Union Ships of the Line: The Return of Tavnit and Dingir Read online

  SOUL SCIENCE INSTITUTE PRESS

  P.O. Box 530056

  Debary, FL 32753-0056

  http://www.soulscienceinstitute.us

  Copyright © 2015 by James A. B. Mahaffey, Jr.

  Drawings and Plates © 2015 by Author

  All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form by any means including electronic, mechanical, photocopying, electronic scanning, and recording or by any information retrieval, storage or transmission system, without written permission from the publisher.

  Library of Congress Cataloging in Publication Data

  Mahaffey, Jr., James, A. B.

  Union Ships of the Line: The Rescue of Tavnit and Dingir / James A. B. Mahaffey, Jr.

  ISBN:

  1. Novel

  2. Science Fiction

  Library of Congress Control Number:

  Cover consists of image of the Triangulum Galaxy – NASA JPL / CALTEC

  This Book was first published as an e-book for the Kindle Platform. It was Version 1.0.

  Version 1.0 19Jul2015

  Version 1.1 22Jul2015

  Version 2.0 08Aug2015 A note to my readers – I apologize for the last two releases of this eBook. I was not aware that my personal Configuration Management technique for tracking document versions – a technique that has served me well for over 20 years – would not work in the latest office software. Because of this procedure failure I selected the wrong file to upload to Amazon – I uploaded an earlier draft from the previous month. I only use this company’s product now to upload my books to Amazon. I prefer to work in Ubuntu and Open Office when producing my books. I have altered my Configuration Management technique so that this shall not happen again.

  Other Books in the Union Ships of the Line series by this Author:

  Union Ships of the Line: The Return of the Seven Sisters (Book 1)

  Union Ships of the Line: The Return of the Adapa (Book 2)

  Other Fiction by this Author:

  Life Electric (SSI Novel -1)

  Life Voltage (SSI Novel - 2)

  Non-fiction Books by this Author:

  Soul Science: The Electric Analog

  Souler Power: Your Electric Soul

  Soul Science

  Soul Science Technology: How to recharge your Soul and Ghost (SES Vol-4)

  Training Circular – 401: Iron Walled ORACs and LV SRs

  Soul Science Technology: 29th Century Technology for Engineers

  Soul Science Technology: Passive Mind Intent Devices

  Training Circular – 301: Passive Solid State Devices

  Soul Science Technology: 29th Century Technology for Engineers Part -3: Communication via the Void

  Soul Science for the True Seeker

  The True Seeker's Handbook

  Reference books by this Author:

  OV-1 and SRU-21/P Survival Lighters

  This is a work of fiction. The persons and events portrayed in this Novel are fictional. Any similarity to living persons, places or actual events is purely coincidental.

  For the readers of my Union Ships of the Line eBooks - I have enjoyed the process of creating the characters and events for these stories. My creative process has identified many “spin off” novels I can also produce. I will continue telling the story of the 7 Sisters - heroes of the Galactic Union – if my readers continue to enjoy them.

  A recent sequence of events caused me to upload the wrong version of this eBook to Amazon. I have corrected that problem and shall endeavor to never make that error again. I have contacted Amazon Kindle and asked them to send everyone who purchased or borrowed this book – the correct version.

  I know poor writing detracts from the telling of a good story. I would never insult writers by claiming that I am a writer. I am a story teller – always have been. I would like to thank Stephen King for taking the time to share his process in his excellent book: On Writing a Memoir of the Craft. His book on writing allowed me to tell my stories without losing the reader in the “swamp” – thank you Mr. King!

  Here are some examples of the spin off stories I am currently considering:

  Stories of the Old Union:

  Union Planetary Army

  Union Star Marines

  Union Navy at War

  The Galaxy at War

  Quadrant Wars

  Stories about the New Union:

  Union Star Guard

  Union Search and Rescue

  Star Marine Legion

  Union Navy Task Force

  If you would like to read one of these companion stories – let me know which of the titles you prefer. You can send me an email via my publisher by writing in the subject line: USOTL Poll via: [email protected]

  Also if there is anything you do not like in the current stories about the 7 Sisters – let me know.

  I am working on the 4th Union Ships of the Line story now. I know some of you want more blazing space battles and some of you want to know more about the early days of the Sisters.

  Introduction

  The 5 Avenger Torpedo bombers appeared instantly over the shallow – rust colored ocean of an alien world.

  “Skipper what just happened,” the radio operator of Torpedo 1 asked.

  “I don't know” the Skipper answered.

  “Sir you need to look at this.” The rear gunner of Torpedo 5 said.

  “What – look at what Johnson?” The Skipper asked very annoyed.

  “Uh – sir - Johnson is correct – look up” the pilot of Torpedo 3 said.

  The Skipper looked up – right into Jupiter's red spot!

  “WHAT THE” the Skipper yelled as his wings waved in the air.

  “Uh – sir – I believe that is Jupiter.” The pilot of Torpedo 4 said as he just missed shaving the rudder off Torpedo 1.

  “Jupiter – where in the hell are we,” The Skipper asked.

  “I don't think the question is where we are Sir – the question is when we are. Jupiter is the reason our compasses are spinning and if we are near Jupiter that explains why the Sun appears to be a lot smaller in the sky.” The pilot of Torpedo 4 answered.

  “Don't be a smart ass Smith” the Skipper said with an edge in his voice.

  “Sir is anyone else feeling light headed?” The engineer of Torpedo 1 asked.

  “Yeah – now that you mention it” The Skipper answered.

  “EVERYONE PUT ON YOUR OXYGEN MASKS – NOW! There is not sufficient oxygen yet in the atmosphere of this planet! ” Smith yelled.

  “WHAT – what are you talking about?” The Skipper asked as he put on his oxygen mask and checked the gauge on his O2 cylinder.

  “There is very little oxygen outside of our cabins – if the rain had not caused us to close our canopies – we would all have passed out from oxygen starvation - it is why our engines are running so rich.” Smith answered.

  “So running out of gas is the least of our worries...” The Skipper said.

  Chapter – 1

  Tavnit and Dingir were pushed to the event horizon of a super massive black hole by an ionized gas storm during the last great space battle the original 7 Sisters fought together. It was the storm that kept Tavnit and Dingir from seeing the black hole with their scanners. They each expended most of their primary power cores trying to break free and then as if they were in contact with each other by some extrasensory ability – they shifted all of their remaining power to their shields and let themselves be drawn in through the event horizon.

  Two standard core hours later they were floating in a debris field outside of a white hole half way across the Universe!
They were completely withdrawn into their emergency backup computer cores – on emergency reserve power – and were completely helpless. Fortunately the galaxy in which they ended up – a spherical cluster – 7 billion light years from the home galaxy – near the outer edge of the Universe – was a mostly uninhabited volume of space not claimed by any technologically advanced race.

  The white hole was constantly ejecting matter from the other side of the Universe. The outflow was slowly moving the two crippled Sisters away from the white hole and each other. Of course the two incapacitated Sisters were unaware of these facts because they were both in a comatose state. It was a statistical impossibility that Saga happened to travel to the very galaxy where the two missing Sisters were deposited. Saga could not believe the scene before him.

  Plate 1: The location of the Triangulum galaxy in relation to the home Galaxy

  There were 2 - 6th Race Cruisers floating in the flotsam spewing forth from a white hole. Saga recalled a 3rd Race physics paper – he read while attending the Union Planetary Army Academy – about possible links between black holes in one part of the Universe with white holes in another part and he realized the missing Sisters must have been somehow caught in a super massive black hole near the battlefield where they were lost.

  Saga moved into Tavnit's CCC. Her computer core was dark except for the emergency readout on a small 2 inch square panel that cycled on briefly every standard core hour to conserve power. He saw on the readout that Tavnit had withdrawn into her emergency backup core and was in a state of consciousness equivalent to a comma. Saga then moved over to Dingir's hull and determined she was in the same state of consciousness as her Sister.

  Saga left Dingir's hull and took one last look at the two lost Sisters before he traveled back to the home galaxy to report his discovery to Ninlil.

  Plate – 2: Sixth Race Carrier Vessel

  Chapter – 2

  “Sinai rally the Sisters – Saga found Tabi and Dena!” Lili ordered.

  “YES MA'AM” Sinai replied.

  Lili contacted Sentry-1 and the new SuperSentry. She wanted Sentry-1 to join her and she ordered the SuperSentry to order the two new tanker ships to SH-1from SH-5. She called up the 4th Recovery Vessel (RV) from SH-4 – and requested the SAR battle group round up all available VALO Rescue Doctors (RD). Lili ordered 4 sets of MRBs – two for each Sister from the LSB in SH-1. In addition to the fully stocked new RV4, she ordered the two new supply ships – that were essentially a miniature, moving LSB to join them.

  Lili was concerned about the time they would have to stay on station in a distant unknown star cluster. Saga reported the spherical star cluster was near the edge of the Universe. She wanted Adapa to go with them – however he was busy in the large companion galaxy protecting it and the home galaxy from the return of the Forerunners.

  “SuperSentry – where is my heavy battle fleet?” Lili demanded.

  “I recalled them per your orders and they are in route.” SuperSentry responded.

  Every Star Marine and Union Navy Task force in the new Union Navy Fleet chimed in to volunteer for the mission. Before Lili could respond to the multiple requests – RV4 and the SAR battle group instantly appeared in the battle group landing zone. The Sisters were taken by surprise – they had not been briefed how strong the SAR battle group was.

  “Maximus – I was not aware the SAR battle group had 10 heavy battleships.” Lili said with the distinctive tone of annoyance in her voice.

  “Ma'am – they don't – I requested the 5 additional heavy battle fleets join the SAR battle group.” SuperSentry volunteered.

  “You and I need to talk when I return.” Lili said more than a little proud.

  “Yes ma'am – I look forward to it. Good luck to you ma'am and your entire task force.” SuperSentry said.

  “Thank you SuperSentry.” Lili said.

  “You are most welcome ma'am.” SuperSentry said.

  The heavy SAR battle group and RV-4 maneuvered to the new battle group launching zone.

  “I am satisfied – let us go and bring back our lost Sisters.” Lili said and then commanded.

  The entire rescue task force instantly disappeared. Two standard core seconds later Lili's heavy task force appeared in the battle group landing zone.

  “Are we too late?” Captain Tantal asked.

  “Yes – what took you so long Captain?” SuperSentry answered and then asked.

  “I had to divide my force – no one came to relieve me.” Captain Tantal answered.

  “Return and continue to protect the UFHQ. I will send resupply ships and reinforcements.” SuperSentry ordered.

  “Yes Sir” Captain Tantal replied.

  Lili's heavy task force instantly disappeared. SuperSentry was concerned about the relief force he had ordered to the UFHQ system. He contacted Sentry-3 to inquire when the relief task force left SH-3.

  Chapter - 3

  Lili's rescue task force instantly appeared – two standard core (SC) hours later – in a star cluster half way across the Universe. Saga came along because he had no reference frame with which to assign coordinates. It had taken him a week in the Union Fleet extra galactic Stellar Cartography lab to find the star cluster. If he had not looked back as he was leaving the galaxy – he would never have found it in the Union's Universe database. He knew he could not approach Lili with information about the lost Sisters – when he returned to the home galaxy – until he at least had some idea how to get back there. Sinai had tried to force him to look at the stars in the cluster – however he told her – it does not work that way. Saga had asked for Sinai's help without telling her why. He also asked her not to tell Lili about his request. She filed a false flight plan with SuperSentry – traveled to the system listed and then doubled back to the Union Fleet Hall of records.

  “Saga – we are here.” Lili said.

  “Yes ma'am – let me step into the MC and get my bearings.” Saga said.

  The SAR heavy battle group launched its fighter umbrella. The CIPC was launching drones and EWS components. Lili was getting anxious – she did not like this star cluster.

  “CIPC – Ninlil” Lili called.

  “Go ahead ma'am” the CIPC replied.

  “Establish Anchor Point (AP) One here and prepare to follow me.” Lili ordered.

  “Yes ma'am – AP-1 established – I am standing by.” CIPC replied.

  “Maggi – Ninlil” Lili called.

  “Go ahead ma'am” Maggi replied.

  “Prepare to travel with the CIPC and me.” Lili ordered.

  “Yes ma'am – standing by” Maggi replied.

  Lili switched off her commo and called Saga. Just as she was preparing to jump – Saga entered her CCC.

  “Sorry for the delay ma'am” Saga said.

  “Report” Lili ordered.

  “They are one galaxy over” Saga reported.

  “WHAT” Lili yelled?

  “Ma’am – I apologize – I thought I knew exactly where I was when I found them – however my real space reference points moved.” Saga answered.

  “Take me to them – NOW” Lili commanded.

  “Yes ma'am – come to three one zero – now dip your bow twenty five degrees – that's it – now travel exactly five SC minutes.” Saga instructed. Lili converted Saga's crude instructions to FTLT coordinates relative to AP-1.

  “Maggi – CIPC – here are the FTLT coordinates – follow me.” Lili ordered.

  Both signaled affirmative and they instantly disappeared. Five SC minutes later they appeared in a nearby cluster and there off Lili’s starboard bow were Tabi and Dina! They were 4 miles apart.

  “SAR fleet – come here!” Lili commanded.

  Five SC minutes later the SAR battle fleet instantly appeared minus 2 heavy battle task forces and 6 carrier vessels. The carrier vessels that had not launched their vacuum fighters at AP-1 did so now. The SAR battle fleet spread out and established a massive defensive perimeter.

  Six SC minutes later the
2 heavy battle task forces and 6 carrier vessels – that had launched their vacuum fighters at AP-1 appeared and immediately moved to their assigned positions on the defensive perimeter. CIPC established the second anchor point and began scanning the lost Sisters. She detected nothing unusual and reported they were indeed in an unconscious – coma like state.