A few years into the future, the Chinese have acquired advanced missile-defense laser technology through the defection of one Dr. Cheung. With this protection against American retaliation, they threaten Taiwan,and act against the Panama Canal to cut off American naval reinforcements to the Pacific. This brings the U.S. directly into the fray, overtly with naval and air protection for Taiwan and covertly with penetrations of China to retrieve or eliminate Cheung.