An alien spacecraft the size of a city materializes over the Pacific Ocean and the nations of the world jointly engage this enigmatic and incommunicative visitor with force. This battle results in large-scale destruction on both sides, but does not answer any of the questions that will haunt humanity: What are these utterly inhuman creatures? Where did they come from? Why did they choose to visit our planet? And—most importantly—are more forces on the way? For the bereaved billionaire Carlton Land, renowned biologist Aimee O'Donnell, and the brilliant, but blunt USAAF Chief Scientist Kenneth Yamazaki, these questions must be answered in order to safeguard the future of the human race.