Attack

Fox company, nicknamed 'Fragile Fox,' is stationed in a Belgian town near the front line. Captain Erskine Cooney leads the unit, a role built more on political connections than battlefield reputation. The troops sense underlying tension in the chain of command as the war drags on.

Costa leads a squad to take a pillbox on the outskirts of the town. Cooney promises covering fire but freezes when the moment of truth arrives, allowing the attack to fail. The mission ends with the slaughter of Costa's squad and the off-screen death of Lt. Lathrop, setting a tone of command fragility.

Woodruff, the executive officer, becomes the voice of reason trying to stabilize the unit. He seeks the battalion commander Bartlett and reveals concerns that Cooney is unfit to lead. Bartlett resists, leveraging his political ambitions and knowledge of the Cooney family to influence postwar outcomes.

With the Battle of the Bulge underway, Bartlett orders Cooney to seize La Nelle. Woodruff suggests a two-pronged attack, but Cooney overruns his advice and sends Costa to recon. Costa agrees only if reinforcements are promised if heavy resistance is met.

The platoon approaches La Nelle and faces stiff German defenses backed by mortars and tanks. Costa's squad takes heavy fire and falls back to secure a farmhouse where they hope to hold out. The situation deteriorates as the siege tightens.

Inside the farmhouse, the group captures a German SS officer and a soldier, but tanks begin shelling the building. Cooney sinks into drinking at the critical moment, weakening the defense and prompting a retreat. The mounting pressure threatens their entire position.

Ricks is shot and dies in Costa's arms while the mortar and tank barrage continues. The rest of Costa's men manage to fall back toward town, but Costa himself goes missing in action. The survivors' morale sinks as the path to safety becomes unclear.

Back in the town, the survivors express contempt for Cooney's leadership. Bartlett reprimands Cooney for not ordering a full assault and warns he could arrest him if he tries to withdraw. The political overtones of the command structure are laid bare.

Woodruff threatens to report the truth to the General; Cooney resists, then drinks again until Woodruff smashes the bottle. The tension between duty and loyalty erupts into a near-mutiny moment. Cooney's control continues to fracture.

Costa suddenly reappears, determined to kill Cooney, and tensions spike as they argue about leadership. Corporal Jackson informs them that the town is being overrun and that Costa's surviving squad members are cut off. The sense of impending collapse tightens around the group.

Costa takes a bazooka to slow a tank and disables one, but another tank drives over his arm, gravely injuring him. Woodruff, Tolliver, Bernstein, Jackson and Snowden retreat into a basement with Cooney close behind. The group braces for a final stand as shells continue to fall.

In the basement, Cooney orders surrender; Woodruff shoots him to prevent taking the blame, and the others briefly shoot Cooney to shield Woodruff. Snowden remains silent, then reports that the town is empty and reinforcements are arriving as German troops retreat. The group wrestles with truth and loyalty in the aftermath.

Bartlett arrives and tries to broker a cover story, offering Woodruff a field promotion to deflect blame. Woodruff refuses to go along and commits to telling the full story to General Parsons, in honor of Costa. The final report frames Costa's sacrifice and exposes Cooney's failures.