Harm and Meg are sent to Vandenberg Air Force Base to investigate the death of an astronaut. They find evidence of sabotage pointing to Lt.Cmdr. Mark Lowrey, who had trained with Harm in his first flight squadron. Harm and Lowrey are old rivals, which leads Harm to doubt his objectivity in this investigation. Then someone sabotages Lowrey's training aircraft, and it is only Harm's superior flying skills that save their lives. Despite Harm's objections, the space shuttle lifts off on schedule. As the vital military mission unfolds in space, Harm and Meg continue their desperate search for the saboteur and murderer.
