JAG s07e24 Episode Script
Enemy Below (2)
I've been in action groups with the CIA The DIA, even the NRO.
But, Admiral, this is a first.
Well, sir, I admit it's a bit unusual but for better or worse, JAG's on point.
Have we met before, Commander Turner? I don't think so, sir.
I'm certain I'd have remembered.
Lieutenant Singer, would you please bring Vice Admiral Holt up to speed on what we know? Be a pleasure, sir.
At 0033 this morning, the Al Qaeda terrorist known as Kabir crossed the border from Afghanistan to Iran.
Terrorists do that every day.
I assume this one is special? Indeed he is, sir.
His brother, Mustafa Atef, was the terrorist convicted at the tribunal.
Before he committed suicide, he said Kabir would launch another attack on us.
Any indication where? Lieutenant? Not precisely, sir but we do know that he was in Russia a week ago trying to recruit Russian submarine captains.
He may have been successful.
The CIA reports that a submarine captain named Mikael Yerastov and some of his crew are missing.
Yerastov Yerastov? I know the name.
Very likely, sir.
He's a legend in the Russian submarine service.
He commanded the only sub to ever lose our tailing attack boats.
Now I remember why you seem familiar.
There was one of our sonar officers he could never shake.
Lieutenant Sturgis Turner.
I did have some luck with him, Admiral.
A submarine could attack any of our American coastal cities our fleet in the Med, the Arabian Sea.
Hell, he could be anywhere.
Lieutenant, I want satellite imagery to confirm placement of all Russian submarines and give us coverage of the Gulf and Arabian Sea.
Aye, aye, sir.
This Kabir got out of Afghanistan and into Russia? Why would he go back just to cross over into Iran a week later? I have two officers in Afghanistan investigating that question right now, sir.
Captain Omar? Yes.
I'm Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie.
This is Commander Rabb.
You are investigating Kabir, yes? Yeah.
What can you tell us about him? According to the locals, he stayed here only one night.
He came in one truck and left in a different one.
He hired a man from the village to drive the first truck over the border and then back to Qarqin for him.
What's his name? Mmm.
Fareeq.
Fareeq Mohammed.
Kabir said to Fareeq-- if he fails, Kabir kills his family.
Did Fareeq ever return to Qarqin? I have no idea.
Where is Qarqin? Qarqin is near to the border with Uzbekistan but you do not want to go there.
Why not? The road to the village-- very bad.
Two tribes at war.
Each man carries a gun.
Fighting.
Killing every day.
Your Special Forces is calling it "wild, wild west.
" Hmm.
Then we should feel right at home.
Lieutenant Roberts.
Sir, there was collateral damage from a recent air strike in Ghazni that has locals very upset.
Captain Johnson wants a JAG assessment.
Okay, uh, arrange for transport, Petty Officer.
Already have, sir.
Say the word, and we're gone.
There's nothing out here.
It's the right road.
I just doubled-checked it.
That sounded like AK-47 fire.
It sure did.
I think we're clear.
Are you okay? Yeah.
You? Yeah.
Do you smell that? Diesel fuel.
Yeah.
They must have hit the tank.
There's a patch kit in the back.
I think I can fix it.
You know, there are more mines than people in Afghanistan, sir? Well, this road's been cleared, Jen.
Just stay on it, and you'll be fine.
Don't worry, Lieutenant.
I wouldn't leave it for a cold beer, sir.
This looks like our man.
Sir, I'm Lieutenant Bud Roberts, United States Navy.
What's the problem? All that rubble used to be a school.
The only school the children had for 150 kilometers.
Hatim.
And this is part of what caused all this destruction.
SER-NO 3-7-8-4-niner-1-2.
This is part of a J-DAM.
Sir, they could have found that anywhere.
Does it really matter, Jen? Sir, the Navy will rebuild your school.
I promise.
Ah, Mr.
Webb.
Come, have a seat.
Well, your Ambassador said you were anxious to see me but you needn't have brought me a gift.
I know how much you like cigars.
Ah.
Cuban Cohibas.
My favorite.
Did you know that, too, Mr.
Webb? Oh, that and more.
How much more? You like to summer in Antibes have only one wife but two mistresses and you're not really in the Army-- you're ISI.
Pakistani Intelligence.
Mr.
Webb And a double agent for Iran.
You bring me a gift, and then you insult me.
You're either very arrogant or very foolish.
Perhaps both.
What do you want? For starters, you can tell me what the Iranians sold Al Qaeda for $250 million.
I have no idea.
Another gift.
It's a copy of a wire transfer.
For $250 million from you office to the Iranian Defense Ministry.
I know nothing of this so-called wire transfer.
I think you do.
Mr.
Webb, I believe this interview is over.
Hatif.
Thank you for the cigars.
Now who's being arrogant and foolish? Good day, Mr.
Webb.
Is the bug working? Whew.
Ahmad Hakim has quite a temper.
But we are still in business.
Has he taken the bait, Wally? Mm not yet, sir.
He will.
All ports in CONUS and overseas have been placed on high alert.
Any Russian subs unaccounted for? No, sir, but there is an anomaly in the data from Iran.
This is infrared imagery of the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran.
The Iranians have purchased four diesel subs from the Russians in port.
This second sub is the Najvayi.
She's slightly wider in diameter than the other three but what is really interesting is that she's colder than the others.
What does that tell you, Lieutenant? I'm not sure, sir.
And neither are the analysts at NIMA or Central MASINT office.
But I have a theory.
You have a theory when professional analysts don't? Yes, sir.
Finding a discrepancy and coming up with a theory is bread and butter for lawyers.
Let's hear it.
Commander, if you park your car outside in the sun, it gets hot.
I mean, right through the dashboard to the seats.
Would the same thing happen to a submarine? If it were out long enough.
What are you getting at, Lieutenant? If the core of the submarine were removed it would be colder, wouldn't it? Are you trying to tell us the middle fell out of that submarine, Lieutenant? She's saying the middle was the sub, sir.
Exactly.
The Najvayi's specs are identical to the other three subs, except she is slightly wider and colder than the others.
I believe the Iranians built a decoy shell around the Najvayi.
At an appointed time, she submerged slipping out from the shell.
And snuck out of port without anyone the wiser.
The question is, where is she now? She's in the Persian Gulf, sir.
Why not the Med or heading for the States? Not even Captain Yerastov could sneak her through the Suez Canal, Admiral.
She's a diesel, and she's an old one.
I doubt they'll try to cross the Pacific or circumnavigate Africa.
No, sir.
She's in the Gulf, and she's heading for our battle group in the Arabian Sea.
Then we'll nail her.
If we can find her in time.
She's a diesel, and they're quieter than a nuclear sub.
And if Captain Yerastov's is at the helm it won't be easy, sir.
Ahead one-quarter.
Set course for Arabian Sea.
Your ruse was successful, Kabir.
Harm? You ever thought about how you want to go? No.
Look, this thing is fixed.
Let's pack up and get out of here, huh? I want to die like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Oh, yeah? Well, which one am I going to be, then? Butch, of course.
Well, that's true.
He was the brains of the operation.
Hmm.
Yeah, but Sundance was the shooter that everyone was afraid of.
That's how I want to go-- in a blaze of glory against impossible odds.
Come on, Mac, enough of this morbid subject.
Yeah, I want something really important at stake.
Mac, enough.
Come on, Harm, play along.
All right.
What about after? You know, when you're dead.
If you choose cremation they shove your body in a furnace and bake you.
You know what burns first? You got me, Harm.
Your hair.
Then your skin crackles and boils.
Stop it.
You win.
And when the marrow in the bones boil You won! the bones actually explode.
Stop it.
This is the Seahawk carrier battle group in the North Arabian Sea.
What's that group's submarine? The Watertown, sir.
Los Angeles class.
Commander John Flagler is the skipper.
You don't need to check your notes? They're up here, sir.
Alert the TACAMO aircraft to flash the Watertown and get the Seahawk on the phone.
Let them know that they may have a diesel sneaking up on them with Russia's most skilled skipper in command.
With your permission, Admirals I'd like to volunteer for TAD aboard the Watertown.
Commander, as much as I respect your service as a submariner Commander Flagler is perfectly capable.
And I don't mean to imply that he isn't, sir.
Only that I am Alec Baldwin.
Excuse me? The Hunt for Red October movie, sir.
Captain Yerastov is Sean Connery and I am Alec Baldwin, sir.
I need to be aboard that boat.
Admiral, um No matter, um how sophisticated a submarine is it's just a tool, and a tool is only as good as the talent behind it.
Commander Turner does have a proven talent against Captain Yerastov.
Looks like you're on your way to the Arabian Sea, Commander.
Petty Officer, see if you can expedite this Foreign Claims Act request for new funds for a school in Ghazni.
With pleasure, sir.
Hi, honey.
Hi, Bud.
I can't decide what color sofas to put in the new house.
I think blue, or maybe yellow.
What do you think? I had a great dream.
I was pushing little A.
J.
On a swing.
You just changed the subject without even hearing me out.
Sorry, I just wanted to tell you about my dream.
Lieutenant Sims.
Yes, sir.
Lieutenant.
The Captain wants you on the bridge, ASAP.
We may have a hostile submarine inbound, Lieutenant and our current rules of engagement for submarines make me nervous.
You think you can figure a way to help me out? Do my best, Captain.
Just do it quickly, Lieutenant.
Aye, aye, sir.
All ships have acknowledged an alert, sir.
ASW procedures are in effect.
Very well, X.
O.
Cobb it to 30 knots and sinuate.
Aye, sir.
Aye, sir.
Gentlemen, Commander Turner's arrived at the Watertown.
Commander Turner, I'm well aware of your exploits in tracking the untrackable Captain Yerastov but we acquired him half an hour after we received the alert from the TACAMO.
Had to let him go in order to pick you up.
Sorry, skipper.
I'm sure you'll reacquire him shortly.
Commander Turner, my X.
O.
Lieutenant Wick and our sonar chief, Grisham.
Lieutenant.
Chief.
Looks like you already got him again, Chief.
Yes, sir.
And without any help.
Well, with all due respect to the Chief's abilities Yerastov may want us in his baffles.
And why would he want that, Commander? He keeps a dossier on all our submarine commanders.
Believe me, Skipper, he's been studying your moves.
How does he know that I'm here? Newspapers in San Diego routinely cover changes of command and battle group deployments.
This guy was in Russia subscribing to a San Diego newspaper? You better believe it.
He'll assume you'll be looking for him and he'll be studying just how to lose you when it suits him.
Making you the wild card that he doesn't expect.
That's the idea.
I have strange headache.
Getting too old for this kind of work, Commander.
Not you, Captain.
You were born to it.
No one is born to breathe recycled air in tin box under ocean.
No.
This is our revenge.
Revenge for what, Captain? My wife was a major in the KGB.
She was found in West Berlin with bullet in her head.
I know full well the CIA killed my wife.
Now my government tells me the Americans are my friends.
That all is forgiven.
But, no, all is not forgiven.
I want my revenge.
Soon, we both shall have our revenge.
Yes, sir, we believe the submarine to have hostile intent.
However, until it acts, it's a vessel of a sovereign nation with every right to traverse international waters.
What do you propose? I recommend that that we declare a "cordone sanitaire" around the Seahawk battle group.
I propose authorizing the Seahawk the authority to engage any nonallied submarine entering the declared exclusion zone.
Admiral, my office has thoroughly examined Lieutenant Roberts' recommendations and they've been chopped through Fifth Fleet and CENTCOM.
We support his changes to the existing Rules of Engagement.
Very well.
I'll recommend them to the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Thank you, sir.
Well, what'd you think, Jen? You were great, sir.
Your proposed amendment covering submarine ROE's was well-received.
But you don't look pleased.
I'm just tired.
If you need an ear, sir, I have two of them.
You know, I'm in the middle of a war here and all Harriet can talk about is sofa color.
When a woman builds a nest she wants to share those decisions with the man she loves.
So, forgive me for saying so, sir but you might want to start caring about the color of the sofa, sir.
Just a little.
Harm, you drove all night? Why didn't you wake me to do a shift? It's no big deal.
I was on a roll.
Well, let me take over now.
I'm fine.
Stop.
Pull over.
Right now, Commander.
Or what? Or you'll prove that you're a hopeless control freak.
Hey.
Looks like the vehicle we're after.
So do about a hundred other trucks.
I'm moving in.
Clear.
Clear.
Mac.
Oh, God.
Biological weapon? Maybe.
Looks like the guy we're after.
Yes, it does.
You know, Mac.
This could also be radiation poisoning.
Do you see that? They look like the truck driver, Fareeq.
We've got to get a medical evaluation team in here immediately.
You realize we could already be exposed.
Lieutenant Roberts reporting as ordered, sir.
At ease, Lieutenant.
Your new Rules of Engagement have been approved.
I'd like you to brief the X.
O.
Aye, aye, sir.
Our first step is to determine the submarine's kill range.
We then designate a moving buffer zone around the Seahawk.
We broadcast our intent on all the appropriate frequencies.
If the sub enters the zone we document the incursion and sink it.
Are they certain it's a Russian diesel, Skipper? Naval Intelligence was specific.
Range on those torpedoes-- seven, eight miles.
A ten-mile buffer zone ought to do the trick, sir.
Very well.
Inform the Watertown.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stay with him, Chief.
Like a fly on Vegemite, sir.
Vegemite? I spent some time in Australia, sir.
It's this, uh like, jam they got down there.
Tastes like diesel fuel till you get used to it.
We received a flash from the TACAMO.
Amended Rule of Engagement.
If the Najvayi gets within ten miles of the carrier group, we're ordered to sink her.
If he holds this speed and heading that will be in just under ten hours.
We are wasting time moving so slow.
We should launch now.
Better to waste time than waste lives.
Time is more important.
Are you in a hurry to reap revenge, or to die, Kabir? If we launch the missile now the Watertown will sink us for sure.
He's finally taken the bait.
Hakim is talking to the Deputy Defense Minister in Iran.
Warning him.
That we're on to them? Yes.
The $250 million was for one of the old Russian diesels the Iranians have.
So what's wrong? The Navy already assumed that.
It's been retrofitted for a Russian SS-25 cruise missile.
We didn't know that.
She didn't make it.
No.
They've confirmed radiation poisoning.
The doc wants us back on the Seahawk for testing.
I just spoke with the RadCon Team.
They did a thorough search and survey.
There's minimal residual radiation.
The human body doesn't retain high levels, so Clothes do, but they've been removed.
Exactly.
So it's unlikely we've, uh, been exposed.
Minimal residual means that whatever did this is gone.
The question is, where did it come from? Where did it go? What are you doing, Harm? Harm? What are you thinking? You know what these victims all have in common, Mac? They're Chechen.
Remember Commander Aiken? The murder you and Sturgis investigated back in Washington? She was killed by a Chechen.
His confession led us to a boat filled with 30 kilos of weapons-grade uranium.
We caught it before it sailed from Russian, but What if we didn't get all of it? Could have smuggled here, to Afghanistan.
These Chechens guarded it.
Kabir.
Gunny said that he and a truck escaped into Iran.
Could have been a truck with uranium.
Unshielded uranium.
Which means that Kabir was exposed for quite some time.
Misha and Yuri are dead, Captain.
What happened? I don't know, sir.
We had men die in the caves of Tora Bora the same way.
It is some new American weapon.
What kind of American weapon? I do not know, Captain, but they have it and they'll use it.
That is why time is critical.
The longer we take to complete our mission the more men will die.
Yuri was my weapons officer.
I will man the weapons, Captain.
We should keep this from the crew as not to alarm them.
You are not a submariner, Kabir.
In here, news travels before it happens.
I found them, sir.
I don't believe other men are aware.
Take them to the freezer.
Yes, sir.
Kabir.
If I knew how this American weapon works maybe I can put in some countermeasures.
I do not know, Captain.
Gentlemen, I have bad news and worse news.
Then why the hell are you smiling? I didn't realize I was, sir.
Bad first.
The CIA believes the Najvayi was refitted with an SS-25 cruise missile.
That missile has a range of 180 miles.
The Seahawk's buffer zone was based on torpedoes.
Yes, sir.
Woefully inadequate.
If that's the bad news, what could be worse? Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie have reported from Afghanistan that they believe Kabir took weapons-grade uranium into Iran.
If he put a dirty nuke on that cruise missile it could spread lethal radiation for miles when it detonates.
Hell, they don't even have to score a direct hit.
What is wrong, Zeltsin? I'm fine.
Range to target? Uh, 354 kilometers.
Have you found my thermocline yet? Yes, sir.
At 45 meters.
We're directly below it.
Good.
If the Watertown is in our baffles as I believe she is it is time to give her surprise.
Ahead full.
13 knots.
Now.
She's cobbing it, Skipper.
Increasing speed to ten, 12, 13 knots.
Helm, ahead one-third.
All ahead one-third, aye.
Left full rudder.
Maximum down angle.
Active sonar, Mr.
Zeltsin.
He's diving, sir and his sonar just went active.
What the hell is he up to? Skipper, I'd advise you to back off here.
X.
O.
, anything on the charts? Depth 1-2-5 to Unobstructed bottom, sir.
Helm, maximum down angle.
Stay in his baffles.
Diving.
Aye, sir.
Nah, he's leading you into a trap, Skipper.
Commander, he doesn't even know we're here.
He's assuming we're here.
I know him, Skipper.
He's going to pull something.
Level the boat at 235 meters.
Stand by for 20 knots.
Captain, we're closing on something! Very good, Mr.
Zeltsin.
Stand by for emergency blow.
Full left rudder.
Maximum up angle.
Stand by.
Obstruction dead ahead.
Emergency blow.
Hard right rudder, max rise on the plains.
Emergency blow.
Hard right rudder, max rise on the plains.
We cleared it by five yards, Skipper.
That wreck wasn't on the charts, Skipper.
Captain Yerastov spent 30 years making his own charts.
He knew it was there, and he used it to lose us.
Okay Alec Bladwin.
You got anything up your sleeve, now's the time.
He turned to port.
I'd search that quadrant.
Why to port? Because in that emergency, Skipper, you turned to starboard and I'd be willing to bet you do it every time.
Skipper, we just received a flash message.
That submarine is carrying a cruise missile with a dirty nuke warhead.
Watertown still have her? No, sir.
She eluded them ten minutes ago.
She's about 200 miles out with a bearing of 2-7-0.
Flash him permission to sink her as soon as he reacquires.
Sound battle stations and commence nuclear protection countermeasures.
Aye, aye, sir.
General quarters.
General quarters.
All hands man battle stations.
Set condition Alpha and Circle William throughout the ship.
Now general quarters.
Captain, request permission to stay on the bridge.
Permission granted.
X.
O.
, double our ASW aircraft in the air.
Maybe we can give the Watertown a little help.
Aye, aye, sir.
And signal the rest of the group to scatter at full speed until they're at least ten miles from us.
The Skippers are not going to like that, sir.
No, but they'll do it.
Have every ship in the battle group go active.
Ensonify the area, and get me the squadron's Missile-X scores.
Aye, sir.
Excuse me, sir? Missile-X? Our Tomcat and Hornet squadrons have Missile-X competitions every year.
They try to shoot down incoming missiles traveling nearly as fast as they are.
Does that work, sir? Sometimes.
Lieutenant Commander Chaidez has the highest Missile-X scores of all the squadrons, sir.
So, get him in the air.
However, the all-time record holder has just cleared sickbay.
Rabb? He holds the record for the Seahawk.
He's never been beaten.
Lieutenant Commander Chaidez flies lead and takes the shot.
Rabb's his wingman.
Aye, aye, sir.
Captain Zeltsin! Get these men to sickbay.
Manning sonar, sir.
What the hell are the Americans using on us? They're dropping sonobuoys.
All ahead full.
Take us back to the tanker.
The Seahawk's ASW helos are on her, Captain.
Torpedo in the water.
Captain Deploy noisemakers.
No breakup, sir.
I think they torpedoed acoustic decoys.
You can bet on it.
He's sitting on the bottom.
Well, let's see who can draw the fastest.
Ahead two-thirds.
Ahead two-thirds, aye.
Chief, go to active.
Pinging.
Aye, sir.
Captain, this is Pry Fly.
Shooter Flight is spotted and ready for launch.
Launch 'em.
Vasily Tavorechi I am taking you back to Iran for medical treatment.
We will kill Americans another day.
There will be no other day.
We're all dead men.
You know what is killing us? The cruise missile.
I have packed the warhead with unshielded uranium and we've all received a lethal dose by now.
I got nothing on the bottom except that tanker, sir.
That's what Yerastov knew you'd get.
He's there.
WEPS, this is the skipper.
Give me a firing solution on the tanker.
Stand by to fire a spread of four torpedoes.
Would you rather kill me Or kill Americans? Get back to your weapon.
You were right, Commander.
The target's separating from the wreck.
Rising fast and increasing speed.
WEPS, this is the skipper.
Get me a firing solution on the new target.
Two torpedoes.
Aye, aye, sir.
Captain.
They've opened their outer doors.
They're going to shoot.
We have to reach at least 50 miters to launch the cruise missile.
Skipper, WEPS.
I have a firing solution.
Fire.
Fire.
Yes! Skipper, all we can hear now is breakup, but I swear she got off a shot just as we nailed her.
The explosion must have detonated the torpedo.
Wait, wait.
Chief, could it have been a missile? I wasn't thinking missile.
Not from a diesel.
But, yes, sir.
It could have been a torpedo launched cruise missile.
My God.
X.
O.
, flash the Seahawk! Aye, aye, sir.
Shooter Flight, we have a target bearing 1-4-niner.
Range, 3-0 miles.
Speed, 400 knots.
Shooter One, roger.
Intercept course plotted and on your screen, sir.
Got it.
Tally ho.
Missile closing.
Range two-five miles.
Should I clear the flight deck and take nuclear protection steps, sir? Negative, X.
O.
Too much radiation.
If they don't take it out at least ten miles from us above or below decks, we're all dead.
I've got no joy, Shooter One.
Have you acquired the target? Negative, Shooter Two, no joy.
Lieutenant Jorgensen I need acquisition.
Lock on that missile.
I'm trying, sir.
Range, two zero miles.
Tally-ho.
Missile ahead.
I've got a lock.
It's too late, sir.
It's only eight miles from the carrier.
Shooter One, hold fire.
Hold fire.
Shooter Two, get out of there! Negative, Shooter One.
It'll acquire me, and I'll lead it away.
It won't work.
It's GPS targeted.
It has to switch to radar to hit a moving target like the Seahawk.
It's our only hope, Shooter One.
It's too close to the carrier now.
Give it a go, Shooter Two.
It's a dirty nuke, sir.
It could be just be set to blow up at targeted coordinates.
Can't be, Lieutenant.
That would ruin our day.
We're all going to die! I repeat, we're all going to die! Why haven't they shot it down? Shooter Two has acquired the missile and it's locked onto him.
It's following.
Range two miles.
One mile.
Passing port side.
Roger, CIC.
Missile is departing the area.
Yeah! Two miles.
Shooter Two, you're too close.
It has a proximity sensor.
It's going to blow.
Five miles from the carrier.
Six Eight Ten I can ride it up, but it's still risky.
Should run out of fuel anytime now.
Bogey's flaming out.
Let's hope it doesn't blow on impact.
Send the Seahawk to coordinates where the missile flamed out.
RadCon will need to recover that warhead.
I think I've had enough adrenaline for one day.
How about you, sir? I was just getting warmed up.
Let's take it home.
Excuse me, sir, do you have a second? Come on in.
I thought you had gone home, Lieutenant.
Just headed that way, sir.
Is that a look of concern? Just having a little anxiety, sir.
I haven't slept in a couple of days.
Your husband's in a war zone.
Yes, sir, but He's on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the sea.
This is just silly.
I'll get over it.
Thank you, sir.
Lieutenant.
Yes, sir.
In case you don't get over it, call me any time.
Thank you, sir.
Nice of them to invite us to groundbreaking, sir.
Well, we did give them money for a new school.
Which we blew up.
Accidentally.
Oh, my God! Aren't there mines out there? Maybe they've cleared them, sir.
Got get someone from the village.
Hey! Hey, little buddy! Hey.
Whoa, whoa! Don't-don't move! It's okay.
No, no.
Don't move, buddy.
Hey, up here.
Hey, buddy, buddy, up here.
Hey! Look at me, look at me.
Hey! Hey, it's okay.
It's going to be okay.
No! Don't don't move.
It's okay.
No! No, no, don't move, buddy.
No, no, don't move! No! It's okay Oh, God, it's okay.
But, Admiral, this is a first.
Well, sir, I admit it's a bit unusual but for better or worse, JAG's on point.
Have we met before, Commander Turner? I don't think so, sir.
I'm certain I'd have remembered.
Lieutenant Singer, would you please bring Vice Admiral Holt up to speed on what we know? Be a pleasure, sir.
At 0033 this morning, the Al Qaeda terrorist known as Kabir crossed the border from Afghanistan to Iran.
Terrorists do that every day.
I assume this one is special? Indeed he is, sir.
His brother, Mustafa Atef, was the terrorist convicted at the tribunal.
Before he committed suicide, he said Kabir would launch another attack on us.
Any indication where? Lieutenant? Not precisely, sir but we do know that he was in Russia a week ago trying to recruit Russian submarine captains.
He may have been successful.
The CIA reports that a submarine captain named Mikael Yerastov and some of his crew are missing.
Yerastov Yerastov? I know the name.
Very likely, sir.
He's a legend in the Russian submarine service.
He commanded the only sub to ever lose our tailing attack boats.
Now I remember why you seem familiar.
There was one of our sonar officers he could never shake.
Lieutenant Sturgis Turner.
I did have some luck with him, Admiral.
A submarine could attack any of our American coastal cities our fleet in the Med, the Arabian Sea.
Hell, he could be anywhere.
Lieutenant, I want satellite imagery to confirm placement of all Russian submarines and give us coverage of the Gulf and Arabian Sea.
Aye, aye, sir.
This Kabir got out of Afghanistan and into Russia? Why would he go back just to cross over into Iran a week later? I have two officers in Afghanistan investigating that question right now, sir.
Captain Omar? Yes.
I'm Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie.
This is Commander Rabb.
You are investigating Kabir, yes? Yeah.
What can you tell us about him? According to the locals, he stayed here only one night.
He came in one truck and left in a different one.
He hired a man from the village to drive the first truck over the border and then back to Qarqin for him.
What's his name? Mmm.
Fareeq.
Fareeq Mohammed.
Kabir said to Fareeq-- if he fails, Kabir kills his family.
Did Fareeq ever return to Qarqin? I have no idea.
Where is Qarqin? Qarqin is near to the border with Uzbekistan but you do not want to go there.
Why not? The road to the village-- very bad.
Two tribes at war.
Each man carries a gun.
Fighting.
Killing every day.
Your Special Forces is calling it "wild, wild west.
" Hmm.
Then we should feel right at home.
Lieutenant Roberts.
Sir, there was collateral damage from a recent air strike in Ghazni that has locals very upset.
Captain Johnson wants a JAG assessment.
Okay, uh, arrange for transport, Petty Officer.
Already have, sir.
Say the word, and we're gone.
There's nothing out here.
It's the right road.
I just doubled-checked it.
That sounded like AK-47 fire.
It sure did.
I think we're clear.
Are you okay? Yeah.
You? Yeah.
Do you smell that? Diesel fuel.
Yeah.
They must have hit the tank.
There's a patch kit in the back.
I think I can fix it.
You know, there are more mines than people in Afghanistan, sir? Well, this road's been cleared, Jen.
Just stay on it, and you'll be fine.
Don't worry, Lieutenant.
I wouldn't leave it for a cold beer, sir.
This looks like our man.
Sir, I'm Lieutenant Bud Roberts, United States Navy.
What's the problem? All that rubble used to be a school.
The only school the children had for 150 kilometers.
Hatim.
And this is part of what caused all this destruction.
SER-NO 3-7-8-4-niner-1-2.
This is part of a J-DAM.
Sir, they could have found that anywhere.
Does it really matter, Jen? Sir, the Navy will rebuild your school.
I promise.
Ah, Mr.
Webb.
Come, have a seat.
Well, your Ambassador said you were anxious to see me but you needn't have brought me a gift.
I know how much you like cigars.
Ah.
Cuban Cohibas.
My favorite.
Did you know that, too, Mr.
Webb? Oh, that and more.
How much more? You like to summer in Antibes have only one wife but two mistresses and you're not really in the Army-- you're ISI.
Pakistani Intelligence.
Mr.
Webb And a double agent for Iran.
You bring me a gift, and then you insult me.
You're either very arrogant or very foolish.
Perhaps both.
What do you want? For starters, you can tell me what the Iranians sold Al Qaeda for $250 million.
I have no idea.
Another gift.
It's a copy of a wire transfer.
For $250 million from you office to the Iranian Defense Ministry.
I know nothing of this so-called wire transfer.
I think you do.
Mr.
Webb, I believe this interview is over.
Hatif.
Thank you for the cigars.
Now who's being arrogant and foolish? Good day, Mr.
Webb.
Is the bug working? Whew.
Ahmad Hakim has quite a temper.
But we are still in business.
Has he taken the bait, Wally? Mm not yet, sir.
He will.
All ports in CONUS and overseas have been placed on high alert.
Any Russian subs unaccounted for? No, sir, but there is an anomaly in the data from Iran.
This is infrared imagery of the port of Bandar Abbas in Iran.
The Iranians have purchased four diesel subs from the Russians in port.
This second sub is the Najvayi.
She's slightly wider in diameter than the other three but what is really interesting is that she's colder than the others.
What does that tell you, Lieutenant? I'm not sure, sir.
And neither are the analysts at NIMA or Central MASINT office.
But I have a theory.
You have a theory when professional analysts don't? Yes, sir.
Finding a discrepancy and coming up with a theory is bread and butter for lawyers.
Let's hear it.
Commander, if you park your car outside in the sun, it gets hot.
I mean, right through the dashboard to the seats.
Would the same thing happen to a submarine? If it were out long enough.
What are you getting at, Lieutenant? If the core of the submarine were removed it would be colder, wouldn't it? Are you trying to tell us the middle fell out of that submarine, Lieutenant? She's saying the middle was the sub, sir.
Exactly.
The Najvayi's specs are identical to the other three subs, except she is slightly wider and colder than the others.
I believe the Iranians built a decoy shell around the Najvayi.
At an appointed time, she submerged slipping out from the shell.
And snuck out of port without anyone the wiser.
The question is, where is she now? She's in the Persian Gulf, sir.
Why not the Med or heading for the States? Not even Captain Yerastov could sneak her through the Suez Canal, Admiral.
She's a diesel, and she's an old one.
I doubt they'll try to cross the Pacific or circumnavigate Africa.
No, sir.
She's in the Gulf, and she's heading for our battle group in the Arabian Sea.
Then we'll nail her.
If we can find her in time.
She's a diesel, and they're quieter than a nuclear sub.
And if Captain Yerastov's is at the helm it won't be easy, sir.
Ahead one-quarter.
Set course for Arabian Sea.
Your ruse was successful, Kabir.
Harm? You ever thought about how you want to go? No.
Look, this thing is fixed.
Let's pack up and get out of here, huh? I want to die like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid.
Oh, yeah? Well, which one am I going to be, then? Butch, of course.
Well, that's true.
He was the brains of the operation.
Hmm.
Yeah, but Sundance was the shooter that everyone was afraid of.
That's how I want to go-- in a blaze of glory against impossible odds.
Come on, Mac, enough of this morbid subject.
Yeah, I want something really important at stake.
Mac, enough.
Come on, Harm, play along.
All right.
What about after? You know, when you're dead.
If you choose cremation they shove your body in a furnace and bake you.
You know what burns first? You got me, Harm.
Your hair.
Then your skin crackles and boils.
Stop it.
You win.
And when the marrow in the bones boil You won! the bones actually explode.
Stop it.
This is the Seahawk carrier battle group in the North Arabian Sea.
What's that group's submarine? The Watertown, sir.
Los Angeles class.
Commander John Flagler is the skipper.
You don't need to check your notes? They're up here, sir.
Alert the TACAMO aircraft to flash the Watertown and get the Seahawk on the phone.
Let them know that they may have a diesel sneaking up on them with Russia's most skilled skipper in command.
With your permission, Admirals I'd like to volunteer for TAD aboard the Watertown.
Commander, as much as I respect your service as a submariner Commander Flagler is perfectly capable.
And I don't mean to imply that he isn't, sir.
Only that I am Alec Baldwin.
Excuse me? The Hunt for Red October movie, sir.
Captain Yerastov is Sean Connery and I am Alec Baldwin, sir.
I need to be aboard that boat.
Admiral, um No matter, um how sophisticated a submarine is it's just a tool, and a tool is only as good as the talent behind it.
Commander Turner does have a proven talent against Captain Yerastov.
Looks like you're on your way to the Arabian Sea, Commander.
Petty Officer, see if you can expedite this Foreign Claims Act request for new funds for a school in Ghazni.
With pleasure, sir.
Hi, honey.
Hi, Bud.
I can't decide what color sofas to put in the new house.
I think blue, or maybe yellow.
What do you think? I had a great dream.
I was pushing little A.
J.
On a swing.
You just changed the subject without even hearing me out.
Sorry, I just wanted to tell you about my dream.
Lieutenant Sims.
Yes, sir.
Lieutenant.
The Captain wants you on the bridge, ASAP.
We may have a hostile submarine inbound, Lieutenant and our current rules of engagement for submarines make me nervous.
You think you can figure a way to help me out? Do my best, Captain.
Just do it quickly, Lieutenant.
Aye, aye, sir.
All ships have acknowledged an alert, sir.
ASW procedures are in effect.
Very well, X.
O.
Cobb it to 30 knots and sinuate.
Aye, sir.
Aye, sir.
Gentlemen, Commander Turner's arrived at the Watertown.
Commander Turner, I'm well aware of your exploits in tracking the untrackable Captain Yerastov but we acquired him half an hour after we received the alert from the TACAMO.
Had to let him go in order to pick you up.
Sorry, skipper.
I'm sure you'll reacquire him shortly.
Commander Turner, my X.
O.
Lieutenant Wick and our sonar chief, Grisham.
Lieutenant.
Chief.
Looks like you already got him again, Chief.
Yes, sir.
And without any help.
Well, with all due respect to the Chief's abilities Yerastov may want us in his baffles.
And why would he want that, Commander? He keeps a dossier on all our submarine commanders.
Believe me, Skipper, he's been studying your moves.
How does he know that I'm here? Newspapers in San Diego routinely cover changes of command and battle group deployments.
This guy was in Russia subscribing to a San Diego newspaper? You better believe it.
He'll assume you'll be looking for him and he'll be studying just how to lose you when it suits him.
Making you the wild card that he doesn't expect.
That's the idea.
I have strange headache.
Getting too old for this kind of work, Commander.
Not you, Captain.
You were born to it.
No one is born to breathe recycled air in tin box under ocean.
No.
This is our revenge.
Revenge for what, Captain? My wife was a major in the KGB.
She was found in West Berlin with bullet in her head.
I know full well the CIA killed my wife.
Now my government tells me the Americans are my friends.
That all is forgiven.
But, no, all is not forgiven.
I want my revenge.
Soon, we both shall have our revenge.
Yes, sir, we believe the submarine to have hostile intent.
However, until it acts, it's a vessel of a sovereign nation with every right to traverse international waters.
What do you propose? I recommend that that we declare a "cordone sanitaire" around the Seahawk battle group.
I propose authorizing the Seahawk the authority to engage any nonallied submarine entering the declared exclusion zone.
Admiral, my office has thoroughly examined Lieutenant Roberts' recommendations and they've been chopped through Fifth Fleet and CENTCOM.
We support his changes to the existing Rules of Engagement.
Very well.
I'll recommend them to the Secretary of Defense and the Joint Chiefs of Staff.
Thank you, Lieutenant.
Thank you, sir.
Well, what'd you think, Jen? You were great, sir.
Your proposed amendment covering submarine ROE's was well-received.
But you don't look pleased.
I'm just tired.
If you need an ear, sir, I have two of them.
You know, I'm in the middle of a war here and all Harriet can talk about is sofa color.
When a woman builds a nest she wants to share those decisions with the man she loves.
So, forgive me for saying so, sir but you might want to start caring about the color of the sofa, sir.
Just a little.
Harm, you drove all night? Why didn't you wake me to do a shift? It's no big deal.
I was on a roll.
Well, let me take over now.
I'm fine.
Stop.
Pull over.
Right now, Commander.
Or what? Or you'll prove that you're a hopeless control freak.
Hey.
Looks like the vehicle we're after.
So do about a hundred other trucks.
I'm moving in.
Clear.
Clear.
Mac.
Oh, God.
Biological weapon? Maybe.
Looks like the guy we're after.
Yes, it does.
You know, Mac.
This could also be radiation poisoning.
Do you see that? They look like the truck driver, Fareeq.
We've got to get a medical evaluation team in here immediately.
You realize we could already be exposed.
Lieutenant Roberts reporting as ordered, sir.
At ease, Lieutenant.
Your new Rules of Engagement have been approved.
I'd like you to brief the X.
O.
Aye, aye, sir.
Our first step is to determine the submarine's kill range.
We then designate a moving buffer zone around the Seahawk.
We broadcast our intent on all the appropriate frequencies.
If the sub enters the zone we document the incursion and sink it.
Are they certain it's a Russian diesel, Skipper? Naval Intelligence was specific.
Range on those torpedoes-- seven, eight miles.
A ten-mile buffer zone ought to do the trick, sir.
Very well.
Inform the Watertown.
Aye, aye, sir.
Stay with him, Chief.
Like a fly on Vegemite, sir.
Vegemite? I spent some time in Australia, sir.
It's this, uh like, jam they got down there.
Tastes like diesel fuel till you get used to it.
We received a flash from the TACAMO.
Amended Rule of Engagement.
If the Najvayi gets within ten miles of the carrier group, we're ordered to sink her.
If he holds this speed and heading that will be in just under ten hours.
We are wasting time moving so slow.
We should launch now.
Better to waste time than waste lives.
Time is more important.
Are you in a hurry to reap revenge, or to die, Kabir? If we launch the missile now the Watertown will sink us for sure.
He's finally taken the bait.
Hakim is talking to the Deputy Defense Minister in Iran.
Warning him.
That we're on to them? Yes.
The $250 million was for one of the old Russian diesels the Iranians have.
So what's wrong? The Navy already assumed that.
It's been retrofitted for a Russian SS-25 cruise missile.
We didn't know that.
She didn't make it.
No.
They've confirmed radiation poisoning.
The doc wants us back on the Seahawk for testing.
I just spoke with the RadCon Team.
They did a thorough search and survey.
There's minimal residual radiation.
The human body doesn't retain high levels, so Clothes do, but they've been removed.
Exactly.
So it's unlikely we've, uh, been exposed.
Minimal residual means that whatever did this is gone.
The question is, where did it come from? Where did it go? What are you doing, Harm? Harm? What are you thinking? You know what these victims all have in common, Mac? They're Chechen.
Remember Commander Aiken? The murder you and Sturgis investigated back in Washington? She was killed by a Chechen.
His confession led us to a boat filled with 30 kilos of weapons-grade uranium.
We caught it before it sailed from Russian, but What if we didn't get all of it? Could have smuggled here, to Afghanistan.
These Chechens guarded it.
Kabir.
Gunny said that he and a truck escaped into Iran.
Could have been a truck with uranium.
Unshielded uranium.
Which means that Kabir was exposed for quite some time.
Misha and Yuri are dead, Captain.
What happened? I don't know, sir.
We had men die in the caves of Tora Bora the same way.
It is some new American weapon.
What kind of American weapon? I do not know, Captain, but they have it and they'll use it.
That is why time is critical.
The longer we take to complete our mission the more men will die.
Yuri was my weapons officer.
I will man the weapons, Captain.
We should keep this from the crew as not to alarm them.
You are not a submariner, Kabir.
In here, news travels before it happens.
I found them, sir.
I don't believe other men are aware.
Take them to the freezer.
Yes, sir.
Kabir.
If I knew how this American weapon works maybe I can put in some countermeasures.
I do not know, Captain.
Gentlemen, I have bad news and worse news.
Then why the hell are you smiling? I didn't realize I was, sir.
Bad first.
The CIA believes the Najvayi was refitted with an SS-25 cruise missile.
That missile has a range of 180 miles.
The Seahawk's buffer zone was based on torpedoes.
Yes, sir.
Woefully inadequate.
If that's the bad news, what could be worse? Commander Rabb and Colonel MacKenzie have reported from Afghanistan that they believe Kabir took weapons-grade uranium into Iran.
If he put a dirty nuke on that cruise missile it could spread lethal radiation for miles when it detonates.
Hell, they don't even have to score a direct hit.
What is wrong, Zeltsin? I'm fine.
Range to target? Uh, 354 kilometers.
Have you found my thermocline yet? Yes, sir.
At 45 meters.
We're directly below it.
Good.
If the Watertown is in our baffles as I believe she is it is time to give her surprise.
Ahead full.
13 knots.
Now.
She's cobbing it, Skipper.
Increasing speed to ten, 12, 13 knots.
Helm, ahead one-third.
All ahead one-third, aye.
Left full rudder.
Maximum down angle.
Active sonar, Mr.
Zeltsin.
He's diving, sir and his sonar just went active.
What the hell is he up to? Skipper, I'd advise you to back off here.
X.
O.
, anything on the charts? Depth 1-2-5 to Unobstructed bottom, sir.
Helm, maximum down angle.
Stay in his baffles.
Diving.
Aye, sir.
Nah, he's leading you into a trap, Skipper.
Commander, he doesn't even know we're here.
He's assuming we're here.
I know him, Skipper.
He's going to pull something.
Level the boat at 235 meters.
Stand by for 20 knots.
Captain, we're closing on something! Very good, Mr.
Zeltsin.
Stand by for emergency blow.
Full left rudder.
Maximum up angle.
Stand by.
Obstruction dead ahead.
Emergency blow.
Hard right rudder, max rise on the plains.
Emergency blow.
Hard right rudder, max rise on the plains.
We cleared it by five yards, Skipper.
That wreck wasn't on the charts, Skipper.
Captain Yerastov spent 30 years making his own charts.
He knew it was there, and he used it to lose us.
Okay Alec Bladwin.
You got anything up your sleeve, now's the time.
He turned to port.
I'd search that quadrant.
Why to port? Because in that emergency, Skipper, you turned to starboard and I'd be willing to bet you do it every time.
Skipper, we just received a flash message.
That submarine is carrying a cruise missile with a dirty nuke warhead.
Watertown still have her? No, sir.
She eluded them ten minutes ago.
She's about 200 miles out with a bearing of 2-7-0.
Flash him permission to sink her as soon as he reacquires.
Sound battle stations and commence nuclear protection countermeasures.
Aye, aye, sir.
General quarters.
General quarters.
All hands man battle stations.
Set condition Alpha and Circle William throughout the ship.
Now general quarters.
Captain, request permission to stay on the bridge.
Permission granted.
X.
O.
, double our ASW aircraft in the air.
Maybe we can give the Watertown a little help.
Aye, aye, sir.
And signal the rest of the group to scatter at full speed until they're at least ten miles from us.
The Skippers are not going to like that, sir.
No, but they'll do it.
Have every ship in the battle group go active.
Ensonify the area, and get me the squadron's Missile-X scores.
Aye, sir.
Excuse me, sir? Missile-X? Our Tomcat and Hornet squadrons have Missile-X competitions every year.
They try to shoot down incoming missiles traveling nearly as fast as they are.
Does that work, sir? Sometimes.
Lieutenant Commander Chaidez has the highest Missile-X scores of all the squadrons, sir.
So, get him in the air.
However, the all-time record holder has just cleared sickbay.
Rabb? He holds the record for the Seahawk.
He's never been beaten.
Lieutenant Commander Chaidez flies lead and takes the shot.
Rabb's his wingman.
Aye, aye, sir.
Captain Zeltsin! Get these men to sickbay.
Manning sonar, sir.
What the hell are the Americans using on us? They're dropping sonobuoys.
All ahead full.
Take us back to the tanker.
The Seahawk's ASW helos are on her, Captain.
Torpedo in the water.
Captain Deploy noisemakers.
No breakup, sir.
I think they torpedoed acoustic decoys.
You can bet on it.
He's sitting on the bottom.
Well, let's see who can draw the fastest.
Ahead two-thirds.
Ahead two-thirds, aye.
Chief, go to active.
Pinging.
Aye, sir.
Captain, this is Pry Fly.
Shooter Flight is spotted and ready for launch.
Launch 'em.
Vasily Tavorechi I am taking you back to Iran for medical treatment.
We will kill Americans another day.
There will be no other day.
We're all dead men.
You know what is killing us? The cruise missile.
I have packed the warhead with unshielded uranium and we've all received a lethal dose by now.
I got nothing on the bottom except that tanker, sir.
That's what Yerastov knew you'd get.
He's there.
WEPS, this is the skipper.
Give me a firing solution on the tanker.
Stand by to fire a spread of four torpedoes.
Would you rather kill me Or kill Americans? Get back to your weapon.
You were right, Commander.
The target's separating from the wreck.
Rising fast and increasing speed.
WEPS, this is the skipper.
Get me a firing solution on the new target.
Two torpedoes.
Aye, aye, sir.
Captain.
They've opened their outer doors.
They're going to shoot.
We have to reach at least 50 miters to launch the cruise missile.
Skipper, WEPS.
I have a firing solution.
Fire.
Fire.
Yes! Skipper, all we can hear now is breakup, but I swear she got off a shot just as we nailed her.
The explosion must have detonated the torpedo.
Wait, wait.
Chief, could it have been a missile? I wasn't thinking missile.
Not from a diesel.
But, yes, sir.
It could have been a torpedo launched cruise missile.
My God.
X.
O.
, flash the Seahawk! Aye, aye, sir.
Shooter Flight, we have a target bearing 1-4-niner.
Range, 3-0 miles.
Speed, 400 knots.
Shooter One, roger.
Intercept course plotted and on your screen, sir.
Got it.
Tally ho.
Missile closing.
Range two-five miles.
Should I clear the flight deck and take nuclear protection steps, sir? Negative, X.
O.
Too much radiation.
If they don't take it out at least ten miles from us above or below decks, we're all dead.
I've got no joy, Shooter One.
Have you acquired the target? Negative, Shooter Two, no joy.
Lieutenant Jorgensen I need acquisition.
Lock on that missile.
I'm trying, sir.
Range, two zero miles.
Tally-ho.
Missile ahead.
I've got a lock.
It's too late, sir.
It's only eight miles from the carrier.
Shooter One, hold fire.
Hold fire.
Shooter Two, get out of there! Negative, Shooter One.
It'll acquire me, and I'll lead it away.
It won't work.
It's GPS targeted.
It has to switch to radar to hit a moving target like the Seahawk.
It's our only hope, Shooter One.
It's too close to the carrier now.
Give it a go, Shooter Two.
It's a dirty nuke, sir.
It could be just be set to blow up at targeted coordinates.
Can't be, Lieutenant.
That would ruin our day.
We're all going to die! I repeat, we're all going to die! Why haven't they shot it down? Shooter Two has acquired the missile and it's locked onto him.
It's following.
Range two miles.
One mile.
Passing port side.
Roger, CIC.
Missile is departing the area.
Yeah! Two miles.
Shooter Two, you're too close.
It has a proximity sensor.
It's going to blow.
Five miles from the carrier.
Six Eight Ten I can ride it up, but it's still risky.
Should run out of fuel anytime now.
Bogey's flaming out.
Let's hope it doesn't blow on impact.
Send the Seahawk to coordinates where the missile flamed out.
RadCon will need to recover that warhead.
I think I've had enough adrenaline for one day.
How about you, sir? I was just getting warmed up.
Let's take it home.
Excuse me, sir, do you have a second? Come on in.
I thought you had gone home, Lieutenant.
Just headed that way, sir.
Is that a look of concern? Just having a little anxiety, sir.
I haven't slept in a couple of days.
Your husband's in a war zone.
Yes, sir, but He's on an aircraft carrier in the middle of the sea.
This is just silly.
I'll get over it.
Thank you, sir.
Lieutenant.
Yes, sir.
In case you don't get over it, call me any time.
Thank you, sir.
Nice of them to invite us to groundbreaking, sir.
Well, we did give them money for a new school.
Which we blew up.
Accidentally.
Oh, my God! Aren't there mines out there? Maybe they've cleared them, sir.
Got get someone from the village.
Hey! Hey, little buddy! Hey.
Whoa, whoa! Don't-don't move! It's okay.
No, no.
Don't move, buddy.
Hey, up here.
Hey, buddy, buddy, up here.
Hey! Look at me, look at me.
Hey! Hey, it's okay.
It's going to be okay.
No! Don't don't move.
It's okay.
No! No, no, don't move, buddy.
No, no, don't move! No! It's okay Oh, God, it's okay.