Shadowy elements within the US State Department secretly cause tensions to flare between Iran and the former Soviet republic of Azerbaijan. They hope to start a shooting war to increase their own power and profit. At the same time, the conspirations decide to up the ante-by deposing the president of the United States. In a treacherous scheme, they convince the president that he is mentally unstable, and a silent coup d'etat is within their reach. Now, Paul Hood and the members of Op-Centre must race against the clock to prevent the outbreak of war, save the honour of the president-and expose the traitors...

Since the publication of The Hunt for Red October, Tom Clancy has established an unrivalled position as the world’s leading thriller writer, with a string of million-selling novels and three major Hollywood films to his name. He is also the author of SSN and the non-fiction books Submarine, Armoured Warfare, Fighter Wing and Marine, and the co-creator of the Op-Centre series.