Unfriendly Persuasion - A Tale from the Arbiter Chronicles

Unfriendly Persuasion - A Tale from the Arbiter Chronicles

"Everything Is Going To Be All Right..." That's what Lieutenant Terry Metcalfe keeps telling his friends and co-workers. A hero to the public, just months ago he successfully prevented the veritable destruction of human civilization at the hands of terrorists from the warlike Qraitian Empire. But Metcalfe has changed, grown unhappy with his role as an officer in the Confederate Navy. Distancing himself from his friends, he's decided to join a religious sect which believes it's literally found God living beneath the surface of the far-off planet Eleusis. And to be sure, there's something there: an alien intelligence which reaches out to the young Lieutenant and offers him the power to protect everything he loves. But is Metcalfe finding the spiritual fulfilment he's sought so long, or is he falling under the spell of a malevolent new enemy? Steven H. Wilson's original science fiction audio series, The Arbiter Chronicles, has captured the imaginations of audiences for over a decade. Winner of the Mark Time Silver Award and the Parsec Award for Best Speculative Fiction Audio Drama, it's character-driven space opera in the tradition of Heinlein's The Rolling Stones and Joss Whedon's Firefly. Drenched in adventure, humor and sexuality, Unfriendly Persuasion joins its predecessor, Taken Liberty, in bringing new depth to the popular audio drama series.

Episodes

November 24, 2013 34 mins

Metcalfe bids Elspeth goodbye. The Arbiters contemplate their future, and worry over the new power in their midst. Sestus and Carson make decisions about the future. And Fournier makes ominous recommendations to his bosses.

Listen
Mark as Played

It all comes down to this: What do you do with a homicidal, all-powerful machine?

Listen
Mark as Played

Eleusis uses Sestus, Carson and Elspeth in a mad experiment to control Metcalfe.

Listen
Mark as Played

Into the cave to learn the mysteries of Eleusis.

Listen
Mark as Played

"Everyone's about to die." Didn't Carson say that a few chapters back? Well, yep... this time pretty much everything goes to hell.

Listen
Mark as Played

Carson, Cernaq and Aer'La confront Admiral Fournier; Kaya has an unexpected daydream featuring Metcalfe; Faulkner devises a plan to defeat Ustenar.

Listen
Mark as Played

Admiral Fournier decides to strike against the planet Eleusis. Aer'La makes a fateful choice. Carson remembers the last time Metcalfe's life was on the line.

Listen
Mark as Played

Sestus finds himself squaring off against Metcalfe and the Qraitians as Kaya and Faulkner face execution as spies.

Listen
Mark as Played

The Qraitians, the Family and the Confederacy square off for a showdown in space.

Listen
Mark as Played

Aer'La visits Cernaq in the brig, Atal decides to disgregard his orders, Fournier moves against the people of Eleusis, and the Qraitians make a stand.

Listen
Mark as Played

The stress of the mission finally catches up with Aer'la; Icarus confronts Daedalus; Metcalfe learns more about the history of the Eleusis colony; Cernaq refuses to assist Darby in interrogating a civilian.

Listen
Mark as Played

Kaya and Faulkner discover the power of Eleusis. Carson and Sestus bid each other an angry farewell. Metcalfe and Daedalus explore a city of the dead.

Listen
Mark as Played

Aer'La begins to be uncomfortable with Titan's new security restrictions. Ustenar become suspicious of Kaya, and makes surprising accusations. Metcalfe learns the identity of the Qraitian spy among the family. Sestus receives new orders.

Listen
Mark as Played

Metcalfe confronts the Thing in the Cave. Carson regrets a drunken evening.

Listen
Mark as Played

Atal confronts Fournier as the Admiral orders Titan away from Eleusis, leaving Metcalfe abandoned. Pallas has a frightening interlude with Metcalfe.

Listen
Mark as Played

Atal refuses to force Metcalfe to return from Eleusis. Kaya and Pallas witness frightening evidence of a powerful presence on the planet, leading Kaya to formulate a dangerous plan.

Listen
Mark as Played

Kaya and Doc Faulkner take off on an espionage mission among the Qraitians; Carson finds himself growing uncomfortably comfortable with Sestus, and reflects on incidents from his and Metcalfe's shared past on Terra.

Listen
Mark as Played

Captain Atal inspects some geological oddities of Eleusis while Metcalfe recovers from his encounter with "God."

Listen
Mark as Played

Titan arrives at the planet Eleusis and meets up with Ustenar, a suspicious Qraitian commander. On the planet's surface, they meet the members of the Family of God, and Metcalfe encounters "god" itself.

Listen
Mark as Played

Admiral Fournier asks Pallas and Cernaq to telepathically interrogate Titan's merchants. Kaya asks Atal to consider the potential supernatural danger of Eleusis. Metcalfe is disturbed when both Carson and Aer'La take Sestus's side in an argument.

Listen
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.

    Dateline NBC

    Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!

    Betrayal Season 5

    Saskia Inwood woke up one morning, knowing her life would never be the same. The night before, she learned the unimaginable – that the husband she knew in the light of day was a different person after dark. This season unpacks Saskia’s discovery of her husband’s secret life and her fight to bring him to justice. Along the way, we expose a crime that is just coming to light. This is also a story about the myth of the “perfect victim:” who gets believed, who gets doubted, and why. We follow Saskia as she works to reclaim her body, her voice, and her life. If you would like to reach out to the Betrayal Team, email us at betrayalpod@gmail.com. Follow us on Instagram @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.

    The Joe Rogan Experience

    The official podcast of comedian Joe Rogan.

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2026 iHeartMedia, Inc.

  • Help
  • Privacy Policy
  • Terms of Use
  • AdChoicesAd Choices