This is Richard Valeriani reporting live for CNN
from the French aircraft carrier Foch somewhere in the Mediterranean.
Six days ago, as the rebellion in Chechnya
spread to the neighboring Caucus republics,
the Russian president ordered bombing strikes against rebel positions
around Rutul and Belokani.
Appalled at the loss of human life, the president of the United States,
the French president and the British prime minister,
suspended all foreign aid to Russia.
Ultranationalist leader Vladimir Radchenko denounced the US pressure
as an act of war against the Russian Republic and Russian sovereignty.
Denouncing his own president as a US puppet,
he called on the Russian people to join him in revolt.
He said, "This brutish and hypocritical American intervention
will not go unanswered."
On Tuesday at ten o'clock in the morning, Moscow time,
the Russian parliament was suspended and martial law was declared.
With a government in crisis, the Russian Republic was entering
into what can only be described as a state of civil war.
Then yesterday at dawn, Radchenko and rebel forces
seized the region around Vladivostok.
including a naval base and a nuclear missile base housing Russian ICBMs.
As regular Russian military forces move in to encircle Radchenko,
Allied military forces are in a state of high alert.
These French planes taking off behind me
have been deployed near the Caucasus since the beginning of the crisis.
And a crisis which started in the Caucasus has now spread to the Far East
and appears to be turning into the worst standoff since the Cuban missile crisis.
This is Richard Valeriani reporting live for CNN
from the French aircraft carrier Foch somewhere in the Mediterranean.
Abracadabra!
I can't hear you.
Abracadabra!
It was worth the 50 bucks, right there.
Huh. Where have you been? This guy's costing me $125.
- Get out. - Before the tip.
...a volunteer from the audience. - Me!
Me, me, me!
A brave volunteer.
Me! Me! Me!
Preferably... Preferably somebody who was born on October 18th,
nineteen hundred and ninety.
- That's Robin! - That's you, honey. That's you.
Over here? Over here? Ah!
You must be the birthday girl.
- What's your name? - Robin.
Russian ultranationalist leader, backed by his rebel army,
threatened nuclear attack on the United States and Japan.
The threats are a response to US involvement in Chechnya
and are not considered idle.
Now sit on the board. And tell me, Robin, do you believe in magic?
- Good. Because if... - Where'd he go?
I'll get him. I'll get him. Be right back.
...a flying carpet.
...emergency session...
- You'll miss your daughter's levitation. - ... with his joint chiefs of staff.
That footage was taken yesterday, but half an hour ago,
surrounded by hostile forces, rebel leader Vladimir Radchenko...
Maybe it's not as bad as it looks.
...the Russian army, move in on him.
...cannot be viewed as an idle threat.
Sander Vanocur standing by.
It is.
Commander Hunter.
Annapolis. Five patrols on fast attacks.
Two on boomers. One as XO.
Hm.
A year at...
Excuse me. Harvard?
I talked to your former CO. He tells me he tried to adopt you.
As you no doubt heard, my XO has appendicitis.
He's the best I ever had. I need a good man to fill his spot.
Your name was at the top of the list.
Well, that's good to know, sir.
It was a short list.
Your interests, Mr. Hunter. What do you like to do? Do you, uh...
Do you paint, play ball, play an instrument, ride motorcycles? What?
- I ride horses. - Horses.
- What's the best horse you ever rode? - Arabian, sir.
An Arabian? That's a powerful animal.
Yes.
- You ever ridden one? - Me? Are you kidding?
Nah, I couldn't handle an Arabian. Nah, just give me an old paint.
Yeah, horses are fascinating animals.
Dumb as fence posts, but very intuitive.
They're not too different from high school girls.
They might not have a brain in their head, but they know the boys want to fuck 'em.
You don't have to be able to read Ulysses to understand them.
No, sir.
He approves of you.
Jack Russells. Smartest dogs alive.
Name's Bear. Goes everyplace with me.
Well, welcome aboard the Alabama, son. Do me proud.
I will, sir.
- Congratulations, Mr. Hunter. - Thank you.
If one Russian citizen is killed... and I am president,
then I will kill 900.000 of the people who are responsible.
You would kill 900.000 people? Are you aware of the effect...
Wait a minute, wait a minute. Play that back.
Are you aware of the effect of this talk...
She's got some huge tits under that shirt.
Attention!
At ease. Be seated.
My dear young lady, I do not engage in "talk."
These are serious threats, which I hope to be in the position to carry out.
I take it you've seen enough?
Gentlemen, after a nice little vacation, looks like we're back at it again.
I hope you enjoyed the peace, because as of now, we're back in business.
In the good old days of Cold War, the Russians could be depended on
doing whatever is in their own best interests.
But this Radchenko's playing a whole new ball game with a whole new set of rules.
Now I've heard people talk,
but I don't think he is talking to get his picture in the paper.
He seems to have a serious weed up his ass and a legitimate gripe.
Always a dangerous combination.
And I think he's capable of doing every damn thing he says he's going to do.
That's why we have to go out there and give the man a moment of pause.
So ends theory. Thus, let us begin the facts.
The NSA informs us that an entire rebel corps of the Russian army is involved.
That's four armored divisions, numbering 60,000 men.
There seems to be massive defections.
Vladimir seems to be winning the hearts and minds of the Russian soldiers.
- Admiral. - Thank you, sir.
They've seized the region by the Chinese and North Korean borders.
That includes a submarine base
from which they've surged four Akula class attack subs.
They have acquired a nuclear base at Artem,
that houses 25 hardened silos for Russian ICBMs,
armed with up to ten warheads apiece.
The Russian government assured us talks are underway.
They claim that Radchenko forces do not possess the launch codes.
But if Radchenko were to crack them,
they could launch against our west coast direct,
or come in over the pole, take out Washington and New York.
The commander in chief has directed US military forces to set DEFCON four.
We've been ordered to get underway at 0600 hours
to assume alert coverage, mid-Pacific, the Far Eastern TVD target package.
Keep your men informed.
Lieutenant Commander Hunter is our new XO.
Please bring him up to speed on ship's personnel and supplies.
Any questions?
- Admiral? - No, that's it.
On your feet.
- Here we go again, Commander. - Thank you.
Hey, Bobby. This is Bobby Dougherty. He's Supplies.
- Mr. Dougherty. - Billy Linkletter, TSO.
- Mr. Linkletter. - Commander.
- And you know Darik. - Yes. Westergaurd. Long time no see.
- How's Julia? - She's excellent.
- And Roy Zimmer, Communications. - Welcome aboard.
- Thank you. - We served together on the Baton Rouge.
- Twice. - That's right.
And, uh... we're lucky to have him.
I think his dog gave me the final seal of approval.
He's crazy about that dog. Navy looks the other way 'cause he's Ramsey.
Navy looks the other way 'cause he's a skipper who's actually seen combat.
- He took SEALs into Panama in '89. - Tomahawks in the Gulf in '91.
- Took out eight or nine XOs in '94. - Ouch.
- Last one caught... What? Appendicitis? - Yeah, right.
Take care of Mom.
And you, sailor.
- You listen to Granny, OK? - Yeah.
- Can I have a salute? - Bye, Dad.
- The Enemy Below. - Robert Mitchum.
- And? - And what?
- Robert Mitchum. - Incomplete answer.
- The German guy with the white hair? - What's his name?
- Who was it? - Curt Jürgens.
- Keep my side of the bed warm, babydoll. - I will.
Hurry home.
Don't worry.
- Bye. - I love you. OK, bye.
You listen to Mom.
Be good.
Bye, baby.
- Hardy Krüger. - No way.
Robert Shaw in his Nazi period.
- Question was invalid. - We're even.
- How you doin'? - I'm fine. Thanks.
Good. Address me as "sir" when you speak to me!
Stand at attention, sailor!
Is he gonna fit in the sub?
Doubtful.
Who was the German sub commander in The Enemy Below?
- Was it Curt Jürgens or Hardy Krüger? - Sir, I...
Wrong answer! Drop down and give me 20! Now! Move! Move!
One. Two.
- Run Silent, Run Deep. - Three.
The guy with the ears and a little moustache.
Cary Grant.
I'm worried about T.
- Why? - She doesn't know what's goin' on.
I think she thinks I'm goin' away forever.
I'll take care of her.
- You will? - Yeah.
- You promise? - I promise.
- I love you, Dad. - I love you too, son.
OK.
- You know I don't know what to say. - Just say goodbye.
See you in my dreams.
Give me a kiss.
- Davis. - How you doin', sir?
Crew present and accounted for, sir.
Little ducks,
there's trouble in Russia.
So they called us.
And we're going over there
and bringing the most lethal killing machine ever devised.
We're capable of launching more firepower
than has ever been released in the history of war.
For one purpose alone -
to keep our country safe.
We constitute the front line
and the last line of defense.
I expect and demand
your very best.
Anything less, you should have joined the Air Force.
This might be our commander in chief's navy,
but this is my boat.
And all I ask is that you keep up with me.
And if you can't,
that strange sensation you'll be feeling in the seat of your pants
will be my boot in your ass.
- Mr. Cob? - Yes, sir.
You're aware of the name of this ship, Mr. Cob?
Very aware, sir.
It bears a proud name, doesn't it, Mr. Cob?
Very proud, sir.
- It represents fine people. - Very fine people, sir.
- Who live in a fine, outstanding state. - Outstanding, sir.
- In the greatest country in the entire world. - In the entire world, sir.
- And what is that name, Mr. Cob? - Alabama, sir.
- And what do we say? - Go, 'Bama!
Roll tide!
Chief of the Boat, dismiss the crew.
Dismiss the crew. Aye, aye, sir.
Crew, department heads, attend to your departments.
Fall out!
Here.
Part of your qualification for command.
The last breath of polluted air for the next 65 days.
Gonna miss it.
I don't trust air I can't see.
This is my favorite part.
Right here, right now.
Bravo, Hunter.
Sir?
You knew to shut up and enjoy the view.
Most eggheads want to talk it away.
Your stock just went up a couple of points.
Thank you, sir.
Allow me to give you a tiny bit of advice.
If you want your own boat someday,
the very worst thing you can do is worry about yourself or try to impress me.
I can't stand save-asses and I won't abide kiss-asses.
You keep your priorities straight - your mission and your men.
How you like that cigar?
- It's good, sir. - It's your first.
Yeah.
Don't like it too much. They're more expensive than drugs.
- XO, take her down. - Take her down. Aye, sir.
Control, Bridge. Sounding.
Bridge. Control. Sounding 1-2-0 fathoms.
- Lookouts, clear the bridge. - Clear the bridge. Aye, sir.
Officer of the Deck, prepare to dive.
- Captain down. - Captain is down.
- XO down. - XO is down.
Submerge the ship.
Diving Officer, submerge the ship. Depth 1-5-0 feet.
Make my depth 1-5-0 feet. Aye, sir.
Chief of the Watch, on the One MC, dive, dive!
Make your depth 1-5-0 feet. Five degree down bubble.
- Uh, I don't understand. - What?
Radchenko is a fanatic. He's a potential Hitler. Somebody should just shoot him.
- I have no problem with that. - Good.
It's fanatics who make history. Colonel Patton was a fanatic. That made him great.
You think this guy is Patton?
He's a dangerous lunatic and he's threatening nuclear war.
What's that make us, being the only nation to drop a nuclear bomb?
It makes us a prime target.
Some Third World countries with atom bombs would love to drop one on us.
So we should drop one on them.
Are you a communist? You have a problem with dropping nuclear bombs on Japan?
Shut up, Dougherty.
- You think it was a mistake, Mr. Hunter? - Sir?
Using the bomb on Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
If I thought that, sir, I wouldn't be here.
- Interesting way you put that. - How'd I put it, sir?
Very carefully.
You do qualify your remarks.
If somebody asked me if we should've bombed Japan, a simple, "Yes.
"By all means, sir. Drop that fucker. Twice."
I don't mean to suggest that you're indecisive, Mr. Hunter.
Not at all.
Just, uh...
complicated.
Of course, that's the way the navy wants you.
Me, they wanted simple.
You certainly fooled them, sir.
Be careful there, Mr. Hunter.
It's all I got to rely on, being a simpleminded son of a bitch.
Rickhover gave me my command, a checklist, a target and a button to push.
All I had to know is how to push it. They'd tell me when.
They seem to want you to know why.
I would hope they'd want us all to know why, sir.
At the Naval War College, it was metallurgy and nuclear reactors,
not 19th-century philosophy.
"War is a continuation of politics by other means."
von Clausewitz.
I think that what he was actually trying to say was a little more...
Complicated?
Yes, the purpose of war is to serve a political end,
but the true nature of war is to serve itself.
Ha! I'm very impressed.
In other words, the sailor most likely to win the war is the one most willing
to part with the politicians and ignore all except the destruction of the enemy.
You'd agree with that.
I'd agree that, uh... that's what Clausewitz was trying to say.
- But you wouldn't agree with it? - No, sir, I do not.
No, I just think that in the nuclear world...
the true enemy can't be destroyed.
Attention on deck.
von Clausewitz will now tell us exactly who the real enemy is.
von?
In my humble opinion, in the nuclear world the true enemy is war itself.
So the captain's walking on the bridge,
and he and the dog come across two sailors fucking each other in the ass.
How can they fuck each other in the ass?
- One's fucking the other in the ass, stupid. - Shut up, Hunsicker.
So these two are fucking each other in the ass, the captain says:
"What the fuck is going on here?"
The sailor said, "Hunsicker fell overboard, I'm saving his life."
- Fuck you. - Captain says:
"Give him mouth-to-mouth resuscitation."
Sailor says, "How do you think this got started in the first place, sir?"
Move!
Fire in the galley! Chief of the Watch, sound the general alarm!
Damage control, bring fire extinguishers...
- Fire's out of control. - You hit the kill switch?
Couldn't get to it. Too hot.
Attention, all hands. Fire has been contained.
Damage control party, assess damage and report to Control.
- Initiate weapons system readiness test. - Aye, sir.
Station a reflash watch. This thing could flare back up again.
Conn, Radio. We are receiving flash traffic. Emergency action message.
Recommend alert one. Recommend alert one.
Alert one. Man battle stations missile for weapons systems readiness test.
- Spin up all missiles. - Why is he runnin' a missile drill now?
- You're in charge. - Aye, sir.
Man battle stations missile for weapons system readiness test.
Spin up all missiles. This is an exercise.
Captain's in Control.
I agree. Message is properly formatted.
Sir, we have a properly formatted emergency action message
for weapons system readiness test.
- I concur, sir. - Where's the XO?
Sir.
Good of you to make it, Mr. Hunter. Get the authenticator.
Let's go.
- Sir, request permission to authenticate. - Permission granted. Authenticate.
"Alpha, Alpha, Bravo, Echo, Charlie, Zulu, Tango."
- Captain, message is authentic. - I concur.
- I agree. - Message is authentic.
Sir, your captain's missile key.
Set condition One SQ for WSRT. This is the captain. This is an exercise.
Set condition One SQ for WSRT. This is the XO. This is an exercise.
- That fire could still flare... - Now is not the time.
Make your depth 1-5-0 feet. All stop.
Make my depth 1-5-0 feet. All stop. Aye, sir.
Weapons, Conn. Simulate pressurizing, all tubes.
Conn, Weapons. Simulate pressurizing, all missiles. Aye, aye, sir.
- Simulate pressurizing, all missiles. - Simulate pressurizing, all missiles. Aye.
All stations, proceed to One SQ. Ready all missiles for launch.
Let's go!
Weapons, Captain. Report approximate time for One SQ.
Captain, Weapons. Approximate time to weapons system One SQ -
14 minutes, sir.
Ship is at launch depth. Ready to hover, sir.
- Commence hovering. - Commence hovering. Aye, sir.
Control, Sick Bay. Chief Petty Officer Marichek is undergoing cardiac arrest.
- We're beginning CPR. - Chief of the Watch, on the One MC.
Gentlemen, may I have your attention?
We've received word that a shipmate has a medical problem.
We're terminating the drill. Mr. Mahoney, take the conn. I'm going below.
- XO. - Aye, sir. I have the conn.
Clear.
It's OK, Chief.
Thank you, sir. Sorry, sir.
Hiya, boy. Hiya, hiya, hiya.
How ya doin'? Oh, boy. Yeah.
So, Mr. Hunter, do you think I was wrong to run that drill?
Not necessarily, sir.
- Do you think I got that man killed? - No, sir.
One thing had nothing to do with the other. It was an accident.
- Would you have run the drill? - No, sir, I would not.
Why not?
The fire could have flared back up. I would have seen to it first.
I'm sure you would have.
Me, on the other hand, I tend to think that's the best time to run a drill.
Confusion on the ship is nothing to fear. It should be taken advantage of.
Lest you forget, Mr. Hunter, we are a ship of war, designed for battle.
You don't just fight battles when everything is hunky-dory.
Do you think I'm some crazy old coot endangering everyone as I yell "yee-haw"?
That was not my first thought, sir. But there's no excuse.
At the time I was fighting the fire in the galley, I did not agree with your call, sir.
Take a seat.
Just so we understand each other.
I don't have any problems with questions or doubts.
As I said to you before, I'm not seeking the company of kiss-asses.
When you got somethin' to say to me, you say it in private.
And if privacy doesn't permit itself, then you bite your fucking tongue.
- Are we clear about that, Commander? - As a bell, sir.
Those sailors out there are just boys,
boys who are training to do a terrible thing, and if that ever occurs,
the only reassurance they'll have that they're doing the proper thing
will derive from their unqualified belief in the chain of command.
That means we don't question each other's motives in front of the crew.
It means we don't undermine each other.
It means in a missile drill they hear your voice right after mine, without hesitation.
- Do you agree with that policy, sailor? - Absolutely, sir.
We're here to preserve democracy, not to practice it.
There'll be a memorial service in the enlisted men's mess at 1100 hours.
- Go see to it. - Aye, aye, sir.
Oh, Hunter. I'd like you to speak to Cob about his weight.
I find it difficult, I've known him so long.
Yes, sir.
Short of the outbreak of World War III,
the ship sinking or being attacked by a giant octopus,
I'd like to be undisturbed for 30 minutes.
I'll see to it, sir.
By the way, it was Marichek's 300 pounds that killed him.
Not the fire.
Dismissed.
One, two, three, four.
Back. Back.
One, two. One, two.
- You OK? - Yeah, I'm fine.
Does it make sense to you to start a drill in the middle of a fire?
- Fire was out, wasn't it? - Yeah, and a man died too.
- Not 'cause of what the captain did. - What?
- Not 'cause of what the captain did. - Weps.
A fire is a serious threat to the ship. Where was he? Why not check it out first?
That's his style. He's a hard-ass.
- So what? - So you wanna fight him, go ahead.
You wanna get along, understand him a little bit.
Two schools of thought here.
To him, you're Annapolis, Harvard, expert on theory,
- well-versed in world affairs. - Ha!
He's had his head up his ass drivin' ships for the 25 last years.
He's probably a little paranoid about that. I mean, navy's all he's got.
Navy and that little rat dog of his. That's why his wife left him.
So what are you saying?
I'm just sayin' watch out. Give him a little room.
Let him get to know you.
You do pants too?
Conn, Radio. Receiving emergency action message. Recommend alert one.
Alert one. Alert one.
Incoming emergency action message.
Alert one. Alert one. Incoming EAM.
Captain.
Captain has asked me to brief you on the emergency action message we received.
As you know, before we got underway,
the Russian army was in position encircling the rebel camps,
and Radchenko started making threats should anyone move in on him,
that he would launch his land-based nuclear weapons at the US and at Japan.
The safeguard was that the Russian government controlled the launch codes.
Intel now indicates that those launch codes have been compromised,
and US military forces have been directed to set DEFCON three.
The last time we hit this state of emergency was 32½ years ago,
during the Cuban missile crisis.
So this is what it's all about, gentlemen. It's what we train for.
It's why this ship was built.
And it's what our nuclear weapons will be used for if necessary.
Captain.
The NCA has determined that
should our satellites detect rebel missiles being fueled -
which means they could be launched in just over one hour -
we'll be compelled to act.
Now, given our patrol sector here in the Emperor Sea Mounts,
it seems clear that our friends in the Pentagon
are setting us up for a potential preemptive strike.
It's important to remain focused.
Keep your men informed.
Any questions?
Dismissed.
We lost that frying unit and then...
I'm gonna fuck you up! Get out! Get...
Get out of here, man! Get him out! Motherfucker!
Fuckin' Guinea piece of shit.
- Rivetti, what's up? - I'm sorry, sir. Just a difference of opinion.
- What about? - It's too silly, sir. I'd rather just forget...
I don't give a damn about what you'd rather forget about. Why were you two fighting?
I said the Kirby Silver Surfer was the only real Silver Surfer,
and that the Moebius Silver Surfer was shit. Bennefield's a big Moebius fan, and...
Things got out of hand. I pushed him, he pushed me. I lost my head, sir. I'm sorry.
Rivetti, you're a supervisor.
You can get a commission like that.
I know it, sir. You're 100% right.
- It'll never happen again. - It better not.
I see this kind of nonsense, I'll write you up. Understand?
- Understand? - Yes, sir.
You set an example even in the face of stupidity.
Every comic book reader knows that Kirby Silver Surfer
is the only true Silver Surfer. Now, am I right or wrong?
- You're right, sir. - All right. Get out of here.
Captain.
- How can I help you? - Test results from the missile drill.
This the best they can do?
- No, sir, but that's what they did. - I want this down to five minutes.
- Train on it. - Yes, sir.
Tell your buddy Weps we're gonna do it again.
We're gonna keep on doin' it until he gets it right.
Damn.
Feels like the whole crew needs a kick in the ass.
Or a pat on the back, sir.
I just witnessed a fight down in crew's mess. No big deal, but...
I think the men are... a little on edge with all we're going through.
Morale seems to be a bit low.
Well, you seem to have the pulse of the men.
Thank you, sir.
Attention, please.
Mr. Hunter has brought it to my attention
that morale may be a bit low.
That you may be a bit...
On edge, sir.
...on edge.
So I suggest this,
any crew member who feels he can't handle the situation
can leave the ship right now.
Gentlemen, we're at DEFCON three. War is imminent.
This is the captain.
That is all.
Very inspiring, sir.
Come on, Bear. Come on. Come on.
Come in.
Sir.
Cob, this is a difficult subject to talk about. Uh...
- I gather from... - Maybe I can help, sir.
I know I'm overweight, but this is my last tour.
I retire after this.
I just... can't seem to stop eating.
- Have a seat, Cob. - Yes, sir.
What did you think of the captain's speech?
Well, the captain seems to know what his men seem to need.
A pat on the back or a kick in the ass?
His speech made sense to me.
So why don't you say what's really on your mind?
With all due respect, this thing between you and the captain is no good.
Somebody's gotta bend, sir, and he is the skipper.
I'm aware of that, Cob.
Yes, sir.
Sir, what I think we have here is a difference in management styles.
But as unpredictable as he is, there is a logic to it.
He navigates by his own star, not many men can do that.
Cob's rules of navy leadership. One, look like you know what you're doing.
Two, the men must believe you know what you're doing.
And three, and most important,
everybody's got an opinion but the captain's gotta make a choice.
You live and die with that, and that's where the skipper's earned his stripes, sir.
I've seen it time and time again.
So when you're right, you're right.
That's what my daddy said. Right's right, and wrong's for nobody.
You hungry?
Always.
Let's get something to eat.
Yes, sir.
Sup? Come here.
You hear that?
I've got a broadband contact bearing 0-4-7. Assigning tracker Sierra in ATF.
Conn, Sonar. We have a possible submerged submarine bearing 0-4-7.
Designate contact Master 2-8.
Sonar, Conn, aye. Man battle stations torpedo. Rig for ultraquiet.
- Make tubes one and four fully ready. - Tubes one and four fully ready. Aye.
Man battle stations torpedo.
What do you got?
Sir, a possible submerged submarine, bearing 0-4-9, designate Master 2-8.
Best depth for evasion, sir, is 8-3-1 feet to avoid that sub.
Mahoney, this is the captain. Increase your speed to standard.
Come left to course 2-7-0.
Make your depth 8-3-1 feet, smartly.
- You find out who that is. - Aye, sir.
Who are you, sweetheart?
Helm, all ahead standard. Dive, make your depth 8-3-1 feet, smartly.
Aye, sir.
Conn, Radio. Receiving emergency action message. Recommend alert one.
Recommend alert one.
Alert one. Alert one. Incoming emergency action message.
Captain, we have a properly formatted emergency action message
from National Command Authority for strategic missile launch.
- I concur, sir. - Get the authenticator.
Chief of the Watch, secure for battle stations torpedo.
Man battle stations missile for strategic launch.
Secure for battle stations torpedo.
- Man battle stations missile... - Permission to authenticate.
Permission granted. Authenticate.
"Bravo, Echo, Echo,
Charlie, Alpha, Tango, Alpha."
"Bravo, Echo, Echo, Charlie,
Alpha, Tango, Alpha."
- Message is authentic, sir. - I concur, sir.
I concur, sir.
- Message is authentic. - Sir, your captain's missile key.
This is the captain. Set condition One SQ for strategic missile launch.
Spin up missiles one through five and 20 through 24.
The release of nuclear weapons has been authorized.
This is not a drill.
XO, take the conn. I'm going to my stateroom for the launch keys.
XO has the conn.
Set condition One SQ for strategic missile launch.
Spin up missiles one through five, 20 through 24.
The release of nuclear weapons has been authorized. This is the XO.
Conn, Weapons. Estimated time to One SQ for strategic launch is 14 minutes, sir.
One, two, three, four, five, six.
Go, sailor, go.
Set condition One SQ for strategic missile launch.
- Comin' through! - Spin up missiles one through five
and 20 through 24.
- I have the conn. - The captain has the conn.
Passing 5-5-0 feet.
Conn, Radio. Sir, we're out of VLF radio range. Full message capacity is cut off.
Radio, Conn. Extend extremely low frequency antenna.
Passing 600 feet. Coming to 8-3-1 feet, sir.
Jesus. Oh, God. Uh...
Conn, Sonar. Uh, sir, we have his classification.
Mark that tape. Get the classification on your monitor.
What the hell is going on?
Sir, the Master 2-8 is classified as a Russian Akula class hunter-killer.
Bearing 1-9-6, sir. He's close, but I don't think he's spotted us.
- Stay on him! - Aye, sir.
- Captain has the conn. - Passing 800 feet, sir.
Continue to dive. Give me five degree down bubble.
- Continue rigging for ultraquiet. - Aye, aye, sir.
Five degree down bubble. Rigging for ultraquiet, sir.
Gentlemen, this is the captain.
We have an Akula class submarine out there.
We know Radchenko controls at least four submarines. This could be one.
Russian rebels have threatened to launch against our country,
and are fueling right now.
They will have launch capability in 60 minutes.
We have orders to launch our missiles, which is exactly what we're going to do.
We are rigging for ultraquiet. All hands, be ready.
This is as real as it gets.
We'll presume nothing, defend ourselves at all cost.
If that sub so much as comes around or opens up a tube door, we'll take her out.
Passing 900 feet.
He's gone.
Like hell he is.
He's up there.
9-5-0.
Conn, Weapons. Missile systems ready to launch in 11 minutes.
Conn, Radio. Receiving transmission on extremely low frequency receiver, sir.
Very well. Mr. Hunter, go to Radio, please.
- OK, pull up the code. - What do you got?
XO, incoming EAM, but we're too deep to receive any radio communication, sir.
- Captain. - XO.
We got a limited radio transmission indicating an incoming EAM.
We need to go shallow to reestablish communications.
With that sub still up there? Mr. Hunter, it's my inten...
- Come up to Conn, Mr. Hunter. - Yes, sir.
- Zero bubble. - Zero bubble. Aye, sir.
1275 feet, sir.
Conn. Weapons. Missile systems ready to launch in ten minutes.
- Sir. - Attention, all hands.
- Ship has been rigged for ultraquiet. - Captain?
When our missile system is ready, Mr. Hunter,
it is my intention to rise to launch depth,
launch our birds and then get the hell out of there. Not until then.
I can't jeopardize the safety of this ship.
Yes, sir.
May I suggest that we float the buoy, sir? We have enough cable.
That should give us enough reach to receive the EAM transmission. Sir.
Very well, float the buoy.
- Chief of the Watch, float the buoy. - Float the radio buoy. Aye, sir.
Radio buoy deploying, sir. Tension, 2,000 pounds.
Very well.
Conn, Weapons. Estimated time to One SQ, eight minutes, 30 seconds, sir.
The winch!
Conn, Sonar. We have a sound short from the buoy winch!
Stop the goddamn winch!
Winch is stopped, sir.
Goddamn it.
- TSO, is that sound still out there? - Sonar, TSO. Is that sound still out there?
Sound's gone, sir.
I'm getting something.
- Sup, he's comin' around. - Conn, Sonar. Akula is turning toward!
- They're range gating, sir. - What's range gating?
They've got the torpedoes locked on us.
Conn, Sonar. Torpedo in the water. Bearing 2-4-1.
Conn, Sonar. Second torpedo in the water. Bearing 2-4-2.
All ahead flank. Right full rudder.
Conn, Sonar. 3,000 yards and closing, sir.
Maneuvering, Conn. Cavitate.
- Sound the collision alarm. - Aye, sir.
- 2500 yards. - Rig ship for impact.
Hang on to your ass, gentlemen!
2.000 yards.
1500 yards. Bearing 0-7-0-0-7-1.
1,200 yards.
1,000 yards and closing fast.
Conn, Radio. Receiving emergency action message. Recommend alert one.
950 yards.
Launch a five-inch evasion device. Launch countermeasures.
- Countermeasures away, sir. - Shift your rudder to left full.
500 yards and closing fast.
300 yards and closing, sir.
Sir, the first torpedo's going after the countermeasures.
They missed! They missed!
Sonar, Conn. Second torpedo incoming. It's gonna be close.
Conn. Sonar. The Akula's disappeared in the thermal.
All ahead standard. Rudder amid ships.
- All ahead standard. Rudder amid ships. - All stations.
All stations, report damage. Report damage.
Engine room reports number one ASW-pump failed.
Torpedo room. Water in the bilge. Request a team with a submersible pump.
Engine room. Request all E-division personnel to assist in ground isolation.
Sonar, Conn. Report hostile contact.
- Conn. Sonar. We lost him, sir. - Keep looking. He's looking for us.
Aye, sir.
Weapons, Conn. Estimated time to One SQ.
Conn, Weapons. Missile systems ready to launch in six minutes.
Very well.
Main seawater pump is out of commission.
Mr. Zimmer, where's that EAM?
- You all right, son? - Yes, sir.
- That's it? - Uh-huh. It's incomplete, sir.
We lost it when the radio buoy cable got severed.
All right.
All right, gentlemen, let's get on with it. All ahead one-third.
Steady as you go.
All ahead one-third. Steady. Aye, sir.
Make your depth 1-5-0 feet.
Zero bubble. Up slow and silent to launch depth.
Aye, aye, Captain.
Captain?
Got the EAM.
- What do you think? - I think there's nothing on this.
Yes, sir. It got cut off during the attack.
Then it's meaningless.
Sir, this is an EAM pertaining to nuclear...
No, Mr. Hunter, that's a message fragment.
Because it got cut off during the attack, sir. It could be a message to abort...
It could be a fake Russian transmission.