THE TRIDENT DECEPTION

Captain Ross was the first Commanding Officer of USS NEW YORK CITY (SSN 696) and was later a pro-gram manager in the Naval Sea Systems Command. After retirement, he served in the Department of Energy, Defense Information Systems Agency, Missile Defense Agency, and the Department of Homeland Security as a contractor.

THE TRIDENT DECEPTION by Rick Campbell is a true thriller that is set on a global scale. The chapters are generally short allowing several plots to be revealed simultaneously. In almost every instance, each situation changes at the last moment and a new sub-plot is introduced. Although THE TRIDENT DECEPTION is basically a submarine warfare novel, it is also an intriguing espionage tale. The interaction of the civilian government (from the President and his National Security Advisor down) with the military makes for exciting reading.

The initial plot involves Israel, Iran, and the United States. Iran has developed its first nuclear weapon and, in ten days, intends to use it against Israel. Israel wants to destroy Iran’s suspected weapon complex but it is too far underground for conventional weaponry and requires a nuclear strike. Israel activates a long-planned secret operation to have the United States destroy the suspected weapon complex. How this operation progresses is fascinating.

USS Kentucky, a Trident ballistic missile submarine carrying a full complement of nuclear warheads, has left on a routine patrol and receives a launch order after which its communications systems are disabled. What Kentucky’s crew doesn’t know is that those launch orders haven’t actually come from the U.S. government. Kentucky does not acknowledge a launch termination order from the U.S. Navy. The decision is made by the President to locate Kentucky and stop her from proceeding with the weapons launch. With only eight days remaining before Kentucky is within launch range, the Navy is ordered to intercept and neutralize Kentucky. The search for Kentucky is written in technical and operational detail that a submariner will enjoy.

THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER was my generation’s favorite tale. THE TRIDENT DECEPTION is today’s version: fast moving action, full of fictional excitement, high technology thrills and international political intrigue!