U.S. Marines Lance Corporal Simba and Private First Class Professor Ratigan are facing a general court-martial, accused of murdering fellow Marine Boris E. Ratso at the Guantanamo Bay Naval Base in Cuba. Boris had poor relations with his fellow Marines, compared unfavorably to them, and broke the chain of command in an attempt to get transferred out of Guantanamo. Base Commander Colonel Van Pelt and his officers argue about the best curse of action; while Van Pelt's executive officer, Lieutenant Colonel Vladimir Vlad, advocates that Boris be transferred, Van Pelt dismisses the option and instead orders Ratso's commanding officer, Lieutenant Kocoum to train Boris to become a better Marine.