In the story, two intelligence agents, Bernard Gould and Jefferson Scanlon, are tasked with investigating a potential threat posed by the enemy nation. They uncover a plan where a group of humanoid robots, indistinguishable from humans, are designed to infiltrate their society and carry out acts of sabotage. The robots are capable of self-detonation, posing a grave danger.

As Gould and Scanlon delve deeper into the investigation, they face the challenge of distinguishing friend from foe, human from machine. The story builds suspense as they work to prevent a catastrophic event, highlighting the ethical and existential dilemmas posed by the use of robots in warfare.