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

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

“I know of two worlds with beaches of sand like your home world. I also know several young planets like your home world – however the waves have not pulverized the rocky shores into sand. We could gather sand from the many dessert worlds and take it to one of the young ocean worlds.” Lili said.

  “Really,” Max asked with a slight hint of excitement.

  “Yes,” Lili answered.

  “Is that something you can do?” Max asked.

  “Of course,” Lili answered.

  “How long would it take?” Max asked with a serious tone in his voice.

  “If I had help – we could make a six kilometer beach in five standard core days.” Lili answered.

  “Oh,” Max said with a sigh.

  “For now let us travel to Union Fleet Headquarters and search the star data base for planets like your home world.” Lili said.

  “OK,” Max said.

  Lili informed Sinai and Sentry-1 and then disappeared before Sinai could question her. Lili instantly appeared in high orbit above the planet where the Union Fleet Headquarters had existed for over Seven Billion years. The system's old yellow white star was a main sequence star with two failed companions that orbited it well beyond one standard core AU.

  Lili partially downloaded into her combat EVA suit. Though the Sisters had not been able to determine why no race or outlaw group had never set foot in this system after the Eighth Race dissolved into the Toltan Empire – she was not going to take a chance with Max's safety. She landed her yacht on the main promenade in front of the Union Fleet Stellar Cartography building. She and Max went inside. The offices appeared to be waiting for the Union Fleet staff to return. The automated maintenance robots kept the building spotless inside and out. They entered one of the freight elevators that took them up to the 400th floor where the star data base consoles were located. The computers were in armored bunkers 4 miles beneath the surface of the planet.

  “Wow,” Max whispered.

  “What,” Lili asked.

  “Oh – sorry a recent Earth slang expression used to communicate surprise or pleasant disbelief.” Max explained.

  “Of course – you have been listening to the old – radio broadcasts from your home world on my ancient electromagnetic communication system.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am ­– in this Quadrant - I can listen to the early days of radio and the selection of music from that period is unbelievable.” Max said.

  Lili walked over to the main control panel and activated the stellar cartography system. A 3-dimensional holographic image of the galaxy appeared in midair. Lili entered the search parameters for ocean worlds with oxygen-nitrogen atmospheres with the beach sand parameter. Six stars flashed in the galaxy hologram. Max was a little sad because he knew that meant there were only 5 ocean worlds with sand beaches. And two of the five other worlds were in the same Quadrant as Earth. One of these was in the same slice! He knew they could not visit them. At least not as long as the Entity protected the evil Sixth and Seventh Race remnants.

  The other three ocean worlds were in this Quadrant. Lili selected the one nearest the rim first. A holographic survey report appeared in front of them.

  “This world orbits a binary red giant system and contains life forms that can destroy you.” Lili reported.

  Lili selected the next ocean world star system and a new holographic survey report appeared in front of the first report.

  “This world orbits a white dwarf and has viruses and some small sea creatures. It was deemed safe for sentient beings 2 billion years ago.” Lili said.

  Lili selected the third and final ocean world with a beach. A third holographic survey report appeared in front of the second report.

  “This world orbits a very old main sequence yellow star. It too was deemed safe for sentient beings 2 billion years ago. I fear this world no longer exists.” Lili said.

  “Can we travel to the second one?” Max asked.

  “Of course we can. Let us return to my hull so I can invite my Sisters to join us.” Lili said.

  “That would be nice – I can meet the other companions.” Max said.

  “No – not yet – there are two hundred and sixty five beaches on the second world and I think my Sisters will want their privacy – for now.” Lili said.

  “I understand – will you join me?” Max asked.

  “Yes I am looking forward to it. Lili answered.

  Max's heart swelled with joy. Lili contacted her Sisters and invited them to join her. Mimi would provide overwatch and support while her Sisters enjoyed their male companions on the ocean world paradise.

  Lili selected the system and her hull instantly disappeared as she activated the FTLT. Lili instantly appeared in low orbit above the ocean planet. She had to adjust her vision filters to compensate for the intense white light from the primary star. The atmosphere had the same oxygen-nitrogen ratio as Max's home world and was two times thicker. There was a single large continent that belted the planet at the equator. Of the 265 beaches – 14 were near the equator and ideal. The Southern coastline had an average temperature very close to the temperature in the area where Max had grown up. The polar oceans were not frozen due to the energy that entered the atmosphere of the planet at the same angle all year round. Except for occasional cyclonic storms the weather was a sup-tropical paradise with daily precipitation along both coasts. A band of 500 meter high mountains ringed the planet along the equator and divided the twin continental coastlines.

  The salinity of the two hemispheric oceans was less than the oceans of Earth. Rivers flowed to both coastlines from the mountains of the mono-continent, however the salinity of the two hemispheric oceans would not equal Earth’s for another billion years. The mountains were covered with conifer trees that were 500 meters tall. These trees did not go down to the coastal areas. A small palm tree covered the low lands to the dunes. The sand dunes were covered with 1 meter tall grass.

  The Sisters had instantly appeared in different orbital locations around the planet. Mimi orbited once and then jumped to the North pole of the white dwarf. She launched her fighters and freighters. And then launched her long range drones and established an alert perimeter around the star system. Mimi launched her reserve automatic battle stations and set up an offensive perimeter that could not be breached.

  The Sisters conferred and then prepared inoculations for their male companions to protect them from the viruses of this new world. They then sent automated sentries to the 14 beaches with Union Fleet Construction Battalions (CB) to establish safe beaches that were free of lower life forms. They would also monitor the water, the air and the land for any alien or newly evolved creatures that appeared after the Union Fleet survey.

  “I think we are ready.” Sinai said.

  “I would like to claim Beach Eight on the South coast.” Golan said.

  “I would like Beach Six on the North coast.” Eden said.

  “What about you Lili?” Sinai asked.

  “I want you to pick your beach first Sinai.” Lili answered.

  “In that case I choose Beach two on the North coast.” Sinai answered.

  “I claim Beach Ten on the South coast for Max and I.” Lili said.

  Beach 10 on the South coast was a large natural “U” shaped harbor that faced due south. The rays from the white dwarf hit the beach there at 15 degrees. The waves were 2 to 3 meters tall in trains of 6 waves – 2 seconds apart. The sand was white and the sky was blue. The fronds of the 4 meter tall palm trees rubbed against each other in the moderate breeze from the South.

  Max stepped off the ramp of Lili's yacht and set foot on the hot beach sand of this new world. The dry sand made scrunching noises under his boots as he walked to the shore line. He took off his boots and jump suite at the high tide mark. The wind made white caps on the waves as they approached midway between the horizon and the beach. The wind rendered the tops of the waves into a brilliant blue green mist as they crested on the shore. Max sank his toes into the wet sand at the water’s e
dge. He had not done this in over 3,000 years. Lili walked up to him in her synthetic body and held his hand. He put his arm around her waist. She tilted her head to rest on his shoulder. They looked at the waves for hours. The planet was revolving away from the star and night was beginning to fall. Lili took Max to her yacht so he could eat and drink. They would sleep under the stars tonight. The CBs had reported to Lili that the beaches were safe now and they had finished constructing a beach house for her.

  Sinai's beach faced the Western limb of the planet. So she and her mate watched the star set over the flat Northern Ocean. Beach 6 was on the other side of the planet and oriented to face the Eastern limb. Eden and her mate would watch the star rise over the Northern Ocean in the morning. Beach 8 was a cape in the Southern ocean. Golan and her mate would be able see the star rise and set over the ocean each day.

  Mimi was monitoring the feeds from her fighters and drones when her long range sensors detected a medium battle fleet heading in to the system from the outer rim. Mimi jumped to intercept the fleet. It was a ruse – the bulk of the incoming fleet was coming in from the opposite direction. She realized her error when her defensive perimeter alarm triggered. She jumped back to intercept the main body after she laid a barrier of star mines that moved to block the incoming fleet whenever it tried to go around or over the mines. Several of her automated battle stations had already begun to close in on the diversion fleet.

  Mimi opened fire on the lead ships of the main body with her blue beam weapons, at a range that surprised and scared the incoming force. They returned fire – their weapons fell far short. Mimi fired her blue beam weapons again and followed the barrage with her black beam weapon that cut through the center of the main body from top to bottom. At that moment the incoming fleet stopped. The leader decided to talk now.

  “Who are you,” The leader asked.

  “I am Cruiser Six-One-Seven of the Union Fleet – who are you?” Mimi responded.

  “Union Fleet – the Union Fleet no longer exists! Under whose authority do you attack my fleet?” The leader asked.

  “I attack your fleet under my Sister's authority - why are you attacking this system?” Mimi replied and then demanded.

  Voices behind the leader’s voice whispered “her sister’s authority”?”

  “I will ask you one more time – who are you?” Mimi demanded.

  “I am the commander of this sector and you have violated our space!” The Leader answered.

  “The Union does not recognize your claim to this system! You in fact are scavengers coming to this system for the first time to strip these worlds! Retreat or be destroyed!” Mimi said.

  The diversion force began firing at the star mines.

  “That was very foolish.” Mimi said as the first star mine exploded in a brilliant flash of light that vaporized the entire diversion fleet.

  “What,” The leader asked in a loud voice.

  “Your diversion fleet destroyed itself by firing on one of my star mines – a foolish mistake.” Mimi said.

  “Star mines – you are one of the legendary Sisters of the Union Fleet…” The leader said.

  “You have not complied with my commands to stand down and retreat. This conversation is terminated!” Mimi said as she opened fire. Within 10 seconds the scavenger fleet was annihilated.

  Lili saw the star mine explode in the night sky and withdrew to her hull after she told Max to catch her synthetic body. What was Mimi doing she wondered as she began scanning the system wreckage... Mimi had destroyed a force of over 5,000 ships...

  “Sis what happened?” Lili asked Mimi.

  “A scavenger invasion force did not obey my orders to stand down and retreat. My scans showed the resources of a thousand worlds in their cargo holds and on their aged ships.” Mimi reported.

  “You detonated a star mine below the ecliptic?” Lili asked Mimi.

  “No ma'am – the scavengers sent a diversion force in from the South first–” Mimi began to say.

  “Which you fell for,” Lili cut her off.

  “Yes ma'am,” Mimi said in a calm voice that sounded very familiar to Lili.

  “Very good Mimi – continue your mission.” Lili commanded.

  “Mimi signaled affirmative with her double tone as she jumped back to her system overwatch position. Lili answered Golan's request for information about the star mine but did not tell Sinai and Eden who did not see the blast and did not need to know at this time.

  “What happened?” Max asked as Lili re-entered her synthetic body.

  “Mimi defended this system from a large scavenger force.” Lili answered.

  “Scavengers,” Max asked.

  “Yes – rouge groups that strip entire planets of their resources and then move on.” Lili answered.

  “Sounds like locusts,” Max said.

  “Yes in many ways they are locusts.” Lili said.

  “I would like to read her AAR and battle data.” Max said.

  “Indeed,” Lili agreed.

  Mimi contemplated how she could have been fooled by the diversion force. She reviewed her battle data again. It made no sense – it was like she reacted without thinking. She amended her AAR to include this and her concern that she could put her Sisters in jeopardy. She began modifying her remaining drones to act as ultra-long range sensors and launched toward the heliopause of the system, so that no force could sneak up on her again. She ran several combat simulations to determine if she had reacted rashly. She then rewrote several thousand lines of her combat heuristic algorithms to prevent rash reactions in the future. She tested the changes and then integrated the new code. Mimi several more combat simulations that would allow her to test her reaction times. She did not want to prevent action – she wanted to take the correct action. She then thought what Lili would do in each scenario - then how Sinai would react. She modified her response executions to match theirs. She jumped to check on each of her automated battle stations throughout the night until her ultra-long range drones began sending her information. Most of them were now over a light year from the star. Some were looking out and some were looking back to the system’s star. She would not be fooled again.

  Chapter – 31

  Lili let Max sleep as she kept watch on their beach. The early morning sky was beginning to lighten to the East. The waves were now almost flat. The stars were fading as the local star rose above the horizon. It was beautiful and Lili relaxed for the first time in a very long time. She enjoyed Max's company for the rest of the day. Max was like a little boy again. He played in the ocean, swam and body surfed the waves when they reached 2 meters in height. Lili and Max walked from one end of their beach to the other. Max was fed breakfast and lunch by the CB catering staff – which was a holdover from the early days of Lili's service to the Union when dignitaries would visit. The CBs had obtained fresh food stores when she visited LSB6. In all probability the food that had been in stasis, in her storage holds for over a million years before the DT started, was still good. However Lili had not wanted to risk Max's health.

  The CBs had constructed a bungalow for her and Max. It was an open design that fit their beach to perfection. They also constructed a round bar, down near the water, with palm fronds on the roof, where Max could eat and drink.

  “Thank you,” Max said.

  “For what,” Lili asked.

  “For making this possible,” Max answered.

  “You are welcome.” Lili replied.

  “I could live here forever and be happy. So this will be my vacation spot to get away after stressful times.” Max said.

  “So shall it be - for I am relaxed here also.” Lili said.

  The other Sisters were enjoying their beaches as were their companions. After a standard core week Lili contacted her Sisters on the planet and suggested they return home. Operations needed to be planed and missions conducted.

  “I suggest we find another companion for Mimi.” Sinai said

  “I agree,” Eden said.


  “Then let us go and find a good man for her and bring him here.” Golan said.

  “Plan your operation and then execute it Sinai. I will take Mimi to the place where she was fooled by the scavengers and distract her.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am.” Sinai said and returned to her hull.

  “Mimi – Lili,” Lili said.

  “Go ahead ma'am,” Mimi responded.

  “Join me at thirty five, minus four seven point two five four – so you can debrief me about your action against the diversion force.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Mimi responded as she jumped.

  Lili joined her baby sister below the system's Ecliptic where the scavenger diversion force had come in from the direction of the outer rim.