Object

Central Command's F-18s

High-performance fighter jets surge from Central Command's arsenal, screaming low over the sanctions-evading Sudanese tanker after a failed Seahawk boarding. Pilots buzz the deck and rake warning shots across the bow, repelling AK-47 fire and barricades without scratching the hull. Leo absorbs the tense triumph in his office—ship halted, yet crew torches log, registry, and manifest in defiant fury.

4 appearances

Purpose

Intercept and halt non-compliant vessels through low-level buzzes and warning shots

Significance

Escalates sanctions enforcement into airborne showdown, delivering tactical win marred by evidence destruction; fuels Leo's world-weary resolve, summons Bartlet amid unraveling diplomacy

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments

S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Leo Skeptical of Navy's Failed Boarding and F-18 Escalation

Central Command's F-18 jets outlined as the next escalation—buzzing the tanker and firing warning shots over the bow—serving as the briefing's cliffhanger, injecting aerial menace that foreshadows Leo's fatalistic exit and broader crisis momentum.

Before: On standby at Central Command bases

After: Dispatched en route to buzz tanker

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S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Bartlet Grills Leo on Tanker Strike Catastrophe Risks

Leo outlines F-18 pilots' contingency—warning shots and propeller disablement—to Bartlet, who interjects with dire crude oil explosion warning if they err, injecting lethal peril into the seizure plan and ratcheting tension over precision in sanctions enforcement.

Before: Deployed from Central Command, poised for low-pass and strike action

After: Plan clarified with presidential caveat, execution pending

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S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Leo Brushes Off Margaret's Concern, Confides Divorce to Bartlet

Central Command's F-18s feature centrally in Leo's tactical outline to Bartlet—firing warning shots or targeting the propeller—while the President cautions on risks to the oil-laden tanker, heightening tension over potential catastrophe in the interdiction.

Before: Deployed for low-pass and warning shots post-Seahawk failure

After: Confirmed in refined strike strategy with emphasized precautions

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S2E7 · The Portland Trip

Leo Digests Tanker Setback and Mobilizes for Bartlet's Return

Central Command's F-18s are invoked in Mark's update as the key interdiction tool that fired warning shots over the tanker's bow, successfully halting it without damage or boarding casualties, yet enabling crew's evidence destruction—highlighting tactical precision amid strategic frustration.

Before: Deployed in Gulf pursuit

After: Mission complete, tanker stopped but evidence lost

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