The narrative premise is classic Tom Clancy. A group of terrorists, known as "The Engineers," initiates a countdown of attacks on American soil, demanding the withdrawal of US troops from foreign lands. To stop this, the President activates "Fourth Echelon," a new covert team led by Sam Fisher. The stakes are high, the timeline is tight, and the "Fifth Freedom"—the right to do whatever is necessary to protect the first four freedoms—is in full effect.