Dog Robber

**"Dog Robber"** is a *JAG* two-parter.

## Cast

PLACEHOLDER FOR CAST

Although he's enjoying his retirement, the 9/11 attacks have made Admiral Boone (Terry O'Quinn) feel a calling to serve again. He agrees to go back to active duty as a "dog robber" for the Secretary of the Navy (Paul Collins). A dog robber is a high-ranking aide who can solve problems quickly and quietly.

The first problem for Boone to solve is that of an EP-3 plane that has fallen into the hands of the Chinese. Commander Rabb is assigned to assist Boone.

It's clear that the Chinese attacked the plane, damaging at least one of its engines but perhaps nothing else. The pilot decides to make an emergency landing in China, rather than ditch the plane or even just bail out over international waters, because he's got injured crewmen.

Boone and Rabb arrive on the USS Thomas Jefferson, parked not too far from China. Boone pulls rank on the Thomas Jefferson CAG and assigns himself and Rabb to pilot a carrier onboard delivery (COD) plane off the Thomas Jefferson to China.

They'll have fighter jet escort until just before reaching Chinese airspace, at which point they'll be escorted by Chinese MiGs. Boone and Rabb land in China and talk to the EP-3 crew. Rabb correctly assumes that the interview rooms are bugged and the Chinese are listening.

Rabb calls Roberts. Knowing that the Chinese are listening, they speak in code. Roberts correctly understands what Rabb is saying and goes to the CIA to obtain an important satellite photo which he then sends to Rabb.

Boone and Rabb talk to two Chinese generals. The second, higher-ranking one, General Chen (François Chau), has drafted an eulogy for Lt. Li, a heroic Chinese pilot who died defending China. Boone calls B.S. and Rabb shows the satellite photo.

General Chen agrees to return the EP-3 to America one piece at a time. It's the best he can offer. Of course this doesn't sit well with the Americans.

Boone and Rabb get on their COD to head back to the Thomas Jefferson. Soon after switching to an American escort, Lt. Barrett (Ned Vaughn) tells Lt. Crawford (Leonard Roberts) that Crawford has a leak and should head back to the carrier quickly.

Once Crawford's gone, Barrett heads to China, finds the EP-3 and makes a fast pass to suggest to the Chinese technicians that maybe they should get out of the way. Then Barrett makes a slower pass, this time firing missiles at the EP-3, destroying it. Barrett then heads back to the ship. This plot line will be continued in Part II.

[REMINDER: Elton John]

Gunnery Sergeant Galindez (Randy Vasquez) also feels a calling because of the 9/11 attacks. He asks Admiral Chegwidden to sign off on his transfer to be a company gunnery sergeant with a combat squadron. Chegwidden grants the request, says "I wish I was going with you."

The B-plot, which won't be referred to again in Part II, concerns Midshipman Buchanan (Dave Power) and Midshipman Morris (Evan Farmer), who were arrested by civilian police for dueling with authentic old swords.

Their great-grandfathers were on opposite sides during the Civil War, and this led to some kind of argument that could apparently only be settled in a duel.

Mac prosecutes, Turner and Roberts defend. No one has been charged with dueling under Article 114 of the UCMJ in decades. So Mac instead chooses several other articles, including good old catch-all Article 134.

Roberts suggests the midshipmen make restitution and face a conduct board at the Naval Academy. Mac rejects the deal, saying the midshipmen are not the least bit remorseful and deeming them unfit to be naval officers.

The case goes to court-martial. However, Mac changes her mind and asks the judge for a recess to confer with the defense. The judge agrees, and suggests the case should not proceed to a verdict. Presumably Mac agrees to Roberts's suggestion earlier. This case probably won't be mentioned in Part II.

### Part II

Lt. Barrett (Ned Vaughn) lands on the USS Thomas Jefferson after having destroyed an American EP-3 on the Chinese airfield. Barrett is a little too talkative, Commander Harmon Rabb, Jr. advises the young aviator to clam up if he doesn't want to spend many years at Fort Leavenworth.

The master-at-arms is on his way to arrest Barrett, who's charged with disobeying orders and destroying government property. Rabb agrees to defend Barrett. Lt. Singer (Nanci Chambers) offers to be second chair but Rabb already asked Lt. Roberts. So then Singer second-chairs for Commander Sturgis Turner (Scott Lawrence) at the prosecution table.

It's hard to know how much good Barrett's action did. Admiral Boone (Terry O'Quinn) says that if the Chinese technicians had had just one more day with the EP-3, they would have unlocked all its secrets. But the American intelligence community will probably have to assume that the EP-3 is indeed completely compromised.

Boone also reminisces about the Vietnam War. There was a heavily armed lighthouse that shot down several American planes. Without waiting for orders, Boone took out that lighthouse. Rabb Jr. says that story's true, except that it was Rabb Sr. who took out the lighthouse.

General Chen (François Chau) comes from China to testify for the prosecution. On cross-examination, Rabb asks Chen to send his regards to Lt. Li, the Chinese aviator who collided with the EP-3. But Li's dead, he was buried in a quiet ceremony, Chen says (in Part I, Chen read a draft of his eulogy to Boone and Rabb, before they disclosed they knew Li was alive).

Admiral Boone testifies, but his testimony doesn't seem to sway the panel members (jurors) one way or the other. Rabb had been reluctant to put Barrett on the stand, but he agrees to it now.

Barrett is found guilty on both counts, and sentenced to dismissal from the service, but no confinement.

Meanwhile, Mac investigates two Marine officers who appeared on Military Bloopers, a sort of military version of America's Funniest Home Videos. But Mac's not laughing. The segment she watches features Colonel Presser (Jay Acovone) berating Captain Sheila Grantham (Kris Murphy) as if he was an enlisted boot camp drill instructor and she was a recruit during physical training.

The next day, Mac begins her investigation. Her hypothesis is that Presser is a misogynist pig who's trying to flush women out of the Marine Corps by requiring better results on their physical fitness tests than what the Marine Corps demands. Presser asks Mac when her next physical fitness test (PFT) is. Mac says it's coming up.

So Mac decides to do her PFT under Presser, and roll her rifle qualification into it as well. Mac shoots well, not a surprise because she's got Rifle Expert and Pistol Expert badges on her uniform. She also does well on the 3-mile run, coming in at 21 minutes and a few seconds (a decent time for a woman), sit-ups and hanging on the pull-up bar.

The top enlisted man in charge of training under Presser's command is Gunnery Sergeant Smith (Derek Webster), who had a heart transplant last year. Smith admits he's not back to 100%. Mac brings this apparent hypocrisy to Presser's attention.

Mac recommends Presser be given a letter of reprimand. Presser was being considered for a command at Parris Island. The letter of reprimand will probably remove Presser from consideration, and end his career.

Grantham says thanks to Mac, but Mac says she was just doing her job. And also that she knows that Grantham is the one who slipped the training tape to Military Bloopers.

In conversation with Admiral Chegwidden, Mac says that Presser is too gruff and hard-nosed, but also that he's the kind of officer the Marine Corps needs "now" (presumably referring to the then-recently begun War on Terror). She feels bad about effectively ending Presser's career.

Chegwidden suggests Mac charge Grantham with conduct unbecoming. It's a loser case, but it just might make the top Marine generals give Presser another round of consideration.