The Communist militia, led by Devereaux, obtains a truckload of artillery outside the presidential palace in an effort to overthrow the new government, and the president's secretary of state's orders to shoot one of the protesters only makes the scene even more unsafe. Amirev calls on the U.S. embassy for refuge, and Keenan and a small team of diplomats making a daring transfer.

Once President Amirev is at the embassy, the militia soon follows, and Keenan finds that his small team of Marines is heavily outnumbered, so the U.S. Army is called on for support.

As the embassy awaits the arrival of support, the story becomes reminiscent of The Alamo, in which Keenan must fend off the militia while facing constant second-guessing from diplomat Frank Gaines, and some from actual first-in-command Capt. John Baldwin. Keenan's strategies will affect him personally too, as his British journalist girlfriend Michelle is taken hostage, and he also must keep her away from harm from the militia, who frequently target journalists.