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Ridgelands - Venture

By Lindblom, Victor, Erik

Book Id: WPLBN0100303841
Format Type: PDF (eBook)
File Size: undefined
Reproduction Date: 9/20/2021

Title:	Ridgelands - Venture
Author:	Lindblom, Victor, Erik
Volume:
Language:	English
Subject:	Fiction, Technology, Expansion of Iron-Working City State
Collections:	Adventure, Authors Community
Historic Publication Date:	2021
Publisher:	self-publish

Member Page:	Victor Lindblom
Citation APA MLA Chicago Lindblom, V. E. (2021). Ridgelands - Venture. Retrieved from http://www.self.gutenberg.org/

Description
A focused, management trainee in integrated ironmaking, Belak is torn away from his ancestral city to lead a venture intended to ensure the survival of his culture. Kay, a family friend, shocks him into a betrothal once she discovers that he will be gone for years. Belak, juggling new responsibilities, stumbles relating to his maturing sister, Louise, and to Kay. Hydropower is the primary energy source, but steam power has been discovered, accessible in the target city. Electricity is unknown. A splinter group from a shipping cartel violently seeks to stop the venture. Division in the Council of Elders threatens to sabotage the relationship with the target city, which contains elements of revolution and fertility god worship. Belak is in over his head trying to protect the venture.

Summary
The groomed technical leader assembles a venture team to promote and build a franchise for iron production in a neighboring city state. The team caravans across the continental ridge on an unfinished road, beset by violent opposition. The leader struggles in the relationship with his young sister, who matures more than he grasps. The team struggles against a rebellious faction in the target city and against patriots from the home city state, who want to usurp control in the target city.

Excerpt
I wonder how the caravan is supplied to weather this delay; from what I have heard, Lou is the one to ask. I don’t see her yet; oh, there she is coming out of the trail carrying a bundle over to Orvil for stacking. By the time I reach her, she is lying on the grass recovering her breath after the climb, so I sit down beside her. “Hello, Lou, our unofficial quartermaster.” “I suppose that is an appropriate title for getting this caravan supplied. What does mister high and mighty, now healthy, leader have to say?” “Lou, please. . . “ “Let’s see, how could you please me? Go away? Respect me? Act like you care instead of avoiding me?” “Lou, I apologized and then left you alone so you could get over it. I don’t want to antagonize you.” “Get over it, huh? Quinn is the nicest, most helpful, kindest person on this venture. I’m not going to get over what you suggested about him and me.” “Yes, I agree. He was great helping me get back to the inn, and watching over Oscar and me. He doesn’t seek recognition; he just helps. You will do well to have him as your friend. I misjudged the whole situation.” “That is close to a good answer.” “Now, I know that you are good at what you do, so please fill me in on where we stand with supplies for our caravan. We were delayed six days in Coos. Now we will be delayed another two days on the road, taking eight days, minimum, rather than the expected six days to get to BuelaVisu.” “We were fully supplied when we left Coos. Everything used during our time in Coos was replaced with safe food. I planned double our supplies to get us across the road, so we still have a four-day cushion. We do not want to burden our wagons too much, but Jason agreed to carry double supplies at my suggestion.” “Super, I knew you were good. Now, we have been attacked, and are likely to be attacked again before we get across this road. What is our weapons status?” “You know that we haven’t used the cannon at all, right? We used some darts, which are expendable. I worked with the military quartermaster in Laboot City to plan our weapon supply. We figured to have sufficient for two hours of intense fighting. We have used less than five minutes of our weapon supply. That’s why that pack of darts that I hauled up the trail was so heavy!” “So I have no need to worry.” “No, of course not, Bek. And, I was thinking that since Otto’s company left Laboot City so quickly to support us, and didn’t anticipate this much trouble along the road, that we should leave some of our weapon supplies with them, at least once we head down the other side of the divide. We could leave some with third platoon. Then when we get to the fourth stockade, we could load up two mules with weapons for our escort squad to take back up to fourth platoon.” “How do you know all these planned movements, already!” Lou smiles back at me, “I have friends.”

Table of Contents
Prologue Part 1: Venture Ahead Laboot City Committed Enlistees Elder Itzak Enlistment Exploration The Plan Sacrifice Extraction Preparations Teambuilding Leadership Farewell Coos Delay Part 2: Venture Journey Foreboding Waylaid Blasted Obstacle Cave Dwellers Accounting Weather Downward Reconciliation Civilization BuelaVisu Riot Response Part 3: Venture Execution Commerce Real Estate Ironworking Fair Hydropower Tradesmen Delegate Report Training Intrigue Family Betrayal Dismay Done