Freshman Congressman Max Noble gave up his career as a magazine publisher to pursue a life of public service. A botched assassination attempt may have changed his mind. Excused from the arrogant President Cole's State of the Union address to a joint session of Congress, Max's life is spared the murderous rage of a terrorist who declares himself the new "Sultan." Armed with the United States' military facilities, Sultan begins to govern the former democracy under Sharia law in a Taliban-like manner as the "Islamic States of America." Despite having no legitimate claim to the presidency under the Constitution, Max is determined to do what he must to restore freedom to the nation.