The U.S.S. Virginia -- the first in the mosttechnologically advanced new class of U.S. attacksubmarines -- sets sail, even as the Navy'shigh-tech submarine program falls under attackfrom a Congress that believes it unneeded.But a threat no one anticipated is glidingsilently through dangerous waters. A rogueKilo-class submarine built by a shadowy andpowerful ally has become the latest weapon inal Qaeda's terrorist arsenal. The submarine'sbrutal strikes have created an explosivehostage situation in the Pacific ... and haveleft hundreds of people dead.

This new and stealthy terrorist threat must beeliminated before more innocent lives are lost.But the officers, crew, and Navy SEALsaboard the Virginia will face more than theyanticipated in the turbulent waters of theSouth China Sea -- as one untried Americansub races toward an explosive confrontationwith an old, cunning, and ruthless enemy.