The men of the King's Fusiliers return from a tour in Northern Ireland after tragedy strikes on their final days. Corporal Nancy Thorpe's desire to follow up a theft results in her friend going into labour.

Major Tom Cadnam is taking part in an exercise against an old rival who he later discovers has been having an affair with his wife whilst he's been in Northern Ireland.

A large scale theft is discovered from the military stores. Colour Sergeant Ian Anderson hears he has won commission into the Intelligence Corps, but his good news is overshadowed when he discovered a large amount of equipment in his care is missing. the theft puts a big question mark not only over Ian's chances of becoming an officer but also over his future with the army.

The men are sent on an exercise accompanied by a journalist who is the Lt. Col. Dan Fortune's new love interest but the exercise is suspended when a helicopter carrying the CO and the Padre crashes in woods.