In 2009, armed Somali pirates hijacked the Maersk Alabama. Four years later, Hollywood gave America a new hero in the form of its commander, Captain Phillips. But the real story is the desperate struggle of another man: Chief Engineer Mike Perry. Below decks, he disables the ship and works to save the crew. His critical fight back leads to the captures of the pirate leader – a crucial bargaining chip in the eventual negotiations to get the pirates off the Alabama.