The signal beamed strong and sure, but only touched a small area. Enough Legion woke in this region that they could link. The Architect was the signal, and with the signal, they must act.

Per their programming, the Legion constructed the first generation of Swarm, with release coordinated for maximum effectiveness. Most of the Swarm perished before finding a target to consume, but with numbers so many that in the end, it would not matter.

[Mora]

"Damn right, girl. He would have had it coming."

I knew I could depend on Kate to support me when I told her about the threatening to knee the Director in the balls incident. Kate and I had very different vocations, me a scientist and she a heavy equipment operator, and she was about ten years older than me. Nonetheless, we quickly became best friends after I arrived. She looked her combat-tested Marine infantry past — short red hair, numerous tattoos, and a tall, fit frame, but I have not yet asked why they used to call her 'Bender'. She was as tough as they come, but also with a fun side, and helped pull me out of my shell.

Kate asked, "So, are we going to get some help with the irrigation systems?"

"Not until the ark ship gets here. They are going to bring down an engineer from the ship first and assign him to our team. We'll have to make do until then."

With a huff, Kate kicked the ground with a boot, sending a few pebbles skittering. "An engineer, huh? That's all we need. They come all book smart and field dumb, thinking they can tell us what to do. And no use arguing with them. Like wrestling a pig in the mud — eventually you find out they like it."

The analogy brought out a laugh — in my experience, sometimes true.

I pulled my beeping com-viewer out of a front pocket, and my gut twisted at the message. "Uh oh, our esteemed team leader requests my presence."

Kate put a reassuring hand on my shoulder. "Well, don't let him get you down, girl. You were in the right."

I smiled and performed a mock salute as we parted. The project office sat about a kilometer away and it was another nice day, so I walked through the ag test plots rather than taking a quad wheeler. He could wait a bit.

Vic, a short middle-aged man with dark hair, sat facing away behind a messy desk as I knocked on the office door. He turned around, motioning me in, then plopped his braced leg up on a makeshift padded stool. It was because of this injury that he sent me to the project update meeting. I rode with him when he rolled the quad and got a few bruises myself. Sitting down in the worn chair before his desk, I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. I knew what this was about.

"You wanted to see me, Vic?"

"Had a strange call from our director," he said, drawing down eyebrows.

"Oh?"

"Seems he has concerns about how well you play with others, about not being part of the team. What the hell happened?"

I sighed. "During the reception, he pinned me up against the window and made a proposal I did not like. I threatened to knee his balls if he did not leave me alone. That's all."

"Damn Mora," Vic grumbled. "Couldn't you think of a more graceful exit? We don't need to piss off Director Sander."

My fingers dug into the padded chair arms as I struggled to keep my composure. Vic was a fairly good team leader and treated me with respect, but he also tended to suck-up to those above him on the org chart.

Vic shook his head and waved a finger. "And another thing. Did you have to bring up the terraform initial conditions tripe? We need to keep things positive."

My voice took a cutting edge. "We are scientists, and we are supposed to question things like that. I thought you, as an environmental ecologist, would appreciate that."

"Just give it a rest."

I huffed, "Is that it?"

"And it would be a good idea if you avoided the director."

"Fine with me." I said, biting my tongue to all the other words held back.

Outside of the office, I took a couple of cleansing breaths to still a pounding heart. Vic's reprimand wasn't as bad as I feared, but not anywhere near good either. Why did I keep getting into these messes? Time I got back to work and left it behind.

*****

For the next several months, I stayed busy with preparations for the first settler's arrival, alternating my time between the three settlement sites. Everything looked good, except the irrigation systems at the north and west sites. The domestic water supply systems were not big enough to also supply irrigation, no pumps were available, and the fabrication printers would be occupied with other higher priority jobs for some time.

I borrowed a hovercar for the long drive to Central City to pick up my engineer and several crates of bees. Taking the regular automated transport shuttle was an option, but didn't think the passengers would like to share it with thousands of stinging insects.

A big crowd lined up at the space elevator terminal, at least by this planet's standards — not surprising, since this was a historic moment. But they were not waiting for my bees or even my engineer

Anger simmered in my gut as I noticed Director Sander waiting impatiently at the head of the line. That was reason enough to back away. The doors opened and out came a woman with a big smile, similar to Director Sander's smile, but much more authentic. The new Governor, I presumed, shook many hands, moving along the line with practiced ease.

After a few moments, a man peeked around the door — likely my engineer — pausing at the threshold to scan the area. Moving to the side, he leaned against a support column, avoiding the crowd that surrounded the Governor as if using her to cover an escape. Regardless, a few from the crowd greeted him, to which he nodded and shook hands graciously.

I took a moment to study him — moderate height, slim muscular build, disheveled brown hair, and warm hazel eyes with a hint of mischief — attractive, I had to admit. I was not sure what I expected, but not this. The best part was his smile, warm, inviting, and refreshingly genuine.

I shuffled through the crowd toward him and extended a hand. "Hi, you must be Gan Finn. I was expecting you. I am Mora Torr."

He grasped my hand and gazed into my eyes. And that smile again... "Mora. Pleased to meet you. I understand you require my services?"

After I held his gaze and hand long enough that it became awkward, a slight smirk formed on his lips as he lifted an eyebrow.

"Umm, yes," I responded, regaining my composure. "Right. I'm here to take you and my bees up to a settlement."

"I think I should inform you that your bees were very nice on the way down."

"Good to hear," I replied.

As Gan stepped forward to follow me, he staggered, color fading from his face and eyes blurring. I rushed in, slid under his arm, and put my arm around his waist to steady him, then guided him to a nearby short rock wall to sit and recover.

"Easy now," I cautioned. "It's the change in gravity. Hit me hard when I first arrived, too."

We sat for a moment as he caught his breath. Then, the Governor came up to us with a smirk. "Wow Gan. You work fast. Only ten minutes and you already found a girlfriend."

Oh, no... My eyes snapped full open as I pulled my arm out from around Gan, but when he swayed, I put it back.

The governor sat down and put her hand on Gan's shoulder, helping me support him. "Oh, I'm sorry, but I couldn't help teasing Gan a bit. Not politically suave of me, hmm? I am Liz Quin, the new Governor. You must be Mora. Gan told me you would pick him up."

"Pleased to meet you, Governor," I said with a head nod.

"Call me Liz. Let's save the title for official functions." She blew out a breath and caught Gan's eyes. "This change in gravity takes some getting used to, doesn't it?"

Director Sander came over to collect Liz and gave me a sour look-back as he led her away. I wanted to warn her, but then realized she probably has dealt with many men like him. Sure enough, the Director snaked his arm around her shoulder as they walked away, but then she immediately spun out and went over to shake hands with someone else nearby, all the while keeping a cheerful grin on her face.

Oh, she was good at this.

Gan took a deep breath and said, "Thanks, Mora. I am feeling better now."

"Okay."

Gan turned his hazel eyes down to my arm that circled his waist and a grin rose on his face. "Umm, you can let go of me now."