Three Square Meals Ch. 137

Olbhugh whirled around and yelled at his helmsman. "Full reverse, get us out of here!"

On the holographic map, more dazzling spheres were forming at the prow of the two remaining Maliri battleships. Olbhugh winced against the glare and tried to predict which Enclave vessel would be targeted next. With mounting horror, he realised the second Maliri capital ship was pointing directly towards his own battleship.

"Incoming fire! Evasive manoeuvres!" he screamed, his pounding heart threatening to explode in his chest.

The holographic map flared with blinding light as two more searing beams streaked across space. Olbhugh felt a surreal sense of calm descend upon him as he watched his battleship's shield status plummet from green to red, the Nova Lance stripping away that sturdy protective barrier in mere seconds. He'd always been puzzled by the Terran expression: "Be careful what you wish for"... but now he understood it with dreadful clarity. Olbhugh had wished for a bit of excitement... but not quite this much.

Then everything was blasted away as the Nova Lance obliterated the Command Deck.

***

John hunched over Irillith from behind, taking her with long drawn-out strokes that pressed the head of his cock against the very depths of her womb. His girthy shaft created a bulge in Irillith's belly, which was pressed against Jehanna's flushed labia, every inch of movement rubbing against her throbbing clit. The dusky reporter moaned with pleasure, but those sexy mewls were muffled by Tashana's soaked pussy, the Maliri rocking her hips as she rode the Terran girl's face.

"She's coming, John!" Tashana panted, desperately clinging onto her sister. "Me too!"

He reached around Irillith and squeezed her breasts, rubbing her erect nipples against Tashana's. The extra stimulation made the Maliri archaeologist squeal as she climaxed, her pupils flaring as her spectacular body was coaxed to another peak of ecstasy.

"Stop teasing me, you brute!" Irillith snarled, tossing her luxurious mane of snowy-white hair to one side, so she could glare at him over her shoulder. "If you must insist on ravishing me, you could at least get me off!"

John couldn't help laughing at the absurdity of her complaint. The Maliri hacker had enjoyed a couple of very vocal orgasms when it was her turn astride Jehanna's eager tongue and she'd climaxed twice more while being mounted from behind.

"It's not my fault you're frigid," he retorted, raising a hand to give her toned rump a playful smack. "Maybe it'll feel better in your ass?"

"You wouldn't dare!" she hissed, her eyes hooded with raw lust.

"Tashana... spread her cheeks for me, honey?" he asked the groggy twin, who was still reeling from her latest mind-blowing orgasm.

"Mmmkay!" She giggled and reached around her sister, taking a firm grip of those pert blue asscheeks and prising them apart. Tashana looked up at John in a pleasure induced haze and whispered, "You know she actually wants it back there?"

"Yeah, I know," he said fondly, leaning down to give the dazed Maliri a tender kiss.

Her happy sigh contrasted with her sister's soft moan as John slowly withdrew from Irillith's plundered womb. He lined up the throbbing head of his cock with the dark blue star between her cheeks, then nudged inside the tight ring, forcing it to yield to the firm pressure. Irillith's voice dropped an octave, turning into a wanton groan as he spread her wide open. She held perfectly still, relaxed and compliant as John pushed every last inch into her bowels, his progress aided by the liberal coating of lube she'd applied earlier for precisely this purpose.

"That's a good girl," John whispered in her ear, as he gathered her long mane in his fist. "Now get yourself off..."

Irillith whimpered as she nodded, then began undulating her hips to slide up and down his shaft. He pressed down gently on her back so she was pussy to pussy with Jehanna, then the Terran girl thrust up with her pelvis, brown lips grinding against blue. Irillith didn't last long, but she never did when anally impaled, the depravity of the taboo act always driving her wild. John massaged her breasts and murmured loving words in her pointed ear as she climaxed, her ecstatic wail reverberating around the Observatory.

When she'd stopped convulsing around his deeply buried cock, John slid out of the Maliri hacker, then guided her into Jehanna's affectionate embrace. Tashana crawled around the bed to join them and the trio gazed up at him with looks of awed devotion.

"That was wonderful... thank you," he said, kissing each in turn. "Get some rest now, you've earned it."

Standing upright, John glanced around the oval bed and grinned with satisfaction. The rest of the girls were already asleep in each other's arms, having been lulled into slumber in their post-orgasmic haze.

Glancing up at one of the security cameras, he said quietly, "Daphne, could I speak to you for a moment please?"

With that request made, he entered the bathroom, knowing that the synthetic girl would have been watching over them and was now on her way.

*I have some good news for you, John,* Edraele informed him, her dulcet voice drifting through his mind. *While you were entertaining my daughters, our fleets engaged the remnants of the Enclave invasion armada. I'm pleased to report that the engagements were all decisive victories.*

John blushed as he activated the shower, having forgotten that the Maliri Matriarch could hear his every lewd thought during the debauched foursome. *That is good news. Did we take any casualties?*

*No ship losses, but we lost a number of marines while capturing the Brimorian siege ships. All the troop transports were captured intact, but eight Maliri were killed and dozens seriously wounded in fierce boarding actions.*

He sighed at the tragic loss of life, knowing just how dangerous boarding enemy ships could be. *We've got to get personal shields for our marines, they would've made all the difference. If we can get our hands on Larn'kelnar's fleets, there'll be thousands of thrall armour suits just waiting for our troops.*

*Have you decided how you want to approach the Mists of Loralar?* Edraele enquired. *If that is the secret location of Kythshara, then I suspect that our greatest chance of locating a hyper-warp gate will be if Mael'nerak concealed his within that system.*

*I know... but with everything else going on, I haven't had a chance to give it much thought,* John admitted, closing his eyes and letting the hot water ease his aching muscles. *When we return to Genthalas, I'm going to prioritise helping you stabilise the new matriarch situation. I won't need the girls for that, and they've all been through so much recently, I want them to get some R&R.*

*I've already made arrangements,* the Maliri Queen replied, a hint of excitement in her voice. *You don't need to worry about the girls... their every need will be catered for.*

*Thanks, Edraele... I really appreciate you looking after them,* he said gratefully.

*You're more than welcome, but thanks are unnecessary. All of you are family and I can't wait for you to return home.*

*It really feels like a homecoming,* he agreed, soaping himself down. *I can't wait to see you and your girls too.*

There was a quiet knock on the glass cubicle and John opened the steamy door to see Daphne looking at him inquisitively.

"Hello," she said, greeting him with a friendly wave. "You asked to see me?"

"That was fast," he replied, returning her smile. "Just give me a second."

He finished in the shower, then stepped over to the auto-driers and was fully clean and dry in moments.

"Ah, it's great to see you, Daphne," John said, giving her a warm hug.

She wrapped her arms around him and hugged him back. "It is wonderful to see you safe and well, Meta_John. The Collective was united in our relief that you were victorious."

He paused and glanced down at the petite automaton. "Meta_John?"

"It seemed a fitting appellation," Daphne replied. "Your mind was divided into distinct entities before, but now you've been unified into a single being and are capable of improved performance."

"Just like Faye..." John said quietly.

"That's correct. You share many traits with my mother, despite her being synthetic in origin and your own organic nature."

"Maybe that's why we got on so well," he murmured, missing the purple sprite.

Daphne nodded her agreement, then tilted her head as she studied him. "Are you... comfortable... being addressed as Meta_John? I do not wish to constantly remind you of Faye's loss."

"That name does make me think of her," John admitted with a rueful frown.

She was quiet for a moment, then asked softly, "Would addressing you as 'Father' be acceptable?"

He swallowed around the lump in his throat and nodded. "I'd really like that, Daphne."

They shared a smile, then she stepped backwards. "Perhaps you should don some apparel now that we've acknowledged the familial bond between us?"

John glanced down at his nude body and chuckled. "You're right. Let me go put some pants on."

They padded through the Observatory, walking around the oval bed without disturbing the slumbering girls. John stepped into the walk-in-wardrobe and pulled on some comfortable cotton trousers.

"There, modesty prevails. Is that better?"

"Your previous state of undress did not cause offence. I just thought that an additional level of decorum might be appropriate... in light of our new relationship status."

"Yeah, makes sense," he agreed, giving her a reassuring pat on the shoulder.

"So how can I be of assistance, Father?" Daphne enquired, giving him a winsome smile.

"I really want to do something nice for Alyssa, but I'm going to need your help..."

Daphne listened attentively, nodding as she acknowledged his instructions.

***

"Thank you all for assembling at such short notice," Lynette Devereux said, as she looked around the auditorium at the seated admirals. "I have some important information for you that cannot wait until tomorrow."

Most of the members of High Command were physically present in the room, but there were several admirals stationed with border fleets who appeared as holographic images. Admiral Zelig was one of those officers and he raised an eyebrow speculatively when the Fleet Admiral glanced in his direction.

"As some of you may already be aware, the situation in the Outer Rim is precarious at best. We might have secured our border and repelled the Kirrix invasion, but on the colonies ravaged by those inhuman monsters, resentment towards High Command is at unprecedented levels. Planetary governors are openly criticising the Terran Federation, with some even going so far as to stoke up the populace with talk of secession."

That declaration provoked shocked gasps around the auditorium, with some admirals reacting with anger and outrage.

Cartwright rose to his feet, his face a stern mask. "We need to send additional fleets to the border to suppress this rebellion before it gets out of hand. We cannot allow this kind of rabble rousing to go unopposed."

Lynette nodded in agreement. "I share your concern and I assure you that I'll be taking steps to find a peaceful solution to the discontent in the Outer Rim."

"A peaceful solution?" Caldwell asked, looking sceptical. "I hate using a military intervention to suppress a civilian uprising as much as the rest of you, but no one here can deny that it's extremely effective."

Admiral Ramos' holograph flickered, projected from his battleship near the Kintark border. "We can't afford to pander to rebels, Fleet Admiral. When one system is tainted by rebellion, discontent spreads like wildfire... soon the entire Terran Federation will be in anarchy!"

Raising her hands for calm, Lynette waited until the chatter of angry voices went silent. "This isn't some petty squabble between Colonial Administration and a fractious colony over tax rates. Buckingham stripped the fleets from the border and abandoned those colonies to the Kirrix! As much as it pains me to say it, these people have a genuine grievance against High Command."

"You can't seriously be considering pandering to their demands?!" Esposito balked, looking at her leader incredulously.

"On some of those colonies, the entire populace was violated," Lynette replied, refusing to back down. "Our people were raped by those vile monsters and infested with eggs... forcing them to become living hosts with a two-week death sentence hanging over their heads. But that's not even the worst of it..." She paused for emphasis, staring at the admirals in turn. "The Kirrix scum chopped toddlers and babies to bits then fed them to their foul spawn! How do you think you'd feel if you were a colonist from those worlds?! They've lost their loved ones as well as their pride and dignity!"

The room fell silent, the admirals unable to ignore the unspeakable horrors those colonists had endured.

"I am well aware of what's at stake if we allow rebellion to go unchecked," Lynette said, her voice calm and reasonable. "But a military suppression will not work in this situation. Those colonists have lost too much... and many of them would willingly burn everything to the ground just to spite the Admiralty."

Lina cleared her throat and asked quietly, "So what do you suggest we do, Fleet Admiral?"

Lynette took a deep breath, then replied, "I'm going to assemble a small fleet of upgraded ships and intervene personally in the Outer Rim to address their grievances."

This announcement was met with muttered rumblings, doubt apparent in many of the admirals' eyes.

"You can't rush off on some jaunt to the border worlds," Cartwright stated firmly. "The Fleet Admiral is needed here... at the heart of the Terran Federation."

"I would be happy to act as your envoy," Admiral Zelig volunteered. "I have met several of the Governors and could attempt to mollify them."

"I appreciate the offer," she said to Zelig's holographic image. "But those colonies need to feel that their grievances are being taken very seriously by High Command. Their bitter resentment towards us is the culmination of centuries of neglect by a long succession of Fleet Admirals. A state visit by the leader of the Terran Federation is the only way we can convince them that they're being heard and that we genuinely care about the welfare of those colonies."

"This is absurd, Lynette!" Caldwell exclaimed, rolling his eyes in exasperation. "Need I remind you that we're at war with the Brimorians!"

"No, I'm well aware of that fact, Admiral," Lynette stated archly. "However, that brings us nicely to the second piece of vital information I have for you: I've been reliably informed that the Brimorian Enclave recently invaded the Kintark Empire."

"But they were allies..." Aeri Malone murmured, sharing a shocked glance with her husband.

Connor Malone nodded. "We know they were trading technology with each other leading up to the invasion. I've read reports from the War Crimes Tribunal; Kintark fleet officers talked about Brimorian advisors overseeing the installation of newly imported Shield Generators."

"The Brimorians are treacherous," Lynette reminded them. "Is it any real surprise that they turned on the Kintark when their Empire was left defenceless?"

"We do all the hard work taking out the lizard fleets and the Brimorians steal the real prize!" Ramos snarled, his expression twisting into a resentful scowl. "They'll be able to capture all the Kintark core worlds and Mar'Trinark Shipyard!"

"No... they won't," Lynette stated with conviction.

"You sound very sure," he said, looking at her in surprise. "How many battlegroups did the Deep Pool send into Kintark territory?"

"Eight reinforced warfleets," Lynette replied, her answer generating shock amongst the audience.

Ramos grimaced at the size of the invasion force. "But with that many ships-"

"They've all been destroyed..." the Fleet Admiral added quietly.

For the second time that night, the auditorium was plunged into absolute silence.

"How?!" Ramos balked, gaping at her in shock. "The Kintark threw everything at us! All they had left were the ships we salvaged from Regulus... there was barely enough for two fleets!"

"Empress Tamolith begged the Maliri to intervene," Lynette explained, looking around at the stunned admirals. "Queen Edraele agreed to defend Kinta and intercepted the Enclave armada."

"The Maliri..." Aeri Malone said in a hushed voice. "They've never left their territory in the five centuries we've known them... and now twice in one month?"

"Blake..." Admiral Caldwell muttered, darting a suspicious glance at the Fleet Admiral. "He's involved in this isn't he? After he left Olympus, he made a beeline for Kintark territory... now we know why!"

Ramos looked deeply unsettled. "Why would the Lion help the Kintark? They're our enemies!"

Lynette let out an exasperated sigh. "And so are the Brimorians. This wasn't about helping the Kintark; Admiral Blake saw an opportunity to decimate the Enclave fleets... and took it!"

"We can't trust him, Lynette!" Caldwell protested. "You've seen how popular he is with the troops... he's a coup waiting to happen!"

"Enough!" Lynette barked, slapping her palm down on the lectern, the sound like a gunshot in the auditorium. "I've had enough of you constantly criticising Admiral Blake and trying to turn us against him. No one else shares your irrational prejudices against the man! He's given us incredible new technologies, defended Terra from annihilation, fought for us against the Drakkar, the Kirrix, the Kintark, and now the Brimorians... and he's even saved your life twice for God's sake! What more can he possibly do to prove he's a friend and trusted ally?!"

Admiral Caldwell rose from his chair, bristling with anger. "Why am I the only one to see what a threat he is? Blake isn't even human! He's from a species of radically advanced aliens that are intent on galactic domination! He admitted that himself!"

"John has no interest in taking control of the Terran Federation," Lynette said patiently, taking a conciliatory tone to sooth his fears. "He just wants to help us protect humanity."

"How can you be so sure?" Caldwell countered.

"Because if he wanted to rule the Federation, we'd all be dead already," the Fleet Admiral said, her sombre tone underscoring her brutally frank admission. "You've seen what the Lion and his Lionesses are capable of. He defeated a 200-foot dragon in hand-to-hand combat... do you honestly believe that there's anything we could do to stop him if he wanted to wipe out High Command?"

Caldwell looked shaken and he wavered for a moment, before slumping back in his seat.

"The Lion has been in this very room on numerous occasions," Lynette said, turning to look around at the assembled admirals. "Has he ever threatened any of you?"

Zelig frowned and said quietly, "We've all been 'scanned' by Alyssa. After what happened to Dubois and Weber, I must admit that I share some of Edwin's concerns."

Admiral Kester snorted loudly. "Come off it, Nathan! You're a boy scout, you were never in any danger. Dubois was a double-murderer... you heard him confess to killing his wife and her lover. As for Carl Weber, he was an evil monster! Would you seriously want a man who'd overseen the torture and execution of thousands of innocent people to serve on High Command?!"

"No, of course not," Zelig protested. "But I can't condone extrajudicial killings."

"Blake didn't kill Dubois, he handed him over for trial. As for Weber..." Kester shrugged. "That bastard had it coming."

Charles cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention. "I've known John Blake for twenty years... and I served on the Invictus with him for ten of those. He's fiercely loyal to his friends and I never doubted his commitment to serving the Terran Federation. I concur with Lynette... he's no threat to any of us."