"What're they finding out, Paul?" Mike Bristol asked on Friday.
"Damned if I know."
Randy Diego looked around conspiratorially. "I heard they couldn't get anything out of the engineering logs. The taught us those logs are hardened against all kinds of stuff, so how'd that happen?"
Paul saw everyone was looking at him for an answer. "I don't know! Look, guys, I'm not in on this. I don't know any more about those logs than you do."
"I saw Jill Taylor leaving the wardroom after she'd talked to Captain Shen," Randy continued. Paul nodded. As Electronic Materials Officer and a skilled specialist, Ensign Taylor would be a logical person to ask about the condition of the engineering logs. "Boy, did she look mad."
Bristol looked intrigued. "Do you know why?"
"No. She didn't say anything and I didn't ask. Even I know not to cross Taylor's path when she's that pissed off."
Paul saw them looking at him again. "Captain Shen's questioning is, uh, really aggressive. That's about all I can say."
After two more days of questioning and bringing in people to check over different parts of the Michaelson, Captain Shen left, leaving in his wake no clues as to what his conclusions would be. The first couple of days after that, everyone kept checking their messages for reports the investigation had been completed, but after another three days they'd gone back to concentrating on whatever individual crisis of the day had popped up in their areas of responsibility. Which, naturally, was when the text of Captain Shen's report arrived on the ship.
Paul started to read slowly through the report, fighting off a powerful urge to skip directly to the conclusion. But the urge triumphed partway through the dry and detailed description of the fire suppression systems in Forward Engineering. Paging rapidly forward, Paul went straight to the conclusions. In light of the lack of evidence of other causes, the damage to engineering records must be laid to an unusual combination of shock and effects of the fire… Recommendation: Conduct testing to determine if systemic fault exists in log protective mechanisms… The initial explosion occurred in the power transfer junction for Forward Engineering. The cause of the explosion cannot be reliably determined due to massive damage to the area… Recommendation: Review fault limits on power transfer junctions… The state of the engineering logs prevents identification of what Chief Petty Officer Vladimir Asher was doing in Forward Engineering… no evidence exists of deliberate misconduct on his part… death judged instantaneous…
Paul shivered as he read that finding, breathing a prayer of thanks, then went back to skimming the conclusions.
Reactions of Damage Control personnel were appropriate… their response time was within standards set by Damage Control instructions… actions of command duty officer were appropriate to the circumstances… actions of other officers reflected occasional hesitation in responding… inadequate inspection and monitoring of shipboard conditions prior to accident… no cause for misconduct finding, but enhanced training and supervision recommended.
Paul stopped reading. What the hell? He's not naming me, but he's practically blaming me for what happened! I didn't want a commendation out of this, but I didn't expect to get hammered for it!
He re-read the conclusions, searching for a different interpretation. Damn. Damn! At least he gave the Damage Control party credit for doing their jobs right. Otherwise, it doesn't explain what happened to Chief Asher or why. Just an unavoidable accident, except for "inadequate" actions on my part.
Paul finally checked the distribution on the report. He'd received a copy as the ship's legal officer, as had the captain, the executive officer, and the chief engineer. The investigation and its findings had already been forwarded to the Commodore for his approval. Even if I wanted to talk to Captain Hayes about it, would it matter? Hayes gets to comment on the findings, but why should he kick? The investigation gives him a clean bill of health.
"Mr. Sinclair, sir."
Paul looked up, startled, to see Petty Officer Sharpe. "Sorry, Sheriff, I didn't hear you at the hatch."
"I can understand why, sir." Sharpe inclined his head toward the display where Paul had been reading the investigative report.
"How do you know what's in it?"
"Sir, a good cop doesn't divulge the identity of his informants. Suffice to say, I think it sucks."
"Sheriff, it's nice of you to say that — "
"Begging your pardon, sir, but while you didn't come out smelling like a rose, I'm frankly more concerned about the rest of it. It doesn't explain why Chief Asher died."
"No."
"Or how those logs got damaged when they shouldn't have been."
"No."
"Sir, I'm about to ask something. If you don't want to give me permission, can we assume I never spoke to you about it?"
Paul eyed Sharpe. "You don't ask that kind of favor too often, Sheriff. What's on your mind?"
"What if I was to bring onboard someone to check those logs, sir?"
"They've been checked."
"Someone who's an expert, sir."
"I thought…" Paul frowned at his display. "I guess I don't know the qualifications of whoever Captain Shen brought in."
"Then I have your permission, sir?"
"And if you don't?"
"Then we never talked about it, sir, and you won't know anything if I bring the guy aboard."
"Sheriff, I don't work that way. There's no legal reason your expert can't check the logs, too. Captain Shen's finished his examination of them. For God's sake don't let your expert do any more damage, though."
"No way, sir."
Paul peered closely at Sharpe. "Level with me, Sheriff. There's something else, isn't there?"
Sharpe pointed toward where the investigation was displayed. "I gave a statement, sir. It's not in there."
"Huh?" Paul looked back and forth from Sharpe to the display. "Why'd you make a statement?"
"Because I saw Chief Asher that morning. He was really unhappy, sir."
"About what?"
"I don't know. He was muttering something about 'just do it' when I came by. I asked him what was up and he just shook his head and walked away."
Paul stared at the master-at-arms. "And that's not in there?" Okay, assume Captain Shen was gunning for me. But I still believe he's underneath it all just as ethical as his daughter, and Jen wouldn't bury some evidence just because she didn't like it. "Any idea why?"
"No, sir."
"That's… odd. I can't honestly say it'd change the conclusions of the investigation, but it's still odd. Okay, Sheriff. Bring your expert aboard."
"It may take him a day or two to get over here, sir, but I'll let you know when he comes onboard."
"Thanks, Sheriff." Paul began reading the investigation again after Sharpe left, this time with an unpleasant sensation in his gut. He'd felt bad when he read the investigation's conclusions, but this was a different kind of bad, brought on by what Sharpe had said and what Sharpe obviously suspected. He thinks the investigation missed some important stuff. Important enough to make a difference, to answer questions left unanswered? I guess I'll find out.
Within a week, the Commodore had approved the investigation's findings, then forwarded them to the Admiral, who'd also approved them. If Captain Hayes had submitted any comments on the investigation, Paul hadn't seen them, but then the captain wouldn't have been likely to involve Paul in anything which addressed Paul's own performance. Besides, Paul had seen his award recommendations for the members of the Damage Control party receive similarly expedited treatment.
For the awards ceremony, they used the same hall which the change of command had been in, of course. The Commodore himself came by to award the medals. One by one, members of the Damage Control party were called forward. Petty Officer Santiago received the Navy Commendation Medal. Petty Officer Yousef received the Navy Achievement Medal. The rest of the enlisted received letters of commendation.