The Ministry wants to continue good relations with an African country.  But agents have discovered that certain elements of that country have signed agreements with the Chinese.  It is up to Drake to find the evidence of this and turn it over to the African country's Prime Minister in order to expose the truth to him and keep relations with the British.

Drake's immediate plans are disrupted when London authorizes him to pick up a doctor who is targeted by the opposition and bring him to London.  He begins to suspect that forces are already moving against him before he gets very far.