United States Senator Leroy Clark arrives from Washington, DC, to investigate the progress of Project Tic-Toc in Arizona. He is met outside the subterranean complex by Dr. Doug Phillips, who ushers him in. They are met by Lt. General Heywood Kirk, known to Clark as his former commanding officer when he was a paratrooper in the army. As chairman of the Senate committee overseeing the Time Tunnel, Clark lets it be known that he can either authorize the continued funding of the project or cut [its] umbilical cord , He wants immediate results.