Dreadnought ! " The Federation ' s ultimate war machine – captured by terrorists . " Dreadnought ! is a Pocket TOS novel – # 29 in the numbered series , and the first book in the retroactively designated " Fortunes of War " duology – written by Diane Carey . Published by Pocket Books , it was first released in . Summary . A prototype starship is stolen by a conspiracy of Starfleet officers who are old friends of a young new lieutenant named Piper , who was recently posted to the " Enterprise " . An admiral insists on taking his personal flagship and accompanying the " Enterprise " to apprehend the stolen starship , where it turns out that the new starship was stolen not to start a war , but to prevent one . The crew of the " Enterprise " and the hijackers must work together to foil a plot by the admiral to use this new ship to begin a military " coup " of the Federation . The story is told from the point of view of a young Ms . Piper , a cadet at Starfleet Academy , undergoing her " Kobayashi Maru " examination . Upon graduation , she is requested by James T . Kirk for posting as a lieutenant to the . Also posted on board , a couple of weeks prior , is a former friend of hers : a Vulcan named Sarda . The USS " Star Empire " , the prototype of the new dreadnought starships , is stolen by a group of rogue officers lead by Commander Paul Burch , former assistant to Admiral Rittenhouse , who had commissioned the dreadnought and had her built in secret . Kirk requested Lieutenant Piper to be assigned to the " Enterprise " , as they had already received a communique from the terrorists detailing a time and location for a meeting , and that a further message would require Piper ' s biocode to open . Lieutenant Piper is unaware of how she fits into any of this . At the requested meeting place and time , Piper is summoned to the bridge to decode the transmission . Much to her surprise , one of the terrorists turns out to be Brian Sylania , her former lover whom she departed with just prior to accepting her assignment on board the " Enterprise " . The terrorists on board request a party consisting of no more than three members , consisting of Piper , at least one Vulcan , and one other member . Kirk denies the request and has Piper , while still in visible contact with the terrorists , arrested for conspiracy , as an act to prompt more action from them . After the transmission is cut , Kirk orders her confined to her quarters , under computer guard . Determined to find out what Sylania ' s involvement is in all of this , and figuring Kirk was smart enough to not only to realize what she would try , but was actually expecting it , she bypasses the computer guard on her room , and escapes to a seldom - used transporter room . While programming a new destination , she is surprised by Sarda , her former Vulcan friend . When asked how he knew what she was doing , he states that logic dictated this is what she would do . In a surprising move , given their rocky past , he offers her help in the form of a parka , a communicator , a phaser , and himself . They decide to take an " Arco " - class sled instead , and barely make it out before the shuttlebay doors close them in . While en route to the USS " Star Empire " , they are stopped by Vice Admiral Vaughn Rittenhouse ' s personal flagship , the destroyer " Pompeii " . They are stopped by the ship ' s tractor beam and escorted by security to meet the vice admiral . Rittenhouse apologizes about their abrupt tractoring , but explains that no contact must be allowed between anyone and the " Star Empire " yet . While present , Piper and Sarda witness a communication with Kirk , in which Rittenhouse tries to dismiss Kirk from the area , an order that Kirk denies , as the terrorists had specifically requested Kirk and the " Enterprise " . Becoming suspicious of the vice admiral , Piper uses their time alone after the transmission to probe the computer for more information on the vice admiral ' s career . She finds out that he has many powerful connections and sits in most of the most powerful branches of Starfleet , and has apparently gotten several captains their ships – the same captains and the same ships that are now conveniently headed their way . After reviewing all the information from the computer , from the feelings she has picked up , and from her knowledge of the past , she realizes that Rittenhouse had the dreadnought built not as a peacekeeping ship , but as a ship to subjugate the galaxy under his will , using the banner of the " greater good . " He intends to lead a military coup against the Federation with an entire line of dreadnoughts , and to subjugate every species that resists , including the Klingon s and the Romulan s . Attempting to contact Captain Kirk to warn him about the situation , Piper and Sarda are interrupted by Rittenhouse , who had been listening in on the entire conversation . Piper and Sarda confront Rittenhouse about his plan , which he openly admits . In his eyes , the galaxy would be a better place under one rule : his rule . He has both of them thrown into the brig . After escaping the brig , Sarda contacts two of their friends on board the " Enterprise " , who covertly beam to their location . Sarda had asked them to be ready to do such before he left , unknown to Piper . Escaping the " Pompeii " , Piper and her friends manage to get on board the " Star Empire " and are told what they suspected already : the theft of the dreadnought was not to start a war , but to prevent one . Captain Kirk , having already figured out Rittenhouse ' s motives , helps to defend the " Star Empire " from the now - attacking four ships , comprised of the " Pompeii " and the three other ships en route earlier . Realizing his plan is now utterly gone , Rittenhouse sets on at least killing those on board the " Star Empire " . The " Enterprise " and " Star Empire " work together to defeat the " Pompeii " . After returning to Earth , Kirk tells Piper that he will recommend the decommissioning and scrapping of the dreadnought .