Secret Command

An undercover intelligence officer posing as a shipyard worker who must balance deception with courage. He methodically observes the yard for signs of saboteurs while maintaining a calm exterior. His personal history with his brother Jeff, and his romance through Jill and Lea, complicate his mission, but his resolve keeps him focused on preventing disaster.

Sam's brother and his boss at the shipyard, Jeff's trust in Sam is strained by Sam's absence when their mother was dying. He is practical and cautious, often frustrated by the dangerous secrecy surrounding the mission. His near-fatal accident during a rescue emphasizes the personal cost of the spy game.

Lea is Jeff's girlfriend and formerly Sam's partner; her feelings are tangled as she discovers Sam's double life. She navigates competing loyalties and the strain of pretending nothing is wrong while danger closes in. Her presence complicates Sam's decisions and personal stakes in the mission.

Assigned to be Sam's pretend wife and mother to the children, Jill becomes a key ally in the mission. She uses the ruse to protect Sam and the operation, and her quick action helps neutralize a threat. By the end, she accepts a real future with Sam, merging duty with possibility.

Lessing is the shipyard boss who is suspected of being an enemy agent. He embodies the veneer of loyalty while hiding dangerous intent. His role is pivotal in the unmasking of the spy network and the subsequent revelations.

Miller is a double agent who initially appears to be loyal to the Allies but is revealed as part of the enemy network. He provides crucial information and warnings before his death, adding tension and complexity to the conspiracy. His actions reveal the fragility of trust within the spy ring.

Thane is Sam's superior who assigns the pretend family and coordinates the operation. He represents the wartime chain of command, balancing risk with the need to uncover saboteurs. His leadership helps drive the investigation and capture of the conspirators.

Red is a trusted ally with inside knowledge of the operation who ultimately dies in the course of the plot. Before his death, he hints at the true traitor by naming 'Brownie' as the leader. His sacrifice underscores the dangers faced by those aiding Sam.

Simms is one of the saboteurs who recognizes Sam and pursues him. His presence heightens the tension as the protagonists race to uncover the plot. His death, staged as a car accident, reveals the ruthlessness of the espionage network.

Paul is one of the refugee orphans included in the pretend family to strengthen the deception at the yard. His presence adds an emotional layer to the mission and highlights the human cost of wartime espionage. He embodies innocence amid secrecy and danger.

Joan is another orphan insulated within the pretend family, providing companionship for the 'children.' Her role helps drive the emotional stakes of the deception and the safety of the makeshift family. She contributes to the sense of normalcy Sam fights to protect.