The MusicRVA Network

Chapter 12 : No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed

The twelfth chapter of « 2206 : Window Onto A New World » features Aaren Mayr, the Treasurer of the Alliance of Sovereign Nations.

Flying back to Milagenia, the secessionist reflects on how his official functions have increased the frequency of his travellings.

« The observation obliquely reminded the economist of one of the manners in which he could pass the hours more efficiently. He had developed the peculiar habit of systematically archiving all of his electronic conversations, that he could save automatically thanks to the native communication application of his uDev. In view of his professional activities, he had deemed it an additional safety, and it had proved invaluable in quite a few instances. His transits afforded him the time to manage his collection and rewatch some of the chats, and in this fashion he had fished many pearls among the dregs, bits of information that, in hindsight, suddenly gained significance. Now was the perfect moment to peruse the ever increasing heap, and recapitulate the recent evolutions of his attempt at establishing a collaboration between the Community and the Alliance. »

As the episode unfolds, the quadragenarian reminisces one particular weekend in Triton Aeolus, providing us with an alternative perspective on some of the events of those determining few days.

This week's edition of the Threshold Bookcast, « No Opportunity Necessary, No Experience Needed, » follows below. Wishing you an enjoyable reading !

Chapter 11 : The Preacher The Teacher

This week's instalment of The Threshold Series revolves around Bernard Sturn and features Veshtar, the almost barren land also known as the radioactive planet.

As the chapter begins, the illustrious physicist is enjoying a cup of green tea in his office, reviewing the events of the day while he waits for his newly hired buttistant, Frank Evans, to join him for an informal evening meeting.

« At the beginning of the morning, Daniel Milton had sent him a long video mail which had revived the possibility that his new colleague could in fact be an industrial spy who had successfully infiltrated his team, in all likelihood in the pay of one of the independent nations. Obviously, the mere presence of a potential intruder in the Veshtari scientific facility constituted a threat that the security expert had to address, or at least report to the RDA. The space engineer had immediately recorded a brief response, arguing that he could probably clarify the matter on his own, and thus save everyone much time and energy. And at worst, should that request be denied, it yet afforded him the delay he needed to determine the safest way to proceed, and hopefully avoid a full-fledged investigation. Or at any rate, that had been the plan. »

The young programmer eventually enters the room, and the two men proceed to hold what could very well become a pivotal conversation in their developing relationship.

Here's « The Preacher The Teacher, » the eleventh episode of the Threshold Bookcast. Wishing you a most pleasant reading !

Chapter 10 : South Side Of The Sky

The tenth episode of the Threshold Bookcast focuses on Jake Harvey, the popular leader of the New Light Party.

At the start of the chapter, the rookie politician is enjoying a stargazing break on the observation deck of the space station his team and him are visiting.

« But life as an overly busy developing businessman had barely afforded him the leisure for socialization and entertainment, unless the activities served some work-related objective or another. As a somewhat less overly busy front running candidate, it was part of his duty to engage with people everyday and visit the far reaches of the Federation. And although he still had difficulty with the tedious travelling, he had recognized the value of savouring each one of the new spectacles offering themselves to his pale green eyes. Whether he were witnessing the often desolate landscapes of the sadly disfigured Ovel, or the lofty spacescapes which he had been awed to watch ever since the Progressive Parties had begun their tour of the stations, he would at least attempt to receive the beauty they conveyed. He had always thought he had seen stars in his youth, growing up in a remote farming community, away from the glitter and the greyness of the megapolises, yet this was nothing compared to the vista he was presently revelling in from one of the observation decks of Harmonia Eleven. The earnest and pragmatic administrator he used to be would not have dared to go sightseeing just prior to such a crucial meeting as the one he was about to attend. The wiser person he now was knew better. And given how off-worlders were generally significantly more respectful than their fellow Ovelians, there really was no reason to deprive himself of the pleasure. »

The pensive man is soon brought back to the reality of his agenda by his personal buttistant. We then follow them as they proceed towards what could turn out to be a defining moment of the electoral campaign.

I hope you enjoy « South Side Of The Sky, » this week's instalment of The Threshold Series !

Chapter 9 : Careful With That Axe, Eugene

Richard Ramsay, the Federal Chancellor of Ovel, is once again the central character of the weekly instalment of The Threshold Series.

At the beginning of the chapter, the veteran Conservative is temporarily escaping the pressures of his functions, hastening undercover towards a secret destination.

« Manifestly, the megapolis had become one of extremes. In downtown Triton Aeolus, where he had been dropped off, which was far from being one of the disadvantaged neighbourhoods of the vast urban area, the disguised ruler had gone from a place of ostentatious wealth to one of abject poverty just by crossing a few streets. And so, only minutes after having parted ways with his trustworthy helper, he was rid of the hustle and bustle of the boulevard and surrounded by the raw, desolate, yet peaceful landscape so common to those who had to live in the daily company of scarcity. Regardless of grey clouds and bleak environment, behind his shades, his eyes were bright, and underneath his long, black leather raincoat, his heart was light. He was savouring each instant of the quiet time as he trod the drying sidewalks, once in a while using his cane to steady himself as he would step on an uneven slab of derelict pavement. »

As he proceeds on his way to his undisclosed objective, the experienced politician hopes his disguise will protect him against undesirable encounters.

The ninth episode of the Threshold Bookcast, « Careful With That Axe, Eugene, » follows below. Wishing you a most enjoyable reading !

Chapter 8 : Nous Sommes Du Soleil

This week's episode of the Threshold Bookcast revolves around members of a religious community living in a high-perched monastery located in the highest mountain range on Ovel.

As the narrative begins, two of the cenobites, a novice and his experienced teacher, are climbing up towards a hillside cave that the teenager will be allowed to enter for the first time.

« The young monk had seen with his own almond-shaped, dark brown eyes some of those who had attempted to disclose the mysteries of the Tähtsaim. First, they had suddenly become confused as they had started to relate their stories. Then, seemingly having great difficulty to utter even a single word, their throats hurting and burning, they had slowly lost their voices, forced to silence for weeks and even quarters on end in some instances. And once their ability to speak had ultimately returned, they had been unable to recollect their visits to the temple. In similar fashion, those who intended to communicate with gestures would lose motility, regaining it only as memories vanished. Just prior to being exposed, drawings and written accounts would incomprehensibly disappear or be destroyed, often by natural causes, regardless of the precautions taken to protect them. Pictures wouldn't come out right, recordings would be irremediably crippled by noise, and devices would generally behave erratically. Remarkable events inevitably occurred whenever somebody would want to reveal what they had discovered in the secluded place. »

We follow the younger monastic in his discoveries and find out how he is about to be thrust into the heart of an adventure that could turn out to be much bigger than him.

I hope you enjoy « Nous Sommes Du Soleil, » the eighth chapter of The Threshold Series !