Character of the week : Truman

Truman is the deputy to Sea Urchin. After several years of generally mediocre performance Truman has finally blossomed as someone almost totally useless instead of utterly useless. With a lot of hard work and training he may achieve his ambition and become slightly useless. A key to his transformation has been the realisation is that he is not the worst. He has now Rubick Cube Warrior to victimise. RCW is a moron of the lowest order so Truman can now feel superior.

When Sea Urchin was injured Truman took over the running of the fleet. So far its still intact amazingly. Truman is a robot, his creation shrouded in mystery (probably due to shame). Its thought that a Sinclair Spectrum is used as his CPU though this may be a malicious rumour.

Osprey publish book on the DDS!

Finally Osprey have produced a book on real interesting weapons and not 1950s RAF ambulances (a topic only of interest to weirdos like the Book Barons)! The book (volume 97410 of the New Vanguard series) details DDS heavy cruisers like the Pulsar, Quasar and Kenora and will be published in early 2107.

Sea Urchin update

Sea Urchin has been moved off life support but remains in intensive care after he was badly injured in a battle with the Zones. He was shot in the chest by an armour piercing missile, luckily his battle suit managed to prevent most of the damage otherwise Sea Urchin would have been blown in half. "It'd be Rollerball all over again!" a DDS spokesman commented.

The Mad Medic said Sea Urchin was now stable and should be fine but recovery would take a long time.

DDS secure order for warships

The Sub-Eritran society of Molab, beyond Woloron 12, has placed an order for DDS warships and equipment that could be worth over 4 billion zarks. The order is for 5 Pentekonter-E, an export version of the Pentekonter OPV and 2 Isometric-E, a ship based on the Isometric platform though less powerful than in DDS service. The Molab are also interested in 2 Extender oilers and up to 12 Feeder shuttles.

As part of the deal the DDS will also build for the Molab maintenance and mooring points at 2 locations in the Molab system. The Molab's existing 2 ships, ex-Tarbotian Yeoman II frigates will receive refurbishment and minor updates to become training/reserve ships when the Isometrics are delivered.

One problem with the deal though is that DDS shipyards are already at maximum capacity fulfilling DDS orders. The DDS said they will build a dedicated new line at Rathun's World to build export Pentekonters and Isometrics. Deliveries should begin of the Extenders in 2108 and the other ships from 2109. Construction of the orbital facilties and training of crews will begin next summer.

DDS to improve armament of Terran Sea with TSTP

The DDS are to update all Terran Sea frigates with the Terran Sea Tactical Pod (TSTP). It was originally just going to be part of the Terran Sea-C sub-varient but funding has now been found to improve all existing Terran Seas too. The TSTP replaces the Z-cannon with an integrated weapons pod that includes an improved Z-cannon, a new missile launcher, 2 CIWS and some EW equipment. The missile launcher is the new type that will equip the next generation of DDS ships including the Quasar ILU and Panther. Because of less advanced fire control systems Terran Sea TSTP will only be able to fire 4 missiles at any one time and not 8 which is the launcher's limit.

The Terran Sea's existing belly mounted launcher will be replaced with the new small launcher which is intended for smaller ships and auxiliary armament. This will (with some storage in the TSTP itself) increase Terran Sea missile storage from 64 to 80. The first TSTP will be fitted to a ship later this month.

Sea Urchin badly injured in Zone attack

Commander Sea Urchin has been seriously during a battle against the Zones. Quasar class ship 1211 Positron was also badly damaged in the battle with a Zone cruiser. The battle occurred after Sea Urchin had secured a damaged Tarbotian Kenora cruiser of the Type H+ standard (the latest). The ship was found dead in DDS space after an accident in the ship's engine room that had wiped out the crew in a mass dose of lethal radiation. Although the ship was left badly damaged many systems were left intact and its hoped the ship's technology can be used to update the Remedian's Kenora.

However the Zones were also after the ship and followed Sea Urchin's ship. They launched an attack on the DDS and employed a new weapon that almost destroyed the Quasar. The weapon is a crude multi-phase missile with a huge warhead. Sea Urchin was injured during a firefight with Zone soldiers and required an emergency operation after being shot with an armour piercing missile.

The Kenora wreck has been secured by the DDS and Sea Urchin sent to a hospital on Rathun's World.