In 1642 politicians secretly plotted to disband the army. Its commander Oliver Cromwell sends Luke to foil these plots and to find the murderers of three excise officers who stumbled across illegal ammunitions being stockpiled to use against the army. Luke uncovers a combination of corrupt politicians, powerful criminals, a bevy of would-be beautiful assassins, foreign agents, and an unhinged religious leader whose various interests endanger Luke's life and threaten the existence of the army.