When climate change pushes the United States to the brink of civil war, China tries to take advantage of the countrywide chaos by launching an assault in force. The Chinese Communist Party finds that the most powerful nation in the world can still defend her title in spite of the deadly domestic disturbances. A cold war sets in, which turns hot again when the terrestrial superpowers clash over the ability to harvest asteroid-bound precious metals in space. The events that take place above the Earth's atmosphere will determine the fate of nations below.