Tales from the Former Universe

5. People at Work

Months into his business, Hwillfyrd had set up a timeline presentation.

"Alright, everyone, attention," Hwillfyrd called. "Here today, I am, to discuss our cyclic project timelines," he said. "Take 3 to 5 months, they do, depending on frequency, maybe more if necessary. Now, to make these timelines, a few things we need, first and foremost: Define Requirements and Mission, every mission has a goal, an objective, and a requirement. If these missions well-defined are, all decisions and approval will come to me, and the job desks for the project we will allocate. Which goes for the second part: planning, planning who will do the job, and how they are going to be allocated. Planning will also include other steps: an analysis, presentation, and findings on how we make the mission work. And third, the most significant part, execution, this is self-explanatory, but this, this is the most important part. And fourth, it will be decided, whether we close the project, or we continue it, in lengths or perpetuity," he explained. "Now, with another project I have in mind, we can start, which is, to formulate our patent plan," he stated. "Time it takes, patenting does, and with a load of requirements and other additions we might add for our yeast, we would need to predefine and confirm every ingredient. So... I say we start now, everyone with me?"

No one asked a question.

"Please, a question, had there are, do not hesitate..." Hwillfyrd said.

"We... have none," said the robot manager of the office.

"Very... well, now, shall we begin?" Hwillfyrd asked. "Well... let's begin."

Meanwhile, beyond Merginesia, there were other people at work, namely the two middle-class couples employed at the UN Home Affairs Branch at Wollenbury State.

Haumecea was ready a minute late for the desk.

"How may I help you?" Haumecea asked.

"My son just turned 20 and we'd like to apply for UN Identification," a woman said for his son beside him. "For the delays, we dearly apologize. Not because of money, but because of prophecy... I hope we didn't bother you."

"No bother intended," Haumecea prompted. "You are considered early, actually," she said. "However, just Identification? Have your son's passports, do you?"

"Not yet. And nevertheless, our home address, we just changed. Where to start, I am lost," the woman said. "Will this come with an extra price?"

"Not too extra, thus not too crowded of requirements and queue, the State of Wollenbury guarantee you that," Haumecea said.

"You will assist me?" the woman asked.

"Of course—we can cooperate," Haumecea conformed.

On Martinner's desk,

"Martinner, I need these registry approvals confirmed and ready for the database," the robot gave a stack.

"Noted," Martinner saluted.

Martinner was given the task to read only the most important keywords, type in template names, and allocate approvals ready for confirmation and database. He was given 120 that day, but he could have been given way lot more than the other dozen tables were given.

In another of Haumecea's works,

"Yes, hello," Haumecea spoke to a businessman on the hologram. "So I noticed that three of the passports, birth certificates, and now your second son's ID have different signatures. For confirmation, I am going to have to commend you to attend to avoid complications."

"Sorry, but a testament to my credibility and reputation, my signatures were," said the businessman.

"I understand and respect your career progress, dear sir, but explicitly different signatures could fool the process. How did you get your son's passports with different signatures? Inquire about signature change, did your previous clerk not?" Haumecea inquired.