Page 19 of Oret
Heading back home, he felt positive about what they were bringing home.
Chapter 7
Making Deals
It was well known thatthe chief was willing to make a deal if you could show him how it would work in his favor.Victoria had given things a lot of thought, and she needed a few more family members here to help get this moon going right.She would start by trying to deal with her 2nd eldest daughter and her family, even though she didn’t expect to get them.Her son Gabe and his family were her target.With four small children, Gabe didn’t want a position that would take time away from his family.His wife, although skilled in several areas, oversaw childcare at the palace.While childcare was important, it did not receive the priority it deserved.
This morning, they would make their weekly call to the chief.He knew he’d sent them an unprecedented number of inexperienced and untrained people.She hoped he’d feel bad about the situation he’d put them in.Oret dialed him up, and she heard the chief’s voice at the other end.
“How is everything going?”Radvar asked.
“The builders are trying, but they are struggling to get close to the level they need.Having to go off-planet to procure supplies also hurts us.The farm that’s going is doing so, but with help, Tasha and her kids have hit the ground running.Since she’s working in the mine, she can only help them a little.The mine is close to the level you want, but some are complaining that they aren’t getting more time off.Our cafeteria is in poor shape, and not one of the workers knows how to cook.”Oret explained.
“We need some experienced help.My second-oldest daughter and her family could push us where we need to be,” Victoria observed.
The chief laughed.“You’d take my mine manager and the one in charge of my builders?Try again.”
“What about Gabe and Anna?”She asked.
“Only if they agree.You may not get what you need out of them.”Radvar mentioned.
She was certain they would agree and do as she asked.Victoria was a good negotiator, and Radvar had just agreed to what she’d suggested.
“By the way, I know what you did.If it didn’t make sense, I wouldn’t have agreed.”Radvar hung up, and soon she would know if Gabe would arrive with his family in tow.
All she could do was hope they would come, and it would be enough to help them get things in order.Gabe’s kids were ten, seven, five, and three years old.Depending on where their parents worked, the kids would be able to accompany them.Childcare here was largely under the care of seniors and teenagers.Infants were kept by medical staff to ensure the best possible care.Not that doctor Early liked changing diapers.The medic and nurse didn’t seem to mind, especially since there were only two babies and they didn’t have them all the time.
It was a matter of not having enough resources and trying to spread those they had.Victoria knew eventually they would make a go of things, but she wanted it sooner rather than later.A great deal of work needed to be done here.Even food and water were limited and needed to be put here.They had a plan, and it would require just a little more help to pull it off.She ate breakfast with her mate, and they headed to their work areas.Victoria put in twelve hours before going home to clean up, then head to Tasha’s new farm.Her daughter had some new builders who would work nights with her, so she wasn’t there.Victoria helped the older kids work on the second floor.With a new farm family coming soon to train with Tasha’s family, they needed to finish soon.
Victoria could smell something good cooking, and it was time to call it a night.The two youngest children had cooked supper, and they had done a great job.It was stew with bread and a cake for dessert.Tasha had taken home some of her kill so that they would have food to fix.The other ingredients had been brought from Mars 2.The honey for the biscuits was from their own hives.They've been here for two weeks and have already divided one of the hives, so they now have six.Wildflowers were already growing around the house, and the bees were already feeding on them.
Supper was done, and it was time for Victoria to head home.The children locked the door after her, and they would only have a few hours before their mother would come home.Oret was waiting for her when she arrived.
“Is everything alright?”He asked.
“They seem to be doing well.We are halfway done on the second story, and they are working on the second barn and a couple of sheds.All the fields are sown, and the extra water we brought them is in a storage tank in case they need it for the fields.”
