The Last Ship

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 have 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 even 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. Huh.

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.

Any word from the U.S.? There's still no satellite link.

How much Semtex?

Oh, 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.

Page 101, paragraph 4,

line 2, word 14.

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.

Uh-huh.

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!