DDS needs to cut costs warns Windscorpion / Big fleet cutbacks

At a joint media briefing DDS Commander Windscorpion and Finance Officer The Shiner said that the DDS needed to cut costs because of the spending policies of Rotarios. "The DDS is in danger of bankruptcy." warned The Shiner, who added that debt was now topping 40 billion zarks. Windy said that the war was the priority but the DDS would look to cut costs after victory and a number of new projects would have to be cancelled or cut back. The Shiner added that a total of 25 billion over the next 5 years needed to be saved to keep the DDS afloat.

Windy said that one of the first things he did when he became commander was assign a veteran general the task of reviewing the DDS fleet from top to bottom and the general would report back later this year. A further review would do the same to the DDS as a whole.

An interim report by the General was released at the briefing and raised eyebrows. The DDS look set to cut back a number of future projects including the Panther destroyer. Key features of the report are a call to :

• Panther (DX) destroyer class reduced to 12 examples, though there may be a development of the Panther built later to a more multi-role specification.
• Pangaea (LCX) light cruiser class cancelled.
• Velocity destroyer class completed after 2 more examples leaving a class of 6.
• Rhombus long-range frigate not to have rebuilds and extra fuselage added, class to be basically same as Isometric except for specialised communications and reconnaissance equipment and internal changes.
• Solaris II fleet sold though one may be retained for surveying.

The Remedian fleet would also see a lot of changes. The report basically says the Remedian fleet should be reduced to one type for internal policing and general duties with the borders patrolled by DDS frigates with mixed crews and Remedian commanders.

• Kalahati Tuul fleet and Kenora to be withdrawn and sold (if possible).
• Kalahati Tuul 2 fleet refurbished and updated. As a last-minute addition the report says the 4 HCS Kalahati Tuul 2Ns should be bought if possible to augment the fleet.
• 12 new frigates either of Terran Sea C2 or a new type will be built.

The report has created a storm of debate across the DDS, the final report is expected in the late summer though Windscorpion said it was likely to not be that different.