Major Nairns, former tea planter and now acting major in the Malaya Scounts, is on an intelligence patrol on the country's border with Siam when he stumbles on a secret Japanese seaplane reconnaissance base. With international unrest looming, Nairns' instincts tell him they are up to no good.
Further surveillance reveals that the Japanese plan to eliminate any major British ship which might interfere with their proposed landing in December on the outbreak of war. There is only one such ship at risk: the brand new, 'unsinkable' HMS Prince of Wales.
In a desperate race against time, Nairns sets out to warn the authorities, pursued by the feared Colonel Moto and his secret kemptei police. If Nairns is unsuccessful, there will be nothing to stop the Japanese taking over the whole of the Peninsula...
