Privacy and loneliness were the traditional luxuries accorded to a skipper.

The arts and soldiering took time to acquire – time and discipline and desire. No, he was up against bullies. And bullies were cowards. These were mercenaries who acted for money. Shot as, on the other hand, took great pride that he performed his DUTIES for love of country and, though he didn't quite think of it in those terms, for love of his fellow soldiers.

Along the way he also learned one or two things about leadership and national security and what our country is all about and what we're trying to do in the world.

Two questions form the foundation of all novels: "What if?" and "What next?" (A third question, "What now?", is one the author asks himself every 10 minutes or so; but it's more a cry than a question.) Every novel begins with the speculative question, What if "X" happened? That's how you start.

The extraneous duties, in a sense, were the job.

Anyone can deceive us .... for a time.
[KGB]