Jane walked through the darkened town, a bucket in each hand. It was a warm night despite the fact that the last light of the sun had long since disappeared below the horizon. She made her way around the town hall hill and headed for the main water tank. There were few lights on this late but a couple of lamps were burning brightly enough to find her way. It was only when she stepped into the pitch-black shadow of a house that she encountered an obstacle. Her foot struck a rock and she stumbled, dropping the buckets which clattered noisily onto the ground. A distinctly unladylike curse hissed between her teeth and she waited for the pain to go away. A door opened, spilling a wedge of golden light across the ground.

"Is there a problem?"

Jane looked up and saw Amelia standing in the doorway of her hut, a pistol in her hand. She cursed again, quieter this time.

"It's only me, Ame- I mean, lieutenant!"

Amelia pulled the door the rest of the way open, allowing the light to fall on Jane. She relaxed and lowered the weapon.

"So I see. Are you quite all right?"

Jane tested her foot on the ground. "Yes, yes, I think so, thank you."

"What are you doing up and about at this hour?" Amelia stepped out of the hut and went to join her, holstering her pistol. Jane gestured to the buckets on the ground.

"Just getting some clean water for the infirmary. We're running out for tomorrow."

"Yes, but…do you really need it right now?" Amelia cocked her head curiously.

Jane shrugged. "I suppose…I was just having trouble sleeping. I thought I may as well do something useful since I'm awake." She looked at Amelia. "And…now that you mention it, what are you doing awake and with a light on?"

Amelia hesitated for a moment and sighed. "I've…not been able to get to sleep yet either."

"Is something the matter?" Jane looked genuinely concerned. "Is this about the message my father said came in from your ship?"

Amelia shrugged. "That hasn't helped, I suppose. It was nice to know that she was still up there somewhere."

"I'm sure it'll be back," said Jane, hoping that she sounded like it.

"Hmm." Amelia gave a small smile. "Anyway…all this isn't getting you your water. Let me help you."

"Oh, no, I can manage. It's only two buckets."

"Well, that makes it one each, doesn't it?" Amelia grinned and picked one up. Jane smiled.

"I suppose it does, yes."

They walked side by side to the tanks- corrugated metal cylinders sitting in raised wooden frames- and filled the buckets. Amelia ran her eye around the wall, noting the movements of the night watch sentries, checking for anything unusual. Jane followed her gaze and looked sideways at her.

"Is anything wrong?"

"I don't know." Amelia frowned. "Different, yes…tell me, Jane, when was the last time you heard one of their snipers fire a shot?"

Jane looked puzzled. "I…I don't really know. It's funny, you tend to stop hearing them after a while. I used to just jump every time but now it's like they aren't there at all."

"That's because they aren't." Amelia glanced at her pointedly. "There hasn't been a single one since sundown."

"So…" Jane's confusion deepened. "Perhaps they've given up?"

"Perhaps." Amelia looked at the stockade again and decided not to voice the rest of that thought. Or perhaps they just don't want to attract attention because they're up to something.

Jane watched her for a moment. "You're worried about something."

Amelia tried to laugh. "I've been worried since I got here."

"Yes, but..." Jane shook her head. "Never mind. I'm sorry."

"Don't be," Amelia said. "I appreciate you- did you hear that?"

"Hear what?" Jane stopped. Amelia had paused a step behind her and was listening intently.

"I thought I heard something..."

Jane concentrated, but had to shake her head again. The feline put down the bucket she was carrying and drew her pistol again.

"I don't like this. You should go back to the infirmary."

"I'd prefer to stay with you if there's something afoot." Jane stepped closer. "What do you hear?"

"Something up on the wall. Something metallic." Amelia took the safety catch off the laslock. Jane looked up and squinted into the darkness.

"I don't see anything...just two sentries, like usual."

"Hmm. I'm going to have a look. Are you sure you want to come with me?"

Jane nodded, face paler. Amelia eyed her for a moment and reached a decision. "Very well. Stay close to me."

Jane left her bucket behind and followed Amelia towards the stockade, trying to keep her eyes fixed on the two dark figures on the wall. They passed behind a building, which blocked their sight for a moment. When they emerged, Jane's breath caught.

"They're gone!"

"But something is still up there." Amelia gripped the pistol tighter. She climbed stealthily up the embankment and crouched on the flat top where the path ran around the wall. Jane scrambled up behind her and followed her for a short distance. Amelia stopped suddenly and Jane ran into the back of her.

"Sorry! I didn't see you-"

"It's all right." Amelia's voice was low. "But I think we've found our sentries."

Jane peered past her and gasped. Two militiamen were lying face down in a pool of blood, their rifles carelessly dropped by their sides. Amelia raised her pistol and scanned around them. Jane turned over one of the bodies.

"Parol! Are you..." A single glance at the man's throat told her not to finish the question. Her blood ran cold and a shiver went down her spine as if they were being watched.

"I think we should get out of here," said Amelia. Jane nodded dumbly and wiped her hand on her shirt, leaving a print of blood behind. Something poked into her arm and she looked down to see Amelia handing her the pistol.

"Take this. And keep your eyes open." Amelia picked up Parol's rifle and examined it. "Not even charged. Damn them."

Jane watched her activate the weapon, the high-pitched whine a comforting sound in the silence. Amelia glanced at her and caught her eye.

"When I say now, we head for the infirmary. And we stick together, Jane. Do you understand?"

"Yes...yes, I do." Jane held the pistol in trembling hands, trying to keep her fingers away from the trigger. Amelia raised the rifle and fired three shots up into the air. The bolts of blue lightning flashed into the night sky.

"Resolutes to arms! To arms!"

Her call was strong and clear, and it echoed across the town. Then she slid down the embankment and dropped to a crouch on the ground, flicking the catch to extend the rifle's spring-loaded bayonet. Jane followed her as shouts began coming from the camp at the square. The watchtower bell began ringing. Jane followed her at a crouching run past a building and caught up with her as she took cover behind a barrel.

"What's happening?" Jane's eyes were wide.

"We're under attack." Amelia panned the rifle around, daring something to step into her sights.

"At night?"

"There's a first time for everything. Come on." Amelia set off again, turning a corner. She flattened herself against the wall and crept along, gesturing to Jane for silence. Jane tried to keep up, painfully aware of how loud her footballs seemed compared to those of the feline. There were more shouts coming from the centre of the town now, along with the sound of running footsteps. Laser fire erupted somewhere nearby, red and blue tracers hissing back and forth. Amelia peered around a corner of the building and beckoned Jane to stay close. She darted across the gap to the next house, keeping her rifle at the ready. Jane scampered in behind her and caught a glimpse of her face. Amelia's features were taut and alert, her green pupils widely dilated. Her ears stood up tall from her head and Jane saw that her claws were out and raking against the metal of the rifle casing. It was an impressive sight. Amelia padded around to the next corner, tensed, and waved Jane to stay put. She crouched down and redoubled her grip on the pistol as she watched Amelia move closer to the corner and stand still. She hardly dared to breathe.

A black-cloaked figure drifted out of the shadows, moving slowly and silently. A hooded head was intent on its direction and didn't seem to notice the two women. Amelia raised her rifle. The motion must have registered for the figure turned sharply to face her. A pistol was drawn from somewhere under the cloak. Jane caught a brief glimpse of what lay under the hood- to her surprise, it was not one of the reptilian Naztarii. The face she saw was brown-furred with black stripes, and with two burning yellow eyes. A mouth opened in a snarl, revealing a set of ferocious, predatory teeth as the pistol came up. Amelia reacted first, pulling the trigger and shooting the creature at point-blank range. The discharge of the rifle was startlingly loud and the flash of the hit was visible to Jane even through her eyelids. Amelia whirled around the corner and almost ran into a second hooded figure. Without pausing to think, she smashed it across the face with the stock of her rifle and drove the bayonet home as her target slumped to the ground. She withdrew the blade with a triumphant shout and looked up, ducking as a red blast of energy sizzled over her. She scrambled back around the corner and knelt next to Jane.

"Blast it, I was hoping there wouldn't be three of them!"

Jane stared. "How did you..."

Amelia leaned around the corner and returned fire. "Make that at least five of them," she corrected herself. Fire spattered against the side of the building, making her duck again. Jane scrambled back to the other corner and poked her head around it. A stinging pulse of laser energy whipped past, so close she fancied she could hear her hair singe.

"Um...I think they're over here as well."

"What?" Amelia turned to look at her, startled. "How many?"

"Too many!" Jane fumbled with the pistol.

Amelia cursed. She moved back to cover Jane and tried to get a clear shot around the corner, only to be forced back by a barrage of fire.

"What are they?" Jane stared at Amelia's first victim. "I've never seen them before!"

Arrow's voice came from behind them. "This way! Over this way, men!"

Amelia grinned as she looked back. Arrow had a group of marines with him and was leading them towards the sound of the fighting. She saw him looming out of the darkness, a pistol dwarfed in one huge and a cutlass in the other. She caught his attention and waved him back into cover as the enemy opened fire again, a fusillade of shots narrowly missing him.

"Grenade! Now!" Arrow turned to the marine beside him, who tossed a silver sphere to him. Arrow twisted it and bellowed the warning.

"Fire in the hole!"

"What?" Jane looked up in alarm as Arrow hurled the weapon past them.

"Block your ears," Amelia advised.

There was a explosion that sent dirt and gravel scattering around them. Arrow led his troops out into the open, forming them up in a disciplined firing line that poured blue fire through the smoke at anything that looked like a target. When they were satisfied that it was clear, Arrow brought them up next to Amelia.

"Well, aren't you a sight for sore eyes, Mr Arrow," Amelia grinned. Arrow touched his hat modestly.

"I aim to please, ma'am."

"I'd rather if you aimed to kill right now," said Amelia. "We've still got company. There's more of them around the other side of the building."

Arrow set his jaw. "If you can keep them pinned down, ma'am, I believe we can outflank them."

Amelia raised her rifle. "Give me two of your men and we'll hold their attention."

Arrow picked a pair out and gestured to the rest. "You men, we will advance up the side we just cleared and will engage the enemy from there. Understood?"

There was a murmur of assent. Arrow stood up and got into position. He turned back to Amelia and gave her a smile.

"Good luck, ma'am."

"You too, Mr Arrow." Amelia crept to the corner and waved the two marines to come in behind her.

"Can I help?" Jane looked tense.

"I'd rather you stayed out of the line of fire, Ja- Miss Porter." Amelia tried to peer around the corner. "I wouldn't want anything to happen to you."

Jane flushed and looked down. Amelia glanced back and gave a nod.

"Ready? On my mark- fire!"

She leaned around the corner, raised her rifle and began shooting. The marines, standing above her, joined in. Arrow and his men disappeared around the other side of the building at a run.

"Blast it!" Amelia's rifle whined as the magazine ran empty. She dropped back from the wall and began searching for a replacement. Jane scrambled over to her and handed her pistol back. Amelia took it gratefully, smiling as their hands touched around the grip, and then leaned back around the corner. Jane craned her neck to see. The enemy had occupied a position behind a woodpile that afforded them excellent cover. Their return fire was sharp and accurate. One of the marines swore as his rifle was blasted out of his grip. He fell back, still cursing. Jane went to go to his aid as more gunfire erupted. Arrow had led his troops around the side of the building and was attacking the enemy from their unguarded flank. The trapped foe quailed for a moment before leaping forwards, closing the distance and meeting Arrow's party in hand to hand. Bayonets were raised to greet them and Jane winced automatically as one of the enemy met Arrow's fist head-on. A melee broke out, shouts and the clashing of metal replacing the hiss and crackle of laslock discharges. Amelia stood and handed Jane her pistol again. Before the human could ask what was going on, Amelia had drawn her sword and turned to the marines, her eyes wild and her teeth bared.

"Marines, with me! For the Queen!"

She turned the corner, ran, and pounced onto the enemy. The first marine followed her, laying in with both ends of his rifle. Even the wounded soldier joined the fight, slashing left and right with a knife. Jane found herself moving up with them, drawn on somehow by the surging adrenaline of the moment. She saw Arrow pick up a cloaked figure in both hands and hurl it bodily into another. She saw a raider pinned to the ground by a bayonet thrust. She saw a marine go down under the swing of a curved blade. The wielder snarled and turned two hate-filled yellow eyes to face Amelia as she sprang forward. Scimitar met cutlass, striking off each other again and again. Amelia closed in, grappled with the raider and took him by the throat as he lunged for her. She span on her heel to deflect the force of the push and they both slammed into the wall, the raider's back to Jane. She cried out in shock, jumping back to avoid the brawl and accidentally squeezing the trigger of the pistol, firing it into the ground. The sudden shot made the raider start and look around briefly to see where it had come from, giving Amelia an opening she did not let pass. As the body slumped to the ground, Amelia withdrew her sword, threw her hair back and looked up in surprise. She saw Jane and smiled, giving a nod of acknowledgement.

"We'll make a spacer of you yet, Miss Porter!"

Jane laughed, without really knowing why. Amelia turned back to the fight, but it was all over now. One of Arrow's marines administered a coup de grace with his bayonet to a recumbent victim. Arrow himself dusted off his hands and saluted Amelia.

"Area secure, ma'am."

"Very good, Mr Arrow. Miss Porter, can you see to our casualties?"

Jane looked around and went to help. One marine was down and two others injured. She wished she'd brought her satchel, but made do with what she could find. Amelia watched for a moment and turned back to Arrow.

"What's our situation here?"

"Multiple points of infiltration," said Arrow grimly. "Acting Sergeant Ko is clearing the northern wall. Mr Whiting is securing the south-east. Mr Bock and the militia are holding the gatehouse."

"Can we get to the infirmary?" asked Jane. "My things are all there, I'd be able to do much more with them."

"If we move quickly and stay together, we can," said Arrow.

"I can go myself if it's safe," Jane said.

"Nowhere is safe right now," said Amelia. "Not until we can clear it. I don't want you going off alone. Mr Arrow, I want you to retake the wall and hold it, at all costs. I will go with Miss Porter to the infirmary. Understood?"

"Aye, ma'am. At all costs." Arrow picked up the dead marine's rifle and headed for the wall. Amelia checked the charge on her pistol and looked at the two casualties. "Can you two still hold your weapons?"

"Yes, ma'am." One of them, a young dark-haired porcine, gripped his rifle and grinned through a bloodied face. "Still...still in the fight, ma'am."

"Very good, private." Amelia grinned. "If any more of the bastards come out of shadows, you know what to do."

"Two in the chest and one in the head, ma'am?" said the other one.

"Or any variation of the above, yes." Amelia turned to Jane. "Miss Porter? Follow me."

Jane tried to keep up as Amelia moved swiftly through the settlement. There was still fighting going on, shots, shouts and clashes echoing from the northern side of town and mingling with similar sounds from the direction of the gate. Amelia led them from one piece of cover to the next, pausing every now and then to listen. Jane hurried to catch up as they moved around the township. She rejoined her in the lee of the communications hut. The sail tower creaked overhead and the infirmary was nearby.

"Almost there," said Amelia.

Jane regained her breath and gave a thin smile. "Yes…thank you…for coming with me, I meant."

"I wasn't going to leave you alone," Amelia returned the smile. "Anything could have happened to you."

She reached out and took Jane's hand to guide her across the open ground and realised that Jane was physically shaking. Amelia looked at her in concern.

"Are you all right?"

Jane nodded mutely and glanced up. Amelia saw her pale face and the look in her eyes. She stepped closer.

"Jane…are you sure?"

"Back there…in the fight…when you joined in and I…" Jane fumbled her hands together. "I've never done that before."

Amelia's heart went out to her. It was easy to forget that, despite Jane's resilience, she wasn't meant for any of what had happened.

"You did fine," Amelia said softly. "You probably saved me. You certainly helped a great deal."

"I just…didn't want to let you down." Jane lowered her face. Amelia's hand touched her chin and lifted it until their eyes met, bright in the darkness.

"You didn't, Jane. I really don't think you ever would."

Jane smiled again, with a bit more strength. "You think so?"

"I know so." Amelia smiled back. "Now. Shall we?"

Jane nodded, a light returning to her eyes. "Let's."

Amelia looked around keenly one last time. "We should go now."

They crossed the ground swiftly, reaching the infirmary. The door was locked and Jane banged on it in frustration.

"Who goes there?" A voice called from inside the building.

"It's Lieutenant Amelia and Jane Porter!" shouted Amelia. "Now open the blasted door!"

There was a pause and then it creaked open. Lance Corporal Flower poked his head around it and sighed with relief when he saw them.

"Thank goodness for that. We thought it might be…someone else."

Amelia followed Jane inside and surveyed the room. Most of the beds were still occupied, but the patients were all clutching their weapons and using them to cover the door and window. They relaxed at the sight of Amelia standing in the doorway. Flower had been bunkered down with his rifle behind Jane's desk.

"How is it out there?" he asked.

"Not good," admitted Amelia. "We're getting it under control, but you and Miss Porter might be busy very soon."

Jane vanished into her room, re-emerging with her satchel over her shoulder and pulling an apron on over her head. "I'm ready to go back out there. But should I-"

There was another knocking on the door. Flower jumped and levelled his rifle at the woodwork.

"Who is it?"

"Message from Mr Whiting, sir!"

Amelia opened the door and acknowledged the spacer standing outside. "Proceed, Mr Clasp."

The spacer paused for a moment to get his breath back before saluting. "Mr Whiting's respects, ma'am. The wall is secure."

There were a couple of cheers from the infirmary patients. Flower looked relieved.

"My compliments to Mr Whiting," grinned Amelia. "Thank him for the good news."

"Yes, ma'am. There's something else, ma'am. We have a prisoner."

Amelia's ears stood up. "A prisoner?"

"Sergeant Ko's lads captured one of the bastards, ma'am. Sorry for the language, ma'am. She's bringing it to the camp in the square."

"Hm. Interesting. Very well. I will be there momentarily. You're dismissed."

"Thank you, ma'am." Clasp saluted again and disappeared. Amelia turned back to Jane.

"I may be needed to deal with that, Miss Porter. You have everything you need?"

"Yes, I'm all set. Should I…should I see the prisoner?"

Amelia paused. "Good point. I'm amazed that there even is one if it was Ko who captured them. I only hope there's enough of them left to interrogate."

There was a small crowd in the square. A hooded figure was kneeling on the ground, being held at gunpoint by Ko and a spacer. A few others, including Bock and a handful of militiamen, had gathered around to see the face of enemy up close. Ko drew herself up to attention and saluted Amelia as she arrived, the muzzle of her rifle never wavering. Her red uniform was stained darker in some places with patches of blood, none of it hers.

"Thank you, acting sergeant, as you were." Amelia examined the prisoner critically. Jane stood beside her and looked at it.

"It's not a Naztarii," she said.

"No. But that's the reason for all your troubles. That, Miss Porter, is a Procyon."

"A Procyon? Here?" Jane sounded genuinely shocked.

Amelia nodded to Ko, who stepped forward and roughly removed the prisoner's hood. The wolf-like face was revealed as Bock shone his lantern at it. The yellow eyes seemed to burn even brighter in the light and the creature muttered darkly.

"Name," said Amelia curtly.

The Procyon grinned nastily. "Death."

Ko pushed it in the back, forcing it onto all fours. "Try again."

"Torqas," it muttered.

"That's better." Amelia moved closer to him, folding her hands behind her back. "How long have you been on this planet? And I do urge you to speak soon. Sergeant Ko here has something of a short fuse."

Torqas stayed sullenly silent as he sat back up. Amelia began pacing in front on him.

"We saw lights from landing craft a few nights ago. Was that your force arriving?"

There was no reply. Ko glanced at Amelia questioningly. Amelia shook her head calmly.

"We also picked up a ship in orbit above the north pole. Was that your vessel?"

Silence.

"You might as well answer. Our ship is in pursuit as we speak. We'll know soon enough if it was yours. If the Procyon Hierarchy is attempting to stay covert in this war, your cover is about to be blown."

"Seven weeks." Torqas's voice was low. "We've been here seven weeks."

"That's about when the trouble started!" said Jane.

"Well. That would explain that. And we've seen the weapons you gave the Naztarii tribes. You thought they'd do your dirty work for you?"

"You made them attack us?" Bock was tense and angry.

"So why have you only entered the fray now?" Amelia reversed her pacing. "If you've been there for seven weeks, why are you only joining the fight now?"

Torqas laughed darkly. "Stupid Imperials! We've been in it all along! Who do you think those sharpshooters were? The local cattle are no good for that! They gave up! They're cowards! Only good for testing you!"

"They killed us!" Bock shouted. "They were killing us!"

"That means you failed the test, then," Torqas grinned, baring his teeth. Ko struck him sharply in the back with the stock of her rifle. Bock started forwards, raising his fists. Amelia glared at him until he subsided and one of his men put a hand on his shoulder to pull him back, muttering under his breath. Whiting arrived from the direction of the gatehouse, breaking the tension.

"All clear, ma'am. The position is secure."

"Thank you, Mr Whiting." Amelia turned her gaze back to Torqas. Whiting blinked in surprise at the sight of the kneeling Procyon.

"Blimey…"

"So that's what it took to bring you into the front line?" said Amelia. "As soon as you ran out of friends to sacrifice?"

"Friends? Hah!" Torqas shook his head. "The idea that the Hierarchy would have anything in common with the natives of this world is laughable! They were useful, that's all. Like this world will be when it's ours. A dagger at the heart of your failing Empire."

"You're the one on your knees, scum," snapped Ko. "I'd be careful who I describe as 'failing'."

"Thank you, acting sergeant." Amelia looked up sternly. Ko met her gaze for a moment and then stood back, holding her rifle slightly less pointedly. Torqas grinned.

"This world?" said Jane quietly, moving forwards. "They want this world?"

"Of course they do," Amelia watched Torqas as she replied. "The Empire barely knows you're here. If you disappeared suddenly, who would miss you? It could be months before another ship comes here. And by then it would be too late. We'd have a Procyon fortress, right here in the Lagoon Nebula. Am I right, Torqas?"

"Very smart for a felinid," he affirmed. Ko hissed to herself.

"You just didn't bet on your intended victims calling in the Navy, though," Amelia grinned. "Now that the Naztarii have deserted you, your plan seems to be going astray."

"It's not over yet." Torqas said. "You have no idea…none of you do."

He surveyed the gathering defiantly. "You're all going to die here. Every one of you. And the jungle will grow back over your bones…"

There was a heavy silence for a moment.

"Can I kill it, ma'am?" asked Ko.

"No." Amelia waved her back and looked at Torqas again. "You've attacked us by day, and failed. You've attacked us by night, and failed. You're not getting any reinforcement. What makes you think you can keep this up?"

"You're not getting any reinforcements either," said Torqas. "And after tonight, you're in more need than us. Especially with what we've got coming to you."

"And what's that?"

Torqas grinned.

"With respect, ma'am, we don't know if he's telling the truth," said Whiting. "The only good Proc is a dead Proc."

"I agree, sir," said Ko. "Are you sure I can't kill it, ma'am?"

"Oh, this one's dead," said Amelia. "He just doesn't know it yet. You're going to be staying here, Torqas. You're going to share our fate. If we die, so do you."

"For the glory of the Hierarchy!" Torqas snapped. "I am not afraid to die!"

"It can be arranged!" Amelia fixed him with a piercing look. "You picked the wrong war, Procyon. You and the Hierarchy."

Torqas snarled. Amelia ignored him.

"Sergeant Ko. You will tie the prisoner to the sail tower and you will gag him so that he does not disrupt the camp. If he resists, or attempts to escape, you have my permission to shoot him."

"Yes, ma'am!" Ko stepped forward and gave Torqas a none-too-gentle nudge with her foot. "Get up, Proc. And keep your hands where I can see them."

Amelia stood next to Jane as the prisoner was pushed into motion. Jane watched his yellow eyes, which fixed on her as he moved past. As they drew level, Torqas raised a hand in a blur of motion. Faster than her eye could follow, he tore his cloak from around his neck and swirled the garment into the face of the spacer escorting him, who instinctively raised his arms to fend it off. There was a bestial sound as the Procyon launched himself towards Jane, claws extended. She screamed as movement erupted all around her. Amelia moved in front of her protectively, pushing Jane back and drawing her pistol. Bock shouted a warning. For a moment the leaping figure seemed suspended in mid-air and Jane fancied she could see every detail on his face and uniform. Then two laslock shots broke the spell. Torqas was picked out of the air by the hits and his smoking body landed in a heap at Amelia's feet. Jane cried out again and looked up, heart racing. Ko lowered her smoking rifle. Whiting had a pistol in his hand.

"Only good one's a dead one," he muttered.

"About bloody time," said Ko.

"Thank you, Mr Whiting!" Amelia re-holstered her pistol. "And sergeant, you too."

"My pleasure, ma'am." Ko's tone sounded like she meant it.

Amelia looked down at the corpse. "Make arrangements for this thing's removal, along with the others. The rest of you, back to your posts!"

Heavy running footsteps heralded Arrow's arrival. He came to a halt and looked at the scene, quickly taking it in.

"Lieutenant?"

"Mr Arrow. The situation is under control." Amelia turned to him.

"Are you- is everyone all right?" Arrow lowered the rifle he was carrying.

"All present and accounted for, thank you. Carry on." Amelia turned her head and saw that the crowd was still there. "I said back to your posts!"

"You heard the lieutenant!" shouted Whiting. "Move it out! We're not here for decoration!"

Amelia signalled her thanks as the gathering broke up, Bock seeming to take particular satisfaction in dragging Torqas's body away. She turned back to Arrow. "That goes for you, too, my friend. We can't afford a repeat of this night's performance."

"Indeed not." Arrow looked grim. "I will make a survey of our position at first light. I fear that our losses may preclude our mounting an effective defence of the stockade against a full-scale assault."

"I fear I may agree, if our experience was anything to go by." Amelia crossed her arms. Her eyes wandered up the slope of the the colony's central hill to the heavy stone building at the summit. "We will prepare fall-back positions around the town hall. Will that be satisfactory?"

Arrow touched his hat. "Perfectly, ma'am. Thank you."

"Carry on, then, Mr Arrow."

She glanced back at Jane. The human was still standing where she had been, looking down at the patch of ground where the Procyon's body had landed. As Arrow disappeared back into the night, Amelia went to Jane's side and silently took her hand.

"Are you all right, Jane?"

"Oh, yes. Absolutely tip-top." But she couldn't keep the tremble out of her voice, and her hand was shaking like a leaf. Amelia closed her other hand around it.

"It's over, Jane. You're safe again."

"I know…it happened so fast." Jane swallowed. "And you…stepped in front of me. You saved me."

"Well," Amelia shrugged modestly. "Credit should go to Mr Whiting and the acting sergeant for that."

"Yes, but if they hadn't…or if they'd missed…you would have been the one to…" Jane shook her head and squeezed Amelia's hand. "Nobody's ever done something like that for me."

"I'm here to protect you," Amelia tilted her head to look into Jane's face. "And I will protect you. I promise."

"So you've proven tonight." Jane looked up and met Amelia's eyes. "Thank you."

Without really realising that she was doing it, she stepped forward and put her arms around the feline's slender body. Amelia gave a small mew of surprise and checked that nobody was watching them before slowly reciprocating, taking Jane in her arms and feeling the shape of her body. The shakes running through her frame died away and Amelia felt her breathing stabilise. They held each other close for a long moment, a moment of peace after the bloody chaos of the night.

"There's nothing to thank me for," said Amelia gently. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, breathing in the Jane's scent. She rested her head against Jane's comfortingly. Jane felt Amelia's soft hair brushing against her skin, as light as a breeze. She sighed automatically and relaxed into the embrace, resting against the dark blue of Amelia's coat and feeling the texture of the fabric under her fingertips. Amelia held her tighter before she remembered herself and cleared her throat, standing back and flicking a lock of her hair into place again.

"Now, Miss Porter, do you still have your satchel?"

The new businesslike tone in her voice made Jane smile. She stood up straighter and patted the leather bag. "Right here, lieutenant."

"Then you should carry on as well," Amelia smiled as well. "After all, I have good men and women out there right now who need you."

"I won't let them down, lieutenant." Jane saluted cheerfully and turned to go, stopping halfway there. "Excuse me?"

"Hmm?" Amelia looked up, as if caught in the middle of a thought.

Jane shook her head and smiled. "Nothing. I just thought you said something. Good luck, Amelia. And…thank you again."

"To you, too, Jane." Amelia watched her go and sighed.

After all, I have good men and women out there right now who need you…just like I do.

As the morning sun climbed above the wall and the sail tower's wings were unfurled to greet it, Amelia pushed open the infirmary door and stepped inside. It was not a scene to gladden the heart. Every bed was occupied and there were even men on the floor, making do with stretchers taken from the camp. Lance Corporal Flower was asleep on the desk, his red coat rolled up and serving as a pillow. Amelia coughed politely to wake him. He sat up, blinking blearily, focused on her and leapt to his feet, banging his knee on the edge of the desk.

"Good- ow, ow, ow- morning, ma'am."

Amelia tried not to laugh. "As you were, lance corporal. What is there to report?"

Flower sighed and waved an arm. "See for yourself, ma'am. They're not all serious cases…but some are serious enough. We lost a couple during the night, too, I'm afraid."

Amelia winced. "I'm sure you did all you could. Is Ja- I mean, Miss Porter available?"

"She should be back any minute, ma'am," said Flower.

There was a knock on the door and Whiting stepped inside.

"Top of the morning, ma'am. Mr Arrow's respects to you. We're starting to move some of the supplies up to the town hall. With your permission, can we load up the longboats and use them as shuttles? It'd save an awful lot of legwork."

"Permission granted, Mr Whiting." Amelia smiled approvingly. "A capital idea. One longboat, though, for now. We may be needing the other."

"Thank you, ma'am." Whiting grinned and left.

"What's this about moving up to the hall, ma'am?" asked Flower.

"Ah. As a matter of fact, that's what I need to talk to you and Miss Porter about." Amelia sat on the edge of the desk and waited for a moment until Jane appeared in the doorway, a bucket of water in each hand. Amelia couldn't help smiling at the sight.

"So you managed to get that water at long last?" she grinned.

Jane laughed. "The buckets were just where we left them."

"Glad to hear it." Amelia watched her tip the buckets into a cistern. "May I get a word with you and Mr Flower outside?"

"Of course, lieutenant." Jane straightened up and put the buckets aside. Amelia stepped outside and waited for the others to join them.

"As I was saying before to Mr Flower," said Amelia. "We're making a tactical withdrawal."

"You mean a retreat, ma'am?" said Flower.

"A tactical withdrawal," Amelia repeated firmly. "We can no longer be sure of holding the outer wall. We certainly can't be confident about stopping another covert raid like last night with our numbers reduced. So we're preparing new defensive positions around the town hall."

Flower nodded. "Yes, ma'am?"

"The infirmary will be left outside the new perimeter," said Amelia. "You will need to relocate the patients into the town hall."

"There's certainly enough space," said Jane. "Have you asked my father about this?"

"Momentarily," Amelia smiled. "But I need to know if it can be done. Can you move the patients?"

Flower scratched his head. "Yes…a lot of them can still move themselves. And we can move the more serious cases on stretchers if we have a bit of help."

"I'll see to it that you get it," Amelia looked around as the first of the longboats rose, laden with supplies and with Whiting at the helm. He waved to her and began steering the longboat towards the low hill at the centre of town.

"We'll have to move all the bedding up there as well," said Jane.

"That's why I only gave Mr Whiting one of the boats," grinned Amelia. "Will the other be sufficient to relocate everything you need?"

"Should be, ma'am," said Flower.

"Excellent. I'll see to it that it's at your disposal." Amelia straightened her hat. "And I'd better go and consult the governor as well."

"I'd go with you," said Jane, smiling shyly, "But I'm afraid I should rather start packing my things."

"As you wish, Miss Porter," Amelia smiled back. "Thank you, the two of you. Carry on."

Flower stood to attention and saluted as she left. Jane waved and watched her go, still with a small, happy look on her face as she remembered the spontaneous embrace of the night before. She closed her eyes as she remembered the feel of Amelia's body against hers, the comfort and protection in those slender but strong arms…

"Best get to it, then," said Flower, yawning and rather spoiling Jane's reverie. She shook herself to clear her head.

"Yes, yes, of course, Mr Daffodil." She disappeared back into the infirmary and began rummaging in the desk. The lance corporal glared for a moment and then sighed.

"Flower," he muttered.

Amelia walked up the path to the hall. Whiting had landed the longboat nearby and was supervising the unloading. Arrow had already got off-duty spacers and marines to start digging slit trenches and foxholes on the slope of the hill and she made a mental note to commend him for that. To her surprise she found Archimedes around the side of the hall, enthusiastically sawing up lengths of wood to make barricades.

"Ah, lieutenant! Good to see you! Hold this, would you?"

Amelia found a spar waved in her direction. She took hold of it as Archimedes repositioned his saw horse, humming under his breath.

"Thought I'd keep making myself useful, what," he said cheerily. "Do you know, I think I'm rather getting the hang of this siege business!"

"Well done, sir," said Amelia. "But-"

"Ah, yes, I did hear you had a rough time of it last night. That's what you're all doing up here now, isn't it?"

"That's right, sir, yes," Amelia handed the spar back. "It was on that subject that I wanted to speak with you. With your permission, I'd like to move the infirmary into the main hall area. It's more spacious, and with the casualties last night, your daughter and my medic need the room."

"Of course, of course." Archimedes waved his handkerchief and began fixing the spar into the brackets. "I'll move my desk into a storeroom. It'll be no problem."

"That's very kind of you, sir."

Archimedes began sawing again. "Least I can do, least I can do. I haven't had much of a chance to do this sort of thing, you know. Being a governor rather takes up one's days. I used to do this all the time back on the farm."

"Farm, sir?"

"Back home, I used to own a farming estate." Archimedes wiped his forehead. "That's where my Janey got her love for all things furry."

"I see." Amelia tried not to look flustered.

"Oh, present company excepted, of course. I mean animals. Veterinary science, you see."

"Ah." Amelia shifted uncomfortably.

"Well, I'd better get back to it." Archimedes smiled. "These stockade things don't build themselves."

"You seem to have a knack for it, sir."

Amelia touched her hat to him and walked away. She paused by Whiting and waited for him to put down the sack he was unloading.

"Do you have your glass, Mr Whiting?"

"Yes, ma'am." He fumbled in his coat for a moment and passed it over. Amelia extended it and scanned the horizon. Whiting stretched his back and joined her.

"Anything in particular you're looking for, ma'am?"

"Just trying to see what our former captive might have promised us." Amelia watched the jungle.

"It might be nothing," said Whiting. "I wouldn't put it past them to try to scare us into doing something stupid."

"Oh, I don't think we need their help to do that." Amelia grinned. Whiting chuckled.

"Genuinely, though, ma'am...do you think he was telling the truth? That there's something coming?"

"Procyons might not be the most trustworthy species in the galaxy," said Amelia. "But their footsoldiers aren't the most imaginative either. I'm not sure that they'd make up something for our benefit like that. Not if they thought that telling the truth would have the same effect." She folded up the telescope. "May I keep this for now?"

"Of course, ma'am." Whiting nodded. "I'll be working in the removals business for a while anyway."

"I'd better let you get back to it." Amelia smiled. "I wouldn't want to keep your customers waiting."

"I do have a rather demanding employer." Whiting grinned.

Amelia laughed and looked up as the other longboat arrived. Flower jumped off the end, grabbed a training line and began pulling it into a soft landing. The spacers at the helm moved forward, picking up a stretcher and beginning to offload the casualties. Amelia watched for a moment and then set off back towards the infirmary, tucking the telescope into her belt.

"Are we really retreating, lieutenant?"

Bock passed her on the way uphill, carrying a sack over his shoulder.

"Unless you think you can hold the perimeter wall by yourself, Mr Bock?"

He pulled a face. "I don't like abandoning the town. We built it. This is our home."

Amelia gave him a confident smile. "And I'm trying to keep it that way, Mr Bock."

Bock sighed. "Yes...of course."

"Carry on." Amelia gave him an authoritative look. He sighed again and kept walking. Amelia turned back to town, adjusting the ride of her belt as she walked, shifting the strap higher onto her shoulder as she reached the infirmary. The door was open and Jane was busy piling sheets and blankets outside. She looked up as Amelia approached and put down her armload.

"Have you come to give me a hand, Amelia?"

Amelia shrugged. "So what if I have? I just came from the town hall, by the way. Mr Flower got your patients there safely."

"Ah, good." Jane dusted herself down. Amelia followed her back into the infirmary. Half of the beds had been stripped and Jane was starting on the other side of the room. Amelia moved over to a bed and began taking the covers off it. Jane looked up and smiled.

"You really don't have to do that, you know."

Amelia shrugged. "Someone might as well."

"Yes, but you...I'm sure there's somewhere else you could be," said Jane quietly, moving to the next bed.

"Perhaps." Amelia glanced up and met her eyes. She smiled slightly. "But there nowhere else I'd rather be."

Jane blushed and looked down at the mattress as she took the sheet off it and bundled it up tightly in her arms. Amelia went over and passed her the blanket she had removed. Their hands touched under the pile of linen and their fingers instinctively entwined.

"About last night...in the square, I mean," Jane's voice was soft. "After all the excitement...I was so scared. And then with the Procyon, the things he said..."

"I understand," Amelia said gently. "It wasn't the easiest of times."

"No...and then when he attacked me...after that it was like all the tension came out at once and I didn't know what to do, and you were there and it just..."

"Shh." Amelia squeezed her hand. "You don't need to explain it. And as I recall it, I didn't object."

"No...you didn't." Jane looked up hopefully. "Thank you...is what I wanted to say. For looking out for me."

Amelia smiled casually. "Oh, tish-tosh, Jane. It was nothing."

"It didn't feel like nothing at the time," Jane smiled back.

They stood together in silence, hands still around each other, until the whine of thrusters outside intruded into their silence and a gust blew the door open. They broke apart quickly as Flower stepped back inside, giving simultaneous awkward coughs as he glanced up and surveyed the room.

"Oh, don't tell me you're both coming down with jungle flu, now," he said wearily.

Amelia couldn't help smiling. "Not at all, Mr Lily. In fact," she glanced over her shoulder, ignoring the irritated mutter that provoked, "I've seldom felt better."