Early 20th century. Lieutenant of the Russian fleet Alexey Muromtsev stood up for the honor of his friend Katya, hitting the scoundrel Sliznev, who, unfortunately, turned out to be a state councilor. For his daring act, the lieutenant was demoted to sailor and exiled to the Far East, to the armored cruiser Varyag. It soon became clear that Sliznev was a spy selling military secrets to the Japanese. Alexey Muromtsev and his friend, military counterintelligence officer Istomin, were already ready to expose the traitor when Sliznev staged sabotage and escaped to a Japanese battleship, taking Katya as a hostage. Alexey does everything possible and impossible to save her, but does not even realize that the girl managed to escape from the battleship by jumping into the icy sea... Chemulpo had only a few weeks left before the war with Japan and the tragic battle. Fierce battles, the valor of Russian sailors, boundless and sacrificial love, hatred and betrayal are intertwined into a single ball of steel...