[music]
Blue team, stay sharp.
Let's give the Ukrainians a leg up.
MAJORS: Bombs on target. Return to base.
BLUE THREE: Love to see that Russian junk burn.
Where the hell did that thing come from?
-I don't see anything! -MAJOR: Bandit, breaking 09:00.
MAJORS: Negative radar on bandit, I'm only painting us.
BLUE THREE: Man, this guy's a Fantom!
MAJORS: Deploying countermeasures.
[music]
[music continues]
THOMAS: If Senator Burke is a definite no vote,
then we're going to have to get both Gordon
and Hathaway on board. If not,
we can kiss the F/A-X jet funding goodbye.
See if you can set up dinner with either tonight
or breakfast tomorrow just as soon as possible.
And pull up last week's defense budget reports.
You know they'll both ask.
Right, let's get this done.
Jesus, Zach.
Emily, call the White House and let them know
I'll be coming over. I want a meeting
with the president as soon as possible.
Tell them it's national security related.
Have the Secret Service bring the car around.
AGENT: Vice President Thomas,
the President will see you in the library.
-Rick. -Mr. President.
Excellent timing.
I was gonna call you later.
I'd like to discuss the shootdown
on the Volunteer Flight in Ukraine yesterday.
-I'm listening. -They were lost
under highly unusual circumstances.
The Russians have no effective anti-aircraft at the front,
and there were no enemy radar contacts.
These were superb pilots, sir.
Top aviators from all over the world.
Their skipper flew under me in the Navy.
Guy was a legend. Not an easy kill.
Yet we have no idea what took him and his pilots down.
But the Pentagon is looking into it.
Sir, we both know Pentagon intel moves at a snail's pace.
If the Russians are developing new capabilities,
then we need to figure out what they are
and move to counter.
Well, the second I know something,
so will you, but we've got
bigger things in front of us right now.
We're hosting a peace summit here in DC.
And the Russians want to negotiate
a peace settlement in Ukraine.
Well, if that's true, it's only because they're losing.
They're stalling, sir, trying to buy time to maneuver in.
-When is this happening? -Talks begin tomorrow.
President Vasiliev was serious
about getting something done. And so am I.
What do the Ukrainians say? Are they on board?
They'll go along with whatever we decide.
-What makes you so sure? -Well, they've suffered
terrible losses and hardships.
They want this conflict over more than anyone.
At the cost of their sovereignty?
The very thing they've been fighting for?
They've held the Russians back, but only just.
And look at how many lives it's cost.
Civilian as well as military.
Sir, that's exactly my point.
When a war is focused as much on civilian
as it is military targets,
it loses all claim to legitimacy.
As do its perpetrators.
They should not be negotiated with.
And what happens when this conflict ends?
Or it expands, spins out of control
across all of Europe? How many lives will it cost
to fight a third world war? I'm asking you.
Sir, now is not the time to cut a deal.
When the F/A-X fighter program comes online
in a few months, we'll be negotiating
from a position of much greater strength.
We don't have the votes
to keep your wonder-jet funded. I'm sorry.
Because our party refuses to prioritize national defense.
I... [sighing]
Jeremiah, you could help change minds on that.
But I'm out there all alone.
We don't need another billion dollar
weapon system, Rick. We have a real chance here
to broker a lasting peace.
If everybody gets on board, this can happen. Okay?
I hope I can count on you.
Of course, Mr. President, of course.
-What're you doing? -Coding software.
To do what?
Triangulate vector headings and intercept points.
-Who needs that? -Oh, you know,
just competent naval aviators, so, yeah,
I can see how that wouldn't interest you.
[chuckling] Officer on deck.
At ease. Seats.
Today we resume test flights of the F/A-X
supersonic stealth fighter.
After last week's successful altitude tests,
today we'll be testing ACM and 1V1 dogfights.
Now, this exercise has a hard deck of 10,000 feet
and a hard ceiling of 40,000 feet.
Maximum speed is sub-Mach one.
Any questions?
Then man up, and let's get 'em in the air.
CAG: Footloose, Firefly. You're up first.
-Firefly, you're the aggressor. -Roger that, sir.
FOOTLOOSE: Damn, these things can move.
-Target lock. -Like hell.
-[beeping] -FIREFLY: Damn it.
Controls are sticking, I'm still climbing!
CAG: Knock it off. Footloose, you have exceeded
40,000 feet and broke the hard ceiling.
FOOTLOOSE: Shit.
Lieutenant, your performance today is rated cut.
What did you think you were doing up there?
Trying to perform the exercises ordered, sir.
Evading target lock.
By exceeding the designated hard ceiling?
It was an accident, sir.
Rapid ascent is a common evasive tactic,
-and real fights tend to-- -Lieutenant?
It doesn't matter. Today's results
have to be scrapped, and now we're a day behind,
which I have to explain to my superiors
who aren't gonna forgive me on account of my famous
ace sibling, because I don't have
one of those to keep bailing me out.
You're off F/A-X tests for the duration.
Sir, please.
Take your licks, Lieutenant.
Consider yourself lucky to be flying at all.
If I had my druthers, you'd be grounded permanently.
MAN ON INTERCOM: Now hear this. Now hear this.
Lieutenant Adam Majors,
report to the communications room.
Saved by the bell, Lieutenant.
Once again, dismissed.
-Majors. -Footloose.
Defender.
What a pleasant surprise.
How are you?
Unpopular as ever with the law and order types.
Ever considered the military wasn't the place for you?
No, sir. They're the ones
with the fighter jets for me to fly.
How's the plane?
Most maneuverable aircraft I've ever flown.
Viable to be our next-generation fighter?
No question, yes.
Good. There may be a lot riding on it.
Is that why you called? To check up on the plane?
It's not, I'm afraid.
What's going on?
Zach was killed. Shot down over Ukraine.
Nobody could shoot my brother down.
How'd it happen?
Zach and his squad had successfully carried out
a strike on the Russians' communication hub
and were returning to base.
Somewhere on the way, they were intercepted.
The whole Volunteer Flight was wiped out.
By what? We aren't sure.
What do you mean, you "aren't sure"?
There were no enemy radar contacts
in the area, and Zach's squad had
taken out the only Russian ground forces.
Did they report coming under attack?
Their communications were jammed just before they went down.
Well, then the Russians had something else in the area.
You must have some idea what.
We're looking into it.
I wish I had more information to give you,
but I don't right now.
I just wanted you to hear the news from me first.
I'm sorry. If there's anything I can do...
There is.
Find out who and what killed him.
Hey, Footloose.
What's up? The guys said you got some official call.
Zach's dead.
I am so sorry.
-How? -Killed in action.
In action? Where?
In Ukraine. He volunteered.
Jesus.
Is there anything that I can do?
No.
No-- hey, wait.
I want to... help you.
[music]
[door slams]
[chime]
[phone ringing]
-Yes. - This is Condor.
-What's your favorite opera? - I much prefer ballet.
You've been out of touch.
Under scrutiny. I shouldn't be calling now,
but I have news. We need to meet.
If you're under scrutiny, that doesn't seem like
a good idea; you should leave whatever you have
in a dead drop, and I'll retrieve it from you.
CONDOR: I am not leaving this evidence at a drop.
It can be traced to me if found.
I'll give it directly to you or nobody.
All right. Fili Park tomorrow at--
Not tomorrow. Today.
This cannot wait. Thirty minutes from now.
No, I'll pick the time.
My Chief of Station won't sign off
-on the meeting if I-- - I do not care.
This is not piddling trivia I have to offer.
If this is so urgent, then tell me now.
You know as well as I, there is no such thing
as a secure line in Moscow.
This must be face to face.
And time is of the essence.
-Don't be followed. - Don't be late.
-Been a while. -It has been hard to get away.
I was promoted.
-Congratulations. -Yeah.
I have great access now.
But I'm under increased scrutiny.
I must be more careful.
Reach out only when it matters.
A coup is being hatched inside Russian military intelligence.
Elements within the GRU
intend to assassinate President Vasiliev.
There's not much we can do to meaningly interfere
in your internal disagreements.
You haven't heard it all yet.
The plan is to assassinate Vasiliev
on U.S. soil and implicate your government
-in his death. -For what purpose?
To spike a wider war between NATO and Russia.
That's the last thing that Russian
military intelligence should want.
Yeah, I understand that perfectly well.
But the GRU has become
the personal fiefdom of one Aleksandr Borovsk.
-The Defense Minister? -An ideologue
of the hard-line nationalist type.
He coerced Vasiliev
into a rushed secret military rearmament program.
He believes Russia can defeat the U.S. and NATO.
He means to seize power
and wield his new military.
You ought to warn Vasiliev, not me.
No, no, no, no, no. This is up to you.
I cannot be perceived as Vasiliev's informant.
-[silenced shot] -Hey!
This is Artemis calling for the Chief of Station.
Met with Condor.
A rogue element in the GRU is trying
to kill Vasiliev at the summit in Washington.
Chief, do you copy? We need to let Washington know.
Shit.
Hey.
Brought your favorite from the galley.
-[chuckles] -It's a donut.
And if there's anything else that I can do...
Just... stay here with me.
Copy that.
I'm going to take this.
Thanks.
[sighs]
We don't have to talk.
But if you want to talk...
I'm just...
...spinning.
Scared that somehow I willed this to happen.
Zach's death?
I always lived in his shadow.
I hoped someday I wouldn't, but...
I never wanted it to happen like this.
Adam Majors, you are not doing this to yourself.
You loved Zach. I could hear it
every time you talked about him.
But you're not feeling anything
that most younger siblings haven't felt,
and survivors, they always carry guilt.
You need to give yourself a break.
And know that you don't live underneath anybody's shadow.
Everyone in this air group sees you.
You earned those wings. You earned your place here.
You've even...
even earned my respect. [chuckles]
I have?
Yeah, well, grudgingly.
I mean, you are the most
gifted pilot I have ever seen, so...
[scoffs] Yeah, well.
-Tell CAG that. -Oh, he knows.
Why do you think he hates you so much?
[both chuckle]
Wait. Wait, wait.
I...
I-I'm sorry, I just...
I can't do this right now.
I get it.
I'm going to give you some space.
No.
Please.
Just...
Be here with me.
Please?
Shot?
-Want one? -Yes.
NEWSCASTER: Nearly 15 years ago,
the former Russian President Morozov
rose to power after a violent election
that saw dozens of Russians killed.
But the skirmishes did not end after the election,
making an age of heightened military defense in Russia
and the surrounding countries not seen since the Cold War.
Many attempts at talks both from NATO and the United States
were made to President Morozov, who refused to acknowledge them
especially those coming from capitalist nations.
President Morozov instead wanted to expand his power.
He first looked to Ukraine where border disputes
between the two countries escalated into a brutal war
resulting in thousands of deaths on both sides.
The United States and NATO realized they could no longer
stay off the sidelines and offered help to those
who wanted a better future for their country.
As Russians tired of the old regime rose up,
the United States offered weapons and resources including
state-of-the-art tanks to battle against those
already in the current Russian regime's possession.
Soon Morozov and his regime found themselves
not only fighting Ukrainian rebels but Russian ones,
led by Russian freedom fighter Gennady Vasiliev.
After months of fighting, the war turned mostly away from
Ukraine and became a Russian civil war between the old regim
and those who demanded peace for the war-torn country.
But the fighting in Russia turned extremely violent,
with sometimes whole city block and small towns
decimated by Morozov's regime.
Vasiliev and his rebels would not give in to Morozov,
often meeting the regime in the streets and countryside
to battle, refusing to give up.
But Morozov only escalated the attacks
destroying countless populated areas
in an effort to show his immense power.
Vasiliev continued to fight bac as more and more Russians
joined the rebels against their attacks
and left their homes and families decimated,
wanting a better future for their children
and generations of Russians to come.
With continued help from the United States,
the old regime was finally toppled.
With many of their tanks and other weapons destroyed,
a new era of history for the storied country began,
one etched in true democracy for Russia
as elections naming new leader President Vasiliev
were the most successful in Russia's history.
Although some cells of the old regime are
still in hiding, newly-elected President Vasilie
has assured NATO that he has made it his top priority
to eradicate them, to keep this new
Russia era of democracy alive.
Today, President Stewart
welcomes President Vasiliev to the White House
where a peace accord will be signed by the two leaders,
signaling a new era of peace, friendship,
and understanding between our two nations.
I implore you, Mr. President, before it's too late.
It is too late.
Nothing has been discussed or signed.
Russia can retake Ukraine.
We possess the greatest stealth fighter ever built.
You can recapture the strategic initiative.
We cannot fight a conventional war with NATO.
Sooner or later we or they start to lose,
and when that happens, nuclear weapons get employed.
It doesn't matter who wins if we all die.
We could roll our tanks over Europe,
cross the Atlantic, and kick in their front door.
The west would never initiate nuclear strike.
They lack the will.
I cannot bet
the sovereignty of Russia on such a whim.
This peace is the one thing we have left for our nation.
So stand behind it.
Any sign of disunity will not serve.
[speaking Russian]
Yes, Mr. President.
[panting]
Shit.
[speaking Russian]
President Vasiliev, welcome.
We'll get the opening press conference ready shortly
in the press room. Welcome, gentlemen.
Thank you for this gracious invitation to your capitol.
It is your openness to diplomacy
that has made this day possible.
I wish our security service to sweep the area.
Ah, it won't be open to the public,
just credentialed press.
Mr. Borovsk, we're guests at another home. You know that.
I'm only concerned for your safety, Mr. President,
because you are hope and future
of the Russian federation.
He has a point, Mr. President.
Agent Miller, anyone interested in inspecting
the press room, let them to their complete satisfaction.
Right this way.
After you, Mr. President, please.
Knock yourself out.
Restroom?
Right this way.
All good.
[murmurs] Jesus Christ.
This doesn't make any sense.
Pick up, pick up, pick up.
Many thanks to my new friend, President Jeremiah Stewart.
Your kind welcome is appreciated,
and it bodes well for a more productive relationship
between our two nations.
[phone rings]
-Hello? Can you hear me? -Ronnie? Not a good time.
No time. The GRU is going to assassinate
President Vasiliev at the summit.
They've recruited a Ukrainian national named Ihor Melnyk.
Grabbed his wife on a recent trip
to eastern Europe to hold as leverage.
Look, they're going to make the attempt
on Vasiliev's life at a press event.
-Live press event? -Melnyk is
a Washington correspondent for the Kiev Post.
Agent Miller! We need to stop this!
-Pull the president now! -[silenced gunshots]
Get us out!
-Are you okay? -Yeah.
We need to leave at once.
[calls out in Russian]
Rick, are you all right?
I am, sir.
Is Vasiliev all right?
-Alive and unhurt. -Thank God.
Now, how did anybody get past White House security?
With valid press credentials, sir.
He was a Ukrainian journalist forced into it
under threat by Russian military intelligence.
What are you getting at?
[sighs] A contact I have in the CIA
called at the last minute with intel.
You have personal operatives in the CIA?
Oh, it's not like that, sir.
An old friend reached out.
Mr. President, the complex is secure.
What's the condition of the assassin?
Is he able to answer any questions yet?
The assassin died of gun wounds, Mr. President.
Sir, you have my sincerest apologies.
If you'd like, my resignation will be in your desk--
Knock it off, Mike. I'm not at leisure
to replace you today.
Your friend of the CIA claims Russian intelligence
-is behind this. -That's right.
Then we need to talk to Vasiliev right away.
Get to the bottom of this right now.
Vasiliev is gone. The Russian diplomatic
entourage, they left.
-They left? -And in a hurry,
at the insistence of Minister Borovsk.
[sighs] Son of a bitch.
Da, da, fly directly to Moscow
and let them know that we're safe, we're unharmed.
Yes, and get me the FSB director Chernigov on line.
What do you require of Director Chernigov?
An investigation on attempt on my life, of course.
Whatever proxy may have been employed,
the United States is most certainly to blame.
[speaking Russian]
President Stewart...
he staked his political reputation on this summit.
The culprit, I'm sorry to say...
must be somewhere closer to home.
A lot closer.
And that's where we have to look.
Hello?
Da.
[speaking Russian]
[gun clicks]
[speaking Russian]
I regret to inform you
that President Vasiliev is dead.
He succumbed to a bullet wound
inflicted earlier today
by a U.S.-sponsored assassin.
I, Aleksandr Borosovich Borovsk,
am assuming the presidency.
A vacancy has opened up in my old office.
Would you like to serve as-- as my Minister of Defense?
Okay, let me know when you can.
We can't reach Vasiliev.
The Russian presidential line is open,
but they're giving us a runaround.
Mr. President.
What is it?
You gotta see this.
While Russia's struggles
is against all western oppression,
the greatest threat to our safety
remains the United States.
It is to America that I,
the President of the Russian Federation, address myself.
Borovsk is president?
You said Vasiliev was fine.
He was the last time I saw and talked to him.
Vasiliev walked off under his own power.
He was shaken, but he was fine.
And now, your murder of our president
while on a diplomatic visit.
Excuse me.
For your armed interference
in our historic revolution,
your slander and sabotage
of the Soviet endeavor,
I vow that you, America, will pay.
Vasiliev is dead.
And I think we're listening to the guy who did it.
Does this mean what I think it means?
Looks like it.
[sighs]
That sounded like a declaration of war.
We need to get in touch with Borovsk right now.
I don't think he'll prove a viable partner
for negotiations, sir.
Then we need to get in touch
with somebody who will.
Can you get me the state department on the phone?
Mr. President...
I've been instructed to escort you
to a safe location away from the Vice President.
Agent Miller, I will not be escorted anywhere.
Mr. President, protocol dictates--
Protocol dictates that, as president,
I represent our nation's talks with foreign countries,
and act as commander in chief during a war.
This is a war.
I need my people near me in all times.
Thomas is a decorated veteran
and will be at my side until I say otherwise.
-Do you understand? -Yes, sir.
We're gonna call our top people
who deal with Russia.
Anybody with any connections
to their military or their political life.
Let's find someone in the Russian government
- [phone ringing] - to talk to keep the situation
from spinning out of control any further.
Are you with me, guys?
Excuse me, I have to take this.
VACHS: Are you all right?
THOMAS: Yeah, I'm okay.
How about yourself? What's your situation?
Going to ground with a GRU agents in pursuit.
They've got the U.S. embassy too heavily striked
for me to get near it,
and they're jamming all communications in and out.
That's why I had to break chain of command like this.
Your number was the only highly-ranked contact I had.
I'm glad you did.
We've got a job for you.
-We? -POTUS and I.
Reach out to every Russian government higher-up
-you have connection to. -About what?
We need allies with influence.
Anyone in the power structure
who won't welcome Borovsk's regime.
We need to talk.
Get this situation under control
before it blows up into World War III.
Well, I might have a way to get to Chernigov.
Director of Domestic Security?
-Yeah. -That's a start.
The FSB has its fingers in everything.
All right, let me get to work.
I'll be in touch.
[sighs]
[phone ringing]
Yes.
Send him in.
Mr. President, Mr. Vice President.
-August. -Secretary Strickland.
An Air Force scout plane
has spotted a Russian carrier
in the North Atlantic, the Ushakov,
it's moving westbound at high speed.
Shortly after making the report,
the scout plane went radio silent
and we lost radar.
All indications suggest that the plane has been downed.
Okay, what do you recommend?
That we intercept the Ushakov.
Send the JFK.
She's in the North Atlantic already.
Her air wing and pilots are cream of the crop.
If the Russians decide to start something,
they'll meet with our best.
All right, let's send the JFK.
I'll dispatch orders.
Mr. President, would you like for me to set up
the communications equipment in the Oval?
Oh, no, thank you, I prefer to work here in the study.
Too much of a museum in there, I can't think.
Understood, and, sir...
I recommend raising our defense condition to DEFCON Three.
-Hey. -Hey.
What are you doing?
Upgrading the course calculations program.
And I made some custom modifications
I wanna have with me if we get into it up there.
You think we're getting into it?
I think whatever happens,
we're gonna need all the help we can get.
Is something up?
I just wanted to say...
I'm sorry.
About what?
About the other day,
when we almost...
Oh.
I didn't mean to, in any way,
reject or denigrate the idea that we--
Hey, you were right.
Of course, I don't--
You're the best wingman I've ever had.
I mean, yeah.
You, too.
And you're my best friend.
I mean--
I am?
Yeah.
Because you are mine, too.
I worry about a wrench being thrown
into those very delicate works.
A wrench in the works if us is us, that's--
It's hard enough to make decisions up there
And if we were to...
you know...
I'd feel like I need to protect you.
I don't need protecting.
I earned my wings, too.
So, see? You don't even have to worry about that.
[chuckles]
CAG: Firefly, Footloose,
aviator briefing at 1900 hours.
You wanna to protect me?
Let me finish upgrading the system for the briefing.
-Copy you. -See you in there.
VACHS: Hello, Yuri. This is Artemis.
Listen, it doesn't matter.
I need something.
Hello?
Yuri? Shit.
[exhales]
Hello, Lieutenant Colonel Yuri Balakin's voicemail,
this is Artemis.
If you don't wanna talk to me,
I'll keep leaving an incriminating voicemail
on your state-issued phone
about how you've been selling secrets to the CIA.
And if you want to avoid dozens more of these messages,
call me back.
[phone ringing]
Yes.
Yes, I understand.
Look, we need to meet.
No, no, I'm not after intel.
I have it to share.
Look, hot stuff,
your superiors will be grateful.
Chernigov himself will be interested.
Gorky Park.
Near the sculpture garden.
Today at 11:00 a.m.
Then make the time.
I don't care.
11:00 a.m., be there.
Don't be followed.
As I'm sure you're all aware,
we're no longer on a test or a training mission.
A Russian aircraft carrier is on course
for the eastern seaboard of the United States.
We've been ordered to intercept.
Do we know what kind of air power they're packing?
We don't.
The Ushakov was only recently put into service,
apparently amid a great deal of secrecy.
Now, the most common Russian carrier aircraft is the SU-33,
a plane over which we have a definite advantage.
But we need to be alert 15 for the duration.
That means you're in your gear and ready at all times.
If that alarm goes, I need you inside
the air in 15 minutes, is that understood?
-Yes, sir. -Good.
We'll keep a full squadron of F/A-18s fueled and ready.
I need you fueled and ready to fly them.
Understood?
What about the F/A-Xs?
You have a question, Footloose?
We've got half a dozen of the best fighter jets ever built
just sitting down in the hangar.
If we have to go up against the Russians,
shouldn't we bring our best?
The F/A-X is a wondrous aircraft, Lieutenant,
but it's classified as experimental.
It's not permitted in frontline operations.
What about in a support role, sir?
Support role?
For example, a combat air patrol.
That's a support role.
Whereby you could easily keep a few F/A-Xs ready
and in the air at all times.
You know, I seem to recall
that a certain pilot rated for the F/A-X
is up on combat air patrol following this briefing.
I believe that's correct, sir.
Maybe that pilot ought to take up an F/A-X.
Just to keep it in practice.
Work the cobwebs out.
It's a good idea, sir.
-Sir? -Yes, Firefly?
I'd like to volunteer to fly on that CAP.
That all right with you, Footloose?
Wouldn't mind the company.
You need to find out the status of the carrier Ushakov.
Proceeding on course.
Distance to Washington D.C.?
Seventeen hundred kilometers.
Within striking range of our planes.
Get them in the air!
We must hit the Americans now, in the next few hours.
Before their shock wears off and NATO rouses itself.
We'll attack the U.S. capital
with our air fleet
and cut the head of Yankee snake
for all the world to see.
There is U.S. vessel on course to intercept Ushakov.
An aircraft carrier, the John F. Kennedy.
Time to intercept?
Two hours, give or take.
More than enough time to get our planes aloft.
We can't just leave U.S. carrier there,
poised to attack our own at any time.
Give order to our air wing to launch at once.
Destroy the American carrier
and then proceed at maximum speed
to Washington D.C.
Da.
FOOTLOOSE: You see something out there?
FIREFLY: Not sure what that is.
CAP to Eagle's Perch,
bogeys incoming from the east at angels ten.
FIREFLY: Eagle's Perch, bogeys are definitely aircraft.
[siren blaring]
Go! Go, go, go, go!
Go, go, go! Let's get those planes in the air!
If you're rated for the F/A-X, I want you onto one!
If we're under attack,
I'm personally authorizing their use!
CAG: CAG to the CAP.
CAP, closing to intercept bogeys.
Bandits, bandits, appear to be Russian!
I lost him!
Bandits are impossible to target.
FIREFLY: We're getting our asses handed to us.
FOOTLOOSE: Stay in the fight.
Think I'm getting an idea of what it was that took down Zach.
FIREFLY: Enemy bandits are making a run for the JFK.
Eagle's Perch, do you copy?
Understood.
The JFK is under attack.
It's an aerial assault of about a dozen planes.
-Russian? -Without a doubt.
They're most likely sixth generation,
which means they're not giving off any radar signature.
They're invisible.
What's the status of the JFK?
It's hard to determine while they're still under attack.
United States hasn't been under attack like this
in 80 years. This is war.
Sir, I recommend
raising our Defense Condition to DEFCON Two.
Can Congress take a vote?
I'd like a formal declaration.
They ought to be able to agree on that.
If we're gonna send the United States to war,
I want it done correctly.
In accordance with the Constitution.
Mr. President, under the circumstances,
I strongly recommend moving the Vice President
to a different location.
-I concur. -No.
The American carrier's flight deck has been destroyed.
Superb! Withdraw.
I would not advise that yet.
Some American planes are still in the air
and could pose a threat.
Withdraw, withdraw.
If the carrier is neutralized,
let's not more risk to lose our force.
Order our planes to disengage from their attack.
Have them proceed at top speed
toward their primary target:
the capital of the United States.
Washington D.C.
Da, sir.
FIREFLY: My bandit broke off and is bugging out, due west.
FOOTLOOSE: Mine, too.
We need to follow them.
CAG: Our orders are to defend the boat.
FOOTLOOSE: The boat's a burning wreck!
The Russians have no radar signature.
They're ghosts, we lose visual, they're gone.
Somebody needs to keep eyes on them.
And that somebody is us.
CAG: Footloose, adjust course and return to the JFK.
Right now, Lieutenant.
FIREFLY: Might as well come.
There's no place to land out there anymore.
Don't want to ditch in the middle of the ocean.
CAG: God damn it!
FIREFLY: Bandits just out of range.
Moving at plus-Mach two and accelerating.
FOOTLOOSE: I'm gonna have to burn.
Best speed.
FIREFLY: Passing Mach one!
CAG: Having flight control issues.
FIREFLY: Passing Mach two!
CAG: External temperature is 3,000 degrees and climbing.
FOOTLOOSE: Then we keep pushing!
CAG: Four thousand degrees.
[taser zapping]
We're tracking three F/A-Xs off the JFK
moving westbound at Mach three.
-Mach three? -Yep.
They're headed directly towards Washington D.C.
If they were headed for land, they'd head for Newfoundland.
But if they're making Mach three, then...
-something's going on. -Like what?
They're in pursuit of the Russian jets.
I've got negative radar contact.
No, no, no, the Russians have achieved invisibility.
We can't depend on radar contact anymore.
A Russian air attack on Washington may be imminent.
Order an immediate evacuation in the city.
Let's get as many people as we can out of harm's way.
Sir, all due respect, but we should be focusing
on defense, not evacuation.
I refuse to be the cause of unnecessary American deaths.
Evacuate the city.
-Sir, I must... -No, no, no, no, no, no, no.
Evacuate the civilian population.
Get the Metro Police and fire on it.
But we need to put up air defense now.
Scramble every fighter out of Bolling and Andrews.
[knocking on desk] All right, let's do that.
FIREFLY: We have to make contact with the Navy or any military.
I've got important information that we need to pass on.
FOOTLOOSE: What do you got?
FIREFLY: I've run every kind of scan on the Russian planes
that the F/A-X sensor array is capable of.
I know how they're communicating,
-sending and receiving data. -Your point?
Their system is satellite-based and therefore super vulnerable.
I need a couple more minutes of computing time,
but I almost have their comm satellite's
coordinates triangulated.
Once I have that, we can take a shot at it.
We need to pass this on.
JFK air group calling any friendlies, copy?
-Mr. President. -Yes?
Our air group is being pursued.
By who, and flying what?
Three American aircraft.
-They're able to keep up? -They are.
They are maintaining a stabilized Mach 3.2.
Okay.
Order one of our planes to fall back and intercept.
Should we not have the entire air group intercept?
The risk to a single plane would be...
[laughing] There is no risk.
Our SU-57 is objectively superior.
One plane is more than match for three Americans.
Keep the rest of our air group on course and on mission.
Yes, sir.
FOOTLOOSE: Bandit falling back from 12 o'clock.
CAG: Everybody get set.
FIREFLY: Just need another minute on these calculations.
FOOTLOOSE: Oh, man, he's getting right behind us.
FIREFLY: Almost there.
FOOTLOOSE: Pull up, Cag, pull up!
[Cag screaming]
-[beeping] -FIREFLY: Got it!
I have the satellite coordinates.
FOOTLOOSE: Gotcha.
All right! Firefly, you good?
I am. Thanks.
Mr. President.
Are the American planes destroyed?
One American plane was destroyed,
along with our attacking plane.
This is exactly what I wish to avoid!
The entire air group should intercept
the remaining two American planes to ensure--
No! I will not have our force
further diminished before they even reach their target.
Let Americans nip at our heels if they like.
We and our pilots have a grander destiny to fulfill.
Alexander Chernigov,
director of the FSB Domestic Security Service.
[scoffs] And you are...
Veronica Alicia Vachs,
CIA case officer operating
under codename Artemis.
I have intelligence to share.
Our countries are at war.
Why would I believe anything you say?
I have proof of a plot against the Russian state.
A plot by who?
Aleksandr Borovsk.
Aleksandr Borovsk is the president.
My commander.
According to my sources,
he was and still is your hated archrival.
Vasiliev's assassination was a coup engineered by Borovsk.
I can show you the proof.
Do you know the sentence in Russia
for possessing stolen classified material?
Death.
I'm an employee of the U.S. State Department.
I have diplomatic immunity.
Nobody knows you're here. You have no rights.
Borovsk murdered your president, took you to war.
He who has taken power, he holds all the cards.
Borovsk wields the might of Russian states.
You wield the FSB.
At Borovsk's pleasure.
You have the power
and the resources to bring him down.
To stand against him in wartime would be suicide.
Borovsk means to have you killed.
Why do you say that?
Take a look at your pocket.
Just look at it.
Do you really think Borovsk's plot stops at Vasiliev?
He wants to secure absolute power.
He won't let the state security apparatus
be controlled by his hated archival.
You may not be his last victim, but you're certainly his next.
If that's all true...
there is nothing you can do for me.
The U.S. will support whoever removes Borovsk.
Support how?
With weapons and money,
advisors, diplomatic concessions.
You have no authority to offer such things.
I can. I do.
I have the ear of the American vice president.
I answer directly to him.
-To Richard Thomas? -Yes, that's right.
What if a coup such as you propose should fail?
What assurances would be granted?
What assurances are required?
Self-extraction and asylum
were a coup against Borovsk to launch and not prevail.
That can be arranged.
I give you my word.
If I have so much an inkling you're bluffing me...
your bones shall be interred
in the Russian soil.
So, do we have a deal?
THOMAS: Executive Two calling Footloose.
Executive Two? Former call sign Defender?
Yes, is this Footloose?
It is. Good to hear your voice.
What's your situation?
Pursuing a dozen unfriendlies at plus-Mach three
on direct heading to Washington, D.C.
Can you describe the unfriendlies?
These are sixth generation at least.
They're fast, radar invisible,
and they move like nothing I've ever seen born on wings.
I think we found out exactly what took down Zach.
I have information that might help.
Who is that?
Call sign Firefly, sir. Who are you?
Executive One, airman.
Oh.
-It's an honor, sir. -Please continue.
The Russians are employing
free-space optical communications.
What is that?
Every Russian plane receives sensor data
from every other Russian plane,
probably navigational data as well,
all beamed through laser bursts from a satellite link.
Our engineers considered something similar
for the F/A-X program, but they decided against it
because it had a glaring vulnerability.
All data runs through a satellite.
And satellites can be taken out.
I've triangulated the Russian comm satellite's coordinates
from its laser bursts to and from the Russian planes.
I'm transmitting those coordinates to you now.
Destroy that satellite, you'll take out their comms.
Probably their sensors and targeting as well.
I mean, it won't take 'em out, but it'll shake 'em up.
We're standing by to receive those coordinates.
How's your fuel, Footloose?
Closer to bingo than I'd like, sir.
We've got about 30 minutes left in the air,
less if we need to fight,
which is pretty much guaranteed at this point.
Well, we're putting up an air defense
so you'll have some backup when you get here.
Grateful for the help.
We've received the satellite coordinates, sir.
Missile strikes on those coordinates, now.
Launch control, arrow on vector seven-three-eight-zero-niner.
[missile whooshing]
FIREFLY: The Russians blew right through our air defense.
FOOTLOOSE: We have to stop them now.
THOMAS: What's the status of the missile
we launched at the satellite?
STRICKLAND: Twenty-three seconds to impact.
THOMAS: Did we get it?
STRICKLAND: Negative. Target remains.
Mr. President, I must insist that we get you underground.
-I'm inclined to agree. -I am as well.
All right.
Defender and Zuess are en route.
I cut a deal with Chernigov.
We have his full cooperation.
I'm going in with an FSB assault team to get Borovsk.
THOMAS: When are you moving out?
Right now.
[explosion]
Mr. President! Mr. President!
-Sir. -Sir, are you okay, sir?
He's alive but he's unresponsive.
Jeremiah Stewart is incapacitated.
Let's get him up. Careful, careful.
Keep going.
We're gonna have to get you sworn in as president.
I'll bear witness.
-Minister Volkov. -Sir.
Show me how that work.
It's a nuclear briefcase.
Yes. Bring it.
Open it up and turn it on.
Of course, Mr. President.
Raise your right hand.
I, Richard Philip Thomas, do solemnly swear...
I, Richard Philip Thomas,
do solemnly swear...
...to faithfully execute the office
of the President of the United States...
...to faithfully execute the office
of the President of the United States...
...and will to the best of my ability...
...and I will
to the best of my ability...
...protect, preserve, and defend
the Constitution of the United States.
...protect, preserve,
and defend the Constitution of the United States.
So help me God.
Mr. President.
To arm launch control,
the Minister of Defense and the President,
must both enter their personal codes.
[beeps]
Please, enter yours.
Mr. President, is this really necessary?
I want to know that our national defenses are in readiness.
It's just... it would be dangerous.
We're at war. Danger is everywhere.
[dramatic music]
Now, the Minister of Defense and the President...
must both scan their left hands.
Please, Minister Volkov, place your hand on scanner.
I will not.
I must firmly insist.
And I steadfastly decline.
[gunshot]
Armed and ready.
I've got ten minutes' worth of fuel
Firefly, how about you?
Running on fumes.
[dramatic music]
Firefly, what are you doing?
Going after the satellite.
That's a terrible idea.
Most satellite missile defense
is based on long range attack.
If I can get in close, I can get a shot through.
These planes aren't designed to go into space.
Sure they are. Just aren't designed to come back.
Mr. President, the Russians have launched a nuclear attack.
Two thousand ballistic missiles are currently inbound
at supersonic speeds towards every major city.
Is this confirmed?
Satellites detected the launch plumes.
NORAD picked up the telemetry the moment the missiles went up.
It's confirmed.
How long?
Twenty-two minutes before the first missile detonates,
and counting.
Is there something we can do to stop it?
Sir, we have no missile defense in place
that can take them all out.
Maybe we get a few here and there, but 2,000?
Can the Russians call it back?
Sir, intel says that the Russians
may have implemented an experimental policy to where
all of their warheads contain a self-destruct
as insurance against poor command and control.
But I doubt Borovsk walks this back.
So we need to act.
Per the predetermined response to this scenario
under the Single Integrated Operational Plan,
I'm issuing orders for Major Attack Option A...
full retaliatory strike against every military base
and urban center in the Russian Federation.
Mr. President, we're at DEFCON One.
[dramatic music]
THOMAS: Borovsk has launched a nuclear strike.
I'm being told it can be recalled from there.
A fairly newly- implemented Russian policy
where missiles will self-destruct if a code is sent.
You've got to get to the launch controls.
GUARD: Intruders!
[gunfire]
Mr. President, enter your Gold Code.
- Sir? - Not yet.
Sir, SIOP dictates we have to respond.
You need to enter your codes.
I will not enter my goddamn codes.
Not now and not ever, if we can figure something out.
Launching our nukes will not stop Borovsk.
Sir, enter your Gold Code.
If anybody can hear me, I've got target lock on the satellite.
I'm taking the shot.
Damn it!
[dramatic music]
[gunfire]
VACHS: Drop it!
Tell me the codes.
No.
Tell me now.
No.
Tell me, or I will kill you right now.
I don't care, because my name shall be burned
immortal into the fabric of eternity. How about yours?
Sir, you need to enter your code.
I will not be responsible for billions of deaths.
Sir, you swore an oath.
Sir, think about your family.
This could save them. Enter your code.
Key to launch.
[suspenseful music]
Sir, to launch, we enter our keys,
turn them to the right simultaneously.
Shit.
[telephone ringing]
-Hello? -It's Vachs.
Is the mission a success?
Borovsk launched a nuclear strike
on the United States. I need you to give me
- the abort codes. - I can't just give you
Russian nuclear codes.
You have to, now.
You are CIA. I'm not going to.
Look, everyone dies if you don't stop this now.
Give me the goddamn codes right now.
Do you hear me?
Fine, I'll read you the code. Hold on.
-Are you ready? -Yes. Go.
Enter five...
five...
seven... six.
Five-five-seven-six--
-[line disconnected] -What? Hello?
-Hello? -Hello?
It's time to launch while we're still able.
This is madness.
It's our responsibility.
It's our only course of action.
Would you see America's throat cut
and her murderer walk away?
This isn't justice. It's just vengeful genocide.
Full retaliation has been established military policy
for decades, Mr. President.
It's in the oath of office you just swore.
All right. All right, enough.
[phone ringing]
-Vachs? -Yes.
Five-five-seven-six what?
Five-five-seven-six-four.
Now, 57427.
-Codes entered. -Hit execute.
[booming]
[sighs]
-[phone ringing] -Agent Miller.
Hey, Mr. President, wait! Don't launch.
All the Russian missiles are self-destructing over the ocean.
-All of them? -Yes, all of them.
[sighs]
FIREFLY: Come around again.
[phone ringing]
-Yes. -VACHS: Borovsk is dead.
-You have confirmation? - I'm in the middle of it.
Chernigov has the nuclear codes
and is taking control of the Russian government.
Well, tell them to hurry.
We're still on the air attack and taking casualties.
-Mr. President. -Yes?
There's another Russian missile incoming.
How is that possible?
The Russian arsenal is old,
and their tech is prone to glitch.
-Where's it headed? -Right here.
Washington, D.C.
[sighs] Time to impact?
Three minutes, maybe less.
I have to call you back.
-Two minutes. -It's one missile.
Don't we have some kind of surface-to-air defense?
Not a projectile moving that fast. No.
[sighs] Are we still on the line to Footloose?
If he's still in the air.
Executive One to Footloose, you copy?
-Go for Footloose. -There's a nuclear warhead
incoming from the north.
FOOTLOOSE: Jesus. Of course.
We need you to acquire it,
close on it at the best possible speed,
and destroy it.
You sure I'm your best shot?
The F/A-X sensor array is the most advanced
targeting hardware we've got.
It's our only chance.
Copy that.
Mr. President,
he's closing on the missile's trajectory.
I've got it. Vectoring to target.
Plus-Mach one and accelerating!
Russian warhead approaching.
Almost have it.
I've got target lock.
-Damn it! -Footloose, are you all right?
I'm under attack.
Footloose, talk to me.
FOOTLOOSE: She did it! They've lost comms!
For Zach, dick.
Whoo!
Footloose, are you all right?
Yes, sir, I am.
Re-acquiring the missile.
All right, he's back on the pursuit course.
I've got target lock.
Missile in flight and closing in
- on Russian warhead. - Come on, Footloose.
FOOTLOOSE: Come on, come on, come on.
-I got it! -Yes! Yes!
[phone ringing]
This is President Chernigov of the Russian Federation.
President Chernigov, it is a pleasure to hear your voice.
I offer an unconditional ceasefire,
effective immediately.
The United States gladly accepts.
Is President Stewart... all right?
We're still standing by.
You and he have conducted more reasoned restraint
than I would have foreseen.
I thank you.
And I hope, despite deeply unfortunate events of late,
we may continue the work begun at Washington summit.
That is my hope as well.
Please, tell President Stewart
that I wish him swift recovery.
Actually, sir, you may be able to tell him yourself.
One moment, Mr. President.
I don't know. You look the part.
I have Russian President Chernigov on the line.
We have a ceasefire, sir.
Yes. President Stewart here.
Yeah, the Vice President informed me just now.
We thank you, and we accept.
Good. I'll talk to you soon, Mr. President.
Are you back, sir?
I am.
The doctors have signed off.
I'm told you steered us through some choppy surf.
Did the best I could, sir.
And how'd you like it?
I'm glad you're back, Mr. President.
Mm-hm. Thank you.
-Hello. -Hey.
Everything okay?
It is now, I think.
[chuckling] How are you?
I'm just cleaning up.
Headed back to the embassy to do a debrief soon.
I appreciated having someone I could trust on the ground.
I'm grateful I had you to call.
You ever get back to D.C.?
I'm in Langley, when I'm back in the country.
Should be more, now that my cover's blown.
Give me a call when you get back.
Be nice to see your face.
All right.
I'm so glad to see you.
But I, but I thought...
Me too.
[heroic music]