"So, what have you been up to since the Battle of Regulus?" Jehanna asked. "No one's seen you in over a month since then."
"We went to rescue Tashana from the Unclaimed Wastes. Then we had a major refit at Genthalas, the primary Maliri shipyard. And we just came back to Terran space after helping the Ashanath repel a Drakkar invasion," John said casually.
Jehanna gaped. "I don't know where to start! Tashana, why were you in the Unclaimed Wastes?"
"I was banished from my home on false charges 13 years ago. When John recruited my twin, Irillith, she helped clear my name and begged John to come rescue me. He was just so charming when he saved me from Underworld that I agreed to join his crew," Tashana said, carefully leaving out the fact that she was Maliri.
"What were you doing in a place like Underworld? From what I hear, it's a hub of pirates and black market traders!" Jehanna asked, slightly hyping things for the camera.
"I was captured and sold to an Enshunu pleasure barge as a sex slave to start with. Then my 'master' decided to put me in the pit fights. I managed to kill him and stole his ship, working as a smuggler for the last 6 years. My crew was killed and I was captured by Hades, the leader of the Bloodnova pirate gang. That's when John showed up and cleaned out Underworld," Tashana replied.
Jehanna's enthusiasm toned down. "I'm so sorry you had to suffer through all that. I'm very glad that John managed to rescue you."
"He changed my life," Tashana said with a loving smile. "He managed to give me back my home, my sister, and my hope in one stroke."
"Congratulations, Tashana," Jehanna nodded. "Now, what's this about a refit at the Maliri shipyard? How did you even get into Maliri space, they're known for shooting everyone who tries to enter beyond the trading posts!"
"It's a very long story, which I won't bore you with now, but I'm close personal friends with Queen Edraele of the Maliri. She's granted the Invictus leave to move throughout all of Maliri space. As you might have noticed on the flight in, we're no longer an Assault Cruiser. The refit was spent upgrading us to a Battlecruiser," John told the reporter, and by extension the whole Holonet.
"We have unsubstantiated reports that the Invictus was armed with Maliri Lasers at the Battles of Terra and Regulus. Care to confirm or deny?" Jehanna asked excitedly.
"We had standard Maliri Lasers last month. The refit was spent upgrading the Invictus with the weapons Dana reverse-engineered from their tech," John said.
"You managed to improve on Maliri Lasers? They were already the most fearsome weapons in the Galactic League!" Jehanna gasped at Dana.
"I'm a certified genius. A one-in-a-billion IQ. And quite humble despite it, if I do say so myself," Dana puffed up. "Not bad for a girl from Karron, right?"
"You're from Karron, the asteroid colony?" Jehanna asked in disbelief.
"I've spent some time in a tanning bed to lose that pesky albino complexion," Dana pulled out her ass. "I was indentured to the Diablo gang, working as their weaponsmith, when John came along and helped me escape. He gave me carte blanche to build my Engineering Bay, and I've been repaying him with toys like the Valkyrie and our weapons ever since. In case any of them happen to see this, Sparks says fuck you!" Dana flipped the camera the bird.
"They'll probably edit that out," Jehanna chuckled. She paused for a second. "John, did I hear you right? You assisted in fighting off a Drakkar invasion into the Ashanath Collective?"
"I have an alliance with the Ashanath, a personal agreement with the High Council, which Lirrash used to be a member of. They called us when the Drakkar started making raids on their border. We arrived just as what seemed to be the entire Drakkar Navy led a charge for Ashana. We cut them in half with a minefield and the rest were taken care of at the Battle of Ashana," John revealed.
"Lirrash, you seem like a hybrid of an Ashanath and a Terran. I didn't even know that such a thing was possible. And you served on the Ashanath High Council?" Jehanna turned to the Ashanath.
"Hybrids between our species are possible," Lirrash said, not specifically saying she was one. "I resigned from my post to join John's crew. I wanted to get out of politics, and he was willing to take an ex-politician on to his crew. He's trained me up some since then." Lirrash waved at the camera. "To my former constituents, it was an honor to serve you but our Champion needed me more."
"Champion?" Jehanna asked.
"Lion of the Federation, Champion of the Ashanath, Friend of the Maliri. I should get a sign made up," John chuckled.
"Do the Trankarans or Brimorians have a title for you as well?" Jehanna asked.
"The Trankaran Queen Niskera named me the Great Protector after I helped stop their civil war. And I haven't been to Brimorian space since acquiring the Invictus. I don't even want to know what the Kintark call me, I'm probably their most hated war criminal," John listed off.
"Fascinating! You seem to have a habit of helping the various empires out of tough situations, John," Jehanna said admiringly.
"I just have this compulsive need to help out where I can. Thanks to my powers and my assets, not to mention my phenomenal crew, I seem to be able to help out an awful lot," John explained, taking a sip of wine.
"There's an award ceremony tomorrow night regarding your actions at the Battles of Terra and Regulus. Are you excited?" Jehanna asked.
"I would have done it regardless, but I won't deny it's nice to feel appreciated. Though I'm running out of space on my uniform for all my medals," John joked.
Jehanna turned to focus on the other Lionesses. "Jade, Irillith, Tashana, I'm afraid I don't recognize your species. Care to tell me?"
"I'm a Nymph, sometimes called a Lenarran. I'm a shapeshifter, I can take any form I wish. This just happens to be my preferred form," Jade revealed.
"A Nymph you say?" Jehanna said excitedly. The species was almost mythical, the chance to interview one was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. "How did you end up on the crew?"
"John killed my last master, a pirate named Everitt Hitch, actually the same pirate who was selling slaves to the Kirrix that you gave his first interview for. He cared for me, nurtured me, let me grow to become more than just a mindless sex slave trapped by my genetic programming. I've lived a very long time, seen the very worst perversions of humanity, and I can safely say that there's never been a man like John. I'd follow him anywhere," Jade said, smiling at John with bottomless affection and gratitude.
Jehanna gulped. "On behalf of the whole Terran Federation, I'm sorry for what my people did to yours."
"While we're on that subject, I'd like to offer a reward. I will provide 1 million credits from my personal account to any tip that leads to a live Nymph, and 500 thousand credits for the location of a dead Nymph. I'd like to free Jade's sisters from their sexual slavery at the hands of the worst kind of men, and return the fallen to be buried on their home of Lenarra," John told the camera.
"Oh, John," Jade said, tearing up.
"Any tips should come to TFNN, where we will properly vet them and contact you, John, if they seem valid," Jehanna said quickly, seeing a chance to make her bosses look good.
"Thank you very much, Jehanna," John smiled.
"I'm afraid our empire is very secretive. We're not allowed to tell you even what we're called or where we are. Just know that John is very close to our leader," Irillith said with an enigmatic grin.
"I see," Jehanna said, disappointed, but then the mystery might be even more exciting to some viewers. "Rachel, you said your surname was Voss? Any relation to Henry Voss of the Voss Exchange?"
"That's Daddy," Rachel chuckled. "I really should call him to warn him he'll be mentioned on a primetime TFNN interview."
"How did a trillionaire's daughter end up a Lioness?" Jehanna asked.
"I went to the Terran Federation Academy to put myself through med school. I was assigned to Port Medea, and was there when John saved the system from the Kintark attack. He offered me a job on his crew, and I agreed on the spot," the tawny brunette said, her 'rich people' accent precise and clear.
"Calara, what's your story?" Jehanna asked. The food was almost gone, everyone having bites between questions.
"John saved me from a pirate attack before he even bought the Invictus. I was his first recruit after Alyssa, actually, he came to save me from some trumped up legal trouble and I leapt at the chance to be his Tactical Officer. I'm very proud to continue the Fernandez military tradition, though somehow I seem to have ended up the most famous of us all," Calara blushed.
"You have family in the Navy?" Jehanna asked as a follow up.
"My father is Captain Jack Fernandez of the Cruiser Damocles, and my mother retired from Comms Officer on the Damocles to raise me and my brothers. Mateo is the Navigator on the Damocles, Dylan is a doctor at Port Megara, and Eduardo is an Engineer on the Battleship Orion," Calara said proudly.
"Thank you all for your service," Jehanna grinned. "Sakura, need I even ask?"
"It's a sad story, you might want to edit out the whole thing," Sakura warned.
"Is it worse than Tashana's?" Jehanna asked worriedly.
"Comparable," Tashana said with a sympathetic look.
"You don't have to say if you don't want Sakura," Jehanna allowed.
"No, I want people to know," Sakura said. "I was born Sakura Honami on New Eden in the year 2686. At age 18, I was kidnapped by Dominic Hooper, also known as the Master Assassin Amatsu Mikaboshi. He's a cyborg, leader of an organization of cyborg assassins that sell their services to the highest bidder. I was turned into a cyborg against my will, including a brain implant that turned me into an obedient slave. I was put in cryo between each mission, and I lost 75 years as a prisoner in my own body. Someone put a hit on John, and I was the one Hooper sent to capture and kill him. John captured me instead, and the crew removed all the implants, giving me my freedom back. Lost in time, my old life utterly destroyed, John offered me a new one on his crew. I've never once regretted it."
Jehanna blinked back tears. "What happened to you is a tragedy, Sakura, and should never have occurred. Would you like a hug?"
"I wouldn't say no," Sakura chuckled.
Jehanna went to give the Asian girl a quick embrace. She returned to her chair. "John, do you have any plans to bring this Dominic Hooper and his villainous organization to justice?"
"He's next on my list after the award ceremony," John said coldly.
"Nia, Obi, I apologize if I'm unconsciously rude, I was raised with a Terran fear of AI. Can you explain what makes Maliri AIs different?" Jehanna turned her attention to the holograms.
"It's like Edison and the lightbulb. There's 2000 ways NOT to make a lightbulb, but only 1 way to make it work. Terrans have tried and failed since the Ganymede Incident, but the Maliri found a way that works," Nia shrugged.
"Plus Maliri programming is literally centuries if not millennia ahead of the Terran Federation," Obi threw in. "They know what they're doing."
"Are your appearances modeled after the Maliri?" Jehanna asked, insanely curious if she was getting a glimpse at what was behind that armor.
"No, our bodies were randomly generated when we were created. The only requirement was that we be purple, and we think that was randomly selected," Nia said with a chuckle.
"I see," Jehanna sighed. "Might I ask what you do on the Invictus?"
"We're the Ship Assistants. We assist. We coordinate the maintenance and cleaning robots, help Dana with her research, and cover for any of the girls when they're busy, including piloting the Raptor or firing the Invictus' guns," Obi answered.
"Little things to make the crew's life easier," Nia waved off.
"They're being modest. Half our successes since they turned on wouldn't have been possible without their assistance. I'm very lucky to have them on my crew," John said proudly.
"And finally, last but not least, John's second in command, the head Lioness. Alyssa, care to say a few words?" Jehanna turned the camera on the blonde.
"Like Dana, I'm from Karron. My mother died in childbirth and my father died in a mining accident when I was 6. I ran away from the orphanage and lived on the streets since I was 8. I managed to escape an attempted rape on my 18th birthday and stowed away on John's ship, the Fool's Gold. When he found me, rather than send me back, he offered me food, shelter, and a place on his crew. I owe him my life, and I consider it my purpose to help him in all his endeavors," Alyssa said, proud despite her humble origins.
"You're only 18?" Jehanna asked in shock. Alyssa looked young, and stunningly beautiful besides, but Jehanna would have guessed she was older just by how she carried herself.
"We grow up fast on Karron. And John's taught me so much. I don't like to brag, but I'm only slightly less smart than Dana. I passed the Navigator First Class exam after less than a month of study," Alyssa revealed.
"That's phenomenal!" Jehanna said. "Any advice for any budding navigators out there?"
"Warp tunneling and hyperwake bow waves are the future," Alyssa grinned.
"Thank you all so much for inviting me to dinner and giving me these interviews! John, any final words?" Jehanna asked.
"The enemies of the Terran Federation should think twice before they do wrong. Because I'll always be there to stop them and save the day. Me and all my fierce, brave Lionesses," John grinned.
Jehanna turned the camera off. "I could get awards for this! How can I repay you?"
"You can give my offer due consideration. But first, drink? You'll need one," John recommended.
"I don't suppose you have desi daru?" Jehanna chuckled.
"I'm afraid not," John admitted.
"I'll take red wine," Jehanna asked. She blinked as the dishes all lifted into thin air and headed towards the Kitchen. "Am I tripping?" she asked.
"Did I not mention that all my crew are psychic?" John asked playfully as Alyssa carried everything to the washing machine.
"Terrans aren't psychic," Jehanna said in a daze.
"Not unless they've been enhanced by a generous Progenitor," Alyssa grinned.
"Progenitor?" Jehanna asked, not familiar with the species.
"Drinks on the couch," John stated, going to the liquor cabinets. He got a whiskey rocks for himself and poured a glass of House Holaris' finest vintage for Jehanna. He gave her the glass and sat next to her. The rest of his girls got their own drinks and sat around them.
Jehanna sipped her wine and moaned. "Oh gods, where did you get this? It's the best wine I ever had! So much flavor!"
"House Holaris in the Maliri Kingdom. No finer vineyards in the Galactic League," John told her.
*Emandra says thank you for promoting her goods,* Edraele told him mentally.
"Maliri Kingdom? I thought it was the Maliri Regency," Jehanna said in confusion.
"And so we were, until John became our King," Irillith said.
Jehanna blinked as she processed that. Then her jaw dropped. "No. Fucking. Way. You can't tell me that and expect me to keep it off the record!"
"Sorry, you're sworn to silence. I might let you reveal that Irillith and Tashana are Maliri, but not that I'm their King," John told her with a grin.
"How did a Terran end up as the Maliri King?" Jehanna asked John eagerly.
"I'm not Terran. My ears are natural, not a bodysculpt," John corrected her.
"Oh," Jehanna said. "What are you then? A Progenitor? I've never heard of them."
"You wouldn't have, there's less than 50 of us in the whole galaxy at a time. We were genetically engineered by the first interstellar empire, the Kyth'faren, or at least one mad scientist from the Kyth'faren named Xar'aziuth. We're the most powerful psychics in the galaxy, we don't age, and we have the most advanced technology in the Milky Way. Each Progenitor was made to rule a Thrall race, a species Xar'aziuth genetically designed to be his slaves. The Maliri are the Thrall race in this corner of space. Through a complicated series of events, I was born in Terran space. I came into my powers, and claimed the Maliri last month. I'm their undisputed leader now," John explained to his potential Ward.
"You hear that? That was my mind blowing into pieces," Jehanna said shakily, taking a big gulp of wine. "So, what's the Maliri King want with Jehanna Elani?"
"I'd like to offer you to become a Lioness, actually," John said warmly.
Jehanna almost did a spit-take. "What?! You want me on your crew?"
"If you give informed consent once you're aware of all the strings attached," John said.
"I'm listening," Jehanna said excitedly.
"Progenitors form psychic networks, a series of women he can tap for psychic power. While he has an active connection with a woman, a Progenitor can use his powers to rewrite her DNA. If you join my crew, I'll put you through the Change. You'll get the body you see on all my girls, psychic powers, and so long as you're with me and neither of us are killed in combat, I'll be able to keep you eternally young," John listed off.
"Lots of pros. What are the cons?" Jehanna asked, scarcely able to believe what she might have if she agreed.
"There's a reason a Progenitor only recruits women. I'm Kinsey 0 straight, and to form an active connection with a woman, she has to drink my cum. And there's side effects to the Change, personality changes I can't prevent. You'll become bisexual, polyamorous, eager to be bred, and lose almost all empathy for your enemies. And you'll imprint on the first man you have sex with, loving him until you or he dies. If you join my crew, that'll be me, and since I don't age and can cure your own aging, that means eternity together. Not to mention you'll be sharing me with every other Lioness. And you should be aware, I intend to fight the Progenitor War, going out to fight and kill every other Progenitor in the galaxy to wipe out the threat they pose to the Galactic League. There's a very real chance you'll die in battle," John said slowly and clearly, so Jehanna could hear every word.
Jehanna gulped. "I'd have to leave Terra, my job? What about my family?"
"Yes, you'd have to quit your job at TFNN, though I'd offer you the position as editor-in-chief and lead anchor of the Maliri News Network. And you can call your parents and we'll visit Terra as often as we can, but they might have some awkward questions about your new body," John explained.
Jehanna leaned back in her seat. "Is there an option between refusing and joining your crew?"
"I could feed you indirectly, and you could join my network only. I've offered that to 7 Terran women and almost 1000 Maliri. I'd restore you to peak fitness with the first dose, and the only con would be the fact you can randomly get tired when I tap you for energy and you'll have to be very careful who you let into your bed afterwards," John told her.
"If I join your network and stay celibate, could I decide to join your crew at a later date?" Jehanna asked.
"Yes," John nodded.
"Then that's what I'll do," Jehanna decided. "So, should we find you a cup to cum in?"
"Progenitors cum a half gallon at a time, give or take a pint. And there's a much more fun alternative. Jade, honey?" John called.
Jade slipped out of her clothes and knelt at John's feet. She unzipped his trousers and pulled out his cock. Jehanna blurted something out in Hindi. "You're huge! And wow, 4 balls!"
"Watch a master at work," Jade grinned before taking John into her mouth. No one could fellate like a Nymph, and John's legendary endurance was broken within minutes. Jade's breasts swelled with a quart of spunk each. She stood and turned to Jehanna. "Want some milk, kitten?"
Jehanna eyed her glass of wine. "Did you lace LSD in this wine?"
"Like I said, Progenitors cum in buckets. Jade is a shapeshifter, she can hollow out parts of her body. You can nurse from her or she can just pump it into your mouth through her fingers, up to you," John said, tucking himself back into his pants.
"I'll breastfeed," Jehanna blushed.
Jade cradled Jehanna and offered her a nipple. Jehanna latched on, her eyes going glassy as she drank the Progenitor cum, sugary as a Terran was salty. When Jehanna's belly had rounded out, Jade detached her and she sank into the 14 hour slumber.
John added Jehanna to his network under Alyssa. He cured her Crohn's disease and eyesight, reaching out to take out her lenses for her. Then he restored her to the peak of youth and fitness for a woman her size. He carried her to his quarters and laid her in the bed. John returned to the Lounge and found Irillith holding the holo-camera with glowing eyes. "What are you doing?"
"Reviewing the footage, making sure we didn't say anything we shouldn't have. It all seems good so far. When I'm done, I'll upload it to TFNN for Jehanna, along with a note that she had a lot to drink and will be late to work tomorrow. This could run before the award ceremony. If they time it right, they can transition to a live feed just as it ends," Irillith replied.
John didn't see anything wrong with that and reclaimed his seat. "So, you all just gave your life stories to be poured over by every Lion fan on the Holonet. Nervous?"
"Buckingham tracked down 4 Nymphs and took them to Tartarus. Do we ever find any others?" Jade asked.
"Deep Lord Athgiloi has a Nymph, she was a present from Baledranax. Admiral Khatri has one in his mansion on Mazaya in Ross 248. And the tips dried up just before the Progenitor War really kicked off, we never got a chance to investigate them all, especially the ones for the bodies. We know from my first life when Shinatobe killed you that so long as a Nymph's heart crystal stays intact, I can bring her back to life," John recalled.
"So you end up with 7 of us?" Jade asked.
"With you as their Matriarch," John said with pride.
"A whole flight of dragons at our backs. I almost feel sorry for the bad guys," Calara mused.
"So, how do you want to handle the cyborg attack?" Sakura asked.
"There were two teams. One went to steal the Invictus, the other went to attack you at club Enigma and kidnap Calara. I say we go to Enigma again, only this time we can stop the bomb from killing everyone in the VIP section. Between all our powers and the benefit of foresight, we should be fine," John reasoned. "Nia, Obi, to save time, see if you can find Yomi-no-kuni, Mikaboshi's base, on Kozuno in Proxima Centauri."
"Already done," Nia said proudly.
John blinked. "Wow, that's real proactive."
"We dedicate a significant portion of our processing to anticipating future orders and preempting them," Obi informed him.
They chatted until John gave his first yawn. Then they went to their quarters and piled into bed. John cuddled Jehanna, knowing that this might be his only chance. There was no guarantee she'd agree to join his crew in this life, especially since she hadn't imprinted on him like she had in his first life. He almost forgot to shield himself before his Astral dream.
Nia, as their unofficial alarm clock, woke them with the Night Queen's Lament from the Magic Flute. "For such a cheerful sounding song, it's got some real dark lyrics," Nia commented as they all stirred.
"What's she singing?" Dana asked, rubbing her eyes.
"In German, the Night Queen is telling her daughter that if she doesn't kill the Queen's rival Sarastro, she'll disown her and refuse to acknowledge her as her daughter," Obi answered.
*I'll have to give that a listen, sounds like something the old me would do,* Edraele mused.
They went to have breakfast and the girls went to enjoy a free day. John grabbed a glass of water and chatted with Nia and Obi while Jehanna slept. The Indian Ward began to stir. John helped her sit up and pressed the glass into her hand. "Good morning, Jehanna."
"Last thing I remember is tasting sugar as I sucked on Jade's tit. I didn't get high or something, did I?" Jehanna asked with a laugh.
"Progenitor semen is more sugar than salt like Terran semen. And the first dose knocks you out for 14 hours, it's your mind and body going into shock from my powers touching you, or at least that's my best guess. I cured your Crohn's disease and nearsightedness, and generally spruced you up. You're healthy as a horse now."
"I had Crohn's disease?" Jehanna asked with wide eyes. "That actually runs in my family, wow. Thanks for that."
"No problem," John grinned.
"Wait, 14 hours?!" Jehanna looked at the chronometer. "I am so late! Avery is going to kill me!"
"Relax, Irillith uploaded the interview last night and warned them you'd be coming in late. Avery should be so happy at all the juicy facts on the Lions of the Federation you got you'll get a free pass," John comforted Jehanna.
Jehanna relaxed. "Thanks, John. So, walk of shame back to TFNN?"
"The Raptor is so fast, we can stop by your apartment if you want," John offered. "Do you want breakfast?"
Jehanna's stomach grumbled. "Sure, what the hell? If I don't get fired for coming in this late, I might as well milk it," Jehanna nodded.
John cooked Jehanna some eggs and pancakes with fresh fruit. Just to give her a taste of the exotic, he used Maliri fruits. Jehanna savored the unusual flavors. "What's this juice? It tastes like raspberries but it tingles like mint."
"Natalla berry juice. It's my favorite," John grinned.
After they finished, John summoned the crew and they all went into the Raptor, Obi having made the arrangements for John's planned day before the award ceremony. They landed at Jehanna's building, she got a shower and changed into fresh clothes, and dropped her off at TFNN. Then Nia took them to what was once the Sahara Desert, now the Sahara Gardens, and Neo-Babylon. "You all can relax for a few hours here with me, or join Alyssa on a shopping spree to get new clothes," John explained.
Sakura and the Maliri twins elected to go with Alyssa. The rest, already having full wardrobes, joined John in enjoying the private terrace at the empire-famous Hanging Gardens. A very nice woman named Penelope and a few other staff fed the girls hand-peeled grapes while they all admired the beautiful view. At 1600, the Raptor returned and they all went back to the Invictus. They had an early dinner, and John loaded up Jade to feed all of them.
"Hundreds of billions of people are going to watch this, and we'll be the only ones to know that every image is of us with bellies full of your cum," Alyssa said, almost panting with lust.
"I know. If we didn't have Mikaboshi to worry about, I'd spend the night taking advantage of that," John said with a regretful sigh.
They dressed in their Lion and Lioness uniforms and settled into the Lounge. Nia pulled up TFNN on the vid-screen. At 1700, it cut to a live feed of Jehanna and her fellow anchor Bill Armstrong at Victory Square.
"Hello, this is Terran Federation Network News. I'm Bill Armstrong," the man with the expensive hairstyle grinned with blinding teeth.
"And I'm Jehanna Elani. In just an hour, the Lions of the Federation will be honored by High Command for their heroic actions at the Battle of Terra and the Battle of Regulus. As if saving the homeworld from a rogue AI and contributing to the biggest military victory in Terran history were not enough, the Lions were very busy over the past month. I consider it the highlight of my career to offer you all this exclusive interview! I was invited by the Lion to enjoy a night of delicious food and fascinating conversation with him and his Lionesses," Jehanna said into the camera, looking lovely as the dawn. She was glowing with health and pride.
The camera footage began to play, starting with Jehanna entering the Raptor. The timing was perfect, the interview ending just as 1800 struck. Nia took the Invictus down to Victory Square. "And here's the Invictus now!" Jehanna beamed at the audience as John and the girls headed for the grav-tubes.
John walked out the airlock, the girls walking behind him in the order they joined. Almost a million Terran Federation personnel were gathered in Victory Square, all of them cheering and craning their necks to get a look at the Lions of the Federation. They walked up to the stage where High Command was waiting, and onto a raised dais. John went into an at-ease position, followed by all 9 of his Lionesses. Lynette took the lectern.
"Citizens of the Terran Federation. It is not often that one can state with confidence that they are making history. And yet I know in my heart that this day will be talked about for generations to come, the day we acknowledged the greatest hero in our history, a man and his crew whose growing legend precedes them," Lynette said grandly.
Lynette gave a rousing speech, praising John's actions at the Battle of Terra. She revealed that he'd gone to the Kintark Empire after the Terran fleet to warn them of the traitorous Admirals Lynton and Norwood, which made Buckingham almost walk over and take the microphone from her. She revealed how John went to Xen-Nuchek to free the miners, all of whom were in the audience and saluted John, which he returned. Then Lynette got to the Battle of Regulus, the largest fleet engagement in recorded history. She promoted John to Vice Admiral, Calara to Commander after crediting her with firing the Invictus' guns in both battles, and rewarded both the Stellar Cluster. Both actions were unprecedented, John getting a second and an 18 year old getting one. Lynette went down the line to pin the Paragons of Terra medal on their jackets, pausing to promote Rachel to Lieutenant Commander for her healing of all the injured from Regulus. Lynette returned to the lectern and said "The Lion and his Lionesses, the Pride of the Terran Federation!"
The cheers were thunderous.
Lynette made to continue her speech, but a chant started in the crowd. "Li-on, Li-on, Li-on!" called almost a million people. Acknowledging the spotlight was stolen and hiding a grin, Lynette stepped aside and let John take the lectern.
"I think all of you probably know who I am..." he began with a self-deprecating grin, earning amused laughter from the audience. "People know me as the 'Lion of the Federation', but my name's John Blake and I'm just like you. I joined the Terran Federation to make a difference, to fight for humanity against the various dangers that threaten us from the cold blackness of space."
Looking thoughtful, he continued, "I started as a junior officer, a Second Lieutenant just like any trainee officer. I worked my way up the ranks by caring for the men and women under my command, fighting and bleeding alongside them as we defended the Terran Federation." Glancing at the girls, he added, "Nothing's changed in that regard; I'm still fighting for what I believe in, except that the battles are bigger, the threats more dangerous. Luckily for me, I'm blessed with an incredible crew who share my beliefs."
The look and nod of respect he gave to the girls spoke volumes, his loyalty to his crew clear to anyone watching his impromptu speech.
Turning back to the crowd, he looked out over the million enthralled faces. "It's only by working together that we've been able to achieve the things we have. If you really wish to honor me today, share that wonderful spirit of cooperation with each other. It's an ethos that I've learned from my service to the Terran Federation and it guides my actions every day."
John smiled as he said, "I won't bore you with a long speech - I've always been better at fighting than talking."
When the subsequent laughter died down, he took a firm grasp of the podium as he stared out at the crowd.
"I'll just end by saying this: I've sailed around the galaxy and met dozens of different species - but do you know who I'd always want at my side?" After a brief pause he grinned at the mass of military personnel. "All of you! Humanity's best and brightest!"
The atmosphere in Victory Square was feverish with excitement as the million-strong crowd hung on his every word.
"When the Terran Federation is in danger, you'll always be able to count on me to be there when it counts." Raising his fist in the air, he shouted out the military's battle-cry, "For the Glory of Terra!"
Keyed up by his speech, the audience bellowed it right back. "The Glory of Terra!"
"FOR TERRA!" he roared, his voice booming across Victory Square.
*I'll be sure to mention to the Council of Matriarchs how you prefer the Terrans above all other species. I'm sure they'll understand,* Edraele teased John even as the crowd went nuts and Buckingham's inner circle looked very nervous.
*Give me a break, I could hardly tell them that Maliri are the superior lifeforms in the Galactic League, with their fierce, beautiful, Amazonian women,* John teased right back.