Three Square Meals - Chapter 147 (Complete)

.224 Errata Ch 147 Not sure if already mentioned... Auralei didn’t pay it any notice until it started franticly beeping frantically

jdg45

.223: I know, I know, we have already discussed exactly what enhancements' John has gifted to Luna and Edraele... We know Luna is faster, Psychic Alacrity, but what else might she have, she will be training with Edraele, so my guess is that both will have psychic shields to practice with and strengthen, but what else? Please don't let Luna get Dana's shooting fire balls out of her eyes... I hope one of Edraele's enhancements is that short range teleport ability, a cool and fast escape, in case her telepathy and TK are not enough. thoughts? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.222: TF007, that was an amazing bit of "Kreskin" ole buddy, and can you tell me the flavor of tea the Asshat's thralls had with their meals too? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

Battle for Terra was on day 192 and ch 147 is day 217. GK scouts should hit a border (TFED, Maliri, Trankaran, Drakkar, Brimorian, Ashanath) at some point the evening of 217 or 218 during morning.

Tefler Fan 007

About a month, two months maybe? Cignal keeps a timeline over on the Discord server.

Jedi Khan

Anyone know the time Between big terra battle and end of chapter 147?

Brittany durin

On this we agree. Athena needs to merge with Alissa.

You're at least 12 hours early

Jedi Khan

F5….F5….F5

Tefler Fan 007

Michael, unfortunately, Mael's sensor network doesn't cover Kirrix space. It stops about where the Terran border is, I believe, so it won't see GK's dreadnought popping in and out. Not sure if the sensor network shows regular ship traffic as well, or if it only is for tracking Progenitor dreadnoughts. If it is only for the dreadnoughts, then it won't see the Thrall ships since they're not likely to be stealthed.

Jedi Khan

Faye first. Athena can wait. I still don't see how giving Athena her own body will resolve her existential crisis.

Jedi Khan

.213: Hey TF007, ole Asshat, Gahl'kalgor, and his lovely but twisted thralls started out in Kirrix territory, I would love to hear that they wiped out a few bug fleets and maybe bombarded a planet or two, just to have some bad guy type fun, and accidentally doing a good deed... but yeah where the heck are his Baen'thelas seeking scouts going to appear first, and will anyone on Kythshara be watching that cloaked ship detector, an realize that it isn't Rahn'hagon this time? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.212: I KNOW! We can pass on both the Earth elemental rune powers, And the Plant Rune psychic green thumb powers to Boothby the Olympus shipyard arboretum keeper-gardener (you didn't think he would still be in San Francisco at that Academy, in the 28th century, now did you?) ... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.211: With Mael's cloning lab found and Rachel getting a thousand years' worth of education in a few hours, and all the building of Nexus information that Irillith has been perusing... all they really need now is the time... after Athena of course... then a sexy cyber pixie/catgirl shall be born... please Tef, do not stretch this restoration out too much longer.... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

Hey Jedi. Miss your posts

thomas rodrian

Hey, I won’t argue that gravity powers and manipulation of chemical elements isn’t better per say than metal bending proper, but it’s at least somewhat of a unique twist, especially since it might be able to possibly toss armored thralls around like pinballs similar to Alyssa. And the plant thing is also unique compared to the others, and allows for a more varied crew dynamic. Plus, extensive plant knowledge could make the girl a permanent head chef. Finally, while I agree the Leech rune usage might be too ‘evil’ to use directly, what if she has plants eat enemies and ‘leeches’ the life force that way? Circle of life and all that?

Brian Woods

Brian, that last one leans a little too far into the "evil" category for John and the girls. They're all mortified by the thought of draining the life from others, so that one is definitely a no-go. Those other two options are more meh, especially in comparison to what Dana and the others can do. What can the plants do that can't be accomplished by the other girls? Also, motherf-ing black holes, biatch.

Jedi Khan

Looking to avoid that chapter and the tragedy that follows? Can't blame you. It is extremely sad and I'm disappointed Tefler hasn't rectified it yet.

Jedi Khan

I can easily envision at least 3 ways a Druid-like character can be utilized in realm, and without unduly breaking the space epic theme. First, while somewhat silly to comprehend, if a plant manipulator were to carry a pouch full of seeds into battle and fuel said seeds growth potential with psychic energy, we could conceivably have Poison Ivy in space, vines and all that jazz, while suspending only a little disbelief. Secondly, if earth manipulation is the goal, just a hop, skip, and jump away is metalbending powers of the constituent materials for space time fun, and that would only be tangentially related to Dana’s abilities. Finally, even if plant bending is the new power, if one also had the Leech rune affinity they could steal life from enemy thralls and ‘feed them to the plants’, so to speak, if not also to her fellow bondmates for extra vim and vigor.

Brian Woods

Chapter 120 … towards the end. Search for: Then the Invictus lurched violently, alarms blazing across the Command Deck

I’m rereading this thing yet again um what chapter does the invictus get cut in half?

Zachary Hoover

We are 1 day away (TSM time) from GK fleets reaching a border (TFED, Maliri, Kintark, Brimorians, Trankaran, Ashanath) so we should be getting action soon. Assuming he sent out ships to cover great area possible his ships could hit any of those species borders.

Tefler Fan 007

Tefler has been online working hard so we might get full chapter.

Tefler Fan 007

Probably not in part 1. Part 2 maybe.

Jedi Khan

.198: Hey Guys, it is almost the last day of the month (pay cycle), so TSM #148, part one should drop tomorrow, right? John and the girls should get into Larathyran space and find Auralei... and a few loose and drifting war fleets... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.197: Well, maybe John could gift someone on Tasmaris Prime that Druidic plant-based psychic power to let them organically clean up some of that radioactivity from that Nuclear Fission Power Plant the was blown up a decade ago. And grow some new trees and grass, make it into a big ole park... Make this a part of Lynette's Outer Rim infrastructure improvement program. ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

I highly doubt they'll realize Lynette is a thrall, not unless they crush her fleet and capture her. There is no reason for GK's forces to initiate any form of communication with any of the locals, and if the locals try reaching out, GK's forces are not obligated to answer. As for what GK's forces will do upon first contact depends on what kind of force was sent out to scout the area. Were lone scout ships sent out? Small groups? A full fleet? Lone scout ships are likely to try to remain undetected as best they can, and if they think they've been spotted, will probably pull back. They might try to ambush a lone freighter or military ship on patrol, or tap into a comms buoy, but going into range of an inhabited planet or engage a group of military ships is not likely something they will do. If small groups or a full fleet were dispatched, then more options are available for engagement, up to and including occupying a planet or station. Lone scout ships are more likely to have been dispatched at this point, as GK probably has little to no intel about this area other than John is somewhere within a few thousand light years. The scouts will have been sent out first to find out where inhabited planets are, where military assets are, and generally collect intel. Once that intel is gathered, then GK can decide in which direction to send his fleets.

Jedi Khan

Also, just because powers are available doesn't mean that they will be issued. The lionesses all have unique powers because they all cover unique roles/situations, from Irillith being a Cyberpsychic in order to counter AI threats, to Dana being able to manipulate molecular bonds to enhance armor. Standard Matriarchs get a standard bare minimum amount of abilities to fulfill their role. I can't see any real reason why all of the Young Matriarchs will need to have unique abilities for instance, when all they would need would be basic telekinesis for protection. That being said though, I can see his favourite gardener being enhanced to communicate with plants and manipulate earth.

Bloodshed, as both Gahl'kagor and John have claimed their thrall species. What intrigues me is what will happen when Lynette is discovered? She's a non-thrall species, yet she is clearly a thrall when she is seen without her disguise. Will they be able to psionically detect her the way Sakura can? Will they obliterate all fleets they find to try and draw Baen'thelas out, or weaken the locals for further attacks?

.192 Locating Baen'thalas Valeria ordered Gahl's squadrons to sweep the area and locate Baen'thelas as quickly as possible. We have no idea how they will do that. And if John is in Larn's domain requisitioning his fleet he will not be located. One issue is what happens when there is contact with the Maliri and John's 'thralls'.

jdg45

Just because the powers are available, doesn't necessarily mean they'll be all that useful to John and the crew. And a lot of abilities overlap, especially telekinesis, which forms the basis for a lot of the powers the girls have, allowing those powers to have substance rather than just be flashy. Besides, if Tefler were to try doling out a wider array of powers, he'll have to spend time making up situations in which to showcase those powers, and frankly, he has better things to do with his time than try to make a druid's nature based power somehow work in outer space.

Jedi Khan

.190 61 runes in the Kyth'faren eldritch alphabet. Even if used in combination there are still many choices for powers. And then add some of the powers Dana has - apparently not from the 61 known runes.

jdg45

I don’t know, Jedi, there are still several powers in the queue that have yet to be utilized, like water powers or plant control. John even mentions sound runes in passing to increase his volume, so sonic blasts or kinetic redirection could be fun. Then there’s limited teleportation, and possible kinetic destruction like Gambit from X-men, like energy manipulation. The possibilities are intriguing to say the least. I wouldn’t consider those abilities THAT absurd or asinine.

Brian Woods

That was bound to happen given the size of the cast of characters. Only other option was to hand out increasingly absurd or asinine powers.

Jedi Khan

Might I suggest a old table top role playing book Mutant and Masterminds has a lot of powers in one of the books and then there is Blood of Heroes that has a lot of powers no reason to dupe abilities just yet ... just my thought on it an only trying to help

JC Armstrong

Sadly we are getting to the point now that there are going to be multiple girls with duplicate abilities.

Tefler Fan 007

.184: And maybe (if Tef approves) this chemical rate changer could work with Rachel to make certain key people physically younger too, all without shallowing any psychic cum (no progenitor side effects) ... fountain of youth stuff... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.183: Okay another potential (?) Rune power, that is somewhat space/time related: the ability to speed up or to slow down chemical reactions... rust flares up into a burst of flame... psychic cum slows absorption rate until needed in a battle scenario... stuff like that; and maybe make strong bad guys age until weak... thoughts? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

True

Tefler Fan 007

Tef007, I believe that is pretty much what Calara is doing by seeing the future. Functionally, I think she’s going forward in time 30 secs, seeing what happens, then springs back in time and has those scenes roll out in front of her like a slide reel for perusing. It’s why the ability takes so much power to use, if not as much as John’s actual time-warping skill.

Brian Woods

Still waiting for someone to get the space/time rune to turn back time like John did in the nightmare astral plane. We have seen so far that if you can do it in the astral then you can do it in the real world.

Tefler Fan 007

.179: Okay Brian, your numbers are not too far from mine, so figure that it takes a Progenitor about 20 years to get to his first million thralls... And then, - here is a point that My numbers and Yours differ a bit -, the average useful, strong and healthy lifespan of a thrall is not a full 300 years. First off, they don't get enthralled too young, they start at a mature 30 years old, and then (with your average evil Asshat-Progenitor) possibly a fair number of the relatively healthy 230 to 270 years old thralls might just be drained early to avoid any old age-related expenses... thus we have an average useful thrall life of about 200 to 250 years, not 300. So, my numbers are only in the low millions... and at a certain point he must maintain enough recruiting to balance his routine age-related losses, plus all those lost to combat/war... and at that point his Empire cannot keep adding/growing more thralls and cannon fodder... but Xar sends his idiot boys to war anyway.... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.178: On those numbers of yours TF007, my math is similar but much more conservative, and I made some allowance for John to have some fun times with his girls, so only 2 to 3 loads per day stored into vats at a maximum, and possibly less. And one of John's loads produces around 4 pints (20 oz each English pint) or a little bit more, if he's been holding back. And Larn was enthralling about fifty 30-year-olds per load... so, I barrowed those numbers. and since his thralls are not enthralled until they are mature at 30 years old, then if they tend to live until 300 or so, that gives the Progenitor around 250 to 270 years per strong and healthy thrall. or a little less if he chooses to drain them at say around 230 or so, thus avoiding any age-related medical expenses... so I conservatively used a rounded 200 years per maximum useful thrall life-span on average, and my numbers did still reach the millions, but not as high as yours... still a drop in the bucket planet/empire wide... so, there should have still been at least 70% to 90% of the over 30-year-olds remaining even on Larn's Capital world... Further explanations from Tef must be forthcoming when Auralei is found by the Invictus crew... And hopefully with Larn dead as a doornail, the Laranthyans and the Maliri will not hate each other on sight anymore, and some Maliri aid can help them out.... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.177: Well, TF007 ole buddy, just as Sakura has been enhanced a few extra times... and Tashana has added Astral Projection to her talents.... I like the Idea of our mermaid getting a 'lesser' Psychic ability that she would find quite useful... especially if she was back on Brimor, talking to her people, or to those scaley rapists... It puts her into a position of power both as a Lioness and an undersea goddess! Now who can we sluff off the Earth Element on? Fleet Admiral Lynette or Lina? or Auralei, if/when she cums aboard... So many runes, so little time... And we need to empower some girls with more goofy/incredible psychic abilities, like those of the Grand Engineering Overlord... a newer circle of Kyth'faren runes (30 or 36?) some dealing with more space/time powers... (Maybe they could be space/time Tripping the Niryean Rift for Mael'nerak?) ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

John cums 5-6 liters per load. There is just over 33 ounces to a liter. Only needs a drop but let’s say each thrall gets a ounce, 5 liters would allow for 165 thralls per load, 4 loads per day would 660 thralls a day. If you used half an ounce you would double it to 1320 thralls a day. Progenitor uses vats he fills up to get more thralls so he goes balls to the wall starting out for 365 days at beginning he would get 481,800 thralls in first year. Say he recruits 250,000 a year for 100 years that’s 25 million. Thrall live for 300 years so he could have 50-75 million thralls in 300 years from starting and that’s using half a ounce. If if just a drop like Rachel predicts you could have hundreds of millions of thralls.

Tefler Fan 007

So, I think several of us have ‘done the math’ so to speak regarding the number of thralls the average Progenitor can conceivably recruit during a standard lifetime using John’s numbers as a base. At a maximum of 6 loads per day, with 25 thralls per load, an estimated 365 days in a year, and an average 300 years for the lifespan of a thrall, the number comes out to between 15 to 20 million people total. That is, of course, a drop in the bucket for an empire of billions, if not a trillion or more. Calculate that as a thousand planets with an average of a billions citizens on each. The reason we probably haven’t seen other locale’s in the empire is chiefly because…they wouldn’t have the throne world’s issues regarding mass depopulation. Why? Most worlds likely only have about 30 to 50 thralls in planetary administration, with the rest as normal citizens. His home world, though, would have pretty much every high ranking elite the empire had to offer, just to serve as his crowning jewel. That’s just logistically sound, I think. But…we won’t really know until the Invictus makes the trip.

Brian Woods

Yeah, but people underestimate how big a billion is. For example -- one million seconds is 12 days, but one billion seconds is 32 years. So, to enthrall just one billion women -- doing an average of one every second with no breaks would take 32 years. John really is going to have to change his technique.

William Pitcher

Helene is the most powerful girl right now, with a mere thought she could have army’s run away with fear. She can also change peoples mind and make them forget or support certain things. She is a portable psychic mist that can focus on individuals or groups. With her control now she can wash away a persons mind and break there minds. She can naturally already breathe and swim underwater so she probably don’t need any more psychic abilities.

Tefler Fan 007

It was mentioned when John was first recruiting Maliri that the normal process would only require a small amount of cum and Larn had vats filled to add thralls. Rachael figured a seed race, because they are genetically engineered to respond to progenitors, would only require a small dose. John was recruiting 20-30 at a time using Jade with the second batch of engineers when they cut Invictus in half and added singularity drivers. All the engineers were added with one dose to network.

Tefler Fan 007

.171: onto another fun topic, Psychic powers and Kyth'faren Runes... Hey Tef, think about this one, okay... Helene, our empathic mermaid, might be a fun candidate for the Water Element Rune, ... I don't know what powers that might give her, but back in the Brimorian ocean she would be truly awesome! (a power negotiator for the freedom of the Abandoned?) ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.170: Jedi (master) Khan, my math limits Larn's maximum thrall count due to the eventual dying of his longer serving thralls due to old age (thrall lives to around 300 years--and he might just routinely drain them after a certain age like 260 or so) ... Remember both Rahn'hagon and Ailanthia mentioned that he had been under the Shroud for months, growing weaker... by not replacing those dying off thralls, tens of thousands each month? ... Anyway, how would Larn be stud enough to add billions of thralls to his network? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.169: Yes, Exactly William, no matter how I juggle the numbers, when I assume 4 pints of psychic cum per load, and 3 loads per day... I cannot stretch Larn's total thrall numbers higher than a couple million. So, to wipe out all Larn's over 30-year-olds (thralls all), either Larn'kelnar had a very small empire (on one planet) or he had a way to produce psychic cum by the hundreds of gallons at a time, and if so then we can assume all of the big Empire Progenitors can do that too... Each making billions of thralls? If that's the case, then I think that is something John and Rachel need to discover while requisitioning those drifting fleets... MIlliions of Maliri joining Edraeles' network in a month! John is strong now, that would make him invincible! and likely put a close to the Three-Square Meals saga, then hello sequel... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

I think the comment was as much about how did he have time to MAKE all those thralls.

William Pitcher

I've tried to write John with a slightly alien perspective on relationships, which wars with his Terran upbringing. He definitely respects the Invictus crew for their knowledge, skills and expertise, but when it comes to the bedroom, the language turns more dominant. With his Progenitor background, he's innately going to have a slightly skewed perspective towards his "thralls", and calling them "good girls" is a reminder of that. As far as fetishizing skin colour, when Progenitors claim a species, their whole race becomes devoted to him. They will then fight to the death against rival thralls, who are all functionally identical, except for skin tone. Irillith and Tashana talked about how "exotic" the Terran girls were first, because it's something built into their DNA. John finds the Terran girls' various skin tones fascinating, not because of any kind of discrimination, but because Progenitors are designed to just have a single thrall race (and hence there would be no differences). Now that he's properly claimed the Maliri and been surrounded by them 24/7 on a number of occasions, he's trying to adjust to the feeling of how "right" that seems. John spent a long time coming to terms with the psychic modifications that he's made to the girls. He doubted the authenticity of their feelings for him precisely because he knows how much of a dramatic difference he made to their personalities. One of the pivotal aspects of his personality is the various abandonment issues he had to deal with after being left on Terra by his mother. Then when you pile on the loathing he feels towards his father's past, Progenitors in general, and his own legacy of Progenitor abilities, it's left him with a lot of doubts. He doesn't want to be a "deadbeat dad", nor does he want to abandon his own kids, or let them suffer abuse from previously abused mothers. It makes his feelings towards the matriarchs complicated, especially as he wants to satisfy their desire to establish their noble bloodline, while personally finding the thought of impregnating them all a turn on.

Tefler

A single planet, an empire does not make. And Progenitors are nothing if not empire builders. Guaranteed that there's more than one planet in Larn's empire. And it would be easy for Larn to have burned through all his thralls, considering what he was up against. John with his comparatively small network had more energy available to him than Larn did. Just goes to show quality over quantity.

Jedi Khan

As a minimum I suspect Auralei might end up on the crew of the Invictus - but that would not be too much of a delay. ... On reflection, I think you are right ... John would want to sort out the entire world. I wonder if that will include the encouragement of them to start wearing full armour to protect them from other Progenitors. Perhasp John could claim them?

Stephen Paynter

.160: The latest Asshat (Gahl'kalgor) is about to pounce, in story time in about 2 to 3 days if they are even that lucky... and we know that the requisition of Larn's fleets from the former Larthyran empire is going to run into a complication or two, i.e., Auralei and those of her world that is without any mature females (30+) and could use some aid... and John is a white Knight riding to the rescue, but do they have time? Tef will make this a nail biter, of course... And now that Larn and all his thralls are gone, will the former Larthyrans' and the Maliri still be compelled to hate each other at first sight, or can most the needed aid come from the Maliri fleet women? A few dozen or so in key positions could turn that planet around -- and did Larn have any more worlds or colonies? That's doubtful as he ran out of his disposable thralls so rapidly as the planet ran out of 30+ women too... It seems to me like it's only Tef's story writing that caused this...any way that I work the math it makes no sense, unless Larn could fill large vats with his psychic cum on a regular basis. This would be something that Baen'thelas should know about! And that might make some delay in Larthyran space reasonable for the story, right Tef? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

To be fair I think that will be a top priority after Laern's fleets are secure. Jehanna mentioned she has a plan, I think it's probably connected to the new Maliri info network she's running

Christopher Miller

Remember it's going to take an extensive effort to convince the men that John (a non-maliri) has stepped in to quash all the malfeasance of the last 10,000 years in a few weeks and they are now completely safe from petty, vindictive matriarchs who up until now were happy to commit mass murder on a whim.

Christopher Miller

John got the ball rolling with Ceraden, asking that he talk to the leaders of the men and see what it would take to begin negotiations. It's going to take some time for Ceraden to do that. Even though they're Maliri, the men are essentially their own nation/government, separate from that of the women. Edraele and the Matriarchs have no authority and can only make requests of the men. Part of John's role as king of the Maliri is to deal with foreign governments, and that basically what he's doing with the men. However, the men are not his top priority at the moment; getting Larn's abandoned fleets is.

Jedi Khan

I know there's a lot going on and the actual story timeline is a crawl, but why isnt John even bringing up the idea of reaching out to the Maliri males at this point. He had like 2 conversations with Ceraden about it and then its been pushed to the back burner. He had a whole meeting with every matriarch about bettering the lives of the Maliri and didnt even mention the males or the border stations. Just feel like that's a big ball drop (or 4)

Metheus108

Good to know jedi, thank you. Tefler, if you are reading this, i am generally enjoying the story, some series of chapters are slow others i can't put down, but that's every story. It might be a little muddled, but what i'm actually wishing were here is that john were a bit more misogynistic with the maliri without exotifying (granted they are a diff species and not human, but all fantasies are metaphorical to some degree). John will never have time to properly be present for 20 odd kids which will turn into more self loathing. why not just let the maliri raise his children as they see fit (since theyre prob gonna be 100% maliri) and focus on the invictus crew family +edrael. i understand some hesitancy because of what he thinks a family should be but it sometimes feels like he's doing olympic level mental gymnastics to avoid admitting the obvious. i think there are things you could write that *i* would like more, but youre writing for thousands of others and it's working overall. i'm also not super active in discussions so i'm not asking that my opinion be some kind of expectation of the story and re writing stuff etc. And if you do happen to agree with what i'm getting at, changes to a character cant happen over night either. (though him cutting the crew's eldritch and this new phase of listening to all the women (he goes back and forth so i hope he retains the lesson) are maybe the exact steps your taking that i'm asking for. sorry for some word vomit, i'm also procrastinating at work lol

Kesone

This totally captures thoughts that I have been having, as I have been re-listening to TSM over the last few weeks. I've been reflecting on what changes would need to be made to it, for it to be given a Netflix "Witcher" style reworking for a TV series. Apart from the explicit sex, I think the sexism deeply embedded in John's character is what would stir up a tsunami of woke/feminist outrage. The long and frequent sections of John's introspection don't quiite cut the mustard in exonerating the character, and your comment helps clarify why. Still a fascinating story ... mostly ... but it has flaws which I am not clever enough to work out how they could be removed.

Stephen Paynter

Actually, no for the second one. The Fleet Admiral is the one talking, and she is talking to Rear Admiral Tamar Kahale. But good catch on the first one.

Bp Hlpt

So I'm starting to doubt that John respects women or anyone other than himself and has an absolute fear of any kind of rejection. And anything "good" he does is an appearance thing. Can you imagine dating someone monogamously and they doubt the validity of your emotions because they are favourable to you? Even after deep reflection your partner just assumes they've manipulated you. Now take it a step further to where all these powers and genetic influences are real. Nothing he does is ever going to give the thrall race the consent he needs it too short of cutting a big ol eldritch cable and erasing the idea he can provide them with youth or powers. Not to mention how he fetishizes them, again imagine talking to a partner with a different skin tone than you and they go on and on about how exotic you are like some kind of pet. As a black guy I'd leave or ask her to leave.

Kesone

Usually the versions that go up on the free sites are the ones that are fully edited. It used to be that Tefler would update the Patreon posts with the edited versions, but it has been awhile since he's done that. He's been a bit too busy, I guess.

Jedi Khan

.139: Well Stephen, I was sort of figuring some unshackled AI left over from millennia's past. An advanced younger brother to Nexus perhaps, cast adrift at the end of the War in the Heavens...? I wonder if that is something else that we must wait years for, and is destined for Tefs' sequel story... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.138 Typos “I could... but Vaughn would simply use it as another example of High Command running roughshod over the needs of the Outer Rim colonies. Disrupting a humanitarian relief effort is hardly a good look, is it, Rear Admiral?” over the - double space Rear - Fleet

jdg45

.137 Latest versions of chapters It would be most useful to have some identifier on edited chapters updated for typos. Currently it is unknown if the Patreon downloads for each chapter have been revised. Maybe a date of release added or maybe Chapter 147-1 etc. Thanks

jdg45

.135: Whoa!! not just trouble on the far side of our galaxy, but something happening with the Andromeda galaxy too!!! (Maybe the whole Andromeda galaxy is under a Shroud of their own?) ... not that I want Three Square Meals to end, but I will be very interested in the sequel... that Tef is a smart one... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

Guys, Just a FYI, Tefler posted the below post back in 2019 on Discord. There is a lot of discussions with Tefler on Discord that have more insight about TSM. Tefler — 05/19/2019 I'll be covering most things in this series. There's a few things that are specifically going into the sequel, like the Enshunu, the Underworld, the Andromeda Galaxy, the Shroud...

Cignal

I think the enshunu are what remained of Rhan's thrall armies. They keep their appearance hidden, they know of progenitors calling them "the old gods", and lastly it seems that their are many more women then men in enshunu society.

Justin Webb

I'm guessing John will have to go back to the Underworld, the Achonin refinery, at some point, especially now that the Enshunu have re-armed it. In fact, the whole mystery of the Enshunu needs to be addressed at some time ... not to mention that blue telepath blob that needs to be brought to justice.

Stephen Paynter

Noticed a normal/telepathic speech mismatch. *Careful... watch out for the artificial gravity!” Alyssa warned her companion.

ringill

Did we ever discover what the ancient observer was in the Brimorian networks ... the one that observed Irrillith's hack? If not, what are the current theories?

Stephen Paynter

People were thinking that the Trankaran Star Forge was Mael's Soul Forge, but its description didn't seem to match up with that of a Soul Forge, despite it obviously being made of PBM. Honestly, I don't really see the team asking Niskera if the Trankarans have anything left over in their space from Mael's time. They really should, just to be sure, but they've already made the assumption that because Rahn blew that region all to hell during his invasion, that any strategic structures like a Soul Forge would have been the among the first things destroyed.

Jedi Khan

Someone mentioned that John should build a new ship. Didn't Calara and Tashana figure out that the soul forge was moved to Trankaran space. And they thought it had been destroyed. I think Niskera said that they fixed the Star Forge to rebuild their space fleet. Perhaps this was Mael's new Soul Forge, and just needs a different mix of elements to make Mael's new metal. Just my thought.

Hendrik J Kopmels

the old Terran expression: ‘Don’t listen to their words, listen to their actions.’. -- Two periods? Both before and after the quote mark? Never seen that before and couldn't find a reference. I understand in British usage it can be either, but both?

Bp Hlpt

then the inner light faded from her eyes and Alyssa’s cerulean blue were watching him with amusement. then the inner light faded from her eyes and Alyssa’s cerulean blue ones were watching him with amusement. -or- then the inner light faded from her eyes and Alyssa’s of cerulean blue were watching him with amusement.

Bp Hlpt

the new additions in action when we do a weapon test. the new additions in action when we do a weapons test. -- they installed a couple of different ones, after all

Bp Hlpt

“Why wouldn’t we, Master?” ... “No, thank you.” -- should this entire conversation have been done via thought rather than spoken so that John and Jade 'wouldn’t disturb the napping catgirls'? ie *Why wouldn’t we, Master?* ... *No, thank you.*

Bp Hlpt

the rest of my sisters went through the same thing when you were trying to free them. the rest of my sisters went through the same thing as you were working to free them. -- trying sounds like he wasn't succeeding

Bp Hlpt

Oh and that brunch was legendary! Oh! And that brunch was legendary!

Bp Hlpt

Oh that reminds me, Jade said that she hasn’t forgotten Oh, that reminds me, Jade said that she hasn’t forgotten

Bp Hlpt

persuading me to view my relationships with each of you persuading me to view my relationship with each of you -or- persuading me to view my relationships with all of you

Bp Hlpt

The rest of the matriarch nodded their agreement, The rest of the matriarchs nodded their agreement,

Bp Hlpt

Nyrelle smirked as she reach out to clasp her hand. Nyrelle smirked as she reached out to clasp her hand.

Bp Hlpt

Please can you contact Brecken’s World and inform them -- Not really a question Please contact Brecken’s World and inform them

Bp Hlpt

*** # ----- When appropriate, remove no longer necessary # Lynette Devereux walked out

Bp Hlpt

I haven’t give you a boobjob before... and I thought we should correct that shocking oversight. I haven’t given you a boobjob before... and I thought we should correct that shocking oversight.

Bp Hlpt

and the roles he was forced to play. and the roles he was being forced to play.

Bp Hlpt

sending a shiver down his spine.“I never would’ve asked sending a shiver down his spine. “I never would’ve asked

Bp Hlpt

Does it meet with you approval? Does it meet with your approval?

Bp Hlpt

Extremely small nitpick. After Auralei picks up her friend Kylantha, you don't mention Auralei actually restarting her hovercar moving forward toward the fusion reactor. I wouldn't have mentioned it, but you specifically mentioned every other start, stop, reverse, etc that she made with the hovercar, so...

Bp Hlpt

Chapter 147 typos (combined Chapter) He couldn’t help thinking about what they had planned for after their first training session together, -- There are actually at least two places in the last couple of chapters where this upcoming event is referred to. But John and Luna have already had a training/sparring session together, haaven't they? [Chapter 139, John 'lost' the sparring match 35 to 1, Luna suggested John develop his own personal style, and they made love afterwards in view of the folks in the viewing galleries] So shouldn't this event be called "their next training session" instead? If so, then all references should be changed. Or are you distinguishing the previous sparring session and the future training sessions? But then it's referred to as a sparring session in Ch. 146, so... Ch. 146 -- Let’s save that for our first sparring session. - Let’s save that for our next sparring session. Ch. 147 -- they had planned for after their first training session together, - they had planned for after their next training session together,

Bp Hlpt

Theocracy, is more likely. Their Queen is the chosen of their new god, after all.

Jedi Khan

So…bit of a weird question, but what do the Trankaran’s refer to their area of space as now? Technically they are no longer a republic as they have elected a monarch to rule over them, but I wouldn’t go so far as to call them an empire as of yet. Regency? Federation? Kingdom? Constitutional Monarchy? What say you…

Brian Woods

.097: And Mac, will the Dreadnought of Gahl'kalgor be spotted through the use on Mael's Cloak Breaker Network? :-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

John P wrote: "Genuinely it's weird to say that an erotic space opera webnovel is better written than any of the recent entries in the most iconic franchise in the history of film, but that's the clown world we live in." If you look at the truly outstanding space operas of the past, starting with grand daddy Lensman, but emphatically also Dune, Star Trek, Star Wars, Foundation and others, you find them all emphatically androcentric. They have strong female characters, who themselves are thoroughly androcentric. What makes Space Operas ring true, despite their fantastical overlay, is that they are true to basic human sexual biology. As a poignant example, Gene Roiddenbery's last episode he wrote for Star Trek was "Turnabout Intruder" and according to Roddenberry himself, it was a warning against modern feminism. You will find the same warping from an androcentric model to Clown's World's imitation of the spotted hyena (look it up) into the crap of today. Sorry, hypergamy, built into the XY sexual system, does not care about what you think is "fair". This is why, after 38 years, my wife still gets goosebumps when I hug her tight. John Blake, like me, is androcentric AND gynophilic. I however, have a smaller than average penis, but a larger than average arrogance. There is NO misogyny in Tefler's writings nor in my thoughts.

2ndAndrocentric

Remember that John found out that they archive everything from 1 master to the next? They store all the details, but only remember the current master. This stops them tipping off that it's all stored. The perfect spies.

John Gregory

The next panic will that at the end of 148, will be the arrival of the invading Projenitors Scout ships in the outer rim systems, just as they are teetering on what to do next! A big dose of reality.

Mac of Alden

I really enjoyed the scene of Lynette appealing to the colonial governors in this chapter. She did an excellent job exploiting weaknesses in their plan - including the part of how difficult it would be for them to form anything more than a loose confederation, given how little direct cooperation they've had in the past. This is the kind of thing that's normally difficult to write, and I'm impressed at how well Tefler pulled it off. I remember some character - I think it was Vincent - saying he'd thought of Lynette primarily as a political operative rather than a military official, and she really showed those skills here. I'd also like to say how much I enjoyed the depiction of Kythshara. Mael'nerak and everything he created has been largely a mystery box unto this point, and filling in that box with something as interesting as the hype was never going to be a simple challenge, but I didn't have any issues with what we got. I really liked how the effectiveness of the death trap relied on understanding Progenitor psychology - it seems like it would have been extremely effective. So often writers rely on the imagination of the readers to fill in the blanks, and that can be effective - but when it comes time to actually write those blanks, the reality has to at least come close to the hype. Tefler's work stands in stark contrast to (for example) the horrific downgrade of Snoke from 'The Force Awakens' to 'The Last Jedi' - I can completely believe in Mael'nerak as a conqueror of empires, and that's what we needed to get from these chapters. Genuinely it's weird to say that an erotic space opera webnovel is better written than any of the recent entries in the most iconic franchise in the history of film, but that's the clown world we live in. But I was rereading the scene of Deveraux talking to Admiral Kahale in Chapter 141, and I was reminded again that TSM is definitely a space opera and not a more hardline mil-scifi story. I found it odd how easily Tamar Kahale accepted Lynette's minimalistic explanation of how John got ahold of Maliri technology, and the fact that she didn't ask any questions at all about how exactly the Lion convinced a Maliri warfleet to leave their territory - for only the second time in 9 centuries - specifically to aid Terra, especially considering they had no treaty with the Federation and didn't demand any kind of payment for the undoubtedly huge expense. Reading the section again made me think that it would probably have worked better if Lynette *wasn't* a secret Lioness - or at least was better at pretending she wasn't. What she might have done was to subtly hint that John had some hand in Endraele coming to the throne, and that sending the fleet (and gifting him the technology) was intended to be repayment for services rendered. For anyone in-universe not specifically connected to The Lion, the fact that the Maliri aided the Federation should be downright *bizarre*, and chalking it up merely to spectacular diplomatic skills on the part of the retired Marine officer seems like it would be grossly unsatisfying to a Terran admiral - someone who would be well-versed in the inner workings of military operations and their accompanying politics. John having a hand in the political restructuring of the pre-eminent galactic power - and the newly-crowned monarch desiring to maintain her relationship with the incredibly useful Terran - would be a much more satisfying explanation, and it would even be true. Certainly it would invite more questions, but the hints that Lynette could drop - without explicitly giving anything away - would imply enough to satisfy the admiral's curiosity. I still think it is beyond weird that no one at all has brought up John's service record as a Marine officer. Not knowing the classified information about his alien heritage, anyone at all interested in The Lion really ought to be carefully examining the information they've got, and you'd think flag officers would have access to his service record. Nor has anyone not directly connected to The Lion mentioned Jessica Blake. Her crimes are now four decades past, sure, but she's still *John's mother*, her whereabouts are unknown, and she's a multiple murderess. Even if the specifics of the mission that the Cora was on are classified, at least that much information should be accessible to interested officers and intelligence officials. ISD should be *very* interested in building a reliable psych profile of John Blake, and his mother would undoubtedly be part of that. John's dramatic transformation since leaving the Marine Corps might even be related to her in some way. I'd like to take a moment right now to reiterate that I can fully appreciate the scope of the project that is TSM, so the flaws I'm pointing out are ultimately not very important in the grand scheme of things. Certainly a lot of what I've described here and previously could be things that were going on behind the scenes this whole time, and they'll be brought to the fore in a later chapter. I'm happy to continue to be a patron. These flaws are the difference between TSM being a 8/10 and a 10/10 - it's still a fantastic read as-is.

John P

I'm only half way through this chapter and am already confused. I thought Jade was the only nymph with memories of her previous masters? The other nymphs memories reset each time they were claimed by a new master? So why does John have to scrub old memories from each of the other catgirls?

andrew finlayson

.86: In addition, I would love to see, Faye's return or even young Nexus junior, just in time to help calculate any Cloaked ship positions using the Lianelis Saevath network and quickly updating the Invictus firing computers to where to shoot their 'new' big guns.... just don't blast Jessica and her Rahn by mistake... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.84: for our beloved and slightly crazed author to receive a payday for the month, he will need to publish at least a partial chapter before months end, so expect a TSM #148, part one on Jan 31st.... with the other half, on or after Valentine's Day... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

Was that it for this month or can we expect more b efore the end of the month?

Richard de Leeuw

Just want to comment that a small drop every two weeks, that moves the storylines forward, is very much appreciated. A couple of months of radio silence, followed by a large chunk, is good when it happens, but then followed by the feeling of dread of having no updates for an indefinite amount of time.

Big Orca

The ones rescued? Probably on their way back to Maliri space. Not sure how close to Maliri space the fleet was when they picked up the Abandoned, but I doubt they'll bother going through Brimorian space to get back.

Jedi Khan

🤔 i wonder what is the status of the abandonned after 'the package' had been secured by the Maliri so many chapters ago .... still in Bromirian territory ?

Robster

It is explained how the Singularity Drivers work in TSM. In the firing chamber, there is a singularity that is contained in a lattice of that metal John got from Karron (I can't think of how it's spelled). A solid chunk of titanium, about the size of a human head is then dropped into the firing chamber in such a way that it is sling-shot around the singularity and out one of the two barrels. That is how the extreme velocity of the weapon is achieved. And it is that extreme velocity that allows it to use such small projectiles to deal so much damage. The force of impact, thus the damage dealt, is a factor of both speed and mass, not just mass. A 10kg chunk of metal can do the same amount of damage when fired at a high enough velocity as a 1000kg chunk fired at a slower speed. And star ships can carry a lot more 10kg chunks than they can 1000kg ones. Gravity in general pulls things down into it, but it is possible to use gravity to gain speed and exit the pull of a gravity well at speeds greater than when you went in. It all depends on the angle of entry into the gravity well and the speed at which you entered. Enter too slowly or at the wrong angle, and you get sucked in. Too fast and you overshoot, gaining nothing. Alyssa uses that principle to sling-shot the Invictus around stars, and NASA uses it to send spacecraft out into the solar system. A singularity is not much more than a source of extreme gravity. All you need to do is calculate the correct entry velocity and angle to achieve the desired exit velocity for the slingshot maneuver.

Jedi Khan

The singularity drivers are an interesting weapon in the TSM world. Singularity drivers are not explicitly explained, but what Tef has said seems to imply that the singularity is what powers the force behind accelerating the projectiles. It has long confused me because a singularity would draw matter towards it, not expel it outwards like a projectile. In other sci-fi work a singularity driver generates stable singularities that are then fired like extremely dense but otherwise regular rounds. The mass of a singularity round is why it takes such a long weapon to get the round up to hyper-velocity speeds. If you want maximum destructive force it’s the mass of the round that counts. Instead of firing a 1000kg shell from a quantum flux cannon you would be able to fire a shell of perhaps hundreds of times more mass compressed into a singularity of even smaller caliber. This seems like the ideal weapon for busting up black metal - if you can wrap the shield-penetrating quantum flux around a stable singularity round.

AzureReader

Species printer xD oh God I love it!

vontzki

We had a strong clue with the bed incident and Helene - she is the key to break the progenitor black metal. Runes penetrators somehow blessed by Helene fired by the Quantum Flux Cannons may be what we are going towards to deal serious damage to a progenitor dreadnought

Puttanegra Ficondo

I do agree with Calara being cool to Dana’s enthusiasm for the new Progenitor weapons now on the Invictus. She is right that it finally gives them a fighting chance because it puts them more on par. However those weapons are not sufficient to defeat another progenitor or Mael’ wouldn’t have had to blow himself up. Mael’ also assumed another progenitor would have gotten through the defense guns which is why he built the progenitor trap on Kythshara. At some point they are going to have to get more powerful weapons. Ancient Achonin weapon designs or creative inventions from Dana. I thought for sure Ailita or one of the nymphs would have had Achonin schematics buried in them. The nymph on Brimor seems to have presented her information to Larn’ such that he immediately knew how Mael’ finally defeated the Achonin.

AzureReader

Pretty sure Governor Lucya has sussed out Lynette's secret. But yeah, calm rational thinking has won out for now, but these are still humans we're dealing with. Anything can happen.

Jedi Khan

Pretty sure the metal would shatter, just like the bed did. PBM does not react well to positive emotions, especially love.

Jedi Khan

Remember Dana ‘fixed’ the Invictus. What if Helene ‘loved up’ the shuttle, how tough would that be? Or a dreadnought?

stephen mincher

We’ll know as soon as the asteroid fire test will happen (next chapter?) My bet is that they are the point defense weapons from the Mist orbital defenses, used to replace the short-range weapons on the Invictus.

Puttanegra Ficondo

what turreted weapons are they bringing over? At some point the Valkyrie is bringing over six ‘more’ turrets, but I thought the Invictus could only hold 4 advanced quantum flux cannons. I don’t recall them mentioning a different kind of weapon.

AzureReader

I eagerly devour every new chapter and I can not think of a single time I have been disappointed at the lack of sleep I get as I read it all in a single sitting. Keep up the amazing work and I can't wait to see what you have in store for us next

Bammerman

I wonder with them being a seed race if they would attack on first sight?

rich ed

Another extraordinary chapter in this epic saga!!! The directions you go...all the things going on...the incredible interest this story generates...just more reasons TSM is sooooo very addictive and entertaining!!! Thanks again!!!

Arrowglass

Thanks Tef!

Idaho Spud56

As far as the Larathyrian survivors go, I really feel like John is going to evacuate them to the Protectorate now more than ever. They don't even have enough engineers to keep power up in their major cities, how are they ever going to survive as a society if earthquakes hit? A meteor strikes a critical area? A power plant run by incompetent engineers has a meltdown? Yes, as a species they could survive as a post apocalyptic culture by eaking by for a few hundred years until they turn a corner, but at the cost of hundreds of millions (billions?) of individuals. Versus John evacing them to Maliri space that is very underpopulated, and is especially short on males, who predominant the Larathyrians ATM. Let's not forget the Maliri just acquired a fleet of Brimorian troop transports from the Kintark invasion plus the transports from the slave fleet that were trading with the Kirrix. Also when Edraele invaded Lallenor she assaulted it with 400,000 marines. It was a massive overkill gesture. It's implied that Valaden alone could transport far more than that. So, the Brimorian transports plus the Maliri fleets together could conservatively move 3-5 million refugees per trip if organized properly. If John wants to, he can completely transplant what's left of the Larathyrians in well under 2 months

Christopher Miller

Good Chapter

Wow, Lynette was dancing circles around Governor Vaughn, he never even saw that boom being dropped on him. As much as I enjoyed seeing Lynette's political maneuvering it kind of feels like the Outer Rim Rebellion has played out and it's basically over now that Lynette has mollified most of the governors and has picked up a couple of potential allies in Luce and Anastasia.

Christopher Miller

Now that we know Alyssa was singing I’m still dying to find out what comes out of Mael’s species printer that Rachel fired up. There are at least a couple options.

AzureReader

Whee

Muledrvr

Absolutely fantastic! Thanks!

bjcreek

Spoiler: no she doesn't not in this chapter

shawnnight88

Thanks very much Tefler. Now I'm really looking forward to Chapter 148 (or at least a major portion of it) at the end of this month!!

BrianM

.44: (A way out regarding the Maliri goodies) ...I suppose that Jade could have telepathically mentioned to John how full all the Nymphs were from the nice lunch that the Young Matriarchs fixed for them, maybe? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.43: nitpick: about halfway along the chapter, after lunch when John is leaving for his ride, why didn't he ask for the tasty Maliri leftovers to be boxed up for the Nymphs... they all love Maliri cuisine, and I am certain that all those lusty New Matriarchs cooking for John, made plenty.... so next time remember to get a doggy (Kitty) bag to take out the fine meal to those hungry kittens... a lot of background and building up this chapter, I enjoyed it... And I am eagerly awaiting TSM#150, assuming that is to be a blowout battle chapter, maybe? ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

Very interesting twists. The last scene is a masterpiece. It is clear that you spent time playing Diplomacy as much as you did Wing Commander ;-)

Puttanegra Ficondo

You are nothing short of amazing. 3.8+ million words over the last 6+ years, covering a period of less than a year. You must have immense story boards, covering all the people, their abilities, placement in story arcs - it just boggles my mind. Thank you so much for the sheer enjoyment you have given us. Always eagerly anticipating the next chapter. Be well, and your family.

WVNCRich

Thanks for the feedback everyone. It's great to hear that you enjoyed the new scenes!

Tefler

She's sung for John before, when she was being his Stepford Matriarch. ;-)

Tefler

Oh, thanks for spotting that one. I fixed it and updated the download.

Tefler

I'm really pleased to hear you're enjoying the Outer Rim events. :)

Tefler

Oops! That should be fixed now.

Tefler

Thanks! I've updated the chapter and fixed that typo.

Tefler

I've seen all the typos you've been sending me. Thanks very much for bringing them to my attention, I'll try to fix them asap.

Tefler

Bravo, perfect as always, thank you for your continued amazing efforts.

looks like lucy has lynettes number.......

TF4EVA

13th. Humour make me think of an other serie (netflix.. Space... ) hopefully there is no copyright on that.. Made me laugh

Yup

Jarrod Lombardo (he-him)

Damn I didn't realize it was Allyssa that was singing, nice switcheroo

Kensyi

Feel like Luce knows that Lynette is a lioness

Kensyi

Typo: "protect them from every being abused again"

Jarrod Lombardo (he-him)

YES!!!!

TF4EVA

Thank you for the new sections! The scenes with the Outer Rim folk are pure magic and complex storytelling. Exactly the type of stuff I enjoy from Tef'fic writings so thank you so much for that! Luce knows whats up :D

Metheus108

That sat quietly together - They sat

WVNCRich

She is there to personally hear their grievances and to prevent rebellion. John and Alyssa told her it was falling apart in outer rim and about to rebel.

Tefler Fan 007

I find myself most interested in what Lynnette is doing in the outer rim. I kinda want a full update of that.

Thanks for adding the # to easily pick up the story again. I think this has a mistake: “They Maliri had nothing but good things to say about all of you as well.” I believe it shoud be "The Maliri...

Negative Energy

Love the additions

Johnkr

cheers mr

Braw

According to my word processor, new word count for this chapter is 19, 996.

Bp Hlpt

Fantastic as always, congratulations on another great month

Dennis Banfield

Not sure (yet) of the word count, but the preview file size is 35 kb, new is 99 kb. Quite a bit of new story. Thanks Tefler

WVNCRich

Thank you! Just started re reading. Will anyone say if Faye comes back?

Thanks, Tefler

Steve

Tefler, I sent you a PM here. I hope you find it useful.

Bp Hlpt

Thanks, Tefler!

Bp Hlpt

Oh wow! That was unexpected.....

bob lakhanpal

Thanks Tefler

Cignal

Thank you very much, Boss Man!!!!

Who Me

great to see the next chapter out, this is by one of the best and interesting stories out there

Levitikan

AT LAST!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

bigdawguw65

Whooo hoo!!

Thanks Tefler!!!

Old Cruiser

Thanks for the chapter :)

Forbsey

Thx mate

Omg just logged in to see if you are doing alright.

Forbsey