Its Spring 1791. Though deeply disturbed by a
terrible incident during his previous commission, James
Hayter is nevertheless on the verge of taking command of
HMS Sloop Eglantine as Master and Commander when
personal tragedy shatters his life. The twin blows
convince Hayter that he is not fit to command and he
must turn his back on the sea forever. Even the
intervention of his friend and former captain, William
Rennie cannot not dissuade him from derelicting his
duty. Though repenting in the end of his decision,
Hayter's career in the Navy appears to be over until the
intervention of an agent, Mr Brough Mappin, working for
Hayter's old nemesis, the British Secret Service Fund.
Mappin's plan offers Hayter a chance to revive his
career on a special mission, with the promise of
reinstatement in the Royal Naval List if he is
successful. But it is also the single most dangerous
mission of his life. He must sail for France with Rennie
in HMS Expedient and there rescue some persons of
interest from the grasp of the French Revolutionary
forces searching for them.What no one mentions is that
the rescue will bring to bear on Expedient and her crew,
a force so fierce and mighty that, if it can, it will
wipe all trace of the incident, Hayter and the ship from
the memory of everyone involved in the forthcoming
struggle. |
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