Chapter 2

Monday Dec 20

0900 EST

The Pentagon

The Secretary of the Navy walked into his office to find a folder baring the JAG insignia sitting on his desk. He opened the folder to find a report addressed to him from Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie. He was intrigued and sat down to read it telling his secretary to hold all calls unless it was the White House.

By the time he finished reading his intrigue had turned to disgust. Disgust not for the officer that wrote the report but for the subject of said report. He wanted to do something about the report but first he had to check some facts.

He pressed the intercom to his secretary, "Linda I need monthly efficiency reports on JAG HQ for the past year. I also want a summary of the case assignments since General Creswell took office."

"Yes sir," Linda replied.

"Don't go through General Creswell to get them. If you can't get them from outside the office talk to Petty Officer Coates."

"Yes sir," Linda replied again. She found the request somewhat odd but had learned it best not to question her boss.

1327 EST

The pentagon

Sheffield had received and looked over the reports he had requested. He was not happy, what Colonel MacKenzie had written was accurate and in some places understated. He was now awaiting a visit from the author of the report.

Sheffield looked up when there was a knock on his door.

"Come in," He called.

"You wanted to see me sir," Colonel Sarah MacKenzie said.

"Yes Colonel," the SECNAV replied, "please have a seat."

Mac sat down on a well-padded chair and was surprised when Sheffield came around the desk and sat across from her.

"Do you know why you are here Colonel?" Sheffield asked.

"I assume it has to do with the report I sent regarding General Creswell," Mac said.

"It does," Sheffield said, "before I called you in here I took the liberty of reviewing some of the statistics and cases that you mentioned. The facts do speak for themselves."

"Sir if you believe the facts speak for themselves why am I here?" Mac asked.

"Colonel your report, as well as the others I reviewed, stated the facts," Sheffield began, "I want your opinion as to Creswell's possible motivations. I will be talking to others members of the JAG staff, but you know the General the best. You did serve with him in Japan, yes?"

"Yes sir I did," Mac replied shortly.

"Do you believe that your affair with Colonel Farrow is at least part of the reason he removed you from the position of Chief of Staff?" Sheffield asked.

"I do sir," Mac said, "permission to speak freely sir?"

Sheffield nodded.

"When I heard that Creswell was the new JAG my first instinct was to run, " Mac said, "find another post, maybe even something in the civilian world. A friend reminded me that I had changed in the 15 years since Japan and perhaps Creswell had as well."

"Had he Colonel?" Sheffield prompted.

"No sir," Mac answered, "but the same friend convinced me to give the General a chance to see that I had changed. That I am no longer the person I was in Japan. At first I put up with his attitude toward me, telling myself that given a little time he would see who I was now. His behavior toward has not changed in 2 months sir, which leads me to believe it won't."

"I see," Sheffield said, "However according to your report it didn't stop at his attitude."

"No sir," Mac said, "after removing me as Chief of Staff he proceeded to give me the scut work. It was the same type of work Admiral Chegwidden had me doing when I returned from civilian life, as a punishment for leaving. At first I thought that's what it was, a way to put me in my place. To show me that I wasn't above the small stuff."

"But it wasn't?" Sheffield asked.

"No sir," Mac said, "I continued to write wills and settle divorce arguments. The only time he would send me on an actual case was if he had no choice or if a case came up on a submarine."

"Why give you the submarine cases and not commander Turner?" the SECNAV asked, "isn't he a former submariner?"

"Yes sir he is," Mac said, "It's in my file that I dislike submarines sir. I don't like the close quarters. I think the General does it to try to rattle me. Frankly sir I think he's trying to rattle everybody. He's finding their weaknesses and exploiting them."

Are you saying you think he's trying to get you to resign?" Sheffield asked.

"Yes sir," Mac nodded, "or transfer to another post where I have less prospects."

"And you think he's trying to do this with others on the staff as well?"

"Yes sir," Mac replied, "at least with Commanders Rabb and Roberts."

"How so Colonel?" Sheffield asked.

"He gives Bud, Commander Roberts, mainly two types of cases," Mac said, "the ones that require him to be physically active, that would aggravate his disability or at least make it awkward and the ones that take him away from his family for a long time."

"I can see how that would rattle Commander Roberts," Sheffield said, "he has a young family doesn't he?"

"He has a five year old son, a one year old son and his wife is 8 months pregnant with twins," Mac said. "She needs him around as much as possible especially with Jimmy, the 1 year old, getting into everything and her not being able to pick him up easily."

"I see," Sheffield said, "How has she managed so far?"

"Frankly sir," Mac said, "every time Bud has to go out of town either myself, Commander Rabb, Commander Turner, Admiral Chegwidden or Petty Officer Coates moves in with her. Right now it's a little easier because Bud's brother is home from Annapolis for Christmas but once he goes back..."

I understand Colonel," Sheffield said. This was getting more and more disturbing, "What about Commander Rabb?"

"Creswell seems to send him on the dangerous cases," Mac said, "the ones where he's most likely to get in trouble. It's almost as if Creswell is fishing for a reason to reprimand him. It also scares Mattie, the Commander's ward, half to death. She lost her Mom in a car accident, her greatest fear is that she'll lose Harm too. Harm know that too, I know he's been thinking about requesting another post."

"I can see how you have come to your conclusions Colonel," Sheffield said. "I also wanted to talk to you about the reason efficiency is down at JAG. When AJ was there it ran as a well oiled machine, at least most of the time."

"Sir if I may continue to speak freely," Mac said, "In his apparent effort to rattle his staff the General is misusing his resources. In doing so investigations are taking longer and sometimes key testimony is not uncovered due to the witnesses not being completely comfortable with their council."

"Colonel please explain that statement," Sheffield said.

"I don't think it would come as a surprise to you sir that pilots respond better to another pilot," Mac said, "a pilot know what life on a carrier is like. He knows the stresses and the pressures. A pilot also knows the mechanical workings of an aircraft and at least parts of the ship. Knowing those things makes the investigation go faster because they don't have to be explained."

"In other words your saying the best man for investigations on a carrier is Commander Rabb," Sheffield said.

"If the case has to do with pilots or airplanes yes sir," Mac siad, "Creswell has been assigning those cases to commander Roberts. I assume because getting around a carrier is more difficult because of his injury."

"I see," Sheffield said, "and the same would apply to submariners and you already stated that you were getting those cases rather than Commander Turner."

"Yes sir," Mac said, "none of the senior staff is being put on the cases where they are most useful. Also Creswell has yet to hire a junior attorney to replace Lt. Singer. I know for a fact that Admiral Chegwidden was holding out for Jason Tiner to graduate NJS. Tiner graduated 6 weeks ago, the General has made no move to hire him or any other junior officer. That fact combined with myself being relegated to paperwork and minor cases means that Roberts, Rabb and Turner are swamped with cases sir. Sir it's hard enough to concentrate on 5 active cases at a time, never mind 15."

"I see Colonel," Sheffield said, "I will take that all under consideration. Thank you for stopping by."

"Thank you for listening sir," Mac said shaking the man's hand before turning to go.

"Oh and Colonel?" Sheffield called after her.

"Yes sir?" Mac turned around.

"If you find a need to transfer out of JAG headquarters I have a need for a legal advisor," the SECNAV said with a slight smile.

"Commander Lindsey's job sir?' Mac asked, "it hasn't been filled?"

"I hadn't found the right person," Sheffield said.

"Thank you sir," Mac said, "I'll consider it."

"Good bye Colonel," Sheffield said.

"Sir," Mac nodded and continued out the door.

TBC