The crew of the Hammersley are joined by a federal agent and go in search of an illegal fishing boat. Whilst on board the Navy find evidence on the boat and find the fishing boat crew start to exhibit symptoms of bird flu. One crew member faces a gruesome operation, while the federal agent learns that blackmail can work both ways.

Bomber Brown and Spider Webb fall overboard and as the man of the watch, Buffer takes it hard that the two missing officers might drown. Meanwhile Buffer also deals with a personal tragedy.