Dreadnought.

A starship lost two decades ago, one of the most powerful ships in the Terran Republic, a
prototype that was never duplicated. Now the colonies have rebelled, are fighting for their lives, and a
lone starship discovers the Dreadnought floating dead in space, caught behind a comet, and sends a
boarding party over to her. The home ship is destroyed, caught in ambush, but kills the Terran ship at
the same time. Now a tiny band of rebels must take the ship into the fight in time to save the colonies
from the forces of the Republic, before all hope is lost.

Needs to be a longer book. A good-length story. Strong characterization. Two chapters per day, in the
mornings – twenty days in all. Forty chapters. Has a battle near the start, a battle at the middle, and
perhaps there’s more to this than that. What if it is Earth attempting to gain its independence from the
Colonies? Shades of Buck Rogers, perhaps. I rather like that idea. Proud Earth, battered and broken from
the wars. The Dreadnought a relic of a forgotten time, but still with an impressive arsenal at its disposal.

Fighter pilots, this time? No, let’s go with the big ships. The Dreadnought was an experiment that was
never repeated – too many eggs in too many baskets. Dreadnoughts, Cruisers, Destroyers. Earth’s fleet
consists of converted freighters, the Colonial Fleet is smaller but professional. Monitors – slow, powerful
ships designed to punch holes in capital ships, Destroyers either for patrol or fleet escort. Earth has
Cruisers, and not many of them – theoretically larger ships, in practice, underarmed and underarmored.

Naming conventions. Earth’s warships are named for cities – the dreadnought was named for
continents, and I don’t think I’m going to get away without calling it ‘America’. Colonial Monitors are
named for war gods, Destroyers either for Demigods or Sky Gods, depending on their role.
(Escort/Patrol.) Earth’s goal in the war is to secure its independence, as well as that of Sol System –
anything else is a bonus, though UV Ceti – a key defensive point – would be a major advantage, as well
as Proxima, which is restless.

Plot of the first book. First Act – Short Battle, discovery of Dreadnought, boarding party across finding
ship in good condition. Crew are dead – had lived for a time, then died. Need repairs to the hyperdrive,
start that. Then enemy ships return, destroy old ship, kill bulk of crew, a few survivors, Dreadnought
hidden. Manage to complete repairs, escape.

Second Act – Get used to ship, head for remote depot for equipment/personnel, known sympathizers,
take over with short battle against picket boats, get what they need, a traitor present, news of a major
attack on Earth being planned, send picket ship to warn.