Damien Hunter is a veteran born in the unforgiving cauldron of combat operations. An Air Force special forces operator turned contractor; Damien is employed by the shadowy Taipan Organisation. In company with Warwick 'Wuz' Davis and Paul 'Stayer' MacLean, Damien is in command of the tight three-man outfit, Taipan One Six. The team are the Warfighters who take missions no one else will. Taipan left one of their own behind in blood-soaked Afghanistan. Haunted by Taipan's decision, Damien seeks solace in the Australian outback, only to be thrust back into turmoil when a desperate plea for help arrives. Homaria Radrizzani rots in an Afghani prison. Along with other international sports women, she lives out the last of her days before the Taliban swing the executioner's blade. The abandoned operator establishes contact with Taipan after years of imprisonment. Taipan initiate a rescue mission for the operator, coupled with a lucrative contract to rescue Homaria and the women. Damien learns the identity of the operator and the Taipan 16 handler issues an ultimatum to Damien, rejoin Taipan and command the mission for the women first, then the operator or take no part at all. Damien will stop at nothing to rescue his friend. He leaves a trail of destruction through Afghanistan's Banyam Province as he prosecutes the mission. Can he save his friend in time, or will the shadows of the past consume them all?