“First,” said Kolhammer in a clipped tone indicating that he did not appreciate Spruance’s insinuation, “we didn’t misplace them. We’re as much a victim of the accident that brought us here as you are. Second, I can’t tell you with any certainty which ships are missing because I don’t know which came through. But it’s possible that others may have arrived. We’re following up a ghost return from the southwest that might be a British destroyer, the Vanguard.”

“And you’ve sat on this for how long?” asked Spruance, incredulity struggling with fury in his voice.

“We haven’t suppressed it at all. These signal traces are less than fifteen minutes old. I was informed on my way here to meet you. We’re still analyzing them.”

Spruance exploded.

“Goddamn it! Have you got any of your precious analysts evaluating what sort of a mess we’ll be in if Japan or the Nazis get hold of one of your ships. You’ve got no goddamn idea where all this shit of yours has landed, do you? They could be raining those missiles of yours down on Hawaii or Washington, even as we stand here.”

The confrontation between the two men completely separated their officers into contending groups. The scene in the briefing room looked like the moments just before a gang fight. Kolhammer’s jawline knotted in anger as he struggled with a response.

“Admiral Spruance,” he said, slowly and evenly. “You have suffered grievously at our hands tonight. But we have our own casualties, well over a thousand of them killed in action by your men. Another thousand dead on the Fearless. Another two hundred missing and presumed lost on the Garrett. We are not laying blame or seeking to avoid our responsibilities. We are not going to let your enemy profit from this. But you are going have to accept that, if we have a duty to fight here, we also have rights due to any free man or woman who accepts the burden of their responsibilities.”

“And what the hell does that mean?” asked Spruance.

“I think it means that this thing between you and me, this is a fight for another day, Admiral. We’ve got thousands of sailors who need urgent medical treatment. The immediate threat to Midway has receded. I can station assets there to ward off any further attempt to take the island. Your task force is in no shape to fight. I suggest we withdraw to Pearl, establish exactly what other vessels, if any, have arrived here, and what has become of them. We repair the damage to my task force as best we can. And then we deal with the consequences of the night.”

The task force leaders locked eyes across the short space separating them. Spruance appeared coiled and furious. Kolhammer was uncompromising. The only sign that the confrontation was not going to escalate was the excruciating silence.