1800: George Abercrombie Fox is in luck: his own command and, happily, his own men from the far-off days of the Raccoon as his crew. He is given one of the most hazardous and exciting missions of his career yet - for he commands a fireship.
Undeterred by the danger, Fox sails into the French harbour, his ship flaming like hellfire and determined to succeed he remains on board to the last, resisting all French attacks to repel him. The ship explodes like an insane firework display but Fox survives to continue fighting, at sea against the French and on land, to win his woman, Sophy.