Storming Heaven Read Online Free PDF Page A

Killers, but the Killers would probably have ferreted them all out – eventually – and destroyed them.  Humanity was just the last in a long line of defeated and exterminated races.
     
    “Can we even break into the craft?”  She asked, finally.  “Can we board craft coated with invincible hull material?”
     
    “We believe so,” Brent said, simply.  “We have studied the craft carefully and believe that it might be possible to board it with Footsoldiers.  There is an element of risk, as I said, but we believe that it can be minimised.”
     
    “And if it is not, they all die,” Patti said.
     
    Tabitha smiled.  “Shall we move to a vote?”
     
    Rupert, the Spacer, spoke first.  “We support this risky endeavour,” he grated, slowly.  “We will grant what support we can to the Footsoldiers.”
     
    “We agree,” Arun added.  His voice was distressingly eager.  “We need insight into their technology and this is the only way we can obtain it.  The risk is worthwhile.”
     
    It isn’t you who will have to take the risk , Patti thought, but she knew that it wasn't quite accurate.  The Technical Faction would be intimately involved with examining the captured ship – if it were captured – and if the Killers arrived to recover their ship, they’d be caught in the firing line.  She made a mental note to ensure that the starship was flown well away from any inhabited human settlement, just in case, before waiting for the next person to speak.
     
    “I believe that this is futile,” Father Sigmund said, tightly.  Patti wasn’t too surprised by his stance.  The Deists believed the life was sacred and not to be risked, ever.  Their beliefs would make very little difference if the Killers attacked, just as they had slaughtered most of humanity’s religious adherents on Earth.  “I cannot in good conscience support this crazy plan.”
     
    “I must agree with you for once,” Matriarch Jayne said.  The Rockrat leader stared at Brent harshly.  Her ancient face refused to budge.  “This plan risks far too much for a very chancy reward.  We cannot afford another High Singapore so soon.”
     
    Patti smiled.  The Rockrats had formed the basis of much of the Community – and one of their traditions was female leaders.  After Earth had been destroyed, the women on the asteroid belts had suddenly become worth far more than their weight in gold and had been prevented from going outside sheltered accommodation.  While the men struggled to build a new society, the women had quietly taken control of the asteroids and ended up running the original Community.  They were generally more careful than men in their dealings with the Killers.  They knew what was at stake.
     
    “So does certain death,” Tabitha said.  Her voice hardened slightly.  “I cast my vote in favour of this plan.”
     
    “As do I,” Brent said, unnecessarily.
     
    “Four in favour, two opposed,” Patti said.  She sighed, heavily.  If she cast a vote now, it would be useless, whichever way she moved.  Her constituents would not be too happy, but there was little choice.  “I choose, therefore, to abstain from the vote.  Admiral, you have your permission to proceed.  Good luck.”
     
    “Thank you,” Brent said.  He looked down at the image of the Killer starship for a long moment.  Patti wondered if he was having doubts now about the wisdom of his plans.  “We won’t fail you.”

Chapter Three
     
    As soon as the meeting ended, Tabitha Cunningham translated herself out of the meeting perceptual environment and back into her own apartment – or what she thought of as her apartment.  It looked like her old apartment back on Earth – nothing more than radioactive dust now – even to her enhanced senses, but she knew that it was not.  It was an image, formed in her mind and given a certain trace of reality by the MassMind, yet it was nothing more than the tiniest tiny section of the network that