The Monkey and Squirrel fight for freedom. Read Free Page A

governments.” explained Tman.
    “Aren’t they self supporting? I thought all the stations, mines and colonies were private enterprise operations.” asked Chatty.
    “Only financially. I recorded this part of a briefing by the non-human welfare officer, why he thought I should be told I have no idea.”  'Keeping them tied to Earth is seen as good business. Otherwise they might get ideas about independence and charging what the market will bear, rather than what the company wants to pay.' The-man continued “Anyway the company will be virtually bankrupt once Earth sees what we are really doing, as all it's major assets will effectively have disappeared! That will impact the banking sector. So to stop the economy going into global nose dive again. The taxpayers of the world will have to foot the bill yet again. So it will be those governments that come after us, to recover as much as they can!” 
    “Don’t let the head of non-human welfare catch you using that recording of his voice.” signed Chatty.
    “We don’t let any human see us using technology or sign for ourselves do we?” asked Tman.
    “With so many of us and so few humans about, some have got a bit careless and have been caught out, mostly us squirrels I am ashamed to say.” Chatty confessed.
    “How bad is the damage?” asked Tman.
    “Not bad, it is seen as us just copying our betters according to the experts on our behaviour.”
    “Surely not everyone believes those idiots?” exclaimed The-man.
    “Most do and most of the others can’t see any harm in it, they regard it as rather cute it fact.” signed Chatty.
    “Sometimes I almost love that human complacency. Just get the word out extra care, if in doubt cut it out, be silent, be safe, be free.”
    “Get our minds set right for success?”
    “Yes Chatty, this is for real, if we fail we will be dead and the humans will still have to do their own dangerous and dirty jobs themselves, regardless of the outcome.”
    “You forgot boring; a lot of administration is very boring! Why give us high levels of intelligence, then a moron level job?” asked Chatty.
    “It's the way they always to do things, take a highly important project, recruit a highly talented team to carry it out. Then put a bunch of overpaid morons in charge, who then interfere so much it takes twice as long and costs three or four times as much, then they blame the team 'for their lack of vision, ability to cooperate with management and appreciation of the financial realities.” explained Tman.
    “That sounds bitter, is that personal experience talking?” asked Chatty.
    “I work for a professional management to! Often when they suddenly take an interest, their performance review is due usually. They give instructions that if carried out would endanger the station! Fortunately although I cannot argue with them, I can ignore them and do what needs to be done. I learnt that from the human maintenance workers, management did the same to them, a few still worked on stations when I was first shipped up here.” replied Tman.
    “There are any now?”
    “As far as I know only on the minor space power's stations. We have to target those eleven stations also with our fake 'meteors' otherwise our controllers will wake up and smell the coffee.”  answered Tman.
     
    Not long after that conversation the date was agreed, it would be the next Christmas. Countdown to Christmas 2095 began with the start of the preparations, all had to be ready for one very big event, whether it was good or bad depended on your perspective. Suitable “meteors” were found, plated then hidden in the vacuum storage areas used for repairs or new projects, humans rarely visited those. Launchers were made from old storage bins with a spring inside, a simple mechanical firing mechanism, which was tested with a net to catch the 'meteors'. A frame held the launchers to the load mounting frame, coupling it all to the runabout. The station weak points were