Cocoa Beach, 0-Dark-Thirty

Majors Anthony Nelson and Roger Healey were in the Nelson dining room wearing their class "A" uniforms having a late night/early morning breakfast. Jeannie had put out quite a spread, including both Persian and American delights. But the two servicemen were focused on the strong Arabic coffee.

Jeannie complained ,"Master, why do you have to go into work so early—it's the middle of the night!"

Tony, a bit exasperated, explained, "I told you several times, the general who wants to review the plans for the satellite Roger and I have been working on can only come and see it in the middle of the night."

Roger sleepily added, "Figures the director of the National Security Agency would only travel at night." Healey's careless remark earned him a glare from Nelson.

Jeannie made the connection rather quickly, "Oh, this must be about the spy satellite I've seen you working on."

Jeannie blinked, and her master was instantly wearing a white tuxedo. Tony took a sip out of what was his coffee a split second ago and exclaimed with a newfound British accent, "What the bloody hell is this?!"

Roger answered, "Judging by the way you are dressed, I would say it is a medium dry martini, lemon peel, shaken, not stirred."

Nelson ordered, "Jeannie change me back!" Seeing the hurt look on Jeannie's face Tony added, "after a minute."

Much to Jeannie and Roger's delight, Tony looked serious for a moment and uttered, "Nelson, Major Anthony Nelson."

Jeannie changed Tony back to his Air Force Uniform instantly. Nelson had an extra cup of coffee to mask any possible odor of the one sip of the martini he had. Roger and Tony hopped into Nelson's GTO and headed towards NASA. There was very little traffic at the early hour, and they arrived at the gate at approximately 0200.

The airman at the gate saluted and sleepily said, "Sorry, sirs, the base is on alert. I can't let you in."

Nelson and Healy handed over their identification cards. Nelson patiently instructed, "Airman if you check your clipboard, you will find we are the exception."

Using his flashlight, the airman looked at the ID's, checking them against the faces of the officers in front of him and the names his clipboard. The Airman saluted again and let Nelson and Healey through.

Leaving the gate Healey observed, "He's probably counting the days to the end of his enlistment." Nelson nodded in agreement.

Nelson and Healey set up the satellite plans in the conference room. Both astronauts went over the presentation that they would be giving to the head of the most secret agency in the U.S. Government. In fact, NSA was referred to around the military as "No Such Agency." Soon the two majors were joined by General Peterson, Head of NASA; and Colonel Alfred Bellows, NASA Psychiatrist.

Nelson greeted, "General Peterson, welcome. Dr. Bellows, I didn't know you would be joining us."

The General explained, "It was at the request of the NSA Director. He and Colonel Bellows served together."

Dr. Bellows laughed, "It seems like a lifetime ago, during the war… before Med School."

The Majors' curiosity peaked by the doctor's reminiscing. Dr. Bellows wore command pilot wings and a distinguished flying cross along with several ribbons that would indicate he saw combat, but rarely spoke of his flying days. But not everybody told 'war stories' so the astronauts never did pry into the doctor's past, not to mention the fact it would be unbeseeming for junior officers to do so.

Just then, the general's aide popped in, alerting the officers, "Goldilocks has touched down."

Seeing the major's puzzled looks, the General explained, "Goldilocks is the NSA Director's code name."

Dr. Bellows abruptly looked up and asked the General to repeat the code name a third time. The physician then said to no one in particular, "Goldilocks… interesting."

It was unusual to see a general enter a room alone, but Robert Hogan did. Hogan was in his fifties, but looked at least twenty years younger—and fitter. Even though the officer was wearing civilian clothes, Hogan held the bearing of the four-star general that he was.

"Welcome General," General Peterson greeted Hogan, and his subordinate officers followed with similar greetings.

Hogan replied "General Peterson, nice to finally meet; Red, great to see you again; Majors—I've heard great things. I'm sorry about the hour, but my schedule is crazy these days."

While the two astronauts were trying to get over the fact that a four-star general referred to Dr. Bellows as 'Red', General Peterson told Director Hogan, "Nonsense Director Hogan, we are here at your disposal."

Hogan responded with, "That is very accommodating General. Why don't you and Colonel Bellows go back home to your wives and get some sleep while the Majors get me up to speed on this satellite's capabilities."

General Peterson was confused, but acknowledged, "As you wish General."

Bellows had 'that look' and observed, "General Hogan would like to be alone with Majors Nelson and Healey, interesting."

General Peterson barked, "Dr. Bellows!" He then added to the NSA Director, "I'm sorry General Hogan, it's late—and Dr. Bellows has been under a lot of stress…

Hogan waived it off laughing, "Red and I go way back…. Forget about it. I might be a little grumpy too if a General I haven't seen in over 20 years drags me out of bed for a 20 minute meeting." Hogan then addressed Dr. Bellows, "Go home to Amanda, Colonel. Get some sleep. We'll have some lunch and catch up after I'm done here."

Bellows replied stiffly with, "Yes, sir."

Tony and Roger then explained to General Hogan in layman's terms the various features of the latest intelligence gathering satellite created by NASA. The majors soon learned from the NSA Director's questions that they weren't talking to a layman and went into much more technical detail than originally planned. Shortly before dawn the conference room phone rang. As it was a classified number that very few people had access to, Tony decided to answer it.

Tony spoke into the handset, "Major Nelson."

A familiar, yet groggy voice on the other end said, "Of course it is."

Nelson then asked, "Dr. Bellows? Is that you? Are you alright?"

Bellows then identified himself, "Yes Major, but you probably knew that even before answering the phone." Nelson was puzzled, while he had heard of engineers working on the technology; as of yet there was no way to trace a call before it was answered. Bellows then asked, "who else is in the room with you?"

Nelson answered, "Just Major Healey and General Hogan."

Bellows ordered, "Good, put me on speaker."

Nelson quietly said, "Sir, are you sure?" Bellows repeated his order, so Tony flipped the switch turning the phone on to speaker. He was hoping the Colonel was going to apologize to the General.

"Colonel Hogan," Bellows started, misidentifying the General's Rank.

Hogan replied, "Red, I thought I told you to get to sleep."

In slightly slurred speech, Bellows continued, "I should have known….Colonel Hogan, Major Nelson, Stalag 13, Cocoa Beach…"

A female voice could be heard in the background, "Alfred go back to sleep!"

The General said, "Listen to your wife, Colonel, go back to sleep."

Dr. Bellows mumbled, "But it's all connected, don't you see… it's all connected."

Amanda Bellows voice then got on the line, "Hello, who is this."

Major Nelson held up his index finger to General Hogan and Major Healy answering, "Anthony Nelson, ma'am."

Amanda then said, "Hello Major. Tony, Alfred and I are still in bed. He dialed you in his sleep. Something recently triggered bad memories he has from the war. I hope you understand."

Major Nelson quietly replied, "Of course I do, Mrs. Bellows. Have a good morning."

Amanda said, "Have a good morning, Tony." She then hung up.

The three men at NASA did not speak for nearly a minute. General Hogan broke the silence, "We've all seen war, and seen what can do to a man. I think that phone call is one best forgotten."

Relieved, Roger said, "I can't agree more, Sir!"

Tony concurred, "Of course, sir."

Hogan then abruptly said, "Thank you gentlemen, but I think I have the main idea of the capabilities of this bird." The NSA Director then smiled, "Colonel Bellows call reminded me I had better call my wife. She's probably making breakfast about now, and hopefully not chatting up the milkman."

Nelson chuckled and said, "You can use the phone in my office sir, it will be more private."

Hogan replied, "Thank you Major, I think I will."

Nelson returned to Roger in the conference room after showing Hogan his office. Nelson felt something was off, though. Healey confirmed Nelson's feelings.

The Army Major said, "I don't think he's calling his wife."

Nelson agreed, "I don't think so either, Roger." Tony then called, "Jeannie, I know you've been here the whole time." Jeannie appeared and Tony continued, "Hide in my office, and let me know what the man in there says on the phone."

Jeannie said, "Yes, Master."

Roger whistled, "Spying on a General. The nation's top spy on top of it…"

Nelson explained, "Sometimes I do feel a little guilty about the tricks we play on Dr. Bellows, but he's 'our' Dr. Bellows, and I'm not going to let some spy ruin his career. Even if that spy does have four stars."

A few minutes later Jeannie reappeared in the conference room.

Tony asked, "Well, what did the man in my office say on the phone?"

Jeannie spoke in Hogan's voice, "Hello Leah. It's General Hogan. Is Colonel Kinchloe available?"

Healey interrupted, "See, I told you he wasn't calling his wife!"

Nelson said, "I saw Kinchloe's name listed as Hogan's Chief of Staff."

Jeannie continued, eerily sounding as Hogan, "Kinch, it's General Hogan. The satellite is a go, but we do have a problem here." After a short pause, Jeannie went on, "Yes, you were right. Our friend Captain Bellows isn't over the past. He's a bird colonel now, like yourself. I know it was risky meeting with him; but I needed to see what, if anything, he remembered from the time he spent at the camp. Strangest thing, he slept dialed myself and a couple of astronauts mumbling about Stalag 13. I think he needs to be put on ice."

A longer pause, in which Tony and Roger exchange very worried looks.

Jeannie then said a little louder in Hogan's voice, "No, I don't think Bellows should be eliminated. What I had in mind was making him chief medical officer over at Thule Air Base in Greenland. We'll even pack up his office and personal effects for him. Of course we'll also be looking for any reference to our war operations in his files. Hopefully, we won't find any."

After another pause, the astronauts heard something that chilled them to the bone.

Hogan's voice, through Jeannie, then ordered, "Oh, and Kinch, also look into a Major Anthony Nelson, USAF. Check through Bellows' records, and all other available sources. Bellows thought something was fishy at Stalag 13, now he thinks something is off about this astronaut. He was on to our activities then, he may very well be on to something Nelson is up to now. "