While exercising her rights of navigation in international waters, HMS Queen Elizabeth is faced by Russian warships diverted from the Black Sea to intercept her, as well as Russian aircraft scrambled from their base in Syria to buzz the British task force. This leads to a dramatic standoff near the coast of Syria. Meanwhile, the 1,600-strong ship's company lives a subterranean existence, continuing with their tasks and duties while largely unaware of the drama being enacted in the sky above them.