Three Square Meals - Chapter 125

A few new lines here and there. Nothing major though.

Tefler

New final version added! I missed some edits in the last draught, so I've fixed those too. :-)

Tefler

Thanks was there much change

I've updated the post with the final version of chapter 125. :-)

Tefler

Congratulations Tefler on the new addition to the family coming soon ........ who needs sleep anyway . LOL.

Oldwood

My BDay is tomorrow, Tefler...? When's F5 time?

GrandPaM

Focusing Crystals. Glad you agree with my suggestion for time focusing.

Big Dude

Please I don't think I can start over again and reread it right now lol

Kensyi

They are a focusing crystal so Shields and guns

Kensyi

F5...?

I know what I want for a present. :)

I thought the eternity crystals are also used for the shields.

cp

Tefler when you do the e-book for chapter 116 you may wish to edit this paragraph a little. “Alyssa’s back... so lots of flirtatious teasing,” Dana replied with a smile. They started walking after the maintenance bots again and she studied Faye with an appraising eye. “It totally sucks that you can’t hear her telepathically. I wonder if there’s some way we could adapt one of the Ashanath psi-shapers? It’s a machine that receives incoming telepathic commands, so if Alyssa projected her thoughts at it, then perhaps you could receive the signal...” I bet Faye knows what the psi-shaper is by now in the story line, especially after they used it when they refitted the ship the first time to check the connections of all the Maliri, and reviewed the footage after they left Maliri space.

rich ed

I think the WH Gen requires the "black metal" that Dana hasn't figured out yet. I'm betting that crystal allysium will end up being it's substitute once it's been reshaped enough times.

Probably because only 2 days have passed since she got the wormhole generator schematics

Kensyi

With Dana modifying the ship superstructure in chapter 125, the ship should be way stronger than it was before the sneak attack by Larn'Kelnar. Was there any story line of the fabricators creating the wormhole generator parts? Since Dana has the schematics and blueprints; why can't Dana create another ten or twelve additional wormhole generators for the Maliri battleships or dreadnaughts? Imagine if Dana has two generators they can jump to point A - deliver ass-kicking #1 or rescue #1 and then jump to point B - deliver ass-kicking #2 or rescue #2 Why haven't the eternity crystals been investigated for additional uses besides weapons platforms? How about eternity crystals being used to reduce the worm hole timeframe through time focusing?

Big Dude

Maliri are going to become rainbow colored

Kensyi

I agree with John going to Olympus first. I think I remember reading that it would only take them 10 days to get there after Dana psycho-straightened the superstructure. Here's something else to think about. If our heroes build a worm-hole generator to haul a bunch of Maliri crews to Larathyran space to "requisition" Larn's thrall ships, he's going to pop up on Xar's radar as soon as they arrive. Xar will immediately order an attack by at least one progenitor, giving John and crew just slightly over 12 hours to get in, crew the ships, and get out. On another note, unless the worm-hole generator is powerful enough to transport the Invictus and a fleet of thrall vessels along with it, they won't be able to get back safely. If the Maliri leave in hyper-warp, any progenitor dreadnought will be able to catch and destroy them, and even if they did get through. Depending where the Larathyran Empire is located it could take a very long time to get home, unless there is a convenient hyper-warp gate or a bit of high end "Dana Magic" involved. And, what will happen with the surviving Larathyrans? With all the enthralled Larathyrans dead, will the Maliri hate them, or is it only thralls that hate each other. Can they be rescued?

Olympus first to save Abigail! Then, I wonder, if the Brimrians are going to attack the Kintark, if the Empress will ask for help from John? Of course, she will have to back on her request to keep the Invictus out of Kintark space! "Oh, what wicked webs he (Tefler) weaves"...to slightly paraphrase the old saying! What will they ignore to return to Maliri space with all that is going on?

Arrowglass

If they leave off the spinning wheels and just try to get it flying, month, tops.

Anthony Kester

So do you I think the plan is to push the prepared Invictus into combat with the Brimorians or still go back to the protectorate to build a new ship? How long would it take to build a ship from scrap? Because we know every engineer in there aunt and uncle would be thrown into the project. :)

"Plasma Fire Over Caranos" certainly sounds like a movie/tv series title to me.

I may be mistaken, but wasn't Dyani Spiritwing a Terran character?

She could’ve got a sample of Larn’s from Sakura’s blade

So where is Faye's chassis now? Did they place her in her room? Also Tefler has never alluded to this but were the Maliri predominately a homosexual society due to the 20/1 ratio of women to men and that the men escaped to the boarder worlds. Or were they not so inclined into getting jiggy, living 300 odd years you would want to get your rocks off from time to time surely? The only mention from Tefler that I can remember is “Dyani Spiritwing from Plasma Fire Over Caranos!” the Maliri breathed, her fingers trembling as she reverently stroked the Nymph’s arm. “She was my first girl-crush...” Chapter 116

rich ed

Was waiting for the "Faye needs more input!" double entendre. Another dream dead :(

Matt

Ben, Faye was not lost through forgetting to upgrade. They did upgrade and they specifically stated that they were taking measures to ensure Faye's survival wouldn't be dependent upon a single device as it had been. I'm just waiting for Tefler to write up their remembering this and collecting the pieces needed (once they realize that they have them all) to put Faye back together again. I know that they have them all, but neither Little One nor the girls seem to realize - lack of communication between them - that they do, indeed, have everything needed.

Evan

Also, please add more robot jokes.

Benj

Cody's idea of new toys for the girls makes a ton of sense (ancient blades for everyone). John encased Jade's crystal in a protective shell. Might he also upgrade this and make ones for the kittens as a sensible precaution? We lost Faye by forgetting to upgrade and I see no reason why we would this again.

Benj

Viscous eh? Perhaps suffocating in a non-Newtonian fluid? :)

Matt

This new Prog must die in a viscous and very painful way.

Since John's sword is hungry for power he should probably try using it without filling it up like he wants to do. Especially since it hurt Larn when he tried to touch it.

Cody Strong

I’m really looking forward to a new set of this ancient armour with some etched in runes like cloak of shadows and wellspring of power. All the ones he wrote on his chest when he fought the astral beast could be permanently in his armour as well as protective ones Dana worked out

Soon? Now that Gladiator Boy has gone back to the daily grind it might be safe to take a look at it without an Eldritch power spike instantly putting them on someone's targeting display.

Also we never addresses that Tash picked up Larn's staff, did we?

Kensyi

Core file recovery would be a pretty limited version without the rest of her files and they need a new server. Faye was apparently a busy little AI and made $SOMETHING on Deck 6 that can handle more activity than Nexus for Little One and the INC but.. no one has been to Deck 6 except Irillith in her virtual hacker mode. :)

Out of pure boredom, been re-reading TSM from the beginning while waiting for Chapter 126. And in Chapter 76, Dana said, “When we moved Faye to her own (Nexus) server the old hacking deck was fucked. She’d screwed up the AI boot sequence when she expanded her system memory and basically bricked the thing. I’m just using it as a backup for her Core Systems now.” Backing up her Core Systems! Does that mean they can restore Faye from the hacking deck and bring her back to life? There WAS a backup! We want Faye!

Who Me

Was just thinking......Rachel never got a sample of either Larn’s or Rahn’s DNA......would have been interesting to know if Larn and John were related as well as the degree of variance between progens. It’s gotta be a vanishingly small gene pool with only a cupla dozen individuals. Notwithstanding their ability to manipulate genetics, it’s still a shallow damn pool.

si/fi dave I will wait for the next part of your epic patiently ..thank you

Hey Tefler 👋, just a suggestion but can we have status updates on a fixed day of the week or month? Don't want to rush you with writing but knowing if the next chapter is going to be released soonish or later would greatly alleviate the anxiety of waiting for consequent chapters.

👍

Chicken

Nothing exciting to report at the moment. I'm currently working on chapter 126 and I'll create a status update post when I've handed over the first half to my editors. :-)

Tefler

Dear Mr Tefler,could we have an update please?

Braw

With all the comms interference, Irillth should implement an encryption program for secret communications. She and Dana could make a decoder to give to selected allies. They could base it on Vulcat 8-eye code. That at least would keep comm hijackers from learning anything. You could also have it acknowledge receipt. Lynton just used the Progenitor language, but that would be one of the groups that could intercept comm. After all not everyone is a Lioness. I do not understand why schematics cannot be transmitted telepathically since even emotions are communicated. Of course it would have to be between full Lioness'.

You can’t backup a AI that advance without an entirely second server. By the sound of them making the first server it didn't seem possible to make a backup

TranceR

Can the psi detector be used as surveillance for incoming progen? I could also imagine a tracking missle that follows tendrils to their sources. What devastating approach to eliminating threats. John can turn his off at will but the other progen may not know how.

Benj

So as an IT guy I am still stuck on the fact that you didn't have a full backup of that computer...…… :-P

Joe Marchese

I loved the Jade "do I have a soul?" Moment! Makes ya think that a little purple sprite might have gotten a soul from her Progenitor lover maybe? Would that mean she's trapped by Xar-whats-its-name? Is John and crew gonna travel to the other side and mount a rescue to bring all the Faye souls back to some eternity crystals?

Dan

Mael was the creator of the Nexus server. I think the visit to his home planet will reveal a few interesting items concerning the future for faye.

em110905

My guess: Faye returns between Chapter 132 to 135. The metal epiphany Dana had will allow her to repair the Progenitor Server. But, there are more important tasks she will be tasked with now with the Invictus upgrades. She will use Eternity Crystals in some new and ingenious ways that even the big dude hadn't thought about.

Big Dude

dammit, your making me tear up!

Who still remembers Faye?

How spoiled are we beggars for chapter 126!

Benj

The issue raised during the story regarding Maliri was John claimed them but not subjudicated them.

There was a comment from someone who said John had not claimed the Maliri , while rereading the series while waiting for the next chapter I found it. John claimed the Maliri in chapter 106 on the first page.

Nonconformist

Chapter 107

thomas rodrian

Can someone please remind me which chapter it was that the runes on Jade's crystal heart were discovered? TIA

Bp Hlpt

Tefler is not a computer... writing is an art and you need to be in the right flow to be able to get any words on paper. putting pressure on him will have an adverse affect. so let him be and be pleased that you can enjoy his story

Kin Asdi

Tefler, my apologies for committing you to such a schedule before checking with you, first. ;-)

Evan

Since so many people seem to want Tefler to post a schedule... I'll post one for him. I fully anticipate and predict that Tefler may or may not adhere to this schedule September: 1 or more postings (to the forum) before the end of the month. This may or may not include a minimum of one(1) new chapter attached to the posting. October: 1 or more postings (to the forum) before the end of the month. This may or may not include a minimum of one(1) new chapter attached to the posting. November: 1 or more postings (to the forum) before the end of the month. This may or may not include a minimum of one(1) new chapter attached to the posting. December: 1 or more postings (to the forum) before the end of the month. This may or may not include a minimum of one(1) new chapter attached to the posting. That's covering the remaining months of this year. I can do next year, too, if desired.

Evan

I have no idea which people you mean tbh (and all the others talking about the impatient people) i see more comments about impatient people than the ones demanding a chapter "right now". Some people like a rough ETA which is fine imo, and the f5 crew is just hyped for new chapters. And then there are like 2 people that get a little frustrated every month when tef doesnt meet his own deadlines which is normal by now, so for me its just "you can start to f5 at that point"

Vincent

Hey Tefler, could you schedule your releases this fall and winter to be the 10th and the 30th/31st of each month? That way the cry babies will have a schedule and we won't have to listen to them boo hoo hoo each month! For instance, I wonder if some of them are of this impatience generation... https://www.studyfinds.org/hurry-up-modern-patience-thresholds-lower-than-ever-before-survey-finds/ "Survey shows average person grows frustrated after waiting 16 seconds for a webpage to load, 25 seconds for traffic signal to change." - Sounds like some people here. BTW I now save my posts so when those wonderful thoughts are deleted I can replace them! :)

Big Dude

I agree with you, but you said it backwards. John was born under the shroud, which suppresses Xar'aziuth's control.

Very possible

thomas rodrian

Food for thought, maybe the Kyth'faren bloodline over the eons have been diluted on purpose by Xar'aziuth to keep them in line. The shroud may function as a suppressant and as John was born outside the shroud, he is becoming a true Kyth'faren. Xar'aziuth maybe pressed for time to kill John quickly before he attains his true inheritance via the citadel.

Forbsey

IIRC, the presence in the Brimorian cyber realm was described like the one protecting the Vulkat ship's systems. Like one of Faye's avatars, it might be a Vulkat AI that Skrrt put in to keep tabs on the Brimorians. That was my take so far. IIRC, the Enshunu wear masks, like the Maliri wear armour and helmets. So possibly they are contemporary with the Achonin and Valada's time? That would explain their knowledge of the Achonin technology at Underworld. But they might have learned this recently (millennia is a long time to wait to retrieve that "brass rod"). As another Thrall race, I wonder about that. I don't think the armour protects Thralls from that automatic hatred. And if it is seeing their actual face, keeping Tash around is a tad dangerous.

commatoes

I thought malnerak made the nymphs then set them free on there home world before the humans raped the planet of all the nymphs.

Jim lynch

It could be just the physical size of the unit. Dana mentions that she has successfully miniaturised the power cores to power the rifles and Tash's pistols. Maybe the components of the wormhole generator and the power supply are just physically too large for a Thrall ship and cannot be miniaturised. I imagine the same problems would occur trying to put one of the singularity drivers or a quantum annihilator on the Raptor.

commatoes

Aside from wanting to know who created the nymphs, I am curious as to why they were created.

We need to find Mael's cloning facility and turn out about a dozen Teflers. lol!

You are forgetting the Alysaa & John effect, specifically its the love and setting them free from Progenitor binding, thats why their psychic energy is so powerful.

Shree_Pratham

This is my take on it.....I think that Jade is not a progenitor creation. We know that Mael

Within three, he will be dead.

thomas rodrian

The nymphs seem like a race of Progen super batteries --- each one added creates major new psychic well of power - an entire race - or several thousand was no doubt behind the original's success in becoming the strongest and taking an entire galaxy for himself.

MrrC

i am guessing the new Progenitor is good for another 20 chapters or so....with the gradual introduction of other players --- and allowing John to take control of the Larns old realms (which co conveniently has a bunch of excess males that match with excess females amongst the Maliri), Kill Giga Douche - and deal with the Fishfaces who have been selling Helen's kinfolk to the bugs.

MrrC

If jade has achonnin runes on her heart and we think she was made by a Progenitor, that makes the achonin and enshunu both previous thrall races. They couldn't be the same, could they?

VC

They are just fooling around. Don't take anything too serious here - a lot of guessing and fantasy

Heinz Molck

https://discord.gg/9zwsQGb

Heinz Molck

Someone help me out, please. I don’t think I’m following with the whole Tom Walker thing. Wasn’t he supposed to be set up as the traitor? Is this going to plan or has something changed? And why are people thinking that he was genetically enhanced?

Jammus1

Can someone throw me an invite to the Discord board please?

Jammus1

Also, we have to resolve the Vulkat, and figure out the presence in the Brimorians cyber realm as well. The Achonin and Enshunu presence at the Underworld too.

Kensyi

That makes two of us who are convinced the Trankaran star forge is Mael’s soul forge. I’ve gotten some push back on that idea.....but yeah ..... I can’t see this battle coming anytime soon. I gotta say though the one mystery that’s been hanging out there for 100+ Chapters now is Jades origin.....it’s been driving full tilt batshit for ages....

See comment below.

He's also got to get out to trankaran space so that Dana can realize that their starforges are really progenitor soulforges. And make more maliri babies and bring the rest of the houses into line and solidify his control of the maliri.

Whoever the confrontation is between, I can’t see it happening for several chapters......laying the groundwork for an epic face off like this will take time to set up. I’m thinking Tefler will have to resolve the Brimorean/abandoned situation, steal Larn’s fleets, find and study Kythshara amongst other things before he can confront Giga Douche.

Valeria vs Sakura ......I would imagine no contest...Sakura winner in 10 seconds of the first round. But what might be a more dramatic confrontation would be Valeria vs Luna. I would think it’s gonna be a while before Giga Douche (like and subscribe to that misnomer) and John face off.....after all he headed back home to build a warpgate.....so we gotta be looking at a few months maybe before a full on attack is possible.

Okay, I'm gonna need John to perform some type of insta-kill on Giga'Douche. Then he can claim Valeria as another of his matriarchs. He needs somebody that's been living that progenitor life so they can figure out what they don't know. Also, if he doesn't, Sakura is going to beat Valeria like a rented mule and really think she needs somebody to show her some affection.

Arcadia is the past. Dum'asRocks probably does not even remember it.

thomas rodrian

when jade became matriarch and claimed the nymphs, they were after all creations of mael and did serve him before being released. The malari hacker that did the job for the fish guys reacted the same way when she saw john on the holonet, her reaction was more extreme then when john first met them, i think it has something to do with claiming them as a species and it unlocks some kind of physic signal to all of them. just an idea :)

And also in recent chapters the nymph with the brimorian lord getting affected by John's pictures. But how come jade haven't reacted the same when she met John first time.

As I was rereading the story I came across multiple descripency. In chapter 15. When John and Alicia and John boarding the kirrix hive ship by a kirrix drop ship after they kill all the drones. Dosent the broomother won't detect the drones are dead when they used the drop ship to boatding.

https://discord.gg/9zwsQGb

Heinz Molck

Hey how can we join the Discord chat for 3SM ?

Add some cheerful steam-powered music to it. :D

Hey fellow TSM addicts.........due to my iPads spell check enthusiasm in a previous thread, the Callopian Shoals became the Fallopian Shoals. Might we petition Tefler to adopt this name in the story?

Just so long as they aren't fraternal twins separated at birth.

Steve

Dana just got the download of all the Progenitor schematics and their complete working theories along with some other stuff. The powers and knowledge are copy/paste and not cut/paste when he gives them to the Lionesses so if anyone besides John could figure it out, it's Dana. (thumbs up)

What ya’ll wanna bet Dana and Tom Walker are bro and sis......it’s the gold ring around the corneas that has me convinced, that and they are close in age.

Speaking of Quantum Annihilators! I'm surprised John and crew haven't gone back to the moon to peruse the wreckage of the "Boom in the Moon". Even all blown up Dana might be able to Hoover out some interesting tech, and who knows how much might have survived. Hmmm? Hell, maybe Dana could miniaturize the QA and create a ship mountable weapon capable of taking out a progenitor dreadnought with one shot. Of course they have been a bit busy since that little battle:-)

I see a secession of a portion the outer rim possibly happening unless something is done about it. Maybe a democratic change? Stellaris ethics change much?

Forbsey

Awesome chapter!

Thanks you Telfor!

Yeah, John will be in a rage and also right at the top of the same career slope his daddy, Rahn'hagon, had lined up for him to slide down. Hopefully the Lionesses can keep him sane and anchored so he doesn't completely lose his mind with full-on Kyth'faren power waiting for the slightest wish to become reality.

The allegiance of outer rim world to John was what admirals feared when John emerged as a power centre. In the story Terra is ruled directly by Terran forces showing its subjects big guns. So anyone thinking they have the bigger gun on their side would think of rebelling. Trade, cultural exchange and other economic aspects which might be keeping different planet together has not been studied.

Whew... A lot of progress on multiple storylines. I love it! Especially interesting was the view of the remains of Larn'kelnars empire and finding out exactly what the Brimorans were using the Abandoned for. John will be in full planet killing rage mode when he finds out.

Thanatos95

When they were discussing the T Fed genetics program , they said they used up & coming ambitious federation officers , with good family connections , Walker senior sure would fit that description , so it's very possible , be a great reveal , Alyssa stands & says , I scanned him & he is innocent & oh by the way Dana , you now have a brother , the family you always wanted . For those of you screaming for his blood I would have you remember how John looks upon those who threaten his crew & their families .

bigdawguw65

It was not stated, but we can assume it’s in the 10’s of thousands.

Alphaonetango

Was it ever determined just how many ships Larn had....like empire total? Can’t remember reading that...

Thanks for the new chapter. Seems like the outer worlds are going to secede and form their own alliance or conglomerate, that should be interesting. But they don't have their own fleet, wonder if they'd ally with another race... Even if they joined those unaligned races from the mutual protection pact a while back they'd all still need to build a defensive fleet and they don't have the infrastructure for it. I have been considering the Faye situation and thought maybe once the girls were further enhanced that Rachel might be to genetically engineer an organic body for her and Irillith might be able to be a conduit from the technology housing her 'essence' to Alyssa who could implant it into her brain. Of course either she'd need some speed learning if they made an adult body (the idea of a child's mind in an adult body with all it's additional urges and complications always bothered me) or she's their first child (in that the new body is a baby) and they all raise her together. This new progenitor needs to get what for before too long! And John should take custody of those remaining thralls, because I worry what his father would do with them and they've already been through so much. Also a shame that they have to delay their arrival at Maliri space once again. Poor blue babes :(

Matt

How about a 100 foot John walking into the throne room with kintark sized dragons perched on his shoulders like parrots?

Steve

Tom, my take is that it has less to do with her genetics and more to do with the way her mind works. John has given each of the girls a power set that compliments their personality and outlook. I think John subconsciously gave the girl most interested in engineering and practical science the ability to tinker with physics as she saw fit. Edit: the genetic engineering done to her genome lead to her unique personality and intellect, which lead to her unique application of the power set John provided her. So indirectly yes, her being genetically engineered was the cause such new and unknown psychic powers.

Steve

Yea, it is now my fondest wish to see John's reaction to that revelation. Get the drinks and popcorn ready boys and girls, cuz the fireworks are gonna be epic!

Steve

It could be more of a physic thing that gets the ladies to be recruited.

Alphaonetango

So Auralei is 29, but has not completed the Ceremony of Allegiance and is not considered an Adult Woman. I wonder if the Larathyans have similar life spans to the Maliri (are Thrall races based on the same Template?). The Ceremony of Allegiance has me intriqued, how does a Progenitor "activate" thousands upon thousands of Thralls. He can't feed them all personally, John at least had the assistance of Jade. John really needs to figure this out so he can get more Maliri on board the Thall train and progress his Societal changes.

VycronDyz

Another good post Tef boy, got some good world building and I am liking the extra content out side of the main core team of John and the Grills. Gives the galaxy more depth in the lore pool.

Alphaonetango

so much still to do and catch up on - when will John claim all the ships and “Thralls” from the killed Prog rival? How will he incorporate all the young girls and men / boys that did not die? Can he integrate the men / boys too into his army / lioness?

David B

Tefler, Really hoping you have John and Co beat up the Brims soon - they are well overdue for John to take them apart and teach them a lesson / get payback for the TFeds and the Abondoned. And now we know that they were feeding the Kirrix too?!

David B

Rereading the chapter, one other thing, left unresolved and not referenced for a while, stood out. Rachel and John are talking about their respective childhoods and Rachel comments, “I’ve always envied Dana’s deep connection with you. You were both orphaned at birth and shared that same desperate need to find out about your parents... Dana's unique and unresolved origin seems to stick out. Everyone is exceptional but nothing was remarkable about their birth except John and Dana. I am excluding the Jade, the nymphs, and Helene for the time being. And, as I commented in the last chapter, Dana's powers seem to be new and unknown even to and amongst Progenitors. As she was genetically engineered at Ganymede and has a very unique baseline genome, does this mean that her differing abilities are due to this artificially manipulated genome? Just wondering if the detail is intentional OR incidental and I am reading too much into it.

commatoes

The Crystal Alyssium superstructure was glowing with the same kind of golden hue as the psychic pulses that Dana unleashed through the hull. The colour of the metal itself hasn't changed (that's still white).

Tefler

Tefler!!! I am still reading it but Sparky is on his 3rd go around already! He is being a meany and won't let me listen to it with him the brat. He wanted me to let you know that you did a Great Job on this chapter. Setting up so many things to come and moving forward on older things. He did have a question tho. After Dana had her moment with her ship, you stated that they looked down the ship and it had a golden glow. Was this just left over power from Dana , did the color of the metal change, or was it just a reflection of the sun gleaming off the ship?? Please let me know so I can get him to shut up over this.

Sparky's Wife!!!

26. Which is why John refused. 27. Because permanently eliminating his guide is not a simple task. John instinctively knows this and is preparing to deal with him. When the guide is gone, he isn't going to get another one.

Tefler

13. The doctor mentions that the Unity City facility is more advanced. She's running a medical bay on a military cruiser... it's primarily set up to deal with gunshot wounds and combat trauma, not analysis of exotic toxins. How can they do a blood analysis remotely? 17. Maria was worried about Jack's state of mind after the Kirrix invasion (she sent Calara to perk him up). 18. Yes, but Jehanna isn't a Lioness. She pissed off Buckingham and Weber because she was making them look bad. Petran and the other traitors don't have the same vendetta against her. 19. The Nymphs' personal development is happening quite rapidly compared to Jade, because John knows what he's doing with them this time. Bear in mind that only about a week has progressed in the story since he freed them from captivity. 20. Because they've been involved in non-stop fighting and now Dana is focused on repairing the Invictus. They acquired a ton of new Progenitor tech, but they have to assimilate it all. 21. A lot of events are happening simultaneously. The scale of the story now covers various empires and the ramifications from various battles, rather than just the crew of the Invictus. 23. The Deep Pool acts as an advisory council to the Deep Lord. In a lot of despotic civilisations, the man in charge has ultimate authority. Would anyone have dared openly defy Stalin? 24. No, the Brimorians left the homeworld defences in place. They're planning to move the Kirrix border forces, because Athgiloi correctly deduced that the Kirrix have been devastated. 25. Because most people on the Outer Rim hate High Command. See Alyssa's various rants about the admirals and how they let Karron fester. Governor Vaughn and Luce are both furious at High Command for abandoning their people to the Kirrix.

Tefler

2. Only Colonel Fiske and Lina know that Lynette is a Lioness. 4. Yep, because the Terran Federation and the Brimorian Enclave went to war a century ago (over the Callopean Shoals). 10. Odd? Jack's confidence in High Command has been dealt a heavy blow after being ordered to abandon the border. He's disillusioned with service as a fleet officer, after seeing the civilian deathtoll. He also knows what John and Calara are fighting against (a Progenitor invasion)... he knows how high the stakes are and is willing to support his daughter in any way he can. 11. 30k words disappears surprisingly quickly. This chapter focused on a few different things, but there will be more interaction with Little One and the INC soon. "Disappearing from the narrative"? They were in chapter 124... 12. They need to identify everyone involved in the coup. Lynette mentioned that they were locking down ISD to root out the traitors.

Tefler

26. Even in make believe world I find it diificult for Carle's male ego to accept the concept of his girls being fed on another man's semen and them accepting it willing. Lynette was dying by Lina!! 27. John's guide given by father is evil and violent. Why does not this half die off? Why doesn't he get another proper guide?

13. Remote medicine does not exist in the future. Though it exists in today's world. Doctors would have consulted from onbaord the ship and known each other and the case history. It happens even today. Except for medication all other analysis would have been possible. 14. Mateo has a family and he has not possibly lost his lover to competition. 15. Dana can possibly convert the ship Invictus to a living entity with its own identity. She see and converse with it. Kirrix did have a similar concept. 16. Crytal Ayssium seems to have morphed again. Golden it says. Now Maliri also had a golden hull for their ships. So this must be interesting. 17. Jack was surprised by protection detail! Marie never disclosed they have a protection detail. 18. Jehanna was once considered important enough to be kidnapped. Lion killed her kidnapper, exhibition of killing was done by Lion and still she was considered less of a target. Her weakness in form of her family never used. 19. Nymphs and growing but in comparison with how Jade made progress they seems to be lagging. The intensity of relationship which Nymphs have with other girls is also not anywhere like Jade. 20. The scientific progress and deliveries have stopped coming. 21. Pacing of story has changed. A story now cover hours in a day when compared to earlier when it was days and/or weeks. 22. Update on the happening in Ashanth, Terrakan space is pending. Then in story only few days have passed ! 23. Brimorian leaders are all equally impotent. 24. Brimorian's are to be defenceless in the homeworld as they consider no Terrane can breach their defence. Idiotic considering they saw one of thier fleet was eliminated. 25. Why is there a meeting of governors in the outer rim world? Support for John but opposition to Terran federation?

Didn't enjoy this story as much as the previous one. My takeaways from this story; 1. No disclosure of Lynette and Jehanna being Lioness to general public. 2. A section Terran force will be aware of the fact Lynette is not what she appears to be. Considering there has been a cover up of the incidents in Olympus and Marie exists in no records. 3. Kintark is about to be attacked. Timeline for the operation is not known for now. Will the attack happen before John reach Olympus ? 4. Brimorian's have a working relationship with all civilization except for Terran. 5. Brimorian's provide offerings to Kirrix, solves the population problem of abandoned which John and lionesses considered at one point of time. Abandoned just seems to be livestock from Brimorian's POV. 5. Lathyrians and Progenitor/Matron who ruled them didn't seem to be pure evil by Progenitor standard. 6. Wael'rakash and the Matron both seem to be twisted and evil. 7. Lathyrians like Maliri seems lost but not with out a life. Question is how will John transport a whole civilization living in multiple planets? 9. Wael'rakash was about to build a portal for what? 10. Getting Calara's family to get to location near Terra was quite odd. Considering all the proud tradition and all quoted in earlier chapters , them folding and getting in line with this request was quite off-putting. 11. Unlike earlier where the artificial intelligence of Faye was constantly involved , the collective, little one and robots have almost disappeared from narrative. 12. Even in today's earth all responsible for an attempted coup of the scale mentioned in the story will be behind bars or dead. Nothing !

I know it has been a minute but I would love a look back to see how some of the characters are doing, like how is Captain Camilla T. doing after everything that happened there?

Kensyi

LOL...Walk into the Kintark throne room escorted by 6 Dragons larger than Tamolith?

PLRus--Founding member of the TSM F5 club.

Thank you for another amazing chapter Tefler. Your universe is an addiction, and that is all encompassing with the strength of the characters and plot line that you instill in every chapter. Great stuff....

GDay (FMS)

And then we’ve got the new Peckerwood building a warpgate to invade. Can the crew highjack Larn’s space craft mausoleums in time? Can they figure out a way to bypass the effects Mael’s thrall ambush in the Lorilar nebula (Mael’s warpgate has to be there..... I think)? Excitement abounds....curiouser and curiouser...... and I’ve been puckered up now for months waiting on the big reveal on Jades origin story...... and crap on a cracker....soon to be 5 or 6 Jade scale nymphs?

Honestly, I don't really like the idea of Kirrix infesting Brimorians or using their children for grub chow than any of the other sentient races. A token donation of the ones that manage the shipments of The Abandoned, Deep Pool, and command staff might be in order but in the long run a better solution needs to be found for the Kirrix.

Oh....and with all other avenues, Trankaran... Terran off the table (bad pun intended), the Brimorians are the only item left on the Kirrix menu. Alyssa only forbade humans and Tranks.....

Damn.....we now know what the Brimoreans are using the Abandoned for...... Why do I get the feeling John’s gonna go fishing with TNT......

She probably goes back with him or just the Damocles comes back as a whole.

Alphaonetango

In the penultimate paragraph, "when he humiliation her" should be "when he humiliated her"

If Mateo and Jack move back to the core worlds what does that mean for Emily, Mateo's girlfriend? Is she going to stay aboard the Damocles or transfer with them?

rich ed

They are probably safe in the short term, as there are few women of an age to be Thralls it would seem. Although, one wonders what the cutoff age might be, Alyssa was just a teen.

VycronDyz

Honestly it looks like they are going to secede and have John be their King from the way they are talking about their distrust of High-Command

Alphaonetango

thanks Tef

Mjk154

What are the rules for seed race vs seed race wars and the Progenitors? Are the Lathyrians safe for a short while so they can rebuild for a new Progenitor or is it conquest, enslavement, or even pedal to the metal genocide for losing? The only mention of rule-breaking was when Meal'nerak rammed Rahn'hagon's ship to save the Maliri so (pulling another one out from under the keyboard) there has to be some really harsh consequences. If not then it makes Mael's sacrifice kind of meaningless if he could have just sat back and chilled out. I'm assuming than Rahn'hagon's empire back out in the Milky Way and not under the Shroud was mercilessly wiped out, then its resources annexed after he husked his last Thrall.

Yay! New chapter! Thanks for all your hard work Tefler. I love your story.

AlyxHaestrom

The hurdles are still there. The Invictus seems to be repaired but the travel time issue has not been solved via a convenient worm hole generator. The Fernadez family has to be reunited in the core worlds or at least dropped off closer to home. Though, I don't think it will take as long as Calara's former commanding officer (I forget his name) that contracted the assassination of John and the girls. Athgiloi has crossed John and co., the TFed, and collaborated with a renegade Maliri faction. That is on top of being just bastards for what they did and are doing to the Abandoned. If they decide to annex Kintark space, they will be on the top of everyone's hit list.

commatoes

Thanks very much for those! They should all be fixed now. :)

Tefler

After a long paused -> After a long pause So if I was to ask if -> So if I were to ask if in his judge of character -> in his judgement of character

Evan

Aww come on!! It has to be more that one a year. I'd like to live long enough to read the last chapter. LOLOL!

Spent most of the day trying to resist reading so I can while driving to DragonCon tomorrow, but, nope. Curse this addiction! Jk, Tef, you're amazing.

Axi

I thought about ending the previous chapter with a tearful Mr/Mrs Elani contacting Jehanna to tell her about an attack... but in the end decided against it. While Jehanna has certainly been very pro-Lion with her TFNN broadcasts, nobody knows she's an actual Lioness. The admirals organising the attack considered her a secondary target.

Tefler

G-Gahl’kalgor(sic) is just leaving the Shroud after a temporary interruption and returning to the regularly scheduled program already in progress.

Thanks Tefler, You covered a lot of stuff in this chapter. It seems like the only thing not touched was Jehanna’s parents. Did the assassins attack them too?

thomas rodrian

"whoever had slain Larn’kelnar was long gone"........“And prepare the fleets for an assault on Wael’rakash’s domain. I want to bathe in the blood of his thralls!” Are we looking at the start of a multiple intergalactic conflict between the home Progenitor Domains that will greatly reduce their ranks?

Thanks very much for those! They should all be fixed now. :-)

Tefler

They're unclaimed now 3P. A baby Progenitor needs to get dropped off to mature and claim them to re-enter the Eternal War. Or that's my understanding at least!!

Braw

The look inside the remnant of the Larathyran Empire after Larn'kelnar husked all of his Thralls was greatly appreciated and I was saddened by their loss. They can't just look dismayed and call, "Time out!" With no fleets or warriors the other Progenitors are going to devour them.

Ignoring the discovery of his birthright and the Citadel with the Kyth'faren knowledge in the Astral Plane for the moment, I'm a whole lot more than a little disappointed with John wasting power 24/7 to lock down and totally isolate PJ -- possibly for months -- while he goes back to SSDD under the Shroud. No, John can't just wipe out PJ because apparently Guides share the host's DNA but it's getting ridiculous. John essentially got the encyclopedia and I really don't want to watch while he eats the pages chapter after chapter and laments about his latest failure/lack of ability for 'whatever'. It's long past time for John to put on his Big Boy britches and learn to become the best Lion of the Federation, Protector of the Maliri, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera, et cetera. I loved Dana fixing the Invictus, 'nuff said. :) Rachel did great with her shields but John's sword pratice was dulled by his lack of knowledge and the chunk of power he can't use because he's blocking PJ. Heck, John may not even be able to read the runes/symbols on the sword now that he's locked up PJ again and forgotten how to do the vast majority of what he can do. Kick. His. Fanny. More Lionesses! Yay! I loved the bike with the harmonic unbalancer on the motor and the sound effects package, and as usual the rest of the chapter was (Christopher Eccleston) "Fantastic!" (/Christopher Eccleston)

Tefler, a great chapter! I found some suggested edits for Chapter 125, as follows: Page 12: “Any complaints Charles might have disappear(ed) down Lynette’s throat every morning, noon, and night.; Page 26: “I’m stationed on Jericho for the foreseeable future; I’ll be (able around) to keep an eye on her.”; Page 27: “Your future son-in-law made it quite clear there would (be) serious consequences should anything happen to any of you.”; Page 47: “I didn’t (said) anything about being celibate.; Page 64: After hesitating for (along) moment, he made eye contact with Valia Gate’s governor.; Page 66: Start(l)ed by her distracted tone, he nodded, then watched spellbound as Dana approached the Invictus’ hull.; Page 72: Despite his supposed reluctance, Valeria could see the evidence of Gahl’kalgor(’s) excitement. As always, if you disagree, I completely understand. Good luck with Chapter 126. Thank you and Cheers!

I’d suggest the lathe technique. Rotational energy used against the shield. Quit banging the sword and use it as a cutting tool held against the rotating shield.. then when the wielder stops the rotation, crack it like a walnut.

Lina’s 45– older than Lynette appears having been rejuvenated to the body of a 20 year old.

Chester Orland

When Charles, Lina and Lynette are talking in the lounge Lynette brushes Lina's cheek you say that Lina is the older woman. Pardon the mumbling I haven't slept yet.

I get where the outer colonies are coming from, but realistically what do they hope to accomplish? Assuming they were allowed to secede from the federation in the first place. Has there been any mention of outer rim infrastructure or manufacturing capability in previous chapters? I got the impression most of them were still in the 'shipping raw materials home' phase.

Steve

Another enjoyable chapter, thank you sir.

Steve

Awesome! Thanks, Tef.

omg, what a chapter, so glad Lynette got her hollowgram working. Colonel Fiske was a surprise, he sure changed his thinking. Dana and fixing the ship was a masterpiece. I was a little disappointed John did not start the process to absorb PJ. then he could unlock a lot of what he needs to do to battle a Progenitor and maybe answer the question of how to defeat the shields. Now lets get them in the air and find the 3 bots and mend the fence for the Node to let Illrith in and see if she can find Faye. Then when John lets the Brimorian leader know he will be dealing with his little shenanigan in the near future. This will make him wet his scales, on top of all that, Letting Alyssa loose to find the Traitors and deal out justice and cure Abigail and Maria's protectors.... cant wait.

Taco1085

Oh, my. The Brimorians are trading the Abandoned to the Kirrix. Hell's fury will PALE next to John's.

Ah, a beautiful morning on the island...sunrise, eagles, coffee....wait, what? 125? Woo Hoo for sure! Download! Faster!

DCM

For breaking through the regenerating hex shields, I feel like there's two ways to go about it. One would be the current doctrine of a single overwhelming strike and then striking again before the hole can be patched. Another tactic would be some sort of psychic acid or corrosive siphon which would coat the rotating shield and do ongoing damage to the whole thing at once. This would force the shield's owner to spend more energy and focus on regenerating the constant damage to the entire structure, as well as slowing the regeneration from any further damage you can inflict, thereby weakening the entire thing. You could also make tactic one more effective by doing something to slow the rotation, like creating a flurry of sticky strings over the shield and letting them blanket it and the surrounding ground. Eventually, the shield will be so entangled that it can't turn anymore. You could also use something to blanket the shield that would alternately obscure the wielder's vision, or prevent attacks from traveling out from inside the shield. Of course this is all predicated on those types of psychic tools being available, but if anyone can invent a new way to use psychic powers, it'd be John and the Lionesses.

zingowner

Tefler, I think you been watching too many American Biker Movies, LOL!

Yay

Muledrvr

Hey Tefler, no worries. One chapter a week or one a year it’s an amazing story and prefer your quality over quantity. Though if you can do a chapter a week that would be grand.... 😉

Well spotted, thank you!

Tefler

"I didn't said anything about being..." say?

zingowner

I keep being all hopeful that Faye is coming back... But the maintenance bots are still out there! The hope lives on! Tefler, solid chapter as always!

Evan

when will John make the brims pay and free their slaves ??

David B

Who is Gal this new Prog looking to attack??

David B

I guess the problem from John's perspective, is that I keep throwing shit at the crew from so many different directions, that they don't have the time to make proper preparations to prevent any of it. He does regret when bad things happen and wishes he could've done something to prevent them, but Larn'kelnar's been jerking him around from pillar to post for the last 6 months. :-)

Tefler

Wow, what a chapter!

Nchalada

John needs to stop saying “ I would have done anything to prevent........”. He’s said it too much and it is becoming a hollow comment. Look, I like the story. I understand conflicts must be used to make the story interesting. John going to have to be continuously surprised and challenged, or the story is no good. But after the battles, etc, he says the same thing. Sorry, I wish I coulda, shoulda , woulda. It is beginning to ring of false lip service, cause with his power, he shoulda, coulda, woulda. I know it’s a catch 22. I apologize. Super awesome power leads to no conflicts. So, what to do? Idk.

Dammit now I'm waiting for 126..............

B S

M. Tefler, Laird o' the Twisted Plotlines, hath done his business upon the face of space-time yet again, complexifying the storied surreality of his most (in)famous creation. Incoming fishmen and progenitors and disease - we should be so lucky that the problems stop there....

J B

YAAAAY!!!! Now I have to wait an hour to read! But my self medicating with Scotch will decrease!

commatoes

Probably should be “are you allright”

Kim Biel-Nielsen

"Are you alight?" - oddly inappropriate to ask of a survivor of a terrorist attack.

Thanks Tefler. Now stuck at work for 8 1/2 more hours. Torture.

thank you!!!

Thank you Tefler..

Thanks Tefler

Cignal

Yay!! Thank you Tefler!!

David B

Thanks Tef!

cheers mister

Braw

NP Telfor.

Thank you Tefler!

Bp Hlpt

thank you and as ever well worth my wait.

TF4EVA

Thanks Tefler. A fine way to start the day.

Yay

Yes yes yes yes.....

Kim Biel-Nielsen

thanks tefler but am i the only one cant download the chapter?

Woo hoo! And at 1 o'clock in the afternoon rather than the usual 1 o'clock in the wee smalll hours, double woo hoo!

ringill

Great way to wake up

Thanks Tefler!!

Thanks Tefler!

Nchalada

Thank you, Tefler, for some tasty breakfast reading!

Thank you Tefler!

Old Cruiser

Huzzah! Thanks be to Ser Tefler the Lionheart!

It's that kind of quick response that got you out of trouble against the Brimorians! :-)

Tefler

First, Thanks Tefler

Anthony Kester