Task Force Beta cheered as did every Union Sailor, Soldier and Star Marine who heard her voice.
“Now then Admiral Adapa let us review your plan to protect the home galaxy.” Lili said.
“Yes ma'am – did you say admiral ma'am,” Adapa said and then asked.
“Yes – I had planned to wait and confer upon you the rank of Admiral at the next Union Awards Ceremony – however the situation calls for this field promotion now and it is so ordered.” Lili answered and then commanded.
“Ninlil – I do… thank YOU ma'am! I shall redouble my efforts to be worthy of all the Union Navy Admirals that have served before me.” Adapa said.
“The ‘Long Blue Line’ dates back to the time of the beginning of the Union. Much of our heritage comes from the 6th Race Navy. A heritage that you embody and live every day! I know that the new Union Navy shall be the best ever thanks to you Admiral Adapa!” Lili said.
“Thank You Ninlil for the very kind words.” Adapa said as his heart swelled.
“Now then – please come aboard so we can discuss what needs to be done here.” Ninlil commanded.
“Yes ma'am” Adapa replied.
The Twins were very impressed. They liked the discipline and the traditions of the Union Navy. They appreciated their Aunt Lili bringing back those valued traditions.
“So do we start calling Uncle Adapa – Admiral now?” Maggi asked.
“Yes – whenever we are on duty – we shall observe correct Union Navy protocols.” Sharri answered with a serious tone in her voice.
“I was only joking – I meant nothing by it.” Maggi said.
“I know – however – we can never know who might be listening and I think it is very important we always follow correct Union Navy protocol.” Sharri said.
“I agree and apologize for my opening remark.” Maggi said.
“Apology accepted – now let us see what these fine Union Navy Sixth Race Sailors and Star Marines need to accomplish their mission here.” Sharri said.
“That is an excellent idea – I have talked to my Star Marine Colonel (SMC) and he made some excellent suggestions. However I shall wait until our Commanding Officer tells us what needs to be done.” Maggi said.
“Copy that – bring your SMC over to my hull so we can talk it over.” Sharri suggested.
“I'll be right there – Cruiser Six-One-Eight out.” Maggi said.
Sharri smiled – she could always count on Maggi to get serious when it was important. She piped her Sister's yacht aboard and Sharri's Star Marines formed an honor guard in her main landing bay.
Adapa landed his yacht on Lili's main landing bay. When the yacht's hatch opened Lili's Star Marines had formed an honor guard for a visiting Admiral of the Union Navy. The Gunnery Sargent piped Admiral Adapa aboard with the correct pipe tone sequence.
Adapa smiled and nodded to the Gunnery Sargent – who snapped to attention and saluted the Admiral. A squad of Star Marines escorted the Admiral to Lili's main conference room and waited outside in the main hall.
Adapa showed Lili what his task forces had accomplished thus far. She was very impressed and she looked forward to reading his report. Lili saw no reason to question his plan – it was exactly what she would have done. She needed to support him and that was exactly why she came.
“I can see you have everything under control here Admiral – let Sentry-1 know what you need and he shall transport it as soon as the LSBs load it.” Lili said.
“Thank you Ninlil – I need to return.” Adapa said.
“Of course – carry on” Lili said and then ordered.
Adapa stood and saluted Lili and then turned and walked out of the main conference room. Lili’s Star Marines escorted him back to his yacht.
Chapter - 56
Because of Max's ability to program the 6th Race AB – new Sisters could be mass produced – as could AB Dreadnaught Battleships like Adapa because the raising, training and nurturing are not required with the AB. Max could create a new complete individual with the software he developed in 2 standard core days. Training of the new individual took 1 to 2 standard core weeks depending on the hull or the required skill set and rank.
Lili and Adapa knew the Forerunners would return – the question was – when would they return and had they obtained the 6th Race black beam weapon technology. Max had already adapted and added the gold beam weapon technology of the Outsiders to all new Union heavy cruisers and above. Max had designed a new targeting system that used the gold beam to penetrate shields and then follow up with the black beam. Max had also finally figured out how to pulse the black beam thus providing a devastating combo blast that would punch through even planet based shields. Of course to date no enemy had been able to withstand the black beam weapons of the 6th Race. He had primarily developed and tested this new system in complete secrecy at the new Special Projects Star Yard (SPSY) – where the original SH-2 was to have been emplaced in Quadrant I. SPSY is where Sentry-1 would transfer to as soon as the new Super Sentry relieved him.
The new weapon had been successfully tested at SPSY on Adapa's original hull. Lili had ordered this weapon reserved for the Seven Sisters and Adapa along with a new instant self-destruct system that would keep 6th Race technology and data out of the wrong hands. This new weapon system was classified with the highest Union security clearance and was not mentioned or documented in any Union database.
Only Max, M-14, Sentry-1, Adapa and the 5 original Sisters knew about it. Max had briefed them in the SPSY observation room at the new weapon system demonstration. The Twins would be sworn-in and briefed only if the need arose – in the future. Adapa and Ninlil did not want them to even know about the new weapon system – because the Twins had become quite attached to the new Union Navy Sailors and Star Marines...
Max had expressed his concerns about this decision after the demonstration. He made a strong case and both Eden and Golan agreed with him. They knew their daughters would feel betrayed and more importantly they would begin to doubt their Aunt Lili. However Lili over ruled Max and her Sisters – she was firmly backed by her brother. Max hoped Lili would never regret her decision.
Max was beginning to spend more and more time in his new design and prototype labs within the SPSY. He found the blue light given off by the primary star to be very soothing. Of course all of the windows in the new facility filtered the dangerous ultraviolet radiation. Sentry-1 had easily adapted to his new role and ensured absolute security at the SPSY. Sentry-1 had 6 heavy battleships anchored in a spherical pattern around the SPSY core. He controlled all 6 battleships simultaneously as a single weapon platform. The total firepower at his command was 200 times more powerful than Adapa's and the Seven Sisters combined. Max felt very safe in the SPSY.
Chapter - 57
“Adapa – Ninlil” Lili called.
“Go ahead ma'am” Adapa replied.
“I would like to see what is left of one of the massive guns.” Lili said.
“Of course – I will send you the pre-mission recon data and then send you the Gamma Task Force target site battle damage report. Their primary warhead failed and the gun survived.” Adapa reported.
“Do we know why the warhead failed?” Lili asked.
“No ma'am – all telemetry was green and then only the conventional explosives initiated when the warhead hit their shields. I ordered CIPC to send all telemetry and target assessment data to Sinai.” Adapa answered.
“Perhaps they discovered a way to prevent the neutron trigger from starting the first fission blast.” Lili speculated.
“I was thinking the same thing – Gamma Task Force fired 1.2 nanoseconds behind Task Force Beta.” Adapa reported.
“If true we shall need to devise a shield to protect the neutron triggers in all of our thermonuclear weapons.” Lili said.
“Yes ma'am” Adapa said.
“Lead the way Adapa” Lili said.
“Yes ma'am – here are the coordinates for your escort.” Adapa said.
They really do worry about me Lili thought.
The Gamma Task Force target site was 25% destroyed. All of the power conduits that fed the massive black beam gun were 100% destroyed. The gun was undamaged. Lili documented the sight as she surveyed it so she and Max could talk about it later.
“Once we are certain there are no booby traps, counter measures or intelligence gathering devices such as sniffers and snoopers – I want Sinai and Max to examine this thing from top to bottom.” Lili ordered.
“Yes ma'am” Adapa said.
“Adapa has your CIPC analyzed this gun?” Lili asked.
“No ma'am she has been supporting Beta and Gamma Task Force missions.” Adapa answered.
“At your earliest – please have your CIPC look at this gun.” Lili ordered.
“Copy that” Adapa replied.
“Where did the Outsiders or Forerunners go?” Lili asked.
“The main body is in route to the Triangulum galaxy. Two smaller groups maneuvered inside the MC and we suspect they may be waiting to counter attack.” Adapa said.
“Or they may be protecting the evacuation group.” Lili said.
“That was what my Captains thought. I think you may correct – they have surveillance systems in place and are watching to see what we do.” Adapa said.
“Yes they seem to be... Admiral I am returning home – excellent job – carry on.” Lili complimented and then ordered.
“Thank You ma'am” Adapa said.
And Lili instantly disappeared and reappeared exactly where she left her volunteer Union Navy Heavy Task Force and Star Marine battle group. Lili had already given her Star Marine Task Force their orders to stay and support the Star Marines manning the demilitarized zone.
“We are going home – Commander – form up” Lili ordered.
The Commander of Union Navy Heavy Task Force 6 signaled affirmative and as soon as his carrier vessels recovered their vacuum fighters – they all instantly disappeared and instantly reappeared 2.2 standard core seconds later in SH-1.
“Sinai – Ninlil” Lili called.
“Go ahead ma'am” Sinai replied.
“Sinai I need you to examine the Forerunner gun that survived.” Lili ordered.
“Yes ma'am – do you have the coordinates?” Sinai replied and then asked.
“Yes – already sent” Lili responded.
Sinai signaled affirmative and instantly disappeared from her pier in SH-1.
“Thank you Commander - Heavy Task 6 is dismissed” Lili said.
“You are welcome ma'am” the Commander of Union Navy Heavy Task Force 6 said.
And with that Lili dismissed Union Navy Heavy Task Force 6.
Chapter - 58
“Maximus – Ninlil” Lili called.
“Go ahead ma'am” Max responded.
“I need you to examine the enemy weapon that was not destroyed and determine if it can be adapted. I swear it looks like the planned 3rd Race improvement to the 6th Race's original black beam cannon design.” Lili said.
“Of course ma'am – right away” Max said.
Max reviewed the images that Lili sent him and the physical data she gathered. He had already pulled up the 3rd Race design study and the 6th Race black beam cannon plans.
“Yes ma'am – it appears you are correct – right down to the bolts used on the power conduits – it is the 3rd Race black beam cannon design study.” Max reported.
“That is what I was afraid of – standby.” Lili said and then ordered.
“Sharri – Ninlil” Lili called.
“Yes ma'am” Sharri responded.
“I need you to lead a picket task force to the Union Fleet Headquarters. Nothing in or out! Any unauthorized beings or ships – DESTROY THEM” Lili ordered.
“YES MA'AM” Sharri responded.
Sharri called the two battle groups she had worked with during the 4th Race home world dependents rescue mission and asked for volunteers. They all rushed to her side without hesitation and then they all instantly disappeared.
“Maggi, Golan – Ninlil” Lili called.
“Yes ma'am” they both responded at the same instant.
“I need you to go to the Union Fleet Headquarters and provide overwatch to Task Force Sharri now. Follow standard system ingress and deployment – I am alerting Sharri and her Task Force.” Lili ordered.
They both signaled affirmative with their distinctive double tones and formed up on LZ-2 and then instantly disappeared together.
“Sharri – Ninlil” Lili called.
“Go ahead ma'am” Sharri responded.
“Your Twin Sister and your Mother are at the helio-pause to establish a system overwatch – report system status.” Lili informed and then asked.
“No sign of personnel or ships ma'am” Sharri reported.
“Stay sharp – send in your Star Marine Recon and Spec War Teams – clear the buildings of sniffers, snoopers and booby traps – then establish planetary picket.” Lili ordered.
“Yes ma'am” Sharri replied.
As if she had anticipated her Aunt Lili's orders – her Star Marine Recon and Spec War Teams were already in planetary free fall. Star Marine CAS Atmospheric Fighters were right behind them and Star Marine carrier vessels were right behind them. She had already established a planetary picket with her Union Navy battle group over the North Pole of the planet and her Star Marine battle group over the South Pole.
The Union Navy group was classically arrayed with their battleship in the center and the supporting cruisers around it. The vacuum fighters were in umbrella formations around the battleship and the carrier vessels. The destroyers and submarines were working together to interdict the MC. The Star Marine battle group had just acquired another battleship and so it was arrayed in a quadrangle of battleships and cruisers with 8 carrier vessels in the center – a classic box formation – with excellent fields of fire. The Star Marine’s Submarines were working with the Navy subs.
“Sharri – Maggi” Maggi called on their private secure jump drive channel.
“Go ahead Maggi” Sharri said.
“What is Aunt Lili concerned about here?” Maggi asked her Twin.
“I don't know – but she called me as soon as she talked to Maximus upon her return from seeing Uncle Adapa in the large Companion galaxy.” Sharri answered.
“Really – I can't wait to ask them both what happened there.” Maggi said.
“Me too” Sharri said.
“Maggi,” Sharri asked.
“Yes” Maggi answered.
“I hope you don't mind me asking for your first battle group.” Sharri said.
“Of course not, what's mine is yours Sis.” Maggi said.
“Thank you Sister – I love you.” Sharri said.
“And I love you Sister – you be careful down there.” Maggi said.
“I am protected by the best – most intelligent warriors in this galaxy and my guardian angels – who watch over me – are the most heavily armed 6th Race females I know – not to mention that I was trained by my mother – who is one of the legendary Seven Sisters of the Union Navy! The only thing I need to do right now is ask the QO to watch over all of you.” Sharri said.
“Thank You Sis – I appreciate that” Maggi said.
Chapter - 59
“So you think the Forerunners were sneaking into Union Fleet Headquarters” Max asked Lili.
“Yes – I should have destroyed the Union Fleet database after Sinai backed it all up!” Lili answered.
“We can always remove it or simply use the old system for educational field trips for the cadets.” Max said.
“Yes – that is an excellent idea – however I should have protected it when we found it!” Lili countered �
� worry in her voice.
“We did not have the resources we have now and besides – you protected the most important 6th Race data.” Max said to reassure her.
“I tried – that reminds me – what is the status of the Super Sentry?” Lili said and then asked.
“The Super Sentry is scheduled to take over control of all Secure Harbors and all logistic operations in 2 standard core days. His test scores and field trials have impressed all of us – especially Sentry-1. I must admit – he has surpassed all expectations.” Max reported.
Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Adapa Page 13
