Jim was standing at attention in the Admiral's office with the SECNAV present. He'd been returned to active duty the previous week. His leg was more then completely healed. Here he was, staring over the Admiral's shoulder out the window. "AJ, we all knew that in order for Rabb and MacKenzie to remain under your command after they were married, there was going to have to be some give and take. As a lawyer, Colonel Grant is at par but as a field commander, his skills are unmatched. Since he's being returned to active duty, he's being transferred out of your chain of command and he's being given command of the 22nd MEU on board the Dwight Eisenhower." The SECNAV turned to face Admiral Chegwidden.
"Understood, sir. Surely this can't be all you came here to tell me, sir. This could have been accomplished with a quick phone call." The Admiral coached.
"I have more important news to impart. After his tour with the 22nd, Colonel Grant is set to have the President's nomination to the posting of the Chief Recon Officer for the United States Marine Corps. As you both are well aware, the Chief of Recon is a Major General's billet. Since you're up for flagging, you know that it would be logistically unwise to keep you here." Nelson turned toward Jim. "For the love of God Grant, don't do something stupid to screw this up for yourself."
"Aye, aye, sir." Jim nodded at the Secretary.
"Will that be all, Mr. Secretary?" The Admiral asked, trying to find some way to get Nelson out of his office.
"Yes, AJ, that will be all." Nelson grabbed his coat and headed for the door in the Admiral's office.
"Chief Recon Officer, that's a hell of a promotion. Then again, you've got to spend a few months on a carrier to get their so you don't quite have it in hand yet." The Admiral gave Jim a pat on the shoulder. "Just don't kill anyone, okay?"
"I'll try not to, sir." Jim nodded at the Admiral.
"The Eisenhower is currently serving in the Med, you'll be going out to join them on Friday. Before then, however, I require your help for something, being as you're still the ranking Marine officer here." The Admiral and Jim walked toward the door. "The O-5 board reported out last night and both Rabb and MacKenzie's names were right at the top of the list. I believe that as the ranking Marine officer, it's up to you to exchange Colonel MacKenzie's old gold oak leaves for a shiny new set of silver ones."
The door to the Admiral's office opened and Jim shouted "Attention on deck!" bringing everyone to attention. "Sir, I regret to inform you that Major MacKenzie and Lieutenant Commander Rabb are both out of uniform." Mac and Harm looked each other over but couldn't see what Jim was talking about.
"What do you suggest we do, Colonel?" The Admiral turned his head to face his chief of staff.
"I suggest we correct them, sir." Jim answered with a nod and the two senior officers advanced on their friends until they were all standing toe to toe. The Admiral reached out and pulled Harm's Lieutenant Commander shoulder-boards off.
"It is my privilege to announce that Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. has been promoted to Commander in the United States Navy." The Admiral opened a box containing Harm's new shoulder-boards and he proceeded to attach them to Harm's uniform. The Admiral administered the officer's oath to Harm who raised his right hand and recited the oath. "Major, if you would be so kind." Mac leaned up and kissed Harm on the cheek as was part of the ceremony.
"Now, as to the matter of Major MacKenzie's violation of the regulations on dress and decorum." Jim straightened his arms and unscrewed the gold oak leaves from Mac's collar. "Square up, Marine." He coached with a joking smile. "It is my privilege to announce that Major Sarah MacKenzie has been promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in the United States Marine Corps." Jim opened a box that contained a new set of silver oak leaves and he attached them to Mac's collar. Jim administered the oath which Mac recited, like Harm, with her hand in the air. "Commander, if you would conclude the ceremony." Harm leaned down and kissed his betrothed on the cheek.
"There will be a wetting down for the Commander and the Colonel on Thursday night. Finally, there is one more matter of business which we must attend to. As per an order of the Secretary of the Navy, Colonel Grant will be leaving JAG for the last time on Thursday to assume the mantle of command for the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit which is currently deployed on board the Dwight D. Eisenhower in the Pacific. So, Thursday night will also be a farewell party for the Colonel. It would seem prudent to mention that after he returns from the Med, Colonel Grant is being shipped over to the Pentagon as the Chief Recon Officer of the Marine Corps and will be subsequently promoted to Major General." There was a round of applause which greeted this announcement by the Admiral. "That will be all, folks." And the crowd dispersed.
2413 ZULU
MCMURPHY'S TAVERN
WASHINGTON, DC
"Buy you a beer, General?" Harm joked as he took a seat on the stool next to Jim. "How's Angie taking the news that you have to go to the Med for a few months?" Harm asked as the bartender slid a beer down the bar to Harm.
"About as well as can be expected for a woman who is seven months pregnant. I'm only going to be gone two months so her biggest worry at this point is that I'll miss the delivery." Jim shook his head quickly. "And I'm still a Colonel for two more months."
"You have a thorn stuck in your paw or something? I thought you'd be itching to get back out into the field, it's why you became a Marine isn't it." Harm elbowed his friend.
"I guess, it's just that every time I think that I'm too old for them to send me back into the field, they prove me wrong and send me back out. I'm getting up there Harm, the infantry's a young man's game and I'm not as young as I used to be." Jim took drink from the stout that the bartender had put in front of him.
"Who among us is? Listen, you put into everyday what you expect to get out and you just keep going until you get to a place you want to be. That's all you can do and all the Marines or anyone can ask from you." Harm put a hand on his friend's shoulder. "They're going to reward you when you're done this last task. They're going to put a couple of stars on your shoulders and chain you to a desk at the Pentagon, by this time next year you'll be begging to be back out in the field with an MEU."
"What are you doing over here helping be drown my sorrows, that's what the Admiral's for, you go dance with your soon-to-be wife." Jim coached as he pushed Harm back over toward Mac.
"You sure you'll be okay?" Harm asked as he headed back over toward Mac. Jim chuckled and nodded and gave Harm another push.
1311 LOCAL
USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
SOMEWHERE IN THE MEDITERRANEAN
The COD landed on the deck with jerk and Jim uncrossed his arms from in front of his chest. This was going to be the longest two months of his life. He unbuckled his seat belt, grabbed his pack and headed for the door to the aircraft. He hopped out of the door and on to the landing deck where he was confronted by a waiting Marine enlisted man who saluted Jim once he saw his rank insignia. "Colonel Grant, sir?" The Gunnery Sergeant asked.
"That's right, Gunny and who might you be?" Jim responded as he fired off a salute.
"Gunnery Sergeant Victor Galindez, sir." The Gunny answered as the two of them headed off to join up with the rest of the MEU. "I'm your senior non-com."
"Who was the CO of this unit before I got here, Gunny?" Jim asked as he ducked through the hatch and the two of them headed to the lower decks.
"That would be Colonel Gates, sir." Gunny answered as he bounded down the stairs after Jim.
"And who's the XO of this unit, Gunnery Sergeant?" Jim asked as they turned a corner and headed down a hallway for the starboard part of the ship.
"That would be Captain Rhodes, sir." Gunny replied as he tried to keep up with the pace that his new Colonel had set. "Do you have somewhere that you need to be, sir? You seem to be hell bent on getting somewhere awful fast."
"I intend on going to meet the rest of the MEU, Gunny. Is there some regulation saying I can't do that?" Jim turned his face to read the expression on the Gunny's.
"No sir, it's just that I would have assumed that you would want to go on to the bridge to meet with Captain MacMillan." Gunny offered as they neared the Marine enlisted quarters. "Attention on deck!" Gunny commanded and all the Marines sprang to their feet.
"At ease." Jim motioned for all the Marines to relax. "My name is Colonel James T. Grant. I have been assigned to this unit because with the escalation of tensions in the Adriatic, it was believed that you could use someone with real experience in this part of the world. I've served in Lebanon, Bosnia, Kosovo and the Gulf. I have no doubt that you men have some loyalty to Colonel Gates, that is something which I cannot condemn you for. On the contrary, I commend you for it, loyalty marks the sign of a good Marine. You are an MEU, which means that you are a rapidly deployable and special operations capable warfare tool for the United States Navy. As of this moment, you are my Marines and I will use the tools at my disposal to make sure that you are the best fighting unit that this carrier group has ever seen." Jim turned on heel and came face to face with Gunny. "That'll be all Gunnery Sergeant, I think I'll go visit with Captain MacMillan now."
"Aye, aye, sir." Gunny nodded and led the Colonel through the corridors of the carrier toward the bridge. Gunny wasn't quite sure what to think of his new unit commander. The man had the fruit salad on his chest to tell Gunny that he was a serious combat vet and the Pentagon never would have sent him out here if they didn't expect the 22nf to be back in the soup somewhere in the region sometime soon. For Jim's part, it had been a long time since he had been on a carrier. When he was between Recon teams in the late seventies they had sent him to XO the 19th MEU on board the USS Thomas Paine.
"Officer on deck!" The Master at Arms called out as Jim made his way on to the bridge. Jim came to attention and saluted the Captain of the ship.
"You would be Colonel Grant." Captain Peter MacMillan raised his head to face the new commanding officer of the MEU onboard his ship.
"That's what the Pentagon tells me, sir." Jim answered with quick nod of the head.
"Medal of Honour recipient, two silver stars, three bronze stars, two purple hearts and a Navy Cross. You seem to be something out of Pentagon folk-lore, Colonel. Just keep your Marines from interacting negatively with my sailors. Just remember who outnumbers who on this ship, Colonel." The Captain stood toe to toe with Jim.
"Just one question, sir?" Jim had a fake smile plastered across his face.
"What would that be, Colonel?" The Captain returned his eyes to a paper.
"Just wondering if allowing my men free run of the female enlisted quarters constituted negative interaction, Captain." Jim shot sarcastically and Gunny tried to hide some real laughter.
"That will be all, Colonel." The Captain used his best authoritative, dismissive tone. Jim and Gunny both turned around and headed off the bridge.
"Sir, I'm not sure how wise it was to antagonize the Captain, he is kind of the authority on the ship." Gunny followed Jim down a set of stairs.
"Gunny, someone has to keep the Squids in line and if we left it up to the ground-pounders all the time nothing would ever get done." Eventually Gunny and Jim returned to the level where the Marines were quartered. "I'm guessing that I'm rooming with my XO, Gunny?"
"Yes, sir, you're just down the hall from enlisted quarters." Gunny pointed to the door on his left and Jim tapped on the hatch. A younger, blonder Marine Captain came to the door. Captain Rhodes was only an inch or two shorter than Jim and he was obviously an Annapolis grad as one could observe from the class ring on his hand.
"Captain Eli Rhodes, sir." Captain Rhodes snapped to attention and fixed a salute.
"Nice to meet you, Captain, I expect you to help me get the rest of the unit out of bed bright and early every morning so that they can be dragged into the weight room. I can't have you guys getting soft just because we're out here, floating on this giant steel life raft." Jim gave Captain Rhodes a pat on the shoulder before heading into the room.
"Yes, sir." Captain Rhodes was enthusiastic.
"Good, let's get to work." Jim clapped his hands together and threw his pack down on his bunk.
0455 LOCAL
USS DWIGHT D. EISENHOWER
OFF THE COAST OF CYPRUS
FOUR WEEKS LATER
"Where the hell is Grant and the Marines?" Captain MacMillan shouted as he paced the bridge.
"Jogging, Captain." The XO answered.
"Jogging? For Christ's sake, we're on an aircraft carrier where the hell could they jog?" The Captain demanded.
"The corridors and hallways, sir. They treat the knee-knockers like hurdles. They're really very good, I know that the women line up and whistle at them as they go passed, it's really done wonders for morale, that Colonel Grant sure is…" The Captain cut off his XO.
"Sure is what, Commander?" MacMillan looked really annoyed by now.
"A Marine, sure, Colonel Grant sure is a Marine." The Commander immediately corrected himself.
"Just direct the Colonel and his running posse up here, would you, XO?" MacMillan braced himself and looked out on to the clear blue ocean off the starboard bow. A few seconds later, the column of pacing and panting Marines were on the bridge. "Good Morning, Colonel."
"Matter of opinion, Skipper. You wanted to see me and my Marines, sir." Jim, Rhodes and Gunny all stood up to face the Skipper.
"We got a call from CENTCOM in Naples who received an urgent dispatch from UNDOF. They're facing a third straight day of escalating protests which, thanks to Hezbollah support, are likely to get worse and they fear that they may face an armed demonstration today." Captain MacMillan explained. "Since our battle group is in the area, the 22nd MEU is being sent for reinforcement of UN troops and tactical support. Standard ROEs apply, your rides will be waiting for you gentlemen on the deck in twenty-two minutes sharp, I suggest you be ready, Marines."
"Alright, men let's load it up, sounds like some folks need our help." Jim slapped his hands together and the Marines hauled ass back to quarters to get ready for their missions. To no one's surprise, they were all out on the deck less then twenty minutes later in full desert camouflage. They were going to take two Hueys and a CH-46 Sea-Knight. The Marines climbed into their respective rides. "Gunny, you stick with most of the men in the Phrog. The Captain and I will take our respective teams in the Hueys, we'll see you on the ground in the Golan." They went off to the helicopters and the birds took off into the air.
They had gotten permission to clear Israeli airspace with no hassle, in fact the Israeli Chief of Defence Staff had come on the radio himself to wish them good luck. Not that that was a big surprise, an incident like this one would set Western public opinion in favour of Israel and against Damascus. Still, the helicopters speeded off toward the Golan Heights where the UNDOF forces were about to come into contact with what was supposed to be close to fifty thousand Syrian protestors. Of course, in this region of the world, it was easy for Hezbollah or Hamas terrorists to blend into such a crowd.
After almost two hours in the helicopters, they landed on the helipad in the UN zone in the Golan. They were promptly greeted by the base commanding officer and his staff. "When we asked you CENTCOM for help, we did not know that they would reply so quickly." The General replied.
"They try their damnedest." Jim replied. "Colonel Jim Grant, commanding officer of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit."
"Brigadier General Singh, Commander of the UNDOF zone. It is very nice to meet you, Colonel. Your Marines will be a great help to us today." The General shook Jim's hand.
"Have the protests turned violent yet, General?" Jim asked as the Marines followed him and General Singh toward the forward observation posts.
"They are more violent today then they were yesterday. The chants have become more aggressive and they are discharging weapons into the air." The General explained as they neared the wall of the outermost observation post in the Northern sector. "My men are bound by tight Rules of Engagement, your men have lighter restrictions, we required your assistance only in case we believe that our complex may be overrun, Colonel."
Jim stopped and thought for a second. "Captain Rhodes, take your men and the Gunnery Sergeant's men and prone them along the wall here. My team will stake out positions in that adjacent tower. Rhodes, make sure you're in radio contact at all time." The Captain did as he was told and he set up his men along the wall.
"What are your intentions, Colonel?" General Singh asked as he attempted to keep up with the brisk pace that seemed to be the Marine operating speed.
"My intentions, General, sir, are to maintain the most optimal level of peace that is humanly possible because if the Syrians overrun this compound, the next stop is Israel on the other side and I know that the Israelis won't hesitate to shoot them." Jim snapped turning to face General Singh. "You called my men in because you want our help, well, we're helping you give me the word and I'll be out of here on those helicopters faster then you can say 'boo'."
"No, no, of course, I require your assistance, Colonel, perhaps I am just not used to your Marine attitude. Although I was warned that you can be quite, how you say, Gung-ho." The General smiled sympathetically which cause Jim to chuckle before heading into the observation tower toward the stairs that were inside. Jim and Gunny climbed the stairs with their fourteen man team, but just as they were about to get to the top there was a loud explosion and the rapid repeating sound of gunfire outside the tower.
The team of Marines scrambled toward the apex of the tower. They maintained a crouched position as they neared the rails and peered out into the crowd below. "Amazing how fast a peaceful demonstration can deteriorate when you mix a few radical terrorists into the mix, huh General?" Jim asked as he motioned for his radio operator. He picked up the radio and called Captain Rhodes who was on the wall below. "Captain, what the hell happened down there?"
"It was a grenade, sir." Rhodes voice answered frantically.
"Well, Jesus Christ, Rhodes, look out for yourself. Any casualties?" Jim asked, the grim demeanour soon returning to the Marine's face.
"PFC Ljubcic's leg looks like hell, sir. He was the closest to the blast when the grenade went off, I sent two of the UNDOF guys to evac him down to the clinic." Rhodes answered. "Sir, we're taking some light AK fire down here, what are your orders?"
"Anyone down there who can speak Arabic, Captain?" Jim asked.
"Sir, the only member of the unit who can speak Arabic is Sergeant Ben-Ali and he's up there with you, sir." Captain Rhodes informed his commanding officer. Jim handed the radio to Gunny.
"Sergeant! Get over here!" Jim shouted and the Sergeant came scrambling over. Jim turned toward General Singh. "Is there anyway we can patch this radio through to the base loudspeaker?"
"Sir?" A young private in the middle of the tower got everyone's attention as he grabbed an AV patch-chord and plugged it into the communication base system in the tower. The firing of an AK in the crowd below could be heard and Gunny tackled the young private to the floor of the white stone tower.
"Watch out, Private, you DNKY." Gunny tapped the young man on the helmet.
"DNKY?" General Singh questioned.
"Damn Near Killed Yourself." Jim explained. The radio created some feedback in the communication system but it was operational. "Sergeant Ben-Ali, tell the crowd that they are to drop their weapons and cease hostilities or face retaliation."
"Should you really threaten them?" General Singh questioned.
"If I don't, what reason do they have for dropping their weapons?" Jim asked. He could hear Ben-Ali speak in Arabic and he could hear the loudspeaker broadcast the warning twice before it went silent. But rather then cease the firing of weapons, the aggression seemed to intensify. The yelling got louder and grenades and Molotov cocktails were hurled on to the wall. The sound of AK-47 fire intensified. "Captain Rhodes, how's it look down there?"
"Like the dam is about to burst, sir!" Rhodes shouted as a grenade burst nearby. "I've got four Marines down wounded and one is KIA, sir. He was burned to death when he got caught between two Molotovs." Jim pressed the mouthpiece to the radio to his forehead for a second before lowering it to his mouth again but before he could speak, Rhodes took over again. "Sir, permission to return fire?"
"Negative, maintain defensive positions." Jim returned then he thought for a second. "Await further orders." Jim returned the radio mouthpiece to Gunny. "Gunnery Sergeant, is there any way that we might be able to safely evacuate the civilians from that crowd?"
"Not without losing a lot of Marines, sir. Even if we could, there's no reason to believe that we don't lose some terrorists in the lot." Gunny replied.
"General Singh?" Jim turned to face the Commander of the UN zone. The Indian General was silent. "Sergeant, issue the warning two more times, this time make two things very obvious. One, that we want civilians to leave and two, that we are prepared to retaliate." Jim listened as the Sergeant issued the warning again but to no avail. By this time explosives were being lobbed up into the tower. They were crashing down around him and his team. When one engulfed the private that had set up the comm. link earlier, Jim snapped. "Rhodes!" Jim shouted into the radio.
"Yes, sir." The frantic voice of Captain Rhodes came over the radio.
"Open fire, Captain!" Jim shouted, his voice barely audible over the gunfire and explosions .
"Come again, sir?" Captain Rhodes answered.
"Jesus Christ, Rhodes, are you fucking thick? Shoot the little bastards!" Jim returned the radio to Gunny and turned to face the crowd in the pit beneath the wall. In that instant, Marines from both sides opened fire on the crowd that had gathered under the wall. The sound of their M16 fire drowned out all else. The crowd in the pit below was massacred. The Marines were sure to spare those who retreated or surrendered but everyone else was shot.
"Cease fire! Cease fire!" Jim shouted from his place on the tower and the M16 fire only slightly slowed. The Marine Colonel flew down the stairs to the wall parapet below. "Cease fire!" He shouted again as he forcefully pulled Marines off their weapons. The firing of guns stopped on the Colonel's command but in the pit below the carnage was already painfully evident. The sands were stained red with blood. Jim took off his helmet and wiped his brow.
"Sir, we had to, sir." Captain Rhodes explained as he walked over.
"What were our casualties, Captain?" Jim asked without turning to face his second in command.
"Down here on the wall was six wounded and two dead, sir." Captain Rhodes, replied his face still white as a ghost.
"Five wounded, three dead up in the tower, Colonel." Gunny said as he showed up next to Jim. The Marines began to fallout back off the wall into the compound.
"I think it would be wise if you and your men left now, Colonel." General Singh stated with a firm conviction, his arms crossed in front of his chest. Jim nodded as he, Gunny and Captain Rhodes led the Marines back toward the choppers. The stretchers and wounded were loaded on and Jim, Gunny and Rhodes climbed into the CH-46.
"No matter what they tell you at the Academy, it, it never quite prepares you for what actually happens to you when you see it." Rhodes had his head bent over between his knees.
"I know, son, I know. I've been a part of every major skirmish since the end of the Vietnam War and trust me, it never gets any easier." Jim put a comforting hand on the back of the young officer as the choppers lifted off the ground to take them whisk them off back to the Eisenhower.
1948 LOCAL
USS DWIGHT D EISENHOWER
OFF THE COAST OF CYPRUS
Jim was sitting at his desk in his quarters filling out the daily after action report when a knock came at his hatch. He hadn't been back from the Golan for more then two hours and no one in his unit ever knocked before entering his quarters. Jim looked up from his papers to see two men with black MP arm badges on their arms. "Colonel Grant, sir?" The two men asked.
"Yes." Jim answered with a nod.
"Sir, you're going to have to come with us." One MP walked over and took Jim by the arm.
"Why is that, Sergeant?" Jim asked as the man ushered him to the door.
"Orders from CENTCOM, sir. You're being charged with breach of peace, negligent homicide, direct disobedience of orders and issuing an unlawful order, sir." The MP informed him.
"In other words a political scapegoat." Jim had to chuckle in a self-deprecating way. "This is pathetic." The two men handcuffed the Colonel and led him down the hallway toward the stairs rather then the brig. "Where are we headed."
"SECNAV orders are to try you in Naples rather then onboard , Colonel." The MP answered. As Jim was being led down the hall the Marines of his unit lined the hallways and fixed salutes to their foreheads as their CO passed them. When he got to the end of the row, Jim came upon Gunnery Sergeant Galindez.
"Anything you need, sir?" Gunny asked.
"Yes, Gunny. Put in a ship to shore call to JAG Headquarters in Washington. Tell them that as per my rights under the UCMJ, I'm retaining Lieutenant Colonel Sarah MacKenzie and Commander Harmon Rabb Jr. as my trial council." Jim groaned angrily, through gritted teeth.
"Aye, aye, sir." Gunny fired off a salute and headed straight for the ship to shore phone.