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.
After the last enlisted had been presented with their awards, the Commodore held up a last medal case. 'Lieutenant Silver, front and center.'
Paul tried to keep his expression fixed as Silver marched up to stand in front of the Commodore, and as the Commodore began reading the medal citation. After lauding Silver's leadership during the crisis, and proclaiming it in the highest traditions of the Naval Service, the Commodore pinned a Navy Commendation Medal on Silver.
Paul somehow kept his face impassive, his eyes front, but out of the corner of his eye he could see Captain Hayes. The smile Captain Hayes had carried through most of the award ceremony had vanished, and his face seemed to be reddening. Paul didn't know what that meant, nor did he really want to know. At this point, he just wanted the ceremony over.
It ended mercifully a few minutes later. Paul quickly dismissed his division, then headed back for the ship, avoiding contact with anyone else.
But he couldn't hide on the ship. Within a few minutes of his own arrival, a group of his friends arrived at his stateroom. 'They gave Silver a medal?'
Paul glanced up, keeping his expression flat. 'Yeah.'
Kris Denaldo was standing in the hatchway, Lieutenant Mike Bristol just behind her along with Ensign Randy Diego. 'Why?'
'I don't know. I just work in the Combat Information Center, so I never know anything.'
'That's really funny. Why'd they give Silver a medal?'
'You heard the commendation. I didn't really listen. Something about his control of the situation and crap like that.'
'Crap is right. He got a medal and you didn't?'
Paul looked down at his desk, still trying to keep his face rigid. 'Yeah.'
'Isn't that kind of lame?'
'Look, Kris, what do you want me to do?'
Silence stretched, until Paul looked up to see everyone still standing there. Kris looked around at the others, then scowled. 'Nothing, I guess. Do you want to vent?'
'No.'
'You've got to be pissed.'
'Sort of.'
'But there's nothing you can do about it.'
'Right.'
'Any idea why Hayes did that?'
Another voice answered. 'Captain Hayes didn't do it.' They all looked to see Commander Sykes leaning
