Three Square Meals Ch. 100

The dragon reared back and sneered as it shook its head. "YOU AND YOUR TERRAN FEDERATION ARE WEAK AND PATHETIC. BOTH OF YOU ARE NOTHING BUT PREY FOR MORE POWERFUL PREDATORS."

Baledranax lowered his shoulders and squatted down, opening fire with the Plasma Cannons that jutted out over his head. The bolts blasted out, but John had sprinted clear, already closing the gap with the dragon. The Emperor tried to skitter backwards, holding himself upright with his left forelimb, the right raised defensively to protect his face from those ethereal flames.

At the last moment, John changed course, turning to his right and running up the back of Baledranax's left forepaw. Leaping in the air, sword held aloft in both hands, John plunged it down into that black armour. The blade hacked straight through metal and thick dragonscales, the flames roaring with almost feral glee as they incinerated the Emperor's flesh.

Howling in agony, the dragon tried to bat John off the back of his clawed hand with a slash from his other wounded forearm. John yanked the sword free and leapt clear, pivoting as he did so and whipping his sword around with all of his strength. The blade sliced straight through the Emperor's upper claw, shearing it off at the second knuckle.

The dragon roared with indignant rage, yellow blood spurting like a fountain from the vicious cut, until sizzling blue flames cauterised the wound. Baledranax had never known pain like it! That hideous ethereal fire burned him to the soul, the torment from those wounds beyond excruciating. Instinctively the Emperor knew that those wounds would take forever to heal.

John took advantage of the dragon's distraction and with a furious cry he put his full momentum into a two-handed swing. His blade cut deep, hacking through the Emperor's massive wrist. He jumped clear as Baledranax screeched with newfound agony, yanking back his burning forearm and the dangling claw, the few remaining sinews barely attaching both together.

That limb was now fully wreathed in fire, the ghastly wound burning and spitting as the flames ate into Baledranax's flesh. It didn't take long for the fire to complete the dismemberment, the dragon's burning claw dropping to the ground with a sickening thump, flames still licking at the end of his forearm. The Emperor looked at the smouldering stump in shock, never once thinking that their battle would turn out this way.

"Kindralax thought he was immortal," John said quietly. "Are you just as deluded?"

Crawling backwards with his blackened forelimb held at his chest, Baledranax eyed John warily now, painfully aware that he had underestimated his opponent. "YOU HAVE PROVEN YOUR STRENGTH, LION... PERHAPS IT'S NOT TOO LATE TO CONSIDER AN ALLIANCE?"

John shook his head, glowing eyes narrowed in anger. "Don't be ridiculous, it's far too late. You need to pay for the atrocities you've committed; the massacre in the Dragon March and the bombing of Unity City..."

Baledranax sneered as his wings snapped open, the jagged tear now fully healed. "YOU WILL REGRET SPURNING MY OFFER, LION. BUT THIS ISN'T OVER YET AND ONLY THE VICTOR GETS TO JUDGE HIS ENEMIES!" Kicking off the ground with his enormous rear legs, the dragon's wings beat furiously to launch him skyward.

John glanced to his left. *You got him?*

*Yep,* Alyssa replied grimly.

He watched the huge dragon soar aloft. *Take him down.*

Twin streams of bright blue laser bolts pounded into Baledranax's shield, huge rippling waves spreading across the surface as the protective device struggled valiantly against the onslaught. The Emperor's shield generator was the same as those installed in Kintark destroyers, his 200-foot-long body nearly the same size as one of those warships. However, Alyssa and Rachel were using Reaper Cannons, and it only took ten seconds of their combined fire to burn through the shield, the laser bolts suddenly penetrating inside that dome as it gave out. The two lines of fire separated, each one cutting across the dragon's wings and burning scores of glowing holes through the scaly membranes.

Baledranax snarled in pain and slowed his ascent, hanging motionless in the air for a second, despite the frantic flapping of his tattered wings. Alyssa took careful aim and strafed her Reaper Cannon across the shoulder joint, blistering laser bolts slamming into the dragon's black armour and melting glowing holes through metal, flesh and bone. The joint was neatly severed and the Emperor's right wing cartwheeled through the air before fluttering down to the ground.

The dragon was in for a far more severe return to earth and Baledranax's face twisted in fear as he plummeted towards the ground. He was a couple of hundred metres into the air when the girls shot him out of the sky, so gravity had plenty of time to do its deadly work. There was a thunderous boom when the Emperor smashed into the ground, the rippling impact shaking what was left of the shattered fortifications.

"It's over, Baledranax," John said as he approached the battered dragon.

The Emperor let out a rumbling groan and lifted his head, hate-filled defiance burning in those reptilian eyes. "ENJOY YOUR HOLLOW VICTORY, LION. YOU MIGHT HAVE DEFEATED ME, BUT THESE WOUNDS ARE JUST A TEMPORARY IRRITATION AND WILL HEAL IN TIME. THE TERRAN FLEETS HAVE BEEN SMASHED, MY OWN FORCES TRIUMPHANT..." With a grimace of irritation, he continued, "I WILL GRANT YOU SAFE PASSAGE FROM WHAT USED TO BE THE TERRAN FEDERATION IN EXCHANGE FOR MY FREEDOM."

John tilted his head to one side as he listened to Alyssa fill him in on events in space. "That's a generous offer, but I'm afraid I'll have to decline."

Baledranax sneered at him with derision. "MY FLEETS WILL-"

John interrupted, his tone calm and even. "Your fleets have been wiped out almost to a ship."

The Emperor was about to mockingly deny the Lion's claim, but something in his voice made the dragon suddenly far less certain. "THAT'S IMPOSSIBLE..."

"I brought the Maliri with me..." John said, staring into the dragon's huge eye.

"NO..." Baledranax gasped, claws scrabbling on the ferrocrete as he tried to haul himself upright. "NOOOO!"

John stepped forward and slugged the dragon in the jaw, the massive blow smashing the scales on its chin and knocking the Emperor reeling. "You were used as a pawn, Baledranax. Your ally played you for a fool and your stupidity in believing him has cost the Kintark Empire everything."

"IT'S NOT OVER! I'LL KILL YOU, YOU MISERABLE INSECT!" the dragon roared, a maniacal gleam in his feverish eyes.

*Did you get everything?* John asked, glancing at Alyssa, who stood nearby.

*Yeah, I got it all,* she replied, her eyes glowing with a radiant white light.

Grasping his sword in a two-handed grip, John stared into the dragon's eyes and intoned, "For war crimes against humanity, I sentence you to death, Baledranax."

The Emperor opened his huge jaws to spit more defiant words at his tormentor, but John lunged forward and impaled the dragon in the throat. His fiery sword plunged up through the base of Baledranax's skull and into his brain, where John unleashed the eldritch flames swathing the blade. Blue fire snorted out of the dragon's nostrils, then a second later his terrified eyes were incinerated, flames pouring out of the Emperor's charred eyesockets as his roasted head slumped to the ground.

John inhaled deeply, then let out his breath in a heavy sigh. After giving Alyssa a grateful nod, he said, *Alright, let's wrap up the battle and deal with Weber...* He paused for a second, then continued, *Jade, what's happening?*

***

Anguished sobs echoed around the Bridge of the Vengeance of Hera, the source of those cries huddled in a ball near the command table. Above the weeping figure were two holographic images, the first depicting a Tactical Map of the Sol System, the second image showing video feedback from the surface of Terra.

On the Tactical Map, an endless sea of Kintark ships were now smashed beyond repair. The huge carrier group had been obliterated without a single survivor, the proud Praetorian bombardment fleet reduced to a smattering of lifeless hulks, and the armada... Thousands of ships representing every spaceworthy warship in the Empire had been destroyed, leaving Kintark territory naked and helpless before the wrath of their enemies. There were less than a hundred ships left intact, but they had all surrendered, and were now being approached by dropships full of Terran marines.

The images from Terra were being filmed by media satellites, which the Kintark flagship had deployed in low orbit around the Terran Homeworld. That video was supposed to capture a pivotal moment in Kintark history, broadcasting the Emperor's victory across both the Empire and the Terran Federation. Baledranax had intended for this to be a triumphant moment for his people, rallying them behind him, while simultaneously crushing the spirit of the Terran civilians. Instead, the Emperor lay hacked and burning, broken on the field of battle by the Lion of the Federation.

Overcome with grief, Melkadian could only wonder how it could have gone so wrong...

Irillith peeled her psychic projection from a holo-screen, then glanced around the Bridge, her eyes drifting over the two figures by the command table. The man in a Terran Federation uniform lay still in a pool of his own blood, his skin tinged with a ghostly pallor. Admiral Norwood's final expression was one of agonised torment, a horrible mixture of utter grief, regret, and pain. To see a person succumb to such terrible anguish would have moved the Maliri hacker, but in this case, she was satisfied that the traitor had deserved every second of his last moments of misery.

Gliding over to the weeping Kintark leader, she squatted down next to him and studied the Grand Prelate. "So, Melkadian... your dreams of conquest have ended in utter defeat. The Emperor has been slain, your invasion army slaughtered, the Kintark armada destroyed, and millions of your people are dead."

Melkadian looked up at her with bloodshot eyes, and in a voice hoarse from crying, he croaked, "Don't you think I know that, witch? I've lossst everything... what elssse can you torture me with now?"

She paused for a long moment, carefully planning out her next words. "You do realise that the Terran Federation will be crying out for vengeance after what you did to Port Medea and Unity City? Annexation of the entire Kintark Empire and subjugation of your people is almost a certainty at this point..."

The Grand Prelate started to tremble, the expression on his face one of abject horror. "No! Why are you doing thisss?!"

Irillith gave him a humourless smile, her eyes narrowing dangerously. "I've hacked everything on this ship, Melkadian. I've seen your plans for slave labour camps... You really would have enslaved Terran children too?" She looked at him with disgust as she continued, "Yes, I know Baledranax wanted the conquest and the slaves, but it was you who planned to work the Terrans to death and wipe them from the galaxy... Isn't it deliciously ironic that due to your actions, the Kintark species will probably suffer that exact same fate?"

"Pleassse, no... I can't lisssten to any more," Melkadian begged, clawing at his muzzle in his grief.

"And it was all so unnecessary," she crooned, leaning closer. "John would have gladly allied with you against the other Progenitor. You could have joined forces with the Maliri, the Ashanath, the Trankarans, and the Terrans, forming a glorious alliance with all of us working together for the betterment of all. It would have heralded a golden age for the Kintark Empire... rather than the horrible nightmare that you and Baledranax have now inflicted on them."

The Grand Prelate shook, his body wracked with sobs, horrified by the enormity of the catastrophe he had inadvertently helped orchestrate for his own people.

"But don't worry, Melkadian, I'll make sure your family will be fine." Irillith gave him a malevolent smile. "I'll ask John if we can round them up and put them in a zoo; when the rest of your species are extinct, they'll make a fascinating exhibit..."

Melkadian began to shriek and wail, his mind breaking under the strain.

Satisfied that her work was done, Irillith reached out to brush her fingers over his thrashing head. A sizzling bolt of lightning blasted into the maddened Grand Prelate, making him screech with pain before going rigid and sprawling on the deck. Smoke poured off his charred body, his horrified eyes staring blankly at his merciless tormentor.

"I might have given you a quick death until I saw your plans for the Terran children," Irillith murmured as she stood up straight. "There are far too many genocidal maniacs running around the galaxy, and unlike my mother, there's no way back for you..."

She closed her eyes and recalled her mind to her body... she still had more work to do today.

***

Ailanthia watched as her master leaned back, a smile of satisfaction on his face as he gazed at Baledranax's smouldering corpse.

She darted a glance at the Galactic Map, and feeling bold, she asked tentatively, "May I, my Lord?"

He looked her way and saw what had drawn her attention. "Be my guest," he replied with a smirk, gesturing towards the brightly coloured map.

Her eyes sparkled as she reached over, slender fingers tipping over the holographic representation of a red dragon. "That's the Kintark Empire eliminated..." Ailanthia's hand wandered across the map until she reached the model of a uniformed Terran officer, then with a contemptuous backhand, knocked him over too. "And the Terran Federation too crippled to be of consequence..."

Eyes roving over the map, her master said, "Which leaves only the Brimorians and the Maliri..."

"Not for long," Ailanthia reminded him with a broad smile.

He laughed and nodded. "Yes, very true..." Leaning back in his chair, he appeared lost in thought for a while.

"Is there something on your mind, My Lord?" Ailanthia asked politely, studying his handsome face and trying to commit it to memory, as if she hadn't already memorised every exquisite detail.

Rousing himself from his thoughts, he nodded slowly. "I was thinking that it's nearly time for a little family reunion..."

Ailanthia remained silent, hoping that he might elaborate, but he chose to let the matter drop.

A calculating smile spread across his face when he saw her watching him. "Speaking of families, after today's entertainment, I feel like a special celebration might be in order..."

She felt her heart lift with joy... Surely he couldn't mean what she thought he was saying?! Ailanthia had wished for this moment for more years than she could count!

"Matriarch, select the most beautiful of my thralls, I wish to sire another child tonight," he said dismissively.

Ailanthia's joy disintegrated like a planet blasted by a Quantum Annihilator. In its place she experienced a wild surge of jealous rage, emotions she'd never felt before threatened to consume her in their wild intensity. "No!" she snapped, eyes blazing with fury. "I will not!"

"No, Ailanthia?" her master asked, a dangerous edge to his voice. "I could snuff out your life in an instant... What makes you think you can object to anything I desire?"

"Because I've served you faithfully for over four thousand years!" she screamed, shaking with anger. "I won't stand aside while you impregnate another one of those doe-eyed imbeciles! It should be my turn!"

He laughed at her, finding her indignant rage quite amusing. "My, what a temper you have, my jealous little Matriarch!"

"Fuck you!" she shrieked, hand whipping around and slapping him across the face.

They both froze, staring at one another in equal astonishment.

Then before she could say another word, her master held her in his arms and gazed deeply into her eyes. "By the stars you're beautiful when you're angry!" he exclaimed with a grin, looking at her in wonder. He pulled her in for a fierce kiss which she returned with equal abandon, moaning wantonly into his mouth as she writhed against him.

"Oh, My Lord..." she sighed when they parted, eyes sparkling with arousal.

He brought his hand around and gently caressed her toned lower belly, matching her lustful stare. "Let us retire to my quarters, my beautiful Ailanthia. It is long past time I showed you just how much you mean to me."

Ailanthia swooned, her gaze softening as she gave him a tender kiss. "I love you, Larn'kelnar."

He swept her off her feet and into his arms, then carried her away to their quarters, the lovers gazing into each other's eyes.

***

Jade kept a firm grip on the flightstick, following as close as she dared behind the black shuttle that was creeping towards its destination. That Weber was heading towards Jupiter had been an intriguing development, because the huge gas giant was uninhabitable, the planet's surface covered in raging storms. The only viable possibility for his destination seemed to be one of Jupiter's many other moons, but only Io, Europa, and Callisto were populated with conventional starbases.

She knew that Ganymede had been obliterated centuries earlier during a rogue AI rebellion, so she discounted that possibility straight away. That left several dozen tiny moons, any of which could feasibly house some kind of secret base, so Jade eventually came to the conclusion that this seemed like their most plausible destination. It therefore came as quite a surprise when the shuttle abruptly changed course as it got closer to Jupiter. The nose of Weber's shuttle swung around, pointing towards the broken remnants of what had once been the planet's largest moon... Ganymede.

***

*Alright Jade, let me know as soon as you've confirmed the location of the base,* John said, as he strode towards the debris strewn courtyard in front of the Citadel. *We'll be there as soon as we can.*

"Faye and Dana are on their way in the Raptor, they'll be a few minutes," Alyssa said, glancing at him as she kept pace at his side. "Calara said that the last of the Kintark fleet have surrendered and they've also issued a surrender order to what's left of their army. The Invictus is pretty busted up, so they're already on their way towards Jupiter. We'll catch them up in the Raptor."

"Perfect. Thanks, honey," John said gratefully as they rounded the corner of the Citadel.

An impromptu triage centre had sprung up outside the fortress, where several harried medics were reviewing the scores of Terran injured. They were trying to arrange orderlies to carry the most severely wounded inside the Citadel, to the surgeons waiting in the extensive Medical facilities within. Dozens more wounded were trickling in from all directions, adding to the chaos. John felt his stomach lurch when he spotted a couple of golden-armoured Maliri soldiers slumped amongst the injured, with one of the assassins standing protectively over them.

*Don't worry,* Edraele murmured, her voice soothing. *Almari said that they've just got some burns from plasma that splashed over their armour. It wasn't a direct hit and the injuries aren't life threatening.*

*Thank the stars for that,* he replied, feeling a surge of relief, then couldn't help feeling guilty when he saw the sheer numbers of Terran wounded.

Rachel reached out to grab his arm, bringing him to a halt and giving him a pointed look. "I want to help them..."

Knowing what she was asking, John didn't hesitate as he nodded his permission. "Go ahead, honey. We've been throwing offensive powers around all morning, I'm sure the cat's well and truly out of the bag by now."

She gave him a lovely smile, then turned and ran towards the injured soldiers. Tashana had left the battlements and was jogging towards them, but she abruptly changed direction, moving to accompany the brunette instead.