The Soviets' new ballistic-missile submarine is attempting to defect to the United States, but the Soviet Atlantic fleet has been ordered to find and destroy her at all costs. Can Red October reach the U.S. safely?

With the world poised on the brink of nuclear war, Ryan and his FBI counterpart, Dan Murray, seek a solution before the chiefs of state lose control of themselves and the world.

John Kelly tries to juggle two assignments helping a friend and rescuing a group of prisoners in a North Vietnamese prisoner-of-war camp.