Ensuring Passage ends

Ensuring Passage finally ended last night and the 3 ships remaining in the deployment are now returning to base. The deployment was raised during the short Dino-ABBO war to protect UNP and DDS shipping from ABBO attack in the vicinity of the Northern Rim Worlds but that threat has now ceased.

However recent signs that the ABBOs may be operating again in the area did make the DDS consider retaining the deployment but they have instead decided to increase the frequency of scheduled patrols in the area.

Ensuring Passage to stand down at the end of the month

The DDS have announced the Ensuring Passage deployment which was set up to protect DDS and UNP ships from ABBO attack near the Rim Worlds will end at the end of this month. The deployment has already been cut back, and yesterday Caratore who had been leading the deployment transferred command as his ship left the deployment to return to Solaris for a refit.

The deployment is more a training exercise now with the new flagship R105 Grenadier conducting training with it's squadron of Ferret-E UCVs against the DDS and Aritan frigates also in the deployment. New commander Captain Peter Fhile said that the ABBOs were no longer active in the area though the DDS would continue to monitor the area and run regular patrols after Ensuring Passage had ended.

Ensuring Passage to remain for now

Following the recovery of Cruggson by CSS the ABBOs have begun to withdraw their forces back to their territory. The Dinos have also withdrawn back inside their own border though have considerable forces in theatre. Around 40% of their entire armed forces are either in the vicinity of Xi or are en route though some of these forces in transit have been recalled back to Dino-Land. Cruggson is travelling back to Dino-Land and is understood to be well.

Ensuring Passage was a DDS deployment to protect DDS and UNP ships from ABBO attack. The DDS have decided to maintain the deployment for now but may reduce the force in a few weeks. Ensuring Passage is based at New Jakarta and thus is a useful force near to Oscar as well of course. They may be soon called upon to move Oscar Humans to New Jakarta in fact. The Clone Oscar government is to allow any human settlers who wish to leave free passage off the planet and will allow DDS transport ships into Oscar orbit to assist in that. The UNP is keen for these settlers to move to New Jakarta which it wants to become a full UNP member. However the climate of New Jakarta is rather arid and may not suit many Oscar settlers who were farmers.

Freighter comes under ABBO attack

Friendship class transport A205 Community has come under attack by 2 ABBO warships near the Rim Worlds. The transport, under the command of Quarz, managed to fight off the ABBOs. The ship was luckily fitted with Canister TPM and scored a kill, the first real-action kill with this weapon.

The Aritan ship AS12 Gerlam Untim, part of the Ensuring Passage deployment, soon arrived and is now accompanying Community to Arit for repairs.

Restrictions dropped on Porquatian fleet

The DDS have dropped restrictions on the Porquat 640 fleet which is currently rebuilding after the disastrous war (for it) with the Central Powers earlier in this decade. For some time the Porquatians were restricted to the type of ship and the number they could build but recently they have made noises about joining the DDS (though this will not happen for years because of the Aritans). The DDS deny the lifting of restrictions is linked to the Porquatians signing a 1.4 billion zark deal for 3 extra Extenders (on top of the 2 already on order), 4 Pentekonter-E100s and 120 MQ-5AP Ferret-E UCVs.

Currently the Porquatians have built 7 Quagan 658 and 665 frigates but now say they want a fleet of 20 of these nimble and powerful ships plus 5 new build Xian cruisers. Rich mineral deposits and exports are filling Porquatian coffers and they are aiming to build a fleet at least as powerful as the one they had before they invaded New Arit. The Porquatians however say they will not attack Arit again (as Arit is a DDS ally it would be suicidal anyway) and want to help the DDS in policing the Rim Worlds. They have offered sending a Quagan to join Ensuring Passage.

Ensuring Passage to get more ships

Because of the deepening crisis with the ABBOs and the Oscar/New Jakarta situation the DDS have decided to beef up the Ensuring Passage deployment which is based near New Jakarta and is tasked with protecting UNP assets from ABBO attacks in the region. An extra frigate F148 Solomon Sea has been despatched to join the deployment.

The Aritans will also send an Intrepid II destroyer once a designated ship completes it's refuelling to add to the Solaris II already serving with the deployment.

DDS skirmish with ABBOs

DDS ships from the Ensuring Passage deployment have skirmished with ABBO ships near to New Jakarta, which is a UNP aligned (though not yet in the UNP) planet that is home to some DDS training establishments.

Three ABBO ships attempted to enter orbit around the planet and were chased off by F122 Permian. Ferrets from R105 Grenadier also encountered ABBO ships and chased them away. One Ferret was lost after a malfunction and was destroyed. No shots were fired in the encounters which appear to have been an attempt by the ABBOs to see how strong DDS defences are.

Dino-ABBO skirmish near Oscar / DDS attack 2nd fleet

Dino and ABBO forces have skirmished near Oscar. It is thought that a group of ABBO ships returning to their space from the battle near Xi were jumped by a Dino patrol. 5 ABBO ships are reported destroyed and 1 Dinomark NG was lost though most of the crew were able to evacuate.

The Dinos are preparing a raiding party to head to ABBO space according to reports. The Dinos may be intending to bring the battle to the ABBOs.

Meanwhile details have emerged of a DDS attack on a second ABBO column which included troop ships. Operation Fire Spark is understood to have involved the ships of the Ensuring Passage deployment along with 4 Dino ships. The Dinos and the Aritan Solaris ship in the deployment lured the escorts of the ABBO column into a trap which were then destroyed. The DDS then attacked the vulnerable troop ships with main weapons and an attack force of Ferret UCVs (a Missileer carrier is in the deployment), wiping them out. 16 ABBO ships were destroyed to no allied losses though 1 DDS ship did sustain moderate damage. The destroyed troop ships are estimated to have contained over a million ABBO soldier drones.

Ensuring Passage begins patrols

The 6 month Ensuring Passage task force to protect DDS, UNP and allied assets operating in the space between the Rim Worlds, HCS and Dino Republic has begun patrols. Two ships are still en route but the task force commander Caratore has been able to begin protecting DDS transport ships and when the full force is assembled including an Aritan ship all allied assets will be covered if possible.

Ensuring Passage will use Arit as it's base though the main staging post for ships betwen patrols interestingly will be the irradiated wastes of Zoneland. SS Stratotanker and an escort are likely to remain there supporting the other ships. As the force includes a Missileer carrier some patrols and inspections will be carried out by Ferret-E UCVs, a first for the DDS.

Operation Ensuring Passage

The DDS have officially launched their latest deployment, Operation Ensuring Passage. A 6 month (at least) deployment to the space between the Aritans and Clone Star Empire (South West) which has seen a number of ABBO attacks. The deployment will include an Aritan ship and will also work with Dino units based on Xi, the DDS will be able to use Xi's orbital facilities in an agreement with the Dinos though are expected to mostly use New Arit. As expected the deployment will be led by Caratore and his ship will be the flagship. Two ships have also been despatched from Force Starbot to join the deployment which is now being run down as the 7 Sa Sao threat recedes. Patrols should begin by the end of next week.

F108 Eocene (flag)
D101 Panther
R105 Grenadier
AS12 Gerlam Untim (Aritan Solaris frigate)
F122 Permian
F145 Arafura Sea
A142 Stratotanker