Red Storm Rising is another Clancy masterpiece in which reluctant CIA agent John (Jack) Ryan finds himself thrust into the front line of high-level politics between the two super-power cold war adversaries. Sparked by Islamist extremists sabotaging one of the primary oil processing and storage plants, the USSR is desperately short with winter on-coming and little reserve available to cover the loss. In a high level meeting the decision is taken to unleash a series of events that lead to invasion of Western Europe. The race is on between the Russians and the US Atlantic fleet and once again Europe witnesses a battle for sea-lanes where stakes are high. If reinforcements do not reach the European mainland and deploy in time the USSR will overrun and take control of Germany, and the prize of rich oil and gas reserves. In a high paced sequence of events Jack Ryan finds himself again at the sharp end where his specialist skills place him on the US carriers Nimitz - a key target for incoming Soviet aircraft.