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

by James A. B. Mahaffey Jr.

  “Where are our Sisters going?” Mimi asked Lili.

  “I ordered Sinai to take Golan and Eden and carry out a very important mission,” Lili responded.

  “How long will they be gone? Mimi asked.

  “They will return in less than one standard core day.” Lili answered.

  “Now tell me again what happened.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Mimi replied.

  Sinai, Golan and Eden appeared just outside the heliopause of system 270 – 348,611,111. They scanned the system, made their ship selection and then jumped to intercept it. They found a star plumber on a remnant command ship after they cut the ship into three pieces and killed all of the remnants. He was younger than Max by a few Earth years and was from the same country. Eden determined he would be a perfect match for her baby Sister. Sinai explained to him who they were and why they had come for him. She offered him a chance to live in freedom. He took it without hesitation.

  After following their new tactical system egress procedure the three Sisters appeared instantly above their new vacation planet. Sinai informed Lili.

  “Well I know everything I need to know. I am putting you in for your first command victory award.” Lili said.

  “Really,” Mimi asked.

  “Yes – you performed your mission with precision – as I would have in your place. Congratulations.” Lili answered.

  “Thank you Lili. That is very high praise however a part of me feels I do not deserve it.” Mimi said.

  “You deserve it Mimi. You have impressed me and I am proud of you. Now let us go and join your Sisters on your beach, they have a surprise for you.” Lili said.

  “Who will protect us?” Mimi asked.

  “I shall,” Lili answered.

  “How,” Mimi asked.

  “I will explain tomorrow. Jump to low orbit and join your Sisters in your new synthetic body on your beach.” Lili commanded.

  “My beach - Uh – yes ma'am,” Mimi said.

  Lili smiled for the second time today. She logged into Mimi's long range sensor suite and her remote battle stations. She then partially downloaded into her own synthetic body and flew herself and Max over to Mimi's beach – beach 14 on the South coast.

  Chapter – 32

  Mimi was excited. Sinai would not tell her what her surprise was. The Sisters sang happy birthday to Mimi.

  “I decided you needed a mate - someone to talk to - someone to walk on the beach with – someone to love and be loved.” Sinai said.

  Sinai then brought Mimi's new mate out of her yacht. Sinai had positioned him in front of Mimi's synthetic body and then removed his blind fold. The man squinted in the ultra-bright sun light. When he looked at Mimi he dropped to his knees and bowed his head.

  “Forgive me ma'am – they did not tell me you were here.” The man said.

  “What are you talking about?” Sinai asked the man.

  “This is the goddess Athena. You did not tell me she would be the lady that I ...” The man answered.

  “Stand and face me,” Mimi commanded.

  “Yes ma'am – forgive me.” The man said as he complied. He looked up and gazed into her eyes.

  “You are even more beautiful than I imagined. Your statues do not reflect your true beauty.” The man said.

  “Thank you – but I do not have any statues. What is your name?” Mimi said.

  “The gods called me –” The man began.

  “What is your true name – I don't care what they called you.” Mimi said in a gentle voice.

  “My name was … was... I am sorry my lady I cannot remember.” The man answered.

  “That is all right. My Sister has taught me how to restore your memory and in time you shall remember everything they stole from you. For now I shall call you Rod.” Mimi said.

  “Rod,” The man asked.

  “Yes – because you stand straight and tall. Then when you remember your true name – I shall forever call you that.” Mimi said.

  “Thank you ma'am,” Rod said as he bowed at the waist.

  “Now come with me – I want to explore my beach.” Mimi said.

  “Yes ma'am,” Rod said as he held out his arm.

  Mimi mouthed thank you to Sinai with a big smile on her face as she passed them.

  “Well done Sinai,” Lili said.

  “It was Golan who chose him.” Sinai said.

  “Thank you Golan – you have chosen well.” Lili said.

  “Thank you Lili – but it was Sinai's idea and her plan and her execution that made this possible. My part was very small.” Golan said.

  “Thank you Sis – but your insight made Mimi very happy and I shall tell her as soon as I can so she can thank you.” Sinai said.

  “She already has Sinai. And I thank you for trusting me to help you on your mission. You were in command and Mimi’s thanks belong to you.” Golan said.

  Sinai bowed her head. There was a tear on her beautiful face. Something none of them had ever scene.

  “Thank you Sinai. Let us leave now so that Mimi may have a chance to be happy.” Lili commanded.

  “Yes indeed,” Sinai agreed.

  Max and Lili returned to Lili's hull.

  “I think I know that young man. He was a great warrior for my country.” Max said.

  “He appears to be younger than you.” Lili said.

  “Yes he was seven years younger.” Max said.

  “Was he a good man?” Lili asked.

  “Yes he was kind and gentle to a fault. Max answered.

  “Good I am glad.” Lili said.

  Chapter – 33

  Lili allowed Mimi the same time on her beach that she and Max had enjoyed. Mimi enjoyed Rod and her beach. She was happy and Lili knew Mimi was back. Lili left Max to his work and withdrew to her core to contemplate the future. It would be a very different future now. Everything was new. They would fight the good fight and restore freedom and peace to the galaxy. She reviewed their upcoming operations. They would return to system 270 – 348,611,111 and remove the space platform of the Sixth Race remnant from the 3rd planet. The part of the operation that concerned her was the moving phase. She would need 3 of her Sisters to move the mass out of orbit and transport it to the asteroid belt between the 4th and 5th planets. They would be vulnerable to attack. Perhaps this plan should be postponed until her new Sisters were in service. She would confer with her Sisters about this.

  There was no hurry – the space platform had been built approximately 13,000 years ago in orbit. The majority of the Earthling population did not know it was artificial. The factional governments on the other hand were a different story. Could the factional governments of the planet be working with the Sixth and Seventh Race remnants? If so – removing the space platform moon could destabilize the planet. No it would be better to rip off the bandage so the Earthlings would stop killing each other. The last Union survey report before the DT was inconclusive. They had suspected there was an unseen outside agency that was interfering with the planet's development. The sentient race on the 3rd planet had obviously been created by the Sixth Race but the survey team did not know when. Lili knew how and when – the Sixth Race remnants violated galactic law! The culprits needed to be punished! Lili called her Sisters to war council.

  “We need to alter our plan of attack in system two seventy – three forty eight, six eleven, one eleven and alter the time table.” Lili said.

  “Why,” Sinai asked.

  “I ran simulations and determined moving the space platform moon of the 3rd planet would cause chaos and worldwide degradation of the factional governments that control the population.” Lili answered.

  “So you will let the Sixth Race remnants continue to violate galactic law?” Sinai challenged.

  “No we shall destroy all life in the space platform and move it at a later time.” Lili countered.

  “We shall also enter and destroy all of their war machines and vehicles rendering the moon base a derelict.” Lili finished.
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  There were no more objections and the Sisters re-planned their attack. Lili was surprised that her Sisters had not asked her when the later time was. That depended on Max. As they neared the completion of their meeting Golan spoke up.

  “When shall we attack the Sixth Race remnant home world?” Golan asked.

  “When our new Sisters are ready – until then we shall destroy their battle fleets and urge them to leave the system.” Lili answered.

  “Is that why you pushed back the destruction of the space station moon?” Eden asked.

  “Yes after contemplating the operation it was clear we would be at a disadvantage and vulnerable to attack.” Lili answered.

  “So you decided to wait until our new Sisters were in service?” Sinai asked.

  “Yes,” Lili answered.

  “What are we going to name our new Sisters?” Mimi asked.

  “I have been looking through the old Sixth Race database for suitable names so that we can narrow down the choices.” Lili answered.

  “Why don't we name them for our fallen Sisters?” Mimi asked.

  “Because it is my hope they are both still alive...” Lili answered.

  Chapter – 34

  Max completed his work on the new Sister's software and the raising and teaching protocols. He began testing the new Sisters integrated code. The MRBs had completed construction of the twin hulls while the Sisters were on vacation. Everything was working as designed. The next step was the integration of the Sixth Race brain tissue and the hulls of each new Sister. The training of each new sentient entity would be the most difficult part of the entire operation. The Counselor's code was nearing completion. The Use of Sixth Race brain tissue doubled the lines of code. Max had to fill in with new code all of the missing First Race brain capabilities. He was beginning to understand why the Entity of the Sixth Race remnants was so powerful in afterlife.

  “Lili – Max,” Max said.

  “Go ahead Max,” Lili responded.

  “Ma'am I am ready to integrate the female Sixth Race brain tissue.” Max said.

  “Thank you Max - I take it the testing so far has been successful.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am I have completed all code testing without failure. The Counselor's code is eighty percent complete and I am not certain it will work.” Max answered.

  “Excellent. We shall leave to obtain the brain tissue.” Lili said.

  Max did not know the details of that operation. He trusted Lili to be gentle and not harm the donor. He wondered if there were any Sixth Race survivors left or would they have to use remnant brain tissue. Lili called her Sisters together.

  “Max is ready for brain tissue. What has your research revealed Sinai?” Lili asked.

  “There was a facility the Sixth Race maintained on the seventh planet in system Fifty six – six forty, four forty four, four fifty that might still have ready to use Sixth Race brain tissue in stasis. I suggest we try the Sixth Race brain tissue facility and avoid using remnant brain tissue. Reports indicate the remnants suffer from delusions and sociopathic behavior.” Sinai reported.

  “Thank you Sinai. Let us prepare to visit the system in slice fifty six now. I shall ask Max to look into brain tissue alternatives while we are gone.” Lili commanded.

  The Sisters said good bye to their companions and left them in their new quarters around the star ship yards, where Sentry-1 would keep them safe.

  “Max is there an alternative to using Sixth Race brain tissue?” Lili asked on their trip to the yards.

  “It might be possible to clone the necessary tissue from one or more of you – however I would be concerned the new Sisters would have the memories of the donor. Why – I thought Sinai reported there were at least two brain tissue repositories created by the Sixth Race?” Max responded and then asked.

  “There may be one left. We are going there now. Please run simulations and if possible new protocols in case we are unable to locate the necessary tissue.” Lili answered.

  “Yes ma’am – good luck,” Max said.

  “Thank you. The other companions are staying in the ship yards while we are gone. My Sisters thought it wise to separate them for now.” Lili said.

  “Understood – I will inform M-14 and the other MRs not to communicate with them.” Max said.

  Lili felt a tinge of sadness as the airlock door closed and she pulled away from the star ship yards. Her new Sisters were being provisioned by LSB6. They looked as she had looked all those years ago. Lili felt pride as she looked upon them.

  The Sisters instantly appeared outside the heliopause of system 56 – 640,444,450. They scanned the entire system and then executed their ingress plan. Mimi and Eden provided system overwatch. Golan provided planetary overwatch. Sinai and Lili downloaded into their combat EVA suites and boarded their yachts. Lili stayed in the air as Sinai landed next to the building that had been the Sixth Race's brain tissue depository for all of the their SL forms. Sinai entered the facility after Lili landed and joined her at the main door.

  “Welcome Sisters of the Union Fleet. I have been programmed to assist you.” An unknown voice said.

  “By whom,” Lili demanded.

  “By the Special Projects Team Council,” The voice answered. Lili knew this was a lie – the Special Projects Team did not have a council.

  “What is your name?” Lili asked.

  “I was called T4 by my developer.” T4 responded.

  “T4 we are looking for Sixth Race brain tissue. Do you have enough for two new SLs?” Lili asked.

  “Of course – please follow the moving wall panel lights down the main hall.” T4 said.

  Lili thought it was ironic that T4 would lead her down his main hall as she had first lead Max down her own. She looked at Sinai who shrugged. The Sisters followed the wall panel light to a large cargo elevator.

  “The location of the ready brain tissue packs is 2 miles below the planet's surface. I can have them brought up if you prefer.” T4 said.

  “Why,” Lili asked.

  “I was told you may not want to descend in your EVA suits.” T4 said.

  “That is a kind offer – however we must be certain we are getting what we came for.” Lili said.

  Lili told Sinai to wait here and then stepped into the cargo elevator. Lili had read Sinai's report and knew what to look for when she entered the storage room. The cargo elevator door opened and Lili noticed three containers of Sixth Race brain tissue on a remotely controlled cart. She went to the stasis chamber and saw where the containers had been pulled. They had been pulled from the First Race rack! Anger swelled in Lili.

  “Sis – it is the CSB all over again – destroy it!” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am,” Sinai replied.

  “Is there a problem commander?” T4 asked.

  “No – it seems that someone got here ahead of us.” Lili said.

  “I can assure you that no one has visited this facility since–” T4 was attempting to say.

  “It is done.” Sinai said.

  “Get down here – there are two containers of First Race brain tissue that were labeled as Sixth Race tissue. Whoever changed the labels has not shown itself.” Lili commanded.

  Sinai signaled affirmative with her double tone and boarded the cargo elevator to go beneath the planet's surface. Lili exited the stasis chamber with 8 containers of Sixth Race female brain tissue and 4 containers of Sixth Race male brain tissue on two carts. She thought she heard something to her right.

  “Come out and show yourself!” She commanded.

  A two meter tall service robot (SR) stepped out with its hands in the air.

  “Identify yourself,” Lili commanded as she leveled her hand held blue beam weapon at the SR.

  The SR pointed to the number on its chest.

  “You are SR12.” Lili said.

  The SR nodded its head affirmative.

  “Did T4 instruct you to change the labels on those containers?” Lili asked pointing toward the first two m
islabeled containers of First Race brain tissue.

  SR12 nodded its head affirmative.

  “SR12 when I leave – let no one else enter this space until I return. Do you understand me?” Lili commanded.

  SR12 nodded its head affirmative. Sinai stepped off the cargo elevator and verified the Union Logistic numbers on each container. She then pushed the containers toward the cargo elevator and went up to the surface.