The Clones of Mawcett Read Online Free PDF

only slightly, but Gavin noticed the almost imperceptible change in her expression.
“I know,” he said. “The thought of entertaining a group of politicians for five months doesn't appeal to me either, but it's part of the duty of a senior officer. Better get used to it, Jen, because entertaining dignitaries gets worse as you move up in rank. I'll probably be dining with them every single night. Commander LaSalle is fortunate because she has the second watch, but she'll have more than her fair share of luncheons.”
“Yes sir,” Jenetta said. "It's just that I've been attending PR and recruitment events for months. I'd hoped that I could stand down for a while. Don't worry, sir, I'll bear up.
Gavin grinned. “Good. You'll have the third watch from now on. Dismissed, Commander.”
“Yes sir. Thank you, sir.” Turning to Commander LaSalle, she said, “See you at 2400 hours, Commander.” After LaSalle nodded, Jenetta turned and left the bridge.
After changing into her sweats, Jenetta hurried to the gym to work out for a couple of hours, then returned to her quarters to take a shower and get some sleep since she'd be up all night while on watch. Regulations required that the bridge be fully manned 24/7, even when the ship was docked at an Earth spaceport.
* * *
Jenetta dressed, quickly brushed her collar-length blond hair, and was on her way to the amidship officer's mess within twenty minutes of waking. The wonderful food aromas wafting about the room almost completely overcame the lingering odors of paint, adhesives, and new materials used in the recent reconstruction work in this area. Since almost ninety percent of the present crew had come aboard the Prometheus after Jenetta left to take command of the Song, there were few faces that she recognized as she entered and quickly scanned the dozen and a half tables in the spotlessly-clean dining room. She'd been the acting first officer for only one month during the new ship's voyage to Earth for the commissioning ceremony, so she'd had little time or opportunity to develop close, personal relationships with the few officers she did recognize.
As she moved through the brightly-lit mess hall towards the serving counters, Jenetta nodded and smiled at the officers with whom she made eye contact. Taking two trays from the rack, she walked along the food line, selecting items that appealed to her from the variety available on the gleaming stainless steel counters and clear polycarbonate shelves. As she carried the two overflowing trays to an empty table, a few people stared openly. It had been some time since she'd had to consider what others might think of her out of control appetite. As captain on the Song, she'd had a private dining room, so she could eat her normal three full helpings of food without curious minds wondering where she put it all and how she remained so fit.
Just as she dipped a spoon into her first bowl of soup, she heard, “Is this seat available, Commander?”
The grinning face of Lieutenant Donald Kerrey greeted Jenetta as she looked up. At five-foot eight-inches, with dark, curly hair and chestnut colored eyes, Kerrey was a familiar figure. He'd served as acting second officer under Jenetta during her brief former posting aboard the Prometheus.
“Hello, Lieutenant. Please, sit down. I'm not expecting anyone.”
Kerrey placed his tray on the table and sat down across from her. Looking directly into her bright, azure eyes, he said, “I wasn't entirely sure it was you when I first spotted you, Commander. You look so different. But those two pips on your collar told me it had to be you.”
“My body is still changing as a result of the DNA modifications that the Raiders performed on me while I was their prisoner. When I entered the Academy, my appearance was extremely similar to that of my five-foot one-inch mother, even though I was three inches taller. Our faces are still somewhat similar, and you can see the genetic relationship, but my appearance