Chapter Three - part six

   James had lowered his head and began to shake it slowly as she was talking. When she stopped he took a deep breath and looked up. She was watching him and only him. James slowly let out his breath and then nodded before he spoke a single word question, "And?" That was all he said. Now he watched her as he waited for the answer he knew would come. She began to smile. "And... I need you to be both a warrior and a diplomat. I understand that you have studied Chinese?" James laughed softly and he nodded. She continued. "I will be sending you out on the normal missions which you came here for, to patrol the Sea of Japan. However, your missions will now be greatly extended... to cover the East China Sea! You will be charged with patrolling the Sea of Japan, but your point of focus will be the area surrounding and even directly over South Korea. The stealth ability and added firepower of a squadron of F/A-48's should be a big deterrent. I still fully expect you to need all the diplomacy you can muster to pull this off, because stealth or not you will be noticed. In fact you must be noticed for this to work. I firmly believe that you are the right man for this job. The only question in my mind is what you think. Do you think you are the right man? Can you do this job and discourage the Chinese from looking at South Korea for me?"

   James took a deep breath and slowly stood up. He actually paced across the room a few times before he returned to stand behind Sarah. With his hands resting on the back of her chair he slowly began to speak. "General, I must admit that in the back of my mind I was wondering why the 77th had been sent here and why I had been given command. Now that I do know, I am not happy about it. That said, I do think I understand why you asked for me instead of Colonel Wilson. Can I do what you ask? Honestly, that will depend on what you actually expect and what the Chinese actually intend to do. I am a warrior, as are all of the men and women of the 77th. We can and we will fight to defend ourselves and our allies against any and all threats, but I cannot promise what the outcome of a fight will be. As for the added diplomatic part of this, that will also depend on the Chinese and I suppose on the Koreans as well. You ask for answers that I can't give you. I will do my duty to the best of my ability. Beyond that ability I have only my faith." He paused for a long moment and then with a firm nod, answered her question. "Yes Ma'am, I can and will do the job. I won't promise to get the results that you may have in mind, but I can do the job you have asked me to do. I can try to discourage further pushes from China in South Korea."

   Brig. General Samantha Johns smiled, but didn't move. After a moment she looked at Sarah and spoke. "Tell me, is he always like this? Does he just speak his mind and stand there daring anyone to say different?" Sarah laughed and James frowned. Sarah stood up and moved to stand beside her husband. Then she spoke for the first time since first coming into the room. "Not always, but when he does speak like this... people listen! You have asked him if he can be both a warrior and diplomat. The answer is yes he can... but?  That but depends on many things. He will be diplomatic when he can be, but when diplomacy fails he will always be the warrior he must be.  You know his call sign is Ironman and you know how he earned that his first year at the Academy. What you and many others don't know or understand is that he truly is man of iron. He has a will of iron and faith of iron. He may bend, but he won't break. If you wanted a diplomat first you may be in trouble, but if you wanted a warrior first and diplomat second then he is the man you need." Brig. General Samantha Johns nodded her head and stood up. Then she simply dismissed them both.  There would be another time to discuss other things that had to be worked out when any new squadron arrived, for now she just wanted time to think. They also needed to do the same. But she was convinced that she had made the right choice. Very few men impressed her. Almost nobody did during the first meeting. However Lt. Colonel James Andrew Cooper had done exactly that.

Chapter Three - part five

  They arrived at Kadena AFB Okinawa, Japan with little fanfare. There was already a squadron of F/A-48's there, the Fighting Cocks of the 67th squadron. James and the Gambler's Ghosts of the 77th were arriving to replace the Vampires of the 44th squadron. That squadron was in the process of refitting and retraining to fly the next squadron of F/A-48's. They would be returning, but it would be many months before they did. That seemed to be the biggest problem with the new F/A-48's, getting a pilot familiar with them. They simply weren't the same kind of jet to fly as the older ones. They required the pilot to do far more and be far more aware of not only the battle, but the plane. The very things that had made them a game changer had also made them a real pain for a seasoned pilot to learn to fly. In fact a lot of the most experienced pilots weren't willing to make that transition. The pilots of the 44th would all get a chance, but many would have to be replaced and that took even more time.

   James first duty, once on the ground, was to report to his new commanding officer, Brig. General Samantha Johns. Sarah had been asked to report with James, since she would be assuming a key part in the ongoing negotiations about the expansion. Samantha Johns was a red headed, green-eyed, fireball, according to Colonel Sam Wilson. He had flown with her as a young pilot. He had warned James that she had a temper, but that she wasn't likely to lose it. If she did, you had only two choices, duck and cover, or stand and fight. She didn't accept excuses or apologies at all and if she lost her temper she took heads first and asked questions later. She was an excellent judge of people and had been an outstanding pilot. She was a better manager though, than she was a fighter pilot. In Wilson's opinion her one flaw was that she was too quick to act in the heat of battle. That had James very concerned. Sam Wilson was well known as a risk taker. He acted suddenly and often with little apparent consideration of the consequences of his actions. If he thought she was too quick on the trigger that was a real reason for worry to James.

  When James walked into her office he was surprised at how young she looked. He would have guessed her to be close to his age, but she was years older than him. She was also a stunningly beautiful woman. Sarah had told him that she was, but James had to admit that he still wasn't prepared for her. He snapped a quick salute and remained at attention. Brig. General Johns slowly stood up and walked around her desk to look him over without ever speaking. Sarah had been asked to remain outside, which had been a surprise to both of them. Samantha Johns walked all the way around James before speaking when she was standing directly in front of him again. Once more her words were a shock to James when she did speak. "So, you are the Ironman? Well, I have to say you certainly look the part. You are tall, confident, and good looking. Typical for a fighter pilot, but I sense something else in you too. At ease Cooper. Have a seat and let's talk for a bit." Then she turned and moved back to her desk chair. James took a seat and waited. He was no longer sure of what to expect from his new commander. She just sat smiling slightly and watched him for a long moment before she started to talk again. She seemed totally relaxed and at ease, which was nothing close to how James was feeling.

   "I see that you have very good control of yourself. Most Lt. Colonels would have shown at least a little bit of irritation at the way I greeted you, but you have shown no sign that it bothers you. I know that you are puzzled, but I saw no sign of anger or fear in you. That is a good thing. You see, Lt. Colonel Cooper, I asked for you specifically to be sent here. They were planning on sending Colonel Wilson, since we had worked together and were familiar with each other. I asked for you instead. Command wasn't happy about that, but I convinced them. They thought you were better suited for the spot Sam is now filling. It seems you have earned a reputation for handling tough situations in that region of the world. Well, I need someone who can handle tough situations too. Sam Wilson is a very good pilot, but he has one flaw. He rushes in where angels fear to go." Then she smiled and laughed. "I don't need anyone to help me with that. I have been known to make the devil himself hesitate to follow me. I needed a man who doesn't rush in where angels fear to go, but also one who wasn't afraid to walk into the lion's den if that was where he needed to go. I think you are that man. I am told you have walked with lions before."

   James was now even more troubled. Something was clearly up here, something that he had no clue about. He watched and waited. Once more she just laughed as she watched him. She reached over and paged for Sarah to join them. When Sarah arrived she greeted her and asked her to take a seat. Then Samantha Johns leaned back and studied the pair of them for a long time. Finally she leaned forward again and spoke. "Lt. Colonel James Andrew Cooper, currently the only confirmed ace flying for us, recipient of the Air Force Cross, the Silver Star, the Purple Heart and the Distinguished Service Medal. You have continuously distinguished yourself during your service and I think you will continue to do so." She turned her attention to Susan next. "Major Sarah Marie Cooper his wife, you also have confirmed kills to your record and are a recipient of the Distinguished Flying Cross in the same action where your husband won his Air Force Cross. While not quite as distinguished as his, your record is worthy of notice and you certainly have a distinguished family to go along with that record.  I have asked you both here today, so that I can explain why you are really here. I suspect that you were led to believe that it was so you could help with the negotiations, Major. That is only a part of it though. In fact, it is the secondary reason. You have once again come in second to your husband. It was him that I wanted and needed here! I do need you here too and I am thrilled to have you, but he is really the reason you are both here."

   She paused to let what she had just said sink in and then continued. "What neither one of you knew, and in fact what very few people do know, is that we are facing what could be a major shift in the balance of power in this immediate region. As you know China has been putting pressure on Japan for a long while now. That has been more of a bluff than real for now though. The world news and many world leaders have bought into that bluff, but the real threat is not to Japan at all, at least not directly. The real issue is in Korea. China had been willing to just remain on the side and watch for decades, but that has changed. They have already moved to take control of North Korea. The world news and most world leaders still see and hear a North Korean dictator. They see little change in North Korea. But our intelligence has recently become aware of major changes and they have become very troubling. China now effectively runs North Korea! They have recently even placed some of their generals in command of the military and are now in the process of replacing much of the military hardware that North Korea had with newer Chinese equipment. That alone is very troubling, but I fear it is just the beginning. I assume you are aware that we haven't yet upgraded to F/A-48's in South Korea?"

      James nodded as his mind began to redirect his thoughts. He suddenly heard Brig. General Johns chuckling as she watched them. That made him grin in spite of his best efforts. She nodded her head at them both and started to speak again. "I see that you both have quick minds. Yes, I and others are deeply concerned that China may have plans for South Korea next. You see we have tried to upgrade, but South Korea has been reluctant to let us do it. They say it would be seen as a provocation in the North. I think they were really looking at China though. In fact, I am almost certain of it now. You see South Korea has asked us to begin withdrawing our troops from along the DMZ. They want to replace them with only South Korean troops. They haven't asked us to leave South Korea completely, not yet, but the withdrawal from doing the very thing we have remained there all these years to do, may be the first step in that direction. I have been tasked with discouraging the Chinese from pushing further. I asked for you James, because you seem to have a talent for diplomacy, as well as being a true warrior." 

Chapter Three - part four

   James went home and spent the remainder of the day with his family. They were staying until Sunday after services. James had to be back from leave Monday morning and Sarah wanted to get back too. Sarah didn't know what had happened today, but she was glad it had happened. James had come back and walked into the house like a new man. She had looked into his eyes and the fear was gone. She had asked him what had happened and he had just laughed. Then he had kissed her and whispered softly. "God, God happened to me Sarah." He had said no more and she had asked no more. She didn't need to know more. That was enough for her. Late that night alone in bed he had told her about it. She had listened and she understood the sudden change in him. She had understood, because she had felt the fear leaving her as they had talked. She slept soundly for the first time that week. She finally felt safe and secure again in the arms of her fearless warrior, her Ironman. She felt safe because she knew God was with them.

   They returned to base and James returned to duty. Sarah stayed on leave for another month. Joseph Paul was six weeks old when she returned to duty. He was barely four months old when they got a big surprise. Sarah was expecting again! Once the shock wore off they were both thrilled. That soon changed though. James was being sent to New Mexico to actually begin testing the modifications that he had helped design for the pulse cannons. He would be there at least six months, possibly longer. Sarah couldn't or wouldn't be going due to the upcoming birth of their next child. James wanted her to stay close to home and with doctors she was familiar with. He would try to get leave around her due date and hope for the best. That was all they could do. It was still duty before family in the military.

      It seemed that God was still blessing them though, because James was home on leave when his baby girl was born. Marie Elisabeth Cooper was her mother's daughter. She looked exactly like Sarah. She even had her smile. Once more it seemed that God's timing was perfect. The 77th squadron was about to be deployed again. This time they were heading to Japan. Sarah should be recovered and ready to return to duty by then. The only problem was the children. James and Sarah had discussed the possibility of being deployed with small children. They didn't like the idea of leaving them behind, but they didn't like the idea of taking them overseas much better. The one good thing was that Japan wasn't quite as bad as most places where they might have been deployed. Japan had a lot of unrest and occasional riots. Even in Japan things weren't going great. Still there was little real violence and the base itself was among the best America had overseas. They did some checking and found that it should be possible for them to take the children with them. They began making plans and once more trusted in the Lord to make it all work according to His greater plan for them. The time to go arrived and after some difficult goodbyes they headed to their new home.

   James was still very troubled about what was going on in America. However, James now believed that would eventually be dealt with by God. James couldn't have explained how or why he had come to believe that, he just had. James was excited about his life again. He might not be able to change the whole world, but he could have a huge effect on the world around him. Ever since that day he had seen Pastor David about things he had been a different man again. James now realized that he too had changed during all of those years away. He had lost his focus and lost the purpose for his life when he had come home to America. While he had been at the Academy, in training, and even deployed he had kept his eyes on the Lord. He hadn't lost his focus or his purpose. He had been faithful and he had trusted in God no matter what had been happening in his life. That trust and faith had sustained him and carried him during some very difficult times. He never forgot that he lived to serve both God and country. That faith was what had made him succeed and had helped get him safely back home.

   Then he and Sarah had been brought back together again. They had begun trying to regain what had been lost to them during all the long months they had been separated. Life had been good again. Their problems had become minor and easily dealt with. They had relaxed and made the most of the chance to just live life to its fullest while they had it. That had been good, but it had also been bad. James had become too involved with his life as a pilot and a husband. He had forgotten what mattered most, he had forgotten God. Oh, he hadn't totally forgotten about God. He and Sarah had attended services regularly. He had read his Bible daily and prayed even more often. That was all good, but it hadn't been enough. James had just about stopped listening for God's answers. Almost as bad, he had forgotten to just talk with God. Prayer was good, but talking had always been how James found out for certain not only what was right, but also what was wrong in his life. He had forgotten to talk with God. Since James wasn't talking anymore he hadn't heard God talking to him very well either. James had been too busy with the world to stay close to God. James had lost sight of God and lost his way, but God hadn't lost James.

   James had stayed very busy since that talk with Pastor David, but he hadn't forgotten to watch and to listen this time. James had seen the changes that had happened and the ones that were still happening back in America. He knew that his nation was heading for trouble far beyond anything that it had now. Even so he also saw that for now, there appeared to be little that he alone could do about that. He had spent every free minute trying to learn about what had happened, what was still happening, and why it was. He had learned that the people of his nation had, for lack of a better term, lost focus. They were much like he had been. They were just too busy living their lives to worry about anything or anyone else. If it didn't directly affect them, then it wasn't worth their time or the trouble it would cause them. Unless and until that was changed, James saw very little that anybody could do to change the path America was on. James wasn't sure who or what was driving the country, but he knew the country was headed for a disaster. Most of the people just weren't watching and they weren't listening to those who were watching. It had been that way for a long time and James was afraid they just didn't understand that sooner or later they would run out of road and go over the edge of the cliff.

   James didn't know what God had in mind, but he knew that God was aware of everything. Sooner or later something would happen, maybe something good, but maybe something bad too. That wouldn't matter as much as what happened afterwards. That was when James knew America would have to make a choice. The same kind of choice that James had made so often, who would they follow? They could turn back to God and let Him correct everything that they had screwed up. Or they could turn away from God and let Him correct the people who had screwed it all up. Either way God would eventually deal with the problems that were building up inside America. James had no doubt of that and he had no fear of it either. James just had faith that as long as a few good people remained... there was still hope for his nation. But right now James was going half way around the world again. If God intended for James to be involved in correcting the problems back home, then it wasn't time yet. James just had to deal with what God put before him today and let God deal with what the future might eventually become.

   He and Sarah were both flying together now. James had done enough with his improvements to the pulse cannons to earn another step up. He had been promoted out of order again and was now a Lt. Colonel. He was also now the squadron commander of the 77th. He wasn't the only one who had been moved up faster than normal. Lt. Colonel Sam Wilson had become Colonel Sam Wilson and been given command of a newly supplied squadron of F/A-48's. That squadron was headed back to the Middle East. Brigadier General Hancock, who was now the commanding officer back at home base, hadn't been thrilled with James being given command of the 77th. He hadn't been willing to object too much since James was the son-in-law of one of the most powerful and well liked Senators in the nation. He had warned James that any show of favoritism towards Sarah would be dealt with severely though. James wasn't worried about that, he was worried about Sarah. She had been more concerned than Hancock about appearances with her flying not only in the same squadron as James, but under his direct command as well.

   James didn't expect a lot of problems with that though. One of the main reasons the 77th was heading to Japan was so that Sarah could assist with negotiations about the air base. Japan needed us there with China looming larger over them every day, but they didn't like us being there. The people who could have remembered the A-bombs being dropped on Japan were long dead, but the memory wasn't dead. The young people didn't want the American military around to remind them of it either. Senator Davis had been spending a lot of time and political capital to make an expansion of the air base happen. James thought that he was the one behind this entire move. Her father apparently thought that Major Sarah Cooper could accomplish what he hadn't been able to. He thought Sarah could get the final expansion approved by the Japanese parliament if anyone could. James figured that Sarah would be hard pressed to get in her required flight time until that expansion was given a go.

   The biggest thing James had to do was fly routine missions over what was currently considered neutral islands between Japan and China. Some islands had Japanese on them, some had Chinese on them, and a few had both. The problem was that while they had no real value, they had become political game pieces. Neither of the nations could legitimately claim them all and yet neither was willing to abandon their interest in all of them.  The people living on those tiny islands were basically poor fishermen who had moved all they had to the tiny islands in an effort to just survive. They could raise small gardens and catch fish. Sometimes they could even catch enough to sell for a tiny profit, but mostly they just wanted to live and be left alone. They cared nothing for politics or territory. However, China and Japan both routinely had Navy ships patrolling among those islands. James would be there to discourage both from doing something that might make matters far worse for everyone involved.

   James and Sarah had made arrangements for the kids to stay on the farm with his folks until they could get a place suitable for them to all live in. Then her folks would bring the kids over to them. James was already missing the kids and he knew it would be worse for Sarah, but sacrifices had to be made. James doubted that the kids were going to miss dad and mom much anyway. Not when they had Granny and Grandpa available around the clock, to say nothing of a farm full of animals and adventures. Still he would be glad when they found a suitable place to live. That wasn't the only reason why they had left the kids behind though. They had wanted time to locate someone to watch the kids when they were both on duty. James had no intention of juggling schedules to make sure he or Sarah could be available to watch the kids. He had to find someone he could trust with the most precious thing he had in his life.

Chapter Three - part three

   Later in the week James went to see Pastor David at his office. That had turned into a real revelation to James about the true state of the nation, as well as the state of his heart and mind. He had arrived early in the morning, but after he was certain Pastor David was done with his morning quiet time. The door opened to his knock and a huge smile spread quickly across Pastor David's face. "Come in, come in! I was hoping you would find the time to come by and see me! I have been praying for you Andy and..." Pastor David stopped short, shaking his head as he started talking again. "No, no you aren't that young boy now, you're not Andy anymore. You are a man grown with a wife and a child. I have to remember to call you James now. I have been praying for you and Sarah. I will be adding young Joseph Paul to my daily prayer list too. It was so wonderful to see all of you Sunday. Please sit down and make yourself comfortable James." James took a seat and watched as Pastor David took his seat behind his desk. He looked much older to James, but of course he was much older. James smiled as he remembered that this man was well over eighty now. Pastor David returned that smile with a grin and soft chuckle before he spoke.

  "Yes, I have grown quite old since we last talked like this. How many years has that been? I think eight or more, at least that long though. In fact it may have been before you started your journey to the Academy. How long ago that now seems for me, but I think it must feel like yesterday to you. Well, no matter that! What brings you back to see such an old man? Were you troubled by what you saw and heard Sunday or is it something deeper than merely seeing me grown old? I saw many things in your eyes during the service and after it Sunday, but I see something different now. Lay what troubles you down before me and the Lord. I may not have the answers you want or need, but the Lord will." James was smiling by the time Pastor David had finished talking. He was smiling not only because of the words he had just heard, but because of the transformation he had just seen take place. James had just seen the youthful energy and joy flow back into the old man sitting before him. Pastor David suddenly appeared to be much the same man he had been all those years ago when James had first come seeking answers about his future.

   James continued to smile as he spoke. "I admit that I was troubled to see you had grown so old, but I now see that you have grown even wiser as well. And I think perhaps, not quite as old as I had first thought. You certainly seem to know what is on my heart and mind in spite of how long I have been gone. I am troubled by more than just the signs of time passing though. I am troubled by the signs of things changed more than I believed was possible. I had missed many, perhaps most of the changes that have taken place while I was gone from this country. I see that I have returned to a land I no longer know or even understand. I have come seeking answers again, but honestly Pastor David this time I don't even know where to begin. What has happened to my country? What has happened to its people? Everything has changed and not for the better."

   Pastor David actually began to laugh when James was done. James hadn't expected that at all, but that laughter seemed to help calm James. It was certainly better than the sound of crying and that was what James had felt like doing during the last few days. When the laughter stopped Pastor David spoke again. There was still a twinkle in his eyes as he spoke. "I imagine this country must have been a real shock to you when you saw it for what it is rapidly becoming. It has indeed changed far more and far faster than I had dreamed possible when I talked of changes so long ago. I thought that we had more time when I spoke that message about the changes we face each day, at Sunday service so long ago. To me it now sometimes feels like what was spoken of in 2nd Peter, as if a thousand years of change have come in a single day. Still with God while a day can be as a thousand years, a thousand years can be as a day too, so perhaps it isn't yet too late. Perhaps God will give us a thousand more years to change our ways. Perhaps we still have time to find the answers we need before it is too late for us or this nation."

   James nodded and then spoke again. "Yes, but how do we find answers when we don't even know the questions? Pastor David, I can't even find the words to pray about this. I feel so lost and so confused. I don't know where to begin. What can I do? How do I change the things I see that are so clearly wrong; when the world around me has already accepted them and moved on? I thought the rest of the world was a mess, but now...?" James stopped and shook his head. Pastor David leaned back in his seat and smiled again. The he spoke very softly. "I think I can give you the first question and the answer you must have too. I too have struggled with those same questions. I too have felt lost and confused. Why would the Lord, whom I have loved and served for so long, abandon me in my hour of need?" Pastor David leaned forward and still speaking softly continued. "The Lord didn't abandon me James. And He hasn't abandoned you." Then he got up and paced across the room with his hands clasped in front of him almost as if in prayer. Twice he crossed the room like that, slowly shaking his head from side to side. He appeared to almost be searching for something when he suddenly turned and faced James again.

   His voice was no longer soft and soothing as he spoke, it was firm and commanding now. There was a new fire in his eyes too. "James, I tell you the Lord has NOT abandoned us! He has NOT abandoned our nation! He is still there, still waiting, and still ready to act! It is us who have abandoned God! James we must return to him! That is the answer! It is the only answer, the only hope!" He lowered his voice again. "James, I have heard of what you have done. I know that you have risked much with only your faith to sustain you. You have faced many battles, many opponents, and conquered all of those with only faith to support you. That faith has made you strong. You didn't always have the answers when you faced those situations, but you did have faith in the one who does. How do we do what must be done to save our nation? I don't know the answers to that, but I know who does know. My faith in the Lord remains strong, but my fear has grown strong as well. I see that same fear in your eyes too. I tell you now... fear has no place among us, not now, not ever!" His voice was almost a shout as he made that last statement.

   "James, we walk with the Lord. Remember the words of Isaiah from chapter 41.  'Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness. Behold, all they that were incensed against thee shall be ashamed and confounded: they shall be as nothing, and they that strive with thee shall perish. Thou shalt seek them, and shalt not find them that contend with thee. They that war against thee shall be as nothing, and as a thing of nought. For I the Lord thy God will hold thy right hand, saying unto thee, Fear not; I will help thee.'

   Pastor David stopped and took a deep breath. Then he slowly returned to his seat. Smiling at James he spoke once again in that soft fatherly tone of voice that James remembered so well from his youth. "Fear not my son, for the Lord thy God is with you. You must never forget that James. No matter what happens, no matter how much the world around us changes... God remains! Our God, the one God hasn't ever changed and He never will! Hold on to God James! God holds your right hand, right now! Hold onto your faith! By the grace of God we are saved through our faith in Him. James faith is all we have! Faith is all we need! Faith is the answer that you seek! Faith alone is the answer! I know you have questions and doubts. I have those too. But we must not let our questions and doubts become our fears. 'Fear thou not; for I am with thee'. Hold onto that promise James! The Lord is with us! Put your trust in him and walk with faith in Him, not with fear of the world."

   James nodded slowly, but he was still troubled, but Pastor David seemed to understand. He leaned forward and spoke in a slightly stronger voice. "Don't worry about what to do or what to pray, James! God knows your heart and your mind. He can hear the groaning of your soul. He knows what you need and he will provide it to you when you are ready to use it. He will provide it in His time and in His way. James, I wish I could give you more help than this, but I think you already know that you have all the help you need. You have the promises of God! 'Fear not; I will help thee.' God walks with you and will lift you up if you stumble and fall. Trust in him and you will receive the answers you seek, even when you don't know where to look or what to look for. God will always provide what you need. James, I believe that God has been using you in more powerful ways than you can understand. I don't think he is done yet. In fact I think he may have just begun. He used you to change things at the Academy. He has used you to bring peace to a land that has seldom known peace. He has done all of that and yet the world hasn't even really seen you. Oh I know some have seen you, but only a very select few. Now the Lord has brought you home and shown you a new problem. I think He still has plans to use you. I know that is laying a huge burden on you, but I don't think the Lord will leave you to carry it alone. James when you left this office so long ago to begin this journey... you said a prayer. Do you remember that prayer?"

  In answer to that question, James quietly dropped to his knees, bowed his head, and began to pray. "Thank you, Father. I am not worthy of the blessings you have given me. I am weak and afraid, but you give me courage and strength. Father, I have felt lost and alone, but you have shown me I am not. I ask your forgiveness. I forgot that you will never leave me; never forsake me. I am sorry that I have tried to deny your call and that I have tried to refuse your plan for me. Give me strength Father, so that I may do what I now know I must do. Help me to find the way to tell others and to ease the pain I will cause some of them. I trust you Father. I will go. I will serve. Use me however you would, for your glory. In the name of my Lord, Jesus, I pray. Amen."

   James slowly stood up. Pastor David had echoed his Amen, but had remained seated. Both men had tears in their eyes again. This time Pastor David didn't stand up or even move. He simply spoke, just as he had all those years ago. "Go with God, son." James gave a single short nod before turning and walking out the door just as he had done so long ago. Once the door was closed behind him, James took a deep breath. He still had no answers. He still didn't even know where to begin. But that no longer mattered to him. James had found peace once more. He was still deeply troubled and concerned about his nation, but he was no longer afraid. He had felt the Lord take his fear from him. James still didn't know how all of this would end, but he knew that God did, and that was enough. Smiling he headed back to his family. It was time for them to go back. It was time for James to get back to work. He might not know what God wanted him to do yet, but he knew it wasn't to be done here. Once more God had said 'Go', so James would indeed go!

   Pastor David had listened to James as he had prayed those same words again. He smiled and shook his head. He didn't know why, but he had known that James would remember that prayer, just as he had also remembered it all these years. Once more Pastor David knew in his heart that something important had just happened. He didn't know what, but that didn't matter to him at all. God had once more revealed His mighty hand upon one of His chosen. Pastor David knew that James was a very special young man, but he was still only a man. It was God who was using that special young man to do His work in the world. Pastor David bowed his head and began to pray a prayer of thanks. He had no idea of what God planned to do with the young man who had just left his office, but he knew it would be something great. He couldn't have explained how or why he knew that, but he did know it. That he was even a small part of it was truly a blessing beyond any he deserved. God was good! God was great! And God was in control no matter what any men might believe!

Chapter Three - part two

   Then he had gone to church and seen how few people were there. There were almost no kids, few youth, and very few people under the age of forty. Even Pastor David had changed. He looked older and almost worn out. The vibrant energy and youthful joy seemed to be almost gone. The message had still been a good one, but it hadn't been the same kind of message that James remembered hearing while growing up. Sometimes Pastor David had almost sounded defeated as he spoke, but he still knew his Bible. When he was talking about the people he seemed to be weary and worn out, but he had the same fire in his voice when speaking about God. It was as if he had lost his faith in the people. Pastor David did show some of that old energy and joy once during the service. He did that when he spoke about James and Sarah, when he talked of tiny Joseph Paul too. Then he had almost sounded the way James remembered him sounding. It had been a troubling day for James in many ways.

   That was just the beginning for him though. It was the next day that he began to learn just how much things really had changed in America. His folks still raised produce, but they no longer ran the produce stand. James hadn't been aware of that. They had closed it down a couple of years earlier. They couldn't afford to keep it open on what they were able to sell. That made James ask why they raised so much produce, if they couldn't sell it. He soon learned that while selling it was nearly impossible, bartering with it was another matter. Most people left around the area were barely able to make enough cash to pay the bills they had to pay with cash. Groceries were outrageous in the small town stores now. Unless you had a very good job, or were on at least some government support you couldn't afford to buy much in those stores that was fresh. That is if you could even get fresh stuff. Fresh produce was often hard to get anywhere. James had thought that should have helped his folks, but there were other problems too.

   It seemed that they now had to have a license and a permit to grow fresh produce to sell. They even had to have those to raise livestock for sale. They also were subject to federal guidelines for the proper ways to grow and harvest their produce for sale. They had those guidelines for raising livestock for sale too. There were inspections and fines to go along with the license and permits. It was all but impossible to run a small farm of any kind now. If you weren't big enough to employ a lot of people, then it was hard to make a profit. If you were that big, then you usually had some kind of contract with either the government or a corporation. They told you what to produce, as well as how to produce it. They told you how much to produce and where you could sell it too. They often even set the prices you would be paid for it. Most small farms had been closed or gone broke. If the rules and regulations hadn't gotten them, then the taxes had. That combination of problems was why his folks had stopped selling produce.

   Even now, if not for help from the girls, they couldn't have possibly paid the current real estate taxes for their farm. If you owned more than an acre or two of property you would be paying almost more every few years in property taxes than it would sell for. James had been stunned when his folks had finally started telling him about all of it. In fact he had to actually see the bills and old letters from the government before he could believe what he was hearing. He talked to his sister Jackie, the lawyer, about it. When Jackie told him that it was even worse in a lot of other states he was too shocked to talk any more. James hadn't understood how this could be happening. America had been built by farmers! It had once been the bread basket of the world, feeding the entire world. But that had changed. Now America was actually importing almost as much food as it produced. As bad as that was, when his mom told him they were just grateful they had a daughter who was a doctor or they wouldn't be able to afford to see a doctor or buy their medicines, James could hardly believe his ears. What had happened and how had it happened?

   Finally his father had said something that had really hit James hard. Joshua said. "Son, I am sorry that this seems to have been such a shock to you, but it shouldn't have been. Do you remember when we talked about you going to the Academy? Do you remember why you wanted to go? You saw the changes coming. You knew then that this was coming. Oh, maybe not exactly what would happen, maybe nothing like this at all, but you still knew change was coming! You went there to try and do something, but I am not sure there is anything that can be done, not now. Son, it is here, the changes have come and are a part of our daily lives now. The world outside our nation has changed too and you were there to see that. But son, your nation has changed just as much while you were gone. Maybe it has changed even more. I just don't know anymore. I do know that we the people of this nation no longer seem to have any control over this nation's future. It seems that we have already accepted this new way of life. We do the best we can with what we are allowed to do, but our freedom is very limited now."

   They had talked for hours more before he had finally gone to bed. Even after he went to bed those words had been repeating themselves over and over again in his mind long into the night. James and Sarah had talked too. She had known some of what was going on before she had left to serve overseas that last time, but had no clue it would become so bad at home, so fast. James did a lot of thinking about all of it, but he didn't do much praying. He just didn't know how to pray about something like this. What did you pray for when your nation had completely changed? His nation was built on a foundation of religion and freedom. It was the search for a place to worship freely that had originally brought people here. A nation had been built on the principal of a government of the people. It was supposed to be a government by the people and for the people, a government that gave them the freedom to choose how they were governed. If that was no longer true, then what kind of foundation did his nation's government have now? If the people no longer had control of the government then who did? How much longer would the people have any freedom or justice? Did they even have those now? James didn't sleep a lot for several nights. His mind was filled with those thoughts and concerns. His heart was filled with sorrow.

   Sarah had watched his reaction to all of this. She had seen him shaken as she had never seen him shaken before. This was the man who had faced General's when still a boy in their eyes. As a man he had even faced King's and President's without fear. He was the man who had won some of the highest honors for courage and bravery the military had to give. A man who had brought peace to a nation that hadn't known peace since before he had been born. He had faced threats to his career and even to his life. None of that had shaken him or his faith like this. James had been as strong and solid as the rock upon which he had built his faith, but now he wasn't strong or solid. Now he was clearly uncertain and afraid. She had, for the first time, seen real doubt in his eyes and perhaps even fear. She had seen questions and even uncertainty before, but never real doubt or fear. James was a warrior and a hero. He didn't seem to know the meaning of fear. But now she had seen the doubt in his eyes. She had seen something more than that too. She hadn't really been worried about all the changes. She hadn't been paying much attention to those changes. She had been too excited to be home and be starting a new family, but now that had suddenly changed for her too.

   Now Sarah was paying attention and she was worried. She was also afraid! Her father had talked of leaving the Senate before his last election. Now she wondered why? Had he seen all of this too? Had he been afraid of what he saw happening behind the closed doors inside Washington? Sarah had as many questions as James did. They talked about things a lot after they went to bed each night. How could all of this happen without them even noticing? How could it happen at all? America was supposed to be the land of the free! It was supposed to be governed by the people! Now Sarah was realizing that freedom had become a very relative thing, not only in the world, but also in the United States of America... the home of the brave and land of the free. Unless the people woke up and started to do something very soon; Sarah was afraid it might soon become the home of the frightened and the land of the tyrants.

   As they talked, James and Sarah slowly began to realize how it had all happened. For them it had happened while they were overseas, but they figured it had worked pretty much the same inside America too. They had watched world news and tried to be aware of world events, but as time passed they had begun to realize that the news they saw wasn't always accurate. In fact it was often totally wrong or worse purposefully misleading. They had gradually begun to learn how to tune it out or even turn it off. They were often directly involved in the events on the news. They didn't need to hear the news coming from people with a particular agenda. They could see what was going on and make their own, informed, choices. Only as it turned out, they weren't so informed after all. Over time they had become just like the people who had once irritated them so much. They had just went on with their daily lives and not paid any real attention to the world they weren't directly involved in. The result was a world they didn't even recognize when it had been so suddenly revealed to them in all its vast new glory.

Chapter Three - part one

       Chapter Three

 A Nation Changed

   They were finally headed back home, well back to America. James and Sarah had never actually had a 'home' of their own together. They had simply lived in base housing wherever they had been stationed. Sarah had spent over two years stateside while James had been stationed in Syria. Then they had both spent the next three years deployed in Europe and the Middle East, in an effort to provide at least some security and stability to the region. James had only been back to the states for a few weeks at a time for over seven years now. He was anxious to get back and spend some real time in the nation he had sworn to protect and serve. James had served for a total of almost 8 of the 13 years he was required to serve after graduating. Sarah had served 10 of those 13 years since she had graduated two years earlier. They were both now in their thirties. They had been talking about starting a family for a while. Now that they were both back stateside the timing finally felt right to them.

   They were both stunned when Sarah tested positive after the first time they tried. They were also very excited. The military allowed women to take 6 to 12 months of leave during and immediately after pregnancy and the same for the father, but most men took far less. Sarah planned to stay on duty as long as she was physically able. She wouldn't be allowed to fly after the first trimester due to the rules, but she wouldn't lose her pilot slot as long as she was back flying again within 9 full months of the day she stopped flying or slightly longer with a medical extension of the time. Their families were all very excited too and the time passed swiftly. James spent most of that time trying to get ready for a new kind of life. Both he and Sarah were now Majors, but he actually outranked her due to his earlier promotion. James spent a lot of his time working on improving the pulse cannons in the F/A-48 and taking classes. The United States had increased the numbers of F/A-48's ordered and production speed as well. The F/A-48 was being called a game changer. The many different conflicts in the world had stretched the entire United States military almost beyond its limits. If not for the tremendous advantage the F/A-48 gave the Air Force and Navy, few people believed that all out war could have been avoided in several locations. They were, even now, still very close to all out wars in several spots in both Africa and Asia. The F/A-48 was given credit for stopping it from being that bad in Europe and the Middle East too. The United States and its allies wanted many more of those planes available as quickly as they could get them, in the hope of holding on to what little peace there was to be found in the world.

   As a pilot who had extensive experience in the F/A-48 and with using those unique pulse cannons, James had a good understanding of what was good and what wasn't so good about them. He had already spent a lot of time working with the air crews to improve performance and correct problems with the cannons while deployed and flying missions almost daily. Now his skill at engineering and his ability to get the most from those around him had been noticed. He was in charge of the ongoing design upgrades on the F/A-48 despite only having the rank of Major. His focus was on a variable modulation of the frequency of the energy pulses. James had seen a very real possibility of using a variable modulation to vastly improve the destructive capability of the energy pulse cannons. He had found that if you could modulate the frequency to match the resonance frequency of the material it hit that it would vastly increase the damage the pulse did. He had been toying with that idea since his time spent working on the cannons at the Academy, as part of his senior year field work. He had been able to vastly improve the power of the cannons then and now he believed given some time and the proper funding; he could do even more. That would also be the focus for his work towards his PhD. in electrical engineering, even though he was still working to complete his Masters.

    Sarah was spending most of her time working with politicians.  Political Science had been her major at the Academy, so she was well qualified. She was also a natural at politics. Adding her record as a pilot to her looks and skill at diplomacy, along with her connections in D.C. made her a perfect choice for advocating for the new F/A-48's. She had helped to get the funding approved James needed for his improvements. Sarah had also helped to get James noticed by some key people while she did it. A lot of folks were very aware of James as an outstanding pilot or because of his strong faith.  Not all of them realized that James was also a very talented young engineer too. Sarah knew all too well that unless the right people saw the right things... James could easily end up a forgotten hero. She was too good at politics and people to let that happen, especially to the father of her children and the man she loved.

   She also proved to be very good at convincing people of the need for more and improved F/A-48's regardless of their high cost. Those new jets along with a stronger military now seemed to be the only apparent hope left in the world for any real stability. Russia and China had both been building, or rebuilding in the case of Russia, massive militaries. The Russian and Chinese Armies were each far larger than the United States Army. Together they were several times larger than America's. In fact the Chinese army was nearly as large as the top ten other armies in the world combined, excluding Russia's of course. China's population was still growing faster than it wanted it to grow. In fact there was an average of three men for every woman in China now. One simple solution to the lack of women was to put a large majority of the young men into that huge Army. China kept that huge army supplied with a large number of women acting as 'paid partners' to keep those unattached men happy. Both China and Russia now had a Navy that was larger than America did too. The only advantage America had left was it was so far ahead in most of the technology used in war. The others had the numbers, but America was decades ahead of them in technology. The new F/A-48 was the leading edge of that edge in technology and gave America almost undisputed control of the air, for now.

   The world had changed and was still changing, but James was seeing changes at home too. James had noticed a lot of things had changed since he had left, but he hadn't really paid close enough attention to know how much, not until he took leave for the birth of his first child. That had happened at the base hospital, but once the baby was born James had taken some additional leave to be home with Sarah. They had gone to see his folks as soon as she could travel safely with the baby since they were so nearby. Sarah's folks had been practically living with them a month before the baby was born anyway. It was a boy and his name was Joseph Paul Cooper. Sarah and her mom both thought he looked like James. James just knew he had his mother's beautiful green eyes. It was while they were back on the farm with his folks that he really began to notice just how much America had changed. Even inside the military it had changed greatly, but it was outside the military where the greatest changes had happened. The short visits home had mostly been during the holidays for the last 12 years. This time there was no holiday when he went home. James was shocked at the lack of people and the general lack of business or even interest in anything to do with business around his hometown.

Chapter Two - part fifteen

   Once back in Syria James didn't have much time for anything. Ambassador Raffia had been removed and Aarif Asad had been hunted down and executed by his own people. It seemed that he and the Ambassador had worked out a deal. They hadn't wanted the peace plan to work at all. Several other people among both Khebat's and Sargon's people had also been executed as traitors. The remainder of the groups had been working quietly with Sabella and Aadila to finish what had been started. NATO still wasn't welcome outside their secure areas, but they really weren't needed as much now. There was still occasional fighting, but that was more old grudges than power struggles now. It was still several weeks before the convention managed to iron out an agreement and form a temporary government. That government wasn't well received by everyone. Most of the Syrian people were willing to watch and see what happened though, but many of the countries outside of Syria weren't happy at all. That was mostly because one of the first things the new government had done was to petition the U.N. for the removal of all outside forces immediately upon the election of a permanent government.

   The best thing to happen when James got back to Syria was seeing Aadila again. James owed her a lot. It seemed that she and Sabella hadn't liked the idea of leaving him behind to fight. They had stayed out of the fighting, but they had kept him in sight. When everything had started to go bad they had stepped into the firefight. It was them who had rescued both James and Sargon. Sabella had carried Sargon out with help from one of his own men. Aadila had carried James out almost unaided, actually dragging him when he had passed out. James would never forget the look on her face or the words she said when he had tried to tell her thanks. She had suddenly begun to laugh and grin at him. Then when she finally stopped she had been smiling as she spoke while still giggling. "I have been waiting and praying for a chance to carry you the way you once carried me. You are most welcome James Andrew Cooper. I now pray that we will never need to be carried again, but I fear that if I stay near you that prayer will never be answered!" They had all laughed and enjoyed a few minutes of remembering better days. Laughing even more as they wondered... who would have believed that Ironman run and those years on the Hill would ever have become better days for them?

   James remained in Syria for just over another year, though he was able to leave every few months to see Sarah and his family for a few days before returning. The elections were held and the new government took control. Khebat Shadid was elected as President, Omar Nassar was elected Prime Minister, and Sargon Najjar was named Minister of Defense. Actually Sargon had remained the minister of defense. He had managed to stabilize the entire nation and maintain control during the elections as the temporary Minister of Defense. There had been little fighting with both commerce and trade flourishing inside Syria for the first time in decades. As soon as the new government was in place, NATO did begin to withdraw. The only real problem now seemed to be that the west still wasn't wanted or welcome in Syria. That might change in time, but for now it seemed to be turning into an isolated nation once again. They would do business with the west, but only on their own terms. One surprise had been their request for the United States to start plans to establish an Air Base in Syria. It seemed that the new Syrian Minister of Defense and the President of the United States were on a first name basis!

   James had received another surprise before he left Syria behind though. He was awarded the Defense Distinguished Service Medal for his service towards bringing peace to Syria. Those medals were rarely awarded and almost never awarded to anyone below the rank of General. The only one who could award the medal was the Secretary of Defense. He had made it very clear that James had more than earned this special recognition for his work in Syria. James was still ready to leave all of it behind him. He had done far better at things than he had expected, but he had never truly felt comfortable. He had friends that would last a lifetime there, but he had also left behind enemies that would last a lifetime too. He wanted to get back to work as a pilot. He had managed to get in the required flight time on his trips home, in order to stay qualified, but he was ready to be a real pilot again. Diplomacy wasn't for him, regardless of what other people said! He would have liked to go home to the states too, but that wasn't going to happen anytime soon. The 77th had been deployed again. This time they were in Europe. Actually they were back in Turkey again. It was still a mess there. James had been surprised he was allowed back into that nation, but it seemed that nobody had been willing to push things much after all those planes were shot down. As a Major, James now had his own flight of five jets under his command. Sarah wasn't in that flight, even though she was still in his squadron.

   Once more James and Sarah were praising God for all that had happened in their lives. In spite of his faith in God James had managed to gain the trust and even friendship of many Muslims. It was that trust and indeed that friendship that had allowed him to complete his duty this time. Sarah also believed that it was only by God's grace that James had survived and been safely returned to her. They made no secret of those beliefs or of their gratitude to God for all that had happened. James had even talked about his faith with many of the people he had dealt with in Syria. He had never pushed his faith or Christ upon them, but he had seldom missed the chance to share it with them either. Once more James knew in his heart that it was God who had accomplished the mission. It was God who had brought peace to a land that hadn't known peace for decades. James had just been along for show.

   They spent another three years deployed in Turkey and Saudi Arabia before they were finally rotated back to home base. The world was becoming a real mess by then. People were rioting and fighting in the streets in virtually every nation around the world on a fairly regular basis now. Mostly it was about the lack of jobs, little food, and even less hope. Many of the most well developed nations were in a constant state of turmoil. In the lesser developed nations it was often much worse. People were starving or dying of various diseases, sometimes thousands at a time in those nations. In some of the larger nations with closed borders, like China and Russia, nobody was really sure of what was actually going on. There was talk of massive riots and killings, but news access was limited by the governments. There were also protests and even occasionally minor riots in some cities in America. The entire world was on edge and it seemed to be getting worse all of the time. James and Sarah were glad to be heading home. It would be nice to be back in a more secure and stable country for a change.