All language subtitles for 12JAG S06E12 Collision Course

It's gonna be difficult to find them
without radar, skipper.

Can't even see our own bow.

If they're out there, we'll find them.

Remember that exercise off Ibiza?

Back before either one of us
was allowed near the wardroom.

There you go.

- All engines ahead standard.
- All engines ahead standard, aye.

Bridge, Lookout.
Contact 4,000 yards off the port bow.

Apparent heading, north-northeast.
It's a Turkish destroyer, sir.

- All engines ahead flank.
- All engines ahead flank, aye.

Sir, wouldn't it be safer
to withdraw to missile-firing range?

And what would the crew learn
from that?

Steady up on 340.

Wanna overtake them
on their starboard quarter.

- Steady on 340, sir.
- Weapons, Bridge. Stand by Mount 1.

Optical tracking only.
Simulated fire.

Stand by.

Release batteries.

- CIC reports direct hit, sir.
- Radio, Bridge. This is the captain.

Break EMCON and tell them
they've just been sunk.

Captain, the Turkish ship
is turning sharply into our path.

- Hard-right rudders.
- Hard-right rudder, aye.

- Is radar up and running?
- Yes, sir.

They're 1,000 yards and closing.

- All engines back full.
- All engines back full, aye.

Radio, contact the Turks.
Tell them they are in extremis.

- XO, sound the collision alarm.
- Aye, aye, sir.

Six hundred yards.

Four hundred yards.

- All hands, brace for impact.
- One hundred yards.

You and the Turkish team were
on opposite sides in the exercise?

That's right, ma'am.
A NATO TRANSITEX.

It's like a big game of hide-and-seek.
Eight U.S. And Italian ships seeking,

four Turkish ships hiding.

You found one.

Yes, sir.

I understand
they're blaming a Greek ship

that wasn't even part of the exercise.

Look out. Look out.

- Watch it, now.
- Push in on this.

- Hit it.
- Clear.

- Fast on your feet there, chief.
- Thanks. Not bad yourself.

- Oh, my apologies. Skipper.
- No problem, commander.

I'm Commander Rabb.
This is Lieutenant Colonel MacKenzie.

- Skipper.
- Any news on the Turkish casualties?

Still seven dead, two missing.

XO, is that a dispatch
from Com, Sixth Fleet,

relieving me of command?

Only temporarily, sir.

We'll see.

Commander,
I realise that the timing is bad,

but we're required to get a statement

from the commanding officers
of all three ships.

And I won't keep you
from your rounds.

This is my statement:

We got caught in a fog bank
searching for the enemy.

It cleared. We found ourselves
two miles from the Gelibolu.

I closed range.
It changed course. I hit it.

Seven dead, two missing.
End of story.

Now, if you'll excuse me,
I have work to do,

even though
I'm not the CO anymore.

Even if I'm not
the commanding officer anymore,

it does not mean
I cannot lend a hand.

You were running
without radar or lights

- when the United States ship hit you.
- All ships were on EMCON.

Total emissions blackout.

So the United States ship
couldn't see you when they hit?

They saw clearly enough to fire at us
when they came out of the fog.

They should've been able to see
we were having a problem.

- With the Greek ship?
- Yes. The one trying to ram us.

I didn't try to ram them.
I attempted a shouldering manoeuvre.

We saw a vessel outside
shipping lanes, running without lights.

- I did what I was supposed to do.
- Did you try hailing them?

Several times by radio.
But we received no response.

We couldn't respond.

EMCON means no radio,
no sonar, no radar.

Navigation... How do you say it?
- By the seat of our pants.

This was the same way
the U.S. Ship was navigating?

Yes. It was the rule of the exercise.

Eventually, we replied to the Naxos
by signal light.

We identified ourselves
and informed them of the exercise.

They just kept coming.

It didn't matter who they claimed to be.
They could have been anyone.

And that's when you decided
to shoulder them?

No. That's when I decided
to contact my chain of command

to see if there was
any such exercise scheduled.

There was not.

Colonel, I do not attack another ship
on a whim.

The Turks left me no choice.

I informed them
they were in Greek territorial waters

and ordered them
to change their course.

Greek territorial waters?

Within three nautical miles
of the Greek island of Anaxios Vrahos.

We call it Kiymetsiz Kaya.

It's an uninhabited rock.
The Greek claim has no validity.

Even if it did,
we were on a NATO operation,

exercising our right
of innocent passage.

So, what does it matter?

What'd you do when you saw
the Naxos heading towards you?

I immediately broke EMCON
and ordered hard-right rudder,

which brought us right into the path
of the American ship.

You took these actions immediately,
knowing that breaking EMCON

would disqualify you
from the war games?

Come this way.

It was my first night onboard.

I woke up on the floor.

I tried to move, but...

My hip, they say it's shattered.

The bow of the American ship
was right there in my quarters.

Then it reversed,

and I saw Lieutenant Ince,
my bunkmate,

tangled in the American anchor chain,
all torn up.

And I watched him go by,

out the hole
the ship made in the bulkhead.

This man is alive.

Seven are not.

I did not hazard my ship
to win a game.

- Tiner.
- Good morning, lieutenant.

- Can you use LexisNexis?
- And Westlaw, ma'am.

I need you to run a search
on precedents involving Article 134,

abuse of a public animal.

You get stuck
with the loser cases again, ma'am?

Every time they go out of town.
It's like there's a sign on my back.

Wish we could spend more time
together, but with everybody gone...

It's no problem.
I'll just spend the day with Harriet.

I love diapering my nephew.

I could postpone a motion hearing,
free a few hours up after...

Don't sweat it.
My ship was on O.R.E.

For the last 30 hours
before we got to Norfolk.

So a little nap wouldn't hurt.
Coffee mess is this way, right?

That way.

What kind of doughnut you want,
lieutenant?

- I don't eat those anymore.
- Sprinkles, right, sir?

Rainbow.

- Oh, my gosh.
- Are you all right?

I'm so sorry. I'm sorry. Sorry.

Oh, my God.

Hey, Roberts.

Man, Gunny, if I had a girl like that...

What would you do?

I'd...

You know.

Hey. Victor.

- Hey, Val. All right.
- Hey. I missed you.

I'm sorry, Gunny.
I didn't know she was your girlfriend.

She's not. She's my sister.

Hey, could you get
a long lunch, Vic?

The Vermeer show's
at the National Gallery.

I'd love to, but I can't.

- Things are crazy around here.
- The Vermeer show's over.

- They got art nouveau now.
- What?

- Art nouveau kicks ass.
- What?

- Mike.
- Valerie.

I was gonna go see it,
if you wanna go.

- We could both go.
- You sure you can't come?

- Let's go.
- All right.

Oh, hey, Mikey, I was able
to clear away a few hour...

Where's my brother going?

Out with my sister.

Turkish captain's blaming
the Greeks.

And the Greek
is pointing it right back at the Turks.

This has been going on
for a thousand years, sir.

Turks drink raki, Greeks drink ouzo.
They're identical, but try telling them.

- What about the American captain?
- Commander James Merrick.

Outstanding service record, sir.
Golden Anchor award for retention.

John Paul Jones Award
for leadership.

And he's the only one
not working overtime to cover his butt.

That's refreshing.

More refreshing
not to have to compete

with officials
from four different countries.

We're tripping over each other
out there, sir.

Try dealing with admirals
in four countries

with their defence ministers
looking over their shoulders,

making sure nobody forgets
their political agendas.

Then there's the press.

Ladies and gentlemen,
thank you for all your interest.

We will answer all your questions
at the press briefing.

Follow me, please.

Some of those reporters
would make damn good Marines.

We are the nation
that gave the world the paparazzi.

Now, please, sit.

So you are the American team
in our investigative Olympics.

Yes, sir.

Admiral Picato commanded
the NATO transit exercise.

Oh, admiral,
we need to speak with you.

- Speak.
- Sir, Commander Vlahakis,

the Greek skipper,
claims he never received word

that the TRANSITEX
was being conducted.

My office informed the Greek navy
via its fleet command at Salamis.

So the Greeks were at fault?

There was apparently an unfortunate
breakdown in communications.

Admiral, why were games held
near an island,

the ownership of which is disputed
between Greece and Turkey?

The op area was 75,000
square kilometres, commander.

Find me a section
of the Aegean that size

without a dozen disputed islets,
and I will be happy to use it.

Admiral Picato,
don't you have a meeting?

Yes, with the NATO press office.

A different sort of damage control
than I learned at the naval academy.

- Good day, gentlemen. Colonel.
- Sir.

Admiral, we should be going too, sir.

We have a meeting with a translator
to go over the Gelibolu's log.

Oh, that won't be necessary.

We're past the investigation stage
on this.

Mr. Secretary,
we've hardly begun, sir.

The key facts of the collision
are not in dispute.

Apparently,
not even by Commander Merrick,

according to your report.

- He will be prosecuted.
- For what, sir?

Dereliction of duty,

hazarding a vessel,
and manslaughter.

Seven counts.

Mr. Secretary,
I don't see how primary responsibility

can be assigned
to Commander Merrick.

What about the captains
of the other ships?

The Greeks and the Turks
are frying their fish, we're frying ours.

Unless you want to argue that
the Uniform Code of Military Justice

applies to officers of foreign navies.

- No, sir.
- Good.

We're concerned that the prosecution
of Commander Merrick

may be premature.

Really?

Does anybody here
remember the TCG Muavenet?

Turkish destroyer, sir,

the USS Saratoga accidentally hit
with live missiles

during a war game in '92.

Killed five sailors.
No one was court-martialed.

Was Commander Merrick
on the Saratoga, sir?

The Turks are making noises
about revoking our use of their airfields

to enforce the Iraqi no-fly zone.

How is that our department?

Anything that affects
America's national-security interest

is our department.

At least that's the impression
I've been labouring under.

- Yes, sir.
- Oh, for God's sakes, A.J.

Merrick ploughed his ship
into another vessel.

- At least seven people are dead.
- Yes, sir.

Turkey needs to know
that we are taking this one seriously.

I understand.
I'll assign my best people.

I want you to prosecute.

- Me?
- Yes, A.J.

So they'll know
we are taking this one seriously.

I trust you'll allow me
to name the defence counsel?

- A.J., you know I trust you.
- Good.

Because I wanna make sure
Commander Merrick's defence team

is just as serious, sir.

So, what was your favourite?

Ford's Theatre. No.

Magnum's aloha shirt
at the Smithsonian.

No, wait. This tiramisu.

If you wanna walk off the tiramisu,
we could check out Dupont Circle or...

I should probably get back
to my brother's.

You know, I am supposedly
spending time with him.

I go back aboard ship on Wednesday.
You can see him all week.

Well, what about your brother?

Aren't you supposed to be
spending time with him?

I saw him this morning.

You know what I need right now?

- Another cappuccino?
- To dance.

I mean, you're not tired, are you?

Okay. I know some clubs.
You're 21, right?

My driver's licence says 22.

If I'm asleep in my quarters,

and a radar operator with a bad cold
gets blurry eyes

and he doesn't see a blip
on his screen,

and we hit a rowboat,
I'm responsible,

because I'm the commanding officer.

Now, if I'm on the bridge,
and we hit a 4,000-ton destroyer...

A number of factors
led to that collision, commander.

Colonel, there are always
a number of factors.

But somebody has to be responsible.
Otherwise, next time, nobody will be.

We respect the responsibility
that comes with command,

but to volunteer to take the blame,
comman...

When I volunteered
to be a Naval officer 22 years ago,

I accepted that something like this
could happen.

- What? To become a scapegoat?
- What would you propose that I do?

Prosecution will try to prove
you acted negligently.

We will show
that you made legitimate choices

according to the situation.

That this collision is the result
of a long chain of events.

Misjudgement by the skippers,
miscommunications, faulty equipment.

Dust in my eyes, full moon,
that sort of thing.

I am not some old lady
with a lap full of hot coffee.

That is not the way I do things.

Letting our client
take the fall for others

is not the way we do things.
Now, commander...

Harm, if he doesn't wanna fight,
we can't make him.

I joined the Navy to fight,

like my father
and my grandfather before me.

But they served 56 years
between them

without killing seven people
in a war game.

Enter.

- Excuse me.
- Commander, you're right on time.

We're trying to convince your CO
not to fall on his sword.

Skipper, I just received this order
from the prosecutor

to testify against you.

That was great.

Victor would never take me
any place like that.

- He wouldn't even know it existed.
- Well, you gotta know where to go.

Where's the best place
to see the sunrise?

Jefferson Memorial, Tidal Basin.
Come on, I'll take you.

What would he want you
to testify about?

- I don't know.
- Oh, I think we both know.

When we came out of that fog,

you recommended
that I withdraw to missile range

instead of approaching
the Turkish ship.

- That doesn't mean anything.
- It might mean something

- to a court-martial panel.
- Recommending is an XO's job.

Then the captain
makes his own decisions.

I won't testify against you.

You have no choice, commander.
It's an order.

I don't care, sir.

Tim, if you respect me at all,
you'll follow that order.

And help send you to Leavenworth?

No, sir.

Your XO is willing to disobey an order
to defend you, commander.

What are you willing to do?

Just wait five minutes?

- Can't believe I drooled on you.
- Hey, it happens to the best of us.

Oh, I wish you didn't have to go back
to your ship so soon.

Well, I could come back next Friday.

How was the art nouveau?

- "Nouveau."
- Oh, my mistake, Roberts.

And I guess it's also my mistake
to think that you can see an art exhibit

in less than 19 hours.

- Oh, come on, Vic.
- Valerie, inside.

Are you trying
to send me to my room?

I'm trying to get you
or this swabbie here

to tell me what the hell you been doing
for the last 19 hours.

- Sightseeing.
- Sightseeing?

Yeah, sightseeing.

When you stay under my roof,
you don't go out all night long.

News flash, Vic:

I am 20 years old,
and you are not my father.

I was sightseeing.

Good night, Mikey.

That was fun.

Your motion is rather unusual,
commander.

You're saying the relationship

between commanding officer
and executive officer

is the same
as between husband and wife?

Not exactly, Your Honour.

I should hope not.

But I do believe
there should be a limit

on the government's ability
to compel an executive officer

to testify against
his commanding officer.

Like husband and wife.

It's more like lawyer-client,
Your Honour.

For the success of their missions,
a CO and his or her XO

must be able to communicate
freely and openly.

The fear that one might later
be called upon to incriminate the other

could impede the necessary flow
of information and advice.

Is my learned opponent suggesting
that an executive officer

might not tell his commanding officer
that they are under attack

because of some fear
of legal liability?

He might not tell
his commanding officer

how he feels
an attack should be dealt with

if he's afraid that
he might later be prosecuted

for giving bad advice, sir.

Commander,
do you have a scrap of law

to support this notion?

I believe it's inherent in the structure
of the Naval service, Your Honour.

Inherent, but unstated.

The executive officer
on the Monroe Smith

has pertinent testimony...

Save your breath, admiral.
He can testify.

Motion denied. Hearing adjourned.

We'll meet you outside.

- Interesting motion, commander.
- Thank you, sir.

Preposterous.

Sir, you must admit
it is a little distasteful

to compel Lieutenant Commander
Bryant to testify.

Distasteful? Are we having
a garden party here, colonel?

- No, sir.
- That's right.

I'm gonna convict
Commander Merrick.

If there's any doubts, they'll disappear
when you see your client

packed off to Leavenworth.
Have a nice day.

After we received the message that
we'd been sunk, the collision came.

So Commander Merrick took the time
to tell you that he'd won the war game,

but didn't bother to tell you
he was about to hit you?

That is correct, sir.

When did
the warning message come?

When it was too late
to do anything about it.

Thank you, captain.

Captain, I'd like you
to walk us through the collision

from the beginning, if you would, sir.

We were cruising at 12 knots.

The Greek ship approached us
on our port beam.

A little farther forward.

- Then they ordered us to stand clear.
- And what was your action?

Using our signal lights,
I identified our vessel

and informed them we were
conducting a NATO transit exercise.

- How did they respond?
- They repeated their order.

I immediately changed course.

Immediately?
Your communications log indicates

messages from the Naxos
over a period of eight minutes

before you changed course.

I had to determine that the other ship
was not a participant in the exercise.

Hadn't they identified themselves
as a Greek warship, captain?

It is common to use cover
and deception tactics.

It could've been the other team
pretending.

Pretending by turning on their lights
and breaking EMCON?

It is possible.

Captain, are you familiar
with Paragraph 9 of your op orders?

I am familiar with the op orders,
not with paragraph numbers.

Captain, would you please read
the highlighted portion?

Any participant breaking EMCON
for other than an emergency

will be disqualified and directed
to vacate the operations area.

So had the other ship
been a participant,

they would have
already been disqualified

by turning on their lights.
Isn't this true?

- Yes.
- So did you wait the eight minutes

because you didn't wanna forfeit
the exercise,

or because you didn't understand
the rules, captain?

I did nothing wrong.

Captain, aren't you currently
the subject of an investigation

- by Turkish naval authorities?
- They are investigating, yes.

So during this eight minutes
that you were doing nothing wrong,

how much did the gap
between you and the Naxos close?

- I am sure you will tell me.
- No, captain, I'd like you to tell me.

What was the distance
between your ship and the Naxos

when they ordered you
to stand clear?

Nine thousand yards.

And what was the distance
when you finally complied?

One thousand yards.

Leaving you
only one direction to turn

in which to avoid a collision
with the Naxos.

I ordered the Turks to change
their course before I approached them.

Then you deliberately steered
toward another ship,

violating the most basic rule
of prudent navigation.

My duty supersedes those rules when
I'm defending Greek territorial waters.

From a NATO ship
on a NATO exercise?

I had no proof of that.

NATO Southern Command
records show

that notification of the exercise
was sent to your fleet headquarters.

- It never reached me.
- Your own ship's log shows

the message was received at 0600
the morning of the collision.

This message was erroneously
delivered to my chief engineer.

- It was only located afterward.
- In your first statement

following the collision, didn't you say
you'd contacted your command

and been told that
there was no exercise in that area?

I thought my XO
had contacted our command.

In fact, he only checked
my own ship's record.

So isn't it fair to say

that there was dereliction of duty
aboard your ship?

By whom?

By the seaman
who misdirected the message.

The engineer
who failed to forward it.

The executive officer
who didn't find it.

And me, colonel?

Isn't it a fact, commander,

that if you had seen the message,
there would've been no collision?

Objection, Your Honour.
Calls for conclusion.

Sustained.

Would you have challenged
the Gelibolu

had you known about the exercise?

No.

Lieutenant,
about your supply requisition.

Not now, Tiner.

I thought you were through
with the Ballard case.

Oh, I would be,
if the brother of the year

hadn't come in two hours late
because of personal reasons

on the day that I needed him
to get my witness statement.

Yes, ma'am.

Gunny, this requisition form
you filled out for staples,

I can't tell if that's a seven or a two.

It makes a difference between
standard point and chisel point.

Tiner, go away and don't ever ask me
about staples again.

Tiner, sorry. Sorry.

It's just... Listen, you were talking
to Petty Officer Roberts the other day.

- Did he mention anything about a girl?
- What's going on, Gunny?

Nothing, sir.

Well, you mentioned
my brother's name?

Sir, permission to speak freely?

As you know, sir, your brother
took my sister out the other day.

So?

He kept her out all night.

And I have reason to believe

that his behaviour
was less than honourable.

- What, did your sister tell you this?
- No, sir. He did.

Hey, Val. Guess who. It's the guy
who drooled all over your lap.

Sorry I couldn't go all night last time.

But if you wanna give me
a second chance,

I'll be back in town on Friday.
All right. Later.

Dark, foggy night.
Ships running without radar.

Sounds like
a dangerous exercise, admiral.

All exercises have a risk factor.

But the op orders
were to reduce speed to five knots

if visibility was below 200 yards.

Did Commander Merrick
comply with that directive?

- Apparently not.
- Who do you think is responsible

for the collision between his ship
and the Gelibolu?

Objection. That's what this proceeding
is meant to determine, Your honour.

Your Honour,
this is the 23rd NATO exercise

Admiral Picato has directed.

He's more than qualified
to express an opinion.

I agree. Objection overruled.

I believe Commander Merrick

displayed bad judgement
in approaching the Gelibolu as he did.

I believe he's exercising
bad judgement now

in attempting to shift blame
to everyone but himself.

Move to strike, Your Honour.
Non-responsive and irrelevant.

Granted. Members will disregard
the last statement.

No more questions.

Admiral, if a captain is responsible

for everything that happens
aboard his ship,

it should follow
that an exercise commander

would be responsible for everything
that happens during an exercise.

There are limits to command
responsibility, commander.

- I was 200 miles away.
- Well, isn't it a fact, sir,

that the prosecution
of Commander Merrick occurred

after a meeting of high-level officials
from several NATO countries?

We had all gathered,
including your secretary of the Navy,

to discuss an incident that involved
several of our member nations.

- Including Greece and Turkey.
- Objection. Relevance.

Your Honour,
if you'll allow me a little leeway,

I believe I can establish relevance.

I'll give you the benefit of the doubt,
commander, for the moment.

Thank you, sir.

Admiral Picato, hasn't the fact

that Greece and Turkey
are historic enemies

complicated the mission of NATO?

They have their differences,
but they get along.

Were they getting along last October
when Turkey blocked Greek jets

involved in a NATO exercise
from flying over two Aegean islands?

No, they were not getting along
last October.

When the incident
in discussion here occurred,

wasn't there special concern, sir,

because it once again
involved Greece and Turkey?

- No.
- No? Even though the Greek

and Turkish prime ministers

issued statements
immediately following the collision,

blaming one another?

They are politicians, commander.

Well, isn't NATO
a political organisation, sir,

as well as a military one?

It lives.
You've been asleep for 12 hours.

I thought you were used to getting up
at the crack of dawn.

Yeah, well,
I need to save up my energy.

Yeah, well, good idea. Harriet and I
got lots of plans for this weekend.

We figured we'd all go hiking
on the Appalachian Trail on Saturday.

Maybe go to Annapolis,
do some antiquing on Sunday.

I was planning on staying in town.

What, and miss out
on all this great weather?

Weekend snow expected.

Well, we could go to Baltimore
and hammer some crabs.

- I sort of have a date.
- With Valerie Galindez?

Maybe. Why?

Well, Gunny's kind of worried
about you and her.

We just like to hang out.
She's cool and all, but it's just...

- You know?
- Mikey, Gunny's sort of overprotective.

- She can handle him.
- She can?

- I can too. What's he gonna do to me?
- Break your arms.

- I don't care.
- You don't care

- that he's gonna break your arms?
- Bud, don't laugh,

but I think I might be in love.

When you emerged from the fog,
and saw the Gelibolu,

what were your strike options?

Withdraw to missile-firing range, sir,
or approach and use the 76 mm gun.

And which option
did Commander Merrick choose?

To move in and use the gun, sir.

At that point,
did you have a conversation with him?

We had many decisions to make, sir.
I'm sure we had several conversations.

Did any of those conversations relate

to Commander Merrick's order
to approach?

It's possible, sir.

Your Honour, permission to treat
as a hostile witness?

- Granted.
- Isn't it true

that you disagreed
with Commander Merrick's order?

I don't recall, sir.

Do you want me
to bring in three crewmembers

who heard that conversation,
commander?

You have a promising career, son.

But you could end it
in the next 30 seconds.

I suggested we withdraw
to missile-firing range, sir.

Why?

To keep out of range
of their close-in guns, sir.

Any other reason, commander?

Yes.

To minimise the risk of a collision.

Thank you.

You had another disagreement
with the captain after the collision.

Yes, sir.

The captain wanted to send out boats
to aid the Turkish ship.

I thought we should wait until we
assessed the damage to our own ship.

Even though there was the possibility
of men in the water?

I know it sounds callous, sir,

but if we began to list
while lowering boats,

some of them would've hit the hull
and capsized,

putting more men in the water,
or worse.

So, what would you have done?

Waited until the situation stabilised,
then sent the boats.

And what was the result
of Commander Merrick's decision?

- We saved six Turkish sailors, sir.
- Good thing you weren't the captain.

- Objection. Argumentative.
- This goes to the witness's credibility.

Lieutenant Commander Bryant
does not understand

the risks inherent in command, sir.

He's ending his career
with those questions.

He's trying to save yours.

Overruled.
I'll allow the line of questioning.

How long would you have waited
to put the boats in the water?

- Your Honour.
- Your Honour,

defence requests a recess.

- Now?
- Yes, sir.

Very well. Ten minutes.

What is going on?

I can't allow you to crucify him
in order to save my neck.

Commander,
his testimony is damaging.

- We have to do this.
- No. No, we don't.

It's over. You make me a deal.

Thank you. Keep me informed.

They've located
the last missing Turkish sailor.

He's been in a military hospital
in Turkey

since the day before the collision.

- He wasn't even on the ship?
- Apparently not.

How's the trial going?

Commander Merrick
wants to make a deal.

Two pieces of good news.

I just need to know
what we can offer.

I think dismissal, forfeiture of pay,

and a few years imprisonment
will make the point.

- A few years?
- Couple years.

He has to do some time.
I'll leave the details to your discretion.

Yes, sir. What's happening
with the investigation

of the Turkish and Greek captains?

They're back on their ships.
Neither of them is gonna be charged.

What? You told me
they were gonna be dealt with.

That was my understanding
at the time.

Was it, sir?

Yes, it was.

If we're done here,
I'm late for a meeting.

Mr. Secretary.

It hardly seems fair

Commander Merrick
should take all the blame.

Commander Merrick
drove his ship into another ship.

The captain of which
was derelict in his duty,

as was the captain
of the third ship involved.

With all due respect,
when you assigned me this case,

I was under the impression
that I was serving the law,

not joining some damn lynch mob.

A.J., do you think it was up to me?

I thought you looked after
the interest of your people, sir.

You think that I alone
make the decisions

when the future of NATO
is at stake?

If the Greeks and the Turks are
threatening to tear the alliance apart,

then we've gotta do what
we've gotta do to make sure they don't.

We?

You got your marching orders, admiral.
I got mine.

These terms seem a little harsh, sir.

The prosecuting attorney doesn't
decide what terms are acceptable.

- You know that.
- How much brig time, sir?

Oh, six months would do.

Well, admiral, against our advice,
Commander Merrick has indicated

that he would accept
something along that line.

- All right, then. We're all set.
- I suppose so.

I'll let the SECNAV know.

On second thought,
those terms are not acceptable.

- You want more brig time, sir?
- That's not what I said.

Commander, you and the colonel
are doing a pretty good job on this trial.

Well, thank you, sir. We thought so.

If I were Commander Merrick,
I'd be happy for you to continue.

Sir, he's given us
specific instructions to stop.

Perhaps we don't have to stop
just yet.

Well, whatever you think is best.

Gunny.
Can I talk to you for a minute?

Yes, ma'am.

You need to take a deep breath,
count to ten, whatever.

- Ma'am?
- You're worried about your sister.

Your Marine training
teaches you to take direct action.

In this case, bad career move.

Good news:
Take a look at your sister.

Take a look at Mikey Roberts.
Same league.

What exactly are you worried about?

I understand, ma'am.

I just wish I had a brother
that cared this much about me.

Thank you, ma'am.

Thank you very much.

- What?
- Ma'am, that was so considerate.

Tiner, Mikey Roberts can eat that girl
for breakfast for all I care.

As long as the Hatfields
and McCoys are still fighting,

I get stuck with more work.

- Hi.
- Hey.

- Mikey, hi.
- This is for you.

- Oh, thank you.
- So are you ready for lunch?

Sure.
I just wanted to say hi to Victor.

- Have you seen him?
- Gunny?

No. I haven't seen him.

He's probably around somewhere,
though, but check this out.

I've got not one, but two
Fatboy Slim tickets for tonight.

Cool. Can you get three?

- Three?
- Yeah. This is my boyfriend, Ray.

What's up?

He flew in from New Mexico
to surprise me. Can you believe it?

Yeah, I can.

- Victor.
- Valerie.

- Roberts.
- Sir.

- Beasley?
- How's it going, Vic?

What a surprise, huh?
He and I and Mikey are all going out.

Ray rented a Miata.

- Okay, what are we looking for?
- Something to change his mind.

Whose mind? Merrick's?
The admiral's? SECNAV's?

Somebody's. Anybody's.

What do we know about the Turkish
sailor who turned up in the hospital?

- Does it matter?
- I don't know.

A day before the collision,

Petty Officer Suleiman Metin arrived
at the military hospital in Canakkale

with second-degree burns,
concussion and a broken ankle.

- Injuries received aboard the Gelibolu.
- What was his duty?

Electronics technician.

Well, he didn't get second-degree
burns tripping over a power cord.

Is there anything
in the ship's medical log?

No, we don't have it.
They didn't send it over.

- Big night planned?
- Yeah. Bigger than I thought.

Oh, I don't know what it is
about that girl.

That Beasley guy, total loser.

Every guy she brings home
is worse than the one before.

And the more I tell her what jerks
they are, the more she likes them.

You must love me, then.

No, Roberts. I can't stand you.

I'll tell Val that every chance I get.

Did you make the deal?

Almost. There are just
a few minor details to be worked out.

Then why are you here?

Sir, we've uncovered
new information

about the Turkish ship
involved in the collision.

The day before the exercise began,

the radar aboard the Gelibolu
went out.

A petty officer went up
to check the dome.

The radar came on suddenly,
burning him,

causing him to fall from the tower.

I trust the Turkish safety investigators
are investigating.

With an intermittent and undiagnosed
radar fault on one of the ships, sir,

the NATO exercise should,
under op orders,

have been postponed.

But the commander of the exercise,
Admiral Picato,

apparently, was eager
to conduct the games

before the end of his fiscal year.

There is a possibility, sir,
he colluded with the Turkish captain

to keep the mishap quiet.

Where are you getting all of this?

I made a few phone calls
after they brought this to my attention.

Was this in your job description
as prosecutor, admiral?

Well, Mr. Secretary,
as an officer of the court,

it's my duty to bring forth
any relevant information, sir.

I see.

Did the radar problems
have anything to do with the collision?

- No, sir.
- Then I don't see

- how it is relevant to this case.
- Oh, it's not, sir.

That's why we'll be
handing this report off

to the NATO inspector general.

This could cause
some difficulties for NATO.

But I imagine you realise that.

You mentioned some minor details

remained to be worked out
in Commander Merrick's deal?

Yes, sir. The admiral's informed us
that confinement is required.

We were wondering
if there was any leeway on that.

I suppose you have
an alternative to propose?

Yes, sir. Commander Merrick
be allowed to retire,

with a punitive letter of reprimand,

forfeiture of $3,000,
and no confinement.

Fine.

I'll put this
through the proper channels.

She's a good ship, Tim.

If they give it to you,
take care of her.

I will, sir.

Commander.

We stopped by your quarters.

I had some leftover FITREPs to sign.
Loose ends.

Well, I'm sorry we couldn't
do something to keep you here.

I knew I was finished driving ships

the minute that destroyer
crossed our path.

At least I'll be going home
without that long layover in Kansas.

You might not be going home
quite yet, commander.

Admiral Picato is being charged
with dereliction of duty

in conjunction with the collision.

Now he's taking the fall?

Really didn't matter who it was,
as long as it wasn't a Greek or a Turk.

That stinks, commander.

You're being called
as a witness against him.

I used to think I might have
what it takes to be an admiral.

You weren't wrong, commander.

No.

Thank God I was.

Captain departing.