Status Update (Chapter 110)

I love ypur writing but this interface with Patron is horrible. I used a $25 gift card for purchases here, managed to buy 3 chapters, and now its telling me I need to update my payment info. I'm guessing they managed to double or quadruple bill me everytime. Even the chapters i did manage to buy are not retrievable after i close the word program. Very frustrating. I love the story and would like to continue but cant see how its possible. Thanks for a great ride so far! Edit: seems gift cards dont work so Im trying regular card. Nonetheless Patreon interface is still super slow and clunky.

Browns defeat Jets, 21 to 17. First win in years!

Free beer in Cleveland tonight!!!!

Anthony Kester

wow, Cleveland wins....

PwdRacing

I have no problem with the guy getting that mythological stuff called sleep.

Anthony Kester

Poor guy was probably so tired that he forgot to hit the send button when he was uploading the file to Patreon. Tefler is crashed out and the file is sitting in his out box.

MJHSharkbait365

I just hate for him to push himself to that point, if you know what I mean. Yes, we're all eagerly anticipating the next chapter, but if he doesn't keep up his health, we won't see the chapters to come that we want so badly! I'm thinking of Mike Cropo as I type this...

Evan

Only 8:30 in AZ

Old Cruiser

He could be doing a final reading of 110. Most likely he is passed out.

Anthony Kester

I can almost picture him asleep on his keyboard... the good news being, that's thousands of extra characters... the bad news being, they're all bbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbbb...

Evan

Just hanging out until the game is over....?

PwdRacing

And he'd have told us if he was going to bed instead of finishing and posting the chapter.

Jedi Khan

Because he said he'd be done in a couple of hours, which was several hours ago.

Jedi Khan

YAAAAYYYYYYY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anthony Kester

What I want to know is why people are expecting him to post at 04:30 in the morning? Let Tefler get some sleep!

Evan

Browns intercept!

PwdRacing

Tefler's a Brit. He's probably wondering why they're wearing so much padding, if he's a rugby fan, or why they're touching the ball with their hands if he's a football (soccer) fan.

ETNSosa

Tefler better not be delaying the chapter until the game's over. Even if there's only two minutes left in the game, that's still another 20 minutes until the final whistle.

Jedi Khan

Both. Browns know how to tie!!!

Anthony Kester

With 6 timeouts and 2 minute warning, which will be first, 110 or end of game?

PwdRacing

Jets 17; Browns 21 !!!!!!

Anthony Kester

Touchdown Browns! 21-17!

GrandPaM

You know what they say about a watched pot... (and I'm totally not doing the same thing myself)

Stephen B.

As soon as you do, the chapter will drop. So please, by all means, go ahead.

Jedi Khan

Ok that is unbelievable; perhaps I need to turn on the tube for abit.

Cody Strong

Jets 17; Browns 14 :-(

Anthony Kester

It's my turn to do some work at the office tonight, but I'm kinda delaying doing said work until I have the chapter in hand...so, Tefler, sooner would be better please...

Jedi Khan

4th Quarter: Jets 14; Browns 14.

Yeah, and his face just happens to be typing a continuous zzzzzzzzzzzzz.

I'd rather have the image of him with wide, bloodshot eyes, typing furiously and muttering to himself about the scene he's working on.

Jedi Khan

Anyone else have the image of Tefler asleep at the keyboard?

MJHSharkbait365

I am not saying anything. Karma and Murphy hate Cleveland.

Anthony Kester

14-14 tied

PwdRacing

F5(pause) Dang!

GrandPaM

Probably damn near breaks the internet on release day.

Anthony Kester

I gotta wonder what the traffic looks like on Patreon's firewalls from all the refresh requests on a chapter release day. Bet it spikes from the normal and stays that way for the rest of the day until the chapter is released.

Jedi Khan

YAY!!! The Browns aren't going to get shut out tonight!!!

Anthony Kester

Half time!

PwdRacing

Halftime, Jets 14; Browns 3. Both rookie QBs Darnold and Mayfield are on the field of play.

Five minutes

Old Cruiser

Up or down?

Jedi Khan

Twenty minutes and counting

Old Cruiser

right bed time then, Ill pick it up in 5 hours when i have to get up

Thanks for the update. i'm torn between telling you to relax because we can wait, and urging you to type faster!

I’m old, hit the button twice

Old Cruiser

Thank you for the heads up. It's worth the wait. You're nowhere near a rr Martin late. ;)

Grimlakin

About the same time Chapter 109 (1+2) arrived.

Old Cruiser

you're awesome Tefler and thanks for the update. I can stand down for a couple of hours....

TF4EVA

I'm about to start the final scene and I've got about 1.5k words to go... Probably a couple of hours and it'll be done.

Tefler

and push and look and ......

TF4EVA

A little early mate; more like five more hours... :-(

Heinz Molck

F5

GrandPaM

On the question of Dana's technological 'adaptation versus invention', I suggest, in the 3SM context, it is a distinction without much of a difference. Not counting her own inventions and designs, the question is whether all major ship propulsion, defense and weapons designs are progenitor knock offs, of independent design, or a mix of both? I tend to the latter. I have long held that Dana's potential qualitatively extends beyond and exceeds the progenitor standard template. We have recently learned that she has unique experimental origins that may also influence her tech-sci-engineering predisposition. We may learn more about that soon on Karron. Her ability to design and build a whole new class of thrall level weapons, shields and power management systems, in less than two days, speaks volumes. I suspect that on Acadia, mental dams will sunder, intuition and revelation will converge, and whole new directions will become possible.

Dana was vastly chagrined at how her combat gear failed to hold up during the battle with the Hive Queen and Red Guardians. As the GEO, she prides herself on helping the Invictus crew to gain an edge against their opponents. The ultimate goal of having a decisive edge against thralls is coming closer to achievement, but new ideas, materials or equipment is still needed to get there. She has instinctively learned to use runes to enhance the resilience of CA 10-X Paragon armor, but Kirrix psychic attacks defeated them and burned them out. If she could adapt astral battle runes, like John did, to augment her instinctive abilities, she could add 'wells of power' that continuously reenergize other runes, making them more resistant to psychic attack. Similarly, the vulnerability of their weapons as well as armor to psychic effects left Rachel and the other Lionesses unacceptably exposed. Battle runes that repel psychic attacks would be an excellent upgrade. Fight psych with psych!

I see it more as the temperament of the Progenitors and strategic importance of huge numbers of troops. The temperament part is (in the case of Humans) that we are flawed individuals and when given basically unlimited magic powers and you can use more power when you have more woman connected to you. So they believe that they are more important then everyone else and their Thralls are expendable as it’s not them. On the strategic side having more troops allows you to man (Or woman in this case) more ships have more marines and the ability to capture and subject planets. John on the other hand is getting the same amount of power with fewer ‘Wards’ and uses the Blue Elves as a important recharge-able battery sorce. By not continually culling his extra power sorce it can grow and give him more of a cap. This is why he needs as many Alien allies as possible to provide maned ships and marines. Plus John is cooler.

Alphaonetango

It seems to me that the progenitors we know about uses thralls as a quantity rather than quality, wonder why that is? Possibly their temperment doesn't consider the thought of doing it John's way or maybe they already have and know about some flaws/weaknesses we haven't come across yet? Could be a taboo of sorts by the 'shroud' enforced to keep the progenitors in line. They do seem to be the bosses in charge. However the entities could be powerful progenitors themselves shrouding their appearance to make nascent psychics fearful of them.

Forbsey

I make it 18 hrs from now :-)

Is it still too early to count down for 110 pt 1?

TF4EVA

My goodness! That does not sound like the shipbuilding tech we saw the Trankarans use. Far from it. I agree John would not want to kill people to make ship parts.

My personal interpretation of what a Soul Forge is, is that it is a forge to create progenitor material that is driven by psychic energy. ie, using slave thralls, their psychic energy is harnessed to drive the forge. The thralls are completely drained of all their energy in this endeavor, including their life force and their very souls. The previous progenitors would care less about this result. John, of course, would never do this. His methods and his relationships with his girls are completely different than that of the previous progenitors. Instead of enslaving an entire race with millions of thralls, he has a dozen or so girls. (And yes, many Maliri, but they are not totally enslaved like they were for previous progenitors.) He as an individual might not be as strong as an individual past progenitor, but each of his girls are much stronger and more capable than any of the thralls. As the story progresses, I believe that John and his team, working together, are becoming more of an equal match to a progenitor and his thralls. Regarding whether the Trankaran Forge is a Soul Forge, we have seen reference to a Soul Forge, and heard the other progenetor wonder why John hasn't made use of one yet, but we're really only guessing what one actually is. It has not been explained, yet. It was never claimed that the Trankaran forge was a Soul Forge. Of course, all of the above is my own opinion and interpretation of the stroy to date. I tend to rely on Tefler being a very talented wordsmith. If it is called a "Soul" Forge, then I believe that the word "Soul" is in there for a very good reason.

Bp Hlpt

THAT is a good idea! It would mean the grubs couldn't be controlled, as the hive queen stated. Only all other communication seemed to function just fine. So how would the Null Zone Generator know the difference?

Roethan

Tef, have you had a chat to Annabelle Hawthorn and Snekguy about their artists. Both have some pretty interesting ideas.

Wookey

The Kirrix communicate telepathically. As a result of her encounter with the Collective of Hive Queens, Alyssa may still maintain a link into their network, like with Tkkritt -- but maybe not. Irillith will be challenged to work around a telepathic system that uses computers. Their coding, inputting and data processing will be strange indeed. No keyboards or voice recognition. Irillith found paths to insight with the Vulkat Archive by thinking like a spider. What would it be like to think like a multi-planetary insectoid telepathic hive mind? But the Kirrix are well aware of the Ashanath. They must know they use translating devices to communicate to non-telepathic species. Maybe they have a model of the device on hand that they used to communicate with the Pirates on the Stalingrad.

Alyssa read the Hive Queens mind and was engaged with the Hive mind. Is she now able to decipher their communications systems? Will they get to the bridge to recover intel before the Terran fleet drops in? Will they discover who and how the pirates worked with the Kirrix

TF4EVA

Or and even more unlikely..... Kirrix to make amends agree to move against the Deep Pool, but not to actually start infesting, which should be enough to change their plans and possibly change their view on the abandoned once John has a word....

Spartan 52

Sand Box Scenario. Begin Scenario. After restructuring the TF Intel system, Lynette focuses major assets on the Brimorians. Fleet Intel reported the unusual shift in border deployments with Brimorian Hunter Fleets. Diplomats and spies operating inside the Enclave and on Brimor report mobilization of resources for combat activities. Traders report the gathering of warships toward the Kintark frontier and the interdiction of commercial vessels. Maliri border fleets observe these and other indicators and shift more assets toward their frontiers. Edreale shares her situational analysis with John, who does the same for Lynette. At this point, the Brimorians might be preempted by a big enough threat, but none is given as their intentions are still uncertain. TF border fleets are reinforced and Admiral Dacres escorts the repatriated Kintark fleets to the border. Lynette may have advised the Empress of a general threat upgrade from Brimore and even acted magnanimously by returning sufficient heat sinks for installation during the homeward voyage. If the Brimorian Navy then makes aggressive moves on Kinta, a warning could come from John, Edraele, Tamolith and Lynette in a joint message. Simultaneously, Maliri and Kintark vessels begin the advance on Brimor. The Deep Pool capitulates and recalls its Hunter Fleets. The borders with the Maliri, Terrans and Kintark are reinforced. Athgiloi is overthrown by the Deep Pool and turned over to the allies and taken to Genthalas (with Celphna). End Scenario.

Was this soul transfer accomplished in utero, or at some later date?

Now with a Jonah in the mix that would be a real curve ball or slider to the story! I like Irillith spanning the computer records with Faye. I think Irillith should be spanning the computer records of the Kirrix ship before it left but Tefler already finished that part of 110!

Big Dude

Who's to say John's progenitor creator didn't pull a emporer Palpatine and dump his soul into John's body and that is his progenitor guide that he is defeating?

Grimlakin

That's a good point. With rare materials to boot.

Grimlakin

Dr.Dadd, it might be the Soul Forge? Karron was a mineral rich planetoid.

What will be the most likely venue for Dana to reveal her design for the combat modified hover bikes -- Acadia, Valaden, or elsewhere? I can imagine Sakura and the Girls using the unmodified bikes to zip about the fully operational Genthalas Station.

Tefler said that the Invictus would go to Karron in any event to look into the origins and past of Alyssa and Dana. They will likely reconnect with Tony and the Worm Girls there and maybe even the mine owner, Mortimer. The artifact that many assume to be Achonin could me mentioned by Tony or Mortimer or someone else to pique Dana's tech fascination. Or, data related to the Karron Lionesses could be found by Irillith from delving into old computer records of the early days. She may thus find anamolous files that refer to the artifact. If Tashana saw an image of it, she might confirm it to be an Achonin design. There is no guarantee that the artifact will turn out to be significant, but there are several paths for the crew to encounter it. What if Jonah has been passively Observing everything all along from a powered-down Fool's Gold in Karron's asteroid belt? He would likely recognize the Invictus arriving after the Kirrix bug out. Wouldn't it be a kick if Jonah took Tony and his girls on as crew, allowing them to escape Karron, after Rachel heals them?

So let's say somebody is the father and mother and somebody else is the son or are the sons. If LK has been around for a few thousand years where does John fit into the "arc of time"? Just because MN and Ranagon disappeared many millennia before doesn't identify them as dead. Now that the Kirrix have turned tail and run we'll learn something around chapter 116 to 120. Tefler mentioned that there will be a soon resolution between PJ and John. Does that happen at Arcadia where he meets part of his destiny. "Luke it is your destiny" <a href="https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e8f2922a-548d-4792-a2d8-7c9b93b08766" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/e8f2922a-548d-4792-a2d8-7c9b93b08766</a> <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6b5ubvfa3I" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G6b5ubvfa3I</a> John has to figure out the Trankaran forge. Dana will immediately see it and react, possibly improving it or building another improved version. Now that she can create gravity wells something wonderful will happen. <a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM25-lz1Yms" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank">https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yM25-lz1Yms</a> The Karron artifact will be something we will next expect. Hence I will not spend pixels speculating on it. I want to be perfectly surprised and think I didn't see that coming like the Hive Queen interaction! That's what makes 3SM such a compelling story and we champ at the bit on the 15th and 30th each month (20th and 30th this month) waiting for the next chapter installment. We also read the chapter more than once. I personally like to have my audio software read it too me as I drive then reread it at night as I settle into bed!

Big Dude

I am curious to see if there is a joint allied response to a possible Brimorian incursion of Kintak space, would it be possible for the Vulkat to join them in a combined fleet action.

I guess if we are moving over towards the Kintark and Brimorians we will also start to understand the story line concerning Buckinghams son - or not

TF4EVA

You're right Dr, Morgans fleet was on the border all through the battle for Terra and so would not have had the time or opportunity to be upgraded. These Kintark vessels are from the earlier dispute that the Invictus intervened in so definitely primitive compared to Dacre's fleet.

TF4EVA

The Brimorians won't be aware of the carve up of the Empire and they may make the mistake of attacking Kintark on a Terran planet.....

TF4EVA

If Admiral Dacres and his fleet escorted the repatriated Kentark ships to the demilitarized Zone, he and Admiral Morgan would be in position to react to any aggressive Brimorian incursion into Kentark space. The TF could then present an opposing force, causing second thoughts for Brimor and the Deep Pool. If battle is joined, Lynette can call on Edraele for Maliri fleet support. Lilyana and her House Valaden fleet could return in good time via Brimorian or TF space to the Maliri Protectorate and be available for reaction. John can remotely threaten the Brimorians with retaliation, throwing their plans awry. If necessary, he can mention the shield cut off switch or even the plight of the Abandoned to focus their attention. Either way, the Kintark could not defend themselves alone, and military support by Terra and the Maliri will bring the Draconic Empress closer to an alliance.

A bit early, don't you think, GramPaM?

As far as the Kirrix are concerned, definitely, it's over. How they will feature in the rest of the story -- if at all -- is a mystery to be revealed.

F5 ...?

GrandPaM

I thought it was only in Terran space (as by we only saw them run from Fat Tony and company) so for all we know the Kirrix are still messing with the Trankarans.

Alphaonetango

Dr Dadd. do you hear the sound of the rather rotund curvaceous person with no Y genes yodeling?

TF4EVA

Insertion of the Invictus into planetary battle space. Covert planet fall of the Raptor. Engagement of Kirrix carriers. Combat drop of five fire teams. Grounding fifteen Hive Ships and elimination of their forces. Forced landing and orbital strike on a Kirrix dreadnaught. Destruction of carrier fleet and strike craft. Clearing Hive Ship defenders and rescuing infested hostages. Defeat of Kirrix Hive Queen and Red Guardians. Strategic defeat of the Kirrix Collective. Withdrawal of Kirrix fleets from Terran and Trankaran space. All occurring within the span of two hours.

That would be very interesting for John to find out Ranagon is his father. It would be a Luke Skywalker moment eh?

Big Dude

The War of the Heavens saw attacks on both the Vulkat and Kirrix. Fleets of thrall ships and Quantum Annihilators were used. Scores of heavily populated planets were destroyed in Kirrix, Vulkat and Trnkaran space. The Vulkat archives showed images of black armored thralls. The Kirrix Collective Memory did not show thralls, but it showed a Progenitor with a resemblance to John. If Ranagon disappeared at the climax of that war, was he the same Progenitor who attacked the Kirrix, Vulkat and Trankarrans? If so, was he marooned on Acadia all this time where he met John's mother and sired John?

Can’t wait Tefler. Also your name sounds like Teflon. Weird side note I know but hey it’s the peanut gallery up in here.

Alphaonetango

I'll see what I can do. :-)

Tefler

I've no idea how to venture into audio books I'm afraid. I might look into that option once I've released all the eBooks, as I'll be able to use the updated eBook text as the script.

Tefler

Any chance of getting audio books?? By far my favorite book series, and would love to listen to it also.

Lots of added scenes in the first ebooks

Kim Biel-Nielsen

Are there added scenes in the first 3 eBooks also?

Tefler, First off, hooray! I'm so glad that art commissions have begun again. I can't wait to see what you have in store for us, and how your world will come alive from the page to the sketchbook! If you haven't started yet, may I offer a suggestion? I know I sound like a broken record by now, but I would start with simple character renders. No scenes, no overt backgrounds, no action poses. Just the girls and all they represent. I know so many fans have gazed upon your 3SM crew pictures and have wondered how you truly see them in your amazing universe. As much as I love the battle scenes, sci-fi tech, and galaxy wide adventures, it's the characters that make Three Square Meals really come alive. I hope that soon we can see them come alive on paper. :) No matter what, I can't wait to see what you have in store for us!

Chris, The chapters are usually about 30k, the first "half" is usually 20k, second half about 10k, so half the size. Also, since we are reading part one as we wait, it doesn't seem as long between first and final drafts.

can't wait for ebook 4 (but I will sigh)!!! This is a saga definitely worthy of audiobooks but as discussed in an earlier post - what will happen to the voices in my head!!! Thanks again o Great Creator

TF4EVA

Any thought of doing audiobooks for this series?

John Cothrin

Thanks for the update Tefler.

Great to know this!

Big Dude

Indeed thank you for the updte.

Nibbles

Thanks and keep of the excellent work...….

I typically write 2 chapters a month which I publish on Patreon first. Then I take about a week or so to edit each chapter, then I submit it to moderation on literotica. It takes them several days to review a chapter in their moderation queue, so basically there's about a 2 week delay from when I first complete a chapter and it appearing on literotica. Stories online always publishes on the same day as I submit a chapter, so as soon as it goes live on literotica, then I post it up there too. I've planned out the rest of the eBooks, splitting up the chapters per book. A typical sci-fi novel is around 90k-120k words, so I've gone through the chapters, grouping them together so that each eBook falls into roughly that range. EBook 1 was 86k, eBook 2 was 120k, and eBook 3 was 132k. EBook 4 will cover chapters 31-37 and will probably be about 125k once I've added in new scenes.

Tefler

Thanks for the status update. You do seem to set yourself a grueling schedule at times. I am thoroughly enjoying TSM, and feel honored to support you here and thus be able to read the latest chapters "as you write them", so to speak. So please don't take these questions as anything other than a request for clarification so I can help pass the info along when appropriate. Do you have a "schedule" as to when you post to Lit and SoL? ie, do you post once a month, or X days after you post a final version of a chapter here, or when you post a final version of a chapter (109) here, is that when you post the previous chapter (108) there, or what? And yes, I also understand that the other sites have a process so that there is a lag from when you post there to when the material is available to be read. As to eBook 4, since there have been quite a few chapters released since the end of eBook 3, as I understand it, how many chapters do you intend to include in eBook 4? Just 10-20 (boo), or "catch up" to at least chapter 100 (yea!) ? Just curious. I'm eagerly awaiting the next chapter in the saga. Keep up the great work as long as you enjoy doing it. Cheers and Regards

Bp Hlpt

Why does it always feel like you are writing the second half of the chapter in half the time of the first. XD

ChrisW

Thanks for the update. It sounds like a grueling schedule for the rest of the month. Beware of all work and no play

Old Cruiser

Tefler, thank you for the update. I'm abashed to admit that I've been swamped and haven't given the latest chapter a good read-through, yet. I'm just swamped at the moment. I'm hoping to read it later this week, perhaps over the weekend.

Evan

Robert, Tefler has already said that he'd autograph copies of purchased paperback books IF you can arrange to meet with him. My only problem is that I'm not sure when I'm next going to be in London. I'll be in Italy next May, but most of the time I am in North America, except when I go Scuba Diving, and that's not something I'm anxious to do in the UK. :-)

Evan

Thanks, looking forward to getting both

Speaking of paper back books . Have you thought about offering autographed copies to patrons for a specific tier or set price...probably a nightmare with the logistics of it but I would purchase autograph paperbacks if they were available.

Robert Hawk

Thanks for the update.

I can't wait the withdrawal is so real right now

Mark Hall

Rocks back and forth in corner

Mark Hall

Any news on a paperback copy of book 3?

Scott Way

Let the nervous ticks and sweating begin

Yay more chapters!

Forbsey