When young Seaman Tom Williams enlists to begin his Navy career he finds his path to Admiral's rank shaped by many others. The young Raghat tries the submarine service, finds a mentor and friend on his first "boat" and discovers that he excels as a submariner. Events drive his CO to push him to apply for a Naval Officer program and on a path that will take him to MIT, on to other Cold War submarine missions and then because of an off-the-wall wager between two Admirals, into Naval Aviation. He will find a welcome there and earn his way to the top, with some help from some old shipmates. There is humor, intrigue and of course the good guy gets the beautiful girl.