Chapter Two - part two

   Things seemed to settle down after that. They had no other incidents during the deployment and when it was over they returned home. The Air Force had made other changes in things. After seeing what the F/A-48 could do in actual combat they had decided to make up a full squadron of twenty jets out of those first two flights. The remaining F-35's in Squadron 77 were pulled out of service. Squadron 77 became the first full F/A-48 squadron in the Air Force. They changed the nickname of the squadron to 'Gamblers Ghost'. It seemed fitting since the nickname for an F/A-48 itself was 'The Ghost'. The home base was located at Shaw AFB which also had already received the next full squadron of F/A-48's. They had replaced the jets in the 79th squadron. The 79th squadron now replaced the 77th squadron in Turkey.

   Life was slower and more relaxed for a while. It had been a real shock for James and Sarah when they were both placed in Squadron 77. That wasn't something that the Air Force normally allowed, spouses serving together in the same unit. According to Lt. Colonel Wilson, who was now squadron commander of the 77th the fact that both of them now had the rank of Captain and both were decorated pilots with verified 'kills' had a lot to do with it. They had already proven themselves very capable when in combat situations together. That was the biggest problem for the Air Force, making sure a couple could do their jobs if stationed together. Also they were still nationally known heroes, so nobody wanted to rock the boat by separating them, at least not just because they were married. Marriage might be a dying institution, but a lot of people were still married and married people tended to be voters too. Commanders and politicians might not like marriage in the military, but it would still be suicide in either military or political careers for them to admit that publicly.

   They still spent a lot of time in the air, but nothing like they had been used to before coming home. Now they had other duties to perform. They also had lots more free time to spend together or with family. They did a lot of both. James was shocked at how much things were changing around him. His four years in the Academy had been almost like being isolated from the rest of the world. He had followed that with 18 months of training that required him to be isolated most of the time. Then he had spent a year deployed across the world. It had been almost seven years since he had really lived in the outside world. He still didn't feel like he was in the same world that he had grown up in. The military world was much different, but at least here it was linked with the world outside. At the Academy, during training, and while deployed he had been separated from that outside world. He had been virtually cut off from the world outside far more than he had realized. Now as he adjusted to living and working a more normal life he began to see the outside world differently. The world had changed far faster and more than he would have believed possible before seeing it with his own eyes.

  One of the biggest changes for James was in the attitudes of the people. The military was a world of its own, but he hadn't realized just how much different it was from the rest of the world. Oh he knew it was more regulated and regimented, but it was a lot more than that alone. People outside seemed to have only one real interest, themselves. In the military you were a part of a unit, part of a family. Everyone had to work and live together. Maybe you didn't agree or even like each other, but you still had to learn to live and work together as a unit. That no longer seemed to be the case outside the military. People in the community outside the base seemed to have no interest in anyone or anything if it didn't directly affect them and their lives. In fact most people who didn't have to deal directly with the military seemed to think the military was a waste of funds. Part of that was because many of those people depended on the government for at least part of their financial support. Maybe just a retirement check, but often housing, medical care, and food were being provided by the government as well. All they saw was the military 'wasting' funds that could have been made available to help them live better lives.

   James was just beginning to notice the changes when things changed once again for him, in a major way this time. James was called in to see the base commander. He was given no reason for the summons. James just got an email telling him when to report to the base commander's office. James had met Major General Randall W. Fuller when he had arrived, but he hadn't seen much of him since then. When James arrived at the meeting he was shown in immediately. Fuller greeted James with a smile and a handshake. Then he asked how James was adjusting to life after his exciting deployment. James assured him that he was glad to be home, but ready to go wherever he was needed. That made Fuller laugh long and loud. When he did stop laughing his voice was serious as he replied. "I am glad to hear that, though I doubt you meant it as literally as I am about to take it. Captain Cooper, you are being temporarily reassigned. I am sorry that I can't give you a lot of details, but just trust me when I say that this is an important assignment. It seems that you have some rather special connections and because of those; the Air Force has a special mission for you.   The Vice Commander, Colonel Rogers, is preparing a packet of information for you. You will have to go over it on the flight to your new assignment. That flight leaves in three hours. I suggest you go see your wife and get packed. I had her sent home to wait for you. Tell her I am sorry, but she knows that duty must always come first in the military." A quick dismal followed that shocking news.

    James said nothing; there was nothing to say to that! Just a quick salute and he found himself headed for home. It was only a short drive to base housing, where they stayed. Sarah was waiting and she wasn't happy. All she knew was that James had been reassigned and was leaving in less than three hours. It didn't help when James told her what he had been told. He had no more of an idea about where he was headed or what his new assignment was going to be than she did. All he knew was that he had to go. Sarah managed to put a smile on her face before he left, but James knew it wasn't real. He was no happier than Sarah was about this sudden change in their lives. James had a feeling that a certain senator was going to be getting an ear full from a very upset voter before the day was over. Colonel Rogers showed up to drive James and Sarah to the waiting transport. James was going military air. He just wished he knew his destination. Colonel Rogers handed James a sealed packet when they reached the plane and told him to read it after the plane took off. He told Sarah to say her goodbyes and then get back in the car for a ride home. He would explain as much as he could on the way back home. That didn't help much. Five minutes later it was wheels up and James was on his way, even if he didn't yet know where to.