26.6.11

Pulsars prepare for final flourish

C108 Europa is due to return from Liberation early tomorrow when it arrives at Proxima 7. It will be joined by its sister ships C103 South America and C109 Antarctic for a celebration "flypast" of the main DDS orbital base over the planet. The three remaining Pulsar 12As will then travel onto Solaris where they will perform a similar maneuver past Solaris Dock One and then will arrive at the DDS Engineering Holding Area in high-orbit for decommissioning.

This will bring to an end 17 years of service for the type with the DDS (though the oldest ship remaining South America is only 13 years old). All ships will be preserved with one ship intended for the UNP Space Museum on Promixa 7, the fate of the other 2 ships is as yet undecided).

A fourth Pulsar SS Central America has already been preserved. It is possible the ships will be able to make their own way to their final destinations as they are fueled up for 2-3 more months reactor time though will need to be disarmed and have other sensitive equipment removed first.
  • At one stage the DDS planned to give the Voth 2 Pentekonter 44A patrol boats, P107 Sophocles and P112 Hipponas were withdrawn from service in late 2109 ready for the Voth but delivery never took place, though some localisation did take place, and the Voth eventually joined the DTA. The Voth still tried to claim the 2 ships which have lain in limbo at a Remedian space yard but a UNP court has ruled the DDS can keep the ships if they wish. The 2 ships may be converted into minesweepers and rejoin the DDS fleet though it is also possible the DDS may sell them to quickly fulfil 2 Pentekonter-E orders.