An angry CIA agent. Facing down the CIA in court. And a group of witnesses who refuse to provide answers because of some papers they signed, courtesy of the CIA. It was Lt. Rabb's worst nightmare.
"There has to be someone who can at least give me something. Someone who isn't savvy to Catherine's "nice" reminders of what they signed." He said one day to Mac.
"There is one option sir." She said, handing him a file. "A one Admiral Angel Fish. Commander of Submarine Forces, Atlantic Fleet. Retired into Reserve in '98. She lives at the docks in Groton, just off the submarine base."
"Clearance level?" He asked.
"Top Classified Level 3." She replied. "When the CIA approached her to sign the Confidentiality agreements she refused. She'll tell you anything that's Level 1 or below."
Rabb smiled as he fought back a full fledged grin. It was like all his Christmases were finally here. "Mac, you are a genius." He said, standing up.
She too was fighting back a grin. "Oh, and one more thing sir." She said as he headed for the door. "You're on your own on this one. I've been ordered not to accompany you. I'm not sure why but the Admiral said something about a foreign language that only you could interpret." She pursed her lips, confused about it.
Rabb nodded. He too was confused. Both were fluent in several foreign languages. Which he knew and she didn't would take some consideration. "Thank you Lt." He said and left.
...
He arrived at the address Mac had given him. It was just outside the submarine base alright, but only just. These series of dock homes were smashed between the base and the General Dynamics Shipyard. According to the directions, the house he was looking for was the last on the right.
Exciting the car, he met Caroline at the top of the ramp.
"The place wasn't easy to find." She told him.
"Well I'm sorry, the directions were what were given." He shrugged as the pair made their way down the ramp, greeting the dock manager at the gate. Rabb showed him the file.
"I'm here to see a Miss Fish? I was told I could find her here."
The man's eyes twinkled in a way that made Rabb's skin crawl. He must know something the navy man didn't and was enjoying the fact.
"You've come to the right place, this way." He led the way in. "She's been expecting you." He said as they walked along. "Remember to speak up though, her hearing isn't all that it used to be."
"Great, a 90 year old lady who's probably half senile." Catherine snorted.
The manager shot her a look. "Not quite that age ma'am." He said. He knocked on the door, rapping it with his fingers three times.
"Angel, are you still alive in there or will I have to call in the funeral service?" He asked in a foreign language. Rabb straightened as he recognized it. A mix of Latin and some Middle East but with a deeper tone to it. Designed to be heard over long distances. He understood now why he'd been chosen for this task. While Mac knew many foreign languages, the tongue of the submarines was something that would always elude her.
"What? What's he saying?" Catherine asked.
"Shh." Rabb hissed.
A female voice answered him. "You ask that question every time you come to my door Mr. Harmson and each time my answer is the same. I am well. Now what have I told you about knocking on the door like that. Keep that up and you will have to call in the funeral service. Furthermore, I specifically asked not to be bothered!" "I am sorry ma'am but there are some people here to see you. A Lt. Rabb from JAG and Catherine, a CIA agent. They're heading a board of inquiry into Shark's loss."
"Yes ma'am." Mr. Harmson opened the door. "She'll see you now."
"I understood her, Mr. Harmson. Thank you." Rabb replied.
Mr. Harmson looked surprised but let the pair enter. Rabb gestured for Catherine to go first and the CIA agent did. He stifled a chuckle as after a few strides she stopped in shock.
"You weren't kidding when you said she's a big customer." She whispered to him. In the center of hanger was a large open pool, leading to the harbor outside. In the pool was a large Angel Fish-class submarine.
Rabb hid his smile well and turned to address his witness. "Talo, Angel Fish." He greeted.
"Talo, Mr. Harmson." The submarine replied, bobbing her head in welcome. A black fin shoved the smoking end of the cigar she was smoking into the discard dish. "I do speak English. My tongue is not necessary today. Please, take a seat." Her port plane gestured to the chairs set up in the corner, directly within her line of sight.
Rabb nodded. "Thank you ma'am." He said. Catherine kept very close to him as they crossed the sub's bow.
Once settled, Angel Fish closed the binder she'd been reading and reached down. She emerged holding a clear tube gently between her teeth. It was attached to an Oxygen tank. Both her planes worked to gently place the small grips on the tube into her nostrils. Then she flicked the on switch. She quivered a bit, then looked at Rabb. "Alright, what do you need? I'm all ears."
Remembering Mr. Harmson's advice Rabb addressed the submarine in a slightly louder tone than normal. "Admiral, what was your relation to Angel Shark?" He asked.
Angel Fish grimaced. "Despite what Mr. Harmson says my hearing is still highly superior to yours. It would be much appreciated if any unwanted comments were let unsaid, Miss. Catherine." She looked at the CIA agent.
Catherine stiffened and nodded, not saying a word for once.
"As for your question, Lt. Angel Shark was my sister."
"Younger or older?"
"Younger. I was the pathfinder for the class. Angel Shark was only 3 when she died. The rest of the class was cancelled after that. I'm the only one left." Angel Fish's green eyes darkened considerably.
"My condolences." He said and she nodded.
"Where were you at the time of Shark's sinking?" He asked.
"Official reports stated I was patrolling off the Alaskan coast. In reality I was patrolling off the Russian coast, 50 miles from my sister." She replied.
"Any particular reason why this has been kept secret?"
Catherine spoke up then. "You are under no obligation to answer that, Admiral." She said.
"Miss Catherine. If I wanted to hear your opinion, I would've asked for it." Angel Fish said, her voice hardening.
Catherine, looking miffed, said nothing in reply.
"As for your question, Lt. I was disobeying orders. I'd left my crew behind on the dock in Anchorage." She replied. "I would've been court marshaled for sure but the aftermath of Shark's loss made most everyone forget my incident." She handed him a file. "This was my case. You'll find that it is open and a hearing has been suspended. No verdict has yet been reached on the matter."
Rabb nodded, murmuring a thanks. "What was Angel Shark's mission at the time?" He asked.
"She was monitoring Soviet telephone communications. It was commonplace in the Cold War." She replied.
Rabb nodded. "Any particular reason why the CIA would wish to keep this silent after 34 years?" He asked.
"Stop right there Lt. Rabb. Admiral," Catherine addressed the submarine. "May I remind you of the Confidentiality agreements..."
Angel Fish cut her off. With gritted teeth and flared nostrils, the submarine growled "Miss Catherine. You've been shoving those documents down my throat for the past 25 years. I never once signed them therefore I am under no obligation to either disclose or withhold information. My actions are my own and on my own terms. I take them at my own risk."
"In the interests of National Security..." Catherine tried again only to be cut off once more.
This time, Angel Fish rose out of the water, fins gripping the edge of the dock. "I am well aware of the interests Miss Catherine. But I have been involved in things that I will likely take to my grave. I know what to disclose, and what not to disclose. I am a United States Guided Missile Submarine. I fall under the Navy's Directive only. I have no ties to the CIA. The only reason you are here is because of the extended generosity of Lt. Rabb and myself." The green eyes narrowed slightly. "Do not abuse it."
She turned back to Rabb. "When this matter was first classified I was in complete agreement with both the Navy and the CIA on the matter. It was in the best interests of National Security. But it's been 34 years. A lifetime for me. There were 129 good men aboard my sister that day, half of them had wives waiting for them back home. I wonder about what happened to my sister every day. For my sake, and those of the families, this secrecy must end."
There was a tone of finality in her voice, indicating that Rabb's visit was at its end. The Lt. Knew this. "Thank you for your time." He said, standing.
Angel Fish nodded. "You didn't ask me if I'd be willing to testify." She said.
"I would've but..."
"But you don't think a submarine who relies on an Oxygen tank due to the shit she smoked when she was younger could go 7 miles inland to a courthouse? Am I right?" She asked.
"I didn't say that." He said.
"No but you thought it." She rubbed her eyes. "Lt. Rabb. I will be there in court. Find a room that has at least 60 foot high doors that are 40 feet wide."
"That can be arranged." He said.
"And one more thing." Her eyes flickered to Catherine who took her cue and left. Leaning forward, Angel Fish whispered "A few hours after my sisters sinking I saw a Soviet Victor-class submarine returning to base with a bite mark on his propeller. It's common for submarines to fight amongst themselves within a fleet for dominance but I knew my sister, Lt. I'd recognize her bite anywhere."
"You're suggesting she was sunk by a Soviet?" Rabb whispered.
"I'm suggesting, Lt. That there was a fight of some kind, and she lost." Angel Fish sighed. She flicked the Oxygen switch off and removed the tubes before going for the still smoking cigarette in the dish. "Off with you now." She growled.
He saluted. "Ma'am."
...
"Angel Fish are you insane?!"
The submarine groaned as she listened to Mr. Harmson's lecturing. She'd asked for it though. She'd have to endure it.
"Going to a courtroom 7 miles inland in your condition is foolhardy. You may as well just commit suicide."
"I'm going to testify, Mr. Harmson. Do not speak to me of my condition I've already weighed the risks. If I die trying to get the CIA to release the truth after all these years then so be it! At least I tried!" She growled.
He sighed. "There's no talking you out of it now is there?" He asked.
"You should know me well enough to answer that yourself by now." She chuckled.
He stroked her nose, feeling her hot breath tickle his hand. "Be careful." He begged.
"I always am."
...
It was a few hours later that Angel Fish sat under the windows in the courtroom, listening to the testimony of the witnesses.
"With your permission, judge, I'd like to call the last witness to the stand." Rabb said.
"Proceed." said the judge.
"Admiral USS Angel Fish (SSGN-558). Commander of Submarine Forces, Pacific Fleet. Ret. 1998. Sister to the late Angel Shark."
Angel Fish used her planes to haul herself into somewhat of a sitting position.
"Does the witness speak English?" the judge asked somewhat quietly.
Angel Fish resisted the urge to roll her eyes as she replied "The witness has a name, a rank and brain 10 times as smart as yours, sir." Angel Fish growled. "And yes, obviously I do speak English."
"Very well, you may proceed Lt. Rabb." The judge said.
"Admiral, you say you were patrolling off a submarine base in Russia when you should've been in Alaska." Rabb said.
"That is correct yes." She replied. "I am fully aware I disobeyed direct orders in doing so sir."
"As Shark's elder sister, you were more or less responsible for her safety is that correct?"
"Objection, irrelevant." shouted Catherine.
"Overruled, proceed." The judge replied.
"Submarine families are very close knit is that right?" Rabb asked.
"We are more than close knit." Angel Fish replied. "When one of us dies, it leaves behind a scar much worse than any physical wound."
"Do you believe the CIA was correct in classifying these documents?" Rabb asked.
"At the time, certainly. It was in the best interests of National Security and was also as such to keep the information from me as well."
"Even though your clearance level was higher than the documents themselves?" Rabb asked.
She nodded. "Now however, I believe it's been long enough. I believe I speak for myself as much as the families of those lost that day when I say releasing the documents isn't prudent, it's necessary."
"Thank you. That is all your honor." Rabb said.
"You may cross examine." the judge said.
"Thank you your honor." Catherine said.
"Admiral," she addressed Angel Fish. "What was your clearance level at the time of the incident?"
"I had clearance level 2." Angel Fish replied.
"You first came to us in 1970 asking for the release of the documents regarding your sisters demise."
"That is correct."
"But we refused on the account of your refusal to sign to Confidentiality Agreements."
Again, Angel Fish answered the affirmative.
"Then how, may I ask, can you know anything regarding her demise if you never saw the documents yourself."
This seemed to visibly wound Angel Fish for the submarine flinched back, hiding her tears. "I didn't sign those documents, Catherine because they were altered." She pulled out a file, handing it to the judge. "The last clause had been added without proper authorization. I did the investigating myself. They wished to keep me from sharing the information with my numerous cousin who also had questions of their own within the fleet. To me this was a deep personal blow."
"How so?" The judge asked.
"Your honor with all due respect. I am a United States Submarine. There are missions I've participated in that are so classified I will likely take them to my grave. The fact that the CIA refused to grant me access despite my clearance level suggests they don't trust me to keep my mouth shut even though I'm at least 10 times better at that than their own agents." She growled, shooting a glare at Catherine who stiffened as she realized just what Angel Fish meant.
"Your written testimony says that you believe a Soviet Victor Class submarine sunk your sister. How did you come to that conclusion?" The judge asked.
"I saw a Victor Class cross my bow a few hours after Shark's sinking. He had her bite mark on his propeller. My theory suggests there had been a fight and my sister lost." Angel Fish replied.
"That is all, your honor. Thank you." Catherine said and returned to her seat, ignoring Angel Fish's glare and bared teeth behind her.
...
After several days of intense debate the verdict was nearly in. Rabb and Catherine had one last meeting together. The CIA agent had just been shown an incriminating tape. "If word of this gets out.." She whispered.
"Perhaps we can reach a compromise." Rabb suggested.
"What did you have in mind?" She asked.
"Partial declassification of the documents to the families. Just enough for them to know what happened with one exception. USS Angel Fish gets to see all of them."
As Catherine opened her mouth to argue, Rabb said "She should've seen these documents 34 years ago. If you can't trust her to keep quiet then you can't trust any one of her agents."
She thought for a minute. "You drive a hard bargain Lt. I'll talk to the DSO."
...
The courtroom held their breath as the verdict was read a day later.
"It is agreed that a partial declassification of the documents is necessary. Also, in the matter of USS Angel Fish's insubordination on 8 June 1968, this court finds her, not guilty."
Angel Fish breathed a sigh of relief. "Furthermore. Full declassification of the documents will go to USS Angel Fish only." The submarine grinned, green eyes brightening. To her it felt as though a huge weight had been lifted off her chest.
"They know now sister, they know." She whispered. She didn't bother to stop the tears as they flowed down the sides of her bow.
...
As Angel Fish left the courtroom she was met by her physician. Rabb watched the exchange from a distance and could tell it wasn't good.
The physician murmured something to her that caused Angel Fish's bow to drop. The subs body language just screamed defeat. She didn't look like someone who'd won a case. She look old and tired but also relieved in a way. She murmured something to her physician and flopped over to Rabb.
"Do you have the documents?" She asked him.
"Here ma'am." He replied, handing the binder to her. She looked through it and Rabb gave her a few minutes. When she finished, she looked up at him with tears in her eyes.
"Thank you." She whispered.
He nodded. "I saw you and that doctor." He noticed. "Allowing you to come here was a bad idea."
"So you know then?" She sighed.
He nodded. "I went through your medical file. By allowing you to come here, I've just killed you."
She shook her head. "I made my own choice. I knew coming here would be my last act. But it was worth it."
"We couldn't have won without you." He said. "Thank you."
She he shook her head. "No, thank you!" She replied.
...
Later that afternoon, Angel Fish returned to the water at the shipyards instead of her berth. The trip was solemn as she and her companion knew what was to come but left it unsaid. Rabb accompanied her as she slipped nicely into her dock, ducking under a tarp and moving forward so her bow stuck out.
"I cannot thank you enough." She said.
"I was merely..."
She held up a plane to stop him. "No. You understand the concept of submarine families. Only you know how much this means to me."
He nodded and Angel Fish rested against the dock. He stood to leave. "I'd like you to stay Lt. Rabb. Being alone doesn't suit me." She murmured.
He knelt down. "Of course." He replied. Reaching out a hand, he felt the smoothness of her black hull. The submarine gave a contented him as he scratched behind her ears.
"You're like a cat." He chuckled.
"Hmm. I've often been compared with one." She murmured.
"Rest Angel Fish. You've earned it." He whispered.
The submarine pressed her nose to his hand in reply. She understood.
Rabb stayed until the submarine's hot breath on his finger tips ceased. Then, he gently pulled the tarp up and over her bow so it covered her completely. Though he knew she couldn't feel it, he ran his fingers gently across her forehead and closed her half open eyes.
"Fair winds and following seas, Admiral." He whispered. He kissed her nose before rising. Taking a few steps back he saluted, then turned on heel and left.