Hurled back in time into the Thirty Years War by a mysterious cosmic force, the West Virginian coal miners led by Mike Stearns have allied with the King of Sweden to form the Confederated Principalities of Europe. Cardinal Richelieu, effective ruler of France, is bent on their destruction. As the greatest naval war in European history erupts, Mike's native wife is trapped in war-torn Amsterdam, and his sister is a prisoner in the Tower of London But Mike has plans for correcting that situation; very explosive plans. . . .