Thrilled at his first command, a little brig sloop called Teazer, Thomas Kydd must race to bring his ship to battle readiness.
The Napoleonic wars continue and he is desperately needed to defend Malta against Barbary corsairs, ferocious privateers and the French who are frantically trying to rescue the remnants of their army in the Levant.
But a cruel twist of fate puts paid to Kydd's dreams and ambitions for his beloved ship.
A rare chance gives him the opportunity to return to sea. He sets sail as captain of a convict transport, heading for the penal colony in New South Wales - and challenges that will test both his seamanship and humanity to the limit.