Storyline: In the former Soviet Union, the dissident General Radcenko militarily occupies an atomic base, threatening to launch missiles against the United States and Japan in the event of Western intervention to help the government. The US nuclear submarine USS Alabama, under the command of Captain Frank Ramsey, a veteran, sets sail and travels to the area. The escalation of the crisis and Radchenko's threats cause Ramsey to receive the order to launch missiles against the Soviet base. But a further message is interrupted when a Soviet submarine attacks Alabama, cutting off radio communications. For Ramsey, the previous intact message is valid, while for Lieutenant Commander Ron Hunter, a black man, the last message, being mutilated, could be the counter-order and would avoid an international crisis with unimaginable consequences. To prevent Ramsey from proceeding with the launch, Hunter takes him over, in accordance with the regulations, from command and has him locked up in a cabin while he is forced to face the Soviet submarine, which has already launched, touching him, four torpedoes against the American hull. But a group of officers, led by Lieutenant Bobby Dougherty, loyal to Ramsey, frees him and so a counter-mutiny takes place. A dramatic confrontation between the two men leads to an ultimatum: if within two minutes the radio that the technician Russel Vossler is frantically trying to repair does not give a clarifying message, the nuclear missiles will be launched. The on-board radio is repaired at the last minute and so the order is received to stop the launch. At home, the Commission of Inquiry, while recognizing the seriousness of the events that occurred on board the submarine, can only partially agree with both officers. Ramsey retires and on his proposal Hunter is promoted.
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