In the brave New World of terrorism, where anybody with a spare AK-47, a knowledge of kitchen chemistry, or simply the will to die can become a player, the old rules no longer apply. No matter what new governmental organizations come into being, the only ones that could truly effective are those that are quick and agile, free of oversight and restrictions and outside of the system.
 
In a nondescript office building in the suburban Maryland, a firm named Henley Associates does a profitable business in stocks, bonds, and international currencies, but its real mission is quite different: to identify and locate terrorist threats, and then to deal with them, in whatever manner necessary. Set up with the knowledge of President John Patrick Ryan, "the campus" is always on the lookout for promising new talent, its recruiter scattered throughout the armed forces and government agencies -  and three men are about to cross its radar.....