Hey there! US and UK subscribers can pencil this into your diaries - Amazon is offering BLUE SHIELD as a 99c KINDLE DEAL in the USA on July 25 and UK on July 26.
US: https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Shield-What-if-Thriller-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0G3LDN8DG
UK: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Blue-Shield-What-if-Thriller-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0G3LDN8DG
If you haven't already read it, this is your chance before BLUE SHIELD 2 drops 26 August (latest.)
And you can preorder BLUE SHIELD 2: DNIPRO now to save 50% on launch price
US https://www.amazon.com/Blue-Shield-What-if-Thriller-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0G3LDN8DG
UK https://www.amazon.co,uk/Blue-Shield-What-if-Thriller-Thrillers-ebook/dp/B0G3LDN8DG
What's in the pipeline after these?
Right now I'm writing DEFIANT, my next 'What-if' novel. This is a speculative novel about how this 'floating fortress' concept might work if these planned battleships were designed to incorporate all the lessons of modern warfare.
What's the USS Defiant? Here's an extract:
Chapter 1: A ship called Defiant
“Captain, XO, we need you in the SMC,” Executive officer of the USS Defiant, Commander Melissa Mayeaux, said over the intercom to her Captain, Kirk Morgan. “The tactical situation has changed.”
“Coming down XO,” Morgan replied. He was ‘touring the deck’, his euphemism for getting a boost of nicotine into his blood. It would take him a few minutes to get the three levels down to Defiant’s armored, electronically insulated, Ship Mission Center or SMC. Time she could use to work out what the hell China was playing at.
“Lieutenant Martinez, the PLA aircraft still on an intercept heading?” she asked her Battle Manager.
“Yes ma’am, straight as an arrow at 20,000 feet, 500 knots, holding tight formation,” Alejandro Martinez replied. “They don’t change course, they’ll cross our bow in … five minutes, 11 seconds.”
“Warn them off,” Mayeaux ordered him. She addressed her Weapons watch officer. “Lieutenant Washington, lock them up, single target track. Let them know we’re serious.”
“Aye ma’am, SM6 missiles armed, good track on all targets, locking with targeting radar,” Tyrone Washington replied.
Any other ship would be sailing as part of a taskforce, and Mayeaux would also be busy issuing warnings and commands to other ships too. But the Battleship Guided Missile Nuclear BGMN USS Defiant was its own taskforce. She commanded eight uncrewed surface vessels, two uncrewed underwater vessels and carried an air wing of long-range offensive and short-range defensive drones. Not to mention 400+ vertical launch missile cells that included 12 hypersonic Conventional Prompt Strike weapons.
“USV control, combat USVs to SHORAD mode Chief Gallagher,” she said, ordering their two surface vessels to arm their air defense interceptor missiles. There was no reason to suppose the Chinese aircraft would be so stupid as to launch missiles at Defiant – China and the US were not at war – but Mayeaux chose to use the opportunity to test her crew and systems. The reality was that if the six stealth fighters approaching from … now 70km out … wanted to attack Defiant, they could already have launched standoff missiles. Flying fast in airshow formation, on a straight line track that would cross Defiant’s bow, the Chinese action smelled more like a show of force than a kinetic threat.
Martinez’ low voice spoke into his mic, “Chinese aircraft from USS Defiant, you are entering our air defense zone in a hostile manner. Change course immediately or you may be fired on,” he said over the universal GUARD channel. Their combat AI took his warning, translated it to Mandarin, and repeated it. After a couple of beats he reported back. “No response, ma’am. No change in the contacts’ heading or speed.”
OK, so we’re playing chicken, Mayeaux decided. Bad idea, pilot.
DEFIANT IS COMING NOVEMBER 2026. Preorder now and save 50% onthe launch price
US https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0H7BMPPM2
UK https://www.amazon.co.uk/gp/product/B0H7BMPPM2
CA https://www.amazon.ca/gp/product/B0H7BMPPM2
AU https://www.amazon.com.au/gp/product/B0H7BMPPM2