DDS order extra aviation

The Air Division of DDS Terrestrial Forces has placed top-up orders for a number of types. The biggest order is for 20 more Cherrybee CBH-90 helicopters which are used mainly by ISSF for patrols and counter-terrorism.

Ten more K-18D COIN aircraft have also been ordered from the Dinos and 5 more LLAD MQ-14 drones.

In other news the Air Division has also been renamed to DDS Air Corps! The Land Division has also been renamed the Land Corps, this has been done as using "division" was causing some confusion.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The mystery of DDS alerts

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Rather opportune timing, i was just completing this article on the DDS alerts system when Torus is reported to have raised the alert status to ORANGE, thus confirming a rumour that Firefly is not the only DDS member of staff with the power to do so.

I understand that 5 people have the power (though this includes Windscorpion who is dead, so in reality 4 people, the DDS need to update their policies). Firefly of course, Knobhead, Sea Urchin and Torus are the others. From what i have been told Firefly must confirm the alert status change within 12 hours or it reverts back to what it was before.

The DDS alert status signifies the current astral-political situation the DDS finds itself in. RED is a state of war and then alerts drop down depending on tensions and threat. There is also a PURPLE alert level which i will discuss later.

Currently at time of writing the level is ORANGE, the highest alert state for "peacetime". The different alert statuses each have defined readiness and operational protocols. Under ORANGE all leave is cancelled, personnel must return to their posts, all scheduled maintenance is postponed, ships operate on heightened alert, bases restrict access and so on.

The DDS automatically transmits the current alert level across a number of channels, mostly on data channels in the background, every thirty seconds. There are also a number of human friendly transmission methods, including this website of course!

The DDS revised its alert scheme last year to add PURPLE, a level higher than RED. Much of PURPLE is kept secret but PURPLE would only be raised if the DDS was in serious jeopardy, for example if GHQ was lost. From what i have been told it is hoped that PURPLE will never be raised and unlike the other alert levels once the DDS enters PURPLE then it cannot drop again as we are in a "totally new ball game"*.

Senior DDS personnel across all parts of the DDS (fleet commander, base commander, department head level and above) all hold in their possession a sealed data tablet called the Purple Book. It can only be unlocked by themselves (retina and DNA scan) if a PURPLE alert has been called or the automatic alert transmission cannot be read for an hour. Once the Purple Book is unlocked then it contains operational orders (such as dispersal options for a space flotilla for example) and authorisation for emergency powers. Now these are kept highly classified but it basically means that in a PURPLE alert situation DDS commanders would have the power of life and death over UNP citizens in their area...

* PURPLE alert cannot be reverted as an enemy who possesses GHQ might try and take over the alert system. One note, alert levels must always be written in uppercase.

DDS to send task force to Aldebra

The DDS Poliburo met this morning in an emergency session to discuss the serious situation on Aldebra where Ice-Ranger and 2 other Prowler soldiers were killed by the Argon. The DDS will leave Starbot in charge of protecting Aldebra but is to send a small task force to the planet along with extra troops.

The task force is likely to consist of 1 or 2 Fleet Combat Ships, a Rome equipped for ground attack and a support ship though the DDS may rely on the Starbotian oiler which is now approaching the system. The task force is expected to leave in the next couple of days.

DDS engage Argon on Aldebra, Ice-Ranger among casualties

The DDS has raised its alert status to ORANGE (the highest status for a non-combat situation) following a skirmish between a DDS Prowler unit and Argon soldiers on Aldebra. The Prowler unit was led by the veteran Ice-Ranger and had detected and cornered a cloaked Argon unit. However in the firefight it is thought a second undetected Argon unit ambushed the DDS killing Ice-Ranger and 2 other Prowler soldiers.

ISSF Commander Torus raised the alert status and also instigated a raising of security and alert across the whole DDS. DDS Commander Firefly, returning to GHQ following a visit to Solaris, has called an emergency DDS Politburo meeting for tomorrow.

Speaking on DDS TV Torus said that Ice-Ranger had been a well-liked member of the DDS who had fought alongside so many since the late Clone Wars. His loss would be missed Torus added.

Story #2073

I Am Your God!
The DDS and Argon come to blows.

DDS discuss ways to protect UNP shipping

Despite a few close shaves in the ABBO-Bolitic War no UNP civilian transports were lost to enemy action though the growing commerce and number of ships in service with UNP registered shipping companies means that it is likely that in the next war in DDS/UNP space commercial carriers will be under threat.

To that end the DDS have begun discussions with a consortium of the largest shipping companies which together own about 72% of the entire UNP civilian tonnage. The DDS have offered help and kits to add DDS communications frequencies to civilian ship communication systems to improve warning and the ability to call for assistance. The DDS will also offer advice and expertise on damage control and internal security. The DDS have also considered fitting commercial ships with the required support systems and electric fittings so they can be outfitted with Canister TPM rapidly in a war situation  though commercial carriers have declined this idea as they think this would make them more of a target.

Story #2072

Keep Creating Chances
Has Gibson been caught in the act?

The Historian : The First Dino Space Age

The Historian casts his eyes back over the rich history of the DDS Universe.

Its been some time since i have written for this website. For the last few months i have been on Dino-Land researching the once mythical First Dino Space Age, which thanks to Ronald's mission last year is now somewhat less of a myth...

The First Dino Space Age is the name given to the first technological civilisation on Dino-Land which rose around 6000 years ago. Little trace of this civilisation remains on Dino-Land and much of what is known about them is wrapped in myth. Even what the civilisation called itself is unknown.

These Dinos developed technology and finally reached out to the stars. Their space faring technology was thought to be fairly primitive, possibly using warp drive and not hyperspace technologies meaning that they were limited to around the speed of light. However they managed to set up colonies on planets near to Dino-Land and further afield. These colonies were not an empire due to the difficulties in maintaining communications which was only by ship (FTL communications was unknown to them) and even ship travel took years or even decades. Later on these Dinos managed to discover natural wormholes which allowed them to spread further afield in a limited manner (the Bolitic use these wormholes to this day).

So around 5000 years ago a Dino space faring civilisation was beginning to develop. Unfortunately on Dino-Land itself things were turning sour. An obsession with the occult and black magic had given rise to the Acheron faction who tapped into secret and hidden knowledge from earlier, alien and even less known civilisations. The Acheron began to use genetic engineering to create a "super race", among the improvements being in massively increased psychic powers. These augmented beings were known as the Chosen.

The Chosen sought to take over the planet and enslave the non-augmented mass of the population. War ensured, which soon escalated into a full nuclear onslaught that destroyed the First Dino Space Age and left little trace. Dino-Land was left in ruins, a small number of survivors left in the Dino equivalent of the Stone Age. However these Dinos did eventually form the Dino Republic we know today.

The Dino space colonies were also affected by the war and similarly devastated or left cut off from supplies and also regressed. These colonies sometimes died out but many survived and now form the likes of Sirikwan, the Repicans and the Bolitic Confederacy. In some cases the racial memories of the war have survived in the form of hatred of the mother planet.

The furthest colony managed to avoid the war though they did struggle when cut off, however they did manage to keep their civilisation and technology intact. This is the Malanas Assembly, whom Ronald met last year and helped provide which much of the above information. Because of their largely unbroken technological development over the millennia the Malanas possess technology and a culture far in advance of anything else we know of in the galaxy. So it could have been for all of the Dino colonies perhaps if the Acheron had not risen. However our human history is likely to have been greatly changed too. While it is not thought Dinos from the First Dino Space Age visited Earth it surely would have happened sooner or later and they may have conquered us, fostered us, or even eaten us...

Panthers to undergo Space Combat Upgrade

The Panther 35A fleet is the first to receive Space Combat Upgrades. This will eventually be a Fleet and Medium Combat Ship wide upgrade programme to accommodate the DDS' new "Space Marines". Developed from the Prowlers these will be a growing force of troops specially trained in ship borne combat. One problem is however that few DDS warships have space to accommodate them.

The Panthers will be reorganised internally with one of the storage bays removed (the Panthers have proved to have too much space anyway) and the 2 science labs merged into 1. Accommodation for up to 20 soldiers and their support team will be added as well as 3 extra teleport devices. The medical bay of the Panthers will also be upgraded with enhanced triage and casualty receiving facilities.

While the upgrade is taking place the Panthers will also receive their yearly heavy maintenance and general updating of key systems. The work should be done by the end of the year.

Story #2071

Darker Than Night
Krusty is tasked to bring down Gibson.

Furl sparks concern in Dino Army

Sources in the Dino Army report that the new Bolitic Furl battlecruiser (officially unveiled yesterday though known about for several months) is causing a number of strategic and tactical headaches for the Dinos.

The Furl is a step change from the traditional Bolitic large warship which tended to be heavily armed and protected but lumbering and slow. Thus the Dinos have developed ships and tactics to use speed and agility against the Bolitic. However the Furl is said to be much more agile, though not as much as a Dinomark or even a large DDS ship like the Panther 35A. Its speed and agility however is easily enough to negate a lot of Dino advantage and tactics.

One interesting aspect is that the Dinos think the Furl will be a large strategic headache for the Bolitic too as for the next 8-10 or so years at least it will operate in a fleet that is dominated by much slower and lumbering ships than it. The Bolitic may be forced to hold back on fully deploying the Furl until they have sufficient numbers to form specialist flotillas a Dino strategic is reported to have said.

Dinos fit worm drive to Dinomark RS

The Dinos have finally fitted worm drive to their trio of Dinomark RS battlecruisers. The powerful ships have waited some time for the upgrade though a Dino Army spokesdino said the RS tends to be used as a static defence strong point mostly in peace time so there was not felt urgency to do it until now.

The RS is fitted with an uprated W1B drive (W1BA) to handle the extra mass. Work on the improved drive was shared with the DDS who have developed the W1AA for their large transports. The RS has a rated worm drive speed of 4800ec.

• Amid an imperial celebration on Castarian (which involved no fewer than 5000 prisoners being executed live on TV) the Bolitic Confederacy have unveiled their latest battlecruiser the BS7500 Furl. Emperor Melson said the first is now in service as his new flagship to be followed by many more. The Furl is said to use Utrek propulsion and weapon technology and is much more nimble than the earlier generations of Bolitic cruiser like the Snarl and Helwin which tended to be lumbering beasts.

Gunfight on Aldebra

There has been a gunfight on Aldebra between the UNP colony's own police and unknown cloaked beings who tripped an alarm near the DDS liaison office. No injuries were reported on the Aldebran side and it is doubtful any of the enemy were hit either.

A DDS Prowler unit moved into support the Aldebrans but the enemy teleported out. Their identity is still undetermined but it is suspected to be Argon special forces.

Dinos to build long-range reconnaissance ship based on AM

The Dinos are to build a long-range patrol and reconnaissance ship based on their forthcoming Dinomark AM platform. This is a separate project from the future cruiser (Project ZWU) which is also based on the AM.

The Dinomark AR will be built from 2116 and a fleet of 12 are expected to be eventually built. It will share a line with the AM which begins production next year.

The other new Dinomark, the XT replacement Project GHT, is expected to be named and unveiled before the end of the year. Production of that is due to begin in 2116.

Civilian Partnership ends

The DDS' big annual humanitarian and disaster relief Civilian Partnership has ended after an intense 2 weeks where a mass pandemic caused by a biological weapon was simulated and the DDS led the relief effort along with the UNP's disaster relief agency UNP-RRT.

DDS Director of Operations Knobhead said the exercise had highlighted some shortcomings in DDS Medical Services ability to handle mass quarantined casualties. More equipment would be ordered and procedures reviewed.

Other Fleet News (15/09/14)

• The Dinos have built 2 Dinomark PTs (just 1 left is due to be completed) and an Extender EDA oiler.
• New Arit has received the first 2 Shark SKH-EAs it has on order. With the first Sharks now in service Arit plan to sell its single Pentekonter.
• Vontapi has received 2 Pentekonter Protector 216-V1s.

UV206 : Windy's Little War

• Oh Its Magic - Windy's war against the Tarbotians begins.
• Work Harder - The Tarbotians send an entire fleet to face Windy's pirate armada.
• The Battle @ Orki 913 - Windy's pirates and the Tarbotians do battle.
• Everything At Once - Windy's pirate armada gets closer to its goal.
• They'll Miss Him - Windy's armada prepares for the final battle.
• Minor Placings - The final battle for Okis 612 has an unexpected twist.
• Cool Stuff - After the catastrophic war with the pirates the Tarbot Empire licks its wounds.

Story #2067

Cool Stuff
After the catastrophic war with the pirates the Tarbot Empire licks its wounds.

Starbot to send troops to Aldebra

Starbot are to send a battalion of infantry to Aldebra to help guard the planet. The troops, who are expected to arrive in 2 weeks, will work with Aldebra's police (the UNP colony has no armed forces of its own) and a couple of DDS Prowler special forces units.

One of Starbot's Extender 73A oilers will bring the troops and other supplies and stay to support the Starbotian ships which will stay in the Aldebra system until further notice. I-6 is due to arrive tomorrow and will support the 2 ships already there until the oiler arrives.

Clones begin efforts to restore Zoneland

The Clones have begun what will be a long (and potentially expensive though they arn't spending much yet) programme to restore Zoneland to habitability. The planet was devastated by a saturation nuclear attack by the DDS forcing the Zone population to flee, many now living on the Clone planet of Colom in camps.

The most lethal radiation had a very short half-life but the biosphere of the planet was wrecked and little can survive there at the moment. The Clones have established an orbital science base over the planet and will explore various decontamination efforts.

Unknown beings trip security sensors on Aldebra

Unknown beings wearing personal cloaks have tripped a security sensor near to the DDS liaison office on Aldebra. The Aldebran security services were quick to say it was not them and the DDS also say it was not DDS personnel. The fingers points to Argon special forces who are thought to be operating on the planet. Unlike earlier cloak tripping incidents it is not thought this one was intentional.

The DDS is sending a "security backup team" to Aldebra. This will include more cloak detection grids and ISSF security personnel. Although denied officially ISSF Prowler units are thought to be already on the planet. One Aldebran source is saying that a DDS Prowler unit did track a cloaked team but were unable to intercept them before they were beamed off the planet.

Story #2066

Minor Placings
The final battle for Okis 612 has an unexpected twist.

Raegris to invest big in worm drives in 2115, with DDS benefiting

The Raegris have hitherto not fitted the W1A worm drive to any of their ships even though as DDS Tier 1 allies they have access to the technology. That is to change though after the Raegris announced a large multi-billion zark programme starting next year to fit worm drives to all of their front line warships by the end of 2116.

All 5 Quasars, 20 Isometrics and 11 Yel'Temas (plus the 7 new build) in their fleet will be fitted with the drives. The DDS will also fit worm drives to its Quasars next year after working on the calibration together with the Raegris. The forthcoming Mulberry Fleet Combat Ships based on the Yel'Tema will also have worm drive.

Story #2065

They'll Miss Him
Windy's armada prepares for the final battle.

Tarbotians have reduced forces in Kantalda by 60%

The DDS are reporting that the Tarbotians have reduced their forces in their new Kantalda province by about 60%. Around 40 warships have been spotted by long range scans leaving Kantalda and heading back into the Tarbotian Empire. There are also reports that the number of troops on Kantalda has been reduced by a legion.

Why the Tarbotians have reduced forces is unknown, there is now only around 30 warships in the province though extensive static defences have been built up at key points. It may be the Tarbotians have been testing their surge ability to reinforce the province or have some trouble elsewhere that needs reinforcements being sent.

Dinos launch expedition to follow up on Long Shot

The Dinos have launched a 5 ship expedition to follow up on Ronald's epic Long Shot voyage last year. The expedition will officially cover several areas Ronald visited but insiders say the real reason for the mission is to assess the strength and threat of the Terrasaurs whom Ronald ran into towards the end of his voyage.

The Terrasaurs' Saurian allies the Terib-Kan will also be of interest, their technology is said to be on a par with the Dinos but the strength of this new faction is unknown.

Argon ship fires at DDS transport

The tense situation with the Argon faction of the 7 Sa Sao has been notched up another level after an Argon cruiser is reported to have fired warning shots at a DDS transport. The Provider 71A was travelling between Liberation and Vontapi, a DDS customer - it is likely the DDS ship was carrying spares for the ships Vontapi have bought off the DDS, when the incident happened some 7 light years from Aldebra.

The DDS ship left hyperspace and took up a defensive posture, armed with a number of Canister TPMs it was not unprotected. However the Argon ship did not stop and continued its journey, cloaking. Its heading would have taken it to Aldebra. The DDS ship was not damaged and is continuing its journey.

DDS Director of Operations Knobhead has decried the intimidation, the DDS Politburo will meet next week to discuss the Argon situation.

DDS special forces operating on Aldebra?

Although the DDS officially do not have any ships in the Aldebra system a local media outlet is reporting that a DDS ship is in the system but remaining under cloak. They also say that at least 2 Prowler special forces units have within the last few days been deployed to the planet.

With Argon special forces thought to have been on Aldebra already the move could be seen as a response and extra protection for the DDS liaison office on the planet. The DDS are refusing to comment on the matter. How the local media know is unknown though it is speculated that the DDS purposely leaked it to warn the Argon.

FES send ships to help Starbot

The Free Eritran States led by Molab have dispatched a fleet consisting of an Isometric, 2 Pentekonters and an Extender oiler (operated by Sear N7) to Aldebra to assist the Starbotians with the Argon 7 Sa Sao.

However the ships will not arrive for over a week to reinforce the Panther and Isometric from Starbot's fleet that are already there. The Starbotian combat transport I-6 Ixion is due to arrive in the Aldebra system by the end of the weekend and will support operations.

There have been no more sightings since the momentary cloak "failure" (thought to have been intentional) which revealed a fleet of Argon ships nearby. There has been a suspected incursion on Aldebra by unknown beings who may have conducted reconnaissance near the DDS liaison office on the planet. Trace of the beings was found after they had left, it is thought this again was intentional and part of the Argon intimidation.

• The DDS have ruled out sending any ships to Aldebra for now though have sent 3 extra ships to Malau and will take over 2 patrol circuits usually maintained by Starbot. No more cyber attacks have been reported for the last few days though the DDS are maintaining full data security across DDS South.

Story #2064

Everything At Once
Windy's pirate armada gets closer to its goal.

Civilian Partnership 2114

The DDS' big annual humanitarian and disaster relief exercise will begin in a few days in conjunction with the UNP's disaster relief agency UNP-RRT. The exercise will take place on Liberation again though the theme has changed from a simulated asteroid strike to a major disease outbreak as it was thought an asteroid was too similar to last year's exercise which simulated an orbital bombardment and nuclear power stations going critical.

The exercise will simulate an enemy power unleashing a biological weapon on the planet with containment, communication, liaison and treatment phases of the exercise which is expected to last 2 weeks. The ships to be involved are:

L131 Tethys Ocean (flag)
A901 Florence Nightingale
L151 Oceania
L156 North America
S224 Fuji
H161 Solaris
M133 Firedrake
K109 Sulla (with photo reconnaissance module)
K157 Osprey
K162W Pelican
K167W Puffin
A111 Forwarder
A229 Orinoco
A159 Hexane

DDS secure UNP funding for third hospital ship

The DDS have secured 70% of the funding from the UNP for a third Nightingale 88A hospital ship, the upgrade of the 2 in service announced yesterday, and will pay the balance from their procurement budget. The third ship will assist the DDS on operations and during humanitarian crisis. The third ship will have a focus on mental health and will be named after the famous (if controversial) 20th century psychologist Dr Vincent.

No delivery date has yet been set though it is likely to be part of next year's ship building plan.

• DDS long range sensors have detected 12 more ships leaving Kantalda and heading back deeper into the vast sprawling Tarbotian Empire. A DDS intelligence source said that the Tarbotians had built up a fleet of about 40 ships at the capital of the new province but now over half have left. The reason for this is unknown but it is speculated the Tarbotians are engaged in some kind of conflict elsewhere on their empire's borders and need to send reinforcements.

Hospital ships to receive upgrade

The DDS' 2 Nightingale 88A hospital ships perform a vital humanitarian and support role for the DDS and are amongst the hardest working ships in the fleet, typically in use over 90% of the year. Now after 6-7 years hammering the 2 ships are in urgent need of an upgrade and refurbishment.

Both ships will receive a full maintenance check and replacement of worn structural components. They will receive new HS-740B engines and improved communication systems. Internal security and monitoring will also be improved. Hospital and casualty receiving facilities will also be upgraded. While each ship is unavailable one of the 2 Tethys Ocean 65As will stand in as the reserve hospital ship, the ships being primary casualty receiving ships and having extensive medical services. Each Nightingale upgrade is expected to take 4-6 weeks and both will be completed by the end of the year.

Fleet News (01/09/14)

• K170 Wader is the final Falcon 47A, delivered by the Dinos.
• A171 Propulsion is the latest Extender 73A oiler to join the fleet.
• The former Starbotian flagship I-1A Iona has received a major upgrade, it now has worm drive and TPM-VLS. Its also been fitted with the latest evolution of the Solarburst engine allowing a modest hyperspace increase in speed. 
• Isometric 41As M104 Tertiary and M108 Holocene have been fitted with worm drive.