It is the late 18th Century. John Machele is twenty years old and has never known who his parents are. Brought up by a succession of carers, he was moved on after certain “incidents”. There is an unidentified “personage” who takes an interest in him.

Physically John bears a resemblance to members of the ruling House of Hanover. He doesn't always think or behave like other people. He has no understanding why their reactions to him are so often not what he expects.

Things rarely end well for John and this is a pattern which follows him as he grows older. He has been dismissed from a Naval Academy, been “retired” from the Royal Scots Greys and now finds himself a Midshipman in King George’s navy.

Attempts are made to convince him that he has a say in what happens to him next but the reality is that the decisions have already been made without his knowledge.

Having engineered his own Court Martial he believes he has set in motion events which will leave him in total control of his life for the first time.