Rules of Engagement, September 28, 1999

This is the follow up episode to King of the Greenie Board episode.  The episode starts off with the SecNav and the Admiral discussing what happened.  The SecNav wants Buxton prosecuted and the Admirals says we cant really do that right now because we don't know what happened yet.

Mac is sent to investigate the incident.  Upon arriving at the carrier, Harm comes to meet her get off the plane.  They hug and exchange the normal nice to see you and they go inside.  They take off their suits and that is when Harm realizes she is a Lt. Colonel now.  He jumps to stand at a tension and gives her his congralutions on her promotion and she finally gives in and tells him at ease.  She wants to discuss the case with him and says she really could use his help.  He says he is no longer at JAG he is a pilot now.  So she wants to know if he became one of them now.  He says he will follow any lawful order she gives him. Mac goes off and starts interviewing everyone who knew about the incident including the captain. 

Buxton and Harm are talking in the Briefing Room.  Buxton is going off about Mac and how she is talking to everyone who knew something bout the incident.  He wants to stop her from talking to them.  Harm of course says that's not a good idea.  Buxton starts talking bout himself in the third person and says she wont be happy until she gets his butt into prison.  Harm says who the Colonel is a fair lady and he will vouch for her.  Buxton starts to tell Harm what really happened and Harm says you shouldn't be telling me this and walks away, leaving Buxton confused to why he can't tell Harm.

Mac makes a phone call back to JAG and tells the Admiral and the SecNav that there is enough evidence to prosecute Buxton.  They decide to charge him with Manslaughter and disobeying orders.  Mac now becomes the pariah on board. 

While getting food in the cafeteria, she turns and sees all the nasty looks everyone is giving her.  She decides to sit with Harm.  He makes a wisecrack about her giving him the bubonic plague now too.  She wants to know if he wants her to eat in her room and not bother him.  He says no sit on down.  They start talking to catch up.  How they exchanged a few emails and she didn't tell him about her promotion.  There is some talk about him feeling inferior.    Buxton interrupts and wants to talk to the Colonel about the charges against him.   He tells her that he told Harm everything about what happened and she said good I will put him on my witness list.  Buxton says you cant do that m'am as he is my attorney.  Harm and Mac both look surprised and Harm tells Buxton that he can't defend him and he said yes you can because I told you stuff that you can't indulge and you gave me legal advice.  Mac questions Harm about it and he said maybe he gave him a little legal advice.  Well Mac is now really mad and walks away with she will see Pappy in Court.

At JAG Headquarters, the Admiral assigns Mic to be co-counsel with Harm for Buxton and Bud to be Co-Counsel for Mac.  Mac comes to meet Mic and Bud on the deck.  Says hi to Mic first and makes a joke about him never being tail hooked before.  He makes a smart comeback and she rolls her eyes.  She then says hi to Bud, who says he is ready for the case and he wants to know where Harm is.  She points to the flight deck.  Bud watches his plane take off.

Harm, Mac, Mic, Bud and Buxton are all in a conference room talking about the case.  Harm pretty much takes over and doesn't let anyone else on his side speak.  Mac offers a deal of negligent homicide which holds 3 years confinement and a dishonorable discharge.  Harm says no immediately and doesn't let anyone else say anything.  Mic and Harm start arguing and Mac says they need to discuss it among themselves first.

Mic and Bud are talking and he says all the pilots call them Legal weenies.  He seems to miss his days on the carrier.   Another time Mac and Bud are talking about the case and Bud is not paying attention much.  He says something bout he feels inferior to all the pilots here and Mac says he is a good lawyer and father.  He says something about how Harriet is tired all of the time now that the baby is here.  Bud heads to bed and Mac makes a phone call to the US.

During the trial, Mac questions the legal man about the rules of engagement that were set in the previous episode.  She also questions the pilot of the gas plane that had told Harm that he didn't have enough gas for him.  She is trying to show that Buxton has a record of doing stupid things that didn't need doing. Harm objects but the judge allows it.  So Harm gets him to admit that Buxton saved Harm's six by doing what he did.

She then questions the flight leader, a radar plane officer which incident involved the Mig so Harm had to save Buxtons six.  She keeps getting previous reckless acts in against Harm's objections.  Brumby starts to question the CAG.  He is hoping to shift the blame to the CAG.  Harm asks for a recess where he and Brumby start to discuss that strategy.  Buxton puts a halt to that strategy.  They go back in and Harm starts to question the Russian on board.  He then questions Buxton on the stand.  They give closing argument and the panel finds Buxton not guilty.  The CAG has decided that Buxton will no longer fly and will be reassigned to ground duty.  He goes to Harm for guidance but Harm refuses to give it to him. 

Harm, Bud and Mac are talking and the phone rings in the room.  Mac answers it and tells Bud its for him.  Its Harriet, she is telling him that she has been thinking about him.  He asks about the baby.  She says the baby is fine and that she can get someone to watch him for the weekend.  Bud misunderstands that and she tells him with the baby with her relative, they can be alone.  Harm comes up and offers him a ride in the F-14 and Bud pretty much politely tells him, I am on the phone sir, please go away.  

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