the command test set and transmitted three hundred messages in less than two seconds, exactly at the right time and from somewhere off the Florida coast, than it is that somewhere in the 4.2 software system there is an error that is improperly incrementing the command receipt counter? My God, Lieutenant, use your head. Are you seeing bogeymen at night? This is 1994. There is virtually no tension on the international scene. You believe that the Russians are so colossally stupid that they would risk detente to command a Navy cruise missile off course while it is still under test? Even if they could somehow command the missile to a specific location and then recover it and understand it thoroughly by reverse engineering, why would they take such a horrendous chance for such a comparatively small return?'
Todd and Ramirez said nothing during the commander's harangue. Ramirez was starting to look uncomfortably embarrassed toward the end. Todd's boyish self-confidence had faded as well and he began to wring his hands and pop his knuckles absentmindedly. After a long pause Winters continued, firmly but without some of the exasperation of his initial speech.
'We assigned some specific work items yesterday, Lieutenant. They were supposed to be addressed by today. Look again at the 4.2 software, particularly to see if there were any errors in the interface with the command test set that showed up during module or integration testing. Maybe there was a bug in the command receipt counter subroutine that did not get corrected in the new release. And for the meeting this afternoon, I want you to show me a list of possible failure modes that would explain the telemetry data, other than commands being sent from a foreign power. And then show what you are planning to do to analyze each failure mode and reduce the length of the list.'
Ramirez stood up to leave. 'Under the circumstances, Commander, I feel that my presence here is a little, uh, improper. I have briefed a couple of my men already and have kicked off some investigative work to see if there is now or has been recently any Russian military or civilian activity in the area. I had put a top priority on the effort. In view of this conversation, I feel I should suspend — '
'Not necessarily,' Commander Winters interrupted him. 'It might be very difficult for you to explain at this juncture.' He looked at both of the squirming young lieutenants. 'And it is not my wish to be vindictive and put you both on report, although I think you both acted hastily and outside regulations. No, Lieutenant, continue with the intelligence gathering, it may eventually be of some importance. Just don't make a big deal out of it. I'll accept the responsibility.'
Ramirez walked toward the door. He was clearly grateful. 'Thank you, Commander,' he said sincerely, 'for a minute there I thought maybe I had crapped in my mess kit. I've learned a very valuable lesson.'
Winters saluted the intelligence officer and motioned Todd, who was apparently also preparing to leave, back to his seat. The commander walked over in front of the Renoir painting and appeared to be studying it. He spoke quietly, without turning to face the junior lieutenant. 'Did you say anything to that reporter Miss Dawson about a missile, or did she mention a missile to you while you were talking to her?'
'No, sir, there was nothing like that,' Todd asserted. 'She was even vague when I asked her what she had heard.'
'She either has some inside information or is very very lucky,' the commander said abstractedly, almost to himself. He walked over closer to the painting and imagined that he could hear the piano being played by the younger of the two sisters. Today he heard a Mozart sonata. But it was not the right time to listen. This young man needs a good lesson out of all this, Winters thought as he turned around.
'Do you smoke. Lieutenant?' he asked, offering Todd a cigarette and placing one in his own mouth. The younger man shook his head. 'I do,' said Winters, lighting his Pall Mall, 'even though there are a thousand reasons why I shouldn't. But I almost never smoke around people who don't. It's a question of consideration.'
Winters walked over to look out the window and blew the smoke slowly out his mouth. Todd looked puzzled. 'And right now,' Winters continued, 'I'm smoking, strangely enough, also out of consideration. For you. You see, Lieutenant