The court martial was called to order the next morning.
"Good morning." Mac said. "Before we start I thought I should introduce myself I'm Colonel Mackenzie and I'm here from JAG Headquarters in Falls Church Virginia, I'm here to take over from Commander Buxton who has been indisposed. So before we continue I'm calling a recess for one hour. Lieutenant Braxton and Lieutenant Commander Hickson I'd like to see you in my office." Mac banged her gavel.
"All rise." Everyone rose and Mac left.
"Commander, Lieutenant." Jen said. "If you'd like to follow me I'll show you to the office the Colonel has been assigned."
"What's the Colonel like as a judge?" Hickson asked as they left the court room.
"She's fair as long as you play it straight up; she doesn't like games and tricks sir. She's knows when she and the members are being manipulated." Jen replied. "If you need any additional information please contact Falls Church I'm sure they will be able to help you."
"Are you sure you can't tell us anything else Petty Officer?" Braxton asked.
"Sir, she's my CO, I really shouldn't comment. It's just here." Jen knocked on the door.
"Enter." Mac called.
"Ma'am, Commander Hickson and Lieutenant Braxton." Jen said. Mac nodded. "Sirs if you please." They stepped in. "Ma'am is there anything I can get you?" Jen asked.
"No. But stay Jen and take a seat, there is something I want to discuss after we're done here."
"Yes ma'am." Jen sat down.
"You wanted to see us Colonel?" Hickson asked.
"Yes. I'd like to recall these witnesses." She pushed two pieces of paper across the table to them.
"Can I ask why?" Braxton who was the prosecutor asked.
"I'd like to ask them a few questions, which it is within my rights to do, there are a few things I'd like cleared up before we proceed."
"What is exactly concerning you?" Hickson inquired.
"I have a couple of questions about procedures that resulted in the incident. My husband is an aviator and I've investigated my fair share of incidents on carriers."
"What's he fly ma'am?" Hickson asked.
"Tomcats, but luckily it only usually one weekend for his quals every six months. He's a lawyer most of the time." Mac pulled a face.
"Ma'am, you know he only stayed because Captain Ingalls asked and he couldn't say no." Jen reminded her.
"I know. But anyway I'd like to see these witnesses when we reconvene. Locate as many as possible before then and have them waiting. Get a list to Petty Officer before we begin. That will be all."
"Aye aye ma'am." The both came to attention before leaving.
"Ma'am, there was something you wanted to me about?"
"You got this look when you saw the defendant. I just wondered what I was for."
"It's probably nothing ma'am, but I think I recognise him from some where."
"Where exactly?" Mac asked.
"I'm not sure." Mac grabbed his service record from the desk.
"It says he's been on the Truman for the last four years, never been in trouble with the law."
"I don't think I've met him exactly, but I think he may have been connected to a case Lieutenant Roberts had while we were on the Seahawk. Ma'am with your permission I'd like to phone JAG and see if Lieutenant Roberts can shed any light on it."
"Jen it's 0310 in Falls Church, I doubt there is anyone in the office. E- mail Bud and then you can call him as a follow up during lunch recess; he should be there by then hopefully. It may ease your mind."
"Yes ma'am."
"It's also possible a certain sailor may be able to talk to Bud about it for you in case you can't get a hold of him. I'm sure he won't mind being woken up."
"Aye aye ma'am."
TBC
"Good morning." Mac said. "Before we start I thought I should introduce myself I'm Colonel Mackenzie and I'm here from JAG Headquarters in Falls Church Virginia, I'm here to take over from Commander Buxton who has been indisposed. So before we continue I'm calling a recess for one hour. Lieutenant Braxton and Lieutenant Commander Hickson I'd like to see you in my office." Mac banged her gavel.
"All rise." Everyone rose and Mac left.
"Commander, Lieutenant." Jen said. "If you'd like to follow me I'll show you to the office the Colonel has been assigned."
"What's the Colonel like as a judge?" Hickson asked as they left the court room.
"She's fair as long as you play it straight up; she doesn't like games and tricks sir. She's knows when she and the members are being manipulated." Jen replied. "If you need any additional information please contact Falls Church I'm sure they will be able to help you."
"Are you sure you can't tell us anything else Petty Officer?" Braxton asked.
"Sir, she's my CO, I really shouldn't comment. It's just here." Jen knocked on the door.
"Enter." Mac called.
"Ma'am, Commander Hickson and Lieutenant Braxton." Jen said. Mac nodded. "Sirs if you please." They stepped in. "Ma'am is there anything I can get you?" Jen asked.
"No. But stay Jen and take a seat, there is something I want to discuss after we're done here."
"Yes ma'am." Jen sat down.
"You wanted to see us Colonel?" Hickson asked.
"Yes. I'd like to recall these witnesses." She pushed two pieces of paper across the table to them.
"Can I ask why?" Braxton who was the prosecutor asked.
"I'd like to ask them a few questions, which it is within my rights to do, there are a few things I'd like cleared up before we proceed."
"What is exactly concerning you?" Hickson inquired.
"I have a couple of questions about procedures that resulted in the incident. My husband is an aviator and I've investigated my fair share of incidents on carriers."
"What's he fly ma'am?" Hickson asked.
"Tomcats, but luckily it only usually one weekend for his quals every six months. He's a lawyer most of the time." Mac pulled a face.
"Ma'am, you know he only stayed because Captain Ingalls asked and he couldn't say no." Jen reminded her.
"I know. But anyway I'd like to see these witnesses when we reconvene. Locate as many as possible before then and have them waiting. Get a list to Petty Officer before we begin. That will be all."
"Aye aye ma'am." The both came to attention before leaving.
"Ma'am, there was something you wanted to me about?"
"You got this look when you saw the defendant. I just wondered what I was for."
"It's probably nothing ma'am, but I think I recognise him from some where."
"Where exactly?" Mac asked.
"I'm not sure." Mac grabbed his service record from the desk.
"It says he's been on the Truman for the last four years, never been in trouble with the law."
"I don't think I've met him exactly, but I think he may have been connected to a case Lieutenant Roberts had while we were on the Seahawk. Ma'am with your permission I'd like to phone JAG and see if Lieutenant Roberts can shed any light on it."
"Jen it's 0310 in Falls Church, I doubt there is anyone in the office. E- mail Bud and then you can call him as a follow up during lunch recess; he should be there by then hopefully. It may ease your mind."
"Yes ma'am."
"It's also possible a certain sailor may be able to talk to Bud about it for you in case you can't get a hold of him. I'm sure he won't mind being woken up."
"Aye aye ma'am."
TBC
