Artic is a majority human planet in the Commonwealth of the Interstellar Nations, aligned to New Arit but mostly independent. It has reported a planet wide cyber attack which has knocked out major systems and even sent the main nuclear power station to near meltdown.
The Dinos have managed to stabilise the situation, other CIN ships are en route to assist. The Dinos are looking into the possibility that Telvin 802 may have been behind the attack.
NS insiders are warning that NS is losing the ability to finish warships, and MBO is to blame. The number of ships joining the fleet has ground to a halt, the problem being MBO taking vitally needed components and systems for their own shipbuilding sites in their own territory. An anonymous NS source said that three ships have been nearly completed but have not got engines or hyperspace drives due to MBO commandeering the allocated propulsion systems for their own needs.
This is also affecting ships already in the fleet. An NS Engineering source said that two ships are currently out of action due to needing new engines, but none are available.
MBO are understood to have begun a mass shipbuilding programme of upgraded Nectars using NS propulsion and tactical systems and have seized all production of NS engines and weapon systems.
It is understood that both the Dino Army and Clone Defence Forces have taken examples of the attack drones deployed by Freedom Miliaris for analysis. The type, designed to be mass produceable in small workships, made from wood and other easy to obtain materials has proven to be deadly during the insurgency on Miliaris and elsewhere in the CSE-E. Although crude, the insurgents were able to overwhelm defences by sheer weight of numbers.
The Dinos are said to be looking at how to defend against such a weapon, as well as the possibility of using them themselves. The Clones are thinking of an upgrade to their TAA-4 Stoat anti-aircraft tank.
The Clone Star Empire and Free Eritran States have signed a peace treaty on Starbot, the treaty being sponsored by the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN) represented by Censor Ronald. The FES will withdraw back from CSE space and cease funding and supplying insurgency units like Freedom Miliaris.
Both the CSE and FES will not be permitted to enter a three lightyear wide exclusion zone, the zone will be patrolled by CIN ships based out of Starbot. The Clones will not deploy nuclear weapons in the CSE-E except on Austini 55 and Woloron 12 (which means CSMs will be out of range of the FES).
Miliaris, Rendrial 4 and Laalande 21649 will be granted full autonomy in the CSE, being in charge of their own affairs and having their own terrestrial armed forces. The Clones will maintain space defence. The CIN is providing a fund of 5-10 billion zarks for the setting up of the new local armed forces and institutions. The CSE will also receive 5 billion zarks for reconstruction.
A joint committee comprising CSE, FES and CIN representatives will be set up to iron out the fine details. The FES will also officially become members of the CIN from next month.
Admiral Anderson, the ruler of the Clone Star Empire, has announced a ten year plan to "rejuvenate and re-structure" the Clone Defence Forces. The plan comes in two five year long phases, phase one will be to withdraw obsolete and time expired equipment and disband surplus capability. The second phase will be to introduce a new generation of weapon systems.
The full plan details will be revealed later this year, however key highlights for each of the four arms of the CDF have been announced.
Clone Army
Clone Air Force
Clone Navy
Clone Space Navy
Following the final ratification by Starbot, the name change of the Dino Trade Association to the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations or CIN has been finalised. Senator Woodhead, the Minister of the DTA said his job title has now changed as well though it will take a few weeks to complete the change in name across the ex-DTA.
However, the name change is just the start. Censor Ronald wants the CIN to evolve into something more than a trade bloc. Efforts are ongoing to harmonise the militaries of the CIN members, including the recent order for a standard CIN tank. Ronald also wants other nations to join the CIN as well as the Free Eritran States who will soon join. Triple Megan is rumoured to be in talks, this would be a blow to the Clones as Triple Megan are one of their dwindling number of allies.