The pattern was becoming increasingly serious.
If the personnel changes were connected to the complaints, the investigation would need to examine possible retaliation as well as maintenance misconduct.
She requested the assignment histories and performance records of the affected employees.
The personnel office began gathering the documents.
Meanwhile, Major Richard Calloway had arrived at the installation.
He was a senior officer with a reputation for demanding high operational performance.
He had been responsible for reviewing the readiness reports submitted by Hangar Four.
He was also one of the officers who had repeatedly praised Victor Hayes for keeping the maintenance schedule on track.
When Calloway entered the administrative building, he immediately noticed the increased security presence.
He approached the duty officer.
MAJOR RICHARD CALLOWAY: "What's happening here?"
DUTY OFFICER: "Colonel Brooks is conducting an official investigation, sir."
CALLOWAY: "Colonel Brooks?"
DUTY OFFICER: "Yes, sir."
Calloway frowned.
CALLOWAY: "I wasn't informed that she would be arriving."
DUTY OFFICER: "Her assignment was restricted."
Calloway looked toward the conference room.
CALLOWAY: "Where is Sergeant Hayes?"
DUTY OFFICER: "He has been relieved of supervisory duties pending the investigation."
The major's expression changed.
CALLOWAY: "On whose authority?"
DUTY OFFICER: "Colonel Brooks."
Calloway took a breath.
CALLOWAY: "I want to speak with her."
A few minutes later, he entered the conference room.
Maya was reviewing the original maintenance records.
She looked up.
MAYA BROOKS: "Major Calloway. Thank you for coming."
CALLOWAY: "Colonel, I understand there's been an incident involving one of my sergeants."
MAYA BROOKS: "There has been an assault and a series of questionable maintenance certifications."
Calloway appeared uncomfortable.
CALLOWAY: "I was told the confrontation involved an unauthorized inspection."
MAYA BROOKS: "The inspection was authorized. Sergeant Hayes refused to verify the credentials offered to him."
CALLOWAY: "I see."
MAYA BROOKS: "I also understand that your office approved several reports that were changed after the original inspections."
Calloway looked at the documents.
CALLOWAY: "Our department processes a large number of maintenance reports. Corrections are not unusual."
MAYA BROOKS: "Corrections are not unusual. Certifying work that has not been completed is."
Calloway remained silent.
Maya placed two documents in front of him.
The first was the original inspection report.
The second was the revised version.
MAYA BROOKS: "The original document identifies an unresolved safety issue. The revised version marks it as completed."
Calloway examined the pages.
CALLOWAY: "I would need to review the technical details."
MAYA BROOKS: "You approved the revised report."
CALLOWAY: "My office approved it."
MAYA BROOKS: "Your account appears in the approval history."
Calloway looked up.
CALLOWAY: "Several personnel process documents through the department."
MAYA BROOKS: "Who had permission to use your account?"
The major hesitated.
CALLOWAY: "I would have to verify the authorization list."
Maya made a note.
MAYA BROOKS: "Then we will obtain it."
Calloway leaned back.
CALLOWAY: "Colonel, I hope we're not allowing one confrontation to disrupt the entire installation."
Maya looked directly at him.
MAYA BROOKS: "The confrontation exposed conduct that requires investigation. The maintenance discrepancies are supported by independent records."
CALLOWAY: "Grounding aircraft could seriously affect our readiness evaluation."
MAYA BROOKS: "Then the evaluation will reflect the actual readiness of the aircraft."
CALLOWAY: "There are operational expectations we have to meet."
MAYA BROOKS: "Those expectations do not authorize inaccurate certifications."
Calloway said nothing.
He had expected Maya to focus on the assault.
He had hoped that the incident could be handled as a disciplinary matter involving Victor.
But she was examining the maintenance system itself.
And the documents on the table were beginning to connect his office to the altered reports.
Maya asked him whether he had received complaints from technicians about the certification process.
Calloway admitted that several concerns had been submitted.
He said they had been reviewed by the maintenance department.
Maya asked whether his office had independently interviewed the technicians.
Calloway said that he could not remember every case.
She then presented Aaron Mitchell's complaint.
MAYA BROOKS: "This technician reported being instructed to sign an inspection he had not completed."
Calloway studied the document.
MAYA BROOKS: "His complaint was returned to Sergeant Hayes for review."
CALLOWAY: "That would have been the normal supervisory process."
MAYA BROOKS: "Sergeant Hayes was the person accused of giving the instruction."
Calloway looked uncomfortable.
MAYA BROOKS: "Do you believe that was an appropriate independent review?"
CALLOWAY: "In hindsight, the process could have been handled differently."
MAYA BROOKS: "The question is why it was handled that way in the first place."
Calloway did not answer.
Maya instructed the investigation team to preserve the major's relevant official communications and approval records through the appropriate procedures.
His access to the maintenance reporting system would be temporarily restricted while the evidence was secured.
Calloway immediately objected.
CALLOWAY: "Colonel, I need access to those records to perform my duties."
MAYA BROOKS: "Alternative access arrangements will be made for your authorized responsibilities. The records under investigation must remain protected."
CALLOWAY: "This is going to create unnecessary complications."
MAYA BROOKS: "The complications began when the original reports stopped matching the certified records."
Calloway stood.
He looked at the documents one final time.
CALLOWAY: "I would like to contact headquarters."