"Hmmm." Sykes gave Paul an arch look. "I'm not sure that's a compliment. But I'll nonetheless offer you some bonus advice. If you want Jen to feel supported, then support from someone she respects as a professional but thinks personally dislikes her would mean much, I think."
Paul frowned. "Who do you mean?"
Sykes took another drink and smiled. "She Who Must Be Obeyed."
"Commander Herdez?"
"Exactly."
"Does she know you call her that?" Paul asked, laughing despite everything.
"Let's say she tolerates the occasional use of the phrase. From me. I wouldn't recommend it for use by, say, lieutenants junior grade."
"Suppo, I'm not an ensign, anymore. I wouldn't do something that stupid."
Sykes smiled again. "Young Mr. Sinclair, I have seen admirals do things which could be characterized as 'that stupid.' Go see Commander Herdez, first thing in the morning."
"Tomorrow's Saturday. They're going ahead with the court-martial but it's not a normal working day."
"Not for most, but as you're aware Commander Herdez is not normal. You know she'll be in her office, and she'll be there early. Tell her of your worries and see how she responds."
"Yes, sir." Paul paused. "How much does she already know about all this, Suppo?"
"Already know? About what everyone else knows, I suppose."
"She's not getting any inside information?"
Sykes managed to look puzzled. "Inside information? From whom?"
"I can't imagine."
Colleen Kilgary intercepted Paul on his way to his stateroom. "Sorry I hadn't got back to you on that SEERS documentation, Paul."
Paul took in Colleen's haggard appearance and tried to smile reassuringly. "That's okay. It's not like you don't have a lot of other things to do."
"Yeah, but I know how important this is." She made a frustrated gesture. "I've been over it. A lot of it, anyway. I can't find anything concrete in all that garbage about significant problems with SEERS." Colleen stopped to yawn mightily. "Sorry. Anyhow, I did get this vague feeling something's missing."
Paul felt a surge of interest. "Really?"
"It's just vague. There's nothing solid there. Everything looks good. It's just this feeling that there ought to've been more problems with the thing. But it looks like SEERS hit its developmental time line in all the right ways. That's unusual, but not impossible."
Paul nodded to cover up his disappointment. "Nothing's really missing then, that you can tell."
Another extended yawn. "Nope. It's just a feeling that there ought to be some more problems documented on such a big project. You know, engineers have got to be skeptical. But Jen herself said they hadn't run into major problems with SEERS on the Maury, right?"
"But, missing…" Paul knew he was grasping at straws. "Could there be something that's being kept from Jen's defense?"
"By who?" Colleen frowned. "Or is it whom? I can never get that straight. Look at the people bringing the case against Jen. I've met Admiral Hidalgo a number of times. He's a bit pompous and certain that he knows everything there is to know, but why would he cover up problems with SEERS? Leaving out any human or professional considerations, it wouldn't help Hidalgo's career any if the engineering plants he was responsible for started blowing up right and left. Or Admiral Silver. Maybe he doesn't like you, and maybe his leadership style makes Stalin look like Santa Clause, but deliberately letting something into the fleet that'll tear apart ships?"
Paul nodded again, his head sagging. "I wish I could argue that point, but as far as I know you're right. They wouldn't do this if they had any indications SEERS was dangerous."
"And what you had sure seemed like everything on SEERS."
"The prosecution swears it is, and I honestly don't believe the trial counsel would lie about that."
Colleen spread her hands helplessly. "Then it couldn't have been an accident. That's my professional judgment."
"Damn."
"Paul, I'd lie if I thought it would help Jen. But even a lie has to have credibility. It has to match what people expect. I'm really, really sorry."
"Thanks, Colleen. You've done an awful lot, and I really appreciate it, and I'm sure Jen does, too." Even though if she saw you right now she'd probably try to tear your head off like she did with me.
Colleen's small answering smile looked as forced as it certainly was. She staggered off to her own stateroom. Paul reached his, grateful his roommates were either absent or already asleep, and pulled himself up into his bunk. His dreams were full of mazes, all ending in blank walls.
Chapter Twelve
"Ma'am, I need your help." Paul glanced at the time. Zero Seven Hundred. Three hours left before the court-martial resumed. As Sykes had predicted, Paul had found Herdez in her office.
Commander Herdez kept her own expression noncommittal. "What about, Mr. Sinclair?"
Paul licked his lips, aware he looked as nervous as he felt. Commander Herdez' office ashore looked much as her stateroom on the Michaelson had. A few personal mementoes, reminders of her earlier duty assignments, but otherwise sparse and professional. "Ms. Shen, ma'am."
Herdez let regret show. "I'm sorry, Mr. Sinclair."
"You know she couldn't have done it."
"Yes. I was, in fact, approached as a possible member of the court because of my experience on a ship similar to the Maury, but informed my superiors I could not render impartial judgment in the matter."
That alone would surprise Jen. She's sure Herdez has been gunning for her from the first minute they met.
"But," Herdez continued, "I'm afraid I know of no concrete information which would exonerate Ms. Shen. I cannot help with that."
"That's not what I'm asking for, ma'am. Lieutenant Shen is…" Paul struggled for the right words. "She's feeling abandoned." And she'd scream bloody murder if she knew I'd told you that.
"Not by you, surely."
"No, ma'am. I'm there as much as I possibly can be. But that doesn't seem to help her enough."
"That's understandable, Mr. Sinclair." Commander Herdez seemed slightly amused by Paul's reaction to her words, then sobered. "Your support is a given. It's assumed. Thus it means less to Ms. Shen than it probably should." She fell silent for a moment. "Just as sometimes my own support to Navy is assumed."
Paul eyed her with amazement. It was the only time he'd heard anything approaching criticism of the Navy from Herdez. "Jen- I mean, Lieutenant Shen, needs more than I can give, ma'am. But she knows how professional you are. She really respects your judgment, even though… uh…"
"Even though Ms. Shen believes I hold her in low regard as an officer and as an individual?" Herdez asked dryly. "Yes. I'm aware of that. You want me to express support for her?"
"Yes, ma'am. Just a message would mean so much, I think."
"It will be more than a message, Mr. Sinclair. Whatever the cause of the Maury 's incident, my professional and personal judgment tells me Ms. Shen could not have been responsible. For whatever it is worth, I will ensure she knows that."
"Thank you, ma'am. Thank you." Paul made to rise, but Herdez waved him back to his seat.
"How are you doing on the Michaelson, Mr. Sinclair?"
As if you didn't know. I bet Commander Sykes sends you daily updates. "Pretty good, ma'am. There's still a great deal to learn, but I'm getting there."
"No Open Space Warfare Officer pin as of yet, though."
Paul hoped he wasn't flushing with embarrassment. "Not yet, ma'am. Within the next few months though, I think."
"Good. It still appears I will receive my own command when I leave this assignment. New construction perhaps. Would you be interested in serving on her?"
Oh, wow. New construction. A bright, shiny new ship with all the latest stuff on it. But — "When would that be, ma'am?"