Dinos and UNDF uncover evidence Utrek behind supplying some Eritran rebels

After the capture of several Utrek registered transports in the Clone Demilitarised Zone carrying suspected materials for rebels on planets such as Rendrial 4, the Dino SS and UNDF-IS held a joint investigation. It is understood a Utrek broke under interrogation by the gentlemen of the SS to reveal he is a Jintara Omox operative (the Utrek secret service).

Whilst it was clear (though never acknowledged) that Freedom Miliaris was supplied directly by Molab, who supplied the other smaller rebel factions in the CSE-E was never fully established. Now it appears that the Utrek may have been supplying rebels on planets like Rendrial 4 and Laalande 21649. If this is the case then it has very serious implications for the security of the Clones and in general for that region of space.

A Clone Intelligence team is heading to Starbot to meet with their Dino and UNDF counterparts.

Demilitarised zone breached already!

A DF patrol has already caught a ship carrying illegal materials trying to cross the demilitarised zone into the CSE-E. It is understood that SS Jurassic, commanded by Caratore, intercepted a small commercial trader (thought to be Oxsaxan though the registration may be fake). The ship was boarded and checked and found to be carrying hidden supplies of chemicals that can be used in the production of explosives.

The ship's captain later admitted he was carrying the chemicals to a contact on Rendrial 4. The crew were arrested and the ship destroyed as per the rules of the zone. 

Eritran demilitarised zone established

The Clone Star Empire is withdrawing from most planets in the CSE-East, a process due to take the next few years. As part of the agreement signed by the Clones, Free Eritran States (FES), Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN) and the United Nations of Planets (UNP), a demilitarised zone has been set up along the border between the CSE-E and FES.

This area of space is five lightyears across. No CSE or FES ships are to enter the zone. No military equipment is also to be transported in the zone. The zone will be monitored by UNDF and CIN ships. Three UNDF ships in a task force has arrived at Aldebra which will act as the support base for UNDF patrol operations. Two more ships are en route, one is SS Jurassic - the ship of former NS Commander Caratore - who has been made head of the patrol force (Demilitarised Zone Patrol Force - DZPF).

The Dinos have also sent six ships, two Sirikwanese ships will also join their patrol, as will the Bolitic. They will be based out of Starbot. The zone is expected to maintained until the final withdrawal from the CSE-E by the end of the decade. After that a new zone between the new border of the CSE and the former CSE-E may be set up, though talks are still ongoing.

Molab signs biggest export order in DF history!

The Deputy leader of Molab and the head of the Molab military have signed a huge deal with UNDF which is said to be worth 12.7 billion zarks! DF are saying this is the biggest export order in history. 

The core part of the order will be 16 Advanced Rome medium combat ships for delivery from 2128. As part of the order, DF will loan Molab 6 Romes which are expected to enter service later this year following some localisation work.

Other parts of the order include an upgrade programme for Molab's four Isometrics including e-Core engines, tactical updates and sensor updates. Molab will also receive updated tactical systems for their Pentekonter Protectors, thirty more MRMs and more Ferret UCVs.

Molab visit Solaris ahead of possible Advanced Rome sale

A technical team from the Molab military has arrived on Solaris to receive information on the Advanced Rome. They have received in depth information on the new ship including simulation data from the Advanced Rome bench testbed at UNDF Engineering as well as telemetry data from the n-Core test bed. They were also presented with details of the localisation options available for the Rome 46A ships which will be loaned to Molab to tide them over until Advanced Rome arrives.

Molab are after sixteen Advanced Rome with a delivery from 2128, with six Romes arriving from late this year to help ease the pressure on the crumbling Kalahati Tuul fleet. The value of the contract is said to be 9 billion zarks which would make it the biggest export order for DF for quite some time.

The main sticking point is said to be Molab's insistence on getting n-Core engines as soon as they are available in the early 2130s. DF originally wanted to keep n-Core to themselves for at least five years though may make an exception for Molab due to the importance of the order.

Molab decline Swordfish, interested in Advanced Rome

In a major shock, Molab has declined the chance to buy the Dino Swordfish and instead say they think the Advanced Rome is the ship they need to replace their eighteen Kalahati Tuuls which are in desperate need of replacement. The problem is, no Advanced Rome yet exists, building the prototype has only just begun. Even if things go smoothly Molab might not receive any ships until late 2128 or even 2129.

The Kalahati Tuuls will simply not last long enough, some are said to be already virtually end of life, with the remainder being rotated to prolong the ships so some can reach 2130, though none will live much beyond that. Molab said the Swordfish is an excellent ship but is too small and under-equipped to replace the Kalahati Tuuls being more a Dino equivalent to the Pentekonter Protector.

DF has said they can transfer up to six Rome 46As to Molab on loan, and after localisation could be ready to begin service by the end of the year. These ships can help tide Molab over until Advanced Rome can take over in the late 2120s and early 2130s. Molab could buy up to fifteen Advanced Romes.

Clones agree withdrawal from Eritran planets

The Clones will withdraw from most planets in the CSE-E in a deal secured between the Clone Star Empire and representatives of the Eritran majority planets like Miliaris. The following planets will leave the empire by 2128: Miliaris, Mintjulip, Laalande 21649, Wizard World and Rendrial 4. The planets will be granted full independence however the planets will not be able to join another empire or grouping until 2140, so membership of the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations is off the table for now. One analyst has noted that the planets would be free to join together in their own alliance if they wished.

The Clones will withdraw their military forces from the planets by 2128. As per the agreement, equipment the Clones do not want to take with them will be left intact for the new militaries which will replace them. The planets will not be allowed to host CIN military forces until 2130, and on a limited basis until 2140. Demilitarised zones will be set up to protect the borders of the Clone Star Empire.

Clones who wish to leave these planets will be able to get grants and assistance to leave by 2129, though the new governments of the planets have to pledge to protect Clone citizens. It is thought most will leave though. Similarly, Eritrans on Austini 55 and Woloron 12 will be allowed to migrate to the new independent worlds if they so wish.

Freedom Miliaris have welcomed the agreement and say they will maintain their ceasefire, though warned the Clones not to renege on the deal. There are little signs the Clones want to though, indeed three regiments on Miliaris are said to be already preparing to be redeployed off planet!

DF welcomes Clone-Eritran talks

UNDF has welcomed the talks between the Clones and representatives of the Eritrans which have now been confirmed to be held at Triple Megan early next month. DF said they they hoped the talks would finally end the damaging conflict in the CSE-E. DF said they would be willing to participate in patrolling a demilitarised zone if required.

DF have reduced their alert status to CYAN.

Triple Megan asked to host Clone-Eritran talks

Independent (although aligned to the Clones) planet Triple Megan has been asked to provide a neutral location for talks between the Clone Star Empire and representatives of the Eritrans, with the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations observing.

Admiral Anderson has had agreement from the Clone Defence Force leadership on withdrawing the empire from most of the planets in the CSE-E. Freedom Miliaris have also called a ceasefire. Anderson has offered full withdrawal and independence for Eritran majority planets in the CSE-E. The withdrawal will take up to 5 years and include a voluntary repatriation of Clones to other parts of the empire. Independent planets must agree not to join the CIN for twenty five years (Freedom Miliaris want this reduced to ten).

Censor Ronald said that the CIN largely agrees with the Anderson plan, though full details are still awaited.

CIN attempt to repair Miliaris ceasefire

Officials from the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN) are visiting Cloneworld and are expected to travel on to Molab next week to meet with representatives of Freedom Miliaris. CIN are trying to get the ceasefire resumed on Miliaris. A key problem however is the reluctance of the Clones to stick to the existing agreement.

Admiral Anderson is reported to have said the ceasefire violated Clone sovereignty. CIN and the UNP are putting pressure on the Clones to change their minds.

Molab order three more Pentekonters

Molab have ordered three more Pentekonter 259M patrol ships to join their existing fleet of 15. Although it is expected that Molab will buy Dino ships to replace their Kalahati Tuul fleet, Molab will continue to invest in their UNDF built fleet.

Molab have also ordered upgrades for their 3 Isometric-EMM frigates, thought to be to the tactical systems including Zip cannons.

Dinos call on Freedom Miliaris and Clones to stand down

The Dinos, on behalf of the Commonwealth of Interstellar States (which includes the Free Eritran States), has called on both Freedom Miliaris and the Clones to stand down from the sudden heating up of the conflict on Miliaris. The Dinos said that the insurgency should end but also the Clones need to honour the ceasefire agreement which includes greater autonomy for Miliaris.

Freedom Miliaris have launched another attack at the CDF, a small airbase was hit by mortar fire. No aircraft were destroyed but base facilities were damaged. The Clone Air Force have launched air raids on a number of suspected insurgent villages.

Clones attack two villages on Miliaris

Clone soldiers are reported to have attacked two remote ethnic Eritran villages on Miliaris. The Clones say the villages were a base for the Freedom Miliaris insurgent group and a manufacturing centre for drones. However, independent reports say the soldiers have failed to locate any drone factories.

Freedom Miliaris fighters were present however, there are reports of various gun battles between them and Clone soldiers. There have been casualties on both sides though the numbers are unknown. Two K85 COIN aircraft also attacked buildings on the outskirts of the villages.

Freedom Miliaris have said the Clones will pay for their attack, part of what they say is a betrayal of the ceasefire agreement.

Miliaris militants accuse Clones of reneging on deal

The peace deal with the ethnic Eritran insurgent groups such as Freedom Miliaris included a degree of self-goverance for majority Eritran planets in the Clone Star Empire - East such as Miliaris. However, Freedom Miliaris have accused the Clones of reneging on the deal and indeed have increased repression of Eritrans.

Freedom Miliaris say they will resume their attacks unless the Clones return to the agreement and release hundreds of Eritrans held in prisons.

Molab admits it created Miliaris drone, and has updated the model

Molab has finally admitted that the crude and mass producible attack drones which caused chaos on Miliaris and other Clone Star Empire - East planets during the uprising was their design. The Zobat drone was developed by the Molab but they have claimed the design must have been leaked to the Eritran insurgents in the CSE.

Molab have said the design has been updated into the Zobat 2.0 design. This has a number of improvements including better stability, a rocket assisted take-off option and a slightly larger warhead. The design has also been further simplified to aid construction in small workshops.

NS forgets to remove Molab from security briefings

When Molab, as part of the Free Eritran States, decided to join the Commonwealth of Interstellar States it meant they ceased to be a tier 1 NS ally and thus were no longer in recipient of regular high level security briefings. Unfortunately, NS forgot to remove them from the list! A Molab source has said that they received sensitive information last week. They informed NS who have now cut access, but this is an embarrassment to NS.

Some observers think NS is in danger of falling apart. With unrest between NS and MBO ongoing, ship building at a stand still and now basic mistakes over the handling of sensitive information, there is the feeling among many that NS is suffering from a terminal malaise. Viceroy Caratore is said, by some anonymous sources, to have little interest in running NS anymore, and he may be replaced by MBO.

FES complete withdrawal from Clone space

The Free Eritran States have completed their withdrawal from Clone space as part of the peace deal between themselves and the Clone Star Empire. The demilitarised zone between the two sides is now being surveyed by Dino and Starbotian ships. Patrols are expected to begin in a few weeks though the Dinos are looking into the possibility of making use of automated sentry posts to lessen the need for crewed patrolling.

CIN teams have arrived on Miliaris, Rendrial 4 and Laalande 21649 to assess the planets' before funding is released for the setting up of institutions as the planets begin their new eras as self-governing.

Caratore growing frustrated at MBO control

Viceroy Caratore is said to be growing increasingly frustrated at MBO control over New Sparta policy, though some UNP analysts have said (anonymously) that it is a bit late to worry about that now. Caretore is seeing the Free Eritran States disappear as NS allies, as Starbot did, and joining the Dino's orbit. He has been unable to counter the Dino overtures to the Eritrans, he even had to fight the MBO to get a relief column sent. That column is still two weeks away from reaching the FES. The Dinos have been on the ground in the FES now for weeks.

NS has not been included in the peace talks to be held in a few days on Starbot between the Clones and FES. They have not even been invited to attend as observers. 

According to sources, the MBO consider the FES as an irrelevance and are not bothered if they change allegiance. 

Dinos donate XTs to Clones and Eritrans

As a gesture of good will while peace talks are ongoing, the Dinos are to donate surplus Dinomark XTs to both the Clones and the Free Eritran States. The Clones are to be given two Dinomark XT/77w, which are underwater capable, they will join the Clone Navy's existing fleet of six XTs. Delivery is expected in the Spring.

Molab are to receive no less than ten Dinomark XTs, which will form a shared FES pool. They currently operate three XTs which are officially NS owned but on extended load. These will also be delivered within the next few months.

Helinox and Sear N7 have been sounded out to see if they also want some XTs for their fleets.

FES apply to join DTA

Following a meeting of the Free Eritran States on Sear N7, the FES have said they wish to join the Dino Trade Association. Senator Krusty is due to meet with the FES in a few days and is likely to be presented with the official application.

It is likely the application will be successful. In a debate in the Dino Assembly, Censor Ronald said that the DTA should expand to include the FES if they wanted to join. He also said that the DTA should consider changing it's name to reflect that more non-Saurian nations want to join. He suggested the new name Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations.