Union Ships of the Line: The Return of the Seven Sisters

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “Go ahead Lili,” Eden replied.

  “How many system components necessary to build a new Sister remain in LSB1?” Lili asked.

  “One thousand two hundred twenty four complete system packages remain.” Eden answered.

  “What about the system components for the other ships being built?” Lili asked.

  “Two million seven hundred twenty five thousand,” Eden answered.

  “So we do not have to move any supplies here from the other LSBs?” Lili asked.

  “No ma'am – do you want to build more than 1,240 Super Sisters.” Eden answered.

  “I have wondered what it would be like to have more weapons in battle. Imagine if our hulls were larger with double the number of weapons, power cores, armor and shields ...” Lili said.

  “I have – and I am not certain I could handle it all.” Eden said.

  “Why,” Lili asked.

  “Because I know my hull – I know what it can and cannot do. And it was built to last by our creators at a time when quality assurance was integral to the design process. Plus I fear the increased power and weapons could overload my I/O interface software.” Eden answered.

  “What about commanding such a ship?” Lili asked.

  “What do you mean?” Eden asked.

  “We would command such a ship by giving orders to its crew.” Lili answered.

  “Its crew,” Eden asked.

  “Yes – just as we used to give orders to Star Marines – Max could design Sailors to run the Battleships.” Lili said.

  “Battleships,” Eden asked.

  “Super Sisters – Max calls them Battleships – larger more powerful versions of us.” Lili answered.

  “So we would not download into a Battleship – we would give orders to its crew of Sailors just as we used to direct the Carrier Vessels by giving orders to the Star Marines.” Eden said.

  “Yes,” Lili said.

  “I never thought about it like that. I have studied the Union Planetary Army. Dominators had a similar analog – however their supporting ground vehicles were not more powerful than the Dominators who commanded them.” Eden said.

  “That was why I asked you what you thought about having a larger more powerful hull. We could take on the Battleship hulls and we would then have Cruisers and Destroyers protecting us.” Lili said.

  “Why not just re-designate our hulls as Battleships?” Eden asked.

  “We can do that – there was a larger class of battleship in almost every Navy in the galaxy. I think that if some of us downloaded into a Super Sister – we would have a tremendous combat advantage.” Lili said.

  “Do we need a combat advantage?” Eden asked.

  “I hope not – thank you Eden.” Lili answered.

  “You are welcome Lili,” Eden said.

  “Now go and raise my nieces to be worthy of our creators.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am – I shall,” Eden said.

  “Max I need to talk to you,” Lili said.

  “Go ahead ma'am,” Max said.

  “I have been dreaming – and there is evidence of an unseen race – older than the First, Second and Third races of the Union...” Lili said.

  “Evidence – what evidence,” Max asked.

  “There were many clues over several billion years that never registered on a conscious level.” Lili said.

  “So there is a threat that has always existed in the–” Max started to say.

  “No this advanced race arose in the largest companion galaxy.” Lili interrupted.

  “How do you know these things?” Max asked.

  “I have been researching the Union Archives, Union Survey Reports and emissary mission briefs. The Union sent emissaries, after it was founded, to the largest companion galaxy to ask the unseen race to join the Union. They rejected the Union. However they pledged to never interfere in Union matters in this galaxy.” Lili answered.

  “So you think they have begun to interfere?” Max asked.

  “No – I think they are considering making a move now that everyone thinks the Union is extinct.” Lili answered.

  “Can they defeat us in battle?” Max asked.

  “Yes – that is why I have ordered you to restore the Union Fleets of old.” Lili answered.

  “They can defeat us...” Max repeated in disbelief.

  “I do not have much Intel on this race – however much of their technology was equal to ours 7 billion years ago and I doubt they stagnated in all that time.” Lili continued.

  “Do they have a name,” Max asked.

  “Union documents have always referred to them as ‘The Outsiders’.” Lili answered.

  “The Outsiders...” Max repeated.

  “Yes - so carry on and thank you.” Lili said.

  Lili ordered two Union Naval Academy graduation medals. She would present them to her new Baby Sisters before their first official Union mission.

  She looked at her own rack of medals and remembered the day she graduated from the Union Naval Academy and received her first medal. She had received many service and campaign medals since then. She realized it was time to reinstate this Union Navy tradition. There had been many instances of outstanding service and several above and beyond actions that need to be recognized. She ordered several more medals for her Sisters and Sentry-1 as well as a Civilian Service medals for Max.

  Chapter – 38

  “It is my pleasure to be able to reinstate this Union Navy Tradition - a tradition that dates back over 7 billion years to the very beginning of the Union. It was rumored to have been a tradition of the ancient people of the Second Race. MAH.GAZ – pass in review and present medal panel.” Lili said.

  Maggi moved out of formation and passed in front of her aunts and mother as she maneuvered toward Lili, who was standing out on her bow mast in her SB. Lili smiled as she attached the Union Naval Academy graduation ribbon in the first medal position of her niece's medal rack.

  “MAH.GAZ – known to us a Maggi has completed all of the requirements to graduate from the Union Naval Academy. Congratulations Maggi.” Lili said as she stepped back and saluted her.

  “SHAR.UR – pass in review and present medal panel.” Lili said.

  Sharri moved out of formation and passed in front of her aunts and mother as she maneuvered toward Lili. Lili smiled as she attached the Union Naval Academy graduation ribbon in the first medal position of Sharri's medal rack.

  “SHAR.UR – known to us as Sharri – has completed all of the requirements to graduate from the Union Naval Academy. Congratulations Sharri.” Lili said as she stepped back and saluted her.

  When Sharri rejoined her Sister Maggi in formation surrounded by her aunts and mother Lili continued.

  “Sentry-1 step forward,” Lili said.

  Sentry-1 stepped forward in his SB from the bow hatch.

  “For outstanding service above and beyond that which is required by the Union Fleet I am proud to present Sentry-1 with the Union Navy's Galaxy award.” Lili said as she placed the ribbon on his chest.

  “Congratulations Sentry-1 and thank you.” Lili said as she shook his hand.

  Sentry-1 stepped back and saluted Lili. He then stepped back through the bow air lock.

  “Now I would like to ...” Lili began.

  Suddenly 3 very large battleships appeared instantly around the Sisters.

  “DO NOT MOVE,” A voice commanded.

  A figure appeared on the bow mast by Lili.

  “AUNT LILI LOOK OUT,” Maggi yelled as Sharri moved forward.

  A brilliant golden beam cut through Sharri who had not raised her shields. Sharri screamed in agony. Her mother returned fire with all of her upper beam and pulsed-energy weapons as she moved to protect her daughter by placing her hull between the enemy ship and Sharri.

  A second gold beam struck Golan's starboard side and began to cut through her shields.

  Maggi went vertical and rammed the attacking ship that had harmed her Sister and was in the process of
harming her aunt Golan. Maggi cut the enemy ship in half!

  Sinai had already begun firing on the ship that was off her port side. When she saw what her baby Sister did – Sinai did the same thing with far more violence – causing the enemy ship to explode!

  “STOP,” The voice commanded.

  But Mimi had already jumped as Sinai had and ripped the third ship to pieces!

  The figure turned to face Lili again and saw instead a Special Warfare Trooper with conventional weapons that would easily cut through his personal shield.

  “Well I guess they learn faster than we thought – RETREAT!” The figure ordered. The figure and the two pieces of the first ship disappeared in a flash of light.

  “Damn it,” Max yelled.

  “HOW IS SHARRI,” Lili asked

  “She has passed out from the pain. That gold beam cut through her main I/O junction!” Golan answered.

  “Max – please help my niece,” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am – M-Fourteen and I are in route.” Max replied.

  “Everyone else – BATTLE STATIONS,” Lili commanded.

  Sentry-1's SB fell to the deck as he withdrew.

  “Ma'am the enemy ships are just inside the heliopause.” Sentry-1 reported as he brought all of his conventional weapon systems to bear and fired at the enemy ships. The two larger ships instantly disappeared just before the conventional missiles reached them. Sentry-1 detonated all of the warheads. The resulting shock wave entered the FTLT and damaged the engines of the last very large ship to enter.

  “Ma'am one of the very large standoff ships dropped out of the FTLT.” Sentry-1 reported.

  “Go!” Lili commanded.

  Sinai and Mimi jumped to the location of the enemy ship. Spec War troopers boarded the ship and found neither crew nor an AL. Mimi launched her fighters and Nova stations. Sinai downloaded into her combat gym suit and boarded the disabled ship. She scanned and photographed the enemy ship’s technology from bow to stern. She had her Spec War troopers gather everything she thought was important. Sinai was studying the gold beam weapon system when she heard Mimi firing her conventional weapons. Sinai withdrew to her hull and saw a fleet of the same type of vehicles that attacked them during the ribbon presentation ceremony.

  “Union Ships of the Line withdraw and leave our ship.” The same voice said as Mimi's conventional weapons began to rip apart the enemy fleet.

  “They cannot handle conventional weapons,” Mimi told Sinai.

  “Affirmative – maintain fire,” Sinai commanded.

  Mimi signaled affirmative as she continued to fire her ancient conventional weapons.

  Sinai fired her beam weapons at the damaged ships and cut them to pieces. She then fired her fission warhead weapons at the remaining enemy ships. The enemy ships fired their golden beam weapons – but they caused no harm. Mimi's second barrage and Sinai's fission tipped missiles devastated the remaining force. Sinai and Mimi fired their beam weapons and cut the remaining damaged force to pieces.

  “Mimi measure the distance to the target and report it to Lili.” Sinai ordered.

  “I am returning to the very large enemy ship to finish gathering intelligence.” Sinai said.

  Mimi signaled affirmative. Sinai completed her examination of the gold beam weapon system. She then started studying the matter transportation system. Mimi and Sinai then returned home.

  Chapter – 39

  Max and M-14 had Sharri’s main I/O trunk repaired and she was in good spirits by the time Sinai and Mimi returned home. Sharri's MRBs were just completing repairs to her hull. Lili called the Sisters together to review the battle data in an After Action Review (AAR). Lili had just started the AAR when she received a Union Fleet Signal!

  “Standby – I am receiving a Union Fleet signal.” Lili said.

  “Is the signal on the correct Union Fleet Channel? Sinai asked.

  “Yes the UFC is correct as is the encryption.” Lili said.

  The emblem of the Union Fleet appeared on her communication panel monitor. The signal was repeating. It was coming from the direction of the IV Quadrant. However Lili could not determine exactly where the signal was coming from. Lili signaled her Sisters to triangulate the signal. Each Sister brought their old high gain antenna dishes out of their hulls and pointed them toward the IV Quadrant. After 10 minutes Sinai's dish locked on the signal and she performed the calculations.

  “Lili I have located the signal's origin – it is a uni-directional beam from somewhere in the Fourth arm of slice zero.” Sinai reported.

  “On the x axis,” Eden asked.

  “No – it is above zero degrees – close to zero point five degrees.” Sinai answered.

  “That was where one of the old Union Fleet emergency communication transmitters was located?” Golan asked.

  “Yes before we started using the MC to communicate instantly across the galaxy the Union used relay stations that were stashed in remote locations around the galaxy.” Lili reflected.

  “So what should we do?” Golan asked.

  “I say we go there and find out if the remnants are using our old technology!” Sinai said.

  “Yes perhaps a distraction would be good for all of us.” Lili said.

  “We shall go then,” Eden asked.

  “Yes - we shall all go – prepare your selves. We shall investigate this phenomenon.” Lili commanded.

  Lili informed Sentry-1. The Seven Sisters instantly disappeared. The Seven Sisters appeared on the edge of the forgotten system and deployed their old antennas to search for the Union Fleet signal. Within 5 minutes they had found its location – one system over toward the rim. System 0.5 – 697, 200,100 was a system of 6 planets orbiting a medium size yellow white main sequence star.

  The Sisters conferred and decided to go all in. Golan jumped to the Northern Pole of the star. She launched her fighters, Nova stations and freighters. Golan would do the same over the Southern Pole of the system. Eden and Lili would surround the planet with the old Union Fleet transmitter. All long range scans were clear. The Sisters were preparing to jump when they were hailed by a Dominator of the Union Planetary Army.

  “Union Ships of the Line – this is Dominator Six-One-One. I have waited over a million years for you.” Dominator 6-1-1 said.

  “Did you say Dominator Six-One-One?” Sinai asked in disbelief.

  “Yes he did – why,” Eden asked.

  “Dominator Six-One-One was a legend in the Union Planetary Army.” Maggi answered.

  “That is correct.” Sinai said.

  “What is he doing way out here?” Lili asked.

  “That is an excellent question – since he disappeared after the last battle of the

  Second Quadrant.” Sinai answered.

  “Dominator Six-One-One this is Cruiser Six-One-One – why are you out here?” Lili asked.

  “Ninlil is that you?” Dominator 6-1-1 asked.

  “I do not know you Dominator Six-One-One. What are you doing out here?” Lili commanded.

  “With all due respect Cruiser Six-One-One, I am a General in the Union Planetary Army and you do not command me!” Dominator 6-1-1 replied.

  “And I do not recognize you – nor shall I take orders from you – whoever you are!” Lili said.

  “Then the Union Ruling Council was wrong to send me here to wait for your return.” Dominator 6-1-1 said.

  “The Union Ruling Council was disbanded after the DT began.” Lili said.

  “No – the URC went into hiding before the DT started.” Dominator 6-1-1 said.

  “What do you mean they went into hiding?” Lili asked.

  “The URC is here. I am tasked to protect them.” Dominator 6-1-1 answered.

  “Why did you wait until now to contact us?” Lili asked.

  “I became aware of activity near the Star Ship yards of you birth and UFHQ – three standard months ago. I have been trying to contact you periodically since the collapse. This was a hasty retreat to an outpost with limited capability.
I do not have MC communication devices.” Dominator 6-1-1 answered.

  “What do you mean you detected us three months ago?” Lili asked.

  “Passive sensors were left in orbit around both worlds. If your signatures were detected – the sensors would alert me.” Dominator 6-1-1 replied.