It was a family camping trip to the Jennings family's favorite camping site, high in a remote area of the Ozark Mountains. It began, as each of their previous trips had begun, with wonderful weather, family togetherness, and a sense of adventure. It would end with the kidnapping of Doctor John Jennings's family, and his own flight into the forest to save himself from certain death. John fled into the unknown wilderness of the Ozarks, moving steadily to the northwest in hope of coming across a road, or perhaps, with any luck, a town. What he finally came across was the home of Cordell Heartley, a recluse spelunker, living sometimes in his cabin, and at other times in his caves. Finding Cordell would lead John into the adventure of his life, and to the discovery of an illegal, covert military operation, known as "The Threef Project." Heartley, an ex-U.S. Army Ranger, was soon to become John Jennings' only hope of ever seeing his family again.