The USS Tampa Bay, a U.S. submarine, disappears while tracking a Russian Akula-class sub in the Arctic. Rear Admiral John Fisk sends Commander Joe Glass and the USS Arkansas to investigate. Simultaneously, Navy SEALs led by Lieutenant Bill Beaman are tasked with discreetly monitoring a Russian naval base. At the base, they witness Defense Minister Dmitri Durov staging a coup against President Zakarin, realizing Durov plans to start a war.
After losing contact with the USS Tampa Bay, Captain Joe Glass takes command of the USS Arkansas for a search. They find both the USS Tampa Bay and a Russian sub sunk, with survivors aboard. While under attack by another Russian submarine hidden in an iceberg, they manage to destroy it and rescue the survivors, including Russian Captain Andropov. Meanwhile, Beaman's team discovers a coup at the Russian base, where Durov is overthrowing President Zakarin. Beaman and Glass must work together to rescue Zakarin to prevent nuclear conflict, but they need Captain Andropov’s assistance to access Russian waters. Will he cooperate with Glass.
The Pentagon and White House panic when the USS Tampa Bay disappears while tracking a Russian submarine, which sinks. Newly-promoted Commander Joe Glass takes command of the USS Arkansas, uncovers the truth, and rescues Russian Admiral Andropov and survivors who assist in battling hostile Russian ships. Meanwhile, Russian President Zakarin is held hostage by his defense minister, Durov, during a visit to the Kola Peninsula. To prevent nuclear war, Lieutenant Beaman's SEAL team is tasked with rescuing Zakarin after a rough parachute drop, while Glass is ordered to extract them, both missions proving difficult despite Andropov's helpfulness.