The book attempted to expose the details of Solid Snake's mission to Shadow Moses Island, which had previously been concealed from the public. It revealed the existence of a new nuclear weapon at a secret U.S. facility, and the Government's attempts to eliminate terrorists that had taken it over, via a bio-engineered assassination virus. It also detailed the background of REX's development, the bribing of DARPA Chief Donald Anderson, the suspicious arrest and death of U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Houseman, and the involvement of a shadowy organization known as the Patriots, along with Richard Ames.