Government architect John Newman is immensely proud of one of his top achievements-the largest and most sophisticated emergency operation facility in the country, built to house top U.S. government programs. President Christopher Wilcox makes a top secret visit to the facility, but tragedy strikes when an earthquake destroys the complex. With the president presumed dead, Vice President Edward Vance assumes the duties of the presidency.

Thanks to Newman's design, the president is still alive-and Newman is now in charge of keeping him that way. Trapped inside, President Wilcox is powerless to expose an imminent threat to the United States, one that will forever change the American way of life.

When rumors of the president's survival begin to emerge, all rescue operations suddenly cease, by order of acting President Vance. Is one man's blind ambition keeping Wilcox from resuming the presidency, or is there something much more sinister afoot?