Max then asked about books because he liked holding books in his hands when he read. He remembered reading tablets in Mesopotamia and papyrus scrolls and finally bond books on his ship before Lili rescued him. Lili was intrigued. Of course Lili and all Union personnel had used their PDITs to read stories by the great writers for over 5 billion years.
Max asked if he could stop by the news stand on the way home. She said yes. Max obtained a copy of each of the bound periodicals in the science, engineering and history sections. Lili watched Max. She picked up a periodical that she read when she was a midshipman in the Union Naval Academy. She began to realize why Max enjoyed the bound periodicals. There was something about the photos and layouts that were pleasurable. She decided to take several of her old favorites with her.
They walked back to Lili's yacht the long way around. The news stand officer had given them both a fabric bag to carry their periodicals. They were walking down the grand viewing tube that the 6th Race had used to impress dignitaries. It was a nice change of pace for them both.
Lili flew them back to her hull in her yacht. Max's Spec War Protection detail was flying in close formation to Lili’s yacht in their fighters. Her Spec War Team greeted her at the bottom of her yacht's ramp. She returned their salute and she and Max went to Max's quarters.
They wasted no time taking off their clothes. Lili stopped on the way to his bed. Max looked upon her. She noticed how his blood pressure had risen and he was very aroused. They spent the next 9 hours pleasing each other. Max finally passed out at 4 bells. Lili let Max sleep. She went to her dressing room and uploaded to her hull. It took an hour and half for the shivers to finally subside. She could not believe the levels of pleasure that Max had helped her to experience. She was finally able to review her many reports.
Max did not wake up until 10 bells. He was groggy and he smelled breakfast for the first time in many months. He walked out of his bedroom and there was Lili in the cooking area preparing breakfast.
“Good morning” Max said.
“Good morning” Lili said smiling.
“It smells delicious” Max said.
“I am glad you think so. Here have a seat.” Lili said.
Max sat down and Lili served him his breakfast. Max enjoyed his breakfast and then thanked Lili. Lili thanked Max for the previous evening. Max smiled and thanked her. She blushed and got up from the table to wash the dishes.
“Are you using the ‘Door’ today?” Lili asked.
“Yes – I felt no effects after the first test and will continue to check my Signals. If there are any side effects – I will stop using the device.” Max said.
“I will send your Spec War Protection detail to your office.” Lili said.
“Thank you – I will see you later.” Max said.
“Indeed you shall.” Lili said with a wicked smile on her face.
Max went into his bedroom and brushed his teeth and put on one of the new flightsuits. He stepped through the Door. He felt no ill effects. He checked his Signals and then documented his Signal strength in a personal notebook that he started after he returned from Earth.
M-14 reminded him the EWS was now completely installed throughout the galaxy. He asked if he could initiate the system of systems – Max smiled and said yes.
“Let me know if there are any anomalies after the system is up and running.” Max said.
“Of course – I have the Admiral's Spec War Team weapon orders ready to be delivered.” M-14 said.
“Excellent – deliver them” Max said.
Chapter - 42
The Alien Invaders that destroyed the Andromeda galaxy were “pathfinders” for the main body. The “Invaders” destroyed by the 7 Sisters were a minute fraction of the total alien war fleet. The massive fleet of biological ships had been built to fight a war over 10 billion years ago – however they were never unleashed by their creators – because their creators had been killed by the enemy in a preemptive sneak attack. The creators did not know they had been killed until it was too late. For over 100 years the massive alien war fleet waited to serve their creators – and they had become very hungry! The hunger for signal energy drove the alien ships insane. Without their builders to rein them in – there was nothing to stop them! Thus began their march of destruction that consumed over 30 billion galaxies. In a strange twist of fate the first galaxy they consumed was the home galaxy of their creator's enemy!
The Sisters did not know any of this and could not have anticipated the future. The main body was entering the local group of galaxies having received distress calls from the entire pathfinder group! The main body was trying to determine what force had opposed them. In over 10 billion years they were never even slowed much less stopped. For the first time the Invaders were afraid. A very uncharacteristic thing for a logic based machine.
One of the flight data recorders from a pathfinder ship had survived intact. The aliens found their answer and they knew who had destroyed their pathfinders and they knew how the aliens had destroyed them – the unanswered question – where were these aliens now. They eventually discovered an intact pathfinder log on an abandoned alien ship – after an extensive grid search – in the star void.
They then knew where to find their new enemy.
The alien invaders began surrounding the home galaxy. One million ships of the main body ignored the star mine warning buoys Max had placed. In a flash of extremely brilliant light – that lit up the home galaxy and the companion galaxies – one tenth of the alien invasion force was gone! Communication between the alien ships suddenly increased as fear pulsed through the remaining 9 million massive ships. They had never been opposed in this fashion before! They did not know fear!
The galaxy early warning system that Max had envisioned was not yet installed outside the home galaxy and the massive star mine explosion caught the Sisters by surprise. Max realized the alien invaders were attempting to drain the galaxy of signal energy and he informed Lili of the threat. She divided her forces to begin attacking the aliens by Quadrants - based on Max's input. She was counting on surprise to slow the enemy. And the timing of the attacks would be the key to victory.
Adapa and his two heavy battle groups would start at slice zero and sweep the enemy counter clock wise to slice 45. The SuperSentry – commanding 3 heavy Union Navy battle groups – would start at slice 45 and sweep the enemy counter clock wise to slice 90. Maggi and her mother supported by 1 standard Union Navy battle group would start at slice 90 and sweep the enemy to slice 135. Sentry-1 commanding 1 super heavy Union Navy battle group and 2 standard Union Navy battle groups would sweep the enemy from slice 135 counter clock wise to slice 180. Mimi and Lili supported by 1 heavy Union Navy battle group would sweep the enemy from slice 180 to slice 225. Sentry-3 commanding 3 heavy Union Navy battle groups would start at slice 225 and sweep the enemy to slice 270. Sharri and her mother supported by 1 standard Union Navy battle group would start at slice 270 and sweep the enemy to slice 315. Sentry-6 – commanding 2 Union Navy heavy battle groups and 1 Star Marine Legion – would start at slice 315 and sweep to slice 0. Lili assigned Dina to protect Tabi in the new SPSY. Lili hopped that by attacking the enemy ship at the sector slices first – along the wheel the enemy ships had formed around the galactic rim – would weaken them enough to prevent total destruction.
The Sisters were forming up on the first new Battle Group Launching Zone (BGLZ) in SH-1. They were preparing to travel to their assigned targets out beyond the rim of the 4 Quadrants. They would go in pairs - while Sinai would stay in SH-1 in reserve with her new super heavy Union Navy battle group. Sinai along with the land based CIPCs would monitor the Sentries who were protecting their secure harbors and the progress of the battle. Lili was thinking she could use more ships like Adapa's because of the sheer size of the enemy vehicles.
As if she had read her Aunt Lili's Mind – Maggi formed up wearing one of the new dreadnaught battleship hulls.
“Young Lady what are you doing?” Lili
asked Maggi.
“I decided we may need Uncle – uh – Admiral Adapa's firepower – so I asked Maximus if I could try on one of the new dreadnaught hulls.” Maggi answered.
“Are you certain you can handle it?” Lili asked.
“Yes ma'am – Maximus and M-Fourteen are flying with me to ensure all systems are nominal.” Maggi answered.
“I see – let me speak to Maximus.” Lili said and then ordered.
“Yes ma'am – stand by” Maggi replied.
After 10 standard core seconds Maximus responded:
“This is Maximus – go ahead ma'am.” Max said.
“I do not recall approving this trial – I thought your report to me indicated we cannot handle the load.” Lili said.
“Ma'am – most of the original Seven Sisters do not have the I/O surplus needed to handle the greatly increased number of weapon systems and weapon capacities – also the number of shield emitters and power cores is much, much greater. Mimi's code rewrite required specific changes to your original software – however it was the changes that Mimi made herself that–” Max answered.
“What do you mean Mimi rewrote her own code?” Lili asked interrupting Max with what sounded like anger in her voice.
“That is not the question – why did you not tell me I could download into the new dreadnaught hull?” Mimi asked Max.
“THAT IS ENOUGH – WE SHALL DISCUSS THIS AT LENGTH AFTER WE DEAL WITH THIS NEW THREAT TO THE GALAXY.” Lili commanded.
Before the Sisters could signal affirmative – Sharri showed up in a new dreadnaught battleship hull that was painted almost exactly like her Uncle Adapa’s – except that the blue areas were pink!
“Take your place by your Mother's side young Lady!” Lili commanded.
“Yes ma'am” Sharri replied softly.
“May the Quantum Observer keep you all safe – execute!” Lili said and then commanded.
The Sisters and their task forces instantly disappeared. The Sisters and the Sentries appeared behind the very large enemy ships. Lili was preparing to give the command to fire – when Adapa realized he was being drained of power – and opened fire! A single massive black beam went forth from his upper bow emitter platform and instantly removed the largest alien ship in front of his battle group. His lower bow emitter platform fired a single massive black beam with the same effect on the next largest alien ship. Sinai was astonished and ran a BIT on all of her sensors. When she saw Adapa do it again rapidly sequencing his forward and aft emitter platforms Sinai realized it was not a malfunction on her end!
Adapa began to feel better and with each alien ship he removed the drain upon his battle group declined by a factor of ten. After 20 large ships were removed the drain of power stopped.
“Ninlil – Sinai” Sinai called.
“Go ahead Sinai' Lili replied.
“You are all being drained of power – RETREAT.” Sinai said.
Neither Lili nor any other Sister had noticed they were being drained of power. All of their power cores were already below 75%! Maggi and Sharri replicated their Uncle's demonstration of firepower to even greater effect – firing simultaneous broadsides! They each removed 12 of the largest alien ships in half the time and they began to feel better as the drain stopped.
Lili was having difficulty thinking. The aliens were drawing more than her power core energy!
“Sinai to all ships – go to slices 0, 90 and 270 NOW and form up behind Admiral Adapa, Maggi and Sharri!” Sinai commanded.
Sentry-1 and his heavy battle group went to a position behind Maggi at slice 90. Lili and Mimi followed them. Sentry-3 and his battle group went to a position behind Sharri at slice 270. Sentry-6 and his battle group went to a position behind Adapa at slice 0 as did the SuperSentry and his battle group. Adapa, Maggi and Sharri maintained their massive black beam weapon firing techniques.
After 30 standard core minutes Adapa had removed 3,600 ships and Maggi and Sharri each had removed 7,200 ships. The aliens turned their attention to the home galaxy and were preparing to drain the galaxy. At the rate they were losing ships – the collective calculated they would still be able to drain 60 percent of the stars – so they stood their ground.
Suddenly a much larger force of ships appeared. Each ship in this new force was 10 times larger than the largest ships the alien invaders had.
A brilliant white beam – 2 times larger than Adapa's massive black beam – went forth from 10 emitter locations on each of the new ships. The alien invaders were gone! The Star Marines cheered! The Union Navy sailors cheered! The Sisters were stunned.
Max was correct – there is a greater force in the Universe. Lili thought.
Lili tipped her bow down as a sign of respect toward the ships that had come to her rescue.
Appendix
Acronyms
Artificial Brain (AB)
Armored Battle Suit (ABS)
Artificial Life forms (AL)
Battle Group Launching Zone (BGLZ)
Built In Test (BIT)
Carrier Vessel (CV)
Combat Gym Suit (CGS)
Counselor Star Bases (CSB)
Dark Times (TD)
Logistic Supply Bases (LSB) -- Fleet and Union
Quantum Energy Shield (QES)
Portable Data Interface Tool (PDIT)
Rescue Doctor (RD)
Synthetic Body (SB)
Union Jump Drive (UJD)
Jump Drive Communication Link (JDCL)
Union Planetary Army (UPA)
Vacuum Atmosphere Land Ocean (VALO)
Galactic Law
1. No sentient species shall enslave any other sentient species.
2. No sentient species shall enhance, alter, impede, or prevent the natural development of
any other sentient species.
3. No sentient species shall take by force the planets or system resources of any other
sentient species.
4. No sentient species shall use advanced technology to pretend to be a supernatural deity
for the purposes of obtaining worship or services from other sentient species.
5. No sentient species shall wage war on any other sentient species.
6. All sentient species shall be allowed to enjoy the fruits of the Union.
7. Union technology and resources shall be reserved for the exclusive use of the member
races of the Union.
Plate 3: The Union Time Line wall chart hanging in Max's Office
Galaxy System numbers
Union Fleet HQ is in system 60 - 599,611,109 – (Quadrant I, arm 3 – center)
Starship Yard of the Sixth Race is in system 60 – 697,222,206 – (Quadrant I, arm 4 outer)
Earth is located in system 270 – 348,611,111 – (Quadrant III, arm 4)
Beach World on System 55 – 697,222,210 – (Quadrant I, arm 4 – outer)
The alien Scout ships called the “Invaders” by the 4th Race appeared in the following slices:
45 – 508, 279, 351
135 – 508, 279, 351
225 – 508, 279, 351
315 – 508, 279, 351
The names of the Original Sisters
The 6th Race laid out the Sisters – two at a time – on slipway 1 and slipway 2 of the original 6th Race Starship Yard. The only exception was Sinai who was the last Sister. Golan and Ninlil lost their twins. The Sister’s “build numbers” became their Unit Designation number.
Ninlil – Tavnit (6-1-1) – (6-1-2)
Golan – Dingir (6-1-3) – (6-1-4)
Edin – Mimi (6-1-5) – (6-1-6)
Sinai (6-1-7)
Sinai is Ninlil’s executive officer – her build number is not her rank.
The names of the New Baby Sisters and their Mothers
The official names and the build numbers of the new Baby Sisters and their respective Mothers:
Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Tavnit and Dingir Page 15
