He watched every single person in that bay either laugh or stay silent.
And he watched Avery Jackson stand completely still through all of it.
Hayes had seen enough.
He stepped forward. The crowd parted when they noticed the uniform.
"What exactly is happening here?" Hayes said.
His voice was not loud. It did not need to be.
Grant straightened immediately. "Commander Hayes, we weren't expecting you until 11. This is just a security matter. An unauthorized person entered the facility last night and..."
"I heard what you called her," Hayes said.
He looked at Grant, then at Derek, who quietly lowered his phone.
"I also heard her say something about a fuel rail and ignition timing before you shouted her down."
Grant forced a smile. "Sir, with all due respect, she's not a trained engineer. She's the daughter of our former janitor. She has no credentials, no clearance, no..."
"I didn't ask for her resume," Hayes said. "I asked what she said about the engine."
The bay went silent. Not the kind of silence that comes from shock, but the kind that comes from fear.
Every engineer in that room understood what Commander Hayes represented: $40 million. The contract that would save Hargrove from collapse.
Hayes turned to Avery. She was still standing in the center of the half circle. Her father's notebook was pressed to her chest. Oil stains marked her jeans. Her jaw was tight, but her eyes were steady.
"What's your name?" Hayes asked.
"Avery Jackson."
"Jackson?" Hayes paused. "Any relation to Earl Jackson?"
Avery blinked. "He was my father. You knew him?"
"I inspected this yard 20 years ago. Your father walked me through the prototype intake designs for the Titan. Brilliant man. I wrote a commendation for him in my report."
Hayes glanced at Grant. "I was surprised when I came back and found out he'd been reassigned to janitorial."
Grant said nothing. His neck turned the same shade of red it had the day before.
Hayes looked back at Avery. "You said the fuel rail on bank two is misaligned. You said the ignition timing is swapped on cylinders nine through 12. Is that correct?"
"Yes, sir."