Benito Clone, leader of CSE-E, has accused the HCS of weakening the forces available to him in his part of the empire. He said that when forces sent to help in the invasions of Unatel Gamma and Kontai were returned the HCS took away more than they sent in the first place. In particular he said HCS-E now had 2 fewer Soulakis and 1 fewer Molentic Tuul than at the start of the year. The ships had been replaced by 3 Cosmos CKs in a rotation. "The Cosmos are good ships but not comparable to the ships they so-called replaced!" Benito said.
He also said the 14th Legion, a battle hardened unit, had been replaced by the recently rebuilt and totally green 23rd Legion thus leaving HCS-E only with the 2nd Legion and a few scattered veteran brigades (plus some Red Lizard) for front-line experienced troops. "The HCS have weakened our forces and left us vulnerable." Benito said.
HCS Commander Admiral Anderson later denied Benito's allegations. "The forces changed are part of normal rotations. Sometimes the new units are weaker, sometimes stronger. Its no conspiracy but the HCS isn't a bottomless pit of military force." Benito is understood to have sacked the entire general staff of HCS-E on Austini 55.
