Salazar held his breath, watching the young woman struggle through the last few feet of icy sea toward the stony beach. Pausing at the tideline, she adjusted her grip on the blonde toddler in each arm before marching toward the two graves of piled stone. Stopping before one, she spoke, her words clear enough to chill the heart of Salazar where he sat listening in the stern of his motorboat:

“Gabrielle, Gavin Junior. Say hello to your father.”

3 years have passed since Gavin Mackenzie died defending his island, 3 years since Iris took refuge among a feminist survivalist enclave on Whidbey Island. In that time, she has given birth to Gavin’s children. Trained by a stern but caring warrior-woman named Raven, Iris has learned to survive in the wild, defend herself and provide for her family. She returns, determined to raise the twins on Gavin's island.

Lieutenant Kendra Dern is a hard-charger, among the first women to win a coveted position in the U.S. Army’s Rangers, now deploying cautiously forward into the channel waters of post-Event BC. Assigned Gavin's island, Dern encounters Iris and learns the story of Gavin's final battle, developing a deep respect for both Gavin’s memory and Iris’ determination to return.

But what should be a natural alliance is complicated when a Chinese naval construction team arrives. Dern's determination to coordinate an attack with her fellow Rangers is at crossed purposes with Iris' resolve to adapt and endure. Meanwhile, the clock is ticking. The Chinese team is on site, the Rangers are en route and two women - one a trained spec-ops warrior and driven American patriot; the other, a Canadian mother and disciple of magic and martial arts - square off for a battle that will leave only one of them standing.