The Last Ship is based on a novel of the same name by William Brinkley. After a global viral pandemic wipes out over 80% of the world';s population, the crew of a lone unaffected U.S. Navy Captain Tom Chandler and his crew must find a cure after a pandemic wipes out billions of people worldwide. Scientist Rachel Scott is assigned to the U.S.S. Nathan James to investigate the cause of the rapidly spreading virus. Chandler and his crew head to the U.S. Military base at Guantanamo Bay in hopes of collecting food, medical supplies and fuel replenishments. Three teams are dispatched to carry out these varied tasks.