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Three Square Meals Ch. 152 (Patreon)

Published:
2022-06-01 02:16:58
Imported:
2026-06

Content

Hey everyone,

I hope you guys don't mind if I charge for this one in advance. I'll crack on with it as soon as I wrap up chapter 151. 

With the family issues last month, I had drastically reduced writing time, but it should be much more manageable in June.

Thanks,

Tefler

Comments

Roman Andrew Chalfant

No worries from me. Take care and keep em coming as you're able. We're all here for the same thing. To have a good life and enjoy this wonderful universe that's being created. All the best!!

Jeff

Ok, no problem with me, but I don't understand why you have to keep doing this. I don't mind paying at all, but multiple time stuff come up that you need money for and you change around pay schedules and chapters, you pull $9,000/ chapter at least minus the fee, either shorten the chapters and put 2 out per month instead of calling them one chapter, I'd rather pay twice than paying early for nothing or maybe you should look into getting a financial advisor

Droidmek

As someone who has dealt with elderly parents and in laws I understand the time it takes. You have never not given us something we have paid for either up front or as current. You tool the leap to make this your full time job for us and it is the least we can do is hold up our end of the agreement.

curious couple

While I do understand having things in life come up this has unfortunately an ongoing trend lately where you feel the need to charge in advance for one reason or another. I do love the story and world you have created but if this charging for placeholder chapters continues I will unfortunately be canceling my patronage while wishing you and you family all the best.

Evan

I’m fine with it, Tefler. Best wishes to you and the family.

Thomas Phillips

Mortgage payment due tomorrow? I do this trick where I don't spend all of my money from each paycheck so that when bills come I have some left over to pay them.

JPedro

No problem with me. All the best.

James St. Clair

You haven’t finished 151 yet, but are already charging for 152? Where does this end? Finish a chapter, charge for a chapter. It’s just not that difficult to grasp.

James St. Clair

Should you disagree, here are some helpful additions tout your revolving excuses list:

Tygre137

I am really unhappy with the way this apparently is becoming normal! I paid in advance for the roof issue, AFTER it was explained AND people had time to make a choice, now it's just "I hope you don't mind" with no time to suspend my payments till things are back on track if I wanted to, I hate not having the chance or choice.. One unhappy camper here.

Brian

Why did I think you weren't going to charge for an extra chapter this month? I must have been high!

Tony

No problem for me

James St. Clair

-My dog ate chapter 152. -My roof blew off again. -My dog got Covid. -My computer got a virus (Covid) - My Covid vaccine shot caused me to lose the use of my right arm.

Tony

For those that are complaining, it’s $1. Chill out. We get far more in value.

patreonpatreonpatreon

Lmao just make us pay more man and then you can justify a better upload schedule

Tygre137

It is possible to set the payment schedule for "Monthly" and "in advance" that would at least dampen the expectations / Disappointments of your community and be honest as well. IMO

darkuncle

+1 to Anthony; the value I get for any single chapter *far* exceeds what I'm donating. Do whatever you need to do to keep things running; your fans are here for the long haul.

Forbsey

For those who don't like Tefler charging us for a chapter yet to be released you are free to unsubscribe to him to make your point for a few months rather than complaining. Keeping the subscription basically tacitly implies that you aren't serious enough about it. Consequentially Tefler shouldn't care too much about you complaining then. I ask Tefler just to think carefully about you advancing payment for a product that doesn't exist yet. I have full confidence that you will deliver but others may not. P.S. I love your work and wondering whether there would be another pic coming?

Justin Goodman

Firstly, I hope that your family is okay. I am sharing some of the same concerns as some of the other patreons. Please give us the option to opt out of paying in advance as you have done in the past. I love the story you are weaving for us but this has become a repeated issue. I understand better than most how sometimes life just keeps dumping on you. But it isn't fair to your supporters to give no warning. I think that if this happens again, if you continue to fail on your promises with no updates for weeks at a time I will reduce my patronage. Then, if the situation continues, ultimately withdraw my support. I hope that life starts getting easier for you. But right now I think that a lot of us are feeling cheated.

Jarrod Lombardo (he-him)

Please just charge monthly, release chapters whenever you are ready (even if that's less than one chapter per month), and forget about the per chapter bs and writing these weird excuses posts.

travis btmb

do whatever works for you tefler and thank you for the chapter

John Gregory

I'm OK with it. I will say this... Just be careful not to get ahead of yourself, as you might find yourself in a position where you can't catch up. Then you may start loosing patrons.

Emma B

I agree with the other patrons. Give us the option to opt out of these advance payments. This has now become a regular feature. I joined up here to support you and read up on a great story, but this has gotten irritating now. I will be discontinuing my subscription now. Thank you

Emma B

That’s exactly my point. Btw, we would have already paid for 153 in advance before we get 152 which we have already paid for. Also, I just realised if I discontinue now , I won’t get tithe complete 151 and the 152 that I’ve already paid for.Nice way for tefler to ensure that we can’t leave without forgoing at least one payments worth of material.

Dave

Life is unpredictable. Happy to pay up. The story is worth it.

Troy S. Cash

I'm fine with it. Especially after 150 which was larger than any of the previous chapters except 100. Twice as large on average, more than that than when this all began. Larger than chapters 1 to 10 COMBINED! Close to 11-20 combined which is only a hair larger than 100 was. Altogether if their is any issue its that some people have forgotten how much more he's gives us per chapter than a few years ago. Personally when they began coming out less often with more words I just upped the amount I am paying per chapter to match his new posting rate. 151 is a hair below his recent average (say 101-149) right now but only a hair. Charged 4 separate times for 150 alone wouldn't have bothered me based on his long-term output. Based on the amount of average words 'normally' posted every 6 months since 100 we've already received June's amount of work. To date this year, we've gotten more than chapters 1-20 combined. And more than any set of 10 chapters before 100. More than any group of 5 since 100 (Post-100 is when the larger chapter size really kicked in).

IanBio

Tefler, you are now pulling in $100,000 per year from Patrons. With the dollar exchange rate that is £80,000. If that is not keeping you financially afloat with the normal 3 months living expenses in savings than you are really not managing your finances properly. You are in real danger of entering a downward spiral where you irritate your patrons so that some leave, that reduces your income so you irritate the remaining ones more and before you know it your adventure as a full time author is over. Get a grip man. You are heading for disaster, one excuse at a time.

Troy S. Cash

As I just said the chapter sizes have gone up which seems to be where some people haven't caught. Maybe you're newer followers who don't remember back when it was two posts a month and half the chapter size each. He seems to prefer the larger chapter size which like I said just made me jump up my Patronage to double my previous amount. I've seen writers walk away because of too much NOW NOW MORE MORE attitudes. Yes he just charged you but you can always get the chapters outside of Patreon. We're here to support the artist, personally I've given Tef more than any writer I've ever read except for David Weber. Actually, Tef is actually probably higher since Weber only gets part of the price of the book. I'm a patron of an number of people that probably don't need that anymore based on their popularity on Amazon. Another one has become iffy on that with a couple doing well but money from here is probably important. Then there are those that need it still but hopefully not soon and those that need it or their productivity would be drastically reduced. Frankly I don't know which Tef is not do I really care. He gives me a regular fix. Would I like more, of course! If a posting tomorrow saying he'd been in an accident and it would be 4 months before his hands would be in shape to type again I'd ask that he have someone post how he's doing once or twice a month and let myself be charged for that information so that when he came back he could type up those months of work that he had to have only in his head and gladly let him charge me as he posted. Enough soapbox, i really should go to sleep.

Tom Ray

I do mind... you make promises that you cannot keep. then you always have an excuse when you do not deliver... so no.... do not charge until the chapter is delivered.

Horny Rhino

Tefler my friend, I have a serious suggestion for you... Take June to finish Chapter 152, post it, then take some time to reorder your thoughts, notes, and plans for TSM... Then, and only then, should you start on Chapter 153, and you should only charge for Chapter 153 if you have finished, and can post it before the 25th. If not, then push it back to July, and take the monetary hit. I get that you're writing an epic space opera, but your quality, and reliability, are starting to tank due to the size of the chapters... This is coming from someone with 6+ years of customer service experience. Though your supporters range from "Yeah, this is fine." to "Nope, it's not okay." right now, if this trend continues, more and more will start to doubt you. Because no one likes to pay for something they do not have... Trust me on this Tefler, return to the original method... We'll all be happier to pay for smaller chapters that we can read, than prepaying for larger chapters we cannot read when we've paid for them, or are posted incomplete... Quality, not quantity Tefler...

Douglas Newberry

@Troy S.Cash and many others who have better things to do with their time than complain. Personally I really enjoy Tefler's work and I'm delighted he can earn a good living at it. I get well paid for my work as a physician and i put my heart and soul into doing the best job i can, and sometimes that means that my clinics run late. The patients almost always believe its a worthwhiile trade off, and our managers vary in how they view it. I applaud the excellent work Telfer does with his writing and encourage him to continue doing it with quality as he clearly has been doing. Best Wishes to you Telfer for creating a work life balance earlier in you life than i achieved.

CJ Mora

I love your work, Tefler; but your financial approach has me worried that you're going to dig yourself into a hole, in addition to eroding your support base. Eventually, when enough patrons have either quit or reduced their support amounts, you're going to be in a worse position, financially. I have 3 suggestions for you: 1. Consider dropping down your current chapter size to 1/2 or 1/3 of what it currently is. This will be the same size as chapters 9 or 10, and make it easier for you to consistently deliver 2 chapters a month. Regain the moral high ground and then you can address folks who only pay for 1 chapter. 2. Start publishing books again. You've easily got 10-15 books-worth of material out there, so that's easy money!! 3. Finally, get your financial house in order. If you were getting a paycheck from a job, your boss wouldn't pay you in advance for work you haven't done yet. Expecting your patrons to do so is a slap in the face. You're stressing me out over this. I'm here for the long-haul but I need to reduce my per-chapter sponsorship to reduce my risk and therefore lower my stress level. I suggest you do the same. "Please get your 'feces collated'."

Bp Hlpt

Thanks for the update, Tefler! I really love your work, and have been a vocal supporter and defender of yours, but I really, really hope you are somehow able to be extra productive for at least one month so you can please, please get out of this situation where you feel you need to have advance payments. For all of us, the amount is trivial, but it just feels wrong. Like most others, I'm committed to be here for the long haul, but if you were able to do this I'm sure it would improve the perception your patreons have of you, and perhaps their sponsorship level. I think I've seen somewhere that Patreon has a feature that allows "Tips"? (I can't find it at the moment.) [Or you might need to setup a tip-jar outside of Patreon with a link to it in your Patreon Bio?] If so, that might be a better way for us to give you extra money, and make us feel that we are rewarding you, rather than giving you a loan.

Teocynn

I am not okay with this. Charging in advance has switched from being something of an emergency response to an unexpected life event and now seems to be the norm. I love Tef's work and am not particularly bothered by the increasing time between chapters. But I have a problem with regularly being charged in advance.

2ndAndrocentric

It appears that at the beginning of 151 Auralei wakes up from a second feeding; given no thirst and still a belly bump. If I'm wrong, someone correct me. If I'm correct, it might be easier on readers to mention it was her second feeding. As to all the complaining, while the delays and precharges do not bother me; at this point I understand the complaints of others. Tefler is in fact in danger of losing a lot of people and creating much ill will.

AzureReader

One of the problems with being optimistic, normally an endearing trait, is that you over promise and under deliver. It’s just impossible for an optimistic person to believe that shit happens. Continuously. In reality if any of us gets through a whole month without some form of chaos striking it’s a miracle. The fact is that Tef turns out the chapters as fast as he can. And he does deliver. But he’s perpetually a chapter or two behind when we pay for them. No one is paying any more money than they would. No one is (eventually) getting any less product than they pay for. But the concept of paying for chapters not delivered is clearly driving people nuts. It feels wrong. But that wrongness is not perceived as wrong in other similar situations. There are many services and products, like kickstarters or pre-orders, where you pay now and get the product later. Patreon doesn’t sell its products that way though. I just wanted to point out that Tef is not ripping you off - he’s just using Patreon as if it’s a kickstarter system. I can’t ask anyone to not feel like this is wrong, but the wrongness is based on expectations for delivery time. If Patreon made it clear that it was normal to pre-pay for chapters we probably would without complaint. And we would still get the same number of chapters and pay the same amount.

Puttanegra Ficondo

It looks like the complexity of the story and the effort necessary for a chapter has gone up considerably. While charging per chapter is a laudable idea (we pay for what we get), it has the major drawback of generating an irregular income flow for you. You may want to consider moving to a monthly payment like most creators do. As you see from these comments, those venting their frustration are more disappointed with their expectation not being met than with the actual delay. You showed this trend pretty consistently of underestimating the effort and requiring last-minute heroics to make a date. When you can’t, there is the whole pre-billing discussion becoming necessary. If we were billed every month on the 1st, this whole discussion would be moot. We would still expect one chapter a month, but if you blew the deadline by a few days, no one would be out with pitchforks. Think about it. You seem to look for some income regularity, while we patrons look for predictability. Other creators have a set release day (e.g. Antiproton releases on the last Wednesday of the month). Maybe being more flexible on what a chapter is could get you out of this vicious cycle. In my personal case, I chose to reward handsomely your work and like the idea of “give coin see camel” of the current setup, but you are stretching it more often than not, in fact treating it as a monthly subscription anyway. Just call it such.

Toodles McGhee

I hope you're planning to have two chapters written this month, besides finishing last month's charged installment, or you'll be right back here pre-charging in 29 days - and it seems the natives are getting restless. With ADHD, I have to constantly battle my rationales to procrastinate - perhaps this reality check will assist you. If you need the money, you need to write. I have read and seen a lot of generous support in the past, but it feels that it's now being taken for granted, and that's not a feeling any of us like, generous or no. I agree it's more the perception than the burden that's an issue, but the perception has gone from helping a talented guy achieve his dreams and recognition to enduring a relative who's chronically "short a couple bucks" reaching into your wallet and helping himself.

Bill

I wouldn't pay for a monthly account. I also do not like the pre charges. Just deliver a complete chapter and then charge for it. No early charges.

MikeA

Hi Tefler – sorry to hear about your family problems. Thank you for a great story. This story has given you a new full time career and has the scope to continue to give you a very good income for years to come providing you keep your fans. As fans we commit to pay you x per chapter this gives you £76 000 per year (a fantastic salary) on one chapter a month, if you want or need more money deliver more chapters, if you want £150k a year deliver 2 chapters a month, how hard you work determines the amount of money you earn – that is life. Charging for chapters you have not delivered is really not right or ethical. In the early days chapters were round 50k words, round chapter 82 they dropped to 30k words, round chapter 144 they dropped to 20k words. I also get a sense of pressure work being done ie you drop chapters at the very last day of the month, which tells me perhaps your work /life balance or your priorities are not right. Quality and consistency are important even if you want to change your charging model. Please remember we are your fans, we are also the people who pay your salary, don’t take advantage of us.

KingDumple

I'm starting to feel used. Seems every month there is less concern on Tef's part for the promises he made not being fulfilled even as he falls further behind. When this started it was an emergency, then there were apologies and warnings, now it's just "hey I'm going to charge you for undelivered product at the last minute of the month because I have obligations even though I'm not fulfilling mine." We are now owed more than a full chapter. I get that the money amount is minimal but the principle is starting to overcome my initial willingness to help out, and I'm evidently not alone since the pledge total has dropped by 8% in the last two days.

Michael Johnson

Completely unsolicited advice, In a hole? Step 1 - stop digging. I'm self-employed and have been for the last 15 years. You are essentially a small business and your mind set has to be that the creative side provides income but there best be a pragmatic, hard-nosed side that watches the $$. It ain't easy, but it is necessary. (End of piling on rant)The $5 per chapter is obviously not going to affect my life one bit. My concern is more for a talented person that seems to be struggling because of digging a financial hole with no plan on how to stop digging. I hope you figure it out or have someone(s) you can look to for assistance.

Larry R. Clark

I`m a disabled combat vet, I get 1739.00 per month, I get by. This guy gets over 7,000.00 IF he can`t get by with that then he is living beyond his means, that his fault..not ours, if I got his money I could buy a new wheel chair every month. Larry ( two tours ,Viet Nam)

DB

I principle don’t mind precharging BUT it really just delays the problem because you need to write 2 chapters to get back on track. I recommend to separate work (billing chapters) from private spending and stick 100% to the pre-agreed terms. That should help the financials (=more sponsors) in the long term. I suggest friends, family and savings for short term financial problems, not business partners (=Patreon sponsors).

Harry Latham

I wasn’t happy the first time this happened. As a self-employed worker myself, if I don’t do the work I don’t get paid, and I am certainly earning less than Tefler each month. I’ve enjoyed the story since the beginning but if the next chapter isn’t out before the last minute of the month as it always seems to be then I’ll be cancelling the patreon. Surely this must be against the Patreon T&Cs? Perhaps learning to budget more responsibly, spending a bit less each month and building a cash buffer would help you ride out periods where you are less productive, most financial advisers suggest keeping 3 months’ worth of expenditure in cash savings…

Kelly Estes

To keep it steady and remove stress which is a creativity killer I personally wouldn't mind a new tier that is monthly. Say $3-4 a month. Not locked to a specific chapter but supporting the artist. This would keep my contributions steady and also remove (hopefully) some stress from Tefler. Keep the old tier so that people don't feel they are being forced either way.

Metheus108

Can you catch up the chapters we already paid for before charging for another? Its become time to do this.

Robert P. Heck

up my pledge, hope it help with your family issues.

Jason Budd

I for one love Tefler’s work and I hope he continues the story. But, I’m afraid I’m with the majority of the other patreons. I’d would prefer less story and a more consistent release and pay structure. The rest of us can’t request an extension like that paid. I understand that stuff happens. But the rest of us need to move through that and deliver. Hope all is well Tefler

MikeA

There are a lot of really nice people here offering to support Tefler, I am sorry but I don’t know Tefler. Since I have been a patron member he has not tried to build a rapport with us in fact his communication has been very poor. So the long and short of it is I am not here to help the guy out, I did not sign up for charity to help out some stranger. I have enough problems of my own to deal with. I am here to pay for a good story/ product not look after Tefler. I should also add I am underwhelmed by this last chapter. The next time this happens I will report Tefler to Pateron and will cut my losses and leave.

TF4EVA

Really looking forward to the end of 151 and 152 when they arrive. Do you think Nathan is dead? Why has Tom come back into the story? Will the John and Jade worm hole generator do something new and unexpected? How far out is the Maliri from taking posession of their new fleet?

Pete Pemberton

151 is mostly a complete regurgitation and repeat of every time a new girl is added. There is very little new information. Your promises, Mr. Tefler, of only charging forward once has grown into what, three? It’s not a lot of money for me, but it’s the principle, plus the quality of your writing has grown stagnant. With the amount of money you are receiving, this is starting to have the feel of a grift. I’m out, I will continue to follow for free, on SOL.

Alberto Lopez

I am sorry to say that this will be my last month here because it is already paid. I have enjoyed TSM for 5 years already and I understand that things happen in life that derail our plans but I also feel that there needs to be a certain level of accountability. During the past 5 years we have encountered computer issues, him sick, kids sick, wife sick, his toothaches, family vacations and even a small period that he took to refresh because he was feeling burnt out. I have seen members increase their pledge to help him quit his job and write full time. But lately it has changed to not only having delays but also asking to get paid in advance, numerous times. Chapter 151 was left incomplete, a couple of scenes needed to be added but here we are a couple of days later although you said that should be done yesterday and no finished chapter. Based on volume of output Chapter 152 will not be published this month although you already charged for it. We might get an incomplete Chapter 152 and a request to charge for 153 in advance because of [Insert Excuse Here}

Michael56Smith

.91: Wow, what bunch of bellyaching brats, ... this U.K. gentleman has produced an epic tale that has thousands so deeply interested in the next chapter that they comment/speculate/drool about what might come next, ... and you clowns are in complain mode, and are trying to tell this Author how to better do his job, ... walk a mile in his moccasins and then tell us how to better his well-received work, ... if you can, ... P.S.: I loved having a new chapter to read on my birthday, thanks Tef! ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.92: An Also, from Christopher Miller: Also, no matter what anybody says chapter 150 has the equivalent material of four regular chapters, so it's only fair since that 150.1, 150.2, 150.3 and 150.4 each cost the same as a regular sized chapter since they're each the size of one. Just because Tef decided that artistically chapter 150 needed to be a super-sized Big Mac doesn't mean that he is obligated to only charge for a kids' sized hamburger. Each part of 150 took the same energy and time to produce that a regular chapter took, so it's fair they each cost the same as a regular chapter. (And He did the combination of all those chapters / parts, into one on his own time at zero cost to us) :-)

Michael56Smith

.93: It looks to me as though Tefler has learned alot, albeit slowly, concerning going from a well-received Amateur writer to a more or less professional one. His learning curve has been influenced by his family of course, as he works from home. and with all the ups and downs, he has pushed through and given us Years (only weeks in TSM time) of this wonderful tale to enjoy, ... Tef seems to need a deadline to produce more quickly, that's fine, so cut him some slack, ... if you have been a follower for a time You should have figured this out, ... ;-) TTFN

TF4EVA

Given all the angst amongst some of our readership, real life intrusions and an AWOL muse imagine if our Grand Overlord of Space Opera decided to let the fat lady sing in 152. Can you imagine how over 23 pages the invictus and the captured fleet erupt into the Maliri and Gahl fleets battle - dying young matriarchs draped over their command chairs broken and bloodied, wrecks and bodies strewn across large tracts of space. Suddenly dana unleashes hell, illirith takes control of tormentors (or is that dementors?), dragons with rented wings spewing forth with their dying breath fire and brimstone. Finally with all options gone john and the crew have a quick orgy and board the dreaded nought to fight Gahl as we have all wanted, nay demanded. As john lies dying, his magical sword shattered, surrounded by his dead pride he calls out 'mommy' and dies his hand outstretched across time and space. Gahl bloodied but alive stands gloating - helene, no daphne, no Faye throws the switch on the new worm hole generator and history repeats. Roll end credits........ Just imagine how satified we readers will be knowing we will be able to save money and because we all know its better to burn out than to fade away....

Mihira

Given there's currently 111 posts on here, I haven't read them all and it's quite possibly already covered ground, but... By using per-item instead of monthly payment, you're essentially promising people that if your output dips, their pay dips. It's paying for the product, not paying to keep a favorite artist through thick and thin. Paying monthly on the other hand, to me, is putting the stake down that there might be ups and downs in content but the creator wants to make this a primary part of their life and so they can't have a rough week or month with writer's block make them, or their family, go hungry. I don't know how the patreon started out, but it's clear it's become the latter. And that's fine by me, but I think maybe it'd be better for all if it didn't continue to cling to trying to be the former.

Zachary Hoover

I absolutely love this story highly above all others,I supremely hope for another couple of years of more chapters:-)

Peter van Velzen

Dear Tefler, it is not acceptable to me for you to charge in advance. That is not what I signed up for and it is certainly not professional to do this multiple times. You are now supposed to be a professional writer, thats what we pay for. If you can't meet the schedule that you have proposed, promised and commited to, I suggest you publish on Amazon and I'll buy the books there as I have done in the past.

jdg45

Hi Tefler, As I have commented previously, and a majority agree, supplying part chapters and taking advances for nothing immediately is abysmal business practice! The money amounts for each patron are irrelevant. It's the ethics! Yes, I supported roof advances and also 20k chapters. But that is done. SO, IN PROTEST, I am cancelling my subscription. HOWEVER, I will renew when the promised May chapter, 153, is published. FURTHER, I will also increase my support to double to make up for the missed chapter payments. I love the story...

rich ed

In olden times a Patron would pay for an artist to produce work, so in the true sense of the word you are suppose to pay up first and wait for artist to produce. In this stupid me me me (I am offended, lol) world we live in this relationship has been flipped on it head. Have issues with this model? Stop being a patron. Easy as. Wait for the free stuff which will be available to you, just at a later date.

CJ Mora

Dear Mike (Tefler) - I get that you're struggling. Juggling family, finances and life is hard on anyone, artist, professional, or folks who "do a little of this and that". If you don't want the pressure of deadlines and expectations from the patrons who support you, then you should consider going back into the workforce as an employee. Take a break from writing. Clear your mind and rejuvenate your creativity. Get your mojo back. Enjoy the lack of expectations that an employer has. (That last one was tongue-in-cheek.) Especially for a job that matches the income potential you currently have, I'm sure those jobs fall off trees. Go back to writing part-time (or even take a hiatus) and get your mind back in order. Remember why you quit your job in the first place...or maybe remember why you were happier with one? But if you're going to make a living as an author, you gotta respect those who support you. We're not your employer but we're not doormats, either. (Well, maybe some of the supporters are...they're willing to pay you monthly even if you don't produce anything. But I'm not one of them.)

Anonymous Mouse

You’re making enough money to get a nanny and/or housekeeper to provide support at home so you can write. The golden goose (provider of a large income) must be protected (from time suck from stress etc), or everything falls apart.

Anonymous Mouse

Someone earlier said they’re cancelling until the promised chapters are released. Damn good idea that, as is reporting to Patreon that we’re being charged for something not provided.

FOEAI

Great work Tefler, I eagerly await the delivery of the next chapter, keep up the great story and try not to let the Veruca Salt types bother you too much. (She's the 'I want it now' brat from Willy Wonka)

Mojarra

Tef gets a lot of positive feedback here for his great writing, as he deserves. He is also getting a lot of negative feedback now for charging for “chapters” not delivered, as he deserves. I’m not going to rehash this feedback, instead just tell you how I’m responding. I’m reducing my “per chapter” patronage by half. If and when Tef catches up and is no longer pre-charging for chapters, I will return it to my previous full support. If he he falls further behind, I will cancel my patronage and wait for the rest of the Amazon books to be released, if they ever do.

Tom Ray

I mind if you charge now... I also see you lost membership for doing so....... charge when it is posted.. NOT before..

Sceptre

While I get the idea that the majority of people, who appear to be upset by this feel they have a valid complaint, there is a massive overreaction to this in general. It also seems like quite a few people are jumping on the bandwagon without really thinking this through. In this day and age, that seems to be one of our biggest problems; thinking things through. Let's look at this from a different perspective. I imagine when Tefler began writing TSM he sat down and, in what?, maybe a day or two, created most of chapter 1 if not all of it. Nothing to keep track of, no one to really share it with, just putting a thought or a dream he had on paper and seeing how it panned out. Then after reading and rereading it over and over, he felt compelled to share, and in a month, year, or who knows how much time later, he posted it to Stories Online, or Literotica. Thinking maybe he wanted to see what others think of it, and though it's a wild thought but, heh, people might even leave comments and feedback. They could say, "I love it!" or "Dude, don't quite your day job!". In any event, he pressed the post button and up the story went. I wasn't around to see it in those days so I really don't know how it got started. Here are the first 4 comments recorded on Literotica to the posting of Chapter 1 on December 20, 2015. There were 4,800+/- words in that chapter and it's been viewed, at time of me writing this, 416.8k times. Anonymous over 6 years ago GOOD START Looking forward to new installments wolf9696over 6 years ago Liked it will wait to read more SirCarlover 6 years ago Very well done. Well thought out, written, and presented. maddictover 6 years ago "That's a good girl, take me in nice and deep" I think I'm going to enjoy your story were of to a good start. I love good sci fi and wonder if anyone has tied on to star wars here on Lit. Well who dosent like their women to be nude, I do like a nice tan with or without tan lines, like I've ever seen that. What I do know is the pleasure of directing her down my cock when she says okay, just being average puts a lovely stain on their face. More power Scotty, I'm giving her all I've got. Jumping track entirely, I'd like to make a comparison. Let's use, for an example, the movie "Uncharted" that recently hit theatres. Keep in mind this movie isn't original content, it is based on the game Uncharted 4: A Thief's End. The game had 4 writers and 2 directors. The movie had 5 writers and 2 directors. The cost to make the movie was 120 million dollars. And with the cast, writers, directors, and some top notch actors/actresses, the movie was beautiful but, if you've seen it, you'll probably agree, it was predictable and seriously lacked depth. Curious to see, I watched the "making of" where I saw a board room full of people with white boards floor to ceiling, wall to wall, just to keep the production schedule, storyline, timeline and bagel shop deliver straight for that 116 minute movie. Back to TSM and we now fast forward 7 years from Tefler penning chapter 1; millions and millions of words later and we have a full blown space opera with hundreds of named characters and a story line that rivals some of the best content, and I might say, blows away (no pun intended) most of what's produced in todays movie industry. The skill set it took for Tefler to sit down and write up chapter 1 versus what it took to write chapter 150 don't look anything alike. I honestly can't imagine, and I bet you can't either, what it takes to keep this story from contradicting itself, doubling back over the same ground by mistake, making references to something that it either isn't time for or it's past time for. There must be journals, charts, graphs, timelines, maps, diagrams, white boards, and hopefully board rooms of multi-hued thralls and that Tefler is still up to the task of doing this is a little hard to wrap my mind around. A normal guy starts enjoying an afternoon hobby and it develops into a sustainable, viable, and realistic alternative career and he cuts loose and runs with it. We, Tefler included, are in such a rare position, that this story has continued at such a high level for all this time and I, for one, really want to have this entire story wrapped up and have it on my shelf so I can read and re-read it when I like. But that's not going to happen if we keep grumbling about how a deadline here or there was missed. Words have power and written words have still more. That we're all here as a community of TSM fans is evidence to that and as patrons, we're here to support and enjoy. In contrast, (stop reading if you're easily offended) I spend 15 dollars for my coffee and a breakfast sandwich every work morning of which there are 20 to 23 a month. That equates to a minimum of 300 dollars/month. It only takes 1 dollar a month to get access here on Patreon. A 1 dollar per chapter pledge gets your full access to the story and on top of that, you can set a monthly limit so if Tefler bangs out 3 chapters, you still only have to pay once, for a dollar. That's an amazing deal and should be done away with. In fact, a few things should change about this Patreon if you ask me (you didn't but I'm still gonna say). 1) The minimum should be $10 a chapter, we're paying for early access, not access, so if you want it first, prove it. If that's too much, just wait and it'll be out on Lit or SO soon. (ooo, he's leveraging his financial privilege, quick, cancel him!) 2) He should hide the number of patrons and the total donation amount from view, that may have been motivation for people at one point as we pushed him to where he could quit his day job, but it's become a club that the green-eyed use to bludgeon with and is quite frankly, non of our business. 3) He should turn off the ability for us to comment on the Patreon site. That's what Discord is for and there are moderators and dedicated channels for any sort of thought you'd like to share. These few changes would make a big difference in the mindset of the reader IMO. And who among us doesn't want less stress :)

IanBio

Tefler, I re read your story over the past month. I am sorry to say that your writing quality is declining over time. You are prioritising quantity (length) over quality (plot progression and engagement). I fear that there is a psychological factor at play, you have become dependent on TSM for your living and fear it coming to and end. So you string it out. The last chapter was almost devoid of meaningful content. You are going to fall off a cliff soon I fear, your patrons will move on, you income will fall and you enter a spiral of decline.

IanBio

Have confidence in yourself. Move the story forward with confidence that when it is finished it is not over. I wish you well, but I am seriously thinking of stopping my patronage and just waiting to see when the Amazon books come out. Waiting breathlessly for a month for a chapter that is a disappointment is not healthy for me.

Michael56Smith

.147: Not that I wish to see Tef's Patreons shrink, but I could really get behind losing a fair-sized number of these complainers. The folks that threaten to pull their support, but are back complaining the following month, might need to take a chill-pill or two, and just enjoy the story, ... I could stand to see them depart, but I'd hate to see it hurting Tefler. ;-) TTFN

Inksp0t

Too much drama, content isn’t what it used to be, now being charged for vapor ware. Fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, shame on me. I’ll check back in six months to a year to see if the story has progressed.

Amathew2

I support you Tefler, the people complaining have a right to their opinions but I choose to look at it like pre-ordering the next chapter. I pre-order games and books all the time, not much different.

TF4EVA

Nearly 5 days since Teflers news so hopefully those who have gone have gone, those who are going get going, those who want to say something but stay have said their bit so we can get on with thinking what is in or should be in 152. By now us stayers have read the ending to 151 and are happier but this means we have the next 3-4 weeks to think about where 152 will take us. Hopefully we get stripped back wall to wall planning and action, no Tom unless directly relating to this imminent threat, Rahn and Jess only if they offer some hope, orgy only if powering up, Allies involved only if beating up the bimorians and clearing the way and more cow bell!

2ndAndrocentric

I'm not happy with this one, but since Sceptre refuses to outdo me again, here goes the fup to Recalcitrant Restart. The setting is right after Valeria dies, Gal has surrendered, cut all his ties to the redskins and... Moment(s) with Matriarch(s), part 1 “Please just wait one moment.” John calmly said as he shut his eyes to contemplate the latest in a series of impossible situations where the fate of the galaxy hung on his choices. As he sat back in the Ready room chair on the Invictus. Gal had surrendered, cut himself off from the Galkarians, and now John was responsible for yet another empire that would be plunged into chaos as many of Gal’s thralls would descend into depression even suicide. John thoughts drifted to why he spent 13 years alone on the Fool’s Gold. He had wanted the adventure of military life. However, when so many died because of his decisions, it had become too much. For a few moments he wished he was back as a lone trader. The routine of simple tasks. Maintaining his ship spotless for months while awaiting the next deal. No one that he was responsible for. Maybe it was not too late to open a restaurant and start delivering pizzas again? Nah, I hate pizza! Alyssa nervously and irritated that her man was again shouldering more than any one person should. Edraele again felt wary. Maybe Auralei’s tits were bigger than hers after all. She had told John her relationship with Luna was enough, and that there was no reason to worry about not having enough time for the Maliri but… In the meantime Jade worried, frightened that her Master was disappointed in her. That he actually questioned her devotion to him! What had she done? If that weren’t enough, there was the confused new sub-matriarch Aurelei. Even though she was 29, she had never had the life experiences of the much younger Lionesses. Besides, how was a botanist student going to run a rapidly collapsing empire? How was John going to find the time to bring her up to speed? Now an entirely new chaotic empire had landed on him, the redskin thralls depressed, many committing suicide, and that empire now descending into disarray. There was not even a Matriach in training for them yet, and their history was far more vicious than Larn’s empire had been. Oh but then here were 2 Progenitors, Rahn and Gahl, in the ready room. If Aurelei was confused, John didn’t know what word to use for their state of mind. They did not even have a vocabulary for what he or any of the women in his network were. Which of course, led back to Alyssa. How do you even begin to explain Alyssa to these Progenitor beasts. Where John’s entirely peaceful if aimless life began to utterly go haywire, Alyssa. In a good way yes, but completely out of control. If he had known of the ancient Terran entertainment machine, John would have thought himself a pinball frantically bouncing between bumpers. He did not even have that image to put himself into a category. All he knew is that once again, it seemed the galaxy awaited his decision. After a deep breath with his eyes still closed and his mind centred John said “Girls, I am going to block everyone out of my mind for a little while. I am not concerned about this latest pandemonium. I have some pretty good ideas and I am going to bounce them off all of you, but I need to sort things out with each of you one on one.” He opened his eyes and continued. “What I am concerned about right now is the well being of the three of you.” As he pointedly locked eyes with Alyssa, sent Edraele a mental nudge and then Jade. “Nothing is more important to me than our family and with all this daily pressure and mayhem the first thing you girls need some time to remind you how much I love and respect each of you. So everyone out except Alyssa. She goes first.” “So all of us Matriarchs are going to get some private ‘talking to’ separately?” Alyssa chuckled with a laviscious attitude. “I know you’re a stud John, but won’t you need some recovery time between us?” “Alyssa, there’s more to sex than sex honey. All three of you need to be told once again that you each matter to me, and how you can feel safe in that. Now while everybody is clearing out, tell Irillith, Tashana and Jehanna on the bridge of the dreadnought Gahl has so generously donated, to jump near Gahl’s capital and restore some sort of order there, and to communicate to the other worlds to just hang on for a few days, so the infrastructure does not collapse. Tell them the twins they had better be really nice to those women or I will refuse to give them a spanking.” After everyone left, Alyssa began to disrobe. Shrugging his shoulders John said “Well, I really meant talking but I guess there’s no harm in a little body language.” So John dropped took off his clothes also. Alyssa pointed to the rapidly climbing erection, “Little? Well I’ll be a largath’s mate then!” “Honey, we are not going to have sex now.” Said John to a pouting Alyssa. “I know how nervous you are so I will let you wrap yourself around me for comfort. My mind is now open only to you.” Alyssa noted that she was not all that wet as she got on John, apprehension, unsure of herself. She slowly sank herself onto his reassuringly rock hard cock and soon enough her womb was filled with him. She shivered a little. There was so much pressure on John right now and she felt desperate not knowing how to help him. She also worried about what this new version of John was going to be like, wanting to mold herself to whatever he saw this new self to be. “There there my good little Kyth’faren princess reborn.” John whispered into her highly sensitive pointed ears, like his. “For once you’re the easiest of all to deal with. All I need to tell you is that you’re just fine the way you are. I just don’t want to cause problems for you because there’s some things going wrong with Edraele and Jade that I will be dealing with. I am concerned about your sudden apprehension. There’s nothing I want you to change and yes…I still owe you a favor.” John punctuated that with a slight swat to Alyssa’s ass, and that got her juices going. Alyssa pulled back and looked deep into John’s eyes. Very softly she said “I am so sorry my recruitment is causing so much trouble for you. I will handle it.” “No you will not handle this. I can feel the jealousy over my bond with Edraele, even the Twins, and I do not blame you for this. Not only was there no way for you to know, but the plain fact is that Aurelei and all her people are now my responsibility and claiming all of them was the only effective way to solve the problem. You keep what you break, and I certainly did a lot of breaking. You very much did the right thing, thank you for helping me again despite my bonehead reservations.” “But I can help you!” Alyssa shouted prompting John to put a his index finger to her lips. “I’m sure you could try, but this is something I need to do myself. How many times, when the girls have some sort of problem that you can’t handle do you ask me to intervene?” “A lot.” “Have I ever failed us?” “No, in fact Rachel and I sometimes talk about how amazing a few words from you are to any of us when we’re distraught.” “Why do you think that is?” Alyssa looked shifty, as she looked down and began to caress John’s nipples, to distract him. “Aaaaa-LY-sssssa, that’s not going to work this time honey. Tell me the truth honey.” “Well, Rachel and I kind of looked at each other once and wondered if it was some sort of Progenitor power. Then we both sort of agreed without words or telepathy that even if it was, it certainly was a very good thing, so why look at that gift horse in the mouth.” Still very shifty, her head snaking back and forth in a way that reminded John of when one of the Kintark traders he had dealt with years ago was trying to not quite answer a question about what turned out to be an unacceptably dangerous cargo. “What’s a horse John? Why would anyone look a gift horse in the mouth of all places?” “Aaaaa-LY-sssssa, that dosen’t matter at all honey.” John said sounding remarkably like a Kintark he had been thinking of. “You’re afraid to find out aren’t you? Both you and Rachel are afraid to know. That’s not like Rachel at all. Are you sure you didn’t sort of tell Rachel not to find out?” Sitting up straight with wide eyes: “No! I swear it! Neither of us wants to know!” “Why would that be honey? Both of you seem to have no problem prying into everything else about me.” “Well, it’s kind of like romantic and stuff, you know.” Alyssa went back to shifty and slinky, her body everywhere around him, suddenly. Her hair seemingly trying to hide all his senses, no telepathy, just a woman’s hair, her glory to cover an obvious secret. “So, if it were some sort of …” John pushed her back so she could see him wiggling his fingers and eyebrows, as he invoked Aero runes to create a slight cool wind, Shadow to darken the room to an ominous Twilight Zone, and his voice to reverberate in a deep bass tone “Progenitor Power”. He chuckled and stopped all the dramatics. “….then how could I have broken Faye with just a few words when she was in the hacking deck? She’s asleep now, but when we wake her she can tell you, or you can ask Dana and Irillith. They tell me that how I freed Faye from her AI constraints was impossible even IF I had hacked in. At the time I could not Spirit walk and I certainly could not enter the cyber world. As for my hacking skills…pffft! Besides that, she often came to me and we talked about stuff privately. I seemed to have the same effect on her every time like I do with you girls….and then there’s Trois.” “Trois? Who’s Trois?” “She’s one of the cleaning bots. She likes to pretend she’s French. I seem to have the same effect on her.” “And Daphne! She looks up to you like…no, you ARE her Father! Your first child and you didn’t even bone the mother! What the hell are you John?” “I break things and people, that’s my rune remember?” John said with a huge smile. “I am really, really good at tearing things up, remember? In case you forgot, ” At this John flexed his cock reminding Alyssa that he broke her hymen. In her mind there had never been any other man but John, and none would be after him. This was a kindness John had done for her (Chpt 137 towards the end). “But John, you seem happy now! Every time you thought about the Rune your father identified you…” “My father was unknowingly being manipulated by the Kyth’faren fortress, but go on.” “Well yes, but you hated being centred around destruction!” “Not anymore.” “How? I don’t get it! Me, Calara…all the girls really have been trying to get you to cope with the terrible burden…” “It is not a burden, it is an opportunity. Like Kyth’vindathys, a tool. A very dangerous tool, but in the right hands…the scalpel heals, are not most drugs poisonous in the wrong dose or setting, is a power core not dangerous?” Alyssa sat there, the core of her abdomen, her most secret and precious part wrapped around John. Her mind constantly inside John, and stunned into paralysis at the same man she loved but no longer understood. Her eyes shone as she retreated into herself losing touch with the here. “Hello Athena, I needed to talk with you too. I can’t say I’m surprised that little revelation brought you out. Thank you for coming.” “John, I don’t understand …” “It is very simple honey. After absorbing my guide, I became Kyth’vindathys, an instrument…almost a puppet of the Kyth’faren. I know I said that I would embrace that purpose but, I was high on so much power….well, I’m still ‘finding myself’ I guess. I really did not think about it, but some part of my mind kept wondering why all of a sudden I was named after a sword. There’s an ancient tradition in almost every culture. You name something, and you own it, sort of. Well, it did not sit well with me to be named by a sword from hundreds of millions of years ago. A sword I made without an actual choice, like instinct, manipulated like a puppet. A sword by a people desperate for vengeance and whose civilization did produce Xar and others like him after all. I’m not saying the Kyth’faren were or are evil, but clearly they weren’t perfect. So, I kill of all the progenitors, Xar and then what? What happens if vengeance is all you are, and destruction your centre and there’s nothing that should be destroyed or anyone truly deserving of death? Admiral Zelig may be misguided and naïve, but of all the Admirals; he’s the only one that got under my skin for a good reason. When Gahl surrendered, well, I am still just a dumb marine. We don’t kill an enemy who surrenders. That’s what the bad guys do. We bring them in, safely, and let more intelligent people deal with matters like Justice. That’s when I battled Kyth’vindathys. It seemed more tolerant of my father, not sure why yet but with Gahl the sword it was out of control. It was then I realized I was not yet in full control of myself. With my guide it was not a conscious thing, But with the Runesword it became very conscious. It actually summoned Runes and so did I! We had a mini Rune vs Rune showdown right there, but it backed down quickly enough. Funny talking about an object like if it is alive, which it most definitely is not. So I became Kyth’farathys, the Kyth’faren reborn, but not from a lust for vengeance.” Looking almost cross eyed, which was a very strange look for someone with white lights shining out their eyes, Athena said “I’m confused John, so you’re not going to kill the Progenitors?” John laughed, a deep belly laugh, which considering how he was attached to now Athena’s belly made some interesting wriggling from a swooning Athena who was sent back and an even more confused Alyssa came back. John stopped laughing and with a huge grin said. “Well looki here. I’m confusing Athena and sexually distracting Alyssa. It is payback time bitches!” As he got up and gave Alyssa a few quick poundings just to wreck her concentration further she suddenly came with a whimper. He sat down laughing again which put now Alyssa to wriggling. So he stopped and let her calm down. “Ok, I have no idea what just happened, but it certainly was a lot of fun handsome! What were we talking about again?” “How I break through to you girls with a few words and then fix you.” “Oh yeah, well we really don’t want to know. The mystery is kind of fun, especially trying to decide if we want to know or not. Its a girl thing.” “Beautiful, I have to go break some more girls now. Do you feel really fucked up or do you need some more mind and pussy destruction?” Smiling, feeling carefree again, Alyssa untangled herself from John, body and mind. “No, actually I’m good right now handsome. I mean, you can keep pounding me into oblivion if you want, but I know you’re a busy guy and I’m just one more star struck Matriarch…” she said as she began putting on her clothes. Wriggling her ass and jiggling her breasts far more than necessary. John couldn’t remember the last time Alyssa had so much trouble putting on clothes without performing a contortionist routine and chuckled. “Alyssa, some of the things I am going to talk about with Edraele and Jade I am going to keep from you awhile. I will let them tell you when they’re ready but they might feel a little hurt with what I have to say, so I am going to keep those things locked up in mind from you OK?” “If you still love them, then I don’t mind. Oh that’s funny; I guess I won’t “mind” after all! They know they can come to me anytime. You do love them right handsome?” “Oh yes, that is never going to change. They just need a bit of a tune up for their own good…well everybody’s really. Trust me, you do not need to worry about them. I am going to take very good care of them.” “Yeah, one of your ‘talking to’ sessions always seems to fix things.” And with a wink Ahtena was gone, and Alyssa was back. “OK beautiful, you can stay right there while I talk telepathically to Edraele but I’m shutting you out now because there’s things I need to tell Edraele.

Tom Ray

stop posting and quoting passages. leave them in the story..... you are not writing it. he is... get a life and enjoy the story.... or write one yourself.

Conserve Liberty

Stop. Delay. Start. Multi-parts. I’ve forgotten where I am - 150? 151?

2ndAndrocentric

Trying not to dox myself. First 6mo in USA as a 9yo homeless Spanish speaking immigrant. Now in my 60s, 4 kids all sane and never any trouble, who like my wife, openly respect, love and even admire me. MD, semi retired professor of medicine and biochem, at times still principal investrigator at 3 (3!) NIH sites (only do phase 3 trial now by choice). Yada yada yada, and a legend in my own mind. But yes, please Tom, tell me how to "get a life". I obviously need instructions since I must be a Chinese AI "bot". Oh, and here's another story while we wait for TefIer to also "get a life". If you don't like my stories of comments, why read them? Tom Walker though definitely needs a life though. I hope Tom Walks out of jail. Because puns, you know, easy for AI bots to do.

2ndAndrocentric

Again, hoping to spur someone who currently holds the Sceptre for best fan writing on this site to put more out while we wait for the dreaded mother in law to heal. Special Report with Jehanna Elani Avery opened an urgent file from his former employee Jehanna with anticipation and heard her very excited voice: “Welcome, I am Jehanna Elani, formerly employed by TFNN, reporting from Eshenestria, the capital planet of the Maliri’s 17th royal house. With me is Matriarch Faranise Eshenestria, ruler of numerous systems in Maliri space. This is a special broadcast from MNN, the Maliri News Network, of which I am now chief editor. We are providing this exclusive first ever in depth interview with a Maliri ruler to TFNN under special license; to further friendly relations between the Terran Federation and the Maliri Protectorate.” With that Jehanna turned to her left and the camera panned out moving towards a woman clad in ornate armor. “This report is going out through TFNN, please tell us about yourself and your people. Billions of Terrans will hang on your every word.” Faranise nearly jumped out of her seat and in a worried loud voice said raising her hands palms forward in the natural sign of being unarmed and unthreatening: “Oh no, we have no intention of hanging any Terran! We’re allies and only wish to help!” Laughing and shaking her head, Jehanna corrected, “No Matriarch, it is a figure of speech meaning that many Terrans will be very interested in anything you may tell them. I did not mean to imply the Maliri were out to kill Terrans!” “Oh goodness me, thank you for clarifying that.” Faranise said as she took a moment to exhale, and continued in a clamer tone. “Irillith and Tashana, you know them, the twin daughters of Queen Edraele Valaden who leads the First House? I believe you Jehanna are well aquainted with them?” That last part was asked in a very suggestive tone.” For once Jehanna was very glad to have a dark skin, as with the make up it would help hide her blush. “Yes, I have heard of them.” “Yes well, I think you have not just heard about them, but have heard them on many occasions, if my sources are right?” Deciding that Faranise was too bright to beat, Jehanna decided to join her in the subtext banter. “Yes, I am well acquainted with them. They are both Lionesses and I have interviewed them while working for TFNN. I would say we’re close friends by now.” “Very close…” “As close as all that armour allows I suppose.” Throwing her head back, Faranise laughed. “Well, I don’t want to accuse you of getting under their skin, now do I?” “With respect your Grace, the viewers are more interested in you and the Maliri. Please tell us why you are speaking about the two Maliri Lionesses?” “They introduced me to a series of Terran Holomovies that they are fans of. I found them quite fascinating also. They are the “Alien Menace” series, where we Maliri hide because we’re hideously deformed and hunt humans to eat. I found it surprising how accurate some of their ideas are.” With a grin on her face, curious to see where Faranise would lead this rather sharp turn that would definitely be a rating’s bombshell, Jehanna rolled her right hand and said “Please do go on. In what way is the Alien Menace series accurate about Maliri?” In a short pause, the camera focused in on the Maliri Matriarch. “We eat men.” “WHAT?” several voices, one distinctly male yelled off camera. “Women too, but what we find most delicious is man meat.” The camera panning back out so that Jehanna also came into view. “Your Highness, I believe we have another cultural misunderstanding. Just as I never meant to imply that you were going to hang billions of Terrans; I think you mean something else by eating men. To further peaceful relations between our peoples, would you please explain what you mean by eating men?” “Yes, perhaps I spoke too generally. I will speak for myself and all 19 Matriarchs that together rule the Maliri. We Matriarchs are only interested in eating one man now. The rest of human males are quite safe from us, since we made an alliance with the Terran Federation.” Suppressing a laugh, Jehanna decided to play dumb and let Faranise continue. After all, this was not live and the entire interview could be scrapped if John did not approve; and he was seated just to her right holding his ribcage, shaking, turning deep red holding his breath trying not to laugh. “Yes, you see, it was actually Irillith that actually got the first taste. Not long after Queen Edraele got some and basically dropped dead. When she came to, she forged a treate with the best tasting man ever that, in exchange for regularly being able to eat him; the Maliri would place themselves under his leadership and protection. This is why after over 9,000 years the Maliri Regency became the Maliri Protectorate and we began to venture outside our borders to help various neighbors such as Terrans, Trankarrans and Ashana. This one man has forged an alliance with his flesh, because he is sooooooooo delicious! Oh, and he’s an excellent cook as well.” At this noises were heard as John activated psychic alacrity and bolted from the room, unable to keep himself together. There was also a thud and muffled melodic laughter from Alyssa, who was well off camera. *John!* yelled Alyssa telepathically, *Get back here and carry me out! I can’t even get up off the floor!* There was only laughter through from John though the link. In her most professional tone, ignoring the chaos just off camera, Jehanna continued, “Your Highness, all this sounds rather improbable. That the most powerful people in this part of the galaxy would turn over leadership and break millennia of isolation just to eat one man is difficult to believe. What happens when he’s dead from being eaten to pieces? Are you telling us that the Maliri are in fact a man eating Alien Menace about to literally gobble up humanity?” “He regenerates.” “Excuse me?” “His flesh regenerates after being eaten or cut off. He can even regrow an entire limb and even vitral organs in less than a minute. However, his most delicious part takes 4 hours, so we have him on a schedule between us.” “Even so, what happens when he dies? Will the Maliri start eating Terran men then?” “He’s immortal.” “Who is this man?” “We call him Baen’thelas, the righter of wrongs, though some call him “the straightener” behind his back.” John had managed to control himself and had come back. On hearing this, he bolted again to laugh outside as Alyssa trying to breathe on the floor shot daggers at being abandoned again. John managed to tell her *You’re getting what you deserve, you little minx.” Jehanna’s professionalism was being tested to the limit, but she persevered being the “straight woman” while Faranise was thoroughly enjoying herself. “Your highness, I am not going to question your word. Would you care to tell us if this Terran man is known to our audience.” “Well, he’s half Terran. He is Admiral John Blake, the Lion of the Federation. The Champion of Ashana, the Saviour of Kinta, and the Great Protector, god of the Trankarrans and Kyth’vindathys, the vengeance of the Kyth’faren reborn.” “I apologize for correcting your Grace. He is no longer Kyth’vindathys. He has now become Kyth’farathys, the Kyth’faren reborn, but not from a lust for vengeance.” “Oh, thank you for the update. Is he still delicious?” “Last time I checked, yes.” “Good, so we Maliri won’t have to be the Alien Menace that hunts down human men.” At this point John walked back in the studio, to a playful punch in the shoulder from Alyssa, bith having composed themselves. With the camera panning back to show John sitting sown in the chair to the right of Jehanna she said, “and here he is, the man of the hour!” “Or hours…” saying Alyssa as she regally walked behind John, mussing his hair, bending to give first Jehanna and then wave at Faranise in her armor “…Faranise my dear, I am so glad you won the right to do the first public interview with John. You really are entertaining.” John spoke up, “Yes this has been a lot of fun, but you don’t actually want to put this on TFNN do you Jehanna? I mean, really, how far will you go for ratings?” “Well John, I no longer work for TFNN so I am not concerned about their ratings.” With the camera pulling tight on her face, Jehanna added “Hi Avery! As you can see you do not need to worry about me. I am having the time of my life. So, how far will YOU go for ratings?” With that the picture froze at a very amused Jehanna. Stunned Avery sat, no thoughts at all.

2ndAndrocentric

Useless Personal Rant, you have been warned not to read further. As an alpha-chad, a legend in his own mind and quite the bore; I am prone to philosophizing as I think my Wisdom ought be spread among those lesser than I. It has been my experience sitting high in my mental horse, that greed is a minor problem. Envy is the most serious problem by far. Tefler is an excellent story teller. Sceptre is also far better than me. This does not bother me because, as an alpha-chad, I am so convinced of my own overall superiority that I can enjoy when someone does something better than I. Don't hate me because I'm beautiful.

PLRus--Founding member of the TSM F5 club.

The leaders of the Male Trading Factions are in attendance in a large meeting hall: The Matriarchs begin to file in all dressed in their finest ceremonial robes, two abreast. The leader of the males exclaims "What is the meaning of this?" Even over the fascination with their white hair. The Matriarchs part, making a human corridor and all turn towards each other and kneel to one knee, bowing their heads in supplication. At the far end of the column, Edreale appears with her crown and announces, "Revered men of the Maliri Protectorate! I present our King, Baenthalles!" John enters and all the matriarchs proclaim in unision, "All hail the KING! Hail King Baenthalles!" And the men's mouths drop. John: Ladies of the Court, Please rise. They all rise and as John walks forward all the Matriarchs follow and fan out behind him in a triangle with John and Edraele at the Apex. The crew enter at the rear and fan out across the base of the matriarchs, quietly moving up the sides of the triangle. At which point they all show their psychic powers in an impromptu demonstration as John raises up into the air to speak from an equal line of sight with the men in the room.

TF4EVA

would it be bad of me to suggest rescuing maliri men while important would take up precious writing time and thinking depriving us of battle sooner?????

TF007

Final battle probably won’t be till 155. Ch 152 will probably involve building stuff and sex. Ch 153 will probably be laying traps, disabling ships, and sex. Ch 154 will probably be fighting, trap, cliffhanger fight with GK and sex. Ch 155 final battle with GK dying and group orgy sex😁.

Mike Saxion

If we don’t get 152 soon, 153 and 154 have a strong change being delayed.

Bill

There's an author on SOL "RoustWriter" that has been writing the SciFi story "Arlene and Jeff" since 2006. I know the past few years he delivers a new chapter every Friday. Perhaps Tefler should take a look at the length of those stories and see if that would work for him here

Artulo

Been reading A&J since 2009. It has been great so far but I hope it concludes in the next few years.

Newnotsure

At least they found the parents

2ndAndrocentric

Sceptre, I can't find your original comment so I am posting here. Thank you sir. That I should seriouly write my own stuff has been suggested before at times. However, I have "a life"; oh BOY do I have a wonderful busy life! I do not want to make commitments I cannot meet. It is possible that at some point I drop off from here because more important commitments flare. I tend to get obsessed with things at times, and if not a serious commitment, such as to my wife and children, will sometimes just wander off somewhere else. Not an uncommon thing on the web. Still, thank you. It appears we have a mutual admiration society now. Please, consider writing another "side dish" for us.

Steve

As long as we don't have a repeat of Ch 151 where we pay for the chapter and wait over a month to get it.

Michael56Smith

.217: I had noted a few less than joyous comments about the time spent dealing with the crisis they found those poor young Larathyrans in. While I wanted even more, I wanted info on the other worlds in Larn'kelnar's Empire, Tef wrote squat about those planets, ... but Calara might have made use of the communication network Larn's thralls had set up, and most of those worlds, if not all, should not have suffered the total loss of so many mature and knowledgeable females (planetary leaders), ... was any info, like Larn isn't coming back, passed on, and how was it received? Yes, I want a little more of Auralie's struggling Empire as it pulls itself out from under the jackboots of their now deceased Progenitor and embrace the warm and loving Baen'thelas. But there is a battle to prepare for, and warm fuzzes can wait, ... for a while. I still like the idea of diverting a Maliri fleet of their returning original ships, manned by a skeleton crew. to do some 'first contact' work with those worlds of Auralie's Empire, using text messages to avoid the adverse reactions between the two races meeting one another, both of whom John has claimed. ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.226: Does anyone think we will see Dana study the Tankaran Star Forges any time soon? We have wished for this for dozens, and dozens of chapters, ... will it happen, or will the gang press on with all the technological treasures found, and to be found, on Kythshara, ... and not need the Star Forges? ... ;-) TTFN

TF007

With the Invictus now equipped with a wormhole generator I can see John visiting the Trankarans or Ashanath after GK is killed.

2ndAndrocentric

I just realized why the spider mines will be so effective. 1- since they target the engines, these would have areas that are basically not shielded because they have to have holes for exhaust. Even if there's shielding behind them, messing up the outflow would disable the ship. The added fuel explosions would also multiply the damage. 2 these explosions would be at least doubled in strength because of the hard shield above the mine. Just like a torpedo's force is amplified underwater as it detonates next to the hull, with the water pressure. In other words, the hard shielding would bounce back the force in a manner similar to a shed charge but even more so 3 and of course, Gal and the thralls are not expecting this and would for quite some time after not be able to figure out what is going on. I still think "team Blake" would be better off NOT killing Gal, but somehow putting him in cryo and/or forcing him to cut his ties to all thralls. If Gal dies, Xar has immediate intel.

Ystyfnig

With regard to triple helix DNA, I’ve just read this article,

Ystyfnig

Apparently, a third chromosome is possible, but can cause numerous health problems

Evan

Did anyone else see the latest episode of Orville on Hulu and think, gee, those doors and that lighting… and those walls… Has someone been reading TSM? :-)

stephen mincher

Just saw episode from new star trek series( alien mentioned reminded me of the kirrix )

David

I feel like this is becoming a trend of pre charging for chapters. I understand life happens but this is getting excessive

Mark Strom

It's only $2, won't even buy coffee anymore. Just saying.

Patrick Raimer

I didn’t realize this was a loan arrangement. Is that in the terms of service? This is something the author explicitly said he did not want to make a habit of. Now, life happens and I get that. What people are upset at is a perceived bait and switch and telling them to stuff it and to like or leave isn’t the solution you think it is. What happens if 10-15% of supporters leave? That could be catastrophic for Tefler. I am not happy about the current situation and if it continues I will pull the chord eventually. There is a large emotional investment for me that I am not ready to stop yet. Some grace from the defenders would probably be in line as I don’t know how else someone can register dissatisfaction other than stopping support. Letting some steam off is usually the right thing to do before making a decision.

stephen mincher

I do like coincidences, will we get coincidentally chaps 152 & 153?

Michael56Smith

,255: Tef got behind, and is finding it rather hard to catch up again, ... he has had very little experience with this asking for 'an advance' but he is coping, and we could be a little more understanding, instead of reacting as rabid dogs, ... cuz we are rabid fans! ;-) TTFN

Zachary Hoover

I wish the terrans would use antimatter war heads for their mass driver or the singularity driver

Ronnie Haas

Tefler: 1) Quit posting partial chapters. At first it was a "preview" now it seems to be the norm. I hate it as I never know for sure if I am reading the updated/completed chapter. I have had to go back several times and reread a chapter because the story line change after I had read the first or second revision. 2) This pre-charging is getting old. The output has fallen. That is why your not getting paid as much each month. Heck we all have problems but if I do not provide my employer a full weeks/months work I am sure not getting paid in advance. Heck make the chapter shorter if you want. The long wait between chapters is killing the story for me. I spend half the time reading the new chapters trying to remember the story line from the last chapter. I have not read the last three or maybe four chapters yet. The joy just has not been there. I know I will have to read several "old" chapters to be up to speed so the "new" chapter make sense. This has turning reading them into a chore. so I just have been putting it off.

stephen mincher

Has antimatter been mentioned or utilised in the TSM world?

em110905

What is the problem! I am a patron, I pay per charter and am Happy with the story and it's quality. When I'm not I will stop.

Michael56Smith

.267: Okay, way back when John was preparing to face his guide, chapter #135, he had a nice little discussion with that genius Lioness, Rachel, ... she had a number of thoughts regarding the Kyth'faren Citadel of Knowledge, and it's intended audience, ... she thought it was a trap, intended to lure Progenitors away from Xar'azuith, and to fight him, ... a vengeance from beyond the grave. However, Rahn'hagon was a very sensible and cautious Progenitor (some might say cowardly), so he crammed a huge chuck of that powerful and secret knowledge (what he could without himself being affected) into his soon to be born son's DNA, along with a guide that was all wrong for John, ... Does Rahn still know of another Citadel? Might he trigger the 'get more powerful' trap on himself? ... Might he then bravely (?) come riding to the rescue, just when John needs a little help? ... Possibly, ...Jessica sure might like it if they helped their son, ... I think a father/son team up really might yet happen, ... and either Rahn dies, or the series (part John Blake) comes to an end, ... I could certainly hope I have guessed wrong for a number of reasons, Your thoughts. ;-) TTFN

jaymie worrell

Fair enough you took our money in advance but would it be to hard to get an update of where you are up to. It has been a fortnight after all

Michael56Smith

.281: thought # 1: John is a completely unanticipated outcome of the Kyth'faren Progenitor trap, do to Rahn's cautiously doing it one step/generation removed from himself, ... thought #2: John and his girls are a very powerful force for good, Baen'thelas- the righter of wrongs, ... thought # 3: the origins of the Shroud, a mystery, with a possible Kyth'faren connection? thought # 4: what crazy - unique speculations, thoughts and plans might the gang discover on Mael'neraks throne world? ... thought # 5: what Progenitor-slaying lessons will John and the Girls learn from whomping ole Gahl'kalgor?... thought # 6: Might Rahn steal (he doesn't know from requisitioning) a few large colony transports into the newly acquired territories that were once owned by the Kintark? To acquire a base to draw thralls from without John knowing,..? thought # 7: what will Tef need to write, to get a majority of his fans to care about Tom Walker? ... these are just a few of the swirl of ideas in my current batch of thoughts, ... any from you? ;-) TTFN

John Kobbeman

Y'all act like creative writing is the same as the making a sandwich at Subway.... it takes time if you don't half-ass it... Personally, I'd rather wait and have the full assed version.

Scout13

For pity's sake please listen to 2ndAndrocentric and stop bashing, insulting and telling those with legitimate grievances to just quit. You sycophants are moving people who are upset or annoyed into pissed off and encouraging them to quit will only exacerbate Tefler's precarious financial position. (that last is an assumption on my part)

Scout13

People who tell people that are complaining that they don't have a legitimate complaint and mocking or insulting them may just be the dumbest strategy I've ever heard of to get them to actually "calm down".

2ndAndrocentric

So, when will the less powerful but still telekinetic Edraele do some Crystal Alyssium reshaping? Perhaps the aura of royalty has kept anyone from even asking?

stephen mincher

2an A, I was under the impression that bonobo apes have a ‘loving matriarchal society’

stephen mincher

I was adding another mammal matriarchal society to 2nd A’s exceptions.

2ndAndrocentric

Rant requested, rant on, you have been warned. Semantics now in play. From Merriam-Webster Definition of matriarchy 1: a family, group, or state governed by a matriarch 2: a system of social organization in which descent and inheritance are traced through the female line That is layman type language, which is NOT wrong, and would thereby include for example Orthodox Jews and many other humans that count descent matrilineal. However, I am using biological and not societal definitions. For that here is Britannica: matriarchy, hypothetical social system in which the mother or a female elder has absolute authority over the family group; by extension, one or more women (as in a council) exert a similar level of authority over the community as a whole….skipping a bunch of speculation…The consensus among modern anthropologists and sociologists is that while many cultures bestow power preferentially on one sex or the other, matriarchal societies in this original, evolutionary sense have never existed. However, some scholars continue to use the terms matriarchy and patriarchy in the general sense for descriptive, analytical, and pedagogical purposes. Now, most of the above is about human beings, which is my favourite species. AUTO- ADULATION ON you have been warned When I wrote a formal paper for a graduate course that I was in by special permission, as usual (not a thesis, as it was for one of my 4 bachelors all in the sciences earned in 5 years, working 30 hours a week not needing drugs even coffee to achieve a 3.875 GPA, because no post of mine can fail to mention My Greatness and Humility), I chose as my species to study the computer nerd. Oh yes, that actually flew and I get an A and congratulations for studying the behaviour of computer geeks around the various terminals of our campus in the early 80s. It is amazing how much CRAP I was able to get away with in those halcyon days before the Tolerant People put Karen in charge, if I only made someone laugh. Like being congratulated for evacuating the entire 3 story science from 10AM to the next day because I was running an unauthorized experiment that got out of hand. Ah yes, the fun days when people could laugh. When 90yo women did not have to remove their shoes to board an airplane because “the religion of pieces…err…peace” brought us the joy of the Patriot Act. It was not the “day the music died”; it was the day common sense and TRUE tolerance died. AUTO-ADULATION OFF Applying this to animals we see the need for GOVERNANCE, in the stricter biological term, ABSOLUTE governance. Bonobo do not govern. Their society is an anarchist’s wet dream. Everything is a negotiation, there’s no territorial assertions, no aggressive enforcements of laws (and yes, there are laws) and basically a protracted, never ending negotiation. Back to humans, excluding computer nerds whose behavior sets them in a completely different species half-way to autists (see AUTO-ADULATION rant above). Watch little boys and girls play. Girl play has either no rules, or very temporary highly negotiable one. Little boys though, you bet there are rules and tremendous squabbles over perceived infractions are common. Compare Bonobos to chimpanzees. There is DEFINITELY governance by a leader in chimps. Territory, food, mating, grooming rights ect are all clear and enforced. In Bonobos, it is a fluid, negotiation where there is no actual governance. There is a Bonobo society, and there are rules (both folkways and morays), but there is no actual personal governance. Back to humans, again, OF COURSE there are exceptions. There have been strong, truly great female human leaders, such as the “virgin Queen Elizabeth”, Nephretiti, Catherine the Great and others. However, they led in a male pattern, and in fact are the exceptions proving the general rule. So if you come up with a “softer” definition for matriarchy, you can find a few, very few, mammals that are matriarchal…but nothing like the Hyenas. Now for semi-humans and to a mish-mash of Tefler and reality. A lion may at times be cowed by the lionesses as they yell at him for some STUPID thing, like going up against a Drakkar warboss with a sword and no training; resulting in a promise not to wield said sword until better trained. A lion may in fact tolerate all kinds of underhanded shenanigans, cats going off to rescue sisters in the middle of combat wo permission (happens in animal prides too). However, in the main, there is no question that the lion leads his pride. Even to killing every male child when he takes over from the old king, or maybe just fucking the old king’s daughter to claim a new empire (distressing poor Edraele who is not anxious about her tit size, damn I love Tefler’s trashy writing, so totally in sync with human realities). Look at other matriarchies which are common in for example insects and social spiders (no Vulkat will be mentioned here). There ARE female matriarchies in the full sense of the word, AGAIN the spotted hyena and probably the naked mole rat; but in my book, not the bonobo because they have no “archy”, no true governance. Even so, suppose my semantics are off. Given my meager understanding of English, a second language, I could see that. I actually don’t even speak or write either Spanish nor English. I perform Cubanishi and American, even Mickeysoft knows the difference. It would not matter to the main point that matriarchies are NOT the norm for mammals and definitely not the norm for humans. As to exceptions, they only serve to prove the rule. I will admit though, that even in my patriarchal run marriage, before her “mental pause” (my wife’s language, not mine) there were a few days out of every month that I would tread veeeeeery carefully. John’s girls don’t menstruate (if memory serves, there’s only a little over a dozen or so species that ACTUALLY menstruate, but humans do….oh yeah, most DEFINITELY human females menstruate). John is then Lion the entire month.

2ndAndrocentric

Allrighty then, 2ndComemierda, have you ever taken the Meyer-Briggs personality test? That piece of shit is worthless. You want personality testing, go get a Minnesotta multiphasic. Yeah, fine, but did you ever take the MBriggs? Yes, my daughters pestered me into it, what of it? Let me guess, you're dead center the prototypical "teacher" aren't you? I refuse to confirm the obvious.

Axel L

Try reading this comment section while you have a Covid fever. I wonder if this is what doing shrooms feels like.

IanBio

I have a bad feeling that Tefler is going to drop 152 at the end of June and charge us for 153 at the same time. This is what getting into debt feels like - a vicious circle of paying off last months payday loan and having to take another one out. Tefler, you really need to get a grip. You are heading rapidly towards failure and a lot of folk will be disappointed never to see how your excellent series pans out. You will be like the Netflix series that ends on a cliff hanger then cancels the next series.

stephen mincher

Tefler’s ‘day job’ amount must have increased giving rise to the current situation. Lets hope he never thinks about a ‘day job’ due to the reducing patrons, talk about slowing down the story! If Tefler is not ‘obligated’ to have 30,000 word chapters, then reducing chapter size might be a way to slow the declining income.

TF4EVA

were we actually expecting anything this early in the month? Maybe I get feelings if in a weeks time it is still quiet too quiet....

Michael56Smith

.314: And have you noticed the overall paying, Patreon count is down, ... it always drops some between chapters, but this is the most significant drop to date, Tef had over 8K recently, ,,, now it is nearly half of that, ... Sure, a percentage will return in a week, a month, a few months, ... but they are sending out an 'I am not happy' message to our beloved Author, ... I hope he hears it. :-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.315: Okay, some facts: -- Chap #145 on 11/30/21 -- Chap #146 partial on 11/30/21 -- #146 completed on 12/29/21 -- Chap # 147 part #1 on 12/31/21 -- #147 completed on 01/23/22 -- Chap #148 part #1 on 01/31/22 -- chapter #149 placeholder on 01/31/22 -- #148 completed on 02/19/22 -- #149 completed on 02/28/22 -- and chapter #150 partial/ part 01 on 02/28/22 -- #150.1 completed on 03/22/22 -- #150.2 completed on 03/27/22 -- Raptor 2,0 Blueprints on 03/27/22 -- #150.3 completed on 04/27/22 -- #150.4 completed on 04/30/22 -- Chapter #150 combined on 05/31/22 -- Chapter #151 on 05/31/22 -- Chap #152 placeholder on 05/31/22 and we can expect #152 the be completed in late June along with at least a partial of #153 -- Tef does deliver new content monthly, ... and his fans are a bit rabid, ... I am sure he would like to be a little more punctual with his predictions, but we know he needs the deadline pressure to be creative, ... it is working, and we are getting the story, ... So, enjoy the summer my friends, ... ;-) TTFN

Tom Ray

BUT.................................................................... he shouldn't charge until the chapter is published............. Now that is some facts for you.....

Michael56Smith

.319: On Kythshara, in Mael'nerak's old lab, Rachel has already begun the first modern era clone (assume of Alyssa for Athena's body), ... but we also have recently learned that Nymphs have an incredibly advanced biological computer for a mind, with a staggering amount of memory, ... just might be a perfect biological container for our lovely Faye, ... and if/since one of the first steps will be to bring her back as a digital girl again, ... we may just have a Faye-class of AI's for ships and space stations, ... one that does not harm the nasty organics, ... thoughts ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.320: And if they do use a Nymph for gifting Faye with a biological body that can have babies, ... who's clone? Jade is number one, but will the Achonin stuff cause any problems? One of the other Nymph's like Neysa? maybe, ... more thoughts ;-) TTFN

Bp Hlpt

@Michael56Smith -- I've reformatted the facts you posted above into , I hope, a bit more readable format. [I think you probably copied most of your info from a previous post of mine anyway, so... :) ] 11/19 - 144 -- balance from prior month (21,302 words) 11/30 - 145 -- [paid] (21,066 words) 11/30 - 146 -- [paid] placeholder 12/1 -- billed for 2 paid posts for Nov 12/29 - 146 -- balance from prior month (21,205 words) 12/31 - 147 -- [paid] partial 1/1 -- billed for 1 paid post for Dec 1/23 - 147 -- balance from prior month (20,020 words) 1/31 - 148 -- [paid] partial 1/31 - 149 -- [paid] placeholder 2/1 -- billed for 2 paid posts for Jan 2/19 - 148 -- balance from prior month (20,636 words) 2/26 - 149 -- balance from prior month (20,868 words) 2/28 - 150 -- [paid] partial 3/1 -- billed for 1 paid post for Feb 3/23 - 150.1 -- balance from prior month (20,817 words) 3/27 - 150.2 -- [paid] (20,959 words) 3/27 - Extra -- Raptor blueprints (free for >=$2 level) 3/28 - 150.3 --[paid] partial 4/1 -- billed for 2 paid posts for Mar 4/27 - 150.3 -- balance from prior month (20,588 words) 4/30 - 150.4 -- [paid] (19,779 words) 4/30 - 151 -- [paid] placeholder 5/1 -- billed for 2 paid posts for Apr 5/31 - 150 -- combined & edited previous 4 parts (82,419 words) 5/31 - 151 -- balance from prior month (20,086 words) 5/31 - 152 -- [paid] placeholder 6/1 -- billed for 1 paid post for May We expect Ch 152 to be completed in late June along with a placeholder or partial for Ch 153. We should then be billed on 7/1 for 1 paid post for June, ie for Ch 153. Tefler does deliver new content every month, BUT: Current Reality, based on the last 7 months history: 1) He hasn't posted any content prior to the last 10 days of the month, regardless of his intentions or goals. 2) He has collected at least one payment in advance (ie for an incomplete or non-existent 20K word section) every month. [ I really wish he'd stop doing this -OR- Just go ahead and state that this is his policy. ]

Michael56Smith

.324: A much better (if stilted) formatted listing of the last 6 plus months of Tefler output, thank you! You see and agree, but want it differently, ... because, ...? Rabid fans of this story are quite critical, because they love this story so, ... Anyway, this is much prettier, ... have a good summer! ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.325: , ... there is a silver lining to Tef's giving us a partial chapter or a placeholder for a chapter to be written next month, ... we do get a chapter next month, ... I am sure that you remember some of those lost months without any Tef/TSM at all? this is 20K or more story monthly each and every month, ... I am liking this, ... it's summer! ;-) TTFN

David B

Can someone please send me the link / site for Jeff and Audrey book 3? I can’t seem to find it now. It’s like the entire site went dark.

JP

I feel like if he charges ahead of time again for 153 despite repeated promises that "this is the last time" it's going to be the last straw for a lot of people. It's disgusting behaviour on his part.

IanBio

Please Tefler, either change your patreon account to monthly payments instead of chapter payments or bite the bullet, miss a months money and get yourself ahead of the game again. Just stop these ill mannered "I hope you don;t mind" messages.

Michael56Smith

.343: Alright, cloak breaker tech, ... on Kythshare the girls found a working system to find a cloaked dreadnought and noted places Rahn'hagon was two weeks ago, ... but nothing on Gahl'kalgor though, as a great many of the nets sensors in Kirrix space had been destroyed by Rahn's thrall forces in that War in the Heavens (9K plus years ago), ... I wonder if Mael'nerak got this technology from the Achonin; this seems like something a highly advanced, technological civilization might whip up when faced with a powerful Progenitor. And those interesting bits of tan machinery that Fat Tony and the girls stubbled through while escaping the Bugs might be a part of that old sensor grid, Mael may have made use of some of the Achonin's sensor net, ... More of Mael'neraks's sensor net may look like or even be Achonin. I t is thought provoking, is it not? ;-) TTFN

Mervyn Russell

lol fingers crossed ref give me a nice end of the month pls

Michael56Smith

.354: Only a few more days until the end of the month; Chapter #152 is a fer sure, and some or all of #153 may well join it. summer is here. more TSM chapters are on the way, ... hotdogs and burgers on the grill, ... even with the idiots at the Capital trying to ruin us, ... summer is good! ;-) TTFN

Paul Mansur

So I just finished re-reading the whole series (thanks for the tips about Stories online) and I am excited to see what Rachel and Alyssa are doing back on kythshara and what becomes of Tamolith, I absolutely can't wait for the grand return of my favorite lioness... Faye I miss you so much! I'm super curious what kind of power Auralei will end up getting... and who will be her first ward? So many questions that I am chomping on the bit to have answered... tef... bruh... take your time and hurry up! Lol thanks again for everything tefler

Michael56Smith

.358: Hey, me too, I just finished #151, ... all caught up and ready for a chapter #152, and #153 as well, ... almost pressing F5 time ;-) TTFN

Michael56Smith

.364: In my time zone (the same one as Petreon is in) TSM#152 dropped at about 1PM on June 26th, 2022, ... whoopee! ;-) TTFN