Molecular biologist Matt Brenner stumbles upon a horrifying plot when he seeks answers regarding the suspicious death of his childhood friend, Jack Sinclair, a scientist in a secret Army Biodefense Research Center in St. Louis. Matt joins the facility as one of their research scientists and makes a shocking discovery: the psychopathic commanding general has unleashed neurotoxins inside and outside the facility, causing several ghastly deaths.Realizing he's in over his head, Matt joins forces with the FBI and his ex-lover, Major Joan Wu. Matt and Joan learn that the general has developed a biochip containing a flesh-eating virus that can be released from a computer. The general's plan? To destroy an al-Qaeda terrorist cell in Newark—no matter the cost in "collateral damage." Can Matt and Joan avert a tragedy, or will thousands of innocent people die?