'I didn't need him to tell me that. Chief Imari told me when she paged me.'
'Did Lieutenant Silver tell you a piece of equipment in Forward Engineering wasn't operating properly?'
'No.'
'Did Lieutenant Silver tell you he'd acquired a spare for that piece of equipment and passed it on to Chief Asher?'
'No.'
Paul felt like flinching every time Captain Hayes bit off a reply. Each 'no' came out harder. I do not want to be chewed out by this man. I'm sure I will be someday, but now I know it's not going to be any fun.
'Did Lieutenant Silver then or later tell you that Chief Asher could have been in Forward Engineering, working on that piece of equipment?'
'No.'
'Did Lieutenant Silver then or later inform you that he knew of a possible cause or contributing factor to the explosion, and the likely reason for Chief Asher's presence there?'
'No.'
'Objection.' Jones looked toward Carr. 'Trial counsel is covering the same ground repeatedly.'
Judge Halstead looked questioningly at Commander Carr. 'I tend to agree. Counsel?'
Carr smiled in a professionally courteous way. 'I had just finished going over those points, Your Honor.'
'The objection is sustained. Get on with it.'
'Yes, Your Honor. Captain Hayes, at any point were you approached regarding the need to acquire a spare controller for the power transfer junction in Forward Engineering?'
'No, I was not.'
'Sir, were you informed the ship could not get underway as scheduled on the next Monday because of a problem with equipment in Forward Engineering?'
'No.'
'When did you first discover that problem existed?'
'In the course of an internal investigation I authorized to resolve some new information regarding the events of 19 September.'
'At that time you were informed of the problem by engineering personnel?'
'No. I was informed of the problem by an officer outside of engineering.'
'Do you, sir, as commanding officer of the USS Michaelson, believe you received complete and accurate information from Lieutenant Silver on the evening of 19 September?'
Hayes looked directly at Silver, who looked away quickly. 'At this point in time I do not believe I may have ever received complete and accurate information from Lieutenant Silver. As for the night of 19 September, I have no doubt that Lieutenant Silver deliberately chose to withhold critical information from me.'
'Then Lieutenant Silver no longer has your trust and confidence?'
'I never want him on my ship again. I never want him in any position of responsibility in the US Navy again.'
'Thank you, Captain Hayes. No further questions.'
Lieutenant Commander Jones had a determined look on his face as he approached the witness stand, as if he were bracing himself for battle. 'Captain Hayes, how long had you been commanding officer of the USS Michaelson as of 19 September?'
'About a month.'
'Only a month? That's a short time to learn all there is to know about a ship and its crew, isn't it, sir?'
Hayes smiled crookedly. 'It's a challenge.'
'Are there things you still don't know about the ship?'
'You'll have to clarify that question. If you mean I don't know every single thing there is to know, then of course that's true. If you're asking if there's anything important I haven't learned, I doubt it.'
'Is it possible, sir, that you could have been informed about the problem with the power transfer junction in Forward Engineering and, in the midst of so much else to do and to learn, misplaced that information?'
Hayes' eyes narrowed. 'No.'
'Sir, by your own admission, there are still some things — '
' No, Commander. The status of that piece of equipment was critical to my ship being able to accomplish her mission. I would not have forgotten it.'
Commander Jones eyed Hayes for a moment as if deciding whether to pursue the point or not. His next question revealed he'd decided to try another tack. 'Captain Hayes, you earlier indicated you were told about the problem with the power transfer junction by an officer on your ship. Who was that officer?'
Commander Carr was on her feet. 'Objection, your honor. The question is immaterial.'
Jones faced Judge Halstead. 'Your honor, I am attempting to establish possible prejudice.'
Halstead raised one eyebrow. 'By whom? Captain Hayes?'
'No, sir, by this other officer.'
'Your Honor,' Commander Carr stated, stepping forward, 'the identity of that officer is irrelevant to this trial. We've already established that the information regarding the power transfer junction was factual. Why does it matter who reported it?'
'Your Honor, evidence tainted is evidence that is inadmissible in court.'
Judge Halstead bared his teeth in a humorless smile. 'Counsel, I'll be the one deciding what is and is not inadmissible.'
Jones hesitated as if regretting his last statement. 'I'm sorry, Your Honor. That is true and I did not mean to imply otherwise.'
'Thank you, Counsel. Does the counsel for the defense intend offering proof of bias, proof that some evidence introduced is in fact inadmissible?'
Paul watched the argument with a icy feeling in his gut. They're arguing about me. Am I going to get ripped apart on that witness stand, my motivations and own professionalism subjected to trick questions and negative interpretations? I knew I ran a risk of this. I can handle it if it comes to that. But I really hope Carr wins this argument.
Jones nodded with every appearance of confidence. 'Yes, Your Honor.'
Commander Carr let skepticism show. 'Your Honor, if counsel for the defense had such proof, why did he wait until now to introduce this line of argument? After trial counsel has entered so much evidence into the trial?'
'Good question, Counsel. Commander Jones?'
Jones looked back at Halstead confidently. 'Your Honor, defense actions evolve as the trial proceeds. Surely trial counsel will not dispute that, or the right of the defense to introduce new issues in the course of defending the accused.'
'Your Honor, a fishing expedition is not introducing new issues. It is a distraction from the business of the court-martial.'
'Your Honor, if trial counsel is so certain of the tactics and questions to be pursued by the defense, I would respectfully have to inquire as to the source of her information.'
Paul tried not to openly wince. That's a real good point. Jones is better than I gave him credit for. But Carr's supposed to know him! Keep me off that witness stand, Commander.
Judge Halstead raised the fingers on one hand to halt the argument among the counsels. 'You've both brought up legitimate arguments. I will allow defense counsel to pursue his line of questioning, but if defense counsel attempts to divert this court-martial from its course or engage in a prolonged fishing expedition, I will bring it to a halt. Is that clear, counsel?'
Jones nodded. 'Yes, Your Honor.'
'Objection overruled. Proceed, counsel.'
Commander Carr returned to her seat, tight-lipped, and gave Paul a passing glance, her eyes conveying regret for a moment.
Commander Jones went back to the witness stand, where Captain Hayes had sat watching the by-play impatiently. 'Captain, I repeat, who brought this information to your attention?'
'My collateral duty ship's legal officer.'
