Original subtitles

[man] We are 30 seconds out.

TACO, turn on the NPD.

Gear switched on.

We are 20 seconds from on top.

Electronic camera on, sir.

Here she comes.

She's hot.

TACO, initiate report to FICPAC.

Deep Sea, this is Birmingham Five-Three-One.

Confirm nuclear weapons onboard Chinese cruiser.

Hull number 1-5-8.

Photographs to follow.

Deep Sea, this is Birmingham 5-3-1.

Unidentified bogies approaching from the west at high speed.

Going to full power. Turning 090.

They're coming straight at us.

He's too close.

Damn!

[grunting]

This is Birmingham 5-3-1

We've been rammed by a Chinese MiG.

We are experiencing severe flight control problems.

Unable to maintain altitude.

[theme song playing]

[man] After the incident, the EP-3 landed safely

at Fuzhou Airbase.

The Chinese government claims

that for the second time in seven months

an American surveillance aircraft

like the one behind me here outside Seattle

has violated their airspace.

The aircraft collided with a Chinese MiG

over the straits of Taiwan

and was forced to land at Fuzhou Airbase.

The crew of the damaged EP-3 has been detained.

The Chinese authorities are still searching

for their missing pilot, Lieutenant Kwan Li

-who is believed lost at sea. -[intercom buzzes]

[Tiner] Admiral, SECNAV's on Line 2.

-Yes, Mr. Secretary? -Admiral...

you've heard that the Chinese have done it again?

-Yes, sir. -It's a damn shame.

Yes, sir, it is.

Same MO, same results, Admiral.

It's déjà vu all over again.

We have every right to find out

if the Chinese have nuclear weapons

that close to Taiwan.

Sir, how badly has our intelligence been compromised?

It depends on how much time between the incident

and the time the Chinese came aboard the plane.

How do we find that out?

A.J., I need a favor.

[Harm] Yeah, I understand the wives

of the enlisted men are pretty upset.

Upset? They threatened

to burn down the base exchange.

How'd that book end up there in the first place?

It got in under the radar.

You know, Sturgis, removing a book

from base exchange is censorship.

Wait, wait a minute. Let me read you just one passage

from this idiotic tome.

Look, here. [chuckles]

"The height of a Navy wife's hair

stands in inverse proportion to her intellect.

The higher the hair,

the dumber the sailor's wife." Huh?

Look, I don't like this crap any more than you do.

But if the base exchange can sell Playboy,

it can sell Big-Haired Women of the Seventh Fleet.

At least that's what the author is claiming.

That woman would do anything to sell a book.

You know, this damn thing doesn't fit.

-Let me see it. -I think it's from a '70.

No, let me see it.

How'd you do that?

I have a soft touch.

You... you push too damn hard.

So, when are you going to call Congresswoman Latham anyway?

I'll get to it in my own time.

Why do you keep forcing her on me?

Because a guy like you needs a woman.

Yeah, we all need a woman.

But why her, and what's the hurry?

Well, the sooner you get with somebody ,

the sooner you'll lighten up.

From what I've seen of Bobbi Latham

and, uh, I kind of like what I've seen --

-[telephone rings] -I don't think

she takes direction any better than you do.

Rabb.

Oh, good morning, Admiral.

SECNAV?

Aye, sir, I'll get on it right away.

You're using your wrists too much, sir.

You need to lock your wrists and swing with the shoulders.

So, when the hell did you become a golf pro?

And don't "sir" me. I'm retired. Good to see you, Harm.

You, too, Admiral.

Grab a cold one?

I'm on duty, sir.

That's what brings you here, duty?

Secretary of the Navy has asked me

as an old family friend to speak with you, sir.

Why doesn't he just pick up the damn phone himself?

Admiral, I think he's afraid

you'll turn him down.

Well, that's bull.

I-I have nothing against him personally.

He did try to send you to Leavenworth.

Well, except that.

What's the Secretary want?

You, Admiral.

I'm retired.

Yes, sir, there are indications of that.

What the hell is this thing, anyway?

Well, I was told to get a hobby so I thought I'd take up golf.

You got a better idea?

The SECNAV would like you to return to active duty, Admiral.

Harm, I had to fight like hell to get approved

to teach a course at the Academy.

There's no way the Senate's going to confirm me

into three-star command. Not with my record.

Well, Admiral, that's not what the SECNAV has in mind.

He would like you to be his personal assistant

and troubleshooter.

Well, I don't take dictation.

You'd still have your two stars, Admiral.

And you'd act on behalf of the SECNAV

when he can't rely on his regular channels.

So I'd be his dog robber?

Ahh.

"Dog robber," sir?

You never heard that, Rabb?

It's an old military term for an officer's aide

who has the ability to get things done.

Usually, off the record, under the radar.

Well, it'd beat the hell out of miniature golf, sir.

Hey, that is not a child's toy.

I paid good money for that.

I think they saw you coming, sir.

You know if you'd have come to me three months ago

I'd have turned you down flat, but...

a lot has changed since September 11th.

The country needs you, sir.

[SECNAV] There are ongoing negotiations

at the highest levels

between the Chinese and the American governments

for the return of the aircraft and its crew.

Has anyone reminded the Chinese that this is an act of war?

There are questions about how the aircraft

got into Chinese hands, Admiral.

They claim they acted only in response to our actions.

[Rabb] There have been reports, sir,

of the Chinese harassing our pilots

in international airspace.

If the midair collision is a result of that ,

it could be considered an act of aggression, sir.

So, who knows the truth?

The crew aboard the aircraft.

So far, no American has been allowed

to speak directly with them.

Where are they now, Mr. Secretary?

Confined to barracks at Fuzhou.

Sir, what's the United States' response to this?

It's a delicate diplomatic matter.

Right now, we need the Chinese to help

in the war against terrorism.

I want Commander Rabb assigned

-to my staff T-A-D. -For how long?

For as long as it takes the Commander and Admiral Boone

to get to China and bring our people back.

There's a C-20 leaving from Andrews in an hour.

At Kadena Airbase, Okinawa ,

you'll transfer to a COD

which will fly you out to the USS Thomas Jefferson.

Captain Hubbard is expecting you onboard.

-What then, sir? -You and the Admiral

will be flown to the Chinese airbase at Fuzhou,

where you will confer

with a General Shin-Wa Chen.

He has agreed to meet

with an American military delegation

only if it's led by Admiral Boone,

whom he knows personally.

[man] You will speak of this mission to no one.

Lieutenants Harrison and Quincy ,

you have diplomatic clearance to land at Fuzhou.

You will drop off Admiral Boone and Commander Rabb.

Do not, under any circumstances,

allow Chinese personnel to board the aircraft.

Don't even shut down the engines.

Return immediately.

Just one change, Captain.

I'll be sitting in the left seat.

Admiral, when was the last time you flew a COD?

I've stayed current.

Well, with all due respect, sir--

Ray...

don't make me pull rank.

Yes, sir. As you wish.

Lieutenant Barrett

and Lieutenant Crawford, you will escort the COD

until you are relieved by Chinese MiGs.

What are the rules of engagement, sir?

Do not fire unless fired upon.

Unless, in your judgment, attack is imminent.

Do not cross into Chinese airspace.

And do not offer any other provocation.

Yes, sir.

That is all.

Carry on.

Let's go draw some flight gear, Commander.

-Aye, sir. -Excuse me, Admiral?

Nice to see you again, sir.

Where do I know you from, Lieutenant?

The Seahawk,sir.

I was a nugget during your last tour as CAG.

Lieutenant Carl Barrett.

What kind of marks did I give you?

Well, sir, you weren't any harder on me

than you needed to be.

That bad, huh?

Did you ever fly with the Admiral, sir?

A few times.

The Commander here saved my life.

Well, I guess you've got it made, sir.

Well, the Admiral's no harder on me than he needs to be.

[radio chatter]

Lieutenant.

[knocking on door]

Good evening, sir.

People are looking for you.

Hopefully, they'll find me in Camp Lejeune, sir.

I'm requesting orders back to a force recon unit.

But I'll need your endorsement, sir.

"Second Reconnaissance Battalion."

Yes, sir, they need a company gunny.

And I need to be back in the fleet

where the action is.

You know, Gunny, I only have one regret.

What's that, sir?

I'm not going with you.

You've done an outstanding job here.

That door will always be open.

Thank you, Admiral.

Be safe, Victor.

Not until we're all safe, sir.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

Fuzhou Control, this is the United States Navy C-Two

Birmingham 2-5.

We are at 10,000 feet, 20 miles off your coast.

Request permission to land.

[radio voice] United States Birmingham 2-5.

You are cleared for landing, runway 3-4.

Wind is north by northwest, ten knots.

Roger, Fuzhou Control.

Stonewall, this is Greyhound.

We are entering Chinese airspace.

[Barrett] Roger, Greyhound.

Breaking off and returning to the ship.

Good luck and Godspeed.

[Boone] Here comes our Chinese escort.

Stop. Stop here.

[man speaking Chinese over speakers]

[Boone] Thank you for extending the invitation, General.

I'm sure you would offer me the same courtesy, Admiral Boone,

if the situation were reversed.

But that would never happen, General.

We would not hold an air crew hostage.

Or commandeer one of your aircraft.

Admiral, I never understood why you were removed from command

for what you did in Vietnam.

American Navy cannot afford to lose

men of your capability.

The admiral was not relieved of command, General Chen.

He requested retirement.

Or was it to save face?

What's past is past, General.

Not in China.

We have long memories.

Now, this is twice in the past year

an American spy plane has flown into our airspace.

After you rammed it.

I want to see our air crew.

That will be arranged.

And I want the EP-3 secured.

[scoffs] It is well-guarded.

May I speak bluntly, General?

That was always your habit, Tom.

You keep your damn technicians out of our aircraft.

You must understand,

I will not release the aircraft or the crew.

We'll see about that.

-[knocking on door] -[Chegwidden] Enter.

You wanted to see us, sir?

Yes. Any of you familiar

with Article 114 of UCMJ?

114 sure doesn't come up a lot, Admiral.

It has now. Early Saturday morning,

two midshipmen from Annapolis

were caught dueling.

Isn't that an internal Academy matter, sir?

They were dueling in Rock Creek Park.

D.C. police took exception.

Pistols, sir?

Antique sabers borrowed from their families.

Was anyone hurt, Admiral?

They were fighting without the benefit

of masks and chest pads.

Both were somewhat worse for wear.

Had they been drinking, sir?

You'd think so, but no.

Just a couple of damn fools.

Don't suppose the name

Captain Franklin Buchanan rings a bell?

Oh, yes, sir. Then-Commodore Buchanan

commanded the Confederate ironclad Virginia

at the Battle of Hampton Roads.

He sank the USS Cumberland

and the USS Congress.

I believe a Lieutenant Morris commanded the Cumberland.

They teach you that at the Academy?

I'm a Civil War buff, Colonel.

[Roberts] Sir, what does all this have to do

with last night's duel?

Both participants,

Midshipmen Second Class Morris and Buchanan,

fifth generation descendants of the two men

who fought the Battle of Hampton Roads.

Turns out the war between the states isn't over yet.

-Where are they now, sir? -They've been turned over

to Naval District Washington

for prosecution.

Colonel, you'll be trial counsel.

Commander, you and Lieutenant Roberts

will defend. That'll be all.

[all] Aye, aye, sir.

[Boone] How did you get here,Lieutenant?

Sir?

The Admiral wants to know

how the EP-3 came to be in the possession

of the Chinese, Lieutenant.

Well, I landed it here, Admiral.

Against standing Op orders.

There was no way my aircraft was going to make it back

to the Philippines, or anywhere for that matter, sir.

I had to make my decision fast

and this was the closest airstrip.

Why didn't you contact the Jeffersonfor orders?

Our radio went out mid-transmission, sir.

So, you took it upon yourself to hand our classified plane

over to the enemy.

Respectfully, Admiral, that's not how I saw it.

Well, how did you see it, Lieutenant?

I felt it was my duty

to preserve the lives of the men and women under my command.

Besides, what were my options, sir?

Ditch.

Sir, no one has ever ditched an EP-3 and lived to tell about it.

Then you bail out.

I had two crewmen injured,

one with a shattered leg, the other unconscious.

They'd never have made it.

None of us would have made it.

The closest rescue was four hours away.

We would have died.

Every man and woman aboard that aircraft.

That's why it's called war, Lieutenant.

Lieutenant, nothing we say in this room is secure.

Now, I'm going to ask you a question,

and I want you to write out the answer.

How much time elapsed from the moment

the MiG hit your aircraft

to the time you landed it here?

[Rabb] Has anything like this incident ever happened before?

Yes, sir.

Almost every time we went on a mission

there was some form of harassment by the Chinese.

Especially over the coast of Taiwan.

But still, I feel badly for the Chinese pilot, Lieutenant Li.

Well, he damn near got you killed.

I know, but he was really nice.

I'm sorry, Lieutenant?

Three or four times, he'd flown up beside us.

He'd wave at us, and once, he held up

a handwritten sign with his address.

What was he looking for? A pen pal?

I don't know, sir

but I don't think he meant us any harm.

He just got unlucky.

Did you witness the aftermath of the collision with the MiG?

No, sir, I couldn't see him after the point of impact.

We'd lost our starboard engine

and were heading down through the undercast.

I understand Lieutenant Li's been admitted

into China's Canon of Revolutionary Martyrs.

[Boone] Wherever he stands in the pantheon

he was a lousy pilot.

It's his fault you're here.

So, what happens now, sir?

Now, we find a way to get you out of Fuzhou.

[Buchanan] Midshipman Morris dismissed the battle as merely

a matter of superior technology.

At Hampton Roads,

Captain Buchanan just plain kicked ass.

Pardon the expression, sir.

My great-great grandfather brought

his ship under fire, and...

Sailed in close to the USS Cumberland

and using his cannons at close range,

left her a burning wreck.

Sure know your stuff, sir. I don't suppose youhad

a great-great grandfather in the war.

Uh, no, he was... otherwise occupied.

So, anyway, sir, you can see why I got mad

at Midshipman Morris, for disparaging

what my great-great grandfather did.

And why we had to settle it like gentlemen

on the field of honor.

What I see, Midshipman, is what a foolish thing you did.

You ran the risk of doing serious injury

to Midshipman Morris, and to yourself.

You embarrassed the Navy, the Academy

and the memory of your great-great grandfathers.

But you'll help me, sir.

Yes, I will, because it's my job, and I do it well.

But while I'm defending you, I need you to prove to me

that you're worthy of my trust.

Yes, sir.

What started the argument, Midshipman Morris?

Midshipman Buchanan accused

my great-great grandfather

of bad seamanship, when everyone knows

that a wooden ship is no match against iron.

And that was cause to risk your life

and that of Midshipman Buchanan?

Well, Colonel... it's a matter of pride.

Well, that's a concept I can grasp.

Colonel, pride's more than an abstract.

See, you're not a man.

For which I thank God every day.

No offense meant, ma'am.

I don't know if you know this, Colonel,

but men sometimes can kind of get stuck

on a point of pride and get real stupid about it.

I'm sure the Colonel knows that, Midshipman.

So, you see, ma'am, you kind of get backed

into a corner that you can't get out of.

And, and you start acting pretty stupid

and stuff gets started that you can't stop.

That sort of thing.

You ever known anyone that's happened to?

Not right offhand

but I'm sure someone will come to mind.

[Chen] Now that you have spoken with your people

there is a matter of the apology.

I'm sure the United States would be happy to accept

any apology that your country is willing to give, General.

I see you have not lost your sense of irony, Tom.

No, that's straight talk, Shin-Wa.

There is a matter of invading Chinese airspace.

General, your jet collided with our EP-3

in internationalairspace.

In that, yourcountry is clearly at fault.

That is a matter of debate, Commander.

And this has happened once before, on April 1 of this year.

I believe that is your April Fool's Day.

Then, as now, your pilot was a cause

of the downing of one of our aircraft,

so we consider the incident to be an act of aggression.

An EP-3 has a maximum airspeed of 300 knots, General.

Your MiGs fly at over 1,100.

On the day in question,

the pilot of your MiG flew directly at our aircraft

and took off four feet of its right wing.

Now, where in that are we at fault?

It is a fact your aircraft landed

on a Chinese airfield.

Surely, you do not dispute our claim

to thatairspace?

General, our EP-3 landed here at Fuzhou Airbase

because of damages sustained

in a collision with your jet.

Commander, we're going around in circles.

Let's go.

Admiral Boone...

always before, I found you a reasonable man.

However, you have changed with the years.

Well, we all get older.

Perhaps you are not too old to learn that sometimes

it is better to say you're sorry.

Well, we're in the right country for it, aren't we?

How is that?

As you once told me, yourself, the Chinese have as many words

for sorry as the Eskimos have for snow.

[Rabb] I thought that went well, sir.

[sighs] What have you been smoking, Commander?

Admiral, Lieutenant Hildon informed me

that there were exactly 24 minutes

from the time of the incident

until the aircraft touched down here and was boarded.

That's six minutes short of the minimum time necessary

to destroy all the codes.

Under the best of circumstances.

Hmm.

Sir?

That is an American aircraft.

It is the sovereign property of the United States government.

-Now, get the hell off it. -[gun barrels cocking]

[man] Talks are ongoing between Chinese and American diplomats

over the fate of the EP-3 crew

that has been detained by the Chinese military

on the airstrip at Fuzhou.

So far, these talks have yielded no results.

The Chinese are demanding an apology

from the American government

and restitution for the loss

of a MiG aircraft and its pilot.

There's no way that's going to happen.

Really?

The last time there was an incident we ended up

saying we were sorry.

Probably going to happen again.

But we didn't mean it.

Besides, who cares what a bunch of bureaucrats

in Armani suits say to each other?

I do. I mean,

we apologize, and they keep our plane?

[sighs] It's not right.

[MacKenzie] I'm also going to charge Midshipman Buchanan

and Morris under Article 116, Breach of the Peace,

Article 128, Assault, and Article 134,

Assault With the Intent to Commit Murder.

Why not just charge them under Article 114, ma'am?

It's been a hundred years

since anyone's been charged for dueling, Bud.

[Turner] Makes it interesting.

My life is already interesting.

Here's my offer:

the midshipmen plead to all charges,

agree to a punitive letter of reprimand,

and resign their appointments.

That'll end their careers before they begin, ma'am.

Come on, Colonel.

Aren't we talking about kids screwing around?

Look, I know you boys like to stick together...

Been a long time since someone called me boy.

You know what I mean.

When you were at the Academy,

I'm sure you didn't do anything as stupid

as what these guys did.

Uh... you're wrong.

Was Commander Rabb involved?

Fortunately for both of us,

the statute of limitations has run out.

What's your offer?

The midshipmen have agreed to be tried together,

prepared to plead to Conduct Unbecoming...

Restitution to the District of Columbia

for expenses incurred during their arrest...

The convening authority suspends the sentence...

And they go back to the Academy,

where they face a conduct board.

No deal.

Why are you taking such a hard line on this, Mack?

I've interviewed both of them.

I don't think they're officer material.

You're quick to judge.

It wasn't a hard call, Commander.

Right now, we're fighting a war against terrorism,

people out there are risking their lives

and sometimes dying for their country,

and here you have two boys with nothing better to do

than to challenge each other to a duel.

Now, I might feel differently if either of one of them

had shown a spark of remorse

or even had a clue that what they did was wrong.

No deal.

[knocking]

Enter.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Lieutenant, you have an urgent phone call.

It's Commander Rabb in China.

Excuse me, ma'am.

Commander?

Lieutenant, I need you to do me a favor.

Name it, sir.

You remember Uncle Scrooge?

I know my ducks, sir.

Good. You remember Uncle Scrooge's giant money bin?

Are we speaking in code, sir?

Yes.

Cool!

Do you remember that there were certain bad boys

trying to break into the money vault?

Answer yes or no.

-Yes. -Great.

This is one of those bad boys.

I'm tracking you, sir.

Now, you remember how old you are?

-Yes. -Take your age, add six years.

Okay, now what?

Now go to the computer on your desk, Bud.

Standard JAG menu, double click the second icon

in the right-hand column.

Got it, sir.

Now go to Google.

Type in "Chinanet," the name of one

of the bad boys trying to break into the vault,

your age plus six years.

Got a hit, sir.

Now find out whose address that is,

and if it's being used currently,

then call me back, and I'll tell you what to do.

[Roberts] Yes, sir.

Awesome.

Huh? "awesome"?

-[phone rings] -Hi, good afternoon.

This is Lieutenant Roberts calling from the JAG Corps

on behalf of Commander Rabb.

I need to speak with Director Webb, please.

Yes, I'll hold.

Good afternoon, Director Webb.

I need a favor.

[MacKenzie] Officer Crumley,

can you describe what you observed

when you came across Midshipmen Buchanan and Morris?

They were fighting, ma'am, with these old-fashioned sabers.

Was there the possibility

that one of them might have suffered grievous bodily harm

or even death?

Well, those swords are old, ma'am,

but plenty sharp.

Can you identify this exhibit?

Yes, ma'am. It's one of the swords

they were fighting with.

And what actions did you take

to prevent them from injuring each other?

I drew my sidearm, ma'am, and I ordered them

to put down their weapons or I'd shoot.

-Did they comply? -Oh, yes. They got real polite.

What do you think would have happened

if you'd not chanced by?

Objection, calls for speculation.

Sustained.

Officer Crumley, from what you observed,

did it appear that these two were attempting to inflict

grievous bodily harm upon each other?

[Roberts] Objection, leading the witness.

Sustained.

No further questions, Your Honor.

[Judge Blakely] Commander Turner?

Officer Crumley, how far away were you

from Midshipman Morris and Midshipman Buchanan

when you first chanced upon them on that dark night?

Oh, a hundred yards, give or take.

A hundred yards? So how do you know

they weren't just fooling around?

I know hostile intent when I see it.

At that distance? 100 yards in the dead of night?

Argumentative, Your Honor.

Move on, Commander.

Have you seen many duels, Officer?

No, sir.

That was my first.

-So you're not an expert? -No.

So in fact, you had no idea what was going on.

-Objection. -[judge] Sustained.

[sighs]

Is it fair to say, Officer Crumley,

that you had no certain knowledge

of what was in the minds of the two young men

engaged in horseplay?

Objection, Your Honor, fighting with swords

as sharp as razors is not horseplay.

Please ask counsel to stop editorializing.

Commander, rephrase the question.

Did you know what was in the minds

of Midshipman Morris and Midshipman Buchanan

on the night in question?

No, sir.

I'm not a mind-reader, but I know what I saw.

Murderous intent.

In the dead of night?

-Your Honor. -Give it a rest, Commander.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Thank you, Officer.

[radio chatter in Chinese]

Did you get through?

Yes, sir.

We should know something soon.

I just got a call from Beijing.

The diplomatic talks are stalled.

Lieutenant Li is going to be buried tomorrow.

State funeral, full honors.

General Chen will be delivering the eulogy.

If something doesn't happen soon they'll have her stripped bare.

[MacKenzie] Midshipman Morris,

whatever possessed you to enter into a duel?

Objection. Hasn't been proven that my client was in a duel.

Your Honor, Midshipman Morris was arrested

with a saber in hand.

A saber with which he was attempting

to strike Midshipman Buchanan.

Your Honor, when is counsel going to ask a question?

I'm sure she's working up to it, Counselor.

Midshipman Morris, why did you accept

Midshipman Buchanan's challenge to duel?

-Tradition, ma'am. -Tradition?

Is it an academy tradition to try to kill your fellow midshipmen?

Objection. Argumentative.

Sustained.

You went to Rock Creek Park,

pursuant to a prior agreement

-to fight with sabers? -Yes, ma'am.

Did you intend to injure Midshipman Buchanan?

Some, I guess.

Isn't it true that if you

strike a man with a saber, you can take off his head?

Yes, ma'am.

So, with premeditation,

you entered into a fight to the death.

Objection. Counsel's making her own conclusions.

Sustained.

No further questions.

Lieutenant Roberts?

Midshipman Morris, did you intend

to cause grievous bodily injury to Midshipman Buchanan?

No, sir.

Were you forced into this confrontation?

I'd say the blame is about equal, sir.

Midshipman Morris, do you dislike Midshipman Buchanan?

Well, I did, sir.

Or thought that maybe I should

because of what happened at the Battle of Hampton Roads.

But the last couple of days,

we've been on restriction together

and he's really a pretty good guy.

[Roberts] Did you ever want to see him dead?

-No, sir. -Well, then how did it get

so far out of hand?

I guess I started it, sir.

Ragging on his great-great grandfather.

And after a while, mostly I just wanted him to shut up.

Midshipman Morris, are you guilty

of violating Article 114 of the UCMJ against dueling?

Yes, sir, and so is Midshipman Buchanan.

But we both regret it, sir,

and wish that we had not been so darn stupid.

Why is that, Midshipman Morris?

Right now, there's more important stuff going on

in the world than refighting some old battle, sir.

No further questions, Your Honor.

Colonel?

[sighs]

I'd like to reserve the right to conduct a re-cross, Your Honor.

Meanwhile, I request a recess to speak with opposing counsel.

Good idea, Colonel.

I don't know how we got this far.

They got a lot of techs on that aircraft.

So far today, they've taken off at least three consoles already.

A few more days, we're going to have

to reinvent all of our hardware and rewrite every one

of our damn codes.

-Hello, Buddy. -Millie?

-[laughs] -What are you doing here?

Oh, I'm on leave from the Naval Historical Center.

I wanted to be closer to the action.

-Are you still married? -Yeah.

-You still happy? -Very.

Well, if that changes, give me a call.

Uh, are you familiar with TESAR?

Absolutely. It's a strip mapping SAR

that provides continuous O.S. imagery.

Hmm.

Well, what you are looking at are images

that are formed on board a Predator aircraft.

And sent to the Predator ground control station

via a K-U band data link.

You really know your stuff, Lieutenant.

Yeah, well, I-I try to stay current.

I never should have let you go.

[inhales sharply]

Okay, here we go.

Um, I diverted the Predator by several degrees.

And now you have 45 seconds to find

what you're looking for.

[Roberts] Hold that and zoom in.

There! That's it.

[laughs] Oh, thank you so much.

Anytime.

[Boone] Sorry to disturb you, General.

Come in.

I enjoy your company, Tom.

Please, sit.

I was just writing

the funeral oration for Lieutenant Li.

Well, I would consider it an honor

if you would read it to us, General.

[inhales sharply] [clears throat]

"Like an eagle, he soared above the clouds.

As light as a feather in the breeze,

until his life was snuffed out like a candle in the wind."

I think I will amend that last.

A little too much Elton John, huh, General?

Precisely.

That's Lieutenant Li's MiG on a runaway in Manchuria.

That photograph was taken this morning, General.

Where did you get this?

The Commander downloaded it on his laptop.

Lieutenant Li sent an e-mail

from the air base in Manchuria where you had him hidden.

He wanted his girlfriend to know that he was all right.

We traced the e-mail and had our satellite

snap the photo of his jet.

[Boone] You covered up the fact

that Lieutenant Li survived the incident.

Instead, you decided to make him a Martyr, First Class.

Now one billion of your people are singing his praises

but what happens, General,

when they find out that you've lied?

That you created this fallen hero?

It puts you in a bad light, Shin-Wa.

And it puts you at odds

with the civilian leadership of your country

who are trying to find a diplomatic solution.

[sighs] What do you want?

I want 19 American airmen and one aircraft.

Lieutenant Li is still alive, General.

Make sure he stays that way.

Call the USS Jefferson, Admiral Boone.

Tell them you are flying your men out in an hour.

I will send back the EP-3 when I am done with it.

One piece at a time.

[MacKenzie] Commander Turner and Lieutenant Roberts

have been kind enough to allow me

to further interview both of you.

Under the rules of evidence

they are both here, and I understand

that you have waived your Article 31 rights.

-Yes, ma'am. -We understand, ma'am.

Okay, let's get down to the facts.

Midshipman Morris, did you intend to do Midshipman Buchanan

grievous bodily injury?

No, ma'am. As you can see,

neither one of us are any good with a saber.

I feel really bad about everything.

Midshipman Buchanan, did you force Midshipman Morris

into dueling under duress?

You might say that, ma'am.

Because I didn't give him room to back out

and not look like a coward.

I guess there's a sort of duress in that.

Lieutenant, since Midshipman Morris

was forced into this duel under duress

it could be argued that there was in fact no prior agreement

and he's innocent of all the charges against him.

Yes, it could.

In fact, that's exactly what I was going to argue.

And Commander Turner, since Midshipman Buchanan

had no intent

of grievous bodily harm to Midshipman Morris,

it could be argued that he, too, is innocent

of the charges against him.

I intended to argue that very thing.

Ma'am, why the change of heart?

Midshipman Buchanan, are you familiar with the expression

"Don't look a gift horse in the mouth"?

That's okay, Sturgis. I'd like to answer that.

When I first questioned these young men,

I misjudged them.

I didn't see that once you get past the, uh...

Idiocy, ma'am?

Thank you, Midshipman Buchanan.

I didn't see the goodness in them.

But I now see that they both

have the makings of fine officers.

My bet is that you and Commander Rabb

were very much like them in your time.

You wouldn't be far wrong, Colonel.

Make me an offer.

[man speaking Chinese over speakers]

[chattering in Chinese]

[man over P.A.] All squadron reps, report to flight control.

All squadron reps, report to flight control.

Lieutenant Barrett, Crawford, you'll be stationed

50 miles off the Chinese coast.

Admiral Boone, Commander Rabb and the crew of the EP-3

will be aboard the COD

when it departs from Fuzhou Airbase.

What's our ordnance, sir?

You'll be configured for close escort. Full ammo.

What are the rules of engagement, Captain?

Do not fire unless fired upon.

Do not cross into Chinese airspace for any reason.

It took a lot for Admiral Boone to broker this deal,

so keep cool.

Don't screw it up.

The most important thing

is that we get our people out safely.

Any questions?

Yes, sir. What about the EP-3?

Well, once the Chinese have downloaded our secrets

and stripped our technology,

they're going to ship it back to us in pieces.

[scoffs] That stinks, sir.

Yes, it does.

[Barrett] I got them.

Check ten left at 40 miles.

Roger that. I got them, too.

Birmingham Strike,

we are holding hands with the COD.

Stay tight, Stonewall.

Cranberry, you have the lead.

I want to look you over.

Roger. I have the lead.

Cranberry, you have fluid streaming from your left fuel dump vent.

Roger, Stonewall. All gauges normal.

Can't take the chance, Cranberry.

Need you to return to Birmingham immediately.

Wilco, Stonewall.

Returning to Birmingham.

Good luck. God bless.

It's getting lonely up here, Admiral.

Well, one's enough.

Good night, Greyhound.

Admiral, we just lost our other fighter escort.

Stonewall, this is Greyhound. Do you copy?

Stonewall, do you copy?

Birmingham Strike, this is Birmingham 2-5.

We've lost our fighter escort

and we do not have radio contact with him.

Roger, Birmingham 2-5.

X.O., call PRIFLY, launch the spare.

Aye, aye, sir.

[control] Birmingham 2-5, the spare is on its way.

Until then, you're on your own.

Mark your coordinates.

Roger that.

18 degrees, 31 minutes north latitude.

113 degrees, 14 minutes west longitude.

Boss, this is the captain.

Strike Ops, stand by to initiate search and rescue operations.

What the hell is going on, sir?

Whatever it is, I got a bad feeling.

[speaking in Chinese]

[jet engines fly by]

[Barrett] Birmingham 2-5, Birmingham Strike,

this is Birmingham 4-3.

I am inbound.

Fuel state, 3.9.

All weapons expended.

[theme song playing]