General Cummings prepares for a final assault on the Toyaku Line as his superiors push him to attack. He needs to have naval support to protect his men. He sets Dalleson to working out the logistics, an unimaginative job that Dalleson enjoys, because it is the only thing he knows how to do properly, and he can consult manuals if necessary. Hearn has been transferred to him, and Dalleson is puzzled by his strange and insolent humor.
Dalleson had came from a poor family, and been a good soldier, and had quickly become a good officer in control of his men. However, once he was promoted to major he felt socially inferior to the other officers he was mixing with. Now he feels miscast for his job as Chief of Operations. However,.....