but I'm confident we'll make progress once we arrive in the islands."
"I know we will," he replied and pointed to the front page of the morning Chronicle.
Bold headlines described the Japanese/American civil unrest in the streets of San Francisco and other major cities. Related stories prophesied problems with workers and management in Japanese-owned, American-based industries in the aftermath of the senseless killings at Pearl Harbor. Some of the articles about the attack were biased against the practices of the United States, while other stories lashed out at the terrorist reprisal on the American tourists in Osaka.
Steve started to say something, then abruptly stopped himself. Susan was Japanese-American, and criticism from both the Japanese and the American sides was probably difficult for her to deal with. The thought made him uncomfortable.
Susan caught the subtle change in his disposition. "It's a shame, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," he agreed. "I'm convinced that humans are the most vicious, predatory animals on this planet."
The stories under the headlines explained about the anti-Japanese protests in Japan Town, known as Nihonmachi, a few blocks east of Fillmore Street. San Francisco police had been forced to arrest protesters and break up skirmishes at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and at the Japanese Cultural and Trade Center.
One of the saddest stories recounted how Japanese students at the University of San Francisco had been pelted with ra w e ggs and water balloons filled with paint. Some had even been hit with rocks and bottles during the clash.
Steve motioned for their check, but Marcus and Susan insisted on splitting the bill three ways.
As they walked to their gate, Steve gave Susan a friendly smile. "Since you know all about me, warts and all, I'm anxious to find out more about you."
She returned the friendly gesture. "That's fair enough, but I don't want to bore you to death."
"You're in trouble now," Marcus laughed quietly and slowly shook his head.
"Trust me," Steve said while Susan rolled her eyes at Callaway. "I can handle it."
MISAWA AIR BASE, JAPAN
The low, ragged overcast seemed to hang suspended in a dark-gray hue a half hour after the sun had risen. The warm air was oppressively sultry and there was a total absence of wind on the crowded flightline. The humidity was peaked at 100 percent and a fine drizzle continued to bathe the home of the 432nd Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force.
East of base operations and the control tower, a multitude of McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-15 J air-superiority fighters from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force were being prepared for a practice mission. The Japanese Air Force controlled the airfield and adjacent air traffic, but coordinated all military activities with the U . S .
The air base was beginning to stir, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee permeated the muggy air. The quiet solitude of the sleepy morning was abruptly shattered when two afterburning turbofans belched hot air and roared to life. The high-pitched whine of the powerful engines cut through the air while the pilots went through their checklists.
After a radio check with the 432nd command post, known as Falcon Ops, the two men switched to clearance delivery and copied their Chuhi Two Departure with a Miyako Transition. Shortly thereafter, the two General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons began taxiing toward the active runway.
Major Tony Lavancia, a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm, was the leader for the scheduled training flight. The highly skilled pilot was well liked by everyone, especially the younger pilots, who were the recipients of his wisdom and years of aviation experience.
Behind and off to the side of Lavancia's wing, Captain Jeff McIntire watched his flight leader taxi over a large puddle of water. The spray kicked up by the fighter's exhaust blew past his wingtip and disappeared.
Although new to the squadron, "Gentleman Jeff" McIntire
"I know we will," he replied and pointed to the front page of the morning Chronicle.
Bold headlines described the Japanese/American civil unrest in the streets of San Francisco and other major cities. Related stories prophesied problems with workers and management in Japanese-owned, American-based industries in the aftermath of the senseless killings at Pearl Harbor. Some of the articles about the attack were biased against the practices of the United States, while other stories lashed out at the terrorist reprisal on the American tourists in Osaka.
Steve started to say something, then abruptly stopped himself. Susan was Japanese-American, and criticism from both the Japanese and the American sides was probably difficult for her to deal with. The thought made him uncomfortable.
Susan caught the subtle change in his disposition. "It's a shame, isn't it?"
"Yes, it is," he agreed. "I'm convinced that humans are the most vicious, predatory animals on this planet."
The stories under the headlines explained about the anti-Japanese protests in Japan Town, known as Nihonmachi, a few blocks east of Fillmore Street. San Francisco police had been forced to arrest protesters and break up skirmishes at the Japanese Tea Garden in Golden Gate Park and at the Japanese Cultural and Trade Center.
One of the saddest stories recounted how Japanese students at the University of San Francisco had been pelted with ra w e ggs and water balloons filled with paint. Some had even been hit with rocks and bottles during the clash.
Steve motioned for their check, but Marcus and Susan insisted on splitting the bill three ways.
As they walked to their gate, Steve gave Susan a friendly smile. "Since you know all about me, warts and all, I'm anxious to find out more about you."
She returned the friendly gesture. "That's fair enough, but I don't want to bore you to death."
"You're in trouble now," Marcus laughed quietly and slowly shook his head.
"Trust me," Steve said while Susan rolled her eyes at Callaway. "I can handle it."
MISAWA AIR BASE, JAPAN
The low, ragged overcast seemed to hang suspended in a dark-gray hue a half hour after the sun had risen. The warm air was oppressively sultry and there was a total absence of wind on the crowded flightline. The humidity was peaked at 100 percent and a fine drizzle continued to bathe the home of the 432nd Fighter Wing of the United States Air Force.
East of base operations and the control tower, a multitude of McDonnell Douglas/Mitsubishi F-15 J air-superiority fighters from Japan's Air Self-Defense Force were being prepared for a practice mission. The Japanese Air Force controlled the airfield and adjacent air traffic, but coordinated all military activities with the U . S .
The air base was beginning to stir, and the smell of freshly brewed coffee permeated the muggy air. The quiet solitude of the sleepy morning was abruptly shattered when two afterburning turbofans belched hot air and roared to life. The high-pitched whine of the powerful engines cut through the air while the pilots went through their checklists.
After a radio check with the 432nd command post, known as Falcon Ops, the two men switched to clearance delivery and copied their Chuhi Two Departure with a Miyako Transition. Shortly thereafter, the two General Dynamics F-16 Fighting Falcons began taxiing toward the active runway.
Major Tony Lavancia, a combat veteran of Operation Desert Storm, was the leader for the scheduled training flight. The highly skilled pilot was well liked by everyone, especially the younger pilots, who were the recipients of his wisdom and years of aviation experience.
Behind and off to the side of Lavancia's wing, Captain Jeff McIntire watched his flight leader taxi over a large puddle of water. The spray kicked up by the fighter's exhaust blew past his wingtip and disappeared.
Although new to the squadron, "Gentleman Jeff" McIntire
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