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?