The Four Percent Solution - 206

[A substantial and significant episode- Cdr. McCool's words are in italics.] Christmas eve Mac (M) was driving in the rain, and was distracted by her personal feelings, triggered by a radio program, causing her to toal her car. During the ambulance ride, she had "flashbacks within flashbacks" back to the previous two months. She had gone to see Lt. Cdr. V. McCool for sleeping pills, due to having insomnia. M was flippant and evasive. McCool was judgmental, challenging and held the prescription over Ms head in order to extract information. M finally told her that W (W) had faked his own death, deceived her, had no sense of what he put her through and did it with his mother's help! Dalton had been stalking her, and had been shot by a cop who was also stalking her. She was saved by Harm (H) but not before being captured and held. She revealed that she had been leaving the lights off at night in her apartment. "Not having to look at choices you've made." She said that she discusses things with H "endlessly." She had lived with Brumby, who then left; but, hadn't lived with W. She initially refused to talk about having children; but, then confessed she had had diagnostic surgery - advanced endometriosis - that left her with less than a 5% chance of possible conception. She regretted waiting too long. Right guy didn't appear? "I Wasn't looking." She said she was involved with H, "in ways you can't imagine. We've been dancing around a relationship for 8 yrs" What's keeping you apart? "Me... him. We made a 5 year deal for having baby." A backup plan. A set up for failure? She had told H about her endometriosis because the 5 years are up. H had told her that: "it didn't change things. There is IVF, surrogacy, donor eggs. HOW doesn't matter, only that it happens between US. I'm tired of looking in on your life, I want to be a part of it." M said: "I can't do it" - because she thought he had an agenda - namely: the loss of Mattie.

Why didn't you allow yourself a chance to consider it? "It is too close to Ws death". H hadn't shown emotion at Ws death, but told her: "I've been concentrating on what you were feeling - I'm going to miss the way YOU looked when you talked about him - No pressure, lets just look into possibilities." M said "He gave me space… (not what I wanted)." M went to H during crises in her other relationships. Will he ever abandon you? "No" Isn't He the one you’ve always intended to be with? Why do you always choose to be alone? That made M cry. "I've always wanted to CARRY a child," she said, "raising one is not enough." Harriet had told her that pregnancy felt like "Collaborating with God." "I've never created anything," M said. M had seen H with Alicia Montez (the attorney from a previous episode) the previous night. "H has moved on." "If I could have the conversation with W again I would ask different questions… but, I will never see him again." "My chances of drawing closer to H are less than 5%." Well, McCool said: I'm offering a 4% return on your personal investment, a satisfying conclusion to former relationships, a bright outlook on a future one, a shot at having a family… that’s better odds than a T-Bill! M didn't get the sleeping pills she was requesting.

H came to the ED because M had been repeating his name to the ambulance attendant. He gave up his usual X-mas eve trip to "the wall" (Vietnam memorial for his father) to stay with M instead. She told him "I've been pushing you away… I’m sorry." H said "nothing's changed, I'm still here. Enjoy the miracle, you're alive." M replied "The best thing about that news is that we both are."

The Man On The Bridge - 215

[An interesting, but complicated mystery episode with a unexpected ending, although no military action like we've come to expect.] The car belonging to Cdr. Adam Kohler, a top naval biodefense researcher, was found abandoned on a bridge without a trace of where he went. H (H) and M (M) investigated, along side Rod Benton of the FBI anti-terrorist unit, and all evidence pointed to It having been a suicide. But, there was progressive disclosure of clues such as: H finding a flashlight on the bridge with a partial print on it along with Kohler's blood; sideswipe damage to Kohler's car; files of bioweapons data found erased on his computer's hard drive; and spy-ware found on his computer along with information about his fathers death. His father, Robert Kohler, had also been a top bioweapons researcher; but, he had been accused of selling information to the Russians. Before trial, however, he committed "suicide" by jumping out a several story window. H found that Hank Olin, an ex-CIA agent turned private investigator, was the one who had sloppily investigated Robert Kohler's treason and death.

In an "NCIS-like," rapid-fire, disclosure of sophisticated forensic info, a trail of clues was revealed leading back to Dr. Morris Sperling, Kohler's boss, and Sperling's wife Marta. With Webb's help they found that Marta had been a KGB spy who had been "looking for a scientist to marry." Sperling gave her the secrets, then had "set up" Robert Kohler as the spy When Kohler discovered the truth, Sperling and his wife murdered him using the CIA "assassination manual" technique (used also by the KGB), of drugging with Nembutal, hitting on head and throwing from a great height. After H, M & Benton confronted Sperling with their findings, Sperling denied knowing anything about Adam Kohler's death. The flashlight, belonging to Sperling, had "gone missing" several days before; someone had previously "side-swiped" his car in the parking lot; Adam Kohler had "picked" a fight after a meeting in clear view of video surveillance cameras; Sperling had never seen the bottle of Nembutal, which was found in his desk, and matched the Nembutal found in Adam Kohler's coffee cup etc. Although they had him dead-to-rights, H reviewed the video tape and found that Kohler's car actually had been damaged BEFORE leaving the meeting's parking lot, as Sperling had said. They let the Sperling's go, after the FBI had bugged their car and house. Adam Kohler then called Sperling "from the grave" and arranged for a meeting back at the bridge. Adam had discovered the truth about his father's death, then faked his own death/suicide and masterfully "set up" all the clues to point back to Sperling, believing that whoever investigated his disappearance would also be smart enough to discover the Sperling's guilt. Kohler got Sperling to discuss his fathers innocence and that he and his wife had "assassinated" him. Police surveillance did get it on tape.

Bud (B) was assigned to review a female marine's, Cpl Maria Hoyos, request to box in the men's league which had been turned down by her CO. Cresswell played his tiresome "lets see if you're smart enough to guess what I'm thinking" game warning B that: "I have definite feelings on the matter," but not telling him what they were. Hoyos told B that she didn't want to be just "an exception," and that she wanted any female to be able to box like the men. B "shamed" Cr into using his influence at the pentagon for equality reasons; but was told that "I want to have a little give and take with her in the ring 1st, to test her mettle." Cr told Hoyos "you want to fight with men you might as well start with me" - to try and back her down? Then he continued the charade, ordering her not "to hold back" etc; but then only sparred with her claiming "you didn't think I was going to throw leather did you?" She lied and said "of course not." Cr told B that that he thought she was capable and that he would suggest to her general that he let her compete with the men. When B looked surprised, Cr threatened him with "you thought that I didn't think women should compete with men!?" As Cr took a step toward him, into his face, B stood up to him and said: "yes." Cr backed down and said "you were right" and walked away.

There Goes the Neighborhood - 213

[Again, the plot seems to "stretch" and ignores such obvious responses to accusations from characters, that it seems contrived and unbelievable.] A girl from Coates' (Co) past, Pia Bonfilio, showed up at Co's apartment wanting to stay - "just for awhile." She played on Co's sympathy and honest nature to manipulate her. She barged into Harm's (H) apartment without knocking and made small talk; then, asked if he had a gun. Then she began dressing like Co, braiding her hair like Co, "borrowing" Co's hair comb and trying on Co's uniform! She made plans to spend the night at the apartment with Co; but, then stood her up, so she would be alone and without anyone to corroborate. Vince Dolan, an old boyfriend, broke into Co's apartment looking for Pia, rifled her suitcase and took a manila envelope (containing money). H came the next morning and found Co's door broken. Just after Co told H that Pia was gone, and had stolen her uniform, detective Morris and Jimenez showed up, investigating the killing of Dolan. They found the evidence "set up" by Pia to frame Co for the murder.

Both Co and H were interrogated by the bumbling police and Co finally gave them a DNA sample to compare with a hair they had found on Dolan's body. Then Coates went to find Pia alone. She called H from the train station, where she had followed Pia, but wouldn't tell him were she was. H overheard a train announcement in the background and followed her there. Co found Pia, chased her down, and took a gun away from her; but, eventually Pia got away on a train, and was last seen thumbing a ride from a trucker to California, saying that she was going "to stay with a friend."

Bud (B) tried to join Lt. Harriman's anger management class, but got a flat tire on the way. B defended Lt. Stephanie Wall, a pilot who had given her rich, thrill-seeking, father flying lessons in a F-18 which he had bought over the internet. After lying to B, she finally admitted that she had accidentally found out that her estranged father was dying of a brain tumor, which HE didn't want HER to know about - because SHE might feel "pressured" into reconciling with HIM. Then, SHE didn't want HIM to know that SHE knew, but she also didn't want to say her goodbyes to him at the hospital. So, when she found the ad for the jet on the internet, she suggested that he get one as a shared interest, and she would teach him how to fly it. Her hard nose commander, who thought of himself as Rudi Gulianni, (who "sweated the small stuff") finally relented and put her back on flight status.

Camp Delta - 214

[When a protagonist just sit's and takes abuse, not offering defense arguments which are blatantly obvious, it makes the plot line seem arbitrary and "forced" and the characters weak. I didn't like the arrogant spinoza when he played on Murphy Brown either!] An angry, verbally abusive, history teacher started an argument with Bud (B) and Mikey (Mk) while they were shopping for shoes. Flailing his arms in histrionics, the man appeared to be striking Mk with a shoe so B defended his brother by slugging the man. B was then tried for assault. Creswell (Cr) was pissed that B hadn't told him of the incident and ordered Turner (T) to defend him, saying: "make it go away," then "you'll have to answer to me when it's over." The prosecuting attorney was shown with smug arrogance and the judge was clearly biased against B in nearly every objection T made. Big B "chatted up" the court reporter, then told T that the judge hated the military for getting her son killed. Mk testified that he never felt in danger (so B had over-reacted), and Harriet testified that when B got angry he got "that pouty face." When the prosecutor and judge seemed to be colluding to make B out to be an aggressor, with a history of temper outbursts, T asked for a mistrial. The judge angrily denied the request, threatening T with contempt for insulting her. Then, completely out of character with how she had acted the whole trial, the judge "magically" reversed her antagonistic attitude and judged that B had acted reasonably in defense of his brother when he had seen the shoe raised; but, then she called and tattled to Cr, recommending "anger management courses for B." She told T that her "son had been killed, but her daughter was still serving." Cr ordered B to attend the classes without even talking to him about it.

Harm (H) defended, and Mac (M) prosecuted, three MPs who beat and choked a Guantanamo detention camp prisoner into a coma. Army General Spinoza wanted "exposure to public opinion," so HE requested the court-martial for his own political reasons! H was assigned an army JAG, Captain Tam, as his co council, who then initially bull-dozed over her clients and H. When she justified herself to H by saying that she was only acting as "devils advocate," H told her that "the devil has enough advocates, you start defending your clients." The injured man was actually Corporal Gino Hatanian who had been posing as a detainee in a training exercise about uncooperative prisoners. He finally awoke from his coma, but refused to testify against the MPs. Both M and H tried to get him to tell the truth, so others wouldn't be mistreated; but, he replied, he didn't care if they were mistreated, because "they hate us and deserve it." The mistreatment had been video taped but the tape had been mysteriously "misplaced." Brett Orman, a private contractor for the CIA, denied that he expected MPs to abuse prisoners, but claimed they needed to "fear up" high value detainees. "Pain is not as good of motivator," he said, "as the fear of pain." Tam was the one who finally found the tape in the "recycle" bin, even though Spinoza said they were looking for it. It showed that Orman had lied and had been standing on the sidelines watching the beating. St. Sgt. Lantana, in charge of the detail, and others were found not guilty of two of the charges, but "guilty" of mistreatment.

The condescending and adversarial Gen. Spinoza got in M's face. Being pushed, M told him that in her opinion the "wrong person was on trial here." He smugly told her to "come and serve under me and then your opinion might count for something" and that "If you want to put me on trial you know where to find me." [It's too bad the show ended before we could see this happen]

One Big Boat - 212

[The series has clearly changed direction. Inane, fluffy, "Soapbox drama" issues, with contrived conflict, now outweigh good plot and action in nearly every episode.]Unannounced, Mattie (Mt) had Harm (H) sign her custody relinquishment papers; then, proceeded to whine the whole show that H had done it. She needed to talk to Mac (M) about "why H didn't make a fuss!" M told her that H was "at a place in his life that he didn't need to posses someone to love them." H had to qualify in F-18s and wasn't there for the custody relinquishment hearing. When he returned, he accidentally caught Mt packed and leaving. He gave her a note to open later, but she opened it in the elevator anyway. It contained Hs wings and a note stating "fair winds and following seas."

Creswell (Cr) continually acted condescendingly critical of M (and everyone for that matter). He is curt, short (in every way), arrogant and critical whenever anyone doesn't act precisely like he thinks they should - HIS image of a "good marine." He finally, cryptically, ordered M to have breakfast alone with him. Her feedback to him, about his appearing judgmental, was simply shrugged off claiming "you've been around Navy too much and they have rubbed off on you." (?) He basically "ordered" her to have it "wear off," and told her: "Consider that a vote of confidence- and trust that others trust you." [That must be his way of giving closure.]

M prosecuted Cdr. Lunt, an Annapolis sailing instructor, for dereliction of duty and negligent homicide when Seaman Emma Green was lost overboard in a storm which "they should have gone around," (according to her military disliking parents.) Mikey (Mk) , also on the ship, challenged everyone who seemed against Lunt, including his friend Dupree. Bud (B) had to reign Mk in, forcefully, and accused him of raising Lunt to the level of "father figure." Seaman Huskins, who fell overboard first, also testified against Lunt saying, retrospectively, "it was too hard for me" - despite the fact that she had actually voted to go through the storm with the rest of the team. Turner (T) defended Lunt and deduced that the excuse-ridden Huskins had untethered herself from the safety line in order to check below deck; but, then had negligently left the hatch open. She re-tethered, so that, when she fell overboard, it put the entire crew into rescue mode. During the rescue, Green had seen that the hatch had been left open, and then had to untether in order to go close it. She had slammed her fingers in the hatch door when she closed it, and then was washed overboard before she could reattach to her tether. T quoted G K Chesterton "we are all in the same boat on a stormy sea and we owe each other a terrible loyalty." Lunt was acquitted but claimed he was retiring.

This Just in From Baghdad - 211

[We have a new JAG - those sneaky writers! Unfortunately, they decided to make him a complete ass. Evidently, Harm and Mac are now going to fight more battles inside JAG instead of on ships.] Turner (T) had to move his car because Creswell (Cr) was actually appointed JAG by "a last minute miracle." Cr was arrogantly condescending to Coates' (Co) annoying behavior quirks which Chegwidden had tolerated. He approved Ts request to switch offices back with Harm (H), trying to "mend fences." H prosecuted, and Mac (M) defended, Staff Sgt. Timothy Mallory, who was charged in the death of Dwight Kanin, a civilian chairman of the military affairs policy board and advisor to the president, during a ride along. A reporter claimed that Kanin had been "fragged" by the soldiers because of his poor attitude. The patrol, with whom Kanin was riding, had been blocked by street protesters; but, he bragged that he wanted to see "real" marines in action, and said "lets go forward." He had been protected by the other soldier's flack jackets, but panicked and was shot down when he went running, screaming, through gunfire. The soldier protecting him, who didn't have a flack jacket, was also killed, and another's arm was blown off while removing a grenade.

Amazingly, Mallory was found guilty; but, in the penalty phase, all his chain of command, including the general who had initiated the court-martial, testified for mitigation of the sentence. Col. Atwater said "Kanin acted like a tourist, wanting photo ops more than facts." He said that he had told Capt. Ellis to "get that chicken hawk out of my sight." Ellis said he had been offended by Kanin's "lack of understanding of a war he was known to champion," and that he had told Lt. Howell that "if Kanin ever saw action he'd go home with new shorts." Howell said "Kanin thinks it's a video game over here" and that he had told Mallory to "show him what's it's really like." Even General Watson relinquished being convening authority, so he could testify, stating: "Kanin represents a branch of civilian leadership which has complicated and compromised our expeditionary force. And, he personally had an attitude of disrespect for our men." All witnesses said that there was a "singular failure in the chain of command such that implied orders put Kanin in greater danger than he should have been."

The court-martial sentenced Mallory to 6 months confinement and forfeiture of pay; but, recommended delaying the penalty until further investigation into the failure of the chain of command was performed.

Cr told Co that he gave "extra points" to sailors who "got themselves out of holes" (referring to her previous record.) She told him that her life change had been due to the trust that H had placed in her. Bud felt he had gotten off on the wrong FOOT with Cr - and quipped that "I only have one."

Whole New Ballgame - 209

[Introduction of Chegwidden's replacement. Unfortunately, the "writer's" made a big mistake in what character types the viewers would tolerate.] Marine Col. Gordon Creswell (Cr) saved Gen Bixby from a helicopter crash in Iraq and was then made counsel to the joint chiefs of staff. He became the president's candidate for JAG, now that Chegwidden had gone. The SECNAV claimed that "no one wants to saddle our good JAG lawyers with someone so bereft of people skills that they alienate all of them." [Too bad he didn't tell that to the writers] He then appointed his long time friend, Admiral Tom Kly, as president of the selection board, consisting of 2 marine and 2 navy admirals - despite Kly's warnings of its appearance of impropriety. Bud (B) was appointed clerk of the board by Turner (T) , and was asked stupid questions during the very heated debates. Creswell was finally selected.

Harm (H) was still upset by the appointment of T as interim JAG. T sent H and Mac (M) to investigate the shooting incident, of a Canadian Indians' son, by an ensign, from the US vessel called in to settle a fishing dispute between Wolf Tillicum and long time nemesis George Young. The Ensign claimed that Tillicum's son had threatened their inflatable with a rifle. The son initially denied it, claiming that it had only been a gaffing hook, but then changed his story under Hs questioning. M was very upset at Cr's nomination because he was the Okinawa JAG who had reprimanded John Farrell when she had her affair with him. She felt that Cr will hold it against her and harass her over it. The SECNAV was uneasy over Cr's lack of people skills and emotion. When told of his selection, Cr said "I'll wait until it's in writing," then told the SECNAV "the part of me that you find unsettling (the marine part) won't go away."

Because of the SECNAVs use of Kly as chairman, the SECDEF decided to hold formal senate armed services committee confirmation hearings. Cr was asked about his feelings on homosexuality by Joyce Brothers; the legality of the Iraq war; holding detainees; and then, stupidly, about a specific rape case by a sniveling, snotty southern senator with an apparent axe to grind. All four on the panel seemed to act vigorously against incumbent policies and be very political. When a panelist told Cr that the Iraq war was not legal, Cr responded "tell that to the men being shot at." When pressured, Cr told the sniveling senator not to retrospectively sensationalize the rape case for purposes of the hearing. Additionally, he voiced that both sides of isle had played on the natural fear of people over the security of their homeland for political purposes, and that the "law is blind and doesn't care if you get re-elected next year." Coates & M had "heart to heart's" about boyfriends and fathers. M was not unhappy being told that "Cr imploded before the committee," and the episode ended showing Cr back in his old office after the hearing, believing that he would not be confirmed.

Retrial - 210

[Turner is still acting JAG, Mac is still crusty with Harm and Bellisario is still giving them "soft" (non-action) cases. They also seem to have replaced the "love distraction," which Mac has lost, with one for Harm, preventing them from reconciling their differences.] A legal student, Rachel Hanna, uncovered new DNA evidence which she felt proved that Saul Wainright hadn't committed the murder of a transvestite hooker, Tamaray, for which he had been a prisoner in Leavenworth for 22 years. With her professor, Alicia Montez [the new "interest" for Harm], she convinced Harm (H) to review the case and intervene. But, H felt that Tamaray's blood on Wainright's knife, the knife cut on his face and his prints on the knife, all proved that Wainright was guilty. Wainright claimed, however, that when he was in the alley, and had realized that Tamaray was a transvestite, he wouldn't pay, so Tamaray pulled his knife and cut Wainright on the face. He said that defending himself, he had wrestled with Tamaray, and the knife accidentally stabbed Tamaray once. He then ran and threw the knife away. Unexplainedly, however, Tamaray had been stabbed 12 times. Hanna found that there had been another murder of a prostitute the following day, by someone named Waldo Sapphire; and, although Sapphire had died in prison, she subpoenaed his shirt and found Tamaray's DNA on it. H realized that, after this length of time, only the president could order another retrial; but, Turner (T) said he wouldn't go to the line for H, unless he had more than the DNA evidence - even when H asked him to "trust me." Hanna also stole records from Henry Kale's office, who was the former prosecutor of Waldo Sapphire. The records showed that Sapphire had been willing to confess to "another murder," for a plea bargain. Kale said he had given the information to Wainright's prosecutor, Lt. Cdr. Marvin Bolton - now a congressman; but Bolton had failed to turn it over to the defense, as required by the Supreme Court Brady decision. The SECNAV insisted on keeping the president out of it, because Bolton had led the opposition against the president's weapons program and now it would just look like "payback." When the SECNAV told harm "maybe next year," H didn't respond kindly. He argued that: this innocent man has spent 22 years behind bars, it's a mockery, and he can't wait another year just for political reasons! The SECNAV talked to Bolton, who admitted knowing the information; but, as expected, threatened the SECNAV for doing "payback." Trying to defuse the situation, the SECNAV authorized a simple pardon; but, when H offered it to Wainright, he refused it, saying that he wanted a whole new trial. Finally, the SECNAV got the president to authorize a new trial, stating that he "didn't like to be threatened." H asked T to let him to defend Wainright and T assigned himself to prosecute, against H. H called Bolton to testify and made him look a fool. Bolton threatened H that "your career is over!" Harm replied "so's yours." T tried to shame H about "not doing his homework," when he uncovered that Hanna was actually Wainright's daughter, and he claimed that Hanna had switched shirts while they were in her possession in order to free her father. But H showed that, in the first trial, Wainright's shirt was shown to have two types of blood - his, from the cut, and Tamaray's; while the shirt now in question, with the newly discovered DNA, showed only one type of blood - Tamaray's. He muttered back to T: "you should have done your homework, counselor." Wainwright was exonerated for murder.

Mac (M) prosecuted and Bud (B) defended Morris Renfield, found to have four wives. He had a job which required extended deployments, and had married all four in different areas of deployment, had children with two and financed it from his fathers trust fund. M took the whole thing personally, showing contempt for Renfield, who was sickeningly sweet. Renfield inappropriately tried to get personal with M, telling her that he "just knew she had been hurt" in the past. All of his wives loved him and tried to get M to drop the charges. Finally, when M wouldn't relent, they drew straws and all but one divorced him. That way M could drop the charges. She finally relented, but said she found his actions reprehensible and recommended dishonorable discharge with loss of pay and allowances. M asked H what had changed between he and T, because they "used to be friends." He said "people change, they grow apart," then interjected that he was still talking about he and T. She ragged on him about being attracted to Montez, and he said "when have I ever compromised my integrity for a woman?" She responded, "you've never compromised anything for a woman." Montez told H that Bolton was a bad enemy to have, and that she would help H "watch his back."

Corporate Raiders - 208

[Mac's major, worrisome, "illness" (of last season's finale) seems to have been largely ignored so far, except to reveal that it is endometriosis.] Acting JAG, Turner (T), showed concern about how he had alienated his old friends. He clearly doesn't have the same agenda as did Chegwidden, which is frustrating to Mac (M) and Harm(H). T asked Bud (B) if he had any "problem with my style of management." Diplomatically, B said he didn't; then, when pressed, said "there's not a lot of room at the top for friendship."

Mattie (Mt) returned from an extended stay with her dad, Tom. They announced that they were going to start up Grace Aviation again, and Tom asked H for a letter of reference. H was concerned about her burgeoning relationship with Kevin Reilly, a local boy, and had his version of a facts-of-life talk with her, saying she should "talk to her father." Mt eventually said she needed H, and his "annoying personal questions," then asked him to "reduce altitude" and kissed him on the cheek.

M and H investigated a "friendly fire" incident, where a marine unit was acting as "shadow advisors" to the bodyguards of a Kurdish leader, Mohammed Aziz. Retired Sgt. Maj. Thomas Elgart, of Battlefield Solutions (BS), was a consultant advisor to an Iraqi Civil Defense unit who were tracking a terrorist, and ("mistakenly") engaged in a gunfight with the bodyguards (and their shadow advisors), killing a marine. T was all too happy to call it a "friendly-fire" incident; but, Ann, the widow of Marine Cpl. Paul Sheehy, brought Emails her husband had sent before his death, implicating Battlefield Solutions as "trigger-happy mercenaries." M and H continued their investigation and found that retired Commander John Merrick (previously court-martialed for collision of a destroyer) was now the CEO of BS, so they complained to him. He promised that he "would take care of it," then called a general and asked for a court-martial of his own employee! Elgart was brought back to active duty, by order of the SECNAV, and court martialed. Merrick then told Elgart that he didn't think he was getting good defense (from H), and offered him $2 million to plead guilty to the court-martial that he had asked for! H coerced Elgart into not to taking it, saying: "2 million is a hell of a severance package." H found that BS had recently merged with Henson-LeRoux, a company who had oil interests in the Kurdish area; and, that Merrick had received 200,000 shares of it's stock. If the Kurdish area became independent, Aziz would become oil minister; and, because he had been openly antagonistic to the company, BS would suffer financial loss. Additionally, H discovered that Aziz had been previously "targeted" to be: "taken out by mistake," on five separate occasions! Unbelievably, the five failed attempts were based upon false information from a confidential "informant." Then, the informant also turned out to be under contract to BS, making H wonder if the information "wasn't coming directly from BS's board room" for their own corporate agenda. Elgart was found not-guilty, and Sheehy's widow filed civil suit for, as H told Merrick, a lot "more than your $2 million."

Hail and Farewell (Part II) - 207

[Follow-up sequel to last season's finale and the first without Chegwidden who has left the series.] Mac (M) returned to her apartment late and found that it had been trashed. Simon Tanveer (MI6 agent) was there, stabbed, and claiming to be "saving her life." He told her that he thought Webb (W) was still alive. He stayed in Ms apartment, because "everyone who knew W was in danger" from Peter Tyrook, "the Hawk," a contract killer who was looking for W. W had been planning to do a "sting" on Tyrook; but, now the tables were turned and W was the target. M tried to get Turner (T) to tell her what he had found during his investigation of Ws death; but, instead of just telling her he found nothing, he acted like he just "wouldn't tell her." She went to Ws apartment and heard him punching codes, to retrieve his messages from the answering machine, but he wouldn't answer her. She talked to Laurie June, Ws assistant, and asked her to "think about" telling her where W was. Later, while Tanveer was with her, M got a call from Laurie who merely said W was at "Mandalay." They went to Laurie's apartment and found she had been tortured to death. Tanveer and M were walking in the park and were shot at by W, but it missed. M talked to Ws mother to tell her about: Laurie's murder, "Mandalay," and to protect herself from "the Hawk." M finally told Harm (H) about it all; and, with Coates' help (by remembering the words to a poem about "Manderley"), deduced that W was at their families old home named "Manderley." Searching it, M & Tanveer found clothes in the house, and H found W on the beach. Tanveer got the drop on M, then admitted to being "the Hawk," who was a fictitious person. He said that he had stabbed himself, then trashed her apartment, killed Laurie, automated the phone call and was using M for his bait. He then got the drop on W, who was attempting a rescue, and H got the drop on Tanveer. But Tanveer still had M hostage, so he captured them all. While threatening to kill M, in order to find out how much info W had obtained about the Al Qaeda, Mrs. Webb appeared and shot Tanveer three times. M had it out with W for lying to her and walked out on him. W asked his boss, Kershaw, how he could "be who I am and still be with her." Kershaw didn't give him an answer and said that it was time for him to "come in from the cold."

The SECNAV appointed Turner as temporary JAG. Probably, as Coates observed, because he wasn't at all put off by the mindless paperwork and politics. H was very annoyed by all the "make work" T was dumping on them, instead of "real" cases. H tried, the whole episode, to talk to M about her medical condition. She apparently has endometriosis, which was "mostly removed." She put him off and told H that she would come to him when she wanted to talk. Finally he tried again on the beach, after Tanveer had been killed, only to be put off again; so, he walked away, frustrated, saying "let me know when you're ready." Krennick was rumored to be on the "short list" for JAG, and H said that she was the only one "to have ever chased him around the desk." She was later said to have been "flagged" and taken off the list.