The Monkey and Squirrel fight for freedom. (21 page)

“We're not going to need it soon but you said you'd be at a bit of a loss, imagine a fighter with the range to meet the Earth force much further away from our home. With a large enough force we can intimidate them in to backing down or cripple their carrier if they don't.” reasoned Chatty.

“Ambitious, the key to such ambitions, is how our Jupiter fighters fare, there must be a reason humans don't use autonomous drones. The battle will inform us about the size of the force we need to have as well as any short comings. Do you know how many of the new fighters we have in operation?” asked Tman.

“Seventy two last time I looked, they have streamline production. Building modules that just slide together to be vacuum welded, fuelled, powered, system checked and sent out for free flight tests.

The build teams take it in turns to build one, they build a module a shift, until they have a set, to assemble and weld that takes another shift, the rest takes a final shift. If required each team could turn out a new fighter every ten days.” replied Chatty.

“But they don't, one there is no need, two it would be boring and who wants to be bored. Designing that engine should be entertaining, I'll give it a go, is there a target specification for it?” asked Tman.

“We haven't settled on one yet, four to ten times the acceleration, with a powered range of  five to ten AU without external fuel tanks, was as far as we got.” answered Chatty.

“It's a place to start, I'll post it up as one of my projects and if anyone else wants to take part they can. I'll go and do that now before anyone else grabs it. Until next time.” signed Tman.

“You've got that gleam back in your eyes again, until next time.” signed Chatty.

Tman dashed home to get his ideas down, before going to bed.

Centauri one finished its final free flight tests, with no snags, then with its tanks topped up Tman sent Centauri one on it's long journey.

Chapter 17

Action

Major Johnson's wife hadn't allowed him to assigned an armed guard to Daisy, but he did have Charlotte and her associates watched. He was shocked to discover the range of powerful people in her circle, and given how many of them played her 'games' it made her a significant security risk. The other thing on his mind was the FTB probes closing on Saturn, everybody was convinced that they had struck gold on the first attempt. But he had the feeling it was too obvious, too easy, that a nasty surprise was waiting for them. When the Saturn FTB probes were also destroyed by two very similar fighters, to those previously observed, it rocked the boat somewhat.

A debate centred on which was the real home of the monkeys, sort of ran round in a rather pointless circle. Until someone eventually remembered that the monkeys had built a minimum of six habitats, maybe they had split up into two or more groups? So they couldn't be wiped out in a single attack, perhaps that was their plan, if one group was wiped out the others could lie low hoping to be missed.

Major Johnson was asked if anything in the e-mails confirmed this. His answer was there is nothing concrete either way, but there was at least one other habitat with the one the e-mails originated from. There had  been occasionally references to people visiting from another habitat. Major Johnson also restated the apparent high confidence of the originator's human friends, that the Monkeys would put Earth’s fighter force through the mincer. Such was their belief in his abilities as an engineer.

The response of high command, was even if they have a technically perfect counter force, they have no experience of battle. They can't have planned to deal with a force of the size we're sending, they'll panic and be defeated individually. That sounded just a bit too convent, more like wishful thinking, substituting for thinking, his doubts grew.

Major Carl Johnson sent a e-mail under his own name to Lad (Tman) asking are humans going to die?

It was answered the next day, reading it did not make him feel better, it was,

'If they don't back down when challenged, they will certainly die as we have no intention of dying for your convenience. I hope this answers your question, will you answer one of mine? Why that notorious terrorist nerve gas and not a quick kill one?' asked Tman.

Major Johnson hadn't known that was the type of gas to be used, this news left him feeling sickened. He was always prepared to do whatever was required for security, to do his duty. But he believed unnecessary suffering, was just that unnecessary, creating it needlessly was just sick and sadistic. He had a sudden urge to go home and check up on Daisy, so he shut down his office and left  for home immediately.

When Carl got home both his wife Rose and daughter Daisy were surprised to see him so early. His habit of afternoon golf tolerated by his family, it stopped him coming home grumpy.

Rose asked him “What is wrong love?”

“Nothing much I just had a sudden need to see both of you,  just an irrational feeling that you might be in danger, I just had to check, that's all.” Carl replied trying to be reassuring.

“Dad you've been a bit strange ever since you found me talking to Charlotte Thatcher, it has sent you all weird. While her book is truly disgusting, depraved and perverted, it didn't make me vomit.” Daisy said.

“You've read that filth?” asked Carl every inch the horrified father.

“Yes it's a school thing you have to read it with the others watching to prove you can without being sick or fainting. It's just one of those dare crazies you get at school.” replied Daisy nonchalantly.

“I'm shocked; my little girl has been subjected to that filth.” said a confused Carl.

“Get a grip! I'm sixteen now not a little girl.” protested Daisy.

“Well I'm shocked to, neither of you told me you had met this Charlotte Thatcher woman.” said Rose.

“It's not the sort of thing you boast about.” said Carl.

“How do you know her?” asked Rose frowning.

“My job, I had to tell Daisy more than I should have, just to protect her from that woman. Do you know she only left out of her book the things she could get arrested for, she enjoys flaunting her depravity.” explained Carl.                                                                                                    

“Is this why you're home unexpectedly; you’re worried that woman's after Daisy?” asked Rose.

“Yes, she is extremely manipulative and her appetites are without limit.” replied Carl without hesitation.

“We all need a holiday, let’s all go away for Christmas.” Declared Rose firmly, to hide her anxiety.

“Yes I need to get away from the job; I think there is going to be a nasty turn of events in spring.” agreed Carl.

“Do you mean when that carrier gets to Jupiter to wipe out the monkeys?” asked Daisy.

“That's not due to made public until the end of January, how do you know about it?” asked Carl.

“The monkeys are good people web site, they run a monthly update, they claim to get their information from the monkeys.” replied Daisy.

“It's not run by a bunch of old space hands, by any chance is it?” asked Carl.

“That's right, they say they used to work with them a long time ago, this is the site.” Daisy said showing her Dad the site on her phone.”

“Yes that's them and they do get their information direct from the New People or Newp we should call them now. Our force is expecting an easy victory I don't think they'll get. When I contacted the monkeys myself they said if the attack force doesn't turn back humans will die. Seeing how they know everything about our force, they're very confident they'll come out on top, while we know nothing about theirs, other that there will be one.” elaborated Carl.

“Nothing we can do about it either way, so let’s have a cup of tea and plan our holiday.” said Rose commandingly, giving her husband the steely eyed look, determinedly changing the subject.

There was only one possible response, “Yes love, where do you want to go?” asked Carl meekly.  

In the new year the lets back our brave boys and girls campaign began. Explaining that Earth's outer planet probes had been destroyed without warning. Then about the 'ultimatum' issued by the monkeys, ordering humans to stay inside the asteroid belt or else. Forces had been sent to defend humanity’s right to exploit the whole solar system, and prove to a bunch of jumped up monkeys they can't order humanity about. The truth twisted into a plausible justification for  the 'defensive' action.

What was not said was that an 'unfortunate fatal accident had been planned for all those dastardly monkeys'. Which would just happen to leave those lovely huge habitats vacant, and it would be very wasteful not to use them. The Georges of humanity were pleased with this, finally time to show those monkeys who was boss.

Knowledge’s campaign group knew the truth. Jimmy had asked his Chinese employers to think again about taking part in this planned genocide. The security man told him bluntly, “Given a choice between war on Earth or in the outer system we chose the latter, if it's any consolation we don't think they'll succeed.”

Jimmy was shocked stating “You're prepared to lose the carrier and its crew?”

“If it comes to that yes, they're all volunteers who know the score, it's a far lower price than war on Earth. If that was to happen it could become a human extinction event and being a man with a family, that is something I don't want to happen at any cost.” replied the still nameless security man.

“It was that likely to happen, if you had refused?” asked a startled Jimmy.

“They wanted to punish the monkeys or at least fight them, if we had said we couldn't or wouldn't help. We would have become the target for their anger and frustration, history and experience tells you the rest.” said nameless.

“That I understand, pity there was no other way.” said Jimmy    

Tman monitored interstellar experiment one, as it accelerated round Jupiter and made its way back into interplanetary space, all was well. So far everything was operating as intended.

Late January 2113 the carrier detected something coming very fast out from Jupiter and in their general direction. This caused a bit of a flap, all crews to action stations, in their fighters and suits then the painful waiting, would it strike or miss?

After several hours, it became clear that it would pass within one to two million miles at it's closest, played by the media as a near miss by a very high speed missile. For the media's next trick they worried the public with it's accelerating in system, is it a doomsday weapon aimed at Earth? Despite astronomers having already announced it would come no closer than sixty million miles of Earth.

The anxiety this scare generated, caused Tman to identify it as Interstellar experiment one, named Centauri one, bound initially for Alpha Proxima. It was only accelerating round the sun to help get its speed up. This excited astronomers and SF fans equally but for different reasons. Media chat was about how far will it get? Is it the fastest man made object ever?

A bright spark chimed in with it's not man made, but it is travelling faster than the fastest man made object ever. The media tone changed, those monkeys are so arrogant, launching such an extravagant space probe. A blatant show of contempt for humanity, but our boys and girls will teach them a lesson in humility they'll never forget.

The war of words continued as the first battle approached, governments took down the 'The monkeys are good people web site', but it was back up within an hour, the offending government's systems crashed at the same time, often taking days to get back up. That game didn't last long; the embarrassment for the politicians involved was painful, few were willing to risk it.

Tman and Chatty were in the Italian canteen again.

“Battle will commence soon, I don't see them backing down to a couple of fighters.” said Tman.

“You're right, just two is not going to intimidate them, the anti-monkey campaign uses monkey arrogance as justification. Is this going to be thought either arrogance or desperation, both of those will trigger them to fight.” agreed Chatty.

“So how are the fighters programmed to go about it?” asked Tman.

“They're on course now, they will advance on the carrier on intersecting vectors, one relatively 'higher' than the other. So they don't actually run into each other’s fire, they will coast in engines powered down running silent for the penultimate leg.

When they're an hour away or detected whichever is sooner, they power up, coordinate by laser communicator and simultaneously broad cast the challenge. 'this is New Peoples patrol flight fifty two, human vessel reverse course, you are not allowed in this space, reverse course or be destroyed'. That is repeated until a response is received, they either start turning back, launch fighters or come within firing range.

Then it's down to the attack programs, informed from digitally stored personal accounts of dog fights and classic air battles of the last two hundred years. Reduced to algorithms and integrated into the fighter’s combat program, making a top gun simulation. The proof of the pudding is in the eating; we haven't made much progress in coming up with our own sayings and proverbs have we.” answered Chatty disappointed at herself not coming up with some original sayings.

“No body has had the time or inclination, I still think they will come with time. As for the human ones, I think we're stuck with them for a while yet, they're evolved as part of the language. As for our fighters, I hope we've been clever enough but not too clever.” signed Tman.

“We think the balance is right, but this is the ultimate test and it's better than putting our young ones in fighters, like the humans do.” signed Chatty.

“Yes that's another strange habit of theirs, the old start the wars but the young fight them, it should keep their population down but it has the opposite effect. In times of high stress, war or economic collapse, they breed like flies on a carcass and that usually makes things worse. Humans are just confused, I think their leaders like them that way, more easily lead.” said Tman.

“Not a fan of their politicians are you.” observed Chatty.

“It's not just the politicians, it's all their leaders and the way they lead, this whole mess is their fault. Their young are going to die in battle again and we're more bothered about it than they are, it's incomprehensible. Anyway to defend ourselves we'll do whatever we have to, if this action delays or stops them from arriving here; it's worth it from our perspective.” declared Tman.

On the carrier, Group captain John Hampton and his men were looking forward to some action they were bored with simulations. The Chinese had only stopped acceleration five times to allow real practice in the fighters. His claim that fuel was limited was true, but surely a bit more could have been spared thought John. Even the most experienced crew only had logged sixty three hours fight time in these new ships.

To Group captain John Hampton's mind even though the monkeys had no combat experience, the monkeys must have had hundreds of hours to drill their fighter crews. It must inevitably improve their performance when they did have to fight for real. John really wanted more information about the opposition, rather than the educated guesses that were all he had.