"Defensive Action" is an episode of JAG that first aired on March 13, 1996. Directed by Ray Austin. Written by Terry Curtis Fox.
Captain Thomas Boone (Terry O'Quinn) is the air group commander (CAG) aboard the USS Seahawk. Flying a mission over Bosnia, his wingmen are accosted by a Serbian helicopter and are forced to eject. Boone retaliates, and the Serbian helicopter explodes. The explosion is caught on camera by Chuck De Palma (Cliff DeYoung).
Later, the Serbs claim they were only "rendering assistance." Rabb is sent to investigate, but before he can return with a report, a court-martial for Boone begins.
The body of one of the men who ejected is recovered, and the coroner says the body has no bullet holes. This seems to contradict Boone's assertion that the Serbs were hostile.
Rabb remains skeptical, and goes with some Marines to Bosnia on a search for Lt. Painter (Tim Quill), the other man who ejected. Boone is found not guilty 4-3. Rabb returns with Painter, whose parachute has a bullet hole consistent with being shot by a Hind helicopter.
This episode is only tangentially related to the Season 8 episode "Offensive Action".
This episode contains examples of the following tropes:
- A Fool for a Client: After Rabb departs on his rescue mission and hands the case over to Austin, Boone dismisses her as his attorney and chooses to represent himself so that he can deliver his own closing argument. The Judge Advocate notes that this is inadvisable but permits it, over Cmndr. Krennick's objections.
- Early-Installment Weirdness: This is only the second time on the show there's any kind of legal proceeding. Even so, Rabb is more an investigator than an attorney in this episode.
- Rank Up: Commander Lindsey gives Lt. Rabb a cigar, to celebrate Rabb's promotion to lieutenant commander (O-4). Lt. j.g. Austin gives Rabb a kiss and a slap on the shoulder, making Lindsey wish Austin had been around when Lindsey made commander. Later, Boone jokes that "they'll give an extra half-stripe to anyone" (referring to the middle half stripe on a Navy lieutenant commander's shoulder boards). The captain of the Seahawk congratulates Rabb on his promotion, but later suggests the promotion has gone to Rabb's head.
- Accidentally foreshadowed in "Boot", which was filmed after this episode but ended up airing before it - so Rabb's promotion here isn't a surprise to viewers watching in broadcast order.
- With All Due Respect: Said twice to Boone.
- First in a conversation with Krennick and Rabb:Boone: No lawyer's going to tell me how to exercise my command!Rabb: Sir, with all due respect, keep your mouth shut.
- A little later after Austin seems to flirt with Chuck De Palma.Boone: Lieutenant, do not ever disgrace your uniform like that again.Austin: Sir, I was just—Boone: I know what you were doing.Austin: With all due respect, sir, you do not know what I was doing. You thought you did but you thought wrong.
- First in a conversation with Krennick and Rabb:
