As the new century dawns, the Soviets are reclaiming the high frontier. After a decade of social upheaval, they have embarked on a bold gamble to regain leadership in space exploration - moving a massive asteroid into Earth's orbit to harvest its mother lode of precious metals.

But the reactionary leadership of the United States sees the project as a potential weapon. They are willing to risk everything to stop it - even the destruction of all life on Earth!