Rumours that a powerful squadron of large French frigates had broken out through the British blockade of France’s Atlantic ports bound for the West Indies reach the Admiralty in London in the late spring of 1815.
Rear-Admiral Sir John Wharton RN is sent with his own squadron on an urgent mission to protect the islands in case the intelligence proves to be correct. Appointed commodore of a force of four warships, he sails on HMS Triumph unaware that the long war with France is about to end at the Battle of Waterloo in mid-June.
Meanwhile, four and a half thousand miles away in Barbados, Lieutenant-General Sir James Leith is preparing a great fleet of 50 transport ships and 5000 soldiers to invade Guadeloupe and capture the island from Napoleon. If the breakaway French squadron exists, will Wharton arrive in time to avert disaster.