Dyson's Drop by Paul Collins Read Free Book Online Page A

also offered ‘embassy space’ and ‘relations’ to any who would pay. Companies such as Imperial Standard, who preferred others to do their dirty work for them.
    Anneke penetrated the building’s rooftop defences with little difficulty, partly because few would willingly step inside the lion’s den, and the bulk of their protective systems were designed to stop people - and information - getting out.
    Nor were they any match for cutting-edge RIM technology. Or for Anneke Longshadow.
    The fact that Fat Fraddo had a mole in the building and a complete readout of its defences, had nothing to do with it, Anneke assured herself. That just made it easier and cleaner.
    When Royce Bodanis woke up he found himself staring at a reeker - a nasty weapon with a nastier reputation.
    He sat up slowly, keeping his hands where the beautiful woman holding the reeker could see them.
    ‘It’s been some time since girls sneaked into my bedroom at night,’ he said, conversationally. Anneke smiled, lowering the reeker slightly.
    ‘How can I help you?’ Bodanis asked.
    ‘Maybe I can help you.’
    ‘Ah. Altruism. That usually costs more.’
    ‘You can afford it, trust me.’
    ‘I don’t suppose you’d tell me your name?’
    ‘Anneke Longshadow.’
    Bodanis started, and then stared at her more closely. Slowly, he nodded. ‘Indeed, I recognise you now. The deceased Ms Longshadow, back from the grave. An upset in certain circles.’
    ‘Every ointment has its fly.’
    ‘Indeed. So what can I do for such a beautiful fly?’
    ‘I hear you are no friend to Nathaniel Brown.’ Bodanis made a face. ‘Mr Brown and I have our differences.’
    ‘Mr Brown has an M-Class Destroyer.’
    Bodanis’ eyes widened. ‘A dreadnought? He has found the -?’ He stopped.
    ‘No, he has not found the lost coordinates. Not yet, at any rate, and not for a while, I would guess. But he has found a derelict dreadnought adrift in space.’ She told him of the vessel’s condition and what she had found on board.
    Bodanis sat back, appraising her. ‘And why tell me all of this, Ms Longshadow? Are we friends now?’
    ‘We all need friends.’
    ‘Indeed we do. But still I ask why?’
    ‘Mr Brown will seek to use the destroyer as more than a mere pawn in his chess game. He will undoubtedly wish to inflate its ... value.’
    ‘Is it to be the stick or the carrot?’
    ‘Perhaps both. But its power is as a symbol, as the manifest ghost of a long dead empire. It may be of greater importance than any of us can imagine.’
    Bodanis nodded with an inward look. ‘A relic of empire. No object in our history has ever been imbued with more superstition, more mystical significance, than the dreadnought.’
    ‘The ability to destroy an entire world is still part of our collective nightmare,’ murmured Anneke.
    Bodanis nodded again and looked up at her. ‘I thank you for this information. Is there a price?’ Anneke shrugged. ‘Friendship.’
    ‘Then I am in your debt. So let me repay a small portion of it now.’
    Anneke stiffened suddenly. Was the old man about to try something? Bodanis saw her sudden alertness and smiled. ‘Please. I like to believe I am a man of honour.’ He lowered his voice. ‘I understand you are a friend of one Fat Fraddo?’
    Anneke looked at him in surprise.
    Bodanis waved her reaction away. ‘We all have sources of information, Ms Longshadow. So let me tell you something. Even as we sit here, our mutual friend, Mr Brown, is attacking Fat Fraddo’s headquarters. It seems Mr Brown never forgets a slight. Nor does he wish for you to have so many .. . friends.’
    Bodanis blinked. Anneke was gone. Never had he seen a human move so fast.

BLACK watched from a distance, figuratively if not literally, as Major-General Rench - now RIM Commander - took office.
    Black expected a settling in period and was pleasantly surprised when Rench launched himself into a full-scale shakedown of RIM, unashamedly revealing his true colours. Rench was,