 While serving in that capacity the heli the two were travelling in was fire on by a surface-to-air missile, and Tolliver threw Seafort aside to seize the controls and take evasive action.Rather than court-martial and execute Tolliver for touching him, as the strict naval regulations would have demanded, Seafort instead opted to give him administrative punishment, and demoted the Lieutenant to Midshipman.Tolliver remained as Seafort's aide throughout the battle of Hope Nation that followed, and eventually an understanding grew between the two.