To Amelia's irritation, the sniper attacks were kept up for three days. Arrow and Whiting hit upon an effective countermeasure, in which one defender set up a decoy - marine hats seemed to be popular targets for the Naztarii - while a small team of others waited for the enemy to open fire so they could trace the origin of the bright laser pulses and respond in kind. It was impossible to tell if any damage was inflicted but the enemy at least began treating lone targets with suspicion and were letting them go unmolested as often as shooting at them. Amelia moved into a one-room hut close to the southern wall. She made use of the new location to keep track of the activity to the south of the colony and so far it seemed as if the enemy really didn't bother to go there. The sniper fire was spread out around the rest of the stockade. She had considered ordering Arrow to lay off the excavations but he had insisted that they continue since the only thing worse for morale than boredom was boredom punctuated by distant laser fire. As usual, the big man was right, and Amelia found herself picking up a shovel on the third day as a way of giving herself something else to concentrate on besides her inspection rounds and the trickle of casualties who had gradually filled Jane's infirmary. There were fortunately few of them, but enough to worry Amelia, and a second marine was shot and the luckless wounded spacer succumbed to injuries. Both were buried in the small cemetery on the slope of the hill alongside the first of the landing party's losses.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save him." Jane was standing by the graveside as the sun set.

Amelia shook her head.

"It wasn't your fault. You did your best."

Jane looked down. "That's the point, isn't it. I did my best. And it wasn't good enough."

Amelia looked at the dejected young woman and felt her heart go out to her. Her feelings had been increasingly puzzling to her. Of course she wanted to defend the colony and its people- that was her duty. Those were her orders. But when it came to Jane Porter, Amelia was beginning to think that her feelings were stronger than those of duty. And coming from her, she knew, that meant something. There was something protective in what she had for her, something that wanted Jane to be not just safe, but happy. And there was something more that hoped that somehow, she, Amelia, could be part of ensuring that too...

She shook her head and put a hand on Jane's shoulder. "Nobody could have done any better. There's no need to be so hard on yourself. Not after what you've been through already and have withstood."

Jane shrugged. "Still...we live here. You don't. But now your people are dying to protect mine."

"So long as we protect you." Amelia looked down as well and tried not to flinch as distant gunfire echoed over the cemetery. The honour guard had been a small one as she and Arrow could not afford to pull more than a handful of their forces from their duties or their much-needed rest. "And I do appreciate your efforts on our behalf."

"It's the least I can do for you." Jane looked over at her. "Will you...will you be all right?"

Amelia nodded briskly and tried to smile confidently. "Of course. And we have a busy night ahead of us."

"Oh, of course. You're going for water." Jane bit her lip. "Do you have everything you need?"

"I believe we do, if all goes well," said Amelia. "And there's still no enemy activity around that side of the colony."

Footsteps behind them made them look around, and Amelia realised that her hand was still on Jane's shoulder. She hastily removed it. Arrow and Whiting were approaching, the latter wearing a bandolier holding spherical silver grenades and with a rifle over his back. He went to touch his hat, remembered that he'd lost it, and saluted instead.

"Water party standing by, ma'am."

"Very good, Mr Whiting." Amelia put her own hat back on as a crackle of laser fire sounded from the north. A few bright red tracer beams flashed past the top of the sail tower as the solar wings were furled for the night. "Are the boats prepared?"

"The sails have been open to the sun all day, ma'am," said Whiting. "The batteries are fully charged. We should have the power to get there and back."

"Excellent. I'll be with you presently. Mr Arrow, you will take charge here until we return."

Arrow bowed his head. "Aye, ma'am. Are you sure I cannot accompany you?"

Amelia smiled at her old friend. "I need Mr Whiting to operate the other boat, and I need to leave the colony in the hands of someone I trust."

Arrow smiled. "As you wish, Miss Amelia."

"But...um, would it be terribly all right if I came with you?" Jane held up a hand. "I'd bring my medical satchel, of course. I'd like to go."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "Are you sure, Miss Porter? Lance Corporal Flower is a capable man."

"I know he is, but if the town comes under attack he'll be needed here. He knows more about war wounds than I do." Jane smiled. "But even so...I'd rather like to go along."

Amelia eyed her and decided to relent. "Very well. Gather what you need and meet me in the town square. We will depart immediately on nightfall. And when we're out there, I don't want you going off alone. I want you to stay close to me."

Jane's cheeks reddened. "I shouldn't have any trouble remembering that, I think. Excuse me, lieutenant. Captain. Mr Whiting."

Amelia turned back to Arrow and Whiting, resisting the temptation to watch Jane's departure.

"Well, gentlemen. To work."

The longboats raced over the canopy of the jungle, sticking close together. Amelia steered her boat by the compass, Archimedes' map spread over her knee. Whiting's followed close behind, navigating by the blue flare of Amelia's engine. Both boats were laden with barrels and buckets, with a handful of armed crew in the front. Amelia glanced over to Jane, who was sitting upright and holding her pith helmet on with one hand. Her hair was streaming out behind her and her face was hidden in the darkness until she turned to look at her.

"We should slow down!" she shouted above the slipstream. "We're almost over the river!"

Amelia nodded and reduced the throttle, pulsing the engine twice to signal her deceleration to Whiting.

"Watch for the treeline," she said. "Once we're past it, we'll be over the river."

The crew in the front began looking over the edge of the boat. Amelia brought them in slightly lower and slowed again until she heard one of the spacers call out.

"Clear of the trees, ma'am!"

"About time," she muttered. Amelia reduced throttle again, giving four pulses of the engine to signal a landing. She turned the boat to port and looked over the side. She could see the blue flare reflected in the water and she used it to guide them in for a soft landing at the water's edge. Whiting's boat came around their starboard side in a wide arc and came to rest just in front of them. Amelia saw him stand up and wave to her.

"Very good!" she lowered her voice to a hoarse whisper. "Now, everybody out! Spacers to load the water! Sergeant Sackett, your marines are to fix bayonets and keep watch."

"Yes, ma'am." Sackett set his jaw and swung his heavy-set frame out of the boat. "marines will fix bayonets! Skirmish dispersal, fifteen metres!"

"Aye, sarge!" The handful of marines followed. Their red coats provided a surprising degree of camouflage in the darkness, though their white facings and bandoliers rather spoiled the effect. Amelia swung herself out of the boat and splashed into the river's edge. She turned and helped Jane down. There were splashes and rustles as the others piled out of the boats and began unloading. The marines fanned out in a semicircle facing inland, taking up concealed positions in the long grass. Amelia watched their dispersal and turned back to see her spacers. They worked in teams of two, one standing knee-deep in the river and filling a bucket, which they passed up to a colleague in the boat who tipped the water into the barrels. The work was quick and efficient and Amelia felt a tinge of pride at it, at least until one of the buckets banged hard against the hull of a longboat as it was handed back.

"Quietly there!" she hissed.

Whiting crept along the bank to her. "No sign of movement in the jungle, ma'am."

"Glad to hear it." Amelia eyed the darkened trees suspiciously.

"Do you really think they'll try something?" Jane joined her. "They never have before."

"They've never had two longboats to follow before," said Amelia. "While we endeavoured to keep our departure as discreet as possible our engine flares would be quite visible. And while they may not harass you by night, they certainly must observe you."

"You think they'll follow us?" Jane looked worried.

"Perhaps. That's why we have to work fast." Amelia looked around.

"We always collected the water on foot," said Jane. "We never had any trouble that way."

"There are a few more people who need to drink now," pointed out Whiting. "The longboats are the only way. And we'll be able to bring back enough to last a lot longer than what we could carry ourselves."

"Of course...I see." Jane glanced at Amelia.

Whiting turned and waved to one of the spacers on the longboats. "How much longer?"

The spacer poured another bucket into a barrel. "We're about halfway there, sir!"

"Carry on, then! Quick and quiet!" Whiting unslung his rifle. "Permission to join the picket, ma'am?"

"Granted. Keep your eyes sharp." Amelia watched him join the marines, leaving her alone on the shore with Jane. She took her own rifle off her shoulder and knelt down, bracing herself on one hand. She realised her hand was resting on something and looked down, her gaze then travelling back up Jane's arm from the hand she was inadvertently holding.

"Very sorry," she whispered.

"No need to be." Jane smiled in the dark, and was almost disappointed when Amelia moved her hand as she shifted position. A sudden sound made them both look up. It echoed off the water behind them.

"What was that?" Jane's blue eyes were wide.

"Gunfire," said Amelia grimly. "Back at the colony." She turned to see that the spacers had stopped work momentarily at the noise. They resumed hastily as Amelia's stern gaze swept over them.

"It seems our friends are not totally averse to night actions," Amelia looked back into the forest. She checked her rifle. "Let us hope that does not herald any other changes in tactics."

Jane listened to the distant sounds. "It doesn't sound...too intense."

"Snipers again," said Amelia. "Perhaps they're just trying to keep people awake."

"I'm sure Mr Arrow can handle whatever it is," said Jane, hoping it was true.

"Indeed." Amelia shifted to get a better view of the trees.

Jane looked around. The spacers were still toiling away with the water. As she watched, a particularly tall one stood up in the stern of Amelia's longboat and wiped his brow. There was the telltale sound of a laslock discharge and a red bolt, blindingly bright in the darkness, leapt out of the jungle and struck him. The spacer went backwards over the side without a word. Amelia turned at the sudden splash, her mouth open for a stinging admonishment, but she quickly realised what was happening. More shots streaked out of the jungle, throwing up flashes of steam if they hit the water or sparks if they hit the boats. Spacers began shouting in confusion and the noise level went up another notch as Whiting and the marines began returning fire. Blue bolts flickered back and forth between red ones as battle was joined.

"Stay down and stay here." Amelia waved to Jane. "I'm going to take a better look."

She gripped her rifle and advanced at a crouch, snapping off occasional shots of opportunity along the way. She located Whiting, who was sheltering behind a hollow log with Sackett.

"Report!"

Whiting snarled. "Sorry, ma'am. They came out of nowhere."

"I don't care where they came from! I want to know where they are right now and how many of them there are!" Amelia levelled her rifle and scanned for a target. A red pulse came out of the darkness and blew a sizeable hole in the log. Amelia retraced its path and fired a brace of shots in the general direction. Whiting caught a sudden movement and turned his rifle on it. A Naztarii tumbled out of the trees and hit the ground.

"One less now, ma'am!" Whiting remarked cheerily. Sackett laughed. Despite the situation, Amelia found herself grinning.

"I think we've already outstayed our welcome, Mr Whiting. Fall the marines back to the boats."

"Yes, ma'am! Marines, to me! Fall back by evens!" Whiting raised his voice. Amelia turned and darted back to the riverbank. Jane was wrapping a bandage around a spacer's head as he lay on the bank. Another blue-clad body was lying halfway out of the shallows and Amelia hissed a curse. The surviving spacers were either sheltering in the questionable cover of the grass or were hiding behind the water barrels, adding their fire to the marines'.

"Spacers! To the boats! Prepare to depart!" Amelia knelt next to Jane. "Miss Porter, are you all right?"

"Yes, yes, of course. But this man needs help." Jane tied off the bandage. Amelia turned to the injured spacer.

"Can you hear me, man?"

He nodded dazedly. "Aye...aye, sir. I mean ma'am."

"Good. Come with me." Amelia draped his arm around her shoulder and hoisted him to his feet. Jane took the other side and they headed for the longboat. Willing hands reached down to lift the man aboard and Amelia took up her rifle again. She passed it up to the crew in the boat and clambered aboard herself. She paused to help Jane up after her, and then took cover behind the helm. She could see Whiting leading the marines back towards them through the grass, pausing occasionally to shoot into the trees behind them.

"Spacers will provide covering fire! On my mark! Fire!"

A volley of rifle shots lashed into the trees. Shadowy figures were now following the retreating marines and a number of them fell as blue lightning struck them. Red lightning flashed back and Amelia bit back a yelp of pain as a splinter gouged out of the rail of the longboat sliced across her hand. Jane looked at her with concern bright in her eyes, but she gritted her teeth and tightened her grip on her weapon.

"Damn it, come on," she whispered. "Come on..."

Whiting had reached the edge of the grass. He put up his rifle for a moment and waved his troops on.

"Marines! Quickly now!"

"Come on, lads!" called Sackett. The stocky elephantine emerged from the grasses and fired back the way he came. A shadow that had been following her dropped like a stone as his shots struck true. Sackett grinned to himself and turned to make a run for the boats. A shot lanced out from the forest and hit the sergeant from behind. He went down with a yell of surprise. Whiting ran to his side and struggled to pick the heavy man up.

"Oh, sod it all." Amelia vaulted back over the side of the boat and ran to help him. Whiting looked up gratefully at her.

"Fancy meeting you here, lieutenant."

"Shut up," Amelia took the stricken sergeant's other arm. The others emerged from the grass, firing back as they came.

"Boats ready, ma'am!" shouted a spacer.

"Very good!" Amelia glanced at Whiting. "I don't suppose you have any bright ideas of how to keep the enemy back for a moment? They really were getting rather close behind you."

Whiting grinned and took a grenade from his bandolier, tossing it to Amelia. She grinned back.

"On three?"

Whiting took a second for himself. "Three! Fire in the hole!"

Amelia twisted the two halves of the small silver sphere against each other and hurled it back into the grasses. Whiting's throw described an arc alongside hers and they hid their eyes with their arms. Two blinding flashes and two bull explosions went off and they ran for the boats. It took three spacers to haul Sackett on board. Amelia followed and saw Whiting running to jump up onto the stern of his boat. The last of the marines threw his rifle onto the boat and began clambering up. He was hit before getting halfway there and fell back into the water with a splash. Amelia swore again, but there was nothing to be done.

"Everybody, hang on!"

She gunned the engines, swinging the longboat northwards as it lifted off sharply. The engine roared as she opened the throttle. Red tracers flashed past them and she felt small shakes through the woodwork of the boat as they struck the hull, but then they were over the jungle again and heading for the lights of Naztarville. Amelia turned her head back to see if Whiting was following and saw his boat racing to catch up, tracers splashing off the hull as it flew. Jane scrambled over to Sackett. She pulled at the collar of his red coat and touched his thick neck to feel for a pulse. After a moment her face fell and she looked up at Amelia, shaking her head sadly. Amelia felt another surge of anger. She bared her teeth and willed the boat to go faster as it sped home. She only hoped that the water they had collected did not taste of the blood that had been spilled to acquire it.

Archimedes greeted them, wrapped in a coat that blew around him in the wash of the longboats' landing.

"Success?" he shouted.

Amelia jumped onto the ground and bit back the first reply she wanted to give. "We...got the water, sir, yes."

"Excellent, excellent." Archimedes clapped his hands as Jane clambered down as well. He noted the paleness of his daughter's face and went to take her arm. "Oh, dear me, Jane. You look like you've seen a ghost. Are you quite all right?"

Jane flicked a lock of hair back over her ear and gave a bright, brittle smile. "Yes, father, I'm all right."

Amelia watched her face for a moment before turning back to her crew. "Everybody, unload the boats. Mr Whiting, my compliments to Mr Arrow, and would he kindly direct as many spare hands as he has to assist us. Also find Mr Flower and tell him to come here as soon as possible, please."

Whiting nodded and headed for the square. Archimedes watched as the wounded and the dead were lowered carefully from the boats. The little man's face fell, moustache drooping, as the cost of the sortie became clear.

"How...how many did you lose?" he asked quietly.

"Four killed. Three hurt." Amelia's voice was curt. "I am afraid, your excellency, that the south of the colony can no longer be regarded as safe by night. The enemy is active there now."

Archimedes wrung his hands. "I...I'll ask Mr Bock to put some of his boys on the wall there to keep watch."

"I appreciate it, sir." Amelia helped to lower a water barrel to the ground.

"Still...I'm glad to see you back." Archimedes looked around as Whiting returned, with Arrow, Flower and half a dozen others in tow. "We saw some lights moving off to the north and wondered if you'd maybe got lost."

Amelia raised an eyebrow. "What lights?"

"In the sky. Off north a few miles." Archimedes pointed. "You can see them from the town hall."

"Are they still there?"

He shrugged. "They were a few minutes ago. I saw them on the way down to meet you here."

"Mr Arrow? Take charge here." Amelia saw the Cragorian's eyes flicker for a moment as he noticed Sergeant Sackett's body being lowered to the ground. "Mr Whiting, follow me, please."

Amelia set off past a confused Archimedes. Jane looked up from where she and Flower were tending the spacer with the bandaged head. For a moment she thought of following, but decided against it. She looked up and signalled to Flower.

"Very good, Lance Corporal. We can take him to the infirmary."

Amelia strode up the path so swiftly that Whiting and Archimedes were left scurrying to keep up. She reached the door of the town hall and turned north, narrowing her eyes. The sky was mostly clear, aside from a few patches of high cloud. It was a moonless night and the stars were bright. It took her a few moments to realise that some of the stars were moving, below the clouds. Two or three sparks were moving to and fro above the dark forest. Amelia held out her hand.

"Your glass, Mr Whiting, please."

Whiting, who had just reached her, fumbled for his telescope and passed it over. Amelia extended it and put it to her eye. She panned it around and waited for the autofocus to lock on. Whiting heard her hiss between her teeth.

"Ma'am?"

She passed the telescope back. "Look to twelve degrees, Mr Whiting. Tell me what you see."

Whiting peered through the lens. His breath caught. "Engine flares?"

"Landing craft," said Amelia. Archimedes joined them, somewhat out of breath.

"Goodness...well...you...see...what I mean...don't you?"

"I'm afraid so, sir." Amelia grimaced.

"They're not ours," said Whiting. "Resolute would be around the other side of the planet by now."

"So there's no way to contact them, either," said Amelia. "Damn it. Let us hope they make a short orbit."

"If they're not your...whose...are they?" Archimedes leaned on the doorframe.

Amelia and Whiting traded glances.

"I could only guess, sir," Amelia said eventually. "But I am sure of what they mean. This situation may be about to get worse. Far worse."

There was a knocking on the door. Amelia awoke with a start and muttered a curse under her breath. It did not do for the commanding officer to be caught asleep, even if she had every reason for it and it was still early in the morning.

"What is it?"

"It's Ko, ma'am! You're needed in the communications hut!"

Amelia threw off the bedclothes and located her shoes. "Very well! I will be there directly."

She buckled on her shoes, located a new shirt to wear, slipped on her waistcoat and blue jacket and picked up her belt. Pausing to recover her hat, she shook her hair into a more dignified shape and stepped out of the door.

"We picked up a message, ma'am," said Ko, who had been standing rigidly to attention outside as if she had been guarding the Queen's palace. Amelia looked startled that she was still there. Ko was a grey-furred feline with a body like a whip. A scar ran almost the full length of her face, pulling the left-hand corner of her mouth into a permanent expression halfway between a snarl and a smile. She had taken over as Arrow's second in command of the marine contingent following Sackett's loss.

"Have you been waiting for me, acting sergeant?"

"Yes, ma'am. Captain Arrow recommended last night that officers be accompanied at all times. Because of the snipers." As if to punctuate her point, a shot echoed across the settlement.

"I'm sure he didn't mean all times. And we're perfectly...oh, never mind." Amelia remembered that marines tended to take a certain literal-minded approach to following orders. "The communications hut, was it?"

"Yes, ma'am." Ko followed her to the sail tower. 'Hut' was, if anything, a charitable term for the corrugated iron shack at the base of it. An ancient aethernet caster took up one corner. Whiting, who had also obviously been roused from sleep, was already there and listening intently, the set's old-fashioned horn pressed to his ear. Bock was sitting at the controls, frowning in frustration. Amelia nodded to them as she stepped inside.

"Good morning, lieutenant," Whiting gave her a smile.

"What's the call, gentlemen?"

"It's from the Resolute. But there's so much ionospheric interference."

"I can't screen it out," Bock muttered. "Damned steam-driven hunk of junk..."

Amelia took the earpiece from Whiting and listened intently. Through the crackles of the static, and sounding as if he was speaking from inside a tin can, underwater, in a lake forty kilometres away, she could hear Commander Chad's voice.

"...lute to landing pa...Resol...rty...cont...high orbi...alt...interce...by..."

"Are you sure there's nothing you can do with that thing?" she said to Bock.

He shook his head darkly. "We've tried everything."

"Try lowering the reception point," said Whiting. "And boost the gain. Perhaps there's enough signal coming through to clean it up."

Amelia listened and shook her head. "Still not exactly a symphony, gentlemen."

Bock thumped the table in frustration. A puff of sparks flew from the rack of equipment and Amelia's eyes widened in surprise in the sound suddenly cleared. Bock tried to look as if he'd done it on purpose.

"Resolute to landing party. We have detected an unidentified contact in high orbit above the planet's north pole. We are altering course to pursue and intercept. Stand by."

Amelia passed the earpiece back to Whiting. "Well. That might explain our lights of last night."

Whiting listened and agreed. "I fear it does."

"What does it mean?" Bock looked confused.

"I means, Mr Bock, that an unknown spacecraft is currently orbiting this planet, having offloaded something last night. I don't know what. I don't know whom." Amelia crossed her arms. "And I only hope that the Resolute is prepared for the worst. Are we able to reply?"

Bock checked his instruments and shook his head. "Your ship is already out of range of the two-way system. We could try a wide-angle broadcast, like the one you picked up to come here?"

"They'd have to be listening for it," said Whiting. "And they'll probably make visual contact with the other ship before then anyway."

Amelia sighed. "Either way, we'll have an answer soon, I suspect. Thank you, Mr Bock. Mr Whiting. Keep a listener posted here and have them report if any more news comes to hand."

"Yes, ma'am...but we're already at full stretch with our people." Whiting scratched his head and shrugged. "And with the losses from last night we're even more short-handed."

"I'll do it."

Amelia looked around. Archimedes was standing the doorway. "Sir?"

"Well, I don't seem to be very useful in other respects at the moment." He smiled. "So I would like to volunteer my services."

Amelia found herself smiling back as the little old man drew himself up to what could generously be described as his full height and saluted.

"You offer is much appreciated, your excellency."

Bock got out of the chair and helped Archimedes into it. Amelia left him and Whiting to explain the technicalities of the aethernet caster and made her way out of the hut. She had intended to inspect the camp and then make her way to her hut, but she found her feet taking her towards the infirmary instead. The door was open a crack and she stepped inside quietly. Most of the beds were now occupied by wounded men, but Amelia pushed open the door into Jane's room. She looked around and smiled to herself. The small room even smelled like her. The pith helmet was on a hook behind the door, incongruously hanging over a yellow dress protected in a plastic cover. Amelia ran her eyes over it appreciatively. The bed was unoccupied but neatly made. Jane herself was sitting at a small writing desk, her back to the door. A tray of white, freshly-rolled bandages was in front of her. Or rather, underneath her. She was leaning over the desk, head pillowed on her arms and resting on the white linen, sound asleep. Her brown hair fell around her face and her back moved slowly with her breathing. Amelia smiled. The poor thing must be worn out after last night's adventure. She picked up a spare blanket from the end of the bed and draped it around Jane. She felt her heart step up a pace as her hands touched the shape of her shoulders. There was something about the vulnerability of Jane's posture, her sleep, the way her mouth was ever so slightly open, that brought out Amelia's protective instincts even more.

"Wh...hmm..." Jane muttered in her sleep, and her eyelids flickered as if she were about to wake. Amelia, making sure that nobody could see them, stroked her hair back.

"Shh...it's all right. It's only me. I'm sorry...go back to sleep. Back to sleep."

Jane's face looked troubled for a moment, but Amelia's heart began beating again as a smile spread over the human girl's features.

"Sleep, Jane. You're safe." Amelia looked over her shoulder again. She reached out a hesitant hand and stroked Jane's soft hair lightly, fingers running through the strands, until she settled back into sleep.

"There...there, Jane."

Amelia smiled to herself as she watched her sleep, and then she turned and left the room quietly.

She crossed the campsite. There was less conversation than there used to be as the marines and spacers went about their domestic chores or rested after coming off their shift. The excavations continued, and all the stores were now safely under cover, although the work had slowed considerably due to demands of meeting the threats on the wall. Occasional gunfire could still be heard, and Amelia saw Arrow up on the gatehouse directing a diversion team while a trio of marines in the watchtower provided covering fire. She located the covered trench in which the ammunition was being stored and drew a spare magazine for her rifle from it. Shorting through the cases, she opened another and pulled out a compact camp stove. Weighing it in her hands, an idea came to her and she packed it away again, picking up the case and taking it under her arm.

Jane awoke to a sizzling sound. She blinked once or twice until her eyes focused. A few gears freewheeled in her brain until they meshed and recollection flooded back. She had been rolling fresh bandages, hadn't she...yes, she must have done, because she had fallen asleep on them. But she didn't remember putting on a blanket and she fingered it in confusion. She yawned deeply and suddenly her eyes opened wide at the scent her nose caught. She sat up, pulling the blanket around herself, and looked around. Amelia was sitting cross-legged on the floor, stirring the contents of a small pan above a camp stove.

"Ah, so you're back with us." Amelia looked up and smiled. "I was beginning to think I'd have to eat this all myself."

"What is it?" Jane felt her mouth watering as she sniffed the air.

"Eggs and bacon," said Amelia. "Well, reconstituted eggs. And reconstituted bacon, for that matter. Officer's rations from the ship's stores."

Jane watched Amelia take the frying pan off the stove and divide the contents between two small plates. A smile crept across her face and she sat on the floor opposite Amelia.

"This is awfully nice of you," she said.

Amelia shrugged as she passed over a plate with a fork.

"You've cooked me breakfast often enough in the recent past. And I thought you might appreciate a break from those fried leaves of yours."

Jane took them gratefully. "Oh, that does sound good...I've missed food like this."

"Wait until you've tried it," warned Amelia, cutting into hers. "You might wish that was still the case."

Jane giggled. "Well, it certainly smells good, at least."

She stuck a piece on her fork and ate it. Amelia watched her face, her own fork halfway to her mouth. Jane grinned and nodded approvingly.

"Oh, dear. I haven't had breakfast like that since we got here."

"Not many eggs or rashers of bacon in the jungle?" Amelia grinned back. Jane laughed again.

"Not many, I'm afraid, despite much searching."

"Ah, well. I hope this can make up for it."

Jane smiled. "I think this could make up for quite a lot."

Amelia felt her heart skip a beat and she wondered at herself for feeling like this. "I'm...very glad you approve."

Her heart skipped again as Jane laughed. "Oh, I really do. Perhaps you were right when you said that Navy life might suit me, Amelia. The food alone is rather enticing."

Amelia laughed too. "You'd be the first person in the history of the Empire to join the Navy for the food."

"There's a first time for everything," Jane grinned. "But tell me, why did you join? You told me about your family and Mr Arrow, but was that really why?"

Amelia smiled. "Mostly. Tradition is rather a good incentive, especially in my family. And I suppose the sense of adventure appeals to me. The sense of discovery. Standing on the bowsprit of a ship as the etherium unfurls before you...it's really quite something."

Jane watched the faraway look in the feline's green eyes and smiled softly. "Yes...yes, it must be."

She put aside her empty plate and shifted around the stove, closer to Amelia. "Aside from the voyage here from Kingshome-on-the-Cusp, I've never been in space. It was an amazing experience."

"I can't remember my first space voyage," said Amelia. "I was so young. But I can promise you...the effect never completely wears off."

"I hope not." Jane looked down and smiled. "I hope to experience it again one day."

She rested her hand on the floor. Amelia looked down and noticed how close it was to hers.

"I'm sure you'll get the chance. Maybe after this is all over."

Jane sighed. "Will it ever be over?"

"We'll do our best." Amelia smiled. Jane looked around at her suddenly.

"Oh, I didn't mean I thought otherwise...I meant-"

"It's all right, Jane. Truly." Amelia's smile softened. "I know what you meant."

Jane smiled with relief herself. "Thank goodness...I wouldn't want to sound ungrateful."

"You don't. You truly don't." The tips of Amelia's fingers brushed Jane's. She heard her breath catch for a moment.

"Maybe...maybe you could show me the etherium again some day." Jane's voice was just above a whisper. Amelia nodded slowly.

"I'd like that...very much, I think," she replied. Jane looked up and Amelia saw the light in her blue eyes.

"I'd feel very honoured." Jane's hands crept closer, bringing Amelia's fingers onto it. Amelia blinked in surprise and watched Jane's face, trying to read the human's features, her heart and mind racing, hardly daring to think of a reply.

"Lieutenant! I say, lieutenant!"

Archimedes' voice broke the spell. Amelia withdrew her hand and stood hastily, brushing herself down. Jane coughed and looked away. Amelia glanced down at her and wondered whether that really was a look of disappointment on her features or not. She sighed and went to answer the door, which was being banged enthusiastically. Archimedes was hammering on it so hard that he almost lost his balance and fell into the infirmary when the door was opened.

"Good heavens, I could swear there was a door there a moment ago! Ah, lieutenant, I've been looking for you."

"Yes, your excellency?" Amelia raised an eyebrow. Archimedes wiped his brow and pointed towards the sail tower.

"There's a message on the thingy. That machine that I was listening to. It's from your ship."

Amelia looked up, face suddenly stern. "I see. What did it say?"

"I think you'd better come and hear it yourself." Archimedes rubbed his hands together nervously. "I think you'd make more sense of it than I could."

Amelia set off and swept past him. Archimedes watched her go and then turned back to see Jane emerging from the room.

"Ah, Jane, there you are, too. Is everything all right?"

"Yes, father." Jane watched the retreating blue-coated figure and smiled enigmatically. "It's most definitely all right."

The communications hut was already crowded by the time Amelia got there. Admittedly only Whiting and Arrow were present, but Arrow was a crowd all by himself in the tiny room. He shuffled against a wall- making it creak- as Amelia arrived and entered the hut.

"Gentlemen. We meet again. What news?"

Whiting was sitting at the controls, turning the dials this way and that. "Well, firstly, whatever Bock did to make this thing work has been reversed."

"You could try hitting it again," said Arrow dryly.

"Don't tempt me." Whiting bit his lower lip in concentration. "Hang on…here we go."

Amelia picked up the earpiece and held it to her head. The interference fuzzed in and out a few times before it cleared and a signal came through, audibly if not perfectly.

"…calling. Resolute calling. The unidentified vessel has left orbit and is attempting to depart the system. We are initiating a pursuit. I repeat, we are initiating a pursuit. Please stand by…"

"That doesn't sound good." Amelia found herself looking up, as if she could see into space.

"What is it?" Whiting put his head on one side.

"That strange vessel is trying to make a getaway. Resolute is trying to chase her down. They're leaving orbit."

"We are alone, then," said Arrow.

"So it seems," Amelia handed Whiting the earpiece. He took it and sighed.

"This gets better and better, doesn't it. Still, perhaps nothing will come of it."

"That rather depends on what those landing craft were carrying," said Amelia. She glanced over at Arrow. "But perhaps we should not be in a hurry to find out."

Arrow smiled grimly. "Your instincts are probably correct, ma'am."

Amelia shifted. "Are your troops prepared, Mr Arrow?"

"As well as they have ever been, ma'am."

"Good. Good." Amelia lowered her voice. "And…I'm sorry about Sergeant Sackett. He was a good man."

Arrow shrugged. "He was. But there are other good people. Corporal Ko is a capable woman." He looked at Amelia and gave her a small but reassuring smile. "There was nothing more you could have done. And more lives would be forfeit if you had not acquired the water supplies."

"He's right, ma'am," said Whiting. "It was an ambush. You got as many of us home as you could."

Amelia bowed her head. "Thank you for your support, gentlemen."

Archimedes appeared in the door, breathing hard.

"So…you…heard it? Jolly…good…thought I…may have…been hearing things." He squeezed past Arrow's bulk. Whiting stood up hurriedly and drew back the chair for him. Amelia shook her head, straightened her uniform and raised her head in a businesslike fashion.

"Well. We can do no more. Back to our posts, I think. Thank you, Mr Arrow. Mr Whiting. Carry on."

She opened the door and left the small hut. In some strange way, as she looked up at the sky, she suddenly felt rather alone. Despite being too far away to appear as anything but a moving star it had been reassuring to have Resolute in orbit. The ship was their protector and their fortress, but it was also where they had called home for more than two months. She pictured the ship in pursuit of her quarry, moonrakers and studding sails deployed to catch the wind, the Captain pacing the bridge like a caged tiger. She wondered how long it would be before the ship returned. And yet, as her gaze turned instinctively in the direction of the infirmary, part of her did not wish to end this mission any time soon.