A/N: The next few chapters are going to keep switching between Jen and Mac's depositions. Try and keep up.

Jen's deposition

"Petty Officer, can you tell me why you were on the USS Harry Truman in the first place?" Lieutenant Commander Greenburg asked.

"Commander Delco, the carrier group's usual judge while in the vicinity of Naples, Italy was taken to hospital with pneumonia. Admiral Morris asked that Colonel Mackenzie go TAD to the carrier group to complete a court martial that was currently progressing and to cover for him for two weeks until he was able to resume his duties."

"But that doesn't explain why you specifically went." He said.

"Colonel Mackenzie went so I did to. It's as simple as that sir."

"Do you always go everywhere with Colonel Mackenzie?" He asked.

"I'm her aid and clerk of court. We have a specific way of working sir." Jen replied.

"When were you informed of the orders?" He questioned.

"The day before we left."

"What were you doing at the time?"

"I was supervising two Marine Sgt's who their CO had sent to Colonel Mackenzie to mediate between because he was having no luck with them constantly bickering, but there wasn't enough for charges to be filed."

"Why were you supervising them?"

"Colonel Mackenzie asked me to deal with them sir. So after talking to Gunnery Sgt Galindez and with Colonel Mackenzie's permission I had them handcuffed together and then help to rearrange some of the boxes of files in the basement."

"You had them handcuffed together? Don't you think that is a little extreme and possible unlawful detention?"

"They were handcuffed together sir, and ordered to help move the boxes; they could have left or picked the lock at anytime they choose sir. Although they would have faced charges for disobeying a direct order. It may have seemed like an extreme measure but it worked. Colonel Mackenzie spoke to their CO when we got back and there have been no more problems between them since."

"I see."

Mac's deposition.

"What did you do when you arrived on the USS Harry Truman Colonel?" Commander Restrick asked.

"Petty Officer Coates and I reported into Captain Thornton as was standard procedure."

"What did you discuss while you were on the bridge ma'am?"

"He wanted the court martial cleared up as soon as possible, I told that it would take as long as it took. I also asked him to make himself available as he was the convening authority for the court marital, in case I had any questions."

"Did you make any other requests of him?" Restrick inquired.

"I requested a room with a large table so I could go over all the details of what had transpired up until that point and a phone line."

"Why did you request the phone line?"

"Commander, I have responsibilities here."

"So you requested so you could call and check in with your family?"

"Yes, but that wasn't the main reason, I'm a judge and I was reassigned on short notice, there were things related to cases which I should have been hearing that I needed to be in contact with about. Also JAG has one of the largest law libraries related to military law, if the need arose for me to request information."

"It's well within the Colonel's rights to request a dedicated phone line." AJ said. "Move on."

"Yes sir. What happened after you were taken to your state room?"

"Petty Officer Coates and I reconvened in office space we had been assigned and then began to go over the court transcript and evidence that had been entered up until the point when Commander Delco was taken ill. We drew up a list of questions for the witnesses that I felt hadn't been addressed."

"You said 'we drew up a list of questions' I take it you meant that Petty Officer Coates transcribed the questions you wanted answers to."

"Petty Officer Coates offered her opinion as well."

"But Petty Officer Coates has no legal training."

"No, but Petty Officer Coates has a good mind for law and has read lots of court transcripts and been present during many many Article 32 hearings and Court Martials. She knows the UMCJ and the Manual for Courts Martial very well and I respect her opinion."

"But she has no formal legal training?"

"No." Mac replied.

"Petty Officer Coates has worked within the legal field for two years." AJ said. "She is the Colonel's aide and clerk of court. She has received offers for law school and for OCS from most of my senior staff and that of the senior judiciary staff, but she chooses to stay where she is because she is good at her job. The SecNav also understands this fact. The Petty Officer's qualifications are unquestionable and her opinion is respected. Move on." AJ advised.

"Yes sir."

TBC