Young biologist Amy Masterson and seven of her well-regarded colleagues set out from Cape Town, South Africa, October 14th, 1985, aboard the Reiziger research vessel.

Their destination: The British overseas colony of St. Helena.

Their mission: To study microorganisms capable of surviving in extreme environments.

Four days into their voyage, the Reiziger is sabotaged.

With the ship under attack, the ship's commander, Captain Grey, decides to leave the Reiziger at a standstill in the middle of the Atlantic until the culprit is found.

With the Reiziger immobilized and the research mission at risk of being cancelled, Captain Grey, Amy, and the ship's entire complement must determine what they should do, who they can trust, and if they can survive their own environment.