Gate's Lawyers
Summary: This story starts during 'Solitudes' when Harm and Mac had to help to make cover story for SGC and go on as the SG-1 and JAG works together through the years to save the Earth.
Rating: T – for now just to be safe (probably will change to M for later chapters)
Spoilers: Solitudes, The Serpent's Lair on the Stargate side, Impact on JAG side and later episodes in later chapters, could develop into super-crossover with X-Files, Army Wives and Good Witch
Disclaimer: JAG belongs to Donald Bellisario, Bellisarius, Productions, Paramount, and CBS. Stargate SG-1 belongs to MGM, Double Secret and Gekko. I own nothing but the plot twists and any OC that I will introduce.
Note: This is continuation of the story JAG – Meeting before Rose Garden. For more back-story check that story in JAG section.
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Chapter 1 – Antarctic Gate
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0845 Zulu, Thursday 12th February 1998, Low Earth Orbit
It was called Oko, Russian for eye. It was product of underfunded Russian space program. Military needed spy satellite a and Science Academy needed photo satellite to support their Antarctic program so they combined resources and created two of these satellites. This was the second one and it neared the end of its planned life. After it photographed Australian military bases it flew over the area between McMurdo and Vostok stations and took pictures of white ice sheet. They were sent to control center near Moscow and scanned for new features like meteorites or some illegal research for big oil and ore prospecting companies.
The first 31 photos did not had anything unusual. When the comparing software processed the thirty second one it popped up warning on the operator's monitor. The man that was responsible for the process was veteran of the Russian Air Force and when he looked at the image he recognized the big transport plane as C-5 Galaxy. He knew that Americans used that planes in Antarctica or supply flights to Amundsen-Scott base or any other outposts around the continent. However this one lacked the orange markings that US Navy put on all their planes used on that continent.
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1800 Zulu, Thursday 12th February 1998, JAG HQ
Admiral Chegwidden got the call directly from the Secretary of Defense. It was urgent and the government wanted his best lawyers. International incident was something he never liked but this one was big and the fact that so far only Russians knew about it was blessing.
After he put down receiver of the phone Admiral pressed button on his intercom. "Tiner, get MacKenzie and Rabb here! ASAP!" He did not even waited for answer and went straight to bookshelf to find this year edition of the International treaties law book.
When Harm and Mac came to the office they found Admiral still standing at the bookshelf. He read one of the books.
"Sit down, both of you!" said Chegwidden and did not bothered to look up. He waited until they sat down and then put the book back to its place.
"Commander, Major. How good is your knowledge on International law? Antarctic Treaty in particular and the use of military equipment?"
Mac was better at this so Harm let her speak. "Basically all nations that signed it declared the whole continent one big reservation and banned placement of weapons and use of any military equipment other than the one all of its members agreed to. In our case it means Navy supply ships and specifically marked Navy cargo planes."
"You are correct, major. The problem is that Air Force started what they call rescue and recovery operation hundred miles from McMurdo base and Russian spy satellite caught the plane they used for it."
Harm leaned forward in his chair. "So where is problem, we tell them what's going on and they will be happy."
Admiral looked at Harm and pinched the bridge of his nose. "There is no official operation underway so we have nothing to tell. The unit that did it is so secret that only a few people outside of it know that they exist at all. They said that two of their officers were stuck in some ice cave for days and they had to get to them quickly."
Harm and Mac looked at each other as they did not understand what was the problem. "Sir?"
"That unit should not have any of its members outside of their base of operation. They do," now he had to look at his notes for help. "Deep Space Radar Telemetry. That unit answers only to top level of chain of command and from what Defense Secretary told me one of the two officers was the unit's second in command."
Harm still didn't got it but was eager to help with this investigation. "Sir, what shall we do?"
"Both of you need to sign the top secret level clearances first so your first stop will be at Pentagon to do the paperwork."
They nodded at that. They already had partial top secret clearances from the Bradenhurst Corporation trial so this had to be really high on the top secret level.
"Major, you are better at international law and are fluent at Russian. You are going to meet major Paul Davis. He is the liaison for this program. He will brief you and I hope you will be able convince international representatives that we did not broke the Antarctic Treaty."
"Yes, sir." answered Mac and nodded.
"Commander, you are my best investigator so you need to go to McMurdo. Air Force use it as forward base and from what I was able to find out they still have their two officers in the base hospital. Your plane leaves Andrews at 1930 Zulu."
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1915 Zulu, Thursday 12th February, Pentagon
After she and Harm read and signed what looked like infinite stream of pages of non-disclosure forms and the top secret eyes-only level forms Mac got temporally Air Force pass to the Pentagon. She then went with Technical Sergeant to office in the research and development projects on the second floor. The only designation on the door was name: "Maj. Paul Davis."
Mac was surprised that the inside of the office did not looked like she imagined. It was normal office like a lot of others in Pentagon. Like others used for top secret projects it did not had windows but there was one difference. Unlike most of military and government offices this one had modern computer. Or more precisely there were two computers. One was similar to the one she had in her own office but the other one was probably custom build model just for SGC. Mac soon found out why. Stargate Command stored all their files and reports on computers. It was deemed to be more secure and more effective than using paper files. The encryption system was created just for this one program and was done by Captain Carter. She was one of the two officers that were the the reason for this crisis.
After Mac read the general information sheets about the Stargate, SGC and the chain of command she was astonished at what the Air Force were able to do without any leak of information. Even the cover story looked like a real program. The 'Deep Space Radar Telemetry' was so vague that she thought it could be used as good cover story for this. She was asked to prepare some explanation that government could use to convince Russians that nothing bad happened and they would believe it.
Mac asked Major Davis to bring her printed version of the Antarctic Treaty and then she opened the report of the last mission of SG-1 written by General Hammond and started to write down notes for her report.
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2200 Zulu, Thursday 12th February, over Gulf of Mexico
When Harm got to Andrews he found out that he would be sharing passenger area of Galaxy with specialists on hypothermia treatment from Bethesda. They were called to help with the two officers that were still at base hospital. The plane also carried some special equipment that the medical team needed and other supplies that National Science Foundation wanted to get to the base.
Harm knew it would be long flight but he got a lot of materials about the true nature of the Stargate program and Master Sergeant that was responsible for the laptop and any document on its hard drive. Only the Sergeant know the passwords as they did not trust Harm with that. He asked why he had to use laptop and the answer he got made sense. After then Lieutenant Carter came to the program in 1992 she found that a lot of files from previous research were missing and decided to create her own file encryption and sorting program so she could had everything she needed in her computer. Since then she spread the program to all aspects of the Stargate program.
He was to investigate the program from the 'for the public' side. That meant the 'Deep Space Radar Telemetry' cover story. The true was wilder than he ever thought. They used ancient alien technology to travel instantaneously from one planet to another on the other side of the Galaxy. Not only that but they also fought what was described as parasitic aliens posing as Egypt and Greek gods. That was something that sounded like it came from science fiction novel but they did it for real.
He was stunned by the fact that government was able to keep something like that secret. Another unbelievable fact was that the commander of the base, only two star general just before retirement, had live nuclear weapons to his disposal. They already used one without overseeing authorities noticing that one stockpiled 150 kiloton warhead was missing. The deeper he got to the reality of what the program really did and how much people worked on their base the more he understood that when he and Mac signed the non-disclosure forms their lives change. Since Air Force already used Marines as combat support teams he was sure that one or both of them could end up transferred to Colorado Springs in the end so they would be available if the SGC needed lawyers again.
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2300 Zulu, Thursday 12th February 1998, Pentagon
Mac did not realized that it was already so late. She got so absorbed first in the reports and for what she now thought must had been more than a hour the Antarctic Treaty itself. She was expert at maritime law so she had to read the treaty only two times before she was able to come with some ideas about what would be best approach to the whole mess. She read the mission report and the treaty then wrote few notes and re-read the treaty and the SGC operation manuals and instructions and then she wrote down more notes. She now had almost three pages of text. It needed to be sorted and written in international law language but she at lest had something to start with.
Now her stomach told her that it was time to stop and eat something to recharge her energy. Major Davis came just as she went through her notes again. He saw that she had the treaty all around his office and the wrote her notes on one computer while she had the eyes-only files opened on the other. "Looks like you did a lot while I was at the meetings. Do you need something."
Mac smiled at his comment. Of course she wanted something. "In fact I do. I'm hungry so where is the closest place to get some food?"
Major Davis looked at his watches and realized that it was already six pm. "I will take you to our night cafeteria."
Mac didn't knew how good or bad the food they served was but if she got something with a lot of meat and spicy enough she would be glad and ate it.
Major leaded them out of his office and down the stairs. "I think that you would like to catch some sleep tonight. General Hammond is on his way her so he could sort things our with Chiefs of Staffs and with the president. He would like to meet you at eight in the morning when he is done with others. But before you go I want you to read the first version of the cover story we got together for this."
Mac nodded and followed Major where he lead her as her only task now was to get some food.
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1210 Zulu, Friday 13th February, Pegasus Field/McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Harm was glad that they had arrived to Antarctica because the nearly 17 hour long flight gave him only 5 hours of sleep. Before they started their descend loadmaster came to all of the passengers and gave them polar gear together with basic instructions about how they should behave after they land and then during their stay in polar region. February in Antarctica meant that it was middle of summer season but the temperatures still did not get much above 40 Fahrenheit.
Despite it was past midnight as the base used New Zealand time there was still enough light for the plane to land safely. The airplane rolled to designated location and ground personnel moved fast to unload it as fast as possible. Harm and rest of the passengers hurried to the bus that would get them to the McMurdo. It was not that cold but the strong wind made the 26 degrees feel like barely zero or even colder.
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1250 Zulu, Friday 13th February, Pentagon
Mac had to use subway to get to the Pentagon in the morning. Her car was still parked at JAG Headquarters. She made note to ask someone to move it back to Washington so she could use it again. With her pass she had no problem to get in and she went straight to the office and back to her work. Major Davis was already here but she suspected that he slept here or came for the meetings with General Hammond really early. Mac had the previous night to think about her approach and she thought that she found better one. After just forty minutes she wrote four pages of explanation based on international law of the sea and Antarctic Treaty. She nearly finished the part of explanation about the fact that US Air Force was not forbidden to use their aircrafts above Antarctica and if necessary use them in SAR role when the phone on the major's desk ringed and he answered it.
"Yes, sir. … Major is nearly done, sir. ...We will be there in five minutes."
Mac looked up from the computer screen. She already wrote the reasons in international law language and she knew that she had to write something specific to this incident.
"General wants to see us now, major."
Mac saved the file and closed it before she followed Davis to the secured conference room.
The conference room was small one and by the maps of the Middle East, former Yugoslavia and central Africa that hung on the walls it was most likely used for special operations staff meetings. There were few senior Air Force officers and two generals. She immediately recognized the Chief of Staff so the other had to be Major General George Hammond. He looked tired like he did not slept for some time.
The two generals finished their conversation and "Major MacKenzie, I'm General Hammond. I know that we did not help you by pulling you from your work to this mess but we needed someone who know international law. President use naval officers so we decided to ask for you."
"General, I must tell you that this is unusual work but both Commander Rabb and I worked on secret operations before."
"From what Major Davis told me you will have your report soon."
"I will not finish it before I can talk with Commander Rabb and compare ours views on the legality of your rescue operation and I need more info about the story you prepared about the reason why you started your SAR action."
"So what's do you think that we can defend ourselves against other treaty members?"
"I think so. Based on my knowledge of international law you were allowed to flew there but you still need to have your cover story to be consistent with it. The first version I saw yesterday was weak one but it was a start."
General Hammond nodded. He got the same draft of the cover story too and with help of four other officers that worked on top secret cover stories before they came with better one. President gave them green light and they made it more believable and able to withstand deeper digging from the Russian military intelligence. "We have a better one." He gave her folder with the final version. "It says that we tested hypersonic high altitude airplane During one of the radar tests we lost control and the aircraft crash-landed in Antarctica."
Mac listened to him and read the text he gave her at the same time. It was consistent with the text she had so far. "I think I can work with that. I hope to talk with Commander Rabb later today and then I will be able to finish my report."
George Hammond smiled. If his calculations were correct Rabb's plane already landed and with enough luck State Department would have final version before the end of work day in Moscow.
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1400 Zulu, Friday 13th February, McMurdo Station, Antarctica
"Captain Koonan?" asked Harm when he saw familiar face.
"It's Major now. I was recalled to active duty." Like others he was in the polar gear that personnel of the McMurdo used when they worked inside. Stargate personnel did not wanted to draw attention to themselves so that suited them.
"You were?" Asked Harm. He was surprised that someone wanted John Wayne type of Marine like Koonan to be part of Stargate program.
"Yes, they needed someone to train men to be prepared for anything."
"And you accepted." Based on what Harm read about SGC they already had their share of tough situations. "Will you take me to the hospital so I can see Colonel O'Neill and Captain Carter."
"I can take you there but you will have to ask doctor Fraiser first."
They went outside and then to the hospital building that had all the latest equipment that were certified and tested in the harsh condition of polar nights. There were five people inside. The two patients that Harm assumed were O'Neill and Carter and three medical personnel. One of them had to be doctor Fraiser.
Janet Fraiser knew that the specialists that flew from Bethesda were one of the best in the world but the approach that they suggested was something she would not consider at all. The truth was that she was always good with injuries and infections but she did not invest much time to study how to treat people that suffered from the cold or hot environment. She noticed that Major Koonan came with someone so after the McMurdo doctor and one of the specialists left she went to them.
"Commander, this is doctor Janet Fraiser." Said Major Koonan.
"Doctor, I'm Lieutenant Commander Rabb from Navy JAG. Can I see your patients?"
"No, we put them to sleep so their bodies can heal faster. We almost didn't get there in time. And the flight here nearly killed the Colonel." Janet was worried about the fact that Navy sent one of their JAG officers here. SGC was part of Air Force after all.
"OK. Can we talk somewhere in private so you can tell me what happened?"
Janet thought about it. McMurdo did not had much places for talk about secrets of SGC but there was at least the psychiatrist's office. "Come with me, commander."
Harm followed the petite doctor and formed his opinion oh her. She had commanding authority and with her low rank that meant something.
"So what do want to know, Commander?" asked Janet when they closed the door of the office.
Harm considered what he should tell her. She was CMO of the SGC so she probably had higher clearance than he got for this investigation. "I was sent here to investigate why you flew here with Air Force plane. Russian spy satellite took picture of the C-5 you used and they want some explanation."
"General Hammond ordered the flight immediately after Daniel Jackson found where Colonel and Captain were. They spent nearly five days in that cave and Colonel lost a lot of blood. Had it not been for the cold he would be dead. We had to do emergency surgery when we got him here. I would trust doctors here with Sam. I mean Captain Carter. Colonel O'Neill is different story. During his test pilot and black ops career he sustained a lot of injuries and had to eject from plane two times. I know his condition better than any other doctor so I had to go here."
Harm now understood why they flew to Antarctica and did it without any word to the Navy or other agencies. "You know I was sent here to cover your action and now I see why you did it the way do did. I will have to speak with other people here and write something up."
Janet nodded at that. She was glad that he was not here to prosecute them but she was bothered by his presence anyway. "It will take few days before we will be ready to move them back to Colorado Springs."
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2100 Zulu, Friday 13th February, Pentagon
Mac already finished her first draft on the report and was glad that Harm finally called. After she incorporated the cover story she got from General Hammond she was able to write six more pages of reasoning.
"Hi, Harm. What did you found out?"
"I talked with doctor Fraiser and few others. I assume you had similar conversation with some of the SGC personnel too."
"I did," said Mac.
"Based on the time that it took to locate the site, the flight time and the necessary security I think it there was no other possibility than do the rescue with Air Force plane and their own people."
"I concur. All the reports that I read told me that. I would like to read your report or at least notes before I submit my report to the State Department."
"Major Koonan told me that they set up secured link to sent data. I will send it to Major Davis when I rewrite them to the computer."
Mac was surprised to hear that name. They were after all responsible for end of his career in Marine Corps. "What is he doing there?"
"He train the security personnel including few Marines. You should have my report in a few hours. I still need clear some things with doctor Fraiser."
"I'm counting on you. State Department wants my opinion on paper today. Bye, Harm."
"I will get it to you as soon as I finish it. Bye."
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2300 Zulu, Monday 16th February, Pentagon
The flight back from McMurdo was longer than Harm anticipated. First they flew to New Zealand onboard the Navy Hercules. Then they used one of the Air Force's C-141 that got them to Colorado Springs Harm landed on Reagan Airport just thirty minutes ago. Thanks to his uniform and only one bag he had with him he got out of the airport and to Pentagon really fast.
"On behalf of the Stargate program I thank you," said Air Force Chief of Staff. Both Harm and Mac were now considered to be part of the Stargate program. That put them in good/bad position. The good side was that thanks to that they were both on the fast track for promotion now. The bad was that their knowledge of the program meant they had to make sure they would not compromise the secret. Especially to Bud. He would jump thru the roof if they would tell him the truth but at the same time he would probably leak it to others.
"Thank you, sir." Harm and Mac said it at the same time.
"Without your work we would have to reveal some of our secrets. We consider Russians to be our allies now but this is something we would like to keep secret as long as possible. The president wanted to thank you himself but other matters prevented it. As I recall you already met him, Commander."
"Yes, sir." Harm met the current president when he received his DFC more than year ago.
"If we need lawyers again you can expect to be called here or to SGC. I will send memo of your good work to Admiral Chegwidden."
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0130 Zulu, Tuesday 17th February, Mac's apartment
They decided that since Harm had nothing fresh in his fridge they would spent this night at Mac's. The other thing was that Mac had her car in Washington while Harm's was still in Falls Church.
Mac went to her bedroom and changed from uniform to her Marine sweatshirt and jeans. She was sick of uniform. As she had been in Pentagon for more than twelve hours each day for the past five days so she thought she should get comfy for the evening.
Harm waited until Mac was out of sight and then he opened his travel bag. He knew that this gift was late but since he was away it would have to work. He put his hand with the gift behind his back and stood in the living room until Mac returned. "Happy belated Valentine's day, Mac." They kissed lightly and then Harm showed her the gift.
Mac smiled widely. She did not knew how or where he bought it but she got heart shaped box full of small chocolates. "Thanks, Flyboy. You are so sweet." They kissed again this time it was proper kiss full of love.
After they kissed for what seemed to them like hours Mac returned her thoughts to more practical things. "We order or are you up to cooking us dinner?"
"Depends on what you want?" asked Harm and went to Mac's fridge.
"Like you had to ask. I'm dying for your pasta salad."
Harm found all ingredients he needed and started to cut the vegetables as he waited for water to boil. "Why don't you prepare tub. The pasta needs to cool before we can eat it."
"Sure, will you join me?" asked Mac over the shoulder as she was already on her way to her bathroom.
"Count on it."
When the pasta was done Harm put it to bowl and poured some oil on it. He knew that it would take nearly half an hour so he went to the bathroom.
Mac was in the tub and she covered herself in bubbles. When Harm came in she was playing with them. "What are you waiting for, sailor. You afraid of little water?"
Harm smiled widely. "Just admiring the view."
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Next chapter – Strange Court Martial (in x-over section)