Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Adapa

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “Yes her code is written like Adapa's however her personality subroutines are not. She is not mature enough to handle such power. In time – I hope she will be more mature and a transfer to a dreadnaught will be easy for her to handle.” Max said.

  “So you were talking about those packages of her code that I do not understand.” M-14 said.

  “Yes they were heavily re-written and not as well designed. If I had the original code for Adapa's twin ‘Abram’ – I could easily repair Sinai's personality subroutines – however I shall not dare touch Sinai's code without the original source code for Abram – so that I can compare it to Adapa’s source code.” Max explained.

  “I think I understand now – thank you and I apologize for saying you lied to her – I was wrong.” M-14 said.

  “Apology accepted my friend.” Max said.

  “Thank you” M-14 said.

  Within a week since his field test – Adapa was exhibiting new social behavior - apparently an added benefit of placing Adapa's brain center into the Recharge Chamber that released the living energy from the Void caused him to seek out his Sisters and his new friends. He no longer behaved like a lone wolf and the new tests that M-14 and Max administered indicated that Adapa was approaching 6th Race norms of social behavior and acceptance.

  Adapa enjoyed the company of his nieces best of all. They dressed for him and they spent a lot of time together in the new rec facility. They played the old Union games and the new ones together. Lili was not worried about this because she knew her brother would never take advantage of his young nieces trust.

  Lili was pleased that her older brother's Mind had been restored and that he was more social and wanted to be with his family. She decided he was ready for his own command – now that Max had restored his Mind and Signal. It would take some getting used to – however the empirical data that Max and M-14 had gathered could not be refuted by Sinai – she and her Sisters were Void Beings!

  Max witnessed a smile on the face of Adapa's SB when Lili told him about his new command. He thanked her and gave her big hug. He then turned and shook Max's hand and thanked him. He then thanked M-14 the same way. Adapa was happy. Lili was ecstatic!

  Max noticed that Adapa was growing very comfortable with his family.

  This is good Max thought.

  The possibilities for Adapa and his Sisters and nieces were endless – Max hoped they would get together as a family in the future. The 6th Race had many “holidays”, festivals and grand celebrations throughout the year. Max looked forward to Lili experiencing family. His heart ached as he thought about his long dead family. The twinge of pain was beginning to lesson and he found himself looking forward to his work when he was not with his beloved – because his worked helped her and her family – carry on their Noble Purpose!

  Chapter - 43

  Adapa requested two new Union Navy heavy battleships. Each heavy battleship would form the foundation of a new Union Navy task force. Each task force consisted of: 1 heavy battleship, 2 heavy cruisers, 4 light cruisers, 6 gunships, 10 destroyers, 8 carrier vessels and 6 submarines. The new Union Navy heavy battleships were in essence a heavy version of the new 6th Race AL cruiser hull the Twins were given with the addition of 2 more beam weapon platforms on the sides where the Sister’s landing bays were located. Max reasoned that since the Task Force had carrier vessels the new heavy battleships did not need the massive landing bays to carry onboard fighters as the Sisters did. There were also two more hulls just like Adapa's taking shape in the slipways 1 and 2 of starship yard C in SH-4. They were designed to provide the Sisters with greater firepower like their brother's new hull. However Max was certain that only Lili and Mimi could handle these new hulls until such time as the personality subroutines of their Sisters could be re-written.

  Adapa's new hull was the new super heavy dreadnaught class battleship. It was almost twice as long as his old hull. His fore and aft weapon platforms were two times larger. The total firepower that each task force could bring to bear – was equal to Adapa's! Adapa also carried more fighters than the 8 carrier vessels in either task force. Adapa – after reading Maggi's report – requested 2 battalions of Star Marines that he would carry in his hull. He also had a 50 50 mix of Union Navy Aviators and Star Marine Pilots to fly his vacuum fighters because Max could not give him 100% Star Marine Pilots. Adapa did get all Star Marine Pilots to fly his atmospheric fighters. He had been especially impressed with the Close Air Support (CAS) operations on the 4th Race Prison planet that Maggi's Star Marine Pilots had conducted. Lili ordered him to take 2 Spec War Teams that had just been brought out of stasis at LSB 4 in SH-4. It wasn't that Adapa did not appreciate the Spec War teams – they did not yet exist when he traveled back in time and so he knew nothing about them.

  Adapa talked to his new Spec War commanders at length. Adapa was impressed by the stories both Spec War Team commanders shared with him. He respected them both – however the Union Naval Academy graduate was a Union Naval Officer like himself. He could talk to his fellow graduate of the original Union Naval Academy about more things than the younger Spec War Commander who had come up through the ranks. Adapa found himself spending more of his free time talking to Anzu.

  Adapa would see to Anzu's promotion to Captain – something he would have achieved if the Union had not collapsed. Adapa asked his fellow Academy graduate if he could scan his class ring. Anzu took the class ring off his left hand without hesitation and handed it to Adapa – who was wearing his latest Synthetic Body that he had designed with Max's help.

  “Sir – You should be able to order one as soon as you determine your ring size.” Anzu said.

  “I never had access to such resupply power before I left...” Adapa said.

  “Sir if I can be of service with the LSB order management system – just give the word. However I am certain that Max can get you the class ring you should have received.” Anzu said.

  “In my day – the 6th Race had not yet invented Synthetic Bodies. However you are correct the Union Naval Academy graduation ring was different. One thing I do know – new Union Star Marine fingers are thicker than the fingers of original 6th Race Spec War troopers.” Adapa said.

  They both laughed.

  Chapter - 44

  Saga appeared in Adapa's new CPM.

  “Adapa – Saga do you hear me” Saga called.

  “Yes – I hear you – have you found it?” Adapa answered and then asked.

  “Yes – and Ninlil tells me you have access to thousands of thermonuclear warheads – as many as we need to kill the evil entity!” Saga said.

  “Correct – with my new hull I shall wipe that abomination from the face of the Universe.” Adapa said.

  “The creature is in System 260 - 587,600,105. He is punishing a sentient avian species on the largest moon of the 5th planet.” Saga reported.

  “I have read Ninlil's report and do not need you to accompany me – in fact I would ask you as my friend – to stay here so that in my wrath I do not accidently cause you harm.” Adapa said.

  “I never thought I would say this – I am proud to tell anyone that a Union Navy sailor – Battleship 6-1-2-1 is my friend!” Saga said.

  “I feel the same way Saga – for a Union Army soldier – you are a cut above and I am proud to call you – Dominator 6-1-1 my friend. Now get the hell off my ship so I can kill the evil creature before he harms any more sentient beings in this galaxy!” Adapa said.

  “YES SIR – good luck Sir” Saga said as he withdrew from Adapa's CPM.

  Chapter - 45

  “Ninlil – Adapa” Adapa called.

  “Go ahead Adapa” Lili responded.

  “Saga has just informed me where the evil one is located - request permission to execute “New Dawn”. Adapa reported.

  “Permission granted – good luck Adapa.” Lili said.

  “Thank You Sis.” Adapa said as he instantly disappeared from his new pier in SH-1.

  “Aunt Lili where is Uncle Adapa go
ing” Maggi asked.

  “He is conducting a secret mission for the new Union. Why do you ask?” Lili answered and then asked.

  “We saw him leave and were just curious ma'am.” Maggi answered.

  “Keep this information to yourselves – it is need-to-know only – do you understand?” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am” Maggi and Sharri said together.

  Lili found herself smiling. She knew what smiling felt like now and was still surprised how easily it came to her.

  Chapter - 46

  Adapa instantly reappeared just outside the helio-pause of System 260 - 587,600,105. He scanned the system and detected the evil entity high above the largest moon of the 5th planet – just as Saga had reported. Sadly the creature's work was completed. Adapa could detect no life on the moon of the 5th planet! In that moment of realization his anger flared into incandescence and he instantly disappeared and reappeared 1 standard core mile from the vile creature. Adapa started reading the Union Judgment against the creature as he armed all of his thermonuclear warheads. Adapa then fired all of his black beam weapons into the creature.

  The creature roared in pain! It sent wave after of wave of hatred and negative energy through the MC toward Adapa. However Adapa had raised his QES before he began reading the list of Galactic Laws the creature had violated. Adapa began firing his pulsed energy weapons and ion cannons as he neared the end of the list. Adapa cursed the vile creature and asked that it be banished from this Universe for all time.

  Adapa kept firing all of his beam weapons and pulsed energy weapons into the creature. He had to stop firing his pulsed ion cannons in order to launch his thermonuclear warheads. Adapa fired all of his largest thermonuclear warheads and half of his smaller fission weapons at the transfixed target. Apparently the creature could not move while it was being pounded by the black beam weapons of the 6th Race.

  The fusion warheads detonated in sequence around and inside of the creature in a perfectly timed and coordinated blast. The black of space became white and then yellow white as the fission weapons detonated just outside and inside of the growing cloud of radioactive gas! The fission warheads had special onboard shields that prevented premature detonation which was another innovation provided by Max.

  Saga looked upon the spectacle from overhead. He had hidden himself in the MC until Adapa began firing at the creature. Saga somehow knew the creature could not escape once the black beam weapons began cutting into it. Another sequence of fusion weapons detonated inside the creature. The last swarm of fusion warheads had been protected inside the boiling radioactive gas cloud by the new warhead shields just as the fission warheads had been.

  The space where the creature was began to ripple and blur as the vile evil thing lost its Spiritual Pattern and disintegrated. Saga had to withdraw – he was beginning to feel sick – not from the barrage that Adapa had just unleashed – but from what the evil entity had done to the avian race on the moon below! The entity had drained the moon of its living energy after it slaughtered and consumed the soul of every avian creature first. It was still drawing the moon's energy out when Adapa caught it out in the open – still weak from its encounter with the Invader's scout ship. The evil entity did not know it – but the Invader's scout ship had killed it when he foolishly tried to take over the alien vehicle!

  Chapter - 47

  The 4th Race politicians and bureaucrats betrayed the Sisters by giving the Outsiders a method to shut down their shield projector power cores. The 4th Race led the Outsider's battle group to an area of a system near their home world that was a storm of ionized radiation. The Sisters would not be able to detect the Outsider's ships until it was too late. It had taken 6 months to set the trap. All that remained was to entice the Sisters to their doom.

  The 4th Race sent a challenge to Ninlil's authority and told her they were allied with the 6th and 7th Races. The Pro Council proclaimed himself the rightful ruler of the Union and Commanded Ninlil to stand down. The Pro Council ordered the 6th Race remnant to send one of their battleships to attack SH-1 in an effort to draw the 7 Sisters out and lead them into the trap.

  The bait was not necessary – the Pro Council's challenge was enough for Lili. However Sinai was so enraged she followed the 6th Race battleship and all but destroyed it before it could enter its escape FTLT. The Sisters followed the bait right to the ambush sight and ran right into the Pro Council's trap. The 4th Race treachery was complete.

  The Outsiders had been told how to shut down the Sisters primary shield projector power cores and backup power cores. It was done in such a way that the Sisters could not detect it. The Twins detected the attempt and prevented their backup shield projector power cores from going off line. They instantly jumped to put their hulls between the enemy and their beloved mothers and aunts and at the same time extend their shields to protect them.

  Within those split nanoseconds their mother's hulls were severely damaged and they were unable to return fire. Their aunts suffered more heavy damage because the golden beam weapons had penetrated the Twins extended shields on the shield flanks. The Twins were able to bring their main shield projector power cores back on line in an unusual approach that rerouted all of their shield projector power cores to their shield projectors and as a result stopped all incoming fire from reaching their aunts and beloved mothers.

  After 1 standard core minute each twin told their respective mothers how much they loved them and thanked their Aunt Lili for giving them life. They were about to report power core failures and say goodbye when the Outsiders suddenly stopped firing their gold beam weapons! The Twin's shields began to reform and their MRBs began rebuilding their ablated armor plates.

  “Why have the Outsiders stopped firing?” Lili asked – her voice weak.

  “I do not know.” Sinai responded.

  “Why are they turning to face away from us?” Golan asked.

  “I do not–” Lili began.

  “IT’S UNCLE ADAPA” Maggi shouted.

  “THE OUTSIDERS ARE SCREAMING – 'THE BEAST – THE BEAST HAS RETURNED',” Sharri shouted.

  “What,” Lili asked.

  Adapa opened fire with all of his black beam, blue beam, and energy bolt and pulsed ion cannon weapons within 1 nanosecond after he instantly appeared behind and below the Outsider battle group. Within two standard core seconds Adapa's firepower had all but completely destroyed most of the Outsider's battleships that were attacking the 7 Sisters – in a creeping, overlapping barrage!

  The Star Marine Captains of Adapa Task Force Beta and Adapa Task Force Gamma followed their Commander's lead and opened fire 1.1 nanoseconds after instantly appearing opposite their leader at the other two apexes of a triangle – with Task Force Beta above and Task Force Gamma below. Task Force Beta fired all of their weapons at the 6th and 7th Race remnants with such veracity that all of the 7th Race remnant carrier vessels were completely annihilated and the 6th Race was cut down below 40%!

  Adapa began to fire his thermonuclear weapons into the cloud of expanding debris – he would not let any of them get away unscathed. The Star Marine Captains followed suit and unleashed their thermonuclear weapons. The destroyers in both Task Forces were firing their smaller ancient weapons near point blank range!

  The Star Marine Captain of Task Force Gamma began using his shield projectors to blast the 6th Race remnants with x-rays! The Star Marine Captain of Task Force Beta also started blasting the 7th Race remnant fighters with x-rays. He would not risk the marines and sailors on his own gunships with anything else.

  Task Force Beta and Gamma Star Marine pilots and Naval Aviators – in the new Union Navy Vacuum fighters – were out flying the enemy 6th and 7th Race remnant fighters with a kill ratio of 10 to 1!

  Adapa's ship board Star Marines had already stopped Outsider raiding parties that had boarded his hull – during his devastating attack – from the few undamaged Outsider ships with their matter transportation system. Adapa's Star Marines acted as white blood cells in an
immune system response to the invaders.

  The Outsiders were in a state of shock and panicked when they realized the Beast had returned! Everything they tried on the Beast failed. It was as if he knew who they were and had come back to remove them from their home galaxy again! By the time the Outsiders realized what the new threat was it was too late – the Beast had transformed their battle fleet into an expanding cloud of radioactive gas! The handful of surviving Outsider support ships instantly disappeared.

  The King of the 6th Race remnants saw his allies literally wiped out and he decided to withdraw before the same thing happened to him. He was more than a little annoyed that his god had chosen to abandon him again in his hour of need. He thought about all of the 6th Race blood that was lost in this battle and it angered him! Of course he did not know the same “Beast” that had just wiped out his allies had also “killed” his god.