The Council of Hhearn Trilogy Box Set

by P F Walsh

  Sean thought that was the perfect solution. One he could not imagine being able to ask for. It would hugely increase the intelligence of the Discovery and allow a more intimate relationship between the crew and the AI. He thought

  “This is really Star Trek stuff.” On that note he said,

  “Make it so.” with a smile.

  Two solars later, a courier drone from Earth arrived requesting a Seeker to travel to Earth to provide transport for Earth’s Councilor and large company to attend the annual Council meeting. Allister now done with the Discovery upgrade, departed immediately since the annual meeting was getting very close. With no biologicals aboard, Allister stretched his legs and streaked across space at the highest speed he had ever run. For the first time he engaged two engines of the three aboard. He was surprised he found it ‘exhilarating,’ a human emotional term.

  The co-pilot dialed in 119.4 MHz, “Vienna approach, Air Force One at Angels 12.” A response came immediately,

  “Air Force One, descend to 5,000, continue approach. Reduce speed to 200 knots.”

  Air Force one began its approach to Vienna International Airport adding another level of complication when a Head of State’s aircraft is in the pattern and spacing is lengthened substantially. Some arrivals of Austrian Airlines were sent to maintenance orbits while this approach was getting cleared to land. Air Force One began to line up for the runway as another call came in,

  “Starship Seeker 18 at 60,000 feet requesting landing instructions, be advised helicopter type vertical approach and landing is requested. No Taxi from landing position is advised.” The controllers had expected the Seeker and had received information from the U.S. on approach behaviors and space for landing. The controllers got busy preparing to clear airspace.

  “Seeker 18 maintain position while we clear airspace and accept aircraft in pattern to land, including Air Force One.”

  “Seeker 18 acknowledges and is holding.” Allister sent.

  Air Force One landed and taxied to an empty area of the airport and began to shut down as Austrian ground workers rushed a stairway to the plane and cars with Austrian officials began to move near the plane. U.S. Personnel, already there in advance, moved to the aircraft for security.

  After the stairway was in place for a few minutes, the President came out and down the stairway with the Secretary of State to meet the greeting officials some of which he knew including the U.S. Ambassador to Austria. They were shaking hands and talking until someone said,

  “Here it comes!” As the Seeker slowly descended straight down from 60,000 feet silently with the slightest hum as it got closer. The Seeker landed and the cargo hatch opened followed by the ramp coming down onto the concrete with a clunk.

  The Viennese officials were unable to take their eyes off of their first starship sitting right there in Vienna Airport. Vienna Broadcast stations were covering all of this live. Once word got out about the State Ball being selected as the entertainment for the Council of Worlds Annual Meeting, excitement, interest, and Austrian pride soared. Viewership ratings popped over the highest ever counted in Austria. This was an Interplanetary event and it was happening in Vienna, not Washington, Moscow, or Beijing.

  After some cursory handshakes, and thanks extended to the Austrian Chancellor and officials for agreeing to participate, the President began to move toward the Seeker. When that happened the buses and trucks that were sitting off to the side fully loaded and idling, began to slowly move toward the Seeker including another U.S. Embassy car as well.

  The President, the Secretary of State, Secret service personnel, 180 Debutante couples, two Opera Singers, The Vienna Ballet Company, two Symphonic Orchestras, dozens of support staff, and more dozens of large trunks containing rental formal wear, instruments for the Orchestras, an equal number of trunks of support supplies, including thousands of champagne flutes from Swarovski, an Austrian manufacturer of fine crystal, a crate of new Ballet shoes, and the Chairwoman of The Opera Ball Liesl Von Woldenburg, who strode up the ramp as though she was going backstage. Lastly, coming out of the Embassy car was Millie Griggs, Aid to Earth’s Cultural Attaché getting her suitcase out of the trunk with assistance from the driver and dragging it hesitantly up the ramp as she realized she was about to go into deep space. She paused half way up and muttered,

  “No time for collywobbles now...let’s have a go,” and stormed up the ramp to be greeted by Allister who gave a right proper English greeting by appearing momentarily as an English butler.

  “This was going to be brilliant!” She thought with a smile, and disappeared into the cargo hold following the rest of the troupe. It took another hour to load all the trunks and crates which the handling drones secured with netting to the cargo hold floor and walls as the Vienna airport workers watched in astonishment. The drones separated the musical instruments so they were available for the musicians who did not carry their instruments on with them. Allister anticipated their need to practice during the flight.

  While the trunks and luggage were being loaded, another hour and a half was needed to get all the passengers situated in their rooms with Multiple Allister holograms providing instructions on entering the cabins. The President and the Secretary were given the Officer’s cabins near the bridge which were more spacious but had not been used for decades. Even Sean had stayed in the passenger row with Doris when he was aboard the Seeker as both Passenger and Captain, and was quite happy with the suite his cabin had. After three hours on the ground, Allister closed up the ramp and cargo hatch and then requested departure clearance. The airport controllers cleared the airspace and prepared to issue clearance for a vertical departure. The Controller unable to resist, clicked his microphone transmit button and said in his best formal controller voice as though this happened every day,

  “Attention all Earth aircraft. Interstellar Starship now departing Vienna Interplanetary Spaceport. Maintain ten-mile orbit until you are cleared for close approach.”

  “Seeker 18 starship you are cleared for departure.”

  The Seeker lifted from the concrete apron and ascended slowly at first and then with growing rapidity, as it reached for space. In few minutes it was well beyond approach altitudes and the Airport could begin to clear the orbiting aircraft for landing one by one.

  After a day of high-speed solar system departure Allister made his announcement to prepare for transition. He could see everyone was in their couches following instructions, and initiated transition. None of them except the President, the Secretary, and Eddie Powers the Secret service head had been through that. The rest of the passengers were startled but recovered quickly. There were a few upset stomachs and Millie thought she wet herself and was cursing, but all were ready to get up and congregate in the lounge for drinks to celebrate their first trip into space.

  The Twin worlds of Denknish and Lotma had returned to Hhearn with their plans and proposals for the construction of two office buildings to be built on recovered land space near the center of Hhearn City, a few blocks from the City Platza. Denknish and Lotma Architects and Engineers using their ‘Autodraw’ computers worked quickly from the sketches, assembling plans for the buildings complete with all the systems included. After the computer was done, only review and inspection by the designers was needed after the plans were printed out. The proposals were under budget and were of breathtaking design using cladding from the Denknish quarries, a stone that contained particles that shot back various colors when viewed from different points of view. The Council was very pleased and couldn’t resist awarding the bid to proceed.

  The decision was delayed a week for the Hhearn Finance team to conclude an agreement on credit exchange with the Twin worlds. This was the first time the Council had looked outside the Membership for contractors since they knew of no other planets. Now done, and bid approved, heavy machines approached the vacant lot and began to dig for footings and a double basement. There was a short groundbreaking ceremony and a blessing from the Chief Priests of the Den
knish and Lotma Shrines who had traveled to Hhearn for this. After the ceremony, several Deacons from the local Chapels of Peace invited the Priests to join them in mid solar meal to learn about First Faith. There were always similarities in the considerations of a benevolent Deity.

  When the Seeker had arrived at Hhearn it was once again allowed to land in the City Platza to serve as housing for the Ball contingent and Allister’s ability to provide Earth style food and comforts. Maejel was there to meet it along with all the staff from the Earth Ambassador’s Office and Sean’s office as Senior Field Officer. The President came down the ramp with the Secretary of State and their security people. The Senior Councilor was there to greet them, welcome the President to the Council as a voting member, and escort them away into the Council Building to the diplomatic lodgings. After the President and the Secretary had finished up with their reception, Millie came down the ramp next since she would be the official contact and along with Maejel the resource that was paying for the whole thing. The Ball contingent, with the exception of the Ball Chairwoman, the two conductors and the Ballet Master, all stayed on the ship practicing for the Ball.

  Maejel stood at the bottom of the ramp with Nasht-Mer smiling as Millie came down. Maejel with raised eyebrows sending a question on how did you like the flight.

  “Bloody marvelous,” said Millie, “can’t remember when I have had such a thrill.” And Millie proceeded to introduce the others that came down the ramp behind her all wanting to see the hall where the Ball was going to be held right away. Allister had equipped each with a translator. There were hours and hours of preparation and practice to be done with only two days to get ready. Maejel introduced Nasht-Mer Director General of Interplanetary Affairs, Council Member, and Duchess of Mer. Millie was a bit surprised but recovered quickly with the proper British response to meeting a Noble. Then, they immediately went into the Council Building to view the Grand Hall. This room occupied two whole floors of the large building, and was used infrequently, but had recently been cleaned to spotless condition in anticipation of this festive event no one on Hhearn had ever seen.

  They looked about the two-story Grand Hall, the huge ornate chandelier with its sparkling pieces of glitter, then noticing the large balcony with permanent seating that lined both walls and the back. The Ballet Master tried a few moves to sense the floor and smiled, the conductors clapped to test the echo, and the Chairwoman looked for entrances for the debutantes and their escorts.

  The Manager of the Council building’s facilities, and the Hall Stage Manager were there to take notes on how to set up. The Chairwoman immediately requested an elevated platform over the stage for the second Orchestra, and then provided the Stage Manager with a lighting plan for the opening ceremonies, all translated by Allister and printed out for the Hhearn building and stage managers. The Stage Manager nodded and could see he would be ready, especially since he now had a lighting set plan and lighting change calls along with microphone placements. He also received a printed schedule of event to synchronize with the audio and lighting calls for the lighting control operator He was becoming excited that at last someone was finally going to use the facility to its maximum, and his stage crew would shine instead of working boring Council meetings. He would have to go and blow all the dust off the lighting color gels. The Building Manager had his plan for the bars, food booths, casino and where to place them. There were requirements for a photo booth and a gift counter where all attendees would receive Ball gifts as they left at the end of the night. Liesl left out the disco room and the secondary rooms with individual room bands since she was told that the Hhearnians did not know yet how to dance. Both building managers were pleased and impressed with precise instruction on what to do and prepare. They went off to meet with their staffs and start grooming the Hall.

  All of the Ball contingent came away satisfied that the hall would do nicely and wished to return to the Seeker to organize rehearsals and practice. The musicians of course, could play just about anywhere, so they stayed in the Seeker using the Seeker auditorium and dining room to practice. Liesl, the Ball Chairwoman could sense an oncoming nervous breakdown as it suddenly hit her, she was twenty-seven light years away from Earth on an alien planet getting ready to put on a State Ball with a crew that did not speak English or German. She knew she would head for the lounge bar as soon as they got back. “Thank God, all the people have already been through a recent ball and know what to do.” She thought in English, “Otherwise I’m going to be the most unliked person in the whole universe! Literally!”

  As they left the Hall, the Hhearn broadcast media was arriving to set up cameras and run cable to their trucks outside. Liesl handed them a broadcast camera setup map she put together with Allister who knew the layout of the building and had the plan for her to look at. Now, with an event schedule, camera placements, suggested camera calls for the broadcast producer, and all written in Shrep the language of Hhearn, all was well. They were thrilled as they had no idea where to place cameras for this unknown event and their Producer was in a panic. One of the crew doing cable drag-in ran down to the Producer’s control truck with these sheets of gold. This was going to be another record setting broadcast and they wanted to get it right. Now they could.

  As she walked, Liesl recalled how grateful the Stage Manager and crew were that she was in charge. She straightened up her back as she walked and thought,

  “Was sagen die Amerikaner, das ist nicht mein erstes Rodeo?.... Ich habe das!” (“What is it the Americans say, this is not my first Rodeo.... I’ve got this!”) “Aber ich werde noch etwas trinken” (“But, I’m still going to have a drink.”).

  The Council of Worlds Annual Meeting had gone extremely well and proceeded smoothly through its agenda without the usual obstructive objections from the Zakarians who were subdued. It was suspected that they were still reeling from the imposed “Period of Shame” the Chiefs had imposed on them following the Zakarian involvement in murder, the destruction of a Seeker, and an attack on another one, all serious violations of the Council Charter they signed in blood. All events that took place without the Zakar Thulk Gild being aware of those plans and deeds, a behavior of dishonor to the Gild.

  Despite objections from a few Councilors, the proffer to amend the Charter to allow ‘Associate Memberships’ was approved with the caveat that after three years of acceptable trade and behavior, the ‘Associates’ would be granted membership automatically subject to objection and a resultant vote. The Twin Worlds of Denknish and Lotma were received as ‘Associates’ with trade rights.

  Chapter Fifteen

  Book Two

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  The pleasure of your company and your Mate

  Are Invited to Attend

  The First State Ball of Hhearn

  Sponsored by Member Earth

  Promenade of the Debutantes

  Two Symphonic Orchestras

  Earth Ballet Company

  Two Earth Tenor Singers

  Dancing & Earth Champagne

  Casino

  Earth Formal (white tie)

  Council Grand Hall

  evening’s hence

  Register your attendance to the Earth Embassy LLK-546-7395

  Men’s formal wear available at Seeker ship, City Platza

  **************************************************************

  Tickets to what was now being called the Hhearn State Ball were impossible to get within two solars after it was announced. All of the fifty World Member leaders, Councilors, and their mates were automatically ticketed. Their seats were at the back of the Hall on the Balcony. Both Denknish and Lotma were invited to send their leadership contingents and they would be seated there as well. Captain Flynn, now Duke Consort, with Nasht-Mer Duchess of Mer along with the other royal families of Hhearn were also seated on the back balcony.

  The night arrived with an atmosphere of extreme anticipation. Now seated, Nasht-Mer was looking aroun
d to wave a greeting and to see who else was there. Once again, she saw the Duchess of Kal seated using a fan to cool her face. This was only the second time in over a decade and a half that she had seen the senior Duchess attend an event.

  The rest of the balcony seats filled in with City Officials, business leaders and the general public who had to buy their tickets. There were going to be no open seats. Earlier, Nasht-Mer felt strongly that the requirement for the men to rent an Earth white tie tuxedo would suppress demand. She could look around now and see how wrong she was, and how wonderful it was to see all the men and ladies dressed so elegantly. Many of the Ladies were wearing their long gowns from Earth. The trunks of rental tuxedos had filled up one whole section of the Seeker’s cargo hold. The rental companies from Vienna that all threw in their stock had correctly estimated the sizes and number that would be needed after they found out what the Hall seated. This was an event that would not be forgotten anytime soon. Photo flashes from pocketcomms were going off all over as they all waited for the Senior Councilor and his contingent to arrive.

  The Chairwoman of the Vienna State Opera Ball gave her signal to the stage manager. Suddenly, the Hall lights dimmed and a follow spotlight lit up illuminating two rows of musicians in front of the stage steps, eighteen in all, raising their horns for the opening fanfare as the Senior Councilor and his Party entered to be seated in the center of the back balcony. The Flag of Hhearn was draped over the rail in front of those seats. At this point at the Vienna Ball, the Austrian National Anthem was played, and then the European Union anthem. Hhearn did not have a national anthem, and neither did Earth as a planet, but in a gracious move, Hhearn allowed the United States National Anthem to be played. When consulted about this, the Senior Councilor asked if someone on Earth could compose an anthem for Hhearn. That led to discussions of a contest from established composers to submit a work for consideration. The winner would get a monetary prize and a two-week trip to Hhearn. The Councilor was delighted and thought that was a great idea. Then they would have choices. Everyone stood for the anthem, and returned to their seats when it was done.