Jane
Kave looked serious. He actually looked worried as he sat alone on the deserted beach. The fact that he sat alone without his wife was enough for Jane to see what the hell he was up to. If he was planning mischief, the least she could do was manage it.
"Etlon has spoken," he said as he saw Jane approach.
The Etlon in question had left an hour ago with as much fanfare as he had arrived. He had also left behind one grumpy looking warrior who surveyed the camp with the eye of someone not liking what he was seeing.
"And what has Etlon spoken about?" Jane prompted.
"A city."
"Are you being transferred?"
"No, not quite. He wants a city, here on Noven 90. And I am going to be in charge of building it."
Jane tried to process this information. It was a huge responsibility, to build a city.
"I shall name it Humility."
"Are you sure you want to do that?"
"Why not? Is it not often done? To name a city after a beloved?" Jane wasn't so sure she'd want a city named after her. Not that anyone would name a city Jane. Or even Barbara Jane. It was a silly name for a city.
"Have you asked Humility if she wants a city named after her?" It would be awkward, anyway, to be the center of all that attention. Jane couldn't imagine Humility being the type of person who would want to be center of attention and have to explain to every new person she met that, yes indeed, she was the Humility of Humility.
"Usually we only name cities after people are dead."
"Oh." His face fell, then brightened. "Then we shall name it Paula. She boldly fought the Suhlik by your side."
"Let's wait a bit to name the city. I'm sure more people will want to put in their input. Maybe you could ask Bright. I'm sure she can offer advice."
"Indeed. But do you think it is a good idea? For me to take charge of a city. It means that I shall leave Athen's side, though I suspect that once we have more than one city, Etlon will move to make him a governor of the planet."
"Because Athen is too stubborn to move home, he's going to move home to him?"
"Something along those lines. But it means that I will need to take some warriors with me. Zenik?"
Kave was definitely hinting that he planned to move Jane with him as well. She didn't have a lot of engineering experience, but the military had given her a good command of logistics. She could make herself useful.
"Just as long as you're not taking Zenik simply so I’ll go too."
"No. We will need a pilot for all the supplies that will be arriving." He paused and looked sheepish. "Humility will want me to take Meadow too. So Goru. And he’ll want Braille. Do you think they will mind?"
"My suggestion is that you ask them."
"A commander does not ask if his warriors want to be reassigned. Especially if simply due to his wife's desires."
Jane nodded. Kave was right, but it would be easy enough for Jane to find out unofficially if there were couples ready to move to a more urban environment.
"You let me take care of that. Give me a list of the candidates and I'll get Meadow on it. What's our timetable here?"
"The architect will begin his survey in the morning. Once he finds an optimal site and finishes his design, the building phase will begin. But even before then, there will be a site selected for materials to arrive, any modular pieces to await assembly. And of course, more warriors to implement the plan."
The warrior that had been dropped off by Etlon must be the new architect then. No wonder he had been assessing everything within sight. That was his job.
"Sounds like we'll have our hands full," she replied.
"Life on Noven 90 will never be boring."
"Then why are you out here, instead of celebrating with your mate?" Jane asked.
"I was just trying to decide a few things."
"For example?"
"The architect. He says he does not want a mate. Perhaps, he needs some persuading like Athen," Kave said with a grin.