Object
North Dakota (Sensor Ship)
A gray-hulled naval sensor ship: a mid-sized steel surface combatant with a squat superstructure bristling with radar arrays, mast-mounted antennas and electronic surveillance pods. Deck crews are implied rather than shown; officers in the Situation Room cite its telemetry. Characters treat the ship’s signal as a hard contact, its wake of sensor data sharpening the hunt for a downed pilot.
2 appearances
Purpose
Act as a maritime sensor and tracking platform: collect radar and electronic intelligence, detect and track aircraft and surface contacts, and relay targeting and situational data to command centers.
Significance
Its tracking signal converts rumor into operational fact, compressing time and escalating political choices by supplying the Situation Room with actionable location data for the downed F‑117 pilot; the ship’s feed propels the rescue-versus-diplomacy split and raises the stakes for presidential decision-making.
Appearances in the Narrative
When this object appears and how it's used