"I take it you have an update for me?" Jack said as he sat down in the
secure room the next morning.
"Yes sir. I looked over the information you provided and drew up a list of recommendations for charges."
"How long did it take you?" Jack asked.
"Longer than I thought it would." Devon replied.
"What happened?"
"Sir?"
"Look Commander I may not be the smartest guy, but I work with the best and the brightest everyday. I learnt to trust their judgement because they know their fields of expertise, just like you do. So I'm trusting your opinion, so I ask again what happened?"
"Permission to speak freely sir."
"Sure go ahead."
"I got so caught up in trying to find out what we could nail this, I lost track of the time and stood someone up."
"The photo's got to you too?"
"Yes sir." Devon replied.
"So who did you stand up? Your girlfriend, wife?"
"Best friend sir, I owed her dinner and I lost track of time. And she wore a dress sir."
"She wore a dress?"
"I've known Mel for almost five years, I've never seen her in a dress, she's more of your tomboy type I guess that's why she joined the Navy."
"I see. Off the record, sometimes best friends make the best girlfriends."
"Yes sir."
"About the charges?"
"I've put the full details on the PDA and the specifications for charges, details with names just need to be added."
"Okay. Just give me a simplified run down."
"Obviously there is the Article 118 premeditated murder charge, which I'm certain would bring the punishment of death, also Article 106a Espionage charges, which also bring the death penalty, that maybe more difficult to prove but it's very likely that he's been revealing information to sources he shouldn't. Most of the rest of the charges come with dishonourable discharge, but seeing as he was never in the Navy to start with those won't apply, they also include forfeiture of pay, again that won't apply because he's not in the Navy, but the Navy will be looking to recover all pay and allowances he's been receiving since the start of his deception."
"Obviously." Jack said.
"The rest of the charge I would say apply in the time I had allowed would include Article 134 charges for impersonating a commissioned officer, which has a maximum punishment of 3 years, Article 81 charges for conspiracy for all manner of things. Article 83 charges for fraudulent appointment, which has a punishment of two years. Article 93 cruelty and maltreatment, which is confinement for 1 year." He paused. "Article 123 forgery, which has confinement of 5 years, Article 124 maiming which has 7 years. Article 132 frauds against the United States which is another five years. Article 134 false and unauthorised pass offences which is maximum 3 years, Article 134 false swearing adding another 3 years. Article 134 public record altering, concealing, removing, mutilating, obliterating or destroying, three years and Article 134 wearing unauthorised insignia decorations, badges, ribbons, device and lapel buttons, which is only 6 months."
"That's it?"
"Well depending on the circumstances there is a possibility of Article 134 kidnapping charges which has a maximum of confinement for life."
"So basically, he'd going to get the death penalty and a whole lot of years which he won't serve." Jack summarised.
"Yes sir." Devon replied.
"Good, that's what I wanted to hear."
"It's all on the PDA." Devon handed it over.
"Thank you Commander. We may require you to brief several people at the Pentagon, possibly the President."
"You want me to brief the President?" Devon said amazed. "The real President, the one who lives and works in the White House?"
"Yes. Nice guy. I'll let you know."
"Yes sir." Devon said.
"Relax and don't talk and we'll be fine."
"Yes sir."
"And treat your friend to a nice dinner at the weekend, nice restaurant and roses are always a good idea."
"Aye aye sir." Jack smiled.
"TBC
"Yes sir. I looked over the information you provided and drew up a list of recommendations for charges."
"How long did it take you?" Jack asked.
"Longer than I thought it would." Devon replied.
"What happened?"
"Sir?"
"Look Commander I may not be the smartest guy, but I work with the best and the brightest everyday. I learnt to trust their judgement because they know their fields of expertise, just like you do. So I'm trusting your opinion, so I ask again what happened?"
"Permission to speak freely sir."
"Sure go ahead."
"I got so caught up in trying to find out what we could nail this, I lost track of the time and stood someone up."
"The photo's got to you too?"
"Yes sir." Devon replied.
"So who did you stand up? Your girlfriend, wife?"
"Best friend sir, I owed her dinner and I lost track of time. And she wore a dress sir."
"She wore a dress?"
"I've known Mel for almost five years, I've never seen her in a dress, she's more of your tomboy type I guess that's why she joined the Navy."
"I see. Off the record, sometimes best friends make the best girlfriends."
"Yes sir."
"About the charges?"
"I've put the full details on the PDA and the specifications for charges, details with names just need to be added."
"Okay. Just give me a simplified run down."
"Obviously there is the Article 118 premeditated murder charge, which I'm certain would bring the punishment of death, also Article 106a Espionage charges, which also bring the death penalty, that maybe more difficult to prove but it's very likely that he's been revealing information to sources he shouldn't. Most of the rest of the charges come with dishonourable discharge, but seeing as he was never in the Navy to start with those won't apply, they also include forfeiture of pay, again that won't apply because he's not in the Navy, but the Navy will be looking to recover all pay and allowances he's been receiving since the start of his deception."
"Obviously." Jack said.
"The rest of the charge I would say apply in the time I had allowed would include Article 134 charges for impersonating a commissioned officer, which has a maximum punishment of 3 years, Article 81 charges for conspiracy for all manner of things. Article 83 charges for fraudulent appointment, which has a punishment of two years. Article 93 cruelty and maltreatment, which is confinement for 1 year." He paused. "Article 123 forgery, which has confinement of 5 years, Article 124 maiming which has 7 years. Article 132 frauds against the United States which is another five years. Article 134 false and unauthorised pass offences which is maximum 3 years, Article 134 false swearing adding another 3 years. Article 134 public record altering, concealing, removing, mutilating, obliterating or destroying, three years and Article 134 wearing unauthorised insignia decorations, badges, ribbons, device and lapel buttons, which is only 6 months."
"That's it?"
"Well depending on the circumstances there is a possibility of Article 134 kidnapping charges which has a maximum of confinement for life."
"So basically, he'd going to get the death penalty and a whole lot of years which he won't serve." Jack summarised.
"Yes sir." Devon replied.
"Good, that's what I wanted to hear."
"It's all on the PDA." Devon handed it over.
"Thank you Commander. We may require you to brief several people at the Pentagon, possibly the President."
"You want me to brief the President?" Devon said amazed. "The real President, the one who lives and works in the White House?"
"Yes. Nice guy. I'll let you know."
"Yes sir." Devon said.
"Relax and don't talk and we'll be fine."
"Yes sir."
"And treat your friend to a nice dinner at the weekend, nice restaurant and roses are always a good idea."
"Aye aye sir." Jack smiled.
"TBC