up from the jungle and it seemed to collapse. But two more had already joined it, red tracer fire hissing back towards the defenders. Amelia heard Arrow calling up his troops. On the opposite side of the stockade, Whiting led a crowd of spacers up to the walls. Amelia raised the telescope again and spotted a crowd of shadows flitting towards the treeline facing the colony's gate. The strategy of the attack was clear- two diversionary attacks to tie up the defence before a third real one broke them. Had it been the militia alone, it might have even worked. She slid down the ladder and waved to Sergeant Sackett, who was standing in the camp along with the marines being held in readiness.

"Sergeant! Bring up the reserve squad! I want them on the ramparts over the gate!"

"Yes, ma'am! You heard her, boys! Move out!"

The red-coated soldiers jogged past her as she took a rifle from a crate and loaded it. She followed them up onto the gatehouse, motioning them to stay low and keep out of sight. Once they were in position, she raised herself to look over the wall. The shadows were indeed massing in the forest.

"Come on, blast you," she muttered. "Don't keep us waiting."

The enemy fire began telling. A truncated scream made her look around in time to see a militiaman falling from the wall, a smoking wound in his chest. Whiting's spacers were forced into cover by a renewed hail of fire that blasted out chunks of the stockade. The Midshipman scrambled along to check one of the crew members, calling for medical assistance. Jane and Lance-Corporal Flower began running towards them.

"Ma'am?" Sackett was clearly itching for the order.

"Not yet, Sergeant." Amelia looked back at the forest. "Not yet. Wait for them to break cover."

Sackett nodded and gripped his rifle. A sound behind her made Amelia look around to see Arrow bringing his squad up the slope.

"The situation on the other side is secure, ma'am," he said. "First squad and the militia have it under control."

"Very good, Mr Arrow." Amelia armed her rifle. "Form your troops up and we'll make sure the skulking vermin here get a good reception."

"Yes, ma'am." Arrow waved them into position. Amelia glanced over her shoulder to see Flower helping an injured spacer back towards the camp. Jane was kneeling beside a marine, her satchel open beside her. Amelia braced the rifle in her hands and looked over the wall, just in time to see the enemy charge out of the jungle. Red laser fire covered their advance, hammering into the stockade around the defenders. Clearly visible now, Amelia could see that they were blue-skinned creatures of a reptilian build, and they covered the ground surprisingly quickly in long, loping strides.

"Stand ready!" she hissed. A shot hit the woodwork by her head, throwing a cloud of splinters that took her hat off. That seemed to be as good a moment as any.

"Now, Mr Arrow!"

"First rank, fire!" Arrow rose to his feet, aiming his rifle. A disciplined volley of blue fire sliced into the Naztarii, punching several off their feet.

"Second rank, fire!"

Amelia joined in this time, revelling in the kick of the recoil against her shoulder. She picked out one of the leading attackers and watched it go down as three bolts struck it simultaneously.

"First rank, fire!"

A third volley descended, making the wild charge falter.

"Pick your targets!" Amelia called. "Make them count!"

"Fire at will!" Arrow bellowed. A blizzard of shots was unleashed. The spacers moved around the stockade and began joining in, Whiting directing their shooting into the jungle to suppress the enemy's covering fire. The attack broke up in disarray, some survivors attempting to stand their ground and shoot back, others simply running for cover. A few cheers went up from the colonial militia at the sight. Amelia smiled grimly.

"Maintain fire!" she shouted. She flicked a lock of her hair aside and sighted down the barrel of her rifle again, emptying the magazine at the enemy. As they disappeared she ejected the spend power cell and loaded a second one, but it was too late to use it. As quickly as they had come, the Naztarii had gone, leaving only a few bodies on the cleared ground leading towards the gate.

"I believe the day is ours, ma'am." Arrow smiled with satisfaction. Amelia grinned and turned to him.

"So it seems, Mr Arrow."

A chorus went up at their words. Spacers took off their hats and waved them in celebration, militiamen whooped and even the marines gave three cheers. Arrow's smile widened as he passed Amelia her hat. To her further happiness the tough felt had withstood the impact of the splinters, and she put it on triumphantly.

"Carry on, Mr Arrow!"

"Aye, ma'am!" He saluted. Amelia turned away from the wall and headed back to the square, still smiling.

"Is it over?" Jane looked up from tending her patient.

"For now." Amelia grinned. "But we gave them a good, sharp shock. I don't think they were expecting to be on the receiving end of Her Majesty's marines today. Speaking of which, how is he?"

Jane looked down at the soldier. "Oh, he'll be all right. Just a flesh wound, isn't that right?"

The marine looked up and indicated the bandage around his shoulder. "Piece o' cake, ma'am. I've come home from bars wi' worse."

"Good man." Amelia smiled. "Any indication of casualties, Miss Porter?"

Jane wiped her hands on her apron and stood up. "Three of yours. Two spacers and this fellow. Mr Flower is with the others. None especially serious. But one of ours...a man named Tonner...he was shot when the fighting began. He died."

"Ah." Amelia's expression changed. "I'm sorry to hear that."

Jane shrugged and tried to put on a brave smile. "He's not the first. But it...it's still hard. At least we have the victory to enjoy. For now."

"For now, yes." Amelia agreed. She watched the other woman's face carefully, but she kept her sadness well hidden behind a businesslike expression. "But if you want to talk..."

"I know where you'll be. Thank you." Jane smiled and picked up her satchel. "And...are you all right, lieutenant? I saw you have a few close shaves there."

"I'm quite all right." Amelia grinned. "Although I fear my hat may never be the same again."

Jane laughed softly and shook her head. "I'm just glad to see you safe, lieutenant."

"I could say the same to you, Miss Porter." Amelia smiled.

Tonner was buried in a small cemetery on the slope behind the town hall. The grave was marked with a simple cylinder of white concrete, driven into the ground. Archimedes presided over a simple ceremony, mumbling verses from a small leather-bound book. Arrow had assembled an honour guard of spacers and marines, who stood side by side with Bock's men and gave a final salute as the linen-wrapped body was lowered into the dark earth and covered over. Amelia stood opposite Jane, a black armband around her blue sleeve and her hat held under arm. After the crowd broke up, she wandered over to Jane, who had been watching from the other side of the grave.

"It was very kind of you to be here," said Jane quietly. "I mean, you didn't know him. None of you did."

Amelia shrugged. "Perhaps not. But he was an ally. It's the least we could do."

Jane smiled sadly and looked down. She toyed with a flower she was holding in her hand and cast it onto the freshly-turned soil. Amelia put her hat back on and looked around the cemetery. Given that the colony had only existed for a few months, there was a surprising number of white cylinders and the dates inscribed on them got closer together as they went on.

"I suppose you'd have to do this a lot," said Jane. "Say goodbye to people, I mean. I imagine that it goes with your job."

Amelia sighed. "It happens. But to tell you the truth...I haven't been doing this for as long as you seem to think I have."

"How long have you been doing it, then?" Jane asked her.

Amelia decided that it wouldn't be a good idea to explain that this was only her second active deployment. "Well, if I told you the truth, you might not trust me any longer."

Jane smiled and looked down. "I think it would take a lot to make me stop trusting you, lieutenant."

Amelia felt herself almost blush, and she coughed and adjusted her hat to cover it. "Well. I certainly hope I don't find out exactly how much. Especially because whatever it takes would probably mean that I'm dead as well."

Jane managed a smile. Amelia stepped closer to her.

"And...if I may, Miss Porter...I feel I owe you an apology for greeting you the way I did in the watchtower. I was not familiar with the work you've been doing here."

"It's quite all right," said Jane. "You weren't to know. Perhaps now that your Lance Corporal is here I won't have to do it so much."

Amelia smiled. "You were certainly a great assistance for those of my party who were wounded in the action."

Jane shrugged. "One does one's best."

"You certainly do." Amelia said.

It was Jane's turn to cough. "Well. I might as well make myself useful."

Amelia took another step and was bringing up a hand to reach out to Jane's shoulder when footsteps behind her caught her attention. Midshipman Whiting was walking down the path towards them.

"Begging your pardon, Miss Amelia. Oh, and excuse me, Miss Porter." He took off his hat respectfully.

"Yes, Mr Whiting, what is it?" Amelia turned to face him. He put his hat back on and touched the brim.

"We've made contact with the Resolute to report the situation. But the link is very bad. I've got spacers working on the aethernet equipment, but..." He shrugged helplessly.

"It's never been very reliable," said Jane. "It was a devil of a thing getting it to work well enough to send out the message that brought you here."

"It's old equipment, ma'am," Whiting explained.

"Any news from the ship in return?" asked Amelia.

Whiting shook his head. "Maintaining high orbit and watching for intruders. Speaking of which, the chaps who went out to search the enemy dead have brought back some of their weapons."

"Any clues about where they got them?"

"No identifying marks. But, if I didn't know better..."

"Out with it, man."

Whiting scratched his floppy ear. "Procyon, ma'am."

"Procyons? Here?" Amelia stared.

"I know, ma'am. It doesn't make sense."

"On the contrary, it makes rather too much sense." Amelia grimaced. "This war is a significant diversion of the Empire's strength, Mr Whiting. And who benefits when the eye of the Fleet is drawn elsewhere? Who has outstanding territorial claims on our border?"

Whiting nodded as it sank in. "And the Nebula Pirates..."

"No pirates have ever stood and fought the Navy head-on," said Amelia. "Until now. But why now? Why would the pirates of the Nebula not just retreat? Why form a Confederacy, unless someone is providing the backbone?"

"Should we inform the Captain?"

Amelia shook her head. "Not until we can prove it. But they might find out before we do. When we arrived, the governor made a comment about seeing stars moving. I don't think that Resolute is the first off-world ship to come here, Mr Whiting. But I hope she'll be here when the next one turns up."

Whiting grinned. "I bet she does, too, ma'am."

Amelia chuckled. "I suppose we'll find out when the sky starts raining spars. Thank you, Mr Whiting. That will be all."

He saluted, touched his hat to Jane, and left.

"What was all that about?" Jane said. "I've heard of Procyons, but I've never seen one. Certainly not around here."

"With a bit of luck, you won't have to." Amelia smiled reassuringly.

Jane shook her head and gave a small smile in return. "I'm not sure how much luck we've got around here, lieutenant."

"You've managed so far," Amelia pointed out. "And, by the way...it's still 'Amelia'. At least, when not in front of my crew."

Jane's smile grew. "I'll remember that, lieu- Amelia. I promise. Even if it takes me a while to get used to it."

"Oh, take your time." Amelia grinned. "I don't think either of us are going anywhere for a while, after all..."

It was just before dawn the next morning that Amelia awoke. She breathed deeply, enjoying the clarity of the Naztar air compared to the atmosphere that prevailed below decks on a ship-of-the-line, and found herself also enjoying the greater space in the infirmary compared to the elongated broom cupboard that Midshipmen and Acting Lieutenants had to make do with in space. Perhaps there was more to this colonial business than first met the eye.

She buckled on her shoes, slipped on her black cravat and white waistcoat, took her belt, picked up her hat and stepped outside. The early light of the sun made the white tents pitched in the town square glow orange. The few low clouds still in the sky were a dull purple. Amelia walked quietly through the camp, listening to the calls of the sentries coming off the wall and their replacements as they took over. She felt a presence behind her and turned to see Arrow, his red coat folded over one shoulder and two steaming mugs in his hand.

"Good morning, ma'am," he smiled. "Coffee? From the ship's store."

Amelia chuckled and took one of the mugs. "How well you know me, Mr Arrow."

Arrow shrugged. "I recall your grandfather was always one for waking early and taking coffee. Many times I would see him walking the quarterdeck at first watch."

"I suppose that's something else I've inherited," Amelia smiled and took a sip.

"There was one voyage during which we lay becalmed in the etherium for nearly two months," said Arrow. "We ran out of coffee after five weeks or so. He insisted we keep trying to synthesise it. Towards the end we were burning bread or biscuit until it was black, dissolving it in water, adding enough sugar to disguise the taste and calling it coffee."

"I don't imagine that it did the trick," Amelia remarked.

Arrow shrugged. "It was good for morale if nothing else. Morale is always important in situations such as that."

"You mean when you're trapped and with nowhere to go," Amelia said. "Like now."

Arrow smiled at her reassuringly. "It is still early days, ma'am. And if the enemy remains as cooperative to our defence as they have done..."

"They won't," said Amelia. "We may get a few days of peace, after our victory yesterday, yes, but I wager that they will be back. And probably more dangerous than before. I fear that we are not just facing the local tribesmen. Were you able to take a look at the weapons that were captured?"

"I was, ma'am," said Arrow, "And I believe we share the same suspicion."

Amelia drank another mouthful of coffee. "This could get dangerous, Mr Arrow. Worse before it gets better."

"I am inclined to agree." Arrow finished his mug.

"At least the nights seem to be quiet," said Amelia. "And a jolly good thing too. I checked the water tanks yesterday afternoon. We'll need to be out to refill them soon."

"Ah, the mission we interrupted at our arrival," said Arrow.

"Precisely so." Amelia sighed. "The colony's recycling plant can't supply everything we need, I'm sad to say."

"It was probably not designed for a prolonged siege," said Arrow in that deadpan delivery of his. Amelia smiled.

"An unfortunate oversight, considering the current situation. Speaking of which, are you satisfied with our positions?"

Arrow looked around the stockade. "There are a few areas that could perhaps stand some improvement. In particular, ma'am, I believe we should begin some excavations, at least for our supplies."

Amelia nodded approvingly. "Very well. You have my authority to make use of our spacers in between their duties. I'll inform Mr Whiting."

"Thank you, ma'am."

"In the meantime, I think I should call on the governor for some information. They must have prepared better maps than the ones we were able to download from the Resolute's databanks."

"An excellent idea, ma'am." Arrow took her empty coffee mug back off her.

"Thank you, Mr Arrow." Amelia smiled at her friend. "Carry on."

"Aye, lieutenant." He gave a small bow and walked off towards the field kitchen. Amelia made her way up and along the stockade, pausing on the ramparts over the gate and remembering the scene that had taken place there not so long before. The clearing in front of them was now empty and the forest was quiet. But despite that, and the fact that she could see nothing in the trees, she had the distinct sensation of being watched. Gazing across the treeline, she buttoned her waistcoat and turned back into the town. Reaching the infirmary, she opened the door and came face to face with Jane.

"Ah. Miss Jane. Good morning to you." Amelia took off her hat.

Jane blinked in surprise. "Oh, and good morning to you, lieutenant."

"I am alone, Jane," Amelia smiled. Jane smiled back.

"Well...in that case, good morning...Amelia."

"That's better." Amelia stood aside. "I'm sorry, you were going out?"

"Just up to my father's to join him for breakfast," said Jane. "Perhaps you'd like to join me? I mean, us? Or have you eaten already?"

"No, I can't say that I have. That's an awfully kind offer." Amelia smiled again. "I'd be happy to accept. In any event, I have a request to make of your father."

"What's that?"

"Information about the area. Any maps you've been able to put together." Amelia shrugged apologetically. "I'm afraid the main database is still sadly ignorant of your endeavours here."

"I wish I could say that was a surprise," laughed Jane. "I'm sure he can oblige. Shall we go?"

Amelia glanced over Jane's shoulder. "Of course. But if you'll permit me to recover my coat? It wouldn't do to meet the governor while incompletely dressed."

Jane looked a little flustered. "You seem rather dressed to me, lieutenant."

"In that case, I should say improperly dressed," Amelia corrected herself politely.

"Well, you seem very properly dressed to me as well, for that matter. Very properly indeed in fact." Jane's cheeks went pinker and she turned back into the room hurriedly to pick up Amelia's blue coat. She handed it over to the feline, without looking up to notice that her face too had coloured somewhat.

"Thank...thank you." Amelia put it on and straightened her collar.

"Not a problem." Jane flashed a small smile. "Now, then. Shall we?"

"Are you sure those will be enough?" Archimedes scratched his head as he stood in the doorway of the town hall.

Amelia turned to see him and patted the rolled-up maps tucked under her arm. "I'm sure they will, your excellency."

"Please," Archimedes smiled. "Archie. Archimedes only if you really must."

"I'm afraid I feel that I do," Amelia smiled. "Thank you for your assistance. And for breakfast, of course."

"Oh, you can thank my daughter for that," chuckled Archimedes. "Not that I mind having guests, what!"

"It's very kind of you, sir. And of Miss Porter, of course." Amelia grinned sideways at Jane.

"I'm sure it's the least we can do." He adjusted the golden chain around his shoulders. "And I hope we can have a quiet day today, eh?"

"I hope so, too, sir." Amelia tried to look confident. "But the enemy might not be in a hurry to return after yesterday."

"Ah, good point." Archimedes nodded sagely. "No point in taking to the field with your second XI against a team that bowled out your first for a baker's dozen."

"Um...indeed not, sir." Amelia tried to work out what he meant and gave up. "If you'll excuse me, though?"

"Oh, yes, yes. Of course. Do let me know if you need anything else. Take care, Jane!" He smiled brightly and closed the door.

"Well," said Amelia, as they walked back to the town. "Now I just need to find a quiet spot to take a look at these."

"You can use my desk in the infirmary," offered Jane.

Amelia smiled. "I appreciate that."

"Do you really think the Naztarii will leave us alone today?" Jane tried not to sound too hopeful. Amelia shrugged.

"Who knows. I know I wouldn't be in a hurry to come back after that, at least not without doing some very hard thinking indeed."

They stepped out into the town square. Amelia stopped to survey the scene. Arrow had been an efficient organiser, as usual. While sentries returning from the night watches were allowed to fall into their sleeping stretchers, and their replacements went to take up position along the stockade, spacers and marines waking up found picks and shovels thrust into their hands. Excavations were underway in half a dozen places under Arrow's watchful eye. He himself had put his shoulder behind a shovel and already had a pile of dirt behind him as tall as a man. He paused for a moment and politely acknowledged Amelia.

"All under control, Mr Arrow?"

"Indeed, ma'am."

"Is all this really necessary?" Jane looked around the square.

"We may be glad of it before much longer," said Arrow. "It will keep our supplies safe. And it gives our men and women something to do."

"For morale." Amelia said quietly. "Boredom is the spacer's worst enemy."

"Ah." Jane nodded. "Well, that I can understand. My father always said that an idle mind was the devil's playground."

"Very perspicacious of him," said Arrow. "But it is not the devil that concerns us now."

"Quite so," Amelia gestured to the maps. "I'll be analysing these in infirmary if I'm needed, Mr Arrow. Carry on."

Amelia looked up as a shadow fell over the maps she had spread out on the desk. A slender hand put a cup in front of her, containing what Amelia's nose quickly informed her was tea. She looked up and met Jane's eyes. The other girl smiled shyly.

"I'm sorry for interrupting, it's just that you've been hard at it for a while. I asked Mr Arrow and he said that you normally prefer tea at this time of day."

Amelia smiled and picked up the cup. "Mr Arrow is as thoughtful as you are, Jane. Thank you."

"You must have known him for a long time," said Jane, in the kind of voice that turned a statement into a question.

Amelia chuckled. "All my life. And my father knew him. And so did his father. And so did his. My family has something of a habit of spacing for a living, you see. One of my ancestors served with Arrow and we don't seem to have kicked the habit yet."

Jane smiled. "That sounds very nice."

Amelia nodded. "He's been a great help to us all."

Jane watched her take a sip of the tea and flinch in pain. Amelia put the cup down firmly and licked her upper lip.

"Oh, dear...too hot?" Jane looked genuinely concerned/

Amelia nodded. "Just a touch, yes."

"Let me get something for you," Jane stepped around beside Amelia, pulled open one of the drawers and rummaged around in it until she produced a small glass bottle from a collection of others. She pulled the stopper out of it and examined it critically.

"Smelling salts. Hmm. I didn't even know these were here."

"Never had much need for them myself," said Amelia.

Jane smiled. "No, I can imagine that. Ah, here we go. Balm of wintervine." She picked out a flattish tin and unscrewed the lid. Amelia eyes the dark green contents suspiciously.

"Are you sure about this?"

"Oh, yes," Jane dipped her finger in it. "It works wonders on all sorts of things. Just you see."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "You're not proposing administering it to me yourself, are you?"

Jane paused, her finger an appreciable fraction of the way to Amelia's lips. She blinked and drew back, wiping it on her apron.

"Um, no. Of course not. That would plainly be ridiculous."

Amelia chuckled and took the tin from her unresisting hand. "Thank you all the same, though."

Jane smiled as she watched Amelia dab it on cautiously. "Is it working?"

Amelia stopped and pulled a face. "I can't feel my lip at all, if that's what you meant."

Jane laughed. "Yes, I suppose I should have warned you about that. Don't worry, the effect only lasts for half an hour or so."

"Thank goodness for that." Amelia grinned. "I was afraid I'd never be able to use my lips again."

She wondered why Jane blushed at that remark for a moment before the penny dropped and she did likewise.

"Ahem. Anyway. Thank you."

"No need to thank me." Jane screwed the lid back on the tin and put it back in the drawer with the smelling salts. "I should be apologising to you for the tea."

"On the contrary, it was a very kind gesture." Amelia smiled. "And very welcome."

Jane looked at the maps. "So have you found anything out?"

Amelia sighed. "I wish I could report that I had. But I'm afraid I was flat out for a while just working out how the read them. Star charts are more my milieu. This here, is the creek that we first met at, isn't it?"

Jane followed her pointing finger. "That's right. We call it Archie's Creek, after my father, you see. He discovered it...well...he fell in it when we first arrived here."

"I see." Amelia tried not to smile. "And you collect your water from there?"

"Yes. It's closer than the King's River, you see. That's what the creek joins onto here."

Jane traced the route with her finger, finally pointing to a spot quite near where the longboats had first made planetfall.

"And you say that the enemy isn't active on that side of the town at night?"

"Not so far."

Amelia drummed her fingers on the table. "Then let us hope they stay that way."

There was the sound of a laslock discharge from outside followed by urgent shouts. The watchtower bell began ringing insistently. Amelia sighed.

"I had to speak, didn't I."

"I'm sure we'll be all right." Jane smiled bravely and picked up her satchel again. "I'll be right behind you."

Amelia paused in gathering up her weapons and smiled back. "I'll remember that."

She stepped outside, buckling on her belt.

"Mr Whiting! Report!"

Whiting, who was running past, a rifle in his hands, skidded to a halt. "Fire from the forest, ma'am! East perimeter!"

Amelia drew her pistol and began heading for the stockade. "Mr Arrow! Summon marines! Mr Bock, where do you think you're going?"

The militiaman stopped as he hurried by. "Er, the watchtower, ma'am."

"The blazes you are. I need you on the wall where we can see what's going on. Follow me."

Bock blinked as Amelia swept past, shook his head and ran after her as Jane emerged from the infirmary behind him. Amelia reached the wall and took stock of the situation. A red-coated body was lying in a heap at the bottom of the embankment. A spacer and a militiaman were crouched behind the cover of the stockade, trying to peer over the edge. As Amelia watched a red flash took a chunk out of the woodwork and knocked one of the spacer's weapons out of his hands. She bent down and picked up the rifle that had been dropped by the fallen marine. Jane arrived in a hurry and knelt next to him. She rolled the body over, saw the damage the laser had done and looked up at Amelia, shaking her head sadly. Amelia's eyes narrowed and she strode up the slope to the wall.

"What's going on? Report!"

The spacer picked up his rifle again and gripped it tensely. "I don't know, ma'am! There was nothing, then a shot came out of nowhere! It hit Private Wonlack, and..." His words trailed off as he looked down at the body as Jane covered it with its red coat. Amelia redirected his attention to the wall.

"There's nothing else you can do for him. Just try not to join him. How many enemy are there out there?"

"I don't know, ma'am!"

Bock hurried up behind her. Amelia peered over the edge of the stockade and ducked as a shot narrowly missed her head. Two more shots hit the wood with dull thumping sounds.

"At least two," said Bock. "Perhaps more. Or perhaps they're just moving in between each shot."

Arrow arrived with ten marines in tow. "Reporting as ordered, ma'am."

Amelia beckoned them up. "Stay low and keep out of sight. We've got snipers out there somewhere."

The soldiers took up positions. A couple were less than stealthy and invited a further series of shots from the edge of the forest. Amelia took advantage of the snipers' distraction to return the fire, but their attention shifted and forced her back into cover before she could be certain of hitting anything.

"This could easily get tiresome, Mr Arrow," she commented.

Gunfire erupted on the far side of the town, a short, sharp exchange. Amelia turned to look sharply. Whiting had a handful of men pinned down behind the wall, trading fire with an unseen assailant. There was a shout from the watchtower over the gate before it too came under attack. A figure half-climbed, half-fell down the ladder and rolled onto the ground, yelling. Jane grabbed her satchel and began running towards the wounded man, arriving at about the same time as Flower. Amelia took in the scene and hissed in frustration.

"Are all your troops deployed, Mr Arrow?"

"All but a reserve squad with Corporal Ko, ma'am," Arrow said. "Shall I deploy them?"

"Not yet. Not until we know what this is." Amelia slid down the wall. "Spread out across the wall. Stay out of sight. You're in command here."

"Aye, ma'am." Arrow took her place. Amelia headed for the gate, pausing by Jane and Flower as they worked. A spacer was on the ground, a shoulder blackened by a hit.

"Miss Porter. Mr Flower. Status, please."

Flower glanced up. "Non-fatal. But bad enough."

"How many are out there? I say you up there, on the tower! How many?"

Another spacer looked down. "Can't tell, ma'am! Can't be more than a handful!"

"Damn. More of the same," Amelia muttered. "Miss Porter, will you follow me, please?"

"Yes, yes of course. Can you handle this, Mr Flower?"

"Sure as sure, ma'am."

Jane followed Amelia around to the other side of the town, where Whiting was leading the resistance. The Midshipman glanced at Amelia as they arrived.

"Let me guess," Amelia began. "Taken by surprise. Only two or three enemy, staying hidden in the trees."

Whiting grimaced. "Something like that, ma'am."

"Casualties?"

"One, ma'am." Whiting gestured to a marine, sitting propped up against the wall. Amelia glanced at Jane, who nodded and went to him. Whiting slotted his rifle through a gap in the stockade and fired a volley into the jungle. He was answered in kind and lost his hat to a near-miss.

"Careful, Mr Whiting," warned Amelia.

"Sorry, ma'am."

Amelia tapped her fingers on the casing of her rifle. It was annoying, but at least the enemy seemed to be staying where they were.

"We could smoke them out," suggested Whiting. "I can take a team out, and if we have covering fire from the walls..."

"No." Amelia shook her head firmly. "It'd be too easy for them overwhelm you. I wouldn't be surprised if that's exactly what they wanted us to do. No, Mr Whiting. As galling as it is, we must hold our ground."

"Yes, ma'am." Whiting looked disappointed.

"Double the number of sentries," Amelia said. "Nobody walks the walls alone. Sentries will patrol in pairs at minimum. Understood?"

"Aye, ma'am." Whiting saluted.

Amelia slung her rifle over her shoulder. "Carry on, then. Miss Porter?"

Jane looked up. "I'd like to get this man to the infirmary," she said. "But I'll need someone to help me get him there."

"Allow me to assist." Amelia helped lift the wounded soldier onto a folding stretcher.

"You, too, Clasp," Whiting pointed to one of the spacers, who took the other end of the stretcher. They navigated it down the slope delicately and headed for the infirmary, Jane walking alongside and keeping an eye on the patient. She directed them to lay him down on one of the beds.

"Will he be all right, ma'am?" Clasp asked.

"I'll do my best, certainly," Jane tried to sound confident.

"Do you require any assistance, Miss Porter?" Amelia looked back as she crossed to the bed she had slept in.

"No, thank you. I'll let you know if I do." Jane wiped her hands.

"Very well. Back on the wall, Mr Clasp."

He knuckled his forehead and disappeared. Jane looked around to see Amelia picking up her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

"Where are you going?"

"Well, as your infirmary is now fulfilling its primary task," said Amelia. "I thought it would be best for me to find my own lodgings. I understand there are some unoccupied huts behind the town hall?"

"Yes, several, but...are you sure?" Jane shook her head. "Yes, you are. Of course. And you're right. Thank you, lieutenant."

Amelia smiled. "Not that I don't regret it somewhat. But if you'll excuse me for now, I'm needed elsewhere."

"Of course." Jane turned to her patient as Amelia moved past her. Amelia began closing the door behind her and paused at the sight of Jane working quietly but earnestly. She smiled again and shut the door softly.