Senator Krusty visits NS GHQ

The Dino Minister of Intelligence Services Krusty has visited NS GHQ on Proxima 5. He met with Viceroy Caratore and various recent matters were discussed. Krusty is understood to have accepted Caratore's assertion that the MBO attack on an SS facility on Dino-Land was not sanctioned by New Sparta and may have been a rogue MBO unit.

However, Caratore said that the Dino Empire was making a big mistake by allowing the rebel Real DDS to operate from their territory. Krusty said that Real DDS had been offered a sanctuary though were not getting material assistance from the Dinos.

Although the talks did not end in any resolution it is thought they did help ease the tensions between MBO-New Sparta and the Dino Empire. Krusty is understood to be now travelling to Starbot.

NS Logistics Command wants new transports by 2127

NS Logistics Command has said it wants new transports based on the next generation Modular Logistics Platform (MLP) by 2127. The reason for this is the current stretched status of the NS transport and oiler fleet which is struggling to fulfil all NS commitments. Later this decade NS will need to begin a MULE programme for it's Provider and Extender fleets if they are to serve into the next 2130s. Obviously a ship having a rebuild and upgrade cannot be in service at the same time!

The problem for NS is that they have yet to finalise the MLP or do any final design work for ships based on MLP. Designing, building, testing and commissioning new transports and oilers by 2127 may be difficult. One option NS is said to be looking at is to buy back ships built for export customers. NS has sounded out Starbot if it is interested in selling it's Providers and Extenders to NS, or at the very least leasing them out.

Stock market (3126)

The MBO begin a highly dangerous new mission.

Massive market (3125)

LORD Gibson is unveiled in a new role.

Always victims (3124)

Crickson and Xaron enter a new nightmare.

One nil up (3123)

SS-CINT's bank raid takes place.

Take me higher (3122)

The Shiner pays the ultimate price.

Under the buss (3121)

Real DDS flees for the border.

Molab may buy new Pentekonter Protectors if they can sell their older ones

Molab has said they are interested in buying six of the new Pentekonter Protector 480 specification patrol ships. However, they first need to sell some of their older 259Ms. Fellow Free Eritran State member Oxsaxa is interested in expanding their fleet from the transports and shuttles they have right now. Due to their limited available budget Oxsaxa can't afford new ships but may buy a number of 259Ms for a reduced fee.

NS are finalising their specification for the 480 model of the Pentekonter Protector. Sear N7 have also said they may buy a small number to supplement their existing 358N7s.

Sirikwan and NS to meet over DTA minesweeping order

A few years ago NS scored a huge export success when the DTA selected the Pentekonter Protector-ME for it's DTA Standard Minesweeper. Twenty five 284Ms have been ordered, they would be crewed and maintained by Sirikwan but serve in the mine counter measure role with all DTA members including the Dinos.

However, the tensions between the Dinos and NS have put this huge order in doubt. Both NS and the DTA are keen for the order to go ahead and have emphasised that the order if for the DTA not the Dino Empire. A NS delegation will meet with the Sirikwan military next week to discuss the deal. The first 284M is thought to be under construction.

NS look to boost exports with aggressive upgrade of Pentekonter Protector

With exports of ships starting to dwindle, NS is looking at an upgrade to it's Pentekonter Protector export patrol ship. Sales have been high of this type but the backlog is starting to empty with new orders hard to find. 

A new Pentekonter 480 model is in development to replace the existing 380 high end model. This will likely have the larger docking bay of the Violet 57B and an upgraded engine based on the engine used in the Rome. Performance will be increased though details of this have yet to be revealed.

NS scrambles to adjust to loss of Starbot

MBO-New Sparta has been forced to adjust it's force structure and systems due to the loss of Starbot as a tier 1 ally. Updated security protocols were rolled out overnight to the entire MBO-New Sparta removing Starbot from access to NS data and secure communications. Starbot Commander S101 has given NS a month to remove their military facilities and personnel from Starbot, though this should not take that long. An NS transport is en route to facilitate the removal.

The loss of Starbot as a refuelling and marshalling point is where NS will feel this change the most though nearby Aldebra will be a suitable replacement. Facilities chief Boxman said the orbital facilities at Aldebra would be upgraded this year.

NS has not officially commented on Starbot's decision to join the DTA. Viceroy Caratore is privately said to be furious.

Starbot joins DTA!

Starbot has made the shock decision to join the Dino Trade Association, they have also severed ties with NS having been a tier 1 ally. Starbot had been approached by the DTA a number of years ago but had remained in the NS orbit despite their misgivings with the Mutre Bee. Following the MBO raid on a Dino base (though MBO-New Sparta say it was a rogue unit) Starbot has decided they can no longer remain an NS ally.

Starbot will leave the NS military co-operation system with immediate effect. Starbot is also looking to cancel it's order for ten Shark SKS frigates which have been delayed again by the Clones. Starbot may look to join the Dino Swordfish programme. Starbot has a few NS built ships on order, it is not known what will happen to these orders.

The Dinos say they will integrate Starbot into the DTA military command by the end of the year. A number of Dinomarks are thought to be already en route to visit the new DTA ally.

Starbot considers leaving NS alliance network

S101 has said that Starbot's time as an NS ally may be coming to an end. He said that Starbot had long been Dino Empire allies as well, for decades before any alliance with the DDS/NS. Now that the Dinos and MBO-New Sparta were at loggerheads and could be entering a Cold War, Starbot could be forced to choose which side it was on. S101 did not say which side they would choose.

Starbot is also very distrustful of the Mutre Bee, who for a time was Starbotian leader. This is a time the Starbotians do not remember fondly. 

Dinos cut all diplomatic ties with MBO-New Sparta

The Dinos have cut all diplomatic ties with MBO-New Sparta and cancelled all existing military contracts. Emperor MBH said that MBO-New Sparta would face a response in kind if they dared to attack Dino soil again. Patrols would be stepped up along the border and an increased presence would be maintained at key Dino military facilities.

General Honey is reported to have said that the Dinos paid the price for associating themselves with Real DDS. He said that Windscorpion's rebel faction was hated by MBO and it was unfortunate that a rogue and defecrtive MBO group might decide to take matters into their own hands.

Caratore said MBO attack was rogue

Viceroy Caratore has said that the MBO commando attack on a Dino facility was not sanctioned by MBO-New Sparta. He said that a rogue group of MBO commandos, perhaps defective drones, had launched the attack and apologised to the Dinos for their losses. He said MBO-New Sparta mourned with them.

Emperor MBH has angrily accused the MBO-New Sparta of lying. He said that it was nonsense that New Sparta did not know about this operation. The Dinos were considering their response.

MBO forces attack Dino facility!

An MBO special forces unit is reported to have attacked the SS Medical Research HQ on Dino-Land. A small team of MBO commandos landed at the base and proceeded to enter the building. They encountered heavy opposition from the SS troops guarding the facility. After a short but intense battle the MBO commandos were pinned down. They were later killed by reinforcements which arrived from SS-D special forces.

All eight MBO troops, plus the pilot of their landing ship which was destroyed, were killed. The Dinos are reporting twelve SS were killed and others injured.

Emperor MBH has called an emergency session of the Dino Senate.

First NS Black Triangle begins trials

The first NS built Black Triangle 126A has begun trials, and will soon link up with the MBO built Black Triangle prototype. 126-001 (name to be confirmed but it is thought to be Indigo One) is not quite feature complete as there have been delays with the tactical system though this will be fitted following the initial trials.

Later NS confirmed that the first Rainbow 166A support tender has begun construction. This is a Friendship based ship like the Acadia 165A. The Rainbow ships will each support a squadron of four Black Triangles.

Clones criticise Sirikwan for lost order

The Sirikwanese have cancelled their outstanding order for Shark frigates due to production delays, and will order the new Dino Swordfish. The Clones have criticised Sirikwan for this, though the Sirikwanese have said they wish to maintain a relationship with the Clones and keep their existing Sharks up to date.

The sad fact for the Clones though is that their space ship building industry is in tatters. Domestic production is at a standstill due to a lack of funds and skilled workers, this has also badly affected their export orders.

Dino Army seek funding for base on Jeloka

The Dino Empire has recently opened a large base on Jeloka, linked to Dino-Land by Deep Subspace Burrow Teleport. The base is SS-One, an alternative GHQ for the Dino Empire with facilities for the continuation of government and military control if Dino-Land is lost or compromised.

The problem the Dino Army has with this is that SS-One is run by the SS. The Dino Army have requested funding from the Senate for their own equivalent to SS-One, an alternative Army HQ. However, Emperor MBH said that it would be a waste of money to duplicate these facilities and will likely vote against the measure if it comes before the Senate.

Fleet news: two in and three out

Two ships have joined the ships as the NS shipyards return to normal operations after the urgent work to restore the main combat fleet over the last year. 57-210 Vaccinium is the latest Violet 57B light patrol ship to join the fleet. 161-108 Interrogator is the latest (and probably last) Depender 161A intelligence gathering ship to join the fleet.

Three life expired Deterrence 53A have been withdrawn, the rest of the fleet is due to be withdrawn by the Summer. The ships withdrawn are 53-101 Deterrence, 53-117 West Kirby and 53-141 Old Roan.

NS cancel Type 51C

When the Type 51 design was unveiled as the third generation NS destroyer (though frigate or medium combat ship at the time) the plan was to built sixty, in three batches of twenty. The first twenty was the Corkscrew 51A, the second batch is the upgraded Repulse 51B which began production in 2122 (though only one has been produced to date due to delays caused by the MBO war).

NS has said they have decided to not build the first batch (the Type 51C) which would have probably entered production by the end of the decade. It is expected that Black Triangle 126A may cause a reorganisation of the fleet and a reduction in the need for traditional destroyer type ships. However, NS said that all twenty Repulse will be built and production may be extended if needs be.

Work on the Type 51C will be rolled into future upgrades of the Corkscrew and Repulse. NS do have the problem that by the 2130s the Isometric family ships will be reaching the ends of their lives and a future destroyer type will be needed to replace a large number of ships. There is no word yet as to what will replace these ships (starting with the Isometric itself, then the Mediterranean Sea, Proxima Centauri and finally the Freedom fleets).