June, 1969

Astronauts and Majors Tony Nelson and Roger Healey were in a workroom at NASA's Kennedy Space Center going over plans for the Apollo mission. It was hard to believe, but in a matter of weeks they would be putting a man on the moon. Both would have given their eyeteeth to be the Eagle's crew, or even pilot of the Columbia, but they knew they would have to wait to go to the moon. But they were at least in the running for future lunar missions, which made them the envy of almost 200 million other Americans.

There was a knock on the door, Tony commanded, "Come!"

An attractive young female airman hesitantly entered and informed Nelson and Healey, "Majors, General Schaffer would like to see you."

The two majors immediately went to the commanding general's office. When they arrived they were quickly escorted in to see the general by his secretary.

"Tony, Roger, thanks for coming," the General greeted them. General Schaffer then addressed Major Nelson, "Tony, before you joined us at NASA, you were part of the test team for the A-12/SR-71 Blackbird project weren't you?"

"Yes, sir," Tony replied. It was top secret, of course, but the General obviously had a need to know.

The General went on, "NASA is exploring the use of the YF-12A Blackbird for high altitude operations and astronaut training. I'd like you and Roger to head on out to Nellis to look over the plane and do a few test flights. Don't worry, we'll have you back here before the Apollo 11 launch."

Both men acknowledged the order, "Right away, Sir."

Tony already knew quite a bit about the YF-12A. Basically, it was a fighter/bomber that could do better than Mach 3, making it the fastest plane in the world. It was a sister plane to the SR-71 Blackbird spy plane. More and more reconnaissance is being done by satellite, so they are looking for other uses for the U2's and Blackbirds. Satellite photography is getting more and more accurate, plus satellites don't get shot down. Tony could see the use of a Blackbird by NASA. It would be a huge asset in atmospheric and high altitude testing for various programs. Schaffer definitely picked the right team to test the plane: Tony knew as much about the Blackbird as any pilot in the air force, and Roger was a top notch space-systems engineer.

Roger had something else on his mind, which he shared with Tony.

"Nellis—that means Vegas." Healey's mind was already on the strip.

Nelson calmed Roger with, "Now Roger, remember Reno. I don't want NASA and casino security investigating us again. No Jeannie in the casino!"

"Awwe, lighten up Tony," Roger replied, "we can have plenty of fun in Vegas without supernatural help at the tables. There are shows, bands, showgirls, and fun, fun, fun."

Tony smiled, "I guess you're right Roger. I'll just try to explain it to Jeannie, hiding things from her never goes over well."

When the General's secretary dropped the written orders off at Tony's office, he realized that he and Roger wouldn't need to be worrying about casinos. Tony and Roger were to take a single NASA T-38 Talon and fly to a top-secret test range in the Nevada desert identified only by latitude and longitude on the orders. Tony immediately recognized the coordinates as belonging to the testing facility known as Area 51. The base was so classified, the General even chose not to mention it by name.

Tony decided to break the news to both Roger and Jeannie at the same time over dinner. Technically letting Jeannie know about the plans was a violation of national security, but Tony figured the consequences of telling Jeannie was far less severe than the consequences of hiding something from her. Besides, Jeannie's existence has been secret centuries longer than any US Government secret.

Jeannie prepared quite a dinner, which she proudly announced that she did without magic. Roger arrived, and soon the three friends started eating.

Tony announced, "Roger and I have temporary duty orders."

Roger thought I wonder how he's going to tell Jeannie we're off to Vegas.

Tony then directed his next comments to Roger, "Rog, its not what we first thought. We are going to be testing the plane at a facility so secret they will only let me fly into it. We're going to be taking a single T-38 to Nevada tomorrow."

"Tomorrow!" Jeannie complained, "I do not like what you Air Force people call short notice."

Roger chimed in, "Neither do I, besides, I was hoping to get some stick time in."

Tony addressed them both, "Jeannie, I'm sorry, but as you know it comes with the territory of being a military dependent. Roger, you can get all the stick time you want. Orders say I have to fly the plane in and out of the test facility, but they say nothing about the rest of the time. Just fly us as if we are going to Nellis, and hand the plane over to me when you cross over into Nevada."

Roger had been in the service more than long enough to understand. "Orders are Orders," he said.

Jeannie just smiled. She had caught the fact that Tony referred to her as his 'dependent.' The significance of that little slip was not lost on her.