Orbit Is Easy, Atmosphere Is the Trick
V’ren pilot J’orel V’ani reflects on flying Earth’s unpredictable skies, transporting human press, and the quiet moment that made him homesick for a place he hadn’t yet left.
Side Quest
Side Quest
What We Shared at the Table
At a long-awaited evening feast, reporters from around the world ask what food, tradition, and trust mean in a new world. What they find are recipes for belonging, told through spice, memory, and laughter.
Media Interview
Trust Without Permission
As the first press questions shift from spectacle to substance, V’ren leaders speak for themselves—revealing a culture of quiet empowerment, earned trust, and the kind of leadership that doesn’t need a microphone.
Side Quest
Grace Periods and Sweet Tea
As questions of legacy, culture, and power swirl through the Freehold’s latest gathering, quiet gestures and unexpected laughter offer a reminder that true leadership begins in shared humanity.
Side Quest
Samosas, Surprises, and the Shape of Belonging
At the Freehold’s first real evening gathering with their new V’ren neighbors, jokes, food, and quiet moments of trust reveal just how much—and how quickly—life is changing for everyone involved.
Side Quest
Imperial Raccoons
As Matt Marmaduke discusses land, legacy, and the politics of hosting a displaced alien fleet, a child’s quiet interruption reveals the deeper engine of Freehold’s success: earned trust and presence in the small moments.
Side Quest
The Crown That Doesn’t Shine
“Astra Quint,” she said, extending her hand, wondering what was in those drinks and if she could marry his bartender.
Side Quest
Show Me Something Better: Trust, Tech, and the Shape of Home
In an off-the-record conversation over samosas and zebra pastrami, Lord Marmaduke opens up to Priya Shen about alien partnerships, post-collapse power grids, and the neural interface that changed everything.
Side Quest
Tuesday Lunch and the Price of Memory
Matt reflects on food, friendship, and the cost of abundance in a post-collapse world where zebra pastrami belongs in school lunches—and personal history still comes with boundaries.
Side Quest
More Than a Park, Less Than a Throne
Lord Marmaduke answers a pointed question about identity, leadership, and legacy with a story that spans generations, reminding us that civilization isn’t built by governments—but by those who choose to stay.
Side Quest
WSJ: A Dollar Rent and the Weight of Commitment
When journalist Jeff Sykes questions the legality and values behind the Marmaduke Freehold, Matt answers with clarity, candor—and a life-altering offer that challenges everything Jeff thought he knew about freedom.
Main Story
Meeting the Parents at the Top of the World
When Kevin brings Mall to a high-status gathering, her fear of being exposed collides with unexpected kindness, power plays, and quiet reassurance from those who rule the world around her.