"Homing Missiles"

A/N: Well, I have to tear myself away from fanfiction to finish my History and English assignments. Grr… *growls* Brb… *growls some more*

*grins*

Am back, will write…

Oh, I figured the entire plot out last night- if I write it well it should be good. *grins*

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Mac dashed for the cover of the entrance to the base as grey clouds fulfilled their promise of rain. She slipped her cap garrison (A/N: I WANT ONE! Ahem, *coughs*) and walked toward the administration building. After registering herself as a visitor, she followed the directions of the corporal at the desk to the legal office.

She was met by two Marines, who reflexively snapped to attention as soon as she entered.

"Ma'am," the commissioned officer acknowledged her.

"Thank you Captain," Mac responded traditionally.

"If I'm not interrupting," she waited for confirmation before continuing, "I'm looking for Captain McGrath?"

"You're looking at her Ma'am," the Captain replied, "You'd be Colonel Mackenzie Ma'am?"

"Yes Captain."

"If you could just wait one second, I'll be finished here," she requested.

"Sure."

The Captain resumed her conversation for a total of 50 seconds according to Mac, but other than that, she was true to her word. Once Mac was seated opposite the Captain in the small office she shared with someone else who wasn't present, Seraphine McGrath suggested a conversation.

"I'm just going to ask you a few general questions Captain, a bit of an orientation for me, Ok?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Firstly, you're Captain Seraphine McGrath, USMC?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Nice name Captain."

"Thank you Ma'am."

"You look relatively young Captain, where else have you been posted?"

"I was posted on a few ships, two warships, one carrier. About three years ago I was posted here, and here I am Ma'am."

"You're service record indicates you're good at what you do. What exactly do you do here?"

"Well Ma'am, this is the first place new USMC personnel come to do their orientation courses. There are also other training activities that take place on base, but mainly we introduce people to the Corps. We run a course for the direct entry officers twice a year, other than that, we're training the maggots, the privates. Before they specialise or do any combat training, we do military familiarisation courses. My role in all this is to serve as legal aid and assistance to the CO, same sought of stuff you do on board a ship, or operational base. I'm also in charge of the logistics and legal side of the training, what we can and can't do with the maggots, the limits we have to set of physical training, separation of men and women," she paused, "Just stuff like that. Due to staff shortages, I also brief the members of each course on the military's legal system, the policies regarding harassment and discrimination, OH&S, the codes they'll be expected to uphold as members of the Marines, etcetera, etcetera. I'll also sit down and discuss contracts with them at the end of the training period, which is when they have to commit to service or not."

She inhaled deeply before continuing, "It's all reasonably procedural, but I like watching the development that occurs during the month the groups are here. Does that answer your question Ma'am?"

"Yes, thanks Captain. Uh, I'd like to ask you about your relationship with Sergeant Purdy."

"We've known each other since high school Ma'am. I've always been reasonably good friends with her, we've always worked well with each other and she's teased me before, but all in good fun. It's not like what she's saying now is any different from a year or so ago, I mean, it's a bit different, but now she's being more accusatory, rather than mocking and far more public. The entire base seems to know what she's teasing me about these days."

"So she's said things like this before?"

"Yes Ma'am, about heaps of guys. But it was always jokes before this, good-natured banter, friendly exchanges of argument."

"And you say this is different? Why? What exactly is she saying?"

"She's been telling people that," the Captain stopped in contemplation, "That I'm in love with Tom, I mean, Brigadier General McNeil, that he's having an affair with me, that I'm sleeping with him, that he favours me because of it, that the reason I was promoted was because…"

Mac interrupted, "I get the picture Captain."

She noted that the officer had used her CO's first name, scribbling it on the top of her notes, not sure if she should ask about it. The woman seemed to be getting defensive already; any questioning regarding the truth of the rumours might ruin any positive outcomes of the interview.

"When did she start spreading these rumours? Why did it bother you this time? And how did it come to your attention that these rumours were circulating?"

"Purdy started spreading these rumours about a week after I was promoted, almost 3 months ago now. I didn't report it at first, because I thought if I ignored it, it'd just go away, but it didn't. I asked her to stop saying the things she was saying about me, but she refused Ma'am."

"And why did it worry you?"

"Because everyone knew, and they believed it. It wouldn't be half as bad if they saw no truth in what she was saying, but they all thought it was true. It was as though I didn't deserve my promotion all of a sudden. My colleagues stopped treating me the way they used to, everything started to change.

You asked how I found out Ma'am? I found out because in one of my lectures with a new  group of particularly self-pleased students, one of them called something out to me to the effect of: 'are you the one screwing the CO?' That's how I found out the extent of what she was saying about me. I can't professionally function in an environment where there is constant speculation about my integrity as an officer and my personal life Ma'am."

"I understand that Captain," she sighed, thinking of similar speculation at JAG. Typically the latest rumours about her and Harm were so far off par with reality that it almost amused her.

She asked another question, "Do the personnel of this base have any reason to believe what the Sergeant is saying about you? I'm not saying the rumours are true in any way, but is there a possibility that your relationship with General McNeil could be perceived in such a way?"

"I suppose, very vaguely, that there is a possibility. But what I dislike is that I correct people when they're mistaken, but they don't believe me. I can't do anything about it. I spend a lot of time working with General McNeil, I have to in doing my job, and a lot of the time we're here late, together, sometimes alone, sometimes in the company of others. Maybe some people see that as something other than work, but it's not Ma'am."

"Do you spend time outside of working hours with General McNeil?"

The look on the Captain's face immediately changed. Sensing trouble, Mac added, "I just noticed you used his first name before, and I was wondering."

"Yes Ma'am. We're good friends. I'm also friends with his wife and sometimes I baby-sit their kids."

"Captain, a lot of the time friendship is construed as more than friendship."

"I know that Ma'am."

"I don't mean to offend you, but I have to ask you, is there any truth in what Purdy is saying?"

"No, I don't think so Ma'am. I mean, I'm not sleeping with him, and he certainly isn't having an affair with anyone. But does he favour me? Maybe he does, but only a little, and not because of our personal relationship."

"In what way Captain?"

"Oh just little things. General McNeil is generally a very reasonable commanding officer. He lets minor slips go unnoticed. I don't normally slip up in any way, I'm reasonably good at what I do Ma'am. But recently, due to personal circumstances, I've found coping with an increased workload a little difficult. He helped me though that, didn't comment when I was late, didn't criticise when I failed to meet deadlines. Maybe that's favourism, I don't know."

"You obviously know the sir reasonably well. Do you believe he'd do that for anyone?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Captain, why do you think Sergeant Purdy is spreading these rumours?"

"I honestly have no idea Ma'am."

"Ok, before I leave, do you have a professional opinion on this matter or any personal desired results of this investigation?"

"Yes Ma'am. All I want from this is for the scuttlebutt to stop. I don't care what people privately think, but I'm sick of being exposed to people's private thoughts. I'm also tired of people refusing to believe the truth. I don't want to cause any damage to Sergeant Purdy's career. I just want her to stop saying things about me that aren't true. I know a lot of people, a lot of high-ranking officials, think along similar lines. General McNeil has approached me about warnings and idle threats he's received because of his relationship with me. Really, I'd just like to be able to do my job without being degraded and humiliated and accused of things of this nature, and without the suggestion that the reason I'm successful is because of any other reason than my dedication to what I do. I work hard Ma'am. I hate it when people think the only reason I am where I am is through doing sexual favours."

"Ok Captain, thank you for your time. I'll talk to Sergeant Purdy as well as General McNeil and a few other people here, and then I'll talk to you again before I file my report. I'd like you all to have some input into my recommendations."

"Thank you Ma'am."

"It was nice meeting you Captain."

"You too Ma'am."

They shook hands before parting ways, Mac walking down the corridor in reflective silence. Some of the officer's comments had been a lot like homing missiles striking a little to close to home.

Mac sighed.

It was definitely not as simple as a friendship misperceived, she was sure. The woman's reactions to mention of the CO reminded her so much of her own reactions to a certain colleague of her own that she knew that all too well. But she also knew that just because one had feelings for the other, they weren't necessarily sleeping together. She knew that too well too.

Stopping to study a map of the base on a wall, she located Sergeant Purdy's lecture room and training area, preparing herself for another interview.

Arriving just as everyone appeared to be leaving, she met the Sergeant at the door, reading the name badge above the right pocket of her DCPU's. Before the crowd dispersed entirely, the Sergeant called, in a drill sergeant's commanding voice, "STAND FAST."

The fumbling crowd of privates complied, a little shaky on their feet when it came to drill movements.

"MA'AM," the Sergeant enunciated, saluting her.

"Thanks Sergeant," Mac replied.

"AS YOU WERE," the Sergeant called to the mob of privates. Some were standing dead still; some still hadn't mastered the skill.

"You're Colonel Mackenzie then Ma'am?"

"Yes Sergeant."

"Captain McGrath said to be expecting you Ma'am. What exactly is it you'd like to discuss?" she asked, leading Mac back into the empty lecture room.

"I'd just like to ask a few questions. I presume you know the extent of the Captain's allegations?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Well, procedurally, I have to get both sides of the story, inquire as to what really happened, then make a corroborated recommendation. So I'm just going to ask a few questions to get to know you first, Ok Sergeant?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"You're Sergeant Emma Purdy, USMC?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Your role within the Marines Sergeant, what exactly does it entail?"

"I oversee most of the drill training that takes place on this base. I also take some lectures on things such as military lifestyle and service knowledge, stuff like when to salute, when not to salute, mess procedure and so on Ma'am. My job is to get those guys you saw out there ready for their first parade in less than three weeks," she looked around at the empty room, picking up a forsaken piece of paper which was covered in notes. 'Attention: don't move, feet "55° apart, try to avoid breathing, don't swat flies,' was among other highlights.

"As you can see, that's a reasonably difficult task Ma'am."

"Better you than me Sergeant. After your description of your job here I'm wondering about how much time you spend with Captain McGrath. Do you encounter her professionally very often?"

"All my training programs have to comply with OH&S and other training regulations. Every once in a while Captain McGrath and myself have to sit down and review the scheduled training. Other than that, I often have to make enquiries into what I can and can't teach, I see her for that and any other legal assistance I need to fulfil my duties Ma'am."

"But how frequently? Once a week, month, year?"

"On a good month, maybe once or twice Ma'am."

"Ok. How would you describe you're relationship with the Captain, on a more personal basis?"

"We went to high school together Ma'am. I've known Seraphine for a very long time. We talk over the Internet; sometimes we see each other at office parties and such. Until now I always thought we were friends, but I guess she sees things differently Ma'am."

"The Captain is worried the rumours you're allegedly spreading about her will be detrimental to her reputation Sergeant. On that note, I'd like to ask a few questions about Captain McGrath's accusations. What exactly have you been saying about her Sergeant?"

"I don't know what she's referring to as damaging rumours. I may have made a few comments regarding her relationship with the CO, but jokingly Ma'am, I wasn't serious."

"What did you say about their relationship?"

"I was just questioning whether it was of a strictly companionable nature or if there was more to it that Captain McGrath was telling me Ma'am."

"Ok, why did you say things like that publicly Sergeant? Surely you could've talked to Captain McGrath privately, without involving the personnel on base?"

"I didn't intentionally 'spread' the rumours around the base. I mentioned several things to a few of my colleagues and it got a bit out of hand Ma'am."

"Why would you say things like that?"

"Well she makes no attempt to hide anything. The Captain is always talking to him Ma'am, she's always in his office on lunch breaks, or walking down the corridor with him, or staying late. Speculation is warranted in many respects. She invites these sorts of rumours by how she advertises their relationship."

"What she says you said is inappropriate for a member of the United States Marine Corps. You do realise the repercussions of your actions don't you Sergeant?"

"Yes Ma'am. I don't believe I've done anything more than participate in some harmless office gossip though. Like I said, Seraphine encourages the enigma around their relationship, but then when someone says what everybody is thinking, they're spreading malicious rumours. It doesn't make sense Ma'am. If she doesn't want people to talk about things like that, why does she do what she does?"

"Do what Sergeant?"

"They're practically joined at the hip. I've never seen Captain McGrath without General McNeil in the past months. I mean, they're close, we know that, we just wonder how close Ma'am. So why does she do it?"

"She probably feels she has the right to keep her personal life private."

"Then with that privacy and secrecy she should accept the assumptions people make Ma'am. If you don't tell people about things, they use their imaginations and make something up that seems to fit in with what they know. Educated guessing Ma'am."

"The Captain mentioned rumours about the reason behind her recent promotion. Have you heard similar gossip Sergeant?"

"Yes Ma'am, I have and I don't believe it. I had nothing to do with that. I don't question Captain McGrath's ability as an officer. She's very good at what she does, and is an incredible asset to me in my role here on base Ma'am."

"So you say you haven't discussed Captain McGrath's promotion with any personnel?"

"No. At the time I offered my congratulations. Everyone knew of course, but there was never any talk about it. The NCO's all thought she was deserving of new slides. And I most certainly had nothing to do with the recent rumours Ma'am."

"In your opinion Sergeant, what is your perception of Captain McGrath's relationship with General McNeil?"

"Permission to speak freely, and in confidence Ma'am?"

"Granted Sergeant, and I won't mention it to anyone."

"Ok. I'd say she really likes him, maybe a little more than really likes him. He sometimes seems interested in her, but he's married, and I think he intends to stay that way. They're friends Ma'am. It's reasonably obvious it's more than that though. Which explains where all the scuttlebutt comes from Ma'am."

"Ok, I think we've addressed all the relevant issues Sergeant. I'll probably want to talk to you again in the next couple of weeks, so I'll call you and let you know when Ok?"

"Yes Ma'am."

"Thank you for your time."

"My pleasure Ma'am."

Mac left the classroom on that note and found her own way to the administration building, clutching a pile of notes. It wasn't as boring as she had expected, in fact Captain McGrath reminded her a lot of herself. The whole investigation and situation seemed to be a parody of her own existence. Life was a little too clever sometimes.

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A/N: Not sure about the visitors pass bit. Don't know about security procedures on US bases, but one would presume they keep a record of who comes and who goes. You'd be expected to show military ID and all that jazz of course…

I reckon it'd suck being a Colonel or higher (though Brigadier is a choice rank… I like the title: Brigadier Paula Watson… *grins*. You yanks don't have that rank, but it rocks!!) But it'd suck being a high-ranking officer. Everywhere you'd walk, there'd be people saluting you. EVERYONE would salute you as you passed. One would feel very conspicuous. And not only would everyone salute you, you'd have to return everyone's salute. It'd get stupid after a while. Try walking outside the office (meaning you'd have to put your hat on cuz you'd be outside, and when your hat is on, you must salute) to have lunch or something… (Not that you salute in a mess, because you don't wear a hat in a mess, but…) Yeah, I reckon that'd be the pits. I'd get sick of it after a while and probably tell everyone base to quit it. It'd be like: "I know you all know I'm a much, much, much higher ranking officer than you. It's ok, you don't have to salute me all the time, I know this too."

But you know, some officers feel the need to be saluted… makes them feel special. *shrugs* I *know* I'm special… but I guess some people are insecure.

Apologies for all the questions punctuated with 'Ma'am', but Mac's superior to McGrath, so naturally, McGrath is 'Ma'am'-ing her ass off… as you do, as you do.

OH&S stands for Operations Health & Safety. Don't know what the Yanks use, that's the Aussie code, but you get the general drift… the one that keep peeps from falling of cliffs during war games, etc etc.

Forgive me for being Australian. I have translated all the law involved in this into the American codes, but some of the military details that aren't on paper are hard to translate over... all of what I say is correct in the ADF (I think), I don't know about the American Services.

Oh and in case people didn't know, DCPU stands for Disruptive Patterned Camouflage Uniform.