The Circle

Epilogue

The Pentagon, Washington, D.C.

IN the silent room, the old clock ticked. The stir in the corridors as men and women deserted the great building had departed long ago. At the door the guard’s back was motionless, still. Beyond it through the far window night had come, covering the graves with the cold shadow of everlasting winter.

Waiting, he had slipped from impatience to resignation, to doze and then waken. His thoughts had wearied of their endless round. He sat now in a calm different from anything he had ever felt before.

He no longer cared about the pain. He wasn’t thinking about his wife or his career, or of the men he had left in the light of flames, never to see again.

He waited, and did not glance up even at the murmured exchange outside his door.

“Sir. Sir?”

He started and came back. “Yes.”

“The Court will see you now.”

Weariness lay like the foreshadow of age along the muscles of his legs. He stretched, hearing joints crack. He straightened his tie and buttoned his blouse as best he could over the sling, all by habit, without thought.

The corridor was brightly lighted and empty, reflecting, as he walked, his face, distorted and pale in the gray-green tile. The marine led, a few paces in front. He took a breath, searching for fear, and was a little surprised to find none. If they’d called him in the morning, his heart would have been hammering as he walked toward judgment. But now he was at peace. Everything will turn out all right. At last he suspected what those words might mean.

The guard stopped, faced about, and snapped back to parade rest. A brass plaque read PRIVATE against walnut brightwork. Dan tucked his cap under his arm. The sling got in the way, but he got it wedged in. He knocked and entered and came to attention.

The room was larger then he’d expected. Someone’s office, preempted for the court. The three admirals sat silent, awaiting him. He took a step forward, his sight narrowing, as if with tunnel vision, to the green baize surface of the table.

There was no sword on it.

“Please stand at ease, Ensign,” said the tall one, Dennison. “We’ll keep you only a moment. Admiral Ausura, will you read the decision or shall I?”

The short man cleared his throat and picked up a typed sheet. Gold gleamed dully on his sleeves. Some part of Dan’s mind noted the heavy, lustrous circle of gold on his left hand.

“Mr. Lenson, this Court has found you absolved of responsibility in the collision between USS Kennedy and USS Ryan. You are free to go.”

The words were in no sense dramatic, but they hung in the air for what seemed to Dan like a long time. They played over the surface of his mind like a breeze over a still sea.

“Do you have anything further to say?” asked Ausura, raising his eyes first to Morehead, so far silent, then to Lenson.

“What did you decide about—the rest of us? Evlin, and Bryce, and the captain?” he said.

A trace of expression flitted across the president’s eyes, then was gone, dissolved back into the still, bleak face. “Lieutenant Evlin was also absolved in the matter. We have recommended that Commander Bryce’s conduct after the collision be the subject of a separate court-martial.”

“And Captain Packer?”

“As a party, you will be sent a copy of the Findings and Recommendations. You can read our opinions and the grounds for them in full there. We found Commander Packer guilty of full responsibility for the collision. Captain Javits and Rear Admiral Hoelscher we found guilty of contributory negligence in that aspect of the matter. We have recommended they be issued letters of admonition. We are also recommending that Hoelscher’s decision to extinguish the fire by ramming, though not necessarily unjustified, be looked into more closely than we can in this investigation.”

Guilty … absolved … admonished: The words echoed on and on in a mind as empty as deserted corridors. Godlike words, sounding of doom. Guilty … to bear that stain forever in the minds of men. Absolved … blameless in legal terms, but the name Ryan would follow the man marked with it to the end of his days. Admonished … it sounded innocuous, but it meant Javits’s and Hoelscher’s careers were finished. They’d serve out their tours, but they’d never hold another command.

“That’s not right,” he said.

“I beg your pardon?” The eyes, which had dismissed him, came back up. Faces lined and leathered by age and weather lifted to study him.

“It isn’t right that he gets—all the blame. Don’t you know what he did in the Arctic, with that worn-out ship, that worthless crew?”

Ausura frowned. He glanced at the others, then cleared his throat and leaned back. “Mr. Lenson, you’ve been through a lot. Your remark’s out of line. But your loyalty to your captain is commendable. And—pardon me, but you’re very young. Let me explain something to you.

“A ship is different from anyplace on earth. It’s dangerous at sea, as you’ve surely grasped by now. Dangerous, and separate. A captain has absolute power out there, extending—and it still does—to death. To trust a man with the lives of others is a grave thing. Only three principles make it work. Authority; responsibility; accountability.

“Authority is the root of command. We delegate it only for a time, only in exercise of an office, only as defined by custom and law. Never as an individual, never for very long, never as if by right, never without bounds.

“Responsibility defines what a man is trusted with, with the ship, with the conn, whatever. So it’s all clear, up front, and everybody understands his duty.

“To be accountable means to be subject to justice. To punishment, if you will. If you fail your trust—are derelict in your duty, misuse your power, make a professional error—you will pay a price.

“In our profession, this accountability is absolute. When a naval officer accepts authority, he knows he will answer for the actions of his ship, whether or not he is directly and personally responsible in the way a civilian court would understand. For it is his responsibility to know and govern all that goes on aboard her, her flaws, her limitations, as well as her strengths.

“If error occurs, no matter whose, the fault is rightfully and inevitably his. Each commander knows this and accepts it as part of the job. No previous service, however meritorious, can make up for it.

“No matter what the extenuating circumstances may be, Commander Packer was accountable, utterly and alone, for his ship’s maneuvers. Perhaps you see our decision as vengefulness, or expedience. It is neither. I assure you, if he were here today, the verdict would be the same. Ryan and her men died under his charge. Therefore, he was to blame.”

Dan was silent for a moment. Then he said, “That’s wrong, sir.”

The three senior officers stiffened.

“By law and custom, you may be right. But I was responsible, too.”

“Mr. Lenson—”

“Wait. Lassard was responsible, too. Evlin was. Bryce. Commander Packer was sure, but not alone.”

Ausura half-rose, anger darkening his face. Dan plunged on, neither daring nor caring to think what he was saying. He had to say these things, now, to these men.

“Javits and Hoelscher made mistakes and you acknowledged that. But does it end there? Sombody should mention the others. I will.

“The ones who sent Ryan to the Arctic in winter, pulled from the yard, unready—they’re responsible. Who got us into a war we couldn’t win, and tore the country apart? Who neglected the Navy, made it keep on with worn-out ships and no parts? They’re responsible.”

“Ensign—”

“I only have a little more, sir. We may not be accountable, but we’re all guilty. The degree may vary, but the stain’s on each of us.

“But I can’t accept it for others. Only for myself. So I do. I’m responsible too. Punish me.”

“And if we refuse?” said Morehead in a dry voice.

“I will resign and carry my accusations to the press.”

The three men sat as if carved from dark blue stone. Morehead rolled a pencil slowly, his Academy ring gleaming. Ausura was breathing heavily. Dennison reached up to scratch his head. He sighed. “Step outside, please,” he said.

The guard came to attention as he came out. “Stand easy, Sergeant,” Dan said. “They’ll want me back in a little while.”

A few minutes later Dennison opened the door. “Get in here,” he said.

He stood again in front of the table. “Ensign,” said the president heavily, “the Court of Inquiry has reconsidered. It now finds you and Alan Evlin, because he was senior to you on Ryan’s bridge, and thus cannot be absolved if you are guilty, culpable of contributory negligence in the matter of the collision between Ryan and Kennedy. We have recommended that you be issued a letter of caution, to form a permanent part of your service jacket.”

“Thank you, sir,” he said, and his voice, though calm, held a note of happiness.

* * *

OUTSIDE in the corridor, the guard muttered, “How’d it go, sir?”

“Not as bad as I thought.” He took a deep breath and explored his shoulder with his fingers. “No, not too bad.”

“Good. I was pulling for you. Need a cab?”

“Thanks, I should have a ride waiting.”

Outside, on the granite steps, he paused to flip up the collar of his bridge coat. The night wind pierced his cheeks, brushing his lashes with the vanishingly faint kiss of new snow. He took a deep breath, letting its clean cold wash through his blood. It smelled of the river, of the bay beyond, and he caught or imagined in it a trace of the dank salt scent of the sea. A great elm reached up beside the deserted bus stop, bare and spectral beneath its coating of ice. Beyond the empty lots the lights of the city glittered like a distant fleet at anchor.

A letter of caution. It wasn’t as bad as an admonition or reprimand. It wouldn’t be easy to make a career, with that in his record. But it wasn’t impossible.

It was a fair judgment.

And Evlin? He smiled faintly. Somehow he felt that wherever he was, he’d understand. He’d have to explain to Deanne, though. And why he’d done it.

He stood under the granite loom, waiting. In the darkness the elm chattered faintly, the ice-encased branches trembling and rattling against one another for a moment in the cold wind before it died away. He shivered.

All at once, for an unimaginably brief and transient sliver of a moment, he felt as if he wasn’t there, or that someone was, but not him; that he was nameless, manifold, myriad, as if he existed or had existed in as many selves as the multitude of carpeted lights. He wasn’t alone. He was part of a great circle, which closed, which joined hands with itself.

“Al?” he muttered uncertainly. “Captain?”

But there was no answer. Out of the darkness the wind came again, and the branches rattled, and he was alone again on the steps. The world ran by accident, by random chance. There was no answer in the stars. None on the hollow wind. They were meaningless and mute, barren of all message save the enormous and incomprehensible fact that they existed.

Below him, in the empty lot, headlights came on. They swept around toward him, then grew brighter, searching through the falling snow.

Now that it was over, he’d have some time with her. Time to talk it out, to search out and heal whatever had torn between them. And he would. He had to. She and the Navy, those were the two givens in his life. The two things he loved, and was part of, and always would be, no matter what.

Holding the bill of his cap to keep it from blowing away, he began limping down the steps, toward the waiting shadow of his wife.

Office of the Judge Advocate General

Washington Navy Yard

Washington, DC 20402

From: President, Kennedy–Ryan Court of Inquiry

To: Secretary of the Navy

Subject: Opinion and Recommendations

Sir:

This court having inquired into all facts and circumstances connected with the collision recently occurring between USS KENNEDY and USS RYAN, and having considered the evidence adduced in the attached transcript, finds as follows.

OPINION

1. That the maneuver into the wind carried out by USS KENNEDY was a normal maneuver, properly ordered, and could have been safely executed.

2. That the left turn of RYAN across KENNEDY’s bow was the direct cause of the collision.

3. That in making his final left turn, the Commanding Officer of RYAN made a grave error in judgment.

4. That the evolution originally planned by the Commanding Officer of RYAN to reach his new station involved unnecessary and considerable risk, and was in violation of the directive governing such maneuvers.

5. That the Commanding Officer of RYAN could have predicted the position of KENNEDY throughout her turn with a good degree of accuracy.

6. That the Commanding Officer of KENNEDY could not have predicted the course and speed of RYAN in proceeding to her assigned plane guard station.

7. That the message from CTG 21.1 may have influenced the Commanding Officer of RYAN to expedite his evolution, but does not excuse courting danger in its execution.

8. That Commander James John Packer, Commanding Officer of RYAN, was derelict in his duties in that he failed to comply with U.S. Navy Regulations Articles 0701 and 0751, which assigned him responsibility for the safety of his ship and for the observance of every caution prescribed by law and regulation to prevent collision on the high sea, in the following respects:

(a) Violation of Article 27, International Rules of the Road (General Prudential Rule).

(b) Violation of Article 22: Did not keep out of the way of a privileged vessel, but crossed ahead.

(d) Violation of Allied Tactical Publication 1, Article 533 and others: RYAN, a small ship, hampered the movements of KENNEDY; crossed the bow of the carrier when it was not safe; and changed a clear situation into an awkward one by lack of timely indication of her intent and through an impatient haste to accomplish her evolution.

9. That the above derelictions of duty by Commander Packer were due to poor judgment, due principally to:

(a) Fatigue and sickness.

(b) Lack of recent experience in maneuvering with carriers.

(d) His confusion at a critical time during a rapidly evolving situation, as a possible result of the following factors:

(1) Night and radar silence

(2) High closing rates

(3) Desire to effect a rapid maneuver

(4) Incorrect reading of KENNEDY’s position angle.

10. That the above derelictions of duty by Commander Packer were the direct cause of the collision.

11. That the reason for the final left turn of RYAN that led to the collision is ultimately irretrievable.

12. That Rear Admiral Hoelscher, commander of the task group, was negligent in his duties in that he failed to comply with U.S. Navy Regulations, Article 0611, which assign him responsibility as senior officer present for the safety of ships in company. This opinion as to negligence is based on the following factors, in that:

(a) As senior officer present, he was responsible for the planning and execution of maneuvers of the force, even though this duty had been delegated.

(b) He prescribed complex high speed maneuvers at night, darkened, by ships that had not first practiced such maneuvers during daylight.

(c) He might have been more prudent by setting a policy that ordered plane guard ships to station prior to executing turns to recovery courses; and might have prescribed the use of running lights during maneuvers, until such time as he was satisfied all units were capable of safely executing them while darkened; and thus

(d) He failed to comply with the International Rules of the Road, Article 27, by not having due regard to all risks of collision.

13. That there exists a further question as to negligence or dereliction of duty in Rear Admiral Hoelscher’s actions subsequent to the collision proper in regard to RYAN.

14. That Captain Javits, Commanding Officer of KENNEDY, was negligent in his duties in that he failed to comply with Article 0701, U.S. Navy Regulations, which assign him responsibility for the safety of his ship, in that he:

(a) Assumed RYAN had turned right initially at the execution of his turn signal, and therefore that everything was proceeding normally.

(b) Was not alert, as KENNEDY was turning, to the risk inherent in the positions of the two ships, which increased as they drew closer.

(c) Commenced executing a course adjustment toward RYAN without ascertaining her position and bearing drift, and without ascertaining properly whether she understood his intentions.

(d) Failed to comply with the International Rules of the Road, Article 27, by not having due regard to all risks of collision, and Article 21, by not keeping his course.

15. That there was no negligence or dereliction of duty in connection with Captain Javits’s actions subsequent to the collision.

16. That there was no negligence or dereliction of duty on the part of Lieutenant Commander Arthur Garner, Officer of the Deck of KENNEDY.

17. That Lieutenant Evlin and Ensign Lenson, Officer of the Deck and Junior Officer of the Deck respectively on RYAN, were negligent in their duties, in that they failed to comply with U.S. Navy Regulations, Articles 1008 and 1010, which assign them responsibility for the safety of the ship. This opinion as to negligence is based on the factors that they failed to comply with the International Rules of the Road by not having due regard to all dangers of navigation and collision (Article 27).

18. That no persons other than Commander Packer, Captain Javits, Rear Admiral Hoelscher, Lieutenant Evlin, and Ensign Lenson are in any way responsible for the collision.

19. That the deaths and injuries resulting from the collision and subsequent events were not due to the intent of any person in the naval service, except as may be subsequently found in the cases of Lieutenant Commander Bryce, Lieutenant Norden, BM1 Isaacs, SN Greenwald, SN Gonzales, SR Lassard, and Rear Admiral Hoelscher.

20. That all deaths and injuries suffered in the course of these events occurred in the line of duty.

21. That confusion exists as to the exact meaning of the signal “mike corpen.”

22. That the combat readiness and material condition of RYAN at the time of collision was unsatisfactory due to no fault of the crew or commanding officer.

23. That a deficiency in design exists as to lighting aboard aircraft carriers, in that it is difficult to ascertain angle visually under dimmed lighting.

24. That a deficiency of design exists as to flooding of nuclear weapons magazines aboard destroyers.

RECOMMENDATIONS

1. That in view of the death of Commander James John Packer, whose dereliction of duty was the direct cause of the collision, no disciplinary action be taken in his case.

2. That Rear Admiral Hoelscher be addressed a letter of admonition for the negligent acts specified in the Court’s opinion.

3. That Captain Javits be addressed a letter of admonition for the negligent acts specified in the Court’s opinion.

4. That in view of the death of Lieutenant Alan Evlin, whose dereliction of duty contributed to the cause of the collision, no disciplinary action be taken in his case.

5. That Ensign Lenson be addressed a letter of caution for the acts specified in the Court’s opinion.

6. That a court–martial be convoked to try Lieutenant Commander Benjamin Bryce, Lieutenant Richard Norden, Boatswain’s Mate First Class Lemond Isaacs, Seaman Nathaniel Greenwald, Seaman Tulio Gonzales, and Seaman Recruit William Lassard for actions subsequent to the collision.

7. That a court–martial be convoked to try Rear Admiral Hoelscher for actions subsequent to the collision.

8. That no disciplinary action be taken against any other persons involved in the case.

9. That in future classes of nuclear–carrying ships, a remotely operated flood valve for the nuclear magazines be installed, such that flooding can be initiated from the bridge or damage–control central in case of fire.

10. That in order to reduce the possibility of a recurrence of this type of incident, the following action be taken:

(a) Revise tactical orders, publications, and doctrine to provide:

(1) An indication that operational commanders recognize that commanding officers and crews of ships are not automatically experienced in night carrier operations, and that therefore before such operations are undertaken, especially darkened and in radar silence, consideration be given to the actual experience of the commanding officers to be involved.

(2) That during night air operations, with ships darkened, the officer in charge shall station plane guards in advance of turning to the launch or recovery course, unless the tactical situation shall dictate otherwise.

(3) That a special signal be provided for use by carriers while operating aircraft, indicating “I am adjusting my course to—”, and that acknowledgment from all screen units be received before execution.

(b) That a more distinctive lighting measure be developed to make aircraft carrier courses easier to judge for ships in company.

(c) That renewed emphasis be placed on thorough familiarity of officers with the International Rules of the Road, and that appropriate action be taken to impress on them the importance of constant alertness.

AUSURA

DENNISON

MOREHEAD

FIRST ENDORSEMENT

From: SECRETARY OF THE NAVY

To: CHIEF OF NAVAL OPERATIONS

1. Noted. Approved. Advise me of action re Recommendations 9 and 10.