Author: Rising Sun
E-mail: jag@lucianstuff.every1.net
FF Updates: jagrslc-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
FF URL: http://www.geocities.com/jagrslc
Rated: R (racist
language)
Classification: JAG Story/Adventure
Summary:
Singer has gone too far this
time.
Spoilers: JAG-A-THON, Dog Robber 2,
Guilt
Disclaimer: JAG
characters portrayed belong to JAG, CBS and Paramount Television. No copyright
infringement intended. All other
characters depicted are purely fictional and any similarities to actual people
are purely coincidental.
AUTHOR’S
NOTE:
WARNING:
THIS PIECE HOLDS RACIAL LANGUAGE. IF YOU CANNOT HANDLE SUCH PLEASE DO NOT READ
AND IF YOU READ DON’T ACT SHOCKED – YOU WERE WARNED.
And before any one
says it or asks … I am of mixed heritage and I not a racist. Felt that needed to be said.
Feedback: Would be
nice.
Story Written
December 4, 2001
0736 LOCAL
DAY AFTER THE RACE
Lieutenant Singer
was NOT in a good mood
Gunny:
Never let it be said you suffer from a lack of confidence, Ma'am.
Singer: Which is a subtle of way of saying I overreach.
She’d lost her bet
on the JAG-A-THON, the Admiral had reprimanded her for the betting pool, Bud
had finished the race and she hadn’t.
Damn that Corman, he said she was exhausted and pulled her out. Damn!
And Double Damn! And to add insult to injury Commander Turner had won the race
and got the highest rank privilege that belonged to her!
The elevator doors
opened … Commander Sturgis Tuner stepped in.
“Morning
Lieutenant.” He said, she didn’t reply, she just glared.
“Lieutenant.” He
was concerned. Singer was a character to be sure but today she didn’t look
well.
“What!” she
snapped. There was an awkward pause that carried a beat too long. Turner glared
at her and she finally said “Sorry Sir.”
“Mmmm!” he said.
This Lieutenant was getting out of control.
The doors opened and she stepped out before him.
============================================
0740 LOCAL
JAG BULLPEN
The place was a
bustle as usual. Colonel Mackenzie was at the coffee machine talking with
Lieutenant Roberts. Just behind them was Lieutenant Sims who was teasing
Gunnery Sergeant Galindez on the race.
Lieutenant. Singer walked through and muttered to herself “I’ll be
damned if I let that nigger become the Judge Advocate General before me.” She
continued to her office not realizing that she’d been heard.
Mac’s reared up and
turned to see who had spoken and watched Singer go to her office. She looked at
Bud. “Tell me I didn’t hear that.” She
begged him.
“Morning all.”
Turner stopped at the coffee machine.
“Morning sir...”
Bud replied, “… unfortunately ma’am you did and so did I.”
“Did what?” Turner
asked, sipping his coffee.
Mac ignored him
“Gunny?”
“Oh yes ma’am!” He
confirmed.
Mac looked at
Harriett who only nodded too shocked to speak.
“Mac” Turner smiled
“Did what!”
[How to say this]
Mac inwardly groaned. “Lieutenant
Singer has finally over stepped her boundaries and I’m about to put her back in
her place.” She turned to Victor Galindez “Gunny restrict Lieutenant Singer to
her office until I’ve spoken to the Admiral.”
“Aye ma’am!” he
turned to execute the order.
“Excuse me please.”
Mac headed towards the JAG’s office.
============================================
0800 LOCAL
JAG’S OFFICE
Mac entered the
office of Admiral AJ Chegwidden; he placed his glasses on the desk and
indicated of Mac to sit. “Colonel you
look like it’s going to be one of those days.
Please say that I’m imagining things.” He pleaded.
“It’s not going to
be one of those days sit, but it will be one of those weeks.”
“OK” He breathed in deeply tell before SECNAV
does.” She hesitated and his look hardened. “When a Lieutenant Colonel in the
Marine Corps hesitates to give me a report I begin to worry.” He growled. “Spit
it out Marine”
She looked him dead
in the eye and repeated the incident.
She finished by saying “I have her confined to her office pending my
report to you.”
AJ glared at Mac as
if she had just sprouted two heads and both had lied to him. He stood and walked to the window and looked
out. He needed time to get himself under control.
Mac waited.
Finally he turned
and said, “Relive her of duty and charge her.”
“Aye sir.” Mac
almost whispered “Sir the defense Counsel …” the intercom buzzed.
“Yes Tiner.” AJ
responded.
“Commanders Rabb
and Turner to see you sir.”
“Send them
in.” The two officers walked in.
AJ asked “Gentlemen
you heard?” They looked grim but
nodded. Turner looked to Mac “You
should be in the diplomatic corps Mac.
I thank you for saving face.”
She nodded weakly.
“Sit!” AJ ordered
as he also sat. “We were about to discuss the defense.”
“Sir I may have the
solution.” Mac and Turner stared at Harm both assuming that he wanted the case.
“Lieutenant Singer
understandably is not happy at being confined to her office. I have spoken to
her and informed her without much detail that she may need a lawyer. She has
elected to defend herself with no second chair. “ Harm informed the
Admiral. The relief in the room was
tangible on two fronts Harm would not defend and neither would anyone else. This case was nasty from any angle you
cared to look at it from.
“Regarding
prosecute … “ AJ moved to the next topic. “The Colonel will prosecute.” Harm
began to object. “Commander, you will
second chair… this baby is Mac’s. Dismissed.”
“Aye sir” The three
chorused.
============================================
1200 LOCAL
JAG HQ
Mac had let Singer
out only for toilet breaks and had had a female officer escort her there and
back. Finally she was ready. She crossed the bullpen to the junior
officer’s office and walked in.
“Lieutenant Singer you are relieved of duty and charged with the
following under the Uniform Code of Military Justice: Article 89 - Disrespect toward superior commissioned officer;
Article 133 - Conduct unbecoming an officer; and Article 134 - Indecent
language. You have a right to defense
Counsel.”
“I will defend
myself.” She said confirming Harm’s report.
“May I go now ma’am?”
“You may.”
Singer collected
her case and cover then stepped into the bullpen. Work stopped as all eyes
followed her. She crossed the space, waited for the elevator and left.
============================================
TWO WEEKS LATER
0900 LOCAL - JAG
COURT ROOM
DAY 1
The Court Room was
packed even the Judge Advocate General was in attendance. There had been a request by Trial TV to
cover the case but mercifully the SECMAV had said no. That hadn’t stopped the press coverage and Mac relieved the whole
Kingsley case again.
The Judge Wong
brought the Court to order. “Is the
Government ready?”
“We are your
honour.” Mac replied.
“Is the defense
ready?”
“Yes your honour.”
“Then we shall have
opening arguments.” The Judge stated.
Mac stood and faced
the members. “Let me tell you what this
case is about. This is a case about
order in the ranks and respect for officers. It is NOT a case about race relations
or even gender relations. Undoubtedly both issues come to bare but only in as
much as they were the trigger for this Court Martial. It could easily have been
a physical altercation – but it was not.
It was a racial slur that brings us here today... but do not let it
blind you to the real issue of order and respect. The Government will show that Lieutenant Singer has regard for
neither.”
It was Singer’s
turn.
“This is about
victimization, about assertiveness and ambition. It is that simple and
straightforward. The defense will show that this Court Martial is another tool
in that victimization. Thank you.“
[The opening shots
have been fired may the war begin.] AJ
thought.
Mac began with
Sturgis and the incident in the elevator. Singer countered by getting him to
admit that she had apologized. Mac then
brought on Gunner Sergeant Galindez who by now had transferred out of JAG. Also called to the stand were Lieutenants
Roberts and Sims.
Singer focused on
Harriett and made it look as if the Lieutenant had a hidden agenda. The cross examination in the Wakefield case
was explored where Harriet was on the flight when Lt. Wakefield had killed a
man who was threatening a stewardess on a flight, then attempted to open the
emergency exit. Singer had grilled Harriett
until objections from the prosecution, the Judge and a requested recess by her
lead Counsel. Singer also questioned
Harriett on their discussion before the JAG-A-THON. “Lieutenant I wish you would stop walking over all of us on your
way to the top. That way we’ll have
fewer bumps and you won’t be alone.” Singer quoted. “Those were your words were
they not?”
“I don’t recall
exactly but the gist seems to be there.” Harriett admitted.
“Thank you.” She
was done.
Mac allowed Harm to
cross as he had been the lead on the Wakefield case with Singer. By the end of the day the Government had
rested it’s case. The defense would be in the spotlight tomorrow.
============================================
0900 LOCAL - JAG
COURT ROOM
DAY 2
Lieutenant Lauren
Singer USN took the stand and read from a prepared statement. Once done Lieutenant Colonel Sarah Mackenzie
USMC stood to cross-examine.
“Lieutenant Singer
on the date in question do you deny insubordination towards Commander Turner?”
She got straight to the point.
“I do” Singer
replied.
“Do you not view
the word nigger to be disrespectful?”
“I don not.”
Mac was shocked,
controlled herself and moved in closer but the Judge jumped in. “Then what do you consider it Lieutenant?”
“An accurate
description of the Commander. Nigger is
to the Commander what honkey is to me.” The Lieutenant explained.
Judge Wong was
about to ask the question but decided to leave that to Mac. “You may continue
Colonel.”
“Thank you ma’am.”
She refocused on Singer “Do you deny using the word nigger in reference to
Commander Sturgis?”
“I do not.” Singer replied.
“No more
questions.” Mac returned to her seat.
By 1200 closing
arguments had been given and the whole of JAG awaited the verdict.
============================================
1245 LOCAL - JAG
COURT ROOM
DAY 2
No one had had time
to grab lunch. It had taken the members all of twenty minutes to return a
verdict.
The Judge read the
verdict and returned the findings. “You may publish you findings. The defense
shall rise.” Singer stood.
The foreman rose.
“In the case of Lieutenant Lauren Singer United States Navy this Court finds you
on the charges and specifications of Article 89 -
Disrespect toward superior commissioned officer we find you guilty. Article 133 - Conduct unbecoming an officer
we find you guilty. Article 134 -
Indecent language we find you guilty. Punishment awarded is the maximum as
specified by the UCMJ.” The foreman sat.
The court was
hushed.
“The Court thanks
the members. You may step down. Sentencing will take place tomorrow at 0900.”
She banged the gavel and dismissed the court.
============================================
1500 LOCAL
JAG BULL PEN
Admiral AJ
Chegwidden returned, having briefed the Secretary of the Navy on the whole
sordid affair. He paused at the door to
the bullpen. The place looked like a funeral home. Never had he known the place to be so sober, not even on
September 11th he stepped thought the doors.
Some one spotted
him “Attention on deck!”
For once he didn’t
reply with the customary as you were, instead he said. “Secure for the
day! Go home; go to Mc Murphy’s. I
don’t care. Just go and contemplate what happened here and return tomorrow
ready to function. Dismissed!” He turned to head to his office.
Sordid affair? The
thing had been damn nasty!
THE END
===============================================================================
USMJ Article 134
Indecent language
4.90.2 b.
Elements.
(1) That the accused orally or in writing communicated to another person
certain language;
(2) That such language was indecent; and
(3) That, under the circumstances, the conduct of the accused was to the
prejudice of good order and discipline in the armed forces or was of a nature
to bring discredit upon the armed forces.
[Note: In appropriate cases add the following element after element (1): That
the person to whom the language was communicated was a child under the age of
16.).]