"Commander Meriwether reporting as order ma'am."

"CAG please take a seat." Mac instructed. "I'm Colonel Mackenzie and this is Commander Turner."

"Commander."

"CAG."

"CAG, we've been asked by the CNO and the SecNav to conduct an investigation into the incident. Could you please tell us when you first knew the exercise would be carried out?"

"The XO came to me about a week ago ma'am and informed me that an exercise to test our battle readiness would be conducted over the next couple of weeks. He wanted my opinion on whether he thought the air group was prepared to launch on a moments notice." The CAG replied.

"Did you think it was strange that such an exercise would be carried out in such close proximity to Italy?" Sturgis asked.

"We have exercise to test our battle readiness all the time, but we usually are out to sea if we're testing the use of a squadron too." He explained.

"So when the order was given to deploy the squadron did you think it was unusual to do it that close to the coast?"

"Ma'am I was given an order to get the squadron up and away as quickly as possible. They had been briefed for years on going up in an emergency, they don't question they just protect the ship and do anything necessary to defend her."

"So you didn't question that you would be flying in Italian airspace without permission?"

"No ma'am, if we're flying we usually have permission so I had no reason to talk believe otherwise. The Air Boss gave us permission to go from the XO so they went up. We then had everybody down as soon as the LSO and I could manage it. Ma'am, everything went as it should."

"Apart from the fact that you flew in a friendly's air space without their permission." The phone rang. "Mackenzie." Mac answered. "Mr Secretary, if you'll just hold on a minute sir..." Mac put a hand over the phone. "CAG we're done with you for now. Sturgis go with him and start interviewing the air wing, you should be able to use the officers ward room, I'll come and join you when I'm done here. Get Jen and her three stooges to go and see every plane that went up or was preparing to go up's plane captain. I want to know how much fuel they had when they took off, how much they had when they landed, what weapons they had and we'll need a list of everyone who has touched any of those planes in the last twenty four hours." Mac paused. "And have the Master Chief arrange state rooms for the new Captain and XO when they get here."

"Yes ma'am." Sturgis said.

"That's all." Sturgis and the CAG stood to attention before leaving.

"Commander is she always that cold?" The CAG when they left.

"The Colonel is one of the best people I know, but she tends not to be in the best mood when she's been up all night trying to fix an international incident caused by the fact that the left hand not knowing what the right foot is doing and no one talking to the carrier JAG."

"I see."

"I really doubt that you do. She's a judge now, not a JAG lawyer or with NCIS. It's her job to make sure that justice is carried out within the law, but seeing as she was the one here, she has to act as the go between the US Navy and the Italians. If anyone shows her disrespect or impedes our investigation out of some divided loyalty to the Captain or the XO then we will prosecute them."

"Commander." Jen said as she stopped him.

"Petty Officer, I take it these were the three stooges Colonel Mackenzie referred too?" He asked nodding to the three men who stood behind Jen.

"Yes sir."

"The Colonel wants you to go and talk to the plane captains for the squadron that went up and the ones that were preparing to. Take notes she wants the fuel levels when they went up and came down, weapons and anyone that touched them in the last twenty four hours."

"Yes sir." Jen hesitated. "Sir does she think I'm qualified to do this?"

"Jen, you got a woman who was charged with murder freed because you found out that she didn't do it and you got the whole office to back you up. You can do this, get them to hold anything you need and point out the relevant people."

"Aye aye sir."

"Gentlemen, Petty Officer Coates is in charge, you do as she says, if you disrespect her you'll have me to answer in accordance with a breech of a direct order is that understood." Sturgis warned the three stooges.

"Sir, yes sir."

"Good, we'll be in the officer's ward room when you're done Jen."

"Yes sir. Gentlemen." Jen prompted they started off down the passageway.

"What was all that about? You know the Commander?" One of the stooges asked.

"Commander Turner is a lawyer with JAG in Falls Church. He's also the Colonel's daughter's godfather. At JAG we're all family and gentlemen you don't want to mess with our family. Now we have some people to see. Where will we find the plane Captains?"

"This way."

TBC