forces the President to end his liaison with Michaels. Meanwhile, Hood, dispirited by Jane's departure, tries to resign, but Adm. Davis talks him out of it. With their source blown, the Israelis give Hood the buyer's identity and his file: Abdul Fazawi (Kabir Bedi), former Mossad agent-turned-arms-dealer. Fazawi must be neutralized before the recovery operation begins, or he will disappear to set up another such deal. Then wily rogue KGB Col. Stolipin (Sherman Howard) alters the ship's course towards Libya, reducing the time-frame in which the recovery team, codenamed "Linebacker", can act. Hood sends Pamela Bluestone and Dan McCaskey (Bo Hopkins), deputy assistant FBI director and Center' crime/terrorism expert, to New York to arrest Fazawi, who must be in custody before "Linebacker" moves. But Fazawi is late to his rendezvous. When he does show up he is arrested but Werkauf shoots him dead, wounding McCaskey and another FBI agent before being shot dead himself. With hind-sight Bob Herbert (John Savage), the Center's Intelligence Officer (Beirut Embassy bombing, 1983), realizes that the Israelis used the Center to flush Fazawi into the open. Meanwhile, "Linebacker" has gone into action; following a short, hard fight they take control of ship, surviving crew and warheads, and disarming the scuttling charge. At next day's press conference the President announces that contrary to 'irresponsible... unfounded reports', there are no stolen nuclear warheads: the US, Russia and Israel have just concluded a joint exercise simulating theft and recovery of dummy warheads, and to prove it he introduces the Russian and Israeli ambassadors to answer questions. When asked how she got the Russians and Israelis to cooperate Liz Gorman (Mia Korf), the Center's long suffering and resourceful Press and Congressional Liaison, replies: "I appealed to their sense of national interest... Well you know: blackmail." Davis confirms Hood head of the Center for as long as he wants the job. Hood declines being interviewed by The Washington Post and heads home to his two preteen daughters, alone with the housekeeper while their mother is out of town. But when he opens the door his wife is waiting instead: Adm. Davis called Jane to explain why Paul has been so busy. As she takes him into her arms, he hesitantly returns the embrace, a wary look on his face. Cast (partial) NCMC Staff Harry Hamlin – Paul Hood, Director NCMC Carl Weathers – Brigadier General Mike Rodgers, Deputy Director NCMC