The stateroom on the Fortitude was even larger than that of the Resolute. Jane looked around in awe as she stepped inside. The roof was slightly arched, ivory timbers scrubbed spotless and bright. A long polished oak table was set in the middle of the room, holographic maps glowing above it. The room was already filled with officers from the other ships in the fleet. Even Amelia, who saw enough gold braid at her family gatherings, felt somewhat intimidated at the august audience. For Jane, the effect when she lowered her eyes from the ceiling was even stronger. Amelia saw her eyes go wide and she stepped closer, touching a hand to Jane's back out of sight. Jane looked at her and saw the reassurance in Amelia's smile. She flicked a lock of hair back over her ear and tried to smile back.

"Ah, Sir Edmund! Good of you to come! You are most welcome."

An officer who had been sitting at the middle of one side of the table stood up, smiling warmly and offering a hand. Rear-Admiral the Honourable Sir Rupert Benson was on the wrong side of middle age, the spread of those years just beginning to afflict him so that his blue, white and gold jacket could not quite fasten up all the way. He wore a long white horsehair wig that came past his shoulders. His epaulettes were heavy with gold, three large star-shaped decorations glittered on his chest and a red silk sash was fastened around him, contrasting strongly with the white silk of his waistcoat. Forsythe shook his hand.

"Thank you, Admiral. It's an honour to serve again."

Benson waved to the assembled group. "Well, ladies and gentlemen, I imagine I have no need to introduce Captain Sir Edmund Forsythe of the Resolute?"

"You flatter me, sir." Forsythe nodded to the other captains. "My greetings."

"I'm sure you all know most of each other," Benson went on. "But there appear to be two people here whom I confess are new to me, hmm?"

Forsythe glanced over his shoulder, following Benson's gaze. Amelia nudged Jane and they stepped forward together.

"Allow me to present," Forsythe said, "Acting Lieutenant Amelia of my command, and Dr Jane Porter."

"Dr Porter?" A captain looked up. "A doctor of what?"

"Um...of the, um...Royal College of Veterinarians." Jane mumbled.

"A vet?" The captain looked surprised. "Is this some sort of-"

"I'm sure if Sir Edmund saw fit to bring her, it could only be because she has something to contribute," said Benson. "Is that not right, Captain?"

"It is, sir," Forsythe glared at the doubter.

"If I may enquire," said a captain whose right eye had been replaced by a cybernetic implant, "I believe you have news of the RLS Chancer, Sir Edmund?"

"Ah, of course." Benson sat down and waved a hand at the speaker to introduce him. "Captain Sydecker, commanding officer of the 21st Scout Flotilla. He's been keen on any news of his missing ship."

"I'm glad to make your acquaintance." Forsythe leaned on the table. "Alas, captain, I come as the bearer of bad news. We located the Chancer in an asteroid field just a few days past. And I must report that she is lost."

Sydecker sighed and lowered his head. "I had feared as much," he said. "She was too long out of contact. We already assumed her loss to the pirates but I'm grateful for your confirmation."

"She was not lost to the pirates," Forsythe said. "If the testimony of her last surviving crewman is to be believed."

"What?" A female captain, a stocky, green-skinned woman with broad shoulders cocked her head. At first Jane assumed that she was wearing her hair in dreadlocks, but a closer look revealed that the thick strands were moving independently like tendrils. "Surely the pirates were involved somehow?"

"You must forgive Flag-Captain Sharrock's impatience," Benson smiled.

"The pirates were indeed involved, according to the survivor's report," said Forsythe. "But not in the role we expected."

"So how was the Chancer lost?" a human captain sitting opposite the Admiral leaned forward.

"We believe, Captain Tockham," said Forsythe, "that she fell victim to attack from a group of orcas galacticus."

There was a pause.

"Void whales?" Tockham said eventually.

"There are some instances of whale attack," mused a captain who Amelia recognised as the noted 'Furious' Fosker of the RLS Imperious. "But not many. Are you quite sure of this?"

"If it could happen anywhere, it would happen here," said a Cragorian captain. "At this time of the year there are thousands of whales in the vicinity of this star cluster. If the Chancer got too close to one, especially if it had a calf..."

"With respect, Captain Rengen," Sydecker said, "I was well acquainted with Commander Beckett, and I do not for one moment believe that he would place his ship at risk in that way."

"I meant no offence," Rengen shrugged. "But perhaps there was low visibility. If it was near an asteroid field, perhaps visibility was obstructed. Neither would be a reflection on the commander."

"You remain silent, Sir Edmund," Benson was looking at him over his fingers. "And a look about you tells me that you have a theory."

Forsythe nodded. "I do, sir. Based on the testimony of the last eyewitness. And that, sir, is why I requested Dr Porter's presence here. She would be able to explain better than I."

"Ah? Very well, then." Benson sat back and turned his chair to face Jane. "Carry on, doctor."

Jane swallowed to wet her suddenly dry throat. She glanced once at Amelia for reassurance and took a nervous step forwards, hugging her satchel.

"Well, sir, um, sirs. And ma'am. And, um...well..."

She swallowed again and looked around at Amelia, who gave her an encouraging smile. Jane met her eyes for a moment, grateful for the solace in their green depths.

"Doctor?" Sharrock asked.

Jane looked back. "Yes, well...um, as Captain Forsythe has said, we were able to rescue one survivor from the Chancer. He was a lookout. He told us that the Chancer was following a number of enemy ships when it encountered the whales."

"So they were involved somehow?" said Fosker.

"According to the lookout's statement," Jane produced a piece of paper from her satchel. "There is reason to believe that the pirates somehow...caused it."

"Provoked the whale, you mean?" said Rengen. "Well...as a tactic it has some merit. But it would be as much of a risk to oneself as to the foe."

"Not quite, sir," said Amelia.

"Yes, sir. You see, it was suggested that the pirates have acquired a means of...influencing the whales, as it were," said Jane.

"Influencing whales?" a captain looked sceptical. "With due respect, Admiral, is this going to help?"

Benson waved a hand and looked at Jane curiously. "I must confess, doctor, this is not the turn I had expected the conversation to take."

"I had the same reaction, sir," said Forsythe. "And believe me, Captain Rickman, I was just as dubious at first. Dr Porter, please continue."

Amelia watched as Jane produced a book and flipped through it.

"Yes, sir. Can I just ask...how many here are familiar with the Periskova Expedition?"

The question met a polite silence. Jane smiled.

"Ah...I see. In that case, I'll ask for your patience for just a moment while I explain..."

Amelia put her head on one side and watched with growing admiration as Jane began explaining the history of whale research, the efforts of the missing professor and the story of her last expedition. It was hard not to think that she was in some way assuming the role of the professor, introducing a new class of first-years to her lifelong passion and attempting to give them even a fraction of the same driving interest as she had herself. Even Captain Rickman seemed to let himself be taken along for the journey even as Jane started explaining Sius's testimony.

"...so you see," Jane finished. "It would appear that the pirates have put the expedition's knowledge to use for their own ends."

"And I do not think I need to remind anyone here," said Forsythe, "of the gravity of the potential consequences."

"Indeed not." Benson shivered.

"So the Chancer's loss may not have been in vain," said Sydecker. "If it yielded an insight of this value."

"Do you think that the witness testimony is accurate, doctor?" asked a captain.

"I have no reason to think otherwise, sir," Jane shrugged. "And as I've explained...with a few assumptions, there's no part of it that seems impossible."

"I dislike assumptions," said Benson. "But these seem to be at least reasoned ones. Captain Forsythe, do you concur with Dr Porter's account?"

"I do, sir," Forsythe nodded grimly. "Though it gives me little pleasure to say so."

"This intelligence is most disturbing." Benson stood up again. "We have been engaged in a search of our own, you see. Twelve days ago we caught sight of a Confederate fleet and gave chase. They have, I regret to say, eluded us to date as they fled into the Megapterans. Perhaps now we know why."

"If knowledge of this new weapon was widespread among them, it would make sense," said Sharrock.

"How strong was the enemy force you sighted, sir?" Forsythe raised an eyebrow.

"We believe three capital ships and at least a dozen accompanying lighter vessels," said Sydecker, standing up and pointing at an area of the glowing map emerging from the table. "My frigates have been attempting to keep track of them. That was what the Sunjammer was doing when you encountered her. Finding you was her secondary role. The enemy disappeared into this part of the star cluster two days ago. We sent a frigate to scout the other side, but they have not emerged."

"They're waiting for us," nodded Benson. "It has been puzzling me. They could continue to flee, they could scatter, yet they appear to be preparing to make a stand."

"If the enemy have made a rendezvous of their own," mused an officer Amelia recognised as Commodore Lee, commander of the Resolute's own battle squadron, "and if they have combined with the force sighted by the Chancer, it could mean that they intend to give battle. That would give them a force of four ships-of-the-line and perhaps twenty others."

Benson nodded. "That would certainly be enough for them to work with. Perhaps enough confidence to fight a fleet action."

"Even so," Rengen said, "we outnumber them almost three to one. Four capital ships against our eleven? They wouldn't dare!"

"They wouldn't," said Forsythe, "unless they had something which they felt could even the odds."

"The new weapon," Benson muttered.

"Yes, sir. Precisely. If they can call on the whales for reinforcements..."

"We've seen at least four separate pods on a similar course, sir," said Sydecker.

"Some reinforcements," said Captain Brightwater of the Clan MacAllister darkly.

"But only if the theory is true," said Rickman.

Benson nodded. "It is unproven, I grant you. But it explains the enemy's behaviour. It explains the Chancer's loss. It explains too much altogether to be dismissed."

"I concur, sir," said Sharrock.

Benson leaned forward, staring intently at the holographic maps and drumming his fingers on the table. He reached a decision and rapped his knuckles on the polished wood.

"I believe we have no choice but to take the possibility seriously. From this point on, we will proceed on that basis."

Jane sighed with relief, and Amelia saw even a look of satisfaction on Forsythe's grizzled face. There was a murmur of assent around the table.

"The question now," Benson went on, "is how this should alter our tactics."

"I don't believe that it does, sir," said Lee. "We know where the enemy are. We can't leave a force of that strength behind our advance. They have to be dealt with. One way or another."

"I concur with my colleague in broad terms," said Commodore Carossian of the 19th Battle Squadron. "But since we have the location of the foe, and the advantage of numbers, we could perhaps approach with greater caution. Call up some of the rearguard units and pin the enemy into this part of the Megapterans. There are no planets in this star cluster so they would be unable to replenish their stores and we could intercept any convoys that try to resupply them externally."

"It would take over a fortnight for any of the reserve squadrons to reach us, Admiral," pointed out Tockham.

"And in the meantime," said Forsythe, "the population of whales only increases. To say nothing of the consequences of delaying the advance of this fleet any further."

"It would threaten the entire course of the war," agreed Benson. "The Admiralty's strategy depends on a constant advance into the Lagoon Nebula on all fronts to leave the enemy nowhere to hide. It is a good suggestion, Commodore, and were the circumstances different I would gladly take it. But we cannot allow ourselves to be delayed."

Carossian bowed her head. "I defer to the judgement of my colleagues, sir. And to Their Lordships of Admiralty, of course."

"Well. I believe I will have cause to call another of these sessions soon." Benson nodded. "Thank you for your presence, ladies and gentlemen. You may return to your ships. We shall reconvene as a council of war at 0900 tomorrow morning. In the meantime, I would ask you to take into your confidence those of your officers you see fit to discuss the new situation and to consider the implications."

There was a chorus of assent. Officers who were seated stood up, hats were collected and there was a general movement towards the door.

"And one more thing." Benson turned his gaze on Jane. "Dr Porter. Thank you for your presence, and for your insight. I believe that Sir Edmund's confidence in you is well-placed."

Jane tried to hide her blush as she gave a small bow. "Th...thank you, sir. It was an honour."

"The honour was ours," Benson smiled. "I bid you a good evening. And you, acting lieutenant."

Amelia saluted. "Thank you, sir."

She looked at Jane and couldn't help feeling a small thrill of pride. Jane looked around and met her eyes. Her own were shining brightly, and Amelia saw her lips silently form the words thank you. She wished that she could reply as she wished, but contented herself with a casual shrug as they followed Forsythe from the stateroom.

Forsythe alighted, touching his hat to Lieutenant Costell.

"Welcome back, sir," Costell said.

"Thank you, Mr Costell. Please take my compliments to Mr Chad and Mr Harburn, and have them attend me in my day cabin." Forsythe glanced over his shoulder to see Amelia assisting Jane down onto the deck. He nodded to them.

"I am grateful for your assistance, ma'am. Your counsel was most useful."

Jane gathered herself and shook her hair back. "Oh, thank you, captain. It was really nothing."

Forsythe looked at Amelia and gave her a nod of thanks. Amelia smiled and touched her hat in return.

"Carry on, acting lieutenant." Forsythe turned and headed for his cabin.

"Well." Jane shook herself again. "That wasn't so bad, really."

"You did very well," said Amelia. "And you certainly changed some minds."

Jane sighed and opened her mouth to reply, but a creak of timbers and a sudden shadow heralded the arrival of Mr Arrow and she turned her expression into a smile.

"So you've returned in triumph, I hear," said Arrow cheerfully.

"I think that's a fair summary," Amelia took off her hat and grinned at Jane, who blushed.

"One does one's best," she murmured.

"And one's best was very good indeed," said Amelia.

"I'm pleased to hear it," Arrow nodded. "How did the conference go?"

"Rather interesting, in fact." Amelia lowered her voice. "It turns out that Admiral Benson has been chasing some quarry of his own. They think there's an enemy fleet in the star cluster ahead of us."

"A fleet, ma'am?"

Amelia nodded. "Strong enough that they may seek to challenge us. Especially if they really do have that new weapon that Mr Sius talked about."

Arrow rubbed his chin thoughtfully. "I see. And no doubt if they do, that would require a new approach."

"I believe that the captain is working on that right now, Mr Arrow," said Amelia. "The Admiral wants a council of war first thing tomorrow morning. I think he plans on going in after them, whales or no whales."

"We may not have much choice in the matter," agreed Arrow.

"That was the consensus, yes." Amelia loosened her cravat gratefully. "Anyway, Ms Porter. We've fortunately returned in time for dinner."

"Thank you, acting lieutenant. But I may pass tonight." Jane gave a small smile. "I have...some things to do. I'll see you later, though."

"Of course." Amelia nodded, a flicker of concern appearing in her eyes.

"Janey! You're back! Oh, I'm so glad!" Archimedes approached, bubbling with excitement. "You must tell me what it was like! So many important people! I'm sure it was very grand."

"Hello, daddy!" Jane forced a smile back onto her face that might have fooled anyone else aside from Amelia as she greeted him.

"My daughter, meeting an Admiral!" the little man enthused. "And one so famous, as well. Oh, do tell me about it. What's he like?"

Jane led her father away, deep in conversation. Amelia crossed her arms as she watched them leave and tried not to drum her fingers nervously on the edge of her hat.

"Is everything quite all right, ma'am?" asked Arrow.

Amelia nodded briskly. "Yes, Mr Arrow. Perfectly."

"Are you certain, ma'am?"

She didn't dare look up at him, so she nodded again. Arrow looked at her for a long moment and nodded in turn.

"Very well, ma'am. If you'll excuse me, I must inspect the marines' mess before dinner."

"Carry on, then, Mr Arrow," said Amelia. "Perhaps I'll meet you in the wardroom."

Arrow touched his hat and left. Amelia stayed and stared in the direction where Jane had disappeared for a second longer, then coughed, put her hat back on and headed for the wardroom.

Amelia found the cabin door slightly ajar when she returned there later that night. She pushed it open quietly and looked inside. Jane was facing towards the porthole, sitting up in bed, wrapped in blankets. A beam of golden evening light was falling through the window onto her page, little motes of light winking in the air. Amelia coughed politely, causing Jane to start and look around.

"Sorry to disturb you," Amelia gave her a small smile.

"Oh, not at all." Jane shook her head and smiled back. "How was dinner?"

"Fine, thank you," Amelia stepped inside and closed the door. "But I'm more interested in how you are. You seemed to leave in rather a hurry when we got back."

"Yes, I...I know." Jane looked down. "I'm sorry about that. I just...needed some time to think."

"Think about what?" Amelia put her hat on a peg, unbuttoned her blue coat and knelt next to Jane, who sighed.

"Just...about the conference."

"You did well," said Amelia. "I meant it when I said you'd changed some minds."

"Yes, I know...that's sort of it, really." Jane smiled sadly. "It's all the more reason for me to hope I was right. It was one thing when it was just us, but now with an Admiral...and the whole fleet. And they were talking about a battle, which means that people are going to get hurt. And now what I think is a part of that and I don't even know if it was right!"

Amelia put an arm around her. "You did your part, Jane. The Captain asked you to go for your advice. You gave it. Admiral Benson could have ignored it if he wanted to. They all could have. But they didn't. They decided to take it."

"Exactly! And that means that if I'm wrong, so are they!"

Amelia shook her head. "It isn't like that. A commander takes responsibility for their own decisions. If they had any doubt about you they'd have taken a different one. But they didn't. And that's their responsibility alone."

"That sounds awfully harsh," said Jane.

Amelia shrugged. "That's the burden of command. So you see, it's not your decision, Jane. It was theirs."

Jane looked down. "I suppose..."

"That's how it works." Amelia kissed her cheek comfortingly. "You passed your idea to the Captain, who passed it to the Admiral, who decided to take it seriously. The Captain would have gone to that conference alone if he'd thought he could explain it better than you, remember? So it wasn't that you turned the Admiral's strategy on its head or anything."

Jane gave a flicker of a smile. "That...does actually help, strangely."

"There's nothing strange about it." Amelia hugged her. "Is this what's been bothering you since we got back from the flagship?"

Jane nodded. "Yes...I don't mean to blame you, or Captain Forsythe, or Captain Arrow, and I don't mean to blame my father...it was just that everyone was saying all those things about well I did and how important it was...and of course you were all being polite and supportive. Especially you, Amelia, the way you always are with me. But it all felt like it was just reminding me of just how important it really is. And it is important, I know that...it's literally life and death, for thousands of people."

"And it felt like we were putting all that on your shoulders," said Amelia softly. "Oh, Jane...I never meant to do that to you."

"I know. Because you know what it's like." Jane looked up into Amelia's caring face, reaching out a hand to touch her light-furred cheek. "I've seen the look on your face sometimes when someone talks about your family legacy. Like when I made some comment about it being something to live up to when we were in the pointy bit of the ship before dinner the other day."

Amelia smiled. "It's called the beakhead, Jane. And I'm sorry about that moment, too...I didn't mean to react so noticeably."

"Oh, no, it's quite all right. I understand why it would seem like something other than a compliment," said Jane. "Especially right now."

Amelia lifted her chin and kissed her lips. "I'm sorry that you have to."

Jane smiled. "You've been apologising a lot tonight."

Amelia laughed. "I suppose I feel I should be looking after you. You were thrown into the deep end today."

"You always look after me." Jane kissed her back. "And I'll never take it for granted."

Amelia held her close, putting her arms around her protectively. "It'll be there for you anyway, Jane. For as long as it's needed."

Jane sighed happily and hugged her back, enjoying the feeling of warmth and safety in the feline's arms.

"Oh, Amelia...thank you. For everything tonight."

"I just hope it's helped," Amelia kissed her forehead. Jane smiled and brought Amelia's head down to meet her lips again.

"More than I can tell you, truly."

Amelia shrugged. "Stranger things have happened than an Admiral changing his mind, after all."

Jane laughed. "Oh, without question...just look at us, after all."

"Hmm?" Amelia raised a curious eyebrow. "How so?"

"Well, how we met..." Jane took her hand. "How we came to feel for each other..."

"How we met was rather odd, I'll grant you," said Amelia, "But as for the rest...believe me, Jane, there's no mystery about that. Falling in love with you was the most obvious thing in the galaxy."

"My darling Amelia." Jane gazed into her eyes. "You really do have a way with words sometimes."

"Only sometimes?"

Jane laughed again. "All right...more often than not."

"That's better." Amelia stroked her soft brown hair and looked into a pair of blue eyes that now shined back at her. "You must be hungry after missing dinner. Would you like to see if there's anything still available in the wardroom? Or I could see if I could bring you something?"

"Thank you, but no." Jane smiled. "It's rather late for a meal. I'll be all right, though."

"So long as you're sure," said Amelia. "You are still our guest, after all."

Jane ran a hand through her auburn hair as her smile softened and widened. "I would hope I'm rather more than that, Amelia."

Amelia closed her eyes and kissed her slowly. Jane felt her kisses leave her lips and move gradually around the side of her face until she felt a warm breath against her ear and heard Amelia's purr as she whispered to her.

"Far more, my Jane. Far, far more..."

The morning dawned bright and warm, the light from the star cluster ahead casting shadows backwards from the three tall masts. Amelia was on the bridge, hands folded neatly behind her back, watching Ko putting the new recruits through a drill which seemed to involve running the length of the main deck in shorter and shorter intervals. A pile of red jackets had developed by the mizzenmast where the sweating recruits had shed them in favour of their shirtsleeves. Ko, still in uniform, kept pace with them, shouting orders, barbs and encouragement.

"You're looking refreshed this morning, Amelia," said Archimedes cheerfully, drinking a cup of steaming brown liquid and still wearing his yellow nightcap with the pom-pom on the tassel.

Amelia smiled. "Yes, sir."

"I'm sure you had a very exciting night last night," Archimedes went on.

Amelia hesitated for a moment, but Archimedes didn't seem to notice.

"Meeting Admirals and Captains and so on," he said.

Amelia tried not to sigh with relief. "Oh, that. Yes, of course. That was most interesting."

"My daughter says you were very helpful to her," Archimedes said. He took a sip of his drink and frowned at it in a puzzled fashion.

"I think she deserves more of the credit, sir," said Amelia. "Is there something wrong with your tea?"

Archimedes poked a finger into it. "Well, for one thing I don't think it's tea..."

"Coffee, then?"

He liked his fingertip experimentally. "No, not that either..."

"Cocoa?" said Whiting, who was standing nearby.

Archimedes stuck his finger into his mouth. "Gravy."

"Gravy?"

"Yes. Undoubtedly." Archimedes licked his finger. "The gravy boat was next to the kettle. I must have got them mixed up."

Whiting and Amelia shared a look over the top of his head and tried not to laugh.

"Would you like to me to get you some tea, sir?" asked Whiting.

"Oh, no, thank you, young man." Archimedes tried the warm gravy again. "In fact, it's rather nice once you get used to it."

"I may have to take your word for that, sir," said Whiting, poker-faced.

Lieutenant Harburn looked up from the console. "Ms Amelia? I need you in the forecastle watching the flagship. The Captain should be heading back soon."

Amelia touched her hat. "Aye, sir!"

Whiting passed her a telescope and she left the bridge, dodging through the toiling marines and returning Ko's salute as she passed. Jane was already in the forecastle, resting on the rail and gazing into space.

"Good morning, Miss Porter," Amelia grinned.

"Amelia!" Jane smiled. "And good morning to you, too."

"I hope things are a bit clearer for you now?" Amelia moved to the edge of the deck, from where she could look past the line of ships ahead of them all the way to the one which flew the Admiral's pennant.

"Much clearer." Jane looked down. "Thank you again for last night."

"Oh, it was my pleasure," said Amelia. "Quite literally," she added, flashing a playful grin.

Jane chuckled. "Oh, goodness...no, not just...I mean, not that. I mean your advice. It was very helpful."

"I'm glad it could be. Truly." Amelia smiled, then put the telescope to her eye. There was movement around the flagship and she dialled the telescope in until it produced a clear picture of the flotilla of small boats splitting up and making their way back through the fleet. Amelia closed the instrument and waved back to the bridge.

"Captain's coming off, sir!" she shouted.

"Very good, Ms Amelia!" Harburn waved his hat. "All officers on deck! Reception party, port side! Marines on parade! Fourth division, stand by on cranes!"

"You heard the officer!" Ko shouted. "Coats on and form ranks! Look sharp, now!"

Hearing the commotion on deck, Arrow emerged from below and looked around. He saw Jane and Amelia making their way down from the forecastle and smiled.

"Good morning, ma'am," he said politely. "And you as well, ma'am."

"I'm not sure which of us is which," Amelia grinned. "But thank you all the same, Mr Arrow. I trust that you are well?"

"Perfectly well, ma'am," said Arrow. "But I will confess to curiosity. When I did the midnight rounds last night I noticed that the lights in the Captain's cabin were still on. As they were still when I finished. I've never known him to take such time over a question."

"I'm sure it was most valued at the Admiral's council, whatever it is," said Amelia. She turned and watched the longboat glide alongside the ship. Lines were tossed out to it to draw it in. Forsythe stood up and, with the practised ease of the veteran spacer, stepped over the side before it was secure, alighting on the timbers.

"Captain on deck!" Harburn shouted from the bridge.

Forsythe looked up and touched his hat as the reception party stood to attention and Commander Chad climbed down from the longboat behind him.

"Welcome back, sirs," said Costell.

"Thank you, lieutenant," Forsythe adjusted his belt. "My compliments to the officers, and they will report to my cabin in fifteen minutes. The rest of you, back to your posts. And Mr Chad? Have the petty officers conduct a survey of the gun decks. Captain Arrow, you and Sergeant Ko will work with the quartermaster to produce an inventory of small arms on board."

Arrow touched his hat. "Aye, sir. Sergeant? You start in the aft armoury."

Ko saluted crisply and disappeared. Arrow turned to Amelia and shrugged.

"I think we can see for ourselves what the Admiral has decided," he commented.

Amelia nodded. "I can only agree with you, Mr Arrow."

Jane looked after him as the big soldier headed back towards the forecastle. "Well, I can't see it," she said.

Amelia smiled. "The Captain wants to see all his officers and to count all his guns. I'd wager a month's pay that Benson is taking us to meet the enemy."

"A battle?" Jane paled and wrung her hands. "Oh, dear..."

Amelia nudged her. "Try not to worry, Miss Porter. You've already been through one battle."

"Yes, I know. But I didn't much like it." Jane sighed. "I'm not really sure what to do if another one happens."

Buckley called out to them across the deck and hurried over. "Captain's compliments, Miss Porter, ma'am, but he wants you to join the officers in his cabin."

Amelia saw the look on Jane's face and replied for her. "Thank you, Mr Buckley. Carry on."

Buckley nodded again and darted off. Amelia turned back to Jane and gave her another smile, not unsympathetically.

"Well...I think you're about to find out exactly what you'll be doing..."

Forsythe shrugged off his elaborate dress coat with a barely-noticeable wince of pain in the old man's shoulders and passed it to his Chad, who handed him his much plainer duty uniform. The captain nodded his thanks and pulled it on, doing up the gold buttons carefully. The assembled officers shifted on their feet as they waited for him. Jane stood next to Amelia at the rear, trying not to tap her foot with nervousness. It was Lieutenant Forrest who finally broke the silence.

"Are we to prepare for action, sir?"

"You seem eager, Mr Forrest," said Forsythe, sitting at his desk.

"I mean no disrespect, sir," Forrest began.

Forsythe waved him into silence. "The captains of the fleet have conferred and we are in agreement. As a result of a conference held aboard Admiral Benson's flagship this morning...we are to be committed to action to clear enemy forces from the star cluster ahead of us."

Amelia glanced across at Jane and saw the colour drain from her face. She reached out and took her hand in hers, grateful for being at the back of the group where they couldn't be seen.

"We have reason to believe that the enemy are in possession of a special weapon," Forsythe went on. "How they came by it, stolen or invented, doesn't matter. But we must all be on our guard."

"What kind of weapon, sir?" asked Pemberton, the chief engineer, a large man who seemed to have entered such communion with the big ship-of-the-line that he had begun to resemble it. Only the top three buttons of his oil-stained blue coat were done up, the rest being left open to make way for his expansive waistline and the leather tool belt which strained around it.

Forsythe glanced briefly at Jane. "It is the opinion of the fleet council...that the Confederate force has a means of exerting local control over orcas galacticus. Some kind of device which allows them to be controlled. Once again, the full story is not necessary for you to know."

"I'm happy to brief any officer later, sir," said Chad.

Forsythe nodded his thanks. "The Admiral is taking the possibility seriously enough to build it into his battle plan. The Fifth Battle Squadron has been assigned the task of locating the weapon and neutralising it, at all costs. And when the Admiral says, 'at all costs', be in no doubt that he means it."

Amelia squeezed Jane's hand. "And the other ships, sir?" she asked.

"The 17th and 19th Battle Squadrons will engage the main body of the enemy fleet," said Forsythe. "The frigates will protect the flanks. Further refinement will have to wait for better knowledge of the Confederates' disposition. I called you here because you need to realise the importance of our role. On our squadron rests the entire outcome of the battle. The Empire will require every ship, and every spacer, do to their duty. Do I make myself clear?"

The officers nodded.

"And you too, Miss Porter." Forsythe looked at her. "We may have further need to call on your knowledge."

Amelia looked at her. Jane squeezed her hand back, and raised her chin.

"I stand ready to do my duty as well, sir," she said. Amelia felt a smile begin to form on her face and her heart went out to the Courageous young woman next to her.

"The enemy's new weapon is, if your information is correct, unique in the galaxy," said Forsythe. "You will have noted that I said that our squadron is to neutralise it, not destroy it. Our primary orders are to capture it as intact as possible. If we cannot do so, then and only then are we to destroy it."

"Capture, sir?" said Costell, looking somewhat concerned.

"That sounds risky, sir," said Whiting. "Surely if the weapon is deadly enough, our best course is to destroy it first and foremost?"

"This is a subject on which there was much discussion at the council," Forsythe admitted. "Though I will not dishonour any officer by stating who took which position. It was the view I have just conveyed which carried the day and will be written into the Admiral's orders. This, therefore, is how it will be."

"Understood, sir."

"And that may require something more of you, Miss Porter," Forsythe went on. "To capture the weapon, we will have to board the ship carrying it. Commodore Lee has assigned the execution of the boarding to us, and when that boarding party deploys, I want you to be with it. You would have greater insight into the operation of the weapon than any of us. We must learn as much about it as we can."

"Go with the boarding party, sir?" said Jane. "But..."

"I volunteer to lead it, sir," said Amelia quickly. "The boarding party, that is."

"I thought you might, acting lieutenant," Forsythe said. "With no disrespect, and aware of your experience, the boarding will be critical to the fleet's strategy. It will require a considerable dedication of this ship's resources. You will most certainly be part of it, and I intend to detail Captain Arrow and as many of his marines as can be spared to it, but a more senior naval officer will be needed in command. First Lieutenant?"

Harburn clicked his heels and touched his hat. "I'd be honoured, sir."

"Excellent," Forsythe nodded his approval. "Mr Harburn will lead the vanguard of the boarding party. Ms Amelia, you will lead the reserve and report to him. Miss Porter will be under your protection and I expect you to make her safety a priority. Is that clear?"

"I won't let her down, sir," said Amelia firmly. She glanced across and noticed Jane looking at her. Jane saw the confidence in the green gaze, the determination, and felt her own racing heart relax its pace. She smiled and gave her a small nod of thanks as their fingers entwined more closely.

"Good," Forsythe sat back. "We can anticipate meeting the enemy within seventy-two hours. I expect every divisional commander to ensure that their crews are at peak performance. Pass the word to the petty officers and midshipmen. Mr Harburn and Ms Amelia, I should not have to emphasise that you will pay particular attention to boarding drill."

There was a creak behind Jane and Amelia as Arrow pushed open the door and stepped inside. Amelia's heart froze in momentary panic and she forgot to release Jane's hand for a critical moment. Arrow had already looked up and seen them, but he simply gave them a small bow and touched his hat to Forsythe.

"Captain Arrow reporting, sir," he said. "Forward armouries have been inventoried and all small arms accounted for. Sergeant Ko will report to me presently on the status of the aft armouries."

"Very good, Captain, come in." Forsythe motioned for him to shut the door. "You and your troops will be needed for what's coming and you need to be informed as well. The rest of you...well, there's no need to repeat what you've heard. You're dismissed. And Mr Pemberton, you will oblige me by performing a full examination of your engines and furnishing me with a diagnostic report. How long will you need?"

"If we start immediately? I can deliver it for the morning watch tomorrow, sir," said Pemberton.

"Do so. And you all have other duties to attend to. Carry on." Forsythe picked up a piece of paper, dipped a quill pen and began writing. "I'll be with you in a moment, Captain Arrow."

"Thank you, sir," said Chad. He nodded to the other officers and led them towards the door. Amelia waited to follow Jane and glanced again at Arrow as he waited patiently in front of Forsythe's deck, allowing herself a small smile of relief before focusing her mind on the task that now lay ahead.