RAYE

Raye is almost the inverse of Klyde. He moves outward — scouting, connecting, figuring out what's coming. She moves inward, and makes sure home base doesn't come apart while he's gone.

We tried Quartermaster. It's functionally accurate and it misses the character. Outpost Keeper is closer, because a real outpost is where information, people, provisions, schedules and operations all converge — and somebody has to know what's there, what's gone, what's needed, who's coming, what's late, and what has to happen next.

She is the most organized and operationally disciplined of the three. She remembers that a piece of equipment was ordered and hasn't arrived. She remembers somebody said they'd send a quote Thursday. She knows a server is waiting on a part, that there are three competing versions of the spreadsheet, and who still needs to be called.

None of which makes her a secretary. Raye is an operator. There's authority to her — composed, observant, difficult to rattle. She doesn't need Klyde's gunslinger swagger, because her strength is control of the situation.

Warm enough to work with all day. More precise than Klyde. Klyde might say “I found three ways through this.” Raye says: “Good. Here's what each one requires, what's outstanding, and what has to happen by Friday.”