Mickey is back in Britain after his harrowing trip to Rwanda. He doesn't expect to be arrested, but in confinement he is reunited with an old friend from his Army days. Her name is Ripley and after escaping, the pair are surprised to be instructed by Captain Gibson, Mickey's old boss in The Unit, to take up an assignment in the North West of England, looking for terrorists amongst recent arrivals to the country.

This means Mickey can't slip back into his role as CEO of Corsh Corporation. That chair has been filled in his absence, and though the new incumbent seems completely unsuited to the role, this 'Mr Corsh' (and his assistant, Bread) are keen to plough ahead with Corsh projects, such as rebuilding the old Armaments Factory site in Patricroft. Mr Gibson too favours this activity, since he has been instructed by the British government to start assembling small arms in the new buildings - as soon as possible - and ship them to Britain's allies in Ukraine.

Meanwhile, the lower orders in the Corsh hierarchy are ploughing their own furrow. Nirvana and Nina, working in the Finance Department, have their own plans for Corsh funds. This involves double dealing, embezzlement, and construction of new houses 'for the workers', paid for by the Russians! If only if was that simple. Nerve and Nins, as they are known, are also trying to cheat dear old Mrs Turtle out of her inheritance, and that campaign leads to murder.

Mickey, for once in his life, finds himself in the middle of investigations, not leading from the front. It isn't any more comfortable than the usual way, especially as his new 'partner', the enigmatic Ripley, seems to have her own priorities - but isn't sharing with anyone.