In Blood Moon Rising, Eric Wiggin introduces us to the beautiful and brilliant physicist Nicki Towns. Based on messages from an ancient Assyrian manuscript, Nicki believes it is her divine destiny to free her ancestral homeland of Iraq from Saddam Hussein's tyranny. Guided by her unshakable determination, Nicki steals her company's advanced technology--the new Air Force Vanguard missile--and travels deep into Iraq in her quest to save her oppressed people. As a result of Nicki's efforts, she and her friend Chuck prevent Saddam's agents from launching an anthrax-loaded warhead onto Chicago.