the book begins with us president jonathan lincoln duncan rehearsing a potential testimony with a house of representatives select committee. it has been discovered that the president made a phone call to suliman cindoruk, the leader of the cyberterrorist group sons of jihad, and he is accused of negotiating with a terrorist. it was also discovered that the president ordered an attack to stop some ukrainian operatives in algeria who were attempting to kill suliman. in the attack, an american cia operative was killed and suliman escaped. the president's aides advise him against testifying at the hearing, believing it will only lead to impeachment proceedings.