When an underground Chinese democratic movement becomes strong enough militarily to challenge the repressive government forces, all hell breaks loose.
In the ensuing civil war, smoking battlefields make satellite intelligence inconclusive.
Sent to the Gulf of Chihli to monitor the situation covertly, the 'USS Tampa' is captured by hard-line Chinese forces. Commanding the new state-of-the-art submarine 'USS Seawolf', Captain Michael Pacino sets out to rescue the 'Tampa' and its commander, his erstwhile Naval Academy roommate. In the close quarters of the Gulf, Pacino must use all his ingenuity - and an armoury of equipment on the cutting edge of military technology - to avoid detection and retrieve the 'Tampa' from Chinese hands . . .