For the labs, we can assume that one of the season for each magus will be setting up his sanctum and standard laboratory setup, unless one of you ask for something really time-consuming.
Next item? What else should be done before in-character play begins? How is the relation with mundane authorities (the monastery who owns the land) solved?
For the mundane authorities, I suggest sending a redcap or a companion along to the monastery with some money. Their overt reason will be asking for a copy to be made of a book on Artes Liberales or Philosophiae for a wealthy patron (although actually that can go in the covenant library). While they are there, they can ask about the possibility of their "cousins" operating a brewery on that site, and offering to pay a rent in beer once the brewery is up and running.
Either a redcap or a negociatort hired by Tandaline can handle it, if that is the way you want to do it.
(Note that the following terms are nothing unusual in the middle ages.)
The terms negociated will allow you to raise a few buildings on top of the mountain (about 200 m2) and clear a small wooded area around it (about 1000 m2).
The trees cut down from that area can be used to construct the buildings. Anything more must be purchased, as you won't have the right to cut down additional trees. You are given the right to harvest fruits, nuts, mushrooms and fallen wood. Your cooper will have to buy the oak he need to make barrels, as well as the iron hoops, in the village.
Aside from the initial cash fee (hand waving the exact amount here), your brewery will have to put aside 1 in 6 barrels of ale, bear, mead or wine you produce as way of rent for the land.
You will also have to pay taxes as any other inhabitants, namely 1 part in 10 for the taxes to the lord of the land (the monastery) and 1 part in 10 for the Church (also paid to the monastery). If you produce and sell barrels (in excess of what you need for the brewery), you need to pay taxes on those as well.
You can raise a small number of animals on the land you clear, as well as grow vegetables (not grain) there, but have to pay taxes on those as well. If those animals produce by-products (eggs, milk, wool, etc.) you need to pay taxes on that as well.
In short, the monastery gets 20% of anything you produce, plus an additional 16% on the brewery. You are also limited in growth (number of buildings and land area).
Still, the brewery will provide the new covenant with a modest source of income that should be enough to support normal operations.
Anything else that the magi want to set up during their 6 months of off-screen time?
Borealis is happy if we have somewhere to sleep, somewhere to study, enough money to survive, and enough grogs to keep watch and tell us if something is coming towards us.
A scriptorium and suitable grogs (depending on how detailed your book rules were going to be) would be nice, but is something we can live without for the first year or two.
I was thinking about having Jorge and Jan (the two grogs who accompanied the magi during the initial visit) join the new covenant. They're mute and fairly dull, but competent enough to guard the magi.
The covenant might be able to support one or two additional grogs (if they double up as laborers when staying at the covenant), as well as a covenfolk or two for menial tasks (cleaning and cooking), but that's about it for now.
The House Rule for libraries was updated a little while ago. A scriptorium is still useful to produce new books or make copies, though in an abstract way. Will you place it in the regio (safer) or outside with the brewery (better light)?
Each sanctum will be outfitted with some basic furniture, so a place to sleep and study is a given, though it is a bit warm in the caves.
@jebrick and @VanSilke, do you have any plans for the 6 months before the saga starts? It's been a while since you've posted, so I have to wonder if you are still with us. 
I am here just busy at work. I will have something shortly
Shortly will hopefully be today. Was there a decision on the brewers, et al? Hermetic or local?
Emericus would like do 3 months of lab set up. On month of travel time ( to covenant ).
Am I allowed to earn an vis either doing copying work ( scribe 3) or helping in a lab (MT 6)?
Alberic( companion) will get to know the locals and the priests/monks. I think we set up that he would be trading in copper wares so he will try to get that set up with the locals as well as supplying the Covenant with the necessities for brewing.
Hermetic
The time is to allow you all to set up the covenant, so not as such.
If you want to say that Emericus spends his time working on improving the library through trade or copying (see the House Rule), that's perfectly fine. Same if he spends time trying to locate and investigate additional vis sources.
Perfectly fine. In addition to copper equiment for brewing, I'm assuming he will also provide the covenant with some lab equipment.
I will ask the others Improve the library or search fo vis sources? I am inclined for the later but I have not seen what others are doing for set up
So far, darkwing (Borealis) has focused more on the physical set up of the covenant (brewery and mundanes). But that may not necessarily reflect what his magus was doing, even though Borealis is certainly more suited to it than Emericus (who has Blatant Gift).
Haven't heard from VanSilke yet. His last post was on October 31st.
Borealis is certainly keen on making sure the physical set up is going well, so we have income, somewhere to sleep, somewhere (and something) to eat, somewhere for supplies to be delivered to and mundanes to handle this. Put me down for exposure xp in Folk Ken.
Emericus is better away from people ( which is why he has the very social companion). He will try to find and identify more vis resources after lab setup
Sorry for that, I've been a little out of it for the past few weeks... My plans would have been to repay for Durenmar's books with scribing hospitality as agreed. As for covenant development, Basilus would want to set up the new covenant's library (find a good room for it and hire a scribe, a bookbinder, and couple other mundanes to help with that. Additionally, he'd see to the nearest source of mundane books, like monastery or university, to get a good selection of books on mundane topics as well)
Hiring of a scribe, bookbinder and other specialists is more problematic. The covenant's modest source of income won't be enough to support those. Plus, there would not be enough work for a full-time position.
Setting up the library is easy enough. The covenant map already shows one of the room large enough to have a combination library/coucil chamber. Although, with the number of magi reduced to 3, there is room to spare for a separate library.
Which leads to a question: Where does each magus set up his sanctum, and what do you do with the other chambers? (Covenant map)
New room, lvl 3 for Emericus please
The room on level 1 opposite the way down for Borealis please - being an Auram mage, he wants to be able to get into the fresh air as fast as possible if he feels the need.
I updated the map to reflect your choices. While I was at it, I identified each room with a letter for ease of reference.
Once VanSilke indicates which one will be Basilus' sanctum, you will need to decide what to do with the empty rooms (if anything).
I am guessing G will be the combo meeting and library unless we need the room for the brewery.
On second thought, I think it should be the brewery. with just 3 magi we can take a small round room for library/council room