When global terrorism mushrooms, Australia turns to the SASR "Black" role of Counter-terrorism (CT). This gives the regiment a future. But the "Green War" roles of free falling, driving and motorised patrols are preserved and perfected.

As the novelty of CT wears off, SASR finds other outlets for its talents--training foreign forces in the Philippines, and conducting small peace-keeping operations in Somalia, Rwanda, Bougainville, Cambodia and the Solomons.

After the collapse of the USSR, the Regiment faces a challenge from within--it has lost much of its vital unconventionality. But as it rallies to become truly flexible and postmodern, disaster intervenes when two CT Black Hawk helicopters collide and crash in flames.