Two weeks later on the Thursday before the wedding, Coates entered Mac's office.

"Ma'am, I've just been handed this. Admiral Morris had to recuse himself from the case because his nephew was on one of the ships involved." She handed Mac a file. "It goes to Article 32 on Tuesday." Mac opened the file and read it.

"Have you ever heard of an NR-1?" Mac asked.

"No ma'am. Would you like me to find out?"

"No I'll take care of it. Is Commander Rabb involved in this case?"

"He's second chair for the defence ma'am." Coates replied.

"Okay. Arrange for both the prosecution and the defence to be here in an hour." Mac instructed.

"Yes ma'am. If they're not available?"

"As soon as possible."

"Yes ma'am."

~

"Ma'am, Commanders Rabb and Turner and Lieutenant Roberts are here to see you." Coates informed her an hour later.

"Show them in."

"Yes ma'am. Sirs you can go in."

"Come in gentlemen and take a seat." Mac encouraged.

"You needed to see us?" Sturgis said as they sat.

"Yes, I've been handed this case this morning. Lieutenant Hundell." Mac looked over the docket. "First I need to know if either the prosecution or the defence have a problem with me taking over."

"Can I ask what happened to Admiral Morris?" Bud asked.

"His nephew serves on the Tallahassee, so he recused himself. Commander do you have a problem?"

"No your honour. I don't foresee and problems."

"Lieutenant Roberts?" Mac asked.

"No ma'am."

"Good. So to start with I'd just like to clarify a few things. The NR-1 rammed into the side of the USS Tallahassee."

"Ma'am, I'm not comfortable with the term rammed." Bud said.

"Let me rephrase. The NR-1 was on a course which led to a collision with the USS Tallahassee cause hull damage to both vessels?"

"Yes your honour." Sturgis confirmed.

"I'm about to make an unusual request so bare with me." There was a knock on the door. "Enter." She called.

"Sorry to interrupt ma'am. Miss Madison is on line two; she has a problem with her flight."

"Thanks Jen." Jen left.

"Would you like us to leave?" Sturgis offered.

"No stay. This won't take a minute." Mac picked up the phone. "Hey sweetheart. are you going to be okay staying at the airport by yourself?... Okay I'll pick you up then... Trish will help you with that tomorrow. Her flight gets in tonight too.. Call me back if there are anymore problems, otherwise I'll be there to pick you up then.. I love you too. I'll see you later." Mac hung up. "Her flight is delayed by two hours." She told them. "Now where was I?"

"You were about to make an unusual request." Bud supplied.

"Right. I have no idea what a NR-1 is. So before we go to court next week, I'd like to find out. I take it one of you is planning on calling an expert on the NR-1?"

"Yes your honour." Sturgis replied. "I'm calling Dr Harold Pinter and Lieutenant Commander Wertree."

"Would it be possible for you to get one of them here before noon tomorrow to brief me?"

"Mac we go on leave tomorrow." Harm informed her.

"I know that Commander but I'd like this information before we go to court on Tuesday. Commander Turner would it be possible?"

"Lieutenant Commander Wertree is at Norfolk so I can get him here tomorrow."

"I'd like him here for 1000."

"Ma'am, I don't know if this is legal. It could be prejudicial." Bud interrupted.

"Lieutenant, I'm not asking for information in relation to the incident. I'm just asking for specifics of the NR-1, its class, armament, personnel levels. Just the specification. Counsel will be present and can object to any of my questions at any time."

"That should be okay ma'am." Bud confirmed.

"Good. Commander set it up. That will be all."

"Yes your honour."

TBC