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Harm's residence
Naples
Late Evening
"...And that's how Jenn - Legalman 1st Class Coates came to live next door bought by me for Mattie for a long term," Harm concluded his explanation.
"And uh…that's was, uh all legal?" Skates asked.
"Well, on hindsight, it was a stretch but no one in the whole of the Navy or DC complained."
"And... you really resigned your commission then got it back and between you worked for this teenager, later took care of her and she still survived after a crashing a plane..."
"The whole story is weird but true. Admiral Chegwidden has his flares, just like me. Mattie is a strong girl, like you."
"I'm still apprehensive about that Senator. He may quite likely quiz you about the close accommodation with Jenn Coates and your sudden change of commission across 2003. Oh, I better get back."
"I can handle it sweetheart. Take care," Harm kissed her.
Judge Advocate General Headquarters
Naval Forces Europe
0900 hours local
"Sir, sir, sir!" Legalman 1st Class Coates tried to stop her boss from entering his office but failed.
Harm saw two men. "Did I request your presence?" He asked, sarcastically.
"Senator George..."the one who had grey hair and thick-belly started, sticking out his hand.
"Fernandez," Harm tried not to snort as he mentioned the name and did not shake his hand. "And you are?"
"This is my aide," Harm tried to get the other nameless guy out but Admiral Star and Vice Admiral Quinn entered and told Harm to allow that aide, then left. "So what?"
"You've had an interesting life, Captain. First you entered JAG fast enough after a mishap on a carrier. Then you asked to leave to be back as a F-14 pilot. Later, you returned to JAG as there was no hope on the Patrick Henry..."
"Do I have to hear my own work life story?" Harm asked now with an annoyed tone. He noted the aide started taking notes while the Senator wasn't reading of any.
"You continued to have questionable jobs alongside your career at JAG, also having conflicts with your colleagues some whom you had personal relationships with..."
"Tell me Senator, which office does not have such interactions?" Harm continued with the same tone.
"In May 2001, you crashed an F-14, miraculously got rescued, cleared off any negligence or mishap, and across late 2001, your personal relationships..."
"I detest you venturing into any of my relationships," Harm was now growing angry.
"Ok, how about you being arrested for suspected murder Lieutenant Loren Singer..."
"You know very well I was acquitted and the real murderer was arrested Senator," Harm's anger was notable in his voice.
"And you were very uncooperative during the investigations and as then and now, you display adverse emotions and anger."
"The case was closed fast. Now what else do you want, I have a job to do," Harm tried to calm down.
"And then Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie was recruited, well seconded to the CIA for an operation in Paraguay, and you in a heated argument with then Rear Admiral Chegwidden, resigned your commission, and battle Al-Qaeda terrorists especially Sadik Fahd."
"I cannot and will never not talk about any activities I may or may not have participated with any US intelligence agencies," Harm raised his voice now. "Anything else?"
"This CIA battle continued as you miraculously regained your commission and position at JAG without any questions," Harm shook his head as he heard this, "and MacKenzie had a personal fight with Fahd and he hit your ears, giving temporary deafness..."
"I'm really beyond annoyed now, Senator," Harm's anger was now very prominent. "You have one more statement and then out you two go from my office."
"You are a four-ring Captain Rabb, albeit advancing too rapidly. You have a questionable past in both Navy, Navy JAG and extracurricular activities," Harm wanted to interjected but just kept a stormy face. "And your roommates in 2004 in your place back in DC were extremely questionable, yet no one, not even your senior officers, raised questions to the Inspector General. You had rocky professional and personal relationship with your co-workers, and yet nothing was raised up. The Senate Armed Services Committee will be examining your past and present activities. Make yourself available, we shall try to conduct hearings via video conference.
The two men exited the room faster than Harm could again respond. Jenn Coates entered, and her cloudy face didn't lift Harm's spirits. With the door closed, she blurted out that another of Fernandez's interviewed her about her lodging with Mattie and her professional and personal life with Harm and her relationship with the JAG personnel. "I didn't reveal anything that could incriminate you, sir." She concluded.
"Not your fault, Coates," Harm remarked just then one of his phones rang. Coates moved over to answer. "Sir, there's a Meg Austin waiting outside who wishes to meet you?"
Harm gestured to send Meg in and Coates left them in privacy. "Harm, some black-suited men and a woman cornered me and asked me a hell load of questions about working and interacting with you, despite working with you for just a year and hardly interacting with you after that."
"Some snake-like Senator is reviewing my past professional and personal lifestyle, and most probably Skates' as well" Harm replied and explained what had just transpired. "Oh gosh, are you able to handle this? I could help out; I could go comfort Skates..."
"I'm fine Meg; I can handle it. It's best you don't stick your finger into this; your own Navy and current work may come under this rat of a Senator. But if you have another visit from these people or being shadowed, call me immediately." He gave her his office and cell phone number as she reached out and hugged him deeply, like a sister hugging her brother.
USS Wade McClusky
Off the Italian Coast of NAS Sigonella
Skates used to be able to handles challenges and various dangerous scenarios, but this was different and maybe threatening. Some weasel of a Senator is threatening her commission and maybe even her future career. The same asshole is also threatening Harm, a great aviator, an excellent lawyer and now her wonderful boyfriend. "Bastard, Asshole," Skates started a litany of swearing her parents would never approve but they weren't around and she never approved of hr father's anti-military stance.
In the middle of her continuous cursing, there was a rapid knock on her personal hatch. Skates would have ignored it until she heard the name. "Whatcha want Shooter?" She tried to change her gloomy face but couldn't.
"Well first to comfort you," he started but Skates replied with an annoyed 'I don't need any comfort; I'm a female, hear me roar, I'm the CO!' until her throat ran dry and he poured her a glass of plain water.
"Look," Shooter passed over a folder with notes and figures printed on the papers. "Our squadron scored the highest in everything. Even the ratings scored 100% in their evaluation and tests. All due to your leadership Hawkes."
"Uh thanks," Skates took another sip of water. "But that's not the reason why "Oh, yeah, there's a..."
Judge Advocate General Headquarters
Naval Forces Europe
US Sixth Fleet
2100 hours local
"Here's the complete rebuttal report sir," LN1 Jennifer Coates passed over a thick binded folder to Harm. The seasoned JAG skimmed through it and remarked, "this looks like the report we used when Lindsey was attacking us."
"Well, I used it was a base for our rebuttal to Senator Fernandez, I can edit it again."
"Jenn," Harm reverted back to her first name since the rest of the staff had left. "Leave it for tomorrow or another day. It's getting late, why don't you head back to your place?"
"Sir, I can work on it fast..."
"Coates," Harm reverted back to Navy formality, "head back to your lodging. I'm also leaving now."
As soon as Harm kicked off his shoes his doorbell rang. He spun around, initially thinking it was Fernandez or another of his henchmen. The person through the peephole told him otherwise.
"Skates?! I thought you were on your carrier." The young F/A-18E CO was in a coat and slack, hair let down.
She walked past him then spun around. "We've ordered to deploy for strikes on Taliban targets. Early."
"Hmm, ok, that's normal," Harm replied.
"Not normal for a carrier that's still has broken parts and besides my squadron, all other squadrons have need to buck up. Same with the rest of the carrier departments and the escorts," she continued, with a gloomy face.
"Alright, so the entire strike group is broken, but that's happen before. Something's on your mind?"
"It's the whole damn Fernandez thing," She fell into his arms. Harm tried to console her that being deployed, the Senator and his team couldn't bother her. Skates replied the senior staff - Rear Admiral Ingles, CAG and DCAG Captain Art Mason - told her she still could open to further questioning via secure video link. Harm told her told be calm always have the Carrier
Strike Group JAG with her, or some other JAG. Don't worry about it, Harm concluded.
"Harm," Skates pulled out something rubbery out of her pocket. "I won't be seeing you for three months or more. There will be tighter restrictions or emails or calls out. Let's do it, let's make love," she dropped her coat and lifted up her blouse.
Judge Advocate General Headquarters
Naval Forces Europe
US Sixth Fleet
0900 local, the next day
Harm stared out through his rain-soaked windows. The cuddling and sex with Skates was beyond wonderful but that was just temporary and sex is just sex. Harm knew the aircraft carrier lifestyle - pre-deployment mock exercises and evaluations. Tough combat drills and physical exercises. Personal evaluations and for COs, extensive monitoring of their squadron's performance and personal interviews. Harm thought back about Skates' statements that there would be a tighter communications blackout hence both of them couldn't email or talk to each other. Harm wasn't strong in emails - He always needed someone to help him attach files - and long-distances calls could only replace face-to-face meet ups to a certain extent.
Now Harm knew lots of couples had the struggle of long-distance relationships but they probably never had a Senator investigating them. Damn that Fernandez guy, why couldn't this be a peaceful time?
Weeks later
Arabian Sea
The aircraft carrier USS Wade McClusky was steaming rapidly towards the waters near Pakistan. There was another to be another carrier joining them but for some reason that carrier strike group was delayed. Skates was looking out into the sea also thinking about Harm when a Lieutenant Commander with cap on walked up and saluted. "Ma'am, Admiral Ingles wants to see you in his private office."
Ingles? Well it could good news, though she couldn't think of what. It could also mean her silver oak leaves could be changed to a lower rank; a video link chilly thought covered her whole body as she knocked on the hatch.
"At ease Commander," Tobias Ingles gestured her to sit. There was another to be another carrier joining them but for some reason that carrier strike group was delayed. Skates was looking out into the sea also thinking about Harm when a Lieutenant Commander with cap on walked up and saluted. "Ma'am, Admiral Ingles wants to see you in his private office."
Ingles? Well it could good news, though she couldn't think of what. It could also mean her silver oak leaves could be changed to a lower rank; a chilly thought covered her whole body as she knocked on the hatch.
"At ease Commander," Tobias Ingles gestured her to sit. There was another man in the room. Unlike the average American guy, he was as tall as Skates, crew-cut dark hair and a rectangular face. He introduced himself as Jon Steinberg.
"We would like a pin-point surgical strike on a Taliban base, no fortress, east of Taleqan, and we've chosen you Commander Hawkes, to strike the target."
"Taleqan, Taleqan," That wasn't a familiar name despite her knowledge of Afghanistan cities and towns by now. A map was produced and Skates exclaimed, "That's freakin' far! I'll probably need at least four, or five refuelling and I'll be tired by the time I cross feet. Wait, who are you," she stared at the new man. "Why do you want me to strike this far away target? Give it to the BUFFs or even stealth aircraft."
"Jon Steinberg," the guy replied, not extending his hand to shake hers. "Intelligence," he added. Skates was about to question which intelligence agency but immediately suspected the CIA and let him talk. "There's a sudden rising extremist faction in that area led by a certain person called Al-Khan; we don't know his full name but we know he exists. If we don't attack his base know, he'll tip the war in Afghanistan to his favour and cause super chaos. Large aircraft or a group strike won't work; he has ways to detect them. You're an ace in low-level strikes and avoiding any detection Commander, therefore you."
There was an ensuing argument between Skates and this intelligence guy. She produced arguments again of the distance, he countered that he had arranged tankers and AWACs and sufficient hidden support. She asked what he meant by low-level strikes and how this terrorist would be able to detect her F/A-18. He gave some answer she couldn't counter. The argument continued with Ingles only interjecting sporadically, in Skates' favour. "You don't have to do this if you don't want to, Skates," He finally said.
"This is Sensitive compartmented information..." Steinberg began.
"I'll take it," Skates stood up, although back in her mind had small doubts about it.
Days later...
Skates was suited up in her flight suit and gear. It was really early in the morning but as a seasoned aviator, she could see well. There were hardly any personnel on deck or aircraft except her F/A-18. There were modified parts. which Steinberg claimed were stealthy material. Unusually, the Flyco and bridge were only dimly lighted up and she guessed the spook somehow managed to clear those areas. The carrier's escorts as well were further away, almost in violation of norms. What the hell, the she thought, but the idea of a strike with some special air-to-ground weapon she was only introduced to, did not dissuade her. Half -an hour later, she was jolted off the carrier by the steam catapult. Following the given directions, she joined the usual NATO aircraft buzzing around Pakistan and Afghanistan airspace. Hours later, approach her Initial Point, Skates dived down, and received the coded message that no radar had detected her drop. She now concentrated hard; despite given enough fuel and special conformal fuel tanks, she could still run out of gas.
"Blue Jay, Falcon, approaching green." she typed in the special communications gear and received an acknowledge. Suddenly, there was a loud blaring and lights flashed on her Super Hornet's primary flight display. It was a Surface-to-Air Missile (SAM), no two of them! Skates immediately banked hard left and released chaff and flares. Her sharp bank and countermeasures foiled one SAM, but as she made another turn and turned her IFF to 'mayday', she almost managed to pull the ejection chords as the second SAM struck her engines.
TBC