Set in the near future, the saga unfolds to reveal that Europe is on the verge of unifying and Russia has opened itself up to tourism. From this foundation, the narrator depicts the events, most of which are historical facts, that lead a man named "The Commandant" to gain power and put the entire world in danger. The "soldiers" use nuclear devices, major commercial airlines and airports throughout Europe, tourists taken hostage, and assassins, to take control of the European continent. As to be expected, world trade comes to a halt, and the US and Russia face a nuclear showdown as never seen since the Kennedy era. As events reach a climax, the Commandant pulls out all the stops to nuclear war. The President of the United States collapses in disbelief, while his staff wait to see what the Commandant will do next.