The operations building consists of an old colonial house built in 1896. It’s white washed fence, and roman-style columns are showing signs of its tattered care since the Americans left it in December1941. The busyness of the interior of the house is buzzing with officers and communications equipment.
Lieutenant Jenny Douglas walks into it operations room. The hot weather is making her kaki uniform stick to her and the latest printout from the teletype is already feeling sticky in her hands. At 22 years old Yale student , she's one of the few women officers serving overseas but as the General's and for the first time in a long time, is very glad to be wearing a skirt instead of pants. Her tall and athletic figure with brunette/dark blonde hair puts her at 6 feet even, intimidating to all women, challenging to most men.
Sitting at the ops desk, Major Stan Bailey winks at Jenny. For the CO of the Black Sheep, it’s been a rough week. First, his squadron’s aircraft were lost on the Franklin. Second, he’s lost handfuls of P-38’s against the NIK-2 with no Navy support. He asked for F6F’s from Nimitz but was refused because of the new Kamikaze attacks – he can spare no fighters.
“Message for you Winky. It’s from Mountbatten.”
“Thanks Jen.” Bailey reads down through the message, briefly glimpsing over the sheet to take another look at Jenny as she looks over her right shoulder, and winks back.
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To: General MacArthur/CO Allied Group
Fm: Admiral Lord Mountbatten
Subject: Request for air support
Greetings Douglas. Hear you’re having a rough spot with the Japs on the islands. Glad to help you out in this stressful time. I have sent a dispatch to Air Chief Marshal Sir Richard Peirse. He’s got SeaFires for you sitting on a carrier on it’s way to Malaysia but the squad’s a bit green and would like a little action before Operation Zipper. God Save The King.
MB
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A big smile forms on Baileys face – maybe he ‘will’ finally ask Jenny out tonight to the movie-tent they put up yesterday.
