At last they were in sight of their home port; for a period of 2 weeks the R.L.S Legacy had been crawling home on half power, it's hulls, rigging, and fixtures displaying numerous signs of the eventful tour they had just completed. The crew themselves were in a similar state but, at the cry of "Land ho!", all who could came up on deck to catch a glimpse of the glittering ring station of Port Montressor. On the poop deck, which commanded the best view of the approaching station, the captain and the first mate paused a moment to take in their first view of the station since leaving it all those months ago; both breathed a quiet but quite definite sigh of relief at the sight. "We achieved our purpose, Mr. Arrow". The large man beside her nodded. "That we did, Captain." "The crew were unceasing in the performance of their duty." "That they were, Captain." "Rather unfortunately both of these fine accomplishments mean that our ship is near to scuppered as it is possible for one ship to be." "That it is, Captain." "...you know, you don't have to agree with me -all- the time." "No, Captain." The unusually dexterous ears of Amelia, Captain of the Legacy, flicked up as she regarded her fist officer with a bemused expression. "One of these days I will trip you up, Mr. Arrow. However, we have other concerns before us. Kindly see to the docking arrangements while I retrieve the necessary papers for the Admiralty." Arrow saluted promptly, which Amelia returned, before turning and making her way down toward her cabin as, behind her, Arrow was already busily setting himself the task of ordering everyone about.

The Legacy, for all its' battered appearance made a good account of itself as it slid with surprising smoothness alongside it's dock. The crew swung into action, tossing ropes to the waiting dock workers, as a few ratings who happened to be passing at the time cheered their arrival. Amelia gathered up the last of the documents she'd been examining, stacked them neatly and slid them carefully into a large leather folio before donning her coat and hat and striding out into the hive of activity that always characterized a ship upon entering or leaving port. Arrow was smack in the center of it, his large head moving this way and that, as he barked instructions to the crew swirling around him as around a rock in a riverbed...which he rather resembled. Amelia gripped the railing in one hand as she leaned forward and bellowed. "Mr. Arrow!" The man spun around to face her, neatly avoiding any collision with the mass of people around him. "Yes, Captain!" "I am going ashore! You have the ship!" "Aye, Captain!" Arrow saluted again and spun around to address several of the crew directly in his line of sight. "Extended the gangplank!" The sailors leaped into action, grabbing hold of the plank, and sliding it down toward the hard stone that composed the quayside. Amelia strode briskly down the steps, pausing to salute her ship's flag, and then all but skated down the gangplank to the ground. She was brought up short by who she saw standing there, waiting for her.

At the bottom of the gangplank stood a well built older man, clad in a uniform similar to Amelia's but with more pronounced indicators of rank, and beside him stood a young woman barely into her 20s clad in a bright yellow dress, white boots with black accents, and a gray colored safari hat with a wide band of lavender cloth wrapped around it. They made for a rather bizarre contrast and Amelia almost lost her footing as they met her eyes, but fortunately she recovered herself in time and came swiftly to attention before saluting the older man. "Admiral Rollins, sir. It's a pleasure to see you again, as always." The admiral saluted back, smiled, and extended a hand that Amelia took. "It is a pleasure to see you and the Legacy home again safely" The admiral's head tilted up to study the battered hull curving above them. "It seems that you have had a rather rough time of it on your patrol." Amelia nodded, shifting the folio she carried, as she spoke. "It was not always smooth sailing out there, sir, but the ship and crew held up well. I was about to deliver my report to that effect to the Admiralty."

The admiral held up a hand. "I speak on behalf of the Admiralty in thanking you for your continued diligence, Captain, but I'm afraid there is more pressing matter for us to discuss." He glanced at the young woman at his side as he said this, but turned his head to look at Amelia as he saw the captain raise an inquisitive eyebrow at him. Rollins gave a slight shake of his head before raising his right arm and making a beckoning gesture. There was the sound of a engine coming to life and, shortly afterward, a motorcoach with the naval shield painted on it rolled up and came to a stop alongside the three of them. The admiral himself opened the door and indicated that the other 2 should enter first. The young woman did, taking the admiral's extended hand as she stepped up into the cab, but Amelia stopped, leaned toward the admiral, and spoke in an undertone. "You know how little I like surprises, Admiral." Rollins nodded and raised a hand in a placating gesture and nodded toward the coach's interior; Amelia shrugged and climbed inside with the admiral just behind her. Rollins shut the door, banged twice on the roof, and the coach began to make its' way toward Admiralty House.

The guards at Admiralty House let them pass with no commitment, due to the Admiral's presence, and they were all soon seated in the Admiral's office. He placed himself behind his impressive oaken desk while Amelia and the other woman took their places in the chairs opposite it. Once they were all settled the Admiral leaned forward and, without preamble, waved his hand toward the woman sitting on Amelia's left. "This is Ms. Jane Porter, Captain. She's come a long way to be with us here...clear from Earth, in fact." Amelia was surprised, but only the perking of her ears offered any indication. She stole a glance at Jane and then looked back at the Admiral. "May I ask the Admiral why Ms. Porter has journeyed so far, sir?" Rollins looked amused as he nodded toward Jane, who seemed to be trying to disappear into her chair. "You can ask her yourself, Captain. I assure you she is more than capable of providing an intelligent answer." Amelia nodded and turned in her seat to face Jane, raising her eyebrows slightly as she did so.

Jane blinked, unprepared for being suddenly singled out, but as the two officers turned to look at her she found herself caught off guard by Amelia. The aristocratic feline features and the intelligence behind the captain's green eyes, both combined to banish all that Jane was about to say. She stared back at the captain until a polite cough from the admiral brought Jane suddenly back to reality. "Ms. Porter...there is no need to stand on ceremony here. Please, speak your mind." Jane cleared her throat, sternly told herself to get a grip, and sat straighter in her chair as she addressed a point just over Amelia's head. "Well, to begin, I am the daughter of Professor Archimedes Porter." Amelia nodded. "Yes, the astronomer. His works were regular reading when I was at the Naval Academy, as I recall." Jane gave a nod as well. "My father was always particularly proud of his works being included as part of the curriculum there. He believes quite fervently in the potential of the navy as a positive force." Amelia settled herself back against her chair, crossed her legs, and made an encouraging gesture. "And so?" Jane took a deep breath. "And so...as both my father's representative and his student...he wishes me to join your crew in order to conduct a navigational survey of the frontier, Captain."

Amelia was stunned, but only for a moment. Her ears shifted themselves horizontal again as she regarded Jane with a carefully controlled expression, but did not speak. Rollins apparently saw the storm front coming, turned to Jane, and smiled at her. "Would you excuse the captain and myself, Ms. Porter? My aide is just outside the door; he will see to anything you might require." "Of course, Admiral." Jane stood, gathered up her possessions, and curtsied to the admiral. Her gaze turned toward Amelia and lingered there for a moment before she turned and exited the room. The door swung smoothly closed behind her and, for several moments, silence reigned in the room. Rollins stood up and crossed to the sideboard on which several crystal decanters and glasses rested; the admiral removed the stopper from one and spoke as he began to pour. "I can tell you want to say something, Captain, so let's have it." Amelia glanced toward the door through which Jane had exited and then over to Rollins. "With all due respect, sir, my ship is no place for a civilian, especially a young woman who is clearly on her first trip away from home. I trust the crew of the ship with my life, as you trusted many of them with yours, but they have been trained for the possibility that they may lose their lives whereas Ms. Porter has not. I cannot guarantee her safety absolutely, Admiral."

Rollins nodded as he drank some of the amber liquid in his glass before turning to look at Amelia. "You've been out on the Rift, Captain…you know what it's like out there." Amelia nodded. "Yes, Admiral…it's full of black marketers, pirates, mercenaries, and anyone else who's ever had a reason stay out of sight. Why?" "I ask, Captain, because I'm not sure if you are aware but people here don't take it seriously any more. It's like a thundercloud over the horizon…dangerous, but distant, until it's over your head and the lighting starts to strike." Amelia crossed her arms over her chest and cocked her head slightly to the side. "I am aware that our situation is becoming somewhat untenable, Admiral, but I don't see what bringing Ms. Porter on board the Legacy will do to help with that."

Rollins laughed humorlessly as he emptied his glass, refilled it, and strode back across the room to seat himself heavily in his chair. "Government House is starting to have a change of heart, Captain…they're starting to believe their own publicity concerning the state of things in the Rift, and we both know how dangerous that brand of thinking is, how it leads to things being seen not as they are. We've had stations closed or given over to civilian shipping, ships retired, crews put ashore en masse. Over the last few years there's been a greater loss of naval tonnage than during any previous military engagement that the fleet has been a part of, and we're doing it to ourselves." Amelia noted the tightening of the hand that held the glass as the admiral drained the rest of it its' contents. "Sooner or later we'll be a prime target for all that scum out in the Rift, and we'll be totally unprepared for it. But…if a certain prominent figure gave allowed his daughter to be embedded on one of our ships, to give account of what is really going on out there, and how vital the fleet is then we may be able to turn things around in time."

Rollins noted the skeptical expression on the captain's face, sighed, and took another pull at his drink before setting the glass down on his blotter. "I know you don't like it, and you have a valid reason for that, but I and the rest of the Admiralty have agreed to this. It's also been agreed that, when you return from this mission, you'll find an admiral's flag waiting for you. I know you are less concerned with advancement then others in the service, but we all feel it's been long overdue. I would also consider it as a personal favor, Amelia." Amelia chuckled to herself, her ears flipping up, as she regarded the admiral with quiet amusement. "You were always the one to ride out those particular storms, Rollo." Rollins looked at her with an expression of mock severity. "You're fortunate we're alone in this office, Captain. If that nickname is ever spoken out of the confines of this office, yours may become public knowledge as well; consider yourself officially warned."

The admiral set the glass back down, pulled open a drawer, and removed from it a thick file which he placed in front of Amelia. "Everything you should need is there, Captain: a dossier on Ms. Porter, your authorization for priority refit status for your ship, and the usual mission orders and material requisition forms. Now, get out there and make it happen, Captain. The service is depending on you." Amelia reached out to pick up the folder, tucking it under her arm, before coming to attention and saluting the admiral crisply. "Yes, Admiral; I will make it so." She held that pose until the admiral returned her salute and then she turned and strode briskly from the office. Rollins watched her go, then turned his chair to look out the window at the space the stretched far out to either side of the thin band that was Montressor. "Good luck to you, Captain… for all our sakes."

Amelia closed the admiral's office door behind her and turned her head to locate Rollins's aide. The man was standing not too far away, having a spirited conversation with an on duty guard. Amelia made for him at a brisk pace, but so involved was he that he failed to hear clicking of her heels against the polished floor until she was a few feet away. He glanced over his shoulder, did a quick double take and with commendable speed, assumed a deferential aspect. The guard beside him was slower on the uptake but soon adopted the same pose. The aide spoke. "How may I assist you, Captain?" "Where have you put Ms. Porter, Lieutenant?" The man stretched out his left arm to point down the corridor. "I put her in the officers' mess, Captain. Shall I go and fetch her for you?" Amelia shook her head. "No, Lieutenant, I sure I can manage. I am also sure that you have more important duties to attend to." She gave the junior man a significant look, and the officer saluted. "Indeed. Good day, Captain." Amelia returned the salute and strode down the corridor in the indicated direction. The two men held their respective poses until Amelia was a safe distance away before turning to each other and dropping their voices; the guard spoke first. "Co, but who was that? If all captains look that good I went into the wrong line of work." The aide made shushing motions with his hands. "Keep it down, would you? That's Captain Amelia, and while she may look pretty she's all iron underneath. You got me?" The guard nodded and briefly glanced after Amelia with a somber look. "Aye. Aren't they all?"

Jane had been glad to be shuffled off to the officers' mess; the lieutenant had kindly gotten her a cup of the local tea which had gone a long way to steady her nerves. The carefully composed look on Captain Amelia's face was one she had scene before; it was the one her mother used to wear when she was holding back a view that one did not express in polite society. Still...the memory of those eyes that stayed with Jane in a way that she did not quite understand. Jane sighed, shrugged to herself, and raised the teacup to her lips, closing her eyes as she sipped to keep the steam from her eyes. When she opened them again she nearly dropped the teacup in surprise; there was the captain standing at the door, hand on the knob as if she had just entered, and looking at Jane with that carefully composed expression still on her face. An eyebrow arched as Amelia studied the younger woman's face. "Are you well, Ms. Porter? You look as if you've seen a ghost." Jane shook her head as she worked to regain some composure. "Oh, yes, Captain. I just didn't hear you come in. Is there anything I can do for you?" Amelia shut the door behind her as she nodded. "Yes, Ms. Porter...what I need you to do at this precise moment is to listen to me carefully."

Amelia turned the lock on the door, an action that caused Jane's throat to go slightly dry, before she sat down in the chair opposite Jane. Amelia placed a thick file on the table, leaned forward slightly, and stared directly into Jane's face. "I felt the need to make one thing perfectly clear to you, Ms. Porter. What you are about to experience is about as far removed from the life you've known as it is possible to be. It is not dignified, it is not comfortable, and it is most certainly not refined. All of us does what they have to do in order to ensure success and so will you. If one of the deck hands has broken a leg, you will find yourself swabbing the deck. If one of the powder gang has been taken ill, you'll spend the day loading shot. If a mess mate falls overboard or jumps ship, you'll be peeling potatoes with the cook. You will not hesitate to perform any order give to you. You are leaving any pretense of a life of leisure behind. If there is any doubt, any at all, that you cannot endure that then my advice is to enjoy a pleasant stay in Montressor and have a safe trip back home." Amelia crossed her legs, folded her arms across her chest, and gazed steadily at the young woman. "What is your answer?"

Jane was starting to feel that she'd spent too much time on the spot today, but wasn't about to give into the swirling doubts that had concentrated in the pit of her stomach. She forced herself to meet the captain's gaze and, as she did so, felt a sudden feeling of confidence wash over her whose origin she couldn't quite place. Not wishing to waste the opportunity, however, she carefully settled her teacup onto its' saucer and spoke. "I've never been away from Earth before, Captain, and I've heard so much about Montressor from my father. Every young person should see as much of the world…excuse me…the galaxy as possible while they have the chance."

Jane felt silent, her heart in her throat as continued to meet Amelia's gaze, before the captain nodded and stood up. "We should be on our way back to the Legacy, Ms. Porter. The hour is getting late." Amelia stood up and made for the door without another word and Jane, whose rush of confidence was suddenly dissipating, stood up as she began to collect her belongings. She glanced up as she heard the door open, saw Amelia looking back at her, and realized in that instant that the captain did not buy her explanation. Jane shifted her gaze away, feeling suddenly shy, and strode out into the corridor with Amelia following close behind her.

The evening cycle for this part of the station was beginning as the two women emerged from the building. The coach that had delivered them was still waiting outside, the driver idly studying the people passing by, when he spotted Amelia and Jane exiting the building. He leapt down from his box with impressive agility and opened the door for the pair of them. Amelia clambered in, followed by Jane, and the door was snapped closed and the driver scrambled back up to his perch. He seized hold of the gear lever and threw it forward, causing another plume of steam to emerge from the exhaust vent mounted on the side of the cab, before turning the coach around and making back for where the Legacy was moored. Both of the coach's occupants were silent, Amelia studying the papers she had pulled from the file by light of the coach's electric light, and Jane occupying herself with regarding the city streets slipping by outside. Her heart skipped a beat when she spied the masts of the Legacy against the sky and leaned out of the carriage window to get a better look at the ship against the darkening sky.. Amelia glanced upward at Jane as the younger woman leaned out of the window, smiled quietly to herself, and returned to her work. "This will be an interesting cruise indeed" Amelia thought to herself as the coach rolled steadily onward toward its' destination.