“I designed the drive system you tried to sabotage, Captain,” I said.

“It was a failure from the start,” Turner said, his voice rising. “The seals were defective.”

“The seals were fine until you ordered the pressure tests bypassed to meet the deployment deadline,” I said.

Hayes took a step closer to Turner.

“I watched the log entries disappear from the maintenance queue, Captain,” Hayes said. “You deleted them.”

“You are a Chief, Hayes,” Turner said. “You do what you are told.”

“Not when it kills my men,” Hayes said.

Harris stepped between them.

“Captain Turner,” Harris said. “Hands on your head.”

“I am the commanding officer of this installation,” Turner said, his chin trembling slightly.

“Not anymore,” Harris said.

The shore patrol officers stepped forward.

One of them reached for the heavy silver handcuffs on his utility belt.

The metal clinked sharply in the quiet room.

“Lieutenant Carter,” Harris said, turning his head.

Carter jumped, his hands twitching at his sides.

“Yes, sir?” Carter whispered.

“Did you witness Captain Turner alter the maintenance logs for the *Providence*?”

Carter looked at Turner.