Alex Rider's uncle dies mysteriously and Alex is recruited by MI6 to investigate multi-millionaire Herman Sayle, who plans to donate computers called Stormbreakers to every school. Alex suspects Sayle has ulterior motives and goes undercover at Sayle's facility in Cornwall. Alex works to discover the truth about Stormbreaker before time runs out, but doing so puts his life in danger during what is supposed to be his first and last mission for MI6.