Chapter 83

***This article contains spoilers.***

## Highlights

* Devereux promotes John to Vice-Admiral and Rachel to Lieutenant Commander. She awards both John and Calara a Stellar Cluster award, the highest achievable in the Terran Federation.
* Devereux's speech is interrupted by people chanting "Li-on," wanting him to speak. She was none too pleased. Edraele advises caution with her.
* Sakura learns **psychic wind** as they fight off the cybernetic assassins who end up escaping with Calara.

## Notes

### Miscellaneous

* Attending the award ceremony were Edwin Caldwell, Carl Weber, and Jayanti Mishra, and Fleet Admiral Vincent Buckingham. All except Jayanti wore similar tense expressions, and it was obvious from their rigid body language that they were only here because they had no choice.
* Devereux promotes John to Vice-Admiral. She awards both John and Calara a Stellar Cluster award, the highest achievable in the Terran Federation. Calara's the youngest to ever receive it, and John's the only to ever receive a second. The rest of the team receives the Paragon of Terra medal. She gives John a second for the last member who wasn't able to make it. Rachel is promoted to Lieutenant Commander.
* Devereux's speech was interrupted by people chanting "Li-on," wanting him to speak. After his speech, she glanced apprehensively at Admiral Caldwell in her shock. *Edwin was waiting for that gaze and he slowly nodded, his expression grim as rapturous cries of “The Lion!” crashed over the stage, loud enough to make the floor reverberate.*
* Edraele advises John to handle the Devereux situation delicately. Alyssa wants to read her mind.
* Fleet Admiral Buckingham, the Admirals, and Lynette Devereux had been conspicuously absent from the reception.
* Jack won't be in Jericho. He's being rotated-out to guard the border against Kirrix incursions.
* Alyssa tells Jehenna Elani about the team recruitment, and they go with John to Jehenna's apartment and have a threesome.
* Meta Faye defends the Invictus from the team of assassins tasked with stealing it. "~~I'm sorry Dave.~~ You've all been very naughty! I'm afraid ~~I can't do that~~ I'm going to have to punish you." - FAYE 9000
* *Alyssa sighed with profound contentment, revelling in a wonderful dream. With Edraele’s enthusiastic assistance, she’d managed to convince John that he needed to assist with the Maliri repopulation effort. She glanced to her left and gazed into her fellow Matriarch’s enchanting purple eyes as they sucked lovingly on two of his balls. The heavy orb filling her mouth flexed rhythmically as John pumped his sperm into another fertile Maliri belly, the azure girl crying out in ecstasy as she climaxed with him. This blue-skinned beauty was going to be the millionth girl carrying his growing baby in her womb, but there were still so many more to go.*

### Abilities

Sakura gets **psychic wind**.

* Gathering her will, she focused on the blustering wind that swirled around her, trying to coax it into guiding her back into the building. The twisting zephyrs obeyed instantly, launching her back into the charred and twisted remnants of the once-luxurious building.

### John's Speech

“Before we end this Award Ceremony, I would like to say a few words about duty and honour...” Standing proudly, with her head held high, she began, “I was fortunate enough to be present for the defence of Terra and-”

Whatever she said next was drowned out by the upswell of calls from the crowd, incoherent at first, before a million voices managed to synchronise themselves into a relentless chant.

“Li-on, Li-on, Li-on...”

Devereux tried raising her hands for calm, but the crowd had found their voice now and the volume increased. She tried to speak, but her words were swept away, drowned in a sea of adulation for their champion.

“LI-ON, LI-ON, LI-ON...”

Looking shocked, Lynette turned to glance at John, who gave her an embarrassed shrug. Realising that attempting to reason with the eager crowd was pointless, she stepped away from the lectern in a daze, her reluctant invitation clear.

John walked briskly towards the podium and bounded up the steps, smiling at the reeling Admiral as he passed her by, before standing to face the sprawling mass of admirers. He smiled at them as the chants for the Lion to speak quickly faded away, a hushed silence descending on Victory Square. With no time to prepare a speech, he just said the first thing that came to mind.

“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 honour 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 hundreds 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.

The thunderous ovation from the crowd swelled even louder, as if they were trying to lift him to the heavens with their exultation. Devereux was stunned by this unexpected turn of events and she glanced apprehensively at Admiral Caldwell in her shock. Edwin was waiting for that gaze and he slowly nodded, his expression grim as rapturous cries of “The Lion!” crashed over the stage, loud enough to make the floor reverberate.

**That was a fascinating speech**, Edraele murmured archly. **I’m sure the Maliri Matriarchs will be intrigued to hear about your preference for the Terrans.**

**I’m sure you’ll forgive me a little artistic license**, John replied as he respectfully saluted the roaring crowd. **I’m still new at this, so I thought I’d play it safe and tailor my speech to the audience. Besides, I was only talking about who I’d like at my side; I didn’t say anything about who I prefer to have wrapped around me.**