Chapter 3 - The Officer Who Was Afraid to Speak
I closed the envelope.
"Lieutenant Chen, you will remain here."
She stared at me.
"Ma'am, the executive officer ordered—"
"I heard the announcement."
I looked at Rebecca.
"Have Commander Pierce join us. Ask Admiral Cole to send an appropriate representative from his staff."
Rebecca left immediately.
Chen stood beside the table, struggling to control her breathing.
"Sit down, Lieutenant."
She obeyed.
"Now tell me why you believe Commander Vale knows you're speaking to us."
"He told me this morning that if the inspection team asked questions, I should refer everything through his office."
"That's not necessarily improper."
"No, ma'am."
She rubbed her palms against her uniform trousers.
"Then he said my transfer recommendation was still sitting on his desk."
I watched her.
"And?"
"He said he'd hate for my next commanding officer to hear that I couldn't work as part of a team."
I had heard versions of that sentence before.
Different rank.
Different decade.
Same message.
Stay quiet.
Protect the people above you.
Let the truth become somebody else's problem.
"Did he explicitly tell you to falsify a document?"
"He told me to revise the wording."
"What wording?"
"The cooling-system assessment."
Rebecca returned with Commander Pierce.
The captain's expression grew darker as Chen explained.
Six days earlier, during a routine test, the combat-system electronics cooling loop had produced repeated pressure fluctuations.
A technician discovered contamination in a strainer assembly.
Further inspection revealed deterioration in a component that required replacement and testing.
Replacement parts had been requested.
But the requisition was still pending.
"Was the system repaired?" I asked.
"Not fully," Chen answered.
"Was a temporary operating restriction established?"
"Yes."
"Then why does the final record say fully operational?"
She looked at Pierce.
"Because Commander Vale ordered engineering administration to update it."
Pierce's face flushed.
"He did what?"
Chen took a breath.
"He said higher headquarters would interpret the open discrepancy as evidence of poor command performance."
"That's not an engineering justification," Pierce said.
"I know, sir."
"Did you tell me?"
"I tried."
"When?"
"Monday evening."
The captain frowned.
"I was in a conference."
"Your yeoman said the XO would handle it."
Pierce looked away.
For the first time, I saw something beyond surprise in his expression.
Regret.
A commanding officer could delegate tasks.
He could not delegate away responsibility.
I leaned forward.
"Lieutenant, did you change the record?"
"No, ma'am."
"Do you know who did?"
She hesitated.
"I know who was sitting at the terminal."
"Who?"
"Petty Officer Owens."
My brother.
I kept my face still.
"When?"
"Yesterday afternoon, shortly before evening quarters."
"Did you see him make the changes?"
"No, ma'am. I saw him log in."
"Then we will distinguish what you witnessed from what you suspect."
Chen nodded.
I could see the relief in her expression.
Someone was finally listening without demanding that she tell a predetermined story.
Pierce stood.
"I want that system checked immediately."
"Agreed," I said. "Have the ship's appropriate technical authorities assess it and document any restrictions. The relevant command will determine the operational consequences."
"Yes, ma'am."
A sharp knock interrupted us.
Commander Harris entered.
"Admiral, Petty Officer Owens has requested to speak with you."
"About the pier incident?"
"He says it concerns the maintenance records."
"Where is he?"
"Outside."
I exchanged a glance with Cole, who had just entered behind Harris.
Nathan understood.
"Given the relationship," he said, "I'll have a separate officer take his statement."
"Thank you."
But before Harris could move, Brandon pushed through the doorway.
" Sandra, you have to listen."
His voice cracked.
I had never heard him sound like that.
"Petty Officer Owens," Cole said sharply, "you are not authorized to enter this meeting."
Brandon didn't look at him.
He looked at me.
"Somebody used my login."
Rebecca spoke.
"We're investigating that possibility."
"No. You don't understand."
His hands shook.
"I got a message last night saying everything was taken care of."
"From whom?" Harris asked.
Brandon looked toward the door.
Then lowered his voice.
"Commander Vale."
Pierce stepped forward.
"What message?"
Brandon pulled his phone from his pocket.
He opened a secure messaging application and held the screen toward Harris.
The message was brief.
Your contribution is appreciated. Everything is now cleared for the readiness package. Keep your mouth shut and enjoy your liberty.
The timestamp was 0211.
I studied my brother.
"Why would the executive officer send you that?"
Brandon stared at the floor.
"Because I gave him my password."
The wardroom went silent.
He swallowed.
"I thought it was just paperwork."
Cole's voice was cold.
"Petty Officer, you're going to explain exactly what happened, through the appropriate investigative process."
Brandon nodded.
Then he looked at me again.
For a moment, I saw the frightened little boy who used to hide behind our father whenever he broke something.
"Sandra."
I said nothing.
"There's something else."
"What?"
"The password wasn't the only thing he wanted."
Brandon looked toward Pierce.
"He asked me to destroy a report."
The captain went completely still.
"What report?"
May you like
Brandon's eyes filled with panic.
"The one about the sailor who got hurt."
