VP Technology Knobhead has set up a working party to look at NS' export portfolio. Sales have slackened over the last year or so though the order books still have healthy backlogs. There is a feeling that NS has saturated the market and so needs to look at new products.
Upgrades could also be a growing market for NS. Years ago ten billion zarks a year income was set as a target, currently it is just over half of that but upgrades are a tiny fraction. With a growing installed base of NS built ships now in operation across the galaxy there is opportunity to grow this income stream greatly.
29.6.18
27.6.18
NS3 think no immediate threat of terror attacks
The New Sparta Security Service (NS3) has said it does not think there is an immediate threat of any terror attacks like the Jalgao Sands nuclear power station incident earlier in the year. NS3 and New Sparta Internal Security (NSIS) have been on high alert ever since. The head of NSIS Torus said that they would remain alert.
Privately it is thought that the terrorists had help inside New Sparta, maybe at a high level, though an NSIS investigation has failed to find any solid evidence. General Toberone, who tried to sell NS secrets to the Bolitic, is not though to be linked to the earlier terror attacks. VP Intelligence Windscorpion personally debriefed and deeply probed him.
Privately it is thought that the terrorists had help inside New Sparta, maybe at a high level, though an NSIS investigation has failed to find any solid evidence. General Toberone, who tried to sell NS secrets to the Bolitic, is not though to be linked to the earlier terror attacks. VP Intelligence Windscorpion personally debriefed and deeply probed him.
22.6.18
Not everyone in favour of NS/UNP merger
A group of senior NS officers let by the Vice-President of Operations Caratore (and deputy to Sea Urchin) have expressed their concerns about the proposed merger of New Sparta into the UNP (Epiphany). Some NS officers are against it, while Caratore did not go that far he said he had doubts about the benefits of the project.
Sea Urchin met with the group at NS GHQ yesterday and while the meeting was reported to be amicable it is not thought he changed any minds. Their opposition is not enough to derail the merger as a majority of the NS Poliburo voted in favour of the proposal. Caratore said he is open to being "convinced".
Sea Urchin met with the group at NS GHQ yesterday and while the meeting was reported to be amicable it is not thought he changed any minds. Their opposition is not enough to derail the merger as a majority of the NS Poliburo voted in favour of the proposal. Caratore said he is open to being "convinced".
17.6.18
NS place order for 8 Okra
New Sparta has placed an order for eight Okra 86L light patrol ships, these are modified Coril shuttles that will be used in the light patrol role to plug a gap in NS' fleet due to the pending withdrawal of legacy UNP Space Patrol ships. The ships will be built on the NS export Coril jig and four ships have been added to the current ship building plan. The other four will be in the next plan.
The Okra will have extra weaponry, thought to be a TPM-VLS cell. They will also have an improved docking adapter and interior changes.
The Okras will be replaced by Mariner light patrol ships in the early 2120s. They will either be sold or join the NS special forces fleet, a decision to be made at a later date.
The Okra will have extra weaponry, thought to be a TPM-VLS cell. They will also have an improved docking adapter and interior changes.
The Okras will be replaced by Mariner light patrol ships in the early 2120s. They will either be sold or join the NS special forces fleet, a decision to be made at a later date.
12.6.18
Senior NS officer arrested for treason
NS has confirmed that the captain of the SS Corkscrew, General Toberone, has been arrested for treason. It is thought he sold details of the security of the new monitor SS Windscorpion to a Bolitic house who then tried to steal the powerful ship.
NS' internal security service NSIS say that they knew about the plot beforehand and were able to trap Toberone and foil the Bolitic. A Meltinan was engaged in a brief skirmish and was allowed to leave after being damaged. Toberone has been taken to Windscorpion's top security prison where he awaits the return of NS' Vice-President of Intelligence. Windscorpion said he is keen to probe Toberone deeply.
President Sea Urchin is said to have been saddened by the betrayal as Toberone is a veteran officer who has served with NS since the Second Clone War.
NS' internal security service NSIS say that they knew about the plot beforehand and were able to trap Toberone and foil the Bolitic. A Meltinan was engaged in a brief skirmish and was allowed to leave after being damaged. Toberone has been taken to Windscorpion's top security prison where he awaits the return of NS' Vice-President of Intelligence. Windscorpion said he is keen to probe Toberone deeply.
President Sea Urchin is said to have been saddened by the betrayal as Toberone is a veteran officer who has served with NS since the Second Clone War.
10.6.18
First LRM squadron is finally operational!
New Sparta's answer to the Clone Space Missile, the Long Range Missile (LRM) is finally operational after many delays. The LRM-20 is NS' first generation of interstellar missile. It's range is said to be around sixteen lightyears (not twenty as the name implies). Like CSM the LRM can carry a variety of warheads including nuclear. LRM-20 is not thought to be as accurate as CSM though with a nuclear warhead would be able to mission kill a target like a military base of another world according to NS.
The First Interstellar Attack Squadron has been formed on Proxima 7 at silos in a remote area of the planet. Two more squadrons are to be deployed on Proxima 5 and Solaris. The Remedians are also keen to have LRM-20 deployed on one of their worlds.
Vice-President of Operations Caratore said that this was just the start of LRM. A mobile launcher was in advanced development and would replace the silo based squadrons in the early 2120s. The silos would be retained for training and non-LRM launches when that happened. Improvements to LRM-20 would see range and accuracy improvements as well as enhanced stealth in the launch phase.
The First Interstellar Attack Squadron has been formed on Proxima 7 at silos in a remote area of the planet. Two more squadrons are to be deployed on Proxima 5 and Solaris. The Remedians are also keen to have LRM-20 deployed on one of their worlds.
Vice-President of Operations Caratore said that this was just the start of LRM. A mobile launcher was in advanced development and would replace the silo based squadrons in the early 2120s. The silos would be retained for training and non-LRM launches when that happened. Improvements to LRM-20 would see range and accuracy improvements as well as enhanced stealth in the launch phase.
Operation Sharp Focus 2118
The latest operation is the second running of the Sharp Focus mine warfare exercise. A number of mine warfare drills will take place in the core of UNP space near Mars and Terra. The ships to take part will be:
023-201 Anubis (flag)
037-108 Sanger Alpha
041-113 Precambrian (mine warfare director)
044-101 Thycydides
044-103 Sappho
044-112 Xerxes
073-113 Propane
023-201 Anubis (flag)
037-108 Sanger Alpha
041-113 Precambrian (mine warfare director)
044-101 Thycydides
044-103 Sappho
044-112 Xerxes
073-113 Propane
8.6.18
Knobhead discusses NS/UNP merger
Vice-President Knobhead gave a wide ranging interview with Proximan TV earlier today, while most of the interview was about his career and his time as NS Commander he was also asked about the merger.
Proxima News : Do you think the merger is a good thing?
Knobhead : Yes, I was a bit sceptical when Sea Urchin first mooted it but now I see it as the way forward for both New Sparta and the UNP. It will formalise the relationship. NS has been the defacto military of the UNP for years, it is time to make things simpler.
PN : How do you see it benefiting NS?
KB : It will save on some bureaucracy having direct funding. Also it will get rid of some uncertainty. I think it will also help us become more professional.
PN : And down sides?
KB : Well we lose some independence potentially. We will have to see how much the UNP will try to interfere in how NS is run.
PN : How do you feel about the Epiphany name rumoured to be NS' new name after the merger?
KB : Well I quite like it, maybe its an Epiphany we have finally had that the NS and UNP should merge.
Proxima News : Do you think the merger is a good thing?
Knobhead : Yes, I was a bit sceptical when Sea Urchin first mooted it but now I see it as the way forward for both New Sparta and the UNP. It will formalise the relationship. NS has been the defacto military of the UNP for years, it is time to make things simpler.
PN : How do you see it benefiting NS?
KB : It will save on some bureaucracy having direct funding. Also it will get rid of some uncertainty. I think it will also help us become more professional.
PN : And down sides?
KB : Well we lose some independence potentially. We will have to see how much the UNP will try to interfere in how NS is run.
PN : How do you feel about the Epiphany name rumoured to be NS' new name after the merger?
KB : Well I quite like it, maybe its an Epiphany we have finally had that the NS and UNP should merge.
7.6.18
What is Epiphany?
A Proximan newspaper is reporting that NS may not be given a UNP name when it merges with the UNP Defence Forces after all following comments by senior NS and UNP officers after a series of focus groups. Many voiced the opinion that NS should retain a separate identity from the UNP though a new name be used to represent a "clean break".
President Sea Urchin is said to be in favour of such a rebranding. What name though is unknown. However "Epiphany" has appeared on some internal NS websites and some are speculating this could be the name chosen... or could be just the project name for the merging with UNP.
President Sea Urchin is said to be in favour of such a rebranding. What name though is unknown. However "Epiphany" has appeared on some internal NS websites and some are speculating this could be the name chosen... or could be just the project name for the merging with UNP.
6.6.18
UV249 : Treason Must Be Crushed
- Incident At Romeo 14 - A Dino repair crew come under attack from the Tarbotians.
- I'll Be Your Queen - The Dinos fight back against the Tarbotians.
- Let Me Run Away With U - Windy recalls a battle during the Clone Wars.
- Why Don't You Do That? - Windy remembers his fight with the Great Moanki.
- Got No Money - A traitor seeks to sell NS' greatest weapon to the Bolitic.
- Incel Attack - The vile plot is foiled.
5.6.18
Leaked image shows new NS identity?
A leaked image is said to show the new visual identity of NS if/when it becomes the UNP Defence Force. An NS source said that the image was indeed official though the identity would likely be changed before the merger. The two-star logo is thought to be the basis of the new identity as it symbolises NS and the UNP (the source said).
3.6.18
Fleet News 03/06/18
Two new ships have joined the fleet this month. 036-109 Maple is the latest Mulberry 36A cruiser to enter service.
161-103 Inscriber is the third Depender 161A to enter service, they are thought to be intelligence gathering ships though NS officially call them utility transports!
161-103 Inscriber is the third Depender 161A to enter service, they are thought to be intelligence gathering ships though NS officially call them utility transports!
1.6.18
NS / UNP merger plan agreed
A plan to merge New Sparta with the UNP has been agreed by the NS Poliburo, it has already been agreed by the UNP Council. Under the plan NS would become the UNP's armed forces with direct funding instead of the somewhat complicated method it is funded at present. The NS Space Fleet will become UNP Space Defence Fleet, NS Terrestrial Force will become UNP Terrestrial Defence Force. NS as a whole will be renamed UNP Defence Force (UNPDF).
NS personnel would therefore become UNP employees. Although there would be oversight via liaison with the Poliburo the UNP will be largely hands off from UNPDF. There would be an agreed set of strategic and tactical objectives which UNP Defence Force will have to meet.
A separate private company called New Sparta Corporation (NSC) will be spun off to handle arms sales and contracts with non-UNP planets (such as military assistance and advice). Money raised by NSC will supplement the direct funding from the UNP.
President Sea Urchin said that although the plan has been agreed there are many fine details to iron out. The merger has only been agreed in principle. A final decision will be made when a full and detailed plan is published at a later date.
NS personnel would therefore become UNP employees. Although there would be oversight via liaison with the Poliburo the UNP will be largely hands off from UNPDF. There would be an agreed set of strategic and tactical objectives which UNP Defence Force will have to meet.
A separate private company called New Sparta Corporation (NSC) will be spun off to handle arms sales and contracts with non-UNP planets (such as military assistance and advice). Money raised by NSC will supplement the direct funding from the UNP.
President Sea Urchin said that although the plan has been agreed there are many fine details to iron out. The merger has only been agreed in principle. A final decision will be made when a full and detailed plan is published at a later date.
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