All language subtitles for JAG S05E10 Mishap.eng

On the flight deck,
emergency pull-forward.

Prepare a ready deck
for emergency recovery.

Prepare the deck
for emergency landing.

Prepare the deck
for emergency landing.

We've got an emergency inbound.

Tower, Paddles. I'm up and ready.
What's your situation?

It's Boomer. His radio's intermittent.

His hydraulics are fluctuating.
Anyone up there with you, Skates?

Negative, sir. The other LSOs
went back to their ready rooms.

Boomer's on final.

- Can you take him?
- Yes, sir.

Good. I'll let you know
when the deck's ready.

- Roger that.
- LSO, come in.

Lieutenant Hawkes.

Don't take anybody.
Send them around.

Sir, I'd like to bring him in.

No, no, no. Wait for me. I'll be there
by the time the deck's clear.

Damage Control Team, stand by.
Damage Control Team...

Shooter 102, this is Paddles,
do you copy?

This is Shooter 102.
Paddles, you're breaking up.

I'm having a little problem here,
Paddles.

- We may have to ditch.
- Take it easy.

Just fly a straight, normal approach.
We'll bring you in.

- Do you copy?
- Do you read me, Paddles?

- Boomer, do you copy?
- You're breaking up, Paddles.

Paddles, he's in the groove,
and we have a clear deck.

Are you ready?

Yes, sir.

We're manned and ready.

Boomer? Boomer, I gotcha.

Watch the ball. You're a little low.
Little attitude.

Come on, Boomer.

Power.

Power. Power. Wave off, wave off.

Eject, eject, eject!

Last night, there was a mishap
aboard the Patrick Henry.

Air Wing was conducting
a training exercise

when an aircraft lost
its hydraulics and radio

and attempted a emergency landing.

This is what happened.

Aircraft came in low, hit the ramp.

The pilot and RIO ejected.

Pilot ended up on the flight deck
with a busted knee.

RIO ended up in the water,
was recovered with minor injuries.

Do you know their names, sir?

Pilot was Lieutenant Dalton Jonas,

and his RIO
was Lieutenant Frank Grady.

You know them?

Yeah, we served
in the same squadron.

- Good men.
- Lucky men.

Unfortunately, one of the flight-deck
crewmen wasn't as lucky.

A piece of flying debris
severed his leg.

Colonel,
you and Commander Brumby

will go to the Patrick Henry and
conduct the JAGMAN investigation.

- Yes, sir.
- Aye, sir.

Ship's commanding officer
is Captain Tobias Ingles.

Expect you know him, commander.

We have a nodding acquaintance, sir.
Don't expect a red carpet.

Make your investigation thorough,
but make it quick.

- Aye, sir.
- That'll be all.

All right, let's hear it.

Sir, I served
aboard the Patrick Henry.

I understand flight ops.
I know people onboard.

That's exactly why you shouldn't go.

- You don't feel I can be objective, sir?
- Well-put, commander.

- No, I don't.
- Sir--

The landing signal officer on duty
during the mishap

was your former RIO,
Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawkes.

Commander Stone, as the air boss,

you supervise all shipboard
air operations, correct?

Yes, including plane handling
and fuelling on-deck.

Can you tell us what occurred
the night of the mishap?

We had just recovered 18 aircraft.
It was a high-tempo operation.

Everyone was pretty beat.

- I had just set the deck-red condition.
- Excuse me, sir. Deck red?

Turned off the optical landing system,
indicating a fouled deck.

That way, no planes could land.

The crewmen
could cross the flight deck safely.

Understand. Please continue.

Six Tomcats were still up there.
They weren't due back for 45 minutes.

Which should've given you
enough time to clear the deck, correct?

Plenty. Then CATC notified me

they had an aircraft approaching
on their radar.

It was Boomer. Lieutenant Jonas.

His hydraulic pump was failing.
His radio transmissions were garbled.

- Sounds serious enough.
- Critical.

With fluctuating hydraulics,

that aircraft takes on
a definite life of its own.

I asked Lieutenant Hawkes
to bring it in.

Were you aware
the supervising LSO

told Lieutenant Hawkes
to send the aircraft around?

I was not.

Lieutenant Hawkes is a qualified LSO.
She said she was ready.

I believed her.

I did my best to bring her down.

It was a pitch-black night.
Radio was coming in and out.

I didn't know
if any other systems would fail.

So, what happened
during the approach?

I was a little low,
and I tried to correct.

That's when Lieutenant Hawkes
waved you off?

Yes, ma'am. But it was too late.

Are you saying
the accident was her fault?

No, sir. No.

I mean, sure, maybe another LSO
could've brought me in,

but Skates did the best she could.

You ever landed an emergency aircraft
before, lieutenant?

Yes, ma'am, in a simulator.

I've also landed no radio in training,
of course.

And you assumed
you could do it again?

Yes, sir.

Also, last thing
I heard Skates say was,

"Boomer, take it easy.
We'll bring you in."

I believed her.

She was right
not to send him around again.

He might've had to ditch the aircraft.

The pilot thinks she should've waved
him off sooner when he came in low.

That's a judgement call, Mac.
Have you spoken to Skates yet?

No. We'll see her
later this afternoon.

Well, how does it look?

It's still wide open.

Look,

keep me informed, will you?

Will do.

- Tell us what happened, lieutenant.
- I guess I blew it, ma'am.

Lieutenant, let me caution you,
this is a JAG investigation.

Anything you say can be used
against you in the court-martial.

Only if we suspect
you committed an offence.

Right now, we're just trying
to find out what happened.

So start with what you did
when you saw the Tomcat approach.

I did what I was trained to do.
I tried to bring him in.

Commander Bates,
the supervising LSO,

told you to wave the aircraft off.
Why didn't you?

When he gave that order,
the deck was fouled.

Once the deck was cleared,
it was a different situation, sir.

Commander Bates was in transit.
I had to make a decision.

So why decide as you did?

Were you concerned for the safety
of the pilot and radar-intercept officer?

Of course I was, among other things.
I don't know for sure.

- It was a split-second decision.
- And if you had to do it over?

Hindsight's a wonderful luxury,
colonel.

I regret the outcome,
but I stand by my decision, ma'am.

Mac, she wasn't sure
the plane could handle the go-around.

Yeah, but better the uncertainty
of a go-around than a ramp strike.

- Her job was to bring the plane in.
- Safely.

She second-guessed
her supervising LSO.

- Why are you defending her?
- The air boss told her to bring him in.

Why are you prosecuting her?

No, I'm just trying
to get a handle on what happened.

Let's continue this tomorrow, okay?

I wanna get a run around the deck
before night ops start.

Enjoy your run.

Mac, I don't think Skates is culpable.

I know you don't, Mic.

But she said it herself, she blew it.

I read your report.
My compliments on a damn fine job.

- Thank you, sir.
- Your conclusion:

"Poor judgement
and misplaced priorities

on the part
of the landing signal officer

substantially contributed
to the mishap."

Yes, sir. I believe Lieutenant Hawkes
placed the welfare of the flight crew

above that of the ship.

- You agree, commander?
- No, sir, I do not agree.

I see it as a combination of pilot error
and LSO misreckoning.

I also believe
all parties performed their duties

as well as they could
under the circumstances,

and there is no culpability.

Excuse me, sir.
Commander Rabb is here.

Send him in.

- Sir.
- Commander,

have you read the report
on the Patrick Henry mishap?

Yes, sir, I did. And I must say
I am surprised by her conclusions.

Well, be that as it may,
Captain Ingles agrees.

He's convening a court-martial
to try Lieutenant Hawkes.

Colonel, you'll prosecute.
Commander Brumby, second chair.

- You'll defend, commander.
- Article 92, sir?

Dereliction of duty
due to culpable inefficiency.

He's right, I was derelict.

I don't wanna hear you say that
ever again.

It was my job
to get that Tomcat down. I failed.

Well, that's very noble,
but don't fall on your sword just yet.

What was your primary focus when
you saw the aircraft approaching?

- Getting it down in one piece.
- Not the safety of the ship?

That was in the back of my mind,
sir, of course.

That is something
the prosecutor will tell you

should have been foremost
in your mind, Skates.

- Right, sir.
- Something you wanna tell me?

- This is between us, right?
- Lawyer-client privilege.

You flew with Boomer.
You know what he's like.

Why don't you remind me?

He's a deck spotter.
He doesn't fly the ball.

Go on.

I didn't wanna
send him around again,

because I didn't think
he'd keep it together.

Then, on final approach, he eased gun
and made a play for the deck.

- You don't see it on the PLAT tapes.
- You wouldn't.

But I heard his engines unwind.

Look, I can't prove it
even if I wanted to, which I don't.

But he panicked, Harm.

Please state your name
and duty station.

Lieutenant Dalton Jonas.

Attached to Fighter Squadron 218,
embarked on the U.S.S. Patrick Henry.

Lieutenant, please tell the court what
happened the night of the mishap.

We were on an exercise
roughly 50 miles from the ship.

I was vectoring with the tanker
for refuelling

when I got hydraulic warning lights.

Did you experience
any other equipment failure?

Yes. The radio started acting up,
so we headed back to the ship.

And what happened
during your approach?

I was too low.
I saw the green light blink.

I gave it some power.

At that point, I still didn't think
there was that much trouble.

Then the ball turned red.
I saw the wave-off signal.

But by then it was too late.

- And you struck the ramp?
- Yes, ma'am.

If you'd gotten the wave-off
a second or two sooner,

could you have avoided
that ramp strike?

- Objection. Speculation.
- Overruled.

Yes, ma'am, I think I could have.

Thank you.

Your witness.

Lieutenant, in your statement
to the flight surgeon,

you said you experienced vertigo
during your approach.

Yes, sir. It's not that rare for pilots to
experience disorientation or dizziness,

especially in the pitch dark, as I'm sure
the commander is well-aware.

I've had it a few times.
It's a frightening experience.

- Were you frightened, lieutenant?
- A little.

- Panicked?
- No, sir.

Did you keep your eye on the ball,
lieutenant?

Yes, sir, at all times.

Maybe the vertigo caused you
to misjudge your approach.

If you had to go around again
in the dark with vertigo,

you think you'd have made it?

I don't know, sir.
I wouldn't have wanted to try.

Well, that's a fair answer, Boomer.

Lieutenant Hawkes
is also an aviator.

Is it possible that she wasn't sure
if you could've made it,

and she didn't want you to try?

Objection. That's two questions,
both calling for speculation.

If Lieutenant Hawkes' thoughts
are important,

let her take the stand
and tell us firsthand.

- Sustained.
- No further questions.

I reserve the right
to recall this witness, Your Honour.

Lieutenant, you stated

that vertigo may have caused you
to misjudge your approach, correct?

Yes, sir.

But isn't that why you have
landing signal officers?

To help guide you in
when you do misjudge?

Yes, sir, it is.

Lieutenant Hawkes did a fairly poor job
of guiding you in, didn't she?

Objection. Calls for an opinion.

I'd like to hear his opinion.
Overruled.

Lieutenant.

- She did the best she could.
- Undoubtedly.

But the fact remains,
under her guidance,

you crashed, didn't you?

Yes, sir, we crashed.

- These are just the opening rounds.
- Sir.

They're hitting their target
pretty well, sir.

We'll get our shot.

You okay?

I visited Seaman O'Brien last night
at Bethesda.

He doesn't blame me for losing his leg.
He said we were both doing our duty.

- He's right.
- Will the members see it that way?

That time on the Seahawk,

when I grabbed your parachute...

If it wasn't for you,
I'd have gone through the screws.

Wouldn't have been enough left
for the sharks.

I didn't drop you then,
and I am not gonna drop you now.

Commander Bates, you were
the supervising landing signal officer

aboard the Patrick Henry, correct?

- That is correct, ma'am.
- Did you communicate

with Lieutenant Hawkes
during the mishap incident?

I did.
I told her to send the aircraft around,

that I was on my way up.

When you reached the platform,
what did you find?

I never reached the LSO platform,
ma'am.

When I came out on the flight deck,
the plane had already crashed.

In your opinion, Commander Bates,

did Lieutenant Hawkes
perform her duties that night?

In my opinion, by ignoring my order,

Lieutenant Hawkes
was derelict in her duties, colonel.

Thank you, commander.

Commander, isn't it possible
Lieutenant Hawkes thought

you issued the order
because the deck was fouled,

and once it had cleared,
the order no longer pertained?

Objection. It's irrelevant why
Commander Bates issued the order.

It goes to intent.

If she thought the order was issued
because the deck was fouled,

then she exercised assertive initiative
once it had cleared,

and this entire case
is based on miscommunication.

There was no miscommunication.

Why did you order
Lieutenant Hawkes

to send the aircraft around,
commander?

She'd never handled
an emergency like this before, sir.

Also, I knew she was exhausted.

Thank you.

- Continue, commander.
- Thank you, sir.

Well, let's talk about exhaustion,
commander.

Lieutenant Hawkes,
prior to the mishap,

had had five hours' sleep
in the past 48 hours.

Is that not a violation
of OPNAV instructions?

Her replacement had appendicitis.
We were in Battle Flex Deck Ops.

We were all overextended,
and we were short-handed.

So there were many
contributing factors to the mishap.

Faulty radio, vertigo, exhaustion,
appendicitis, lack of supervision.

I was on my way to the deck.

But you weren't there,
commander, were you?

Look, a landing signal officer's
primary obligation

is to the safety of the ship and crew.

Lieutenant Hawkes ignored my order
and failed to wave off.

She was derelict.

Nonjudicial punishment,
letter of admonition.

I'd advise against a plea bargain
at this time, colonel.

- Who do I talk to here?
- You talk to me.

I'll propose it to Captain Ingles.
That's the most I'm willing to do.

Mac, we're winning.
Why give up anything?

You seem to have trouble
accepting my decisions, commander.

Not at all. I'm just a little confused.

You're the one that wanted to go after
Lieutenant Hawkes in the first place.

- You thought she was not culpable.
- And we're in trial now.

I never let my personal feelings
come in the way of winning.

It's not our job
to decide punishment, Mic.

I'll present Harm's proposal
to Captain Ingles.

- Present, not endorse.
- As you wish, colonel.

I broke Harm of the notion that,

because I'm a woman,
I'm driven by my feelings.

I'll break you of it, too,
before I'm done.

Sure you will.

I'd be glad
to show you them sometime.

- Tuna.
- Pappy.

Or should I say "Hammer"?
Congratulations on your promotion.

Hey, you too.
I understand you made squadron XO.

- So how are they?
- You know.

Bunch of loudmouthed fighter jocks
trying to be the best and bravest.

- You miss us?
- You know I do.

- Yeah.
- So, what brings you here?

Patrick Henry's on post-deployment
stand-down at Norfolk.

I decided I'd pay
my old roommate a visit.

Really?

- It's about Skates.
- Let's go into my office.

- So, what about Skates?
- She's getting shafted, Harm.

- Shafted how?
- The mishap wasn't her fault.

It was her watch, yes,
but it wasn't her fault.

Whose fault was it?

Before I answer that,
I have to know something.

I'm willing to lay my career
on the line to help Skates.

Are you willing to do the same?

I never let fear for career
influence my actions.

If you know something
that can help Skates, let's hear it.

I don't need to tell you
what an outstanding RIO Skates is.

- No, you don't. Have a seat.
- Well, she's a good LSO too.

She might've made a bad call.
Who hasn't at one time or another?

But dereliction of duty? No way.

What does Captain Pike
have to say about this?

The CAG was on emergency leave
when the mishap took place.

He talked to the skipper by phone,
but the skipper won't budge.

- He's wrong to blame Skates.
- Who should he blame?

Remember the pod
that fell off Buxton's aircraft?

- Yeah.
- That was not an isolated incident.

When you go out to sea
without a full crew,

and there's no time
for emergency training,

and people are overworked
and exhausted,

mistakes are made.

You telling me
the ship wasn't ready to go to sea?

When you were onboard,
you were busy with all that legal stuff,

so you weren't aware.

But I was
a squadron maintenance officer.

Aware of what?
I knew there were shortages.

Systems malfunctioning.
Insufficient spare parts.

Gun-deck maintenance reports.

You have documents
to back all this up?

All the evidence you want
is aboard ship.

I can tell you what to look for,
but you'll have to find it yourself.

All right.

- Gunny.
- Yes, sir?

I'm looking for somebody to assist me
in the Hawkes court-martial.

Someone who's worked on a carrier,
knows their way around ships' records,

who's good with a computer,
who's diligent.

Detail oriented?
Gets along with others, commander?

- Exactly.
- Commander--

- Bud. Hey, how's your caseload?
- Ample, sir.

You can refuse,
but I would really appreciate your help.

- He said I could refuse.
- Yes, sir, he surely did.

Excuse me, commander.
Got a second?

What can I do for you, lieutenant?

I couldn't help overhearing

you're looking for someone
to assist you in the Hawkes case.

Boring paperwork on a carrier.

I'm no stranger to carriers, sir.
Or boring paperwork.

Well, what is it that interests you
about this detail, lieutenant?

When I came to JAG,

all people talked about
was the legendary Harmon Rabb.

Now you're back.
I'd like to work with you.

Actually, I'd like the chance
to impress you, sir.

Well, you're very straightforward,
aren't you, lieutenant?

Do you find that disconcerting,
commander?

- No, I find it refreshing.
- Then you'll let me assist you?

I've offered the detail
to Lieutenant Roberts.

We'll see how it plays out.

Well, if not this time, sir,
maybe another.

Next time, leave the door open,
lieutenant.

Yes, sir.

- You smoke, commander?
- No, sir, I gave it up.

What for? A woman?

I didn't like being addicted, captain.

Well, it's too bad
we never had a chance

to get better acquainted
while you were onboard, commander.

Captain Pike
speaks very highly of you.

Well, I have the utmost respect
for Captain Pike, sir.

- Why?
- Sir?

Why do you respect the CAG?

The CAG is an excellent leader, sir.
He's fair, he's courageous.

One of the best fighter pilots
I've ever met, captain.

Why do you ask?

I just wanna know
what a commanding officer must do

to earn your respect, Mr. Rabb.

Because, obviously, I haven't.

Well, that is not true, sir.

You come aboard my ship
and demand to examine my records?

I'd say that's disrespect.
Wouldn't you, XO?

Certainly smacks of it, skipper.

It was a request, captain.
It's not a demand yet.

Well, you got sand, commander.
I'll give you that.

What I won't give you
is access to my files. Dismissed.

Captain Ingles,
each party to a court-martial

is entitled to the production of evidence
relevant to that court-martial, sir.

You are aware that I am the convening
authority for said court-martial?

Yes. You're also the custodian
of the evidence.

Now, I've prepared a list
of the items we'll require, sir.

Have you?

Sir, if you refuse access
to this evidence, I will get a court order.

You're threatening me
with a court order

aboard my own ship
for a court-martial I convened?

As convening authority,
you have the right to drop all charges,

in which case, no further investigation
would be warranted.

- Is he blackmailing me?
- It would seem so, skipper.

I am simply stating alternatives, sir.

- Captain Cameron.
- Sir.

Please alert the master-at-arms

to have these two gentlemen
escorted off my ship.

Aye, aye, sir.

You may have won a few
courtroom skirmishes, commander,

but tangle with me,
and I'll hand you your gonads in a jar.

Now get the hell off my boat.

Aye, aye, sir.

You threatened Captain Ingles?

I feel
it was the other way around, sir.

"Drop the charges,
or I'll get a court order."

Well, sir, that wasn't exactly the tone,
but it's basically correct.

Well, he's filed a complaint,
commander,

accusing you of insolence
and disdain for authority.

Sir, you and I both know
I am completely within my right

securing evidence
in the government's possession

that I feel
will aid my client's defence.

Won't be long, commander,
before Captain Ingles gets his star.

He's destined for the Pentagon.

CNO is not out of the question
someday.

You better start thinking
about the future.

Right now, sir, I'm thinking about
Lieutenant Hawkes' future.

Do I have your permission, sir,
to secure a court order?

You don't need my permission.
Go ask the judge.

Thank you, sir.

- Admiral, about the complaint...
- I'll just file it here with all the others.

Dismissed.

Aye, aye, sir.

"Operational-readiness evaluations.
Personnel-qualification standards.

Casualty reports. Maintenance
and material-management reports."

Commander,

what does all this have to do
with an aircraft striking a ramp?

Sir, these documents
comprise evidence

that go to ship and crew readiness.

- Sir, this is a smoke screen.
- He's clearly on a fishing expedition.

- One at a time, please.
- Sorry, sir. Colonel.

Your Honour, I fail to see
how the qualification standards

of a machinist's mate in Engineering
has a bearing on this case.

Sir, I intend to show there was
widespread operational vulnerability

aboard the Patrick Henry
at the time of the mishap.

What a minute, you're saying
that the carrier was in poor readiness,

and that's why the aircraft crashed?
Is that your defence?

- Yes, sir.
- You can't be serious.

My thoughts exactly.

Sir, this defence
is legally cognisable.

And I need these documents, sir,
to support it.

I respectfully urge you
to approve the request.

Some of this stuff is classified,
you know.

Sir, per Military Rules of Evidence 505,
should it become necessary

to introduce classified information
as evidence,

you may conduct the proceedings
in camera.

Thank you, lieutenant.
I read the manual for courts-martial.

Yes, Your Honour. Of course.

In the interest of justice,
I am going to approve this.

Sir...

But if you are on a fishing expedition,
commander,

be damn careful you don't hook one
so big, it pulls you under.

Yes, sir. Thank you, sir.

Sir, the defence requests
a continuance

in order to afford time
to gather the evidence.

Liberty call.
Liberty call for Sections 2 and 6.

Sir. Sir.

I think I found something interesting.

According to
the operational-readiness eval,

the ship was in a complete ready state
when she deployed.

But it says here that the O2 plant

and the inertial-navigation systems
were both down.

- Did they repair them at sea?
- Affirmative, sir.

Navigation system was repaired
two days out.

The oxygen plant was back online
within a week.

A hell of a job for an ex-fighter pilot.

Going through
other people's dirty laundry?

Yes, sir.

Captain Ingles is the finest officer

I've ever had the privilege
of serving under.

If you think
we'll let you hurt his reputation

with some courtroom flimflam,

you have badly misjudged
the calibre of officers aboard this ship.

And if you think
that you can intimidate me, captain,

then you have badly misjudged,
period.

Sir.

He was way out of line, sir.

Well, there's nothing out of line about
being loyal to your CO, lieutenant.

I talked to Captain Ingles about
your plea offer. He turned it down.

However, he will consider
dereliction of duty through negligence,

forfeiture of half pay for one month,
15 days confinement.

Any chance you have for a career
in civilian aviation will be shot.

I recommend declining the offer.

- What are the odds of an acquittal?
- Seventy-thirty in our favour.

Seventy-thirty against.

I'll go along
with whatever you recommend, sir.

Lieutenant, I don't have to tell you

Captain Ingles is not a man
to back away from a fight.

I'd consider his offer carefully.

We have, colonel, and we decline.
Thank you.

Can I talk to you outside, please?

Just a second.

You're turning this case
into a personal battle

between you and Captain Ingles.

Not true.

Harm, this is me
you're talking to here.

He threw you off his ship.
You have no personal grudge?

None that affects my judgement
as defence counsel.

You saw the members' faces.
They'll hold Skates accountable.

Not if I can show them
somebody more accountable, colonel.

The defence calls aviation-electronics
technician Harry Watkins to the stand.

Petty Officer Watkins,
you repaired the radio

aboard the mishap aircraft
before its flight, correct?

That is correct, sir.

Defence Exhibit C, Your Honour.

The maintenance action report
for the radio repair.

Did you follow proper procedure
when repairing this radio, petty officer?

Not exactly, sir. I had to cannibalise
parts from another radio.

But the whole unit
should've been replaced.

- This was the third time it went down.
- Why not replace the entire unit?

Because there were no spare radios
available, sir.

Chief Cansino,
you nearly lost an aircraft

during flight operations
in your first week of deployment.

Isn't that correct?

Well, there was a pressure drop
in the catapult steam system, sir.

Luckily, the aircraft had enough power
to get airborne.

- What caused the pressure drop?
- It turned out to be a faulty valve, sir.

Well, this preventative
maintenance report

states that all the valves
in the high-pressure steam line

were checked
before the ship embarked.

- You signed off on it yourself.
- Yes, sir, that's what the report says.

Defence Exhibit E, Your Honour.

- Did your crew gun-deck this report?
- No, sir.

The guys probably checked
all the old valves

and assumed
the new ones were working.

- Why? Are your people lazy, chief?
- Absolutely not, sir.

But there's no way we can accomplish
all the maintenance steps,

short-handed as we are,
and still be ready to deploy on time.

Why not take an extra day,
do the job thoroughly?

- There was no extra day, sir.
- Thank you, chief.

Your witness.

Your Honour, the counsel
is attempting to cloud the issue

with a myriad of minor problems
present aboard any naval vessel.

Step up.

Your Honour, these minor problems
comprise a major systemic problem.

He's blaming everyone else
for his client's wrongful action.

I've got this.

The charge is dereliction of duty
with regard to the landing mishap.

Can you stick to that, commander?

Your honour,
the evidence I'm presenting

- goes to operational vulnerability.
- Operational vulnerability. I know.

He's already blamed
the supervising LSO,

crew, division heads and air boss.
Who's he going after next?

Bobbi Latham, congresswoman
from the state of Michigan.

Congresswoman Latham,
you were the chairperson

for the House National Security
Subcommittee, isn't that correct?

That's correct.

Were you surprised by the mishap
aboard the Patrick Henry, ma'am?

Well, given the unprecedented
operations tempo

and short-time turnarounds
and stretched resources,

no, I wasn't surprised, unfortunately.

Why are we so stretched?

After the Cold War ended,
we downsized the military.

But there have been
unanticipated operations:

The Gulf War and Kosovo,

which left little money
for modernisation.

Ma'am, didn't Congress just approve

a large budget increase
for the military?

It's not the amount,
it's where the money goes.

Congress insists on buying
unneeded weapons

and spending billions
keeping bases open

because they provide jobs
for the constituents.

Now, this reduces the funds
available for training,

maintenance and recruitment.

Thank you, Congresswoman Latham,
for putting this in perspective.

Your witness.

Congresswoman,
were you on the flight deck

of the U.S.S. Patrick Henry
when the mishap occurred?

- No, I was not.
- So you did not observe

the defendant's actions
during the incident in question?

No.

Well, then your testimony might make
an interesting segment on 60 Minutes,

but it has little relevance here.
I have no questions for this witness.

Thank you, Miss Latham.
You may step down.

Planning to indict
the entire U.S. Navy, Harm?

If necessary.

Well, your steamroller tactics
aren't working, mate.

I'd rethink my strategy if I were you.

I remember
a certain lieutenant commander,

acting JAG, who once told me,
"Present the evidence.

Don't make it look like
you're trying to shift the blame.

Don't mud wrestle with two stars."

And as I recall, colonel,
you ignored my advice.

And I lost the case.

See you after lunch.

Does the defence
have any more witnesses?

Yes, sir. The defence calls
Captain Tobias Ingles,

commanding officer
of the U.S.S. Patrick Henry.

Captain Ingles.

Raise your right hand, please.
Do you swear the evidence you give

shall be the whole truth
and nothing but the truth,

- so help you God?
- I do.

Captain Ingles,
were you aware of the gun-decking

occurring aboard the Patrick Henry?

Not specifically.

However,
I've never been aboard a ship

where some form of expediting
didn't occur.

We stretch limits all the time,
commander.

As an aviator, you should know that.

But never to the point
of putting my crew in danger.

Sir, your crew
was 12 percent undermanned.

This must've placed a burden
on everyone aboard.

Yes, and we accepted that burden.

You didn't have time to practise
emergency training, did you?

- We trained when we could.
- You were often without spare parts

when you needed them.
Isn't that correct, captain?

We made do with what we had.

Sir, time at sea
is important for a captain

if he's to receive his admiral's star,
isn't it?

Objection.
Completely irrelevant, Your Honour.

- Stop it. Move on.
- Yes, sir.

Captain Ingles, do you believe
that a commanding officer

is responsible for the failures
as well as the successes

of officers under his command?

I'm accountable for everything that
goes on aboard my ship at all times.

If our readiness drops below
acceptable limits, I'm accountable.

If I'm sleeping and the ship
runs aground, I'm accountable.

If an airplane crashes,
I'm accountable.

Well, sir, if you truly believe that,

then why are we having
this court-martial?

In order to discharge
my responsibility,

I've been given
the authority of command.

Under this authority, I've established
standards of performance

which I expect everyone to meet.

When someone fails to do so,
I take remedial action.

Even to the point of court-martial.

Now, I wish I could be more lenient,
but I can't.

We are undermanned
and overworked.

There are too few spare parts,
too little time for training.

Recruitment is down.
Op tempo is up.

And, yes, commander,
I do spend a lot of time at sea.

Not because I'm bucking for admiral,

but because the government tells me
to go out there.

And until the government sees fit
to improve our situation,

I demand more from my officers
and crew, not less.

- I'm screwed, aren't I?
- No.

Come on, Harm.
You saw their faces.

After hearing Captain Ingles,
I'd convict me.

A jury is an unpredictable animal.

Harm, it's time for me
to take the stand.

So why didn't you send
the aircraft around, lieutenant?

I believed I could bring him in.

I've landed hundreds of aircraft
without a mishap.

Nevertheless, your supervisor
gave you an order.

Yes, sir.

But once the deck was cleared,
I assumed I could bring the aircraft in,

and there was no time
to check with Commander Bates.

- So you acted on your own initiative?
- Yes, sir.

And in so doing,
despite these charges against you,

you saved the lives of two aviators.

Objection. Counsel has begun
closing arguments.

Sustained.

Your witness.

Lieutenant,
what went through your mind

when you saw
the emergency aircraft approaching?

So many things.
I thought they were losing control.

They can't hear me. It's pitch-black.
If they eject, they may drown.

In other words,
you imagined yourself in their place.

I didn't have to imagine it.
I was in their place once.

Meaning you experienced
a ramp strike?

Yes, ma'am.
It's something you don't ever forget.

So by putting yourself
in that aircraft with the flight crew,

you were no longer functioning
as a landing officer, were you?

For that brief space of time,
you were a RIO in the back seat,

gripping the ejection handle,
scared to death.

Yes. I was scared.

You weren't thinking of the safety
of the ship at all, were you?

Your only thought was,
"Get me down." Isn't that true?

Actually, it was,
"Please, God, get me down."

But that wasn't my only thought.

I considered the safety of the ship
and crew, and I made a decision.

I did my job as I was trained to do it,
and there was an accident.

- On your watch.
- Yes, ma'am, on my watch.

If you think
I've done something wrong,

then go ahead and vote that way.

But whatever the outcome
of this court-martial,

I'm resigning my commission
in the United States Navy.

I will not be part of an organisation

that chooses to punish me
for carrying out my duties.

No further questions.

Fact: Lieutenant Hawkes' duty
as LSO

is to safely direct the pilot
in landing the plane.

Fact: Lieutenant Hawkes
ignored her supervisor's order

to signal a go-around.

Fact: There was a crash.

Conclusion: Lieutenant Hawkes
is guilty of dereliction of duty.

By the way, it's irrelevant
how undermanned the Navy is

or how Congress earmarks funds.

What is relevant is the evidence.

Thank you.

Mr. President,
members of the court,

I was gonna try to convince you
that blame for the accident

should be shared by the pilot,
senior LSO,

the commanding officer,
the entire Navy.

But I can't do that.

Because these are all decent,
honourable, courageous people

doing a job
under difficult circumstances,

and I will not diminish
their self-sacrifice

by trying to pin
even a portion of the blame on them.

All I ask of you is this:

That you regard Lieutenant
Elizabeth Hawkes as one of them

and show her
the same consideration.

Please don't accept her resignation.

Thank you.

Mr. President, have the members
reached a verdict?

We have, Your Honour.

Lieutenant Hawkes,
will you and your counsel please rise?

Mr. President,
you may announce your findings.

Lieutenant Elizabeth Hawkes,
this court-martial finds you not guilty

of all charges and specifications.

This court is adjourned.

- Congratulations.
- Thanks.

I must remember
this new legal strategy, Skates.

Tell the members to go to hell.

That only works
if you're innocent, Mic.

Congratulations, lieutenant.
This is one case I don't mind losing.

Thank you, colonel.

I hope you weren't serious
about getting out.

I'll think about it.

Captain.

Lieutenant.

Your closing, commander,

was that just a lawyer's trick,
or did you mean what you said?

Well, I always mean what I say, sir.

Captain, should the opportunity
ever arise, sir,

I would be proud to serve
under your command again.

Well, I'd like to have you back,
commander.