Harm | Mac | Bud | AJ |  Clay

Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. by Julia (JXQ456@aol.com) -

I've had more eventful days, I'm sure, but the last forty-eight hours are starting to look like they may take first place.

It all started off well enough - it started off great - which ought to have been my first clue that I was in for it.  Regardless of my opinion of the man, meeting the President was an honor, although I appreciated the medal more.  Landing that Tomcat was probably one of the most gut-wrenching things I've ever done - flashbacks to my crash the whole time, and never mind my eyes - and it's nice to know the effort didn't go unnoticed.

Leaving the Rose Garden I was informed that Lieutenant (j.g.) Bud Roberts, who I'd met years ago on the Seahawk and then again during the investigation of Diane's murder, had been assigned to my section and would now be my aide. Bud is inexperienced and tends to trip over his own feet, metaphorically speaking, with alarming frequency, but he's got a lot of enthusiasm, and when it comes to technicalities, legal or otherwise, he knows what he's doing.  I heard he talked Webb - Clayton Webb, "Special Assistant to the Undersecretary" or more accurately, a CIA intelligence officer - into letting him accompany the spooks in their helo; not an easy task, intimidating a veteran like Webb.  Maybe "irritating" is more appropriate - I hope Webb doesn't lose his cool that easily all the time.  I have to admit that it was entertaining, watching Bud repeatedly get under his skin. 

I can imagine a day in the not-so-distant future when Bud and I are opposing counsel.  It'll be interesting to see who wins.

In the parking lot I met my new partner, Major Sarah MacKenzie, USMC (she prefers to be called Mac; interesting, but not the *most* interesting thing about her). 

I saw her as we approached, of course, but I didn't *see* her until the Admiral began his introductions. And then I could only stare.

She was exactly like Diane, in every way possible: her voice, her face, the way she held herself - hell, even her hair was cut the same.  The only difference was the Marine uniform. 
 
"Deja vu" doesn't begin to describe the sensation; it was probably one of the most disorienting moments of my life.  Somewhere in that disorientation I remembered to shake her hand, but I'll be damned if I remember letting go.  She even *felt* like Diane.

I didn't believe her at first when she said that the Declaration of Independence had been stolen.  Who in their right mind would steal the *Declaration*?  It's not like you could sell it on the black market.  We soon found out, though, courtesy of Webb, and then the nation got to see the "criminal" on live television: Colonel Matthew O'Hara, formerly Marine Recon and currently the leader of The Defenders, a militia group in Idaho.

The objective itself was straightforward: recover the Declaration.  Period.  It wasn't easy, but it wasn't as difficult as some of the situations I've had to find a way out of.  Working with a new partner made it a hell of a lot more challenging, though, and I won't even go into the frustrations of having a spook like Webb hanging over my shoulder the entire time.  Once I pried Mac's connection to O'Hara out of her, things became a lot simpler - or they would have, if we didn't have the added problem of eluding Webb.  Webb...he's a spy, through and through.  I'd be surprised to learn if there *wasn't* some aspect of this investigation he hadn't planned out and accounted for. Except Bud's big mouth, that is, and our resourcefulness.

I didn't miss the look Webb gave Mac when he revealed who was behind the theft, or the startled expression on her face when she heard the name.  I suspected something was going on under the surface, and I found out later that I was right: Mac is O'Hara's niece.  She recovered quickly, though; she's got composure, if that's what you want to call it.  Most people would say she's an ice queen, to judge from the way she kept shutting me down every time I tried to talk with her.  I don't know if it's her resemblance to Diane or something else altogether, but I have to disagree.  She can be cool, no question about it, but there's more to her.  I guess she'll have to get to know me before I get to see that, although she let her walls or whatever slip a little when we were at my apartment. 

Damn it all to hell - I just realized that she could see me through the glass "wall" in front of my bed while I was changing uniforms.  Smooth, Rabb, very smooth; she probably thinks I did that on purpose.  "Insight into my character."  Damn.  So much for first impressions.  She didn't seem to like my apartment much either, or the cigars.  (Those are damn nice cigars, too.)  And joking with her only made things worse, then and in Arizona.  I actually got a few smiles and a laugh out of her when we reached Red Rock Mesa, although I think that was more a reaction to talking about fossils than any specific thing I said. 

Mac loves dinosaurs.  Who would've thought?  It's an unlikely hobby for her, or for her uncle.  Two hard-nosed Marine officers excited over a handful of dinosaur tracks in the desert... not something I'd expected to see on this case.  Hell, I like dinosaurs too, but I was seven or eight years old the last time I gave them more than a passing thought.  I guess that with Mac as my partner now, I'll have to brush up on my paleontology or be faced with a lot of conversations where I have no idea what she's talking about.  Not that she talks to me much as is.

I had been forcing her to give me information throughout the entire investigation, and then she came right out and told me she was an alcoholic.  I didn't know what to say - she doesn't look like an alcoholic, which I know is a stereotypical, politically incorrect thing to say, but it's true - and I have to say I was surprised by her up front manner, especially since just a few minutes before she'd told me she'd keep her personal reasons to herself.  I'd imagine that a history of alcoholism fell under the heading of "personal reasons", but I guess she felt like sharing.  It was a shock, frankly, and one I wasn't expecting.

Nor was I expecting her to point a gun at my back and declare me her prisoner.  I think it was then that I realized just how different Mac is from my previous partners.  Meg never pulled a stunt like that - she always left that sort of thing to me - and I doubt she would have even *considered* it.  Kate might have, but not without telling me the plan first.  It could simply be a jarhead thing, but it's more likely a matter of personality, of attitude.  Ironic when you think about it, really, because Mac's attitude would probably best be described as "take-no-prisoners."

Damn, that sounds stupid, but what the hell.  I've gone nearly two days without sleep now - can't expect to outdo Shakespeare.

"Nearly two days" - Mac would know the time down to the second.  If Diane could do the same trick, she never told me.  Mac was evasive when I asked how she did it; either she doesn't know herself, or she's "playing it cagey."  I still can't believe she thought I was holding back information - but then we'd only met a few hours before.  I guess her resemblance to Diane was throwing off my suspicions, because I trusted her almost from the start.  I'll have to watch out for that from now on; the last thing I need is to have my instincts dulled around her.  Of course, she's already handed me over to a militia group.  She can't do much worse.

Out in Arizona, I told Mac that I kept forgetting that I didn't know her, and that's the truth.  By now I'm used to it - her resemblance to Diane - and the deja vu doesn't overwhelm me every time I look at her or listen to her, but I still feel like I've known her for a long time. 

I'm not sure I like that feeling.  I'm not sure I want to know *why* I don't like it.

One question still bothers me: where was Mac hiding the gun?  That sundress of hers didn't offer a lot of opportunities for a concealed weapon, and I'm almost positive she didn't have time to remove it from the truck.

I'll have to ask her.  Not anytime soon, though - we both have bigger problems to worry about.

My first impression of Colonel Matthew O'Hara was that he was sincere about changing America for the better.  I've questioned enough people to know the sound of truth when I hear it, and O'Hara was telling the truth - what he *thought* was the truth, at least.  That impression was borne out when I met him face-to-face.  He spoke with conviction, but he was open to reason, and I never really bought that line about the $500 million anyway (c'mon, it came
from Webb - he'd already spread false information, by his own admission; why would I believe his superiors in the Agency would behave any better?).  What really convinced me, though, was that he didn't intend to kill me when I was his hostage.  Someone operating solely on greed wouldn't have let me live, not when I had the potential - however small - to ruin their plans.

No, I believed O'Hara, and I'm not sorry I offered to defend him, though it was a spur-of-the-moment thing (rare for me.  Must've been the desert sun).  The trial starts soon, and it's going to be a difficult one.  I'm no longer certain that I can completely clear him.  He may have to settle for a reduced sentence - rather, *I'll* have to settle, which I hate to do. 

But he *did* steal the Declaration of Independence, and two men were killed in the process of recovering it.  I was there, and I know it wasn't his fault, but it looks bad nonetheless.  Another weight on a guilty conscience, another reason to defend O'Hara: I killed one of them myself. 

I've done risky things in the past, but hanging from the landing skids of a helo while it's a thousand or so feet in the air was a new experience.  For a few moments I thought I was going to join that Marine sergeant on the desert floor.  He's the one who ought to be prosecuted, but he's beyond all justice but God's.

Add the rumor about a half-billion ransom demand and it looks downright ugly. As I said, difficult.  Mac's career is safe, though, and mine has enough dings already that one more questionable case won't stand out too much.  Besides, I'm a recipient of the DFC - that ought to balance things out.  Maybe.  If I win...  It could turn out to be a pyrrhic victory.  The media will cover it, of that I can be certain, and depending on the spin, Colonel O'Hara and his defense team could be heroes.  They could just as easily be villains.

Worst case scenario: O'Hara will do extensive time in Leavenworth, nothing will come of his Internet revelations, my career will be dead in the water, and the American public at large will forget what was sacrificed in the name of their freedom.  I hope to God it works out better than that.

Major Sarah Mackenzie by Amy (sandersonam@cs.com)

This morning started early, with the phone ringing five minutes before the alarm was set to go off. It was my CO, informing me that I was being pulled off the Hicks prosecution.  I was being temporarily reassigned to JAG headquarters and was supposed to meet my new CO, Admiral Chegwidden at the White House, an unusual location to say the least. When I got there, I was introduced to Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. and Lieutenant (j.g.) Bud Roberts. Seems that Harm is an F-14 pilot turned lawyer who was receiving a Distinguished Flying Cross at a ceremony at the White House. I bet there's an interesting story to go along with that. Actually I'd bet that he has a lot of interesting stories to tell. When he first looked at me, a look of horror was played out on his face and it was a very eerie feeling. He claimed it was
just déjà vu and that I looked like someone that he'd met in the Navy, but I can tell there's more to it.

I'm not entirely sure what to make of Lieutenant Roberts. My first impression was "what is someone this green doing stationed at JAG headquarters" and that the Admiral was going to eat him for lunch. But now I'm not so sure. He obviously has the knowledge to be effective and is probably just a little overeager.

The hammer really hit when we got back to JAG and met with the "Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of State" (read CIA agent) Clayton Webb. I had been given the basics of the case, but Webb informed us that Uncle Matt is suspected of stealing the Declaration of Independence. I felt like the floor had dropped out from under me, but I tried to pretend that I didn't know who Matthew O'Hara was. I tried to pass it off like knowing a legend, but I could feel everyone's eyes on me. It was like they wanted me to break down and tell them everything about Uncle Matt and where he was. Well, if so, they were disappointed. Although flustered, I am a Marine and I wasn't going to fold like a house of cards.

So now we're on our way to Arizona. Bud is across the aisle, studying something that looks suspiciously like law school notes and Webb disappeared somewhere to the back of the plane, cell phone is hand. Harm is looking out the window. I bet he'd love to be at the controls right now. I've never seen someone so at ease in the air, even when we hit some turbulence a little while ago. Every once and a while he looks over at me and makes idle chitchat, flashing his brilliant smile. He seems so charming and comfortable with himself. If it wasn't for the circumstances, I could find myself being friends with him. That is if I thought that he was being genuine and that I could trust him.

Right now all I can do is worry about Uncle Matt. I understand what he's trying to do and why, but I'm afraid that he could get himself killed. As evidenced by the fact that I'm working this case, the government is willing to do anything to get the Declaration back. He's the only family I have left. He saved my life. I don't know what I'll do if something happens to him. I can only hope that somehow there's a way to make everything all right.

Even after going through the debriefing, I still have a hard time believing everything that's happened. Uncle Matt is safe, but in custody, which is probably the best outcome that I could have expected. But what a wild ride to get to this point.

When we got to Arizona, we got caught up on the situation on the ground. I tried to lose Harm by suggesting that he go check out the hijack site with Webb and Bud while I went to talk to the base CO, but Harm caught me going in the wrong direction. He forced me to tell him the truth and promise to take him along.

I could have killed him as he left me hanging while he was on the phone, only to find out that he was calling Bud and not Admiral Chegwidden. But I have to admit that he was thinking a lot more clearly than I was. I probably would have led Webb directly to Uncle Matt. Harm was also genuine in wanting to resolve the case. I'd put my life and career on the line for Uncle Matt, but he's something special to put his on the line for someone he doesn't know. Somehow I feel comfortable trusting him and I even told him about the time that Uncle Matt and I spent at Red Rock Mesa when I was drying out. But he's also all man, with the cigars and the comment about there being a bed in the back of the truck that we rented. I bet he's one of those pilots that think that dress whites and gold wings can get you into bed anywhere. I don't think so, Mr. Rabb!

Anyway, we were able to lose Webb's tail and headed to find Uncle Matt. I admit that pulling a gun on Harm when Uncle Matt's helo came to pick us up wasn't the smartest thing to do, but I needed to talk to Uncle Matt. I knew that he wouldn't hurt Harm, but I wasn't too sure about his followers, a suspicion that was justified. Even after that Harm was still willing to help Uncle Matt end the standoff with the government and is going to defend him against the charges and in the process save my career. It took some level-headed thinking on his part. In direct contrast is the way he grabbed to the helo skid when two of Uncle Matt's followers decided to take us hostage. But I was very glad to have Harm there.

I don't know what the future is going to hold, but I have a feeling it's going to be one hell of a ride.

Lieutenant j.g. Bud Roberts by Jo (jhuppcla@knox.net)

When Lieutenant Austin told me that she had recommended me for Legal Assistant at JAG, I couldn't believe it.  I'm not sure I even managed to tell her 'thank you.'  But here I am, Washington, DC, assigned to Judge Advocate General headquarters of the Navy.  Well, actually the headquarters is in Falls Church, which is actually in Virginia . . . Never mind, I'm here.
   
Admiral Chegwidden is, well, a different sort of commanding officer than I've ever worked under.  He used to be a SEAL - doing secret missions with night vision goggles and stealth equipment.  That is so cool!  He's really tough.  But every so often I see cracks of something else.  Like at the ceremony for Commander Rabb's DFC today.  I don't really know how to say it, but he looked proud - not like he was just proud that his officer had done well, in fact, he wasn't even the JAG when Commander Rabb earned the medal, but more like a parent. 
   
And Commander Rabb is really cool, too.  When I met him the first time he came to the Seahawk when Lieutenant Arutti went missing, he was only a Lieutenant and now he's a Lieutenant Commander.  He hasn't really changed, though I guess he looks a little older now.  He used to fly tomcats off carriers, but now he's a lawyer and I get to work with him.  He's a nice guy, too.  He just grinned when I got on the Admiral's nerves, I think it was sympathetic or maybe he was laughing at the Admiral or - I don't know, but he's nice. 
   
Major MacKenzie, on the other hand, I don't know.  She didn't talk about anything but the case.  She's a marine, and none of the Marines on the Seahawk even spoke to me, so I don't really know it they're all like that or not.  I knew a couple of guys who were in the Marine option in ROTC, but that was college and when we weren't drilling or something, we all acted like regular guys.  Anyhow, she didn't say much to me, but I guess she's nice.  She seemed kind of amused when I forgot that I was the junior officer and should get in the car first.
   
Mr. Webb is not nice.  He doesn't like me.  But I got the impression that he doesn't really like anyone.  The Admiral didn't seem to like Mr. Webb, either.  He's sort of in charge of this case, though I don't really know why the State is working with the Navy.  Why isn't it just being handled by the FBI?  He said they think Marines are involved but I don't really think that's the reason and I don't think anyone else does either.  Major MacKenzie was acting kinda weird, too.  I mean, I don't know how she normally acts, but it just seemed weird. 

Commander Rabb and Major MacKenzie are missing.  Mr. Webb's been tracking them, which is illegal.  I don't think they're in trouble, but Mr. Webb sure got upset. 

Commander Rabb suspected that Mr. Webb was tracking them and I guess he and Major MacKenzie found a way around it.  They ditched their car and borrowed a truck from a gas station. 
   
I'm in a helo and it's awfully hard to write, so I'll quit now.

Colonel O'Hara is Major MacKenzie's uncle!!!  I guess that's how she knew where to find him.  I think Mr. Webb knew about that along and that's why she got assigned to this case.  I'm glad that Commander Rabb and Major MacKenzie tricked him.  Colonel O'Hara seems like a good guy and I can tell that Major MacKenzie really looks up to him.  I'm glad that Commander Rabb volunteered to defend him in court, though I doubt it's going to be easy.

Rear Admiral AJ Chegwidden by Jo (jhuppcla@knox.net)

I didn't like dealing with the CIA back in 'Nam and I don't like it now. Mr. Webb may say he's from the State Dept. but I know better.  I also have a good idea that he was involved in getting Major MacKenzie transferred to my staff. I don't know why, but he wanted her on this case.  

That may be the only good thing about this mess.  Major MacKenzie has an outstanding record both as an investigator and as a litigator.  She may give Rabb a run for his money.  And hopefully she'll be able to temper his 'eagerness' a bit better than Lt. Austin.

Rabb was awarded his DFC today.  Commander Lindsay told me something that Admiral Brovo said before he retired from JAG - for all the trouble, he makes lawyers look good.
   
I just hope Lt. Austin's 'replacement,' Lt. Roberts, doesn't try to take after him.  She recommended him before transferring out.  I hope his computer skills can match hers. 

Well, Lt. Roberts has apparently lost his superiors in the desert.  I didn't think the Major would take any of Rabb's crap, but I guess I was wrong.  Unless this has to do with why she's on this assignment.  I'll strangle Mr. Webb if he's set my people up.

Mr. Webb is fortunate in that he declined to join us for the debriefing.  Otherwise I might be up on assault charges.  I don't like my people being set up, especially good officers made to chose between duty and family. 

Special Assistant to the Undersecretary of State Clayton Webb by Tracy (hmtomcat@sbcglobal.net)

Re: Declaration of Independence recovery operation

So far, everything has gone according to plan.  The Defenders fell for it. The mail truck was hijacked right on schedule and shortly, ZNN will be reporting that the convoy hijacked was carrying nuclear weapons.  That should be enough to negate any public support the average American might feel for the members of this militia.  Speaking out against the government is one thing.  Stealing nuclear weapons is another.  As long as the public doesn't know the truth of what really happened, they will back up anything the government might do to bring these people down.

I've been ordered to work with the Navy on this, since the members of the Defenders are  Marines, or they used to be.  This will be a CIA operation all the way, under the guise of State, and I will make sure the Navy is aware of that.  Working with the Navy does have one minor perk.  It allows me to utilize an ace that I have found.  With my connections, it took almost no
effort to get a certain Marine Major temporarily assigned to the Judge Advocate General Corps for this little assignment.  And if everything else continues to go as planned, she should lead me right to her uncle.

This is a minor setback, nothing more.  Colonel O'Hara, the head of the Defenders, somehow managed to get on ZNN and reveal what really happened - that it was the Declaration of Independence, and not nuclear weapons, which was stolen.  I've already got people at work, spinning this to our advantage.

I cannot believe these Navy people.  Or maybe I can.  I guess they really do stick up for their own.  They're acting like the theft of the Declaration is no big deal.  While I'd expect that attitude - although somewhat hidden to avoid arousing suspicions - from Major Mackenzie, it is surprising coming from the rest of them.  The Admiral sounds like he admires the man.  And Commander Rabb doesn't think he's an extremist.  Well, what would he know?  Of course, the Major agrees with Rabb's view.  She would.  She's simply interested in protecting her uncle.  But that's what makes her so useful to this op. 

It doesn't even seem to faze these people when I tell them our new cover story - that the Defenders stole the Declaration for money.  I'm not sure what the Admiral's thinking.  Rabb seems suspicious of the story, but I'm sure with enough spin that he'll buy it, just like everyone else.  Mackenzie doesn't say a word.  Maybe she's afraid that she'll say too much.

And now, the Admiral's trying to exert his influence by insisting that all three of his officers accompany me.  The plan always was to have Major Mackenzie accompany me and I'd expected Commander Rabb to come along just because he has a reputation as JAG's hot-shot investigator.  But he's just a lawyer.  I shouldn't have any problem pointing him in the direction in which I want him to go while the Major leads us to her uncle.  But what am I
supposed to do with an over-eager kid?  Sometimes, it's those ones who are the most dangerous to carefully planned ops.  There is no place in my business for enthusiasm.

But the Admiral isn't listening to any of it.  This two-star, whom you would expect to know the game of politics and how to play it, has just turned into a grizzly bear and is not backing down.  Am I supposed to be impressed that he's an ex-SEAL?  I suppose I should be thankful that *he* isn't coming around on this op.  God help us all if that were the case.

Like I said, it's the eager kids you have to look out for.  That Lieutenant nearly blew everything with the ZNN crew by mentioning rivet joint.  Now I have to play damage control so that ZNN doesn't mention it and alert the Colonel to what I'm planning.  Again, the Navy protects it's own, as Rabb and Mackenzie don't seem to think it's any big deal. Now, I just have to hope that Mackenzie doesn't have a chance to spill the beans first.  She's opted to stay behind while the rest of us go to check out the hijack site.  That does work out perfect for me in a way.  Now I just have to wait and I'll have all of the Defenders right where I want them.

Another little wrinkle - now Rabb wants out of the chopper so he can go with Mackenzie.  He claims he gets air sick - which I know is bogus.  But there's not a lot I can do or say without arousing his suspicions.  So I instruct the pilot to land us.  Now, I have to wait for Mackenzie to ditch him before she can lead us to her uncle.  I shouldn't have to wait long.  I'm sure family loyalty will win out and she won't wait long before getting rid of Rabb to go after the Colonel.

The Colonel's latest transmission didn't last long enough for us to pinpoint his exact location.  Our best bet is still Mackenzie leading us to her uncle. I just hope she's managed to shake free of Rabb since the last time we monitored their cell phones.  The military seems to be conspiring against me to keep this op from coming to a successful conclusion.  I get stuck baby-sitting the kid while Rabb and Mackenzie are busy getting lost in the desert.  I thought military officers were supposed to be smarter than that.

Now what's going on?  We've got another signal from Rabb's cell phone, but that's not him on it.  It takes another moment before it sinks in.  Damn.  This op has gone completely south.  Mackenzie didn't ditch Rabb.  Somehow, they figured out what was going on and both of them managed to ditch us.  After we bring down the Defenders, I'm going to make sure both of them get court-martialed right along side the members of the militia.

And I'm still stuck dealing with the kid.  A little knowledge is very dangerous.  He figures out right away how we were tracking Rabb and Mackenzie.  I don't want to bring him along, but at this point I don't need him to go telling the Admiral what I've done.  If he's with me, at least I can keep an eye on him.  There's got to be something about this operation that I can still control.

We got the Declaration back.  That's about the only thing that I can say went right with this operation.  Rabb and Mackenzie came out of this smelling like roses - Roberts was giving me dirty looks as I told the Admiral my story, probably ready to jump in should I say one negative word about the two of them.  But it doesn't matter.  I'm not going to rat them out.  It gives me something to hold over their heads and who knows when that might come in handy. 

Not that I ever want to work with these JAG people again.  They seem to have little regard for order, discipline and well-laid plans.  Too much improvisation and I definitely don't need that on my ops.  Nope.  In my carefully ordered universe, I would be very fortunately never to hear the words 'Judge Advocate General Corps' ever again.