Three Square Meals Ch. 115

"Holy fuck!" she shrieked as he hilted himself inside her, the hot throbbing shaft deep in her belly.

"Now, my wilful little vixen," John said, gently cradling her head in his hand. "I'm going to make love to that spectacular ass of yours and watch your beautiful face as you come for me over and over again. We've got two hours until we arrive at Menganus IV, so I'm all yours until then..."

"Oh, John..." she murmured with a breathy sigh, her eyes softening.

He gave her a tender kiss as he began to move, sliding out a couple of inches, then sheathing himself in her clutching depths. "Shh now, gorgeous. Just relax and enjoy... this is all for you."

She bit her lip and slowly nodded, gazing up at him with nothing but love in her eyes.

***

Fleet Commander Lilyana watched her flotilla of golden-hulled spacecraft crossing the Sector Map, the three-dimensional models inching closing to Dun Gerluhr. The sleek Maliri vessels were actually surging through hyper-warp at almost impossible speed, but that was lost on the map due to the vast scale of space. Almost at their destination, she saw a flood of sensor contacts appear in the system and quickly changed to the System Map.

"Multiple contacts, all Kirrix," the Galaena Serine's tactical officer informed her.

The spacecraft were all clustered around Dun Gerluhr, where a formation of what could only be capital ships assuming a defensive formation over the besieged planet.

Almari stepped closer to the Maliri Fleet Commander. "Warden Brokurlun reported that these Kirrix were firing on each other. Are the victors of that battle releasing the Trankarans they captured or abducting more?"

Lilyana considered that for a moment, then glanced over at her navigator. "We need to get within scanning range of the Kirrix forces; I want an active scan to confirm their intentions."

The golden-armoured Maliri nodded respectfully and she plotted a flight path from the edge of the system towards the fourth planet. Dun Gerluhr was a volcanic world, the surface a striking mix of dark volcanic plateaus and glowing molten lakes. Surrounded by a thick disc of rings, the black and orange planet naturally drew a viewer's attention on the System Map, standing out in comparison to the other five planetary bodies that were grey featureless rocks.

The minutes ticked by and the leading edge of the Maliri flotilla reached the system, dropping out of hyper-warp and immediately moving into position. The rest of the fleet spread out into an aggressive attack formation that was spearheaded by the trio of Shandrass class battleships and flanked by the cruiser squadrons. The three Sylmenor class heavy carriers lingered near the rear, their launch tubes flaring with light as squadrons of Nievath interceptors rocketed into space.

"Eight drone carriers in high orbit," the tactical officer informed her commander as their sensors began to supply more detailed information about the enemy vessels. "Hive ships have landed on the planet's surface."

"Bring us in for a closer look," Lilyana ordered her helmswoman.

The second assassin pointed to the System Map a short distance from Dun Gerluhr, the area strewn with a wide field of debris. "The site of the battle?"

Lilyana made a gesture with her hands and that section of the map expanded, providing them with a zoomed-in view. She counted a dozen drone carriers smashed beyond repair, the ochre vessels obliterated in a point-blank bloodbath that must have been a truly terrifying sight. Surrounding that massacre were hundreds of shattered drone fighters, the strike craft gunned down in a raging dogfight. Near the outskirts of the battle were largely-intact but crippled hive ships and it appeared their engines had been blown apart as they tried to flee.

"We would have sustained significant losses engaging a force of this magnitude..." the Fleet Commander said quietly, her aquamarine eyes studying the remnants of the massive Kirrix fleet.

Ilyana turned and smiled at Almari. "Perhaps your reverence for Baen'thelas should be more appropriately focused on Alyssa?"

Almari gave her a coy smile, but chose not to reply.

"They've spotted us... and they're launching drone craft," the tactical officer called out in warning.

Lilyana shared a troubled look with the assassins, then shifted focus on the map once more, centring it on Dun Gerluhr. Opening up the fleet interface, she ordered, "All vessels, hold fire unless fired upon."

The Maliri engineer turned in her chair. "Fleet Commander, we'll have to fly through the blockade to scan the hive ships."

Almari tilted her head to one side, then made eye-contact with Lilyana. "Edraele wishes to remind you that we must preserve our forces at all costs. Initiating a battle at close range is... inadvisable."

Lilyana sat in her Command Chair and drummed her fingers on the armrest. "As much as I'd love to pre-emptively exterminate those parasites, the Kirrix might not be aware that we're allied to Baen'thelas. I'd rather not put the Trankaran colonists at risk unless absolutely necessary." Activating the fleet interface again, she said curtly, "Send a strike craft wing to scout the Kirrix landing sites on the planet."

A trio of Nievath interceptors peeled away from the squadrons protecting the capital ships, the nimble strike craft rushing towards the planet. Lilyana found herself holding her breath as the golden-hulled ships closed within range of the Kirrix big guns, waiting for a barrage of deadly neutron beams to obliterate the interceptors. The seconds ticked by without response from the drone carriers, but the real proof would be when the Maliri ships reached the overlapping fields of fire from their neutron gun defence grids.

The drone fighters swirled around them but maintained a cautious distance, avoiding any chance of accidental collisions. When they passed unmolested through the blockade, all the Maliri relaxed on the Bridge, realising that the immediate danger was over. A minute later, a holographic image of one of the interceptor pilots appeared before them.

"Fleet Commander, they're releasing the Trankaran prisoners," the pilot informed them with a smile. "We buzzed three landing sites... many thousands of civilians have already been freed; their release was not triggered by our presence in the system."

"Excellent. Return to your carriers," Lilyana replied with a grateful nod. Opening the fleet interface, she continued, "All vessels withdraw and prepare for a jump to hyper-warp. We will be setting course for Theg Haldrim." Turning to the pair of assassins, she smiled as she concluded, "Please ask Queen Edraele to inform Niskera that Dun Gerluhr has been liberated and the citizens require treatment for infestation."

Inclining her head politely, Ilyana passed on the message to their matriarch, while Almari stepped closer and brushed her fingers across the back of the Fleet Commander's hand.

*Very well done, Lilyana,* Edraele said, her voice radiating approval. *Your compassion for the Trankaran civilians is duly noted... and will be remembered.*

Lilyana blushed at the earnest praise and shared a shy smile with the assassin.

***

Jade slipped off the bed, and gave John a fleeting kiss on the cheek. "I'll be in the cockpit."

"Thanks, honey," he said gratefully, watching her saunter out of the cabin.

Turning his attention back to the dozing Maliri twins, he reached out to gently caress their cum-filled stomachs. The sight of those azure bellies swollen up like that was incredibly arousing, fulfilling an instinctive, primal urge to see fertile Maliri girls in a state of impending motherhood. John imagined what it was going to be like seeing Irillith, Tashana, and Edraele in that condition on a daily basis and couldn't help smiling.

*Don't forget the Young Matriarchs and the assassins,* Edraele purred, enjoying his erotic thoughts. *If the sight of all of us gravid with your progeny becomes too much, I can happily supply you with an endless stream of deserving young maidens who would be delighted to help you... relieve the pressure.*

*You're getting as bad as Jade and Alyssa,* John replied with amusement.

*Ah, but the difference is, I already have the resources to make it happen...* she teased him. *Beautiful, nubile resources, who would be so very grateful for a chance to be with the mighty Baen'thelas...*

He swallowed at the thought of that enticing offer, which would satisfy one of his basest urges... and most compelling fantasies. *You're making being good, very difficult, you naughty girl.*

Edraele's carefree laughter echoed through his mind, bringing a smile to his face.

Irillith's long eyelashes lifted as she was awakened by his touch and she gave him a sleepy smile. "Mmm, you were magnificent..."

"So were you, beautiful," he replied, leaning over to kiss her cheek. "Sorry I woke you."

"You're forgiven," she replied, sighing contentedly as he stroked her. Irillith shifted on the bed, moving even closer to Tashana so their rounded tummies were touching, then fell asleep in her sister's arms.

John left the two exhausted girls to sleep, then stepped into the shower to clean himself up. While the bathroom facilities aboard the Raptor were adequate for a vessel for this size, he couldn't help missing his palatial shower about the Invictus. That reminded him of Alyssa's promise that he'd never have to shower alone, but he gave her a pass this time, thoroughly sated after several hours of intimacy with the twins.

*Everything going okay back there?* he asked his blonde matriarch. *I haven't heard a peep out of you for nearly four hours... isn't that some kind of record?*

*Sorry, handsome,* the blonde replied, sounding flustered and distracted. *I've been a bit preoccupied...*

He paused mid-soak. *What are you up to?*

*My elbow?* she replied with a lusty giggle.

John frowned in confusion, then shrugged and resumed his shower. *I might have guessed you'd be getting up to mischief. Have fun, I'll chat to you later.*

*Okay, will do!*

He chuckled to himself and turned off the water jets, then padded out to towel himself dry. After dressing and one last look at his delectable bedmates, he left the cabin and headed along the corridor to the cockpit. The relatively cramped confines of the gunship reminded him of his lonely existence as a trader aboard the Fool's Gold and that jaunt down memory lane gave him a new appreciation for all the people he had in his life now.

"Hey!" Jade protested when he joined her in the cockpit. "You're wearing clothes!"

"My mistake, I thought it was clothing optional, not mandatory nudity," he said with a smile. Leaning over, he greeted her with a tender, loving kiss, before taking a seat in the co-pilot's chair.

She gave him a giddy smile. "Alright, you're forgiven."

John tapped a button on his console bringing up the Sector Map. "Not long until we reach Menganus IV."

"Just a few minutes," the Nymph agreed, bringing up the System Map as well. "We should start picking up contacts on the long-range sensors soon."

He nodded, studying the arid light-brown planet. "If we don't pick up any ships, I'd still like to do a scan of the settlements for life signs. It'll only take a couple of minutes, so we might as well do a thorough job."

"You don't think there'll be anyone there, do you?" Jade asked, studying him curiously. "You wouldn't have reduced the twins to a blissful state of oblivion if you thought there was any chance of combat."

"Menganus IV was hit first," he replied, staring at the map. "Those poor bastards never had a chance, not this close to the border. I think the Kirrix will be long gone..."

She nodded thoughtfully. "And the likelihood we'll be able to track down the fleet?"

He grimaced and gave her a helpless shrug.

"It's not too late yet," Jade said with a sunny smile.

John laughed and squeezed her hand. "Not much gets you down, does it?"

She pretended to frown. "There is something that's bothering me..."

"And what might that be, my lovely little Nymph?" he asked, listening attentively.

"You seem to be avoiding spending time with my sisters," she said, emerald eyes drinking in his features.

He blinked in surprise. "I didn't realise I was."

"We've had some fun orgies together and they loved it when you made them stronger... but to really shape their personalities, you'll need to devote some time alone with each of them," Jade carefully explained. "They're looking to you for guidance, Master... they want to please you."

"Wow, no pressure then," he said, with a strained smile.

Jade rose from her chair and slid onto his lap. "You've done it twice before... Edraele's one of the loveliest women I've ever met, and I might be biased, but I think you did quite a nice job on me too."

"That was more blind luck than skill," he said putting his arms around her trim waist. "And they're your sisters, Jade; I don't want to make any mistakes."

"They'll be wonderful and I'll love them with all my heart," she whispered in his ear.

He placed a hand on her chest and looked into those enchanting emerald eyes. "Your crystal heart has a lot of love to share."

She nuzzled into him and began to purr, the light vibrations strangely soothing.

"I promise I'll give them the time they deserve," John said, stroking her back. "We've got the trip to Arcadia coming up, then the journey back home to Maliri Space; that should give me a nice opportunity to really get to know each of them."

"I can't wait to see how they develop," she murmured, gazing at him in adoration. "It should be a fascinating insight into your personality, Master."

He smiled and shook his head. "I don't know about that, but if they're anything like you, I'll be a happy man."

She grinned at him, then glanced back at the holographic maps. "Oh! We're nearly there."

John helped her off his lap and she returned to the Pilot's chair. "No sign of any ships," he said, noting the absence of sensor contacts.

"Dropping out of hyper-warp in ten seconds," the Nymph said as she grasped the flight stick.

The Raptor arrived at the edge of the system, appearing in a flurry of blue tachyon particles. Twin Trankaran engines ramped up to full thrust and the gunship rocketed towards Menganus IV, making quick work of the distance to the planet.

"Starting a scan for life readings," John said as they reached the upper atmosphere.

Jade sat there quietly, studying the russet coloured flats between banks of scudding strato cirrus clouds.

The console emitted a quiet chime to let them know that the scan was complete and John let out a heavy sigh as he read the results. "Nothing... the three main settlements are completely deserted."

The Nymph's cat-like eyes flicked from John back to the dusty world. "This planet reminds me of Lenarra," she said softly.

"I thought Lenarra was a Terra-classification planet with lots of forests and plains?" John asked, reaching across to hold her hand.

"That's right, but I wasn't referring to its appearance. On both worlds a race of alien conquerors arrived and removed the entire population for their own sexual gratification," she said, lost in her memories. "I suppose the main difference is humanity isn't facing extinction at the hands of the Kirrix."

"I'm sorry, Jade," he said, standing and pulling her into his arms.

She traced his jawline with her index finger. "You did nothing wrong."

"But I am going to make it right," he said decisively. "We'll find a way to rebuild the Nymph population and make sure you have a place in the galaxy."

Jade gave him a loving kiss. "I'm very much looking forward to rebuilding our population too..."

They embraced for a long moment, then John turned to look at the Sector Map with the long snaking route Alyssa had plotted that would take them into Kirrix Space. "Okay, let's get clear of the gravity wells and jump to hyper warp. They've got a long head start on us."

The Nymph nodded, a gleam in her eyes. "Let the hunt begin..."