Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Adapa

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “NO – we are artificial life forms-” Lili began.

  “Aunt Lili we have living Sixth Race brain and cardiac tissue in our brain cores and by definition not only are we ‘alive in the Void’ – the Quantum Observer is within each us.” Maggi interrupted.

  “Obviously you know more about this than I. Prepare a report on your research and interviews with specific detail and include your conclusions and recommendations.” Lili ordered.

  “Yes ma'am” Maggi replied.

  “We – your aunts and mothers were not taught any of this at the original Union Naval Academy. Perhaps it is time to change the curriculum. This could be the primary reason we cannot deal with the evil First Race Entity.” Lili told Maggi.

  “Thank you Aunt Lili.” Maggi said.

  “You are welcome – carry on.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am” Maggi said.

  Chapter – 6

  Mimi was excavating a site on a world near the outer rim. She loved archeology and especially Astro-archeology. She hoped this world was the home world of the legendary “Forerunners”. She had first heard about the “Forerunners” in the Academy when she was a midshipman. The “Forerunners” were a highly advanced, technologically superior – space faring civilization that conquered the known galaxy billions of years before the first three great Races joined together for the greater good. One day the “Forerunners” ruled the galaxy and the next – they disappeared – vanished without a trace. She later wondered if they had transcended the flesh, as the later great races of the Union had.

  She had been digging on this world for 3 days and had found some interesting artifacts. She was beginning to get a feel for this ancient race. In many ways this race was technologically more advanced than her own 6th Race. She found evidence that suggested the Forerunners stopped using starships to travel the galaxy. It was not clear how they traveled from one side of the galaxy to the other or how long it took to make each trip. However one thing was clear in all the data records she found the third day – there were repeated references to the “door”. She even found a user guide that explained how to access and use the “door” for interstellar travel within the galaxy. She began to wonder if the “door” was a matter energy transportation system like the Outsiders used or was it a system that worked as the 6th Race Material Cause (MC) transmitter she and her Sisters used to travel through the Faster Than Light (FTL) Tunnels. She wondered if the Forerunners had devised a version of the FTLT that was built on planets instead of inside starships. She was not certain.

  From the data bases – Mimi determined the Forerunners were between 9 and 12 feet tall – with a humanoid build. However it was not clear what they looked like – their facial features or the structures of their hands and feet. The ruins contained no “art” works, no statues, no 2-dimensional renderings, images, videos or holograms of the creatures. Then she found references to their home world so she began writing her official Union survey report.

  The Forerunners ruled the galaxy for over 4 billion years starting 12.5 billion years ago and then – they were gone. Four hundred million years later the 1st Race rose to sentience and in another hundred million years joined the 2nd and 3rd Races for the greater good. These three original great races – after working together for another billion years – established the Union 7 billion years ago.

  So what exactly happened to the Forerunners? What influence did they have over the original 3 great Races? Mimi wondered.

  Mimi was beginning to see a common thread in all the ancient Forerunner sites she excavated – there appeared to be extensive battle damage. At first she did not pay attention to it – she assumed it was part of the Forerunner’s method of control. Then she began to see the damage was the same everywhere at every Forerunner site and installation. It was as if the Forerunners had been attacked from space – by a superior force that arrived without warning – wiped them out and then moved on. She needed to talk to her older Sister about her discoveries.

  “Lili – Mimi – do you copy,” Mimi called.

  “Go ahead Mimi – where are you?” Lili responded and then asked.

  “I am on the 5th planet in System 71 - 679,222,145.” Mimi answered.

  “That system is far out on the rim – what are you doing out there?” Lili asked.

  “I am excavating Forerunner sites and I would like to talk to you about what I have found.” Mimi answered.

  “Forerunner...” Lili began.

  “Yes ma'am – I have excavated 24 Forerunner sites on 7 different planets.” Mimi said.

  “What have you found,” Lili asked.

  “Some very interesting data – if my preliminary analysis is correct – I may have discovered what happened to the Forerunners.” Mimi said.

  “Really – I cannot wait to read your report. When will you have it ready?” Lili asked.

  “I want to excavate one more world first – I think I found their home world–” Mimi was saying.

  “You found the Forerunner home world?” Lili interrupted.

  “Yes I am on my way there now–” Mimi began.

  “Where is it located,” Lili interrupted again.

  “I will send you the system number and then rendezvous with you in SH-1 so we can go there together.” Mimi said.

  “Excellent see you soon.” Lili said.

  Chapter – 7

  It was rare for the Sisters to take time off. When Mimi requested time off Lili assumed it was to spend time with her companion. Clearly Lili was wrong – Mimi had been very busy indeed. Lili's Mind reeled. The Forerunners were legends of the galaxy. They had been able to appear and disappear anywhere in the galaxy at will. The Forerunners controlled the galaxy without mercy and then they were gone. The Forerunners enslaved and ruled every species of the galaxy in their time. The Forerunner Empire was ruthless and cruel. Entire sentient races – that would not yield to the Forerunners – were rumored to have been extinguished...

  Mimi appeared in Landing Zone - 6 of Secure Harbor (SH) - 1. Sentry-1 greeted her and asked about her expedition to the outer rim. Mimi gave Sentry-1 a brief summary and promised to send him a copy of her official Union Survey report. Mimi then finalized her preliminary Survey Report and looked forward to Lili's review. Mimi respected her older Sister and valued her knowledge and keen insights into history and Astro-archeology. Lili appeared on Landing Zone - 5 having come in from checking several of Sentry-1s new super drones that were stationed out beyond the helio-pause of SH-1 and contacted Mimi without delay.

  “Mimi – Lili,” Lili called.

  “Go ahead ma’am,” Mimi responded.

  “May I read your preliminary SR?” Lili asked.

  “I am sending it to you now.” Mimi answered.

  After a brief pause – it took Lili several seconds to absorb Mimi’s report – Lili spoke again.

  “WOW,” Lili said.

  “What,” Mimi asked.

  “Oh – sorry – ‘wow’ is a modern 6th Race remnant hybrid expression in the derived language known as ‘English’. Max told me it is used to convey surprise or awe.” Lili answered.

  “Really – thank you,” Mimi said.

  “No baby Sister – thank you! This report is amazing and if our creators were alive I am certain they would present it to the Old Guard of the Union for a formal peer review.” Lili said.

  “Really – you think so,” Mimi asked.

  “Yes – the information you have gathered and the analysis you have performed is astonishing!” Lili answered.

  “What do you think about my conclusions?” Mimi asked.

  “If you are correct it would explain a great many things including how they controlled the galaxy with fear. The various enslaved species did not question what happened to their masters or their gods because the Forerunners relied on fear to keep their slaves under control. Thus the Forerunners were wiped out – they were not missed. Some greater force had surgically removed them from the galaxy...” Lili answered.

&nbs
p; “Exactly – the battle damage is localized to weapon stations, power generators and shield projectors – everything else was untouched.” Mimi said.

  “What do you think killed them?” Lili asked.

  “I am not certain – whoever it was – used weapons of immense power – at least as strong as ours–.” Mimi answered.

  “As strong as ours…” Lili interrupted.

  “Yes ma'am – the Forerunner shields could not withstand the beam weapons of the unknown attackers.” Mimi said.

  “Beam weapons...” Lili repeated.

  “Yes ma'am – very powerful beam weapons.” Mimi said.

  Chapter – 8

  “I think we need to have Sinai review the data you have collected and I think it would be prudent to have her scan the battle damage on the worlds you have excavated. However you and I are going to the home world of the Forerunners now – where is it located?” Lili said and then asked Mimi.

  “Here is the System number. I think it would be wise to treat this as we treat any combat mission.” Mimi said.

  “Why,” Lili asked.

  “Because I have found advanced booby traps and mine fields around most of the Forerunner worlds I have visited.” Mimi asked.

  “Copy that – to the helio-pause then?” Lili asked.

  “YES MA'AM” Mimi answered.

  “Sinai – Lili” Lili called.

  “Go ahead ma'am,” Sinai responded.

  “I would like you to review Mimi’s preliminary SR I am sending you now and then travel to the worlds listed and scan the battle damage.” Lili said.

  “Any particular order,” Sinai asked for clarification.

  “Mimi should Sinai check the listed worlds in any order” Lil asked.

  “No ma'am – just be careful Sinai – each world has advanced starship booby traps and minefields. I suggest you travel to the outside of each helio-pause first and then go in carefully.” Mimi answered and then advised.

  “Copy that Mimi and thank you.” Sinai said.

  “You are welcome Sinai – good luck.” Mimi said.

  “Thanks – you too” Sinai said as she instantly disappeared.

  “Now then – let us go to the Forerunner’s home world.” Lili said.

  Mimi and Lili instantly disappeared. They reappeared just outside of the helio-pause of System 315 - 508, 279, 351 - a system on the very outer edge of arm 1 in Quadrant III. It was a massive red giant star, orbited by twin white dwarfs. There were 27 planets orbiting this tri-nary star system. The system was old and the red giant had expanded toward the white dwarfs. Lili detected a series of dangerous traps and layered minefields that were a maze of complex patterns.

  “Which planet,” Lili asked.

  “The seventh” Mimi answered.

  “How should we proceed?” Lili asked.

  “I am not certain – this system's defenses are vastly superior to any I have encountered so far.” Mimi answered.

  “I see no way in – so we shall have to jump–” Lili began.

  “NO” Mimi interrupted “We should send in some of our fighters – I see no battle damage here and the Forerunners had automated defense systems.”

  “No battle damage...” Lili repeated.

  “Yes ma'am – this system was either not attacked or it has been rebuilt.” Mimi said.

  “Perhaps we should send probes instead,” Lili asked.

  “Yes ma'am even better,” Mimi said.

  Chapter – 9

  Sinai was amazed by the Forerunner database. At the height of the Forerunner Empire – the Forerunners had conquered the entire galaxy. They had enslaved a billion species of which 700 million were sentient. For some reason the Forerunners stopped traveling by starship and utilized a personal void transportation system! Sinai was convinced they must have discovered the FTL Tunnels. However instead of using ships to traverse the galaxy through the FTL Tunnels – they walked there – literally walking from planet to planet. Sinai wanted to ask Max about this. Imagine being able to step through the MC without a ship...

  The first planet Sinai checked clearly had Union 6th Race weapon signatures that were older than the Union! Sinai ran BIT on her sensors and scanners and then performed the scans again. Sinai could not believe the scanner data. Sinai then surveyed the battle damaged structures in her combat gym suit. The site had weapon signatures older than 8.4 billion years! Sinai went to 3 more worlds on Mimi's list to verify her findings. On the 4th planet Sinai found a data port still intact in a buried bunker. She plugged her PDIT into the port and was astonished when she was able to access every data base of the Forerunners!

  Apparently the Forerunners were being systematically attacked and surgically destroyed by an automated weapon of immense power. Sinai felt an odd sensation as she read the descriptions of the monster that was killing the Forerunners. She then found a video of the beast. Sinai could not believe her synthetic eyes! The “monster” was a 6th Race cruiser!

  “Lili – Sinai,” Sinai called.

  “Go ahead Sinai” Lili said.

  “Ma'am you will not believe what I found. A Sixth Race Cruiser attacked and wiped out the Forerunners – eight point five billion years ago!” Sinai said.

  There was a long pause.

  “Sinai – please repeat your last” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am – a Sixth Race Cruiser wiped out the Forerunners!” Sinai repeated.

  “Please send me your report.” Lili ordered.

  “Me too” Mimi said.

  “Here it is” Sinai said.

  After another moment Lili spoke.

  “It was Adapa...” Lili said.

  “What,” Sinai asked.

  “The Sixth Race Cruiser – that wiped out the Forerunners eight point five billion years ago – it was Adapa.” Lili answered.

  Sinai was stunned. All of the data was right in front of her – however she could not “see” it. It took Lili to assemble the facts and then make sense of it all.

  “Did you record the Forerunner databases?” Mimi asked.

  “What – yes of course – I will download all of them to the new Fleet protected archive data base when I return home.” Sinai answered.

  “Thank you Sinai.” Mimi said.

  “You are welcome Sis.” Sinai said.

  “Thank you Sinai – return to SH-1 and determine if the Forerunners recorded what happened to Adapa.” Lili ordered.

  “Yes ma'am” Sinai said as she instantly disappeared.

  “Mimi I do not want to proceed. This could be a trap and since the probes are no longer responding I think it prudent for us to withdraw.” Lili said.

  “Yes of course” Mimi said still in shock.

  “Let us return to SH-1,” Lili ordered.

  Lili and Mimi instantly disappeared. Sinai was already reviewing the vast quantity of Forerunner data when they appeared instantly in SH-1. Adapa had appeared in Quadrant I, 8.5 billion years ago, attacking Forerunner out posts. He systematically destroyed every planet, base and outpost and then moved on to Quadrant II. This was how the Forerunners were taken by surprise – they did not have Void Communication systems and by the time their ships and their electromagnetic communication system transmissions reached the next Quadrant – Adapa had already destroyed it and moved on! The Forerunners were powerless to stop him. However each time he appeared in a new system – the Forerunners rallied to try and stop him because they had not received the frantic reports from the previous system he had just annihilated. Sinai prepared her final official report and sent it to Lili. She then felt the need to spend time with her companion and decided to take a break.

  Chapter - 10

  Lili read Sinai's final official report to Max. They were both stunned. The official Union history documented – Adapa left the galaxy after attacking his creators and disappeared. Yet Sinai's report clearly indicates he did not leave the galaxy he left his time and traveled into the past. Lili asked Max what he thought.

  “The question is – did Adapa
travel back in time by accident or on purpose?” Max said.

  “What,” Lili asked.

  “Yes ma'am I have found rumors and memos all through the Union Archives about the Seventh Race working on time travel. In fact the only official Union Report on the subject documents the Seventh Race made several time travel systems for historical research. Thus I cannot help but wonder if Adapa volunteered for a Union Special Project.” Max said.

  His words shocked Lili. She had never had a reason to doubt anything she had been taught by the Union. She could see why Max could arrive at the conclusion he did. He had not known the Union and his pessimism was a natural outflow of the way he had been treated by the 6th Race remnants.