Object

Independence (Aircraft Carrier)

Steel colossus Independence slices toward the Arabian Gulf, its vast flight deck bristling with F-14s and helos, island superstructure pulsing radar sweeps—now two hours from Taiwan Strait inferno. Leo's laser questions pin its position amid Super Cobra scrambles; Nancy's updates tighten jaws as Bartlet greenlights the detour, carrier's bulk wrenching westward to hurl air power into China's invasion feint, crisis vectors converging on its redirected hull.

4 appearances

Purpose

Project naval air power via embarked aircraft launches into Taiwan Strait as rapid-response deterrent to Chinese military simulation

Significance

Snaps into sharp relief as Bartlet's decisive chess piece—uncommitted force suddenly inbound, its repositioning escalates White House calculus from monitoring to active counterposture amid blackout dread and invasion brink

Appearances in the Narrative

When this object appears and how it's used

4 moments

S3E14 · Hartsfield's Landing

Bartlet Diffuses Tension, Briefed on Penghu Invasion Sim, Authorizes Carl Vinson Move

Independence carrier reported by military as two hours away, positioning it as frontline asset in Nancy's briefing on Chinese sim incorporating foreign interventions, heightening urgency for additional moves like Carl Vinson amid Strait brinkmanship.

Before: En route to Taiwan Strait vicinity

After: Two hours out, battle-ready

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S3E14 · Hartsfield's Landing

Bartlet Orders Carl Vinson Detour to Taiwan Strait

Military reports Independence two hours from Taiwan Strait amid Leo's carrier audit, highlighting its lagged position alongside Nimitz, which underscores the Carl Vinson's unique immediacy as detour pivot in naval chess.

Before: En route to operational zone, two hours out

After: Position noted in strategic shortfall

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S4E5 · Debate Camp

Barn Briefing — Qumar Escalation and Measured DEFCON Orders

USS Independence is cited as the carrier being deployed to the Gulf in response to the Qumar strikes; its deployment and air wing size provide the administration a visible, mobile deterrent and a concrete option for rapid force projection.

Before: Deployed/positioned in U.S. inventory; not yet explicitly moved to the Arabian Gulf within this scene's reporting.

After: Reported as being deployed to the Gulf as part of the heightened posture supporting DEFCON adjustments.

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S4E5 · Debate Camp

No Concessions — Leo's Blowup and the Calm Order

The aircraft carrier Independence is referenced as the asset being deployed to the Gulf in response to the crisis; its movement is used to demonstrate U.S. capability and to harden deterrent posture during the briefing.

Before: Operational in reserve/deployment planning; not yet forward-deployed to immediate Gulf position.

After: Ordered/deployed toward the Gulf as part of reinforced posture responding to Qumar/Israel escalation signals.

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