"See? This is exactly what I was talking about."
Richard folded his arms.
"What?"
"Your captain is overcomplicating everything."
Marcus remained silent.
Gregory continued.
"I reviewed the preliminary report. There is no reason to delay departure."
Marcus looked at him.
"Have you personally inspected the system?"
Gregory's smile weakened.
"My engineers have."
"Which engineers?"
Gregory hesitated.
"The maintenance team."
"Can you provide their names and inspection certificates?"
Richard interrupted.
"Marcus, enough."
The captain turned toward him.
"Sir, I need those documents before authorizing departure."
Gregory stepped closer.
"You're asking me to prove my own company's work?"
"I'm asking for the inspection records."
Gregory laughed.
"Perhaps you should focus on steering the boat."
Marcus looked at him.
"Perhaps you should focus on maintaining it."
The words landed harder than Marcus intended.
Richard's face darkened.
"That's enough!"
The crew members became silent.
Richard pointed toward Marcus.
"You are suspended from duty effective immediately."
Marcus did not move.
"Understood."
Gregory looked pleased.
Richard continued.
"I'll have another captain take over."
Marcus nodded.
"But I need to inform you that the navigation system remains isolated."
Richard stared at him.
"You will not touch anything else."
Marcus placed the folder on the bench.
"All technical reports have already been submitted to the compliance department."
Gregory's expression changed.
"Compliance?"
Marcus looked at him.
"Yes."
Richard turned toward Gregory.
"What is he talking about?"
Gregory answered quickly.
"Nothing important. He's trying to create a problem where none exists."
But Richard noticed something.
For the first time since Gregory arrived, the maintenance director looked genuinely uncomfortable.
CHAPTER 5: THE FILE THAT SHOULD NEVER HAVE EXISTED
That evening, Marcus returned to his apartment.
He lived in a modest two-bedroom apartment overlooking a busy street.
His furniture was simple.
His kitchen was small.
His most valuable possessions were his professional certificates, maritime charts, and a framed photograph of his late father.
He placed his uniform on a chair and opened his laptop.
A message from the compliance department was waiting.
It read:
"Captain Reed, please preserve all original records and refrain from discussing the matter with unauthorized personnel. An internal investigation has been initiated."
Marcus leaned back.
At least someone was finally taking the issue seriously.
He opened the folder containing the maintenance records.
There were dozens of documents.
Invoices.
Technical reports.
Inspection certificates.
Purchase orders.
Photographs.
Then he noticed a file he had never seen before.
It was labeled:
SILVER HORIZON β EMERGENCY NAVIGATION OVERRIDE.
The document contained a series of instructions for remotely disabling certain navigation alerts.
Marcus opened it.
His stomach tightened.
The file included authorization codes connected to Gregory Shaw's maintenance company.
But there was something even more disturbing.
The document referenced a planned voyage through a narrow channel near the Caribbean.
The route was marked as approved despite a known positioning discrepancy.
Marcus read the file twice.
Someone had prepared a workaround that would allow the vessel to sail without resolving the navigation issue.
It was not an accidental mistake.
It was an intentional decision.
He downloaded the document and saved a protected copy.
Then his phone rang.
The caller was an unknown number.
"Captain Reed?"
"Yes."
A man's voice answered.
"You should stop investigating the maintenance records."
Marcus sat upright.
"Who is this?"
"Someone trying to help you."
"Then identify yourself."