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Three Square Meals - Chapter 160 (Patreon)

Published:
2023-01-01 02:54:15
Imported:
2023-01

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Content

*** Updated with final scene. Just search for the # symbol to find it. ***

Hey everyone!

I brought this chapter up to nearly 18k words, but I had to chop 750 which were my notes for the upcoming scenes, which was basically a long list of spoilers!

This chapter ends on a grim note, not really fitting for a New Year's celebration. I'll add the final scene tomorrow which will rectify that, so you might want to wait until tomorrow evening, or just go ahead and read it now, the choice is up to you!

Anyway, here's chapter 160, I hope you enjoy it!

Happy New Year!

Tefler

Comments

Michael56Smith (edited)

Comment edits

2023-01-31 21:57:57 .148: Alright now, we see upgrades to the Raptor 2.0 and to the Mech (Valkyrie) and all of the 'girls' practicing for combat with (the enemy) Thrall armies, and Dana is designing new and improved small arms, ... Also, the requestioned Laranthyran fleets are on their way, but will they get here (Kythshara - in the purple Loralar nebula) in time? So much and so many maybes for Tef to answer in the next few chapters, ... like you, I can scarcely wait, .... what will or will not occur? ... (I still think Tom Walker will break jail at some point) ;-) TTFN
2023-01-20 05:58:10 .148: Alright now, the crew has upgraded the power cores, the shields, and fixed the nauseating wormhole generator, and we also see upgrades to the Raptor 2.0 and to the Mech (Valkyrie) and all of the 'girls' practicing for combat with (the enemy) Thrall armies, and Dana is designing new and improved small arms, ... Also, the requestioned Laranthyran fleets are on their way, but will they get here (Kythshara - in the purple Loralar nebula) in time? So much and so many maybes for Tef to answer in the next few chapters, ... like you, I can scarcely wait, .... what will or will not occur? ... I still think Tom Walker will break jail at some point, ... Will Anna go with him? .... ;-) TTFN

.148: Alright now, the crew has upgraded the power cores, the shields, and fixed the nauseating wormhole generator, and we also see upgrades to the Raptor 2.0 and to the Mech (Valkyrie) and all of the 'girls' practicing for combat with (the enemy) Thrall armies, and Dana is designing new and improved small arms, ... Also, the requestioned Laranthyran fleets are on their way, but will they get here (Kythshara - in the purple Loralar nebula) in time? So much and so many maybes for Tef to answer in the next few chapters, ... like you, I can scarcely wait, .... what will or will not occur? ... I still think Tom Walker will break jail at some point, ... Will Anna go with him? .... ;-) TTFN

Anonymous
>>99555029

Usually right there with you, but I am starting to like the other Progenitor - not as much of an "Asshat" as he was originally, the shroud really does make a difference!

Michael56Smith
>>99555029

.150: .... and then a declawed and neutered 'Kal' gets to play with his little boat, singing his boat song, .... as he gets to live out his life under the shroud, .... but will his former Matriarch, Valeria, stick around? Or will she bash his weakened face in? and will this be another Empire for Baen'thelas to take over? and might he use the Galkiran fleets to deal with the fishy Brimorians, freeing the Abandoned, .... And THAT is how you recycle an Asshat, .... you give him a toy to play with, ... ;-) TTFN

Anonymous

Can't really nail down what I'm thinking, but the gist of it is that the story's gone a little off the rails. Just finished 160 and noticed how much of it seemed to be the same ol' thing, more boinking and emotional stuff, the ol' pair-bonding and lovey-dovey banter. Then that was interrupted by the trial which has just enough screen time to cut the flow of the main narrative. The fight scenes weren't very enthralling because the flow was broken by jumping around. And, tbh, there's no real heat there since they can bop in, destroy some ships and be gone before the enemy knows it. Without the chance of being destroyed or damaged or captured, the whole thing kind of feels kind of lackluster. Maybe it's too many moving parts? How do you have a dozen ambushes that are successful but still keep the suspense going so the reader feels like there might be a chance that something bad does happen? How do you build up empathy for a soldier being framed when that story arc gets so little screen time and it's already known that he's innocent and the only question is how the Lion is going to save the poor sap?

Michael56Smith (edited)

Comment edits

2023-03-30 07:17:21 .152: yes, Ferrum1, those are some quite valid points, ... but remember our author and his infamous Tefler Twist to a story, ... so, we will very likely be surprised by a thing or two at some point, ... it has just been so frustrating to wait and wait for Tef's surprises, ... -- and speaking of many moving parts: ... while an organic Faye will be an extremely wonderful addition, ... I, however, think there is still a very strong need for a powerful and compassionate AI to help fight the good fight alongside the Lion, ... searching through Kythshara, and Mael's lab might yield some high-end data processing results, and that's if Irillith doesn't already have all or most of what they need from her let's rebuild-our-Faye notes, ... And I'll wait to worry about Tom Walker until after he breaks out of jail, ... And I am still waiting on Dana to design an advanced / ultra powerful auxiliary vessel for the Invictus, like that wished for dreadnought destroying destroyer, with runic penetrator shells for its Quantum Flux Cannon, and other goodies, ... but then, they are scarcely keeping up the improvements to the Raptor and the Valkyrie, (come on Star Forges), ... the Grand Engineering Overlord has been working her sexy ass off for some time now, ... maybe John needs to recruit another sexy chief engineer (for the destroyer?), ... and whatever happened to the idea of finding and reviving some of the 'dead' Nymphs? they should have had a few leads that Lynette can follow up on, ... maybe some aging ex-servant recalling where one was buried decades ago by a previous employer, (Jon is still offering a half million reward for such info), ... So, there's lots of new (non-Walker) directions to take the story, ... and what mischief have Rahn'hagon and Jessica been up to? ... ;-) TTFN
2023-03-21 22:58:35 .152: yes, Ferrum1, those are some quite valid points, ... but remember our author and his infamous Tefler Twist to a story, ... so, we will very likely be surprised by a thing or two at some point, ... it has just been so frustrating to wait and wait for Tef's surprises, ... -- and speaking of many moving parts: ... while an organic Faye will be an extremely wonderful addition, ... I, however, think there is still a very strong need for a powerful and compassionate AI to help fight the good fight alongside the Lion, ... searching through Kythshara, and Mael's lab might yield some high-end data processing results, and that's if Irillith doesn't already have all or most of what they need from her let's rebuild-our-Faye notes, ... And I'll wait to worry about Tom Walker until after he breaks out of jail, ... And I am still waiting on Dana to design an advanced / ultra powerful auxiliary vessel for the Invictus, like that wished for dreadnought destroying destroyer, with runic penetrator shells for its Quantum Flux Cannon, and other goodies, ... but then, they are scarcely keeping up the improvements to the Raptor and the Valkyrie, (come on Star Forges), ... the Grand Engineering Overlord has been working her sexy ass off for some time now, Refer to DECA (Dana Enhanced Crystal Alyssum), ... maybe John needs to recruit another sexy chief engineer (for the destroyer?), ... and whatever happened to the idea of finding and reviving some of the 'dead' Nymphs? they should have had a few leads that Lynette can follow up on, ... maybe some aging ex-servant recalling where one was buried decades ago by a previous employer, (Jon is still offering a half million reward for such info), ... So, there's lots of new (non-Walker) directions to take the story, ... and what mischief have Rahn'hagon and Jessica been up to? ... ;-) TTFN
>>103873973

.152: yes, Ferrum1, those are some quite valid points, ... but remember our author and his infamous Tefler Twist to a story, ... so, we will very likely be surprised by a thing or two at some point, ... it has just been so frustrating to wait and wait for Tef's surprises, ... -- and speaking of many moving parts: ... while an organic Faye will be an extremely wonderful addition, ... I, however, think there is still a very strong need for a powerful and compassionate AI to help fight the good fight alongside the Lion, ... searching through Kythshara, and Mael's lab might yield some high-end data processing results, and that's if Irillith doesn't already have all or most of what they need from her let's rebuild-our-Faye notes, ... And I'll wait to worry about Tom Walker until after he breaks out of jail, ... And I am still waiting on Dana to design an advanced / ultra powerful auxiliary vessel for the Invictus, like that wished for dreadnought destroying destroyer, with runic penetrator shells for its Quantum Flux Cannon, and other goodies, ... but then, they are scarcely keeping up the improvements to the Raptor and the Valkyrie, (come on Star Forges), ... the Grand Engineering Overlord has been working her sexy ass off for some time now, Refer to DECA (Dana Enhanced Crystal Alyssum), ... maybe John needs to recruit another sexy chief engineer (for the destroyer?), ... and whatever happened to the idea of finding and reviving some of the 'dead' Nymphs? they should have had a few leads that Lynette can follow up on, ... maybe some aging ex-servant recalling where one was buried decades ago by a previous employer, (Jon is still offering a half million reward for such info), ... So, there's lots of new (non-Walker) directions to take the story, ... and what mischief have Rahn'hagon and Jessica been up to? ... ;-) TTFN

Jedi Khan

How does John plan on the Maliri capturing all those ships that have lost their engines? The crews are still there and the ships are still capable of putting up a fight. Either John is foolishly thinking the crews will become docile once GK is dead, or is subconsciously planning for the crews to not be a factor when the time comes.

Jedi Khan

Tefler, I just had a thought and correct me if I'm wrong. The engines that John and the crew are targeting on the thrall ships are the sublight engines, correct? Not the FTL drives? If I'm understanding the lore properly, the sublight engines have no bearing whatsoever on the ship's ability to go and travel in FTL, so all those thrall ships are still very much capable of FTL travel. What's preventing them from going into FTL and changing locations?

Steven

Wouldn't Calara & gun crews know the ships layout & vulnerable areas? Major damage to engines, engine compartments, engine areas, could easily affect many ship systems. So it wouldn't be out to the question FTL would also be damaged or at least offline.

Steven
>>98943943

If GK is killed wouldn't his thralls go into shock. Thralls are engineered to respond to Progenitors. Wouldn't he only have to visually contact their ships and Bob's your uncle? Or, All John would need to do is catch one and take "ownership" of them.

Jedi Khan
>>98943943

We don't know exactly what'll happen to the thralls when GK dies. We've only got two examples to work with so far: John and Larn. With John, when he cut the connection to his network, all the women felt it and were distraught. I doubt that'll be the case with GK as John's connection is much stronger than a normal Progenitor. With Larn, all his thralls died before he did. It might be possible for GK's thralls to become less openly hostile after GK's death, as we saw when John went to claim Larn's empire. That doesn't mean that GK's former thralls won't defend their ships against the Maliri though, even if John manages to claim another race. As we saw with what's-her-face, John's new matriarch, he'll have to feed all of the thralls in order to undo their instinctual aversion to other thrall races at a genetic level. That's not something that he can change just by feeding one thrall and expect it to filter through the network to the whole race.

AzureReader
>>98944176

A solid question. Tef did address that shortly after the first engines were destroyed. Something about not being able to establish a proper warp bubble or FTL profile or something with the engines destroyed. I tend to think that doesn’t make sense but then remember it’s all make believe. The real reason FTL doesn’t work with the engines destroyed is because the story needs it to work that way.

AzureReader
>>98946482

The engines seem less protected and more external to the hull in these ships. Blasting through the hull armor to something deeper inside would take more firepower, not be something a mine could do, and would undoubtably kill a lot of thralls which John is trying to avoid.

Michael56Smith
>>98943943

.134: We do NOT want that misogynistic Asshat, Gahl'kalgor, to die and then report back what he has learned while under the shroud to Xar'aziuth. Ole Kal just needs neutering and defanging, then be left to play with his boat (in the Lagoon?) ...and Jedi Master Khan, when you addressed 'what's her name', I think that you meant the Laranthyran Empress Auralei, ... -- Will the runeswords drain his powers? ... then Baen'thelas takes ownership, of the Galkirian thralls and Kal's former empire, so that those, stranded Galkirian ships won't be a problem, ... and John can then use those Galkirian war fleets to fillet the Brimorians and free the Abandoned, ... and somewhere around then, become aware of the railroading of Tom Walker, and his close relationship to Dana too, ... lots more threads to pluck, ... Happy New Year! ;-) TTFN

Tefler
>>98944176

Yeah, they're destroying the sublight engines rather than the Hyper-warp drives. The way a FTL drive works is to create a tight bubble around a ship, which lets it jump into hyper-warp. If the ship is shot to pieces and a mangled mess, then the hyper-warp bubble can't form because the ship profile is so out of whack. There are some ships which have lost their engines, but still are capable of hyper-warp travel. They are pretty much useless in combat though, as they have to rely solely on their retro-thrusters to rotate and can't move anywhere.

Michael56Smith

.125: ... with the astoundingly powerful Quantum Pistols, the horribly outdated state of the ships' firing range was once more brought into focus, .... Dana sorely needs to spend 10 minutes redesigning the place, and then the ships' Collective can fix it up in their spare time, ... that should make them happy, ... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith
>>98978096

.126: ... perhaps, they could leave the original firing range alone (useful for newbies and their early rifle training), and construct another one to safely handle all the new and vastly more powerful weapons using a combination of Mael's white CA and ultra-powerful force shields, plus a back wall opening out into space, with no walls / hull to protect; ... after all the Invictus is much larger than a 21st century aircraft carrier, so they should have plenty of room, ... ;-) TTFN

Steven
>>98978096

Good idea & reasonable, I'm hoping they'll get a decent break in the action to check out the Star Forges, revisit Valada's bunker (progressive DNA in her tomb), they may find all Mal's research. Even some on the Kyth’faren AND obviously work on Faye. So, just another day aboard the Invictus... the Light in the Darkness

Anonymous
>>98946482

Just curious anyone know what propels these larger than life engines or what propellant is use in the rcs jets...whatever it is I think they are akin to the never empty six shooters in a western shoot em up where the bad guy is always caught and the women are beautiful beyond description...

2ndAndrocentric
>>98946482

Azure is correct, but it has been clearly stated many times that the reason the FTL is disabled is that extensive damage to the hull of a ship prevents it from "forming a cohesive FTL bubble". TThis first was noted when Calara slowed the Brimorian invasion of Kinta and also restated recently. No need to aim for the FTL if it becomes useless with extensive engine damage. See essentially the same explanation by Tefler above, and more importantly by me. Because I need a mirror to admire myself by.

2ndAndrocentric
>>98946482

I THINK it is hydrogen, as the fuel is mined from gas giants. I suppose that the power cores which seem to be fusion reactors use helium. It is possible, for example, that either element is ionized by stripping electrons and then accelerated in what is called an "ion drive"; however that is speculation on my part. I suppose to keep electrical neutrality the electrons could be also accelerated separately and the visible orange "flame" be fluorescense from the electrons resuming "orbital paths" with the protons. Yes, I am aware that we're not talking Newtonian orbitals here, which is why I used "" to write orbital paths.

2ndAndrocentric
>>98946482

The horse will run out of oats, but the fans never run out of wank. I can well imagine Tefler, who probably intended to write some short trashy belly filling crap on Literotica years ago facepalming at the intesity of fan wanking this story has produced. Like his whole freaking life is being taken over by some one off musing daydream.

2ndAndrocentric
>>98978096

The easiest fix would be to set up a shield emitter before the target that can be varied in strength from zip to zillion. No, actually the easiest fix for Tefler would be to inherit a billion pounds because he is found to be the secret child of some dead British Royalty, not write another word, and disappear from the web without an apology. Alternatively, to sell his story to some fifth wave feminist who, I am certain, will write far better than him; because Dr Who became Dr What? I am such an evil troll, aint I?

Tefler Fan 007
>>98978096

The range itself is ok, it’s the the back stop that needs to be redesigned. Maybe they should put some forged armor plates at the end ( they can make 2m plate with white forge). Then on top of that add 35 shaped CA. This would allow easy repairs on outer layer unless Dana creates some sort of super gun then the forged plate wouldn’t need to be touched. She could also add some gravity dampening devices to slow the rounds down before they hit the plates. Or she could add a small Dreadnought quality shield at end of the range.

Michael56Smith
>>98978096

.137: ... now are you striving to out design our Grand Engineering Overlord? I think that we should just leave it to Dana (and Tef), ... ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.138: Faye! ... she'll be returning / reanimated sometime after all of the Galkirian invasion is cleaned up? and any other delays that Tef can throw up to prevent our reunion with our perfectly precocious purple pixie, ... John (with his incredible helpers) needs to venture through the deadly Astral in search of a spark of consciousness to animate Faye's new body, .... Rachel and Irillith (Creator again!) will be ready soon, ... then after the Spark, little Daphne will get her mom back, .... sob, blubber, tears, ... ;-) TTFN

Aldo

Actually.....I really liked the ch157 till 159 ....I had banked up some chapters so reading them in one go gave me quite some satisfaction...Tefler is imo a hugely talented writer... Being a patron for not that long, I have still spend less than I would have buying a hard-cover version of any book (I always do that for collect-able series)...and I gladly continue to be his patron for now....As any writer of talent Tefler deserves to get paid... And well paid he is....all he needs to do is stop the overpromise-under deliver cycle and all is well in the TSM universe....

AzureReader
>>98943943

Michael does have a point about Gahl’ reporting back to Xar’. It would be better if John finds a way to cut Gahl’s psychic connection to his thralls, take away some memories, and lock the evil part of his progenitor mind in a psychic box like John did with his guide. Furthermore, if defeated I’m sure Gahl’ would choose life to avoid the bill that comes due for selling his soul to Xar’. Tefler does seem to be developing Gahl’s character in non-evil dimensions now that he’s under the Shroud. He’s singing childhood fishing songs, getting all emotional about his mommy, finding that he doesn’t take pleasure in hurting his matriarch. He already seems a lot more likable than Larn’ who was experiencing some changes also. Why is Tef developing sympathy for Gahl’? Character development could simply be to make Gahl’ more relatable. Or be the groundwork for expanding the sympathy John has for thralls being unwitting pawns, to progenitors being pawns in Xar’s game. Both Mael’ and Rahn’ did redeem themselves to some degree under the protection of the Shroud. But progenitors will have to die to pay for their sins in some sense… perhaps like how several Malari matriarchs have died in mind, if not body, and given new personalities. I would not mind if Gahl’ lived out his days as a simple minded fisherman singing songs he learned as a child.

Michael56Smith
>>99121322

.142: Hey Aldo, welcome to the crazy 28th century world of Harems and space battles, ... you are in the right place, ... And Tef's TSM universe is doing well, Dana is whipping out new and improved weapons and gear at an incredible rate, John is using the purified Soul Forge component to build the Grand Engineering Overlord lots of new goodies, .... ole Progenitor John Blake, the Lion of the Federation, the Great Protector (Trankaran Republic), and the Maliri and the Laranthyran's Baen'thelas, ... I am wondering if the Galkirians will call him Baen'thelas too? This tale has a huge cast of characters, is spread out across the galaxy, as well as other Dimensions, he has populated many worlds, and created empires, federations, and many, many alien societies, for the Invictus crew to play in, ... Tef just might have snatched his poor old head bald by now keeping it all straight, ... it is a somewhat controlled mad house, please enjoy it, ... ;-) TTFN (that's Ta Ta For Now)

Michael56Smith

.143: Yeah, ... so, when at the conclusion to the Galkirian invasion, I would expect ole Gahl'kalgor to be alive, but much reduced in his knowledge and psychic power, he'd be left to sing his songs and play with his boat, ... and who might he have with him? his Gladitoria-Matriarch, Valeria? or the Delsantra (his foster Mommy) look alike, Ashryn? or a team of nannies and teachers (Terrans? or Maliri?) to guide him as he grows up again (but not so mean this time), they might set up a neo-Progenitor Day Care for all the dozens of other Progenitors that John must take out, ... and Pappa Rahn will be so very proud of his boy, but very confused and surprised, ... ;-) TTFN

2ndAndrocentric
>>98944176

Tefler had written that very clearly not only into this chapter, but also back when the Brimorians invaded the Kintark. I am referring to Tefler's answer here.

Michael56Smith

.145: .... and will they get around to building and installing the 'fix' to the Wormhole Generator? John and Dana (and Tef) are on an upgrade roll, ... considering that they are up against an Asshat Progenitor and his multiple fleets, they need to be at their best, ... and Calara is turning a weakness (unprotected fleet data over regular comm channels) into a trap for the invasion fleets, ... ya just gotta love it! ;-) TTFN

2ndAndrocentric
>>98943943

Jedi you're wrong. ALL of Larn's thralls died. Aurelei and all that were left were not yet enthralled, as in bonded, but merely part of a claimed thrall race. As a result how John's girls reacted when Progenitor John and later John cut the bond is more indicative of how actual thralls would react. If you remember, when John cut the bond there was still that part which caused thralls to go into panic at the mere thought of the Progenitor dying. There's a difference between being a member of a claimed thrall race, and an actual thrall.

Anonymous
>>98943943

Idk if they would go into shock, Unfortunately we can't really base any speculation off of Larn's thralls bc the only women who survived his fight with John were the ones that hadn't gone through the allegiance ceremony and thus were not linked to his network. What we do know is that when a Progenitor dies, their thrall race essentially reverts back to its "Unclaimed" status. At this point, it should be a simple matter of contacting the marooned Galkirian ships either by comms or boarding. Since they would be unclaimed they would shouldn't be under compulsion to attack John and his crew