Chapter Sixty-Seven: Urban Development
February 1st, 3015
"Alright, let's look over some of these plans." I said to the architect that Hanse and Ian had recommended to me. "I really need something that's not super glamorous, but rather is functional and is easily defended."
"I have this." He rolled out a set of plans, and grabbed a pencil. "If you don't want something super ornate, I can get rid of the fany pieces here, here, and here." He drew circles around parts of it. "Unfortunately, as a noble you are not going to be able to go minimalist."
"I actually have an idea about that." I said, and withdrew some stuff that I had drawn up myself. "Now, I'm not an architect, but I do have practical building experience and that lent itself to some of this." I pointed out the various materials, and what I was thinking. "I know it's not a usual thing, but I think it would fit the aesthetic that I tend to work with."
"Yes, and if we added walls here and sheathed them in the same outer material then it would end up looking both minimalist and wealthy at the same time." He grew excited. "In fact, if we get the right craftsman then people will be able to tell that you had this done very professionally."
"So it can be done?" I asked.
"With some minor modifications." The man said. "Give me three months to get in contact with some experts, and I'm going to need some of the people that you have working on the Academy for some consulting work." He inhaled. "But honestly, this is brilliant, you said you drew this up yourself?"
"Yeah, I used to watch my dad do it, and It's mostly plotting. I also used to do general contracting, and measurements and materials are something I know a little bit about." I shrugged, "It's nothing to brag about, but I think that you could potentially make something really great out of this."
February 15th, 3015
"This is an interesting mansion you've cooked up." Sheppard said as he helped me break ground on the new mansion complex just outside of Davisbury, the capital city of Kentares IV. There was a small mountain range just outside of the city limits and I was helping out with some of the beginning stages of construction as a little bit of a vacation.
"I know, I just felt inspired by a couple of things I read in a book a long time ago." I replied with a small smirk, remembering exactly which book I remembered it from. "I think it will come out well." I began to use the excavator as instructed to by the foreman on site, David sitting in my lap giggling away as we began the construction of our new home. "You having fun there?" I asked the toddler, laughing with him as he did what all boys do when they have massive power tools at their grasp. "Careful, don't pull that one too hard." I cautioned him. And together, we continued to work until he fell asleep. At which point, I got out of the excavator, and went to the pre fab we were living in until we were done with the living quarters.
February 20th, 3015
"I'm sorry, can you repeat that?" I asked Packer, "I didn't catch it the first time."
"We're setting aside a company specifically for your protection." He said, "While Mathis is a good at the close bodyguard detail, and decent at platoon or smaller sized formations, you're going to need something quite a bit heavier in order to cover you."
"And I have a tendency to throw myself at the poor bastards that are trying to kill my people." I agreed. "Making it harder to keep me alive in the middle of combat."
"Exactly, I'm having a mixed company of mechs and combat vehicles moved here to both protect you, and to escort you into combat." Packer said. (AN: I distinctly remember writing a scene where I had Mendoza taking over the company of Ducal Guards, but I can't find it anywhere…)
"I take it they will be a separate command from the Kentares Guard?" I asked him. "Because if they're going to be an independent force then we'll need a separate chain of command for them."
"Get the paperwork together, and I'll sign it." I told the newly promoted CO of the 1st Kentares Guards. "I'm still working out the kinks in the Militia currently"
March 1st, 3015
"Mary," I said. "Can you come confirm these numbers for me please?"
"Sure thing." The woman said and she maneuvered to take a look at the numbers I was talking about. "Yes sir, those are the most accurate recent numbers."
"That's a pretty large population boom." I said. "How many of them are from local families having babies, and how many are from immigration?"
"It's currently about a 50/50 split." She replied. "Part of our population boom is youngsters looking for a place to settle down with a good chance of gainful employment."
"And because we are restoring the cities over time, the price of land and of living quarters is steadily decreasing." I finished for her. "And with the Land grant system that I put in place for those who serve in the Kentares Guard or the Militia, people are going to surge here in order to receive their own plots of land."
"That is true," Mary agreed. "And considering that Sharpshooter manufacturing is the largest employer in the system and is constantly hiring not only people in the Kentares System, but is also engaged in hiring for plants and factories in other areas, you have a series of booms."
"Your next step will need to be deciding on a system of government." She said. "I have some recommendations for you, but I will leave it up to you."
"I'm leaving the Planetary government alone." I said. "I'll handle military and diplomatic matters with Duke Sandoval, or the Davions, but I'm not touching local politics with a hundred meter pole. It's not my place to weigh in on that." I stated. "They can decide how they want to be governed on their own, as long as there is good representation."
March 15th, 3015
"Mr. Hull," Mary said with a knock on my office door. "You have someone here to see you."
"Huh?" I questioned, having been spending my lunch hour with David, trying to teach him to say some more words. "Well, send whoever it is in will you?"
"Yes sir." Mary said, "He'll be right up."
"Duke Sandoval." I stood up to greet him but was told to sit down. "What brings you here sir?"
"I wanted to meet my new nobleman." He replied, a small smile on his grizzled face. "I apologize for coming unannounced, but I find that people respond more accurately when surprised."
"It's perfectly fine." I said, "I was actually taking my lunch break with my son here." I helped little David wave at Duke Sandoval.
"Well, you seem to be doing good work here on Kentares," Sandoval said with some approval. "It's about time we started recovering from some of the monstrosities the Dracs visited upon us." He paused. "I'll set up a regular meeting with your secretary for some time later this week, And I'll leave you to your son." He smiled sadly. "Enjoy them at this age, they only get older from here on out."
"I will sir." I shook his hand as he made to leave. "I'll have Mary clear up some time." I told him, "I think there's someone I can bump further down the list tomorrow."
"No." Sandoval shook his head. "I know how hard it is to manage your time as a nobleman, much less a businessman and a Mercenary company owner. I'll see you at whatever time your lovely Secretary puts me down for. Have a good day Hull."
"You too sir." I said with a dip of my head as he walked out my office door. "Well, that was unexpected." I muttered to myself after the door had shut. "I knew he was on the planet, I just didn't know he was headed to meet with me so soon."
I picked up my comms device and called Dunham. "Hey, you might want to put some more people on VIP duty, or replace them, Duke Sandoval just walked into my office without so much as a "by your leave". Yeah, I know it was harmless this time, but we can't get lax even with people that we trust, MASK and the ISF are really good at their jobs, and if we slip up people will die." I finished the conversation with Dunham, happy that he would be dealing with the lax intel people.