Pentekonter ILU has begun this year at last

NS is to give it's Pentekonter minesweeping and training fleet of ships it's first major overhaul starting this year. Pentekonter Intermediate Life Update 2125 will include updates which were planned for way back in 2120 but never took place due to the war and other upheavals. Ships did receive heavy overhaul however, to remove worn components and check for fatigue.

The upgrade will include re-engining the fleet with a Proton RM-01 e-Core engine (as is used in export Pentekonters and the patrol developments), the legacy SPECNES minesweeping suite will be removed, it has already been replaced by the newer DMS system though the older system has not yet been taken out of the ships. The space saved, and electrical bandwidth released, will allow for an eight cell TPM-VLS system to be fitted.

The first two ships have already begun their upgrades and are expected to be completed by March, the whole fleet will take the rest of the year at least.

Anderson says the 2nd Legion will become the Clone Republic Guard

Admiral Anderson, now the sole ruler of the Clone Star Empire, has said the 2nd Legion will become the core of the new Clone Republic Guard. Anderson said the CRG will be the vanguard of the empire, responsible for protecting the republic (not that the empire is yet a republic).

The 2nd Legion was Benito Clone's old command, later they were led by Marcus. After the death of Marcus, Anderson has called on them to become the bulwark against those who want to bring the empire down.

The 2nd Legion will be relocated to Cloneworld from Austini 55 later this year.

Clone Navy to build larger SSBN

The order for the Walrus ballistic missile submarine has been reduced to four, with a ship currently under construction. Production will switch to a follow-on class known as the Walrus II. This is very similar to the current class but longer with the missile complement increased from twelve to sixteen. The larger hull will also mean the submarine can stay on patrol for longer.

It is not known how many Walrus II will be built though the Clone Navy did intend to build seven Walrus submarines. The first Walrus II could be in service by the end of the decade.

Swordfish to begin flight testing next week

The prototype Swordfish DTA patrol ship has been unveiled by Krok Industries and will begin flight testing next week. The Swordfish is a competitor to the Pentekonter and export Shark frigates and is intended for the DTA to replace older ships like the Kalahati Tuul and also export customers. The Swordfish is based on the Dinomark GL which was the losing competitor to the LM (indeed the Swordfish prototype is largely a rebuild of the GL prototype).

Twenty six Swordfish are on order for DTA customers, there has also been interest from other potential customers. The first production Swordfish are expected to enter service next year.

Anderson will rule alone, will form Clone Republican Guard

Admiral Anderson has returned to the Clone government HQ in Ailier City. He addressed the Clone Star Empire saying that the immediate danger from rebel elements had passed though there may be further incidents in future, Anderson said that all Clones needed to be vigilant.

Anderson mourned Marcus and Armstrong but said they would not be replaced in the Junta. From now on he, Anderson, would rule the Clone Star Empire alone. He said that the empire would evolve into a republic with a President as head of state, though he did not say exactly when that would be.

Anderson also said he was forming an elite force of loyalists to help protect the integrity of the new republic, he called it the Clone Republican Guard (CRG) though did not give any other details.

He also did not address the war with the FES or the upcoming peace talks on Yeng.

NS say they should be involved in Clone-FES peace talks

MBO-New Sparta say they should be invited to attend the forthcoming peace talks between the Free Eritran States and the Clone Star Empire which will be hosted by the DTA on Yeng. The FES are long-term NS allies, indeed most of the FES military has been provided by NS.

Molab said NS were welcome to attend but interestingly did not appear too enthusiastic. Some analysts say the FES are looking beyond NS as an ally, as since the MBO takeover of NS the alliance has cooled greatly. Some FES members want greater ties with, or even joining, the DTA.

Later, the Dinos said that NS could send an observer.