William Randall (a.k.a. Bill)
Mental characteristics
William Randall's extensive work in the UFO community, investigating case after case and writing almost a dozen books on the subject as it developed over the years (from lights in the sky to the abduction phenomenon) is what motivated Nat Atrella to contact him at the outset of his own investigation into the "Girl Who Ran Away With ET". At first he suspected a much more mundane cause, such as disappearance or running away, but the more he spoke with Atrella (who seemed shaken by a sighting of an alien creature, so he had claimed) and later Erin Kavanaugh, and especially upon receipt of Kavanaugh's vast catalogue of evidence on the case, the more his attitude began to soften. Although he has yet to release a formal opinion, and has yet to speak publicly on the case even in passing, in private he has admitted to "getting it" to Atrella and being "worried" to Kavanaugh.
In 2499, upon watching the tape Atrella made of his interview with
Ta'zhen following her return to Earth to confirm to those close to her that she is, in fact alive, Randall leaned heavily on his skepticism, in case he or his friends were being taken for a ride. But, Ta'zhen did more than tell a story. She provided a sample. Samples could be tested. He would cling to this until the results came in.
William Randall currently plies his trade writing books and traveling the lecture circuit. He is frequently accused of being paid off by intelligence agencies to discredit UFOs, and quips that he would like to see those checks as they would really help with this month's bills.
Social
He has the contact information of people across the UFO community on both sides of the "aisle", so to speak, and has interviewed many "experiencers" about their cases, and about finer points in other interviews that he felt he was the only one who noticed. However, many on the "pro" side avoid him for his "arch-debunker" status, and at the present moment, his two greatest contacts are
Erin Kavanaugh and
Nat Atrella, who are colleagues of his and have shared with him the bulk of evidence about the one case he would admit to finding baffling.
William Randall, alongside disbelieving in aliens and that UFOs are caused by anything other than hoaxes, misperceptions, and outrageous tales, is a staunch atheist. This does not impede his getting along with the agnostic
Nat Atrella, the vaguely New Age
Erin Kavanaugh, or ultimately the polytheist
Ta'zhen.
History
Atrella first reached out to Randall upon reading several of his books on the subject of UFOs, in his personal quest for the truth. In the letter he had relayed the basic facts of Kayla's disappearance and noted that Kayla's sister Erin was amassing a collection of evidence "as we speak". Randall replied several days later asking to set up a meeting and visit Esterholt for himself, where he formed his own opinion of the relevant facts. He and Atrella have kept in touch ever since, and Randall taught Atrella everything he knows on the subject of UFOs and associated woo.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
They both share a sense of scientific curiosity (although Atrella is also personally motivated), and a disinclination toward accepting any and all woo at face value.
History
Randall reached out to Erin Kavanaugh at Nat Atrella's prompting, whereupon she shared with him her collection of evidence concerning the "Girl Who Ran Away With ET". Erin has continued to keep him updated on the matter, but he has yet to disclose a full opinion on the case, privately admitting he would like to meet this alien for himself. He has freely supplied Erin (and thus Ohio Saucer Watch) with complimentary copies of his books for their review on the assumption that OSW represented a "proponent" group. Erin just as freely commented on the material and asked for further clarification on several points, kicking off cordial relations despite a fundamental initial disagreement on the subject of UFOs and ET. To date, Erin has supplied Randall with almost all of OSW's material on Kavanaugh case for his analysis and opinion.
Commonalities & Shared Interests
Both parties agree that truth must be arrived at by careful examination of the evidence at hand, rather than leaping blindly into the woo. This guiding principle allows the two to work together despite differing foundational premises.
I love academics. I think he'd be an interesting guy to sit down and have conversation with!
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I modeled him on my first impressions based on the writings of Philip J Klass, noted "arch skeptic" of UFOs. (I did the same for Nat, based on a different guy I also read, before I read the REST of that other guy's work. I've really had to divorce Nat's inspiration from a sexist and a climate change denialist :/ )