As the coded messages are transmitted back and forth from the Philippines to the US and back, the leaders on both sides of the conflict have to decide on a course of action. General Pickering is facing against Secretary Knox in order to bring the best and most capable soldiers into the field, while Knox is trying to send a political nominee, the inept Captain Macklin. Captain Mastuo Saikaku knows of the encrypted messages, but is unable to break them and gain access to the information inside. He is trying to triangulate the source of the messages and find the intruders in the Philippines and having to decide how many resources to pour into cracking a message of unknown importance.
Meanwhile, the guerrillas in the Philippines are managing to survive. They have ambushed many convoys, stealing supplies, and generally raising hell for the Japanese based on the island. They have verified their authenticity to the US HQ and they will be relieved by a submarine, which will have a few experienced soldiers aboard as well as supplies such as food, water, ammunition, as well as gold bullion to pay the Philippinos.
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Seems to me like it is a situation very similar to many wars and invasions and occupations over the years. There is often an insurgency like this, and the tactics used by the guerillas are, really, what enables their survival. But you have to give some of the credit, I suppose, to the Americans fighting the Japanese on the islands and in the sea, which is most likely distracting the main Japanese force. It seems like a really interesting book! Can't wait for the conclusion!
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