Then, like a super typhoon, Sit Room Steve — a senior Naval Intelligence civilian analyst who was detailed to the White House — appeared on Marlow’s screen. “I’ve read the Lt’s and Aenid’s report — it is fabulous! Absolutely fabulous. We’ve got to get this in front of POTUS immediately! Standby for me to call […]

“Captain,” he began to the EA, “We’ve got to recast this piece completely.” Aenid sat nearly catatonic in the background. “I’m glad you realize that. A wise decision, Lt. But at this late date, let’s go with what you’ve got and append a single line at the end that reveals this breaking news. To make […]

Marlow slowly read the second bilateral ROK Navy to US Navy analyst exchange message in two days, alternately choking and gasping at each word. The underlying info was several months old, but was very relevant: 1. The following orders are issued to the Commanding Officer of the Kimpo shipyard. 2. Construction is to begin construction […]

Marlow couldn’t believe how quickly he had been swept along by the currents of events. Just twenty four hours ago he had been begging to write a single sentence — now he was drafting with someone very senior to him a one page high level brief to be given to the top brass of Naval […]

It wasn’t difficult to construct a single slide brief and script. Aenid and he used the language they originally had in their separate pieces. After several electronic exchanges of edits. Aenid and Marlow agreed on the final-final and sent it off to the CO with emailed carbon copies to the intervening layers of bosses. While […]

As minutes ticked by, coworkers dropped by his screen to congratulate him on his rise to the top of the day’s VTC briefing schedule. Normally those slots were occupied by senior uniformed and civilian analysts, not mere JOs. He managed to avoid making too much eye contact with his two bosses but was gratified when […]