This time, Dr Forbidden, looks at the HCS in the aftermath of the Benito war.
Although its hard to get the full facts because of the paranoid security and secretcy of the HCS its thought that around 47 warships were destroyed in the battle between the Loyalist HCS and Benito's Eye-HCS, including 4 precious Soulaki battlecruisers. In the land battle on Austini around 20,000 men on both sides were killed and around double that wounded.
So how will the HCS change now there is an (uneasy in some areas) peace? With the HCS split into 3 will the HCSes begin to divulge in equipment and doctrine? It would be a bad idea if they did, as costs would rise. However it may be very difficult to stop the HCSes divulging from each other. Captain Clone and Benito will both want to make their marks on their forces. The Friar's HCS (basically Cloneworld's security forces and the old HCS Reserve) will also change as it's role will become very security and law enforcement focussed.
Indeed there is a change already. Of the new Tapirs ordered to replace battle losses Captain Clone's HCS (HCS-W) wants an interior NBC positive pressure slightly higher than Benito's HCS-E. A minor change for now but a sign of things to come. Wheras it may be some time before the two armies have different major types its likely that sub varients specific to the two sides will come.
Competition and the desire to be different will also drive this change. Its thought HCS-E wants a totally different radio system to stop HCS-W from being able to monitor it's communications. HCS-W has already changed it's encryption keys.
What war are these two armies preparing for? Could it be against each other? We'll have to keep watching.
