JAG

When a female F-14 Tomcat RIO (Radar Intercept Officer) goes missing from the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Seahawk while stationed in the Adriatic Sea, the Judge Advocate General of the Navy, Rear Admiral Al Brovo (Kevin Dunn), sends young Lieutenant Harmon Rabb with Lieutenant Junior Grade Caitlin Pike on Bastille Day 1995 out to the carrier where they must find out whether her death was accidental or intentional.

Harm teams up with Maj. Sarah MacKenzie and Lt. Roberts to investigate, together with Special Assistant Webb, the theft of the Declaration of Independence, which was stolen by Colonel O'Hara. O'Hara, who turns out to be Mac's uncle, claims he has taken control of it to remind the people - and especially the politicians - of its meaning and spirit. Locations: East of Yuma, Arizona; Red Rock Mesa; Washington, D.C.; Falls Church, Va.

Harm discovers evidence that his father, an MIA from the Vietnam War, may be alive and under KGB control in Russia. Harm and Mac are investigating the murder of a Navy pilot whose body was found hidden aboard the decommissioned aircraft carrier the USS Hornet. With help from a local police lieutenant, they discover a motive for the crime, which involves a list of MIAs and POWs supposedly still alive and under KGB control in Russia -- and the list includes Harm's father. But before Harm can act on the information, the book mysteriously disappears along with the helpful police lieutenant.

Having been shot at by Russian fighters, Mac & Harm are forced to eject from their plane, which then noses into the bottom of a very deep lake. The Russians announce to the world that Harm & Mac have been killed, which is broadcasted back to the USA by ZNN reporter Chuck DePalma. Webb tries to convince the Admiral that they have been killed, but when A.J. learns their bodies haven't been found, A.J. becomes irate and vows to go to Moscow himself to look for them. The SecNav orders A.J. not to go, who replies that the SecNav doesn't want to try & stop him. In Russia, A.J. meets with DePalma who tells A.J. that he doesn't believe the Russians, that certain things in their story don't add up. In the woods, a husband & wife gypsies come across Harm & Mac. They are disappointed when they learn that Harm & Mac are not American Spies as at least the spies have gold coins to give to Russians that help them.

While patrolling the Mediterranean near Yugoslavia and against the orders of Harm, his division commander, Lt. Buxton fires on what he believes is a Serbian armored car about to attack Kosovar refugees. As Buxton and his pals are celebrating his victory back aboard the aircraft carrier, however, the grave news arrives: those ""Serbs"" Buxton attacked and killed were, in fact, Russian peacekeepers, and Buxton made the mistake while under Harm's command. Mac prosecutes what appears to be an open-and-shut case of a Marine weapons expert accused of reckless endangerment.

While Harm is sent to Russia to help the Russians find a better way to implement their military justice procedures, Mac and Bud remain behind to prosecute a Naval commander charged with selling military secrets to the Russians. Once in Russia, Harm becomes involved in investigating high level corruption in the military. Meanwhile, Mac is on the verge of making a deal with the traitorous Naval officer when he and his lawyer are murdered. Mac and Webb then discover that the traitor was linked to a Russian assassination plot. But Mac's attempts to alert Harm fail, and he is caught in an ambush with a Russian who reveals the life-changing secret to him.

Harm's chance of being rescued from the Atlantic Ocean hinges on Mac's psychic ability (first seen in Season Five's "Psychic Warrior"). However, Mac is trying to cope with her conflicting emotions for both Harm & Mic. On the edge of going unconscious from severe hypothermia, Harm's fires several warning shots which attracts the rescue helicopter. Back onboard the USS Patrick Henry, Harm's vital signs start to fade out, but Skates words help him pull through. Transferred to Bethesda Hospital, Renee learns that Harm has partial amnesia and doesn't remember them being a couple over the past year. Mac's indecision about the wedding drives Brumby back to Australia. When Harm tells Mac on the phone to come to his place so that she doesn't have to be alone, she arrives only to learn that Renee has beaten her to Harm's place with the news that her father has died. Mac ends up in the rain with no one around.

The episode starts with a short recap of where we left off last season: Bud & PO Coates walking along a dirt road enroute to attend the ground-breaking of the new school, when they spot a small boy playing in a field that had yet to be cleared of mines. As Coates runs for help, there is an explosion behind her. She turns in time to see Bud injured in the explosion and runs to his side. Coates insists that Bud must be transported on the helo that brought them in, that Bud won't be able to wait for the proper medevac chopper. Bud is airlifted to a field hospital, critical, but still alive. As luck would have it, ZNN reporter Stuart Dunston just happens to be at the base camp when Bud is brought it. Dunston reports the arrival of an injured JAG officer that was brought it, but does not report the name. Chegwiggen advises Harriet, but reminds her he is still on the Seahawk. She tries to contact him by instant messaging, but does not receive a reply.

The 9th season begins where last season left off, with Harm, Mac, Webb & Gunny still in Paraguay searching for the terrorist Sadik. Their search is complicated by Harm's feelings being tangled up which drove him to resign his commission & rush to South America in the first place.

Mac is unable to accept the news that Clayton Webb really is dead and ends up in possible danger looking into Webb's "death". With the retirement of Rear Admiral A.J. Chegwidden, Cmdr. Sturgis Turner is named Acting Judge Advocate General.