What is the main conflict in The Andromeda Strain by Michael Crichton?

The Andromeda Strain chronicles five days in the life of an alien life form. Brought back to earth by a secret government satellite, the life form acts like a virus or bacteria, but its structural composition resembles nothing on earth. The alien life form spreads its deadly disease through tiny Piedmont, Arizona, wiping out much of the population in a matter of seconds. When the military men sent to retrieve the satellite are killed as well, Major Manchek from Vandenberg airforce base calls in the Wildfire team.