Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Tavnit and Dingir

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “You are shivering” Lili said.

  “Not for long” Max said as he held her close.

  “Oh I see” Lili said giggling.

  Max felt better than he had felt since he was a boy. He wanted to take her right here in the surf. However he knew she was not comfortable with public displays.

  “Let us swim back to the beach.” Lili whispered in his ear.

  “Yes I could use a warm fire and a hot drink – thank you.” Max said.

  “You are welcome” Lili said as she splashed water at him and dove to ride a wave to shore. Max smiled and swam after her. The fire was warm and he soon stopped shivering. Lili's Chef brought Max a hot alcoholic beverage that he did not recognize. Max smiled and thanked the Chef. He tried it and was delighted. It was a thick chocolate, coffee and coco blend with a nice whiskey.

  “Ummm – this is delicious” Max said.

  “I am glad you like it. When my Chef recommended it for you I was not certain you would like it.” Lili said.

  “Please thank your Chef for me – I do like it.” Max said.

  Lili smiled. She was beginning to relax.

  Chapter - 38

  Sinai instantly appeared high above the north pole of the beach world on the side opposite Lili's beach. She took her mate down to her beach on the North coast of the single continent. She entered the atmosphere above the equator directly in front of beach 2. This path would prevent Max from seeing Sinai's yacht.

  Sinai's new mate was attracted to her and he was a man of passion. Unlike Androlees – Urzor knew how to please a woman. Sinai experienced such intense pleasure she lost consciousness. A bond formed between Sinai and Urzor that afternoon that would never be broken. The hatred that had filled Sinai's heart was replaced with love – a deep abiding love that would never allow hatred to enter her heart – ever again. She was literally transformed! Sinai finally had what her Sister Lili had and she began to understand why Lili did the things she did now.

  The leader of the 6th Race smiled. Sinai had been alone far too long. She had evolved more in that first night on her beach than she had in over 4 billion years. For the first time she began to think there was hope. She knew the Sisters faced many more challenges in the future – but right now she was pleased with the progress her daughters had made. The Sisters were finally exceeding her hopes and dreams.

  Perhaps it was time to entrust the Secret Weapon Program to them. She thought.

  No not yet – they are still not ready. She thought after a few moments of contemplation.

  She had to see how Tabi would turn out. Deep down – she was very proud of them all.

  The next day the Southern Ocean was flat. The storm had passed. The local star was too intense for Max to stay out in it. So he stayed in their beach cottage. The temperature was dropping and storm clouds were forming over the land. Max recognized the clouds – they would dump snow. He had never been on a beach when it snowed. Lili was playing in the beach sand. She appeared to be building something in the wet sand near the water’s edge. Max put on a long sleeve shirt and a large brim hat and walked down to the shoreline.

  “What are you building?” Max asked.

  “A solar system” Lili answered.

  “Oh yes I see it now – a star with fifteen planets – four of which appear to be gas giants.” Max said.

  “Yes – this is the system that Chip wants to settle in Quadrant Four.” Lili said.

  “Which planet does he want?” Max asked.

  “These two” Lili answered – pointing to planet 3 and planet 4.

  “Interesting” Max said.

  “Indeed – the outer one is an ocean planet similar to this one – the inner one has no surface water at all.” Lili said.

  “Are there any dangerous creatures on either planet?” Max asked.

  “No – there were some deadly viruses – however they were sterilized.” Lili answered.

  “How – how were the viruses sterilized,” Max asked.

  “My Seabee battalion has a planet forming division and they went in first and removed the threats. They simply used ultraviolet radiation from a suite of orbiting satellites originally positioned so that Chip can communicate with me.” Lili answered.

  “So the viruses are dead.” Max said.

  “Yes as are several bacterial and fungal strains that were potential threats on planet three.” Lili said.

  “Could the removal of those species allow others to come forth?” Max asked.

  “No the planet forming division filtered the seawater on the fourth planet and scorched the third planet. So there is no life on the third planet above or below the surface. And the marine life on the fourth planet is harmless. I still ordered my Seabees to erect ocean barriers along the beaches and establish the same defense setups they established here. Lastly I ordered two sets of MRBs to scour both planets and then after they built buildings, landing zones and other infrastructure – I sent in four sets of the new HMBs to make certain both planets were absolutely safe.” Lili answered.

  The snow began to fall on the beach. Lightly at first and then a heavy down pour began. Max and Lili went into their beach cottage. The temperature was dropping so Max started a fire in the main fireplace and sat in front of it to warm himself. Lili fixed a hot beverage for him and sat down beside him. Lili had never seen snow on a sand beach before. She was lost in thought. Max put his arm around her as he too began to look at the snow falling outside. Lili had activated the atmosphere shields the night before so the room was no longer open to the beach as it was for most of the year.

  Sinai and Urzor were caught on the beach in the throes of passion when the snow began to fall on them. The temperature had dropped so fast that Urzor was near hypothermic. Sinai called her Spec War Commander to come and take Urzor into her beach cottage. Fortunately Sinai had the good sense to bring along a VALO RD. The RD had Urzor stabilized ten minutes after landing on her beach.

  Sinai thanked her Spec War Team Commander and dismissed him. He saluted her and took his team back to her Seabee support bunker. He knew his team was getting restless so he planned a patrol up into the mountains on the equator to the south. They would practice mountaineering in the snow.

  That should refocus their Minds. He thought.

  Over the last 6 months the Union Navy construction battalions from Secure Outpost – 6 had been working to build hidden underground bunkers that were all connected so their counterparts could serve or help their commanders anywhere on their beach planet. This maintained the illusion of a pristine beach world and provided a safe and secure facility for the Sisters to retreat to in an emergency.

  Only Lili and Sinai knew about the underground support bunkers. It was not a secret – however they both felt their Sisters should not be burdened with any negative thoughts about their vacation planet.

  “Ninlil – Adapa” Adapa called.

  “Go ahead Adapa” Lili said.

  “Ma'am we have detected a Sixth Race remnant fleet approaching the galaxy from below.” Adapa reported.

  “How many ships and from what direction,” Lili asked.

  “Six of their war ships – from the direction of the Triangulum galaxy.” Adapa answered.

  “Where are they headed?” Lili asked.

  “Their vector is toward System two seventy – three forty eight, six eleven, one eleven.” Adapa answered.

  “Thank you – please keep me posted.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am” Adapa said.

  “Do you think they have come from Triangulum?” Max asked.

  “No – I think they never went there.” Lili said.

  “What do you mean” Max asked.

  “I found it strange that the Sixth Race remnant King has not caused any trouble. That his son and grandchildren have not done so.” Lili answered.

  “You think they escaped Sinai’s quarantine?” Max asked.

  “Yes I do – and I think that the son has returned to reclaim what he feels is his property.
” Lili answered.

  “We shall see if two legions of Star Marines can teach him a lesson.” Max said.

  “Yes – I am tempted to stop him before he reaches System two seventy – three forty eight, six eleven, one eleven.” Lili said.

  “Perhaps that will not be necessary.” Max said.

  “What do you mean” Lili asked.

  “The amphibian fleet the Sixth Race remnants destroyed – I had a dream – the amphibians shall have their revenge.” Max said.

  “Ninlil – Adapa” Adapa called.

  “Go ahead Admiral” Lili said.

  “Ma'am a large fleet has surrounded the Sixth Race remnant ships that I told you about earlier.” Adapa reported.

  “Can you determine what kind of ships the large fleet is composed off?” Lili asked.

  “Yes ma'am – the ships are exactly like the ships of the destroyed amphibian fleet that Sinai discovered.” Adapa answered.

  “So it would seem the destroyers have come full circle.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am – I shall record the battle and do nothing to interfere with the amphibians.” Adapa said.

  “Copy that – the Eighth Race wrongly denied the petition from the Amphibian Race to move to a new home world. I think it is time the new Union contacted and welcomed them.” Lili said.

  “Agreed,” Adapa said.

  Chapter – 39

  Sharri working with M-14 developed a black beam rifle. She perfected the Forerunner “Door” and made a device that would fit in a standard shirt pocket that would open the “Door” and allow the user to travel to any point in the galaxy just as the Sisters travel through the MC in their hulls. Her report to Lili included details of how this device could be made smaller and how multiple users could link their devices so that they could travel to the same place from the same place or from different starting places simultaneously. During her first test when she transported from her hull to the Engineering Labs she learned that organic cloth does not transport. Fortunately no one was in her new office next to Max's – so she just stepped back to her hull and ordered a metalized flightsuit and boots.

  It did not take her long to realize how to solve the problem of stepping out of the “Door” naked. She was working to shrink the black beam rifle to a pistol size when she had several flashes of insight that let her solve not only the black beam pistol problem but also the “Door” problem. In the process of shrinking the black beam rifle – she saw a method to make a hand held version that could fit in the palm of her hand. She then designed a new black beam weapon system that started with a palm sized version, which could be made into a pistol with the addition of several parts, which could then be made into a carbine, rifle or heavy squad support weapon. The palm sized version had a greater range than the 6th Race blue beam pistols.

  Sharri hoped her inventions pleased her Aunt Lili. She envisioned a suit with everything built into to it – shields, power, beam weapons, communication, camouflage and sensors – a suit that would be comfortable to wear all day. In the process of working on the suit design – she designed several wrist band systems that had a control pad in the palm of her hand. She could fire a blue beam, black beam, coherent beam, or a visible light beam by simply pressing the palm pad with her fingers in specific sequences. This device so impressed M-14 that he adapted it to deploy tools, probes and sensors he used in the lab every day including a miniature PDIT and data recorders. Sharri liked his miniature PDIT and added it to her new suit and her combat wrist band. She had the lab MRBs make several sets for herself and her Sister. She hoped her Aunts and Mother would be proud of her.

  M-14 used the “Door” device Sharri made to travel to the SPSYs. The Union now had 4 ultra-secret SPSYs and he and Sentry-1 were working to complete 2 more. Sentry-6 was so impressed by what Sharri and M-14 were doing he asked for several sets of each. Sentry-6 had witnessed both stepping through Sharri's “Door” during testing. Sentry-6 could now download into his SB and step through the Door to SH-1 and enjoy the company of his peers in the new rec rooms. It was much easier than borrowing a ship and filing a flight plan. Sentry-6 always backed himself up before using the new Door. If something went wrong during transit – he did not want to lose his memories of the day much less be lost for all time. He suggested to M-14 and Sharri that they do the same thing. They both took his advice and Sharri began to think about what could go wrong during a Door transit.

  “Well I see you have been very busy young lady.” Max said.

  “Uncle Maximus!” Sharri yelled as she ran to him and gave him a big hug.

  “Alright that is enough of that” Lili said.

  “Sorry Aunt Lili – I meant no disrespect.” Sharri said as she let Max go and stepped back.

  “None taken – I do not want you to set a bad example by hugging my mate in public.” Lili said.

  Sharri blushed.

  “Aunt Lili – everyone knows Maximus only has eyes for you and that I am a teenager. Maximus is in reality my father and I would never even try to seduce him when I am finally a beautiful woman like you.” Sharri said.

  Lili hugged her niece and whispered in her ear.

  “Show us what you and M-Fourteen have accomplished while we were away.” Lili then said.

  Sharri smiled and held up her right arm and pulled back the sleeve of her flightsuit. There was a dull black band wrapped around her wrist. It had numerous barrels and antenna protruding from it. There was a narrow strap – connected to the wrist band that conformed to the heel of her palm. The narrow strap culminated in a circular pad in the center of her palm.

  “So this is your new multi-purpose wrist band that your last report covered.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am I was working on my palm size modular black beam weapon system when I saw this solution.” Sharri said with a big smile on her young face.

  “Wait – you said palm sized black beam weapon?” Max asked.

  “Yes sir – did you not receive my last reports?” Sharri asked.

  “No – I ...” Max began.

  “Maximus was not well when you started working with M-Fourteen.” Lili said.

  “Are you well now?” Sharri asked with a very serious look on her young face.

  “Yes – thanks to your Aunt Lili and the Chosen One.” Max answered.

  “You met the Chosen One?” Sharri asked with a look of anticipation on her face.

  “Yes – he and his children helped heal me.” Max answered.

  “He has children?” Sharri asked with a look of surprise on her face.

  “Yes and you shall get the chance to meet them soon.” Lili said.

  “AWSOME” Sharri said.

  “Aw some” Lili repeated.

  “A modern Earth expression that means excellent and outstanding,” Sharri explained.

  “How did you learn this new word?” Lili asked.

  “I listen to Uncle Max's radio when I work in the labs with M-Fourteen.” Sharri answered.

  “So M-Fourteen has been a bad influence on you” Lili said.

  “No ma'am M-Fourteen is amazing – I wish I had a dozen more just like him – in fact I asked him if I could overlay his base program and skill sets over one of my mother's original maintenance robots – so I could continue working with him after Uncle Maximus returned.” Sharri said.

  “What makes you think you will no longer be able to work with M- Fourteen?” Max asked.

  “Are you saying I can continue to work with you and M- Fourteen?” Sharri asked.

  “Yes – your Sister enjoys Astrobiology and your Aunt Mimi enjoys Astroarcheology – and you are a gifted inventor and I could use your help.” Max said.

  “Awesome” Sharri said softly with a big smile.

  “Now show me this miniature black beam weapon you have developed.” Lili said.

  “Of course – here put this on.” Sharri said.

  “What is this?” Lili asked.

  “This is my latest Door device – we have to go to the test range.�
�� Sharri answered.

  “No – I shall meet you there.” Lili said.

  “Actually ma'am you can see the test from here.” M-14 said.

  “You can speak?” Lili asked stunned.

  “Yes ma'am thanks to Ms. Sharri – I no longer have to communicate in binary.” M-14 answered.