In the wicked satirical tradition of Joseph Heller and Kurt Vonnegut, the adventures of two naval men follow America’s rise to global dominance as its military burns off excess testosterone, connives to justify its bloated budget, and prepares for the ultimate challenge—the War on Evil. Buddies Jack Hogan and Buzz Rucci joined the U.S. Navy to defend their country, but they soon find themselves serving in a time of "play" war. Jack's rise in the Navy is at first rapid as he dazzles the entire Navy with his brilliant strategy in the Great Big Backfire Raid against the Russians, and single-handedly saves the fleet in the Almost Great Big Train Wreck. But his brilliance and competence foster resentment, and his naval career is soon in the doldrums. Buzz is no match for Jack’s intellect, but he plays the game and knows the folly of embarrassing his superiors. Inevitably Jack alienates one too many of the bathtub admirals, his career takes a dive, and his second marriage goes into a skid. Fed up, he takes early retirement at the rank of commander, and in a final irony, watches newly installed Admiral Rucci sail into the sunset in command of his own fleet. An insider's eye for detail and authenticity delivers a scathingly funny indictment of incompetence at the highest ranks of the armed forces.