Gregory Topozian has waited half a lifetime for the opportunity to get even with Russian billionaire Viktor Karenkov. Years earlier gangster Karenkov corruptly acquired Topozian's mining licence and the equipment at his oil exploration site in a remote part of the USSR, in the process murdering his deputy in cold blood. The incident was recorded on CCTV tapes.

Gregory swears vengeance but cannot use the tapes while Karenkov is in Russia building his fortune. He keeps track of his enemy who protects himself with tight personal security, but when the Russian books a flight on the Celeste Three space plane, Gregory conceives an audacious plan to exact his revenge.

Celeste Three, the world's first single orbit passenger plane, disappears whilst on a routine flight. On board with six others is Viktor Karenkov. Celeste has no power, it has been designed to glide back only to its base in Arizona. Gregory Topozian has to find a way to bring the craft down safely so that he can hand Karenkov to the Russian authorities to stand trial for murder. And somebody has to fund the enormous cost of the venture.

Impossible goals? Not for Gregory Topozian, whose strength of will and formidable intellect combine to provide the perfect solution.