Tom Dodge (Kelsey Grammar) is a wasted talent in the US Navy. His unorthodox methods, a crash with a Russian submarine, resulting fight and tattoo on his male body part have all conspired to keep him from own command. His main adversary his Rear Admiral Yancy Grahm(Bruce Dern). If he does not receive his command soon he will be dropped from the command program. Vice Admiral Dean Winslow (Rip Torn) convinces the Navy to give Dodge one final chance. He is given an old Diesel Submarine and has to try and infiltrate and target two cities in Virginia and a mock battleship in norfolk during a Navy Wargame. To prevent Dodge from succeeding Grahm fits him with all the rejects from the Navy. Among the crew is Lt. Emily Lake (Lauren Holly) who is the first femal dive officer in the Navy and Executive Officer Marty Pascal (Rob Schiender) who has dreams of his own command. Dodge must try to win this Wargame with his outdated ship and seemingly incompetant crew to have any future in the Navy.