Chapter 7 NEW YORK HARBOR OCTOBER 1899

I arrived right on schedule. Atlantic wasn't there but Majestic said she had left early, eager to avoid the storm that was scheduled to come in later tonight.

Settling into my berth, I watched the hustle and bustle of America's fastest growing city.

"See all those building there?" She asked, nodding to a huge collection of buildings down the docks.

"Yes." I replied. "That all used to be just one story houses." She said.

"What's that they're building now?" I asked. "What? Oh that thing, ha they're nuts to try and build a shape like that. It's so thin the wind will knock it down on the first gust." She replied.

I laughed. "Possibly, but it's made from Carnegie Steel and there's nothing stronger than that." I reasoned.

"True, nothing can beat Americans in structure that's for sure." She agreed.

"Have you heard about the Red Star Line?" I asked. She nodded sadly. "Pity really, it was going so strong too." Majestic replied.

"Maybe they just didn't have the strength to stand up to Morgan and IMM." I suggested. "Probably, the railroads here learned the hard way what happens if you mess with JP." She agreed.

I shuddered, well remembering Morgan's hostile takeover of nearly every railroad company in America.

With his recent acquisition of General Electric Company, JP Morgan now controlled a majority of America's industrial might.

The country's lifeblood flowed through him. It was his to control. Only the oil king Rockefeller and the steel tycoon Carnegie stood in his way of complete control.
But their empires were vast and they still held a lot of power, it was unlikely that they'd fall anytime soon.

"I wouldn't be so sure about that." Majestic said when I voiced this to her.

"Oh and why's that?" I asked. "Morgan doesn't just win by hostile takeovers you know. He can control the larger, more powerful company's by turning them against each other and then reaping the spoils." She replied.

"Well, he doesn't have to work hard. Carnegie and Rockefeller get along like a shark and a seal." I said.

"If Morgan wants Carnegie and I know he does, all he has to do is convince him that he can beat Rockefeller if he hands over his company to Morgan." She said.

"Well that's the idea isn't it?" I sighed, a sudden thought striking me. "Oceanic, what's wrong?" She asked.

"Morgan will not be content to stop at America's shores. He'll try and extend his empire overseas. He already has." I said.

"So?" She asked. "So, he'll buy up all the weaker lines, making them stronger by forcing them to work together. Then he'll come for us and Cunard." I replied.

She laughed. "White Star is not about to give in to that creep anytime soon." She growled. "Besides, the government would never allow it. They're throwing a big enough fit about the smaller lines as it is." She said.

"Morgan will get us though. He knows our weakness lies in our hatred of Cunard. He'll take advantage of that. The idea will sound appealing to Ismay when it's presented to the board. After all, with JP Morgan's backing, how can we lose?" I asked.

"But we'd be American, not British. If Thomas were still around he'd fight Morgan tooth and nail." She replied.

"But Bruce lacks his father's aggressive spirit. He's a good business man to be sure, but he doesn't have the same fight that Thomas was so renowned for." I said.

She nodded. "What are you thinking?" She asked. "I'm thinking that within the next couple of years, White Star will fall to IMM." I replied.

She sighed. "I am inclined to agree with you. It would seem we have no other option." She said.

"It'll be either us or Cunard and I'd rather it be us." I said. "Why?" Majestic asked, surprised.

I looked at her. "White Star specializes in luxury, not speed. I may've gotten us the Riband but it's only a matter of time before Cunard wins it back. It is a prestigious prize that they specialize in. They've got the real greyhounds anyway. A line that doesn't have a chance of winning the Riband from other lines and countries is a line that should be bought." I replied.

She nodded. "I understand." She said. "Thank you." She smiled. "Hey, this is Atlantic's sister you're talking to here. I've been around far longer than you have and I've come to the same conclusion." She replied.

Heading out of New York, I raced across the Atlantic at top speed. There was a small break in the weather and I took advantage of it.

Had I left just hours later, I would've hit head on with an approaching storm front.

Come winter, storms would be unavoidable. "I look forward to it." Captain Smith muttered sarcastically.

"As do I." I agreed. "I'll try not to jerk around too much. Gotta live up to the luxury White Star offers." I said.

"Not to mention hospitality." He groaned. "Let me guess, a certain first class passenger is trying to worm his way to the board." I said.

"If you are referring to a Mr. Morgan that is traveling with us on this voyage, then yes you'd be correct." I sighed. "Wonderful." I grumbled.

"It is what it is Oceanic. I can't help that and neither can you." He replied. "Can I at least make the ride miserable for him?" I asked.

"NO! There are plenty of other passengers on this ship and all would complain to Ismay at a second's notice. I don't want him riding up my ass any more than he already is." He snapped.

"Fine." I huffed. "Hey cheer up. At least you don't have to carry him home." He said.

"Who is then?" I asked. "Lucania." He replied. I grinned. "Oh, he'll be sorry he chose her." I said.

"A patriot is she?" He asked. "You have no idea." I replied. "She won't give Morgan a peaceful rest even for a second." I said.

We arrived in Southampton early in the afternoon. It was my first time in the big port and I liked it. White Star had just recently moved its headquarters here from Liverpool and Cunard had followed our lead.

"I have to go to a meeting with the board. I'll be back later tonight." EJ said. "Ok, tell me about it when you get back, ok?" I asked.

He nodded. "I will." He replied and left.

That evening found me relaxing in the dock Atlantic and I shared. Then I heard a yelp.

Raising my head, I looked around. The few ships here were asleep and the rest were out on voyages.

Frowning, I left my berth and wondered in the direction of where I thought the sound was coming from.

Rounding a corner, I saw Atlantic with Germanic. The healer apprentice was trying to put something on my leader's stern.

She began applying it but when she touched her propellers Atlantic shrank away from her.

"God damn it Germanic, take it easy!" She growled. "I know it hurts, but I have to put this on there if you're gonna have any chance of beating it." Germanic said.

Sighing, Atlantic stood still while Germanic finished applying the last of the salve onto Atlantic's propellers. Then she began tying a brace to them.

"Ouch!" Atlantic yelped, leaping high into the air. She had moved some distance away from Germanic and I could now see her props clearly.

They were dark around the edges. Black, rusty spots could be seen all over them. The black against the gold shimmer of manganese bronze gave her props an almost leopardlike appearance.

It may've looked beautiful, but I knew what it meant. Atlantic had Propellerous.