There was no technical misunderstanding.
No accidental system failure.
No confusion between two different operational commands.
It was a deliberate instruction.
The secretary looked at Sterling.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"General, would you like to explain this message?"
Sterling remained standing.
GENERAL STERLING:
"That communication has been taken out of context."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Then provide the context."
GENERAL STERLING:
"The northern unit was carrying information that could have compromised several national security operations."
MAYA CARTER:
"We were carrying evidence of your unauthorized network."
GENERAL STERLING:
"You were carrying classified information that you had no authority to possess."
MAYA CARTER:
"Because someone had ordered us to preserve it."
GENERAL STERLING:
"That order was never authorized."
MAYA CARTER:
"Then why did you cancel the evacuation before the investigation was completed?"
Sterling turned toward Brooks.
GENERAL STERLING:
"This hearing must be suspended immediately."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"On what grounds?"
GENERAL STERLING:
"National security."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"National security is precisely why we are continuing."
The secretary turned toward the security officers.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Secure the original communications records. Preserve every authentication entry and prevent any remote deletion."
Two security personnel moved toward the terminal.
General Sterling looked toward the courtroom doors.
For the first time, Maya noticed that he was no longer trying to defend his authority.
He was looking for a way out.
GENERAL STERLING:
"I will not participate in an investigation conducted under these circumstances."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Then you will remain here until the appropriate investigators arrive."
Sterling turned toward the secretary.
GENERAL STERLING:
"You have no idea what you are interfering with."
Brooks stepped closer.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Then explain it to me."
Sterling said nothing.
The secretary looked toward Admiral Reynolds.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Admiral, did you know that the evacuation cancellation would leave forty-two personnel behind?"
Reynolds slowly shook his head.
REYNOLDS:
"No."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Did you know that the northern unit had recovered evidence of the parallel command network?"
REYNOLDS:
"No."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Then why did you authorize the secondary transmission?"
Reynolds looked down at his hands.
REYNOLDS:
"Because General Sterling told me the order had been approved at the highest level."
Brooks' expression hardened.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Whose approval?"
Reynolds hesitated.
REYNOLDS:
"He told me it had been cleared through the Defense Department."
The secretary slowly turned toward the screen.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"My office never approved that operation's termination."
The statement left no room for misunderstanding.
The general had used a false claim of higher authorization to obtain the admiral's cooperation.
The admiral had believed the command was legitimate.
But that did not erase his responsibility for failing to verify the order.
Brooks looked toward the security officer.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Preserve both signatures. We will determine the full extent of each person's involvement."
The officer nodded.
Then a new alert appeared on the terminal.
REMOTE ACCESS ATTEMPT DETECTED.
The security officer turned sharply.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"Sir, someone is attempting to access the archived record."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"From where?"
The officer checked the connection.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"External command network."
Brooks immediately looked toward the display.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Block the request."
The officer entered a command.
The system responded.
REMOTE ACCESS BLOCKED.
But another warning appeared.
SECONDARY DELETION REQUEST DETECTED.
Maya's eyes widened.
MAYA CARTER:
"They're trying to destroy the evidence."
The security officer began entering another command.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"Sir, the request is coming from a high-level authorization."
Brooks stepped closer.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Identify the source."
The officer checked the information.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"The request is using the same credentials attached to the original command."
Everyone looked toward General Sterling.
The general remained silent.
Then he slowly reached toward the folder in front of him.
A security officer immediately stepped closer.
SECURITY OFFICER:
"General, keep your hands visible."
Sterling stopped.
GENERAL STERLING:
"This is becoming ridiculous."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Your credentials are attempting to delete classified evidence while we are examining it."
GENERAL STERLING:
"I have not accessed the system."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Then who has?"
Sterling did not answer.
The security officer completed the isolation procedure.
The terminal returned to the original authentication screen.
A new message appeared.
RECORD PRESERVATION SUCCESSFUL.
Brooks exhaled slowly.
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"Good. Nobody changes anything else."
Maya looked toward the secretary.
MAYA CARTER:
"Mr. Secretary, there is something else you need to know."
Brooks turned toward her.
MAYA CARTER:
"Noah told me that the original record was only one part of the evidence."
DEFENSE SECRETARY BROOKS:
"What was the other part?"
Maya looked at the damaged glove.
MAYA CARTER: