September, 2001. On its last leg homeward, from Pearl Harbor (Hawai'i) to San Diego, the USS Constellation hosts a jolly 'tiger cruise' for USNavy, Marines, and USNAF relatives, mainly minors ("Navy brats"). Attitudes and emotions vary from simple joy to open frustration, the worst brat being XO commander Gary Dolan's daughter Maddie, who wants him to refuse a promotion to command for a shore job. Then the news of the WTC terror crisis changes everything as the crew is recalled to war footing.—KGF Vissers