The Kasbah in Algiers. Dark and mysterious, a sinkhole teeming with the dregs of humanity; noisy, desperate and dangerous-looking men, and a few veiled women. Thieves, murderers, ruffians, men who trafficked in everything from hashish to human beings were everywhere. For a few dinars you could find someone who could make anything disappear forever. The American Embassy's briefing officers had specifically warned the sailors of the battle group against coming here. Nothing good could come of visiting the place. It was the last place that a pretty American woman sailor should go ... unless she...

When Midshipman Samantha Wilson stepped out of the taxicab and took her first steps at Annapolis she had butterflies in her tummy and goosebumps on her arms. This was the culmination of her hard work and preparation. She was about to embark on the adventure of her life and she just hoped that she could handle it all. She worried that the men who had sent here would be let down if she didn't give the Naval Academy her best performance. She had come from the Fleet and her performance there had been what had got her ticket punched to come here. She'd caught some breaks along the way of course,...

When Midshipman Samantha Wilson ran into her old friend the "Professor" on the Metro platform, she thought it was just a chance meeting. She hadn't seen him since she'd flown to Israel with the Admiral on important work for the navy, but that was two years ago Now here he was in Washington, DC with an invitation for her, an invitation that would lead to the most fulfilling assignments that an aspiring naval officer could even hope for. A formal reception at the Israeli Embassy, a snappy foxtrot with the Ambassador to the United Nations, sharing a bit of champagne with Prime Minister and Mrs....