A/N: Yes, there is a Santa Claus otherwise this wouldn't be up here..
(Belated though it is.)
Chapter 21
(Admiral's POV)
1301 ZULU JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia Admiral Chegwidden's office
The intercom beeps, and Tiner's voice follows *DAMN! Doesn't the JAG ever get a moment's rest?*
"Admiral, Sir, SECNAV just called to say he's coming to see you."
"What does the Secretary want out of me? Did he say?"
"Not much, Sir, except that it had to do with two of your officers doing an investigation in Europe."
*RABB and MACKENZIE what's he done now?* "Thank you Tiner."
I look back at my papers, trying to make sense out of them. But, they were a damned headache before the SECNAV's call. Now. Hell, I knew best of anyone these two could do a lot, but something told me this time this investigation was going all wrong..
15 minutes later.
"The Secretary's here to see you sir."
"Send him in." I say reluctantly.
The Secretary enters, and sits down in the chair I offer him.
Tiner, curious as to the whereabouts of the Commander & Colonel, is hoping I will leave the door open. I walk over to shut it, to his disappointment.
"How serious is it, Mr. Secretary?" I ask.
"A.J.." he says dragging out my name while rubbing his forehead. "Remind me how Rabb and MacKenzie ended up on this damn mission in the first place."
"It came from you Sir."
"I know that and I am now beginning-am regretting ever doing so."
"Sir, could I please know what's gone wrong with the mission? There are going to be people I have to talk to-loved ones-not to mention my whole staff."
He paused. "A.J. this pond we've jumped into has gotten bigger and bigger as the hours pass. We thought it was simply a psycho murderer or something, but this net they've stepped into is a lot deeper than anyone could have ever imagined."
"How deep?" I ask realizing he must be referring to security issues.
"So deep we have not even found the bottom yet. Nothing-as of yet-has gone awry in the assignment. Your officers are safe at the moment. But with what they are dealing with it is unlikely that will be much longer.
"Just the other day Webb reported to me that an attempt has already been made on the Colonel's life. They were lucky enough to escape, but are at a loss as to whom it is. Intel points to a huge terrorist operation underway A.J. that will make September 11th look like child's play. These guys have got to be stopped, and until we can get more people in there your guys are the only ones we have."
"Why in the United Kingdom though? Surely it must be safer out in the mid- east?"
"Where we're looking for them? No, they'll work just where nobody but nobody will suspect, and where they have all the technology they need at a minute's notice. Security has grown lax since that time, especially in Europe because they were never directly affected until much later. Europe, particularly Great Britain our trusted ally is where they would have a perfect chance."
"Do they know the extent of the danger they're in?" I ask becoming worried for their safety.
"They know as much as they were told by me at the meeting in this office." Announces Webb as he walks in closing the door behind him.
"Do you read Webb?" I storm angrily, the words on the door say, 'PRIVATE'! Do you know what my yeoman heard when you opened that door?"
"Tiner took a late lunch, and I used the opportunity." He replied, unfazed. "A great deal depends on the ability of your people to stay alive down there long enough allow us to bring in others who are more skilled. If they get too much info but are discovered they'll know we're onto them and move somewhere else. It could blow the whole operation, not to mention a few other things."
"And if they don't find out something soon-they won't be able to. We believe each of the victims got too close to discovering what was going on. This whole nonsense about only female Naval officers of ascending rank being killed is not the point." Said the Secretary.
"How do you know this?" I ask bewildered by the extent of information. "Do you mean to say that hundreds of people's lives are depending on the success of my officers?"
"Yes, we are Admiral." Said the Secretary with a sigh. "Here, this just came through an hour ago from the base." He hands me the service record of a Major Carly Davidson.
"What does this have to do with anything?" I ask exasperated with this whole business.
"These murderers just broke their pattern." Said Webb.
"So, you mean to tell me this Major Davidson just died?" I respond.
"Yeah, around midnight last night, but they've been trying their best to keep it bottled up." He answers.
"God help them," I say softly looking at her picture, she sort of reminds of my daughter. She should not have died. I put the paper down. "How much of this am I allowed to tell my staff?"
The Secretary is starting to put his coat on (because it's raining) as he replies, "That they are on an extremely dangerous mission, and the chances of them returning safely are quickly narrowing."
"Will they be notified of this new intel?" I ask hopefully.
"It depends on a lot of things Admiral." Said Webb.
"Well, I have a meeting with the Joint Chiefs in twenty minutes, I must be going." Said the Secretary, "Good day, Admiral, Mr. Webb." We said the same and he left.
Webb was up against the wall just after the door shut. "What the hell do you keep using my people for?! Isn't this what the CIA is for, not the JAG office? You know I have a half a mind to skin you alive right now. If they don't get back alive and in one piece you can bet your money you will be out of a job just as quickly if not worse. Is that understood Mr. Webb?"
"Y-Yes. Now can you put me down?"
I slowly do so. "I mean it Webb, no more games like this." I say in my 'I'm an angry ex-SEAL you'd better not mess with me voice.' It works, Webb scurries out of the room as quickly as possible.
I look down at the papers on my desk, there will be another day for those. Right now, I need to go tell my staff something.
A/N: Make-up for last crummy ch. (I think it was really corny now that I've read over it again. Oh well.) Well, what did you think of poor Webb when he was in the Admiral's claws? How will Harm & Mac survive this dangerous mission?
Chapter 21
(Admiral's POV)
1301 ZULU JAG Headquarters Falls Church, Virginia Admiral Chegwidden's office
The intercom beeps, and Tiner's voice follows *DAMN! Doesn't the JAG ever get a moment's rest?*
"Admiral, Sir, SECNAV just called to say he's coming to see you."
"What does the Secretary want out of me? Did he say?"
"Not much, Sir, except that it had to do with two of your officers doing an investigation in Europe."
*RABB and MACKENZIE what's he done now?* "Thank you Tiner."
I look back at my papers, trying to make sense out of them. But, they were a damned headache before the SECNAV's call. Now. Hell, I knew best of anyone these two could do a lot, but something told me this time this investigation was going all wrong..
15 minutes later.
"The Secretary's here to see you sir."
"Send him in." I say reluctantly.
The Secretary enters, and sits down in the chair I offer him.
Tiner, curious as to the whereabouts of the Commander & Colonel, is hoping I will leave the door open. I walk over to shut it, to his disappointment.
"How serious is it, Mr. Secretary?" I ask.
"A.J.." he says dragging out my name while rubbing his forehead. "Remind me how Rabb and MacKenzie ended up on this damn mission in the first place."
"It came from you Sir."
"I know that and I am now beginning-am regretting ever doing so."
"Sir, could I please know what's gone wrong with the mission? There are going to be people I have to talk to-loved ones-not to mention my whole staff."
He paused. "A.J. this pond we've jumped into has gotten bigger and bigger as the hours pass. We thought it was simply a psycho murderer or something, but this net they've stepped into is a lot deeper than anyone could have ever imagined."
"How deep?" I ask realizing he must be referring to security issues.
"So deep we have not even found the bottom yet. Nothing-as of yet-has gone awry in the assignment. Your officers are safe at the moment. But with what they are dealing with it is unlikely that will be much longer.
"Just the other day Webb reported to me that an attempt has already been made on the Colonel's life. They were lucky enough to escape, but are at a loss as to whom it is. Intel points to a huge terrorist operation underway A.J. that will make September 11th look like child's play. These guys have got to be stopped, and until we can get more people in there your guys are the only ones we have."
"Why in the United Kingdom though? Surely it must be safer out in the mid- east?"
"Where we're looking for them? No, they'll work just where nobody but nobody will suspect, and where they have all the technology they need at a minute's notice. Security has grown lax since that time, especially in Europe because they were never directly affected until much later. Europe, particularly Great Britain our trusted ally is where they would have a perfect chance."
"Do they know the extent of the danger they're in?" I ask becoming worried for their safety.
"They know as much as they were told by me at the meeting in this office." Announces Webb as he walks in closing the door behind him.
"Do you read Webb?" I storm angrily, the words on the door say, 'PRIVATE'! Do you know what my yeoman heard when you opened that door?"
"Tiner took a late lunch, and I used the opportunity." He replied, unfazed. "A great deal depends on the ability of your people to stay alive down there long enough allow us to bring in others who are more skilled. If they get too much info but are discovered they'll know we're onto them and move somewhere else. It could blow the whole operation, not to mention a few other things."
"And if they don't find out something soon-they won't be able to. We believe each of the victims got too close to discovering what was going on. This whole nonsense about only female Naval officers of ascending rank being killed is not the point." Said the Secretary.
"How do you know this?" I ask bewildered by the extent of information. "Do you mean to say that hundreds of people's lives are depending on the success of my officers?"
"Yes, we are Admiral." Said the Secretary with a sigh. "Here, this just came through an hour ago from the base." He hands me the service record of a Major Carly Davidson.
"What does this have to do with anything?" I ask exasperated with this whole business.
"These murderers just broke their pattern." Said Webb.
"So, you mean to tell me this Major Davidson just died?" I respond.
"Yeah, around midnight last night, but they've been trying their best to keep it bottled up." He answers.
"God help them," I say softly looking at her picture, she sort of reminds of my daughter. She should not have died. I put the paper down. "How much of this am I allowed to tell my staff?"
The Secretary is starting to put his coat on (because it's raining) as he replies, "That they are on an extremely dangerous mission, and the chances of them returning safely are quickly narrowing."
"Will they be notified of this new intel?" I ask hopefully.
"It depends on a lot of things Admiral." Said Webb.
"Well, I have a meeting with the Joint Chiefs in twenty minutes, I must be going." Said the Secretary, "Good day, Admiral, Mr. Webb." We said the same and he left.
Webb was up against the wall just after the door shut. "What the hell do you keep using my people for?! Isn't this what the CIA is for, not the JAG office? You know I have a half a mind to skin you alive right now. If they don't get back alive and in one piece you can bet your money you will be out of a job just as quickly if not worse. Is that understood Mr. Webb?"
"Y-Yes. Now can you put me down?"
I slowly do so. "I mean it Webb, no more games like this." I say in my 'I'm an angry ex-SEAL you'd better not mess with me voice.' It works, Webb scurries out of the room as quickly as possible.
I look down at the papers on my desk, there will be another day for those. Right now, I need to go tell my staff something.
A/N: Make-up for last crummy ch. (I think it was really corny now that I've read over it again. Oh well.) Well, what did you think of poor Webb when he was in the Admiral's claws? How will Harm & Mac survive this dangerous mission?