Commander in Chief/Sub Enchanted Evening

Sub Enchanted Evening
Season 1, Episode 10
Airdate	January 10, 2006
Production Number	110
Written by
Directed by
← 1x09 The Mom Who Came to Dinner	1x11 → No Nukes Is Good Nukes
Commander in Chief — Season One

Sub Enchanted Evening is the tenth episode of the first season of Commander in Chief, and the tenth episode overall. A crisis with a nuclear missile submarine starts a race against time.

Guest Stars: Tzi Ma (Chinese Ambassador), Natasha Henstridge (Jayne Murray), Polly Bergen (Kate Allen), Samantha Eggar (Sara Templeton), Phil Reeves (General Krieger), Mary Joan Negro (CIA Director Margaret Shoop), Christopher Allport (Secretary of Defense Francis)

Plot Overview

The nuclear missile submarine Seattle has struck an uncharted undersea mountain and drifted within 15 miles of the North Korea coast, potentially leading to a state of war if the North Korean government were to discover it. The sub, damaged in the impact and unable to move, has less than four days of life support before the crew is lost. Further, the submarine represents a national security risk should it fall into the hands of a foreign government.

The rescue plan calls for a Pressurized Rescue Module System (PRMS) to dock with the Seattle to assist in evacuation and repairs. The PRMS needs a surface ship to provide a tether which provides a diplomatic challenge, as the North Koreans would be suspicious if a US or Japanese ship were so close it its waters. The decision is made to askt he Chinese for support, although Vice President Keaton believes them to be too much of a security risk.

Limited voice communications are restored with the Seattle and word of trouble with their oxygen scrubbers, which provide breathable air, are damaged and have reduced the amount of time for a rescue. Physically unable to get their PRMS there, the only available option is to ask the Chinese for use of their equivalent resuce system. For this level of support, the Chinese will require some substantial diplomatic concessions. Templeton is brought in on the crisis due to his personal relationship with the Chinese ambassador. His recommendation is that they would seek either a removal of a ban on weapons and weapon systems imports or a lessening of restrictions on arms sales to other countries, all in addition to lightening of human rights criticism from the United States.

With Templeton's assistance, they are able to get the Chinese to support their rescue by agreeing to allow China to sell arms to other countries. As they are about to relax as the rescue operation unfolds, the news channels release reports that the North Korean government has discovered the sub and is calling the close presence of a nuclear submarine an act of war. In response, the US is forced to move to DEFCON 3.

The issue of the mission the submarine was on that brought it close to North Korea. The submarine was on a semi-official mission originating with the Bridges administration but lacking official backing. In response, Jim counsels the military leaders to stop off the books missions and entrust the President with full knowledge of their activities.

Arc Advancement

Characters

• When presenting the family with the choice of running for re-election, Rebecca makes it clear she doesn't want to help in the campaigning because of the exposure.

• Dickie McDonald asks Jayne Murray out for a drink.

Trivia

Allusions and References

• The move to DEFCON 3 (Defense Condition) indicates a state of increased force readiness. The US defense posture was changed to DEFCON 3 three times, once during the 1962 Cuban Missile Crisis and on September 11th, 2001.

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