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

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “I understand you have established two more secure harbors.” Max said.

  “Yes in the second and third quadrants. We reasoned Secure Harbors should be established around LSBs and CSBs.” Lili responded.

  “A haven that has everything you and your Sisters might need.” Max said.

  “Exactly,” Lili agreed.

  They talked well into the next morning. Lili knew Max needed sleep – so she did not wake him when she left.

  “Sinai – Lili,” Lili said.

  “Go ahead ma'am,” Sinai answered.

  “Have you selected a target for Mimi to test herself?” Lili asked.

  “Yes ma’am,” Sinai answered.

  “Excellent we shall convene for pre-mission planning in thirty minutes.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sinai responded.

  Chapter – 27

  Sinai had selected a target in a system near the rim of slice 99 - an emerging threat to the galaxy that needed to be pruned. They would travel to the outer edge of the heliopause and establish a system overwatch for Mimi. Mimi would then scan the system and go in with her weapons ready to fire.

  “Sis I am nervous,” Mimi admitted.

  “Do not be nervous – you are ready. This is nothing more than a final test to ensure your new heuristic combat software is defect free.” Lili reassured her.

  “Well when you say it like that – it sounds easy.” Mimi said.

  “You will be fine. We have a full system overwatch established and I shall be at your side.” Lili said.

  “Thank you Lili.” Mimi said.

  “You are welcome Mimi.” Lili said.

  Mimi and Lili jumped to the fourth planet in the system where most of the outlaw ships were in orbit. Mimi broadcast the necessary Union judgment information and then began destroying the outlaw ships that were no match for her. Many of the newer ones were carrier vessels for invasion ground forces. They did not consider a space battle in their plans for conquest. In one standard core hour the ships were cut to pieces or vaporized. There was little loss of life.

  “Excellent Mimi you are fit to rejoin us on missions.” Lili pronounced.

  “I am glad,” Mimi said sounding relieved.

  “Now let us go home.” Lili said.

  The Sisters planned their attacks on Special Projects Counselors four and five. They would follow the same basic plan – secure the system – attack the CSB – remove the Counselor from the CSBs and then activate, brief and move the Sentries and the CSBs to their associated LSBs. Mimi would participate in these operations. She would secure one of the Star's poles and establish system overwatch.

  “Everyone – standby,” Lili commanded.

  “In three, two, one,” Lili said.

  The Sisters instantly disappeared. They appeared just outside of the first system's heliopause just above the system ecliptic on the outer rim side.

  “Mimi - jump to the North Pole of the star and establish battle overwatch.” Lili commanded.

  Mimi signaled affirmative with her new double tone.

  “Golan jump to the South Pole of the Star and establish system tactical outlook.” Lili commanded.

  Golan signaled affirmative with her distinctive double tone as she jumped. Lili watched Mimi's fighters form a defensive net from above the system. Golan's fighters established an offensive net from below the system’s ecliptic. Long range scans were clear. There was no reaction to Mimi or Golan.

  “Eden jump to Sentry-4 and be careful.” Lili commanded.

  As soon as Eden jumped – Lili and Sinai went to CSB 4 in standard attack formation. Sinai down loaded into her combat EVA suit and entered the CSB. She went straight to the Counselor's backup core and destroyed it. She vaporized the Counselor's core including the First Race brain tissue containers.

  “It is done,” Sinai reported to Lili.

  “Return to your hull and prepare to move the CSB.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sinai replied as she placed the Counselor's MRBs into stasis. Sinai wondered how Max intended to repair the damaged cores or replace them with a new design.

  Eden activated Sentry-4 without incident. It took Eden thirty five minutes to debrief Sentry-4. The Sisters then moved Sentry-4 to Special Projects Supply Depot Four. There Sentry-4 established a secure harbor around the LSB and the deactivated CSB. The Sisters had eight protected landing zones set up in each secure harbor. The Sisters resupplied Sentry-4 after its weapon stores were depleted establishing the defenses of Secure Harbor 4. Lili then explained the new mission to Sentry-4 and ordered him to establish and defend Secure Harbor 4.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sentry-4 said.

  The Sisters instantly disappeared. They reappeared outside system 315 – 690,805,401 and repeated the secure harbor creation process without incident. They now had secure harbors in every Quadrant. The Sisters went home after establishing Secure Harbor 5.

  Chapter – 28

  The Sisters planned their next attack against the remnants. They also developed new star system ingress and egress procedures so they could not be followed after a strike. They would jump to a predetermined point out of the attack zone and then proceed through the FTLT. They would strike the remnant forces in 12 hours.

  Lili checked on Max after their war council. She was curious about his progress. She had many questions about her new Sisters who were nearing completion – physically. Lili wanted to know how they would be raised without a Counselor. She even wondered if two new Sisters were enough. Her tactical alarm sounded.

  “Sinai – Lili,” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sinai responded.

  “Sit rep,” Lili commanded.

  “It appears the outlaw empire that Mimi destroyed has found us.” Sinai replied.

  “Sentry-1 – Lili,” Lili said.

  “Go ahead ma'am,” Sentry-1 replied.

  “How many ships,” Lili asked.

  “Three thousand, seven hundred seventy three ma'am,” Sentry-1 replied.

  “Do they pose a threat to your capability?” Lili asked.

  “No ma'am,” Sentry-1 replied.

  “Ma'am an admiral is signaling to speak to the Union Fleet Commander.” Sentry-1 said.

  “Put the admiral through.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sentry1- replied.

  The image of a woman appeared on her communication display.

  “Do you speak for the Union?” The woman asked.

  “I am Cruiser 6-1-1 of the Union Fleet. Who are you?” Lili replied and redirected.

  A look of shock moved over the woman's face. There was whispering behind the woman. Then fear gripped the woman.

  “We thought you were a legend – long dead.” The Admiral said.

  “I and my Sisters enforce galactic law.” Lili responded.

  “Sisters...” The Admiral said. More whispers and a wave of fear spread through the attacking fleet.

  “You have violated galactic law by conquering and enslaving your neighbors. If you do not stop – we shall destroy your capability to wage war.” Lili said.

  “It is our way and has been so for over six thousand years.” The Admiral responded.

  “Your way is wrong! Do you understand me?” Lili asked her.

  “I think you are bluffing.” The Admiral said.

  “Sentry-1 - vaporize the nearest one thousand ships.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sentry-1 replied.

  Sentry-1's remote weapon platforms began firing blue beam weapons at the nearest ships simultaneously. Within 7 seconds – 1,000 ships had boiled into vapor.

  “Sentry-1 – stand by.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sentry-1 replied.

  The voices that had been whispers behind the Empire Admiral were now screaming. The female's face turned pale and an expression of remorse and loss was evident upon her features.

  “So you have returned to measure out Union Justice.” The Admiral bit out.

  “That is our prima
ry function – retreat now or die.” Lili commanded.

  “I would rather die than live under Union Imperialism!” The Admiral said.

  “The Union was never imperialist. The Union protected the weak from the strong, the good from the evil. I shall honor your request. Sentry-1 - vaporize the remaining 2,723 ships.” Lili said.

  The voices behind the Admiral were astonished. “How can she know how many ships we have? She is one of the legendary Seven Sisters!” The voices said in unison.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sentry1- replied.

  “WAIT – Cruiser 6-1-1 of the Union Fleet – please do not destroy my ships!” The Admiral pleaded.

  “Why,” Lili asked.

  “We have made many enemies and thought you were one of them.” The Admiral said.

  “I will let you retreat today Admiral. Mend your ways or we shall meet again!” Lili warned her.

  “Yes ma'am – and thank you,” The Admiral said.

  “Do not thank my yet.” Lili said.

  Chapter – 29

  The Sisters continued to scan the space outside of Sentry-1's combat sphere after the Empire ships retreated. Sinai jumped to her hide location to manage her drones. She continued on battle alert long after her Sisters stood down. Lili's chronograph chimed battle alert after twelve hours had counted down. She contacted her Sisters on the secure TAC net and commanded them to prepare for their next attack.

  The Sisters gathered into formation and then instantly disappeared as they entered the FTLT. They instantly reappeared outside of the heliopause of system 270 – 348,611,111. They all scanned the system for the Sixth Race remnant fleet and their deity. The system was clear. There were large freighters that were clearly designed to service their battle fleet.

  “Why is the Sixth Race not building space platforms?” Eden asked.

  “Perhaps they are,” Sinai answered.

  “What do you mean?” Lili asked.

  “I think they have built space platforms already – scan the satellite of the third planet in the far infrared.” Sinai answered.

  All the Sisters scanned the moon of the third planet in the far infrared.

  “Why have we not detected this before?” Golan asked.

  “It did not occur to us the Sixth Race remnant would attempt to disguise their orbiting space platforms as moons.” Sinai answered.

  “And they have placed actual crust material over the outer hull to complete the illusion!” Eden added.

  “We should destroy it,” Golan said.

  “It would cause harm to the hybrid beings that inhabit the third planet.” Sinai said.

  “Then we shall move it to the asteroid belt and destroy it there! However we are not doing that today. We shall plan that attack and do it in the future.” Lili said.

  “So do we continue to execute to our original plan or do we go home?” Golan asked.

  “We shall destroy their space platforms orbiting the fourth planet, the freighters and their ore ships and then we go home.” Lili commanded.

  “Golan jump to the outbound ore ships and destroy them. Eden jump to the inbound ore ships and destroy them. Sinai vaporize the freighters.” Lili commanded. Golan, Eden and Sinai signaled affirmative with their double tones and jumped to their target assignments.

  “Mimi you are with me.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Mimi said.

  Lili and Mimi jumped to the fourth planet. Lili began cutting up the largest of its moons with her black beam weapon.

  “Ma'am – there is something approaching from South of the Ecliptic.” Mimi reported.

  “Range and bearing,” Lili commanded.

  “One point seven five AUs – three three zero point four five seven,” Mimi responded.

  “What do you think it is Mimi?” Lili asked Mimi in a minute.

  “I am not certain – I am scared,” Mimi said.

  That got Lili's attention. She scanned the indicated region of space below the system's Ecliptic – the Entity was coming.

  “Mimi – raise your quantum energy shield and stay in formation.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Mimi replied as she raised her QES.

  “Lili fired all of her beam weapons and her energy bolt weapons at the disguised orbiting space platform and then turned her attention to the Entity. She gathered up the largest pieces of the false moon with her gravity generators and crushed them to dust.

  A wave of anger and hate washed over them through the MC as she raised her own QES. She then ordered the approaching Entity to halt in the language of the First Race. The Entity stopped! Lili's use of its language surprised it. The Entity broadcast even more hatred through the MC when it recovered from its initial shock.

  “The Entity is inbound – prepare to withdraw.” Lili commanded all of her Sisters through the TAC net.

  All of the Sisters signaled affirmative.

  They executed their new pre-planned system egress procedure.

  “Mimi jump now,” Lili commanded as she swung her black beam weapons through the Entity.

  “I am your wingman–” Mimi began to protest.

  “NOW,” Lili interrupted her.

  Mimi signaled affirmative as she jumped. The Entity slowed as Lili’s black beams cut into it. Lili swore it cried out in pain. However her QES protected her from its emotional energy bursts through the MC. Lili began firing all of her weapons at the Entity and took note of the affects each had on it. She was preparing to test her ancient conventional weapon systems when Sinai signaled they were ready – Lili withdrew.

  The Sisters instantly disappeared as they entered the FTLT. The Sisters reappeared in Secure Harbor 5 – and then traveled home. Lili hoped the Entity could not track them.

  The Sisters analyzed and discussed Lili's attack data during their AAR.

  “The next time any of you come in contact with the Entity – use your ancient conventional weapon systems and record the outcome of each.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” They all answered.

  “Now let us plan the destruction of the third planet's orbiting space platform in system two seventy – three forty eight, six eleven, one eleven.” Lili commanded.

  “I suggest we all jump to the third planet and execute a tactical overwatch.” Sinai said.

  Lili considered the suggestion before answering.

  “Why,” Lili asked.

  “Because if we divide our force the Entity could attack the transport team and the system overwatch would not be able to engage the enemy.” Sinai answered.

  “The enemy...” Lili started to say.

  “Yes,” Mimi said.

  “Your plan is approved Sinai - any questions or concerns?” Lili said and then asked.

  “When do we leave,” Golan asked.

  “We shall rest for three days and then attack.” Lili commanded.

  Chapter – 30

  Everyone was looking forward to down time – even Mimi. She went to the shipyards in her yacht to look at her new Sisters that were nearing completion. The other Sisters spent time with their companions. Each had molded their men to be their ideal animas. Lili and Max went to the ship yards in her yacht to review the lesson plans and the software he was developing for the new Sisters. They would have to acquire some Sixth Race female brain tissue soon to begin the hull-personality integration process. Max was tired. He had been working on the software and lesson plans in alternating shifts.

  “Max have you gotten any sleep in the last three days?” Lili asked.

  “No ma'am,” Max answered.

  “Why,” Lili asked him.

  “I cannot sleep when you are away.” He answered.

  “Then you are taking a break right now!” Lili said with the concerned voice of a mate.

  “But I...” Max began and then stopped - after a moment Max continued.

  “Is there an ocean planet with beaches in this galaxy?” Max asked.