hundreds of miles from the nearest landfall, way out in the bleak north sea, is the oilrig piper one, where crew numbers have been considerably reduced by partial automation. not everyone is happy at the changes - but would they go so far as to commit murder in order to protest? was the gruesome death of the rig's chief engineer a tragic accident, or something more? it's rising young executive caroline kent's job to find out. she discovers that something very strange is afoot at the remote installation, in a nerve-wracking adventure which leads her to question the very purpose of her role as an oil troubleshooter, as well as place her life in grave danger, as she confronts not only human enemies, but a strange alien power from the dawn of time.