As it makes its final journey from Pearl Harbor in Hawaii to San Diego, the USS Constellation organizes a lively ‘tiger cruise’ for the families of US Navy, Marines, and US Air Force personnel, primarily featuring children known as ‘Navy brats.’ The participants’ feelings range from sheer happiness to outright annoyance, with the most troublesome being Maddie, the daughter of Executive Officer Commander Gary Dolan, who is hoping her father will decline a promotion that would take him away from a shore assignment. However, the situation takes a dramatic turn when news of the WCC terror crisis emerges, prompting the crew to shift back to a state of military readiness.