Captain Dunning looked doubtfully at Al Surprenant, who responded quietly, “Sir, it is possible that a pattern of behavior by a single individual may become so unnerving for those who serve under him that an action to relieve command becomes necessary. Not just from the immediate orders, but from that pattern of unreliability. With respect, I intend to proceed along those lines.”
“Overruled.”
Lieutenant Commander Surprenant now took his time. He shuffled his file papers, and then looked up and inquired, “Commander Reid, may I ask if you recall the events of May sixteenth in the early morning, just before first light?”
“Well, I certainly know we were waiting at our rendezvous point for the Special Forces team to return from a mission.”
“Who had the ship?”
“Lieutenant Commander Headley. Our orders were clear. It was a highly classified operation, and we were detailed to remain at our RV in the Gulf of Iran while the ASDV returned with the team on board.”
“And were you ever informed of a problem during their escape from plainly hostile shores?”
“No I was not.”
“I believe you were not in the control room?”
“That is correct. My XO had overall responsibility for the return of the SEAL team.”
“And what caused you to return to the control room?”
“The submarine began to move forward in complete contradiction to our orders, which had been issued by the flag. Our RV point was in hard copy.”
“And when you did return, what did you learn?”
“Well, there had been some kind of an attack on the team, inshore, and they were on their way back, bringing with them an apparently wounded man.”
“They were also bringing back the body of their leader, Lieutenant Commander Ray Schaeffer, I believe?”
“So I was informed.”
“So. The leader had been killed, and another SEAL was badly wounded, and they were desperately trying to get away, trying to get back to safety after achieving their objective?”
“So I believe.”
“And did Lieutenant Commander Headley inform you that it was perfectly safe under clear skies, and on empty seas, to go in six miles, fast, toward the ASDV and get them back on board with all speed?”
“He was already headed inshore when I reached the control room.”
“And when you learned they had a top combat SEAL on board, dying, next to his already dead Leader, I believe you issued an order for USS Shark to turn around and return to the rendezvous point, leaving this heroic blood-soaked American Special Forces unit essentially to get on with it as best they could?”
“Well, I was certain about my orders: to remain on station until they arrived back.”
“When Lieutenant Commander Headley informed you of the seriousness of the situation, that a man was dying, I believe you uttered the phrase ‘You can’t run a Navy for a guy who’s probably cut his goddamned finger’?”
“I do not recall that.”
“And so you turned around and went back to the RV?”
“Yes.”
“And do you recall a strong protest from the SEAL mission controller, Commander Rusty Bennett, almost begging you to go inshore and save his man?”
“No. I do not recall that.”
“Do you recall the condition of the wounded SEAL when they finally arrived back?”
“You know perfectly well that I do.”
“What was that condition?”
“Do you really have to persist in this unhelpful manner?”
“WHAT WAS THAT CONDITION, COMMANDER?”
“The SEAL was dead.”
“Thank you. And is it your opinion that he might have been saved if you’d gotten him aboard a half hour earlier?”
“I have no idea. I’m not a doctor.”
“And how long had he been dead before your crew got him back aboard?”
“I believe fifteen minutes.”
“Thank you. And would it surprise you to learn that from that moment on, both your crew and the SEAL assault teams regarded you as a heartless, somewhat remote figure who cared nothing about any of them.”
“OBJECTION! Counsel is harassing the witness, asking a question to which he could not possibly know the answer.”
“Sustained. Strike that last question from the record.”
But Al Surprenant smiled the quiet smile of a man who had said precisely what he wanted to say. And he rephrased it, good-naturedly…“Commander, would it suprise you to know that a lot of your crew did not agree in any way with your decision to let the man die?”
“OBJECTION! Commander Reid did not decide to let the man die. He simply followed the orders of the flag. Counsel continues to harass the witness.”
“Sustained. Strike the question.”
“Very well,” replied Al Surprenant. “In the light of everything, let me ask you this: Thirty-six hours previously, do you recall refusing to go inshore for a few extra miles, thus saving the battery of the ASDV when the navigator had informed you there was plenty of water depth.”
“No. I do not recall that.”
“Would you feel happier if I read it directly to you from the ship’s log?”
“OBJECTION. Counsel is treating the witness as if he were on trial, attempting to humiliate him before the court, and now he wants to produce evidence against him we have not even seen.”
“Sustained. But leave the record.” Boomer Dunning was a picture of calmness in increasingly stormy waters.
“Commander Reid,” continued the defense counsel, “would you say you were a man who followed orders to the letter, allowing no leeway, and no room for flexibility.”
“No I would not. I’m as flexible as the next man. But not when it comes to the safety of my ship.”
“Would you say you were as flexible as, say, Admiral Pierre de Villeneuve?”
Locker Jones shook his head, and held his hands apart in mock outrage. Captain Dunning stared at the former CO, awaiting an answer. And when it came, there was a frisson of unease in the room.
“Damn you, Headley,” he hissed, almost under his breath.
And now Lieutenant Commander Surprenant was on him. “Damn who, sir? Damn who? I did not quite catch that.”
Commander Reid’s face was beginning to redden, and he was starting to look angry. He made no reply.
And again Al Surprenant came in. “I asked if you were as flexible as Admiral de Villeneuve. Please answer me. I know you are well acquainted with each other.”
Locker Jones had never even heard of the French Admiral, or if he had, he’d clean forgotten it. But it was hard to object because he could not tell if there was venom behind the innocence of the question.
Still Commander Reid said nothing. And the president stepped in, requesting defense counsel to clarify the question for the benefit of the panel and indeed the prosecutor.
“Sir,” said Al Surprenant, “Admiral de Villeneuve was the commander of the French Fleet at the Battle of Trafalgar. He presided over probably the biggest disaster in a sea battle in history. He lost twenty ships, was captured by the British and soon afterward committed suicide. There is a picture of him on the wall of Commander Reid’s cabin, which is unorthodox for a U.S. Navy commanding officer, at best.”
“I see,” said Captain Dunning. “Well, I suppose it may be relevant. Please proceed.”
“Thank you,” said the counselor, and, turning back to Commander Reid, said flatly, “Is it not a fact that you believe you WERE Admiral de Villeneuve in a previous life?”
“Millions of people believe in reincarnation,” replied the Commander.