When Harm and Mac set out to find C.I.A. Agent Clayton Webb's killer after his body is found aboard a burning ship, they inadvertently uncover a rogue government spy agency.

Retracing Webb's steps, Harm and Mac learn that he was on a top-secret mission to deliver a high-tech weapons project to the proper authorities when he was stopped. Waiting for Harm and Mac when they discover this, though, is none other than Harm's former nemesis, ex-C.I.A. Agent Clark Palmer, now working with the rogue spy agency, who will stop at nothing -- including Harm's murder -- to get his hands on the top-secret project.

Harm and Mac stumble upon a miscarriage of justice in a 10-year-old case when they tutor a group of law students in a mock trial.

In the original case, an investigation team headed by Admiral Chegwidden concluded that a disgruntled gun captain caused an explosion that killed 29 sailors, including himself. But when the ""defense attorney,"" helped by Mac, and the ""prosecutor,"" helped by Harm, retry the case, a new witness and new evidence are uncovered, prompting Mac and Harm to request that the original hearing be re-evaluated.

Harm defends a Sergeant Major accused of the attempted murder of his wife. However, the Sgt. Major claims that he was concerned when his wife didn't come home, went out looking for her & was led to her location by the vision of a deceased chaplain from his old Vietnam unit. His defense attracts a representative of the Vatican which is considering the deceased chaplain for Sainthood.

Meanwhile, when Tiner hooks up a new screensaver that searches for extra-terrestial life on the Admiral's computer, it stirs excitement when it starts making weird noises.

Preparing to give a lecture about an 1842 Naval court-martial, Mac finds herself daydreaming about what actually happened.