Status Update (chapter 123)

Just to clarify, the management of risk is a hallmark of a champion talent. I am reminded of an old Car and Driver magazine article where they did racetrack laps in a Ford Taurus with Jackie Stewart. His explanation and demonstration of how to drive was very simple, very effective, and most importantly very managed, and safe.

I think if you challenge yourself you risk burn out.

Sweet Jesus on a stick that was a good chapter!

Crom

I absolutely HATE cliffhangers. And this one was the worst yet! Waiting another month for the next chapter is gonna be absolute torture!

Who Me

BigWooSon or anyone else, what chapter is that passage from?

commatoes

LOL.

PLRus--Founding member of the TSM F5 club.

haha

Did everyone get the message when they signed on that Patreon was going down for maintenance in 5 minutes?

PLRus--Founding member of the TSM F5 club.

Rus is lurking on Discord, only go by the official patreon announcement of the chapter. Lol. Soft smile to Rus

?

Nibbles

I think he only has to get things posted by midnight US pacific time to get paid. I live there and have seen a few of his month ends posts come in close.

Chicken

"Summer" being an ancient gaul word, meaning "the rain is slightly warmer"

Tefler is in the UK, where is currently British summer time.

Saying midnight is meaningless without a timezone.

Traditionally, tef has posted chapter updates really really late. 122 was posted at 2359. As in one minute till midnight... So patience, rather than wearing out collapsing spring will be more useful

It is the refresh key for his browser.

Florida Reader

What's an F5?

Who Me

My F5 is swiping down on the screen to refresh:-/

Timothy Lucas

This passage says the server and power supply have redundancies but does not mention data storage backup. Which is beyond the pale for any computer professional. The most important thing on the computer is data, so there is always a backup of everything: source code and data files. My conclusion is John relied on a hacker instead of building a proper system. John is obviously not a swot, so he needs to find a tart boffin with computer IT experience instead of hacking. Once he finds her, he can get to work boffing her with baby batter until her eyes glow with psychic IT power. Of course, shagging a proper nerd instead of Irillith and Dana might not make him randy, but I am sure he would see the bennies within two weeks. Regards of the lack of realistic computer procedures, I like how Tefler setup this scenario. Allowing Faye to die, gives us more drama through Irillith and Dana growing more powerful.

thomas rodrian

Yes, but there is far more to it than the hardware, and THAT stuff was not backed up elsewhere. So, when her server was destroyed, so was alot of what made her...Her.

GrandPaM

Personally, I think Faye stored a backup of herself on Little One...

Dana built Faye's server, so given the necessary materials, she could re-create the hardware. As masters of their domains, neither Dana nor (especially) Irrilith would have forgotten about any useful redundancies that they had built in, so any redundancies that would be useful in this case must have been either software related (part of - or handled by - Faye's software, which neither Dana nor Irrilith fully understood), or in some way insufficient in the face of instant and total hardware failure. At this point, it seems that any chance of saving Faye as we know her is going to come down to either some clever combination of John and Irrilith's psychic power, or something Faye herself did. We know that she uploaded many memories to Little One. Maybe Faye secreted away a personal backup on one of the several other Progenitor servers the team built into the Invictus' network.

F5 squad is hereeeee !!!!!

F5

GrandPaM

Her server was created once... it ca be created again

Rocketman

It's her server that is needed and unable to be re-created!

em110905

Also this. Faye's tiny face lit up with a brave smile, and she replied, "I trust you both, I know I'm in safe hands." She turned to look at the rest of the crew, before her gaze settled on John, and she said, "If anything should go wrong, please don't be sad. My existence has been down to a series of fortunate circumstances, and my good luck can't last forever. Thank you for showing me how fun life can be."

Yeah, how about that?! How did we lose Faye with all of her backups in place?

Hey, just stumbled unto this page 4, chapter 67. "Absolutely," Irillith replied with confidence. "Once we've transferred her to the new platform, there's all sorts of redundancies and backup power supplies to make sure she won't be accidentally shut down. Even if she is, the new system can reboot her easily."

I completely agree with Ximm84: Tefler needs to take all the time he needs to continue delivering the *OUTSTANDING* quality that he has done so consistently, and to balance this off with his own personal life. One amusing note: does anybody else see a parallel between our frantic desires for Tefler's next chapter, and Jade's sisters frantic desires to get screwed by John? :^)

Ken Moreau

Sometimes, that is aaallllll we have.

Todays the 30th. Dare we hope?

Yep. Give it maybe another 12-15 hours.

Jedi Khan

Too early to start F5?

Florida Reader

Would rather wait for quality than quantity. Take the time you need to plan and write the chapters right. Those that are true fans will be patiently, though anxiously, waiting for your work. And will appreciate it when it arrives.

Always good to read Tefler is back in mental circulation!

Big Dude

So true

lol After 120, the ending to 122 isn't all that bad.

Jedi Khan

I just couldn't read the last few paragraphs as he stopped it right when Olympus was infiltrated can't stand stopping at cliffhangers like that drive me slightly crazy wondering what happened if I read it lol

Tefler hasn't said anything, so probably not.

Jedi Khan

Does anyone know if the latest update on 122 was the final version

T-minus 20 hours, if Tefler is on schedule.

Jedi Khan

F5?

GrandPaM

Mine too! But the chapter won't be long enough for me to take 4 days to read it!

Timtom12

One more day for chap 123....with any luck:) here's hoping!

Timothy Lucas

No Problem Tefler, I'm rereading the story in the meantime. About how long are you through the story now? Have you been hashing out the sequel between writing TSM?

Forbsey

Thanks for the update

To be technical, for sure patrons would drop if a full pay cycle went by with no post and no announcement of vacation~

Richard

Glad you are ok.

Honestly dude, take a month off you need it.

Alphaonetango

Welcome back! It is best to lay down when the muse leaves you. Wait for it to come back and it will be better than ever. Would appreciate Faye coming back to life as her own sweet self. Thanks!

Jose Bueno

More great chapters in an amazing series. And as usual the best writers get us readers so involved with the characters that we want 50k words every week to read.....lol

Skycrane

Did Faye not transfer most of her memories of the crew to little ones server so she could study them?

Vizth Hal

"Faye’s current demise" is a brilliant allusion, but it does make me think you might not be entirely impartial ;-)

na, if its not faye, honestly i don't care. Faye was a lovely character and probably one of the few truly innocent ones. If she got martin'd off, for me the story ends with ~118-119 and i ll be moving on i guess ;(

TargetDrone

Or that a new faye is reconized/welcomed into the fold...aka Faye's daughter:)

Timothy Lucas

Please tell me they at least find a fragment of her memory core that has a small part still in tact to get a little bit of our favorite AI back. Please. T-T

Stormrall

if it had of been John's Pride they might have liked that....

TF4EVA

Putting the chapter aside for a second it is good to hear you are ok

I think I speak for the majority when I say we'd rather have it when you feel energised and excited about it, than when you're forcing it out for the sake appeasing a vocal minority of complainers.

Matt

Tef; excellent to hear from you, and I’m really sorry that you started to feel a bit of burn-out. I’m guilt tripping myself just a bit as I was one of the angry chorus that formed over Faye’s current demise. In fact, like many I’ve come around to once more putting my trust in Tef, and want to stress my total support! The violent reaction you had is a living testimony to the power of your characters, and your overall skill as a master storyteller. Humbly Tim

Timbo

It's all good Tefler. I hope you feel completely rejuvenated. Take the time you need. Creating a product you're happy with is the most important. No rushing just for our sakes!

No worries Tef! Considering you took a couple of weeks off AND we're still getting a chapter this month, none of us have anything to complain about.

commatoes

Glad your back and recovered. Was starting to wonder. Understand taking a break. Everyone needs that sometimes to recharge.

ty

Glad to hear you are keeping your self maintenance up. I eagerly await the next thrilling chapter, and admittedly the next aggravating cliff hanger.

Emil Jurak

Tef I knew you were okay and I had a feeling you were struggling with how to pick up after such stellar chapters. No worries and good luck with 123!! Amazing it's still going! You are a wizard, you can do it!!

Hinterlands Man

Trying to keep the quality and intensity you have carried through out this Story has to have been a daunting task at best! we hang on every chapter and you have given all of us one hell of a ride! taking a brake can only make what we get all that much better! Thank You for what you do for us junkies of your work!

Glenn Hunter

great to hear you are ok Tefler! i guess i echo everyone's feelings when i say that we just were worried about you. We like to hear from you even if you don't have a new part ready, just to let us know you're doing ok ;)

TargetDrone

Great News, keep up the great work!

jojoRabbit

Good to hear from you, glad that you're feeling fine. any word from the editors on the final version of ch 122?

David Shmilowitz

FANTASTIC

Good to hear you had a refreshing time off, Tefler. And welcome back.

BlackPhoenix

We have been overly spoiled by Tefler. He is so generous with his time it is amazing in comparison to the other authors on this site or others. Many have gone months leaving fans in the dark.

its great to hear we could get a new chapter soon. I don't want to sound pushy or demanding but next time i would really appreciate just a short warning that you won't be posting. It would make the wait less torturous. Hope your feeling better with best wishes.

welcome back Tef

Richard de Leeuw

Glad to hear you're doing alright, can't wait to see the next chapter! Keep up the good work, and don't burn yourself out.

Great to know you’re ok tef . Take it easy, feel the love.

Good on you. A little vacation and you’re back tanned, rested and ready.

Chester Orland

is the 3rd paper back book out yet ..

I’m hoping we’ll find out what is was Faye saw before the invictus got trashed.....

cheers mister

Braw

Firstly, I want to thank you so very much for your imagination and perseverance in writing this story, you are the only person that I have ever Patreon'ed. Secondly, please do, as others have said, take what time you actually need to not cause yourself to be burnt to a crisp. Please remember that every single patron of yours is here because of your imagination, writing, and storytelling ability with these characters and this universe that you have created.

Droidmek

Mr T. so glad you took a break, so glad you spent time with the family. Your readers were worried something may have happened and so wonderful to have you back with us growing the anticipation. looking forward to your next chapter and keep looking up because thats where it all is.....

Taco1085

I totally understand needing a break! Take as long as you need.

Hey Telfer, glad we heard from yeah. We were getting alittle worried about you and the family. Take all the time to need to get your mojo going.

Glad to see you are back and more importantly in good health. I worry you're a working arthor and need money and such for the family and all. If you need to post a 1st half just to get rid of some financial stress please do.

Grimlakin

Tefler!? Why didn't you call? Had I but known that you were dealing with motivation/burnout pressures, why I'd have grabbed up my trusty olde cat-'o-9-tails snd sped right on over to help you out!

GrandPaM

To Echo others, those last few chapters especially wring us out. I can imagine you are as well. Took the opportunity to read thru the whole epic again. Very hard to put down.

Arthur Bridges

Not surprised you needed a break, those last chapters were epic. I just finished an archive dive so im looking forward to the next one!

Thanatos95

Go Man Go, Many Thanks Tefler

Thank you Tefler

Mjk154

Glad to hear that you are OK. Thanks Tefler!

Thanks!

Arrowglass

Thank you for the update 😀

BFCP79

Not surprising as chapter's 121 and 122 you have been building to for three years and must have been a massive release for you. Love your work, take it easy

rich ed

I am glad you are doing well. I am relatively new to Patreon but I am glad you took the time off to recharge instead of burning out. I have enjoyed reading all of the chapters so far and cannot wait to read more to see where you take everything. I have also been buying the books on amazon to go back and reread to see the changes.

No worries, love your work, glad you're back and feeling better.

Only 2 weeks to "recharge"?!?! I think you should have taken a few more, you deserve it... but do send us a photo or two of the sun in the V.I. when you go! ;-)

Elf

Thank you

thomas rodrian

Its Alive!!! glad to hear you recharged. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0VkrUG3OrPc

Jerry Isdale

Totally understable. Thanks for the update Tefler.

Cignal

Take is easy and keep up the good work! ..and bring back Faye. 😢

Jake Minor

After those 2 you deserved a break

jerry661

thanks for the update and yes my F5 can relax now too. Sometimes it is okay to fade away rather than to burn out especially when there can only be one!

TF4EVA

Thank you for all your great work Tefler!

good to hear from you Tef! take your time....

Simorthelast

Good to see you well Tefler. Thank you for your hard work, passion, talent and dedication. ^_^

The 30th? That's great! Just in time for me to start my vacation! 😜

CJ Mora

Glad to hear your time off has recharged you a bit.

Glad to see you're back and better. Take it easy if that's what you need. (In the mean time, you might want to publish an update on literotica, they're that far from starting a riot and they're your source for new patrons)

mommyderg

Thank you, Tefler! We... missed you and were getting worried.

Now I can stop refreshing my computer every 30 minutes . Thanks for the update

Newnotsure

Hope you had a good vacation: )

Muledrvr

Thanks for all the effort, Tefler! Don't you dare give up though! We will be here to support you always!

MightyMackinac

You've done an amazing job for 122 chapters and if you need to take a break, you take a break. Don't burn yourself out just because people are clamoring for more. We'll still be here when you're back in form.

tentaclesforall

Welcome back. Glad the bug bit ya again.

Welcome back Tef, hope you had a great, well deserved vacation

NomNomWat

The prodigal one returns!! WB!! Hope you enjoyed your vacation!

Thanks you take all the time you need tefler we ain't going no where

Mark Hall

Thanks as always.

Roman Andrew Chalfant

Thanks for the update!

Steve

Thanks

Wypuxx

Thanks

He’s alive!!!!

DemonHunterCole

Yes!

Michael