Pavel Voronin - the ruthless ally of Russia's autocratic president, Piotr Zhdanov - is preparing a devastating nuclear attack on the United States, one that will catapult Russia to the height of world power through intimidation and mass murder. With official US intelligence organizations blind to the emerging threat, Nick and his comrades in the highly secret Quartet Directorate are the last line of defense... risking everything to stop Voronin before millions die.