Ben leaps into a host on the deck of a naval warship. His nametag is “Rossi”. Something big is going down. He’s grabbed by another sailor and tries to keep up.

In the command post, Ben’s told a turret isn’t responding and he needs to get on it.

He finds out the turret lost coms but is still operational. He reports back just as the reports come in that all threat targets have been destroyed. Ben wonders what war is going on. His captain comments that it’s one he hopes they never have to fight.

Ben realizes it was a drill. He follows the captain to the bridge where XO Augustine checks in and reports the Chinese sub that was monitoring the drill has disappeared.

The captain addresses the crew, reminding them that this ship will be taking part in wargames with the South Koreans and Australians in the East China Sea.

Addison arrives and gestures to Ben to come closer to her. She has no info from Ziggy but starts piecing together his host’s info from what he’s wearing and things he’s been addressed as.

When she hears the captain’s speech, she realizes he’s on the USS Montana under the command of Captain Bill Drake. The XO is her father.

At HQ, Magic, Ian, and Jenn are conferring on how to target a specific place and time. Ian says, at that point in time, there is no way to aim the leaps accurately.

Ben’s checking in with Addison about if she’s okay with this leap. She realizes him talking to himself is drawing unwanted attention. She points out that as operations officer, he’s third in command and should always be moving.

Magic goes over the importance of the date, May 2nd, 1989, to service men and women in the US Forces. There will be a distress signal picked up at just past 1900hrs. The signal is ignored by XO Augustine and not reported to the captain. The distress signal was for the USS Tampa, a submarine conducting a secret surveillance mission off the coast of China. Because Augustine ignores the distress signal, all the crew of the Tampa die.

The investigation that ensued left a blemish on Augustine’s reputation. Jenn wonders if changing this event will affect Addison’s existence. Ian reassures her that it won’t change anything significant.

Addison was already born in 1989, and she doesn’t believe her life will be any different if Ben fixes this event. Augustine eventually leaves her and her mother.

On the bridge, the captain finds out the Chinese sub is back and shadowing the Montana. He initially orders the radar operator to target the sub. XO Augustine discourages this hostile action, telling the captain that they can scare them more by showing them what they can do rather than provoke a cheap shot from the sub captain. The captain is convinced and belays the order.

The master chief tries to say something to Augustine about the captain “getting worse” but Augustine shuts him down. Addison observes that she’s never seen her father look that upset.

The distress call comes in. Augustine decides to respond to it and orders a course change to investigate. Captain Drake comes in and cancels the course change. Ben realizes Addison’s father took the fall for the captain’s decision.

When Drake leaves, Ben addresses Augustine and tells him he thinks the XO’s call was right. Augustine tells him to provide proof the distress call came from one of their ships.

At HQ, Ian has Ziggy figuring out a way to prove the message came from the Tampa. Jenn questions how the Tampa was damaged in the first place, since the official report is obviously not accurate to the truth. She tasks Magic with finding out what the official Chinese report is on that incident. He has a friend who might be able to help.

Ian finds a way to prove the distress signal isn’t a Chinese decoy. Drake gives his assent. Ben radios down to coms. Walker responds and Ben has him compare the wave form. Walker confirms it’s American.

Drake orders Augustine to plot a course to the distress signal’s location.

Walking with Ben, Augustine thanks him for solving the situation.

As they start heading for the Tampa, torpedoes are launched. The Master Chief mutters, “He’s lost his damn mind.” Augustine and Ben rush to the war room where Captain Drake insists he’s not letting the Chinese sub follow them to the rescue.

The command watches the torpedo detonate once it passes the sub. Drake considers it a warning shot. The radar room loses track of the sub after the torpedo detonates. Drake calls that a win.

Magic meets with his old Chinese navy counterpart to discuss the Tampa incident.

Addison’s in her father’s quarters where he’s kept several tokens of his family on display.

Ben and Augustine come in. Ben asks about Drake’s mental state. Augustine defends the captain but admits he’s having difficulties dealing with the loss of his wife.

Augustine opens up to Ben/Rossi about why he is so devoted to Drake. He tells Ben about his own father’s alcoholism and abuse, which drove Augustine to fight back, then run away and join the navy. Drake took him under his wing and got him through the academy to where he is today.

Addison’s never heard about this. The father she knew never talked about his family.

Augustine recognizes Drake’s going to have his bad days but he believes he can keep the captain in check.

As Ben and Addison try to unpack what Augustine revealed, Ziggy alerts Addison to the fact the Tampa sailors still die because no one rescues them. At that moment, the Montana is struck by something.

Drake believes it was a torpedo but Augustine argues the radar didn’t pick up a torpedo. Drake orders a retaliatory charge readied for when they pick up the Chinese sub again.

Augustine pulls Ben aside and tasks him with proving it wasn’t the Chinese sub. He has about five minutes.

On the waterfront, Magic discovers the Chinese had mined the waters around where the Tampa was surveilling. They were laid in Chinese waters but a bad storm had torn fifty mines free and they drifted into the international waters where the war games were being held.

Magic tells Jenn about the minefield. She says that’s great and hangs up on him.

Ben has Walker in coms tweak the sonar sweep and it lights up all the mines.

Augustine informs the captain but Drake is still fixated on firing on the Chinese sub when they find it. Augustine rushes to the bridge. The sonar picks up the sub. The CEC officer informs the captain who orders him to fire at will. Ben tries to slow him by telling him he’s making a mistake, but he follows orders and arms the torpedoes.

Augustine arrives at the bridge and hits the emergency stops which knocks the sonar out and prevents the torpedoes from being launched.

Drake orders Augustines confined to quarters and orders the CEC to inform him when they find the sub again.

Ziggy predicts America and China will go to war if Drake fires on the sub.

Jenn informs Magic that the changes are now potentially global. He states his belief that the Quantum Leap project is guided by a force bent towards justice. Jenn hopes that’s true.

The Montana receives a clear transmission from the Tampa, reporting that they’ve surfaced and are taking on water. Drake is still fixated on the sub and orders a navy helicopter to rescue the Tampa crew. Ben tries to dissuade him but chain of command prevents him from addressing the captain regarding the mistake he’s making.

Addison tells Ben only her father can change the captain’s mind. Or make the change to the command structure himself.

When Ben goes to Augustine, Augustine is looking at his wedding photo. He tells Ben that Addison’s mother doesn’t love him anymore but she’ll never leave him. He figures if he leaves, his wife will be happier and Addison will be spared the darkness he carries.

He quotes an old hymn that preaches, “Do what must be done.” Ben points out that it’s speaking to the situation with Drake. Augustine states it’ll be mutiny, but Ben says it’s the only way to save the crew on the Montana and the Tampa.

Ben helps Augustine evade his guards, but gets taken down and apprehended.

Augustine confronts Drake and accuses him of placing his crew in danger with his actions. Drake looks for support among his staff but they all abstain.

Drake blows up at his crew then catches sight of himself in a reflection and deflates. He hands command to Augustine and removes himself to his quarters. In order to rescue the Tampa, the Montana has to go through the minefield. Addison tells Ben she can get the codes to remotely detonate the Chinese mines. Ben approaches Augustine with a plan.

Ben gets Walker on the radio and has him turn the radar into a transmitter and transmit the frequency that’ll detonate the mines. It works.

The Tampa crew are brought aboard the Montana. Addison’s on the bridge where Augustine’s piloting alone. She talks to him and he seems to acknowledge some of what she’s said.

Ben’s on the deck. Walker approaches and calls out to him. Ben turns around and sees that it’s Martinez, looking much older than the first time they crossed paths. They have words and Martinez leaves/leaps, stating that he’ll win.

The real Walker stands in front of Ben, looking confused. Ben confirms the feeling’s mutual and leaps.

He arrives in a woman host in a courtroom. He’s the public defender, defending a client on a charge of public nudity.