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Date Posted: 14:30:04 02/26/06 Sun
Author: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett
Subject: FWWATT Chapter 4 Section 1
In reply to: Sylvia Mohr Bartlett 's message, "FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL CH 4" on 14:17:56 02/26/06 Sun

FOR WHICH WE ARE TRULY THANKFUL CHAPTER 4 SECTION 1

Section 1: JAGS on Deck

BY Sylvia Bartlett Mohr



The Seahawk was not so far out to sea that Mac and Sturgis had needed to take the COD. They were landing on the deck of the aircraft carrier in relatively short order in a helicopter. At their CO's instruction, they had brought clothes for at least a two day stay. The ship was not due to complete its air qualifications for several more days and Admiral Chegwidden had figured at least two days aboard to fully investigate the CAP flight firing on a vessel in international waters, albeit off the US shore and under orders to do so.

There had already been some press claiming the vessel blown up had been a peaceful vessel. The Coast Guard was co-operating with the Navy and the Office of Homeland Security in securing all possible forensic evidence from the scene where the ship had been sunk. This situation needed a full report as quickly as was possible to head off an international incident.

As the Colonel and the Commander emerged from the helicopter, they noted with surprise the ship's CAG had come out to meet them. Once clear enough of the chopper to make himself heard, the CAG explained. "The Captain is waiting for you just inside the Island." He pointed over to the Tomcat parked nearby. "You might want to have a look-see at that first. It's Commander Rabb's ride." They followed him over. Mac's hands clutched at her sides, seeing the blood trail down the left side of the bird, the shattered canopy.


Turner's eyes looked over the plane carefully, noting both shrapnel damage and 50 cal bullet hits on the undercarriage and both sides of the plane. He gestured for Mac to stay down and climbed the ladder to look into the rear and front seat of the cockpit. His own stomach heaved, as he saw the amount of blood pooled inside the pilot's area. Harm had lost a considerable amount of blood.

The CAG looked at him from the other side of the cockpit. "I was up with the air boss when we invited him to land here instead of trying to make it back to Pax River. Hammer put this baby down grade A perfect – caught the three wire on one engine in the dark night on a heavy sea. When he caught that wire, he couldn't hold back the scream; it must have hurt like hell. But he taxied his plane as directed by the air crew and followed proper shut do procedures. Once he shut the engine down and popped the canopy, he moved to try and get himself out and just slumped over, unconscious. The man did a hell of a job under the circumstances. The doc and air crew hauled him out, but they couldn't really put pressure on the wound because the shrapnel was still in place. They just bundled him into the litter and got him down to Sick Bay STAT. "

"Have you gotten pictures?" The Commander asked.

"This isn't my first JAGman investigation, Commander." The CAG retorted sharply. "I kept the bird exactly where it is; because I wasn't sure if you needed forensics from NCIS to come out and collect evidence, before she was moved."

Turner chewed his lip a moment. "In light of some of the press we heard, on the flight out, I think that might be wise, sir. We have to conduct a fair and impartial review, of all facts. There are some who would like to use this incident to say America is too gun happy POST 9/11."

"Gun happy? That ship didn't get hit in some friggin' fuel tank. It lit up the night sky so we could see it from here, for crying out loud. The concussion reverberated and rattled the windows up in Pri-fly and that ship was a considerable distance in nautical/surface miles from here. Only a large number of high explosives on such a small ship could have caused that explosion to be felt this far away. I can't believe the Commander is in critical condition and he has to have his performance reviewed for NECESSITY when he was ordered by his Command Structure to fire." The man was not happy about the situation, clearly.

Sturgis looked up, shock evident. "Critical? We understood it was an arm wound."

"It was. However, it cut an artery. He damn near bled out before he even had the plane stopped. The wound was closed successfully, but the last I heard he was still on life support; Doc said something about 'failure to emerge'."

"I'd like to get to sick bay at once, CAG. If the plane is in your way here, you can move it to the hangar deck if you use a tow. No one is to be in or out of the cockpit area again until forensics can get to the plane."

"Understood. The plane will stay right where it is. Our air crew knew enough to tuck it out of the way of routine activity. You know Commander Rabb, don't you?"

"Best friends since the Academy." Turner acknowledged past the constriction in his throat. "It isn't a conflict, CAG."

"Didn't say it would be. Hard to find senior staff at JAG who doesn't know the Hammer, I imagine. Same could be said if this ship. We know most of you from Bud to the Colonel." By now they had clamored back down, from either side of the plane, and were joining Mac to walk over to the island.

Just inside the island, the Captain welcomed them aboard and advised the two Jag representatives they had been asked to join Admiral Boone down in Sick Bay as soon as possible. They could check in with the ship's CAG when they were ready to begin the full investigation after Boone released them.

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  • FWWATT Chapter 4 Section 2 -- Sylvia Mohr Bartlett, 14:32:13 02/26/06 Sun
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