After wrapping up 1 Guerrilla Force (Parachute), Force N operations following the liberation of the Abyssinian capital, Addis Abba Major Randal goes on leave in Cairo. Lieutenant Pamala Plum-Martin, OBE, RM is graduating from the Royal Air Force No 4. Service flying Training School located at RAF Habbaniya fifty miles south of Bagdad. Special Operations Executive's James 'Baldie' Taylor invites Major Randal to fly up to attend her graduation and get in some hunting for white oryx. They arrive at the same time Libyan rebels troops loyal to the Golden Square occupy the escarpment outside the RAF base and lay it to siege.