Tom Brearley (d. 1921) was an officer in the Confederate States Navy who served as Roger Kimball's executive officer aboard the CSS Bonefish. Kimball and Brearley worked well together on their sub's bold raids against the U.S. Navy during the Great War. However, after news of the armistice came in, Brearley opposed Kimball's illegal decision to sink the USS Ericsson and refused to serve his battle station during the attack. After the Ericsson was destroyed, Brearley bitterly asked Kimball "How does it feel to be a war criminal--sir?" to which Kimball callously replied "Pretty damn good." A rift opened between the two erstwhile friends which would never heal.