HMS Indomitable, an aircraft carrier captained by maverick Chris Cameron, is sent down by the Foreign Office to take up station off the west coast of Africa. It is there to keep an eye on a former British colony that is about to be seized by a despot who has every intention of rigging the voting in the upcoming general election and pursuing plans for ethnic cleansing.

The Ministry of Defence agrees to a request from a national newspaper to put a journalist on board Indomitable. Grace is young, black and something of an expert on the region. Under formidable international pressure, though, the ship is suddenly recalled to Portsmouth - to the furious incomprehension of Grace and other crew members. Against the express wishes of the Foreign Office, Cameron turns the ship around, back to Africa in support of the courageous opposition leader whose execution is neatly timed to coincide with the counting of the election votes.