The Langley Air Force base, in Virginia, welcomed a special guest: the commander of the Peterson Air Force base. The base was located in the same state as Cheyenne Mountain. The guest chose to arrive in a black SUV with two assistants.
After an informal chat with his Langley counterpart, he was introduced to the lieutenant colonel managing the fighter squadron he was interested in. The lieutenant colonel got stunned to receive this special visitor without notice, a major general. He was even more surprised when he learnt why the general was here.
He wished to meet in person one of the colonel's pilots, a first lieutenant. After this unexpected request, the colonel checked out the schedule of the day to spot the pilot. This pilot was supposed to be finishing a flight training and was either landing or close to landing.
The lieutenant colonel took his guest to the landing strip without any further question. His experience taught him that when a two-star general comes in person to meet a young lieutenant, it is for an important reason, maybe even for a highly confidential reason. He would have been informed or would be informed if he needed to be.
The colonel never met the general face to face until this day. However, he knew his name and had heard a few things about him. The general was a former helicopter pilot. Based on informal conversations with other brothers of arms, the general, besides being a brave warrior, seemed to be a nice pal, not making a fuss over protocol. The general was "cool", as a major from Peterson had told the lieutenant colonel at a seminar.
The Langley officer could confirm this assertion. His visitor was quite nice and the lack of protocol didn't bother him as it wasn't necessary. The general could wander incognito in the base with his sunglasses if he wasn't wearing the service dress uniform displaying his stars, and the peaked cap.
The lieutenant colonel and the general arrived at an aircraft shed. The officer of interest had just gotten out of the fighter jet and was finishing a quick debriefing with a technician. The technician left the pilot to check out the aircraft. The lieutenant colonel called the pilot, who was removing the helmet:
"Lieutenant Carter!"
The officer turned around and happened to be a lady in her late twenties, with short light brown hair. She slightly got perturbed when she saw her squadron leader walking side by side with a two-star general towards her. She immediately snapped to attention.
"At ease, lieutenant." the squadron leader said.
The general removed his sunglasses. The lieutenant colonel looked at the general and Carter, then, added:
"General Sheppard told me you've met a couple of times, so, I guess we can skip the presentations?"
"Unless you don't remember me." Sheppard completed with a smile, to Carter.
The young lady remained rigid, which hit Sheppard. More precisely, the look in her eyes hit him. He knew what it meant because he had seen this many times. It belonged to a fighter who had been through tough missions and who no longer seemed to be moved by anything.
Of course, lieutenant Carter recognized John Sheppard.
"I remember you, sir. You worked with my aunt and my uncle."
"That's correct."
Carter looked at John and her squadron leader. Facing two commanding officers of their rank without being informed in advance wasn't a good sign in general. As Carter couldn't recall what she may have done wrong, she solemnly declared:
"Whatever happens, I can explain."
"Relax, lieutenant." John said. "I'm just here to discuss. I can understand my visit may be not something you're experiencing every day. Lieutenant colonel, could I borrow your pilot?"
"Sure, sir. Carter and I will debrief when you're finished."
"Thank you, colonel." Sheppard concluded.
The colonel left Sheppard and Carter alone. Carter instantly realized she wasn't dressed up for a formal conversation with the general, but this detail didn't bother him.
"Don't worry, lieutenant." John said. "I'm a pilot, too, no need to focus on protocol."
John Sheppard looked around him, put his glasses back on his nose, and suggested, in a very informal way:
"Let's go for a ride?"
Lieutenant Carter got puzzled to see this general act and talk in a very informal way. Actually, she already saw him act like that the last time they met. But it was a long time ago and back in the day, he wasn't a general.
She wondered what this secret face to face would be about. Another confidential mission? Sheppard didn't look and sound like he was going to talk about that...
She couldn't imagine at this moment how extraordinary her life would be after her meeting with John Sheppard.