Control Tower
The ‘control tower’ was not a tower at all. Instead, it was another low, grey, steel building with a series of large double-paned insulated windows oriented to face the vast flat expanse of a frozen lake. The radio squelched with static, and Ranell heard Captain Pruitt’s familiar voice crackling over the airwaves.
“Strange Lake tower, this is November-seven-niner-eight-Lima-Mike on approach.”
“Roger Sky Tug, I’ve got a visual on you. You’re cleared for landing.”
‘Sky Tug’ was the generic nickname for all GML’s airships. Individual ships were identified only by their tail numbers, in this case, N-798 LM. Ranell had scheduled this airship to make the journey to Strange Lake as a proof-of-concept demonstration run.
Ranell glanced down at his watch. It was 7:06 AM. This whole process would be timed.
A loud, sucking pop sounded as the seals to the exterior tower door opened, and a gust of frigid arctic air washed into the control tower. Two figures entered the austere room, heavily bundled against the freezing weather.
With the tower door closed again, Ranell tried vainly to suppress a shiver. The two newcomers shed their outer coats, and Emily Belair emerged, along with a diminutive man who appeared to be of Asian descent.
“I apologize for being late to the demonstration,” Belair flashed a large, disarming smile. “We just arrived from the airstrip. Everyone, I’d like to introduce Hétóng Rén." Belair pronounced the stranger's name with what seemed like practiced familiarity with the Chinese language.
The newcomer responded to Ranell’s outstretched hand with only a curt bow, leaving him hanging awkwardly until Ranell dropped his hand back down to his side.
“Mr. Hétóng represents our cornerstone investor, Dὸngjié Lù.” Belair beamed a radiant smile.
Ranell’s blood ran as cold as the frigid arctic air that seemed to seep through every crack in the makeshift tower. What’s a Chinese businessman doing here at my demonstration?
If Belair noticed the stricken look that passed across Ranell's features, she carefully avoided drawing attention to it. Instead, she continued her enthusiastic introduction, “The Dὸngjié Lù corporation has over US sixty billion in assets and is directly backing our enterprise here at Strange Lake with an investment of fifty million dollars.”
Is she trying to reassure me? Ranell did his best to force a smile on his face. This is terrifying. He said nothing but nodded sagely and tried to convey a sense of appreciation.
Hétóng smiled back impassively at Ranell. “Very impressive airship,” he said quietly, without a trace of an accent. He shifted his eyes slightly past Ranell to gaze out of the window. “I’ve read about it, of course. But to see the ground handling features is quite remarkable.”
Ranell followed Hétóng’s gaze outside, where the sky tug was pivoting on its Air Cushion Landing System (ACLS), rotating to orient her loading ramp to face a waiting cargo truck ready to load her with a shipment of ore. Instinctively, he glanced at his watch, 7:17. Eleven minutes had elapsed. This demonstration was going better than expected.
The momentary distraction allowed Ranell to recompose himself. “Is this the first time you’ve seen a hybrid airship?” He tried to keep his voice bright and lively.
Hétóng nodded a silent affirmation.
“You never forget the first time.” Ranell’s grin was less forced now as he described the characteristics of the aircraft. “The LMH-1 is heavier than air, so she can land without venting any helium. After they load her with twenty tons of ore concentrate, she will take off much like a regular airplane, using the lake as a runway."
Ranell looked back from the window. He was alone in the room with Hétóng Rén. “Where did everybody go?”
“They are just in the next room, Dr. Ranell,” Hétóng said smoothly. “I’ve made arrangements for us to have a private moment.”
Choose Option 1: Pitch the Airships
Choose Option 2: Challenge the Threat