ADM Thomas Chandler quotes from The Last Ship

[in Italian] Who is brave enough to fight Hercules?

[obviously drunk] I'll fight him. [stumbles trying to get past the ropes and everybody laughs at him]

[in Italian] Get out of here.

I'll tear him into pieces! Let's go. Giorgio... [Giorgio Vellek throws bottle at his feet. It shatters and everybody laughs at the man being startled]

[in English] I'll fight him! [Mike Slattery appears]

[in Italian] Damn, what a big companion! People, our champion certainly has his work cut out for him today! [rings the bell]

Hercules! Hercules!

Hercules? New call sign?

CAPT Tom Chandler

You like it? [Chuckles] Come on now. Make it look good. [the men parry but Slattery gets one good hit] I probably deserved that. [the men lock up; whispers] Let me guess... You're here for seeds.

How'd you know that?

They're in the basement.

You're on the inside in this?

Buyer's in the VIP box.

Good thing I brought the whole gang.

CMC Russ Jeter

Captain Meylan's under a lot of pressure.

CAPT Tom Chandler

He was right. I crossed the line.

Jeter

I didn't say he wasn't right. This isn't you. Walking around the ship like you're on a Tiger cruise. Since when did you become a passive observer?

Master Chief...

Jeter

Don't Master Chief me, Goddamn it. You wanted to get away. Good. It's what you did. God knows you of all people needed a break. But for months, the rest of us pressed on. The missions changed, but our commitment never wavered. And although you were always in our minds, when you left, we were broken.

I lost my way, Russ.

Jeter

You never lost your way. You may have turned your back on your calling, but your path was always right in front of you. It led you back to the Nathan James. This is where you belong.

CAPT Tom Chandler

So Vellek isn't just injecting the fighters with Nostos, he's baking it right into their food.

LT Danny Green

It appears so, sir.

So that's why he wanted the seeds. He cures the Red Rust, mixes in the Nostos to create food that'll pacify his enemies.

It's the perfect weapon. People eating it won't even know.

Well, even if they did, what choice would they have?

CAPT Tom Chandler

Step away from the edge, Vellek.

I offered a cure, man. A real and final cure for the sickness in us all. You of all people should know about that... what you've seen, what you've done. You need what I'm offering more than anybody.

You're right, Doctor. I have seen the worst in people, the worst in myself. But I've also seen strength in others that you wouldn't believe, and kindness that would bring you to tears.

That was beautiful, man. I can clearly see why people follow you. But you are the one-eyed king. I offer you peace, you choose war.

Peace at the cost of free will? I'll take war anytime. "We the people"... Addicted to your darkness. Being human isn't about cutting out the darkness. It's about fighting, every day, to find the light!

No, Captain.

You don't have to fight to find the light. Give the world another chance. See the good for yourself. The people still need you. We have the seeds, but we need your science.

I appreciate the invite, man. But there's Heaven. And I gotta go. [jumps off]

Admiral Chandler?

ADM Thomas Chandler

Mr. Swain, before the planes came, the US was the victim of a cyberattack. It killed our satellites, shut down our anti-access and area denial systems, and destroyed weapons control on all our networked assets... ships, tanks, planes, helos, Aegis, and missile silos.

Whoa.

Chandler

Your theory was correct. Grab your things and come with me. You're gonna be here awhile. Do you need to call anyone?

I forgot to ask.

Chandler

Are you married? Do you live with your folks?

No, sir. I'm not married, and, uh, my parents died in the plague.

Chandler

Right. You wrote that U.S. military installations were extremely vulnerable to cyberattacks.

That was my conclusion, sir. It had to do with the number of nodes and the redundancies...

Chandler

I need you to find the virus, where it came from, and how to get rid of it. You'll be working with Commander Granderson. Good luck, Mr. Swain. Oh. Raise your right hand. POTUS usually does this, but he's not here, so... Do you solemnly swear to support and defend the Constitution of the United States against all enemies, foreign and domestic; that I will bear true faith and allegiance to the same; and that I will obey the orders of the President of the United States and the orders of the officers appointed over me, according to regulations and the Uniform Code of Military Justice. So help me God.”

I do.

Chandler

Congratulations, Ensign Swain. You are now a member of the United States Navy. Get to work.

ADM Thomas Chandler

This isn't a secure channel, Mike.

ADM Mike Slattery

Yeah, I know. I finally got around to reading your favorite book. You got your copy handy?

Chandler

Hold on. Ensign Swain, do you have your copy of "Moby-Dick"?

Yes, sir.

Chandler

We've got it.

Slattery

Turn to page 366, nine paragraphs down. Last words.

Chandler

Working on it.

Slattery

This is how we're gonna have to communicate for the time being.

Chandler

Understood. Smart play, Mike. Well? What's the message?

"Fit for a fight."

Chandler

We've got it.

Slattery

Tom, is the message clear?

Chandler

Yes, it is. We read you loud and clear.

Slattery

We'll be in touch.

ADM Thomas Chandler

This is Nathan James, calling Gustavo Barros. We just took out your airwing, and you didn't lay a glove on us. And you can mark that up along with your Corvette. Payback for Mayport. You may have hit us hard, but you didn't finish us. You know why? Because you can't. And now Mexico and Cuba have joined the fight. So this message goes out to all of Central and South America. There is a choice now. Join us. Send Gustavo back into the dirt hole he crawled out of. We fight for peace. But make no mistake... we will fight. And this ship and this crew? They're damn good at it. So, Gustavo... come at us again. I dare you. This is Nathan James. Out. [to bridge crew] Now, they know who we are, where we are. Let's be ready for what they throw at us.

Aye, sir.

Chandler

Nobody's talking about going home now. It's a good day.

ADM Thomas Chandler

I was gonna wait till we were on the flight home, but it looks like we got a couple minutes, so let's take some time. You're the architect of Gustavo's war machine. What's the sequel to Plan Azul? Haiti, Puerto Rico, Bahamas?

I fight for the Latin American people. So that we will no longer be dependent on the whims of the north.

Chandler

Now you sound like your boss.

You're a man of war, Admiral. And a professor, as I understand. You tell me... how many invasions, bombs, coups, CIA black ops, and other interventions does it take before people push back?

Chandler

America's not your enemy.

America is a continent, not a country, Admiral. Learn that... maybe you'll understand La Revolución. Gustavo's not a revolutionary. He's not fighting to right old wrongs.

Chandler

He's a strong man and an opportunist, and he's killing more of your people than ours.

I did not say I support Gustavo.

Chandler

You're not in Jamaica guarding Gustavo's secrets. You're running away.

Yes, Admiral.

Chandler

In another of the great post-plague ironies, one of the great strategists of war has become a pacifist.

The first time I heard him speak was in his home town. A little place called Rubi. He was a man of humble beginnings, speaking of hope, belonging... Listening to Tavo was a revelation. He put words to the pain and the shame of the South American experience... all we'd been feeling for so long. The plans we made together were going to do great good.

Chandler

So what changed?

Tavo changed.

Chandler

Or he stopped hiding his true intentions.

And it wasn't just rebels being killed, it was whole villages... anyone who fed into Tavo's paranoia. You can only see a child be burned alive so many times before you question your part in it all.

Chandler

You know his next moves. Help me stop him, help me end this.

If I help you, will that save my nation?

Chandler

If you don't, will your nation still be worth saving?

If I join you... I'm still an instrument of death. The only difference is the person delivering it.

ADM Thomas Chandler

I just don't know what it is you're telling me. What are you telling me? [Ashley walks off] Get back here, I'm talking to you! Come back here, I'm talking to you.

Mom knew it, too! She knew you hated being home. You were never happy unless you were on your damn ship!

Tom

I'm sorry I'm the one you got stuck with. I'm sorry your mom died!

And you weren't here.

Tom

Ashley. Ashley....

You don't belong here. You belong out there.

Guess Gator's got the right idea. Try and keep their minds off things, even just for a few hours. So, tell me, Admiral. What's going through your head on the night before D-Day?

Admiral Chandler

Nathan James.

The ship?

Chandler

The sailor. Ship's namesake. Captain Nathan James skippered a PT boat during the war in the Pacific. His fleet was decimated. His boat was all that was left standing against nine Japanese destroyers. The boat sank beneath him. Not before he stopped the enemy's advance. He single-handedly saved a fleet of newly-repaired American destroyers coming out of Pearl Harbor carrying thousands of sailors into the fight. Captain James said, "war is a beast." It appears in many forms. Sometimes it's the beast you face head on, out on the field of battle. As equals. Sometimes the beast hides out. Lurking somewhere in the deep, biding its time "until, when your guard is dropped, it comes for you." "Bloodthirsty and merciless." "And it drags you under. On any given day, you never know which beast you're gonna face."

Which beast is it for you, Admiral?