“Charter demand.”
“Member expectations.”
“Still not answer.”
Arthur closed eyes.
Then:
“Preston pushed operations hard.”
Preston Vale.
One of Sovereign Arc founders.
Camille said:
“How hard?”
“He wanted five aircraft dispatchable at all times.”
“Lease agreement requires four.”
“I know.”
“Why five?”
“Membership expanded.”
“Without our approval?”
Arthur hesitated.
Sovereign Arc contract capped active memberships because utilization assumptions affected maintenance and residual value.
Camille’s voice changed.
“How many members?”
“Thirty-two.”
Her stomach tightened.
Contract allowed twenty.
“When?”
“Gradually.”
“Who approved?”
“Preston.”
“And Grant?”
“He knew.”
“Did Vaughn Meridian receive fees?”
“No.”
Camille looked at Daniel.
He was furious.
She returned to Arthur.
“What did you do when utilization exceeded plan?”
“We managed.”
“That word is now making me nervous.”
Arthur rubbed his face.
“Aircraft one had an avionics failure.”
“Aircraft five entered scheduled inspection.”
“Aircraft three needed cabin environmental work.”
“We began moving compatible components between airframes to keep departures.”
Daniel interrupted:
“Cannibalization is legal when documented.”
Arthur looked.
“I know.”
“Then why weren’t transfers documented properly?”
Arthur’s voice weakened.
“Because some units were moved temporarily.”
Daniel snapped:
“There is no temporary exemption from traceability.”
Camille held hand.
Again.
She asked:
“Serial plates.”
Arthur stared at floor.
“The first was because a component history no longer matched aircraft file.”
“That still makes no sense.”
“It wasn’t component plate.”
“Airframe identification plate.”
Arthur nodded reluctantly.
Daniel’s expression changed from anger to disbelief.
Camille felt cold.
“Why would anyone move an airframe plate?”
Arthur said nothing.
Camille waited.
Finally:
“To align documentation.”
Daniel almost stepped forward.
Camille stopped him without looking.
“To align documentation with what?”
Arthur whispered:
“Cycles.”
There it was.
Camille understood.
Each aircraft accumulated flight hours and cycles.
Lease limits affected maintenance, valuation, and usage charges.
If Sovereign Arc had exceeded contracted use on some aircraft, records could expose large fees and potentially trigger maintenance obligations earlier than planned.
But moving identity did not erase real aircraft history.
It only corrupted records.
Camille asked:
“You were disguising utilization?”
Arthur shook head.
“Not exactly.”
“What exactly?”
“Preston wanted aircraft available.”
“Some had exceeded agreed utilization bands.”
“He said it was temporary until the acquisition.”
Camille stopped.
“What acquisition?”
Arthur looked at Daniel.
Then away.