Peter Thornton returns to the fold-straight into the thick of a row between the New Zealand government and Mogul over the shifting of a drilling rig from that country to Indonesia. Why should Thornton want to return to do Stead's dirty work? Because he wants to win a seat on the Mogul Board. Also, the man who is leading a mutiny on the rig is an old mate, Ed Ahu Riri.
Ultimately, the friendship proves to be a hindrance rather than a help and Thornton's loyalties are stretched to breaking point.