Read Ministry Protocol: Thrilling Tales of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Page 1
MINISTRY PROTOCOL
edited by
Pip Ballantine & Tee Morris
Imagine That! Studios, Copyright 2013
All rights reserved.
Cover Art and Design by Alex White
Cover Titles by Renee C. White
Interior Layout by Imagine That! Studios
ISBN 978-0615885193
No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in or introduced into a retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form, or by any means whatsoever without the prior written permission except in the case of brief quotations embodied in critical articles and reviews.
This book is a work of fiction. Any resemblance to any person, living or dead is purely coincidental. Any actual places, products or events mentioned are used in a purely fictitious manner.
www.ministryofpeculiaroccurrences.com
For all our Kickstarter supporters,
you made this happen!
Enjoy the ride!
From the Desk of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences Archives
Finally, I have managed to sneak these files away from Wellington Thornhill Books, and gathered them together in this edition. I think our agents stationed all over the world, and all the various mysteries and mayhem they find themselves in, have stories that deserve to be told, even if Welly is a bit strict when Ministry protocol and procedure is concerned.
[Miss Braun, what are all these classified files doing free of their respective shelves? This isn't anything akin to the æthercast I reluctantly host with you, is it? — W.T.B.]
The growth of the Ministry of Peculiar Occurrences is one of the most surprising and wonderful aspects of the series. It has been a delight to include so many friends and colleagues in this anthology. All of our guest journalists produced stories that delighted and amazed. It is quite a revealing experience to see your world through other people’s eyes.
[Yes, how wonderful to encourage such growth and interest in this, a clandestine organisation with Her Majesty's government, dedicated to discretion when handling matters most sensitive to the Crown. You do know the meaning of the word ‘clandestine,’ do you not, Miss Braun? — W.T.B.]
When we set out to use Kickstarter to fund this venture, it was with great trepidation since crowd-funding is the ultimate test of support. So when we funded this project 152% we knew that we’d done something right along the way.
[Well, I will grant you that the outpouring of support for the Ministry was most humbling. All things considered, I still find it odd having to crowd-fund an organisation of secret agents. Stranger things, I suppose… — W.T.B.]
A special thanks goes to our editor, Tee Tate, who kept us on the straight and narrow, and added a layer of professionalism—something we truly desired and achieved in this volume.
[Really? A layer of professionalism, she brought? Perhaps Miss Tate could, in fact, pass along a skill or two upon your own person, yes? — W.T.B.]
More thanks go to our cover artist, Alex White, and his team of models, make-up artists, and costumers that created for this collection the magnificent cover image, which is so much more than we could have imagined.
[Some say to be wary of the quiet ones. For myself, it is the far-too-gifted. Note to self: Increase surveillance on one ‘White, Alex’ with particular warning that he is considered to be armed and exceedingly talented. — W.T.B.]
Additional appreciation is extended to Thomas Willeford and Brute Force Studios for their incredible and ingenious machinations that graced both this cover and the cover of our role-playing game, The Ministry Initiative.
[Thomas Willeford. A name that will live in infamy. — W.T.B.]
Finally, the dedication of this book is to our wonderful supporters. If you gave one dollar or a thousand, you made this happen, and for that, we give our strongest and greatest thanks.
[I do so hate it when Miss Braun is right. — W.T.B.]
We hope you take delight in these stories from around the world, featuring our fellow agents at the Ministry. Tally-ho!