JAG

Open it. Open it.

A box.

It's a Cobra, like you fly.

- Do you like it? - You know I do.

Oh, honey, thank you.

- You're welcome. - Thank you, Lisa, for your help.

- It was good help. - Max?

- Mommy. - Mommy.

Mommy.

It's the lieutenant's birthday.

Max, you have really done it.

Following in his father's footsteps as a Naval aviator,

Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb Jr.

Suffered a crash while landing his Tomcat

on a storm-tossed carrier at sea.

Diagnosed with night blindness,

Harm transferred to the Navy's Judge Advocate General Corps,

which investigates, defends and prosecutes the law of the sea.

There, with fellow JAG lawyer Major Sarah MacKenzie,

he now fights in and out of the courtroom

with the same daring and tenacity that made him a top gun in the air.

First Lieutenant Sandra Gilbert is suspected

of committing adultery with an enlisted man.

Her squadron CO, a Lieutenant Colonel Turner,

wants to charge her with conduct unbecoming.

Now, last night, General McCartney calls me at home,

says he'd like to recommend that our investigation

of her alleged misconduct be handled quietly and quickly,

that he will not tolerate the kind of fiasco

the Air Force had with Kelly Flinn.

Did the general also indicate the desired outcome, sir?

You know, commander, I'm gonna pretend I didn't hear that.

Otherwise, I'd have to put you on administrative leave

while I drew up papers to have you transferred to Adak, Alaska.

I'm sorry, admiral.

I didn't mean to imply that a senior officer

was trying to bring undue influence on a court proceeding.

Or that he asked us to avoid a high-profile court-martial.

You're both on thin ice.

Lieutenant Gilbert is stationed at Camp Pendleton, California.

She's assigned to HMLA 488,

a Marine light attack helicopter squadron.

Lieutenant Gilbert's a Cobra pilot?

That is correct.

First in her class in advanced helicopter training.

I didn't know you were familiar with the case.

Well, I'm not, sir, but her picture was on the cover of the Navy Times.

Oh, the poster girl for women in combat.

The evidence needs to be reviewed,

and if called for, charges drafted, commander.

Have you decided who will be handling the case, sir?

Well, do you have any thoughts on the subject, major?

I don't mean to overstep any boundaries, sir,

but Commander Rabb is in court on the Grekly matter,

and if you haven't already made a decision on counsel,

I'd like to volunteer for the case.

Now, there's a surprise.

Because I'm the best person for the job.

Yeah, your main qualification's you're a woman.

That's one of them.

Well, I'm sure you figure Lieutenant Gilbert needs a friend in court.

No, Harmon.

I figure Lieutenant Gilbert deserves a full and fair hearing

just like everyone else, no matter how the chips fall.

No special pleading because she's a woman in love.

No playing the gender card.

People don't like you when you get like this.

Just trying to prepare you for what lies ahead, Mac.

Good morning, sir, ma'am.

- Lieutenant Roberts. - Bud.

You just don't get it.

Sorry I'm late, ma'am.

Why can't you understand that every time a woman screws up

and gets special treatment, it ruins it for people like me?

Traffic. I don't know about the woman thing.

Not now, Bud.

Because I earned my way here.

All I asked for was an equal chance, a level playing field.

I made it on the merits.

Now, Bud.

Sorry to interrupt, ma'am.

I'm used to it.

There was this traffic accident on the beltway.

We're leaving for Camp Pendleton at 1300.

That leaves you two hours and seven minutes to pack.

I don't need to remind you this is a competitive exercise.

The field judge grades you on technique in approach and shoot.

You'll be flying nap of the earth.

I want you 10 feet off the deck at all times.

Your target is an M60 tank.

There's an Avenger battery guarding the tank.

It takes him ten seconds to fire.

That gives you eight seconds to get off your shot.

Whoever hits first, wins.

Be advised, Smokey Sams will be fired across your nose during this exercise.

Good hunting.

Good luck, lieutenant.

Okay.

- Give them hell. - Just like always.

Any lower and you're gonna get grass stains on the skids.

Okay, I'm ready to pop.

- Ready. - We're on the go.

I have a visual.

I'm locking on.

Getting ready to shoot.

Bogey, 11 o'clock, attempting to lock on.

Wizard, I think they're looking at us. Fire!

- Weapon away. - They're locked on.

Nine seconds, eight.

I have lock-on. Range, 1,500 yards. Four seconds to intercept.

- Launching Smokey Sam. - Three.

- Missile launch. - Four, three, two, one...

- Gets him! - Yeah!

We're out of here.

Four seconds to impact.

Three, two.

Damn, we lost contact.

Nice shooting, Mustang.

That's a keeper.

Thank you, sir. I'll take it.

- You did good, Mustang. - Yeah.

Not bad for a girl.

Enter.

Major MacKenzie and Lieutenant Roberts to see you.

Thank you, gunner.

- You're one of ours. - Yes, sir.

At ease.

Let me be blunt.

When Admiral Chegwidden informed me you'd been assigned to this matter,

I asked him to reconsider.

May I ask why, sir?

I was afraid your feelings would affect your ability

to prosecute Lieutenant Gilbert.

Sir, I haven't formed an opinion about Lieutenant Gilbert.

And it is not customary for me to let my feelings get in the way of my job.

Admiral Chegwidden led me to believe as much.

- Sir? - He said you were cold-blooded.

I need to see the witness statement and the NCIS report.

- Ma'am. - Thank you, lieutenant.

You'll find the charge sheet on top.

The admiral sent us here to investigate the evidence

and help draft charges, if necessary.

I've decided to refer these charges to a court-martial, major.

I was signing the order when you came in.

- Sir? - I considered giving.

Lieutenant Gilbert a lecture or fine

and transferring her to Diego Garcia.

I rejected that out of hand.

There are other options, sir. Counselling...

This is a disciplinary matter, major.

Lieutenant Gilbert disobeyed an order to end an affair with an enlisted man

in her chain of command.

That's prejudicial to good order and discipline.

That's not a matter for counselling.

So you wanted to make an example of Lieutenant Gilbert?

Draw a line in the sand?

This has nothing to do with what I want.

I'm doing what is required of me. You have a problem with that?

I don't have an informed opinion, colonel.

That's a lawyer's answer.

That's what I am, sir.

We're gonna get along fine, major.

I'm flattered by your confidence, sir.

We expect our officers to set the standard of morality.

We have to be true to our oath.

That means obeying orders.

Even the ones that break your heart.

Lieutenant Gilbert.

I'm Major Sarah MacKenzie, Judge Advocate General Corps.

This is Lieutenant Roberts.

Good morning, ma'am, lieutenant.

It's my duty to inform you that you're charged with the following violations

of the Uniform Code of Military Justice:

Article 90, wilfully disobeying a lawful command

of a superior commissioned officer.

Article 133, conduct unbecoming an officer.

Article 134, actions prejudicial to good order and discipline.

A time will be set for a court-martial and counsel will be provided to you.

Yes, ma'am.

- This isn't a good time, sergeant. - You wanna tell me what's going on?

I don't think that would be productive.

Don't make it worse, gunny.

You didn't even hear what I had to say before slamming me.

I read the NCIS report.

Is that enough for you, major?

Were you willing to condemn me without a fair hearing?

Or didn't you wanna hear what I had to say?

You'll get a full and fair hearing in court, lieutenant.

That's a little late.

Who will be defending me?

Lieutenant Commander Harmon Rabb.

He just won a tough case and he's en route from Washington.

If there's nothing else, major, I have a mission to fly.

Lieutenant?

I'm grounded?

Colonel Turner made that decision.

We're in the middle of quals, ma'am.

I won't get another shot for a year.

I'm afraid there's nothing I can do, lieutenant.

Enter.