Jack Aubrey has just been promoted captain, and gets his first ship, 'Sophie' Their task is to guard the English merchantmen against Napoleon's raiders and Algerian pirates But 'Sophie' is old, and too small to carry the guns needed Her surgeon is an Irish physician without sealegs, and most of the crew are inexperienced or soft Despite all this, Jack is determined to make her into a man o'war and capture the prize which will make him his fortune