In the Ukraine, an astronomer hides from Russian security forces, desperate to smuggle data from a probe sent to Venus out of the country before it falls into the wrong hands.

In Ramadi, archaeologists prepare to defend their excavation against the surging forces of an extremists insurrection.

In Antarctica, a group of climate scientists struggle to make sense of a discovery that can’t possibly be true.

And in Washington, a collection of generals, intelligence analysts and politicians race against time to stop the greatest threat the world has ever faced.

As disaster looms, each of these seemingly unconnected players will need to join forces to solve a mystery older than the human race, and deadly enough to end civilization. They will confront ancient forces and sinister conspiracies that will stop at nothing to achieve their horrifying goals. With time running out, the race is on to stop the Armageddon Countdown.