The Nathan James is a Destroyer ship in the US navy, named after a famous sailor.
Tom Chandler leads the crew of the Nathan James as it's C. O. (commanding officer).
At the beginning of our story Chandler and
his crew have been ordered to embark on
a several month long training/war game mission located near the artic circle. While
on their mission, they are to remain 100% radio silent. No calls in, no calls out. They are also ordered to house and aide a 2 person science team, led by Dr. Rachel Scott, conducting avian pattern research there in
the artic. These orders came straight from the White House, as in, a matter of nationally security and welfare. That being the case, Chandler and his crew prep their ship, and set out on their mission.
After several months at sea, the crew of the Nathan James complete their mission, and look forward to breaking radio silence before they prep to head home.
Dr. Scott's research has also had a break-through. While she and her assistant have been conducting their avian research, they have also been escorted abd guarded by sailors/sharpshooters of the Nathan James crew. While Scott and her assistant are out on their final research outing, they are attacked by Russian soldiers that seem to appear out of
the thin air. The US soldiers are able to fight them off, and get Dr. Scott's team safely back to the Nathan James,, but the incident does not fail to alarm and dismay Chandler.
Once back on the Nathan James, he corners
Dr. Scott and demands to know why a team
of Russian soldiers came after her. Why his soldiers, and his entire crew were put in harm's way. For some simple avian research?
Dr. Scott then informs Chandler that she was not researching avian flight patterns. That she was in fact sent to find what she needed to make a vaccine for a new virus that has begun to decimate the world's population within the last few months (during the time they've been at sea and radio silent, Dr. Scott has still been in contact with the US govt through a satellite phone, which is how the Russians pinpointed their location).
After hearing this news, Chandler breaks
radio silence. He finds out that the US
has been hit hard, and a majority of the government is dead (The person he knew
as Speaker of the House is currently the President). Chandler is told that his mission now is to protect Dr. Scott, her research,
and to do whatever it takes to aide her in developing a vaccine to combat this global pandemic.
That's where the story of this show begins,,
I have not read the book this show is based on, but the show is great! The first 3 seasons are especially bingeworthy. The last 2 seasons aren't quite as much, but they're still really good (trust me, you'll be invested in these characters). Seriously, I would give the first 3 seasons a 8.5 rating, then seasons 4&5 a 7.5 rating. It's a great show with a great cast including Eric Dane, Adam Baldwin, Rhona Mitra, and a slew of other great actors and actresses. Just watch the show, you'll enjoy
it (unless you don't like good tv shows, for whatever reason).
