Three Square Meals Ch. 095

***

Ilyana had retired to their shared quarters a few minutes earlier and now it was Almari's turn to take over as telepathic link between the House Valaden fleet and their Matriarch. She left the elevator and walked out onto the broad bridge of the Galaena Serine, then headed straight for the gilded command throne. The Fleet Commander was seated there, the white-haired Maliri intent on the holographic empire map that floated before them. As Almari approached, Lilyana made a precise rotating motion with her wrist and the map spun to mirror her movements, zooming in a second later on the border between the Maliri Protectorate and the Brimorian Enclave.

"How soon until we cross the border?" Almari asked, standing next to the naval officer.

"Just a few minutes; you can see for yourself," Lilyana murmured, gesturing towards the holographic image, then making a sharp flick of her fingers.

A duplicate map appeared to her right, directly in front of the assassin. It showed the route the fleet had been following since leaving the Invictus the previous evening, marked clearly in orange as it coasted through Maliri Space. They had spent most of the night backtracking along the border from the rendezvous point, but according to the glowing flightpath, they had just made a sharp turn towards Brimorian territory.

"Why the long detour?" Almari asked, pointing towards the long trek along the border. "Wouldn't it have been faster to just travel diagonally across Brimorian Space?"

"This route minimises the amount of time we'll be traversing potentially hostile territory," Lilyana explained, tracing the curved flightpath that followed the border line between Terran and Brimorian Space; the fleet staying just inside the Brimorian side. "John's orders were to travel to Trankara to join forces with the armada assembling there."

Almari looked at the map of the Trankaran Republic and searched for their capital. Trankara itself was a long way from the Kirrix border, closer to the centre of Trankaran Space. The Maliri fleet had only moved so far from the original rendezvous location to allow the Invictus to reach them faster, with everyone eager to see Edraele restored to health as quickly as possible.

Nodded her understanding, Almari glanced across at the tactical map that had captured Lilyana's full attention. Scattered along the Brimorian border were scores upon scores of ships and, spaced out as they were, they reminded the assassin of a fishing net. "If the Brimorians haven't formed a fleet to try to oppose us, should we take that as a good sign?"

"I sincerely doubt they would attempt to stop us at the border, not when they didn't know the exact point we intended to make the crossing," the Fleet Admiral replied. "They're probably hoping to have a ship close enough to tail us when we cross the border, so they can perform an active scan of the fleet. Whether they choose to ambush us further into their territory is still up for debate, but we should have a good chance of evading them with our upgraded hyper-warp speed."

"What happens if they do attack?" the assassin asked, studying the sprawl of military vessels.

Lilyana narrowed her angular eyes. "I'm under orders to make an example of any ships that do attempt an interdiction. If we're too heavily outnumbered, we can always change course into Terran Space. The Protector asked that I treat that option as a last resort, but it's there should we need it."

Almari smiled wistfully at mention of John, knowing that it would be months before she saw him again. "Is there anything you'd like me to pass on to him?" she asked, remembering her role as communications link between Edraele and her Fleet Commander.

Lilyana didn't take her hawk-like gaze from the map for a moment. "Please inform Edraele that we've just crossed the border into the Brimorian Enclave."

The assassin turned to stare at the map, feeling a shiver run down her spine. It was the first time she'd ever left Maliri territory and although the border was only an intangible line in space, she suddenly felt exposed in a way she'd never done before. Almari glanced at Lilyana and the Fleet Commander returned her sombre look, sharing the exact same feeling. They were both equally aware of the titanic shift in Maliri foreign relations this represented; the incursion into the Brimorian Enclave marked the first time a Maliri vessel had left their territory in over nine thousand years...

***

"Buddy, have you started drinking on duty?" Captain Andrew Fowler teased his friend, before winking at the attractive blonde sitting opposite. "What do you reckon, CT, should we be worried?"

"I'm telling you, the Kintark have been using false transponder codes!" Captain Galen Skotari insisted. "I saw it with my own eyes!"

Captain Camilla Tovaskaya glanced around the bustling open bar on Port Medea, then gave him a cautionary look as she whispered, "Not so loud, Galen."

Skotari leaned closer to his friends and said in a hushed voice, "I just spent days being tailed along the border by a Kintark 'cruiser'." He added air quotes with his fingers. "They were obviously hiding something because they wouldn't play Bulling-the-border."

Fowler laughed and rolled his eyes. "I can't believe you were trying to wind up the lizards. You know we were at war with them only a few weeks ago, right?"

"They know it's just for fun," Skotari said, waving away his friend's concern. "Besides, that's not the point. When we got closer to the border, they backed off! Since when do the Kintark ever run away from a challenge like that?"

"Maybe their captain was a pussy?" Fowler shrugged then took a drink from his bottle of beer.

"Come on..." Skotari said scornfully. "The Kintark putting a coward in command of a cruiser? No fucking chance."

Tovaskaya gave him a sceptical look. "That's not much to go on, Galen."

"I know!" he said darting an eager glance at both of them. "That's why I had my engineers rig a probe to trigger an active pulse with a comm broadcast. When we pulled the Antaeus away from the border, we lured in the lizards, then BAM! Full sensor scan of those tricky bastards! It turned out it was just a freighter, pretending to be a cruiser!"

"That can't be right," Fowler protested, rubbing his red-bearded chin. "It was probably some sort of sensor screw-up."

"Nope, we collected the probe and I got my Chief Engineer to give it a full diagnostic; all working in tip-top-shape," Skotari replied with a grim smile.

Tovaskaya looked anxious as she said, "If you're right, this is a big deal, Galen. All the members of the Galactic League agreed to use active transponder codes; well, except the Maliri, but that was hardly a surprise." She shook her head, then continued, "Anyway, you're talking about major treaty violations here. Why would they risk turning all of the Galactic League against them?"

Skotari shrugged helplessly. "I've no idea, Camilla. I'm just telling you what I saw."

"What did Maddox say?" Fowler asked, still not sounding convinced.

Rolling his eyes in disgust, Skotari replied, "What do you reckon? He told me he'd escalate it up the chain of command, but if he thinks there's any chance this'll make him look bad, he'll just sit on it."

"So what are you going to do now?" Tovaskaya asked him quietly.

He glanced at his two friends, a hopeful look in his eyes. "I was hoping either of you might have some connections? Someone higher up the chain of command we can bring this to..."

Fowler's eyes widened and he replied, "You know what, I might be able to help!" Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out his comm device and carefully set it down on the table in front of them. "Just hit number one, I've got Fleet Admiral Buckingham on speed dial!"

Skotari couldn't help laughing. "Oh, get fucked, Andrew!"

Gathering up the comm device, Fowler grinned at them both. "That's sound advice, buddy. I'll bid you both a fine evening, for I have another date with Ava!"

"Seriously?" Skotari said, shaking his head in disbelief. "How come she didn't start running the moment she set eyes on you?"

"That's a good point," Tovaskaya agreed, pretending to look concerned. "I think she's overdue for her medical, perhaps she went blind?"

"I'll have you both know that Ava greatly admires my manly red beard. She says it makes me look like a Viking!" Fowler replied, before rising from the table and patting them both on the shoulder. "You two should follow Galen's advice as well."

Tovaskaya blushed and downed her drink, while Skotari tried to stammer a denial. Fowler just laughed, waved goodbye and strode away from the bar. There was an awkward silence for a moment, then the couple seated at the table smiled at each other.

"Fancy another drink?" Galen asked, glancing down at her empty glass.

"Actually, I don't feel like staying out drinking any more," Camilla replied, as she rose from her chair. She gave him a coy look that set his pulse racing. "Care to walk me back to my suite?"

Galen blinked at her in surprise. "You booked a suite on Medea?"

"Would you prefer we retired to the Antaeus?" she asked, raising an eyebrow quizzically.

Thinking about all the ribbing he'd get from his crew, he quickly shook his head and jumped to his feet. They left the noisy chatter of the bar behind them as they strolled across the Plaza. Port Medea was packed with people that evening, nearly all military personnel, from fleet crews to squads of marines out for a fun night at the bars and pubs in the space port.

As they entered the quiet residential district and walked through a tree-lined park, Camilla leaned in close and whispered, "I actually do know someone higher up the chain of command that I might be able to raise this transponder issue with. If you can send me all the data you've got, I'll forward it on to him."

"That would be amazing, thank you!" Galen exclaimed, his face lighting up with a broad grin. "I'll go grab the data crystals from the Antaeus and be right back!"

She caught his hand and shook her head. "Get it later. I won't be able to transmit the data until I can use the Secure Comms Relay back on the Hesperus and I don't plan on returning to my ship for a while." Her mouth turned up into a flirtatious smile. "I'd like to show you the view from my room first..."

She turned and pressed her hand against the door to the suite, the DNA reader beeping green. Camilla sauntered into the room, giving him a sultry glance over her shoulder. Galen followed her in, transfixed by the alluring sway of her hips, all thoughts of the data crystal forgotten.

***

John felt movement on the oval bed and slowly opened his eyes, trying not to disturb Tsarra who was still fast asleep, her head resting on his shoulder.

*Hey, handsome,* Alyssa thought to him, as she knelt at his side.

He greeted her with a warm smile. *I've missed you today. How've you been?*

*I've been having a great time with Calara and Leena.* She glanced at the sleeping Maliri girl in his arms then grinned at him. *But not quite as much fun as you've had with Tsarra. I knew you'd really like her...*

*She had a very hard start in life, but blossomed into a phenomenal woman,* he replied, clasping Alyssa's hand. *You were right to pick her, she really reminds me of you.*

The blonde's cerulean eyes seemed to sparkle at that and she leaned down to give him a tender kiss. *I spent a few hours studying her mind yesterday to make absolutely sure she was the right girl. She really is; Tsarra will be the perfect mother for your first child.*

John was astounded by the lengths she went to in trying to make him happy. *What did I ever do to deserve you?*

Alyssa rubbed the tip of her nose against his and gave him a loving smile. Her eyes drifted to the sleeping Maliri girl again. *I noticed you didn't feed her a third time... Not that Jade was complaining, she's been having a fantastic time licking Tsarra's womb clean every time you filled her up.*

*I didn't want to deal with any Astral Plane nightmares tonight,* he said firmly, looking into her cerulean eyes. *We need to all get together and come up with a proper way of preparing for the next one. It's something we should tackle before we leave, but we've got a few days to get ready first.*

She nodded in agreement. *I think that's sensible. Athena's warding runes aren't stopping you from being dragged in there and you can't keep hiding in the mists and just hoping you won't be found!*

*Yeah, exactly,* he agreed, looking grim.

Tsarra's eyes fluttered open and she glanced up at Alyssa then gave her a radiant smile. "Thank you so much for everything! Today has been the best day of my life!"

"I should be thanking you for making John so happy," the blonde replied, before leaning over to give her a gentle kiss. She placed her hand on Tsarra's toned abdomen and added, "Do you feel ready for tonight?"

The Maliri girl turned to look into John's eyes. "I couldn't be more ready..."

Alyssa's hand moved to carefully cup his quad, feeling how full his balls were again. "How about you, handsome? Ready to become a daddy?"

"I am," he agreed, returning Tsarra's excited gaze without any doubts. He paused, then glanced at Alyssa in confusion. "You and Edraele are obviously both planning something for this evening... what are you up to?"

Tsarra shared a grin with Alyssa and shook her head. "We wouldn't want to spoil the surprise!"

John laughed as Alyssa helped them both up. "I think my naughty blonde Matriarch is a bad influence on you..."

"I hope so!" Tsarra replied, hugging the teenager.

The three of them left the observatory and headed up to the main bedroom, which was currently deserted. John led the way into the shower, adjusting the temperature to make it just right for the girls as they stripped off and joined him. They embraced and stood quietly together, savouring the feelings of intimacy as the water splashed over them.

Eventually, Alyssa tilted her head up for a kiss with John, which he gladly gave her. He enjoyed her soft lips moving against his, until she pulled back a little and glanced at Tsarra. The Maliri girl took over, her green eyes flashing with anticipation as they began to kiss.

Alyssa moved behind Tsarra and wrapped her in a hug. "I'm so glad there's such a strong connection between you two," she said quietly, kissing a slender blue shoulder. "This is a perfect solution; everyone gets exactly what they want..."

Her hands slipped down to caress Tsarra's slim stomach, drawing an excited moan from the Maliri girl sandwiched between them. "Tsarra gets to start rebuilding her House, while cementing an alliance with the most powerful man in the Maliri Protectorate. While John gets to help a beautiful, wonderful girl in need, and starts building the huge, loving family he's always wanted..."

John eased back from Tsarra's yearning lips and gave her a fond smile before glancing at Alyssa. "And what do you get out of this, beautiful? What's in it for you?"

Alyssa's cerulean eyes flashed with feverish excitement. "I get to see the man I love prove his virility to me and breed this sexy woman..." She hugged Tsarra closer, massaging her lower abdomen. "I want to watch this gorgeous girl grow big with your strong baby in her tummy; see the looks you'll share when you place your caring hand on her pregnant belly."

She pressed herself closer to Tsarra and whispered in her ear, "You want that too, don't you, sexy? You weren't joking earlier... You want to be his hot little blue broodmare, growing a powerful Progenitor's baby inside you. Just the thought of it is thrilling, isn't it? Why don't you tell John how many of his children you want..."

Tsarra gasped as Alyssa's practiced fingers found her clit. "At least four!" she managed to whimper, sagging against him.

"So greedy..." Alyssa purred, while gazing lustily into John's eyes. "At least by the time she's ready for the second, I'll have my own baby bump. All your girls will..."

Between Alyssa's commentary and Tsarra's soft gasps as she writhed against him, John's cock was as hard as steel. He was so horny, he felt almost in a haze of lust as Tsarra sought out his lips for more kisses. Alyssa washed them as they kissed, then guided them out of the shower, where they parted to dry off in a rush.

The blonde held both of their hands and said quietly, "Everyone's waiting for us..."

When John followed her into the bedroom, he found that the main lights were out, with only the bed bathed in soft warm illumination. Although he couldn't see the rest of the girls in the darkness, he could hear the faint sound of their excited breaths. He glanced at Tsarra to check she was alright with this.

She gave him a radiant smile in return, obviously having been informed of his Matriarchs' plans beforehand. "I want to share everything with my new sisters," she explained, before walking confidently to the bed and joining Alyssa in crawling across the covers.

The blonde teenager lay on the bed and spread her legs to make room for Tsarra, who rested back against her, using Alyssa's firm breasts as a pillow. She parted her own thighs in invitation, her pussy already wet with her arousal.

John took a deep breath to steady his nerves, then climbed onto the bed with them. He knelt between Tsarra's splayed legs and ran his hands over the velvety-smooth skin on her inner thighs. The Maliri girl arched her back at his touch and let out a quiet moan, her dark-green eyes filled with need.

Letting his hands move further up her body, John caressed her toned stomach, while gazing into her eyes. "The cum I fed you this morning brought your womb to the peak of fertility. Are you sure you're ready for this? Any last doubts?"

"I want your baby so much!" she gasped, her hips rocking with small involuntary movements.

John closed his eyes and focused on her body in the compartments in his mind. She still glowed from the cum he'd pumped into her stomach earlier that afternoon and he knew that preparing her would be easy as breathing. Reaching into the Maliri girl, he nudged her fertile ovaries to respond, triggering her ovulation. Tsarra moaned as she felt the tickling twinge in her lower belly, knowing exactly what that meant and giving him a look of breathless anticipation when he opened his eyes.

Alyssa nodded, looking equally as excited. "There, she's all primed and ready to be bred..." Her hand snaked around Tsarra to cup and massage her breasts as she whispered in her pointed ear. "Not long, beautiful..."

Swabbing the head of his cock over that blue pussy, John made sure he was nice and ready to enter her. Pressing forward, he eased his way inside, Tsarra's body already trained to yield and stretch for him. She still let out a groan of disbelief, her supple muscles forced wide to provide a tight sheath for his huge girth. He penetrated her deeper with a series of gentle but insistent thrusts, until he'd bottomed out at her cervix.

Supporting his weight on his elbows as he lay down against her, he brushed her flowing white hair away from her face and gave her a brief kiss. "This is the last time I'll be able to enter your womb... for at least nine months."

A fleeting look of regret flashed across her face, before she gave him a sultry smile. "You'll have to leave me something to remember you by then..."

He nodded and pressed forward, seeing her eyes widen as she felt the momentary pressure, before her malleable body took him all the way to her depths. Tsarra cradled him with her thighs, resting her toned calves across his buttocks, while wrapping her arms around him too. John felt the invitation in that loving embrace, knowing that she had no intention of releasing her grip until he'd filled her womb and given her what she most desired.