Cold FireCold Fire

"In the frigid air high above the Arctic Ocean, an American C-17 carrying a cutting-edge laser of immense power successfully shoots down a ballistic missile nearly four hundred miles away. Before the celebration can even begin, the aircraft goes dark, vanishing off radar and disappearing into the mists at the top of the world. As the details emerge, it becomes obvious that the aircraft has been hijacked, the crew murdered at their stations. Its last known heading would take it directly to Russia, but the CIA insists it never arrived. An odd signal suggests it crashed into the Arctic Ocean midway between Norway and the North Pole. In a tense meeting, the president asks how deep the waters are in that area. Not deep enough is the answer. Russian ships are seen putting out to sea in large numbers. Chinese vessels are spotted north of Norway. The only American asset in the area is a small research vessel operated by NUMA. The president orders NUMA to send it into the fray. Kurt Austin and Joe Zavala lead the search but soon find that all is not as it seems. The Chinese were waiting for the plane's arrival, while the Russians had expected it to land in their territory, and now all three are closing in on a shooting war to keep the others from finding the missing plane. With the rules of engagement suspended and lives hanging in the balance, Kurt and the NUMA special projects team pull on the threads connecting the mystery only to discover the great nations of the world are being manipulated by a single man with a deadly plan of revenge."-- Page [4] of cover.