The CSS Shenandoah forges ever northwards towards the sea of Okhotsk, its path taking it close to the Kuril Islands, an archipelago running between Japan and Russia. Rob and MOB examine the complicated history of these islands, whose ownership is disputed to the present day. This involves describing the unfortunate fate of the Russian Baltic fleet in 1905, who sailed almost the entire way round the world, arriving just in time to be sunk by the Japanese.

All this was in the future for the crew of the Shenandoah however, who are faced with heavy weather, storms, squalls, and temperatures that are starting to get a little chilly. Nothing can stop Midshipman Mason however, in his implacable quest to make himself another pair of pants, even if it means getting some unfortunate  candle grease stains.