November arrived over the Hudson Valley in a veil of fine, slate-colored rain that gradually turned the high forest slopes above Stony Point into shades of charcoal and muted gold. By late morning, the precipitation had eased into a light, glass-like mist that clung to the zinc eaves of the East Pavilion, while the river below stretched dark and wide, its surface silvered where the cool northern current cut through the highlands.
Inside the upper atrium of the residence, a quiet, unhurried rhythm governed the day. The primary workspace, once packed with multi-node telemetry screens and real-time counter-intelligence diagnostics during the conflict years, now functioned as a refined administrative hub. High-definition display panels embedded in the cedar wall panels displayed passive, macr
