The rich, fertile, and mysterious lands of the New World lie before the United States. Following the War of 1812, for four decades the Americans have been content to expand, pushing aside Indians, rogue frontiersmen, and buying land whenever possible. This small period of expansion changes in 1850. Wagon trains start disappearing.

At first thought to be something along the lines of starvation, or Indian attacks, this results in a ban of travel to the West Coast.

Then came the 1851 incident in Freetown Texas, where the entire village simply vanished.

This, naturally did not sit well with President Fillmore, who ordered the conscription of every able-bodied male ages 18-35 to "fight off the vicious enemy". What no American can guess is that this enemy is well-entrenched, and willing to do anything to protect itself.