Includes bibliographical references (pages 397-399) and index.

"The tale of a crusading attorney who stumbles on one of the U.S. Navy's best-kept secrets: a submarine detection system that floods entire ocean basins with high-intensity sound--and drives whales onto beaches. As Joel Reynolds launches a legal fight to expose and challenge the Navy program, marine biologist Ken Balcomb witnesses a mysterious mass stranding of whales near his research station in the Bahamas. Investigating this calamity, Balcomb is forced to choose between his conscience and an oath of secrecy he swore to the Navy in his youth"-- 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.