Aneka Jansen 3: Steel Heart Read Online Free PDF Page A

eruption.’
    ‘The gravity wave would probably have ripped anything apart that the gamma burst didn’t vaporise,’ Anderson agreed.
    ‘The AIs did it,’ Aneka said, her voice quiet. ‘They blew their own star system up to take out the Xinti who attacked them.’
    ‘They could do that?’ Prentice asked.
    ‘Yeah, they could do that. How long before we can get out of here, Captain?’
    Anderson looked at her, at the slightly nauseous look on her face, and nodded. ‘I want everyone fresh for when we power up that drive for the first time. First watch tomorrow. Mister Baron, I’d like as much data collected on Negral’s neighbourhood before then. Arrange it.’
    Aneka gave Anderson a nod and started towards the door at the rear of the room.
    University of New Earth, 26.11.525 FSC.
    ‘No word?’ Ella asked. She was standing at Gillian’s desk, her expression forlorn.
    ‘No,’ Gillian replied, ‘but that doesn’t mean anything yet.’
    ‘It means that Negral is staying quiet for more reason than just a desire to do so.’
    ‘True, but little more than that. The FTL transmitter on the Brigantia doesn’t have the range to reach Sapphira. There’s no point in worrying over it now.’
    Ella grimaced. ‘That’s easy for you to say. I’m worried.’
    Gillian was not really sure what to say. Almost anything would be empty platitudes. ‘Ella, Captain Anderson and her crew are supposed to be among the best in the Navy. Drake has heard of her and said good things. Aneka is a very resourceful woman. They’re going to find out what’s happened and come back to tell us.’ She gave her assistant a grin. ‘And you’ll be there to drag Aneka into bed and not let her out for a month.’
    ‘I know,’ Ella replied. Her smile did not return, which was a bad sign. ‘I just wish…’
    ‘What is it Aneka says? If wishes were horses…’
    ‘We’d all be riding Arabs. I never have understood the reference.’
    FNf Delta Brigantia.
    ‘You know,’ Anderson said, ‘we have sufficient supplies that you don’t have to starve yourself.’
    Aneka smiled at her across the mess room table. ‘And I have sufficient supplies of raw materials that I don’t need to eat. Frankly, this stuff isn’t appetising enough for me to want to.’
    Anderson prodded one of the browner piles of mush. ‘Can’t say I blame you. It’s an acquired taste.’
    ‘They’ll be expecting us to have called in by now, right?’
    ‘If we got to Negral and found everything working, yeah. We should be back at Sapphira before they start worrying excessively.’
    Aneka gave a short laugh. ‘Ella was probably worrying the moment I was out of sight. I never asked, do you have a partner?’
    ‘Sure. She’s a thousand tonnes of metal and plastic with a fusion reactor for a heart.’ She looked around at the ship. ‘She’s never failed me, doesn’t bitch about all the time I spend in space, and I won’t find her in bed with the neighbour when I come back to her.’
    ‘That sounds like bitter experience talking, but I won’t pry. I take it interpersonal relations between the crew are discouraged?’
    Anderson shrugged. ‘They aren’t encouraged. There’s nothing in the regs saying people can’t fall in love. Kind of stupid to try to stop it.’
    ‘Didn’t stop them trying in my time.’
    ‘Huh. If one of my senior officers looks interested in someone of lower rank I give them the speech.’
    ‘The speech?’
    ‘Same one I give myself. I might have to send one of these people out to die. I can’t be making decisions based on personal feelings if that happens. They have to realise the same is true of them.’ She peered at Aneka, eyes narrowing. ‘You’ve commanded. Ever fallen for one of your people?’
    ‘Not even when I went private. Did sleep with one. Martial arts instructor. Neither of us was serious about it though. You’ve never…?’
    ‘Even Chance wouldn’t chance that. I don’t have any trouble finding dates when