'And what about Lieutenant Silver? Is there anything between you two?'
'Nothing in particular, ma'am. I mean, we serve on the same ship and we're in the same in-port duty section, but we usually don't interact outside business. I don't particularly like him.'
'A lot of other people apparently do like him.' Carr leaned forward, her eyes locked on Paul's. 'Nothing of a romantic nature? No involvements like that?'
'How do you mean, ma'am?'
'You and him. Him and some her. You and some her and him. Whatever combination you like.'
Paul's reaction must have shown, as Commander Carr laughed. 'Ma'am, I don't swing that way. I have no idea what Silver's idea of fun is, but he's never come on to me, if that's what you're asking.'
'Have you got a girlfriend right now?'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Has Silver ever met her?'
'I don't think so. She's on a different ship. Of course,' Paul added hastily.
'Of course,' Commander Carr replied with a smile. 'Since regulations prohibit two officers on the same ship from dating. She's an officer, also of course?'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Have you discussed this case with her?'
'Not yet, ma'am.'
'So she's not involved in the case in any way.'
Paul hesitated, drawing a raised eyebrow from Commander Carr. 'Well… there is a connection, ma'am.'
'And what would that be?'
'She's Lieutenant Junior Grade Jen Shen, on the USS Maury.'
'Shen? Where have I seen that name recently?' She glanced at her display. 'Didn't a Captain Shen conduct the initial investigation into the accident on your ship?'
'Yes, ma'am. He's her father.'
'You're kidding.'
'No, ma'am.'
'How's he feel about this? About you uncovering evidence his investigation missed?'
'I imagine he's not very happy.'
'I bet. Let's just do our best to keep this little domestic drama out of the courtroom, shall we?'
'I'd like nothing better, ma'am.'
'I won't put you on my witness list. I don't see where I need to do that. As a matter of fact, I'm sure it'd be a mistake to do that.'
'Why, ma'am?'
'Because your motivations and actions are a potent avenue for the defense to question every piece of evidence you uncovered. You didn't come out of the initial investigation covered with glory, and the estimable Lieutenant Silver received a medal for his 'heroic' efforts against the fire while you didn't. The defense might want to discredit you in order to discredit the government's case. If I put you up on that witness stand, I might as well be covering you with steak sauce and dropping you in a shark tank.'
Commander Carr leaned back. 'The defense might try to call you as a witness, though, to try to make an issue of your motivation and argue that this is all sour grapes, motivated by jealousy and an attempt to spread the blame.'
'Ma'am, I swear — '
'You don't have to do that unless you get called as a witness.' Carr flashed another smile. 'Which we'll avoid at all costs. I expect the defense will start out trying to win this case on its merits. That is, by disputing the evidence and arguing that it doesn't point to Lieutenant Silver in any case. If the defense thinks they're losing that battle, they may try to discredit the case by bringing you and your motivations into it. The court may not allow that, of course, unless there's strong grounds for questioning your professional standing. What's your record look like, aside from this case?'
'Uh…' Paul licked his lips. 'I was involved with the court-martial of Captain Wakeman.'
'Wakeman?' Carr's eyes widened. 'I remember… hey. You're that Sinclair? You testified for him.'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Most line officers go their entire careers without being involved in a general court-martial, Paul. And here you are working on number two already.'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'Do you harbor aspirations to become a Navy lawyer yourself?'
Paul thought of the smirk he'd see on his hotshot civilian lawyer brother's face if he heard Paul was pursuing a legal degree. 'No, ma'am!'
Commander Carr tried to smother another smile. 'That's a firm enough reply. All right, Paul, I'm still familiarizing myself with the evidence, but I'll probably have some questions for you later, and I'll want to tour the ship itself.'
'Herself.' Paul blurted the correction without thinking.
'Herself? I thought ships were officially 'it' nowadays.'
'I guess officially they are, ma'am, but to us who serve on them, they're ladies.'
Carr grinned yet again. 'Then they're exceptionally tough ladies, Mr. Sinclair.'
Paul nodded, thinking that Commander Carr, despite her quick smiles and pleasant demeanor, seemed to be exceptionally tough as well.
She offered Paul a data pad. 'The convening order hasn't been disseminated, yet, but here's the names of the members of the court. Do you know any of them personally or by reputation?'
Paul read the list carefully. Captain Michael Mashiko. Line officer. Currently at Space Warfare Officers School. Commander Juanita Juarez, also line, attached to the Joint Space Intelligence Center. Commander Gwen Herdez -
His reaction must have been apparent to Commander Carr. 'I take it you know one of them?'
'Yes, ma'am. Commander Herdez. She was my executive officer until about six months ago.'
'Is that good or bad? What's she like?'
Paul pondered how to describe Herdez in a few words. 'Very tough, very demanding, very capable, and expects a thousand percent from everyone who works for her. She loves the Navy, I guess. At least, she gives it everything she can and insists everyone else does, too.'
'Hmmm. Commander Herdez doesn't sound like the sort of officer who'd look kindly upon an officer accused of grossly neglecting his duties.'
'Yes, ma'am, but — ' Paul struggled for the right words. 'She's very fair. Commander Herdez doesn't let her emotions or preferences decide an issue. She'll have to be convinced.'
'Fair enough.' Carr made a note on her own data pad. 'Convincing her is my job, but I'd appreciate any hints you might think of for what would best serve to do that. What about the rest of the members?'
Paul went back to reading. Lieutenant Commander Peter Bryko, attached to the Commodore's staff. Lieutenant Commander Susan Goldberg, from the Space Officer's school, just like Mashiko. 'No, ma'am. I don't know them. I'll ask around the ship, though. Some of the other officers may have worked with them.'
'Okay, but keep it discreet. What's your ship's schedule look like for the next couple of months? Will you be underway much?'
Paul couldn't help a short, bitter laugh. 'Sorry, ma'am. No, we won't be underway at all. Forward Engineering was very badly damaged by the fire. They're having to replace, rebuild, and test everything there and check everything in surrounding compartments for damage. The last estimate I saw called for completion of that work in about two and half months.'
Commander Carr shook her head. 'It'll be a pleasure to nail Silver's hide to the wall.' She saw Paul's look. 'What's the matter?'
'Well, ma'am, isn't he presumed innocent?'
Alex Carr laughed again. 'By the court. By the members. But my job is to presume he's guilty and do everything I can to prove it. I'll always talk about Silver as being guilty. You don't want the prosecution arguing that
