THE AMBASSADOR

Created by Terri Morgan

GENRE: Hopepunk/Sci-fi/Martial Arts
COMPS: Stargate SG1 + Kung Fu + The Waltons + The Expanse
LOGLINE: An accomplished older woman brings together a tight-knit team to protect the Local Neighborhood. Together, they must find a way to stop the invading Olmeri.
TROPES: Journey, Adventure, Martial Arts, Apprentice/Mentor, Special Skills and Objects, Ancient Wisdom, Secrets, Found Family

CONCEPT: The Ambassador is a highly respected older woman, not another Captain or Lost Renegade. She is not a broken relic looking for redemption. She’s good at what she does, very good. She’s well-liked and respected. She is dedicated, slightly snarky, speaks multiple languages, and keeps lots of secrets. She is an adept in the Ancient Arts and a Keeper of Earth. She’s still got game but she’s not a ‘young vixen’ any more. She’d like to retire. She can’t. The Central Alliance High Council won’t let her. Not yet. They have just received new reports of incursions into Local Neighborhood systems near Sol by the Olmeri, a destructive, authoritarian race. They are sending the Ambassador and her team on a covert mission to find out what is going on and stop the Olmeri.

The Ancient Arts in the stories are traditional Chinese martial arts. How we learn, teach, and pass on the arts to the next generations is central to the story. The basic concept for the Keepers of the Five Elements in the story comes from Five Elements of Xingyiquan: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth. The Ambassador and her four old friends are the five elements. Each has a particular color and skills. They embody the long history and storied traditions of the real-world martial arts.

The stories offer a tightly-grounded vision of a hopeful future. They are a comfortable adventure in a world where excellence is expected, integrity and honor matter, trust is earned, wits matter more than firepower, friends are the best, everybody gets a seat at the table, and the good guys win most of the time. They cross generations and cultures, East and West. They take us back to a time that never existed and show us a future we can only imagine. They are not about blowing things up or who has the biggest guns. They are about how we come together, grow, learn, and pass on what we have learned to the next generations.

DEVELOPMENT: The story has been published as an eight-book series. In 2024, the first chapter was scripted, produced, and distributed as a full theatrical audio drama with original concept art. In May 2025, we won a Corporate Live Wire (UK) Innovation and Excellence for our production. We are syndicated to all the podcast platforms and currently heard in 40 countries, 297 cities.

In January 2026, we made the show available for broadcast syndication on PRX – the US Public Radio Exchange that covers 844 markets.

PILOT EPISODE – 1 HOUR: DEPARTURE DAY

The Central Alliance High Council has summoned First Contact Ambassador Micha Lawrence to appear at their chambers in the capital city on Dagon. They are sending her on a covert mission to the distant Ka’len system to get a treaty with the Kora and find a way to stop the destructive Olmeri incursions. The night before she leaves, she is resting in her apartment when her friend, High Council President Aliel Smbarak calls to tell her they have received unsettling new reports of more Olmeri activity. The next morning, N’amani, her chief of staff, calls to tell her he managed to get all the supplies she wanted. She remembers the day President Smbarak assigned N’amani. Then, she recalls their first mission. They had to fight their way out of a trap. She arrives on Dagon 7, the planet’s space station. She meets Commander Brandon who surprises her with the news that the Magellan has a new captain. She meets Captain Alexander Logan and uses the ancient arts to evaluate him. Then, she introduces him to her team: Kell, Beth, the Doctor, and N’amani. Captain Logan initiates command transfer. Maja, the ship’s AI, appears in the entryway, runs a security scan, and gives Captain Logan command. Captain Logan and Maja go to the bridge. Kell, the Doctor, and Beth go to their rooms. The Ambassador asks N’amani to security sweep her quarters. They talk about a previous mission and the new captain. Once underway, they have a group briefing. Captain Logan introduces a new crew member, Lt. Meredith Katy. The Ambassador reveals the problem with the Olmeri and their secret mission. After the meeting, Captain Logan goes to his quarters. Commander Brandon, Lt. Katy, the Doctor and Beth go to the dining hall to make noodles for lunch. The Ambassador, N’amani, and Kell stay in the meeting room to study a 3D map of the Ka’len system.

Creator: Terri Morgan

Terri Morgan is a writer, internet pioneer, linguist, three-time international champion martial artist, teacher, grandma, and foodie. For almost 30 years, she traveled between the US and China. She has written dozens of technical manuals and evaluated international technical publications. She has judged national and international martial arts events. She has translated books, essays, and research materials from Chinese. She authored the eight-book series and the scripts for the audio drama. In 2024, she brought together an international team of actors and creatives, scripted, produced, and syndicated the award-winning audio drama to a global audience.