Chapter Text
She had never been unfamiliar with logistics, she actually had a surprisingly diverse array of experience deciding how to manage resources and deliveries in her time with Huanglong Lolo logistics and the Tidal defence simulations she'd helped the Black Shores test a week before Leviathan's attack on Rinacita.
Tablet in hand she reviewed an itemized list that stretched on like a hymn of tedium.
"We need placement finalized by today's end or the decorators will have a conniption". Beatrice had those words over the communicator an hour ago. Thankfully they were making pretty good time, everyone knew what to do, they just needed her to point where bulkheads and tables needed moving.
She'd been at it long enough to develop partial tunnel vision when KU-Cass's synthetic voice carried through the earpiece she had on.
"Rover, how many balloons is too many balloons?"
"Depends on whether they're for decoration or sabotage"
"Oh dear" the bot said with some wearyness. "I'll have this sorted then"
"Need assistance?" Rover asked but the line cut a moment later.
A sigh escaped her lips. Delegation was supposed to make things simpler
They had insisted that delegation would be easy but in Rovers' experience that was seldom true. In the last hour she had approved three set up requests, had some fragile equipment carefully moved out of sight and vetoed a questionable plan to hang lighting cables from a crane. Now satisfied with the state of the harbour, she stepped back, crossing the Western bridge to the Tethys Hub.
Rover placed a tablet under one arm, afternoon sun draping the deck in honeyed light. Technicians moving panels, drones and ferrying materials on trolleys from one section of the shore to the other. Naturally work had not stopped, about 35% percent of employees were still monitoring and conducting tests but Rover had insisted that their work day would be halved. If she was being forced to attend this, then no one else would be allowed to weasel out.... That and she was quite certain these workaholics needed the break.
There was bustling all around the central Hub. the hum of celebratory energy rising from every corner. The Black shores were coming alive.
In the middle of it all Rover spied Encore, standing by the flowers and losing an intense battle with a bundle of balloons she was trying to tie to a chair. She was crouched by the side of the chair, both hands tangled in ribbons, cheeks puffed together in determined silence. The strings had looped around her wrist like wire, biting the skin. The wooly dolls tugging at her rope with little effect. She wasn't hurting herself but not keen to see that become the case, Rover stepped over.
"Encore". The pinkette flinched and attempted to hide her hands behind her back, not something you could really do with tangled up hands. Naturally this only made the skin redden faster. Rover crouched beside her with a sigh.
"You're supposed to tie the balloons, not yourself"
"It got out of hand..." Encore said with some embarrassment. "The Balloons kept moving"
"That's what balloons do" Rover said with a dry look, but her hand was gentle as she loosened the knots. She worked with calm care, index finger and thumb slipping between threads, easing the ribbons free one by one.
"You should have asked for help"
"I didn't want to bother Uncle Aalto again. He’s busy”
Rover paused for moment, meeting her gaze. "Youre part of -everyone- too. You count... There all better" Rover said as she brushed away the last ripple, all seven balloons now held comfortably in Rovers hands.
Encore looked down at her wrist with a small frown. "Stings"
Without much thought Rover reached for the satchel on her hip and took out some wipes, regular showers were not always convenient while travelling. always accessible as one of those multipurpose ones she used to clean up after working up a sweat in battles. "Hold still" she said dapping at the red marks in methodical fashion, she could have just handed them but she was suddenly feeling a bit responsible.
Then, without much fanfare Aalto would appear, carrying an armful of little confetti canons that looked a little too heavy, too high tech to be confetti canons. "Emergency question"
Rover stood up, tilted her head appraisingly at the Black Shores Consultant. "Please tell me your not planning to use those near the tents"
"Wouldn't dream of it, -you'll- be setting up the tents near these bad boys"
Rover was visibly unimpressed though not surprised. "This doesn't sound like an emergency Aalto"
"It is if these aren't labeled" he said, with a smirk. "Half of these are smoke launchers. Fifty-fifty if people think it's a celebration or evacuation"
"Evacuation sounds exciting" Encore said, beaming as Rover placed a difusing hand on her head.
"Don't encourage him" Rover said with a sigh. "Aalto put them away before someone starts a fire"
"Oh, look at you, handing out commands. Astral Modulator and chief"
Rover shook her head despite the smile at the corner of her lips before turning to face the horizon. Crates were being lifted and drones zipped by in narrow arcs. Everything was alive and moving, connected, and somehow, despite her reluctance, she found herself fairly content to see simple tasks finished.
Then there was buzz from her pangu Terminal. She was getting those every ten minutes now.
Without looking down she tapped the answer button and a blue holographic screen would appear infront of her with a live feed of Beatrice.
"Rover" she said with a hand to her earpiece. "Security department is requesting oversight on their shooting range"
"I didn't realize that was something they need supervision for" Rover replied with mild amusement.
"They don't, but I think it will be a pleasant morale boost if you show up instead of me... Also their bulkheads are heavy so reorganizing takes a while"
Behind her Aalto gave a knowing sigh. "They've been fiddling with the layout since last month. Guess party talk put lit the right match under their feet"
Beatrice’s eyes slid toward him like a sniper scope clicking into place. “Aalto. Have you finished the paperwork I gave you this morning?”
The smugness on his face evaporated so quickly Encore gasped.
“I… uh. Define finished?”
"Finished. Entirely. The opposite of not doing it"
Beatrice was unimpressed.
"In that case I finished it, spiritually"
"Aalto"
"And I'll finish it in person.... after I get I help the medical department set up their ice cream stand" he backed away one step at a time. "It's very urgent. I'll catch you guys later. Bye Rover"
"Aalto! Come back!" Encore called, reaching a moment too late for his coat tails which left a trail of mist behind.
Encore would visibly pout and deflate her arms. "He always runs away when there's work"
Rover placing a hand on her pink head. "He'll be back". She smoothed out some of the tossled hair as she addressed Beatrice. "I'll be off to the range now in that case"
"Thank you" the researcher said with a tired look before picking up a stack of papers. I'll meet up with you at the tethys hub later”