Matt’s phone buzzed again, crawling across the table like it wanted out. “Answer it,” T’mari said, eyes on her tablet. “Or turn it off.” “If I turn it off, Angelina will materialize by sheer will,” Matt said. The wall screen floated with edits. “That title is dead,” T’mari added.
At a university gala in Columbia, Matt dons a barong to honor his roots, while T’mari navigates the politics of academia with poise, charm—and a hidden plan to earn her doctorate in first contact protocols before Matt finds out.
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.
In the shadow of the landed V’ren ship, Matt Marmaduke meets the alien delegation on scorched Missouri ground. What begins as formal posturing shifts to mutual trust, ending in a decisive agreement—refuge for the V’ren under his charter, and a direct line of truth between him and their chosen ambassador.