Chapter 10 - Ryan’s Score Sheet
Ryan looked stunned when Jack confronted him.
“I never heard ‘Test Eight.’”
Laura joined call.
“Yes, you did.”
Ryan frowned.
Then she gave full title:
Evaluation Sequence 8.
Ryan’s expression changed.
“That was equipment drill.”
Exactly.
Ryan had been civilian combat-sports consultant helping design movement scenarios.
He created eight evaluation sequences.
Sequence Eight simulated close-quarters extraction while wearing Arden Tactical protective sensor gear.
Ryan signed scenario design.
He did not approve equipment safety or procurement.
But after fire, “Team Eight” emerged from sloppy shorthand.
Investigators later misinterpreted sequence designation as personnel team in some records.
That helped confusion.
No hidden Team Eight of operatives.
No secret squad.
A test number became apparent team label because records were manipulated and poorly archived.
Ryan found old score sheet.
He had kept carbon copy.
Sequence Eight performance targets.
At bottom:
VALIDATION INSTRUCTOR: J. SULLIVAN.
Signature blank.
Jack never signed.
Then another copy from incident archive had signature.
J. Sullivan.
Forged.
Hale needed Jack because Jack was senior instructor who had repeatedly challenged realism of vendor tests.
His approval would carry weight.
When Jack refused, Hale planned Michael to stand in for demonstration and later generate validation under Jack’s credential.
Jack’s accidental evacuation made substitution easier.
Michael copied insignia because Hale wanted visual continuity in remote footage where face might not be clear.
That was why tattoo existed before accident: Hale had been preparing Michael as stand-in for marketing/training footage even before Jack was injured, expecting to remove Jack from final evaluation administratively if necessary.
That was unethical and fraudulent.
Not supernatural.
Not secret military death program.
Then why did Ryan instinctively straighten posture when seeing Jack?
Because Ryan remembered “Sullivan” in records as senior Marine instructor whose evaluation had been cited for years.
He had also heard rumors that Sullivan died in Red Valley.
Seeing real Jack’s disciplined stance plus authentic faded insignia made contradiction immediate.
His reaction was recognition of name/mark, not personal history.
But Jack’s full military record still remained private.
He had trained Marines fifteen years, served deployments and instructed combat skills. The story did not require mythical missions.
Ryan apologized.
“I helped build scenario that killed your friends.”
Jack shook head.
“You designed training sequence.”
“I signed it.”
“That isn't same as disabling safety.”
“But I trusted people I shouldn't.”
“That part you own.”
Ryan nodded.
Then he handed Jack score sheet.
One handwritten note in margin:
SULLIVAN WILL NOT VALIDATE. USE M.A. FOR CAMERA. V.H.
Michael Arden.
Victor Hale.
Direct evidence Hale planned substitution before accident.
Maya? No, different story. We need public investigators unnamed. Let's use federal review counsel. Independent federal investigator Karen Mills received copy.
Hale’s attorney could no longer claim misunderstanding.
But fire itself required more.
Laura saw Hale use override.
Michael heard Hale dismiss warning.
Mercer ordered pause.
System logs showed Mercer credential.
Ryan was absent.
Investigators compared old control backups.
Override command originated terminal 3.
Laura said Hale stood there.
Hale claimed technician Samuel Pike did.
Samuel was dead.
Convenient but not proof.
Luke Brooks had recorded Samuel years before death.
In interview Samuel said:
“I was at terminal two.”
“Who was at three?”
He refused.
Luke asked why.
Samuel answered:
“Because he made me sign paper saying it was me.”
“Who?”
Silence.
Then:
“Hale.”
Jack closed eyes.
There it was.
But Samuel continued:
“He didn't start fire on purpose.”
“What did he do?”
“He believed warning was false.”
Hale had overridden shutdown to prevent demonstration from stopping.
He did not intend deaths.
That distinction would matter legally and morally.
Six men died because ambition, falsified identity, weak controls and catastrophic safety decision converged.
Not because Hale wanted them dead.
Then Karen Mills called Jack.
“We found original unedited incident roster.”
“Where?”
“Archived with insurer.”
“How many casualties?”
“Six.”
Jack exhaled.
“Is my name there?”
“No.”
“Michael?”
“No. Listed survivor.”
“So somebody changed federal program copy later.”
“Yes.”
“Who authorized amendment?”
Mills paused.
“Not Hale.”
Jack’s eyes narrowed.
May you like
“Who?”
“Thomas Mercer.”
