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Okay, so I've been discussing this story idea over in the Writer's Forum, but thought I'd post the actual story here. Hope you enjoy!

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The Princes of Steel
~By Zach Anderson (Eckener)~​

The many spires of New York City gleamed in the setting sun. Downtown, not far from Battery Park, the stately Morgan Building stood like a towering fort, guarding the city from any would-be assailant. Not far stood the artistic Rockefeller Tower, at 70 stories it was one of the tallest in the city. several blocks north, the elegant Carnegie Spire seemed to grow from the city floor and reach into the heavens at 90 stories tall, it’s glass and steel shimmering in the red-orange light of sunset. And at the peak of the skyline towered the 120-story Vanderbilt Tower, the largest building in North America. Three majestic airships were moored to it’s middle and lower spires, and a fourth was coming in to dock. The high spire remained empty, reserved exclusively for the use of the Vanderbilt family.

The ship coming into dock was the NYA Empire State, a sleek 1400-foot craft that made the 2-day transatlantic crossing to London 3 times each week. It was completing such a journey now, carrying a full load of 350 passengers that had embarked at the Royal Aerodrome outside the British capital. This included the brothers Andrew and Joshua who stood in the ship’s port-side observation deck, gazing down at the city. Andrew, 25, had come to Europe to see the sights with Joshua, 20, who had completed his third year at Oxford and wanted to tour the continent now that he was on summer vacation.

Josh was slightly annoyed at being back in New York two weeks early. After school had let out he’d met his brother in Berlin, and they’d toured Germany and Italy, and had been preparing to go to Paris when a telegram arrived at their hotel in Rome, their father requesting that they return immediately. And for the life of them, neither he nor Andrew could figure out why they needed to return so quickly. They’d telephoned their mother before they left London to make sure nobody died, and she assured them that the family was all in good health but that they needed to come home quickly. So they’d boarded the next flight going to North America.

On the platform, a small crowd gathered to watch the ship dock, including a few cinematographers filming the landing. Granted an airship arrival was not news in and of itself, but it was when the heirs to the Carnegie family were arriving back in New York. The newspapers and some newsreel services loved to follow the younger generations of all the senior families in America. And while the Carnegie sons were not as wild as say the twin Astor daughters, whose escapades made the headlines of many a tabloid, they still had their following.

A porter approached the brother’s table by the window, and began to speak to Andrew.

“Mr. Carnegie, we should be docked and ready to disembark passengers within 10 minutes. I’ve radioed the terminal and they’re preparing a car for you to take you to the Spire or any other destination you desire.”

“Thank you William. I appreciate it. Treat yourself to a nice meal when you get shore leave later.” He handed the porter a 50 dollar banknote.

“Thank you very much Mr. Carnegie, I hope you enjoyed your flight with New York Airways.” With that, he walked away, and Andrew Carnegie IV looked back out the window at the busy city below. There were dozens of semi-rigids flying about, and a few gyrocopters as well. There were at least 5 larger airships in flight, in addition to at least a dozen docked at various towers across the city, including the Spire. Joshua Thomas Carnegie looked up from his novel and followed his brother’s gaze.

“It’s annoying that we couldn’t get a flight on Atlantic.” Andrew said, noticing his brother’s attention had strayed from his book.

“Yes, but unforunately when we got into London all of our ships were out of harbor. At least all the senior families have courtesy flight usage policies so we didn’t have to wait.”

“True. Still, it would have been nice to not have to get out into traffic.”

“Like there will really be a lot of traffic out on the sky avenue?”

“Good point. But you never know. It could happen.”

Josh gave him a look that said he was crazy, and went back to his novel. After about ten minutes, a crew member came out and announced that the passengers could disembark. William, the Carnegie brother’s porter, grabbed their bags and approached them as they headed to stairs that led to the gangway. That led to a passageway that went to the nose of the airship, where they exited the ship, hundreds of feet above the metropolis, and entered the Vanderbilt tower. Once inside the upper terminal, a security guard asked for their passports. Both the young men handed over their blue passports, emblazoned with the gold disk of the United Corporations Council, which were quickly inspected, stamped, and returned. “Welcome home to New York, gentlemen.” the officer said as they two walked on to the arrivals counter to check in and make sure their car was waiting. Once that was done, they walked to the bank of elevators and waited for an open lift to take them to the sky-level lobby.

Arriving at the 60th floor, they walked out onto the glass enclosed terrace, and waited for their sleek black limousine to pull up, the doors painted with the Carnegie family crest. The chauffeur got out of the car, let the two brothers into the back seat, and put away their luggage in the trunk. He then drove the car out of the glass enclosure and onto the sky avenue, that ran all the way from Vanderbilt Tower to the Morgan Building, soaring some 50-60 stories above the city, and provided a quick thoroughfare for the elite to travel that part of the city. All along the avenue, the skyscrapers had been redeveloped to accomodate this newer level of the city, with shops, restaurants, theaters, even parks, all for the enjoyment of the senior families of New York. Everything glimmered, polished metals, glass, and marble.

In less than 20 minutes, the limousine arrived at the Carnegie Spire, and let the boys out at the main entrance. Carnegie Family guards stood at the either side of the main doors, and saluted as they approached, then opened the doors. Andrew and Joshua nodded to them in acknowledgement, and headed in. The Spire’s sky lobby was a soaring room three stories in height and adorned with massive chandeliers, soaring windows, and an elaborate mural of the world, showing airships and steamships and airplanes traveling from continent to continent. Opposite the main door, the so-called “goddess of industry” rose from the floor, her flowing robes containing railway, factories, farms, steamships, airships, cities and automobiles all busy.

As the boys walked through the lobby, Carnegie employees noticed them enter and all stood at semi-attention and welcomed them home as they passed by. Several reporters approached, cameras ready to take a candid shot of the heirs to one of the biggest families in the UCC. Josh cringed inwardly. He hated the limelight. He tried to avoid the press hounds whenever he could. Part of the reason he had pleaded with his father to study at Oxford instead of Harvard, like his brother. He just wanted to get away.

“Andrew, Joshua, welcome home. Pose for a picture?” Shouted a reporter from the Atlantic Tribune, the paper owned by the Carnegies. Reluctantly, they agreed, and as they did several more reporters approached.

“Andrew, I’m Gage Williams with the Times,” said another reporter getting up close to the two as they walked towards the elevators that flanked either side of the goddess statue. “Is it true that you will be asking Sarah McRyan to marry you here before the summer’s out?”

Other reporters shouted in agreement. Andrew didn’t answer as both he and Josh tried to get away from the gaggle of newsmen. Mr. Williams called out again, this time to Josh. “It it true that your father will be the next Chairman?” This got Josh’s attention, though he didn’t answer the question. Just then, Brandon Phillips, Andrew’s secretary, came running up with two members of the Carnegie security force, creating a barrier between the reporters and the young Carnegies.

“Williams you know that the boys only give information to the Tribune, now cut it out.” The reporters backed off and the brothers and their informal detail all walked into a waiting elevator.

“Mr. Andrew, Mr. Joshua, I apologize for not having the reporters cleared out of here before you arrived. I had the times of your arrivals mixed up.”

“It’s okay Phillips.” said Andrew, as the elevator car began to rise from lobby up towards the penthouse.

“Mr. Phillips, what was all that nonsense from that WIlliams fellow about father becoming Chairman?” asked Joshua, though both he and his brother looked equally curious.

“I’ve not the slightest idea Mr. Joshua. Those reporters can make up the craziest things sometimes. I doubt there’s much to it.”

“Phillips, why are we going to the Executive Office and not the Penthouse?” asked Andrew, looking up at the floor indicator above the elevator door.

“That would be because someone just arrived from Philadelphia to meet with you as soon as you arrived.” Phillips said with a wink.

“Ah, Mother’s come to give us a welcome home party.” Josh said sarcastically. Just then, the elevator arrived at the 80th floor where the executive offices were, and the elevator doors dinged open. Mr. Phillips stepped out first, followed by Andrew and then Joshua. Once they were inside the inner office, they found their mother, Irene Carnegie, standing by the giant window overlooking Manhattan. Standing in a sleek sky-blue dress, her brown hair done up in the most current style, Mrs. Carnegie looked positively regal. Phillips excused himself and the boys went to greet their mother.

“There are my two globe-trotting sons. Joshua, how was your semester?”

“Fine mother. 3 down, and one to go. Perfect or near perfect scores in all the courses.”

“Wonderful darling. I’m glad to hear it.”

“Mother, may I ask what was so urgent that you had us cut our summer holiday short?” asked Andrew.

Mrs. Carnegie looked behind the boys to make sure the office door was shut. Seeing that it was and they were alone, she said, “Your father wants you back so that when they announce tomorrow in Philadelphia that he is the new Executive Chairman of the United Corporations Council, his entire family will be there with him in support.”

The two young men stared gaping at their mother. “Father’s going to be Chairman? What about Rockefeller?”

“Rockefeller’s health is taking a turn for the worst. He called a meeting of the Council two weeks ago to privately announce his resignation and commence the selection of his successor. Your father was chosen, and he wanted his sons with him when the announcement was made.”

“Wow! I never would have guessed that the other gentlemen would have chosen father. I’m sure Vanderbilt isn’t thrilled.” remarked Andrew, who closely followed all the political drama that surrounded the UCC leadership.

“You’re undoubtedly right, but the Vanderbilts know to back the UCC’s choice. Besides, they still get to rule New York.” said Mrs. Carnegie, with a sly smile. Though the Morgan family liked to claim the title of Kings of New York, everyone else knew that the title really belonged to the Vanderbilts. “Now, go upstairs to the penthouse and take a shower and change clothes. We’ve got the late night train to catch to take us to Philadelphia. Your father wants you both in town in time for breakfast tomorrow.”

With that, Mrs. Carnegie ushered her two sons out of the office and back towards the elevator. Both Andrew’s and Josh’s minds were racing with the thought of their father becoming arguably the most powerful man in North America. It was a lot to take in. At least they’d have a chance to freshen up and rest on the train ride south to their home city. Excitement coursing through their veins, they went upstairs to prepare for their trip.
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