Update – SOL 14: Counterstrike & Consolidations
Hi everyone,
A few readers reminded me that endless intrigue can wear thin if it isn’t balanced with what first drew us here — the game, the camaraderie, and the world that’s grown around Michael Stewart. With that in mind, SOL 14 shifts gears. This chapter weaves together the tactical side of AEGIS with the rhythm of hockey and the quiet discipline that still defines Michael’s world. The story breathes again — not every battle needs a villain; sometimes the fight is just keeping balance between ice and ambition.
You’ll see more of the Ann Arbor circle this time — Kiyomi, Melissa, and Bill tightening the legal walls while David Keane steps in to professionalize Michael’s brand. The rink, the boardroom, and the dojo finally move in sync. It’s part consolidation, part recovery — a reset before the next wave of chaos.
At the end of the chapter I’ve included several AI-generated portraits of the principal characters. Each was built using cues from Cold Creek’s original descriptions and the canon files that guide this continuation. I tried to stay as faithful as possible to their established looks and personalities. Feedback is welcome — if you’d like to see additional characters visualized, just drop a comment and I’ll add them to the next release.
Thanks, as always, for reading and for keeping the conversation alive. Your notes and questions continue to shape where this world goes next.
— CCTW