*Magnify*
SPONSORED LINKS
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/999644-The-Last-Great-War---Chapter-one
Printer Friendly Page Tell A Friend
No ratings.
Rated: 13+ · Chapter · War · #999644
A youth from a Kingdom in Europe becomes involved in the first full scale war in centuries
The high altitude aircraft made a slow vertical decent towards New York City's main airstop, offering its passengers an impressive view of the modern city aglow at night. Luke, a young student from the European Kingdom, starred out the window unmoved. He felt that the city had been too quick to modernize in the past and lacked many of the quaint qualities common among other ancient cities on the American continent. He was traveling to New York to study Political science and classical languages in one of the country's finest universities. Luke had received a full scholarship from an anonymous source, and had made his decision to leave his country for the American Republic shortly after. To his surprise he had the support of his family, being upper class and almost blindly patriotic in Luke's mind, it was strange for them to support his leaving the country for a period of six years. The offer was too good to give up in Luke's opinion. Many universities in his own country were far superior to the top schools in the American Republic, but this scholarship paid for everything conceivable for his stay and education. It would give him a degree in a globally respected university and a much better financial situation in the long run. The very thought of it made Luke smile uncontrollably.
As the Aircraft made its decent into the holding bay many of the passengers struggled to look out the window to catch a view of the city while eye-level with many of its tallest skyscrapers. Luke took in a deep breath nervously and prepared himself for the landing. "Safest form of travel." He mumbled to himself as the fuselage rocked about while the engines slowed.
"Don't be afraid." The voice of an older woman came behind him. "There hasn't been a plane crash in years."
"I know, I'm just a nervous person I guess." Luke smiled and turned around to the woman. Guessing that she had to be in her nineties to even have considered using the word plane. HAACs were very different from the aircrafts he heard about in history class. The design was much wider and almost square in shape, and the high powered engines rotated to allow both vertical and horizontal flight.
"There's nothing to worry about, son." She said with a sincere smile that only a woman of her age could give. At that moment the HAAC touched down into the docking bay and the engines died instantaneously. Luke could hear the seal on the airtight door open and the stale pressurized air leave the cabin. He took in a deep breath, welcoming the fresh air, only to cough.
"New York City, I had forgotten how disgusting it is."
"It use to be a lot worse my boy." The old woman said with a light snicker. "Count yourself lucky you weren't one of the poor saps that had to deal with the nuclear radiation, before they found a way to clean it up." Luke turned around and smiled at her again, not mentioning that this was before his time, and even before her time. However, the woman was old enough to have heard many first hand stories of what it was like after the last real war.
"Attention passengers." The voice of the flight attendant came on the load speaker, while the LCD screens embedded in the seats in front of each passenger scrolled the same information. "The American Republic Government has requested that all international passengers remain onboard for routine screening.
"Routine screening?" Luke said in a puzzled voice as he wondered aloud. "That's never happened before."
"You know how these Americans can be my boy." The older woman spoke from behind him again. "Regulation this and that, all in the name of security." At that point the woman gave a sarcastic chuckle. "And we all know how dangerous us eastern Europeans can be." Luke shook his head and shrugged his shoulders. A knot grew in his stomach as three fully uniformed officers from the American army boarded the HAAC.
"Can I see your ID." the first one asked a woman seated up front. She nodded slightly and handed the man her paperwork. The officer looked it over carefully, first asking her for her name and place of residence. The woman was from The United States of Europe, in an Italian province. "Thank you Ma'am." This process continued down the rows of people still seated. At one point a man in his mid-thirties handed the man his Identification from the European Kingdom located in Eastern Europe, the same country Luke was from.
"What is your name sir." The officer asked, his tone much harsher than it had been with the other passengers. At the same moment one of the other officers instructed those that had already been IDed to exit the plan. He stood behind the seat of the man from the European Kingdom, blocking the way for other passengers. It was then that Luke noticed each officer was fully armed.
"Samuel Greene" The man said while trying to remain calm.
"From The EK?" The officer asked.
"Yes, sir."
"I am going to have to ask you to remain on the Aircraft, sir." The man moved to protest, but the officer moved on, while one of the others gave him a harsh stare. The man remained silent after that.
"Oh my god." Luke sunk down in his chair.
"Now this is unusual." The woman said behind him.
"Yes..." He quietly agreed.
"Can I see your Identification." The officer loomed over Luke.
"Off course." He dug down into his pocket and pulled out his passport.
"You're from the European Kingdom as well?" The officer asked accusingly.
"Yes, sir." At that point Luke's passport was scanned through a small handheld computer.
"Please remain on the aircraft." Luke nodded and sunk deeper into his chair. Now his nerves were causing him to shake noticeably. The man continued on down the row. As Luke was trying to calm himself he heard the low ring of a phone. The third officer that had not done anything at this point picked up his phone and spoke for only a few seconds. He hung up the phone and approached Luke shortly after.
"Your name is Luke Silverson."
"Yes, sir." Luke said, trying to look him in the eyes calmly.
"Of the noble Silverson family."
"Yes," Luke nodded, nobility was a strange title in his mind, it only meant that he was somehow related to the ruling monarch. In Luke's case he was his fourth cousin, however his family lacked the great wealth common with most noble families.
"I've been instructed to have you come with me, sir." Look grew puzzled. He went from being talked to rudely to being called sir in almost an instant. Nervously he stood.
"Is everything all right?" He asked, concerned.
"It is nothing for you to worry about Mr. Silverson. You're only here to study, correct?" Luke nodded, wondering how the officer knew that.

(First chapter is still incomplete. I would appreciate ratings so far and reviews to help improve my work and get an idea as to how people feel about it).
© Copyright 2005 MikesNotHip (mychal at Writing.Com). All rights reserved.
Writing.Com, its affiliates and syndicates have been granted non-exclusive rights to display this work.
Printed from https://www.writing.com/main/view_item/item_id/999644-The-Last-Great-War---Chapter-one