In the heart of the Aegean Sea, a luxury yacht is on fire and sinking fast. Minutes later, a four-engined jet with a fire in its nose-cone crashes into the sea. Is there a sinister connection between these two tragedies? And is it an accident that the Ariadne, a NATO spy ship, is the only ship in the vicinity--the only witness? Only Commander Talbot of the Ariadne can prode the answers as he uncovers a deadly plot involving drugs and terrorism--leading to the heart of the Pentagon.