To test their skills, Commodore Tolwyn splits the new cadets into the Blue Team led by the promising Christopher 'Maverick' Blair and the Red Team led by the hotheaded Todd 'Maniac' Marshall, but a traitor tries to sabotage the war games.
Cadets Maverick, Maniac, Payback and Blizzard become consumed with paranoia and put both themselves and their ship, the Tiger's Claw, in grave danger. Archer is forced to take Blizzard, who's secretly in love with her, down for good.
Maverick and Maniac are captured by Daimon Karnes (voiced by Ron Perlman), a missing legendary space fighter pilot who became disillusioned with the war and turned to piracy.