“My duties as the Commander of the Nellis Gunnery Range comprise only a small portion of my total sphere of operational responsibilities. It is an important part, but nevertheless, just a small part. I am also in charge of everything that goes on in the Groom Lake area. That means all Ultra Top Secret projects currently under development. This includes several different facilities, some known to the public and others no one has ever heard of. My job, besides keeping projects moving along, is to protect those assets. To do this, I, like my predecessors, answer directly to the President of the United States. I am directed to have an update each quarter for the President to review.”
“Wait. General, you’re sitting there telling me that only the President of the United States is your superior officer?” Hollister asked.
“That is correct,” Devin answered the Secretary.
“Forgive me, but I find that hard to accept,” Hollister replied.
“Well sir, that’s the way it is. I didn’t make this up. I know you checked with every source and found no one that claimed I answered to them.”
“General,” the President said, “Why would you just answer directly to me? That makes no sense at all.”
“Sir, perhaps you should read the MJ–12 Standard Operating Procedure Manual,” the general said, taking it out of his briefcase.
“What is it?” the President asked.
“Sir, I don’t mean to be impertinent but this manual is for your eyes only. Not even the Vice President is to see this without the expressed written consent from you.”
“What? Not even I can see it?” the Secretary of Defense said.
“Sorry sir, those are my orders.”
“Who gave you those orders?”
“The President of the United States,” Devin answered.
“Hold on. I didn’t issue such orders,” the President interjected.
“Your predecessors did, sir. Please just read the first page and you will understand.”
“This is the nuttiest thing I have ever heard of,” he said, taking the book from the general. He opened it to the first page:
MAJESTIC-12 GROUP SOP
STOP — ULTRA TOP SECRET
FOR THE COMMANDER-IN-CHIEF and
COMMANDER OF NELLIS GUNNERY RANGE
EYES ONLY
He looked up at the general after reading the cover and turned to the first page:
The President looked up after reading the page and said, “Harry Truman?”
“Yes sir, the original MJ-12 Group was initiated by President Truman and is still in effect today. Every Commander-in-Chief since has been aware of MJ-12. It should have been part of your briefing when you took the office of President and CNC,” Devin said.
“Well it wasn’t. Why am I just now finding out about this? Don’t you think you have a duty to inform me of this MJ … whatever?”
“Actually I do not,” if you will read on, you will find that it is the duty of the outgoing Commander-in-Chief to brief the incoming CNC. It states in the manual, on page four, paragraph two, that it is the duty of the CNC to review the quarterly reports and to notify the commanding officer of Nellis if further clarification is necessary. I sent a detailed report to the White House the day you took office Mr. President.”
“Mr. President, what is going on here exactly? What is he talking about? What is MJ–12 anyway?” Hollister asked.
