It was early afternoon; too early to get on a plane to who knows where. Felix was walking down the sidewalk back toward the Headquarters building, Mobilization orders in hand. He unfolded the 5 or 6 pieces of paper that were stappled together.
The first page was a cover sheet, usually meant to obscure the following information from onlookers. It was emblazoned with large red ink stamps that denoted the classification level: Top-Secret SCI (or Secret Compartmentalized Information). Felix frowned. That meant that until he was “Read in” to the program, he likely wouldn’t find out a lot about what this was all about.
Still walking, he flipped through the next few pages to find that three of them were in triplicate. Three copies of the same AirForce form 1610 “Request and Authorization of Temporary Duty”. Normally, this form would contain key information about Felix himself for identification, but also information about the purpose and location.
Those blocks, however simply contained a phone number with a Washington DC area code. Felix went back to the top and read carefully.
Request for Official Travel: His name, rank, unit, and SSN information appeared correct and complete.
Type of Authorization: Training, Special Orders, Phone Number
TDY Purpose: Phone Number
Trip Length: Phone Number
Variation Authorized: Phone Number
Transportation Mode: N/A
Official Travel Distance: N/A
Advance Authorized: N/A
Remarks: Please report in person to Base Operations prior to 2000hrs for assignment and supply. No personal items needed or authorized. Have your ID and These orders in hand, and present to Operations Window Clerk for additional direction.
Approvals: Colonel Spencer’s and General West’s signatures were both present, and appeared to be similar ink.
Travel Authorization Number: Phone Number.
The last page was blank. ‘Damn’ Felix thought. Not a lot to go on here. He pulled out his phone, and dialed the number printed on his orders. The line rang once, and male voice spoke “Name.”, then silence.
“Felix Cassion”, Felix answered.
“Please report in person to Base Operations prior to 2000hrs for assignment and supply. No personal items needed or authorized. Have your ID and These orders in hand, and present to Operations Window Clerk for additional direction.”, the male voice stated, clearly reading from a script.
“May I ask…” Felix was interrupted.
“Please report in person to Base Operations prior to 2000hrs for assignment and supply. No personal items needed or authorized. Have your ID and These orders in hand, and present to Operations Window Clerk for additional direction.” the voice repeated. The line went dead.
Base operations stood along the fence for the flightline, just after the Headquarters building. Felix entered through the glass door, and approach the Bulletproof window for the clerk. “Can I help you” a female Airman asked as she stepped into view.
“I’m ordered to report” Felix replied, sliding his ID and orders under the window through the document slot. The clerk retrieved the documents and held them up to the glass, comparing his ID with the information on the orders and Felix’s face. She picked up the phone, and dialed a number. “Felix Cassion”… “Confirmed”… She looked at him and positioned a web cam that was used for temporary flightline access badges. “Look into the camera please” she requested, not unkindly. Felix complied. The red light blinked once. A few moments passed with her ear still against the receiver of the landline phone. “Understood”. She hung up the phone, and slid Felix’s documents back through the slot.
The heavy metal door next to the Clerk window opened, and two Military Police Officers stepped through. One spoke “Please follow me for inspection”, and began walking towards the metal detector and personal item search and inspection tables. Felix follows and placed his bag in the gray plastic bin. The other Officer Waved a Garrett metal detector over Felix, then patted him down for any potential weapons; again, not unkindly.
Satisfied that Felix was unarmed, the ranking Police Officer said “Airman Cassion, if you are ready, I can escort you to Hanger 5, but will need to confiscate your personal effects. They will be placed in a lockbox, and you will be provided with a hand receipt by which you may retrieve them later. Otherwise, you can return you items to your dormitory, and return only with ID and orders.”
“I am getting a little hungry. May grab some chow and come back.” Felix opted.
“Food has been provided at Hanger 5, but is voluntary.” He leaned in and whispered. “It’s Luau Louies. Sneak me out a plate?” The officered smiled.
“Thanks for that” Felix said, handing over his backpack that contained his change of clothes and earbud. They were placed in a large clear plastic bag with Felix’s information written on it.
“And the watch?” The officer requested.
Felix looked down at his wrist. The Gamin Fenix Solar had accompanied him for years, and saved his ass more than once. He looked back and forth between the way back and the way forward, them back to his wrist. He undid the strap, holding the watch out to the officers, dropping it in the bag.
The officer then sealed the bag, copied the serial number from the bag onto Felix’s orders, ripped off the top plastic ribbon that could double as a wrist band, and handed the few items to Felix. The other officer took the bag, and disappeared back into the Base Operations building secured areas.
“This way” the escorting officer said. And together they exited the building onto the flightline.
Stepping onto a flightline during mid-summer day in Hawaii was like stepping into an oven. The Heat and light radiated from every surface, temporarily blinding Felix. The officer did not wait, rather proceeded directly to the adjacent hanger to the right. Felix kept stride as his senses acclimated, instinctively looking to his wrist for time and direction, but it wasn’t there. Rubbing his wrist where his watch should have been, feeling a bit exposed and unprepared, Felix turned his eyes back to the approaching building.
The officer pulled the door open, standing to the side for Felix to enter. Inside was a large open staging area, lined with rows of tables. Some had food, many others had large duffle bags with tags zip-tied in place. Just inside of the door was a folding table and chair with a clipboard for signing in. The officer followed Felix into the room, pointing at the clipboard. “Sign in, and go find the bag with your tag. There are showers in the far restroom area for flight crew. Get changed, and feel free to eat. Briefing is at 2030hrs.” He spoke.
Felix paused staring into the cavernous space. Visions of the day played through his head, accompanied by the chorus “Future of Humanity.”. This was strange. His entire military career was based on being the one that knew the battlefield and anticipated threats before they realized. But in this moment, he knew nothing. He closed his eyes. Chief Brown’s face flashed in his mind. Felix picked up the pen, hearing the door close behind him.
