JAG s01e19 Episode Script
Recovery
Recovery One.
This is control.
Initiate A.
P.
U.
Pre-start procedure.
Over.
Roger.
Recovery One.
Power A.
P.
U.
's now.
A.
P.
U.
, fuel tank valves open.
Roger.
Fuel tanks open.
Run A.
P.
U.
Control one.
Roger.
A.
P.
U.
One, start.
T-minus two minutes.
All systems go.
H2 is pressurising.
Go for launch.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
You are looking good and are go for launch.
Over.
Roger.
Go for launch.
Do you ever wonder what it's like sitting on top of six million pounds of thrust? Reading seal failure in E.
T.
Liquid hydrogen leak imminent.
Abort launch.
Recovery One.
You have external tank failure.
Abort immediately.
I repeat, abort immediately.
Over.
Roger.
Aborting.
Out.
All right, everyone.
Let's move.
Basket two, away.
Thirty seconds till tank rupture.
Basket two recovered.
Basket one, away.
Basket one recovered.
Mission specialist on ground.
- What's he waiting for? - His shuttle commander.
Go! Go! Go! No! Oh, my God! Double check the control panel, all right? Okay.
Do you fly like that every time you go up, sir, or were you just showing off? - Your first time supersonic, Lieutenant? - No, sir.
- Just my first time with a lawyer.
- How do I rate? I could have done without the snap rolls.
I had to leave an impression.
And you could have used a little more runway.
You want long roll-outs, fly the Air Force.
Careful, Harm.
We're in their territory.
There are a lot of friendlies around here, Meg.
The space programme likes Navy pilots.
We make their best astronauts.
Right.
I think I read that somewhere in Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
All I need to say is the first American in outer space was not an Air Force jock.
They put up a man who knew how to make a trap.
Then why was the first man in orbit a Marine? I didn't know the Navy had such a budget surplus.
They transport their JAG officers in jet fighters.
Our admiral told us to get here asap, sir.
You take a joy ride back and tell him we've got it under control.
Can't do that.
Lieutenant Commander Atkins was Navy, sir.
Assigned to the military space agency.
I understand that, Colonel, but investigating his death still lies within our jurisdiction.
We try to avoid politics, Commander.
That's why we use Vandenberg to launch military missions.
- Sir.
- Understood, sir.
But I have my orders.
All I can tell you, Commander, is that Atkins fell to his death during an emergency evacuation drill when the cable failed.
We adjusted the capture bar.
- It was an alignment problem.
- Good.
Have you concluded why the cable failed, sir? Not yet.
Mr Gallant is analysing that.
Which reminds me, I need to check on the stress test results.
And I am on an accelerated schedule, so if you'll excuse me, I have a launch in 48 hours.
You're going ahead with the launch, sir? It must be an awfully important mission.
Need to know, Commander.
The backup pilot passed his physical, sir.
Good.
Let him know.
He's on.
Any further questions, you can direct to my assistant, Captain Tang.
- Sir.
- Lieutenant.
Looks like I get to deliver some good news for a change.
- Where are they? - Simulator on final approach.
Initiate pre-flare.
Roger.
Adjusting glide slope.
Looking good.
- That's a steep approach.
- Well, it starts at 19 degrees.
About six times steeper than commercial aircraft.
And there are no pull-ups.
It's a 200,000 pound glider.
- We call it "The flying" - "The flying brick.
" Yes, sir.
I'd like to go up to the launch structure, take a look at the egress system.
Yes, sir.
I'll try to arrange something for this afternoon.
Recovery One.
Gear down.
Over.
Gear down and locked.
Over.
- I know that voice.
- He's good.
On course and speed.
He must feel like a backup quarterback called into the Super Bowl.
You train all season, but you never expect to play.
Recovery One, main gear at 10 feet.
Then suddenly, it's, "Okay, Lowrey, you're up.
"Pull it out for us.
" Lieutenant Commander Mark Lowrey.
Yes, sir.
You know him? Two feet, one, touchdown.
Perfect.
I guess you're right.
Navy does make the best astronauts.
Excuse me, sir.
You've passed your physical.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Commander? Lieutenant Rabb.
What are you doing here? Actually, it's Lieutenant Commander.
- So it is.
Congratulations.
- Thanks, you, too.
Sorry, it couldn't be under better circumstances.
So you're still flapping your wings? Or did she fly you in? No, I manage all right on my own.
So, how's JAG? - It keeps me busy.
- I bet.
All those legal briefs to file.
You have to excuse me.
I've got a mission to prep for.
Certainly.
- What was that about? - What? Come on, Harm, I know a cockfight when I see one.
He was in my first Tomcat squadron.
What did he do? Out-fly you? - Never.
- Sensitive.
He was a hotshot.
Cocky, aggressive, hyper-competitive.
Kind of like you? Sir? Why would MSA let him fly the shuttle? Maybe 'cause he's good at it.
Gee.
Thanks.
Looks a lot bigger in person, doesn't it? Who would have ever thought we'd be this close to it? Speak for yourself, Lieutenant.
July 20, 1969.
The Apollo moon landing? I watched it with my mom.
I remember seeing Armstrong roaming around up there, wondering if he stopped right then and looked up at the Earth, he'd see me and my dad in Vietnam at the same time.
I'll bet there were a lot of future astronauts recruited that night.
Yeah, I'll bet there were.
- What do you remember about it? - Nothing.
I was a baby.
Lieutenant Commander Rabb, Lieutenant Austin, this is our mission shuttle commander, Major Russell.
Major.
He was the closest man to Atkins when the cable broke.
Thanks for your time, Major.
I hope we're not taking too much of it.
Not at all.
It's a pretty straightforward system.
Steel baskets connected to the slide wire.
The astronauts jump in, release the brake, slide to the entrance of underground bunkers at the landing zone.
When did you know Commander Atkins was in trouble? I didn't.
I was late coming out of the hatch.
Atkins waited until he saw me before he started down.
I was at my basket when I heard this snap.
When I looked up, he was already falling.
Did the cable show signs of strain before? It was brand new.
They put it up right after the Blue Team's run-through that morning.
- Just this one? - Apparently, it was frayed at one end.
Who noticed it? I believe it was Lieutenant Commander Lowrey.
Mission specialist one away.
Mission specialist two reaches the basket.
Number two away.
Commander Atkins waits for the Major.
He sees him.
Major orders him to go.
Atkins hops in the basket.
It's not as high-profile as the Challenger accident, but the end result is the same.
- An astronaut dies.
- Doesn't look real somehow.
You've been watching too many action movies.
They shoot those things from eight different angles, repeat the action, play it back in slow-mo.
Cut to people's reactions.
And an accident like this in real life happens You think he realised what was happening? - Play it back at quarter speed.
- Yes, sir.
It's ironic, actually.
Billions in dollars we spend on systems needed for manned space flight, and we lose an astronaut because of a faulty piece of cable.
Here you go, sir.
Stop.
Go back.
Wait there.
Can you click between this frame and the one before it? I assumed that it broke at one end.
What would cause it to snap in the middle like that? I must admit I was somewhat baffled at first.
I couldn't imagine what would cause it to break so cleanly right in the middle.
Until I noticed this small circular pattern along the break in the sheath that surrounds the cable.
- Where? - It's right there.
There may have been a tiny hole there before the break.
- What does that mean? - Not a lot by itself.
But it made me go back and check the cable at each end of the break for vapourised steel deposits.
Just like that.
You're saying the cable was cut by a laser? Not just cut.
They hollowed it out by carefully rotating it.
The outside looked normal, except for the very tiny hole.
- It was sabotaged.
- Clever sabotage.
There was just enough mass left around the perimeter of the hole to support the basket during the test runs.
Add the weight of an astronaut, and, snap! Yeah, it was frayed near the top.
Nothing major, but I thought I should tell somebody.
I mean, I didn't know the replacement cable would be defective.
More like sabotaged.
The cable was rigged to break.
- Atkins was murdered.
- By who? I don't know.
Who would have the most to gain? Wait a minute.
I don't think I like where you're going with this.
Look, this is awkward, because you and I don't get along.
But right now, it doesn't look too good for you.
Hey, look.
I want my chance just as much as the next guy, - but I wouldn't kill for it.
- I hope not.
But I'm afraid I'm gonna have to have you pulled from this mission until we know for sure.
You do that, and you'll just about guarantee that I never get another chance.
Sorry.
It's not personal.
- The hell it isn't.
- Hey! You think this is a game? We're not nuggets on our first mission.
I know what's at stake! Yeah, my career! Don't come after mine just 'cause you flushed yours down the toilet.
I'd stop it right there, Commander.
Why? Let's be honest.
You got your ticket pulled, and you can't handle seeing me with a chance to walk in space.
- That's your dream, not mine.
- Yeah, right! What do you think, Meg? You think I'm making this personal? What are you gonna do? Justify your feelings by protecting him? - Yeah, but do I have to take him down? - Harm, you don't have a choice.
Out of the question.
We need Lowrey.
He's the only other pilot we have trained for this mission.
I beg your pardon, Colonel, but wouldn't prudence suggest delaying the mission entirely, sir? We're going to launch on schedule, Commander.
It's not open for debate.
Sir, it's my duty to summon a board of inquiry in which case the Navy will simply not allow Commander Lowrey on that spaceship.
Shut the door, Captain.
I can't let you do that, Commander.
And the boys upstairs won't let you.
The mission is that critical, sir? Captain.
Until recently, the U.
S.
Was monitoring Eastern China and the Asian Pacific with a recon satellite in a geosynchronous orbit, giving us real-time images of the region.
Twenty-six days ago, we lost all contact with it.
They think the power cells failed.
Aren't there other satellites that can pick up the coverage? Only intermittently.
We're blind over 90% of the time.
That's not a very good percentage given China's recent show of force.
You don't have a replacement satellite, sir? Launched two weeks ago on a Titan rocket.
Unfortunately, the third stage booster failed, never made it to proper orbit.
We've got to go up and fix it.
We had to change Recovery One's mission profile, and push up the launch.
That's why all the last-minute training.
Lowrey will perform the capture procedure.
The second satellite could fall out of orbit and burn up if we don't retrieve it within the next three to four days.
Which means I have a day and a half to launch.
Then that gives us 36 hours to determine exactly what happened, sir.
Very well, Commander.
Dismissed.
Aye, sir.
Excuse me, sir.
What was Recovery One's original mission profile? High-energy light experiments.
You mean testing lasers, sir? Were all astronauts trained on lasers? Of course.
Both crews.
Did they include the type you used in your demonstration? Yeah.
Why? You suspect an astronaut? No, we're just covering all possibilities.
Where are the lasers kept when they're not in use? In the training facility.
So astronauts have unrestricted access? Of course.
Sir? I checked the security system to the storage facility where the cable was housed.
Apparently Lieutenant Commander Lowrey's access card was used to gain entrance at 2307 hours, the night before the accident.
He reported his card missing the next morning.
- He said he lost it? - No.
He thought it was stolen.
I think it's time we had a talk with him again.
It will have to wait, sir.
He's scheduled for a last-minute practice landing in the S.
T.
A.
At 0730.
S.
T.
A? Shuttle training aircraft.
It's a G2 rigged to fly like the shuttle.
- Which runway? - 1-5.
I think we're good.
Morning, Rabb, Lieutenant.
What are you doing here so early? I thought lawyers kept bankers' hours.
You'll have to postpone your flight.
You and I need to have a little chat.
As much as I'd like to do that, I'm on a strict schedule.
As far as I know, I'm still on this mission.
I'm supposed to finish this run and then head back to the pre-launch holding area.
You still may not be going anywhere! - Are you relaying an order? - Not yet.
If you want to talk to me, you either head back to the holding area or you take a ride.
It's your choice.
But I have to warn you, it gets a little rough.
We drop at 250 feet per second.
- No problem.
- Great.
Sir, we're balanced for two.
That's all right, Captain.
You take a break.
- My pal here will help me out.
- Are you serious, sir? Yeah.
You heard what he said.
We have to have a talk.
Yes, sir.
But he's not trained on this aircraft.
Don't you worry about it.
He's the best damn pilot in JAG.
All right.
It's your call, sir.
You'll have to do the honours on the way up, Rabb.
It's not my show till we head down.
Looks like you get a break, too, Lieutenant.
Harm, I thought you were trying to keep this from being personal.
I'll see you back in the launch room.
- Bring her round to 250.
- Roger.
250.
You must be clocking a lot of flight time.
I get my share.
So what's on your mind? You neglected to tell me you trained on lasers for your original mission.
- Me and seven other astronauts.
- Yeah, but you're the only astronaut whose stolen access card was used to enter the storage facility that housed the sabotaged cable - Excuse me? the night before Atkins was killed.
Somebody must be trying to set me up.
- And who would that be? - I don't know.
Maybe someone who doesn't want to see the mission go.
I'm finding this very hard to believe.
We both know why.
Look, Mark, regardless of what you might think, I really do want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but things just keep pointing in your direction.
Harm, you know better than anybody how tough it is to give up a career as a naval aviator.
You did because you had to.
But when I did, I took a big risk.
But I thought it was worth it to get a shot at outer space.
And after five years, it was looking like I might actually go.
Now, you think that I'm gonna throw that away by killing my fellow astronaut just to jump to the head of the line? I don't think so.
The truth is, it's out of my hands.
You'll probably fly that mission.
And I'm gonna believe you.
If that turns out to be a mistake, there'll be a squad of MP's waiting at Edwards when you land that thing.
Fair enough.
You ready to rock 'n' roll? It feels perverted to rig an aerodynamic bird like this to fly like an anvil.
One of the wonders of modern aerospace.
After the flare, I'll return control and you take her around.
Sounds like a plan.
Vandenberg tower, this is 946.
Ready to descend, over.
Roger, 946.
Clear for approach.
See you in three minutes.
Get ready to release her.
Simulator engaged.
- She's all mine.
- You've got her.
Main landing gear down.
Auto-throttle, engaged.
And reverse thrust, on.
Auto-flight and ADAS, engaged.
Away we go.
You can't make this thing dive any steeper? Don't tempt me.
What the hell? I just lost control! - Your bird, Commander.
- What? Your bird! My side's down! She's heavy! She won't be as soon as I get her out of shuttle mode.
Setting down reverse thrusters.
- She's still heavy.
- The reverse thrusters are stuck open! The whole system's frozen.
- I can't pull her out! - We got to jump.
No time for that.
Hit the fuel shut-off valve.
- You're gonna dead stick it? - You can jump if you want.
Fuel valve off.
That's better.
Better call in an emergency.
Vandenberg tower.
946.
Declaring an emergency.
We have no power.
I repeat, we have no power.
Roger, 946.
Emergency vehicles are rolling.
- Runway dead ahead.
- I love your choice of words.
We're on a tricycle-geared bird, Harm.
- Nose gear down, please! - Nose gear, still in the red.
Everything's on shuttle mode.
- Manual release? - It's on your starboard side.
Grab the yoke, Mark.
- You got it? - I got it.
You know, on a scale from one to 10, I gave you a three.
- That high? - Yeah.
Colonel, everything froze.
It had to be a software problem.
I want every computer system on that aircraft picked apart asap.
They're already on it, sir.
Whatever it was, it was meant to look like another accident.
We'll see, Commander.
Sir, it's pretty clear, whoever killed Lieutenant Commander Atkins wanted to scrub this mission by killing the pilot and framing the only man who could take his place.
When that didn't work, they tried to take him out, too.
Six hours ago, you thought Commander Lowrey killed Atkins.
Yes, sir.
I considered that a possibility, but I was wrong.
So who is it this time? - Who would want to scrub this launch? - China would benefit from the satellite going unreplaced for as long as possible.
They'd have to have someone inside.
- This is getting a little far-fetched.
- Why? Space technology is a primary defence element, sir.
It's not unreasonable to assume that a foreign power could have an agent in place.
So what are we gonna do? What do you mean, "What are we gonna do?" You're going to get some rest, Commander.
You're less than 12 hours away from the start of a six-day mission.
Colonel, someone has killed one of your astronauts.
They tried a second time with us.
With respect, sir, you can't launch until we find out who's behind this.
Commander, I appreciate your concern, but this is not your concern.
That shuttle will be checked and rechecked before lift-off.
It's under strict security, the President himself will be apprised.
The launch is his call.
Then, sir, I'm going to formally recommend he stand down this mission.
You do what you have to do, but I don't think it will affect his decision.
The President gave the go.
Not without some assurances, I imagine.
Anything from JAG? FBI did extensive background checks on everyone with any kind of clearance.
No red flags.
- Anything on the S.
T.
A? - Not yet.
You nervous? I don't get nervous.
Mark, I owe you an apology.
You had a lot to worry about prepping for a mission at the last minute without me lobbing accusations at you.
You were just doing your job, Harm.
I shouldn't have said anything about your ticket being pulled.
I know it wasn't your fault.
Go for it, brother, you deserve it.
I know.
- You're right.
He is cocky.
- In his line of work, you have to be.
Are you sure you don't want to watch from outside? If you're going to view it from the video feed, you might as well watch CNN.
- I'd rather be in launch control.
- Harm, it's out of our hands.
They wouldn't be launching if it wasn't safe.
Ground crew to staging area "A.
" Colonel Fisher might be right.
We are assuming Atkins' murder was an attempt to scrub the mission.
There's no other explanation for someone trying to frame Lowrey.
How would someone know we'd even suspect murder? If Gallant hadn't determined the cable was cut by a laser, we never would have suspected Lowrey.
- Where's Gallant now? - Must be in launch control.
That means his lab is free.
If he sabotaged the S.
T.
A.
, he'd have had to have written a programme, right? Are you asking me to break into his computer? I knew you'd volunteer.
Internal systems check completed.
Over.
Control to Recovery One.
All systems look good.
You are T-minus 10 minutes.
Over.
Roger, Control.
T-minus 10.
Less than 10 minutes.
How's it coming? We're almost there.
I'm in.
Crew access log retrieving.
Control.
This is Recovery One.
- Event timer started.
Over.
- Roger, Recovery One.
This is interesting.
What? Nothing on the S.
T.
A.
, but Gallant continued to work for the Air Force as a civilian contractor since S.
D.
I.
Was scrapped.
They were supposed to fund a superconducting magnetic ion engine he conceived.
Thinks it's the key to interplanetary travel.
Let me guess.
It fell prey to defence cutbacks.
Every year for the past eight years.
That would definitely make him disgruntled.
It's the exact profile the Chinese would look for.
They'd scout someone on the inside who might be unhappy with the situation, but with the ability and the access to scrub the mission.
The question is, how far would he go? You think he'd sabotage the shuttle itself? Recovery One.
Initiating main engine gimbal.
Recovery One.
Main engine gimbal complete.
Over.
Roger.
- H2 looks good.
- T-minus, two minutes.
Go for launch.
Sorry, sir, ma'am.
No unauthorised personnel allowed Stand aside, Sergeant.
I need to talk to Colonel Fisher.
You will have to wait until after the launch, sir.
That may be too late.
A.
P.
U.
Is a go.
Switch to on-board computer.
Roger, switching to on-board computer.
I have to get in there.
The shuttle may be in danger.
Stand aside, Sergeant, now! 12, 11, 10, - Not now, Commander.
- Sir, there might be a problem.
- Not now! - 1, 0.
S.
R.
B.
Ignition.
The tower has been cleared.
Lift-off.
Instituting roll manoeuvre.
into heads-down position, start.
Roll manoeuvre complete.
You look good, Recovery One.
Roger, Control.
Main engines at 65%.
Over.
Roger that.
This is Recovery One.
Over and out.
Step away from your station, Mr Gallant.
- What's wrong? - Step away from your station.
In my office.
Now.
Recovery One, you've hit max q, over.
Roger, Control.
And out.
What the hell? Control, we have S.
R.
B.
Sep, over.
Roger, we see that.
What are you running from, Mr Gallant? What's the problem, sir? - Arrest this man, Sergeant.
- Yes, sir.
Recovery One.
Go for main engine cut-off.
Over.
MECO confirmed.
We're in orbit.
Congratulations, Recovery One.
Harm, I found traces of what might have been a crash programme in the erased sectors of his computer.
It had S.
T.
A.
Strings.
Is there any sign he did the same thing to the actual shuttle systems? I didn't see any.
What did he say, sir? - What do you think? He's innocent.
- Yeah.
That's why he ran.
Claims you frightened him.
He's a civilian, so I've got to call the FBI.
See what they want me to do with him.
Colonel, if he had access to the shuttle systems, it's still in danger.
I understand that, Commander.
But we're already up there.
This is a military mission and right now everything is going strictly by the numbers.
- May I have a crack at him, sir? - Be my guest.
I have a satellite to fix.
All systems go for satellite recovery.
Sorry about that.
Does it hurt? It looks like it hurts.
You're a smart man, Mr Gallant.
Really smart.
- Don't you think so, Lieutenant? - Yes, sir.
I mean, only a smart man like Mr Gallant could invent a, - what is it called? - Superconducting magnetic ion engine.
Exactly.
Now what I don't understand is how a smart, respected man like yourself could sell out his country.
- Is that how you'd put it, Lieutenant? - Something like that, sir.
- How much did they pay you? - Nobody paid me anything.
- Then why did you do it? - I want a lawyer.
You're in luck.
We're both lawyers.
I have rights.
I know I have rights.
Not with the national security of the United States, a billion dollar spacecraft, and four more lives in danger, you don't.
- Is it over? - What? Your string of sabotage.
Is something going to happen to the space shuttle? Almost there.
Okay, Mark.
Get suited up.
Looking good, Commander.
How are you feeling? Just groovy.
If something happens, the country will never forgive you.
I'm a visionary.
I have to look beyond the immediate future.
What do you mean? You may brand me a traitor, but history will credit me with exploration beyond our solar system.
You don't think the military's going to build your engine now, do you? They were never gonna build it.
There's no funding for anything that doesn't fit their short-term agenda.
Maybe they just knew it would never work.
It'll work.
You'll see.
See? How will we see? They promised to build your engine for you, didn't they? You really think the Chinese are going to honour that agreement? The United States isn't the only country interested in exploring the secrets of space, Commander.
I need another five or six degrees to the right.
You got it.
It was a lot easier in the simulator.
You know what I don't understand? You're an aerospace engineer.
How can you destroy the space shuttle? I never said I'd destroy it.
I gave my life to this programme! Then what are you planning to do? China just doesn't want the satellite fixed.
Maybe Mr Gallant found a way to prevent that without destroying the shuttle.
Just give me another degree to the right.
Lining up.
They can't fix it if they can't grab it, can they, Mr Gallant? - Colonel, he's got to stop.
- Why? If he attempts to grab that satellite, there'll be a major malfunction.
What kind of malfunction? I'll explain.
Just tell him to stop! Now, sir! Okay.
Almost have it.
Tell him to wait.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
Have Lieutenant Commander Lowrey stand by.
Repeat.
Hold on satellite capture.
Roger that, Control.
Mark, you need to hold on a second.
What? Control needs you to hold on satellite capture and stand by.
Standing by, Control.
Gallant made a deal with the Chinese government to prevent the recovery of the satellite, sir.
I think he may have sabotaged part of the capture mechanism days before the launch, as a backup plan.
Is there a problem anywhere, Mr Tang? No, sir.
Sir, do you remember when Lieutenant Austin and I first arrived? Gallant approached you and informed you he'd made repairs to the capture mechanism.
Yes.
He went out on to the launch pad to fix a calibration problem.
Or sabotage it, sir.
It's starting to drift.
I'm going to lose it.
Recovery One to Control.
What's the problem? Over.
Stand by, Recovery One.
- How would he sabotage it? - I don't know, sir.
It might be the locking device.
It's the logical choice.
He might have used it to set some kind of charge that would destroy the satellite.
Sir, he's in position now.
Tell him to move Lowrey away from the satellite and test the grappling trigger.
Sir? - You heard me, Captain.
- Yes, sir! Recovery One.
This is Control.
Turn Lieutenant Commander Lowrey away from the satellite for a test firing of the grappling trigger.
Roger that, Control.
Over.
Mark, we need to move you.
Control wants us to test fire the grappling trigger facing away from the satellite.
- Did they say why? - Control? Commander Lowrey is inquiring on the reason for that.
Over.
Stand by.
Recovery One.
What do I tell him, sir? It's an open channel.
Commander Rabb? Tell him the same person who modified the S.
T.
A.
Prepped the capture bar.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
Tell him Lieutenant Commander Rabb said the person who modified the S.
T.
A.
Also prepped the capture bar.
Over.
Roger that, Control.
Over.
Mark, you know the guy who's responsible for your S.
T.
A.
Problems? I hope not personally.
Lieutenant Commander Rabb thinks he may have done something to the capture bar.
Terrific.
Retracting grappling arm 15 degrees.
Over.
Okay.
I'm turning away from the satellite now.
Testing grappling trigger now.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
What's your status? What's your status, Recovery One? I think it may have been an explosive bolt.
Over.
What about Lieutenant Commander Lowrey? He's a little shaken, but he's all right.
He wants to know if Lieutenant Commander Rabb is there.
That's affirmative.
He says thanks for the tip, Commander.
Okay, people, we have no capture bar.
How the hell do we get that satellite back? Colonel, can't you just get a few more people out there and grab it, sir? Entering cargo bay.
I'm clear.
Tethers are locked on to work station.
It's not going to work from this angle.
You may be leaning too far.
Can you reach the low end? Negative.
We've got to find a way to stop that wobble.
Back up.
You have to back up.
Okay.
Okay.
We're in position.
All right.
On my count.
One, two, three.
We have it.
Good job.
Good job.
Okay, people.
Let's get down to the business of fixing it.
- Commander, thank you.
- Yes, sir.
Lieutenant, we'll take it from here.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
Roger, Control.
- Identify - Kind of pretty, isn't it? As pretty as the view catapulting off an aircraft carrier, sir? Yeah, in its own way, I guess.
You still have time, sir.
The first lawyer in space maybe? Maybe.
This is control.
Initiate A.
P.
U.
Pre-start procedure.
Over.
Roger.
Recovery One.
Power A.
P.
U.
's now.
A.
P.
U.
, fuel tank valves open.
Roger.
Fuel tanks open.
Run A.
P.
U.
Control one.
Roger.
A.
P.
U.
One, start.
T-minus two minutes.
All systems go.
H2 is pressurising.
Go for launch.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
You are looking good and are go for launch.
Over.
Roger.
Go for launch.
Do you ever wonder what it's like sitting on top of six million pounds of thrust? Reading seal failure in E.
T.
Liquid hydrogen leak imminent.
Abort launch.
Recovery One.
You have external tank failure.
Abort immediately.
I repeat, abort immediately.
Over.
Roger.
Aborting.
Out.
All right, everyone.
Let's move.
Basket two, away.
Thirty seconds till tank rupture.
Basket two recovered.
Basket one, away.
Basket one recovered.
Mission specialist on ground.
- What's he waiting for? - His shuttle commander.
Go! Go! Go! No! Oh, my God! Double check the control panel, all right? Okay.
Do you fly like that every time you go up, sir, or were you just showing off? - Your first time supersonic, Lieutenant? - No, sir.
- Just my first time with a lawyer.
- How do I rate? I could have done without the snap rolls.
I had to leave an impression.
And you could have used a little more runway.
You want long roll-outs, fly the Air Force.
Careful, Harm.
We're in their territory.
There are a lot of friendlies around here, Meg.
The space programme likes Navy pilots.
We make their best astronauts.
Right.
I think I read that somewhere in Kepler's laws of planetary motion.
All I need to say is the first American in outer space was not an Air Force jock.
They put up a man who knew how to make a trap.
Then why was the first man in orbit a Marine? I didn't know the Navy had such a budget surplus.
They transport their JAG officers in jet fighters.
Our admiral told us to get here asap, sir.
You take a joy ride back and tell him we've got it under control.
Can't do that.
Lieutenant Commander Atkins was Navy, sir.
Assigned to the military space agency.
I understand that, Colonel, but investigating his death still lies within our jurisdiction.
We try to avoid politics, Commander.
That's why we use Vandenberg to launch military missions.
- Sir.
- Understood, sir.
But I have my orders.
All I can tell you, Commander, is that Atkins fell to his death during an emergency evacuation drill when the cable failed.
We adjusted the capture bar.
- It was an alignment problem.
- Good.
Have you concluded why the cable failed, sir? Not yet.
Mr Gallant is analysing that.
Which reminds me, I need to check on the stress test results.
And I am on an accelerated schedule, so if you'll excuse me, I have a launch in 48 hours.
You're going ahead with the launch, sir? It must be an awfully important mission.
Need to know, Commander.
The backup pilot passed his physical, sir.
Good.
Let him know.
He's on.
Any further questions, you can direct to my assistant, Captain Tang.
- Sir.
- Lieutenant.
Looks like I get to deliver some good news for a change.
- Where are they? - Simulator on final approach.
Initiate pre-flare.
Roger.
Adjusting glide slope.
Looking good.
- That's a steep approach.
- Well, it starts at 19 degrees.
About six times steeper than commercial aircraft.
And there are no pull-ups.
It's a 200,000 pound glider.
- We call it "The flying" - "The flying brick.
" Yes, sir.
I'd like to go up to the launch structure, take a look at the egress system.
Yes, sir.
I'll try to arrange something for this afternoon.
Recovery One.
Gear down.
Over.
Gear down and locked.
Over.
- I know that voice.
- He's good.
On course and speed.
He must feel like a backup quarterback called into the Super Bowl.
You train all season, but you never expect to play.
Recovery One, main gear at 10 feet.
Then suddenly, it's, "Okay, Lowrey, you're up.
"Pull it out for us.
" Lieutenant Commander Mark Lowrey.
Yes, sir.
You know him? Two feet, one, touchdown.
Perfect.
I guess you're right.
Navy does make the best astronauts.
Excuse me, sir.
You've passed your physical.
- Congratulations.
- Thank you.
Commander? Lieutenant Rabb.
What are you doing here? Actually, it's Lieutenant Commander.
- So it is.
Congratulations.
- Thanks, you, too.
Sorry, it couldn't be under better circumstances.
So you're still flapping your wings? Or did she fly you in? No, I manage all right on my own.
So, how's JAG? - It keeps me busy.
- I bet.
All those legal briefs to file.
You have to excuse me.
I've got a mission to prep for.
Certainly.
- What was that about? - What? Come on, Harm, I know a cockfight when I see one.
He was in my first Tomcat squadron.
What did he do? Out-fly you? - Never.
- Sensitive.
He was a hotshot.
Cocky, aggressive, hyper-competitive.
Kind of like you? Sir? Why would MSA let him fly the shuttle? Maybe 'cause he's good at it.
Gee.
Thanks.
Looks a lot bigger in person, doesn't it? Who would have ever thought we'd be this close to it? Speak for yourself, Lieutenant.
July 20, 1969.
The Apollo moon landing? I watched it with my mom.
I remember seeing Armstrong roaming around up there, wondering if he stopped right then and looked up at the Earth, he'd see me and my dad in Vietnam at the same time.
I'll bet there were a lot of future astronauts recruited that night.
Yeah, I'll bet there were.
- What do you remember about it? - Nothing.
I was a baby.
Lieutenant Commander Rabb, Lieutenant Austin, this is our mission shuttle commander, Major Russell.
Major.
He was the closest man to Atkins when the cable broke.
Thanks for your time, Major.
I hope we're not taking too much of it.
Not at all.
It's a pretty straightforward system.
Steel baskets connected to the slide wire.
The astronauts jump in, release the brake, slide to the entrance of underground bunkers at the landing zone.
When did you know Commander Atkins was in trouble? I didn't.
I was late coming out of the hatch.
Atkins waited until he saw me before he started down.
I was at my basket when I heard this snap.
When I looked up, he was already falling.
Did the cable show signs of strain before? It was brand new.
They put it up right after the Blue Team's run-through that morning.
- Just this one? - Apparently, it was frayed at one end.
Who noticed it? I believe it was Lieutenant Commander Lowrey.
Mission specialist one away.
Mission specialist two reaches the basket.
Number two away.
Commander Atkins waits for the Major.
He sees him.
Major orders him to go.
Atkins hops in the basket.
It's not as high-profile as the Challenger accident, but the end result is the same.
- An astronaut dies.
- Doesn't look real somehow.
You've been watching too many action movies.
They shoot those things from eight different angles, repeat the action, play it back in slow-mo.
Cut to people's reactions.
And an accident like this in real life happens You think he realised what was happening? - Play it back at quarter speed.
- Yes, sir.
It's ironic, actually.
Billions in dollars we spend on systems needed for manned space flight, and we lose an astronaut because of a faulty piece of cable.
Here you go, sir.
Stop.
Go back.
Wait there.
Can you click between this frame and the one before it? I assumed that it broke at one end.
What would cause it to snap in the middle like that? I must admit I was somewhat baffled at first.
I couldn't imagine what would cause it to break so cleanly right in the middle.
Until I noticed this small circular pattern along the break in the sheath that surrounds the cable.
- Where? - It's right there.
There may have been a tiny hole there before the break.
- What does that mean? - Not a lot by itself.
But it made me go back and check the cable at each end of the break for vapourised steel deposits.
Just like that.
You're saying the cable was cut by a laser? Not just cut.
They hollowed it out by carefully rotating it.
The outside looked normal, except for the very tiny hole.
- It was sabotaged.
- Clever sabotage.
There was just enough mass left around the perimeter of the hole to support the basket during the test runs.
Add the weight of an astronaut, and, snap! Yeah, it was frayed near the top.
Nothing major, but I thought I should tell somebody.
I mean, I didn't know the replacement cable would be defective.
More like sabotaged.
The cable was rigged to break.
- Atkins was murdered.
- By who? I don't know.
Who would have the most to gain? Wait a minute.
I don't think I like where you're going with this.
Look, this is awkward, because you and I don't get along.
But right now, it doesn't look too good for you.
Hey, look.
I want my chance just as much as the next guy, - but I wouldn't kill for it.
- I hope not.
But I'm afraid I'm gonna have to have you pulled from this mission until we know for sure.
You do that, and you'll just about guarantee that I never get another chance.
Sorry.
It's not personal.
- The hell it isn't.
- Hey! You think this is a game? We're not nuggets on our first mission.
I know what's at stake! Yeah, my career! Don't come after mine just 'cause you flushed yours down the toilet.
I'd stop it right there, Commander.
Why? Let's be honest.
You got your ticket pulled, and you can't handle seeing me with a chance to walk in space.
- That's your dream, not mine.
- Yeah, right! What do you think, Meg? You think I'm making this personal? What are you gonna do? Justify your feelings by protecting him? - Yeah, but do I have to take him down? - Harm, you don't have a choice.
Out of the question.
We need Lowrey.
He's the only other pilot we have trained for this mission.
I beg your pardon, Colonel, but wouldn't prudence suggest delaying the mission entirely, sir? We're going to launch on schedule, Commander.
It's not open for debate.
Sir, it's my duty to summon a board of inquiry in which case the Navy will simply not allow Commander Lowrey on that spaceship.
Shut the door, Captain.
I can't let you do that, Commander.
And the boys upstairs won't let you.
The mission is that critical, sir? Captain.
Until recently, the U.
S.
Was monitoring Eastern China and the Asian Pacific with a recon satellite in a geosynchronous orbit, giving us real-time images of the region.
Twenty-six days ago, we lost all contact with it.
They think the power cells failed.
Aren't there other satellites that can pick up the coverage? Only intermittently.
We're blind over 90% of the time.
That's not a very good percentage given China's recent show of force.
You don't have a replacement satellite, sir? Launched two weeks ago on a Titan rocket.
Unfortunately, the third stage booster failed, never made it to proper orbit.
We've got to go up and fix it.
We had to change Recovery One's mission profile, and push up the launch.
That's why all the last-minute training.
Lowrey will perform the capture procedure.
The second satellite could fall out of orbit and burn up if we don't retrieve it within the next three to four days.
Which means I have a day and a half to launch.
Then that gives us 36 hours to determine exactly what happened, sir.
Very well, Commander.
Dismissed.
Aye, sir.
Excuse me, sir.
What was Recovery One's original mission profile? High-energy light experiments.
You mean testing lasers, sir? Were all astronauts trained on lasers? Of course.
Both crews.
Did they include the type you used in your demonstration? Yeah.
Why? You suspect an astronaut? No, we're just covering all possibilities.
Where are the lasers kept when they're not in use? In the training facility.
So astronauts have unrestricted access? Of course.
Sir? I checked the security system to the storage facility where the cable was housed.
Apparently Lieutenant Commander Lowrey's access card was used to gain entrance at 2307 hours, the night before the accident.
He reported his card missing the next morning.
- He said he lost it? - No.
He thought it was stolen.
I think it's time we had a talk with him again.
It will have to wait, sir.
He's scheduled for a last-minute practice landing in the S.
T.
A.
At 0730.
S.
T.
A? Shuttle training aircraft.
It's a G2 rigged to fly like the shuttle.
- Which runway? - 1-5.
I think we're good.
Morning, Rabb, Lieutenant.
What are you doing here so early? I thought lawyers kept bankers' hours.
You'll have to postpone your flight.
You and I need to have a little chat.
As much as I'd like to do that, I'm on a strict schedule.
As far as I know, I'm still on this mission.
I'm supposed to finish this run and then head back to the pre-launch holding area.
You still may not be going anywhere! - Are you relaying an order? - Not yet.
If you want to talk to me, you either head back to the holding area or you take a ride.
It's your choice.
But I have to warn you, it gets a little rough.
We drop at 250 feet per second.
- No problem.
- Great.
Sir, we're balanced for two.
That's all right, Captain.
You take a break.
- My pal here will help me out.
- Are you serious, sir? Yeah.
You heard what he said.
We have to have a talk.
Yes, sir.
But he's not trained on this aircraft.
Don't you worry about it.
He's the best damn pilot in JAG.
All right.
It's your call, sir.
You'll have to do the honours on the way up, Rabb.
It's not my show till we head down.
Looks like you get a break, too, Lieutenant.
Harm, I thought you were trying to keep this from being personal.
I'll see you back in the launch room.
- Bring her round to 250.
- Roger.
250.
You must be clocking a lot of flight time.
I get my share.
So what's on your mind? You neglected to tell me you trained on lasers for your original mission.
- Me and seven other astronauts.
- Yeah, but you're the only astronaut whose stolen access card was used to enter the storage facility that housed the sabotaged cable - Excuse me? the night before Atkins was killed.
Somebody must be trying to set me up.
- And who would that be? - I don't know.
Maybe someone who doesn't want to see the mission go.
I'm finding this very hard to believe.
We both know why.
Look, Mark, regardless of what you might think, I really do want to give you the benefit of the doubt, but things just keep pointing in your direction.
Harm, you know better than anybody how tough it is to give up a career as a naval aviator.
You did because you had to.
But when I did, I took a big risk.
But I thought it was worth it to get a shot at outer space.
And after five years, it was looking like I might actually go.
Now, you think that I'm gonna throw that away by killing my fellow astronaut just to jump to the head of the line? I don't think so.
The truth is, it's out of my hands.
You'll probably fly that mission.
And I'm gonna believe you.
If that turns out to be a mistake, there'll be a squad of MP's waiting at Edwards when you land that thing.
Fair enough.
You ready to rock 'n' roll? It feels perverted to rig an aerodynamic bird like this to fly like an anvil.
One of the wonders of modern aerospace.
After the flare, I'll return control and you take her around.
Sounds like a plan.
Vandenberg tower, this is 946.
Ready to descend, over.
Roger, 946.
Clear for approach.
See you in three minutes.
Get ready to release her.
Simulator engaged.
- She's all mine.
- You've got her.
Main landing gear down.
Auto-throttle, engaged.
And reverse thrust, on.
Auto-flight and ADAS, engaged.
Away we go.
You can't make this thing dive any steeper? Don't tempt me.
What the hell? I just lost control! - Your bird, Commander.
- What? Your bird! My side's down! She's heavy! She won't be as soon as I get her out of shuttle mode.
Setting down reverse thrusters.
- She's still heavy.
- The reverse thrusters are stuck open! The whole system's frozen.
- I can't pull her out! - We got to jump.
No time for that.
Hit the fuel shut-off valve.
- You're gonna dead stick it? - You can jump if you want.
Fuel valve off.
That's better.
Better call in an emergency.
Vandenberg tower.
946.
Declaring an emergency.
We have no power.
I repeat, we have no power.
Roger, 946.
Emergency vehicles are rolling.
- Runway dead ahead.
- I love your choice of words.
We're on a tricycle-geared bird, Harm.
- Nose gear down, please! - Nose gear, still in the red.
Everything's on shuttle mode.
- Manual release? - It's on your starboard side.
Grab the yoke, Mark.
- You got it? - I got it.
You know, on a scale from one to 10, I gave you a three.
- That high? - Yeah.
Colonel, everything froze.
It had to be a software problem.
I want every computer system on that aircraft picked apart asap.
They're already on it, sir.
Whatever it was, it was meant to look like another accident.
We'll see, Commander.
Sir, it's pretty clear, whoever killed Lieutenant Commander Atkins wanted to scrub this mission by killing the pilot and framing the only man who could take his place.
When that didn't work, they tried to take him out, too.
Six hours ago, you thought Commander Lowrey killed Atkins.
Yes, sir.
I considered that a possibility, but I was wrong.
So who is it this time? - Who would want to scrub this launch? - China would benefit from the satellite going unreplaced for as long as possible.
They'd have to have someone inside.
- This is getting a little far-fetched.
- Why? Space technology is a primary defence element, sir.
It's not unreasonable to assume that a foreign power could have an agent in place.
So what are we gonna do? What do you mean, "What are we gonna do?" You're going to get some rest, Commander.
You're less than 12 hours away from the start of a six-day mission.
Colonel, someone has killed one of your astronauts.
They tried a second time with us.
With respect, sir, you can't launch until we find out who's behind this.
Commander, I appreciate your concern, but this is not your concern.
That shuttle will be checked and rechecked before lift-off.
It's under strict security, the President himself will be apprised.
The launch is his call.
Then, sir, I'm going to formally recommend he stand down this mission.
You do what you have to do, but I don't think it will affect his decision.
The President gave the go.
Not without some assurances, I imagine.
Anything from JAG? FBI did extensive background checks on everyone with any kind of clearance.
No red flags.
- Anything on the S.
T.
A? - Not yet.
You nervous? I don't get nervous.
Mark, I owe you an apology.
You had a lot to worry about prepping for a mission at the last minute without me lobbing accusations at you.
You were just doing your job, Harm.
I shouldn't have said anything about your ticket being pulled.
I know it wasn't your fault.
Go for it, brother, you deserve it.
I know.
- You're right.
He is cocky.
- In his line of work, you have to be.
Are you sure you don't want to watch from outside? If you're going to view it from the video feed, you might as well watch CNN.
- I'd rather be in launch control.
- Harm, it's out of our hands.
They wouldn't be launching if it wasn't safe.
Ground crew to staging area "A.
" Colonel Fisher might be right.
We are assuming Atkins' murder was an attempt to scrub the mission.
There's no other explanation for someone trying to frame Lowrey.
How would someone know we'd even suspect murder? If Gallant hadn't determined the cable was cut by a laser, we never would have suspected Lowrey.
- Where's Gallant now? - Must be in launch control.
That means his lab is free.
If he sabotaged the S.
T.
A.
, he'd have had to have written a programme, right? Are you asking me to break into his computer? I knew you'd volunteer.
Internal systems check completed.
Over.
Control to Recovery One.
All systems look good.
You are T-minus 10 minutes.
Over.
Roger, Control.
T-minus 10.
Less than 10 minutes.
How's it coming? We're almost there.
I'm in.
Crew access log retrieving.
Control.
This is Recovery One.
- Event timer started.
Over.
- Roger, Recovery One.
This is interesting.
What? Nothing on the S.
T.
A.
, but Gallant continued to work for the Air Force as a civilian contractor since S.
D.
I.
Was scrapped.
They were supposed to fund a superconducting magnetic ion engine he conceived.
Thinks it's the key to interplanetary travel.
Let me guess.
It fell prey to defence cutbacks.
Every year for the past eight years.
That would definitely make him disgruntled.
It's the exact profile the Chinese would look for.
They'd scout someone on the inside who might be unhappy with the situation, but with the ability and the access to scrub the mission.
The question is, how far would he go? You think he'd sabotage the shuttle itself? Recovery One.
Initiating main engine gimbal.
Recovery One.
Main engine gimbal complete.
Over.
Roger.
- H2 looks good.
- T-minus, two minutes.
Go for launch.
Sorry, sir, ma'am.
No unauthorised personnel allowed Stand aside, Sergeant.
I need to talk to Colonel Fisher.
You will have to wait until after the launch, sir.
That may be too late.
A.
P.
U.
Is a go.
Switch to on-board computer.
Roger, switching to on-board computer.
I have to get in there.
The shuttle may be in danger.
Stand aside, Sergeant, now! 12, 11, 10, - Not now, Commander.
- Sir, there might be a problem.
- Not now! - 1, 0.
S.
R.
B.
Ignition.
The tower has been cleared.
Lift-off.
Instituting roll manoeuvre.
into heads-down position, start.
Roll manoeuvre complete.
You look good, Recovery One.
Roger, Control.
Main engines at 65%.
Over.
Roger that.
This is Recovery One.
Over and out.
Step away from your station, Mr Gallant.
- What's wrong? - Step away from your station.
In my office.
Now.
Recovery One, you've hit max q, over.
Roger, Control.
And out.
What the hell? Control, we have S.
R.
B.
Sep, over.
Roger, we see that.
What are you running from, Mr Gallant? What's the problem, sir? - Arrest this man, Sergeant.
- Yes, sir.
Recovery One.
Go for main engine cut-off.
Over.
MECO confirmed.
We're in orbit.
Congratulations, Recovery One.
Harm, I found traces of what might have been a crash programme in the erased sectors of his computer.
It had S.
T.
A.
Strings.
Is there any sign he did the same thing to the actual shuttle systems? I didn't see any.
What did he say, sir? - What do you think? He's innocent.
- Yeah.
That's why he ran.
Claims you frightened him.
He's a civilian, so I've got to call the FBI.
See what they want me to do with him.
Colonel, if he had access to the shuttle systems, it's still in danger.
I understand that, Commander.
But we're already up there.
This is a military mission and right now everything is going strictly by the numbers.
- May I have a crack at him, sir? - Be my guest.
I have a satellite to fix.
All systems go for satellite recovery.
Sorry about that.
Does it hurt? It looks like it hurts.
You're a smart man, Mr Gallant.
Really smart.
- Don't you think so, Lieutenant? - Yes, sir.
I mean, only a smart man like Mr Gallant could invent a, - what is it called? - Superconducting magnetic ion engine.
Exactly.
Now what I don't understand is how a smart, respected man like yourself could sell out his country.
- Is that how you'd put it, Lieutenant? - Something like that, sir.
- How much did they pay you? - Nobody paid me anything.
- Then why did you do it? - I want a lawyer.
You're in luck.
We're both lawyers.
I have rights.
I know I have rights.
Not with the national security of the United States, a billion dollar spacecraft, and four more lives in danger, you don't.
- Is it over? - What? Your string of sabotage.
Is something going to happen to the space shuttle? Almost there.
Okay, Mark.
Get suited up.
Looking good, Commander.
How are you feeling? Just groovy.
If something happens, the country will never forgive you.
I'm a visionary.
I have to look beyond the immediate future.
What do you mean? You may brand me a traitor, but history will credit me with exploration beyond our solar system.
You don't think the military's going to build your engine now, do you? They were never gonna build it.
There's no funding for anything that doesn't fit their short-term agenda.
Maybe they just knew it would never work.
It'll work.
You'll see.
See? How will we see? They promised to build your engine for you, didn't they? You really think the Chinese are going to honour that agreement? The United States isn't the only country interested in exploring the secrets of space, Commander.
I need another five or six degrees to the right.
You got it.
It was a lot easier in the simulator.
You know what I don't understand? You're an aerospace engineer.
How can you destroy the space shuttle? I never said I'd destroy it.
I gave my life to this programme! Then what are you planning to do? China just doesn't want the satellite fixed.
Maybe Mr Gallant found a way to prevent that without destroying the shuttle.
Just give me another degree to the right.
Lining up.
They can't fix it if they can't grab it, can they, Mr Gallant? - Colonel, he's got to stop.
- Why? If he attempts to grab that satellite, there'll be a major malfunction.
What kind of malfunction? I'll explain.
Just tell him to stop! Now, sir! Okay.
Almost have it.
Tell him to wait.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
Have Lieutenant Commander Lowrey stand by.
Repeat.
Hold on satellite capture.
Roger that, Control.
Mark, you need to hold on a second.
What? Control needs you to hold on satellite capture and stand by.
Standing by, Control.
Gallant made a deal with the Chinese government to prevent the recovery of the satellite, sir.
I think he may have sabotaged part of the capture mechanism days before the launch, as a backup plan.
Is there a problem anywhere, Mr Tang? No, sir.
Sir, do you remember when Lieutenant Austin and I first arrived? Gallant approached you and informed you he'd made repairs to the capture mechanism.
Yes.
He went out on to the launch pad to fix a calibration problem.
Or sabotage it, sir.
It's starting to drift.
I'm going to lose it.
Recovery One to Control.
What's the problem? Over.
Stand by, Recovery One.
- How would he sabotage it? - I don't know, sir.
It might be the locking device.
It's the logical choice.
He might have used it to set some kind of charge that would destroy the satellite.
Sir, he's in position now.
Tell him to move Lowrey away from the satellite and test the grappling trigger.
Sir? - You heard me, Captain.
- Yes, sir! Recovery One.
This is Control.
Turn Lieutenant Commander Lowrey away from the satellite for a test firing of the grappling trigger.
Roger that, Control.
Over.
Mark, we need to move you.
Control wants us to test fire the grappling trigger facing away from the satellite.
- Did they say why? - Control? Commander Lowrey is inquiring on the reason for that.
Over.
Stand by.
Recovery One.
What do I tell him, sir? It's an open channel.
Commander Rabb? Tell him the same person who modified the S.
T.
A.
Prepped the capture bar.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
Tell him Lieutenant Commander Rabb said the person who modified the S.
T.
A.
Also prepped the capture bar.
Over.
Roger that, Control.
Over.
Mark, you know the guy who's responsible for your S.
T.
A.
Problems? I hope not personally.
Lieutenant Commander Rabb thinks he may have done something to the capture bar.
Terrific.
Retracting grappling arm 15 degrees.
Over.
Okay.
I'm turning away from the satellite now.
Testing grappling trigger now.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
What's your status? What's your status, Recovery One? I think it may have been an explosive bolt.
Over.
What about Lieutenant Commander Lowrey? He's a little shaken, but he's all right.
He wants to know if Lieutenant Commander Rabb is there.
That's affirmative.
He says thanks for the tip, Commander.
Okay, people, we have no capture bar.
How the hell do we get that satellite back? Colonel, can't you just get a few more people out there and grab it, sir? Entering cargo bay.
I'm clear.
Tethers are locked on to work station.
It's not going to work from this angle.
You may be leaning too far.
Can you reach the low end? Negative.
We've got to find a way to stop that wobble.
Back up.
You have to back up.
Okay.
Okay.
We're in position.
All right.
On my count.
One, two, three.
We have it.
Good job.
Good job.
Okay, people.
Let's get down to the business of fixing it.
- Commander, thank you.
- Yes, sir.
Lieutenant, we'll take it from here.
Recovery One.
This is Control.
Roger, Control.
- Identify - Kind of pretty, isn't it? As pretty as the view catapulting off an aircraft carrier, sir? Yeah, in its own way, I guess.
You still have time, sir.
The first lawyer in space maybe? Maybe.