Retired Major Ben Hunnicutt, living in Eagle River, Alaska, encounters an old Army friend who now commands the Nike Hercules guided missile units which defend Anchorage and the nearby military installations from surprise enemy air attack. The Cold War is at its height, and the Lower 48 states are in turmoil from rioting, dissident groups committing acts of domestic terrorism, and a general rejection of the war in Vietnam.

When a warhead is stolen, Ben must locate it and stop a fringe group determined to achieve social change and the withdrawal of troops from Vietnam at any cost.