James Ballantyne,an ex soldier, has found  a job as a low grade Forign Office official. He is tasked to set up a trade treaty with the Kazakhstan ministry. He comes into contact with an American who is a covert spy on nuclear developement in Kazak. The man is identified and James interfers in a bungled assassination attempt. The story develops as he is involved in a romance with a Russian girl and at the same time is involved in helping the American to escape. His military skills are employed to the limit as firefight and pursuit continue in a wild and dangerous cross country chase.Will he protect the American? Can  he survive and bring his lover back to safety?