0730 Local, July 11, At Sea with the 3rd MEU
Sarah Mackenzie watched Harmon Rabb's eyes very, very closely once he stopped sputtering around the finger she held tightly to his lips. "Listen extraordinarily carefully for the next couple of minutes, and if you are a good boy I may even let you speak.
"Harm, I love you too, but that's not going to do either of us any good right now. You're out of here for the bird farm after the briefings and on to Washington. Once you are gone we will continue to get ready for a damn war that's coming as sure as Christmas. You are up to your ass in alligators with this Boone mess, and I'm busting my ass trying to completely unfuck this muddle.
"Face it: we have danced around this subject for years. The damn Metropolitan Ballet Company would be worn out from all of the dancing we've done…to get us to this. I love you. You love me. But that's going to have to be put on hold for now. You are going back to Washington to stir up shit as Tom Boone's caddy, and I am going to keep trying to keep my head above water here.
"Harm, right now there is no 'us' in any recognizable form. It's not possible. Now, as much as I would like to plant a Richter scale kiss on you right now then drag you off to quarters and start fucking off five years of pent-up sexual tension, we're going to go to work.
"And, on second thought, I'm not going to let you talk." And with that the Col. Mac persona snapped into place and she stepped through the hatch and headed off to her office leaving Harm standing rooted to the steel deck.
0930 Local, July 11, At sea with the 3rd MEU
The 3rd MEU's executive officer Col. Bill White wrapped up the first round of briefings as his notebook snapped closed. "Okay, Harm let's take a break. Ops and plans will be up next and we want to share some thoughts with you on handling a direct incursion into some of the terrorist installations that are scattered across our area of operations (AO)."
'Damn, these guys are thinking,' Harm reflected. 'Then Boone is right about the Marines. They are contemplating dealing with terrorism directly. Everyone else seems to want to try a set piece campaign against these guys, and that didn't work very well in Vietnam did it? If Washington decides to take a run at any of the fundamentalist groups it would be a stone cold bastard. We would have to work on their turf surrounded by at best disinterested, or at worst directly hostile, local populations. We would have to work by long distance with very little real time intelligence. It won't fucking work. What these guys are planning has a chance.
'What the Marines are talking about, based I am sure on some extensive out of school consultations with the Army special forces people, is essentially a counter guerrilla, almost covert war. Now that would probably work if we were only involved with transnational organizations, but what about the nation/states in the area…Iran, Iraq, Afghanistan? That is a much more conventional scenario, and I wonder if we could manage a combo engagement?'
Harm's mind was totally involved in the gymnastics of how to put his random thoughts on paper for Tom Boone. In fact he was so focused on the task that, for the first time in years, he didn't sense his long-time partner standing less than 18" behind him staring intently at the back of his head while he made notes on his Palm.
"Jesus Harm, you're going to give a girl a complex," Mac breathed into his ear as she approached. "No more than a couple of hours ago I believe I left you with a different thought…now you're worried about something as simple as a war. What's a girl to do if she can't tempt you with her body?" Mac's mouth was now pressed to the back of Harm's right ear and her breasts were pushing against his back. Just for emphasis she slid her right hand into his pants pocket and wiggled her fingers provocatively.
For New York minute Harm almost turned on Sarah MacKenzie and pinned her against the bulkhead, but at the last millisecond he caught himself turning slowly to face her. "Who are you and what have you done with my partner? You look like her, but you don't sound like her…not that I'm objecting you understand."
"Funny Flyboy! Real Funny. In the 10 minutes we have before the next round of briefings start we're going to discuss a very fundamental change in the course of the Rabb/MacKenzie soap opera, so listen closely. There will be a quiz later."
Mac's dark, expressive eyes fixed Harm to the spot where he was standing. "I have had the last sleepless night over 'us' you know. Last night while I was punching out the heavy bag after leaving the wardroom I had a revelation about all of this crap. The short version: Why fight it? The answer: No reason. No goddamn reason at all, so here is where I'm at right now: 1. I love you; 2. I want work on building a future together, and 3. Two is not going to happen in the immediate future…."
"Mac, wait a minute…," Harm tried to jump in only to have a finger pressed to his lips again. "Harm, for the last fucking time shut up and listen. Our future is the next few hours sitting together in the briefing room then you're gone, and I am still here. So, I decided that all of the posturing, male/female games, and worries about what tomorrow holds are no longer relevant.
"Harm, one of the most closely kept secrets in my sea bag is my real personality. For the last 15+ years I've been the LT, Capt. Mac, Maj. Mac or Col. Mac. My persona has been my rank and as much as I love the life…I'm a different person under all of the layers. Over the last few years no one has been closer that you have Harm, but you have only seen little bits of the real Sarah MacKenzie along with the hardcore Marine. She's a little nuts and analytical, she's erotic and passionate, she doesn't care about what other people think, and she's an insecure person who can hide in the bottle or withdraw almost completely from her surroundings.
"I decided last night that Sarah was going to come out of the closet…at least with the people I know and love. Harm, we can't do anything about 'us' right now. But there is an 'us' if you have the guts to take the good and the bad, because you can't even start to imagine what that may entail.
"Here's the last item: I'm going to an intelligence staff conference on Diego Garcia in 10 days. The meeting will probably run four or five days, and you're probably going to be invited. Tom Boone told Gen. Buckner that he can't attend, but that he felt it would be important to have one his senior people attend.
"If that works out maybe we will be in the same place at the same time…assuming that appeals to you. Okay. I'm done now. You have the floor for the next six minutes and 35 seconds."
Sarah MacKenzie had left Harm speechless on more than one occasion, so the experience wasn't unique. However, the last two minutes was a breakthrough into all new ground, and Harm was…a little…disconnected. 'I've got to say something. What am I going to say? What am I really thinking…feeling?'
"Six minutes flat. Harm, we're burning daylight here. You've wanted to talk out of turn all day, now has the cat got your tongue?"
"Okay. Here goes: 1 - I'm not prepared to believe we can't find 'us' in the middle of all of the stuff, but I'll yield to the overall wisdom of what you are saying; 2 – The old Mac and new Sarah sounds like a split personality gig that will be fun and probably scary to navigate, and 3 – The Rock? Surely there's a better place for a meeting, but you can bet I'll be there if I can. How much time's left?"
"Good job squid. We've got 4:45 to get back to the conference," and with that Col. Mac was back and she stepped over the knee knocker heading back to the command conference room. Shaking his head Harm followed along thinking, 'She's going to be the death of me some day, but I'm going to enjoy the ride.'
1000 Local, July 11, At Sea with the 3rd MEU
Briefings that deal with means and methods of conflict virtually always have some kind of security classification, and the pro forma opening reminds the participants that material covered and all associated documents are classified. Blackwater Buckner's opening for Harm's final session with the Marines was a little more attention getting.
"Okay everybody. The materials we are now moving to are classified Top Secret/Cranberry Cove. Anyone who is even thinking about discussing this meeting 'out of school' will be disemboweled with a dull butter knife and then really punished. Is everyone clear?"
Obviously no answer was expected from this group.
"People, a lot of thought has gone into what would be required if the NCA (National Command Authority) were to decide that some, or all, of the gaggle of terrorist groups and outlaw states in our AO were to be neutralized. Before coming to the 3rd MEU I was Chief of Staff for the Combined Special Warfare Working Group at the JFK Special Warfare Center. Over the 24 months I was at CSW2G a number of highly specialized scenarios were developed to respond to nation-sponsored terrorist and transnational terrorist groups that operate with impunity in many areas.
"These scenarios are being reduced to operational plans and will be in the hands of the operators by 1 August for a final review and in theater coordination. Bill, you and Mac will be responsible for getting the 3rd ready to respond to the listed options…we will also need to be prepared for a flexible response if the something unforeseen hits us. A final point: Weapons of mass destruction may be found and potentially used in theater against us or other parties.
"Harm, you will be briefed completely in on the Cranberry Cove options when you return to Washington, and I expect to see you back in the Indian Ocean for the intelligence staff conference on The Rock in a couple of weeks. I anticipate that you will have some substantial input for we working stiffs then.
"Bill, I'm going to toss the briefing back into you hands. Harm, I don't think I will have a chance to see you again before you head out, so 'good luck' and go safely. Give Tom Boone my best." With that Blackwater Buckner headed out the door.
Cranberry Cove had been alluded to in several conversations over the last few weeks, Harm reflected, but without any substantive detail. 'Jesus. Someone is really thinking about a preemptive strike or, at a minimum, a substantive heavy response to another attack on American interests. No wonder the SecDef has been all over Chegwidden and Boone about refining the near term and longer term requirements.'
The balance of the meeting went into the books in routine fashion, and Bill White was left to add the finishing touches. "Harm, I am not sure we've done much more technically than show that the 3rd MEU is capable of any mission we are presented with, but my primary hope it that you will carry the idea back to your program that the forces currently in our AO are also in need of better guidance, more firepower, and improved in-theater communications gear. If we are going to be able to move in force in the theater we also really need better real-time intelligence gathering capabilities chopped to our command.
"Finally, if Central Command is going to retain responsibility for the area, frankly, we need a larger CENTCOM presence in the field. It's a long goddamn way to MacDill and the huge time difference presents some real problems with quick reaction should it be required. I'm not going to be so bold as to suggest that we be cut loose from CENTCOM for operational purposes, but if something happens that puts us into the line of fire we really are going to need substantial latitude in our rules of engagement (ROE)."
Harm looked over the assembled group. Most were wearing Marine camo, but a number of staff folks from the 3rd Airwing, including Dead Eye Smith, were also present. "Col. White, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for the time you spent and the depth of thought that has gone into preparations to this point. I will carry your comments, thoughts, and needs back with me. But the primary thing that will head back to Sodom on the Potomac will be the clear picture of your level of preparation and professionalism.
"Folks if push comes to shove we will all be tested and our level of professionalism and dedication to the art and science of arms will be challenged. Thank you again for the hospitality. I am sure I will see a few familiar faces in a couple of weeks." The meeting broke up with everyone heading back to his or her respective duties. Harm looked around for Mac, but got only a brief peek as she headed back to the intelligence section.
The delegation from the bird farm was scheduled to head back to the Stennis in 15 minutes, but there wasn't enough room for Harm. He was scheduled to depart on the regular 1745 mail and milk run, and be on the early morning COD to start his long ride back to Washington. He planned to make use of the 45 minutes remaining before his departure.
After gathering his gear Harm turned to his escort and asked, "Lieutenant, can you track Col. MacKenzie down for me please? I would like a few minutes of her time if possible before the shuttle leaves." "Certainly Sir. Excuse me," and the lieutenant was gone.
Harm watched the gentle rise and fall of the Persian Gulf for while waiting and thinking. 'Okay, we are in all new territory here.
"Sir, Col. MacKenzie's compliments. She asked me to tell you that she was 'up to her ass in alligators' and 'travel safely.' That was about all I was able to get out of her before the general and Col. White closed the conference room hatch." Disappointment ran through Harm, but he was already looking forward to a second trip into the Indian Ocean in a few days.
TBC?
