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knocked the agreed signal on the door. After a few moments wait, she heard the rusty scrap of bolts being drawn back. Once again, she found herself being thrust behind the alien as it interposed itself between her and the opening door.
    The alien forced its way inside.
    “Oh, moma!” Jessamine shrieked.
    “I’m thinking this would have to be a classic case of out of the frying pan and into the fire ,” drawled Linette. “I’m also thinking we made a mistake accepting you as our leader, Alana.”
    “Rubbish!” Jessamine stomped over to thrust her angry face nose-to-nose to the blonde woman.
    “I’m not so sure. If she’s so top notch, than why was she sidelined into testing military equipment?”
    All eyes swivelled in Alana’s direction. The familiar clutch of guilt squeezed her gut. She licked her dry lips. “I asked to be transferred.”
    Linette narrowed her eyes. “By the look on your face, I’m surmising there was a reason.”
    “Yes, there was a reason. A good reason.” Alana took a shaky breath. “My last active mission resulted in several casualties. I took full responsibility.”
    ”I told you so. We don’t need a loser giving us orders.” Her voice almost a shriek, Linette stabbed an accusing finger into the air. “Our lives are at stake here and she has given us over to the enemy!”
    “No one could have done better than Alana. Certainly not a stuck up toffy-nosed bitch!” Jessamine bristled in defence.
    “Oooh! I’m the daughter of a baron you tenement low-life. My family can trace our line back to William the Conqueror. Yours probably goes back to the trees. How dare you speak to me like that!” Linette’s hand flashed out and was caught in a hard grip before she could make contact. She whirled, panting with both dislike and fear.
    “Enough! Both of you.” Alana gave the directive with confidence. She released her hold over Linette’s hand and thrust her shoulder between the two snarling women. “Our enemy is not in this room. It’s outside. Linette, if you’re not happy with our current arrangement, I’m prepared to step aside if you have an alternative. But I have to remind you I’m the only one here who has military training. Plus, the UEC made me second-in-command; now that our Colonel is missing with the men that makes me in charge.”
    No one spoke as Linette evaded her eyes and turned away with a sullen shrug.
    “Ok, moving on people. Now I know we’re all disappointed and scared, but I can assure you being here on this ship is our best option at the moment.”
    “Our one option really,” Elise agreed, her serious expression making her look a lot older than her seventeen years. Her long brown lashes fluttered over her sky-blue eyes. She spread her hands wide in a conciliatory gesture and smiled. “You did the right thing, Alana,and I for one am happy you’re taking charge. We’re safe for the moment and that’s the most important thing.”
    “Absolutely,” muttered Jessamine. She stepped away from the other girl and held out her hand. “Sorry, Linette. Guess I just got carried away.”
    The blonde woman’s lips thinned with constrained emotions, but she shook the proffered hand.
    “Now that’s all settled. Anyone else?” Alana took her time to look into the other women’s faces, seeing all too clearly, weariness, despair, fear and to her surprise, trust.
    Trust in her.
    With effort she buried her fear of failure deep within herself. The luxury of giving in to her feelings was something denied as a leader. And what these women needed now was a leader, not a woman giving into a full blown display of feminine hysterics. She sucked in a deep breath and took a moment to steady herself.
    “Don’t forget we escaped once, we can do it again,” interjected Elise with a cheerful grin.
    “So true, honey,” agreed Jessamine.
    The women murmured their assent and tension lightened in the small room. Her friend continued, “Any clues as to where this ship is