The Retrieval Was Clean. The Physical Handover Took Four Attempts And Three Different People.
This mission included an unusual service element: physical terrestrial return of the retrieved object to the client. Standard ORC S-01 missions end with re-entry confirmation. This mission, by client request, involved Reg returning the object to Hangar 7 in its capture bay, at which point the client’s representatives would collect it in person. This requires: a collection authority letter, a signed chain-of-custody form (ORC Form 12), two forms of identification for the collecting party, and a vehicle suitable for the object’s dimensions and mass.
The client was briefed on these requirements in writing on four separate occasions before Reg returned. The requirements were also included in the contract, the operations manual addendum, and the pre-handover checklist. Click each attempt below to find out what happened.
A representative arrived at Hangar 7 at 10:30. The representative introduced themselves as the client’s logistics coordinator. S. Okafor asked for the collection authority letter. The representative said they hadn’t been told they needed a letter. S. Okafor said the letter was a requirement and had been communicated four times. The representative said they were sure there had been a miscommunication somewhere. S. Okafor said there had not been. S. Okafor said the object could not be released without the letter. The representative asked if they could just sign something on the day. S. Okafor said no. The representative said they’d need to call the office. S. Okafor said that was fine and offered them a seat in the reception area. The representative made seven phone calls over the next 90 minutes. None of them solved the problem. The representative left at 12:07 in the same taxi, which had been waiting.
A different representative arrived on 06 August. This representative had the collection authority letter. S. Okafor was cautiously optimistic. S. Okafor asked for ID. The representative produced a business card. S. Okafor said a business card is not ID. The representative said it had their photo on it. S. Okafor confirmed that a business card with a photo is not a form of identification recognised by ORC’s handover protocol. The representative asked if a credit card would do. S. Okafor said no. S. Okafor asked about the vehicle. The representative gestured toward a transit van in the car park. S. Okafor asked about the object’s dimensions. S. Okafor looked at the transit van. S. Okafor looked at the representative. S. Okafor said [REDACTED].
The first representative returned on 09 August. They had a driving licence and a passport. They had a larger van — a long-wheelbase Sprinter, which S. Okafor confirmed was appropriate. They did not have the collection authority letter. The collection authority letter had been brought by the second representative on attempt 2 and had apparently not been transferred between representatives. S. Okafor asked if the representative had the letter. The representative said they thought the other person had it. S. Okafor said the other person had brought it on Thursday and had left with it. The representative said they hadn’t known the other person was bringing it. S. Okafor [REDACTED].
On 11 August, both representatives arrived simultaneously at 11:00. They had: the collection authority letter, ORC Form 12 signed by the correct authorised signatory, the driving licence, a passport, a utility bill (they had brought three forms of ID), and the long-wheelbase Sprinter. They also brought a box of biscuits. The note attached to the biscuits said: “Thank you for your patience. We are sorry about the last three times.”
S. Okafor reviewed the documents. S. Okafor confirmed all documents were in order. S. Okafor countersigned the Form 12. S. Okafor supervised the loading of the object into the Sprinter. The object was secured correctly. The chain-of-custody was signed by both parties. The representatives departed at 11:22. The handover took 22 minutes. S. Okafor ate one biscuit. S. Okafor described the biscuits as [REDACTED].
- ORC’s physical return handover checklist has been expanded from one page to three pages. The three pages cover document requirements, vehicle specification, and — now — a checklist of who is bringing which document when more than one representative is involved. The checklist was added specifically because of attempt 3. The checklist is named. We are not sharing the name.
- ORC now requires, for any physical return engagement, a nominated single point of contact who is responsible for coordinating all collection documentation. The nominated contact must confirm in writing, 48 hours before the collection, that all documents are in their possession. This step was not in place for ORC-2022-209.
- S. Okafor handled all four handover attempts professionally and without incident. S. Okafor has noted, in her operational log for 04, 06, 09, and 11 August, the same two words in each entry: “Documents outstanding.” On 11 August the entry reads: “Documents complete. Collection successful.” The 11 August entry is three words longer. We consider those three words hard-earned.
- The client apologised formally in writing after attempt 3. The apology was addressed to S. Okafor by name. S. Okafor acknowledged the apology. S. Okafor described the situation as “resolved.” S. Okafor has not referred to ORC-2022-209 since August 2022. ORC respects this choice. We have published the report anyway. S. Okafor said it was fine.