Steel Heart by Niall Teasdale

As Aneka speeds toward Negral to discover the fate of the artificial intelligences who lived there, Ella finds herself in a colder environment, and in trouble. However, a chance discovery on a bio-weapons research site leads her to the location of Old Earth, the place Aneka was kidnapped from over eleven centuries ago.

With the chance to finally study the home world of the Human race first hand available, none of the crew of the Garnet Hyde can resist the long trip, far outside the borders of the Lorenti Federation. They have no idea what is waiting for them: a cindered piece of rock, men living in caves… What they find is far from what they expect, and it leads Aneka into a confrontation with someone she never thought she would meet.

Contains adult material; not suitable for under 18s.