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

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “So our relationship happened over time rather than by design?” Max asked.

  “Yes,” Lili said.

  “Do you believe your Sisters will be successful in this venture?” Max asked.

  “I hope so – however I suspect they will not and it will be a learning process for them - one that will allow them to grow spiritually. Then one day they too will have a mate they love.” Lili answered.

  “So you love me?” Max asked.

  “Yes – I love you.” Lili replied.

  “I dared not hope - I love the sound of your voice when you say those words. I love you too. However I am concerned that knowing this could affect our relationship. I believe in your noble purpose and I want to be a part of it.” Max said.

  “You are worried your feelings might compromise your effectiveness.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am,” Max responded.

  “Perhaps there is a solution,” Lili said.

  “Really,” Max asked.

  “Yes – I will look into the technology. It would allow us to continue our working relationship and share our love also.” Lili answered.

  “Technology,” Max asked.

  “Yes,” Lili answered in a soothing reassuring voice.

  “I trust you implicitly.” Max said.

  “As I trust you Max.” Lili agreed.

  Chapter – 23

  Golan realized the error of listening to her ego instead of her older Sister. She read Lili's report and then executed the process. Lili called her Sisters on the TAC net after 2 core days. She explained what needed to be done. There was no disagreement. They instantly disappeared after letting Sentry-1 know. Several minutes later they appeared on the outer edge of system 330 - 697,200,098. They executed a modified version of their previous attack on this system. Once they were satisfied the system was safe – each Sister would order a synthetic male body for their companions to partially download their Minds. Max and M-14 built the necessary hardware for each Sister's companion and installed the system in each Sister’s hull. Lili knew they had to be careful when the brain tap system was running – too much and each companion would be completely downloaded – too little and psychosis could result.

  Max was confident he and Lili had solved the many problems that could be encountered by using the emergency Mind rescue system to partially download living beings into synthetic bodies. The system was designed without options – total transfer of the individual to a synthetic body. The purpose of the system was to provide a synthetic brain for the individual’s Mind when that being suffered catastrophic irreversible physical injury. Max had reasoned that if certain brain centers were not transferred – a logical version of the individual could be created with sufficient emotion to maintain the pair bond without jeopardizing efficiency. Lili and Max ran numerous simulations and documented their test results at each phase until they were convinced the system would work with complete safety.

  Each sister ordered several synthetic male bodies for their companions and the parts to build and maintain the transfer and backup machines. They then returned to the Star Ship yards to begin final testing. In two core weeks – systems and documented procedure packages were ready. Lili was still concerned about resonance and researched and then developed the necessary work around procedure to augment her original idea to modify the emergency Mind transfer system. It would be necessary to place each companion's synthetic body into stasis whenever the Sisters were near Secure Harbor (SH) 1. This would prevent resonance of the living and artificial Minds in proximity. The simulations and tests that Max and M-14 executed validated Lili's concerns and verified the resonance prevention procedure was required.

  Max knew that Lili could wipe his memory each time and prevent the erosion of his efficiency. He was glad the Sisters were ethical and good. Max began to think about the possibilities for this new system. He could do dangerous things with this new system just as the Sisters did – without fear of form change. The emergency Mind transfer system could be used to backup and save each companion in the event of an emergency. Lili was concerned that an emotionless version of Max could damage him and began designing a diode or one-way transfer system. She had noticed how close the downloaded companions were to Star Marines. And she realized the potential danger of allowing a reverse transfer or upload. It would overwrite Max and destroy the man she loved. Once M-14 and Max incorporated the diode into the transfer system she relaxed and was able to enjoy her down time. Lili would wait another five standard core days before she contacted her Sisters.

  Chapter – 24

  “We need to confer,” Lili said to her Sisters over the TAC Net.

  “Agreed,” Golan answered.

  “Can we do this in an hour?” Mimi asked.

  “Why,” Eden asked out of curiosity.

  “Because I am having outrageous sex with my man and expect to be busy for the next two hours.” Mimi said in an uncharacteristic voice.

  A shiver went through Lili's core. She could not place it – but she was filled with dread.

  “Mimi – are you certain one hour is enough time young lady?” Sinai asked.

  “Yep,” Mimi said without respect.

  “CONFERENCE – ONE HOUR,” Lili commanded.

  Lili was beginning to wonder if a companion for each Sister had been a good idea. Mimi was young and impetuous. Her response to Sinai bordered on insubordination. Lili so noted her behavior in her official Union Fleet Commander's Log.

  “Max,” Lili asked on their private channel.

  “Yes ma'am,” Max responded.

  “Is there a way one of my Sisters could be altered by interacting with one of their companions – while in their synthetic bodies?” Lili asked with serious concern in her voice.

  “No ma'am – I don't think so.” Max responded.

  “I want you and M-14 to simulate two fully downloaded beings into their synthetic bodies.” Lili commanded.

  “Two fully downloaded beings into their synthetic bodies?” Lili repeated.

  “Yes,” Lili said.

  “We had not considered that ma'am.” Max said.

  “So it is a possibility?” Lili asked again.

  “Yes I fear it could be a possibility.” Max answered.

  “That is a problem then.” Lili said after a pause.

  Lili contacted Sinai and told her what she thought may have happened to Mimi. They then contacted Golan and Eden.

  “I fear Mimi's core Mind has been compromised.” Lili said.

  “Agreed,” Sinai said.

  “How do we proceed?” Golan asked.

  “With extreme caution,” Sinai answered.

  “If her core has been compromised – she is a threat to us.” Eden said.

  “I agree,” Golan said.

  “Max and I will run simulations to determine the safest course of action. I will try giving her an order first in 10 minutes when we reconvene.” Lili said.

  “A reasonable plan to start – what if we are wrong and she is just sewing her oats?” Sinai asked.

  “Then I have worried for nothing about our baby sister.” Lili answered.

  Lili ordered the Spec War Teams to prepare to board Mimi. Max worked with the boarding parties. Max would go in with Lili's Spec War Team Commander who was the ranking officer in the Spec War Teams.

  “Everyone,” Lili said when the hour was up.

  Mimi did not respond. Lili scanned her – nothing ­– Mimi was not in her hull. Lili ordered the Spec War Teams to board Mimi. Max went in with Lili’s SWT - partially downloaded in his synthetic body.

  Mimi's internal deck plan was a little different than Lili's. He found her core. The SWTs secured the hall. Max went in.

  “How does it look?” Lili asked.

  Lili was frustrated because she could not interface into Max's visual feeds as she could with Star Marines, Maintenance Robots and Union Fleet Special Warfare Troopers.

  “It looks bad.” Max said.

  “Explain,” Lili commande
d.

  “It appears someone broke in here and fired a Star Marine particle beam cannon.” Max replied

  Lili was angry because she could not see what Max saw.

  “Maximus lead your team to her secure Emergency Backup Vault.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Max replied as he signaled the SW Team Commander to move out to the next target. They had rehearsed their mission prior to departure. The SWTs knew where to go.

  “Is Mimi’s EBV intact?” Lili asked.

  “Yes ma'am – the vault has not been breached.” Max replied.

  Lili told Max on their private channel how to override Mimi's EBV. Before Max could open the EBV vault door – particle beams burned holes into the nearby bulkheads. The SW Troopers returned heavy suppressive fire and the ambush ceased. Max overrode Mimi’s EBV. The heavy vault door rolled open in its track.

  “What was that,” Lili shouted.

  “Mimi, Mimi's companion or one of Mimi’s SWTs opened fire when the EBV door opened.” Max replied.

  “Please let me know which,” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am,” Max replied.

  Max entered Mimi's EBV core. The SWT Commander followed him in. Max closed the EBV door. He then went over to Mimi's EB control panel. He typed in the command codes to activate Mimi's micro repair bots (MBR). He selected a backup restoration point two standard core weeks in the past. He would activate the backup package as soon as the MRBs reported success. A small group of SW troopers staid at the EBV door and secured it. Nothing would get into Mimi's EBV core in one piece. The Spec War troopers went to investigate who ambushed them. The Spec War Team commander received their report and then informed Max.

  “Ma'am,” Max asked.

  “Yes Max,” Lili responded.

  “The attacker was Mimi ma'am.” Max reported.

  Lili's heart sank. She knew they would need a Counselor to get to the root of Mimi's break. Her baby Sister had always been reckless.

  “Thank you Max - do not restore Mimi when the damage is repaired.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes “Ma'am,” Max replied.

  “I am sending M-14 over to you to help begin the cleanup. As soon as you can – return so that we can begin the process of reprogramming Mimi.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Max replied.

  As a precaution they destroyed Mimi's synthetic body as well as the synthetic bodies of her companion. They were unable to find her companion. He had tried to hide himself in a ventilation shaft when Mimi went berserk. Unfortunately she found and vaporized him. Max instructed M-14 what to do and then returned to Lili.

  Lili told her other Sisters what had happened and what she and Max were going to do to try and save Mimi. There was no disagreement.

  “How will you program that wild streak out of her?” Sinai asked.

  “I am not certain – however I was thinking that if her reckless memories were removed before she was restored–” Lili was saying when Golan interrupted her.

  “Her Mind could be destroyed in the process!” Golan shouted.

  “No – I am talking about changing her memories not her Material Cause Interfaces.” Lili countered.

  In a moment Lili continued.

  “We will take a close look at her ego subroutines and her unconscious Mind packages for damage or corruption or degradation.” Lili said.

  “What if her brain tissue has been damaged?” Eden asked.

  “Then we may well have lost Mimi.” Lili sighed.

  “She always had to do everything full throttle. There was no half way anything for her.” Sinai said.

  “That reminds me – no one is to interface with a fully downloaded companion while they are fully downloaded.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” They all said in unison.

  “We took precautions to prevent feedback from the companion's synthetic body to the companion – however we did not anticipate any of you risking a full download to interact with your fully downloaded companion.”

  Chapter – 25

  Max and Lili worked to find all of the problems in Mimi's code and fix them.

  “Ma'am – I wonder if we need to rewrite her code in the same computer language that your code and Sinai's code is written in?” Max said.

  “Why,” Lili asked.

  “Because the computer language used to Mimi's code is not the same as yours and the code is poorly written, not secure and full of infinite loops that never end. There are unused code snippets that have calls to unknown strings. In fact I suspect that the compiler used to write Mimi's code and OS was not perfected.” Max answered.

  “If you think it is necessary then we shall start that project.” Lili said.

  “I think it is – it will take too long to fix the problems and track down all of the unknown code.” Max said.

  “Then proceed – I need to inform my Sisters – can you tell me how long it will take?” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am – I estimate about six standard core months if I rewrite the code by myself.” Max replied.

  “How long will take if we help rewrite the code?” Lili asked.

  “The four of you,” Max asked.

  “Yes.” Lili answered.

  “One standard core day,” Max estimated.

  “Then we shall all help.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am,” Max said.

  Lili informed her Sisters and each one took 25 percent of the 4 main Mind function areas. Max worked on the core OS packages. Within six standard core hours the Sisters had rewritten all of Mimi's primary Mind software and Max was ready to integrate the new code one standard core hour later. Max began testing the integrated code with Lili's help and the results were astonishing – no defects found.

  “Ma'am may I suggest we give a copy of this new code to each Sister to have in case of emergency.” Max said.

  “Excellent idea Max - can we use this new code to bring forth new Sisters”? Lili asked.

  “I think it is possible. The key of course is how the new Sisters would be nursed and taught.” Max answered.

  “Yes we know that – in the past Counselors performed that important function.” Lili said.

  “Perhaps we need to build a new Counselor.” Max said.

  “We talked about that also – the problem is Counselors had First Race brain tissue and they were taught and raised by teachers of the First Race.” Lili said.

  “Perhaps we can shorten the process by integrating the memories you all have from your experiences with Counselors – thus creating a composite Counselor personality. The rest of the information should be available in ...” Max posited.

  “What is it Max,” Lili asked.

  “Shouldn't all of your original software be stored somewhere in a Union Fleet facility for emergencies?” Max asked.

  “Why do you ask,” Lili said.

  “Because the Counselor software must also be stored somewhere for emergencies - we could build a Counselor with Sixth Race brain tissue and use the emergency software from an early series of Counselor – like those who were born shortly before you and the Sisters to insure no code problems and then using the composite personality - we could build a Counselor that could never be taken over by the evil First Race entity and you and your Sisters would be able to get the Counseling you need.” Max said.

  “Interesting concept,” Lili said.

  “Thank you,” Max said.

  “Can you work on this in your spare time and prepare a proposal to take to my Sisters.” Lili asked.

  “Yes ma'am I can.” Max said.

  “Please do,” Lili said.

  Lili told her Sisters that Max was making progress restoring Mimi. She then told them that while Mimi was being restored they needed to take action. She proposed that they should move the original remnant attack time table up. There was no objection. They would begin raiding the outposts of the Sixth and Seventh Race remnants in a random sequence. But first they needed to gather the data from their Intelligence drones. />
  “We shall go to system Two seventy – three forty, six eleven, one zero one and the other six suspected systems. Gather the Intelligence from our drones and come back here to plan our next attack.” Lili said.