Bernie Bacon Cowley is the ship's head cook on the USS Nathan James. His rank is that of a Petty Officer Second Class.Bacon is a large guy with a good sense of humor; he is also a very good chess player, perhaps the best on the ship. He is sent to play chess with Dr. Quincy Tophet, who is being held in solitary confinement for helping the Russians attack the Nathan James for Dr. Scott and the cure research. Tophet requested someone very good with whom to play chess, and Bacon got the assignment. Tophet got into Bacon's head about what was really going on about the virus and Dr. Scott's true intentions, and convinced him and a small group that they should leave the ship. Cmdr. Chandler grants them discharge from the US Navy and provides them with supplies equivalent to the pay owed them. However, the group decided to stay and re-enlist, though it takes a while for the rest of the crew to trust them again.When the Maryland State troopers, upon orders from Amy Granderson, take the Nathan James Hostage, Bacon was a key part of the crew taking back the ship: he caused diversions with the state troopers by acting angry and loud, and also using his large size to shield others from the troopers's view; this gave other crew members the opportunity to escape and get to the armory, where they had access to weapons. When the crew was handcuffed with plastic cuffs and moved to the mess hall, Bacon snuck a knife and used it to free himself before passing the knife around in secret so that everyone else could cut their cuffs too.Bacon's large size may have been helpful during the Granderson drama, but it wasn't helpful for his career. Cmdr. Chandler ordered him to lose 20 pounds in 20 days; Tex helped him work out so that he wouldn't give up.Bacon served Dr. Scott a dinner that he'd made for the President of the United States at Camp David. He told Dr. Scott that only the best of the best Navy cooks were allowed to cook for the President at Camp David, so it was a great honor. Wen Dr. Scott asked him why he was on the ship, he told her that sailors had to go to sea in order to make rank and get promoted. He was disappointed that Dr. Scott didn't eat his food, as his description of how to make a perfect sauce inspired her to tweak a formula for creating the cure in a powder form. He later tries to help Dr. Scott in her lab, but admits that her scientific jargon and explanations are way over his head. He seems happiest in the kitchen. Show less «