Chapter 14

They went back to the Mustang. Wilma looked at him questioningly. "What are we doing back here?"

"This is just the administration building. The shuttle is on the launching pad. That's not exactly around the corner."

He fired up the Mustang and pulled onto the access road. They drove for several minutes before coming to another MP and another closed gate. The soldier came to the side of the car.

"What are you doing here in the middle of the night, Captain?"

"Well, Corporal, we are on a-"

Wilma opened her door and got out of the car. Immediately the corporal trained his gun on her. Wilma didn't flinch.

"Corporal, what do you see on my uniform?"

"A silver eagle, Ma'am."

"And what rank does that make me?"

"Colonel!" he said as he saluted.

Slowly she walked around the front of the car. "That's right. I am a colonel. Remind me again what rank you are."
He looked down. "Corporal."

"Do you wish to remain a corporal?"

"As opposed to what, Ma'am?"

"Well I'm not talking about a promotion!"

"Yes, Sir, uh, Ma'am!"

"Now, Corporal. State your duty."

"I am on guard duty, Ma'am."

"What are you guarding?"

"The road to the Space Shuttle Ranger Three."

Wilma glanced at Buck and smiled. "And you are doing an excellent job. Now the Captain and I need to inspect the shuttle one last time before it will be cleared to launch. Do you wish to delay the launch?"

"No, Ma'am. But I need to see your clearance…, Ma'am."

She shook her head. "Brains are not your strong suit, are they?"

Buck exited the car to stand beside the corporal. "All due respect, Colonel, the Corporal here is only trying to do his job."

"Yes, of course. Corporal, do you know who General Roberts is?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"Good. I am Colonel Deering, special attaché to General Roberts. He has given me specific orders to assure that the space shuttle is safe for the good Captain here. You do know who this Captain is, don't you?"

"Yes, Ma'am. We all recognize Captain Rogers."

"And you know that he is the one who will be launching in a few hours?"

"Of course, Ma'am."

"Then I suggest you allow me through the gate so I can do my job."

"I'll have to call my superior to clear you through."

Wilma rolled her eyes. "And what rank is your superior?"
"A Lieutenant, Ma'am."

She nodded once. "And does this Lieutenant outrank a Colonel?"

"No, Ma'am, but-"

"Perhaps you can call General Roberts, Colonel. I'm sure he could clear up this mess," Buck offered.

Wilma nodded again. "I could, but do you know what time it is?"

"It can't be helped, Ma'am," Buck replied.

Wilma sighed. "Very well. Do you know what happened the last time I interrupted his sleep?"

"Yes, Colonel, I do. But it can't be helped. It didn't take you long to make it back to Colonel."

"Fine. But I'm not going to be the one to make the call." She looked at the corporal. "Come with me, Corporal. I'll give you the number to call."

He hesitated for a long moment. "That's okay, Colonel. You can pass. I'd rather not disturb the general. I've, uh, heard stories about him. Are they all true?"

Wilma looked at him blankly. "Probably. He is not always a pleasant man."

The corporal hurried back to the guardhouse to open the gate. Buck and Wilma returned to the Mustang and continued down the road. Wilma turned to Buck.

"I just thought of something. Aren't we going to need space suits?"

"Yeah."

"Is that our next destination?"

"Nope. We're going straight for the shuttle."

"But-"

He grinned. "The shuttle has extra suits onboard already. It usually holds anywhere from five to seven passengers. There will be enough extra suits aboard for the two of us."

When they finally reached another building, they got out and went toward the entrance where they were confronted by another guard.

"Good evening, Colonel, Captain. What business do you have here?"

Wilma smiled pleasantly. "I am with the NRC. I'm here to inspect the shuttle."

The guard furrowed his eyebrows. "NRC? There's nothing nuclear onboard."
"Are you sure?" she asked. "What's your security clearance?"
"Uhh," he stammered.

"Exactly. Now if it were common knowledge that there may possibly be… nuclear components onboard the space shuttle, what do you think that would do to the security of this project?"

"Colonel, he's not getting paid to think," Buck suggested.

"Yes, you're right. Now do I need to get General Roberts out of bed again tonight to talk to you? He wasn't happy when the private at the gate called him earlier."

"There's no private at the gate," the soldier replied.

Buck smiled. "There is now. I believe he used to be a corporal, at least he was when he came to work tonight."

The soldier saluted. "What do you need me to do?"

"We need a ride out to the shuttle," Buck said. "You drive us out there, and then come back. You'll be back here before anyone misses you."

"But if I drive you out there, how will you get back?"

"I could tell you," Wilma said, "But I'd have to kill you."

"Colonel, don't scare him. Don't worry, we'll find our own way back."

The soldier nodded and led them to a nearby golf cart. He drove them to the launch pad where the space shuttle was perched. When he stopped, Buck and Wilma exited the golf cart. The soldier paused for a moment.

"Something wrong?" Wilma asked.

"Why would the NRC come out here in the middle of the night?"

She grinned slightly. "It makes it easier to see if anyone is glowing."

Quickly the soldier saluted and then stomped on the accelerator. Buck had to giggle again. "Easier to see the glow?"

She shrugged. "It worked!"

"I think you're beginning to enjoy the twentieth century."

She shrugged. "I think it's just the company."

"And I though Fletch was good," Buck commented.

"Who's Fletch?"

"Nobody."

She looked up at the massive structure above them. "Well we made it to the shuttle."

Buck nodded as he started toward the elevator. "Now we climb aboard and get ready. Our mission is just beginning."