NS goes to the polls

All New Sparta personnel have begun voting in the NS Presidential election. Voting continues for forty eight hours (to take into account different time zones across the UNP). The result is expected within a couple of days.

Torus is almost certain to be the winner, she has two minor officer opponents who will be lucky to get a single percent each. Torus will, assuming no incredible upset, will become President-Elect with her term in office officially beginning at the beginning of the new year. However, it is likely she will begin her duties immediately given Windscorpion's desire to move on.

Clone-Dino summit ends in stalemate

A summit held between Clone Star Empire Emperor Terin and Dino Republic representative Senator Krusty has ended in stalemate following hours of robust and at times ill-tempered talks. The Clones are accusing the Dinos of involving them in their war against the Terrasaurs when they forced Clone officers to launch CSMs against a Terrasaur target. There are also other, unspecified, issues causing Clone anger.

Krusty has denied the Clone officers were forced, claiming they were instead misled. This did not go down well with Terin. However, with the DTA looking to make a large warship purchase soon it is thought Terin has been advised not to push the issue too firmly as Clone build Sharks could be the ships chosen.

Krusty returns to government

Krusty, who for a long time was thought to have been lost in the joint Dino-NS mission against the Mutre Bee, has returned to work after a long time convalescing. It is said he spent most of the time at an Orach cult monastery (the main religion of the Dinos).

Censor Ronald has restored his senator rank, though he will be without portfolio for the moment. His first task is to be a special envoy to the Clone Star Empire. He will meet Emperor Terin and try and ease tensions between the two galactic superpowers.

NS scores new customer

New Sparta has sold three Coril ST shuttles to the minor planet of Lem 319. The planet is inhabited by ethnic Porquatians (and relies on Porquat 640 for it's own defence) though has bought the shuttles for VIP duties. Deliveries are expected from 2123.

Lem 319 is also considering the purchase of a Defender multi-mission ship to support government operations though as yet no order is forthcoming.

NS post more details of Repulse 51B

Next year production of the Corkscrew 51A will switch to the follow-on Repulse 51B. The most notable change will be the addition of a "mission wing" which will be a modular mission-specific weapon and sensor  "wing" added to the sides of the destroyer. NS have posted some more details of the type.

The Repulse will have a new engine, an evolution of the NS e-Core family known as the Proton RM-01MZ. The new engine has a "burst mode" and the top speed will be increased to 800c for a limited time (not specified by NS but thought to be around an hour), the cruise speed of the Repulse will be 750c like the Corkscrew. 

In maximum combat mission mode the Repulse will be able to carry up to 128 TPMs (the Corkscrew typically carries 48). There will also be a ground attack mission mode where up to 4 MRMs are carried. The Repulse will have a longer fuselage which will allow for a larger docking bay able to host ships up to Coril size. However, the docking bay will be adjustable and, if the mission needs it, part of the docking bay will be quickly convertible to extra storage or crew accommodation.

First Lynx 35M enters service

The first ship rebuilt and updated as part of the Panther Intermediate Life Update (ILU) has re-entered service following a couple of months of extensive testing. SS Lynx is the first of the Lynx 35M class which will eventually comprise all Type 35s in a unified standard. This will take most of the rest of the decade to complete however.

Lynx has been completely rebuilt, the hull lengthened as per the Type 35B and C, new engines fitted, a larger weapon load fitted and the docking bay enlarged and improved. All systems have also been upgraded and enhanced. NS expects to complete the rest of the Panther ILU with two ships at a time undergoing the upgrade, though the next two ships have not yet been chosen.

What Goes Around (2861)

SS-CINT prepares to rescue Oojok.

Operation Thrusting Buck

President Windscorpion has announced a snap exercise which will be held next week. The exercise will include mock combats and the deployment and retrieval of a Space Prowler unit. The short notice is part of the exercise as NS had had to scramble to assemble the ships required, some ships having to come back from maintenance early. The exercises will take place next Solaris. The ships involved are:

36-106 Madwort (flag)

35-312 Kentucky

43-108 North Sea

41-102 Silurian

81-101 Marconi

73-118 Hexane

71-115 Crane

Late Goal (2856)

LORD Rumble unveils his next plan of attack.

Voth Pentekonter Protector order increased, first ships delivered

The first two Pentekonter Protector 281Vs have arrived at the Voth, a few months early after NS shifted production due to an urgent Voth request. The two ships will begin testing and training ahead of an entry into service next year. A team from Sirikwan, who already operate the Pentekonter Protector, are assisting Voth.

The Voth order for the type has been increased from eight to twelve following funding from the DTA. Along with three rebuilt Helwin destroyers, these ships will form the backbone of the Voth fleet by the mid-2120s. The Dinos have also donated three older Dinomark XTs to transfer to Voth to bolster it's fleet.

Torus wants offensive bio-warfare capabilities

The last couple of years has seen the rise of so-called "bio-warfare" in the shape of clones and biological enhancements. The Mutre Bee Organisation has attacked New Sparta a number of times using these new weapons of war, forcing the creation of the DNA Scanning Agency and the DNA scanning of all NS personnel regularly.

At a husting for the NS Presidential Election, Torus said that she wanted NS to begin developing it's own offensive bio-weapons. However, she ruled out NS creating it's own clones. Torus said she would task Dr Forbidden with forming a research group as one of the first acts of her presidency if she wins (as she is overwhelming likely to do so).

Troops surrounded Dino embassy on Cloneworld

The Dino media is reporting that troops from the elite Kloisters Brigade of the Clone Religious Police surrounded the Dino embassy a few days ago. Neither the Dinos or Clones are commenting on the incident which now seems to have ended with the troops withdrawn back to their barracks on the outskirts of the capital Ailier City.

The CDF remains on high alert, especially on Cloneworld. Again there have been no explanations for this.

Devil Girl (2855)

The new LORD Gibson rises.

Punch This Kid (2854)

SS-CINT investigate Doctor Proctor.

Terin places CDF on high alert

Emperor Terin has placed the Clone Defence Forces on a higher alert, with ground forces on Cloneworld put on the second highest. All leave has been canceled on Cloneworld, Clone Army troops have been stationed around the capital Ailier City and CDF HQ.

The reason why is unknown. There are no apparent threats to the Clone Star Empire. It might just be an exercise though a NS source said this did seem like a genuine alert not an exercise, though as to why is not known.

Dinos buy 5 Helwin from Bolitic

The Dinos have bought five Helwin cruisers from the Bolitic for an undisclosed sum. The ships are not thought to have been in working order (and thus not part of the official fleet list). All of the ships will be rebuilt with Dino systems including engines, powerplant, tactical and sensors. The ships will be fully refurbished and should have at least twenty years of service life.

Three of the ships will be donated to the Voth, the other two remaining in Dino service in the training role. A Dino Army source said that the first ship is expected to be ready for service in 2123.

Windy may take VP (Security) role

Windscorpion stands down as President in a couple of months and there has been much speculation as to what his future role will be in New Sparta. He confirmed that he will remain in NS and it is now expected that he may replace Stella as VP (Security). This will mean he will oversee NSIS (which Kalifei will likely take over as head) and NS intelligence / security operations.

Windy visited Solaris today and endorsed his adopted daughter, Torus, as the next President. The endorsement was welcomed by Torus though she is already an overwhelming favourite to win against two fringe candidates.

MBH addresses DTA after end of war

MBH has hosted a summit of the leaders of the other Dino Trade Association members, the first such meeting since the end of the war against the Terrasaurs. MBH addressed concerns by the non-Saurian members of the DTA, especially the Voth and Aritans, who fear becoming second class citizens in the DTA if the Bolitic join and the DTA becomes the Saurian Alliance.

However, MBH said the Bolitic would not be joining the DTA. The Saurian Alliance and DTA would remain separate organisations, some DTA members would be in both (Sirikwan is very keen to join) but the DTA would not be sidelined or become second class. MBH said the DTA (which after all was his personal project) would fulfil a different role to the Saurian Alliance and would develop differently in future.

MBH also announced a 7 billion zark relief package for the Voth, who have suffered the most in the war. The money would be used for immediate relief especially on Apassara as well as rebuilding the depleted and outdated Voth Space Navy. It is expected the Voth will increase their order for Pentekonter Protectors (8 are on order), a small number of more powerful ships might also be ordered. The Dinos are looking at buying a small number of ex-Bolitic Helwins and upgrading and rebuilding them as NS did for the Alpha Centauri 93A training ships.

Torus stands down as VP (Ops)

Torus has stood down as VP (Ops) in order to concentrate on the NS President election to be held at the end of the month. Torus is highly expected to win, especially as there are no serious challengers.

Stella has been appointed Acting VP (Ops). If Torus wins then it is expected that Stella will continue in this role as Torus' deputy. Stella's previous role of VP (Security) has yet to be filled, Kalifei, the head of NS Intelligence, is a contender though as she is Torus' wife this may prompt accusations of favouritism. Torus will likely wait until she is President before making any decision on the role.

Fleet News 1/10/21

56-103 Medina is the latest Mariner 56A patrol ship to enter service, it has a number of equipment changes from the two earlier ships and is considered the first true production version. The two earlier ships will both be retrofitted to the same standard during their next scheduled heavy maintenance.

105-103 Lemon is the latest Lavender 103A optionally manned long-range patrol ship to join the fleet.