Former war hero and diplomat Frank Arnett is working for the organization OSI (Organization for Strategical Intervention), which battles drug trafficing in Central- and South America. Currently, Frank leads a mission called 'Operation Jaguar', which includes getting Hector Ramirez - courier between the drug cartel and the corrupt government Buenaventura - brought to America along with his cartel ledgers that can bring the bad guys down. Hector's only demand is that his girlfriend Isabella must be taken to America as well. Frank requests that his son, Navy pilot Rio Arnett, be brought in to help with the mission. OSI director Willard Jenner okays Rio's involvment but Henry Stanley, another important OSI figure, is vehemently oppsosed to the idea. Rio goes to Buenaventura and discovers that on the mission he'll also be working with his old pal Wiley Ferrell. Wiley briefly shows Rio around, including the Parador Hotel, the only hotel around which is run by the beautiful Allison Stratton. Then, Rio finally gets to meet his father whom he hasn't seen in 4 years. Frank explains that before they can smuggle Hector out of the country, it's essential for the cartel to believe that Hector is dead. Thus the team set out to orchestrate a fake industrial accident to "kill" Hector. However, the explosion they've planned goes off 30 seconds too early and everything goes wrong. Someone has obviously tipped the corrupt government. Worse yet, both Hector and Frank are reported dead. A heartbroken Rio goes back to America and discusses the matter with Jenner and Stanley. Stanley insists it must have been Isabella that betrayed them to the cartel. Rio asks Jenner to let him join OSI; more specifically to get stationed in Buenaventura so he can find out if his father really is dead or not. Jenner agrees and makes Rio Station Chief in Buenaventura. Someone, however, dislikes Rio's snooping and an attempt is made at his life. Also, Jenner mysteriously collapses.