After graduating from Columbia University, Jack Omartian is recruited into the United States Navy. After Officer Candidate School, he requests and is assigned to Naval Intelligence in Washington, D.C. He gains a reputation for insight into Middle Eastern objectives. As a result, he is recruited into a new agency called the Office of Strategic Intelligence. Because of his background as an Armenian American who speaks, reads, and writes in three languages, in 1910 the U.S. sends Jack to Turkey.
The United States suspects the Ottoman Empire is conspiring to deflect attention from itself and onto another nation in order to continue its oppression of the Balkan countries it occupies. While there, Jack meets an Armenian girl in Izmir. Together, they overcome violent gangs, personal tragedy, and sadness in Jack's effort to uncover the Ottomans' real intent—especially if it will lead to the United States becoming involved.
Jack discovers an attempt by Balkan separatists to hijack an ocean liner. Later, he deals with an American heiress secretly kidnapped by the Ottomans to force the United States into a conflict. Jack is forced to endure hardships and obstacles in his struggle to provide the U.S. with vital information.