A report leaked to a Dino newspaper has revealed a growing crisis in staffing levels across the HCS Space Navy. The HCS were forced to issue a statement acknowledging the problem but said that steps were in progress to alieviate the problem. The main problem is that the HCS Navy has expanded in size greatly over the last few years but the training schools have not followed suit. That, plus natural wasteage, has led to some ships running up to 30% below normal staffing levels.
The HCS operate a 3 shift pattern like the DDS though their shifts are 10 hours long (as a Cloneworld day is about 30 hours long). Some ships have been forced to change to a 2 15-hour shift pattern. This of course is having a detrimental effect on morale and performance. One HCS General is said to be worried that tired crews are making mistakes and ships could be lost.
HCS General Asim, the head of HCS Space Navy Training, said that the HCS Space Navy had just opened a new training academy on Paragon (the 4th in the empire) and that 2 more were being built. However one of these was on Austini 55 and the rebellion now makes that unlikely to be providing any loyal HCS space sailors any time soon.
