Part II
Captain Tormolen stepped into the room in the house that had previously served the French Consul General that served as the main meeting area. Admiral Halsey was already there, as usual. Tormolen took a quick glance of the reports from the overnight fighting.
First up, more Marine casualties ashore on Gudalcanal. Once again they had kept the Japanese from retaking Henderson Field, but at a terrible cost, and the airfield had been battered once more.
The Japanese had managed to bring another convoy down the Slot. The Tokyo Express was keeping the Japanese going. All day, the Americans brought in their reinforcements, and the Japanese tried to stop them. At night, the Japanese brought in their reinforcements, and the Americans tried to stop them. So far, it was a savage stalemate, with the only changes being to the casualty counts - the numbers of men killed and wounded, planes shot down, and the numbers of ship sent to the bottom.
Ever since Halsey had taken command of the Southern Pacific, the morale of the men had improved remarkably. But so far, that had yet to translate into actual gains. Tormolen feared that the "bounce" that Halsey's arrival had triggered would fade into renewed cynicism and despair if the fierce warrior did not deliver some tangible results - and soon.
"Joe! Get over here - we've been waiting for you!" Halsey's bellow echoed off the walls, their once-pristine paint now marred with maps and charts and - in one place - plans and charts drawn right on the surface.
"I'm sorry, sir. I didn't know I was needed any sooner."
"I didn't send anyone for you because I figured you'd need all the rest you could get. Pack a bag, son, you're going out to sea."
"Sir?"
"You're going back to the Manchester. Stark's come down with appendicitis, and you're going out to take his place."
"Sir, Commander Washburne is the Manchester's exec. Why isn't he getting command?"
"Because Captain Washburne isn't aboard her. He left a week ago, heading stateside for his own command. His replacement's been delayed, so right
now the Manchester is missing her two top men. I can't move up any of her other officers without leaving a gap in her command structure, so the best
solution is to put another officer in command temporarily."
Tormolen was overwhelmed. "But sir, after my last visit, Captain Stark and I didn't part on the best possible terms."
"You two might not have gotten along famously, but he has a hell of a lot of respect for you. You know the Manchester better than any other officer
available, both the ship and the crew, and you've got a solid, permanent assignment here, so you're not likely to grow too attached to Stark's
seat. Most importantly, we need every ship, and we can't afford for the Manchester to sit at anchor while we wait for her new exec to show up, and then
learn the ropes.
"The docs say Stark should be fit for duty in about three weeks or so. You'll be acting captain until then. If Commander Serra does turn up, you can get him up to speed and -- if he can handle it -- put him in charge of the Manchester and come back here. Or you can stick it out until Stark's back on his feet. Until then, Joe, the Manchester will be yours."
