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been short on specifics.
    Whatever internal battle Jiro was fighting then was apparently over now. Tonight he met Cassidy’s gaze. “The new Zero is the most advanced fighter on earth. Very maneuverable, stealthy, good range, speed, easy to fly. Very sophisticated radar and computer, GPS”—this was the global positioning system—“all the goodies. And it has Athena.”
    â€œI don’t know what that is,” Cassidy said.
    â€œAthena is, or was, the American project code name for some very advanced stealth technology, an active ECM protection system. Somehow Japan acquired the technology, which had almost died in the United States due to a lack of development funds.”
    Cassidy nodded. American spending on research and development of military technology had slowed to a trickle since the end of the Cold War.
    Jiro continued. “Athena arrived here just when the government was looking to spend serious money on developing a military tech edge.They latched onto Athena and made it the centerpiece of the new Zero.”
    â€œExplain to me how it works.”
    When Jiro didn’t immediately reply, Cassidy added, “You know you don’t have to tell me anything, Jiro. I didn’t ask you for anything.”
    â€œI know! I want to tell you, Bob.” Jiro Kimura searched for words. He stood and went out on the balcony. Cassidy followed.
    â€œI was born in this country. I live here. But America is also my home. Do you understand?”
    â€œI think so.”
    â€œI have two homes, two peoples. I will tell you what I can, and you must pass it on in great secrecy. If the Japanese find out I have even spoken of these matters, I will be in serious trouble.”
    â€œUp to your ass in it, kiddo. I understand.”
    â€œThe world is too small for loyalties based on race. Or nationality.”
    â€œThat is sort of an advanced idea, but I’ll grant you—”
    â€œJust don’t think less of me because I need to tell you these things. I don’t ever want to fight against Americans.”
    He was facing Cassidy now, looking straight into his eyes. “Do you see how it is, Bob?”
    â€œYeah, kid. I see.”
    Jiro rested his forearms on the balcony railing and looked between the high-rises at the white ghost of Fuji, just visible against the late-evening sky. “Athena is active ECM.” ECM meant electronic countermeasures. “It detects enemy radar transmissions, then radiates on the same frequency from antennas all over the plane to cancel out the incoming transmissions. Uses a small super-cooled computer.”
    â€œUh-huh.”
    Jiro Kimura could see from the look on Cassidy’s face that he had no appreciation of the advantage that Athena conferred on the plane it protected. “What Athena does, Bob, is make the Zero invisible to radar.”
    Cassidy’s eyebrows went up.
    â€œLow-observable—stealth—technology began when designers tried to minimize the radar return by altering the shape of the craft. Then designers used radar-absorbent materials to the maximum extent practicable. Athena is stealth technology a generation beyond shapes and materials, which, as you know, limit the performance and capabilities of a stealth aircraft.
    â€œThe Zero is a conventional aircraft made of composites—a damn big engine, gas tanks stuck everywhere, vectored thrust, boundary layer control on a fixed wing, really extraordinary performance. It’s got all the electronic goodies to help its pilot find the enemy and kill him. Athena hides it.”
    â€œSounds like a hell of a plane.”
    â€œIt is that, Bob, one hell of a fighter plane. It can do simply unbelievable things in the air, and the brass wants us to use it as a straight and level interceptor. Find the enemy, launch missiles, fly home to an instrument approach. Sounds like something a bunch of brass-hatted desk pilots thought up from the safety of a corner