Which is why we need to confirm.
I'm asking for time to get back online.
- Calm down, Mr. Hunter. - I am calm.
You don't appear to be.
Conn. Weapons. Missile systems ready to launch in four minutes.
- Step aside, seaman. - Yes, sir.
We have orders in hand and those orders are to make a preemptive launch.
Every second we lose increases the chances that when our missiles arrive,
their silos could be empty 'cause they've struck us first.
- Yes. - You know as well as I do
that any launch order received without authentication is no order.
That's our number one rule.
That rule is the basis for the scenario we've trained on time after time.
It's a rule we follow without exception.
Captain, National Military Command Center knows what sector we're in.
They have satellites to see if our birds are aloft,
and if they're not, they give our orders to somebody else.
That's why we maintain more than one sub - redundancy.
- I know about redundancy, Mr. Hunter. - All I'm saying...
All I'm saying, Captain, is that we have backup.
Now, it's our duty not to launch until we can confirm.
You're presuming that we have other submarines ready to launch.
As captain, I must assume our submarines could've been taken out by other Akulas.
We can play these games, but I don't have the luxury of your presumptions.
- Sir... - Mr. Hunter.
We have rules that are not open to interpretation, personal intuition,
gut feelings, hairs on your neck, little devils or angels on your shoulders.
- Captain... - We're all very well aware of our orders.
They come from our commander in chief. They contain no ambiguity.
- Captain... - Mr. Hunter. I've made the decision.
I'm captain of this boat. Now shut the fuck up!
Damn.
Weapons, Conn.
Shift targeting to target package SLBM 647412/2.
This is the captain.
- I cannot concur. - Repeat my command.
We don't know what this means. Our target could have changed.
You repeat this order or I'll find somebody who will!
- You won't. - You're relieved of your position.
Cob, remove Mr. Hunter from the control room. Get Lieutenant Zimmer in here!
I do not concur. I do not recognize your authority
to relieve me under navy regulations.
Cob, arrest this man and get him out of here!
Operating procedures governing release of nuclear weapons
we cannot launch our missiles unless both you and I agree.
Cob, what are you waiting for?
This is why your command must be repeated. It requires my assent.
I do not give it.
You continue to insist upon this launch without confirming this message first,
I will be backed by the rules of precedence...
As commanding officer of the USS Alabama.
I order you to place the XO under arrest on the charge of mutiny!
I say again, I order you to place the XO under arrest on the charge of mutiny!
Cob!
Captain, please, the XO is right. We can't launch unless he concurs.
"To the USS Alabama. Rebel-controlled missiles being fueled.
"Launch codes compromised. Dissidents threaten launch at continental US.
Set DEFCON two. Immediately launch ten Trident missile sorties."
They're fueling their missiles! We don't have time to fuck around!
- I think you need time to think this over. - I don't have to think this over!
Captain, I relieve you of your command. Cob, escort the captain to his stateroom.
- I'm assuming command. - You're not.
Chief of the Boat, Captain Ramsey's under arrest. Lock him in his stateroom.
- Captain, please... - Now, Cob!
Aye, sir.
Mitchell, Walker. Take the captain below.
You're way out of your league, Hunter.
You're not ready to make tough decisions yet.
What the hell we waitin' for?
Anybody here disagrees with what I've done...
then you feel free to relieve yourself of duty now.
Anybody?
All right.
- All stations. - Aye, sir.
This is the executive officer.
I have assumed command of this ship
under authority granted me by navy regulations.
I have relieved Captain Ramsey of his duties for acting in contravention
of the rules and regulations regarding nuclear weapons release.
It is my intention to delay the missile launch
maintaining our current state of readiness
pending confirmation of an emergency action message cut off during the attack.
Remain at battle stations missile.
Carry on.
- What the hell are we doin', Fred? - I'm pissin' my pants.
Come on, boy.
Conn, Weapons. Russians will have missile launch capability in 39 minutes.
Chief of the Boat.
Sir?
Thank you, Cob.
"Thank you"? Fuck you.
Get it straight, Mr. Hunter. I'm not on your side.
You could be wrong. But wrong or right, the captain can't just replace you at will.
That was completely improper, and that's why I did what I did, by the book.
I thank you anyway.
Radio, Conn. Mr. Zimmer, get those communications back online now.
We're working on it, sir.
Aye, aye, Captain.
- Are you ready? - Uh... ready.
Go.
Jesus. Fuckin' thing.
This whole system is crashed. Radio buoy is severed. What does he want us to do?
- Shit electrons? - Hey, Vossler, we need communications.
Aye, sir.
- All stop, ten degrees up. - Ten up. Aye, sir.
All stop. Aye, sir. All stop.
Conn, Sonar. Holy shit, sir! He's on top of us! He's turning toward.
- Range? - 600 yards.
Conn, Sonar. Torpedoes in the water. Bearing 0-4-8-0-5-0.
- Left full rudder. - Aye, sir.
All ahead full. Zero bubble.
- Torpedoes are ready. - No. Our weapons won't have time to arm.
All ahead flank. Chief of the Watch to Maneuvering. Max speed.
Maximum speed.
Sonar, Conn. Let me know when our range to that Akula has opened to 1,000 yards.
Aye, sir.
Let's shoot the fucker! What's 1,000 yards for?
It takes 1,000 yards for the torpedoes to arm. Who'd you fuck to get on this ship?
Conn, Sonar. Torpedoes, 150 yards and closing fast, sir.
Bearing 0-7-0-0-7-4.
Launch port countermeasures.
- Countermeasures away, sir. - Rig ship for impact.
Aye, sir.
They missed! They passed astern. They were too close to arm, sir.
Conn, Sonar. Range to the Akula 950 yards and opening fast.
Go to arming mechanisms, tubes two and four.
- Snapshot, two and four. - Tubes fired electrically, sir.
Give me exact ranging and speed on our weapons.
Range 300 yards and 50 knots, sir.
200 yards, 50 knots.
100 yards, 55 knots.
75 yards. Weapons ready for arming, sir.
- Steady course 2-3-1. - Aye, sir. 2-3-1.
Arm torpedoes two and four...
- Now. - Torpedoes armed.
We're locked on the Akula!
You got him, sir! You got him!
Conn, Sonar. Incoming torpedo. They must have got one off before they got hit.
Right full rudder. Launch starboard countermeasures.
- Countermeasures away. - Dive, depth 1200 feet.
Down now. Take her deep, take her deep. Full dive on those planes. Let's go!
Hang on, everybody!
- Is everybody OK? - Yeah!
Open the aft main drain suction!
Start the drain pump! Go, go, go!
All stations, make damage report to Control.
Control, this is Bilge Bay. We've got out-of-control flooding.
Request damage control.
- Get a damage control party down there. - Aye, sir.
Get Lieutenant Hellerman. Flooding in the bilge bay. Get him down there now!
Conn, Maneuvering. We've lost propulsion, sir.
- Chief of the Boat, how we doin'? - We are going down. I need propulsion.
Forward ballast tanks are damaged, sir. Forward air pressure, zero.
Maneuvering, Conn. Restore propulsion as soon as possible.
Restoring propulsion as soon as possible. Aye, sir.
Control, Bilge Bay. Flooding is slowed. I think we got it under control, sir.
Passing 1500 feet. At 1850, it's all over.
Passing 1600 feet.
Barnes, get over here. Help me with this loose valve!
Passing 1650 feet.
- What the fuck is going on? - Take it easy.
Conn, Bilge Bay. Flooding has recommenced. Three men are trapped.
Bilge Bay, Conn. Try and get those men out of there and seal that bay.
Sir, if we don't seal the bilge bay now, we'll lose the ship.
Bilge Bay, Conn. Can you get the men out?
There's no way. If I go down there, I'll never get out.
Barnes, come on! You've got to come! Move, move!
Barnes, come on! You can do it! Move it!
Bilge Bay, Conn. Seal that bay.
Barnes, let's go! Come on! I've got to close the hatch!
What the fuck are we doing here?
Bilge Bay, Conn. I say again, seal that bay.
Sir, there are men down there. They're gonna drown.
Lieutenant Hellerman, you have your orders.
Now seal the goddamn bay before we all go down!
Barnes! Please, get the fuck out!
Barnes!
Come on!
Barnes!
Conn, Bilge Bay.
Seawater hatch is sealed, sir.
Very well.
Passing 1800 feet.
Approaching hull crush depth, sir.
1-8-2-5.
Conn, Maneuvering. Turbine power restored.
Main seawater cross valve repaired.
And rising.
Propulsion limit. Ahead full, sir.
- Take us up to periscope depth. - Aye, aye, sir.
All right, we're livin'. We're livin', gentlemen.
- Step aside. - I'm sorry. The XO ordered...
Fuck the XO!
The ship has been hit and I'm going in to see my captain.
Now stand aside.
Stand aside!
Captain?
Sir.
- How bad is it, Mr. Dougherty? - It's bad, sir.
I've just been looking at Hunter's file.
The closest to combat he's been is a policy seminar.
Give me an order, sir.
As quietly as you can, you get to Mr. Zimmer and Mr. Westergaurd.
How about Linkletter?
Nah, you won't be able to talk to the TSO. He's at the conn.
But you can get to Weps. We got to have Weps. He's the key.
You get me those men, a small security force, then come back and get me.
- Aye, sir. - Don't try to recruit the whole ship.
- We'll lead from the top down. - Aye, sir. Right away.
The radio's 50%.
Can I talk to you in the passageway?
Right now, Pete.
Come on.
What's goin' on?
Sir.
We're not gonna let this go down with the XO at the helm.
- We're not? - No, we're not.
I've been with the captain for years and
I'm supposed to follow Hunter 'cause he says so?
You've been ordered to. That's what this is about - proper orders.
He has proper orders. He won't act on them.
He's in command now!
If they order him to launch, we'll launch and we'll blow 'em all to hell.
I'd rather go down myself than get this one wrong.
Look, our procedures are clear. In the absence of a contravening order,
in a situation like this, we follow the orders in hand.
Exactly. Know how many checks we do to make sure a launch order is authentic?
The XO agreed with those orders. Now he throws them away? They don't count?
- He's lost his nerve. - Bullshit! I know this guy, Bobby!
We've been ordered to launch.
Why would we do that if they weren't prepared to launch at us?
We don't know that. That's the point. That's
why he wants time to confirm the message.
That's the whole fucking point is we don't have time!
Radchenko is fueling his birds. Why do you think he's doing that? Why?
You don't put on a condom unless you gonna fuck.
Go back to your station. Go back to your station and stay there.
Come on, man.
Peter, think about your family, man.
I am. I am!
What do you plan to do?
Nothing without you. You're a senior officer, a department head.
- TSO's with Hunter. - You have keys to the small arms locker.
Now, we want to recruit a few more men and then we're gonna open that arsenal.
I just talked to the captain in his room.
He specifically asked for you. He says we cannot go without you.
I don't believe this.
This is a mutiny, Peter.
There's only two sides to a mutiny. Now, your captain is asking for your help.
What are you gonna do?
All right.
Conn, Weapons. Russian missiles will have launch capability in 24 minutes.
You're doing the right thing.
Electrical power has been restored. Prepare to reinitiate the system.
Radio, Conn. Mr. Zimmer, what's the status on that radio repair?
All systems are still down, sir. Lieutenant Zimmer isn't here.
- Where is he? - I don't know.
Very well.
- Mr. Mahoney has the conn. - Aye, sir. I have the conn.
- Cob. - Sir?
- Send a man and find Zimmer. - Aye, sir.
- Get a side arm. - Aye, aye, sir.
- Chief Young. - Aye, Chief.
Turn around.
At ease, sailor.
- Sir. - Thank you, Mr. Ince.
- Mr. Westergaurd. - Sir.
- Mr. Zimmer. - Ready, sir.
Let's get on with it.
Stand guard.
All you people, return to your stations.
- Mr. Rivetti. - Sir?
- Follow me, please. - Yes, sir.
Is there a problem, sir?
These are the keys to the entire submarine.
Conn, Weapons. Russian missiles will have launch capability in 21 minutes.
Who's in charge here?
Shit!
Me, sir. Oh, fuck!
- How long is it gonna take? - I don't know, sir.
- Do you know what's going on? - Yes.
No, I don't think you do. Let me explain it to you.
If we launch and we're wrong, what's left of Russia is gonna launch at us.
There will be a nuclear holocaust beyond imagination. It's about knowing, Mr...
Vossler. We have to know whether our order to launch has been recalled or not.
The only way we're gonna know is if you fix that radio. You understand?
Yes, sir.
- You ever watch Star Trek? - Yeah...
Star Trek. You know, Star Trek, the USS Enterprise. All right.
Remember when the Klingons were gonna blow up the Enterprise? Kirk says:
- "Scotty, I gotta have more power." - He needs more warp speed. Yeah.
Well, I'm Captain Kirk. You're Scotty. I need more power.
If you don't get this radio up, a billion people will die. It's up to you.
I know that's a shitty deal, but you got it. Can you handle it?
Scotty?
Aye, Captain.
- You got anything? - No, Vossler.
Then get on it.
- I have the conn. - XO has the conn.
Chief of the Boat, make your depth 7-5 feet. Continue up to periscope depth.
Delay that order!
Any of you officers or chiefs feel you've been unjustly caught up in this thing,
you stand with me now.
Sir, propulsion has been restored.
All flooding has been contained.
All communications are still down.
Take him away. Lock him up in the officers' mess.
Of all the people.
Weps, return to Missile Control.
- Mr. Zimmer, stay with me. - Aye, sir.
Return to your stations. Inform your men directly that the captain is in command.
- I have the conn. - Captain has the conn.
- Diving officer, make the depth 1-5-0 feet. - 1-5-0 feet. Aye, sir.
- One MC. - Aye, sir.
May I have your attention, please. Crew of the USS Alabama.
Attempted mutiny has been put down.
We'll maintain security alert. Authorized movement only in two-man teams.
In the absence of further radio communication,
on orders from the National Command Center,
we'll achieve launch depth as quickly as we can for strategic missile launch.
We all know what this means.
It's not something one would wish for,
but we have the obligation under orders issued by our commander in chief
to prevent the attack on our country.
Russian missiles will have launch capability in 15 minutes.
Set condition One SQ.
Spin up missiles one through five and 20 through 24 for strategic missile launch.
The use of nuclear weapons has been authorized.
This is the captain. Mr. Zimmer is the new XO.
Set condition One SQ.
Spin up missiles one through five and 20 through 24 for strategic launch.
The use of nuclear weapons has been authorized.
This is the XO.
Weapons, Conn.
Confirm target package SLBM 64741/2
for missiles one through five and 20 through 24.
- Target package confirmation, sir. - This is the captain.
Conn, Weapons. Confirm target package SLBM 64741/2
for missiles one through five and 20 through 24. Aye, sir.
Look, It's not a mutiny. I did everything by the book.
It's not about the book.
If the Russians are gonna launch and we sit here and do nothing,
who's gonna stop 'em?
Half of me is glad the captain came back. He could be right, you know.
No orders are valid, Cob, if they're wrong.
- We don't know if they're wrong. - That's true. We don't know.
That's why we have to find out first.
What if Radchenko surrendered and it's over? Hm?
We launch. They see us.
They launch.
Our birds pass each other in the air. Boom!
- What do you got? - Nuclear war.
Nuclear holocaust.
I gotta take a wiz.
OK.
Sir?
- What are you doing here? - Just going to the bath...
Nobody moves alone. You know the drill.
Come on, I need an escort to take a shit?
Shut up.
- I'm gonna call Control. You stay there. - Fuck that.
I mean it, man.
OK, Moebius, open the door.
- You broke my nose, man. - Shut up, fat boy.
- Mr. Rivetti, I'm impressed. - I never liked him.
Go to Laundry. Get four sets of coveralls, and four caps.
Aye, sir.
Just relax.
Davis. Can I talk to you a second?
Come on.
- Everybody ready? - Let's do it.
- We're with you, sir. - Let's go.
- Approaching launch depth. - Very well.
Make your depth 1-5-0 feet.
- Zero bubble. Commence hovering. - Aye, sir.
Conn, Weapons. Estimated time to weapons system One SQ,
three minutes, 30 seconds, sir.
Conn, Weapons. Russian missiles will have launch capability in 12 minutes.
Opening missile hatches.
- Weps. - Weps.
- This is Hunter. Listen to me. - Where are you?
Don't worry about that. You can't proceed. We got other ships that can handle this.
You can't be influenced by the captain or anybody else. Make up your own mind.
Conn, Weapons. Estimated time to missile launch three minutes and counting.
Weps, Weps, listen. Don't do this.
Once you launch, they cannot come back,
and you know the repercussions if we're wrong, Weps.
If we fire now, we'll be firing while we're blind and crippled. You understand me?
- Where the fuck are you? - Do not remove that firing trigger.
Do not open the safe. It's up to you.
You're the only one that knows the combination. It's up to you, Weps.
It's up to you.
Mind your fuckin' panel!
- You guys ready? - Just about, sir.
Radio, XO. Vossler?
XO, Radio. Sir... I don't know, sir.
Vossler, calm down. Take a deep breath. Are you calm?
Yeah, sort of.
Get the radio fixed, Vossler. How long is it gonna take you?
I don't know.
Well, how much time do you need?
Shit!
- Let's go. - OK.
Missile tubes one through five and 20 through 24 at One SQ, sir.
Ship is hovering on automatic. Dive is at One SQ, Captain.
Missiles at One SQ. Ready to launch, sir.
Sir, weapons system is at One SQ. Missiles are ready for launch, sir.
Very well.
- Weapons. - Aye, sir.
Weapons, Conn. Remove the tactical firing trigger.
- One MC. - Aye, sir.
Weapons, this is the captain. Unlock the tactical firing trigger.
Weps?
Missiles are ready to launch, man.
Sir.
Shit.
Mr. Zimmer.
No one is to touch this key. I'm gonna launch from Missile Control.
Aye, aye, sir.
Westergaurd. Dougherty. Come with me.
- Mr. Mahoney, take the conn. - Aye, sir. I have the conn.
What are you doing, man? We're at One SQ. We're ready.
- Mr. Dougherty. - Aye.
- Station your guards fore and aft. - Last two, forward hatch.
First two, aft hatch.
They're gonna fire from Missile Control.
We gotta get back to the conn, disarm the system.
We'll travel in the crawl spaces.
Mr. Ince!
Mr. Ince, remove the tactical firing key.
Sir, it is my duty to...
Son, don't talk to me about duty. Open the fucking safe!
I can't do that, sir.
I'm gonna count to three and then I'm gonna blow your fucking head off. One.
Two.
Shit!
It does me no good to kill you. You're the only one that knows the combination.
However...
Petty Officer Hilaire doesn't know the combination.
Millions of lives at stake here, Peter. Don't make a dumb decision.
One!
Two!
Sir!
- Cob. - Yo.
You and Hunsicker enter the conn from the bow.
We will come in through the aft. Rivetti, you jump on Zimmer, OK?
Come on, come on!
- Fire Control ready? - Aye.
- Launcher ready? - Aye, sir.
Initiate fire.
- Freeze! - Drop the weapon now!
Move forward! Move, move, move, move, move! Get his pistol.
Fire one!
Number one did not fire, sir.
Sir, the captain's key has been removed.
Hunter.
- Come on. - You're a piece of shit.
You and you, man the forward hatches.
You, you, man the aft hatches.
We're going up to periscope depth,
we're gonna reestablish communications and get that message.
Now, anybody got a problem with that?
- Chief of the Boat, depth 7-8 feet. - Aye, aye, sir. Five degree up bubble.
- Mr. Linkletter, man that periscope. - Raising number two scope.
Radio, Conn. Mr. Vossler.
This is Captain Kirk. I need warp speed on that radio.
Yes, sir.
Conn, Weapons. Russian missiles will have launch capability in nine minutes.
Oh, shit!
- What happened? - Reattach that lead.
78 feet. At periscope depth, sir.
- Mr. Linkletter. - No close contact, sir.
Very well. Chief of the Watch, raise the VLF radio antenna.
Raise the VLF antenna. Aye, sir.
VLF antenna coming up.
Conn, Radio. Sir, I think she's breathing. We're getting close.
- Halt, sir! - Shoot me.
Shit. Shit.
I got him.
I have the conn.
Give me my missile key.
Give me the missile key, Mr. Hunter.
I'm the commander of this fucking ship! Give me that goddamn key!
Conn. Weapons. Russian missiles will have launch capability in seven minutes.
Conn. Radio. Sir.
Radio, Conn.
Captain, Radio. Vossler, sir. She's breathing again. We are really close.
You got three minutes, Vossler. Three minutes and counting.
Yes, sir.
You got three minutes.
Come on.
Come on, Vossler. Come on. Keep it going, keep it going.
Speaking of horses...
did you ever see those Lippizaner stallions?
What?
From Portugal. The Lippizaner stallions.
The most highly trained horses in the world. They're all white.
Yes, sir.
"Yes, sir," you're aware they're all white, or "Yes, sir," you've seen them?
Yes, sir, I've seen them. Yes, sir, I'm aware that they're all white.
They're not from Portugal. They're from Spain.
And at birth, they're not white.
They're black.
Sir.
I didn't know that.
But they are from Portugal.
- Come on, Vossler, come on. - Yes. Yes.
Come on. Come on. You got it.
Some of the things they do, uh, defy belief.
Their training program is simplicity itself.
You just stick a cattle prod up their ass and you can get a horse to deal cards.
Simple matter of voltage.
You're gonna get it. Come on.
I almost had it. You saw it.
Conn, Weapons. Russian missiles will have launch capability in four minutes.
- There you go! There you go! - Ah, shit!
- Go, go, go. - Look at it, Vossler.
There we go, there we go!
Yes!
Conn, Radio. Flash traffic. Emergency action message.
Recommend alert one. Recommend alert one.
Fuck, yeah!
Alert one. Alert one.
Dougherty, Westergaurd, Zimmer.
- Get that EAM. - Aye, aye, sir.
God help you if you're wrong.
If I'm wrong, then we're at war.
God help us all.
Sir, we have a properly formatted emergency action message
from the National Command Authority. Permission to authenticate.
Permission granted. Authenticate.
"Delta, Delta, Sierra, Bravo, Zulu, Delta, Tango."
- Message is authentic, Captain. - I concur, sir.
I concur, sir.
Message is authentic.
One MC.
Crew of the Alabama. this is the captain.
Set condition Two SQ.
Terminate launch, all missiles.
Mr. Hunter has the conn.
In the early hours, Russian army forces moved in and met little resistance.
There were some sporadic battles, but the specter of fighting their countrymen
proved too much for these rebel troops and they surrendered quickly.
So a crisis that seemed to be escalating beyond the point of no return
was ultimately resolved with fewer than a hundred soldiers dead,
and the nuclear base captured by Radchenko is back in government hands.
Reporting live from the French aircraft carrier Foch in the Mediterranean Sea,
this is Richard Valeriani for CNN.
Chief of the Boat.
Captain Ramsey.
Lieutenant Commander Hunter.
Stand there Lieutenant Commander Hunter. This won't take long.
This panel has convened in order to investigate the events
subsequent to the setting of condition One SQ for strategic missile launch
on-board the USS Alabama on 1 November.
Now, based on the testimony from personnel on-board the Alabama
and in no small measure to that of the senior officer, Captain Ramsey,
I am prepared to make my recommendations to SUBPAC.
Without my testimony, sir?
- You have a problem with that? - I might, sir.
Are you concerned that your recollection of the events
- differs from that of your captain's? - Well...
I have known Captain Ramsey for almost 30 years.
We served together on more than a few occasions.
If he is lying, this will be the first I've heard of it.
Yes, sir.
My primary concern here is the breakdown in the system.
In this instance, the system failed
because the two senior officers did not work to resolve their differences
while preserving the chain of command.
Now, you may have been proven right, Mr. Hunter,
but insofar as the letter of the law is concerned, you were both right.
And you were also both wrong.
This is the dilemma that will occupy this panel, this navy,
and this country's armed forces as a whole long after you leave this room.
Off the record, you've both created one hell of a mess -
a mutiny aboard a United States nuclear submarine.
Violation of nuclear launch protocol.
For the record, it is the conclusion of this panel
that your actions aboard the Alabama were consistent
with the best traditions of the navy and in the interests of the United States.
As such, the recommendations of this panel will be to accept
in a manner reflective of his long and dedicated service to his country
Captain Ramsey's request for early retirement from active duty.
And based in no small part on Captain Ramsey's recommendation,
that Lieutenant Commander Hunter
be given his next command at the earliest possible convenience.
Unless, of course, you wish to challenge these recommendations.
No, sir.
- Captain Ramsey? - No, sir.
Dismissed.
Captain?
Just wanted to say thank you.
You were right and I was wrong.
About the horses, the Lippizaners. They are from Spain, not Portugal.
Yes, sir.