At first appearing to refer to the chemical weapons at Atlas, it actually refers to the Soviet Union's fuel logistics capabilities.

Following the Atlas Detonation, John Bomber, who is only "lightly" injured when compared to most of the Atlas Crew, is put in charge by Chief Henley, despite the presence of two higher ranking NCO's. When the CIA arrives, Bomber gets involved in a complex plot involving having 1/68th Armor Battalion racing back and forth from Atlas.

The story introduced Special Agent Timmons of the Central Intelligence Agency, who is described as looking like a creepy uncle and dressing like a clueless tourist.

Bomber slowly realizes that Timmons's plan involves observing how good the training of the USSR tank drivers is, the real field condition of their tanks instead of smuggled and espionage propaganda tapes, how good their leadership is, and how strong their logistics are.

To Bomber's shock, the Soviet tank crews are incompetent, and they soon run out of gas, despite 1/68 "showing off".

However, radiation begins rising as the cloud of fallout from the Chernobyl meltdown arrives. This results in Timmons cutting off the mission and the Atlas Crew trying to figure out why the radiation is rising. At this time, showing off Atlas Crew members deductive skills and training leads them to figure that one of the Chernobyl reactors have melted down again, as they know about the 1983 meltdown.

The book ends with the Atlas Crew being sent by the US, Blackbriar, andNATO to assist the Ukraine in handling the Chernobyl Disaster.