This narrative follows immediately from the events of Renegade's Return, but I hope it stands up well enough on its own even if it does contain a few references to my earlier story. Special thanks must go to the very kind and creative Obsessive Imaginings, who gave me the seeds of inspiration behind this whole thing. Thanks also to William Whiting for the poem Eternal Father, Strong to Save which I have enthusiastically plagiarised in the first chapter, to Disney (of course) for such a wonderful setting and cast of characters which remain forever theirs, and to you, dear reader, for sparing the time to read this.

The dominant sound aboard the Royal Light Ship Lyonesse, proud flagship of Admiral Amelia and Battlefleet Cresentia, was not the rumble of the battlecruiser's powerful engines but the sound of saws and hammers hard at work. The reasons were obvious to anyone who surveyed the warship's long, sleek sides – her hull was scorched and scarred with battle damage, dark against the ivory white of her timbers. Her starboard side had clearly taken the worst of it, but her port flank also bore jagged wounds. Her sails were furled and a ventral mast was missing, reduced to a tattered stump protruding from her keel. But all three of her dorsal masts still proudly flew bright Imperial battle ensigns, and a long blue and gold pennant fluttered from her mainmast. Standing at the bridge railing, Doctor Delbert Doppler looked up at it and smiled wearily. The last few days – weeks, in fact – had been both draining and exhilarating. It seemed like years ago that he had left Montressor and embarked on his wife's flagship for a mission of scientific discovery, only for them to be diverted into pursuing a vicious pirate raider across two sectors and almost into Procyon space. The Lyonesse's current state was the result of their final, decisive confrontation with the enemy, but the flags that flew above him were final proof, if any were needed, that they had triumphed. Behind him, Amelia was in conference with a handful of the ship's officers. Doppler could feel the fatigue settling over himself as the adrenaline rush of battle wore off, but his indefatigable wife appeared to be completely unaffected and was as briskly businesslike as ever.

His attention was brought back to the main deck below him by the whine of a longboat's engine. A sleek small craft had detached itself from the Lyonesse's railing and was heading out into space, describing a long, graceful arc towards one of the three Imperial battleships that had come to the flagship's aid during the final battle. They had been running a steady shuttle service, bringing supplies in and taking the most seriously wounded victims of the action away. The cost of the victory had not been cheap, and Doppler tried not to look at the patches where the Lyonesse's noble white timber decks had been stained with splashes of dark red.

"Doctor?"

A voice caused him to look around. Flag-Lieutenant Aurora Mayflower, the ship's principal navigator and aide-de-camp to Amelia, had a chart spread out on a folding table and was watching him expectantly. She was a young felinid with bright lilac-coloured eyes, distinctive striped mustard fur and a mane of blonde hair that was currently much the worse for wear.

"Yes?"

"I think I've got a course plotted out to take us back to Montressor, but I'd be grateful for your review." Aurora smiled. "If you're not too busy?"

"Oh, no. Not at all." Doppler hurried over to join her, appreciative of the distraction. The navigation console, with its detailed holograph displays, was the normal way of handling the ship's course but it had taken a hit during the fighting and had been powered down for repair. Visualising a course through three-dimensional space using two-dimensional paper was harder, but Doppler had become accustomed to star charts and he followed the line Aurora had drawn in pencil across the page with approval. Amelia saw him nodding and came over.

"Something to report, navigator?"

"That course home you ordered, ma'am," Aurora said. "Assuming, of course, that Doctor Doppler concurs?"

"I do." Doppler agreed. "It looks like we could be home in as little as three weeks, depending on speed."

"That may be a sticking point." Amelia beckoned across the bridge. "Flag-Captain Rennier? A moment of your time."

The ship's captain, a monocle-wearing Benbonian, joined them and touched his hat.

"Ma'am?"

"Have you received a damage report from the Chief Engineer yet?"

"Yes, ma'am. Commander Vendross reports that the main drive is fully operational. We can replace the damaged sails easily enough, but the mast damage has our energy collection down to 75% at most."

"Three quarters speed, then," Amelia glanced at Doppler, who shrugged.

"Well, it won't change our schedule too dramatically. But what'll really determine how long it takes to get home is the weather. I'd give anything for a recent forecast."

"I asked our friends for one, but they've been in space almost as long as we have," said Rennier. "We could put in at a base or a trading post en route, though."

"The first one we'd come to is more than halfway back, sir," said Aurora. "Unless we undertake a major diversion."

"No." Amelia shook her head. "We've been off-station too long already. We'll take the direct route. Inform the engineers that I'll be expecting cruising speed."

"Very good, ma'am." Rennier nodded and moved away.

"Good work, you two," Amelia turned to Aurora and Doppler. "We'll be home before we know it."

"And not before time," said Doppler ruefully. "Do you think we should send a message ahead of us to Sarah Hawkins? She must be going out of her mind looking after our children. I told her it would only be for a fortnight or so..."

"I'm certain she'll forgive you," Amelia smiled. "Once she hears why we're late, anyway."

"I do hope so." Doppler sighed. "Still, she managed with Jim for years..."

"Precisely." Amelia's smile softened. It felt surprisingly good, if slightly surreal, to be able to talk about a matter as mundane as babysitting arrangements so soon after she'd been fighting for her life.

"You'll have an opportunity to make it up to her, I'm sure," said Aurora. "And we might get lucky with the weather and find ourselves a strong tailwind."

"We'll be able to refine the course as we go," Doppler added. "It may take less time than we think."

"I have complete confidence in you both," said Amelia. "And it'll be a few hours before we're ready to depart anyway, I should think."

She looked up as Captain Rennier called to her from across the bridge and excused herself. Doppler looked back down at the chart and chuckled softly.

"Something funny, doctor?" Aurora looked at him curiously.

"No...no, not really. It's just...after all that trouble...the chase, the battle and everything. It's just a little hard to believe that it's all over and that in less than a month's time I'll be sitting in my armchair in front of the fireplace again, reading to the children. I'll be able to take up right where we left off."

"What have you been reading to them?"

"Er..." Doppler looked embarrassed. "Irvine's Introduction to Basic Physics. I have quite a good library but it's rather...specialised."

Aurora laughed. "Well, just so long as you hadn't left them on a cliffhanger in a story, doctor. And I suppose that's a good way of ensuring that at least one of them turns out to be a great physicist."

"Or possibly a great navigator." Doppler smiled at her. "Though then again, it may sour them on the entire concept for life."

"Surely not." Aurora smiled back. "Anyway, you won't be waiting long to find out."

"No, I suppose not." Doppler looked out into space. "A few short weeks and then we'll be home, and it'll be like none of this ever happened."

"I wouldn't go that far," said Aurora. "And besides, plenty can happen in three weeks. Your adventure may not be over yet!"

Doppler laughed and he shook his head.

"No, no, I've had quite enough adventuring for a while, I think. So for quite possibly the first time ever, Ms Mayflower, I sincerely hope you're wrong..."

It was late in the day by the time the Lyonesse was ready to begin the journey home. The etherium glowed a burnished gold as the light faded. Doppler stood with the officers on the bridge and looked back to where the other Imperial warships were already forming up into line astern for their own return voyage to their naval bases. Lieutenant Pike, the signals officer, was next to him with a telescope.

"Message from the RLS Renown," he called, seeing a string of coloured flags hoisted up the masts of the lead battleship. "Message reads: Goodbye, good luck and good hunting."

"Signal my thanks, and my appreciation for their help," said Amelia. "Though between us, I hope we won't need the luck."

"And that we won't be doing much hunting," muttered Doppler.

"We'll be ready for it, if it comes to it," said Rennier. "Well, then. With your permission, ma'am?"

Amelia nodded. "Permission granted, Flag-Captain. Take us home."

"With pleasure, ma'am." Rennier touched his hat. "Ms Mayflower? You may proceed."

"Aye, aye, sir." Aurora stepped forward and raised her voice. "Hands forrard to loose the headsails! Hands aloft, open all topsails and brace up!"

Doppler turned around and looked up, still fascinated at the sight of the topmen plying their trade in the ship's lofty upperworks. Small figures sprang into motion, spreading the shell-shaped sails and drawing them open to catch the solar breeze. He felt the deck vibrate slightly beneath his feet as the main drive powered up in readiness.

"Power translation steady at 68%," reported Lieutenant Macpherson from his control station.

"Only 68?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, ma'am. Engineering are still patching the main conduits."

"It should be done by tomorrow morning, ma'am," said Rennier.

"Well, it'll do for now," said Amelia. "Carry on, navigator."

"Come to starboard and steady on course one-two-six mark zero-three-five!" Aurora called. "Main engines all ahead."

Doppler instinctively touched a hand to the railing as the flagship's bow swung around. As far as he could tell, everything was in order, but Amelia's instincts told her otherwise as she watched the compass repeater clicked away on its brass pedestal and she glanced questioningly at Aurora, who caught her gaze and smiled apologetically.

"It's the auxiliary helm control, ma'am. It's not as efficient as the main was."

Amelia nodded. The Lyonesse's helm control had been one of the casualties of the battle and the jury-rigged replacement could best be described as merely functional.

"Course one-two-six set, ma'am," said the helmsman. "Mark zero-three-zero...zero-three-three...zero-three-five set."

"Set azimuths to neutral and hold steady on this course," said Aurora. She turned to Rennier and touched her hat. "Course is set, sir. We'll follow this heading until morning."

"Very good, navigator." Rennier nodded. "Mr Constantine? Dismiss hands and begin the watch cycle."

"Aye, aye,sir." Lieutenant-Commander Constantine, the tall Katydian first officer, saluted. "Stand the last dog watch! All other hands, dismissed!"

As the officers not on watch began to leave the bridge and the topmen climbed down the masts, Amelia joined Doppler in looking back at where the other Imperial ships were already hidden in the gathering twilight.

"A long day almost done," she said.

"Yes, indeed." Doppler took off his glasses and rubbed his eyes. "I can't recall the last time I felt this tired."

"Well, if you're still on your feet in twenty minutes, would you care for some dinner?" Amelia smiled.

Doppler smiled back. "I'd be honoured as always."

"Splendid." Amelia began to make her way off the bridge. "You'll join us as well, Flag-Lieutenant?"

"Ma'am? I mean, yes, ma'am." The navigator quickly hid her surprise, but Amelia was already on the stairs down to the quarterdeck. Aurora looked across at Doppler and grinned awkwardly.

"I'm not sure whether that was an invitation or an order."

"Take it as the latter," said Doppler. "I always do."

Aurora laughed. "I'm not surprised. I'd just like to run this course again in my chartroom, doctor. I'll join you shortly."

Amelia's stateroom had survived the battle more or less intact. No shells had come tearing through the side of the ship to spoil its cream-white paint, but some of the stern gallery windows had been shattered and wooden panels had been nailed over them to cover the gaps. Several light fittings had also been broken, and with the glow of the etherium fading fast into night the result was several pools of deep shadow around the room. Simons, Amelia's personal steward, had thoughtfully set out candles on the table, which he lit before silently retreating to leave Amelia and Doppler in private to begin their meal.

"I don't suppose you happen to know where my aide has got herself, do you?" said Amelia, glancing at the empty chair by her side.

"She just went to check something in the chartroom," said Doppler. "I'm sure she hasn't forgotten."

"No. We'll wait a few minutes." Amelia looked across the table at him fondly. "And how are you feeling now, my dear doctor?"

Doppler ran a hand through his messy hair. "Still tired. But better. The food helps. And it's really very sweet of you to be so concerned about me."

"You've been through a pretty rough baptism of fire," said Amelia. "I remember my first action almost as if it were yesterday. It stays with you. And not always in a good way."

"I'm fine, Amelia. I promise." Doppler reached across the table and took her hand. "And I hope you're all right, too. You did your duty. And now you're bringing us home."

Amelia looked away. "Not all of us."

Doppler thought about the bloodstains he'd seen on the flagship's deck. "Do you know how many we lost?"

"Thirty-six killed. Twenty more wounded so badly that we evacuated them. Plus around forty superficial wounds."

Doppler nodded slowly. "Well...it could have been much worse. And we gave better than we got."

"I know. But I'd be lying if I said I didn't dread writing those thirty-six letters," said Amelia. "I know I could delegate them to Captain Rennier, but that feels like moral cowardice. I'm the one who ordered us to pursue the enemy and I'm the one who ordered us to engage them."

"I hope you don't think that makes it your fault?" Doppler asked gently.

Amelia shook her head. "All a commander can do is give their crew the best chance for survival they can, and trust that they'll do the rest. I learned that from my first captain. But still, those thirty-six families deserve to know what happened from the person who made it happen."

Doppler squeezed her hand and opened his mouth to say something, but the cabin door opened and Aurora stepped inside. She took in the candlelight in the room and the way Amelia and Doppler were holding hands across the table, reached the wrong conclusion and began to apologise.

"I'm sorry to intrude, ma'am, I thought that-"

"Oh, hush, lieutenant. You'd better come and take your place." Amelia sat back and gestured. "Though I'm curious as to what detained you."

"Yes, I do apologise for that, too, ma'am," Aurora took her seat and smiled hopefully. "I was going over my more detailed charts and I believe I've found a way to shorten our journey home."

"How so?" Doppler looked up.

"The Fraser Current," said Aurora. "It's a bit of a detour, I know, but if it's flowing as strongly as it usually does then it could easily take half a week off our schedule. Probably more."

"I'd forgotten all about that," said Doppler. "Of course. It'll take us within three days' sail of Montressor. It was one of the reasons they built all the mines there – they thought the Fraser Current would make shipping the ore to the core systems easier."

"Well done, Ms Mayflower," Amelia smiled. "An excellent idea. Have you taken it to the Captain?"

"No, ma'am. I wanted to get Dr Doppler's input on it first." Aurora shook her head. "Particularly around what to do once in the Current and where we should leave it."

"I'd be glad to help," said Doppler. "But we won't be coming anywhere near the exclusion zone, so it won't be too hard."

"Exclusion zone?" Amelia raised an eyebrow.

"Er, yes, ma'am. You see, the Fraser Current feeds into...well, into a black hole." Aurora looked nervous.

"It's called Van Ryen's Point," said Doppler to Amelia. "The Current itself is the gaseous stream of a distant nebula that the black hole seized centuries ago and has been drawing into it. There were a few...incidents in the early days when laden ore ships from Montressor couldn't break free from the Current or stayed in it for too long and were lost. But a ship like this won't have any problems," he added.

"Well, you've navigated our way out from inside a black hole," Amelia grinned. "So I doubt you'll have any problems with this. Do whatever work you need to do, then bring it to Captain Rennier and I first thing tomorrow."

"Yes, ma'am." Aurora nodded her thanks. "If I can count on your assistance tonight, doctor?"

"Of course," said Doppler. "It'll be a fascinating exercise if nothing else."

"Will we be holding service tomorrow morning, ma'am?" Aurora asked.

"At 1100 sharp," said Amelia.

"I'm sorry," Doppler raised a hand. "Holding service?"

"A memorial service for the dead," said Amelia. "It's a tradition."

"Oh. Yes, I see. Naturally." Doppler looked down. "Um, am I allowed to be there, or is it more of a Navy thing?"

"I'd be glad if you were there, actually," Amelia said softly.

"Thank you." Doppler smiled with relief. "It would be a privilege."

"You stood alongside us," said Amelia. "It wouldn't be right to deny you your place."

Doppler looked away awkwardly again. "Well...I hope I did my part."

"You did more than that," Amelia assured him.

"I'm proud that I could." Doppler said. "How...how is the crew faring? I know a lot of them were new recruits."

"They acquitted themselves admirably," said Amelia. "I couldn't have asked for better."

"Yes, but I meant-"

"I know, Delbert." Amelia sighed pensively. "The truth is...that no matter how well we train our spacers and no matter how many drills we put them through...there are some aspects of spacing that you can't prepare them for. There's no textbook or exercise that can tell you how to deal with the loss of a comrade."

"The officers and petty officers will be keeping a close eye on the crew's morale," said Aurora.

"Yes, but you lost colleagues as well," Doppler pointed out.

Aurora looked down. "Yes...true. But you don't just stop being an officer. They'd have understood that."

"There'll be toasts to them in the wardroom tonight," said Amelia. "You have to remember, Delbert...we can't just stop being what we are. We have to get this ship and this crew home. There'll be time to grieve properly after that. Believe me."

There was a weight to her last words that caught Doppler's attention, and he was struck once again by the fact that his wife, whom he thought he knew so well, in some ways still inhabited a completely different universe to himself. Of course, she was right. But it was a harsh reality to confront, and Doppler felt his heart go out to her when he thought about how often she must have done so.

"Of course...you're right."

"Do you need any help writing your speech for the service, ma'am?" offered Aurora.

"No, no. Thank you. But I think I'd prefer to do it myself." Amelia gave her a sad smile.

"As you wish, ma'am." Aurora looked uncertain, but acquiesced without argument.

"You have enough work to do tonight," said Amelia. "Speaking of which, Delbert...I trust that you won't be too bored on the voyage back to Crescentia?"

"Oh, no." Doppler shook his head, recognising that Amelia had quite deliberately changed the subject. "I mean, I can still take some observations with the ship's telescopes. To keep my eye in, as it were. And if we're going to be riding the Fraser Current, I can take some observations of that – tidal flows, particle densities and the like. It's been quite a while since anyone properly surveyed the Current."

"You're quite unstoppable, aren't you?" Amelia grinned. "But still, I'm pleased to hear it. Well, then. I know the traditional toast for a Saturday is, 'for spouses and sweethearts', but for tonight I'd like to propose something else."

"Yes?" Doppler picked up his glass in readiness.

Amelia smiled. "Let's say...to a safe journey home."

Sergeant-Major Ko of the Royal Marines was sitting upright in bed, propped up by a bundled blanket and trying to read by the light of the lamp in her small cabin when there was a knock on the door. The grey felinid put the book aside with some relief and looked up with her pale blue eyes.

"Come in."

The door opened to admit a tall, lanky figure in a white uniform coat. Surgeon-Commander Eleanor Gray, the ship's Macropodian chief medical officer, was carrying a tray with a plate on it, and she used her heavy tail to close the door behind her. She set the tray down on Ko's desk and drew the stool up to Ko's bedside.

"You didn't have to bring me food, doc," Ko said, smiling as she put the book aside.

Gray shrugged and took her notebook and pen out. Mute since birth, it was her main way of communicating.

HOW DOES YOUR BACK FEEL?

"Better than it did, ma'am," said Ko. "Whatever you did to it, it worked."

Gray nodded with satisfaction. YOU CAUGHT A NERVE. IT WAS SIMPLY A MATTER OF PUTTING IT BACK.

"I'll take your word on it."

I WARNED YOU TO BE CAREFUL ABOUT MOVING.

"Well, armed Procyons were trying to shoot my head off, ma'am," said Ko. "Ducking seemed like the safer option."

Gray looked stern. DO I NEED TO REMIND YOU THAT I ONLY ALLOWED YOU ON THIS MISSION BECAUSE I THOUGHT IT WOULDN'T INVOLVE PHYSICAL STRAIN?

"Turns out the Procs had other plans, ma'am," Ko grinned.

TRUE. Gray seemed to hesitate. MAY I EXAMINE YOU?

Ko paused. "Ma'am?"

TO CHECK THAT THE DAMAGED NERVES AREN'T MOVING.

"Oh...right. Of course." Ko went to sit forward, but a white-hot pain in her back quickly told her not to. She bit back a hiss of pain, but evidently not in time since Gray shot her a look of concern as she took the folded blanket away and slipped in behind her.

CAREFUL.

Ko looked at the note pushed into her hands and nodded.

"Sorry, ma'am," she gritted her teeth. "Moving's a hard habit to break..."

Gray frowned. HOLD STILL.

Ko closed her eyes as she felt Gray's hands under her shirt against her back. Despite the years that had passed since the shipboard accident that had broken her back and left her stranded planetside, it was still hard to remember her own limitations sometimes even with the walking cane that was propped up by her cabin door as a reminder. Gray's touch tested and probed and Ko braced herself for the flash of pain, but it never came.

"It's not hurting, ma'am," she said.

Gray nodded in satisfaction as she continued her work, her dark green eyes alert to any movement or pained twitch in Ko's face. The felinid's features were marred by a disfiguring scar that carved down her left cheek, but Gray's gaze was unflinching and attentive as she finished her examination. Ko felt her hands withdraw and allowed herself to relax as she heard Gray writing something behind her. A piece of paper was proffered by her arm and she took it to read.

YOU WERE LUCKY. I EXPECT YOU TO BE BACK ON YOUR FEET IN THREE DAYS.

"I don't think it's luck that saved me, ma'am," Ko smiled. "But three days? We'll be holding service tomorrow morning..."

OUT OF THE QUESTION.

"A lot of our casualties were from my boys and girls, doc," said Ko. "I'd like...I should be there."

I KNOW. BUT YOU RISK NEW NERVE DAMAGE EVERY TIME YOU MOVE. Gray touched a hand to Ko's shoulder, a simple, silent gesture.

Ko sighed. "I know...and I can't argue with you, can I?"

Gray patted her on the shoulder and shook her head.

"I don't mean to sound ungrateful, by the way," said Ko. "I know you'd have me out of this bed tonight if you could make it happen."

Gray nodded.

Ko turned her head as far as she dared to catch sight of Gray in her peripheral vision. The doctor was watching her closely.

"And...are you holding up, ma'am?" Ko asked quietly. Medical officers routinely saw things that were the stuff of nightmares, and Gray had never spared herself from the most gruesome aspects of her calling. Ko could only guess at how hard her friend had been working since the battle, yet here she was, come specially to check on her, dressed in what had to be a fresh uniform given the lack of bloodstains on it. "You look like you've been working hard."

Gray nodded and for a moment there was a trace of weariness in her eyes. BUT YOU'RE STILL MY PATIENT.

For a moment, their faces were so near together that Ko could feel Gray's breath warm against her cheek. The surgeon's features could best be described as 'handsome' rather than 'beautiful' but their impact at such close range was such that Ko was briefly dumbstruck. But then Gray seemed to remember herself and the moment passed as she got up, replacing the bundled blanket behind her, and picked up the tray again, passing the plate of food to Ko.

"Thanks, doc." Ko took it and looked up as Gray made to leave. "You...can stay if you'd like?"

Gray seemed to consider the idea, meeting Ko's eyes for a long second, before she shook her head slowly.

THANK YOU. BUT I SHOULD GO. I'LL CHECK ON YOU IN THE MORNING.

"Of course, ma'am." Ko watched her leave, and wondered at herself for feeling disappointed.

There was a chill wind blowing across the deck the next morning, making the sails billow and the ship's ensign snap in the slipstream as it flew above the assembled crew. Spacers in dark blue and marines in red coats stood in neat rows facing the quarterdeck. Doppler was at the bridge railing next to Aurora and the other officers, their hats off, as the ship's band played. The sound was somewhat compromised and Doppler wondered for a moment why until he realised that two of the musicians were missing. Even so, the voices of the ship's company rose above the music as they sang a slow hymn.

"Eternal powers, strong to save,

Whose arms do bind the restless wave

Who bid the mighty ether deep

Its own appointed limits keep

O hear us when our voices cry

For those in peril in the sky.

Divinities whose mighty words

The stars and worlds submissive heard

Who sailed upon the darkness deep

And calm amidst its rage did sleep

O hear us when our voices cry

For those in peril in the sky.

Oh sacred spirits who did brood

Upon the ether dark and crude

And bid its angry tumult cease

And give for wild confusion, peace

O hear us when our voices cry

For those in peril in the sky.

Our ships and crews of righteous power

Our Empire's shield in danger's hour

From toil and tempest, fire and foe

Protect them wheresoe'r they go

It is for them our voices cry

For those in peril in the sky."

Even as the last notes died away, Amelia stepped forward and raised her voice to speak.

"Our comrades are gone, but they are not forgotten. Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn. And we will remember them as we honour their legacy by continuing the great work for which they gave their lives. They did not die in vain. They died to protect others. They died in the service of the Empire which safeguards our homes and families. And the victory which their sacrifice won will stand as a greater epitaph than any words can ever express."

Doppler bowed his head and adjusted the black armband that he had tied around his sleeve to match those worn by the officers on either side of him. Amelia's voice was strong and clear, but the emotional power of the moment was not lost on him and he could see tears glistening in the eyes of some of the newer crew members as they stood motionless in ranks.

"For those of us who are left, the mission goes on," Amelia said. "And it is our duty now to bear our own burdens with resolution rather than regret. With determination rather than despair. With confidence in the justice and the necessity of our cause, and with the knowledge that the future which our comrades died for will be the safer for their having lived."

Suddenly it occurred to Doppler why the scene below was strangely familiar – of course, he'd heard Amelia give a speech in honour of a dead comrade before, when Mr Arrow had been lost overboard during the Treasure Planet mission. It had, by necessity, been a much shorter speech and he remembered how her voice had faltered as she spoke.

"Our task continues as it always has done," Amelia said. "A task that is never-ending, yet a task that is that much closer to completion because of the honoured and victorious dead whom our shipmates have now joined. We shall stand in solidarity with their memories and hope that our own examples will be worthy of theirs. Lest we forget."

The last three words were murmured in assent by the crew as Amelia stepped back and Rennier took her place.

"Ship's company to attention! Royal Marines, present arms!"

Like a well-oiled machine, the assembled spacers and soldiers stood rigidly to attention. Major Tansley, the ship's senior marine officer, drew his sword and turned to a squad of marines lined up by the railing.

"Guard of honour! Make ready!"

The soldiers raised their rifles to their shoulders, aiming them out over the rail into space. At Tansley's barked command, they fired a volley, the sharp crackling discharges making Doppler jump. Two more volleys followed before they returned their rifles to rest by their sides. A minute or so passed in silence, the only sounds being the sighing of the wind through the rigging, the gentle creaking of the ship's timbers and the whip-like retorts of the Imperial ensign that flew from the mainmast far overhead.

"Ship's company, stand easy!" Rennier broke the silence.

"Thank you, Flag-Captain." Amelia folded her hands behind her back. "You may dismiss the crew."

"Crew! Dismissed!"

"Well, that's that." Aurora put her hat back on and adjusted it to sit straight. Down on the deck, the crew broke up and began dispersing quietly back to work as Amelia began climbing the bridge steps.

"Haec omnia transeunt," said Doppler softly.

"I'm sorry, doctor?" Aurora looked at him in puzzlement.

"All things pass," Doppler translated. "I'm sorry, I was...thinking a lot."

"You won't have been the only one," Aurora smiled sadly. "Even if you were the most multilingual."

Doppler chuckled. "I'd hardly call myself fluent. Besides, it'd be hard to top that speech Amelia gave."

"I'm glad you think so," Amelia appeared behind him on the bridge. "One has to take these occasions seriously."

"I'm sure that nobody takes them more seriously than you," said Doppler.

Amelia met his eyes for a moment before she looked away and coughed. Doppler couldn't help but wonder whether she had also remembered the Treasure Planet voyage, but her expression was inscrutable and whatever emotion she had showed was soon hidden behind a mask of professionalism.

"Needs must. Now, then, navigator, have you presented your suggested route home to the Captain?"

"Yes, ma'am," said Aurora. "We've already changed course. We'll be joining the Fraser Current in approximately thirty hours."

"Excellent work," Amelia nodded. "Well, if you've got everything under control here, I'll be in my cabin."

"Very good, ma'am." Aurora touched her hat.

"Er, Amelia?" Doppler took a step towards her.

"Yes, doctor?" She looked around. Their eyes met again.

"I was just wondering whether you're..." Doppler hesitated, knowing that Amelia disliked being questioned so personally in the presence of her officers. She seemed to understand.

"Perfectly, doctor. Perfectly. I promise."