Sycamore Park
Sycamore Park was an eighth of an acre near the eastern edge of the homestead set among the orchards. It […]
Main Story
cultural exchange
Main Story
Mall and Polly Find Common Ground
In the Homestead sitting room, Mall shares memories of Tw’shen as Polly reaches for friendship, bridging human and V’ren worlds with quiet honesty.
Side Quest
We Build the Sparks That Hold It All Together
Electrical engineer Kalir Son and fabricator Beti Shan reflect on adapting to Earth with their eight children in tow. From Base-12 systems to fried chicken, their story reveals a family building not just a home—but a future.
Side Quest
Farm Boy
Kevin’s nerves nearly get the best of him as he asks Mall to the fair, but her answer—and the way she reaches for his hand—changes everything.
Side Quest
Sunsets and S’mores
A V’ren technician and Matt share a brief moment between language training sessions, revealing the quiet human rituals—coffee, sunsets, flirtation—that persist even after the collapse of nations and the arrival of alien refugees.
Main Story
Strangers No Longer
T’monn stared out the window, the Missouri night rolling past in streaks of dark and light.
“If you told them to leave,” she said, “they would. But most would rather stay.”
Matt didn’t answer right away. The red demon called Pickup growled beneath them, chasing its own headlights through the gravel dark.
“They’re not going anywhere,” he said. “This is home now.”
Main Story
Media Access and First Impressions
Matt pushes for a limited media tour of the V’ren ship to build public trust, navigating cultural protocol, security concerns, and a moment of unexpected personal rapport with T’mari. Cameras roll as Missouri’s first steps toward the stars take shape—measured, cautious, and just irreverent enough to stay human.
Main Story
Logistics, Medicine, and Mutual Trust
With wounded V’ren in need of urgent care, Matt Marmaduke turns diplomacy into action. Clinics are opened, quarantine zones established, and medical teams coordinated between species. Trust is built in real time as Missouri’s infrastructure shifts into high gear—fast enough to impress even the alien doctors.
Main Story
Aboard the VMS Kalnareth: Guests or Intruders?
From the observation alcove of the VMS Kalnareth, senior V’ren officers watch Missouri fields and a dusty human truck come into focus. Ten thousand lives ride in stasis below decks. Translator units are prepped, landing plans are set, and the question remains: will they be welcomed—or merely tolerated?