"The Coalition of Ordered Governments was a strange beast to control. It was a global alliance. Heads of COG states had to want to cooperate, or at least fear the wrath of the others if they tried to break ranks."
—Chairman Richard Prescott

Arriving at the Admin office the Onyx dismissed the guards that were present. The office had the advantage of being one of the few modular buildings that had been brought with the advance team. Most of the camp was still tents with scattered modular structures mixed in.

Checking the records Emmerich found that their supply shipments had been delayed due to the Swarms last assault. That excused the current temporary structures. It did not excuse the camp being divided into two halves.

One side was held by the military detachment assigned to the expedition. The other was occupied by the DBi engineering team responsible for civil operations. Emmerich opted to pull up the files on the heads of each team.

Starting with the Chief of Engineering for the settlement. A woman by the name of Gracie Ramos. She had a good record of several projects beyond the boundaries of Settlements.

Most of them were automated factories or power plants. This was the first Settlement her team was involved in. She and her team must have been chosen due to the shortage of experienced Settlement teams.

He checked for messages addressed from her. Finding that while he had some directed to him most were simply marked for the Governor's office.

Starting out the messages were about the issues with the records of the site being incorrect. Advising there was no way for them to establish a secure foundation in the designated zone. According to her preliminary surveys, which were being hampered by some unusual minerals in the area.

The whole site was over a local hollow. Rather than the solid rock they had planned for they were over a void. There was the risk of a cave-in should they start heavy excavation or worse a burial site full of Swarm waiting to emerge.

Which brought him to Chief of Security Colonel O'Connor. Commanding the 19th Motorized Battalion and the 40th Light Automated Battalion. The 19th was a flesh and blood unit.

Before the Swarm threat was known its time had been spent running training in the Wilds or parades. Now they had taken part in several engagements. O'Connor had been promoted after their last commanding officer had been killed in battle.

The 40th was a standard formation of Peacemaker DeeBees. Enough to use as a shield to take punishment for the flesh and blood troops. But lacked any more advanced DeeBees.

O'Connor upon being advised about the nature of their location had set about posting security details and securing the area. This curtailed what little progress had been made. The DBi staff were now being told when they could leave the camp. Where they could go and required to have an escort. If one was not available they were not allowed to leave.

Reading his messages from O'Connor. Emmerich found that he was being asked then all but instructed to reign in Ramos. As both she and her personnel kept disregarding O'Connor's orders.

This had led to a fight between them about who's role had priority. For Ramos it was important to find out about how off their maps were. So they could establish where they could begin proper construction. O'Connor had objected. Say that they needed to be prepared for enemy attack and set up their defenses first.

Things had continued to spin out of control as surveys that Ramos had ordered were being interrupted by O'Connors efforts to secure the site. She had responded by setting all Security requests to the bottom of the queue for the Engineering team. O'Connor had setup checkpoints and spot checks on all the Engineering operations. Ramos had stopped notifying O'Connor about any of Engineering's operations. O'Connor then designated all non-declared options as against regulation and detained the teams if they tried to leave the camp.

Now the two groups responsible for ensuring the site was both ready to receive citizens and keep them safe were a short way from attacking each other. Threats had been made from both sides. Because of all this Emmerich was now sitting in a conference room inside the site Admin office between the two sides. He was becoming more and more agitated as he read the story of miscommunication and failure that had stalled all progress at the site. His site now.

'Why do I miss things trying to kill me?' Emmerich said. Rubbing his head trying to work up a plan to help fix the situation and get them all working again.
'Because you can shoot back and that resolves the problem,' The response came from his current bodyguard Hickman as Day was off this rotation. He was more vocal than Day and made clear that he would have preferred to stay in the fight rather than out on some protection duty. Though Emmerich's situation was amusing enough to keep him in good spirits.

'Did Figueroa and Durman at least get them to agree to speak so we can get on with this? Emmerich asked as he flicked through messages on a computer, 'We have less than two weeks to get this place in shape before our first report back.'
'16 days and counting, Sir,' Hickman reported, 'And yes they have agreed to meet here on neutral ground. To discuss each other backing off and apologizing.'
'Great. So neither of them accepted any responsibility?' Emmerich's hands fell to the table.

'No,' Hickman said with a chuckle, 'But they are both confident that once you get your subordinate in order. They can get back to their very important business.'
'I'm sure they are,' Emmerich sighed, slipping into the chair.
'Any ideas of how to get them in order?' Hickman asked.

Emmerich sat in thought. He'd been trained at the School of Administration in New Ephyra. Studies had covered history, culture and leadership. He'd never liked some of his time there he hoped to avoid any harsher measures. What to do? Kicking them out would just mean starting all over but they were so set against each other. He couldn't just wave vague threats about. Or could he?

'I have an idea. But I'll need assistance to pull it off, 'He turned to look at Hickman.
'What sort of assistance?' Hickman asked his interest piqued.
'The kind that we'll need Myers to approve of. Where did he go anyway?'

Myers had vanished shortly after they had arrived. All he'd said was that he needed to reported in with Onyx command and for the Platoon to help Emmerich in the mean time.

'Let me check,' Hickman pressed his radio. 'Black Actual, Black-3-4, Bauxite needs to speak with you,' Hickman stood for a moment. Emmerich was starting to miss having a Tac-Com connection to the Onyx. Then Hickman nodded, 'He's on the way sir.'

A few minutes later the Onyx squad leaders were in the room. Emmerich explained his plan. There were a few nods. Then Myers asked the important question.

'Should be easy enough. But what if that doesn't work?'
'Then we will need cells if we're lucky, failing that graves.'

A short while later both of the leaders arrived. Each with their own guards. O'Connor arrived with a squad of his Gears and a pair of Silverback's. Ramos had a team of engineers holding Dropshots and Buzzkills. She also had a Construction Mech wielding its Staple gun like a rifle and some plates of armor attached.

Both accused the other of being over-armed. Each claiming that this was the lightest escort they were willing to bring. Before they could come to blows the Onyx Guard made it clear their escorts were staying outside. Only the leaders would be permitted to enter the meeting.

Whilst they both complained and demanded that Emmerich come out and speak with them the Onyx refused. One relented and began to march in at which point the other ran to keep pace neither wanted the other to get ahead of them. Once they had been directed to the conference room by Day who remained outside to prevent interference. It was a matter of seconds for them to break out into another argument. Emmerich hadn't even been able to introduce himself.

'You are well out of line little lady,' O'Connor said, 'You're armoring your Mechs now? What's next? Open insurrection?'
'I'm out of line? For trying to protect my people?' Ramos said, 'You're the one marching around with a team of Exo-Suits with rocket launchers. Seems I was right to pull your requests from the system or you'd have us building a castle for you.'
'Obstruction of military operations is an offense!' O'Connor turned to Emmerich, 'Governor I demand you have her detained.'

'Obstruction of sanctioned government operations is an offense too. So we must be even,' Ramos looked to Emmerich as well, 'Get your jumped up toy soldier back in line Governor. Or me and my people are done with this job.'
'Like hell you are!' O'Connor snarled, 'You'll all do your damned jobs for once or do we have to start making examples out of you?'
'You want to go, let's see who can crush who!' Ramos said.

Before one of them could throw one of the few chairs at the other Emmerich knocked on the desk to get their attention. 'When you are both quite finished with this display of ego's can we please try and get this operation back on track.'

Their glare's were now directed at him rather than each other but at least he had their attention, 'If I may go over the situation with you both we can all start by agreeing on where we stand. Is that acceptable to you both?'
'Fine,' Ramos dropped back to her chair.
'Acceptable,' O'Connor drew back into his seat.

'As it stands our data on this location is out of date and by both your reckoning dangerously so,' Emmerich said. Looking between the two before turning to Ramos to start, 'Chief Ramos, how bad is our data for your operations?'
Ramos could barely keep the anger from her voice though at least it wasn't visibly directed at O'Connor any more, 'Its stopped all site prep. We can't start the groundwork until we figure out what is and isn't wrong with the data. We should be on solid rock but instead there's a hollow that the data doesn't show. The ground has a load of minerals that are screwing with our sensors. We can't risk any heavy excavation or we might cause a collapse.'

Before O'Connor could add his thoughts about who's fault the data was, Emmerich brought him in, 'Chief O'Connor, you've tried to take measures against enemy infiltration. But as I understand from your report you are also unable to take full measures for the same reasons.'
It was now O'Connor's turn to ignore the other person at the table as he turned to Emmerich, 'Whilst my forces have begun to entrench themselves now due to the terrain being a point of concern. I've ordered patrols to secure any possible entrances to the hollow and alert us to any enemy presence.'
'Your "Patrols" are harassing my Survey teams and messing with our equipment,' Ramos said.

'Your people are walking around without notifying the security teams. Continue to move assets without permission and are belligerent to the personnel under my command,' O'Connor snapped.
'Before you got here we were actually making some progress with this assignment!' Ramos shouted.
'Before I got here you and your load of tech heads were playing with rocks rather than doing your damned job!'.
'And since I arrived here I've seen little progress on either of your duties,' Emmerich announced. Forgotten until he had spoken. Both were now glaring at him again so at least he had their attention.

Ramos glared from Emmerich to O'Connor with equal venom now.
Neither of you have any knowledge or experience with this sort of work,' She said, 'My team has set up dozens of productive sites all over Sera.'
Rising to Ramos's challenge O'Connor shot a look at the others as well, 'My forces have actually engaged the enemy in combat. Unlike you civilian layabouts.'
'Ha. If you're in charge of our safety then this site is already lost,' With that declaration Ramos rose from her seat.

O'Connor bolted to his feet jabbing a finger towards Ramos, 'That is cowardice and slander in one sentence. I can have you shot for that.'
'I'm leaving. Try and stop me you stupid ape,' Ramos said. Walking toward the door. The Onyx posted stepped to block her path, 'Step aside.'
The Onyx gestured to her abandoned seat with a now drawn Lancer, 'Return to your seat.'

'Is that helmet blocking your ears? I said I'm done talking. Get out of my way,' Ramos moved to get past the guard.
'You've not been given permission to leave Ma'am,' The Onyx pushed her back with the rifle, 'Return to your seat or you'll be made to do so.'
She rounded looking over at O'Connor. But instead of the smug look she expected she saw worry dawning on his face.

'O'Connor. Tell this knuckle head to stand aside,' Ramos snapped.
'I... I can't,' O'Connor mumbled looking around the room finally noting the Onyx in the room.
'Why the hell not? Or is this the arrest you kept threatening? What's next? The firing squad? Tell this moron to move,' Ramos demanded jabbing a finger at the guard on the door.

O'Connor for his part had started to go pale and sat down at the table.
Emmerich looked from him to Ramos, 'He can't order them because he's not the one with the authority to give them orders.'
'So what you're taking over?' Ramos said. Worry building in her voice as she noted the Onyx in the room had all drawn their weapons at her outburst.
'Since I'm in charge of this expedition. I can't take over. Sit down and we will get this sorted out. Then you may both leave,' Emmerich said, gesturing to the now vacant chair.

With some coaxing from one of the guards she was seated again. Emmerich took that moment to compose himself. He'd shown the stick now for the carrot.

'I understand that you're both scared,' Emmerich said, 'I'm downright terrified.'

That drew a look of surprise from the others. The Onyx shifted lightly. He'd not let them in on the speech.

'In the last 26 hours I've been hunted, nearly blown up twice, narrowly missed being impaled and avoided being beheaded with an Enforcer. And that was just trying to get here,' He said, letting enough emotion into his tone to make it clear he wasn't lying, 'I won't pretend I have a deep knowledge of warfare or engineering. Those are your specialties. What I know is how to organize. How to manage civil affairs. That will be important but only once we have a Settlement before that my job is to make sure you can both do yours. If you're not able to do your jobs because some request is stuck in the system, tell me and I will have it addressed.'

Emmerich leaned back into his seat, 'But if these issues between you are going to persist and affect the task at hand. Let me know and I will have you removed. Just remember that means that all your experience and knowledge is gone from this process. You'll be given new duties and someone else will be brought in. This whole process will need to start over. As your replacement is brought up to speed.'

He leaned forwards, his look softening, 'Right now we're out in the Wilds and on our own for all purposes. We've been thrown together and ordered to make, defend and govern. A small city on a hunk of rock in the middle of nowhere. A place our friends and families will be coming to for shelter from what's coming. And make no mistake the war will find its way here. But first I need you both to remember. If you want this job done right and I think you both do that the enemy is not in this room. If you want to stay here then we are a team. We may not like each other but we will have to work together.'

Emmerich turned to O'Connor, 'Colonel you are responsible for the safety of all persons on-site including the Engineering team. As such I'll ask that you withdraw your prior declaration regarding Chief Ramos's statement. This is a stressful situation for all involved.'
O'Connor turned to Ramos. He took a long breath, 'I apologize... If my conduct was not appropriate and wish to retract my remark.'
Ramos gave a cough, 'I um accept… and also wish to apologize for… my outburst.'

Emmerich gave a curt nod, 'Now then. As I understand it our data is badly out of date. Our site has a number of factors that make it unsuitable for us to use.'

Both nodded. Good they were agreeing. Now to get them to look at one another, 'Let's start with something you have in common. You both plan to deploy people to scout the area. Why are they not just going together?' Emmerich asked. Looking between the other two. They glanced at each other neither wanting to speak first. Turning to O'Connor Emmerich gave a nod to prod him into speaking.

'My people need to secure all points of tactical and strategic significance. They can't do that if they are busy guarding non-combatants and their sites,' O'Connor reported.
With him finished Ramos picked up with her side, 'My teams need to set up survey posts and a local network across the site. So that we can determine the characteristics of the geology. We can't spend our time building barricades and forts. Or sitting on our hands waiting for the troops to turn up so we can go outside and place a sensor or take samples.'

Something was there the way those two had reported their issues. The wording was about the same. So why the disconnect?

'The way you spoke made me think of something,' Emmerich glanced between the two, 'Out of curiosity how often have either of you worked with another group. Not another engineering team or military unit?'
'Never,' Ramos responded, shaking her head.
'Same here only other army units and those were exercises,' O'Connor also shook his head.

'So both of you and your teams have no integrated operations experience at all?' Emmerich asked. A feeling of recognition growing, 'Not working at a border site or clearing an old ruin?'

Both gave negative gestures.

'Well now we know the problem,' Emmerich sighed into his hands, 'No one here has any experience being in a mixed chain of command.'
'The hell we do, I've worked with other teams before,' Ramos declared.
'Like I said we have drilled joint ops and we work with our Air Corps detachment as part of our regular operation.'

Emmerich gave a placating wave of his hands, 'Sorry I must have worded that wrong. I'm not questioning your records of past work or your experience. But those cases are exactly what I mean. engineers with engineers and soldiers with soldiers right?'

Both O'Connor and Ramos nodded, looking from each other to Emmerich, 'So neither of you have experience working with someone who's role needs them to work differently to you? I mean how many times have you two physically met before now.'
'Once when we were getting the runway setup. After that I've been trying to get the site prep done,' Ramos said.
'That's right we figured it was better to keep things separate and work to our strengths,' O'Connor said with a shrug.
'So you've not actually been speaking to each other?' Emmerich said, shaking his head, 'You've both been working like the other is something in the background and getting angry when you come into contact because you're expecting the other to work around you.

They sat for a moment in thought and a look of realization began to build on their faces. The small actions they had each brushed off as arrogant or unprofessional began to click into place. The way they worded their conversations. The priority they had attached to their own part of the work. They had both expected the other to work with them. Neither had been interested in working together until they needed something. Even then they had just ordered the other rather than ask.

'If we can agree to start work on some basic rules that we all agree to abide by then we can get back on track. Would that be acceptable? To you both?' Emmerich said.
O'Connor nodded. 'If she is willing to do so then I'll get my officers started on our side of it.'
Ramos took a few moments more to think about it before responding. 'If my people can get started on the key work. I can spare the time to get things coordinated.'

Emmerich bowed his head. 'Thank you both. Now let's get this operation back on track.'

The meeting had run on into the night but by the end of it they had something resembling a plan of action. As it turned out some of the issues were organizational as both parts of the forward team had overlapping responsibilities. The issues of communication had caused them to keep obstructing rather than supporting each other.

The DBi security teams and the Gear squads would now work together and to ease the pressure. They would be pit against each other in small scale war games, with training rounds. That would stop the DBi teams from treating the Gears like dumber DeeBees and the Gears from acting like then engineers were all going to die the moment the enemy showed up.

The DBi security teams were a few human overseers with DeeBee squads under their command. Whilst their "Troops" were not as smart as the Gears they did know some tricks that helped keep the soldiers on their toes. A squad of DeeBee's hiding in a pond bursting out without warning had given the security team a win that the Gears assured them they would pay for.

In return for learning the extra tricks that DeeBee's could do the Gears were teaching the security team what they knew about the swarm. How they would attack based on their experience and how to counter them.

The Military Scout teams would group up with the DBi Reclamation personnel. Acting as a vanguard. Clearing areas of hazards or marking them for follow up teams to clear.

The Scouts were satisfied to be out and doing their job. Happy to find the Reclamation teams were able to keep up for the most part. Even better they could help with some issues that would have required them to wait for the Engineering Corps before.

The Reclamation teams now had a security element that could keep pace with them. Rather than one that was unable to move through hazardous areas.

Finally the Survey, Fabrication and Construction teams from DBi would now coordinate with the COG Logistics and Engineering Corps. They could move in after the vanguard. Do the more in depth follow ups surveys of the terrain. Pick out any locations that would be of interest or value and then take action to secure those sites.

Emmerich was relieved. He'd been worried that this was going to be a slog but it seems all that was needed was someone to break the logjam. It was almost too easy. As he loaded up his profile onto the terminal he found the automated assistant had flagged some files for his view. It seemed the COG wanted to keep its Governors appraised of anything that could relate to their work. Some of the files were tagged because of Myers report.