Original subtitles

Seahawk tower, this is 127.

Hornet, 4 .5, requesting final approach.

Roger, 127, continue for final approach.

Call the ball.

Petty Officer Sheckett, set tension for a Hornet.

Aye, sir.

Set tension for a Hornet, Chief.

Set tension for a Hornet, aye.

I need a re... Set, Chief, we're go.

Fryfly, we're go.

Seahawk, this is 127 Hornet, all 4 .3.

127 Hornet, roger ball.

You'll find my report quite thorough, sir.

I'm not disputing your attention to detail, Lieutenant Singer. I just happen

disagree with your findings.

A man was killed when that arresting wire snapped, sir. Another was seriously

injured. Are you under the impression, Lieutenant, that this is the first time

tragedy like this has befallen a carrier during flight operations?

No, sir. I just want to know why it happened on this carrier.

You know why.

The Bosun's mates were removing foreign object debris.

A broken piece of launching rail that should have been removed prior to the

landing of the second F -18.

An arresting wire that shouldn't have broken snapped while trapping the plane

that should have been waved off.

In a perfect world, Lieutenant Singer, every piece of FOD would be removed

to the next landing. Every trap would be like clockwork, and no one but the

enemy would experience casualties.

But we do not live in that world.

Had those bosun's mates not acted, you'd be investigating the loss of an

aircraft now, and God knows how many fatalities.

I am aware of that, sir.

Can we cut to the chase, then?

Save me some reading. What is it you're after?

For one thing, I want to court -martial all the personnel that had a hand in

putting those men in that position in the first place.

You have got to be kidding.

I assure you, sir, I'm quite serious.

Who exactly are we talking about here?

Your landing signal officer, sir, your air boss, the arresting gear department

chief, the LSO's assistant, the arresting gear operator, petty officer,

-flight lens operator, the...

Enough.

Thank you, Lieutenant.

I gave due consideration to these recommendations, sir.

I said that's enough.

Aye, aye, sir.

Lieutenant?

I'm fine, sir.

You don't look fine.

Get down to sickbay, have yourself checked out.

Really, sir, it's not necessary.

That's an order, Lieutenant.

Aye, aye, sir.

And once, Doctor, I've got nothing but time on my hands, puts the paperwork

through, I'll be back at JAG, just like old times.

Only without the leg. You know.

Congratulations, sir.

I know you'll pass the P .E .B.

You're not standing and typing again.

What are you taking for, Coates? A man possessed?

Sir, sit down.

Hey, Coates, gotta go.

Thanks, sweetie.

Hi, honey. You're wearing yourself out. Now come to bed.

I recall a time when you would do anything to get me off that couch.

You have less than a week to relax, and you're going to be standing on that leg

every single day.

That's why I need to practice.

When you come home exhausted every night, you're going to wish you had a

more of this sack time.

I can't wait to come home tired from a hard day's work.

Did you take the nutty buddy out of my deck?

No, ma 'am.

Excuse me, ma 'am.

Lieutenant Singer, your dress uniform taken out of the waist, ma 'am. That

could you get that for me, please?

Yes, ma 'am.

Thank you.

Is there something else?

No, ma 'am.

I've had a good appetite since the seasickness stopped.

Must be the salt air, ma 'am.

Lieutenant Singer is a competent investigator, Captain. She's just a

eager to prove it sometimes.

I wouldn't disagree, sir.

So what's your take on the mishap? This is Lieutenant Singer's first cruise.

Her maritime inexperience has her chasing shadows on this one, sir.

Understood. Second opinion is on its way. To work alongside the lieutenant,

to replace her.

Thank you, sir.

There is another matter concerning the lieutenant, Admiral.

I understand.

I'll look into it.

Turner, have Rad McKenzie come see me.

Aye, sir.

Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown.

Were those lunch reservations hard to get?

Easily canceled.

Make it up to you.

Forgiven and forgotten, AJ.

You're awfully understanding for a woman that's been stood up once this week

already.

I've known since I met you that if this was going to work, I'd have to let go of

my day planner every once in a while.

Besides, having you when I get you means more to me than some lunch reservation.

Well, they do say patience and wisdom go hand in hand.

That they do?

Bye.

You know, sometimes it's good for me not to know where I'm going to be at 12 .15

every day.

No, no, wait, wait, wait till you see this.

It's bath time.

Little A .J. loves the water.

A natural for a naval career, Lieutenant.

Yes, ma 'am. Oh, is that A .J.'s little namesake? It is, ma 'am.

Would you please call me Meredith?

Meredith Cavanaugh, this is Lieutenant Commander Tracy Minetti.

Tracy. Ma 'am.

So how is Bud?

He's great.

The doctors cleared him for limited duty, and the informal physical

board should be meeting soon.

Well, that's wonderful.

Yeah.

Unfortunately, Bud's taken to eating standing up. He's trying to be too ready

too soon.

His enthusiasm is a bit much, is it?

Yes, and I just think that he should rest.

Ah, let me put my mind to it. A little sit -down activity for the good

lieutenant? Oh, that's not necessary.

Oh, well, if it's the least I can do.

I could see the concern on your face, Harriet.

Commander? Nice to meet you, ma 'am.

Chef?

Lieutenant Singer has made her report, Commander. I want the facts verified.

What she's asking for crippled us.

Her timing couldn't be worse.

The court -martialed seven essential Air Department personnel in the midst of a

wartime deployment in the Persian Gulf is unheard of.

I mean, I want justice served, but not at the expense of national security.

Is that clear?

Aye, sir.

Now, on to a more delicate issue.

Colonel, you will accompany the commander to the Seahawk to investigate

Lieutenant Singer herself with the utmost discretion.

To investigate what, sir? Captain Johnson has charged Lieutenant Singer

conduct unbecoming.

While I don't want to believe it, I have to allow for the possibility that the

captain is being vindictive.

Well, that's certainly one way to get rid of a squeaky wheel, sir. Captain

Johnson suspected that Singer might have a health issue.

So he ordered her to see a medical officer who confirmed it.

She's three and a half months pregnant.

Now, that's roughly the amount of time she's been aboard the Seahawk. There is

no way medically to tell whether she conceived here before she left or aboard

the ship.

Hence the conduct unbecoming.

That's a hell of a black eye for Jag.

Has anyone asked the lieutenant who the father is, sir? Certainly, if it's not

someone aboard the Seahawk, this whole matter can be dispensed with. She's been

asked repeatedly.

She refuses to name the father or discuss the incident.

If she got herself pregnant aboard that ship, it'll damn sure be the end of her

naval career.

All I'm saying is an officer should be taken at her word.

What word? All Lieutenant Singer will say is that she didn't conceive aboard

ship. That's all that matters. She's provided her CO nothing in the way of

evidence. Well, how do you prove a negative?

With a name, Commander. I'm surprised you're defending her harm.

Somebody asked who sounds to me like you've already made up your mind.

I'm approaching this investigation with an open mind.

Yeah, I'm sure you are, Colonel. I don't fault her for finding herself in this

predicament. It's her refusal to aid in her own defense that makes me wonder.

Wonder what?

Wonder if she's guilty.

Ma 'am. Sir.

Lieutenant. I understand congratulations are in order, Lieutenant.

Here's the file from my investigation, sir.

Thank you. We'll go over this later. I'm going to report in as Skipper. Yes,

sir.

Colonel. Commander.

I would like to stop by the legal office, Lieutenant. I think we should

Yes, ma 'am.

You feeling okay, Lieutenant?

I feel like castor print, ma 'am. No one's come to pin the scarlet ladder on

you. Seems that way, ma 'am.

Perhaps if you'd been more forthcoming with Captain Johnson.

Ma 'am, the condition I now find myself in was a result of activities that

occurred before I deployed.

Therefore, they do not fall into the category of conduct unbecoming.

Name the father and you're off the hook.

With all due respect, ma 'am, that is none of the Navy's business.

Is there some reason you're afraid to identify the child's father?

My motives for wanting privacy should be obvious, ma 'am. I mean, look what I'm

being put through.

You're compounding the problem, Lieutenant, by remaining silent. Can you

as to why you've kept it a secret for so long?

I can't, ma 'am.

Can't or won't? Does it matter, Colonel?

I know I could have handled the entire situation with a little more clarity.

Professionalism.

Welcome aboard, Colonel. Thank you, Petty Officer. At ease.

How's Lieutenant Roberts doing, ma 'am? I know he was approved for limited duty.

He's doing well. I'll let him know that you asked.

Thank you, ma 'am.

Why don't you relax, Lieutenant?

Thank you, ma 'am.

Petty Officer, would you give us a moment?

Aye, aye.

Thank you.

Lieutenant, when I asked how you were feeling, I didn't mean just physically.

If you're not comfortable talking to me, I can arrange... No, ma 'am, it's fine.

Captain Johnson is pursuing this in retaliation for the report I filed after

flight deck mishap.

He wants to exonerate men for taking a life while persecuting me for giving

That's a bit melodramatic, Lieutenant.

It's not a crime to be pregnant, Colonel. No, but it is to get that way

naval ship.

That offense is rarely prosecuted, ma 'am. The captain's going by the book, no

leeway.

Much the same way you always have, Lieutenant.

How many traps were on that number three wire before it broke, Captain?

Captain on the bridge.

Eighty -one.

Does that include the heavy landing by the Super Hornet right before the

incident, sir?

Yes, Commander, and the off -center arrestment that took place an hour

that. The logbook on that cross -deck pendant did not indicate a problematic

amount of strain.

Although, as you know, the numbers we're dealing with here are based on

averages. On the odds that every arresting wire has exactly the same

strength. Yes, sir.

You've taken these risks yourself, Commander.

You know, it's not an exact science. Sometimes it's a matter of chance, which

why we build in safety factors.

You don't believe Lieutenant Singer's experience is enough to understand that?

No, Commander, I do not. I think Lieutenant Singer is lashing out at

happened to be in close proximity to what happened that night.

Prior to this incident, Captain, what had been the nature of your dealings

Lieutenant Singer?

Standard issues.

Clarifying the legality of shipboard operations.

handling legal assistance issues such as wills for officers and enlisted.

To tell you the truth, Commander, prior to this incident, Lieutenant Singer had

not appeared much on my radar screen.

She was efficient, and she kept to herself.

So you were satisfied with her performance, did you, Jack?

Yes, Commander, I would say she was well -suited to her job.

How was her behavior outside of the job, sir?

Well, obviously, Commander, Lieutenant Singer has not conducted her personal

affairs aboard this vessel as one would expect of an officer.

But that has nothing to do with the act of investigation, if that's what you're

suggesting. Not at all, Captain.

You're the convening authority aboard this ship, sir. You have the right to

question the findings of your judge advocate.

I would do the same thing if Lieutenant Roberts were still my carrier, Jag.

Although I suspect he would have exercised the necessary self -restraint

avoid scandal aboard my vessel.

Yes, sir.

This accident investigation and Lieutenant Singer's lapse of judgment in

personal behavior are mutually exclusive.

One in no way affects the other.

I think it's a good idea. I just don't think Shakespeare is Lieutenant Robert's

cup of tea.

Shakespeare is an acquired taste.

I'm glad you understand.

But one cannot acquire new tastes unless one samples a bit of the unknown every

now and again.

Now, these plays are probably on par with some of your legal briefs.

Passionate.

All -consuming.

Something one could lose oneself in, preferably while in a feared position.

Look, I appreciate what you're trying to do. I just don't want Lieutenant

Roberts to think that I'm... You're?

Well, some people, I'm not saying myself, but some people equate

with a certain level of, uh... Nombre.

Well, I was going to say nombre than this. Look, Bud likes comic books and

Trek and action films.

I don't want to give him the impression that I don't think that's good enough.

I... Think you may be underestimating the lieutenant's intellectual curiosity.

And I'm not sure if you realize how often you talk about Bud.

He's a big part of your life, A .J.

I'm just asking to let me be a little part of Bud's life.

I've been through all this with Lieutenant Singer, Commander. I'll grant

you're asking the question in a less accusatory tone.

Petty officer.

Call Air Ops, get the air plant.

Aye, sir. No prejudgments here, Commander.

Obviously, the lieutenant's got reams of paper down in the legal office.

Well, I'd rather hear it from you. You were there.

I tried cooperating with you lawyers once. Look where it got me.

You're an aviator.

You've seen a flight deck firsthand.

You have to know that 100 % isn't possible.

Accidents happen.

Accidents do happen, Commander, and that's what I'm here to determine.

Sir, we've received revised air plant.

That's the PME, Commander.

I'd take a bigger gun than you to get another interview out of me.

Petty officer, call CIC, advise we're up and ready for night ops. Aye, aye, sir.

Commander Cooper, I'm about as unbiased an ear as you'll find right now, so I

strongly suggest you reconsider your willingness to participate in this

investigation.

As you were.

Petty Officer Coates, I need a moment of your time. Yes, ma 'am.

Same legal office as Lieutenant Singer since she got here.

Yes, ma 'am. So you know who she's been seeing?

Seeing, ma 'am.

Interacting with. Who's spending time with the lieutenant?

Giving her special attention?

To be honest, ma 'am, no one.

Permission to speak freely, ma 'am?

That's why I'm here.

What I know about the lieutenant, the way she was at JAG, she seems to be

up to the same pattern as before.

All work and no play?

Makes Lauren a very dull girl.

Ready off to code.

Sorry, ma 'am.

When the lieutenant wasn't seeing clients, she was reading up on maritime

She wanted to excel, ma 'am. Make herself indispensable to the captain.

Instead, she ended up a thorn in his side.

She can't help herself, ma 'am.

Do you know what kind of clients stick out in your mind?

It's a big ship, ma 'am. Put together a list for me of those she saw when she

first reported a bullet.

Just the male clients, ma 'am?

You know?

I've suspected for a month now, ma 'am.

I didn't think it was my place to point it out to anyone.

Remind me not to let my guard down around you, petty officer.

Lieutenant Singer's report lists you as an eyewitness. Where were you at the

time of the incident?

Right here, sir. At my job.

So you didn't actually see anything?

That's correct, sir.

You've never experienced a trap from down here, have you, Commander?

So that's about what you heard going on overhead that night?

Yes, sir. That would be it, sir.

Your statement to Lieutenant Singer was a little more detailed than that, Chief.

Yes, sir. It was.

You're afraid to talk to me, aren't you?

I stand by what I already put to paper, sir.

Sir, my memory of the events leading up to the mishap is sketchy.

Well, that's not what you told Lieutenant Singer a week ago when you

statement.

Well, I'm sure that statement is a better telling than I could muster now,

You've been comparing notes with Commander Cooper.

What makes you say that, Commander? Because I'm tripping over the party

Lieutenant. I'm sorry you think so, sir.

Look, Conway.

We're both aviators. We know what the guys in those planes owe to you here on

the deck. It's a dangerous job, sometimes people get hurt, and sometimes

nobody's fault.

This isn't a witch hunt. I'm not interested in prosecuting anybody who

deserve it.

Sir, I don't think you're going to find much cooperation aboard this ship.

Why is that, Lieutenant?

Because we tried to do the right thing after this happened, sir. And now we're

facing court -martial.

I don't dare speak to you because I don't want to incriminate the guys that

Lieutenant Singer hasn't mentioned on our list.

Frankly, sir, the lieutenant has turned all your witnesses into suspects.

Nine interviews so far, and I can't find anyone who likes her, let alone who

would, you know.

Does that give you any reason to believe that maybe she isn't guilty?

What's with your continued defense of Lieutenant Singer?

Come on, Matt. For all her failures in the being human department, I don't

her intelligence.

Meaning? She's too smart to risk her career.

A momentary lapse. Passion over reason.

You put in the time. Law, school, the bar. Would you throw it all away?

No harm I wouldn't. Women in the service work far too hard to endure the fallout

of a scandal like this.

She's guilty. I want her charged.

Well, I've interviewed all personnel involved in the incident.

Except you.

You were on the weather deck the night those two men went down, Lieutenant.

Yes, sir.

So that makes you a witness.

I guess it does, sir.

Lieutenant, have you ever seen anything like this before?

A car accident, any situation where injuries occurred?

Nothing on the order of that night, sir.

You realize, Lieutenant, in these...

Kind of conditions, this high -stress environment.

Mishaps do occur.

Of course, sir. I've done dozens of accident investigations myself.

Sir, I know what you're suggesting, and my discomfort for having been there has

not affected my findings.

Well, if you say so, Lieutenant, I believe you. Commander, my lack of

exposure is not influencing my ability to see the facts.

Too many highly trained Air Department personnel made minor errors that

ultimately resulted in disaster.

That's correct, Lieutenant.

Sir?

Technically. But I don't believe that any of these mistakes take an

rise to the level of dereliction.

I disagree, Commander.

Well, now you see how perceptions can differ, Lieutenant.

The law is black and white, sir.

But life aboard a deployed carrier is not, Lieutenant.

It's unpredictable.

You don't think I know what unpredictable is, sir?

All right, Lieutenant, I'll bite.

When exactly did your life take this turn?

As I've said before, sir, I conceived this child prior to boarding this ship.

How prior?

Are you helping Colonel McKenzie with her investigation, sir?

No, Lieutenant, I'm not.

Then may I be excused?

Commander Rav, what affords me the honor, sir?

Well, I'm just a little homesick.

Why, I don't believe that a seagoing aviator like yourself misses this place

darn bit.

Am I that transparent?

Like cellophane, Commander.

What is it you desire?

Commander, I need a favor.

It's a personal one.

But I'm going to have to ask you to keep it to yourself.

I am the Sphinx, sir.

Lieutenant Lauren Singer.

A legend in her own time, sir.

Listen, you think you could chase down exactly what she was up to about, you

know, a week or so before she left for sea?

Am I looking for anything in particular, sir?

Personal details, people she might have interacted with. I think you'll know

what I'm looking for when you find it.

Do you know it, sir?

Well, I wouldn't want to lead you down the wrong path, Commander.

Aye, aye, sir.

I'll let you know what I dig up.

Betty Officer Tyner.

Commander Minetti.

You know, I am so sorry to have missed the pleasure of Lieutenant Singer's

acquaintance. Did you know her very well?

As well as anyone, ma 'am.

When was the last time you saw the lieutenant?

The day before she left, ma 'am. We had a going -away party for her here in the

office. Do you know where she was headed after that, Betty Officer?

I think she said she was going to see Lieutenant Roberts, ma 'am, out at

Bethesda.

Lieutenants Roberts and Singer were close?

Close?

No, ma 'am.

Tyner? Yes, sir, if that's all, ma 'am. Yes, Anna, thank you kindly.

Would you drop these off at Lieutenant Roberts on your way in tomorrow and tell

him he's under no obligation to actually read these books?

Yes, sir.

I should have listened to the man's advice.

Lieutenant Roberts, sir? No, Shakespeare.

Neither borrower nor lender be as the middleman in this deal, and both

dismissed. Aye, sir.

I haven't come to my final conclusion yet, but thus far, I haven't been able

locate a single man aboard who seems likely to be the father of Lieutenant

Singer's baby.

I see.

Sir, if you could give me a reason to believe that such a man exists.

I don't happen to think this is the second coming, Colonel. The man

exists. Can you point to anyone who was close to the lieutenant, sir?

No, Colonel, I cannot.

Sir, what led you to make these charges against Lieutenant Singer?

My gut feeling, Colonel, and it used to be infallible.

Yes, sir, I'm not questioning your instinct.

I could frankly use your guidance on this, sir.

I have nothing of interest to add in the matter of Lieutenant Singer's

pregnancy.

Captain, you do still want the situation investigated.

Finish your interviews, Colonel. If nothing pops up, you can close the case.

Sir, I have to ask.

Are you softening your stance on the case because you think that maybe you

jump to a premature conclusion?

No, Colonel, I'm simply a man with bigger issues right now than your

lieutenant.

With all due respect, sir, I think at this point she's your lieutenant.

That's easily rectified.

I'll have her orders cut.

Take her off my ship.

Here it is, Miss Colonel.

Aye, aye, sir.

Commander Minetti.

Good morning.

Wow.

Well, it's awful nice of you to come out and...

Bring me fruit, Commander.

Well... Considering that we hardly know each other... Well, we best get to know

one another. I hear we're going to be working together.

Yes, ma 'am. I wonder, Lieutenant, what can you tell me about Lieutenant

Lawrence Singer?

Ma 'am?

Did you spend much time with her after you... After I came back from the

Seahawk? Yes.

Well, I know that she was excited about her deployment. She came by the hospital

so we could talk about it. Did you talk about anything else?

No, ma 'am.

Lieutenant Singer can be a very single -minded person, ma 'am. So I've heard.

If you were Lieutenant Singer and you wanted to give yourself a night big send

-off to see, where would you go?

Oh, uh... I don't know.

Benzinger's, I guess.

That's where we go to celebrate wins.

And commiserate losses?

Yes, ma 'am. I get it.

What's all this about, ma 'am?

I have no idea, Lieutenant.

Um, would you mind?

Sure, of course.

Good morning, Lieutenant.

Tyner.

Commander Minetti.

Am I interrupting something, ma 'am?

Ma 'am?

No, Lieutenant.

You know, I try never to miss an opportunity to shut up, and this seems

dandy time.

Good day, gentlemen.

Thank you, ma 'am. You're welcome. Ma 'am. Bye -bye.

What can I get you?

Oh, a little early in the day, thanks.

You have a big military clientele here, do you not?

Proud to serve those who serve.

Very good.

Have you ever served this lieutenant?

Yeah, she's come in before, with those JAG lawyers, always in a group. She

looked kind of like a tag -along, you know, like no one really wanted her

Anyway, it's been months.

Oh, she's at sea.

Is there anything else you can tell me?

Last time she was in, she was with a guy, sandy hair, kind of nondescript.

You get a name?

No, but I was happy to see her happy.

Just how happy was she?

I don't think I follow.

Well, happy as in let's talk baseball, or happy as in you're sweeter than a

pie? The latter, I guess. They sat right back there in the corner, eyes on each

other all night.

The lieutenant's a nice -looking gal when she's out of uniform.

That she is.

Much obliged for your help.

Commander Raffney?

I'm at the end of the road, Harm.

You sound disappointed.

Not at all.

You sure?

Harm, I'm sure.

Lieutenant Finger goes back to shore duty, and the reputations of Jags

everywhere are redeemed.

Who's going to replace her, anyway?

You're looking at her.

Temporarily.

Jag office, Commander Reb.

Hang on a second.

Did you need some privacy?

Yeah, would you mind?

No, not at all.

What did you find?

Yeah, fencing. I know it.

No, I think I know just who the bartender made.

Nice little legwork, Commander.

Your men aren't doing much to aid in my investigations.

Can't blame them, Commander.

Lieutenant Singer blew through here like a hurricane and took what confidence

the men had in the investigative process with her. I understand that, sir, but

the wall of silence I'm coming up against only lends credence to what

Singer suspects.

There were mistakes made, sir, and if I can't get any explanation as to why,

culpable negligence isn't out of the question.

Commander, I am humbled to have to say that you have taken me by surprise.

Sir? I expected you to come out here and undo Lieutenant Singer's report without

hesitation. Your failure to do so has given me reason to believe that I may

been overzealous in my defense of my men.

Skipper, I don't intend to make my recommendations against you, sir.

you are failing to understand my point. Even the men who like me would tell you

that I've become a son of a bitch to work for.

I jumped to the conclusion that my men were innocent the same way I assumed

Lieutenant Singer was guilty.

Mistakes I wouldn't accept from an officer under my command and errors I

not accept from myself.

I am topped out in my career, Commander.

But those men, you and Lieutenant Singer, want a court -martial, still

mileage left to theirs, and I fully intend to see them travel it. I take

responsibility for what happened to those men.

That's it, no argument.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to make one last trap before I leave the

Navy.

One last trap, Von Kapp.

That's right, Commander.

The battle group commander will have my request for retirement tomorrow.

about our talk, sir.

Commander Cooper and Lieutenant Connolly, they're officers, sir. They're

to do fine out in the world.

A career enlisted, like myself.

I need the Navy, sir.

I'm ready to play ball.

It's worth the risk to me.

All right, Chief.

You can start by telling me precisely what you were doing that night.

We were non -stop.

The Dixon meter indicated a heavy landing prior to the accident.

I should have requested downtime to take the number three wire out of service.

Why didn't you?

I thought at the time that we were okay.

Everything had been reset and we were ready for the next trap.

It's no excuse, though, sir. I knew the arresting wire was strained.

I guess I... I guess I didn't want to be the one who held things up.

I did some asking around about you, Commander.

You've got quite an impressive flight record.

I know you've experienced a catastrophic accident firsthand, sir, and I also

know you stood up and took the blame for it.

I had to stand up, Lieutenant. My reel was killed in the mishap. So you

understand why I can't let Chief Coffinhouse accept responsibility for

that happened on my flight deck, sir?

If it's me otherwise, Lieutenant.

We just landed heavy.

I wanted to check Petty Officer's flight log to make sure we were still good on

that number three wire.

That's a little irregular, isn't it?

Yes, sir, but...

I should have checked the deck before looking back at the Hornet, but we were

crunched for time.

You didn't see the bosun's mate running out to retrieve the fudge?

No, sir.

I also didn't do a visual inspection on the arresting wire.

I trusted the numbers instead of eyeballing the thing like I should have.

You thought the wire would hold up.

Well, that doesn't help me sleep at night, sir.

Just make sure your report takes the weight off the chief.

I'm an officer, and I was the LSO that night.

If anyone can be held responsible for what happened, It's me.

I have no intention of letting a junior officer and an enlisted man fall on

their swords over this.

Well, why don't you walk me through what happened up here that night, Commander?

We were sometimes having less than ten seconds to identify aircraft.

The ACLS address for a Rhino is one digit off from that of a straight

Rhino being a super Hornet. We were doing MCOM recoveries at night.

Radio contact to a minimum to maintain convertness.

So your crew misdialed an aircraft to the tune of four tons.

I'm aware of that, Commander.

Something has happened before without such dire consequence.

Look, Cooper, there were a lot of mistakes made. A man died down there.

trying to find out where the buck stops.

I had to make a split -second decision whether to wave that Hornet off.

I made the wrong one.

Sir, we've got a situation.

Excuse me, Commander.

Seahawk, this is 476 Hornet. Low state, 0 .65.

476, roger, low stake.

0 .62, boss, we're losing fuel.

476, report final approach.

We'll get you down in one piece.

Fuel's bleeding out fast, boss.

0 .58 decreasing.

Allow the ball, 476.

Set tension for Hornet.

Aye, aye, sir.

Steady as she goes.

Incoming Hornet, low stake.

Wave off is not an option. Set those engines.

I need a reading for the officer.

We're going, Chief.

Tri -flight, we're going.

476 on final. 0 .4, ball.

476, Hornet.

Roger, ball.

You're looking good.

Bring her in.

0 .2, on field. I'll fly over and eject.

Negative, 476.

Got enough fuel.

Just stay with your bird. Fly the ball.

You're too high, 476. Ease the nose over just a little.

That's it.

Good, good. Bring her down easy.

You must be Bud.

Yes, ma 'am.

Well, congratulations on your triumphant return to the office.

Oh, thank you, ma 'am.

I, uh, wanted to return your books before I got busy with work.

I'm so glad you came.

I've got a whole seven minutes until my next class.

Sit down. Ah, thank you, but I can't. I'm kind of in the middle of something

back at home.

In fact, these plays inspired me.

Now, I know all the stories, like, um, that Macbeth.

That's the classic dagger of the mind.

Star Trek episode?

Oh. Yeah, and let's see. The Tempest.

That's Requiem for Methuselah. And, of course, Hamlet is Conscience of the

Yeah, the one where Captain Kirk plays the prince and Kodos plays Claudius.

Really? Mm -hmm.

I didn't know.

You are a dear for making that connection for me.

And a fellow of infinite jest.

Of most excellent fancy.

Huh. Yeah, that's why I gotta get home, because I'm working on this fanfic for

this Trekker webzine. Now, it's based on Richard III, but I'm calling mine

Picard III.

What do you think?

You know something, bud?

You may have stumbled onto a most unique teaching aid.

Let's get on with it, Commander.

Aye, sir.

All right.

At 2355, a Tomcat makes an off -center trap.

The LSO's petty officer writes it up as normal.

Now, the log entry error is not the sole cause of this mishap, however.

At 0105, an F -18 Super Hornet radios in requesting final approach.

Pry fly, misdials the aircraft as a Hornet, not a Super Hornet. That's a

differential of 8 ,000 plus pounds. Not sufficient force, all things being

equal. to damage the arresting wire to the point of breakage. But it did damage

the wire to the point of breakage, Commander.

The off -center trap and the heavy landing added the equivalent of 15 traps

that wire. That still put the trap volume below the 125 recommended by the

for regular usage. That cross -deck pendant should still have been able to

withstand another 10 to 20 traps.

I think we're all aware of that, Commander.

If you'll bear with me, Cap. Now, in the arresting gear room, Chief Coffinhaus

realizes they've had excessive run -out.

The crosshead pulley ran out to 184 inches.

Now, regs recommend in -depth inspection at 185 inches.

Chief Koffenhass was still operating within Navy guidelines, as were you all.

Collectively, you're all responsible for what happened on deck.

But no one person is to blame.

We'll be filing an amended report stating there's insufficient evidence to

recommend an Article 32 hearing in this case.

That's it, Skipper.

You're all dismissed.

Aye, sir.

Commander Rabb, you can stay.

Who was that show intended for?

We're all involved, Skipper.

Nobody deserves to be court -martialed for what happened aboard the Dexter. It

was an accident.

And certainly no officer need resign over it.

Will you accept these findings, Skipper?

Commander, I have found that arguing with attorneys is rarely a winning

proposition.

And I don't believe it's too late to reconsider my hasty retirement.

Thank you.

Well, we're going to miss you on terra firma.

We'll be at Norfolk in two weeks, Tom. I think you can hold the port until then.

What are you up to?

What do you mean?

All the secrecy, the private phone calls.

What aren't you telling me about Lieutenant Singer?

Mac, Lieutenant Singer risked a court -martial to keep her life private. I

to respect that.

Chivalry is not dead.

Colonel? Commander?

Good luck, Lieutenant.

Thank you, ma 'am.

Let's hit it.

I haven't been able to get a hold of my brother in Russia.

I assume you're having the same problem.

No concern of mine, sir.

There goes the father, isn't he, Lieutenant?

Look, Lauren, you drove him to the airport.

I have a witness who saw you two cuddling together at Benzinger's the

before.

You've been spying on me?

Why didn't you tell us?

Because, Commander, two weeks later, a known would have known.

Stand by for takeoff.

On what?

Having an abortion, sir.