Impending Crimson Tides

The chain of command is a very fragile thing. A lot of confidence is placed on the captain. He is, after all, steering the ship. This confidence trickles downward through a linear hierarchy — one in which morale and loyalty rest dearly. For the cabin and crew, just a general idea of where they’re headed is all that’s needed. In the middle of the ocean, surrounded by steel on all sides, there aren’t any landmarks (naturally), and the stars point the way only for a privileged knowledgeable few. Without that, what else can you trust? Trust becomes the ballast that keeps the ship afloat.

The crew of the USS Alabama experienced quite how fragile it was, lest they unleash a Crimson Tide. The problem with being in a ship with too many captains is that it goes nowhere. And then, there are the sides.

Power grabs are always tricky. Each side will claim their best interest is running the ship. The only difficulty is how they intend to run the ship, some of which may not be in the crew’s best interest. And if either side doesn’t work out, there’s always the sea. But who wants to jump into the freezing Atlantic? And what's the difference if the very ship he sails in lies dead in the water from a tattered chain of command?

"... and the sea will grant each man new hope, as sleep brings dreams of home."
—Christopher Columbus