In a wild and secret bid to restore US influence in the Middle East, President Cyclips has laid plans to help the late Shah's brother regain the throne of Iran. In London a new prime minister is about to take power.

By a monstrous mistake by the US, the Quark Bomb has blown up Israel. Unable to admit they had anything to do with it, the Americans must throw suspicion on Russia and issue threats of counter action.

It is election year on both sides of the Atlantic, the world is in a state of nuclear jumpiness, US President Johnny Cyclops is as popular as rabies. He realises there is only one option if he is to save the economic stability of the West.

The aged members of the Russian Politburo meet in the Kremlin and decide that as all-American defence arrangements for Britain have been curtailed, Britain can conveniently be annexed into the Soviet Bloc.

President Cyclops is still in hospital recovering from minor wounds. The Deacon tells him that he might need brain surgery. The Russians now have a firm grip on power in Iran. Dave is tempted to try to kill the PM, Kevin Pork.

The attempt to contact CIA agent Grodd to rescue the Hoppers has failed and he is now a prisoner of the KGB. The Shah is still trapped on a British cross channel ferry, but manages to set up a special CIA secret radio link to Grodd.