Toward the end of the Cold War, reports from Trident boat commanders indicate an unusual amount of encounters with Soviet vessels. Responding to a potential threat to the heretofore undetectable movements of these important U.S strategic submarines with their strategic second strike capability, a highly classified investigation referred to as Wildcard is put in place by the Navy. Frank Berria becomes a key player in events as they develop to include the death of his scholastic mentor followed by that of his father. Franks brother becomes involved when his internationally famous sailboat, Dragon Lady, encounters a Soviet task force engaged in surreptitious surveillance of Trident boat movements.