| Subject: ...For Meritorious Service, Epilogue , part three [r] |
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TxJAG_b
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Date Posted: 16:16:05 09/09/10 Thu
In reply to:
TxJAG_b
's message, "...For Meritorious Service, Chapter 27 - continued" on 10:56:42 07/07/10 Wed
…For Meritorious Service – Epilogue – part three
A/N 1: Thanks to my trio of editors [Mary Ann, Janlaw and Karen] for their usual fine job. Kudos also to AeroGirl, Mkim, Soleil, TZ, Janlaw for providing their help and technical expertise. Also thanks to Lisa Griffon [Yahoo Shipper Group] and Chris at Voy's JAG Haven for their continuing support.
Previously:
*************************
The aviator/lawyer couldn’t believe what was happening. When Harm looked back at Mac, she was looking at him with cocked quizzical eyebrow.
“Maac;” Harm groaned, “I swear, I knew nothing about this…”
Mac decided to have a little fun at his expense. After all, she had been through this morning, she couldn’t help doing something impish. “Uh huh; I see I’m going to have to keep an eye on you, Squid.” She tried her best to sound miffed.
She succeeded. “Maac,” Harm moaned. It was bad enough he was trapped in this aid station with this Romanian officer courtesy of Queen Alexi [Alexandra]. He didn’t want her thinking what she was thinking. Not now.
Mac couldn’t keep up the act. She truly felt empathy about his sticky situation; she had been in plenty of them herself. She smiled saucily at him and gave the Commander a wink. “You’d better watch it Commander,” she said teasingly, “your nose might begin to grow….”
*************************
Epilogue - part three
Operation King Cobra, D-day + 9 hours
Clayton Webb watched closely as the HMMWV came to halt. Commander May and his driver got out. The driver excused himself. Brad looked at the strangely clean uniformed Marine standing there waiting for him. “Lieutenant Abby Cowen, I presume,” Brad May said with a hint of sarcasm in his voice.
CIA Special Agent frowned. “It’s Lieutenant Dayton Wilksbury, Commander.”
Brad May shook his head. He honestly wondered sometimes why he worked with these spooks. “Okay Lieutenant; I take it you want a SITREP, correct?”
“Just tell me if you destroyed those missiles,” Webb said bluntly. He wasn’t in any mood for verbal foreplay or sparring right now. It had been a long flight on that C-17 from Washington and Kershaw had told him in no uncertain terms that he was not to come back unless Samir’s missiles were destroyed.
Brad shook his head again. “No, we didn’t, but Colonel MacKenzie’s recon team did and Commander Rabb’s squadron destroyed the trucks and some armor the insurgents had been squirreling away for a rainy day….” Brad wasn’t going to reveal how extensive their stocks were, the spook could read about that in ‘Rancher’ and ‘Scimitar’s’ report.
The SEAL Commander could tell by the look on Clayton Webb’s face that those two names struck more of a nerve in him than did the Commander’s report. “Colonel MacKenzie’s recon team?” He said. It was obvious to May that he sounded thunderstruck and tad disbelieving. “She was leading them?”
Catching a spook by surprise was kinda fun every once in awhile, especially since they usually were the ones always insisting they were ‘in the know’. Brad had a hard time hiding his amusement. “Yes sir, I thought you knew…”
Clay made a sour face. Sometimes dealing with military types could be such a pain. “No, I didn’t…. So how do you know it was Commander Rabb’s squadron that destroyed Sahood’s armor force, did Rancher tell you?” It was an obvious assumption. After all, Rancher had been selected as the CIA’s ‘eyes and ears’ for the strike on Objective India.
Again, Commander May turned that notion on its ear. “No sir, we learned via Colonel MacKenzie that Commander Rabb’s squadron had volunteered to destroy the SCUD and FROG missile trucks. Colonel MacKenzie’s team neutralized the missiles with the help of Captain al-Bazz.”
That was another reason he hated those long flights – it left him out of touch with everything that was going on. Of course he hadn’t contacted Meg Austin yet and gotten her report…if he had, she probably would’ve told him that Harmon Rabb’s squadron was the one that put Sahood’s force out of commission and that Sarah’s unit had worked with former Republican Guard officer Hosan al-Bazz.
“Well I guess Commander Rabb’s unit should be thanked for their help,” Webb murmured grudgingly.
Brad nodded. “Yes sir; and you can thank Commander Rabb yourself if you like…” (and Colonel MacKenzie) he thought but decided he’d hold that back for now.
Clayton Webb was getting tired of Commander May’s cryptic comments. “What do you mean?”
“The Commander was shot down by Samir’s men. They had some GASKIN SAMs that they had liberated from the Iraqi army….” It was giving away a little of what was going to be in the official report, but maybe this would give the CIA Agent an idea of the kind of opposition they had faced in this operation.
“How bad was he hurt?” Clay had images of Sarah stringing him up like an Old West outlaw if Harm was badly hurt.
“He and his RIO were injured ejecting out of the plane and badly enough, sir, that they were medevac’ed to the Marine’s Battalion Aid Station.”
“What about the plane?”
Brad May didn’t mince words. “Total loss – it augured in and destroyed the launcher that shot him down.”
Even though Webb reasoned that it was partially Rabb’s fault that he got shot down, the Special Agent knew that Kershaw would hold him responsible for this happening. After all, if he had caught al Harib in DC, they might have been able to stop all this from happening….
“Just tell me we caught Sahood and Livingston…” The CIA Agent said wearily.
“My men and the D.C. NCIS Major Case Response Team lead by Special Agent Gibbs are apprehending Samir as we speak. As for Colonel Livingston…she was badly wounded in a firefight between her unit and ours…”
“Ours? What do you means by ours? Was there more than just your SEAL team involved, Commander?”
“Mine and Colonel MacKenzie’s recon Marines, Mr. Webb. The Colonel was able to turn several members of the unit against Colonel Livingston. We also apprehended Captain Lewis--”
“Captain Lewis…wait, do you mean Captain Jacques Lewis?! The rogue DSD operative?!”
Brad May smiled smugly. He was really proud that they had caught him. “None other sir. We suspected he was involved in several killings here in Iraq including Lieutenant Dodge’s, but we didn’t have any solid proof, that is, until he killed several members of Darcy’s team during our firefight with them. Gibbs’ unit supplied the rest of the evidence we needed to nail him.”
“So when did you capture him?”
“We got him as he tried to kill Colonel MacKenzie. He was still with Colonel Livingston for some reason. We’d figured he’d high-tailed it to Syria once he learned we were on his tail.”
“That’s great news, Commander. What about the insurgents and the Saddam Fedayeen who were supporting al Sahood and Colonel Livingston?”
“Al Jihad and Jama’at al Tawhid al Jihad lost many of their senior lieutenants in the firefights with the 36th MEU and the air strikes against Objective India. Colonel Baxter, commander of the MEU, told us several armor caches were also found and many members of both groups were rounded up. It will take them time recoup those losses. The Saddam units in this area no longer exist.”
“And the al-Diwaniyah and Mirbullah al Qaeda terrorist cells?”
Now Brad gave his first real smile in days. “Rendered ineffective, sir. With Sahood’s and Harib’s captures, the al-Diwaniyah cell is essentially leaderless. As for the Mirbullah cell…we’re still counting heads, but we’re fairly certain it has been wiped out.”
Operation King Cobra, D-Day + 9 Hours
36th MEU Battalion Aid Station
Mac needed to stretch her legs. With Harm sleeping peacefully, this was the perfect time. She quietly got up from his bedside and slipped out of the room. Passing by several wounded Marines’ cots, she started to head outside.
“Colonel?”
Mac turned to see one of Commander May’s SEAL team members motioning to her from a side room.
The Marine JAG Corps officer walked over to the young Petty Officer. “Yes, Petty Officer?
He turned and looked back toward the darkened room and then back at her. “Ma’am, Colonel Livingston would like to see you…”
Mac steeled herself. This was one confrontation she’d hoped she wouldn’t have to have. Darcy Livingston was one of those people who won over others with flattery, found their weaknesses, and then exploited those to the fullest, sometimes to the person’s death.
To say Mac had been equally flattered and frightened by Darcy would be an understatement.
The room was a little ways down from Harm’s. Unlike the single lamp at Harm’s bedside, there were none in Darcy’s room. The young SEAL allowed her to go in first and then followed afterwards.
As Mac’s eyes adjusted to the darkness, she could see the former Force Recon CO lying on her padded cot. If Mac didn’t know better, she’d swear that Darcy had already passed.
Her chest was still and her eyes were closed…just like she was when Mac had left to her to rescue Harm.
She could still hear Darcy’s comment about Harm as his squadron prepared to attack Sahood’s fortress one last time…
*~*~*
“Looks like I get a lagniappe after all, Cher….”
*~*~*
The Marine JAG Corps officer pushed those thoughts aside. It wouldn’t help her better handle talking to Darcy Livingston As she came closer to her bedside, Darcy’s eyes fluttered and then opened, trying to focus on the person standing over her cot.
“Colonel…MacKenzie….”
Mac nodded curtly. “Colonel,”
Darcy licked her parched lips. “Because…you are standing here, cher, I take it…Samir’s…al Sahood’s... attack failed….”
“Yes it did, Colonel,” Mac replied trying not to let any emotion creep into her voice. She found it odd that Darcy had corrected herself like that…maybe the scrambled thoughts of a dying woman. “And we found and destroyed his missiles.”
Darcy nodded her head slowly. “And…Commander…Rabb?”
Mac steeled herself for Darcy’s satanic grin.
“He was shot down, Colonel.”
Darcy Livingston didn’t smile. “I…I’m…sorry…so very sorry that…happened, cher.” Mac thought for a moment the mastermind behind all the mayhem that had been going on in the 36th was going to weep. Was she trying to play on her emotions? Mac was determined not to let her even have this little victory.
No smile, though, came to Darcy’s ashen face. Instead, she seemed…concerned.
“Was…he…badly injured?”
After playing cat and mouse mind games with this woman for the past few weeks, the JAG Corps lawyer wasn’t sure whether she wanted to reveal this information or not. She paused, uncertain what to say.
Darcy seemed to know what she was thinking. “You…you’re…afraid if…you tell me…he’s alive…I’ll have…him killed….”
The Marine lawyer wasn’t sure what to say to that.
Darcy coughed; a trickle of blood ran from the corner of her mouth.
“I…I…understand…your concern…Colonel. No…I…am genuinely glad he…is not dead….”
Mac nodded. It was all she could do at this point.
“And…Colonel …just for…the record… I’m glad…those missiles were destroyed…Alhamdulillah…..”
Darcy Livingston smiled for the last time. It was a peaceful look, not satanic, not mocking. Mac checked for a pulse. There was none.
The SEAL who had been standing behind her the whole time, moved to stand beside her. “Ma’am? What did she say?”
Mac sighed. Darcy would now have to face justice in a higher court. “She was glad the missiles didn’t fire, Petty Officer,” The Marine Corps lawyer replied quietly. “And, she said ‘all praise is due to Allah’.
“She was glad al Sahood’s attack didn’t succeed?” There was astonishment in the young SEAL’s voice.
“I believe so, Petty Officer,” Mac said softly as they stared at the body of the former Force Recon CO.
*~*
Harm felt a presence in his room. Opening his eyes, he could see two women in fatigues standing at the foot of his bed. It took a moment for his eyes to clearly focus on the two women.
“Meg?” Harm said hoarsely.
“Good to see you still recognize me, Commander.” Meg Austin said with a playful smirk, her blue eyes sparkling.
“It’s easier when you’re not wearing your headgear, Commander” Harm managed to quip.
“Colonel Drewe sends his condolences on the loss of your Tomcat to enemy ground fire, Harm,” Meg said playfully but then turned serious. “But I’m really glad you and your RIO made it out all right.”
“My government also wishes to express its condolences on the loss of your aircraft, Commander Rabb.” the dark haired Lieutenant Dumai added, thinking that Meg was serious about the official comment. “And they would like to extend their sincere thanks for what you did. We are in your debt.”
Harm cleared his throat and shifted uneasily in his padded cot. “Ah, well, thank you…both of you.”
Meg turned to her partner. “We’d better let the Commander get some rest, Lieutenant.”
Lieutenant Dumai nodded. “We have to meet with Captain al-Bazz. He provided invaluable help with this operation. Good bye Commander.”
Harm nodded to Lieutenant Dumai. “Good bye Lieutenant.” She smiled as she left the room.
“Take care of yourself Commander,”
“You too, Meg,”
She just smiled again and headed out of the room with Lieutenant Dumai.
Fleet Hospital - 17
Expeditionary Medical Facility
An Nasiriyah, Iraq
Bud Roberts hoped that he wasn’t too late. 36th MEU Pharmacist Mate, Nick Hazon, had been sent here after he’d lost his right leg when an insurgent had fired an RPG rocket into the 36th MEU’s Tactical Operations Center command and control HMMWVs.
The junior JAG Corps officer knew that Hazon had been kept under heavy guard since Lukens’ and Buell’s Court Martial revealed Captain Lewis and Colonel Livingston may have had a hand in Lieutenant Dodge’s death. He just prayed that they hadn’t transferred him to the hospital ship just yet.
It was a given that Hazon’s injuries had ensured, at least for him, that the war was over. But what concerned Bud more was the fate of Saddiyah, the little Iraqi girl that Nick had befriended.
The Colonel and the Commander had determined that Saddiyah had actually witnessed a Marine [later determined to be Captain Jacques Lewis] shooting down FIREFLY ONE and then killing Combat Engineer Lieutenant Dodge.
Up to now, Dr. Roh Soong, the head doctor at Coalition Aid Station Charlie, had been able to convince the CO of the Korean contingent that he and Saddiyah needed protection from Darcy Livingston’s henchmen.
But as soon as Bud had heard that Colonel Livingston and Captain Lewis had been captured, he knew that protection for both of them would eventually disappear and that the Corpsman would turn his attention back to getting Saddiyah out of this country.
Bud though, wondered if this was such a good idea. Sure, this country was still plenty dangerous, but it was the girl’s native country. Even though Nick Hazon had promised Saddiyah’s mother that he would take her to America…was this really the best course of action for this girl?
Maybe it was none of his business, but the young Naval officer wanted to talk that over with the Corpsman. At least he hoped he got the chance to do that. He had driven like a madman to get here as soon as possible.
Bud walked as quickly up the hall of the medical facility as his damaged leg would let him. He caught the eye of a Major who was standing at a nurse’s station.
“Lieutenant?” She said quickly, the tone of her voice indicating her concern as she focused on Bud’s right foot.
“I’m fine ma’am,” Bud hurriedly explained, Can you direct me to Corpsman Nicholas Hazon’s room?”
She gave one last look at Bud Robert’s oddly turned ankle. “Follow me, Lieutenant….”
*~*
**Special Agents Tony DiNozzo and Leroy Jethro Gibbs were keeping a wary eye on the wounded prisoners who were sitting in the cargo area of CH-46 Phrog as it flew towards An Nasiriyah.
Acting 36th MEU CO Baxter had wanted to get these men out to the Expeditionary Strike Group in the Gulf as soon as possible. He didn’t want to chance letting them stay in Mirbullah and possibly escape, so Gibbs had assigned Tony and himself to make sure they got to the prisoner transfer facility at An Nasiriyah.
Commander Coleman could finish up with the rest of Darcy’s gang in Mirbullah.
But some of the wounded al-Qaeda soldiers and Saddam Fedayeen needed medical care before they were turned over to the detention facility on USS Oriskany.
Tony just hoped the Marines would understand that wounded enemy combatants in good condition would look better in the eyes of the media than wounded mistreated enemy combatants.
“Gunny, Agent DiNozzo, we’re here,” replied the CID Staff Sergeant to the two NCIS Agents over the whine of the rotors.
The trip had taken less time than Tony thought it would. He must’ve been more exhausted than he thought; otherwise he would have felt themselves landing.
“C’mon, DiNozzo,” Gibbs said as he urged the wounded prisoners out of the helo’s cabin.
Tony looked back in the cabin at their big prizes, the head of the al-Diwaniyah al Qaeda cell and his second in command guarded by the Staff Sergeant and his subordinate. “Boss? What about al-Sahood and al Harib?”
Gibbs looked back at the CID Staff Sergeant. He nodded.
Gibbs grinned. “We’ll catch up with them, Tony. They won’t be leaving without us….”
When the two NCIS Agents had left with the wounded, Samir turned to the Staff Sergeant.
“Thank you for taking care of my men, Staff Sergeant,” Samir said obsequiously
“You are a very honorable man, for an infidel.”
The Staff Sergeant grinned right back at the terrorist leader. “And you’re a pretty nice guy, sir, for a cold blooded killer.”
“Cold blooded killer?! Hammad scoffed. “We are on a holy mission! You Americans are all alike--” Hammad began spluttering.
“Now that’s where you’re wrong, sir,” The Staff Sergeant said as the smile froze on his face. “You see, Special Agent Gibbs may want to bring you and your friend here back alive, but I wouldn’t have any problems shooting both of you dead *right here and now,* and claim you both were trying to escape.”
The two terrorists did not say anything. They both had noticed that the two military policemen had taken their weapons off safety.
“Funny thing, you thinking you’re on a holy mission, when the local Iman… what’s his name, Corporal?”
“Ayatollah al Barani, Staff Sergeant.” Both men noticed that the young Corporal had a look of barely contained fury on his face.
“Yeah, that’s right,” The Staff Sergeant said chuckling and shaking his head. “Al Barani. Anyway, it seems his son joined your insurgents in that little riot you and your friend caused in Mirbullah a few days ago…and he was killed there.”
“That is not my fault,” Samir said defensively. The Staff Sergeant was pretty sure this was the first time this slug had ever been on the defensive about anything. “Besides if his son died helping our cause, then he is Shahid; a holy warrior in the eyes of Allah.”
“Ah, but I don’t think that’s the way the Ayatollah sees it. What he sees is that you got his son killed…and you know what that son was doing at the time?” The Staff Sergeant paused for effect. “…why he was slaying some women who had tried to stop the riots…. No, I think the Ayatollah; he’s really pissed at you, sir. Issued a Fatwa, I think is what he did….”
“That’s right, Staff Sergeant,” the Corporal added as additional verification of the story. “Ayatollah al Barani issued a Fatwa against Samir al Sahood and his entire cell and anyone allied to him.”
The Staff Sergeant was still talking in a friendly, folksy voice to the two men. “And just so you know where we’re coming from with all our venom, sir….I had a cousin…that is- I lost a cousin, at the World Trade Center and Corporal James there…well, one of his nieces was badly injured in your attack on JAG Corps Headquarters. So just give us a reason, sir. *Give us a reason*.”
Samir and Hammad kept their eyes trained on the two Marine military policemen. They had no doubt now that the Staff Sergeant and the Corporal would do as threatened.
*~*
Bud and the Head Nurse must’ve looked in a half dozen rooms before they finally found Nick Hazon with Saddiyah. It seems they had transferred the Corpsman without her knowledge. The Corpsman had his phrase book out as he tried to talk to the little girl. The junior JAG Corps officer was almost moved to tears by the tender scene.
“Saddiyah…The Corpsman consulted his phrase book, “…this book is yours.”
The girl cautiously took the coloring book in her small hands.
“And these too.” He handed her the crayons.
Saddiyah’s features were filled with puzzlement.
“For me?” She finally said in halting English.
“Yes,” replied Nick in her own tongue. “Come up here on the bed and I’ll help you….”
Saddiyah got on the hospital bed, mindful of Nick’s partially missing leg. Carefully, she opened the book and took out one of the crayons. Nick took out a crayon as well. In a few minutes both were coloring the images on the page.
“Uh Corpsman Hazon?”
Nick looked up to see that JAG Corps lawyer and Head Nurse standing by the open doorway. “Lieutenant Roberts! Uh sorry sir…you remember Saddiyah, don’t you sir?”
Bud took an awkward step forward. “Yes I do, hello Saddiyah--”
Saddiyah’s eyes grew big as she focused on the military man’s oddly turned right ankle. She drew closer to Nick.
Bud looked at her reaction and then down at his damaged foot. “Oh, sorry…um, tell her its okay, it’s a plastic and composite foot…not real.”
“He’s not suffering, Saddiyah” the head nurse said gently to the little girl in her native tongue. “Come, let’s go down the hall and get a drink, all right?”
She held out her hand to the little girl. Saddiyah looked from the Head Nurse to Nick.
It’s all right Saddiyah, Nick assured her, “the Lieutenant just wants to talk to me…”
Saddiyah nodded and reluctantly got off the bed and left with the Major. When the door was closed, Bud began apologizing again. “Really, I’m sorry about the foot…I tend to forget….”
“It’s all right Lieutenant, really, it is….” Nick replied. “She’s just a little skittish, that’s all. So what did you want to talk to me about? The leg sir? Do you think I might still be able to get active duty? You know, not as a Corpsman, but maybe something in a hospital….”
Bud really didn’t know any other way to start this conversation. So he just dove in. “Well, I’d like to talk to you about Saddiyah, Corpsman.”
Nick sat up in bed. Anger and indignation curled his features. “I knew it…I knew my CO would never let this adoption go through--”
“No, Petty Officer, it’s nothing like that; Bud said working quickly to calm Nick Hazon. “In fact, your CO signed the paperwork approving your custody of Saddiyah….” Bud knew with things as chaotic as they were in Iraq right now, the interim government worked closely with the military on matter such as these.
Nick relaxed when the JAG Corps officer relayed that information. “That’s good to hear, Lieutenant. Did you have something to do with that?”
Bud looked around uncomfortably. “Uh no, I didn’t Petty Officer…in fact, Saddiyah is the reason I’m here.”
Nick, who had settled back on the bed now jerk upright again. “She is? What is this about Lieutenant?”
“Petty Officer, I’m sure because your CO and the adoption agencies here have signed off on the paperwork for Saddiyah that you are more than capable of taking care of her…”
“You’re damn right about that, sir” Nick said becoming defensive. “So what is the problem?”
Bud took a breath and just blurted out what he thought. “Petty Officer…have you really thought through adopting this little girl?”
Nick wasn’t expecting that question. “Saddiyah? I promised her mother that I would take care of her and I will too--”
Bud held up his hand. “Just hear me out, Petty Officer…not as an officer or lawyer, but as a concerned parent. You know you have a lot of physical therapy and counseling ahead of you, don’t you?”
Nick nodded. “Actually I had thought about that, sir, and I talked to my sister in Newport News. She can take care of Saddiyah when I can’t….”
“Which will be a lot of the time for the next few months, Petty Officer. I should know,” Bud said looking down at his own damaged artificial leg.
“Sir, the only family she has right now, is me! I can’t just abandon her because of my
leg--”
Bud again held up his hand. “You’re right, Petty Officer, but think also about this; can you give her a better home than someone with a deserving family that is already here?”
“Lieutenant, in case you haven’t looked out a window lately this whole country is a war zone! Where is she going to live here without being touched by the violence that’s going on all around her?”
Bud stood silent for a moment. “I don’t know, Petty Officer, I just know that you have a long road ahead and I’ll help with that any way that I can. But you also need to consider Saddiyah’s needs. Talk it over with Dr. Soong. He might be able to give you an unbiased opinion.”
Nick was silent for long time as if chewing over what Bud had said to him. The young JAG Corps officer hoped that Nick Hazon would understand what Bud was trying to get him to see. At last, the Corpsman sighed heavily.
“Sir, if anyone else would have said this to me, even my CO, I would have had the urge to deck them…but you’re just trying to help…I know that…I’d like to think over what you said…one parent to another…all right?”
Bud stepped forward and put his hand on the man’s shoulder in a friendly manner.
---TBC…
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