Andrew Vulcan heads U.S. Eastern Seaboard operations for Thrush, a criminal organization. Thrush attempts to kill Alexander Wavery, the number one of Section I of the United Network Command for Law and Enforcement after U.N.C.L.E. learns of Vulcan's true status.The attempt on Waverly's life is foiled thanks to the elaborate security within U.N.C.L.E. headquarters and by the intervention of agent Napoleon Solo.Solo is given the task of preventing the assassination of the leaders of a newly independent African nation. They are in the U.S. to tour Vulcan's Maryland plant.Vulcan graduated from Rutenberg College in 1949. He has never been married, never even had a known relationship with a woman since college, when he dated the future Elaine May Donaldson. Solo recruits Elaine because only she can connect with Vulcan quickly.It turns out that Vulcan's ally is Ashumen, the premier of the new nation. Ashumen intends that his country will be part of Thrush. But Ashumen also knows his fellow officials -- who fought with Ashumen for seven years to obtain independence -- will never agree. So they are to be eliminated in an accident at the factory.Solo and Elaine escape with their lives. Solo is able to prevent the assassination. Vulcan and Ashumen, however, perish in the accident they had planned.In To Trap a Spy these events occur much as the television version. However, Vulcan's organization is identified as WASP.