NCIS investigates the death of a Navy officer killed during an LAPD shootout with drug runners. Initially they think the officer was a hostage but when Callen and Sam find he has been picked up and dropped off daily by the drivers of the car and has been using his military clearance to send top secret satellite photos of a mounting anti-drug military mission to a drug cartel leader, they question his loyalty. Further investigation reveals that he was being forced to cooperate because his niece is being held hostage. When they learn the identity of the cartel leader, Callen and Sam go under cover posing as satellite experts, offering to replace the flow of secret information to him; their goal -- to get close enough to find the dead Navy officer's niece.