HCS told to plan for further possible cuts

All government departments in the Clone Star Empire have had to accept a 10% budget cut followed by 5 years of budget freeze because of problems with the empire's economy which is facing a downturn after nearly a decade of strong growth. Although the HCS' cuts were painful in context they amounted to the budget being reduced to that in 2108.

However there could be more to come. The Clone Finance Ministry has warned all departments that unless measures taken have an effect soon there may be a need for a further 5% budget cut next year not a freeze. To make matters worse for the HCS the protected "strategic weapon fund" may be scrapped and weapons like CSM and SeaGale would have to come out of the HCS' (shrinking) budget.

The cuts may not materialise but the HCS will have to plan just in case.

• The DDS will run its annual Atomic Fist strategic strike exercise in late April. Atomic Fist 2112 had not been listed until now because of uncertainty about whether there would be enough strategic assets available to run the exercise and maintain a ready attack squadron however it is now thought the DDS will be able to do both by staging the exercise near to GHQ. More information will be unveiled tomorrow.