Hawk Genesis: Peace (Hawk Flight) Read online

  Chapter 1

  The shuttle gently touched down at Eastport, the common terrestrial shuttle port that served the northeast seaboard of North America. It settled onto it’s landing struts as the drive shut down, and people began to stand up, check their clothes and gather their belongings.

  John remained seated, but Jessica, Jordan and Jennifer almost jumped to their feet. John asked, “So, excited are we?” Jessica grinned, “If I’m not mistaken, this is your first visit to Earth as well as ours, so I expect at the minimum a small amount of enthusiasm.” John grinned back, “I have only a certain amount of enthusiasm to go around, if you get my drift?” She giggled, and leaned in close to his ear, “You are such a liar. If memory serves, you can be, um, wildly enthusiastic.”

  John sighed modestly, “Perhaps.” She tugged him to his feet and within moments they eased out of their narrow row and began edging up the aisle toward the forward hatch. Karl and his bride were just a few rows ahead of them. Rachel turned and flashed a smile, probably at Jessica, who just two weeks earlier had acted as her maid of honor. She liked John, and in fact was his administrative assistant, but Jessica had become her friend, her supporter and confidante during many late evenings of tears and confessions that had slowly eased her heart, allowing Karl to enter.

  They stepped into a well-lit conveyer that gently moved them forward and down, and within a pair of minutes they stepped off into a huge oval hall with a gently curved dome. Other entrances were spaced at regular intervals, and stained glass windows flooded the room with colored light, despite the fact that it was late evening and they were underground. The space was jammed with people, and interspersed with kiosks. John estimated it held in excess of two thousand people, yet it was quiet, almost hushed. Karl and Rachel were still ahead of them, and were heading to a stand that featured a legend that read ‘Traveler Information’, something John felt might be highly useful to a first-time visitor.

  By the time he’d herded his wife and two teenaged ‘sleep-stealers’, as he had come to think of Jordan and Jennifer, up to join his two brand-new employees, who were probably a little sleep deprived themselves, Rachel was turning back to John with an attractive blue packet in hand, hopefully containing hotel tickets, as well as transportation to their hotel.

  Karl asked, “So, ready for New York?” John took a deep breath, “The air smells like…” Jordan laughed, interrupting him, “New York smells like wonderful!” John grinned, “We’re in New Jersey, not New York. Now, if, when we arrive at the actual New York City, you notice that the city seems oddly…depopulated, it will be because I arranged for all men under the age of thirty to be deported.” Jennifer grinned, “That seems to indicate that somewhere there is a large concentration of young men.” Jennifer giggled, “We can work with that.” Jordan added, “After we find it.” Jennifer giggled, “…and them.”

  John laughed in mostly delight, “Jennifer, I have no doubt that you can, but I ask that you take pity on the young men of Earth, the planet that is worth more than the other thirty seven combined, and the one we unlettered, uncivilized visitors have just stepped foot on for the first time. We have foreign accents, we don’t dress the same and we are probably culturally fifty years out of date. I would not be surprised to learn that many of the young men you meet have never heard of Maya. Of course, that could simply be the result of your…of you.”

  Jordan said, “We know John, we know. Aren’t you famous though? I mean, you commanded one of only two active combat fleets; we thought you would be welcomed, be interviewed, given a key to the city. You found those nuclear weapons!”

  John winced, looked around to see if anyone had overheard her, and said, “Admiral Khan found those weapons, Admiral Grigorivich commanded the victorious Federal Navy to victory. That’s what Earth thinks. Frankly, it’s true. Admiral Khan never fought one single battle, but he did keep Earth safe, and Admiral Grigorivich commanded the fleets that ended the rebellion. I hope that the men I served with remember me, but I would greatly prefer to be left alone by the rest of humanity.” He added, although not out loud, ‘…especially now.’

  She grinned, “Well, you married our dim sister, so you are a hero to us.” John laughed, “I hope you never tell your older sister she’s dim, she might stop cooking and stuff.” Jennifer blushed, hopefully over the reference to ‘cooking’, and not ‘stuff’. By now John knew that to be a forlorn hope, but one he still clung to, along with the illusion that boys didn’t think she was eighteen or older, instead of barely sixteen.

  Jessica, was standing next to John and in fact was holding his hand. She said, “Jennifer, sweetness, I can ensure that your clothes are lost, and get replaced with, say, something more fitting, indeed more suitable to a twelve year old.”

  Karl said, “Ladies, over yonder we have transportation awaiting us, and after a long ride into New York City, a comfy hotel bed. So, let’s discuss lost clothes and lovelorn boys some other time, all right?” Karl was not merely John’s newly appointed head of security, he was the entire team, thus the desire not to stand around idly in the midst of a huge crowd of strangers.

  Karl waved everyone into motion and they wended their way through the hurrying crowds of people, making their way toward a distant arch that hopefully led to their underground transportation.

  They passed through another tunnel that led them down several additional hundred feet, exited and walked a few feet to a large hatch. Inside, they found two unoccupied rows of seats and turned them around to face each other.

  Moments later the hatch silently closed and the vehicle almost imperceptible began moving. Rachel was reading from the packet and announced, “We are on the D train, which will take us into Manhattan, an island and part of New York, um, the city not the state. We’re two hundred kilometers distant, and the trip will take twenty two minutes.”

  After a moment she continued, “The train will travel underground for the entire trip, and connect with the original…subway tunnel, it says, for the final few kilometers of New Jersey, travel under the Hudson River, then under the site, the former site, of the World Trade Center. John, New York is the world trade center?”

  John said, “The World Trade Center was a complex of commercial buildings, and was destroyed over three centuries ago. Many people died. They built a memorial, which has since been replaced. I don’t think anyone now remembers.”

  Rachel continued reading, “They’re now redoing that entire end of the island into a combined cultural, business and tourist center. Apparently the area had become disreputable. It’s supposed to look like it did in the late 20th century. They even plan on a circular line of the electric subway system, one that goes around the entire island. Says it’s going to be a big tourist attraction, like the cable cars in San Francisco, and bicycles in Shanghai. Bicycles? Really? It says that New York invented mass transportation. Um, John, Jessica, someone? Why would they go backwards? It seems silly.”

  John shrugged, “Perhaps one day when Chavez is both rich and old, it will do the same thing. Meanwhile, what about our accommodations?” Rachel resumed reading, “Our hotel is the New Four Seasons Hotel on, quote, historic 57th Street, unquote. Um, it’s listed on the historic register, says it’s over two hundred years old, and was built on the site of the original hotel.”

  She looked up at John and asked, seriously, “Why did you choose such an old hotel?” John grinned, “Our entire planet is shiny new, and, well, I felt that I wanted something old and historic rather than some modern, three or four hundred story tower without personality and charm. And, just so you know, that tiny, old hotel is just as expensive as the new ones.” Jessica laughed, “Well, good then.”

  They talked both excitedly and quietly for the duration of the trip, which came to an end so smoothly that their first intimation was the appearance of an illuminated sign, asking them to remember to collect all their belongings.

  They stepped out of their car into a large and seemingly old chamber several hundred feet below the surface. It felt as if they’d stepped backward in time. They placed their bags onto an automated cart that both secured it from theft – a problem on Earth – and automatically transferred it to their hotel. They followed visual prompts through the throngs of impatient and seemingly rude people to an anachronistic escalator that smoothly raised them up to another chamber. This one looked even older, and was lined with tile and marble. Another escalator ride deposited them at an arch with the legend “Grand Central Terminal” cut into stone. They walked under the arch and went back hundreds of years in time.

  This was another, modestly large space with a vaulting ceiling and a great deal of noise. Rachel said, as they walked toward a distant exit, “This terminal is named Grand Central, dates from 1913, is 84 meters long, 37 wide and 38 high. The ceiling depicts the sky as it would look to God from, and I quote, ‘outside the celestial sphere’ and is based on a chart from the Middle Ages. Since that chart was created, there has occurred a significant shift due to the precession of the equinoxes. The ceiling was painted by an artist from the State of Italy by the name of Giovanni Smeraldi, and was deliberately painted in reverse.”

  Jordan said, her head swiveling nearly constantly, “This place is old!” Jessica said, “Compared to Europe and much of Asia, it’s a relative newcomer. It’s certainly beautiful. It was originally home to a railroad and had many dozens of iron train tracks leading to the rest of the country, which was then the United States of America, now the United States o
f North America.”

  They departed through a virtual door and got their first glimpse of the outdoors. It was snowing. Jessica said, “Oh! It’s beautiful! It’s cold!” John laughed and they hugged, forming a small island of foreigners in a river of natives.

  At the curb a bright yellow cube shaped vehicle moved up a few meters, stopped in front of them and a door opened. Rachel pointed and said, “The hotel’s transportation.”

  The conveyance didn’t look large enough for six people, but as they neared it extended its length by two meters. They entered and found functional, longitudinal seating, allowing them to face in or out. As soon as everyone was settled, the door hissed closed and the automated vehicle edged forward into a veritable river of similar contraptions.

  Rachel resumed her travelogue, “These vehicles are similar in nature to the original motor carriages, or automobiles,” she paused, and then said, as if to herself, “…oh, auto and mobile.” She continued, “again dating from the beginning of the twentieth century. Their color is traditional, as is the lighted sign on top.” She added, “Seems a backward way to transport people.”

  Jennifer enthused, “It’s amazing. There’re more people in this one city than on Maya.”

  The trip was fascinating, with heavy snowfall, hundreds of pedestrians at the intersections, and some few actually crossing the street between vehicles, which were only one or two meters apart.

  The vehicle pulled up to the entrance of their hotel. The door remained closed for a moment and a sign illumined the window, “Please remember to check for left belongings”, and then opened. They exited into a dense snowfall and hurried through the throngs of people and up to the imposing doors to their temporary residence on Earth.

  Inside, Rachel resumed reading, “The hotel lobby is an exact reproduction of the original, which dated from the late 20th century – so, not so old then.” Jennifer looked at a tall counter with three beautifully dressed men and one woman, and said, an odd note in her voice, “John, was right, we are backwards.” Jessica said, “Honey, yes we are, but my lovely husband has promised me that our first order of business will correct the, um, visual clues to our origins.” Jordan grinned, “As long as that doesn’t mean I have to look like a twelve year old.” John muttered, just loud enough to hear, “That would require a very large sack.” Jessica tightened her grip on his hand and Jordan replied, “Thank you kind sir.”

  At the counter an exquisitely beautiful woman of indeterminate age said, “Welcome to the Four Seasons, Captain Chamberlin. Is all your party present?” John had to think about the word ‘party’ for a moment, but nodded his head.

  She looked down at a hidden screen and after a moment said, “Yes. Captain Chamberlin and Jessica; Miss Jordan Perez, Miss Jennifer Perez, and Master Sergeant Mischovic and Rachel. On behalf of the staff of the New Four Seasons hotel I welcome you to New York. Your rooms are ready and I note that your luggage will arrive in just a few moments. You have reservations for supper in the Mistral restaurant, which features French cuisine, and I see that tomorrow morning you have reserved a large salon.” She paused, “…ah, a gathering of veterans of the war. Please allow me to express my gratification for your services to the Federation.”

  She glanced at her screen again and for the first time her cold and professionally beautiful face showed a hint of genuine emotion, “I see that you commanded the Second Fleet, and your personnel were the ones who prevented the introduction of…four nuclear devices into Sol. Sir, I have a relative who served in Home Fleet, and she told me that Admiral Khan placed great confidence in you and your command. I hope that you will enjoy your stay, and I will personally do everything possible to ensure that your visit is enjoyable.” John managed to hide his surprise at their greeting.

  A moment later an elderly man in a flamboyant yet once again beautiful suit appeared at John’s side and silently waited for him to follow.

  They went across the lobby to a highly polished metal door that opened at their approach. The man paused and waited until John and his group entered the small space before entering. The door closed and the elevator began ascending.

  They had two adjacent rooms; John and Jessica were sharing a two-bedroom suite with the two menaces, with Karl and Rachel next door.

  Once inside, their guide, or host pointed out the lavish features of their accommodations, before taking Karl and Rachel through an inner door to their smaller suite.

  Ten minutes later Karl and Rachel returned. John was standing at a large window, looking out at the steady snowfall while Jessica and her sisters looked at the amazing rooms. Karl silently produced a tiny device and casually walked around for just a minute before gesturing to John. He said, very quietly, “Sir, all six of us have at least one tag on our clothing – you have…seven. I’ve already neutralized them, but we are going to have to be very, very careful while we’re on Earth.” John raised his eyebrows and Karl added, “They were all common commercial tags, rather than targeted on you personally.”

  John asked, “Visuals?” Karl said, “Taken care of, at least as far as my equipment is capable of determining. Mr. Padilla assured me that we have a good security device, but he thought, and I agree, that there is better, and Earth is the source of them. I’ve arranged for a package from Kasdan & Kasdan that should help keep us reasonably secure. We’re supposed to be issued licenses for personal protection devices, something I gather is extremely difficult to obtain here.”

  John glanced at his wife to ensure they weren’t being overheard, “You think we need them?” Karl said, “We won’t need them until we need them.” John sighed.

  John had already determined that their clothing was woefully inadequate to both the weather and the city, so thirty minutes later the entire party entered a small shop inside the very large hotel. The largest hotel on Maya wasn’t even called a hotel, and could have fit inside the lobby. On the other hand, by Earth standards, the Four Seasons was quite small.

  John had grown up getting his clothing from automated services that provided inner and outer wear adequate to the requirements; now, he stood inside a small space that held three strikingly beautiful women and one equally beautiful mature man, and not one self-service kiosk.

  It took two hours to outfit everyone with multiple sets of clothing; two for ‘the street’, two for ‘evening’. John transferred what amounted to an entire year’s military pay, causing him very strong mixed feelings of resentment at the huge outlay of money for appearance’ sake, as well as equally strong feelings of inadequacy and foreignness. He was accustomed to being in command, of knowing the terrain, but he now felt almost lost. For all of them, this was their first experience at buying clothes via a human being, and it was unsettling.

  Their clothing was delivered to their rooms, but the four women were delayed by an hour while they visited a salon, where things were done to hair, skin, nails and possibly other areas of masculine interest. Within thirty minutes after their return all six congregated in John’s suite. They all felt strange in their clothing, although neither man objected to the way the women looked.

  Jessica said, “Earth’s fashions are certainly becoming.” John grinned and she blushed, “I have never worn anything so revealing.” John looked away, trying to hide his expression.

  Jennifer and Jordan were off by themselves, looking at their reflections in a floor to ceiling mirror. Maya was a very conservative society, one where women in general and teenaged girls in particular dressed very modestly – Earth’s society seemed to believe that a fifteen year-old girl ought to dress like a woman. In the case of Jennifer and Jordan, they had been transformed from very pretty girls into striking young women. They shared Jessica’s golden curls, slender figures and height. Rachel looked almost shockingly different. Grenoble had somewhat more liberal ideas about culture and modesty, but St. Genevieve was a small town and Rachel had grown up poor, just like virtually everyone else on a frontier world. New York was proving to be a huge cultural shock to them all.