Harm and Mac return to the aircraft carrier USS Seahawk (""A New Life"" & ""Crossing the Line"", among others) to brief the JAG officers on the new Rules of Engagement, following the escape of Taliban fighters as a result of a JAG officer's hesitation to determine if the target was legitimate.

While Harm is aboard the ship, the captain asks him to fly a bombing mission into Afghanistan. However, Harm's excitement changes to concern when his plane sustains critical damage from enemy fire.

Meanwhile, a jealous Lt. Singer sabotages Bud's case when she hears of his imminent promotion.

Adm. Chegwidden agrees to help the White House with an event honoring Medal of Honor recipients, but only if he can investigate the case of a vet who was dropped from the list because of a shoplifting arrest. Meanwhile, Mac and Harm look into a fire aboard a destroyer.

Mac is called in to minimize the damage after a Navy lieutenant blows the whistle regarding deficiencies in a top-secret Navy combat device. When she helps the lieutenant get released from the military, she is furious when she later discovers that he had stolen hi-tech secrets to use in his video-game company.

Meanwhile, Harm is threatened with a lawsuit by an elderly lady and her shady lawyer following a minor traffic accident.