Mickey is happy that both he and all the rest of his team are rescued from a hostage situation before they can be blown to bits by eco-terrorist Ian Bann, but are then less than ecstatic to find that the bombing campaign which is terrifying Manchester is continuing. The rest of England can only keep their heads down and look on in horror, as the biggest city in the north west of Britain is reduced to a war zone.

Mickey and the other members of the Unit are faced with one baffling lead after another, and even more suprised when a lucky tip-off takes them right back to the family home of the man they thought was safely in prison and out of trouble. There are wider pieces in play, more important people, it seems and the destruction is only one of the strategies being used to advance their criminal enterprises. Mickey isnt about to be intimidated. After all, his first loyalty might be expected to be to his country, but the truth is that all he really cares about are his friends and colleagues. He will do anything to keep them from danger, and use whatever methods come to hand, no matter how dastardly. He can play the cheats at their own game, he tells the Unit.

Who could blame him? For one of his team is the redoubtable Melia, and his attitude to her - although seldom expressed - is a pretty obvious amount of love. Nobody, he vows, is going to get between them. Anybody threatens her, and they will need to fear the big man. He simply won't allow bad things to happen. No way.