In the year 1861, the crew of the recently constructed ship Forward
embarks on an unspecified mission. They don't know their path or the
name of their skipper, but they assume they're traveling to the Arctic
and perhaps the North Pole. Their commander only comes into view to them
after they have planned their course and run into obstacles that cause
them to consider turning around. He kept his identity a secret until it
was too late for the team to reconsider their decision because his
previous missions had failed. As their predicament worsens and they
become stranded with little gasoline, Captain Hatteras embarks on a
risky expedition with three other crew members to reach a location where
records from previous ships' failed attempts to reach that location have
specified fuel stocks. Will they make it? Will they succeed in their
search? Will they return to the Forward in time? What has been going on
while they were away on board?