CAPT Mike Slattery quotes from The Last Ship

What's with all the blood, anyway? Cure not good enough for you?

Takehaya

The American cure is no cure. We were wiped out.

Then you didn't have the real cure.

Takehaya

[shows vial] My dose. Made in USA.

Doesn't make any sense.

Takehaya

The virus would've killed me. But I got lucky. I got shot. A transfusion from a cured person. The next morning, the symptoms were gone. But... it didn't last.

That's why you started hunting fresh blood. Our blood. You went to a lot of trouble to get me and my people. Why us?

Takehaya

You needed to pay for what you did to my country.

Look. We had... we had reports of possible mutation. What if those reports are right? What you're doing is making things worse. You can't send the ships back to America, you got to send them into Japan. Let them investigate. Our doctors will help. They'll help. I give you my word.

Takehaya

Your word means nothing.

CAPT Mike Slattery

That's what Peng's hoarding. He could fire those missiles over uncured populations, so when the cure finally does arrive... It doesn't work.

Sasha Cooper

That boat was headed to Taiwan on a run. Jesse saw the missile near Vietnam.

Takehaya

And my wife saw the mist in Japan. By the time we got to the ports to receive the cure, it was already too late.

Captain Chandler... Before we begin, you're entitled to make an opening statement.

CAPT Thomas Chandler

I've spent half my life in the Navy. Like you, I did everything right. Worked my way through the pipeline just to get my chance to lead. Nathan James was my first command. Suddenly... I was thrust into a situation that no one can prepare you for. The world was turned upside-down, and all the rules were thrown out. But... the Navy taught me many things. Most importantly, it taught me to adapt. I had to make some difficult decisions. God knows I made some mistakes. But never once did I waver from what I knew to be right... The core values that run through all of our veins. Honor... courage... commitment. And I served my sailors as they served me and as we all serve this great country of ours. I didn't ask for this. I could've taken this uniform off at any time. But I always believed in the work that we were doing as a team, and the decisions that I was making as a captain. And though my tactics changed to address an insane world... my resolve and my dedication to the Navy never faltered. I stand by my record.

What the hell is this? [sees that the men are all from the Nathan James] I see. This was never about your guilt or innocence.

You forced our hand here, Captain. There was a moment today... where I actually had my doubts. Thank you for removing those for me. When the chips fall, if I'm proven wrong, I'll face justice from a higher power than you. Cooper, Green, please remove the officers and sequester them in Helo Bay 2.

Lt Danny Green

Gladly.

Captain, I need you to set a new course for Japan.

CAPT Mike Slattery

Yes, sir.

... We are strong people, and we have survived worse than this. And those who still love life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness have come together and formulated a plan to move forward. So in the absence of any working federal government, and deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, your regional leaders, Price, Castillo, Wilson, and Croft hereby call for the immediate suspension of the government of the United States. Each region will be able to govern itself and focus on reconstruction until such time as a central authority can be safely reestablished.

CAPT Thomas Chandler

Yeah. In other words, never.

By the time you hear these words, control of the Armed Forces will have been split among the regional leaders, and I would like to assure you that the military turnover has been peaceful, thanks to an unprecedented collaboration between the nation's highest-ranking generals and your four regional leaders. All enlisted men and women are to report to regional military offices immediately to become part of one of four localized armies under the command...

Captain, I can't get the generals on the line... Any of them. I tried to raise an entire Naval base. It's a coup, Captain.

Thank you and God bless.

Those men are already dead.

If there's no military, what's that mean for us?

It means we're all alone.

CAPT Mike Slattery

We lost our country, Tom.

Not yet. Captain, set a course for Naval Base San Diego, all ahead full. Take us home.

[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.

Captain, a word? [closes door] Since you seem so keen on joining our fight... Every active ship in the fleet has a copy of these orders. This is a full Presidential pardon for any crimes you may have committed during the recent Constitutional crisis. This reactivates your commission, reinstituting you to the active duty rank of Captain. All that's required now is your signature. And you taking the oath again.

CAPT Tom Chandler

I left this ship for a reason.

And yet somehow, here you are. This ship will always be your home as far as I'm concerned. But I won't lie to you... Master Chief has reported some mixed emotions from the crew at having you back. So for clarity and morale, you need to decide one way or the other, and soon.

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?

Do you have the seeds?

Negative. No sign of the progenitor. All of the crates are carrying plants covered in insects.

CAPT Tom Chandler

He's spreading the Nostos the same way the Red Rust spread, through leaf-eating insects. That's why there's only a few plants in each crate. They're just food to infect the bugs.

Vulture Team, the bugs are the vector. I say again, the bugs are the vector for the Nostos. You need to destroy those crates. Don't let any bugs get off that plane! They all must burn!

CAPT Mike Slattery

Master Chief, no way Vulture team gets back in time. And they're beat to hell. I need a boarding party.

CMC Russ Jeter

[over ship PA] Attention, all hands. This is your Master Chief. At this very moment, our ship's most capable operators are making their way back from one hell of a fight. But we're not done here. Our Captain needs volunteers to join him in boarding the enemy ship and bringing Cooper, Captain Chandler, and those seeds back in one piece. Anyone willing to lay their lives on the line, muster in the helo bay in five minutes. That is all.