worn before taking command as Commander in Chief, Pacific Fleet (CINCPAC) and announces that he is to go into the Pacific theater to take personal command of an operation, called Mesquite, that has ground to a halt because of the inept micro-management by the area commander. Torrey lands on the island of Gavabutu, about west of Toulebonne (where the area commander is headquartered), and immediately makes the area commander his enemy by planning an operation to drive the Japanese off Gavabutu immediately. This operation succeeds, and Torrey turns his attention to his next target: Levu-Vana, a much sought-after island having a central plain large enough to build runways for B-17 bombers. He learns that the Japanese want to stay on Levu-Vana. Torrey's repeated attempts to get more materiel for his mission end in failure, largely because the Navy is sending most of its heavy tonnage to the Solomon Islands to support General Douglas MacArthur. Torrey presses on anyway; during the battle, enemy fire sinks his ship, and falling wreckage strikes him and knocks him unconscious. He wakes up aboard a hospital ship under the care of his lover, Maggie Haynes, initially believing that he has lost the battle and sacrificed his ships to no good purpose, until the general commanding his landing forces informs him that he is in control of Levu-Vana, that Torrey's battle was a success, and that no less than Admiral Ernest King has praised him highly for his efforts. Torrey submits to the ministrations of Maggie Haynes—who, in the last scene, prepares to shave his face using his prized seven-blade set of German straight razors, which his rescuers preserved and returned to him. Characters The list of characters in Harm's Way is very lengthy. The most salient characters are: Captain Rockwell "Rock" Torrey, USN, CO of the cruiser known only as Old Swayback—afterwards Rear Admiral Rockwell Torrey, Commander, Advanced Tactical Zone, South Pacific (COMADTACZONSOPAC) Commander Paul Eddington, USN, executive officer of Old Swayback—afterwards Captain Paul Eddington, Chief of Staff, COMADTACZONSOPAC Captain Egan Powell, USNR, Flag Secretary, COMADTACZONSOPAC Lieutenant, junior grade William "Mac" McConnell, USN, assigned to destroyer USS Cassiday—afterwards Lieutenant William McConnell, Flag Lieutenant, COMADTACZONSOPAC Vice Admiral John "Blackjack" Broderick, USN, Commander, Southwest Pacific Area Three Commander Neal Owynn, USNR (formerly of the US Senate), Broderick's chief aide (and, briefly, liaison to COMADTACZONSOPAC) Ensign, afterwards Lieutenant, junior grade Jeremiah Farr Torrey, USNR ("Rock" Torrey's son from