In this alternate version of history, Amelia and her father, the governor of Delaware, attend a formal dinner at the capitol building with several other local leaders to meet with a delegate for Queen Victoria. The delegate declares the United States must sign a treaty with Britain to reinstate colonial rule, or else there will be war. Amelia runs away to warn the rest of the town, but not before she sees the most beautiful girl on earth. To Amelia's horror, the beautiful girl is one of the British delegate's slaves.

Slavery had been abolished in the U.S. two generations ago, after the American Revolution. Automatons do the manual labor now, and all of the melting-pot cultures in the nation live in harmony. But in Britain there are still slaves, and gender-queer people are persecuted. Amelia knows she can't allow any treaty with Britain to be signed. She sneaks to the harbor of their coastal capital city and discovers not only the delegate's ship, but an armada on the horizon. She also sees the beautiful girl from before . . . and learns her name is Nadine. 

Amelia, her best friend Two-Spirit, and Nadine must organize a rebellion involving slaves, Lenni-Lenape warriors, automatons, and a mechanical horse cavalry. Will they be able to stop the British Imperial Navy? And will Amelia win Nadine's heart if she can help her become free? 

NOTE: The story is continued in the collection,  Revolt of the Perfectly Free.