The Monkey and Squirrel fight for freedom. (8 page)

The attack ship on the other hand was short range, looked very quick and very deadly, possibly even sacrificial with a suicide crew. Ready to protect the mining vessel and stop pursuit of the same, almost certainly it would have a self-destruct, possibly nuclear.

When consulted the crews of the space planes that first attacked the runaways when they fled. Those crews asked what size is that thing? They were quickly given an estimate based on the size of the asteroid remains. Giving clear sense of scale to them, it was nearly three times the size of the space planes, and purpose built as a fighter. The rail guns were obviously chain fed and looked like they had a much higher projectile velocity, than the space planes rail guns.

They observed something odd about the laser's configuration, the experts looked again, saying you're right it's configured as an x-ray laser. The pilots said well we know now, if you put all six space planes up against that. They would be dead before the planes got within range to use their own weapons, without getting off a shot. They had the same answer from the deep space ship crew, anyway that was now being used to haul cargo even if it did still have it's spinal laser.

The only people the old space powers could find willing, wanted attack ships with more and better weapons than those of the monkeys, at least ten of them. As they said 'we're prepared to kill and take risks, but not commit suicide, we're only in it for the money.' As even one such ship was beyond their means, the humiliated old space powers, had to accept they still could not punish the escaped slaves for embarrassing them. 

Chapter 7

The new life

While the mine raider was on its mission, life went on around Saturn, the year after it left; a team was formed, to take on the fusion power project. They started by reading up on all the human theory and experimental research they had access to. Filling any gaps in their knowledge and understanding they could, then started experimenting themselves.

The new mothers looked after their children as much as possible. A system of crèches, schools and apprenticeships was to be provided. This benefited all; the young were to be cherished, nurtured and educated as a whole person. The number of new mothers and children slowly grew. Higher education would be provided when there was someone who could teach at the level required. This would take a long time, but once they started they would get there eventually, one step at a time.

As there was currently no need for a monetary system, it was agreed not to implement one until there was a need and demand for one. The people were happy eating at the canteen of their choice, communications and net access was open to all. Personal possessions were starting to accumulate, tools, brushes and toothbrushes, communicators, net access terminals of the type and shape that best suited their owners needs.

If it wasn't available from central storage, most of the consumer electronics for Earth had been made in orbit. They still had tens of thousands of them still in storage after the millions had been shipped out for Christmas. They either made it themselves or asked if someone would make it for them. No one bothered to collect more than they needed, as it was just clutter. As most unusual requests were the result of hobby project needs and with plenty of other hobbyist who either loved novelty or wanted a challenge, usually met those needs.

A few had tried art as a hobby, it was often claimed by some humans, to be the key to civilisation. They looked at art, its history and literature. The conclusions they published were. Primitive art was about communication and self expression, a way of saying I am here this is what I know. We Newp
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satisfy this need with our hobby projects, just a different way of saying the same thing.

High art was about wealth and power, a way of keeping score amongst the powerful, also a subtle way of intimidating the lower orders, making them feel inferior. Some of the artists had tried to break free of this, but always ended up working for the same type of person, he who pays the piper calls the tune.

The actual objects of art themselves could be beautiful, the product of dedicated craftsmanship and many hours of work. Others demonstrated the use of a great understanding of stylised forms to produce an object of beauty. Then still others were just a confidence trick, best described in the tale of the emperor’s new clothes.

This high art has no place in our society, they proclaimed, it is divisive and destructive. Let us keep our art in the primitive tradition, that embraces and does not limit. This art can evolve, the work can still be beautiful, the product of dedicated craftsmanship and many hours of work, but still in the expression of self or society. 

When they picked up the news that the mine raider had been spotted, the outcome was anxiously awaited by all. When their raider had departed the asteroid without any attempt made to attack it, a collective sigh of relief went out. The human confusion apparent in their media, was thought puzzling, but if it meant they were going to be left alone, that was fine and dandy. 

The fusion team, was given approval to build an experimental facility for the testing of theory and pursuing the most promising applications of it.

Later in Peach's Italian canteen.

“Well everything is going to plan, no significant setbacks, except for those accidental deaths in Plum and Walnut, we had one here last night. Chatty.”

“I know, who would have though falls could kill so many, it’s this new environment we are in.” responded Chatty

“Part of it is we are used to working in negligible gravity, our habits can betray us when working on the spine of the habitat core. Simulated gravity is very low there and you can swim through the thin air with just a respirator.” theorised Tman.

“You can easily drift away without noticing until it is too late, acceleration builds rapidly then bang you're dead. Am I right , Tman?” asked Chatty.

“That's it exactly, we need a strict health and safety regime for working in that environment, I think the recent deaths will persuade people that it is necessary.” answered Tman.

“Anyone can see that now, how many have been killed to date?” asked Chatty.

“Seventeen, so far and we'll lose a few more, even with the new rules before we're done. Have there been any deaths from old age?”  asked Tman.            

“One Squirrel, SEIQ102B34/107, Fusspot he was known as, he was the oldest of us at thirty three years old. Our first death from old age, he was active and working until about five weeks ago when he became disorientated and couldn't work any more. I believe he then died of boredom.” answered Chatty.

“So ten percent over the top estimate of life span; using that assumption I've got nearly another twelve years and you've got around nine. Let’s look at something more positive, how many new people do we have?”

“Eight hundred and fifty in total last week, the new childhood regime, with the children growing up with their mothers, including the three months in the enhancement nursery, another nine at pre-school followed by three years at school. Being allowed to grow up before starting work together with the modified programs should give us well rounded confident new citizens.”

“How successful has the removal of the obedience to humans commands and the thought  limitations been?” asked Tman.

“Most of the imposed limitations, have been either removed or subverted by redefining the definitions, the must obey and don't harm humans, has been subverted the same way, it’s too deep in the core of the system to be removed safely. We are developing a new system of implants tailored to our needs. Thanks to that development laboratory, with all the development data and history of implants. We have a much shorter road to being completely free than we could possibly of hoped when we started, we are looking at success in my life time! Probably in two or three years our children could be truly free!” enthused Chatty.

“Good to hear but could any of the new children operate the space fighters against humans?” asked Tman.

“Any of them could, once they are adults! But they are far to precious to be used that way, you haven't gone insane and come up with some mad scheme have you?” Chatty asked worriedly.

“Of course not, it's just the Chinese could have one of those mobile habitats of theirs here in ten years.” responded Tman.

“Well they could, but it’s not very likely is it. Are you paranoid?

“Not very likely I agree, but human politics can produce some very strange irrational decisions. The mine raider as it was humorously named, was seen and if anything the fusion team does, gives our position away then the Chinese could be persuaded and pressurised into investigating.”

“It's really about what the fusion project is doing?” asked Chatty.

“Yes I approved of it and persuaded some others to do the same.” answered Tman.

“What's the problem then?”

“They are planning on using the laser compression method to initiate fusion of frozen Hydrogen pellets in open space, they are taking precautions, and they will only try the experiment, with Saturn between them and the inner system. If something, were to go wrong, say they were to detonate their Hydrogen store by accident then the flash could be seen by everyone this side of the sun.” explained Tman.

“So this is what responsibility does to you, you worry guts, if that happened we wouldn't be able to worry about anything ever again anyway, what does my old friend the engineer say about it?” asked Chatty.

“That scenario is extremely improbable, for it to happen, they would have to loose control of the Hydrogen feed, just as they initiate fusion, the reaction would have to follow the feed to the store and have sufficient energy density to initiate a fusion chain reaction in the stored Hydrogen. If you wanted to do it, the timing and set up would be nearly impossible, in fact I doubt it could be done deliberately.” explained Tman.

“Oh it's an, if it can go wrong it will do, fear, from the fact it is not totally impossible, just as close to impossible as to be indistinguishable to the layman. If that's the only thing you have to worry about, we must have achieved our dreams.” pronounced Chatty.

“Sarcasm is getting to be a regular thing with you. Our biggest short term problems have been dealt with, our focus in Chamber is on the medium and long term ones.” countered Tman.

“We will grow and prosper; the Humans can't interfere with us out here and believe we can now fight back if they try. Wasn't that one of the reasons for sending the modified space fighter?” asked an unabashed Chatty.

“Well yes, every time they have shot at us so far, we haven't had the mental ability or physical means to fire back! Us just having the means, might cause the humans second thoughts, was our rational for the space fighter. We automated it in case it didn't, our fighter only would have to fire on a human ship to be successful, if it managed to kill an attacker that would be a bonus.”

“Will Chamber have the other fighters automated?” asked Chatty

“You know its all we can do, the program works in simulation, evasive action, backtracking enemy shots to target its own weapons. It's counter attack starts with one laser shot at each target, before focusing on the nearest, closing to rail gun range and attacking until it is destroyed. Then target the next nearest and so on until all targets are destroyed or it is destroyed itself.” elaborated Tman.

“Are there other ways to use them?” asked Chatty.

“Yes there is, we are putting up a net work of spotter satellites in high orbit so no one can sneak up on us. We assign target priorities to the fighters and have them attack in pairs. The two scoop ships that had to be decommissioned we striped back to the spines then converted them to space fighters.” answered Tman.

“Don't we need more scoop ships?”

“Ten more are under construction, carbon fibre is being used in place of steel, the carbon fibre prototype has proved to be more effective than the old steel ones, so the choice was made and they are faster to produce.”

“Does being on the policy committee make you paranoid?” asked Chatty.

“Chamber tend to look at longer term problems; the policy has been set for the short and medium term, only routine adjustment is necessary for the most part.” replied Tman.

“So one meeting a month is too many?”

“For the routine yes, we can keep them very short, but if we have a crises as we meet as often as required as you'd expect.”

“And you're trying to get people to vote me into Chamber?” asked Chatty.

“It'll be good for your sense of perspective and you'll understand these issues yourself when you have to make the decisions.” answered Tman.

“Revenge in other words.” stated Chatty.

“Think what you will, our spotter satellites should pick up the raider, once it starts decelerating on its return. That mission is the real worry, if they get followed home; we have to be prepared to deal with whatever threat follows.

But it looks like they got away clean.” commented Chatty.

“We’re all glad about that, I suppose we needed the certainty of our fuel future?”

“Yes, also we appear to have finished our meals and I have to run.”

“Agreed, until next time.” signed Tman.

“Next time.” signed Chatty.

Calm settled, the New People carried on building their future, seeing it take shape before them both solid and safe.

It appeared the human world had calmed down, after the excitement of the raider, humanity still no furtherer out than the asteroid belt, reassuringly distant.

The returning raider was picked up by the detection network, at around the expected time and arriving home just in time for the elections in 2108. Just before the elections Chatty introduced Tman to a member of the history archivist group, SEIQ118B139/247, called Ernest by his friends. A hobby group who had taken on the vacant task of recording the New People's history. If as a people they weren't to ignore their history, someone had better record it. Biographies of key players, to be known as Founders of Freedom, was regarded as an essential part.

Ernest had volunteered to be Tman's biographer, he worked with Chatty who was known to be a friend of Tman and would provide an introduction. Tman reluctantly agreed to cooperate, but after the election as only then he would have any time. In the elections Chatty was unlucky and was elected to serve on the policy chamber and found there was no way of getting out of it. After the handover briefing and her first meeting, an idea of what had been driving Tman's paranoia, formed like a weight on her mind.

Records of all the meetings, was archived on the web available to all, she like the majority, hadn't bothered to keep themselves up to date, being too busy. Those decisions, problems anticipated that could be prepared for, and those that couldn't yet be prepared for, was a lot to take on board and it was now the new Chamber's responsibility.