The officer checked the inventory.
DUTY OFFICER: "The clipboard should be in the main maintenance cabinet, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "Then let's examine the cabinet."
The security team documented the office before opening the storage area.
Inside were several folders containing completed inspection sheets.
The documents appeared to be arranged by date.
Maya examined the first folder.
One report showed that a safety component had been inspected at 19:45.
The assigned technician's name appeared beside the certification.
Maya checked the duty roster.
The technician had been scheduled to leave at 17:00.
She asked the investigation officer to verify the access logs.
Several minutes later, the officer returned.
INVESTIGATION OFFICER: "Colonel, the technician left the installation at 17:12."
Maya looked at the report again.
MAYA BROOKS: "Then we need to establish who performed the inspection at 19:45."
The investigation officer nodded.
They examined the next document.
It contained a similar discrepancy.
The inspection had supposedly been completed during a shift when the assigned technician was absent.
A third report contained a correction that had been entered several hours after the original approval.
Maya asked whether the system preserved previous versions of the documents.
The administrator explained that it did.
However, the earlier versions could only be accessed through a restricted archive.
Maya requested immediate preservation of the archive.
The administrator began retrieving the records.
As the original files appeared on the screen, the differences became clear.
Several reports had originally identified unresolved maintenance issues.
The revised versions classified those same issues as completed.
In some cases, the changes were accompanied by approval entries from Major Calloway's account.
Maya studied the timestamps.
MAYA BROOKS: "Were these changes made after the technicians submitted the original reports?"
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR: "Yes, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "Who had authority to approve them?"
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR: "The maintenance supervisor, the duty officer, and the designated command reviewer."
MAYA BROOKS: "Who was the command reviewer during this period?"
SYSTEM ADMINISTRATOR: "Major Richard Calloway."
Maya asked the investigation team to preserve every version.
She also requested a comparison of the approval records with the personnel access logs.
The team began working immediately.
Outside the office, Daniel was speaking with Aaron Mitchell.
Aaron had been located in the equipment storage section.
He appeared nervous when he learned that a colonel wanted to interview him.
Daniel reassured him that the investigation was focused on establishing what had happened.
Aaron entered the conference room a few minutes later.
He stood at attention.
Maya asked him to sit.
MAYA BROOKS: "Technician Mitchell, I understand that you raised concerns about an aircraft inspection."
AARON MITCHELL: "Yes, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "Tell me what happened."
Aaron looked down at his hands.
AARON MITCHELL: "I was assigned to inspect a safety component. During the inspection, I found something that needed additional work."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did you record the problem?"
AARON MITCHELL: "Yes."
MAYA BROOKS: "What happened to the report?"
AARON MITCHELL: "The next morning, Sergeant Hayes told me the problem had already been resolved."
MAYA BROOKS: "Had you performed the required follow-up inspection?"
AARON MITCHELL: "No, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did anyone show you evidence that another technician had completed it?"
AARON MITCHELL: "No."
Maya remained calm.
MAYA BROOKS: "What did Sergeant Hayes ask you to do?"
Aaron hesitated.
AARON MITCHELL: "He told me to sign the final certification."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did you sign it?"
AARON MITCHELL: "No."
MAYA BROOKS: "Why not?"
AARON MITCHELL: "Because I hadn't completed the inspection."
Maya nodded.
MAYA BROOKS: "What happened after you refused?"
Aaron looked toward Daniel.
Then he returned his attention to Maya.
AARON MITCHELL: "Sergeant Hayes told me I was being difficult. He said I didn't understand how the department operated."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did he threaten you?"
AARON MITCHELL: "He said my attitude would affect my future assignments."
MAYA BROOKS: "And were your assignments changed?"
AARON MITCHELL: "Two days later, I was moved to overnight equipment storage."
Maya wrote down the date.
MAYA BROOKS: "Did you report what happened?"
AARON MITCHELL: "Yes."
MAYA BROOKS: "To whom?"
AARON MITCHELL: "Major Calloway's office."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did you receive a response?"
Aaron nodded slowly.
AARON MITCHELL: "I was told that the maintenance department had already reviewed the matter."
MAYA BROOKS: "Did anyone interview you?"
AARON MITCHELL: "No."
Maya closed her notebook.
She looked at Aaron.
MAYA BROOKS: "You will provide a formal statement to the investigation team. If you have copies of the original inspection report or any messages related to the incident, preserve them."
Aaron nodded.
AARON MITCHELL: "Yes, Colonel."
MAYA BROOKS: "And if anyone attempts to pressure you because you are cooperating, report it immediately."
Aaron looked relieved.
AARON MITCHELL: "Thank you, Colonel."
After he left, Daniel remained in the room.
He looked troubled.
Maya noticed.
MAYA BROOKS: "What is it?"
DANIEL PRICE: "Aaron isn't the only one."
MAYA BROOKS: "How many others?"
DANIEL PRICE: "At least five technicians raised similar concerns."
MAYA BROOKS: "Were all of them reassigned?"
DANIEL PRICE: "Not all. Some received unfavorable performance reviews. Others were removed from training opportunities."
Maya looked at the list of names.