Intrigue and Suspense

The novel has a theme of intrigue and suspense from cover to cover. It begins in the opening pages when the Titanic is sinking and an unnamed passenger locks himself in the vault instead of trying to save himself. He tells a crew member that he has killed eight men and can't live with the guilt. As he closed the vault door, he mentions Southby. This sets the stage for the intrigue and suspense that follows.

The intrigue follows through Koplin's mission in Novaya Zemlya and Donner and Seagram tracking down the clues that Koplin provided them with. Where is the missing byzanium? They are led to believe that it sunk with the Titanic and this is what leads to the salvage operation. Byzanium is the only element that will work in a secret defense project called Project Sicilian.

The Russians learn of the project and...