When Midshipman 'Harry' Nelson-Heron and his life-long friend and companion, Boy Seaman Ferghal O'Connor transfer to the new '74', HMS Spartan, they are about to embark on a voyage that will take them to New South Wales, India and Arabia. In the two years this book covers, they will fight storms, pirates and the prejudice of their seniors. Harry will grow from a starry-eyed idealist into a practical and determined youth and Ferghal become a competent seaman. But no one can anticipate the fate of these boys as their ship departs from Bombay on the voyage home and a meeting with the distant future. In the parallel story, Harry's twelve times great nephew is the Captain of a new starship being built for the North European Confederation. NECS Vanguard will be the most powerful ship in her class when she is completed. Captain James Heron prepares his ship and his crew for their first commission and voyage to the stars, unaware that their departure will bring him face to face with the past - and solve a family mystery. Their Lordships Request concludes with both parties moving into position for the realisation of that destiny ...