'Which would make it impossible for your own ship to have detected internal problems on the Maury?'
Carr was watching Bashir narrowly, but said nothing.
Hayes pondered the question, then gave another nod. 'Essentially, yes. I mean, nothing's impossible. But it'd be very, very hard. Once something's strong enough to come through the hulls, well…' He grimaced and indicated the schematic again. 'At that point you're in trouble.'
'Thank you, Captain.'
Commander Carr stood again as Bashir returned to the defense table. 'Captain Hayes, to the best of your knowledge, is your ship incapable of detecting any threats to it?'
'No. If it's that dangerous, as far as I know we'll see it coming.'
'So the fact that your systems aren't 'perfect' doesn't mean they can't detect anything important enough to worry about?'
'Uh, you could say that. Yes.'
'Were you in communication with the Maury immediately prior to her suffering damage?'
'Yes.'
'Did anyone or anything on the Maury indicate to you internal problems which you wouldn't have picked up with your own sensors?'
Once again, Captain Hayes shook his head slowly. 'No. Nothing like that.'
Commander Carr sat again, and Judge McMasters pointed to Captain Carney.
Carney gave Captain Hayes an approving smile. 'Captain, I hope it's not out of line for me to express my admiration for how well your ship rendered assistance to the Maury in her time of need.'
Paul barely restrained showing annoyance. I can't believe he's sucking up to Captain Hayes during the court-martial. Isn't there anything illegal or improper about that? He looked at Lieutenant Bashir, who took no action and revealed nothing by his expression. I guess not.
Jen's faced remained rigidly unemotional, providing no clues to whatever she felt inside. Paul couldn't see her eyes, which would've told him something even if Jen had been trying to hide her feelings.
Captain Hayes nodded his head to acknowledge Carney's praise. 'Thank you, Captain. I'm proud of my crew.'
'Didn't the defendant ride the Michaelson back to Franklin?'
Hayes nodded again. 'Yes, she did.'
'Any impressions of her from that ride?'
Bashir had tensed, as if ready to object, but he glanced toward Paul first. Paul tried to indicate it'd be a good idea to let Hayes speak, and apparently got that across, because Bashir relaxed again.
'Not many,' Captain Hayes was saying. 'We were all very busy. She was in shock, like the rest of Maury 's surviving crew, but she also asked me for any work I had to do.' Hayes looked toward Jen for the first time. 'I guess you could say that even in the aftermath of the disaster on the Maury she impressed me a bit.'
'Did she do any work in engineering on your ship?' Carney pressed.
'Yes. Just paperwork, though she asked to do anything we needed help at.'
'How'd she know the Michaelson well enough to make that offer?'
'She'd served on the Michaelson. Before I became CO.'
'You didn't think it was odd that she volunteered to work so soon after such a tragedy?'
Hayes frowned, then shook his head. 'No.'
Carney made an expression Paul couldn't interpret, but before he could say anything else, Lieutenant Kalin spoke. 'Sir, did any other members of the Maury 's crew volunteer to help out on the Michaelson?'
Carney shot her an annoyed glance, but Hayes was already nodding. 'Quite a few. They wanted to repay our help. They wanted to earn their keep.'
'Thank you, Captain.' Kalin acted as if unaware of Carney's disapproval.
Lieutenant Commander Cloud, perhaps taking advantage of Captain Carney being distracted, gestured for attention. 'Captain Hayes, could you tell us, sir, as commanding officer of one of the Maury 's sister ships, what your assessment is of the odds that what happened to the Maury could've been the result of an accident?'
Hayes stayed silent for a few seconds, then, his mouth a thin line, shook his head. 'From my own knowledge, from what my own engineers have told me, it doesn't appear possible for it to have been an accident.'
'Then you agree that some form of deliberate sabotage is the only possible explanation?'
Once again, Captain Hayes took a few moments before answering. 'No. I feel fairly confident I know one thing that didn't cause it. I am far less confident that means one particular thing did cause it.'
'Thank you, Captain.'
Captain Carney cleared his throat. 'Captain Hayes, do you know of anything else that could've caused what happened to the Maury? Any other specific cause that could explain the disaster?'
Hayes favored Carney with a flat expression Paul recognized. He's not impressed by Carney. He knows Carney's trying to drive the discussion in just one direction.
But Captain Hayes' answer was only one word. 'No.'
'Uh, thank you, Captain.'
Captain Hayes left, but deliberately offered a brief wave to Paul as he walked out of the court-room.
Judge McMasters held up a hand to forestall Commander Carr. 'Lunchtime, Trial Counsel. This court-martial is closed and will reconvene at 1300 in this same courtroom.'
McMasters stood even as the bailiff bawled out, 'all stand.' After the judge left, the members of the court filed out through their door. As soon as that door closed, the ranks of spectators congealed into a crowd heading for the courtroom's main exit.
Paul waited, hoping Jen would turn and speak to him after she and Bashir finished an intense, quiet conversation. Finally, just as the masters-at-arms arrived, Jen looked his way and offered Paul a smile which wasn't either confident or genuine. But he smiled back as if reassured, wondering if his own mood was as transparent.
Lieutenant Bashir remained behind as the masters-at-arms escorted Jen to a holding cell near the court-room where she'd get a fully nutritious and horribly bland meal. Paul took a couple of steps toward the lawyer. 'Well?'
Bashir gave Paul a sidelong look. 'I've had better mornings. Thanks for not saying so directly.'
'I still don't really understand why it's so hard. I mean, they haven't presented anything yet that links Jen to what happened to the Maury.'
'It doesn't make sense, does it? But it's an uphill battle. Listen, your Jen Shen isn't helping me as much as she could. She's trying to look cool and professional, but that also looks cold. I know you won't have a chance to see her before tonight, but can you convince her to show more emotion?'
'I can try.'
'Mind you,' Bashir added dryly, 'if she looks too emotional they'll decide that's bad, too.'
'I guess we should've got a drama coach appointed in addition to a lawyer.'
'It wouldn't have hurt.' Bashir pointed to Paul's seat. 'Make sure you're back here from lunch early. We've got the trial's prime witness coming up, and some high-and-mighty might try to grab that seat despite the sign.'
Paul shook his head. 'I'm not hungry. I'll stay there until the trial restarts.'
'Suit yourself.' Bashir went out, his face a mask.
Paul sat back down, looking around, and saw Commander Carr still seated at the trial counsel's table. She always stayed a little later at Silver's court-martial, too. Carr finally finished whatever she was working on and stood. Turning to go, she saw Paul and looked at him for a moment, then looked down and away as she left the courtroom. Not happy. Cold comfort, but she's not enjoying this at all.
The room emptied of the last occupants but Paul. The bailiff came through at one point, glanced at Paul with disinterest, then continued onward. After about half an hour, people began trickling back in. A captain came by at one point, frowning down at Paul in a why-are-you-in-that-chair way, but Paul just pointed to the placard on the back. 'Reserved, sir.' Apparently believing Paul must be place holding the seat for a more senior officer, the captain moved off.
Almost last to reenter was Jen and her escorts. She took time to offer him another tight-lipped smile, then bent her head to talk to Lieutenant Bashir. Paul could see her shaking her head, but couldn't hear anything.
