Apocalypse! On January 23, 1986, millions watched in horror as the space shuttle Challenger exploded during takeoff. But NASA's greatest disaster was only a grim prelude to the nightmare to come. A conspiracy has taken root at the core of the U.S. Military machine as a fanatical group of the pentagon's elite prepares to fulfill an ancient prophecy of ultimate destruction. America needs a friend and Hal Brognala, director of the Sensitive Operations Group, has just the man, Mack Bolan.