As California recovers from the devastation of the Gang Wars, a missile strikes, bringing a world war with it. Thirteen-year-old Elijah Samuel’s life as a football star and master of three martial arts takes a turn for the worst when an undetected missile strikes California. Far away, a terrorist has declared war on all countries that have Throngorian—a new metal with untapped scientific potential. School is canceled. Evacuations have started. Roads are empty. No one is safe.But Elijah has to fight. That is how he functions, stemming from an old promise to his brother, who was tormented by bullies: stand against adversity.Elijah escapes to a haven and becomes vital to the war effort by befriending the three gang leaders who ravaged California. Now, there is a chance to stop the invasion. That is if the gang leaders work together… and if Elijah is willing to lose his life.
Secrets divide the Resistance. The Watchdogs grow in power. California is ready to collapse. Worst of all: Elijah let Trevor die. Devastated by his failure to protect Trevor, Elijah resigns himself to the safe haven while the three gang leaders establish the United Front to secure California. Yet life in the safe haven is not peaceful. Elijah relives Trevor’s death in his nightmares. The United Front calls him back to the war but never explains why. Elijah believes the United Front is concealing the truth about the Resistance’s impact on the war. His suspicions come to a head when five super-charged Watchdogs trap him in the mysterious city of Arcadia. With no food, water, or chance of contacting the United Front, Elijah has to find a way out, only to discover the uncomfortable reality of his place in the war. But Arcadia offers revenge and redemption for Trevor, and Elijah is willing to sacrifice his morals to achieve it, even if he breaks the team’s oath to never kill.
Elijah has survived, and he was always meant to. Because of the United Front’s sacrifice, the Resistance lives on. After a narrow escape from Leon Abel, the true nature of the Contingency Plan is revealed: the Resistance can win the war if Elijah chooses to go all in. To his surprise, the world recognizes him as the face of the team, and the Resistance accepts him as the Leader Elect. Yet Elijah is hesitant. Without letting go of the childhood trauma of his brother and dealing with his nightmares of the war, he cannot be what is asked of him. If he leaves the team, the United Front will have died in vain. But the war will not wait for his decision. An attack separates the Resistance, and Leon Abel is not the only threat as a global power seeks to govern unchallenged. Pressure mounts on Elijah to step on the world stage. But there is one variable he never had to consider: love.
