EVELYN: "Then your responsibility is to tell the truth and cooperate with the review."
Daniel nodded.
DANIEL: "Some people were afraid to speak up."
EVELYN: "I know."
DANIEL: "Sergeant Brody could make your life very difficult if you questioned him."
Evelyn looked toward the door.
EVELYN: "That is something we need to address as well."
Daniel hesitated.
DANIEL: "There were other technicians."
EVELYN: "Who?"
DANIEL: "Several people who complained about the maintenance approvals. They were transferred to different assignments."
Thomas looked at him.
THOMAS: "You never reported that."
DANIEL: "I tried once."
THOMAS: "To whom?"
DANIEL: "Lieutenant Parker."
Thomas frowned.
DANIEL: "He told me not to create unnecessary problems."
Evelyn's expression became serious.
EVELYN: "Do you remember the names of those technicians?"
DANIEL: "Yes, ma'am. I can write them down."
EVELYN: "Please do."
Daniel took a sheet of paper.
He began writing.
One name.
Then another.
Then another.
When he finished, there were seven names.
Seven people who had apparently raised concerns about maintenance documentation.
Seven people whose complaints had never reached the appropriate review office.
Evelyn studied the list.
EVELYN: "Master Sergeant, I want these individuals contacted."
THOMAS: "I'll arrange it."
EVELYN: "They must be interviewed separately, and nobody involved in this investigation should contact them privately beforehand."
THOMAS: "Understood."
Commander Harris looked increasingly impatient.
COMMANDER HARRIS: "Chairwoman, this is becoming a much larger operation than originally anticipated."
EVELYN: "The evidence determines the scope, Commander. Not our expectations."
Harris walked toward the window.
Outside, military vehicles were beginning to arrive.
Two senior officers entered the hangar.
One was Lieutenant Colonel James Mitchell, an aviation safety specialist.
The other was a legal officer assigned to the regional command.
They were carrying official documentation and inspection equipment.
Evelyn greeted them.
EVELYN: "Thank you for coming."
MITCHELL: "We received the preliminary report. Which aircraft require inspection?"
Evelyn handed him the list.
MITCHELL: "Four aircraft?"
EVELYN: "Four currently identified. The review may expand."
MITCHELL: "We'll begin immediately."
EVELYN: "Please document everything. I want photographs, component serial numbers, and independent inspection notes."
MITCHELL: "Understood."
The legal officer introduced himself as Major David Collins.
COLLINS: "Chairwoman, I've been briefed on the incident involving Sergeant Brody."
EVELYN: "Good."
COLLINS: "We will need statements from everyone who witnessed it."
EVELYN: "The second officer witnessed the physical contact. Thomas Reed and several technicians witnessed the confrontation."
COLLINS: "We'll arrange interviews."
EVELYN: "And I want the original security footage preserved."
COLLINS: "That request has already been received."
Evelyn nodded.
As the new team began organizing the inspection, Kyle remained near the maintenance office.
He watched technicians move between the aircraft.
For the first time, he was no longer directing the operation.
Nobody was waiting for his approval.
Nobody was asking him what to do.
He had become part of the investigation.
A few minutes later, Major Collins approached him.
COLLINS: "Sergeant Brody?"
KYLE: "Yes."
COLLINS: "I need you to provide a formal statement regarding the incident and the maintenance approvals."
KYLE: "Am I being charged with something?"
COLLINS: "At this stage, we're collecting information."
KYLE: "I want to speak with someone before answering questions."
COLLINS: "You may follow the applicable procedures."
Kyle looked toward Evelyn.
She was standing beside Lieutenant Colonel Mitchell, discussing the inspection schedule.
KYLE: "I didn't know she was the Chairwoman."
Collins looked at him.
COLLINS: "Would that have changed your actions?"
Kyle said nothing.
COLLINS: "That's a question you should consider before giving your statement."
Kyle lowered his head.
Meanwhile, Evelyn had moved toward the first aircraft.
Mitchell was examining the maintenance documentation.
MITCHELL: "The discrepancy appears to be consistent with the original report."
EVELYN: "Can you confirm the component was never replaced?"
MITCHELL: "We'll verify the serial number and installation records."
EVELYN: "Good."
Mitchell crouched near the equipment.
He examined the identification plate and compared it with the paperwork.
After several minutes, he stood.
MITCHELL: "Chairwoman, I have a concern."
EVELYN: "What is it?"
MITCHELL: "The component listed in the final clearance report does not match the component currently installed."
Evelyn looked at the aircraft.
EVELYN: "Could it have been replaced after the inspection?"
MITCHELL: "Possibly, but there is no documented replacement record."
EVELYN: "Then record the discrepancy."
MITCHELL: "I'll do that."
They moved to the second aircraft.
The same problem appeared again.
The third aircraft had a different issue, but its inspection record also contained an unexplained approval.
By the time they reached the fourth aircraft, the independent team had identified multiple discrepancies requiring further examination.
Mitchell looked at Evelyn.
MITCHELL: "This is more serious than the preliminary information suggested."
EVELYN: "How serious?"