Another local technician with another suggestion.
Andrew had heard more than twenty of them over three days.
Loose ground.
Bad battery.
Software mismatch.
Cold fuel.
Humidity.
Sensor reset.
Static discharge.
Pilot procedure.
Everything from reasonable possibilities to folklore.
He had no desire to hear another.
“Can I help you?” Andrew asked.
Ethan stopped several feet away.
“When did the no-start begin?”
Andrew glanced at the maintenance badge.
“Saturday.”
“What happened Friday?”
“We have complete maintenance records.”
“That wasn’t the question.”
Andrew’s expression tightened.
Victoria had reached the terminal door when she heard that.
She turned.
Andrew said, “Who are you?”
“Ethan Cole. Hartwell maintenance.”
Victoria immediately walked back.
Not because she was interested in Ethan.
Because she did not want another unqualified opinion consuming time.
Andrew replied, “We’re already working the fault.”
“I can see that.”
Victoria stopped beside them.
“Mr. Cole.”
Ethan looked toward her.
She had seen him around the facility before, though she had never known his name.
“We already have the manufacturer’s engineering team on this.”
“I know.”
“Then I’m sure whatever routine maintenance you’re assigned to can wait until they’ve finished.”
Ethan regarded her for a moment.
There was no anger in his face.
That somehow made her tone sound harsher after she heard herself.
“I’m assigned to another aircraft.”
“Then perhaps you should continue with it.”
Andrew looked away.
One of the technicians pretended to check his tablet.
Ethan nodded once.
“Sure.”
He picked up his case.
Then another start attempt began behind them.
Ethan stopped again.
Victoria watched him.
He did not turn fully around.
He simply listened.
The shutdown came.
Ethan looked at Andrew.
“Your cutoff is early by about a third of a second.”
Andrew stared.
Victoria gave a short sigh.
“We have digital telemetry.”
“I know.”
“It records timing.”
“I know.”
“And you believe you heard three-tenths of a second?”
Ethan looked at her.
“I believe the controller is terminating before the stage you keep testing.”
Victoria’s expression cooled.
“Based on sound.”
“Based on sequence.”
“That sounds like the same thing.”
“It isn’t.”
Andrew stepped in.
“What stage?”
Ethan set the case down again.
“The handoff between the battery-supported start bus and the secondary control relay.”
Andrew’s face changed slightly.
That was specific enough to earn attention.
“We checked the relay circuit.”
“I’m sure.”
“And the battery installation.”
“I’m sure.”
Andrew folded his arms.
“Then what exactly are you suggesting?”
Ethan looked toward the nose section.
“That something looks connected and isn’t staying connected under vibration.”
Andrew stared at him.
“The system would flag it.”
“Not necessarily.”
“It monitors continuity.”
“At rest.”
Andrew’s expression sharpened.
Victoria noticed that.
The conversation had changed.
The engineer was no longer dismissing Ethan.
He was evaluating him.
Ethan pointed toward a forward access area.
“What happened immediately before the fault appeared?”
Andrew answered more carefully now.
“Routine battery replacement.”