Sykes nodded. 'That would be Petty Officer Arroyo.'
'Did you think the decision reached by the captain in that case reflected good judgment?' A pause stretched while Sykes gazed imperturbably back at the prosecuting attorney. 'Commander Sykes? Did you understand the question?'
'Certainly. No, I did not believe it reflected good judgment on Captain Wakeman's part.'
'Captain Wakeman disregarded the testimony and character judgments rendered by both you and your assistant, Lieutenant Bristol, didn't he?'
'That's correct.'
'Did Captain Wakeman give you any reasons for doing that?'
Sykes shrugged. 'No, but then he wasn't under any obligation to do that.'
Captain Nguyen interrupted whatever Wilkes had been planning to say next. 'What exactly was this mast case about? What was it, uh…'
'Petty Officer Arroyo.'
'Yes. What was it Petty Officer Arroyo did, or was accused of doing?'
'Captain Nguyen.' Judge Holmes indicated Commander Wilkes and then Lieutenant Commander Garrity. 'It is customary to allow both prosecution and defense to finish questioning a witness before the members ask questions.'
'I'm sorry, Captain Holmes. Please continue, Commander Wilkes.'
Wilkes smiled. 'Thank you, ma'am. I have no objection to Commander Sykes answering your question at this time.'
'The defense has no objection,' Garrity stated.
'Very well,' Judge Holmes replied. 'Commander Sykes, what was it your petty officer was accused of?'
'He was accused of stealing a package of peaches, Your Honor.'
Captain Nguyen let her surprise show. 'A package…? I see. Who brought the charge, Commander Sykes?'
'One of my chief petty officers, ma'am.'
'But you yourself apparently didn't believe the charge should have been pursued?'
'No, ma'am. I believed it to be a matter of poor record keeping, not larceny.'
Captain Nguyen smiled briefly at Sykes' last reply. 'If we're supposed to condemn Captain Wakeman's judgment in this case, then I'd like to hear that chief's side of the story. Would anyone object to that? Is he to be called as a witness?'
Wilkes shook his head. 'Unfortunately, Chief Mangala is no longer assigned to the USS Michaelson.'
'He's been transferred?' Judge Holmes frowned at Wilkes. 'Why was a potential witness allowed to transfer?'
Wilkes gestured toward Sykes as if seeking to deflect the judge's disapproval. 'The transfer order was a high-priority personnel action, your honor. Since Chief Mangala did not seem to be a material witness to the charges against Captain Wakeman, I did not believe I had grounds for holding up that transfer.'
'I see. Is the chief still available at all? Where'd he transfer to?'
Sykes smiled apologetically. 'Ceres Station.'
'Ceres? Good Lord, who'd he piss off?' Nguyen caught herself, looking around the room, embarrassed by her outburst. 'I'd like my last statement stricken from the record, if that's alright, Your Honor.'
Judge Holmes nodded obligingly. 'Since I tend to agree with the sentiments expressed, I so order the statement stricken. Where is Chief Mangala at this moment?'
Sykes smiled again. 'Chief Mangala is on the Ceres resupply mission which departed two days ago.'
'Then I assume he's not going to be available for a few years, unless we set up virtual testimony by using communication relays. Do you want the court to pursue that, Captain Nguyen?'
Nguyen pursed her mouth, then shook her head. 'No. This a minor issue. I don't want to devote too much time or resources to obtaining Chief Mangala's testimony. Thank you, Captain Holmes.'
'Of course. You may continue, Commander Wilkes.'
'Thank you, your honor.' Wilkes turned back to Commander Sykes. 'What is your personal assessment of Captain Wakeman's reliability and judgment?'
'Excuse me?'
'As one of his department heads, did you trust Captain Wakeman to make correct decisions?'
Sykes shrugged. 'To be perfectly honest, Captain Wakeman rarely intervened in supply issues. As far as issues regarding the operations of the ship, I don't feel myself qualified to judge.'
'You worked with Captain Wakeman every day. You are a commissioned naval officer.'
'I am a limited duty officer, Commander Wilkes. I do not have the experience to judge the actions of line officers.'
'You're avoiding the question, Commander Sykes.'
'No, I'm telling you it's a question I'm not qualified to answer.'
'I ask the court to direct the witness to answer the question put to him.'
Judge Holmes looked toward the members of the court-martial. 'This matter appears to deal with line officer perceptions. I'd be interested in knowing the opinion of the line officer members.'
Feres curled up one corner of his mouth in a half-smile. 'Commander Sykes is answering the question. At least he is in my opinion.'
Admiral Fowler nodded. 'And mine. I think it is both proper and accurate for Commander Sykes not to express opinions on operational matters, just as it would improper for me to pretend to be an expert on supply issues.'
'Exactly so,' Captain Nguyen agreed.
'Then the court rules that Commander Sykes has answered the question put to him. You may move on, Commander Wilkes.'
'Thank you.' Wilkes stared at Sykes for a moment, who met his look with a perfect display of nonchalance. 'I have no further questions of this witness.'
'Commander Garrity, you may cross-examine.'
Lieutenant Commander Garrity eyed Sykes thoughtfully. 'Commander Sykes, in your experience with Captain Wakeman, how often did he violate orders and instructions pertaining to supply issues?'
'Pertaining to supply issues? He didn't.'
'Then you would say that in your experience Captain Wakeman took care to ensure you conformed to such orders and instructions?'
'That's correct. Captain Wakeman informed me that he had no wish to be embarrassed by any failures on my part to do my job properly.'
'Thank you, Commander Sykes. No further questions.'
Holmes looked to Wilkes. 'Redirect?'
'Yes.' Wilkes came close to Sykes again. 'Commander Sykes, are you saying that you never failed to conform to all standing supply orders and instructions while serving on the USS Michaelson?'
'No. I didn't say that.'
'If Captain Wakeman didn't direct you to, why did you deviate from those standing and instructions?'
'To get the job done, Commander Wilkes.' Sykes smiled apologetically again. 'I believe I'm what line officers refer to as a 'good' supply officer.'
'What's that supposed to mean, Commander Sykes?'
Admiral Fowler interrupted whatever Sykes had been planning to say. 'It means he bends the rules if he has to in order to get the supplies his ship needs. Right, Commander Sykes?'
'I prefer to describe it as being mission-oriented, Admiral.'
A low chuckle ran through the court room, drawing a warning look from the judge. Wilkes curled up both corners of his mouth in a pro forma smile. 'No further questions.'
After Sykes received the same temporary excusal as Garcia had, Judge Holmes looked around the court room. 'Admiral Fowler informed me earlier today that he has an urgent personal matter to attend to later. Therefore we will only take one more witnesses' testimony today before closing. Call your next witness, Commander Wilkes.'
