Former Viceroy Caratore has been pardoned by NS Commander Torus. Torus said that Caratore had proved vital in facilitating the fight back against MBO, including locking out MBO access to NS' nuclear missiles. "We are willing to forgive his past crimes, all NS should follow suit."
Caratore will now command his ship SS Jurassic which will be part of the patrol fleet and no longer the flagship. Torus said that a new command structure will be revealed in the next few days.
Gun battles between NS and MBO forces have been reported at a dozen locations across the UNP, though the outnumbered MBO are being quickly defeated. Unfortunately, they are fighting to the death which means NS is also taking heavy casualties.
In space there have been a number of battles between NS ships and MBO ships, also a rebellion on a ship with a heavy MBO crew complement which resulted in a self-destruction, the ship is thought to have been the Nectar cruiser SS Nimrod. The Corkscrew destroyer SS Comet was also reported lost after it was ambushed by three MBO ships.
One key concern is the NS nuclear weapons. Torus has said that the LRM force was dual-key controlled by the MBO and NS but a fractal encryption lock has been put on the LRM launch system so it can't be launched (by anyone). NSIS Marines are now securing the launch sites.
Torus has been confirmed as NS Commander again by a hastily assembled meeting of senior NS officers. Torus will not return to NS GHQ for the time being, SS Jurassic is being used as her flagship.
In a shocking turn of events, the flagship of Viceroy Caratore rendezvoused with General Honey's ship near Liberation, and then destroyed it! General Honey was killed (though a new clone of him will already be activated).
Caratore then addressed NS, flanked by Windscorpion and Torus of Real DDS. He said that the MBO rule over New Sparta was over, NS needed to rise up and cleanse itself of the MBO virus. He also said that he was no longer Viceroy, Torus had been restored as NS Commander.
Across the UNP there are reports of gun battles between NS and MBO forces. There are reported skirmishes in space too.
Real DDS have hacked into the NS information network and have claimed they have launched an anti-cloning weapon on New Sparta. They said that all NS personnel are now safe from being cloned by the MBO. Existing MBO made clones are also immediately identifiable as they are now bright orange!
The message was blocked by NS but there are reports of dozens of NS personnel now bright orange. Many have been attacked and even killed by other NS personnel.
Viceroy Caratore has not commented on the alleged attack. Indeed, he has joined his ship SS Jurassic and is heading to meet General Honey who is approaching NS space.
NS Medical HQ's at DDS City has been attacked by an elite team, though to be the renegade Real DDS. The building was left on fire after the attack, the aim seems to have been the DNA database built up of all current and prior NS personnel. This is used by the MBO to create clones. One source said the database had been destroyed, along with cloning equipment.
Viceroy Caratore has put DDS City under lockdown.
Anti-MBO unrest is beginning to spread in NS North, and as this is where the main centres of NS are this is a much more dangerous development. Two MBO drones are reported to have been gunned down by an unknown assailant on Solaris. An MBO drone was also attacked at Hexian City though survived.
Viceroy Caratore sent Boxman to NS South to bring the situation under control, however this has not gone well. Boxman was jostled by a group of angry NS personnel when he tried to address a crowd on Malau. It is reported he was punched a number of times before an NS Security team managed to restore order.
General Honey is now expected to replace Caratore within days.
When Molab, as part of the Free Eritran States, decided to join the Commonwealth of Interstellar States it meant they ceased to be a tier 1 NS ally and thus were no longer in recipient of regular high level security briefings. Unfortunately, NS forgot to remove them from the list! A Molab source has said that they received sensitive information last week. They informed NS who have now cut access, but this is an embarrassment to NS.
Some observers think NS is in danger of falling apart. With unrest between NS and MBO ongoing, ship building at a stand still and now basic mistakes over the handling of sensitive information, there is the feeling among many that NS is suffering from a terminal malaise. Viceroy Caratore is said, by some anonymous sources, to have little interest in running NS anymore, and he may be replaced by MBO.
NS personnel are reported to have risen up against the MBO on Saeou and Aldebra, following the unrest on Liberation a few days ago. MBO drones are being attacked by NS members. It has been reported that several deaths have occurred on both sides at various bases on the planets.
General Honey has told Viceroy Caratore to end the unrest at once. It is rumoured that Caratore may be removed and the MBO taking full control of NS if the unrest is not stopped.
A few days ago a popular base commander at an NS facility on Liberation was arrested and quickly executed by the MBO. The reason is unknown but it is thought that she refused an order by the MBO for MBO drones to be embedded in NS units.
This has caused an uproar on Liberation with fighting breaking out across the planet's nine NS bases. Two MBO drones are reported to have been killed.
General Honey is reported to have ordered the unrest to stop or "very serious consequences" can be expected.
The Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN) has accused Telvin 802 of launching a cyber attack on Artic which could have caused serious trouble on the planet including a nuclear power station meltdown. A Telvin Shark frigate was caught in Artic orbit, a number of electronic devices have been found on Artic (including at the nuclear power station) which are thought to be of Telvin origin.
The Dinos and Sirikwan have despatched ships to patrol Artic space. The CIN is also considering military options to respond to Telvin's actions.
With the order for a standard CIN tank now placed with the Clones (who will provide bodies for the J55ZDM3-C tanks, the Dinos will provide the turrets), attention has now moved on to artillery. The Dino Army currently uses a development of the standard Clone self-propelled gun, the J107G, called the J107GDM. This will form the basis of both a standard CIN gun and an upgraded Dino Army one.
The J107GDM-C will have a number of improvements including a new barrel plus communication equipment upgrades. The CIN is expected to buy 2,000 GDM-Cs for a number of CIN member armies. All Dino Army GDMs will also be upgraded.
The CIN will also buy the J90 rocket artillery system which uses the same body as the J107. The number to be bought has not been yet revealed, the J90C will be largely the same as the Clone Army model but with localised changes to equipment.
The Free Eritran States have completed their withdrawal from Clone space as part of the peace deal between themselves and the Clone Star Empire. The demilitarised zone between the two sides is now being surveyed by Dino and Starbotian ships. Patrols are expected to begin in a few weeks though the Dinos are looking into the possibility of making use of automated sentry posts to lessen the need for crewed patrolling.
CIN teams have arrived on Miliaris, Rendrial 4 and Laalande 21649 to assess the planets' before funding is released for the setting up of institutions as the planets begin their new eras as self-governing.
Artic is a majority human planet in the Commonwealth of the Interstellar Nations, aligned to New Arit but mostly independent. It has reported a planet wide cyber attack which has knocked out major systems and even sent the main nuclear power station to near meltdown.
The Dinos have managed to stabilise the situation, other CIN ships are en route to assist. The Dinos are looking into the possibility that Telvin 802 may have been behind the attack.
NS insiders are warning that NS is losing the ability to finish warships, and MBO is to blame. The number of ships joining the fleet has ground to a halt, the problem being MBO taking vitally needed components and systems for their own shipbuilding sites in their own territory. An anonymous NS source said that three ships have been nearly completed but have not got engines or hyperspace drives due to MBO commandeering the allocated propulsion systems for their own needs.
This is also affecting ships already in the fleet. An NS Engineering source said that two ships are currently out of action due to needing new engines, but none are available.
MBO are understood to have begun a mass shipbuilding programme of upgraded Nectars using NS propulsion and tactical systems and have seized all production of NS engines and weapon systems.
It is understood that both the Dino Army and Clone Defence Forces have taken examples of the attack drones deployed by Freedom Miliaris for analysis. The type, designed to be mass produceable in small workships, made from wood and other easy to obtain materials has proven to be deadly during the insurgency on Miliaris and elsewhere in the CSE-E. Although crude, the insurgents were able to overwhelm defences by sheer weight of numbers.
The Dinos are said to be looking at how to defend against such a weapon, as well as the possibility of using them themselves. The Clones are thinking of an upgrade to their TAA-4 Stoat anti-aircraft tank.
The Clone Star Empire and Free Eritran States have signed a peace treaty on Starbot, the treaty being sponsored by the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN) represented by Censor Ronald. The FES will withdraw back from CSE space and cease funding and supplying insurgency units like Freedom Miliaris.
Both the CSE and FES will not be permitted to enter a three lightyear wide exclusion zone, the zone will be patrolled by CIN ships based out of Starbot. The Clones will not deploy nuclear weapons in the CSE-E except on Austini 55 and Woloron 12 (which means CSMs will be out of range of the FES).
Miliaris, Rendrial 4 and Laalande 21649 will be granted full autonomy in the CSE, being in charge of their own affairs and having their own terrestrial armed forces. The Clones will maintain space defence. The CIN is providing a fund of 5-10 billion zarks for the setting up of the new local armed forces and institutions. The CSE will also receive 5 billion zarks for reconstruction.
A joint committee comprising CSE, FES and CIN representatives will be set up to iron out the fine details. The FES will also officially become members of the CIN from next month.
Admiral Anderson, the ruler of the Clone Star Empire, has announced a ten year plan to "rejuvenate and re-structure" the Clone Defence Forces. The plan comes in two five year long phases, phase one will be to withdraw obsolete and time expired equipment and disband surplus capability. The second phase will be to introduce a new generation of weapon systems.
The full plan details will be revealed later this year, however key highlights for each of the four arms of the CDF have been announced.
Clone Army
Clone Air Force
Clone Navy
Clone Space Navy
Following the final ratification by Starbot, the name change of the Dino Trade Association to the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations or CIN has been finalised. Senator Woodhead, the Minister of the DTA said his job title has now changed as well though it will take a few weeks to complete the change in name across the ex-DTA.
However, the name change is just the start. Censor Ronald wants the CIN to evolve into something more than a trade bloc. Efforts are ongoing to harmonise the militaries of the CIN members, including the recent order for a standard CIN tank. Ronald also wants other nations to join the CIN as well as the Free Eritran States who will soon join. Triple Megan is rumoured to be in talks, this would be a blow to the Clones as Triple Megan are one of their dwindling number of allies.
In what is of course not a sweetener before the Clone-FES peace talks next week (of course), the Dinos have finalised a huge order for three thousand J55ZDM3-C tanks with the Clones. These tanks will supply the armies of Sirikwan, Yeng, Voth, New Vosun and New Arit as they standardise their armour, the ZDM3-C being a customised version of the ZDM3 tank which is being built for the Dino Army.
The Clones will build the chassis and bodies of the tanks, the Dinos will supply the ZDM3 turrets. Factories on Sirikwan, Voth and New Arit will complete the tanks with localised equipment and customised final fits. The first tanks are set to be delivered before the end of the year.
The tank is officially known as the DTA Standard Tank though as the DTA will change it's name within the next few days, it's name will change to CIN Standard Tank. It is thought Sirikwan and New Arit will have around a thousand each of the tanks, Voth around six hundred, Yeng and New Vosun will have two hundred each and the rest will be kept in a reserve.
The K85QA has returned to service after work on solving the overheating issues with the electric motor. The K85QA1 revision has a modified cowl from the NT which allows for more air cooling. Performance is said to be slightly reduced though some software modifications to the power management system and an improved battery infrastructure have remedied that to a large extent.
The time out of service has also allowed the Clone Air Force to rework the sensor integration and tactical data linking which have also been an issue with the QA. Production of the QA has resumed, the sixty aircraft already built will be retrofitted with the modifications to QA1 standard.
Viceroy Caratore is said to be growing increasingly frustrated at MBO control over New Sparta policy, though some UNP analysts have said (anonymously) that it is a bit late to worry about that now. Caretore is seeing the Free Eritran States disappear as NS allies, as Starbot did, and joining the Dino's orbit. He has been unable to counter the Dino overtures to the Eritrans, he even had to fight the MBO to get a relief column sent. That column is still two weeks away from reaching the FES. The Dinos have been on the ground in the FES now for weeks.
NS has not been included in the peace talks to be held in a few days on Starbot between the Clones and FES. They have not even been invited to attend as observers.
According to sources, the MBO consider the FES as an irrelevance and are not bothered if they change allegiance.
Senator Krusty is returning to Cloneworld to meet with Admiral Anderson again after reaching an agreement with the Free Eritran States to ending the war with the Clone Star Empire. Anderson is also said to be largely in agreement with it though there are a few sticking points especially with respect to the future trade agreement with the DTA.
A summit will be held next week on Starbot where it is hoped the agreement will be signed by representatives of both the CSE and FES. Censor Ronald will host the summit, he is due to arrive on Starbot soon.
Before Ronald left Dino-Land, the Dino Assembly agreed to rename the Dino Trade Association to the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN). This will need to be ratified by all DTA members however before it can be made permanent.
As a gesture of good will while peace talks are ongoing, the Dinos are to donate surplus Dinomark XTs to both the Clones and the Free Eritran States. The Clones are to be given two Dinomark XT/77w, which are underwater capable, they will join the Clone Navy's existing fleet of six XTs. Delivery is expected in the Spring.
Molab are to receive no less than ten Dinomark XTs, which will form a shared FES pool. They currently operate three XTs which are officially NS owned but on extended load. These will also be delivered within the next few months.
Helinox and Sear N7 have been sounded out to see if they also want some XTs for their fleets.
126-001 Indigo One and 126-002 Indigo Two have entered service with the NS space fleet, the first of the new Black Triangle type to enter service. The two Black Triangles will be used for combat training, subsequent ships will be organised into squadrons of four which will be supported by a Rainbow 166A tender. The two Indigo call sign ships will be used for training and also reserve.
The first Rainbow, 166-001 Black Viper has also joined the fleet and will train with the two Indigo ships. The four Black call-sign ships will join their tender later this year.
The Dinos have unveiled a peace plan which has already been presented to the Clones and Eritrans. The plan is hoped to solve the problems which have led to the Clone-FES war. The Eritran majority planets in the CSE-E (Miliaris, Laalande 21649 and Rendrial 4) would become self-governing though remain part of the Clone Star Empire. The planets would have their own territorial air and land forces with a minimal CDF presence. Orbital defence would remain part of the Clone Space Navy's domain.
As a sweetener, the Dinos say they would donate 5 billion zarks for the setting up of the territorial forces and other infrastructure. This would help save the Clones the set-up costs. The Dinos will also pay several billion each to the Clones and FES to help with reconstruction. The Dinos will also offer DTA tariff free trade to the Clones which would be very valuable to the struggling Clone economy. The FES now look likely to join the DTA.
Admiral Anderson is said to be largely in agreement with the peace plan. Some senior CSE figures have warned against the CSE becoming a client state of the DTA.
Twelve Dinomarks have arrived at Starbot. They will police a Clone-FES ceasefire alongside other DTA member ships including Starbot. Two Sirikwanese ships are understood to also be en route, the Bolitic (not DTA members but aligned to the Dinos) may also send a detechment.
As per the peace proposals being sponsored by the DTA, a neutral zone between the Clone Star Empire and Free Eritran States will be established, about three light years wide. It will be monitored by DTA ships, CSE and FES warships will not be permitted to enter it. The FES also want all planets in the CSE-E except Austini 55 to be "de-nuclearised" (no CSM batteries installed). The Clones have not yet agreed to this, CSM on Austini 55 will not be able to reach the FES, though as proved in the war their bomber launched CSM-S cruise missiles will still be in range.
A second relief convoy has also reached both Molab and Helinox, including Starbotian crews to assist with reconstruction. An NS convoy is still a couple of weeks away though a ship despatched from Aldebra has reached Molab with anti-nuclear medication.
The K58AD Raptor is a light fighter version of the K58 COIN aircraft, itself a version of the K3 advanced trainer. The aircraft has a hybrid engine combining a turbofan with an electrically operated ducted fan. This allows the aircraft to loiter and cruise at low speed for extended periods. This capability has proven highly effective with the COIN version in training, though the type has not been used in combat.
The K58AD will replace the K47 as the light fighter for second line squadrons and territorial air forces in the Clone Star Empire. Although the type is subsonic it is highly agile (the K3 prepares pilots for the K45 after all).
If field tests this year are successful it is expected that up to five hundred will be built.
Following a meeting of the Free Eritran States on Sear N7, the FES have said they wish to join the Dino Trade Association. Senator Krusty is due to meet with the FES in a few days and is likely to be presented with the official application.
It is likely the application will be successful. In a debate in the Dino Assembly, Censor Ronald said that the DTA should expand to include the FES if they wanted to join. He also said that the DTA should consider changing it's name to reflect that more non-Saurian nations want to join. He suggested the new name Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations.
Senator Krusty, the Dino Minister of the Intelligence Services and a key ally of Censor Ronald, has met with Admiral Anderson, the leader of the Clone Star Empire. They discussed the terms of a ceasefire between the CSE and Free Eritran States.
Krusty said that the FES wanted cast iron guarantees they would not be attacked as the Clones did during earlier "peace" talks. Krusty said the DTA would guarantee the safety of both sides by monitoring and patrolling a neutral zone between the CSE and FES. Anderson is said to have agreed in principle to this. The FES also want nuclear weapons withdrawn from border worlds in the CSE, Anderson said this could happen if the FES also gave up theirs.
Krusty will travel to Sear N7 next to consult with the FES.
Viceroy Caratore has ordered a relief convoy to depart for the Free Eritran States as soon as possible. Yesterday, the DTA (Dinos and Starbot) reached Helinox and Molab and are assisting after the nuclear attacks on the two planets. It is rumoured the FES are considering requesting the DTA to join it as part of it's security guarantee in return for ending the war with the Clones.
The FES are officially allies of NS though this relationship has cooled on both sides after the MBO take over of NS. Caratore is concerned that NS has dragged it's heels too much when the Eritrans needed assistance.
The problem is, even if the convoy left tomorrow (and it is unlikely to be ready to leave until next week), the ships would take a couple of weeks to reach the FES. A second and larger DTA relief fleet is due to arrive in the FES within the next few days.
The Free Eritran State leaders (minus the leader of Helinox who was killed in the Clone attack, his deputy attended) have met on Sear N7. They agreed in principle to the Dino-NS ceasefire. However, they say they cannot trust the Clones, who launched a nuclear attack on Helinox and Molab, while "peace talks" were on-going on Yeng.
They want cast-iron guarantees that the Clones will not launch any more attacks. They want a demilitarised zone between the CSE and FES, with no nuclear missiles on the planets within range of the FES. This to be monitored by the DTA and New Sparta.
The Dinos have already said a squadron of Dinomarks will be moved to Starbot, which can monitor any demilitarised and non-nuclear zones.
The Clones have largely agreed to end hostilities, if the FES fully withdraw and stop funding and supplying insurgencies. They have yet to respond to the other FES demands.
Senator Krusty will visit Cloneworld next week, to discuss issues with Admiral Anderson.
Viceroy Caratore and Emperor MBH have issued a joint demand to the Clones and FES to end their war immediately. They called on the war to end and for the FES to withdraw from the Clone Star Empire. They said that humanitarian and financial aid would be available to the FES who suffered a deadly nuclear attack earlier in the week.
Communications have now been restored to Helinox and Molab, the attacks on both were not quite as bad as earlier feared. Only military targets including the military HQs of both planets were targeted though these were close to the planetary capitals and there was some damage to outlying suburbs but the centres of the capitals were not hit. The death toll is still expected to be in the thousands. Orbital facilities were also hit and largely destroyed.
Caratore and MBH said that further nuclear attacks by both sides must not take place. Neither the Clones or FES have yet to respond though an emergency meeting of the FES is to be held on Sear N7 as soon as possible.
After the horrific nuclear attack on the capitals of Helinox and Molab, death toll is currently unknown but will be in the many thousands, the ceasefire talks between the Clone Star Empire and Free Eritran States have been cancelled.
The CSE leader Admiral Anderson addressed the CSE earlier today, this is what he said:
"Fellow Clones, earlier today our brave Kelsan bomber crews launched a deadly attack on our enemies, the capitals of Helinox and Molab have been devastated. Now some might say our attack was unjustified but let us remember that it was the Eritans who opened the nuclear Pandora's box, now they have paid the price for their actions.
"I am demanding their immediate surrender and withdrawal from the Clone Star Empire. I am also calling on illegal insurgency groups to cease operations at once. The Clone Star Empire will no longer meekly tolerate these attempts to weaken us, the Clone Star Empire will robustly respond to all aggressions.
"We will not make further attacks on the Eritrans unless they ignore my call to surrender and withdraw. They can end the war, which they started, quickly and painlessly. Otherwise, we will end the war and cause the Eritrans much pain and sorrow. The choice is theirs."
Even while the Clone-FES talks took place on Yeng it appears the Clones had a terrible plan to devastate the Free Eritran States. Sear N7 is reporting that Helinox and Molab have been struck by multiple nuclear missiles. The capitals of both planets have been hit, the death toll is expected to be in the millions.
Key military infrastructure on both planets was hit as well. Both planets are currently cut off from the FES communications network.
The FES have withdrawn from the talks and condemned the Clones for the attack. There are also reports that the Clone fleet which had been withdrawn is now heading towards Miliaris again.
Peace talks between the Clone Star Empire and the Free Eritran States have begun on Yeng in the DTA, with NS as observers. The FES want full Clone withdrawal from CSE-E, the former Eritran Trade Federation, obviously the Clones want to keep the planets and for the FES to withdraw.
A compromise promoted by the Dinos is for the Clones to keep Austini 55 and Woloron 12 but withdraw from the other planets which would become independent (and free to join the FES if they wish). The Clones are said to be interested in this though want a five lightyear wide demilitarised zone between the CSE and FES held territory.
NS is to give it's Pentekonter minesweeping and training fleet of ships it's first major overhaul starting this year. Pentekonter Intermediate Life Update 2125 will include updates which were planned for way back in 2120 but never took place due to the war and other upheavals. Ships did receive heavy overhaul however, to remove worn components and check for fatigue.
The upgrade will include re-engining the fleet with a Proton RM-01 e-Core engine (as is used in export Pentekonters and the patrol developments), the legacy SPECNES minesweeping suite will be removed, it has already been replaced by the newer DMS system though the older system has not yet been taken out of the ships. The space saved, and electrical bandwidth released, will allow for an eight cell TPM-VLS system to be fitted.
The first two ships have already begun their upgrades and are expected to be completed by March, the whole fleet will take the rest of the year at least.
The order for the Walrus ballistic missile submarine has been reduced to four, with a ship currently under construction. Production will switch to a follow-on class known as the Walrus II. This is very similar to the current class but longer with the missile complement increased from twelve to sixteen. The larger hull will also mean the submarine can stay on patrol for longer.
It is not known how many Walrus II will be built though the Clone Navy did intend to build seven Walrus submarines. The first Walrus II could be in service by the end of the decade.
The prototype Swordfish DTA patrol ship has been unveiled by Krok Industries and will begin flight testing next week. The Swordfish is a competitor to the Pentekonter and export Shark frigates and is intended for the DTA to replace older ships like the Kalahati Tuul and also export customers. The Swordfish is based on the Dinomark GL which was the losing competitor to the LM (indeed the Swordfish prototype is largely a rebuild of the GL prototype).
Twenty six Swordfish are on order for DTA customers, there has also been interest from other potential customers. The first production Swordfish are expected to enter service next year.
Admiral Anderson has returned to the Clone government HQ in Ailier City. He addressed the Clone Star Empire saying that the immediate danger from rebel elements had passed though there may be further incidents in future, Anderson said that all Clones needed to be vigilant.
Anderson mourned Marcus and Armstrong but said they would not be replaced in the Junta. From now on he, Anderson, would rule the Clone Star Empire alone. He said that the empire would evolve into a republic with a President as head of state, though he did not say exactly when that would be.
Anderson also said he was forming an elite force of loyalists to help protect the integrity of the new republic, he called it the Clone Republican Guard (CRG) though did not give any other details.
He also did not address the war with the FES or the upcoming peace talks on Yeng.
