ABOUT US 2: Surprise, Surprise
Author: LeE
e-mail: lee_81881@yahoo.com
Classification: Romance H/M A little adventure
Disclaimers: JAG doesn't belong to me. It belongs to DPB and CBS. I'm just having some fun while procrastinating on homework...
Author's Note:
*From Part 1*
The mission hadn't seemed like anything different from what Webb would normally be involved in. The CIA had weird ways of dealing with international matters sometimes, and Harm just assumed this time was one of them. His mind went back to three days before, when Webb had briefed him on the situation, hoping he could remember anything that could help him figure out exactly what was happening...
*Part 2*
TWO DAYS BEFORE
TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2002
0400 EST
ABOARD USS PATRICK HENRY
"Hey, Clay. So, what dangerous spy mission do you have for me this time?" I say and smile as I enter the briefing room aboard the USS Patrick Henry.
Clay simply glares. My smile fades quickly as I take in the seriousness in Webb's face. Not that I've ever seen him cheery, he sure looks different. "Listen, Rabb. This is a life or death deal, all right. I'd appreciate it if you could turn down that ego of yours down a notch and think of your country's best interest here"
"Jeez, Webb. What's going on? Is it that bad?" I've never heard Webb talk to me like that before. Sure, we've had our differences, mainly due to the fact that his missions have a strange tendency to go south, but we've always been able to rely on each other. This mission must be really important.
"It's worse than bad, Harm. It's damn horrible" Webb says as he tries to regain some of his composure. I can feel something weird about him. Something's not right, but I chalk it up to nerves or anxiety on his part and ignore the nagging feeling that's threatening to over take me.
"Well, what do you need me to do?" I say as relaxed as I can.
Webb stands up, and paces the room a few times before he speaks. "There's a mole in the CIA"
"What?" I whisper almost to myself. My mind immediately drifts back to the time we had thought Webb was dead. The name of Clark Palmer runs through my mind quickly and I open my mouth to speak. Webb immediately raises a hand to stop me before I can say anything.
"I know what you're thinking, Harm. It's got nothing to do with Palmer. The mole is high up in the chain. We believe it's the DCI, Donald Trent."
"Webb" I warn lowering my head slightly. To accuse the Director of Central Intelligence of compromising National Security is a big deal. It could ruin Webb's career and most likely get him killed.
"The Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, James Callahan, authorized this mission, Harm. I'm not doing this just because I have a hunch. There's substantial evidence behind this accusation, and only a handful of people know about this. You're one of them"
"So, should I consider myself damned?" I say only half-jokingly. Webb picks up quickly on the nervousness in my voice and smirks. I've seen Webb sneer before, but never like this.
"I would say that's a fair assessment of the situation, Counselor. Harm, we're doing this for our country. You knew this would be dangerous before you said yes to this mission, however, if you want to back out now do it before it's too late"
Webb knows me. He's just using his lame psychology on me. He knows I won't back down from a challenge. I'm too proud for that. Besides, after the information I've just been given, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do anything to help my country. It's my job and I'm good at it, so I'll do it. I feel a small smile grow on my lips as I realize this is exactly what Mac meant when she said it would kill me if I backed down from this challenge.
"No. I'll do it" I reassure him.
"Fine. This is the deal. A few weeks ago we intercepted a call from a location in Afghanistan we've been monitoring for a while now. The call was made from Trent's office in Langley. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is scheduled to arrive at Norfolk in a few weeks. We have reason to believe that Trent has been working with a highly trained group of terrorists that are currently aboard the ship. Their plan is to blow it up once it docks."
"How the hell did terrorists manage to get aboard the ship? And why haven't they been arrested?"
"It's not that easy, Rabb" Webb's voice hides a trace of amusement, and his eyes seem to almost reveal something remotely similar to... satisfaction? I pick up on it quickly. I've known him for a long time, and never had he seem anything but committed to his duty, as different as it may be from mine. This attitude from him just takes me aback.
"Why the hell not?" I answer exasperated.
"Because they're Naval officers," He states simply. No trace of irritation, bitterness, anger, or resentment. It's almost as if he expected this to happen, as if he's reciting some story that happened in another planet a million years ago. CIA and Navy work differently, but relatively, Webb has always shown the same commitment to his job that I show for mine. Our methods are different, but I've never doubted his honor, even when his job has led him down less than honorable paths. This attitude just doesn't become him.
"Hold up. You're telling me that there's a group of Americans aboard that ship who support terrorism? And they're Naval officers?"
"Yes. That's correct. Now, I know how you feel about this. I almost didn't believe it myself at first. However, we need to find them and stop them"
"And how do we do that, Webb?" I ask, thinking that maybe he's just having a bad day; as strange as that may sound as related to Clayton Webb.
"That's where you come in, Rabb. I need a pilot. The only way we'll get the insight on this is from the source itself. I need to know whom those people report to and where before the USS Theodore goes back to Norfolk. We're 90% sure that it's in Afghanistan, because of registered communications between the ship and the location we picked up from Trent's call three weeks ago. There's one pilot aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt who is working with us. His name is Lt. Jason Moore. He'll be placed on sick leave as of tomorrow, and we'll send you to the ship to replace him. You've flown combat missions before, which gives us the perfect excuse for bringing you in to lead this one. We know about two members of the flight squadron who are involved in this, Lt. Jacobs, and his RIO, Lt. Smith. Normally, we would've neutralized them at once. However, this is a delicate operation because the main suspect is the DCI himself. It's taken a while to get this operation under way without him suspecting, and we can't afford to draw any attention to this before we know exactly what is their ultimate purpose."
"Wait a minute. How did you get this operation approved without informing the DCI himself?"
"Like I said before, Callahan, the DDCI is working with us. Technically, he has the power to perform the duties of the DCI in case of an emergency. Once this secret is out, it will be declared an emergency in the Intelligence Community"
"Well, what do you expect me to do when I get to the ship? Fish for information?"
"No. You'll be one of them"
"What?"
"A mission has been authorized to bomb the location we've been monitoring. We informed the CAG about this, but he doesn't know all the reasons why the location is being destroyed. You'll lead this mission. Obviously both pilots will fly with you. I need you to keep an eye and make sure the mission isn't compromised. They won't be briefed until you arrive on board. We're sure there's many other locations and organizations working for Trent on this. We need to wipe out both pilots on this mission. They won't know it's coming and they certainly won't blow their covers by disobeying orders. I'll give you the exact location and I need you to make sure the place is destroyed, all right?"
"Well, that sounds simple enough. But, what do you mean wipe out both pilots? Kill them just like that? I'm not killing anybody, Webb!"
"Relax, Harm. Everything's arranged. Let's just say they'll have a hard time returning to the ship after the mission. We won't exactly kill them. Just neutralize them. Leave that up to me. You just fly the mission and comeback home. Skates will be your RIO."
"What do you mean neutralize them?! How do you even know they won't back down from the mission and bomb the ship instead out of desperation when they figure out what's going on?"
"They won't. Listen Harm. Those pilots are not the brains behind the scheme. They're simply minor players that can be replaced. Even if they managed to inform Trent about the bombing mission beforehand, they have many other organizations working for them, and that abandoned building in Afghanistan is definitely not the only place they operate from. Trent won't compromise their ultimate goal to save the life of a few of his people that might be in that place. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the place were a decoy. The mission tomorrow is a cover to get rid of the moles aboard the ship. This is the way it has to be done, end of story."
"Well, if you're saying they're only minor players in this, then why take them out? Why not just arrest them?" I ask.
"We may not need the pilots to get information, they don't know much anyway. What we DO need is the communications between the ship and Afghanistan stopped. That will disrupt their original strategy and will buy us some time to figure out exactly what they're planning on doing and how extensively this web of terrorism goes. We need it to look real. We can't afford to draw too much attention to this, and if we just go and arrest them, we'd have to tell them why, and that would open up tons of other possibilities we're not ready to deal with right now. Hence the reason you're being briefed here instead of at the USS Teddy. There might be other officers aboard that ship involved, and if we arrest Smith and Jacobs, it might scare them into doing something drastic. As much as I'd like to, I can't just go to the ship and kill them myself, even though they're technically terrorists. It's the only way, Harm."
"I just can't understand how a pilot could betray our country that way. After all we go through to make it in the air, why would they just throw it away?"
Webb simply nodded and spoke. "For some people, their job is just that. A job. Not something that controls their lives." Webb says, and I notice the strain in his voice as he says it. Is he talking about me? Or him?
He quickly recovers. "You leave in a couple of hours. The mission is scheduled for tomorrow morning" As I turn around to leave the briefing room I feel Webb's hand on my shoulder and turn around to face him.
"Thank you for backing me up on this. Good luck" I simply nod and leave. He said thank you? Webb? Nah... Something still feels out of place, with Webb. The mission seems simple enough; as simple as flying in a combat zone gets. Fly to Afghanistan, bomb a building, and return to the ship. As I think over Webb's words a sense of uneasiness settles in. 'Wipe out both pilots'. How exactly is he planning on doing that? Is he going to shoot them down on their way back?
*********
BACK TO PRESENT
SOMEHWERE IN AFGHANISTAN
THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2002
As his mind wandered around the past few days, Harm kept quiet. A piercing shout from Webb brought him back to the grim reality he now faced. With amazing effort, Harm managed to open his eyes and looked around. What he saw startled him. The brick wall right across from him had opened up, and there sat Webb in a rather comfortable chair, surrounded by monitors, computers, and thousands of bright blinking buttons. Harm was so out of it he couldn't tell exactly what Webb was saying, until he heard him identify himself. Harm realized Webb was probably counting on his unconscious state to make his move. It was life or death, and Harm realized that now, more than ever, his country needed him. Harm recognized the Skipper's voice over the radio and realized that Webb was communicating with the USS Theodore Roosevelt. With a superhuman effort, Harm opened his eyes completely and leaned slightly forward.
"You heard me, Skipper. I have your Commander Rabb here with me"
"Webb, what are you up to? Why are you doing this?" the Skipper replied, trying to reason with him.
"Listen now. The Commander is alive, for now. But he won't be for long if you don't do as I say. Understood?"
Harm listened to the conversation as attentively as he could manage. He now understood. The threat to the ship had come from Webb, and not from the "terrorists", but he still didn't understand why. He thought back to the mission briefing a thousand times, but there were so many loose ends. If Webb was now openly threatening the ship like a terrorist, then why did he need such an intricate charade to arrange the deaths of Lts. Smith and Jacobs? More than that, why would Webb need him as hostage? Sure, Harm and Webb had been somewhat friends over the past few years, but that still didn't explain why Webb chose him. Did Webb think Harm would help him? No. Webb couldn't be that out of it. His mind was spinning as he tried to remember any detail that could help. A loud beep sound from the control room in front of him caught his attention. It was an incoming call.
"Jay" Webb answered.
'Jay?' Harm thought. Why would Webb use that name? He had identified himself as Webb when he spoke to the ship. Why was he changing his name now? Could it be some sort of code speaking to communicate with the people working for him?
"This is Moore. The target is confirmed. The bomb is in place. Awaiting notification to proceed with phase two"
'Moore' Harm thought. That name sounded so familiar. Moore...Moore... ohh, wait.. Jesus! Lt. Moore. 'He was the one I was supposed to substitute on the ship. He's the one who was supposedly working with the CIA aboard the ship.' That could only mean one thing. Lt. Moore had to be a double agent, just like Webb was.
"Confirmation acknowledged. Proceed to phase two"
Phase two. What the hell was phase two? He must have said this out loud because Webb turned around at once and gave him a menacing look. This was a side of Clayton Webb that Harm had never thought existed. He had worked with Webb before. He knew how Webb handled himself in these types of cases. Harm still didn't know much about what was happening, so he decided to use his trained investigative mind to try to get a handle on this situation. Silently listing the pieces of information he had collected, he looked up once again to meet his captor's gaze.
TBC
Author: LeE
e-mail: lee_81881@yahoo.com
Classification: Romance H/M A little adventure
Disclaimers: JAG doesn't belong to me. It belongs to DPB and CBS. I'm just having some fun while procrastinating on homework...
Author's Note:
*From Part 1*
The mission hadn't seemed like anything different from what Webb would normally be involved in. The CIA had weird ways of dealing with international matters sometimes, and Harm just assumed this time was one of them. His mind went back to three days before, when Webb had briefed him on the situation, hoping he could remember anything that could help him figure out exactly what was happening...
*Part 2*
TWO DAYS BEFORE
TUESDAY MARCH 12, 2002
0400 EST
ABOARD USS PATRICK HENRY
"Hey, Clay. So, what dangerous spy mission do you have for me this time?" I say and smile as I enter the briefing room aboard the USS Patrick Henry.
Clay simply glares. My smile fades quickly as I take in the seriousness in Webb's face. Not that I've ever seen him cheery, he sure looks different. "Listen, Rabb. This is a life or death deal, all right. I'd appreciate it if you could turn down that ego of yours down a notch and think of your country's best interest here"
"Jeez, Webb. What's going on? Is it that bad?" I've never heard Webb talk to me like that before. Sure, we've had our differences, mainly due to the fact that his missions have a strange tendency to go south, but we've always been able to rely on each other. This mission must be really important.
"It's worse than bad, Harm. It's damn horrible" Webb says as he tries to regain some of his composure. I can feel something weird about him. Something's not right, but I chalk it up to nerves or anxiety on his part and ignore the nagging feeling that's threatening to over take me.
"Well, what do you need me to do?" I say as relaxed as I can.
Webb stands up, and paces the room a few times before he speaks. "There's a mole in the CIA"
"What?" I whisper almost to myself. My mind immediately drifts back to the time we had thought Webb was dead. The name of Clark Palmer runs through my mind quickly and I open my mouth to speak. Webb immediately raises a hand to stop me before I can say anything.
"I know what you're thinking, Harm. It's got nothing to do with Palmer. The mole is high up in the chain. We believe it's the DCI, Donald Trent."
"Webb" I warn lowering my head slightly. To accuse the Director of Central Intelligence of compromising National Security is a big deal. It could ruin Webb's career and most likely get him killed.
"The Deputy Director of Central Intelligence, James Callahan, authorized this mission, Harm. I'm not doing this just because I have a hunch. There's substantial evidence behind this accusation, and only a handful of people know about this. You're one of them"
"So, should I consider myself damned?" I say only half-jokingly. Webb picks up quickly on the nervousness in my voice and smirks. I've seen Webb sneer before, but never like this.
"I would say that's a fair assessment of the situation, Counselor. Harm, we're doing this for our country. You knew this would be dangerous before you said yes to this mission, however, if you want to back out now do it before it's too late"
Webb knows me. He's just using his lame psychology on me. He knows I won't back down from a challenge. I'm too proud for that. Besides, after the information I've just been given, I couldn't live with myself if I didn't do anything to help my country. It's my job and I'm good at it, so I'll do it. I feel a small smile grow on my lips as I realize this is exactly what Mac meant when she said it would kill me if I backed down from this challenge.
"No. I'll do it" I reassure him.
"Fine. This is the deal. A few weeks ago we intercepted a call from a location in Afghanistan we've been monitoring for a while now. The call was made from Trent's office in Langley. The USS Theodore Roosevelt is scheduled to arrive at Norfolk in a few weeks. We have reason to believe that Trent has been working with a highly trained group of terrorists that are currently aboard the ship. Their plan is to blow it up once it docks."
"How the hell did terrorists manage to get aboard the ship? And why haven't they been arrested?"
"It's not that easy, Rabb" Webb's voice hides a trace of amusement, and his eyes seem to almost reveal something remotely similar to... satisfaction? I pick up on it quickly. I've known him for a long time, and never had he seem anything but committed to his duty, as different as it may be from mine. This attitude from him just takes me aback.
"Why the hell not?" I answer exasperated.
"Because they're Naval officers," He states simply. No trace of irritation, bitterness, anger, or resentment. It's almost as if he expected this to happen, as if he's reciting some story that happened in another planet a million years ago. CIA and Navy work differently, but relatively, Webb has always shown the same commitment to his job that I show for mine. Our methods are different, but I've never doubted his honor, even when his job has led him down less than honorable paths. This attitude just doesn't become him.
"Hold up. You're telling me that there's a group of Americans aboard that ship who support terrorism? And they're Naval officers?"
"Yes. That's correct. Now, I know how you feel about this. I almost didn't believe it myself at first. However, we need to find them and stop them"
"And how do we do that, Webb?" I ask, thinking that maybe he's just having a bad day; as strange as that may sound as related to Clayton Webb.
"That's where you come in, Rabb. I need a pilot. The only way we'll get the insight on this is from the source itself. I need to know whom those people report to and where before the USS Theodore goes back to Norfolk. We're 90% sure that it's in Afghanistan, because of registered communications between the ship and the location we picked up from Trent's call three weeks ago. There's one pilot aboard the USS Theodore Roosevelt who is working with us. His name is Lt. Jason Moore. He'll be placed on sick leave as of tomorrow, and we'll send you to the ship to replace him. You've flown combat missions before, which gives us the perfect excuse for bringing you in to lead this one. We know about two members of the flight squadron who are involved in this, Lt. Jacobs, and his RIO, Lt. Smith. Normally, we would've neutralized them at once. However, this is a delicate operation because the main suspect is the DCI himself. It's taken a while to get this operation under way without him suspecting, and we can't afford to draw any attention to this before we know exactly what is their ultimate purpose."
"Wait a minute. How did you get this operation approved without informing the DCI himself?"
"Like I said before, Callahan, the DDCI is working with us. Technically, he has the power to perform the duties of the DCI in case of an emergency. Once this secret is out, it will be declared an emergency in the Intelligence Community"
"Well, what do you expect me to do when I get to the ship? Fish for information?"
"No. You'll be one of them"
"What?"
"A mission has been authorized to bomb the location we've been monitoring. We informed the CAG about this, but he doesn't know all the reasons why the location is being destroyed. You'll lead this mission. Obviously both pilots will fly with you. I need you to keep an eye and make sure the mission isn't compromised. They won't be briefed until you arrive on board. We're sure there's many other locations and organizations working for Trent on this. We need to wipe out both pilots on this mission. They won't know it's coming and they certainly won't blow their covers by disobeying orders. I'll give you the exact location and I need you to make sure the place is destroyed, all right?"
"Well, that sounds simple enough. But, what do you mean wipe out both pilots? Kill them just like that? I'm not killing anybody, Webb!"
"Relax, Harm. Everything's arranged. Let's just say they'll have a hard time returning to the ship after the mission. We won't exactly kill them. Just neutralize them. Leave that up to me. You just fly the mission and comeback home. Skates will be your RIO."
"What do you mean neutralize them?! How do you even know they won't back down from the mission and bomb the ship instead out of desperation when they figure out what's going on?"
"They won't. Listen Harm. Those pilots are not the brains behind the scheme. They're simply minor players that can be replaced. Even if they managed to inform Trent about the bombing mission beforehand, they have many other organizations working for them, and that abandoned building in Afghanistan is definitely not the only place they operate from. Trent won't compromise their ultimate goal to save the life of a few of his people that might be in that place. Actually, I wouldn't be surprised if the place were a decoy. The mission tomorrow is a cover to get rid of the moles aboard the ship. This is the way it has to be done, end of story."
"Well, if you're saying they're only minor players in this, then why take them out? Why not just arrest them?" I ask.
"We may not need the pilots to get information, they don't know much anyway. What we DO need is the communications between the ship and Afghanistan stopped. That will disrupt their original strategy and will buy us some time to figure out exactly what they're planning on doing and how extensively this web of terrorism goes. We need it to look real. We can't afford to draw too much attention to this, and if we just go and arrest them, we'd have to tell them why, and that would open up tons of other possibilities we're not ready to deal with right now. Hence the reason you're being briefed here instead of at the USS Teddy. There might be other officers aboard that ship involved, and if we arrest Smith and Jacobs, it might scare them into doing something drastic. As much as I'd like to, I can't just go to the ship and kill them myself, even though they're technically terrorists. It's the only way, Harm."
"I just can't understand how a pilot could betray our country that way. After all we go through to make it in the air, why would they just throw it away?"
Webb simply nodded and spoke. "For some people, their job is just that. A job. Not something that controls their lives." Webb says, and I notice the strain in his voice as he says it. Is he talking about me? Or him?
He quickly recovers. "You leave in a couple of hours. The mission is scheduled for tomorrow morning" As I turn around to leave the briefing room I feel Webb's hand on my shoulder and turn around to face him.
"Thank you for backing me up on this. Good luck" I simply nod and leave. He said thank you? Webb? Nah... Something still feels out of place, with Webb. The mission seems simple enough; as simple as flying in a combat zone gets. Fly to Afghanistan, bomb a building, and return to the ship. As I think over Webb's words a sense of uneasiness settles in. 'Wipe out both pilots'. How exactly is he planning on doing that? Is he going to shoot them down on their way back?
*********
BACK TO PRESENT
SOMEHWERE IN AFGHANISTAN
THURSDAY MARCH 14, 2002
As his mind wandered around the past few days, Harm kept quiet. A piercing shout from Webb brought him back to the grim reality he now faced. With amazing effort, Harm managed to open his eyes and looked around. What he saw startled him. The brick wall right across from him had opened up, and there sat Webb in a rather comfortable chair, surrounded by monitors, computers, and thousands of bright blinking buttons. Harm was so out of it he couldn't tell exactly what Webb was saying, until he heard him identify himself. Harm realized Webb was probably counting on his unconscious state to make his move. It was life or death, and Harm realized that now, more than ever, his country needed him. Harm recognized the Skipper's voice over the radio and realized that Webb was communicating with the USS Theodore Roosevelt. With a superhuman effort, Harm opened his eyes completely and leaned slightly forward.
"You heard me, Skipper. I have your Commander Rabb here with me"
"Webb, what are you up to? Why are you doing this?" the Skipper replied, trying to reason with him.
"Listen now. The Commander is alive, for now. But he won't be for long if you don't do as I say. Understood?"
Harm listened to the conversation as attentively as he could manage. He now understood. The threat to the ship had come from Webb, and not from the "terrorists", but he still didn't understand why. He thought back to the mission briefing a thousand times, but there were so many loose ends. If Webb was now openly threatening the ship like a terrorist, then why did he need such an intricate charade to arrange the deaths of Lts. Smith and Jacobs? More than that, why would Webb need him as hostage? Sure, Harm and Webb had been somewhat friends over the past few years, but that still didn't explain why Webb chose him. Did Webb think Harm would help him? No. Webb couldn't be that out of it. His mind was spinning as he tried to remember any detail that could help. A loud beep sound from the control room in front of him caught his attention. It was an incoming call.
"Jay" Webb answered.
'Jay?' Harm thought. Why would Webb use that name? He had identified himself as Webb when he spoke to the ship. Why was he changing his name now? Could it be some sort of code speaking to communicate with the people working for him?
"This is Moore. The target is confirmed. The bomb is in place. Awaiting notification to proceed with phase two"
'Moore' Harm thought. That name sounded so familiar. Moore...Moore... ohh, wait.. Jesus! Lt. Moore. 'He was the one I was supposed to substitute on the ship. He's the one who was supposedly working with the CIA aboard the ship.' That could only mean one thing. Lt. Moore had to be a double agent, just like Webb was.
"Confirmation acknowledged. Proceed to phase two"
Phase two. What the hell was phase two? He must have said this out loud because Webb turned around at once and gave him a menacing look. This was a side of Clayton Webb that Harm had never thought existed. He had worked with Webb before. He knew how Webb handled himself in these types of cases. Harm still didn't know much about what was happening, so he decided to use his trained investigative mind to try to get a handle on this situation. Silently listing the pieces of information he had collected, he looked up once again to meet his captor's gaze.
TBC