|
NASA discovers an extrasolar planet with conditions similar to Earth and transmits a powerful signal from a communications array in Hawaii. Meanwhile slacker Alex Hopper gets arrested while attempting to impress Samantha Shane, daughter of United States Pacific Fleet commander Admiral Terrance Shane. Stone Hopper, Alex's older brother and a Commander under Terrance, is infuriated at Alex's lack of motivation and forces Alex to join him in the United States Navy. By 2012, Alex is a lieutenant aboard the Arleigh Burke class destroyer USS John Paul Jones, while Stone is the commanding officer of USS Sampson. Alex is in a relationship with Samantha and due to disciplinary problems is in danger of being discharged from the navy. Their ships, along with others from around the world, are taking part in RIMPAC naval exercises in England
During the training exercise five alien spacecraft arrive in response to the NASA signal. Their communications ship crashes in Hong Kong, while four others land in the water near Hawaii. Sampson, John Paul Jones, and the JMSDF Kongo class destroyer Myōkō investigate, but are trapped when one of the ships erects a force field around the Hawaiian islands. After shots are fired the aliens destroy Sampson and Myōkō, and damage John Paul Jones killing the commanding and executive officers. Alex takes command as the most senior officer left on the ship. He recovers survivors from Myōkō, including Captain Nagata who suggests using the tsunami warning buoys around Hawaii to track the aliens. During a night battle, the aliens and the humans exchange shots in a manner reminiscent of the "Battleship" board game. The John Paul Jones sinks two alien ships but is unable to hit the third. Alex had learnt that the aliens were sensitive to sunlight after they captured one and decides to lure the third alien vessel close to shore, where he and Nagata shoot out its bridge windows at sunrise blinding the aliens. In the ensuing battle both ships are destroyed.
Meanwhile the aliens have taken over the communications array and are attempting to signal their home planet. Nearby Samantha, a physiotherapist, is accompanying retired Army veteran and double amputee Mick Canales on a hike to help him adapt to his prosthetic legs. They meet a scientist fleeing from the array who agrees to retrieve a radio that will allow them to contact the John Paul Jones. Fearing the aliens were contacting a larger invasion fleet Alex planned to destroy the array, but since his ship has been destroyed the survivors are forced to return to base and acquire the only available naval vessel, the USS Missouri. Although a museum ship, they are able to reactivate it with the aid of the retired veterans preserving her. The battleship engages the final alien ship and destroys the force field it was maintaining. Alex uses the last shell to destroy the array, leaving Missouri defenceless. However, with the barrier down jet fighters from the RIMPAC fleet arrive and eliminate the last alien vessel. A ceremony is held to honor the navy personnel and Alex asks Admiral Shane for his daughter's hand in marriage. A post-credits scene in Scotland shows three schoolchildren and a handyman running off in terror as an alien hand reaches out of an object they have just broken open.
|
