quickly. 'Admiral, you're a very experienced officer, but upon what experience do you base that assessment of ships equipped with SEERS?'
'On… on… tests prior to its acceptance into the fleet. We don't just plop equipment onto ships, Lieutenant. SEERS was extensively tested. That's part of the design and acquisition process. Test it over and over again. Make sure it does what its supposed to do and passes every test.'
'But not in an 'operational environment.' Is that right, Admiral?'
'Well, yes. The Maury was the first ship with SEERS. That was the operational integration phase. But I've seen the background material on the system, Lieutenant! SEERS was certified to be ready for employment on warships. That may make it a bit unique but it doesn't make it one tiny bit less safe. Quite the contrary. There are people responsible for reviewing these things, for making sure something is ready for the fleet. They said SEERS was ready.'
'Your honor.' Commander Carr had stood and was gesturing toward Lieutenant Bashir. 'Counsel for the defense is apparently attempting to argue that the SEERS on the USS Maury somehow represented an unknown modification to safety measures on the Maury 's engineering systems. But the defense has introduced no evidence to substantiate that line of questioning. Trial counsel objects to any attempt by the defense to make unsubstantiated claims regarding the safety or reliability of equipment which has been certified as ready for employment on ships of the U.S. Navy.'
Judge McMasters nodded. 'An excellent point, Commander. Lieutenant Bashir, if you want to pursue this line of questioning, you need to provide something to indicate it's anything other than pure speculation on your part. Are you prepared to do so?'
'Your honor, since the case against Lieutenant Shen rests on speculative modifications-'
'No, defense counsel. Do you have information substantiating your argument that SEERS could've altered the safety status of the Maury 's engineering systems?'
Lieutenant Bashir shook his head, his expression again grim. 'No, your honor.'
'Do you intend to call any expert witnesses to claim SEERS adversely affected the safety of the Maury 's engineering systems, or to otherwise counter Rear Admiral Hidalgo's statements?'
'No, your honor. Not at this time.'
'Objection sustained.'
Bashir consulted his data pad. 'Rear Admiral Hidalgo, you testified previously that when you visited the USS Maury two days prior to her getting underway she had nothing wrong with her engineering system.'
Hidalgo, who'd listened to Carr's objection and the judge's dressing down of Bashir with a smile, smiled again. 'That's right.'
'But the Maury had numerous casualty reports on file regarding her engineering systems. Fleet staff was an addee on those casualty reports.'
Hidalgo's smile vanished. 'Well, yes, routine CASREPs.'
'Routine?'
'The usual stuff. Nothing ever works one hundred percent right one hundred percent of the time.'
'But you testified there were 'no problems.' Your exact words, sir.'
Hidalgo flushed again, deeper this time. 'No significant problems.'
'Fleet reporting requirements state that only significant problems with systems are to be reported via CASREP. Isn't that right, sir?'
A long pause, then Hidalgo nodded. 'That's what the instruction says.'
'Then the Maury 's engineering system wasn't in perfect shape when she got underway.'
'No. Of course not. No engineering system is ever in perfect shape. But-'
'Thank you, sir. When you met with the chief engineer of the USS Maury, did he indicate in any way to you that he lacked confidence in Lieutenant Shen?'
'Objection. Hearsay.'
'Your Honor, I am asking Admiral Hidalgo what the Maury 's chief engineer said to him.'
A nod from the judge. 'Objection overruled. You know what constitutes hearsay, Trial Counsel.'
Bashir directed his attention back to Hidalgo. 'Sir?'
'What was the question?'
'Did the chief engineer of the USS Maury communicate to you, in any way, any kind of misgivings regarding Lieutenant Shen?'
Admiral Hidalgo finally looked at Jen again. 'No. He did not.'
'Thank you, sir. No further questions.'
Commander Carr came forward once again. 'If it please the court, I'd like to redirect. Rear Admiral Hidalgo, did any of these casualty reports just referenced regarding the engineering systems on the Maury generate safety concerns?'
'No! I was going to tell the lieutenant that!'
'Then the fact that the Maury 's engineering systems weren't in perfect condition didn't mean they were unsafe.'
'Of course not. That ship never would've left the dock if she were unsafe.'
'Then would you say those casualty reports have no bearing on the issues we've discussed?'
'That's right! I…' Hidalgo glared at Bashir. 'I'd never let a ship leave this station in an unsafe condition!'
'Thank you, Admiral.'
Paul had to resist an urge to bury his face in his hands. Hidalgo's last statement was bound to play well with the members of the court. Did Bashir screw this up or was there no way to get anything good for Jen out of this witness? I don't know. But it went badly for Jen.
Judge McMasters gestured toward Captain Carney. 'Do the members of the court have any questions for this witness?'
Lieutenant Ishiki looked as if he might be preparing to speak, but Captain Carney looked at him and Ishiki subsided. Carney was shaking his head when Commander Bolton spoke up.
'Excuse me, Captain. Admiral Hidalgo, I'm not an engineering expert. I do know there's always some degree of uncertainty in any engineering process. Some level of concern. As you yourself said, no engineering system is ever in perfect shape. But you say it's still possible to rule out any accidental cause for what happened to the Maury 's engineering system?'
Hidalgo nodded firmly. 'Yes, Commander. It's more than possible. It's the only possible conclusion. Every sub-system in engineering has safety interlocks, both physical and virtual. They all have been extensively tested to absolutely minimize any chance of the sort of overload that causes explosive failure. But, yes, that doesn't mean it's absolutely impossible for one piece of equipment to have that happen. But every piece of equipment? Every sub- system? Nearly simultaneously? The odds of that are so very, very tiny that only the word impossible fits.'
Bolton nodded, looking impressed. 'Thank you, Admiral.'
Carney took another look at the members. 'Nothing else. Right?' It was much a command to the more junior members of the court as it was a question. 'Fine. Thank you, sir.'
Judge McMasters turned toward the witness stand. 'Rear Admiral Hidalgo, you are temporarily excused. Please ensure you are present for the remainder of this court-martial in the event you need to be called again. As long as this trial continues, do not discuss your testimony or knowledge of the case with anyone except counsel. If anyone else tries to talk to you about the case, stop them and report the matter to one of the counsels.'
'Absolutely.' Rear Hidalgo stood and marched back down the aisle.
Paul watched him go, then focused back on Captain Carney. He's obviously planning on running a tight ship. How much does he have the other officers on the court intimidated? Will he be able to keep them from asking anything Carney doesn't want them to ask?
Chapter Ten
The next two witnesses for the prosecution, a civilian supervisor from Franklin's shipyard who'd overseen the
