After the government cuts funding to a nanotechnology project, the fictional company StarkCorp stores samples on an oil rig near Alaska. However, an accident releases the nanomachines, and sinks the rig, with reporter Katherine Stern being the one of the only survivors, and her best friend Eric Lambridge being among the fatalities. StarkCorp CEO Roy Stark, and his assistant Krieger attempt to cover up the incident while the nanomachines form a large storm that disintegrates anything in its way. A group of fighter jets is sent to destroy the storm, although they're destroyed by the nanomachines. After a hailstorm strikes an Alaskan town, meteorologist Nathan S. McCain, who previously worked for StarkCorp, warns Colonel Thomas Miller about the storm, telling him that he should evacuate Alaska, although Miller dismisses his predictions.