At the turn of the century, two small Boer republics entered into a brutal struggle with the mighty British Empire. It would seem that everything is already predetermined: the forces are unequal and even the desperate heroism of the Boers cannot save the situation. But a completely unexpected factor comes into play - an ordinary midshipman of the Red Banner Pacific Fleet of Russia, Mikhail Orlov, who, by the will of fate, was thrown into South Africa from the twenty-first century. He really assesses his strength and knowledge, and also believes that this is not his war, but a series of events literally forces the midshipman to take action. And everything turns upside down...