War of the whales: a true story

Prologue

Part 1. Stranded. The day the whales came ashore

Castaways

Taking heads

The loneliness of the long-distance beachcomber

In the silent service

The stranding goes viral

"Unusual morality event"

Part 2. Acoustic storm. The lone rangers of the environment

Joel Reynolds among the friendlies

The whale coroner arrives

Depth charges

Beachside necropsy

Cease and desist

Acoustic storm

The sonar that came in from the cold

Heads that tell tales

Part 3. The reluctant whistle-blower. A mind in the water

The killer turned tame

A call to conscience

The dolphins that joined the Navy

Mr. Balcomb goes to Washington

The mermaid that got away

In the valley of the whales

Part 4. Whales v. Navy. God and country v. the whales

"It is so ordered"

Counterattack

The admirals take charge

The highest court in the land

Endgame

Epilogue.