In March 1784, at a time when most of the fleet was laid up, His Majesty's friga
te Undine weighed anchor at Spithead to begin a voyage to India and far beyond.
As her new captain, Richard Bolitho was glad to go, despite the nature of his or
ders and the immensity of the voyage - for he was leaving an England still suffe
ring from the aftermath of war. But he was to learn that signatures on proud doc
uments did not necessarily make a lasting peace, and found himself involved in a
conflict as ruthless as the one which had given him his first command during th
e war with France.
