Soubre listened while his mate spoke with the AI.

The Refuge AI said “I suggest that the first load be exclusively engineers, technical personnel, administrators and their families. The second load should be medical personnel, support personnel and their families. The third load should, depending on time constraints, be either military and police personnel and their families or miscellaneous colonists and their families. For obvious reasons, the military and police should stay as long as possible, but they are not to be casually expended       . . .”

Soubre shook his head. Oddly, Situra could completely forget social factors while building an elaborate, efficient and logical political structure.

So, even though he was an engineer and Situra a political scientist, he sometimes had to remind her she was dealing with people, not machines.

Soubre cleared his throat. “Situra? Let me ask you something. Where are our children?”

Situra blinked and stared at him. “You know that! They are on their way to safety in Refuge . . . oh.”

Her eyes widened “Oh!”

* * *

=== Announcement to the Colonists ===

It is a matter of common knowledge that we are in a Code Zed situation. We are glad to announce the Master has prepared a stronghold against such a time of need.

Unfortunately, it will take four trips to relocate the populace.

Everyone will receive instructions over their com unit with copies sent to their PCs detailing when and where they are to report for transit.

The first trip will transport children, their mothers or guardians if the child is under eight standard years, pregnant women, doctors, nurses, nannies along with a skeleton crew of engineers, sanitation engineers and food preparation personnel.

The second trip will transport . . .