Thanks in large part to the support of a powerful U.S. Senator with ties to a shadowy group of politicians and bureaucrats, David Morgan's career survived the debacle that was Dagastan, and three years later he is posted to the West African country of Naganda as the American ambassador. As bad as Dagastan had been, Morgan finds that it was a cake walk compared to the quagmire that is Naganda. Having recently undergone a military coup, and with its economy in shambles, Naganda is now in the throes of a vicious internal power struggle, with China and the Soviet Union manipulating the various factions from behind the scenes. To make matters even more complicated, a British geologist has discovered oil deposits in Naganda, and a U.S. oil company executive is willing to go to any lengths to exploit that discovery. With enough external crises to keep him busy 24/7, Morgan must also manage internecine strife within his embassy, and efforts by some in Washington to undercut him. He has to play hardball diplomacy just to survive as he is besieged from all sides.