March 1943: The Anglo-American campaign in North Africa is entering its final phase. Rommel’s forces are being squeezed from both east and west, and must soon collapse.
Bound out of Oran, crammed with Afrika Korps Prisoners of War destined for the USA, the American transport Susquehanna falls prey to deadly torpedoes. The U-boat commander’s fatal error has put 4,000 German lives at stake. He offers a truce to any shipping that can come to their rescue. But this is total war, and it could be a ruthless death-trap …
Back home in Britain nineteen year old Lobby Ludd is recovering from his voyage on the war-ship Virtue. Torpedoed in battle, he is one of only a handful of survivors. But now his leave is up, and his next mission is on-board fighter ship Daemon: a ship that many men believe is cursed. Her undistinguished career has been punctuated by mishaps. The Daemon is a pariah and nobody relishes serving in her, or seeing her in company.
But Lobby doesn’t have a choice and now Daemon is being sent into the heart of battle, risking everything to come to the aid of the Susquehanna. Will he beat the odds and survive again? Or could this venture be his last...?