Previously on The Last Ship...
The U.S. was the victim of a cyberattack.
I need you to find the virus, where it came from, and how to get rid of it.
I asked the Congress to declare a State of War.
The President may have declared war,
but right now we don't have a military to fight it.
Not true. We have Nathan James.
- Brace! - Incoming!
If Gustavo gets his troops across that bridge,
- it's game over. - Then let's blow up that bridge.
Gustavo doesn't know we're alive.
We resupply and we take the fight to him.
We read you loud and clear.
Let's go hunting.
And when were you going to tell me about
the rebel attack in Panama?
It was nothing.
We took care of it.
Do you know what makes the Americans different from us?
Hope.
The Americans think they're special, blessed.
Doesn't matter what tragedy hits them,
they always believe things will get better.
That hope makes them hard to beat.
We can't let them have hope.
And we can't let our people have doubt.
Not much more we can do about Gustavo's movement
in Central America.
Our best use of time and resources is Mexico...
Make a stand there, send a message
to the rest of the region, make them think twice
about whose side they're on.
Gustavo's got to know about the oil complex
at Costa Hirviendo.
General, what kind of assets could you move into that area?
I have a brigade of 800 soldiers in Corpus Christi, Texas.
But it'll take a few days to organize and supply them
to cross the border.
Meantime, we'll need a convincing show of sea power.
Oil complex is on the coast.
Place Nathan James there, hold the line
until the cavalry arrives.
Two viruses.
Due respect to you both, the Yucatán Strait
can't be held by one ship... Even Nathan James.
We're gonna need a reliable partner in the Mexicans.
More than just the Mexicans.
We need help from both sides of the strait.
You're talking about Cuba.
Mexico and Cuba are at war.
Have been since the famine.
Both sides accuse the other of invasions
and murdering civilians.
So much bad blood between them.
You just need to make them understand
one simple fact.
Alone, neither country will last a week
when Gustavo comes at them.
There's no secure channel
to the Mexican or Cuban governments.
But we can talk to Slattery, and he can reach out
locally over HF.
Have them come to a parley aboard the James.
I think very highly of Slattery, but do you think he can...
I'm gonna do it myself.
Admiral, do you have any idea what kind of morale disaster
it would be if you got hurt down there?
How much of a morale disaster would it be
if we got invaded in a few weeks?
You got to find a way to get me back on Nathan James.
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- Any word from the U.S.? - There's still no satellite link.
How much Semtex?
Looks like about 12 kilos...
Barely enough to take down a bridge.
Let's hope they built it quick and sloppy.
I don't know how much longer I can depend on these men.
I got to get them a victory soon.
Pablo thought we could do it.
Yeah, that was before we lost half our men and gear.
The bridge is the thing... We take that out,
we stop Gustavo's march north,
and we show your people he can be beaten.
It's our only option.
Okay.
We camp here tonight, head out at dawn.
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line 2, word 14.
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Radar's up and running,
and the five-inch now has full range of motion.
That's good. I suspect we'll need it.
Captain, we have an unidentified low, slow flier approaching.
Bearing 2-0-5, range... 6 miles.
Airship approaching, identify yourself
and prepare to alter course on my command, over.
Happy to alter course on your command, Captain,
but we're requesting permission to land in a minute,
so don't send us too far off.
- Permission granted. - Right on time.
Nathan James, this is Brawler. Much appreciated.
Admiral, you mind leaning back a little?
Won't be a second.
Forward bearing's a little wonky.
We're good.
Do you need to throttle down?
Nah. She'll be fine.
These old Hueys, you can't kill 'em.
Hell, Slider and I have run her on everything
from bonded bourbon to salad oil.
She still spins like a top.
Can you believe this thing sat out in a field
in Pensacola for 15 years?
- You don't say. - Hang on.
Mike.
- How was your flight? - You have no idea.
Maddie Rawlings.
Lieutenant, Junior Grade. Call sign Brawler.
This is my co-pilot, Slider, and that's Stinger.
Pleased to meet you, sir.
Well, welcome aboard.
Your analog Huey's about the only thing in the Navy
that didn't get hit by the virus,
so she's a fighter.
You're hungry, they're still serving dinner
on the mess decks.
Thank you, sir. Chow time!
Sir. Still trying to find a place to store everything, sir.
Reps from Mexico and Cuba are boarding.
Excellent.
I hear they absolutely hate each other.
- Any ideas? - One or two.
Think they'll work? I think they have to.
Both arrived on patrol craft.
Two ships armed to the teeth from two countries at war.
With us in between. What could go wrong?
Thank you.
Sirs.
What a pleasure it is to meet you both.
I've heard so much abo...
You invited Cuba?
Mexico.
What is this?
It's called "diplomacy," and it starts now.
This way.
Okay. There we go.
Hey.
Hey, I brought fresh clothes, khakis, toothbrush...
Whatever I could find.
How you doing?
This place...
They took your computer, wouldn't let me in.
Yeah, it's a security thing.
I'm sorry. I can't let you back there.
Have you heard from anybody? Kara?
- Your friends from Nathan James? - It's been so chaotic.
I think everyone's just trying to catch their breath.
But thank you so much for doing this.
How long before you can come back home?
It's too soon to tell.
- I got to get back to work. - But I just got here.
I know. Why don't you call your sister?
- No. - You shouldn't be home alone.
No!
I'm sorry. Jesus.
Look at me, the damsel in distress.
I don't want to make things harder for you.
Look at me. Hey.
We got hit hard, but we have a plan and a way to win.
Yeah?
We've still got some tricks up our sleeve.
You're safe at home,
and if anything changes, I will call you first.
You better.
I'll have security walk you to your car.
The bridge is built, and they are already moving forward.
Looks like they're setting up camp.
We don't have much time.
This is just the advance team.
Soon, there'll be tens of thousands...
Jeeps, tanks, soldiers.
If they get across to the Panama side of the bridge,
we won't be able to stop them.
When you're invaded, you defend yourself!
"Invaded"? You coward.
There was no Cuban government, so how could there be an army?
These were hungry, terrified families
arriving on your shores in broken-down rafts and boats!
And what do they do then? They murdered Cuban refugees.
And then they turned around and invaded us.
Gentlemen.
The plague is over. So is the famine.
We're here to talk about how to defend you both from Gustavo's army.
He's coming north, sinking your shipping as we speak.
U.S. is offering an alliance, boots on the ground.
- An occupying force... - A protecting force.
Gustavo's movement races up from Panama.
Soon, it'll be at your borders.
- A real invasion. - Sounds like Mexico's problem.
I cannot work with this... This war criminal!
Look.
At this point, neither of you has much choice.
Señor Aguilar, your hold on Southern Mexico
is already faltering.
They want independence.
Gustavo's promised them that.
And Señor Fuentes, how much oil and natural gas
does Cuba have in reserve to fight a wider war?
I can answer that. None.
You two have your differences.
Once victory is achieved, we'll let
our civilian leadership figure out the right thing to do.
But for now, we have a single agenda...
Unite and fight or let Gustavo march north.
It's that simple.
Excuse me, sir.
You need to see this.
Costa Rica has fallen.
Things have changed.
I need to think. I need to talk to my people.
We have a problem.
Look at the size of the bridge supports.
Damn.
We don't have enough Semtex.
Not even close.
But it's enough to blow a hole in the bridge's deck,
- make it unusable. - With what we've got,
any hole we make, they could repair it in a few hours.
We need a new plan.
Danny.
Perez.
He's the target now.
We're gonna use him to draw away those guards...
gives you two a chance to take that fuel truck.
Attach your Semtex to it.
Drive it onto the bridge.
And turn the whole thing into a fuel-oil bomb.
Armando, we need two of your best men.
We'll meet up with the rest when the time is right.
- You have us. - You two get as close as you can.
Do not make your move until you see that it's clear.
Let's do this.
- Hey! - Come here!
Hey, chill out! Hey!
Come here!
Master at Arms? Send me three...
- Hey, hey! - Come here!
Make that six men.
- Stay back! - Hey!
Sit down!
Disgrace to the uniform!
Check that. We got it covered.
Hey, you, come here.
Outside! Move!
Now, you listen to me.
You and your men are gonna cut this shit out,
you're gonna bury the hatchet.
You're gonna make a deal, or I promise you,
you will be swimming home.
Escort them to the wardroom. Move!
Ma'am. I've got something.
The body of code that hit us here in the command center,
I think I've cracked it.
I've isolated the first part...
It's a set of servo motor instructions...
- to a machine of some kind. - A machine in our building?
United States on deck!
I know dictators,
and I've dealt with my share.
There's one thing they all have in common...
Whatever they have, it's never enough.
Gustavo won't stop at Costa Rica.
I just need you both to help me,
and each other, for a few days
to close the strait to whoever's coming north.
I need mines, and I need ships to lay them.
We use them to force the enemy to a location of our choosing.
Nathan James will handle the rest.
Maybe someday, we'll see the end of war.
But for now, once again,
we have to fight together.
I'm gonna leave the room.
You two are gonna settle your differences.
But do it fast.
If there's a fleet headed this way,
I intend to stop it.
Don't go.
I understand.
If you're willing, honestly,
to stand by this man...
I will do the same.
And we can work out our dispute after the fight is over.
What do you say?
Tom Chandler... The man is Washington,
FDR, Eisenhower, with a touch of Lincoln rolled into one,
and you have sent him onto the front lines,
into a battle space we cannot see,
without my authorization.
Toy ships and paper maps.
It's like we're back fighting World War II.
Is it true that you're using a 19th-century novel
as some kind of codebook?
Yes sir, "Moby-Dick."
I hated that book.
It is a bit of a slog, sir.
What is it, Master Chief?
Sir, excuse me. We just heard from Nathan James.
Admiral Chandler's managed to bring Mexico and Cuba
together to blockade the Yucatán Strait.
Terrific.
And I imagine we'll coordinate the mission
through a careful reading of "War and Peace."
Sir, it's...
It's possible that my personal feelings
at the loss of our fleet have clouded my judgment.
If you don't have full confidence in me,
I'm prepared to tender my resignation
right here and right now.
The attack happened on my watch.
Sir, the responsibility should not lie solely
on the admiral's shoulders.
We all supported his decision.
I bear as much responsibility as he does.
- As I do, sir. - No, none of you are gonna get off that easy.
Sit!
Make no mistake, I don't mind replacing every damn one of you.
But I want you to finish what you started
and prove to me that I have the right team in place.
Move your army into Mexico,
and proceed with the naval blockade.
Now, let's save that goddamned oil complex
and stop Gustavo in his tracks.
- Yes, sir. - Yes, sir.
Remember me?
We're gonna need mines from here to here,
and here to here.
Cuba, you're gonna handle in the east.
Mexico, the west.
We only have another patrol boat in the region.
I can have him here in 12 hours.
Whatever Mexico has, it's also at your disposal.
With your permission, I need to use your radio room.
This way I can authorize my men to begin laying mines.
Of course.
This way.
- Watch him. - I will.
Hey, hey.
You won't get far.
We'll have checkpoints every few miles.
They won't bother us with the Colonel up front.
And we'll only need to move a few miles.
Put the shirt on.
Your companion still looks angry.
That surprises you?
You killed my friend.
Your friend...
Pablo.
I've killed a thousand Pablos.
What's another?
Call your second in command.
Tell him to stop the convoy crossing the bridge.
Everyone stays on the south side.
Move your sentries north of the bridge.
I will do no such thing.
Even if I did, such an order would be ridiculous.
No one would obey it.
Tell them you've located a rebel encampment
10 kilometers north.
Tell them to move now.
I don't feel like doing that.
Feel like it now?
Start talking, Lefty.
Your march Al Norte ends today, Colonel.
Tell me, Admiral, what am I doing today?
Am I making an ally, a new partner in peace?
Or am I choosing one tyrant over another?
In many ways, Cuba is a brand-new nation,
a new democratic government, a new life for our people.
We thought we were saved.
And this is the welcome we get into the brotherhood of nations.
War.
Theft.
Murder.
When this is over,
I'll be there for you and for Cuba if you need me.
- Armed. - Armed.
Okay.
Danny!
I see him.
Ma'am, by my calculations, in 24 hours,
we'll have sufficient closure east and west of us.
Sir? Everything okay?
XO, I'm getting traffic from Mexican coast watchers
just southwest of us.
They're picking up enemy aircraft.
- Heading north? - Yes, sir.
- It's coming right at us. - Set General Quarters!
- All ahead flank! - Aye, Ma'am. All ahead flank.
Set General Quarters and man battle stations!
All crew served weapons, engage on my order.
TAO, ready the five-inch and standby to fire.
Forward on the starboard side.
Down and aft on the port side.
I give you my word.
Mexico did not betray your position.
Let our men fight.
Let our men fight beside you.
Bring all contacts to my screen! Fire control radar, activate!
Sonar, go quiet now.
Aye. Securing all active sonar.
Now on passive.
Three planes turning back for another run.
One peeling off.
Hard right rudder!
They just hit our gun boat.
Come on.
Come on, come on.
There's got to be a kill switch here somewhere.
We're gonna have to hot-wire it.
Brace! Shift your rudder!
It's no good. They're staying in our cut outs.
- Five inch won't bear. - Get the helo in the air.
We got this! Go get Perez!
Go! Go, go! Go, go, go, go, go!
Come on.
Hurrying would be good now.
They are heading this way.
All right. Let's go.
Come on, baby.
Let's get behind the ship.
- Arm missiles. - Arming now.
Stinger, they're coming back.
We got one.
Fire missiles!
Got 'em.
7-10 split. Nice shooting, ladies.
Thanks, boss.
- Damn it! - Brawler, you alright?
Yeah, I'm fine.
Jump when I say, "Jump"!
I'll jump when you jump!
Jump!
Now!
It's encrypted.
I'm taking it.
Maybe someone up north could use it.
Give me long-range HF radio.
I've got a message for Gustavo.
I want the world to hear it.
You're live, sir.
This is Nathan James, calling Gustavo Barros.
We just took out your airwing,
and you didn't lay a glove on us.
And you can mark that up along with your Corvette.
Payback for Mayport.
You may have hit us hard, but you didn't finish us.
You know why?
Because you can't.
And now Mexico and Cuba have joined the fight.
So this message goes out to all of Central and South America.
There is a choice now. Join us.
Send Gustavo back into
the dirt hole he crawled out of.
We fight for peace.
But make no mistake... We will fight.
And this ship and this crew?
They're damn good at it.
So, Gustavo...
come at us again.
I dare you. This is Nathan James. Out.
Now, they know who we are, where we are.
Let's be ready for what they throw at us.
- Aye, sir. - Aye, sir.
Nobody's talking about going home now.
It's a good day.
Thank you.
Good Evening, Mr. President.
Master Chief.
Today was a good day.
Or a lucky one.
Have a seat.
I get it.
The world needs Tom Chandler.
And nobody respects him more than I do.
But rumor is he's tired, burned out.
He's been out of the fight for what, three years?
They even tried to run him for President.
Turned it down.
And now he's down there, back in it,
and I'm allowing it.
Putting him in this position,
I could be setting him up to fail.
And if he does...
I don't think the country could bear that.
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