Story #2137

The Answer Is Fish
Has S101 come to the end of the road?

Clone Navy receives sub boost

The Clone Navy has received 2 more submarines including the first Sealion nuclear attack submarine and a 6th Seawolf diesel-electric boat. In a further boost the veteran training boat / auxiliary patrol asset CNSS Tinfish has returned from its life extension and has resumed operations. This gives the Clone Navy on Cloneworld a pool of 9 submarines though Tinfish will normally be used for training and weapons trials and CNSS Warhammer for development of the SeaGale SLBM.

In other Clone Navy news there is rising tension between the service and the Clone Air Force as they are taking up most of the slots for new build K45s. Since the CAF began series delivery of the K45C deliveries of K45Ks have been reduced to a trickle. The Cloneworld Command of the CN has over 60 on order and is keen to get them as soon as possible so it can begin withdrawing its rapidly ageing fleet of K40Ns.

K-2 takes commanding lead in Starbot leadership election

Every setback for the Starbotians against the Argon or VC separatists hands more electoral support to the opposition leader K-2 ahead of a leadership election later in the month. K-2 now has a 16% lead over S101 who is facing criticism and opposition even from his own side for his perceived weak leadership.

This is a big problem for the DDS as K-2 has pledged to take Starbot out of the DDS system (he says Starbot will remain friends but did not say how big a friend). This would seriously weaken DDS South.

Clones buy Cherrybee helicopters

The Clone Air Force has made a rare foray into importing aircraft with an order for 35 Cherrybee CBH-90 helicopters, a type also operated by the DDS and UNP. The helicopters, to be known as the Z90 Cherry in CAF service, will perform in the liaison and reconnaissance roles in areas where the larger Z26 Halogen is considered overkill.

It is likely more CBH-90s will be ordered once the initial batch is delivered as the Clones have a requirement for several hundred of the type. The CAF is currently exploring licence build options. The first Cherrys are expected to be delivered later this year.

Fleet News 04/05/15

• S251 Anubis is the first of the new Olympus Balista 23M missile carriers, this is a variant of the Olympus Mons 23A with a much more overt combat role.
• X705 Zeta is the latest Alpha 121A NFS.

DDS ship battles Argon

A Solaris 37C fleet combat ship has destroyed 3 Argon cruisers in a minor star system near Aldebra. The Solaris, H165 Denebola, was patrolling near the star (which has not been named by the DDS for operational security reasons) when it detected energy signatures. It found 3 Argon ships which it is thought were using the star as a rendezvous point.

Detected the Denebola gave battle, the latest shield and weapon upgrades are said to have finally negated Argon weapons though a number of crew were killed or seriously injured in the battle which left Denebola badly damaged, but victorious. Denebola is now returning to Malau for repairs.