Page 80 of Warrior’s Mate

"Good."

"They want civilian registrars integrated into the command effort."

Maelis looked at him sharply. "That was fast."

"I may have mentioned that military maps do not know where people actually live."

She stared at him. Kaiven's expression remained solemn for perhaps two seconds before giving way.

"You quoted me."

"I attributed the insight to an extremely difficult registrar."

"You did not."

"I did not use the word extremely."

Despite everything, she smiled.

A communications chime sounded behind them. One of the volunteers called Maelis's name.

She returned to the table with Kaiven beside her.

"We have a detachment manifest issue," the volunteer said. "Three vessels are being assembled for secondary evacuation and support at first light. Command wants the passenger records reconciled before launch."

Maelis looked at the display.

The group was small compared with the dreadnoughts and main fleet elements operating elsewhere: a patrol escort, a repair/support ship, and a civilian evacuation transport intended to carry personnel, technicians, medical staff, supplies, and evacuees. The provisional count was already approaching eight hundred people across the three vessels.

The problem was familiar. Military crew lists were clean. Civilian records were not. Families had been merged, medical transfers lacked destination fields, and evacuees from three shelters were still being added while the ships were loading.

"When do they launch?" Maelis asked.

"First light."

"Then this is not a manifest. It's a promise that we intend to have one."

The volunteer looked exhausted. "I was hoping you wouldn't say that."

Kaiven rested one hand on the back of Maelis's chair.

"I'm assigned to that detachment," he said quietly.

Maelis turned.

"What?"

"Command needs an officer with civilian-evacuation experience for the next relief rotation. Their captain requested additional security coordination before they departed. My transfer order was issued ten minutes ago."

For a heartbeat she could hear only the surrounding hall.

"When?"

"First light."

Her first reaction was anger so pure it almost made her laugh. Not at him. At the universe, which had apparently decided that surviving one separation entitled them to another before either had slept.

Then she looked at the detachment manifest again.