Just after World War II, a second lieutenant named James D. Cronley Jr. is recruited for a new enterprise that will be transformed into the CIA. A new war has begun, against the Soviet Union. Cronley's job is to help frustrate the Soviets, harass them, and spy on them any way he can. His recruiter thinks he has the potential to become an asset, though he could also screw up spectacularly. He's got seven days to extract a vital piece of information from a Soviet agent, but Cronley's managed to rile up his superior officers. Cronley finds there are enemies everywhere, and some of them even wear the same uniform he does.