While patrolling the Mediterranean near Yugoslavia and against the orders of Harm, his division commander, Lt. Buxton fires on what he believes is a Serbian armored car about to attack Kosovar refugees. As Buxton and his pals are celebrating his victory back aboard the aircraft carrier, however, the grave news arrives: those ""Serbs"" Buxton attacked and killed were, in fact, Russian peacekeepers, and Buxton made the mistake while under Harm's command.

Mac prosecutes what appears to be an open-and-shut case of a Marine weapons expert accused of reckless endangerment.

Unexpectedly, the wily Buxton demands that Harm and Brumby be his lawyers, thereby preventing Harm from testifying against him and forcing the two adversarial lawyers to work together. The contentious trial continues with Mac and Roberts prosecuting, and the pressure is enormous as the U.S. Navy and the Russian government vigilantly follow the trial to ensure that its own agendas are met. Meanwhile, the Navy has its own special plans for the troublesome Buxton.

Harms fitness report is coming up and the realization that maybe it really is too late to be a fighter pilot.

During a dangerous mission over hostile Serbian territory, Harm's wingman's plane is shot up and Harm performs top-gun maneuvers to keep the disabled plane aloft until it's over friendly territory.

Meanwhile, with a new Gunny in the office, Bud & Tiner fall over themselves as they compete against each other in an online auction to purchase tickets to a concert, in order to impress the Admiral. They end up looking foolish when it is discovered that the Gunny got the same tickets for free.

Lt. Elizabeth ""Skates"" Hawkes, Harm's former RIO (radio intercept officer), comes under fire after the crash landing of a Tomcat aboard the USS Patrick Henry. The ship's captain and Skates' commanding officer both place the entire blame of the crash on her shoulders and press for her court-martial.

Barred from the initial investigation because of his relationship with Skates, Harm is finally able to help when he's called upon to defend his friend at her court-martial and employs all of his legal skills to save her military career.