All Comments on 'Three Square Meals Ch. 131'
by Tefler
- 166 Comments
Thanks Tefler, and I hope all is well with your family.
I said to myself, "It's been a long time since I've seen a new installment of Three Square Meals. I hope there's one, YES!"
Many thanks. 😊
This blows... because I've already finished reading it so quickly and I know deep down the next chapter won't be available for 3-6 weeks.
Tefler, why make the story sooooo good? It's cruel, LoL.
Love surprises like this, logging on to check for new stories and finding the next chapter. The only mildly let down is how fast I read through it and the wait till the next installment. Excellent as always, keep up the great work.
Thank you good sir for giving us this Great story. Questions abound, storylines still diverging and converging..., what a way to begin the weekend. Another nymph rescued, more left to find. Now to go back and see what little clues I missed. JT
I really enjoyed this chapter. I can't wait to see what happens next.
The story line keep you on the edge of your seat, always wanting more. Thankyou and keep up the AWSOME work.
Rahn'hagon let out an exasperated sigh. "No... well, not really. I've been scouring the secret archives for any clues, but my search was in vain. In all the entries on forbidden runes and Kyth'vindathys, there was nothing to explain why he's grown so powerful."
He won't find the answers in the forbidden runes, maybe after he sees how they all fit together in love not fear and hate.
Maybe if Rahn helps the Kintark and John with his fish problem, he can start to build a relationship cause there is nothing left to rebuild.
It's been a really long time since I've been up to date with TSM, and now I realise I hate not having the next chapter ready to read! I guess this means you're still awesome and still write super fantastic chapters. Thank for what you do, please keep the story going, it's even better than it was back in at the start five years ago. Gosh, I'm getting old.
Many thanks Tefler. Hope you and yours are doing well and safe. Hope you Will be able to finish this story.
is I read too fast. literally just finished rereading the entire story when 131 popped up. Done in 2 hours.
Wonderful chapter in an outstanding story. I can see it being produced as a 3 part movie (possibly 4). Here's hoping that Tefler's family heath issues are resolved quickly and happily!
Thank you!
I agree with realusmctazman. Johns father needs to take a step towards reconciliation. It will make for a very good plot twist. I do love the story and will take whatever you are willing to provide for us. I love that we found another nymph and the colors have been decided to expand from the universal green. 5 stars as usual. and not so patiently waiting for the next installment.
Another amazing chapter! I wait with baited breath for each new one...
Baseball analogy,
Knocked out of the park again
Thanks
If i were to say that this chapter was boring, i would be lying, but compared to the usual standard of this story, not much. Almost nothing noticeable happened in this chapter. Except for the wedding, which saved the chapter.
An then we have the short attach on the Khatri Mansion, which was a travesty. Again Alyssa goes into Evil progenitor mode, and drags John along with her. Okay it was a bit better this time. At least she let a few people live this time. Last time she committed Genocide. If nothing happens to stop the way she is going, In a few decades time she and John will be the most brutal, evil progenitors that ever lived.
And now they probably are going to help the Kintark against the Brimorians. And they have already stated their intent to annihilate the whole Brimorian species because of their treatment of The Abandoned. So after the battle for Kinta, they will probably go to the brimorian home-world, and just massacre them all. Even though it is almost a mathematical impossibility that every indiviual of a sentient species is purely evil, Alyssa will not even search for redeemable souls. She just doesn't care.
So yes, I am worried. Very worried. Hoping against all hope that that isn't Tefler's grand master plan. That the road to hell is paved with good intentions, and at the end, John will be come a bloodthirsty tyrant ruling the entire galaxy.
And one last thing, It should be obvious what Jessica Blake should do now. Kill Rahna'gon. It doesnt make sense to have him in the story anymore. Just get rid of him.
Thanks for a still good read.
Excellent work, and a chapter with a good balance between action, plot progress, character moments, and so on. I hope this means all is well with you, Tefler, and good luck to you and everyone else here in these "interesting" times.
I'll see you all again when the next chapter arrives, or I've reread it back to this chapter again.
I check my account, almost daily for your next book release. The depth and subtleties of the different layers to the overall story is perfect. Please release your stories faster.
Thank You!
Is to save his life.
That means not hiding, but going to take over a thrall species, bring their fleets back, and gang up on the next Progenitor to look for them. John doesn’t have time to find the gate and retrieve the fleet with Maliri crews when he’s putting out fires all the time.
Okay I love the story as a whole and would rate it five stars but honestly I would rate this chapter a 3 stars, but this is obviously not aajor chapter and is meant to tie a few loose ends such as the whole secret lionesses biz and position is for major conflict soon with the Brimorians, as well as the addition of a new girl, which I think is kinda "meh". I don't really see what a new girl especially a redundant nymph would bring to the story at this point but I am willing to trust your master plan and wait to find out, of there is anything to find out
Now I want to say something about the trajectory of this team. It seems that John is pretty much cool with the total lack of respect for his authority or any semblance to authority that he might still possess, but at this stage, I would assume not much
John needs to shape up his crew when it comes to the orders department cause it seems to be what will, if we are being realistic, lead to their demise. Because I find it hard to believe that the team still works like a well oiled machine in combat when there is no obvious leader, we have a figure head who is an admiral, don't get me wrong but I feel like having Mr. Admiral. Okay baby, if that's what you want, is a little to unfit to lead this team. Yes, I understand that he had to balance things, with them being his family and all but, realistically all this should have caught up with them.
Another point, I want to raise in what i hope isn't a rant at this point, is the moral direction of the crew. Specifically Alyssa, I think more than a few readers have realised and pointed out that she seems to feel that she and to a lesser extent, her team, are the greatest force of good in the whole freaking cosmos, no, MULTI COSMOS, NO NO, OMNICOSMOS.... Cos i can not imagine it being feasible story wise to have a character like Alyssa whose head is so far up her deluded ass to believe she has done nothing wrong. Not that I am vouching for the people she has killed who deserve it but as a wise admiral once put it, " you can't be judge, jury and executioner" and my humble addition to this is "WITHOUT TURNING INTO A STONE COLD KILLER WITH NO CONSCIENCE". Now, why is this so, well I believe I have evidence which I believe might not be substantial or amount to anything or have any weight in proving what I am saying but hear me out, I believe team invictus is turning into Mindless killing machines because...... THEY ARE EFFING DEBATING ABOUT WHETHER OR NOT TO WIPE OUT AN ENTIRE RACE OF SENTIENT BEINGS.
now, even monochrome television can't possibly think things are so black and white as to assume that every single member of an ENTIRE SPECIES is completely evil.
These are my grievances, please pardon my rant like write up, but I'm really scared for them, I really don't want them to end up as villains who will casually execute you for looking at a porn star in a magazine, with the "wrong thoughts" as the hand being used to partake in the activity are marked red and the their owner gunned down.
Hopefully and I pray that this is part of a storyline Tefler is spinning, with a culmination I cannot predict as at yet.
I hope this does not hit the wrong way. Love your story and I hope you are able to settle all that is wrong at the moment.
how did ailita understand what john meant when he told her to take the form mael'nerak gave her? since her memory was wiped shouldn't she not know who mael'nerak was?
This was a fun chapter and I'm glad to see another nymph saved.
I've spent the last week going back through the story from the first chapter, trying to catch up and see what I missed. Imagine my surprise when I noticed that Whiny John had been completely edited out! Fantastic!!
Seriously, I can remember myself and a lot of others really being frustrated with the Whiny John character, and removing that tripe not only made the story flow a lot better, but it made the story better in every regard. Now, there's decent flow and the characters are far more believable.
Kudos to Tefler for that. I really appreciate it and look forward to seeing what happens next.
I wonder if It will be John, Alyssa, or Rhan that eventually claims Larnkelar’s thralls?
I don't see that they committed genocide in that slaughter.
You can't even accuse them of having wiped out the Khatri family... and everyone they killed was guilty of a capital crime. If they'd wasted time arresting, prosecuting, and punishing based on the evidence they would have been able to uncover, they would all have been executed anyway. And Alyssa only marked the guilty, it was John who said "leave this one until last". Meaning kill all the guilty.
If John was really being "let's slaughter everyone", he'd have had Irillith and Alyssa start to build the list of everyone Alyssa and he see in the memories so, when they had the time, they could come back and kill all of them too.
No way the Invictus can reach the Kintark in time... unless... Alyssa seriously increases the risk of her slingshots... or daddy and Jessica somehow get involved and figure they can help and *do* as an attempt to reconcile...?
ailita's memory: the four 'new' Nymphs could all remember their original form, it was only Jade who couldn't which may have something to do with the symbols on her jewel heart.
The Abandoned Thralls: Sadly there aren't too many of them remaining but Alyssa claiming them could be interesting!
Now one cares what you think. It’s not just a story, it’s an epic. Go get your quick spanks somewhere else.
Patreon is in the business of helping good people make money. You sir are an anonymous schill and not good people.
Great chapter Tef. Looking forward to the next one.
Quickly commenting regarding the prior Schill comment, you apparently haven’t read this epic story. Tefler generously posts here for free. In my opinion it is one of the best stories on this site and I look forward to his mostly monthly postings of long chapters. Only worthless curs hide behind anonymous hate posts. A big thank you to Tefler for his writing and to his many supporters who allow him the freedom to write so consistently.
Now regarding this chapter, which I immensely enjoyed. All I have to say is poor Edraele <so>, John and the Invictus crew are off again away from her and the new Matriarchs. So many open plots going on in this chapter, I am looking forward to the next installment of TSM to see where this goes.
Schill
This isn't a story, stories have endings. This is endless rambling and endless chapters to milk money from patreon subscribers. I wonder if the site realizes how much money you're making from THEIR platform? Guess what, they'll know once I let them know.
Your siccing your followers on other authors stories, and their fluffing you with alts on the favorites lists is all being reported by multiple people.
Seems you are not happy someone is making money from their hard earned artistry. I am on his patreon and happily pay $10 per chapter for this awesome story.
he said to take the form mael'nerak gave her, not her original form. she shouldn't know that he's referring to her original form even though she does remember the form itself. iirc this was before john let her into his mind too so she couldn't have figured it out that way
I did have the figurative raised eye brow when they started killing the Khatri family. Hero status or not, attacking and killing most of a big well-known family is going to get negative attention from the public. The family was armed, but they weren't being overly aggressive. Sure, we know they were evil but how do you explain that to the public? Yes, there's evidence but again how to explain you obtained evidence after the killing? Most were probably civilians too, which has less strict laws compared military law. Even military law allows for a trial. To me, this read more as a slaughter than legal justice. Will the public speak out? There's always jealous punks out there trying to take down heroes.
Regarding, Tefler making money and this story being too long, I disagree on the troll's comments. This isn't one of those stories that is overly stretched with the same boring points. Tefler continues to make TSM new and interesting. Good literature should be financially supportive of the author.
The anonymous troll only gives off jealousy vibes. The fact that they are anonymous tells me they're gutless too.
I do have a negative comment for Tefler, which is probably justified on his part. New chapters have been slowing down more and more. We're lucky to get 1 chapter a month now. Your family is the most important thing, of course, but I can still be unhappy chapters have slowed down so much. :(
Contrary to popular belief or misconception the Terran Federation is not a democracy or a republic. It is a military dictatorship (along the lines of Starship Troopers) and it is hardly ever benevolent. Justice is often arbitrary and ruthless.
John, Alyssa, and Sukara try to bring justice to those who have had little or no justice in their lives. If one hundred rotten souls are killed to bring justice to one innocent soul, fair trade, so be it. Ten billion for a billion, again, a fair trade. Also when it is us against them, I take us every time.
Good point. I hadn't thought of the govt. type. Very good example w/ Starship Troopers.
That Admiral (Kester?) that was unhappy w/ Alyssa and John's vigilante tactics seems to imply there is some sort of justice system similar to current western justice?
Perhaps the slaughter of the Khatri family is considered legal. John is of the 2nd highest rank in the TF (Fleet Admiral being the 1st). However, the public still does have some right to protest in some way. Look at those stupid kids that protested against attacking the Kirrix. Maybe it is too minor or irrelevant to the story, but some of the public surely would be p-ed off still.
What if, to help with reconciliation, Johns dad uses the wormhole generator to jump to Kinta and destroy the brinorian fleets.
ignore the idiots it's been a wonderful story.
Ed
I think Tefler has gone out of his way to make it very clear that Alyssa is only marking those evil or guilty, based on the laws of the Federation. I also think it was pointed out that the planet the Khatri family ruled for centuries would welcome justice and not be forced to continue in the dictatorial rule they had been living. Places such as this, and Karron and other planets far away from the core worlds, are just not overseen by Federation authorities as well as they should be. I think Lynette intends to change that. As readers, we shouldn't look at everything through eyes of our time, but give some allowance for changes and artistic license here.
I agree with Partwolf(I am also a fan). I want to see John and Rahn reconcile somehow, and perhaps Rahn helping out at some critical point would help ease tension there. In this case, how about he jumps ahead using the wormhole and wipes out the attacking Brimorians. He could then hit the Kirrix ships as they head to trade for more Abandoned, and any Brimorian ships not carrying slaves.
As to the Larynthans, and for that matter all other thrall species, I feel that in the end, John must claim them all to keep any new Progenitors from claiming them and gaining power. Only John wants all people to live without being ruled by a bloodthirsty tyrant.
I hope soon, that Dana will get new ship designs to the Ashanath and anyone else who needs new ships. We still have the Enshunu to deal with, maybe the Drakkar pod mothers, and the Achonin may appear. Niskara had visions of seeing Maelnerak and the Maliri walking the halls where the SIX star forges were running, and it seems they could use newer ship designs too. Or perhaps, there will be enough Thrall ships to give every species a few after the Progenitors are done, and parity of force will ensure peace among the species.
I want to see the Brimorian nymph go to John and Jade soon, but I was surprised Tefler snuck another into the story. I want to see a human Faye soon too, I miss her and I think the crew needs an expert with advanced computers and with John's enhanced skills to go beyond the Prog tech. Each crew member has a special skill from the Gift, and I enjoy seeing how Tefler finds each a place on the ship.
I feel that once Dana has all the Prog tech, another refit of the Invictus will occur. I don't really want to see them build a massive Dreadnought, but hope they can continue to upgrade their ship. I worry about the integrity of all the weak titanium parts, and having room for the new tech systems, but they don't need a huge thrall crew like a typical dreadnought, so I hope the soul of the original Invictus will stay intact. Yet I see hints in the story that eventually the Hernandez family may eventually have a ship, and I could see giving Jack the Invictus if Tefler does create a new ship. Maybe Sparks can fit a lagoon into a spare Thrall ship for Jack's family.
Tefler, hope your family is well! Thanks for continuing this epic saga.
tbirdracer
Yet Another Thanks A Lot, for what you do so well. Bringing pleasure too so many readers with tales that have an underpinning of honesty and compassionate caring and thereby make the world a better place.
Can a progenitor claim more than 1 race? I don't believe I heard mention of that happening before. John may have 4 big balls, but sharing the juice with another thrall race will be difficult, especially when most of it goes to his lionesses.
If I had to guess, I'd say the Larynthans will claim them.
I meant to say Rahn would be claiming the Larynthans.
I don't know, just speculating. John intends to retrieve the ships from the Larynthans, but there are still planet(s) with non-enthralled Larynthans living. Just a few are now coming of age to be "recruited". So far, no mention has been made of Rahn gaining thralls. He loves Jessica, and wants to stay unnoticed by the astral plane beings. Jessica is technically his matriarch, but she has never had thralls beneath her. Yet John, has Maliri, human, and a Trankaran following him. He has claimed the Maliri, yet only a few have become enthralled. I could see him traveling to get the Larynthan ships and "claiming" a few adult females to correct any societal issues they have. Larn's matriarch mention once about him "filling the tanks" and returning to recruit more thralls. It seems that historically, Progs wiped out the thrall race of any defeated Prog, but John certainly won't do that. Plus, adding more thrall races will gain John unmatched power.
John is not an idiot, he could gain so much knowledge by reconciling with Rahn'hagon. Rahn'hagon's knowledge of the astral world alone is priceless, not to mention his vast knowledge of progenitors and their warfare.
Rahn'hagon has so much to learn from John by the same token.
It is only logical for them to reconcile and work toward the common goal of death and
destruction of all enemies.
Rahn’hagon can’t - he dare not leave Shroud space or he’ll be re-enslaved by Xar’aziuth. Not sure even if John can, for the same reason, even if it is possible to claim more than one race. Maybe he could load up Jade & the other catgirls and send them through a warpgate to claim them by proxy.
I was re-reading chapter 58 and it just hit me... The Malari society (before John's arrival) resembles that of Drow Society from Dungeons and Dragons. They're separated by Houses, Nobility status is very present, Houses are led by Women, pointy ears, and fight for family ranking.
Tefler, can you confirm?
Great to finally have a new chapter thank you.
I can’t believe that was all for the rahn Jess and John conversation I hope there is more later.
Great point to find another nymph i hope they find dozens more.
Thank you for the great read and I hope you and your famIly are safe and healthy
Please keep writing I look forward to seeing your next chapter soon again thank you!!!!
There were four different species that influenced the creation of the Maliri.
The Drow were definitely one of them, with the Matron mothers ruling their noble Houses in an evil matriarchal society.
As others have correctly guessed, the Asari from Mass Effect were another. The blue skin is an obvious connection, as was the all-female society. The Maliri gender imbalance is 20-1, with all the males exiled to the border outposts, which means the homeworlds are exclusively female.
The Eldar from WH40k are the third, basically being high-tech space elves. They also have a dark history and their civilisation is on the decline from previous glory.
The final one are Zotrians from the animated series Ulysses 31, who look exactly like the Maliri after being with John. They are white haired, blue-skinned humanoids with pointy ears.
Tefler
The way Alyssa is blissing out at times, can she use that positive energy to make new, even stronger armor?
Will Jade and her sisters be able to form a Raptor squadron of 6 (or more) able to take out anything but a heavy cruiser one on one? As powerful as the gunship is, I can picture 6 of them sweeping enemy fighters, bombers, destroyers, etc from the sky.
I know if I was Faye, I would have had some off-site backups that I could tap into in an emergency.
I agree, Rahn can bring so much to the table by reconciling with John. I think John would get another huge boost in power (like Alyssa getting "love drunk") when things with his parents are resolved. Maybe his "Guide" will simply be absorbed rather than there be a big fight once Rahn becomes the father John always wanted, and the Guide is no longer needed. Rahn needs to stay local to hide from the astral monsters, and I think if John finally defeats Xar, Rahn's soul won't end up as an astral entity. If Rahn shared all the Prog tech with Dana, she could be working (with a full tummy from John) on upgrades. We need to know how to improve the black metal, and grow a new Faye. I think John will be OK leaving the Shroud area, as he did not make the bargain to serve Xar. Another comment was made about sending Jade to the Larynthans. I still think Holaris wine and reference to "filling the vats" will come into play at some point so that John's "Gift" can reach more thralls to fix their DNA and their cultures..
tbirdracer
LoL! Tefler, I'm only realizing now that you're a bigger nerd than I am! (I guess I should have realized this when you made Sakura the mech pilot, and also made mentions of cat girl cosplay.)
Due to budgetary reasons, I never played Mass Effect or or WH-ish games. However now that you mention it, I do recall seeing some sort of Mass Effect youtube vid last year about some blue skinned woman?
The oldest anime-ish show I've ever watched is Robotech. I had to google Ulysses 31. It's only a little older than Robotech but still an unknown for me.
I don't see a lot of gamers in the age range I think you're at. I still LoL when I remember seeing a youtube vid of Jessica Nigri's (famous cosplayer and my favorite) father go crazy when he obtained a game achievement on World of Tanks.
Cry for me... Anime Expo and SDCC 2020 would have just happened if they weren't canceled this year...
Suspect Alyssa's bliss moments will end up being the counterforce to the misery that powers a soul forge. A heart forge?
John was the Kyth'faren's final response to Xar'aziuth's evil. They placed the shroud to protect him from Xar'aziuth. They guided Mael'nerak to set up the races for John's use and alliance and eliminate any potential threats(the Achonin and the Kirrix). Rahn’hagon was guided in his creation/engineering of John.
When John ventures back to the Citadel a whole host of new powers will be revealed to help defeat Xar'aziuth. Because Xar'aziuth is the real enemy not the progenitors.
The Kyth'faren want to reemerge as a race and John and his Terran girls are the key.
This makes John the Promised One.
Mael'nerak is still alive. There are still Achonin in existence.
Well, right before 130 came out I went back to the very beginning and re-read the whole story. Read 130 and 131, and now I’m caught up again. *sigh* Now the withdrawals start again!
Tefler, the early chapters were obviously good enough to hook us, but the quality of the story and your writing has done nothing but improve throughout. The different plot lines, the intricacies of the story, everything has consistently improved. Thanks again for your wonderful tale, and thanks again for sharing it with us here!
Attack them at source and cut off the head; the Deep Pool or whatever it's called.
My mental mind map of the various empires territories believes that Brimor is much much closer than Kintar, perhaps 3 or 4 times closer. John already intends to address the problems with slave trading of the Abandoned and the Abandoned situation in general, and there's a Malari fleet on stand by in the Calopean Shoals if required.
Clearly a significant portion of the Brimorian Forces (Total) are in Brimorian Expedition Force (BEF), currently in the middle of Kintark Territory. The remainder will not match the Invictus especially with a Malari fleet in support.
Most species will instinctively defend their home territory as a priority, I suspect the Brimorian's are the same. Attacking Brimor and sending simultaneous communiques to the BEF near Kintar ... possibly timed for best effect with the closing Malari Relief Force (MRF) ...
Finally there's less personal engagement for John and the crew with the Kintark than the Abandoned. Sure the Kintark will take another battering while holding out until the MRF arrive. But that's only if the Deep Pool or the BEF doesn't capitulate.
I'm sure Calara will back me up on this ... ;-)
But then we get to Rahn, I'm sure John's XO and Comms Specialist have enough insight/intuition that they may decide to override John's v.mail to Jessica (in John's best interest of course) and message Jessica with a "Prove You're Worthy to communicate with John by ... wiping out the BEF" and we'll see what we can do about setting up another meeting.
Lastly what are they going to do with all the Abandoned people? and if they do manage to salvage Larn's Thrall fleet who can they use to staff them .... unless ... ??? But how to motivate the Abandoned? Ahhh tell them the truth perhaps? Then get the Malari to train them?
ToadilyAwesome
Lit Reg'n is taking ages ...
Genius just plain genius, all of it, an excellent solution to all the problems.
I think leaving the Abandoned to take over the worlds they already inhabit may be the simplest answer. Or perhaps the Brimorians will cede some planets once they lose the upcoming battle and fleets.
I agree maybe Alyssa and Jessica can chat and get John and Rahn to reconcile.
So "you've" been reading this for years (3rd race through for me, yes pun intended, though factually accurate) and finally decide to actually comment (other than an Anonymous "5 stars" et al) ... but "I need a handle" ... to comment on this "Totally Awesome" story in persona at least, other than the ubiquitous "Anonymous". So thanks Tefler for inspiring the handle through your inspired work! (In real life my nick is "Toad").
Didn't expect a response, to my first proper posting so thanks chaps, but Tefler's the only Genius linked to this story.
Also agree with thirdracer the Abandoned aren't psychologically ready for warfare just yet ... perhaps in the second & future waves especially with their cultural birth rate. With their genetic enhancements they're possibly more useful than Terran equivalents with a bit of Galaxy Education 101.
Agreed re: simplest. But having axed the Deep Pool and saved the otherwise slave traded, there'd need to be a comms piece broadcast to prep the Abandoned for the future.
They're not capable of taking over as it is (educationally). Perhaps absorbing them into other compliant empires "water worlds" to take advantage of their unique abilities? e.g. into Kintark, Malari, or Terran aquatic environments and everyone wins.
The cultural shift "<30 kids? ..you're 'avin' a laugh!" But that's a generation away. Yep an un-answered plot loophole.
I have a problem/concern.
Is it really rape and torture if the nymphs are genetically altered to like what
their master likes? Ailita's exact quote:
"Master! This one is so happy to see you!" Ailita exclaimed with joy, her eyes
automatically seeking out Arjun Khatri. "Do you wish to continue the game?"
A direct statement: she'd been genetically engineered to be the perfect bedroom
companion.
I suppose you could argue that they are incapable of giving informed consent
because of their lack of mental/emotional maturity. But then all sex would be rape
including oral.
If John was being honest with himself he would let them drink it from a glass,
because as he said "it's not the act that is important, but the end result... that
the girl swallows...".
You cannot justify this in any way. It is either wrong for both or wrong for neither.
I know it is just a story but conundrums vex me.
Good points. My actual thoughts when I typed "take over" was that they have existing villages, jobs/tasks, homes/buildings, and are tied to some aspect of Brimorian society. I don't see the entire Brimorian race wiped out in whatever happens in future chapters, and I can't see millions or billions of Abandoned all moved to new planets. Just imagine how many space ships needed to move those numbers. But, I agree that somehow they need educated, allowed the freedom to relocate, and their society restructured especially the birth rate. Perhaps there will exist some value that an underwater species can have to other inhabited planets throughout space that will open doors to relocation.
I am sure Tefler will amaze us as the story continues.
tbirdracer
What if John and all the others are just pieces in a video game?
Way too much time on my hands, yes.
Of course Jade goes dragon and crashes through the home to rescue her sister from the dungeon, because that's Jade. And of course Alyssa does a psychic reading and wants to fuck up the bad guys.
But despite John's concerns about
1. Becoming judge, jury and executioner
2. Turning his girls into remorseless killing machines
3. Fixing rather than assassinating the maliri matriarchs who were bred to be evil by their progenator overlords
From the get go its implied that John is out to murder Arjun. He refuses Sakura's retrieval suggestion and decides to "make an example of Arjun." But ringing the doorbell and then slaughtering everyone is beyond the pale.
John rolls up to Arjun's estate, gets mad about the abused nymph and along with his thralls murders most of the family in retribution. The family isn't guilty of Arjun's coup. Based on John's investigation (mind sweep) the family's crimes include depraved decadence, endemic corruption, horrific debauchery and often fatal abuse of power. And despite not all of the red auras being murderers (often fatal, not always), based on John's opi ion they're all guilty and deserve capital penalty. John says "I don't make the laws and I'm not above them." Then says that he'll provide evidence / justification for the murders after the fact. John investigates, finds them guilty, kills and then pledges to provide evidence. Police, judge, executioner, jury all in one and in that order.
Enraged by Ailita's sufferring, John's girls attack first without any provocation and slaughter generations of a clan, then do a makeover for Ailita. Remorseless killing machines.
Meera is literally the matriarch of the Khatri family. Arjun, her progenator, i mean patriarch corrupted her into a "twisted woman" from a "wide eyed" (innocent) teen with the "right encouragement." She is essentiallly a maliri matriarch. If Alyssa's guilty scan is omnicient enough for summary execution and she shared everything with John how'd he overlook this and not spare her or even admonish Jade for murdering a victim.
Maybe John's mad about his parents. Maybe after accepting rule over the Maliri he feels like a king can do whatever the fuck he wants. Maybe afte deciding that he's okay with commiting genocide on the Kirrix he's more in tune with his progenator tendancies towards extermination. But this instance seems out of character, especially if he wants to maintain the Lion reputation. Or maybe the punisher is the hero the Tfed needs.
Imagine if:
John or Alyssa tell Rachel not to expel the poison but temporarily counteracts its effects. "He chose to die for his sins. Let him." Alyssa mind sweeps Arjun and decides that he should experience the evil he visited upon others. Arjun's final moments as the cyanide runs its course stretch into infinity as his psyche relives an innocent nymph's lifetimes of tortue. Meera runs out, and Alyssa prepares to smite Meera. Alyssa's eyes glow as she mind reads. "You poor evil bitch, you learned to enjoy being a sadist" Alyssa shows Meera a memory of hands bearing Arjun's wedding band forcing a hood onto a bound and gagged woman with Meera's eyes then opening a door gesturing the waiting Meera to enter then gesturing to a wall lined with clamps bludgeons and whips. Meera gasps "my sister /mother /neice" and kicks Arjun's lifeless body and slumps sobbing to the ground. (Or, Meera gets squashed exactly the same way when Jade finds her warming Ailita up in the dungeon)
Jade (with nymphs in tow) crashes into the building and finds Ailita and other terrans. Jade blasts through walls and floors with eldritch might. Nymphs dispatch security bots or security guards with feline agility. (Tef has penned many great rescue missions / incursions into enemy strongholds already. And this one would be super short) John, Alyssa, Rachel, Ilrith follow and descend. Baroque opulence scarred by dragon's frantic passage gives way to gloomy cellar full of implements of torture and restraint. X-number of victims / witnesses recovered and treated by rachel. Ilrith plugs in and finds Arjun's fetish video collection and other digital evidence of khathri misdeeds, sends anonymous tips to powerful families / organizations that they wronged and to Jehanna's boss.
Tash and maintenence bots and squad of fire sprites stand guard on amaassed khatri members. Flickering firelight on the dark planet makes Shan's pistols and bots grins seem even more sinister. Perhaps gov. Pankaj gets feisty with Tash and decides to incite his relatives to escape. He draws a gun which Tash promptly immolates. Pankaj drops the gun but his hand continues to burn. After a psychic check in with Alyssa, Tash spreads the flames from Pankaj's hand and consume the rest of his body. Channelling x-character from her favorite holovid, Tash say "any one else feeling lucky / in a hurry" the fire sprites double in size and / or number.
Group returns to yard and John calls Lynette to collect khatri cabal and Arjun's body. John gestures to Khatri members and says "Ilrith, if you would." Alyssa say "we should just end them right now" insert John's comments about not making the law. Ilrith snaps her fingers and renders the red aura khatri members unconsciuos with a flash of electricity. Alyssa's eyes glow as she shares their crimes with the white aura khatri members. "Take heed of your family's sins and take care not to attract our attention ever again. Now unless you want to join them in the dungeon, I suggest you get out of my sight." Cut to Ailita's makeover.
Next morning, Meera (if not squashed) or Balvaan or Pankaj (if not dead) struggles into wakefulness and relizes they are painfully bound in the dungeon. In their limited field of vision they see other family members bound or suspended in various degrees of distress around the dungeon. Through the hole in the roof they can hear approaching hover vehicles as well as John's interview condemning khatri as evil cabal and assuring viewers that admiral Devereux with admister stark justice for the fallen of olympus and the oppressed of Ross 248. John mentions Khatri transgressions against x-family or x-organization (maybe one from Shinatobe's memories). They shiver and pray that Tfed investigators reach them first.
I believe there was mention it sounded like carbonara...
That said, I've never eaten carbonara or heard of it before TSM so I don't know it's pronunciation either.
In my mind, I pronouce it like:
Ca-lair-ra (c sound similar to c in cow but with an "a" rather than "o" sound). However, now that I'm doing it sound by sound, I think it should be more like ca-lara (same c sound as above, Lara like superman's biological mom).
I have been re-reading the whole story again waiting on the next chapter and ran across something I had forgotten. One of the Maliri taking refuge with the Brimorians has a hacking deck. Could it be captured and used to bring Faye back?
Calara's name would be pronounced Kah-LAH-rah, properly (capitals show stressed vowel).
Good catch BigDog167.
"You shouldn't rush art," Shanryl replied, her fingers gliding lovingly over the sophisticated hacking deck built into her vambrace.
Chap 123 page 2
Boy some of this chapter’s commenters are long winded, and some are trollish! Whatever!
It did seem a little jarring to suddenly have another nymph thrown into the mix, who wasn’t Celphna. And her becoming an anime figure seems a little like a “check the box for that fetish” move. But we did learn/confirm some things we know about Lenarrans. Mael’ created the Lenarrans as spies. When the new nymph “recognized” John as Mael’nerak she downloaded her memories to him. Remember how Larn’ examined Celphna and divined her purpose, saying she was still working as intended after all these years? We also know Jade has been modified with Achonin runes on her heart crystal, which has changed how her memory works, which has been further changed by John’s influence.
Some of Prophet’s speculation seem to ring true to me. I hope we’re closer to having a white alternative to the black metal, and insight on how to destroy the black metal. I think it’s tied to whatever Faye saw on the Invictus that she desperately wanted to tell John about, as well as the auras that have happened at different points in the story when John and/or the girls have interacted with Crystal Alyssium.
Now that I’m caught up again, I can feel the withdrawals starting!
Thanks Tef!! Thanks for writing such an epic, and thanks for sharing it with us here.
There was a strict port speed in place around Olympus shipyard,
but such restrictions no longer applied to the Lion of the Federation.
John clarified, his expression grim. "I do not make the laws in the
Terran Federation, nor am I above them.
Hypocrisy much?
During our investigation into the mastermind behind the massacre
on Olympus Shipyard, we discovered endemic corruption within the
Khatri family, who have abused their position of authority on
Mazaya for generations."
The only evidence they had against Khatri was circumstantial at best.
"Petran and Khatri are only guilty by association at the moment," John said
He had no evidence against the Khatri Klan until Alyssa's physic judgement.
You cannot claim moral high ground if you tell untruths and do not obey all
of the laws.
I know it seems like I am nit picking, but this story is way to good for these
inconsistencies.
They had life and death situation to take care of (although Abby was in stasis so her life wasn't in danger of being lost... They also healed other injured.) Invictus should have emergency lights flashing like emergency vehicles.
Plus they have too many enemies to fight and time is of the essence. They're not rushing to vacation. =)
"They had life and death situation to take care of (although Abby was in stasis
so her life wasn't in danger of being lost... They also healed other injured.)"
No ones life was in jeopardy.
Port speed limits are a strict safety protocol, only broken in an attack or the
threat of an attack. This is up to the harbor masters discretion usaully.
"Plus they have too many enemies to fight and time is of the essence.
They're not rushing to vacation." Then why did they take time out for a
wedding if they were in such a rush? Because John cannot say no to Alyssa
or Rachel.
This masterpiece has taken me a week to go from chapter 1 to chapter 131. Loved ever chapter, can't wait for chapter 135 to become available on here.
Why didn’t Alyssa tell John that she made contact to arrange the transfer of Emily?
Why didn’t Alyssa tell John about the changes she made to his mother so that he understood why she would behave like she did?
Why do they have to kill everybody constantly? Why is he above the law? The few people who where not found guilty now probably have enough hate that will last a lifetime because all the things they had to endure that evening?
Jade promised she would not fly solo again, but probably het promise wasn’t worth that much. Why does John accept that?
John asked the girls not to push Jenna. What was that first thing they did????
John must be lonely, het is constantly giving, balancing all the wants and needs. And even then they do not respect him enough to listen when he asks something. Especially Allysa, she is constantly undermining him even when that means that she does things that are against his specific orders. And she does not care when she hurts him because she keeps behaving like she always does, an annoying blond bimbo.
Chapter 131 became available on patreon 85 days ago from 4-23 to 7-17, is it fair to say that chapter 132 becomes available on here some time in October?
It all depends on Tefler. He makes the call. Maybe we can expect 132 here in August, but I am not holding my breath on that prediction. Still rereading the first 131 chapters. So many things are happening and so many unresolved threads.
Somehow I began to hate cliffhangers...
thanks tefler of another amazing chapter, any chance on an eta for the next one?
but I'm beginning to suspect that one of the author's fetishes is extrajudicial executions.
😁
It seems that Alyssa has been becoming more and more comfortable being judge, jury and executioner of evil people. I hope that Tefler does not turn her into a Daenerys Targaryen...
Loved the entire series.Love everything about it.Incredible story telling. Waiting for the next chapter
I thought that us on Lit was supposed to be only 2 chapters behind but I guess we're slowly but surely being pushed further back. Guess the writing is on the wall!!!!
Trying to keep my compulsion under control and only check for updates once a day.
Thanks Tef!
I've loved the beautiful and complex world you've woven together so well. Whether its just introducing about minor empires and their people, or the larger factions and empires. Its a world a can actually imagine and one i've come to care for. Thank you for all your hard work and the love you put into your story.
-Alex
P.S I'm sorry you always have to deal with people complaining about when you post. Just post when you want and the people, like myself, who love what you've created will keep coming back for more
I'm just on vacation for a few more days, then I'll post the next chapter.
Tefler
Hope your vacation is relaxing and fun! Enjoy your family!
Patreon release dates: No reason not to get patreon folks it's only 1$
Chapter 132, May 8
Chapter 133, May 31
Chapter 134, June 30
Chapter 135, July 31
Chapter 136, August 28
Was it Teffler's policy that free readers would be 2 chapters behind paying users, or was that a bad rumor?
Chapter 135 has been completed and 136 has been started on already. I thought we'd be have received 133 already?
That's what I thought too. We don't rate newest chapters any more. Not like before. I guess the money is to good to remember your roots on where you started.
But so what? It’s his to do as he wishes. Just as it’s yours/my money to do as we wish. Ya want more, spend a buck. I was annoyed by the slow pace of FREE stories but shit I’m over it. I just read the other 200k stories and check back.
The bitter whiners and the blind defenders are both so cloying I stopped reading the comments for the most part....useless drama. The outrage. The indignant replies. Jeesh.
So all of you, get a life
There's no need for rudeness to anyone. If you find you have to be rude, at least have the balls to not be anonymous. =)
Take some deep breaths. Anger has only very limited benefits. (stronger dark side powers.) Yes, come to the dark side... We have cookies!
It's almost like Tefler doesn't owe us anything and that he continues to post for free at all is because he does remember where he came from and who supported him...Peeps (and I am aware that many share this view) it will be here when it is here and not a moment sooner. If Tefler changed his mind and decided not to post on lit anymore that would be fine to, (though I would be sad) because he doesn't actually owe anyone anything. Try to keep your excitement for the work be expressed positively, because not only does it make it a better environment for the author but it also makes the community that has followed this journey for 131 chapters a better place. Two cents
Chapter 131 April 23
Chapter 132 may 8
Chapter 133 may 31
Chapter 134 June 30 first half . July 13 second half
Chapter 135 July 31
Chapter 136 august 28
With 3800+ paying readers, Tefler is on the way to earn a million $ from TSM alone.
But even though he does not owe anything to us, we the silent majority provide the inspiration and a large fan base to keep him motivated. I can only hope that he will continue to post till the end of this story with shorter gaps. We are diehard fans Tefler don't forget us....
he posted this on the 28
I'm just on vacation for a few more days, then I'll post the next chapter.
Tefler
now on to the fact about getting paid for his work that is what this site should be fore is authors to refine there talent and get published .Would i love to see the chapters faster yes but does he owe them to us no he does not. So many authors dont finish there works on here they just walk away.that he might is great and a month or 2 months of no chapters is a minor issue as there are other stories that i follow that only get updated every 6 months so quit complaining
wallguy
So far this year Tefler has put out about a chapter per month. If Patreon subscribers are paying $1 per chapter, and he has 3800 of them, that is about $3800 per month, or $45K per year. A nice salary for doing something you love for an appreciative customer base, but not really getting rich. It would take him over 22 years to make a million off TSM at that rate. I would say that if it is, "all about the money" then Tefler could have picked a much more lucrative profession ...especially when he gives it away for free to the majority of his audience, and they bitch if he takes too long.
People it's only been 8 weeks used to take 3 months and we got less words per chapter. There are other ok to great stories in si-fi think of them as your metadone clinic. But who am I kidding I'm just here lurking for my next fix too.