Subject: Change of Status

Previous Status: Classified, Priority One, Top Secret

New Status: Declassified for Public Use

Mission: Covert Operation; Code Name: Operation: Cacher Surprise

Background:

While browsing the forums at Geocaching.com (GC.c), Special Agent Maldar uncovered news of a cacher in need via a posting by Operative MouseKaKat (Forum Link). Special Agent Maldar then proceeded to conduct online surveillance of the target. Upon discovering the code names of the target’s close friends living nearby Maldar proceeded to contact one discreetly, NurseNanna.

Communicating via still classified emails, NurseNanna agreed to assist Maldar in arranging a secret meeting to surprise the target. Many plans were discussed from, providing a surprise dinner or breakfast Christmas Day to a chance meeting on the trail. The decided course of action was to impersonate a new cacher in the target’s locale.

Mission Brief:

Agent Maldar created a false account, JacksonCacher, on both GC.c and the local geocaching community’s, Michigan Geocaching Organization (MIGO, pronounced: MeeGo), website located at: http://www.migoonline.org Through this account Maldar posted via the MIGO forums that he was to receive a GPS unit for the holiday and was looking for help on Christmas Day to look for caches.

Knowing others would respond to this message both Maldar and NurseNanna emailed these other individuals to inform them of their intended target, with full disclosure to follow.

The target replied to the thread and emailed the false email account also created by Agent Maldar for this operation. Maldar expressed an interest in caching the area suggested by the target and made plans to contact the target once in the area of the caches.

Mission Debrief:

1330hrs

Agent Maldar arrived at the designated area and contacted the target. The target stated that it would take him around 30 mins to arrive at the location. Being in need of fuel Maldar inquired as to a fuel station, to which the target provided directions.

1400hrs

Target arrives at location and both Maldar and him meet and discuss what cache to attempt first.

1410hrs

After parking near the cache both start out towards the cache. Target explains to Maldar about paperless caching, travel bugs, and geocoins. He also coaches Maldar in the use of the GPS unit and various quirks that arise with them. Agent Maldar plays along the whole time asking questions and being attentive.

1420hrs

While the target explains that once one gets within about 30 feet of a cache the GPSr starts to act up, Maldar pretends to search for the cache after already determining it’s location a couple minutes before.

1422hrs

Agent Maldar ask the target to read the log he has just written and tell him what he thinks.

Maldar writes the following in the logbook:

12/25/7 1422hrs Caching with Rod. He is about to receive a new GPSr and discover who I really am. Maldar #317

While Rod reads the log Maldar retrieves a small gift bag from his backpack and places the GPSr inside. All the while Rod is in disbelief and reeling from the post in the log. Maldar hands Rod the gift bag, which also contains a set of person coins from KayakerInMaine.

1440hrs

Rod and Agent Maldar arrive back at the vehicles where Maldar pulls out 2 more gift bags for Rod’s boys.

1500hrs

Agent Maldar and Rod continue caching and find 3 more caches before calling it a day. Extra Notes: Many hugs and hand shakes where exchanged in the course of the day.

Special Acknowledgements:

LadyBee4T, for helping Anne Victory Mike, HomeBru, and Geoaddict; for not spoiling the surprise and stepping up to the plate with offers to help a new cacher.

Report Submitted by:

Maldar

Many of you know of the troubles we've seen lately, the last misfortune being KAboom getting sick and needing a hospital visit on Christmas eve (he's fine now, Strp was the problem). Well, little did the TR&T w/KAboom family know what was in store for them!!

As some had seen, a new cacher was getting a GPS unit for Christmas and posted wanting someone to "lend a hand" in learning caching and GPS usage...on Christmas? Well, some of you responded (GOTTA LOVE THAT...very nice to take time out from your holiday to help a newb)...as did I. Not having anything going for Christmas (we were supposed to celebrate ours on the eve, but KAboom put the kibash to that), I was more than happy to lend a hand and wouldn't be missing anything....but just didn't know since KAboom WAS sick!! Well, one by one, those cachers dropped out (save BeenHere, he was duped like I), so I, having found that KAboom would be fine, volunteered!

Christmas day...nothing heard, I nearly forgot about the newb (Jackson_Cacher be the culprit) and was settling in for some other activities (boring boring boring...oh, maybe a bit of Guitar Hero too), when the phone rings. Nurse Nanna was checking on us and wishig us a MERRY CHRISTMAS. THEN, the phone rang again, this one being the newb!! OK, guess I'll go caching instead!

Meet up with the newb at Hayes State Park and decide to head out for Soft Hardwood (one of our hides at Hayes). All the way, I'm giving newb advice and showing the newb little tricks and such. The newb is much prepared (odd for a newb), but seems a bit bumbly...that's the newb action I expected!! We get to GZ and the newb is circling all while attentively staring at the GPS..."hey, when you get within X distance from a hide, you need to look for an obvious hiding spot" I told JC. The cache was exposed and easy to spot, but it took a sec for the newb to find!!

Newb now bumbles in his full backpack (wow, sure is well equipped, makes me look like the newb here since I had nothing more than my brother's GPS unit...which was minus some hunting waypoints...he'll love me for that one) and starts writing his log while I tell him about needing writing utensils on occasion when caching. I walk about checking out the tracks and telling the newb about the wildlife in the park, then the newb hands me the log and asks if his writings is appropriate...what I read stuns me and nearly brings tears to my eyes, I'm speechless! I can't recall exactly what was written, but it was something like "Rod is about to find out who I really am" and is signed by MALDAR!!

Now, for those who don't know, Maldar has been very generously selling coins and such to raise money to help us through our tough times, so when I saw this, I knew I had been duped...and was just amazed!! Maldar then pulls a gift bag from his full backpack and hands it to me! Inside is the very GPS unit Maldar had used to find the cache...a Garmin Legend (blue...gotta love that!!!), some goodies and a little package with coins inside!! OMG....

After much hugging and handshaking...and my searching for words, we decide to head back to the vehicles and finish the covert ops!! Back at the car, Maldar pulls out two more gifts...one for KAboom and another for my non-caching oldest son!! WOW...above and beyond!! Maldar had seen and heard of our financial troubles and even brought the youngsters some GREAT gifts....what a WONDERFUL person this man is!! Pictures were taken and gifts were packed into my Jeep, then off we went to talk and find a few more caches...gotta learn the use of this new unit!!

3 more caches found, some great teachings from the "newb" on how to use my new unit and MUCH talking and hugging later, we head back to the vehicles, take a few more pics and part ways with the promise we'll get back out to cache soon!! The Christmas I was worried wouldn't happen for the kids this year happened alright...and turns out to be THE most memorable and awesome Christmas ever!

But wait...that's not the end of the story...Maldar had help. From my investigations following this, I learned that Nurse Nanna and LadyBee4T were also involved as were other MiGO members...the conspiracy reaches the very TOP of our organization!! There was also much help provided by a very special operative in Mousekakat...a friend I met on the GC foums (she's from Sweden), and a generous donation of coins from KayakerinMe (Silver set #S119 KayakerinMe 5 coin "puzzle" series which, when put together make a great "mural").

MANY THANKS go out to EVERYONE involved in this operation, you all played your parts perfectly...but Maldar....WOW, you should be an actor my friend!! More on this can be read in the S.E. forums which also has a link to the topic in the GC forums as well!!

This was the very BEST Christmas ever!!! All because some very special people care!! THIS is what our HUGE caching family is all about!! Well done!

Rockin Roddy and KAboom