In Panama, a team of United States Army Rangers led by Master Sergeant Nathan West (Samuel L. Jackson) engage in a jungle training exercise that involves live ammunition. Sergeant Ray Dunbar (Brian Van Holt) emerges from the jungle carrying wounded Second Lieutenant Levi Kendall (Giovanni Ribisi). The two men are pursued by Sergeant Mueller (Dash Mihok), who is shooting at them, and Dunbar kills Mueller in self-defense. Although no other bodies are found, West's team are presumed dead.