by M. Alan Marr
“I’m sorry,” Chaz says, “but you don’t leave two hundred million in gold sitting in an unattended vehicle on this world, not to mention the ray guns and Ti-Phones.”
“You’re right, of course.”
“It’s almost 7:00 am. We cut this kind of close.”
“Eh, it worked.”
Dev and Chaz wheel the valet cart into the penthouse and lock the doors behind them. Success.
“I have to send a cable to the Crown to let them know we arrived safely and the ships are secure.”
They enter the study where Chaz crashes on the couch. The words jet lag doesn’t even come close to covering it. This is interstellar space lag. Neither really slept much over the last week, and it currently feels like evening on Trieste, rather than morning in Midtown.
Dev uses the desktop computer to access the relay buoy and sends a dispatch cable to the Crown detailing their arrival and that all is well. After sending the message Dev joins Chaz and pours two stiff cognacs from the decanter on the table. He and Chaz toast to a successful mission. Exhaustion gets the better of them both, and they fall asleep right there in the study. Chaz on the couch, Dev in the adjacent wingback chair.
They wake to Dev’s Ti-Phone ringing thirty minutes later. It is the driver arranged by the law firm to pick them up for their charter flight to Seattle.
They are not at all ready to wake up. Groggy Dev gets in the shower. Chaz, meanwhile, removes the shoulder boards and insignia from their flight suits and tosses them in the washer, along with the underwear they’ve been wearing for the last four days. Even Tertian fabrics don’t remain fresh that long.
While Chaz showers, Dev throws together a couple of garment bags of nice clothes for their upcoming meetings, and haphazardly over packs several suitcases of stuff they’ll need. He also packs their laptops in their shoulder bags, along with some spending money from the safe. Dev places their x-ray weapons, Tertian personal devices, uniform belts, and the small cargo box of Ti-Phones in the safe and locks them up. Dev wheels the valet cart with the gold and coins into the spare room behind the kitchen. The smaller boxes are easy. The large box not so much. Dev grips the side handle of the large heavy box and places his foot as against the cart as leverage to pull the box onto the floor. He is about to leave them there, then feels he should at least make some effort to hide them. Since nothing else comes to mind, Dev pulls comforter off the bed and drapes it over the cargo boxes. Not exactly high security, but there are no other options, since the safe isn’t big enough.
The entire process seems to happen in a fog of exhaustion. The thought of having to dress up is abandoned, in favor of jeans and casual shirts. Suitcases and garment bags are loaded on the empty valet cart and they head down to the lobby. They’ve now kept the driver waiting for almost an hour.
The doorman takes the valet cart from Dev and loads the luggage in the waiting car. Very little is said en route to the airport, and both Dev and Chaz fall dead asleep about five minutes into the drive. The Recon ship doesn’t have a compression drive, but the their collective sleep deficits caught up with a vengeance.
Captain Steve, outside the aircraft, meets the arriving limo. He’s standing with an unfamiliar captain.
“Gentlemen,” Steve says, “beautiful day to fly.”
“It’s an expensive day to fly,” tired Chaz says.
“I’d like to introduce our relief pilot, Captain Aaron Duetsch.”
“Captain,” Dev says mid-yawn, without enthusiasm. “Sorry to keep you both waiting.”
“Not at all, sir,” Steve says. “The two of you look like you could use some sleep.”
Chaz nods, “Yeah, we sort of pulled an all-nighter.”
“Well, relief is just up those steps.” Steve smiles.
Inside the aircraft, the boys dispense with the usual pre departure champagne and let the flight attendants know they’re going to sleep for a few hours after takeoff.
“Yes, sir.” Franz replies.
Halfway into the flight, Steve exits the cockpit to use the facilities and sees Franz and Annette chatting together in the galley. The cabin is quiet.
Steve looks around. “They still asleep?”
“Yes, sir,” Franz replies.
“They must have had quite a night.” Steve sees the flight attendants are bored and somewhat disappointed they didn’t get to do their full inflight service. “Don’t worry, we’re with them for the next two weeks.”
Steve’s words make Annette smile and gives Franz some motivation to start thinking about the next menu.
“Where are we going next?”
“Toulouse.”
“Ooh, French butter,” Franz says with stars in his eyes. “Now we’re cooking with gas.”
Steve laughs. “I’ve gained ten pounds since I started flying with you, Franz.”
“Don’t blame the chef.”
Franz wakes Dev and Chaz an hour outside of Seattle to give them enough time to shower and dress. They are ravenously hungry, so Franz toasts two large baguettes and prepares steak sandwiches from the filet mignons he planned to serve earlier. The BBJ lands in Paine Field and taxies to a designated parking area at the huge Boeing complex. As soon as the engines are shut down, Dev and Chaz ask to see Captain Steve in the conference room. This is the first time the boys actually used the space for anything except an ad hoc dining room.
Steve knocks on the conference room door, enters, and shuts the door behind him since it was closed to begin with. “I’m sorry to keep you waiting.”
“Steve,” Dev says, “please sit down.”
“Is anything wrong?”
“No, you can relax,” Chaz says, easing Steve’s mind. “And before you ‘sir’ us to death, it’s Chaz and Dev, okay?”
Steve nods.
Dev continues. “We’re about to meet with officials from Boeing.”
Steve immediately understands why.
Chaz confirms it. “We’ve spent enough money chartering aircraft to justify buying one of our own.”
Steve realizes his days as their captain will be ending. “I see. Well, that is very exciting.”
“We’d like you to accompany us in the meeting,” Dev says.
“Me?”
“Yes,” Dev says, “To represent us as our BBJ pilot, which you are.”
Chaz adds, “You know our travel habits. You certainly know what you’re doing. You might have questions we don’t know to ask.”
Steve nods. “I can do that.”
Chaz smiles. “What do you think about us buying something?”
Steve considers what he knows about these men; the fact that he’s worked for them for a while now on multiple flights spanning the globe. They have always treated him with the utmost respect. That in mind, Steve speaks candidly. “Well, I’m guessing you’re gonna want to buy something you’re already qualified to fly, so that means either a 7-5 or 7-6.”
“Actually,” Chaz says, “we’re hoping for a Dreamliner, but everything else you said is spot-on. You’re a smart man, Steve.”
“I have my moments,” Steve replies. “Not many, but some.”
Dev looks at Chaz, and Chaz gives him a very slight nod. Dev turns to Steve and continues. “We’re also hoping you might consider leaving the charter company and working for us full-time.”
Steve is almost shocked. “Really?”
“Steve, I’m a pilot,” Chaz says. “I know very well what it took for you to get here. I also know what it means to look toward a future of advancement. Believe me, it’s all about long-term security.”
“Yes.”
“What if we offered to double your salary?”
“Double?”
“Fine, triple then.” Dev interjects, then adds, “In addition to a very healthy salary adjustment, we’re offing you a guaranteed retirement fund. Chaz tells me the lives of corporate pilots are not always seen as the most stable of career paths.”
“That’s very true,” Steve says. “When times get tough for
a company, the flight department is usually the first to go. Even charter companies feel that pinch, since cutbacks usually mean less business for us.”
“That in mind, we have directed our attorneys to set up a separate Trust Fund account, fully funded with five years’ worth of salary. Your salary. So if anything happens to us or our operation, you would continue to draw your full salary for five years, regardless of whether you accept another position or not.”
Steve is stunned. “Dev . . . I’ve never heard of such a thing. I don’t know what to say.”
“No need to say anything now, Steve,” Chaz says. “You have time to mull this over.”
Steve ponders a few moments and looks at Dev and Chaz. “I haven’t told anyone this, but I have been thinking of making a change.”
Franz knocks on the conference room door before opening it slightly and poking his head in. “Excuse me, gentlemen, but a car from Boeing just arrived plane-side.”
Dev is quick to answer. “We’ll be out in a moment.”
Chaz continues, “Well, no matter which way you decide, we’d appreciate any recommendations for crewing our aircraft.”
Dev sees Steve’s mind is swimming. “What is it you’re thinking?”
Steve considers the question very carefully before responding. “I know the what it costs to acquire and operate this aircraft. Usually, we get high-profile clients who wear their net worth on their sleeves for all to see. It’s the quiet super-rich ones who, if you didn’t know who they were, you wouldn’t necessarily assume they had any money. I get the impression Dev falls in that category.”
“Just Dev?” Chaz says.
“No offense, Chaz.”
“None taken, I’m just giving you a hard time.”
“I don’t have to tell you, the idea of leaving one company for what is, essentially, a new enterprise, is a bit daunting.”
“Very true,” Chaz agrees.
Steve adds, “I’ve flown clients in the past who talk a good line about moving from charter to a personal aircraft, and it’s probably no surprise to either of you that most of the time, it’s just talk.”
Dev is curious. “Do you think that’s the case here?”
“No, Dev, I don’t,” Steve replies. “Particularly given our present location and Chaz’s occupation. But before I make a career decision, I’d like to ask a few questions.”
“Fire away,” Chaz says.
Steve sits back in his chair and gathers the courage to ask personal questions. “Okay . . . I know first impressions and assumptions are not always correct, especially in this business. So, I’d like to ask definitively who has the money?”
Dev looks at Chaz. “Do you want to take that one?”
“Okay,” Chaz says. “Steve, Dev is a billionaire. And that stays between us.”
“All right.”
“As for Chaz,” Dev adds, “his personal net worth is over two hundred million dollars.”
This takes Steve by surprise. “All right.”
Chaz says the next part definitively. “We are going to buy a heavy jet, Steve. And we’re not sparing any expense to do it right, and I’m not just talking about the hardware.”
Dev adds, “We’re going to be very busy, and we’re going to need everyone focused, starting today. Hopefully this meeting will be yield results, if not we’ll head to Toulouse and meet with Airbus.”
Steve has a thought. “It might be a good idea to have Franz accompany us in the meeting.”
“Why?”
“I figure you’d want your chief flight attendant’s evaluation on the galley and cabin configurations, since he’ll mostly likely be preparing your meals.”
Chaz looks at Dev, “We didn’t think about flight attendants.”
Steve interjects. “I’ve never flown with any flight attendant I’d recommend more highly than Franz.”
“What about Annette?”
“Annette’s great,” Steve says. “But she can’t cook worth a damn.” They all laugh at that. Steve continues his praise. “Franz is a classically trained chef. He went to the Cordon Bleu. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone better.”
“Do you think they’d be interested in leaving the charter business?” Dev says.
“I know Franz pretty well, Dev,” Steve replies. “He likes nothing more than to cook for people who truly appreciate his efforts. Annette can’t boil an egg, but she absolutely adores you guys. We all do.”
“We feel the same way.” Chaz adds, “We’ll double whatever Franz and Annette are making, but I want to see some résumés for first officers.”
Steve pauses and then looks at Dev, “Were you serious about my salary?”
“Triple,” Dev confirms. “But with that comes some additional responsibilities. First, our lawyers will require you and the crew to sign confidentiality agreements. We don’t want our business to get out there. We need to be able to trust you.”
“You trust me with your lives every time you board my airplane. I have a lot of respect for how you both conduct yourselves and, particularly, the way you treat people.”
“Second,” Chaz adds, “I already have a flying job, which means you will be our Chief Pilot, Steve. Maintenance, training, records, scheduling, all that would fall to you.”
“Chaz, the salary you guys are offering more than makes up for the new responsibilities. I’d be crazy not to accept.”
Chaz looks concerned. “But?”
Steve shows a half-smile on his poker face. “But nothing. I’m thrilled that you asked me. I accept.”
“Awesome,” Chaz says with satisfaction and relief.
“Wow.” Steve shakes his head in disbelief.
“All right, then, Steve, welcome aboard.” Chaz and Dev both shake Steve’s hand.
From the galley, Franz and Annette catch sight of the handshakes inside the conference room.
“Something’s going on in there,” Franz says suspiciously.
“What is it?” Annette says.
“I’m not sure. But something is definitely going on.” Franz waves at Annette, “Come on, let’s go tidy up the stateroom.”
In the conference room, the conversation continues.
“I know several people I think would be interested in working for you,” Steve says. “I think I have a good read on the type of personality you’re looking for.”
“Good. First things first, though. Why don’t you have the flight attendants come in and we’ll see if they’re interested.”
“Yes sir,” Steve says, and then leaves the conference room, closing the doors behind him, and then heads toward the rear of the plane.
In private now, Chaz comments, “We’ve got a captain. That’s a start.”
“Oh, he’s much more than that,” Dev says with certainty. “We just found our first pilot . . . Commander.”
A surprise look registers on Chaz a half second later. “You know what? That is a perfect idea.”
Dev leans in. “We can use the cover of the private jet to screen candidates for the Oasis Squadron!”
Chaz thinks about this quickly. “Oh my God, Dev, that’s brilliant!”
Dev sits back in his chair and considers the notion a few more seconds. A satisfied smile forms on his face, and he whispers confirmation of what Chaz already said. “Perfect idea.”
Chaz laughs and shakes his head. “Those guys have no idea what they’re in for . . . ”
END of Book 1
The Adventure Continues in Stars Fell on Trieste
Acknowledgments
The author would like to acknowledge the following people and companies that have made this story part of the real world.
American Express, with whom I have a long history and appreciation.
Boeing Aircraft Company, and their excellent aircraft I command every time I go to work. If it’s not Boeing, I most definitely won’t be going.
Apple, whose electronics are part of my daily existence and I could not do without.
Starbucks Co
ffee, which is an essential part of existence.
To the W Hotels Group and The Four Seasons hotels for their excellent properties throughout the world.
To De Havilland Aircraft, Citation Aircraft, and Airbus Industries, for their contribution to this story.
To Lenox Square Mall, Neiman Marcus, Mont Blanc, Ralph Lauren, Armani, and Bruno Magli, which no one can live without.
To Porsche Motorcars for their exceptional vehicles, and one of the finest automobiles I have ever owned.
To BMW, Lamborghini, Range Rover and Ford Motor Company and their contributions to the storyline.
To Zeeks Pizza and El Gaucho restaurants in Seattle. Fabulous.
To Breitling for their exceptional timepieces.
To the movies Always, Twilight, Star Wars, and Star Trek, all of which made an impression.
To MSNBC and Fox News Corp for their left yin and right yang, respectively.
To Dr. Rachel Maddow for her wit, detail, complexity of reporting, and her incredibly talented brain. I hope I did you justice in the Mex-Star sequence.
To Walk the Moon, for their awesome musical talents.
To Noey DiBiase for her amazing cover art.
To my copy editor, Melissa Grey, for her amazing job correcting my many, many mistakes.
And to my friends and test readers for their willingness to pour through early drafts and countless changes. Their candid opinions, support, and encouragement were stellar.
Also, to even my most right-wing friends, for keeping good spirits even as they read the parts in this book that made their blood boil.
Finally to my family who waited a very long time to read the final product.
About The Author
M. Alan Marr is an active Boeing 737 Captain for a major international US Airline.
Captain Marr’s aviation career spans 27 years and over 20,000 hours of flight time, including both narrow-body and heavy jet transports, helicopters, gliders, and general aviation aircraft. He is Captain qualified in the following aircraft: Boeing 737-200, 737-300, 737-500, 737-700, 737-800, Boeing MD-11, Boeing MD-11F, ATR-42, ATR-72, and EMB-120 RT Brasilia.