Firefox Down

As with the first novel, the book focuses on the efforts of Mitchell Gant to steal the fictional prototype MiG-31 Firefox Soviet aircraft.

After a brief engagement with two Soviet MiG-25s, Gant lands the Firefox on a frozen lake in neutral Finland, whereupon the weight of the aircraft causes it to break through the ice and become submerged.

While Gant searches for Harris, Priabin rashly tries to force Anna to return to Moscow with him, despite her protests.

Gant learns that due to bad weather, the mission to recover the Firefox has failed, and they are resorting to dismantling what they can before the Soviets arrive.

Nonetheless, Gant successfully takes off, narrowly avoiding destruction by Mi-24 helicopters, and is then pursued by MiGs into Norway.

The characters Colonel Kontarsky, Vasilly, General Vladimirov, the Communist Party of the Soviet Union (CPSU) First Secretary, and Kenneth Aubrey return from Firefox.

Alan Waterford features as well in Snow Falcon, and CIA Deputy Director Charles Buckholz appears in several other novels.