Gordon Van Zandt is a man accustomed to adversity and hardship, but now he is left with dwindling options. With his fledgling republic teetering on the verge of collapse, he must find a way to seize an unlikely victory from what appears to be certain defeat. President Cruz is no stranger to the position he holds, having served in Conner's absence before; however; this time the job is proving to be difficult and downright impossible. The remnants of the United States are being held together by a patchwork of governors and bureaucrats, some using his weakness as a means to enrich themselves. With the war against Cascadia at a standstill, he must make a decision to either negotiate peace or continue the war that has done nothing but damage each side and left his military scattered and weakened. Both men are in precarious positions and riding the razor's edge towards an uncertain future.