Captain Eddie “Reaper” Grimm, a US Air Force drone pilot, supported by Staff Sergeant Nia Branson, provides air support to a US Army Delta Force team on a mission to rescue a CIA spy in the southern Philippines. During the mission, a firefight breaks out against the Abu Sayyaf, and Sergeant JJ “Playboy” Kinney, an Air Force TACP Airman, is seemingly the only survivor. He relies on Grimm’s remote air support to reach an extraction point but is intercepted by the enemy, depleting the drone’s ammunition and forcing the extraction helicopter to leave. Kinney is later captured after falling down a hill and losing his weapon.

Kinney is rescued by Master Sergeant John “Sugar” Sweet, who informs him that Sergeant Bishop has been taken prisoner. Using Sweet’s radio, Kinney contacts Grimm, who schedules three bombings on the Abu Sayyaf base before being forced to take a leave. Kinney and Sweet are captured during a raid and taken to a prison where Sweet is executed just before the first bombing hits. Kinney survives the bombing and kills the rebel leader, then uses the leader’s satellite phone to call Nellis Air Force Base, requesting Grimm to call off the third bombing.

Distracted by a March Madness game, the base crew redirects Kinney’s call to Grimm’s private phone. Grimm, preoccupied with his pregnant wife while grocery shopping, misses the call. After hearing Kinney’s voicemail, Grimm rushes to the base and orders the B-1 Lancer pilot to abort the bombing just in time as Kinney, Bishop, and the CIA agent reach the cave’s entrance.

Grimm criticizes the base crew and his superiors for their negligence, which nearly cost the lives of three men. In frustration, he smashes the break room’s television. Later, Grimm and Branson convene in a hangar, where Branson asks him to walk her down the aisle at her wedding. Grimm agrees, and they share a dance.