The signature at the bottom belonged to Brigadier General Jonathan Vale.
The same officer whose credentials had apparently been used to access the evidence archive.
The same officer whose office had demanded that the installation meet its readiness targets.
And the same officer whose name appeared repeatedly in correspondence connected to the altered maintenance reports.
Maya understood that the investigation had reached a critical point.
But she also knew that a signature alone did not establish everything that had happened.
She needed to determine whether General Vale had knowingly approved inaccurate maintenance certifications or whether officers beneath him had concealed the original discrepancies.
She turned toward the security officer.
MAYA BROOKS: "I want the archive session preserved exactly as it is. Identify the workstation, the person using it, and every file accessed."
SECURITY OFFICER: "Yes, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "And contact headquarters. We need an independent team to examine the regional command records."
The officer nodded and hurried away.
Mercer remained seated.
His face had become pale.
Maya turned toward him.
MAYA BROOKS: "Lieutenant Colonel, you said you wanted to explain what happened before the readiness evaluation."
THOMAS MERCER: "Yes, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "Then begin with the first meeting."
Mercer looked at the documents.
For several seconds, he appeared uncertain.
Then he began speaking.
THOMAS MERCER: "The problems started about three months before the evaluation. We were told that the installation's readiness figures were below the expected target."
MAYA BROOKS: "Who told you?"
THOMAS MERCER: "General Vale's office."
MAYA BROOKS: "What were you instructed to do?"
THOMAS MERCER: "Review the outstanding maintenance discrepancies and determine which aircraft could be classified as operational."
MAYA BROOKS: "That sounds like a normal readiness review."
THOMAS MERCER: "At first, it was."
Mercer paused.
THOMAS MERCER: "Then the pressure increased."
Maya waited.
THOMAS MERCER: "We were told that the installation needed to demonstrate improvement before the final evaluation. Every week, the command office asked why the numbers weren't higher."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did anyone specifically instruct you to falsify an inspection?"
Mercer shook his head.
THOMAS MERCER: "Not directly."
MAYA BROOKS: "Then what happened?"
THOMAS MERCER: "Major Calloway began reviewing the maintenance classifications. He said some discrepancies could be treated as administrative rather than operational."
MAYA BROOKS: "Were those classifications technically justified?"
Mercer looked down.
THOMAS MERCER: "Some were. Others should have remained open."
Maya wrote down the answer.
MAYA BROOKS: "Did you know which ones were unresolved?"
THOMAS MERCER: "I had access to the original reports."
MAYA BROOKS: "And you approved the revised figures?"
Mercer nodded.
THOMAS MERCER: "Yes."
Maya remained silent.
Mercer continued.
THOMAS MERCER: "I believed the maintenance department would complete the required work before the aircraft returned to service."
MAYA BROOKS: "But you signed documents indicating that the work had already been completed."
Mercer closed his eyes.
THOMAS MERCER: "I did."
The admission changed the atmosphere in the room.
For the first time, Mercer had acknowledged that his approval did not accurately reflect the work that had been performed.
Maya asked the investigation officer to record the statement carefully.
She then turned back toward Mercer.
MAYA BROOKS: "Why didn't you correct the reports when you realized the inspections were incomplete?"
Mercer looked toward the window.
THOMAS MERCER: "Because by then, the figures had already been submitted. Correcting them would have exposed the entire process."
MAYA BROOKS: "So you allowed the inaccurate records to remain?"
THOMAS MERCER: "Yes."
Maya looked at him.
MAYA BROOKS: "And technicians were pressured to support those records."
Mercer nodded slowly.
THOMAS MERCER: "I knew there had been complaints."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did you know that personnel were being reassigned after raising concerns?"
THOMAS MERCER: "I knew some transfers had occurred. I didn't know all the reasons."
Maya closed her notebook.
MAYA BROOKS: "Your responsibility was not simply to receive the final numbers. You were responsible for ensuring that the information you approved was accurate."
Mercer said nothing.
MAYA BROOKS: "You will provide a complete written statement and identify every officer involved in the approval process."
THOMAS MERCER: "I understand."
Maya looked toward the original document.
The investigation was no longer based on conflicting reports alone.
It now included an admission from one of the officers who had approved the inaccurate figures.
But General Vale's involvement still required independent verification.
A few minutes later, the executive officer returned.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "Colonel, headquarters has authorized an independent investigation into the regional command records."
MAYA BROOKS: "Has the archive user been identified?"
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "Yes."
MAYA BROOKS: "Who was it?"
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "Captain Andrew Collins, an administrative officer assigned to General Vale's staff."
Maya looked up.
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "He says he was instructed to retrieve the original readiness evaluation."
MAYA BROOKS: "By whom?"
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "General Vale."
Maya remained still.
MAYA BROOKS: "Was the instruction documented?"
EXECUTIVE OFFICER: "Captain Collins says he received a phone call."
MAYA BROOKS: "Then preserve the relevant communications and arrange a formal interview."
The executive officer nodded.
Maya returned her attention to Mercer.
MAYA BROOKS: "Did General Vale know that the original maintenance reports contained unresolved discrepancies?"
Mercer hesitated.
THOMAS MERCER: "He received the preliminary readiness summary."