Anthony Holt

Privateer Anthony Holt

Hamid is a Somali pirate who ranges far from his lawless and poverty stricken homeland to attack ships and capture valuable hostages. He unwittingly captures the private motor-yacht of a wealthy and influential Arabian prince. Warships of the international anti-piracy force race to intervene but legal constraints mean they can only shadow the captured vessel. Hamid becomes stuck in a stand-off. The British Government, pressed to intervene, cannot become openly involved, so the secret, deniable services of Jack Lang's Special Operations Group are called into action. Two former warships are patched up and sent with skeleton crews of former Navy people to do what the legitimate forces cannot. The ships disrupt the pirates and create a dramatic, violent distraction while remaining deniable to the outside world. Battle is pursued to the pirate's lair and when the job is done the two old ships must disappear - but perhaps to sail again.