Operation Atomic Fist 2126

For the first time in three years, the DF strategic attack exercise Operation Atomic Fist will be held over the next couple of weeks. The exercise will involve a number of mock attacks on targets built on asteroids in the Terran system. The final exercise will involve a live nuclear strike on a moon of Uranus. 

The ships involved will be:

36-105 Minotaur (flag)

16-101 Warrior

16-106 Wolf

16-115 Warp

35-306 Killer

51-201 Repulse

52-102 Nautilus

52-107 Night

71-121 Supplier

73-103 Zenith

Operation Atomic Fist 2123

After a year's absence, the MBO-New Sparta strategic attack exercise has returned and will include a number of mock bomber attacks on targets on an asteroid near New Jakarta. The final attack will use live nuclear weapons and will be a combined attack using an LRM-20 launched from Proxima 7 and missiles from NS ships. The ships involved will be:

36-106 Madwort (flag)

15-101 Quasar (strike flag)

15-105 Graviton

15-107 Charm Quark

35-501 Lynx

51-103 Champion

41-102 Silurian

116-103 Eucalyptus 

73-110 Gasoline

Operation Civilian Partnership 2122

NS have announced the first major exercise since the take-over by the MBO will take place in early August. Viceroy Caratore canceled the existing exercise schedule but has said a new schedule will be drawn up in 2123 with adhoc exercises held in 2122. Atomic Fist was supposed to be held now though Caratore has decided to not hold it this year due to the shortage of ships.

Instead Civilian Partnership, the annual humanitarian and disaster response exercise, will be held. The theme will be recovery from a nuclear attack on a UNP major city. Mock evacuations, rescue and decontamination exercises will be held at locations on Solaris and Proxima 7.

The ships involved are:

36-106 Madwort (flagship)

37-101 Solaris

51-116 Cassandra

66-101 Triumph (amphibious HQ)

63-103 South East Asia

71-113 Starlifter

75-204 Rhone

73-112 Butane

Operation Atomic Fist 2121

The latest edition of NS' strategic attack exercise has begun and will be based near Liberation. The exercise will include a number of practice attacks by NS bombers and will culminate in a nuclear attack on an asteroid in deep space. The ships involved are:

21-104 Grenadier (flagship)

15-101 Quasar (bomber leadship)

15-105 Graviton

15-107 Charm Quark (2 Raegris Quasars are also taking part)

36-102 Midas

35-311 Killer

51-105 Conqueror

51-115 Charger

41-108 Holocene

43-111 Flores Sea

71-106 Condor

116-101 Emerald

76-101 Zephyr

161-104 Inquest

NS use LRM to attack space ship

Although the LRM (Long Range Missile) is intended to strike land targets across a distance of up to twenty light years NS have demonstrated it also has a secondary use against space craft. In a test as part of the recent Atomic Fist exercise an LRM was launched from a land mobile launcher on Proxima 5. The missile was given course corrections three times during it's flight and it eventually was guided to strike a withdrawn commercial freighter in deep space around three lightyears away, which NS had purchased for use in the test.

The LRM had an inert warhead though if it had been armed it would have destroyed the target ship. The target ship was not moving and NS want to conduct another test against a moving target later in the year. An NS spokeswoman said that LRM could be used against concentrations of enemy warships. "Obviously we'd want a pretty big warhead for that." she added.

Operation Atomic Fist 2120

NS' annual strategic attack exercise will begin at the end of the week. This time it is being held in Remedian space with mock attacks near Mila and Remedia Prime. The exercise will culminate with a live nuclear attack on an asteroid near the NS-Remedian border.

This year the NS interstellar nuclear missile the LRM-20 will also be used in one of the exercises. Two missiles (with inert warheads) will take part in an attack on a "target". NS warships will also practice detecting and intercepting the missiles.

The ships involved are:

21-103 Musketeer (flag)

16-101 Warrior

16-104 Wasp

16-113 Witch

21-201 Anubis

35-307 Kale

35-107 Snow Leopard

35-110 Royal Tiger

51-108 Comet

51-114 Chasm

42-105 Richard Nixon

41-201 Freedom

41-108 Holocene

71-116 Voyager

73-120 Alkane 

Operation Atomic Fist 2119

NS will begin the latest edition of it's yearly strategic attack exercise next week. This is one of the big four exercises and will last over a week. The fleet involved will be the biggest NS has assembled since the Argon-Starbot War. It will culminate with a mock attack with the firing of live nuclear warheads. This is the only time NS deploys real warheads (apart from an actual war of course).

The exercises will take place in space around Liberation. Mock attacks, reconnaissance and EW drills will be held before the final live fire exercise. An asteroid two light years from Liberation will be the target of the attack. The ships involved are:

21-103 Musketeer (flag)
16-101 Warrior (attack flag)
16-104 Wasp
16-111 Wild Swan
35-305 Keel
37-105 Barnard's Star
36-102 Midas
51-107 Crescent
42-102 Mira
41-205 Forward
41-106 Eocene
93-101 Alpha Centauri
161-101 Indigo
81-101 Marconi
73-124 Alcohol
71-103 Starliner

Operation Atomic Fist 2118

Atomic Fist is the annual NS strategic attack exercise, this year's edition will take place near Liberation. After a series of mock bomber raids and defence suppression exercises NS will then conduct a live nuclear attack on an asteroid in deep space.

What is notable about this year's exercise is that it will include the now (finally) operational strategic missile the LRM-20. A coordinated attack with bombers will be attempted. NS units will also try and "intercept" the LRM when it is en route.

The ships involved are:

015-102 Photon (flag)
015-105 Graviton
015-108 Tachyon
035-110 Royal Tiger
037-102 Polaris
041-116 Devonian
043-113 Sea of Fertility
051-111 Carnage
073-113 Propane
071-119 Freightliner

Operation Atomic Fist 2117

Atomic Fist is NS' annual strategic attack exercise. It is usually held in July but had been delayed due to the pirate war. NS has just launched this year's edition of the exercise which will be held over the next 2 weeks. The August scheduled exercise Peak Performance 2117 will still go ahead but towards the end of the month.

Atomic Fist 2117 will be staged in the Rim Worlds and include joint-exercises with the Porquatians. The final exercise will have live nuclear warheads. An asteroid will be the lucky recipient. The ships involved will be:

015-101 Quasar (flagship)
015-103 Deuteron
015-108 Tachyon
023-201 Anubis
035-103 Cheetah
036-103 Magnificent
051-102 Centurion
051-109 Cygnet
041-101 Proxima Centauri
071-106 Condor
076-101 Zephyr

Operation Atomic Fist 2116

The annual NS strategic attack exercise has begun in space near Sanga Alpha. Due to the Quasar 015A upgrade programme currently ongoing the scope of the exercise is less than it has been for the last few years with just 3 simulated attack operations over the next 2 weeks. Atomic Fist will still end with its traditional live nuclear weapon operation though, an asteroid in deep space has been designated for this (which NS bomber crews regard the highlight of their year!)

The ships involved are:

S121 Warrior (flagship)
S123 Wanderer
S128 Walrus
S251 Anubis
H103 Cheetah
H112 Royal Tiger
M117 Ordovician
M127 Faithful
M209 Conflict
K109 Sulla
K115 Horace
A110 Lodestar
A156 Methane

Atomic Fist 2115

The delayed (due to the war of course) 2115 edition of Atomic Fist has finally begun. This is the annual DDS strategic weapon exercise, this year it also includes special forces elements after Info Affair 2115 had to be cancelled earlier in the year.

The exercise will run for the next week and will include special forces deployment, reconnaissance, retrieval, defence suppression and simulated attacks. This year there will be no live nuclear fire as the DDS have already tested this for real against the Argon!

The ships involved are :

S101 Quasar (flag)
S102 Photon
S107 Charm Quark
S223 Vesuvius
H142 King
H175 Altair
M135 Fox
K106 Tiberius
K115 Horace
M139T Luyten 726
A155 Pentane
A302E Morse

Info Affairs to be rolled into Atomic Fist

Due to the war against the Argon the scheduled special forces and cyber warfare exercise Info Affairs set for May had to be postponed. The DDS have decided to include aspects of the exercise in next month's Atomic Fist strategic attack exercise which now goes ahead as scheduled.

Atomic Fist will be scaled back due to the depleted nature of the fleet due to wear and tear and ships being out of position however will still include a live nuclear attack.

• The UNP has issued an updated star map which already shows Starbot as having left the DDS. The new map can be seen here, it also includes the inclusion of Aldebra into the UNP/DDS and some other amendments.

Northern Project ends, 2115 schedule announced

The final exercise of the year Northern Project has ended after a final mock combat between DDS and "enemy" ships (the role played by Raegris, Porquatian, Dino and DDS Departmental Service ships). The DDS has now begun winding down for the Christmas break.

The DDS have decided to add a 5th exercise for next year. Info Affairs 2115 will concentrate on special forces and cyber warfare. The full schedule for 2115 is below :

• Ground Shock 2115 (March) - ground attack, amphibious assault
• Info Affairs 2115 (May) - special forces, cyber warfare
• Atomic Fist 2115 (July) - strategic attack
• Civilian Partnership 2115 (September) - humanitarian relief
• Northern Project 2115 (December) - full spectrum "mock war"

Operation Atomic Fist 2114

The DDS' annual strike exercise is due to begin next week and will mark the first time the new Warrior 16A takes part in the DDS' strategic strike exercise though it will only perform a supporting role to the Quasars. The exercises will take place near Malau in DDS South and will include a series of simulated strategic attacks and reconnaissance. The final exercise will use live nuclear weapons.

The ships involved will be:

S101 Quasar (flag)
S106 Baryon
S107 Charm Quark
S122 Warspite
H126 Intrepid
H167 Regulus
M115 Permian
M126 Fury
M173 Celebes Sea
M201 Corkscrew
A112 Trader
A149 Refinery

Two Raegris Quasars may also join the deployment.

DDS to concentrate on just 4 exercises next year

The DDS are to stop having monthly training exercises and instead concentrate on 4 larger exercises next year. The 4 exercises will have a more "multi-spectrum" approach with as many parts of the DDS included as possible. For example Atomic Fist 2114 will, as well as the core strategic attack mission, include mock combats, cyber warfare, special forces and minesweeping missions.

The schedule for 2114 is therefore (primary mission objective given) :

• Ground Shock 2114 (March) - ground attack, amphibious
• Atomic Fist 2114 (June) - strategic attack
• Civilian Partnership 2114 (September) - relief, humanitarian
• Northern Project 2114 (December) - full-spectrum mock "war"

The special forces exercise Winter Candle 2113 will take place as scheduled next month but then from January 1st the DDS will switch to the new schedule a DDS spokeswoman said.

DDS to have fewer, larger exercises

DDS Commander Firefly has ordered the DDS to cease the practice of a monthly military exercise and instead concentrate resources for 4 quarterly exercises. The reason being he feels the exercises are often too specialised and the DDS needs to learn how to use specialist skills together in conjunction instead of developing them in a vacuum.

To that end an amended schedule for 2114 will be published soon, the three big exercises of the current calendar will survive (Ground Shock, Atomic Fist and Civilian Partnership) and be joined by a new exercise that involves as much of the DDS capability spectrum as possible (Northern Project could be used as the template).

HCS Space Navy gains 400 million zarks for upgrades

The HCS Space Navy has been granted an extra 400 million zarks by the Clone government for some much needed upgrades of the fleet. Although the Space Navy have been able to maintain their numbers unlike the other branches of the HCS which have seen cuts new build and upgrades have been heavily restricted.

The upgrades will cover some of the Cosmos, Kelsan, Molentic Tuul and Shark fleets. 8 more Cosmos CAs will be rebuilt and upgraded to the CK standard. This will cover all of the remaining legacy Cosmos and mean the entire fleet of 73 ships will now last until the early 2130s.

The Kelsan KS bomber fleet will be receiving upgrades to their digital image processing systems and navigational systems as well as an improved ion cannon.

The Molentic Tuul MTM fleet will be receiving sensor and tactical data processing system updates. Some ships will also trial experimental engine modifications which are hoped to improve fuel economy and efficiency without affecting performance.

Finally some of the oldest Shark SK frigate fleet will be upgraded to the current SKB production standard.

• Austini 55 is preparing for Benito's state funeral next Monday. Clone Star Empire - East is quieter than some imagined it would be, though many areas are tense. A group of anti-Benito protestors were attacked by troops by the 2nd Legion (Benito's fascist vanguard). Reports of what happened to the young male protestors are unclear but it is understood that some unpleasant things were done to them.
• The DDS have reduced their alert status to GREEN after reviewing the HCS situation.
• Atomic Fist 2113 has ended successfully after a final mission which involved the use of live nuclear warheads on a target asteroid in the Terran system.

Atomic Fist 2113

Atomic Fist is the DDS' annual strike exercise and is one of the major peacetime deployments of DDS military might. Integrating MRM strikes with shorter range weapons is the key theme to this year's edition and there will be a number of mock-attacks over the next two weeks on purpose built target sites on an asteroid in the Terran system.

The final attack will use live nuclear weapons. As well as mock-attacks two Raegris ships and a Starsystem will play the role of defenders. The ships, under the command of Knobhead, involved are :

S101 Quasar (flagship)
S107 Charm Quark
S108 Tachyon
H121 Independence
H123 Invincible
M115 Permian
M127 Faithful
M161 Sea Of The Hebrides
X105T Centaurus
A150 Gasoline
A112 Trader + 2 Raegris ships

Winter Candle 2112 / Exercise schedule for 2113

The final exercise of the year began yesterday, like last year Winter Candle involves special forces. This year the Dino SS-D have joined the DDS Prowlers for a series of simulated incidents including hostage recovery, covert surveillance and anti-terrorism operations. One exercise that has been missed this year is Ground Shock which has taken place in November in previous years but the DDS say this will now occur next month and will start the 2113 programme.

As for Winter Candle the ships taking part are :

A301E Marconi (flag)
H122 Illustrious
H169 Sanger Alpha
M125 Forward
A155 Pentane

A full schedule for 2113 has been published and will be as follows :

• January - Ground Shock 2113 (ground attack / amphibious)
• February - February Flourish 2113 (EW / ECM / cyber warfare)
• March - March Hare 2113 (combat)
• April - Atomic Fist 2113 (nuclear attack)
• May - May Mission 2113 (new internal defence exercise, full details TBA)
• June - June Fade 2113 (minesweeping)
• July - July Wave 2113 (amphibious)
• August - August Flourish 2113 (combat)
• September - September Sunrise 2113 (strategic attack / interdiction)
• October - Civilian Partnership 2113 (humanitarian / disaster relief)
• November - Northern Project 2113 (joint exercise with Raegris)
• December - Winter Candle 2113 (special forces)

Atomic Fist 2112

The DDS have finally announced the fleet and schedule for the 2112 running of its annual strategic strike exercise Atomic Fist. The delays are thought to be because of a decision to change the location of the exercise to bring it much closer to GHQ so that the assets employed in the exercise are quickly available for use elsewhere. The exercises will take place on an asteroid in freespace between Sanga Alpha 6329 and New Jakarta.

Two targets have been set up on the asteroid and will be attacked in a number of exercises, the final ones using live nuclear rounds. A variety of attack scenarios will be used. A Starbotian ship will take part and a Porquatian ship is expected to join later on. The ships involved under the command of Caratore are:

M106 Eocene (flagship)
S101 Quasar
S103 Deuteron
S105 Graviton
H124 Inflexible
M127 Faithful
M162 North Sea
P104 Pompey
P111 Caligula
A143 Jetstar

The exercises will run from early next week to the end of April.