When the NSA intercepts information that an American company is being solicited to help throw an election in Peru, Charlie Dean and the rest of the Desk Three team are infiltrated into the organization and sent to Peru to help scuttle the plan. But they soon find that the operation is considerably more involved and the stakes far greater than anyone thought. Not only is a renegade member of the Peruvian military seeking to make sure his candidate wins, but he is prepared to go to great lengths to make sure that happens. Realizing that military coup is likely to backfire, the general wants to tilt public sentiment in favor of his candidate, who is recognized by the public as being closely tied to the army. He has purchased a tactical nuclear bomb and by making it seem the nuke has fallen into the hands of guerillas-and then staging an operation to confiscate it-he hopes to turn the election.

When the general and his plot are exposed, the NSA concludes the greatest threat is over. But in fact, it's just beginning. Dean's partner, ex-Delta Force trooper Lia DeFrancesca, is kidnapped and held hostage in a mountain hideaway. The general vanishes. Soon, there are indications that there is a second nuclear weapon in Peru, and that it will be used to extract revenge...