A Navy P-3 spy plane is rammed by a Chinese MIG and is forced to land at a Chinese Air Base. (The second such incident; the first being the actual incident that occurred early 2001)
The SecNav requests Adm. Boone re-activated to active duty, in order to travel with Harm to the Air Base to negotiate with the Chinese for the release of the plane & crew.
After the Chinese Commander is presented with photographic evidence that the MIG & its pilot that rammed the P-3 is alive & well (contrary to claims by the Chinese that the pilot was killed), the Chinese immediately release the P-3 crew; however, they would ship the P-3 back, piece by piece.
Lt. Barrett flying out to escort the plane from Chinese Air Space back to the USS Thomas Jefferson. After telling his wingman a lie to leave the escort, Lt. Barrett disobeys orders, flies into Chinese airspace & destroys the P-3 on the ground.