by M. L. Maki
John, “I am embracing Samantha’s position with kills. I know they’re a point of pride for most, especially those with a little distance from it, but it’s bragging about murder. I don’t want to flash the numbers around. That said, the boat has fifty-eight and a half. One more, if you count the Tirpitz. Three are half kills because we guided a destroyer onto the sub when we were out of torpedoes. Speaking of which, we are almost out.”
“New fish are coming. By the time you return from your next mission, we should have filled in your stockpile. They won’t be Mark-48’s, but they’ll be guided, with internal sonar and the ability to program search patterns.”
“Will they have the same safety interlocks?”
“That’s the brief.”
Julie serves dinner. Meatloaf with mashed potatoes and corn. John, “I should have asked. Is it okay to talk around Julie?”
Craig smiles, “She’s cleared, and she’s briefed in. In truth, she’s my secret weapon. She grew up in Washington and knows all the power players here. They know her, too. She has access to circles I don’t and can earn someone’s trust at the speed of light.”
John nods, “She earned mine.”
Julie says, “Thank you, John. Your judge tomorrow will be the JAG, Admiral Douglas Lawrence. I do not know who the other two flag officers will be.”
John, “Any quirks I need to be aware of?”
She says, “I don’t know him well, but I understand he wants the straight unvarnished truth. He’s vigorous in his defense of law and legal procedure. He also values decorum.”
“Thank you.”
Julie, “Two days from now, you’ll dine at the white house. Admiral King, his wife, Richard, Ashley, Craig, and I, will also be there. You are authorized a plus one.”
John looks at Craig, “Would it be possible to fetch Liz from Bremerton or my grandma from New Jersey? They’re the only ones I can think of.”
Craig, “I need to speak with Petrea about a few items anyway. I can make that happen.”
Julie asks, “Craig, what’s her rank now?”
Klindt, “They are both commanders, and they’re not in each other’s chain. I am delighted. In fact, it helps me make some points on the hill.”
John, “Everything here is politics?”
Julie, “It is. Do you have dinner dress whites?”
John, “I do, and I brought them. I was anticipating a formal dinner somewhere.” He looks at Craig, “Someone taught me to always prepare for formal functions when you go to DC.”
Julie smiles, “Good.”
CHAPTER 12
DIRECTOR’S OFFICE, FBI
1820, 14 August, 1942
One of Hoover’s assistant directors knocks and walks in, “Commander Morrison landed in Washington a few hours ago. He must be staying in a private residence. His name is not on any hotel registration.”
Hoover, “He’ll be staying at Admiral Klindt’s home. According to Cumberland, the two are close. Put a surveillance team on him. Don’t pick him up without my say so.”
“Sir, what’s he done?”
“That’s exactly it. All these people came back in time, and the only references they have are each other. We don’t have anything on any of them. That Morrison is Japanese, and they’ve given him a submarine.”
“Morrison is a Scottish name, sir.”
“Yes. He’s half Japanese. I don’t like this whole situation. I don’t like giving so much power to people we know nothing about.”
“Yes, sir.”
JAG HEADQUARTERS, NAVY YARD
1345, 15 August, 1942
CDR Morrison waits patiently in an anteroom. As a witness, he is not allowed to hear anything that happens inside the court. Finally, a petty officer escorts him in.
Admiral Douglas Lawrence, the Navy Judge Advocate General, and two rear admirals, are introduced. Lawrence asks, “Commander Morrison, are you a Christian?”
“I am, your honor.” They present a bible and he is sworn in.
The prosecutor, a Navy captain asks him, “Commander Morrison, how long have you known the defendant, Commander Cumberland?”
“I met him shortly before he took command. The date was November 16th, 1990.”
“Could you describe Commander Cumberland’s command style?”
“He was cool to cold with the crew and he primarily used negative feedback. He corrected me when I used positive feedback.”
Cumberland says, “Damn right.”
The Judge says, “Defense counsel. Silence your client.”
“Yes, your honor.”
Prosecutor, “Anything else about his command style?”
“Tactically, he was very aggressive. On many occasions, his aggressiveness resulted in successful engagements.”
“Please describe his behavior on the morning of 4 June, 1942.”
“Your Honor, to put behavior in context, I must discuss top secret operations. Am I cleared to do so?”
The Judge says, “You are. The testimony and depositions are all top secret, code word.”
John, “We were in Kaafjord in Norway supporting a SEAL team who were planting explosives on the German battleship Tirpitz. A German heavy cruiser got underway. Commander Cumberland was exceedingly eager to fire on the cruiser. If he had, the underwater concussion would have killed the smen in the SEAL team. It would have been murder.
“Commodore Holtz ordered him to stand down and Commander Cumberland assaulted the Commodore. The Commodore verbally removed him from command and ordered him out of control. Control is the conning, and combat center of a submarine. Cumberland continued to assault the Commodore. We were on a collision course with the cruiser. I disabled Cumberland and ordered him removed by the corpsman and SAR swimmer. His conduct directly endangered the lives of the SEALs and the lives of every man in our crew.”
“When he ordered the torpedoes loaded into the tubes, did he do so from control?”
“No, sir. He went down to torpedo and gave the order face to face.”
“Do you know why he would do that?”
“The only reason I can think of would be to keep the knowledge of the evolution from the Commodore and I.”
“At that moment, how would you evaluate his mental state?”
“I am not a psychologist, sir.”
“I understand. How would you describe his mental state, in layman terms?”
“He seemed to want the kill so badly, it outweighed any other consideration.”
“Why did he want to kill?”
The defense attorney, “Objection, your honor. Commander Morrison could not know the defendant’s motivations.”
The Judge, “Sustained. Rephrase the question, counsel.”
“Based on your experience working with the defendant for over five months, during which time your vessel successfully engaged twelve Japanese vessels and sixteen German vessels, how did the defendant react to a successful kill?”
Morrison, “He seemed happiest after a kill. Especially, when it was technically challenging. He would clap his hands and celebrate.”
“Would you consider his behavior after a kill irrational?”
“No, sir. Odd, but not irrational. He was happy. I assumed it was a combination of victory and survival. People react differently to those kinds of stressors.”
“Thank you. Your witness.”
The defense attorney asks, “You said you’re not a psychologist. What is your degree in?”
“Physics, sir.”
“You gave your opinion on the defendant’s command style. Where did you learn how to be a leader?”
“From my father, Rear Admiral Morrison. From my grandfather, Vice Admiral Morrison. From the Naval Academy. From now, seventeen years of experience as a submarine officer.”
“Outside of the specific incident under consideration, how would you compare the defendant’s command style to other officers you served under or with?”
“In 1990, his command style would have, likely led to his remov
al. The 1990 Navy expected a commanding officer to manage command climate and morale. He was ineffective at both tasks. That said, I have served under or with a couple other officers as bad or worse.”
Would you consider his command style relevant to his actions?”
“No, sir. Not really.”
“Really? You said his command style was aggressive. Attacking the cruiser would surely be aggressive.”
“No, sir. Engaging the cruiser would have been murder. Murder is completely different than aggressive.”
“How do you know it would be murder?”
“Sir, water is a non-compressible fluid. Forces, such as the shock wave from an explosion like a torpedo hit, act on water and spread quickly. Also, they spread at a much greater distance than in air. A torpedo explosion would be fatal anywhere in the fjord where the swimmers were. It would not have been survivable.”
“Can you explain why the defendant might have been motivated to fire on the cruiser with swimmers in the water.”
The prosecutor, “Object, it has already been established that Commander Morrison cannot speak to the defendant’s mental state.”
Judge, “Sustained. Reword.”
Defense attorney, “Yes, sir. Commander Morrison, leading up to the incident, during that underway, how many enemy vessels had you engaged?”
“None, sir. We were on a secret mission. We were forbidden to engage the enemy until the swimmers were successfully back on board.”
“When was your last previous kill?”
“Off of Brest, occupied France a few weeks before.”
“Were the SEALs aboard then?”
“Yes, they were.”
“How did engaging the submarines impact that mission?”
“The SEAL mission had to be scrubbed. We had destroyers coming out to search for us. If the SEALs had deployed, active sonar could deafen them, and depth charges could kill them. His actions in that mission was the stated reason why Commodore Holtz deployed with us.”
“Because Commodore Holtz, an aircraft pilot, did not trust him?”
The prosecutor, “Objection. He is leading the witness.”
“Sustained. Rephrase counsel.”
“Did Commodore Holtz trust Commander Cumberland?”
“Sir, Commodore Holtz never confided in me one way or another how he felt about Commander Cumberland.”
“Then why was Commodore Holtz there?”
“He was directed to deploy with us by Admiral Klindt.”
“In your opinion, did Commodore Holtz trust Commander Cumberland?”
“No, sir.”
“Why?”
“Because Commander Cumberland disrespected Commodore Hunt multiple times.”
When Morrison mentions Hunt’s current rank, Cumberland’s head jerks up, and he says, “That fucking whore!”
Judge, “Counsel will control his client. Another outburst will result in contempt of court charges for client and counsel. Proceed.”
Defense, “In your opinion, did Commodore Holtz carry a grudge against Commander Cumberland?”
“No, sir. He was acting appropriately to protect his people.”
“Did Admiral Klindt carry a grudge against Commander Cumberland?”
“To my knowledge, no.”
“Did they know each other?”
“I don’t know.”
“Did you write letters to Admiral Klindt regarding Commander Cumberland?”
Prosecutor, “I object. Question lacks relevance.”
Defense, “I am establishing a hostile command structure over my client that undercut his ability to command effectively.”
Prosecutor, “He is not on trial for command performance. He is on trial for conduct unbecoming an officer, assault, aggravated assault, assaulting a superior officer, hazarding a vessel, and attempted murder. All specific actions on June 4th.”
Judge, “Sustained. Counsel, end this line of questioning.”
“No further questions, your honor.”
The judge says, “Commander, you may step down. Court is recessed until tomorrow at 0800.” He strikes his gavel.
Morrison leaves the court and walks to the NAVSEA-08 office. The security guard lets him in, and he asks the first person he sees, “How do I get a car?”
“See Charley over there, Commander. Is the trial done for today?”
“It is.”
“Commander Petrea is flying in at 1650. Can you get her?”
“Sure.” Fifteen minutes later he is driving a Chevy sedan out to the airport.
GREY FORD SEDAN OUTSIDE THE NAVY YARD GATE
The special agent reports on the radio, “I have him. He’s exiting the gate in a white Chevy sedan. It’s a Navy vehicle.”
“Trail and observe. Do not pick him up.”
TERMINAL, WASHINGTON NATIONAL AIRPORT
When CDR Liz Petrea walks into the terminal, John waves at her, “Over here.”
Her face lights up, “How are you?”
“Better now. Car is over here.”
Once in the car she gives him a quick hug, “Thank you. What are you doing here?”
“Testifying in Cumberland’s court martial.”
“Oh, wow. What did he do to end his abysmal career?”
“He assaulted Commodore Holtz.”
She gives him a concerned look, “I thought he died over London in the attack?”
“He did. Cumberland hit Holtz a few times and I knocked him out. We locked him in my quarters. I had the SAR and corpsman look after him. He assaulted them, too.”
She smiles, “You knocked him out. That had to feel good.”
“It did. Did they tell you where you’re supposed to stay?”
“Admiral Klindt’s house.”
“Hmm, me too. At least it is somewhere I can find.”
FBI TAIL CAR
“Sir, he picked up a female commander and took her to Fort Humphreys.”
“Understood. Find a spot and observe.”
KLINDT HOME, FORT HUMPHREYS
Morrison opens the door, “Julie, are you in?”
“In the kitchen.”
They walk in, “Mrs. Klindt, Liz Petrea. Liz, Julie Klindt.”
Julie, “I am delighted to meet you. Craig has said so much about you.”
Liz, “All good, I hope. May I help?”
Julie, “If you want, but I would change out of your uniform.”
Liz, “Where’s my room?”
Julie, “I don’t want to step on myself. Craig got the impression you two were a couple.”
Liz looks at John and says, “We are.”
Julie smiles, “John, take her to your room. When you get around to coming down, you can tell me how court went.”
“Yes, ma’am.” John leads Liz upstairs. When they are inside, Liz shuts the door.
John, “Are you sur…” She wraps her arms around his neck and kisses him.
Without separating their lips, Liz starts undressing. She even manages her shoes. She finally lets go, “You’re overdressed.” When she’s down to her underwear, she starts undressing him. He tries to help and she swats his hand, “I need to.”
“Okay.”
She kneels down in front of him and removes his shoes and socks. When they are completely naked, she slides up his body wraps her arms around his neck. She pulls his head down and kisses him again. He picks her up and she wraps her legs around him. He walks them to the bed and lays her down. Twenty minutes later they are clinging to each other, their breath slowing. John kisses her, “What changed?”
“Your grandpa. He’s right. John, after Australia, you were on my mind all the time. I felt like I was betraying Tim, but grandpa is right. You, me. John, we deserve happiness, and I am happy with you.”
“You have been on my mind, too. After grandpa, I understood. I knew we could be together, but I couldn’t bear hurting you or assuming anything. I needed to know it was what you wanted, too.”
“John, I’m yours. You’re mine. All the
rest of it, we’ll figure it out together, okay?” She kisses him again.
They hear Admiral Klindt through the door, “Dinner in ten.”
They start laughing uncontrollably. They just made love for the first time in an Admiral’s house. John finally gasps, “Got it boss.” Ten minutes later, they walk down the stairs, blushing.
When they get to the dining room, Julie is putting the serving dishes on the table. She smiles at them, causing them to blush even redder.
Julie, “How long have you two been apart?”
John, “Four months.”
Julie, “We’re not your parents. I am thrilled you two have found a measure of happiness. Lord knows, it’s in short supply.
Liz, “Thank you.”
Julie says, “Craig will be out in a bit. Tell me how you met?”
John, “We were in port in Sydney. I was sent over to the Vinson to meet with the nuke training department. Liz was the RTA, the reactor training assistant. Anyway, after we talked official talk, she asked me out on, well, a date. That whole port visit, we became inseparable.”
“Good. You make a nice couple.” She raises her voice, “Craig, it’s growing icicles.”
Craig walks in, “I give testimony tomorrow. What angle is the defense taking?”
“Either insanity or hostile environment. The prosecutor is good. Command climate doesn’t work as a defense against the specific charges.”
“What are they charging him with?”
John, “Conduct unbecoming, assault, aggravated assault, assaulting a superior officer, hazarding a vessel, and attempted murder.”
Craig, “The SEALs?”
“Yes, sir.”
“John, in here it’s Craig, please.”
“I’m sorry.”
Craig, “Liz, did you bring your dinner dress?”
“I did. What are we doing?”
Craig, “You didn’t tell her, John.”
Julie, “Now love, they had other things on their mind. Tomorrow at five, we all dine at the White House.”
Liz, “Oh.” She swallows. “Oh, boy.”
Julie serves coffee in the living room. They talk until Craig says, “Time for bed. I have an early appointment.”
Liz and John go up to bed. After the door is closed, John asks, “Are you going to tear my clothes off again?”