Unknown Skies part 28
It had been over a week since the first flight to Reykjavik airport. (Actually, it was known as Keflavik airport, but everyone called it Reykjavik airport) And already, the winds of progress were beginning to blow.
Specially commissioned ships had been put onto a year-round supply chain between Arendelle and Reykjavik, to keep the airport and those that lived there supplied and to conserve as much jet fuel as possible. At least until supplies reached an acceptable level to start scheduled flights in earnest.
That didn't mean there weren't any scheduled flights. Sam and Dan made regular flights in Quebec Echo to keep their type ratings on the Boeing 757 valid.
That didn't actually matter, since there were no aviation authorities to speak of. But it had been agreed that as much of the old laws governing aviation before the Nuclear War started would remain. Hopefully this would help keep things at a normal pace on the aviation side of things.
Elsa and Sam both spent a lot of their free time investigating what the mysterious aircraft, which had intercepted Quebec Echo was. Little progress was made, as they had no idea where to begin. But they both did have a bad feeling about said mysterious aircraft.
Sam had also begun talking to several people from the kingdom about a secret project which would defend the kingdom should the mysterious aircraft turn out to be hostile. Anna and Elsa had asked him multiple times what the project entailed, but Sam had refused to say.
There were many other things that were occupying the minds of all three siblings; talks with other nations about the planned introduction of airline services around the known world for example. Elsa, Sam and Anna had to lay the foundations for an almost 200 year leap forward in technology in order to initiate airline service.
Even though these meetings were critical to the future of Aviation in this new world, the Council of Arrendelle tended to fuss over every single detail, making these meetings a very boring affair indeed.
As of this moment, Sam was sitting in the council chambers with Elsa and the Council, going over the general running of the kingdom and planning of the new Ministry of Aviation.
Despite the importance of these meetings, Sam was often bored silly and resorted to playing flappy bird on his phone to pass the time.
No-one usually minded this, as long as Sam didn't interrupt anyone else.
"And so we come to this, article 117 of the Civil Aviation act." One of the councilmen, a portly, middle aged man named Wisenheimer said to everyone in the room.
Elsa's eyes drifted down to the article in question and they widened in shock at what the words said.
"Sam's not going to like this" she thought
Looking over at Sam, Elsa gently nudged him under the table, with a foot, to gain his attention.
Sam looked at her with a "What?" expression, which was understandable, as he had just been about to pass the 20th pipe in flappy bird!
"have a look at the article Wisenheimer mentioned" Elsa whispered.
Sam did as Elsa asked and as soon as he read it, his eyes widened and he began to shake in pure, unadulterated rage!
Wisenheimer continued to speak, until Sam slammed his fist down on the table making a loud BANG!
"You have something you would like to add your majesty?" Wisenheimer said to Sam.
"You're damn right I do!" Sam snapped back at the councillor.
Everyone froze (Not literally) in shock, none of them had ever seen Sam this angry before.
"So let me get this straight, once regular flights begin and all British registered Aircraft are flown to be based in Arendelle, They are all to have their colour schemes stripped and a standard one applied, including for Quebec Echo?!" Sam continued.
"Yes that is correct..." Wisenheimer started before Sam cut him off.
"That is not happening. Those planes are the last survivors of their kind and of their airlines. Their passengers and crews have gone through the absolute hell of a nuclear war and you want to take some of what little they have remaining away from them! NO, YOU SHALL NOT! AS OF NOW, I DECLARE THAT ALL PLANES FROM EARTH ARE OPERATIONAL WAR MEMORIALS! THEY WILL ALL RETAIN THEIR CURRENT LIVERIES AND INTERIORS, ONLY BEING ALLOWED TO REFRESH THEM NOW AND THEN! IF I CATCH ANYONE TRYING TO DO OTHERWISE, I WILL PERSONALLY CHARGE THEM WITH DESECRATION OF A WAR MEMORIAL AND PUNISH THEM ACCORDINGLY. IS THAT CLEAR?!"
No one dared speak, everyone was in shock at Sam's outburst, Elsa was actually proud of her brother.
She had wanted to yell at her council ever since she had become queen but never had been able to do so.
"Y... You're majesty, we were only suggesting that the standard colours be applied as a way to cut costs of maintaining the planes" Wisenheimer spoke, his voice full of fear. He really didn't want to have Sam start shouting at him again.
"That's not going to happen. All planes shall retain their current colours as a mark of respect to the billions who have died back on earth. All I will allow is the addition of small titles on the entry doors saying Operated by Arendelle Avia on a small number of planes and when new civil aircraft are eventually put into service, I will allow the standard livery to be applied to them but none of the current planes"
The Council all agreed with this statement and Elsa decided to speak before Sam or anyone else started arguing again.
"I believe we are all in agreement that what my brother says is best for the Civil Aviation fleet and for the world as a whole. Article 117 needs to be amended to reflect this"
No-one disagreed.
"Ill have it altered immediately" Wisenheimer replied.
It was at this exact moment, that one of the servants burst into the room, the expression on his face full of fright!
"What now?!" Sam thought to himself.
"The Princess! The Princess has set the kitchens on fire and she's still there!" the Servant exclaimed.
Elsa and Sam both leapt from their seats and dashed for the door, with the intent to rescue their sister from the situation she had found herself in.
