Stars Fell on Trieste

by M. Alan Marr

  Steve looks at Jen in the second jumpseat. “Nothing much to see at cruise, Jen. Why don’t you make yourself comfortable down in the crew deck.”

  “Okay. Fly safe, you two,” Jen says, then leaves the flight deck.

  “Well,” Dev says, “so begins the search.”

  “What exactly are you guys looking for?” Steve says curiously. “I mean, I can’t believe you bought this aircraft and hired all of us just to fly you around looking for a house.”

  “There is more to it,” Chaz admits. “But you’ve got to admit, this is a pretty sweet way to get around.”

  Steve smiles. “I’ve flown for a lot of wealthy clients, Chaz. But you and Dev have been the most fun. And yes, this is a very sweet ride.”

  “Steve, did you ever consider flying for the military?” Dev says.

  “I came into this side of aviation a little late, Dev. After high school I went to A and P school. I enjoyed the mechanics of airplanes, but realized I wanted to fly them more than fix them, so I managed to get into Ohio State and enrolled in their flight program. That’s why I’m three years older than Jen and Harrison. Anyway, after graduation, I became a flight instructor.”

  “You were a flight instructor?” Dev says with both surprise and approval.

  “Yeah, it was part of my undergrad curriculum. And then I built flight time with a nasty little commuter airline. That’s where I met Harrison. The planes were terrible, the schedules were terrible, and the money was really terrible. But it led to me getting hired at the charter company.”

  “And you never thought of going to the airlines?” Chaz says.

  “My first foray into the airlines left a bad taste in my mouth. And I don’t mean to criticize your level of work, Chaz. I know my lousy commuter wasn’t at all the standard, but there’s something about the charter schedule that appealed to me. I like not knowing where I’ll be flying to next. I like the odd schedules. I even liked meeting all the different clients. There’s a vast universe of clients out there.”

  Chaz turns and glances at Dev. “Ain’t that the truth.”

  Dev smiles at Chaz but refocuses his attention on Steve. “So, then, you were uninterested in the military?”

  “Oh, no, I would have loved to, but by that point, I was too old to apply.”

  “He’s right,” Chaz says. “Steve’s path to the flight deck was a little unconventional. Military pilots either go through one of the service academies or enter a specific university program. It’s virtually impossible to get in any other way.”

  “I see.”

  “You really came up the hard way,” Chaz says to Steve.

  “I’ve been working my tail off since high school,” Steve replies. “And thanks to working for you guys, I’ve paid off all my student loans, and for the first time ever, have money in the bank.”

  “Steve, we’re very glad to have you with us. More than you know.”

  “Thanks, Dev.”

  Dev unbuckles his seat belt on the jumpseat. “Well, Gentlemen, I’m going to go back and acquaint myself with the cabins.”

  Departing the flight deck, Dev glances at the staircase that leads down to the crew area. The entrance to the Captain’s Quarters is on the aircraft left, just aft of the forward-most aircraft doors. The Boeing personalization team has added a placard on the door reading Captain Steve Fitzgerald. Dev does not go inside, but remembers from the aircraft tour that the private cabin is wide and spans about fifteen feet. Inside is a sleeping bunk, desk, and private relaxation space for the aircraft captain. Dev follows the curving aisle toward the main foyer, where Annette is manning the luxuriously appointed upper galley bar. The bar can comfortably seat six in tall high top chairs. The bar follows a gentle curve and stands opposite a comfortable seating alcove, making the entry foyer area look something like a stylish cocktail lounge. Annette stands ready with champagne in an ice bucket, small hors d’oeuvres, and has several bowls of nuts prepared and on display..

  “Well, Annette, looks like it’s just you and me.” Dev picks a small handful of nuts from a dish. “What do you think?”

  “I think I’m going to love working here, sir.”

  “I can’t get over all this space! It’s just amazing.” Dev smiles and pops a nut in his mouth and wanders aft into the next cabin, a very well-appointed lounge, with multiple club chairs and couches. Dev stops and looks around at the large, inviting cabin and finds his perfect seat.

  Annette brings a tray with champagne and a small plate of hors d’oeuvres.

  “Thank you, Annette.”

  “My pleasure, Mr. Dev. Do you need your laptop?”

  “No, I think I’m going to look around a little more and learn the lay of the land.”

  “I’ll send out a search party if you get lost,” Annette jokes.

  Dev takes his glass of champagne and explores the enormous aircraft. He meanders aft into the next cabin, an elegant library with appropriate shelving, many books, a large globe, and even a virtual fireplace. Aft of the library on aircraft right is a large and well-stocked boardroom, containing a long table and enough chairs to host a bevy of lawyers and executives. A large communications suite is mounted on the forward bulkhead of the boardroom with large flat-screen, printers, and scanner. The aft bulkhead has a small refreshment bar. Large sliding glass doors on the aisle give the boardroom privacy, while providing more openness. Four luxurious staterooms are next, two on either side of the central aisle separated by two passenger lavatories accessible from the aisle. Each stateroom is equipped with a bed, en suite bathroom with shower, and wardrobe closet. Dev continues his walk aft to the grand foyer before the owner’s suite. The floor of the aft foyer is a mosaic reminiscent of both air and ocean travel of the past. Art Deco in style, the center of the foyer contains an inlaid compass rose. The tile work is nice, but Dev would prefer something a little more . . . spacial. Hence his insistence that a new mosaic, to his specifications, be commissioned.

  Dev slides open the grand wooden doors of the owner’s suite. The stunning king-size bed is set with an elegant navy blue and gold stitched comforter personalized with a cursive, Constellation Oasis, and a grouping of four stars.

  “Franz, you thought of everything,” Dev says to himself.

  Aisles on either side of the tufted headboard lead aft along the aircraft windows. Directly behind the headboard is the large and lavish grand bathroom. Black granite and polished silver appointments make for a most enticing room. Twin sinks, large shower, and enclosed toilet. Dev notices the bathroom is stocked with his and Chaz’s favorite products and soaps. The first square of toilet paper is even embossed with the four stars of Oasis and 767. There are fresh flowers in secured vases, and the shower door is etched with the Oasis design, just like the bedspread. “Wow.”

  A changing room and very large walk-in closet is directly aft. Moving through the closet, there is a center door leading to the aft-most station of the aircraft. This area is accessible from the two aft aircraft doors and is the only area on the plane that looks even remotely close to its airline cousin; flight attendant seats, modular storage, utilitarian appearance.

  Up front in the flight deck, Chaz and Steve chat about the whole operation.

  “I’m really impressed, Steve,” Chaz says.

  “She’s quite an aircraft.”

  “No, not the aircraft,” Chaz says. “I’m impressed with you. You took on a huge job and made it look easy.”

  “It is easy working for you guys, Chaz,” Steve says. “It’s easy for all of us to give a hundred and ten percent because we know it’s appreciated. That makes a huge difference.”

  “I know it does.”

  ATC issues a new frequency to contact. After Steve checks with Oakland Center, he segues into the next topic. “Chaz, I’ve been meaning to speak to you and Dev about some administrative stuff, but with the training and all, I had to put it on the back burner.”

  “That’s okay, what is it?”

  “Well”—Steve looks
back to make sure the cockpit door is closed—“it’s about first officer pay.”

  Chaz gives Steve a sideways glance. “They hitting you up for a raise already?”

  “No, sir, no,” Steve says emphatically. “I doubled each of their salaries as you guys instructed, but Harrison’s salary was more than Jen’s, so there’s a disparity. And if we end up hiring another FO, I think we should keep everything on parity.”

  “Shit, we didn’t even think of that,” Chaz says, dejected. “Oh my God, that is a total republican maneuver, Jen making less than her male counterpart.”

  “A lot less,” Steve says.

  “What did doubling Harrison’s salary get him?”

  “Two hundred forty thousand.”

  “And Jen?”

  “One sixty.”

  “Damn, those cheap bastards,” Chaz says. “They only paid her eighty grand a year?”

  “Yep.”

  “That’s criminal.” Chaz makes a command decision. “All right, let’s make standard first officer pay two fifty.”

  “Yes, sir.”

  “Have them both come up here, will you?”

  Steve gets on the interphone to the crew deck. “Milo, Steve. Will you ask Harrison and Jen to come up?”

  As instructed, Harrison and Jen enter the flight deck a minute later.

  Chaz turns around in his seat. “Listen, I have to apologize. We were in such a hurry to get everything done, I’m afraid we overlooked a key element in your compensation packages. We instructed Steve to get you guys on board, and we told him to double your salary. But what I failed to consider is that you both had different salaries. Jen, your previous employers suck.”

  “Tell me about it.”

  “Effective immediately, and retroactive to your first day of employment, standing first officer pay on this aircraft is two hundred fifty thousand dollars. The rest of the compensation package will be reflective of that. Any questions?”

  “Uh . . . ” Both Jen and Harrison are awestruck.

  “I just got another raise?” Harrison says. “I’ve only been here two weeks.”

  “I’m so sorry for this,” Chaz says.

  “You’re sorry for giving us an even bigger raise?”

  “No, I’m sorry we didn’t figure it out sooner,” Chaz says sincerely. “The new figure is a nice round number I hope you’ll be comfortable with.”

  “I . . . think we’ll be comfortable,” Jen says. “For now.”

  “Okay, guys, thanks.”

  “Scram, you two,” Steve says.

  Problem solved. Just like that.

  Outside the flight deck, Jen whispers to Harrison, “Did that just happen?”

  “Who are these guys?” Harrison says with wonderment as he heads back down the crew stairs.

  Jen shakes her head. “They must be jewel thieves.”

  Despite her suspicions, Jen uses this time in the crew deck to make a list of everything she has to do when she gets home. She will need to make the most of her time after landing in Los Angeles to get caught up on her personal business and then rejoin her colleagues. The maiden voyage of Constellation Oasis will continue on its flight plan to Hawaii, where Dev and Chaz will look at a couple of potential properties in furtherance of their new mission.

  Dev, meanwhile, christens one of the passenger lavatories. As he enters the lavatory, he can’t even believe he is on an aircraft. The compartment is magnificent. The lavatory is equipped with a phone and a video screen. As Dev locks the door, the inside lighting turns blue, and the video screen switches on, showing the moving map, complete with soothing music. Dev drops his pants and takes a seat. He notices the phone is positioned for easy reach from the commode. The moving map display even has icons to access the entertainment system. Just how long do they expect people to be sitting in here? Time enough for a few phone calls and a movie, apparently. This lavatory is fit for a king. Dev doesn’t know this, but the discreet flight attendant panels throughout the aircraft show MID LAV 2 Occupied, so the crew will know where to tidy up after the . . . royal flush.

  Dev returns to the main lounge, and then heads down the curving staircase behind the bar to the mid-deck dining room. The table is not set at present, but a scale model of the Oasis is fixed in the center of the table. The main galley, forward of the dining room, is busy. Franz and Milo are fast at work chopping various vegetables on the central prep table. A pot simmers on the galley stove. The aromas in the galley are wonderful.

  “Signori Dev,” Milo greets with a smile. “Benvenuto.”

  “Ah, welcome, sir,” Franz adds, while chopping celery.

  “Milo, Franz. How do you like your new galley?” Dev says.

  “Culinary heaven!” Franz gushes. “Brings new meaning to the term movable feast.”

  “What are you making?”

  “Chicken soup,” Franz answers.

  “It smells delicious,” Dev says.

  “And that’s just the stock,” Franz says. “The chicken is in the oven. When it’s ready, I’ll add it to the broth along with the vegetables. Comes out much better that way, rather than boiling all the flavor out of the meat.”

  “I can’t wait to try it.”

  “How’s your champagne?” Franz says.

  “Delicious.”

  “Ah, you need-a, how you say . . . fill up,” Milo says, leaving the galley and quickly going upstairs to fetch the bottle from Annette.

  Harrison and Jen enter the galley from the crew deck.

  “Franz, do you have any more of those—” Harrison sees Dev. “Oh, sir, I’m sorry to interrupt.”

  “Not at all, Harrison,” Dev says, beckoning. “Come in. Jen, come in.”

  Franz opens a smaller oven and takes out a tray of hot hors d’ oeuvres. Dev recognizes them instantly. “Oh, Franz Puffs.”

  “What are they called?” Jen says.

  Dev laughs. “Franz has made these before. Little puffs filled with cheese and savory deliciousness. Franz Puffs.”

  “I had half of one, before Harrison scarfed down the rest,” Jen says, then adds, “They’re fabulous.”

  Milo and Annette return to the main galley, Annette with champagne bottle in hand to freshen Dev’s glass. Chaz’s voice comes over the PA in the crew deck.

  “Harrison to the flight deck, please.”

  Harrison pops the Franz Puff he had in his hand into his mouth and then excuses himself and immediately heads forward to the crew stairs. A minute or two later, Chaz enters the galley from the crew deck side.

  Chaz laughs. “I just want to make sure I understand this. We have five staterooms, a lounge, bar, library, boardroom, dining room, and a crew deck. And where is everyone? The galley.”

  “We may need a bigger galley,” Franz says.

  “Next time we’ll buy a 747,” Chaz jokes.

  “What’s up?” Dev says. “Tired of flying already?”

  “No, I just needed to use the lav. Harrison said everyone was down here.” Chaz sees the plates. “Ooh, Franz Puffs.” He plucks one off the tray.

  “We’ll bring some up to you,” Franz says. “The first batch came out a little funny, so I fed them to the crew.”

  “What would you like to drink, Captain Chaz?” Annette says.

  “I’d love a Mexi-cola please, Annette.”

  Dev and Chaz walk upstairs to the main deck and sit in the lounge. Milo and Annette arrive with a tray of hot Franz Puffs, napkins, a glass of ice, and a chilled bottle of Mexican cola for Chaz. He prefers the Mexican variety since it’s made with cane sugar. They set everything down and then leave the owners in privacy.

  “How does she fly?” Dev says, sipping his champagne.

  “Like a dream,” Chaz says. “This thing climbs like a rocket—well, one of our rockets anyway.”

  “Ha, that’s funny.”

  “What was Franz making down there? It smelled wonderful.”

  “Chicken soup.”

  “I love Franz,” Chaz says, then jokes, “If I ever move to
Trieste, I’m taking him with me.”

  They laugh together and enjoy their snacks.

  “How’s Steve to fly with?” Dev says.

  “He’s great.” Chaz downs his soda and refills his glass. “He’s going to fly the leg to Honolulu. I went over the flight plan with him. With the winds aloft, it will take a little over six hours. Weather should be good. The live satellite weather we have up there is great.”

  “I’m impressed,” Dev says wholeheartedly.

  “Speaking of impressed, have you used the lav yet?”

  “Yes, I did.” Dev laughs.

  “That lav is bigger than my first apartment.”

  Chaz and Dev talk a little while longer. Chaz looks up at the progress screen and sees they are now about one hundred thirty miles away. “I should get back up front. We’re getting close to top of descent.”

  ***

  The Oasis 767 lands on runway Two-five Left at LAX. Chaz’s touchdown is like butter it is so smooth, often difficult in a large aircraft at a very low gross weight.

  Jen and Harrison, sitting in the cockpit jumpseats, look at each other.

  “Well, we’re screwed,” Jen says.

  “Gonna be hard to beat that landing,” Harrison says.

  In the cockpit Steve is impressed. “Smooth, smooth.”

  “They’re all like that,” Chaz jokes. “Yours better be too.”

  Steve raises his eyebrows at the statistically impossible aviation order. “Yes, sir.”

  Chaz taxis the aircraft clear of the runway and toward the corporate ramp that is expecting them. He has to remind himself to clear the runway to the left, since all the airline operations areas are to the right. Different world. Chaz cautiously enters the large ramp and is signaled to stop by the ground crew. He shuts down the engines and calls for the parking checklist. Once complete, Steve picks up the PA and makes an announcement.