* * * * * *
"Marines Do Not Grovel"
Sturgis looked up at the hollow tap of the knock against his office door.
"Enter."
Mac complied, closing the door behind her.
"Let's talk a deal," she suggested.
"I was just about to take a break Colonel. Care to join me?" he replied, meeting her at the door.
"Is that an OK-let's-discuss-a-deal Commander?"
"Came here for a purpose then?"
"Yes," she replied, following him out the door.
"Ok, how's this for a deal, charges as they stand, minimum sentence."
"No way, the minimum sentence for war crimes extends beyond my client's life span Commander. Try again."
"Ok, I'll drop the war crimes to murder."
"Forget the civilians altogether."
He laughed, "Maybe if you got down on your knees and grovelled before me."
"Marines do not grovel Commander," she informed him, "Especially in front of squids."
"Come on Mac," he looked at her in disbelief, "I am giving you a fair deal here."
The Marine raised an eyebrow and returned his look, "I have a client that says she's innocent Commander."
"You have a client who is a fanatical anarchist."
"A fair but less-than accurate evaluation Commander. She's not on trial for her political stance."
"She won't need to be. I've got all the evidence on my side, plus precedent.''
Mac rolled her eyes, "1971, US Army lieutenant convicted of murder for massacring villagers in Vietnam, yeah, we all know the case."
"Not just that Colonel,"
"Ok, you've got precedent. War crimes aren't tolerated by this country, but that's not really a problem if she's innocent."
"You believe that Colonel?"
"I believe there's a few holes in her story, but the professional co- ordination of troops in a war zone can be questioned in this particular circumstance."
"She was overdue, leading her men outside the area of operation and massacring civilians: what more to it is there?"
"See that's what you're arguing because a black and white, open-shut, high profile case would be brilliant for your career. What I'm arguing is that there is cause for doubt, reasonable doubt, that this incident is being over-dramatised by high-powers to cover up their mistakes."
"What mistakes?"
"The op orders were changed, after the troops were deployed."
"So? They were notified by radio."
"Read the section on communications, second paragraph of the original orders: strict radio silence. The message wasn't sent, or at least, wasn't received."
"What about the war crimes?"
She smiled secretively, "That's my wild card Commander."
"My deal stands as is. Unless you want your client receiving an injection, you might want to consider it Colonel."
"She says if she goes out she does so fighting."
"Marines."
"Submariners."
"You want my advice, forgetting we're opposing each other for one second?"
"I get the feeling I'm going to get it, wanted or not."
"Take the deal."
"See you in court."
"You'll regret it," he warned her, "No one likes a radical who doesn't play by the book."
She smiled, "You forget who the judge is," she paused, "He *is* a radical that doesn't play by the book."
"Who's a what Mac?" Harm interrupted, sliding past her and into the break room.
"She was just informing me that she had an advantage in your courtroom because you are, and I quote, a radical that doesn't play by the book," Sturgis informed him, eyeing Mac circumspectly.
"I have other advantages too," she grinned
"And what would they be Colonel?" Harm countered, amused by her attitude.
"Women have always been a man's weakness," she replied.
"You forget, I still have to pay you back for what you did to me," he retorted.
"You can pay me back any time Harm," she
"As long as you return the favour Colonel."
"Five times over I promise."
"Do you guys always have conversations like this over coffee?"
"That's not the worst of what we do over coffee Commander," Mac replied, feeling incredibly happy with herself.
Sturgis chose that moment to remove himself from the break room, observing the pair in slight amusement.
"So what is the worst we do over coffee Colonel?"
"I don't know, want to find out?"
"You think that's a good idea?"
"Probably not, but it'd be fun."
He leant over to whisper to her, "Sure you'd be good."
Her smile widened, and she shot him her I-am-so-about-to-kick-your-ass look, "You'd be better."
"I don't know about that Mackenzie."
"Wanna find out?"
"Sure, I'll meet you for coffee on Saturday?"
"If you'd like."
"Very much so."
She grinned, "Deal."
"That's what you were trying to get with Sturgis?"
"Not that kind of deal Commander."
"I should hope not."
"We're not allowed to discuss the trial before the trial."
"So there is going to be a trial?"
"Would I deprive you of your chance to pay me back?"
"I don't know Colonel, would you?"
"Depends how you intend to pay me back."
"I don't know," he paused, "You operate pretty much within the boundaries of reasonability in court Mac."
"It's a woman thing."
"That is one thing you will not get away with. I get the feeling there may be too much Marine oestrogen on one side of this case."
She flashed him a huge smile, "Afraid it'll distract you Commander?"
"More worried it'll kill all the men that stand in your path, including me, " he regarded her pointedly, "It's no women against the rest of the defence force Mac."
"Not everyone thinks the way you do Harm."
"I didn't either until I met you. Don't be unrealistic in expecting old ideas to change instantaneously. I never would've given a female officer as much credibility as I do now 5 or 10 years ago. But then I met you, and you changed the way I thought about women in uniform. Every male serviceman who encounters a female officer or defence force member who shows aptitude and efficiency in her role or job will begin to show the same respect. Give it a little time."
"Do you mean that?"
"What?"
"Did I really change your opinions that much?"
"I was never sexist Mac, but yeah, you did change my mind, about lots of things."
She stared at him, "That means a lot to me Commander."
"Good, keep that in mind in court. I don't think this case is about women's rights within the armed forces anyway. It's more about a Captain who made some mistakes in a war zone."
"Do you believe people should be forgiven for their mistakes?"
"Yes."
"No matter what the mistake?"
"I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, Colonel. Yes, I do believe in the human capacity for contrition, but it doesn't really matter what I believe because the military justice system doesn't concur with me on this issue. There's a system in place for a reason. It works on principles of punishment for infringements of the rules. It also works on the principal of a fair trial, and that's what your client will get Mac, a fair trial. Free of any advantages, or disadvantages, hormone induced or otherwise."
"Doesn't really sound like pay back to me Commander."
"I never said I wouldn't make you suffer Colonel, just informed you I wouldn't do it at the expense of your client. Unlike you."
"Excuse me!" she protested, "I object to that, I was fair. I just didn't let you play your usual tricks."
"What do you know about my tricks Mac?"
"Depends what kind you're talking about."
"I think you scared Sturgis before," he smiled at her.
"Yeah, it's a distinct possibility, given his subsequent rapid departure," she agreed dryly.
"Who do you prefer, me or him?"
"What, to work with?"
"No, to work against."
"You."
"Why?"
"You're less fanatical about the codes of justice and more interested in the practical application of those codes in administering justice."
"You basically just told me I'd make an easy judge."
"As long as you're not easy in other things."
"I don't think you'd have much trouble in other things Mac."
Her smile widened a little further, "What kind of other things?"
"What we were going to find out over coffee on Saturday."
"Ok."
"So I'll call you?"
She nodded.
"Shouldn't you get back to work Colonel? You have a Captain to defend."
"Shouldn't you get back to work Commander? You have an Article 134 to review."
"Don't remind me."
"Instant headache?"
"Yeah."
"Reminds me of my defence."
"Why?"
"So far I've got; the orders were impractical and stupid, the reckless endangerment wasn't reckless and the war crimes were in self-defence. Promising," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Like I said, a fair trial."
"Promise?"
"For you? Yeah."
* * * * * * *
A/N: I am having so much fun in my contravention of school codes of conduct regarding computer use researching this fic. The Uniform Code of Military Justice was easy enough to find (67 pages), offences punishable under Article 134 of this code (39 pages) was a little more difficult to find, and the Manual for Courts-Martial (856 pages) is too long to print anywhere. But anyway, it's interesting still. I am most amused by law, particularly military law. I promise to make the trial follow procedure as accurately as I can due to my knowledge. The joys of long, legal documents. *grins*
He he, remember this chapter: many famous last words included here.
"Marines Do Not Grovel"
Sturgis looked up at the hollow tap of the knock against his office door.
"Enter."
Mac complied, closing the door behind her.
"Let's talk a deal," she suggested.
"I was just about to take a break Colonel. Care to join me?" he replied, meeting her at the door.
"Is that an OK-let's-discuss-a-deal Commander?"
"Came here for a purpose then?"
"Yes," she replied, following him out the door.
"Ok, how's this for a deal, charges as they stand, minimum sentence."
"No way, the minimum sentence for war crimes extends beyond my client's life span Commander. Try again."
"Ok, I'll drop the war crimes to murder."
"Forget the civilians altogether."
He laughed, "Maybe if you got down on your knees and grovelled before me."
"Marines do not grovel Commander," she informed him, "Especially in front of squids."
"Come on Mac," he looked at her in disbelief, "I am giving you a fair deal here."
The Marine raised an eyebrow and returned his look, "I have a client that says she's innocent Commander."
"You have a client who is a fanatical anarchist."
"A fair but less-than accurate evaluation Commander. She's not on trial for her political stance."
"She won't need to be. I've got all the evidence on my side, plus precedent.''
Mac rolled her eyes, "1971, US Army lieutenant convicted of murder for massacring villagers in Vietnam, yeah, we all know the case."
"Not just that Colonel,"
"Ok, you've got precedent. War crimes aren't tolerated by this country, but that's not really a problem if she's innocent."
"You believe that Colonel?"
"I believe there's a few holes in her story, but the professional co- ordination of troops in a war zone can be questioned in this particular circumstance."
"She was overdue, leading her men outside the area of operation and massacring civilians: what more to it is there?"
"See that's what you're arguing because a black and white, open-shut, high profile case would be brilliant for your career. What I'm arguing is that there is cause for doubt, reasonable doubt, that this incident is being over-dramatised by high-powers to cover up their mistakes."
"What mistakes?"
"The op orders were changed, after the troops were deployed."
"So? They were notified by radio."
"Read the section on communications, second paragraph of the original orders: strict radio silence. The message wasn't sent, or at least, wasn't received."
"What about the war crimes?"
She smiled secretively, "That's my wild card Commander."
"My deal stands as is. Unless you want your client receiving an injection, you might want to consider it Colonel."
"She says if she goes out she does so fighting."
"Marines."
"Submariners."
"You want my advice, forgetting we're opposing each other for one second?"
"I get the feeling I'm going to get it, wanted or not."
"Take the deal."
"See you in court."
"You'll regret it," he warned her, "No one likes a radical who doesn't play by the book."
She smiled, "You forget who the judge is," she paused, "He *is* a radical that doesn't play by the book."
"Who's a what Mac?" Harm interrupted, sliding past her and into the break room.
"She was just informing me that she had an advantage in your courtroom because you are, and I quote, a radical that doesn't play by the book," Sturgis informed him, eyeing Mac circumspectly.
"I have other advantages too," she grinned
"And what would they be Colonel?" Harm countered, amused by her attitude.
"Women have always been a man's weakness," she replied.
"You forget, I still have to pay you back for what you did to me," he retorted.
"You can pay me back any time Harm," she
"As long as you return the favour Colonel."
"Five times over I promise."
"Do you guys always have conversations like this over coffee?"
"That's not the worst of what we do over coffee Commander," Mac replied, feeling incredibly happy with herself.
Sturgis chose that moment to remove himself from the break room, observing the pair in slight amusement.
"So what is the worst we do over coffee Colonel?"
"I don't know, want to find out?"
"You think that's a good idea?"
"Probably not, but it'd be fun."
He leant over to whisper to her, "Sure you'd be good."
Her smile widened, and she shot him her I-am-so-about-to-kick-your-ass look, "You'd be better."
"I don't know about that Mackenzie."
"Wanna find out?"
"Sure, I'll meet you for coffee on Saturday?"
"If you'd like."
"Very much so."
She grinned, "Deal."
"That's what you were trying to get with Sturgis?"
"Not that kind of deal Commander."
"I should hope not."
"We're not allowed to discuss the trial before the trial."
"So there is going to be a trial?"
"Would I deprive you of your chance to pay me back?"
"I don't know Colonel, would you?"
"Depends how you intend to pay me back."
"I don't know," he paused, "You operate pretty much within the boundaries of reasonability in court Mac."
"It's a woman thing."
"That is one thing you will not get away with. I get the feeling there may be too much Marine oestrogen on one side of this case."
She flashed him a huge smile, "Afraid it'll distract you Commander?"
"More worried it'll kill all the men that stand in your path, including me, " he regarded her pointedly, "It's no women against the rest of the defence force Mac."
"Not everyone thinks the way you do Harm."
"I didn't either until I met you. Don't be unrealistic in expecting old ideas to change instantaneously. I never would've given a female officer as much credibility as I do now 5 or 10 years ago. But then I met you, and you changed the way I thought about women in uniform. Every male serviceman who encounters a female officer or defence force member who shows aptitude and efficiency in her role or job will begin to show the same respect. Give it a little time."
"Do you mean that?"
"What?"
"Did I really change your opinions that much?"
"I was never sexist Mac, but yeah, you did change my mind, about lots of things."
She stared at him, "That means a lot to me Commander."
"Good, keep that in mind in court. I don't think this case is about women's rights within the armed forces anyway. It's more about a Captain who made some mistakes in a war zone."
"Do you believe people should be forgiven for their mistakes?"
"Yes."
"No matter what the mistake?"
"I like to give people the benefit of the doubt, Colonel. Yes, I do believe in the human capacity for contrition, but it doesn't really matter what I believe because the military justice system doesn't concur with me on this issue. There's a system in place for a reason. It works on principles of punishment for infringements of the rules. It also works on the principal of a fair trial, and that's what your client will get Mac, a fair trial. Free of any advantages, or disadvantages, hormone induced or otherwise."
"Doesn't really sound like pay back to me Commander."
"I never said I wouldn't make you suffer Colonel, just informed you I wouldn't do it at the expense of your client. Unlike you."
"Excuse me!" she protested, "I object to that, I was fair. I just didn't let you play your usual tricks."
"What do you know about my tricks Mac?"
"Depends what kind you're talking about."
"I think you scared Sturgis before," he smiled at her.
"Yeah, it's a distinct possibility, given his subsequent rapid departure," she agreed dryly.
"Who do you prefer, me or him?"
"What, to work with?"
"No, to work against."
"You."
"Why?"
"You're less fanatical about the codes of justice and more interested in the practical application of those codes in administering justice."
"You basically just told me I'd make an easy judge."
"As long as you're not easy in other things."
"I don't think you'd have much trouble in other things Mac."
Her smile widened a little further, "What kind of other things?"
"What we were going to find out over coffee on Saturday."
"Ok."
"So I'll call you?"
She nodded.
"Shouldn't you get back to work Colonel? You have a Captain to defend."
"Shouldn't you get back to work Commander? You have an Article 134 to review."
"Don't remind me."
"Instant headache?"
"Yeah."
"Reminds me of my defence."
"Why?"
"So far I've got; the orders were impractical and stupid, the reckless endangerment wasn't reckless and the war crimes were in self-defence. Promising," she said sarcastically, rolling her eyes.
"Like I said, a fair trial."
"Promise?"
"For you? Yeah."
* * * * * * *
A/N: I am having so much fun in my contravention of school codes of conduct regarding computer use researching this fic. The Uniform Code of Military Justice was easy enough to find (67 pages), offences punishable under Article 134 of this code (39 pages) was a little more difficult to find, and the Manual for Courts-Martial (856 pages) is too long to print anywhere. But anyway, it's interesting still. I am most amused by law, particularly military law. I promise to make the trial follow procedure as accurately as I can due to my knowledge. The joys of long, legal documents. *grins*
He he, remember this chapter: many famous last words included here.