Chapter 7 Kian #2
"Of course." He leaned to kiss her cheek and gave Allegra a hug. "Daddy needs to talk to some people, but it's not going to take long. I'll be right back."
She nodded sagely before turning to the television and pointing. "Telebabas?"
Kian stifled a chuckle. "I don't think they have it here. Mommy can find something to stream for you from her laptop."
"She should play with toys," Syssi grumbled. "She's addicted to television."
"She's tired," Kian provided an excuse.
Syssi shook her head. "She's immortal now. She doesn't get tired quickly."
"Telebabas!" Allegra demanded while climbing on the couch and getting into viewing position.
Kian did the smart thing, leaving mother and daughter to their battle of wills, and headed downstairs, where Boshev was making sure everyone found a place to sleep tonight, and Kalugal was observing with the usual lazy smirk on his face as if he was finding it all very amusing.
Anandur emerged from one of the bedrooms down the hallway, wearing a fresh T-shirt. "Are we ready to tango?"
Kalugal clapped Anandur on the back. "No offense, but as much as I like you, I prefer to dance with my wife."
"I am deeply offended." Anandur huffed with mock indignation and turned to Boshev. "You'll tango with me, right?"
"Anytime, mate."
The four of them headed out to the front porch, where Jade, Phinas, and Drova joined them.
They walked toward the command center, where the senior staff was supposed to be waiting for them. The sun was climbing higher, the humidity becoming oppressive, and Kian was grateful that they didn't have far to walk.
"Before we go in," Boshev said, "I should mention that the construction foreman is a character. Raj is excellent at his job, but he has opinions about everything and isn't shy about expressing them."
"Noted," Kian said.
The command center's first floor had been converted into a large operations room. Maps covered one wall, monitors lined another, and several tables held architectural plans and equipment manifests. Four men were waiting for them—two Kian recognized as Kalugal's people, and two he didn't.
"Welcome to our nerve center, gentlemen," Dandor stood.
He was thin and intense, with the slightly manic energy of someone who lived on coffee and adrenaline.
Wellgorst, broader and calmer than his partner, nodded a greeting. "We are getting close to having the security system fully operational. We need another week or so."
"Excellent," Kalugal said.
Boshev gestured to a short, stocky man in his fifties with paint-stained clothes and a hard hat tucked under his arm. "Allow me to introduce Raj Patel, our construction supervisor."
"Finally, the money men arrive," Raj said in accented English. "Do you know how difficult it is to renovate buildings on an island with no proper supply chain? Every nail, every board, every bag of cement must come by boat. It's a logistical nightmare."
"Which you seem to be handling admirably," Kian said.
"Admirably." Raj snorted. "I perform miracles daily. My crews work with limited equipment, racing against impossible deadlines, and what thanks do they get?"
"A generous salary and completion bonuses," Kalugal reminded him.
"Yes, yes, the money is good. That's why we're here." Raj's demeanor shifted, becoming more professional. "Current status: barracks are forty percent complete, training facilities sixty percent, residential ninety percent. We're on schedule despite the challenges."
"What's the main bottleneck?" Jade asked.
"Materials delivery. We need more frequent supply runs. Also, some of the specialized equipment for the training areas is delayed."
"I'll handle it," Kalugal said.
Boshev seemed impatient to move on to the fourth man in the room. "This is Marcus Chen. He's overseeing our defensive installations."
Chen nodded in greeting. "We're installing integrated radar and sonar systems with full coverage out to fifty miles. Underwater sensors will detect a submarine approach. Surface radar can track anything bigger than a speedboat."
"What about smaller craft?" Phinas asked.
"Thermal imaging cameras around the perimeter. Motion sensors in critical areas. If anything approaches this island, we'll know about it."
"Response time?" Jade folded her arms over her chest.
"From detection to alert, under thirty seconds."
"Why the delay?" Jade asked.
"To verify that it's not a false positive."
"That's too long," Phinas said. "I'd prefer an immediate alarm, so the troops are ready to respond."
Chen nodded. "It can be done."
Drova had been quiet until now, studying the maps on the wall. "What about evacuation procedures? If the island is under attack, how do we get people off quickly?"
"We have multiple options," Boshev said. "The airstrip for aerial evacuation, boats at the harbor, but in case both are compromised, we're adding hidden caches with inflatable rafts at various points around the island."
Wellgorst walked over to the desk and lifted a folder. "We've acquired three fast boats for patrol and emergency transport. They are not military grade since we don't want to appear to be a military installation, but they are fast."
"How fast?" Anandur asked.
"Forty knots cruising, fifty-five at maximum."
"So, we could reach Navuh's island in about six to seven hours if needed." The Guardian did quick mental math.
"We're not planning anything offensive," Kian said. "This base is for training and defense."
"Of course," Anandur agreed, though his tone suggested he liked knowing the option existed.
Raj cleared his throat. "If we're done with the military discussion, I need to address practical matters. Sewage treatment expansion, water desalination upgrades, and most critically, power generation."
"We are aware of the situation," Kalugal said. "The mini-nuclear reactor is in the works, but in the meantime, we'll need to install more generators."
"More generators means more fuel shipments. More fuel shipments mean more security risks."
Raj had a point. Every supply run was a potential security breach, especially if Navuh had people watching shipping traffic in the region.
"We'll implement rotating supply companies," Kian decided. "No single vendor gets enough orders to see a pattern. Boshev, coordinate with our logistics people."
"Yes, sir."
As Kian, Kalugal, and their entourage headed back to the house, the afternoon sun beat down on their new base, and Kian thought about the future they were trying to build. Safe Harbor was more than just a training facility. It was a statement of intent.
They were no longer simply defending.
They were preparing to take the initiative.
The game was changing, and Safe Harbor would be where they established the new rules.