Erinthorn throws down gauntlet to Melson and forms League of the Crystal Sword

It is still not clear why 2 ships of a Bolitic house aligned to Baron Erinthorn were destroyed recently (the DDS are among the suspects) but Erinthorn who leads a faction of barons based off Castarian has seized on the destruction as evidence of Emperor Melson's aggression. Erinthorn has formally formed the League of the Crystal Sword (this has some obscure relevance in Bolitic mythology) and says the imperial houses in the league demand semi-independence from Melson.

Erinthorn has said that the League will remain part of the Bolitic Confederacy and fight alongside Melson's forces against "infidels" but that Melson should have no say over anything else. Its not yet known what Melson's reaction is.

• More ships have been dispersed away from Proxima 7 and Solaris to secret marshalling points in deep space. These ships include the Rapid Reaction Force and a second attack squadron of Quasar 15A bombers. The Departmental Fleet has also been put at the disposal of the DDS Space Fleet though as yet they are continuing their existing duties.