Mysterious Type 216X appears on engineering documents, future Isometric replacement?

While work on the Advanced Rome 216A continues, a new ship type has appeared on various DF Engineering documents and lists. This is the Type 216X which has appeared on the list of pending worm drive geometries to be created to allow the ship to safely make a worm jump. According to the details of the geometry it will be similar to the Advanced Rome but longer and have a mission wing like the Repulse 51B.

The second place Type 216X has appeared is on a list of n-Core engines being developed. A second generation engine with around 20% more thrust than the Tachyon PM-01A to be fitted to Advanced Rome is being developed. Analysts say the details of the Type 216X seem to match the planned Isometric family replacement planned for the second half of the 2130s.

The ship, when completed, will probably not be known as Type 216X as UNDF often use designations like this as placeholders. Indeed, it has been rumoured that the Isometric replacement could be the Type 220. As yet we are a long way off. DF's priority is to get Advanced Rome into service by 2130.

K59 enters service

The latest fighter of the Clone Air Force, the K59 has entered service. This is a light fighter version of the K58 COIN aircraft and also has a hybrid ducted fan powerplant. On the K59 the ducted fan has been uprated to boost performance. The K59 is highly agile (it is a development of the K03 Pterodactyl advanced trainer) and has been fitted with the same radar and avionics of the K47, the previous light fighter which the K59 is replacing in production.

The CAF plan to field five hundred K59s at least, these will help complete the replacement of the K40 and older K47s. The K59 has been given the name Flashlight, this was also used by the K43 light fighter the Clones developed during the Clone Wars though was ultimately unsuccessful (the CAF are hoping the K59 will have better luck!)

Dino Army to invest heavily in drone warfare

The Dino Army has spent the last few months looking into the lessons of the Miliaris insurgency and investigating a number of Molab-type drones they acquired. The Dino Army say they are vulnerable to this new form of warfare and have announced a multi-billion zark investment in drone warfare and a re-organisation of front-line units.

The Dinos are to buy 500 T-55ZDM-AD drone warfare tanks. This new version of their standard tank will be equipped with radar guided machine guns and an anti-drone missile system. The tank will also be able to launch a Dino version of the Molab-type drone. The Dinos will also buy around 2,500 soft-skinned launch vehicles for drones.

The three front-line legions will have have Drone Warfare Regiments added to them, the number to be created has not been mentioned. Money has also been invested in a next generation laser defence system and improved combat drones, as well as an interceptor drone designed for anti-drone warfare. The Dino Army is hoping most of these changes will be operational before the end of the decade.

Raegris call for attack on Utrek!

The Raegris has said that the Utrek are still greatly weakened after their catastrophic war with the Mantae but are rebuilding fast. The Raegris report on the Utrek says that in 15 years they estimate the Utrek will have restored their fleet to the pre-war levels (though much more powerful as older types like the Kalahati Tuul no longer exist). Maybe in 10 years the Utrek will be a direct threat.

The Utrek have said that the UNDF, CIN and Clones should join forces (with the Raegris) and attack the Utrek before it is too late. It is unlikely such an attack will occur though the Clones are furious at Utrek alleged involvement in the CSE-E uprising.

n-Core engine will be the Tachyon family

UNDF has chosen the Tachyon family name for it's next generation n-Core engine. The first ship to deploy the new engine is expected to be the Advanced Rome 216A early in the next decade. The engine is listed as the Tachyon PM-01A n-Core though the name may change by the time it enters service.

The Advanced Rome will launch with a Proton RM-01GX2 e-Core engine. This will be an upgraded version of the existing RM-01GX.

Utrek deny supplying Eritran rebel groups

The Utrek Federation has said that they have not been involved in supplying rebel groups in the Clone Star Empire - East. However, they said they could not rule out private groups or other powers using Utrekian ships or agents for their own ends.

UNDF has meanwhile reported on an incident where an alien of unknown identity was able to lure three UNDF officers, including the second officer of the SS Jurassic, to their deaths. The alien was killed though it is thought the alien may have been trying to destroy the Jurassic and harm the blockade. UNDF are considering sending more ships to the area.

Dinos and UNDF uncover evidence Utrek behind supplying some Eritran rebels

After the capture of several Utrek registered transports in the Clone Demilitarised Zone carrying suspected materials for rebels on planets such as Rendrial 4, the Dino SS and UNDF-IS held a joint investigation. It is understood a Utrek broke under interrogation by the gentlemen of the SS to reveal he is a Jintara Omox operative (the Utrek secret service).

Whilst it was clear (though never acknowledged) that Freedom Miliaris was supplied directly by Molab, who supplied the other smaller rebel factions in the CSE-E was never fully established. Now it appears that the Utrek may have been supplying rebels on planets like Rendrial 4 and Laalande 21649. If this is the case then it has very serious implications for the security of the Clones and in general for that region of space.

A Clone Intelligence team is heading to Starbot to meet with their Dino and UNDF counterparts.

Demilitarised zone breached already!

A DF patrol has already caught a ship carrying illegal materials trying to cross the demilitarised zone into the CSE-E. It is understood that SS Jurassic, commanded by Caratore, intercepted a small commercial trader (thought to be Oxsaxan though the registration may be fake). The ship was boarded and checked and found to be carrying hidden supplies of chemicals that can be used in the production of explosives.

The ship's captain later admitted he was carrying the chemicals to a contact on Rendrial 4. The crew were arrested and the ship destroyed as per the rules of the zone. 

Eritran demilitarised zone established

The Clone Star Empire is withdrawing from most planets in the CSE-East, a process due to take the next few years. As part of the agreement signed by the Clones, Free Eritran States (FES), Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN) and the United Nations of Planets (UNP), a demilitarised zone has been set up along the border between the CSE-E and FES.

This area of space is five lightyears across. No CSE or FES ships are to enter the zone. No military equipment is also to be transported in the zone. The zone will be monitored by UNDF and CIN ships. Three UNDF ships in a task force has arrived at Aldebra which will act as the support base for UNDF patrol operations. Two more ships are en route, one is SS Jurassic - the ship of former NS Commander Caratore - who has been made head of the patrol force (Demilitarised Zone Patrol Force - DZPF).

The Dinos have also sent six ships, two Sirikwanese ships will also join their patrol, as will the Bolitic. They will be based out of Starbot. The zone is expected to maintained until the final withdrawal from the CSE-E by the end of the decade. After that a new zone between the new border of the CSE and the former CSE-E may be set up, though talks are still ongoing.

Haylei to have their Pentekonter fleet upgraded and augmented

Haylei has ordered two more Pentekonter Protector 351HAs to augment it's existing fleet of eight. The two new ships will be of an upgraded specification with e-Core engines and improved tactical systems and sensors.

The eight older ships will also be upgraded with e-Core engines and the other tactical improvements.

Haylei are also interested in the Depender multi-role ship though as yet have not placed an order for it.

DF add new export customer

UNDF have agreed the sale of spaceships and other military equipment to the isolationist planet Julantek J4. Julantek lack much of a space fleet but their proximity to 7 Sa Sao Xeon space and the growing Tarbot threat has helped them decide to invest in their military.

Julantek have ordered three Pentekonter Protect 293J patrol ships, two Depender 777J multi-role ships and five Coril shuttles, two being VIP configured. Julantek have also ordered an undisclosed number of DAR-L1 laser rifles and are looking into SMA built ground vehicles (though none ordered as yet).

The value of the order has not been disclosed but will include UNDF help in upgrading Julantek's orbital facilities, training systems and interstellar communications.

Anderson hails return of shipbuilding to Clone Space Navy

Admiral Anderson has said shipbuilding capability has returned to the Clones after the first new Molentic Tuul MTM2 was completed after several years of frozen production lines and collapsed supply chains. Anderson said two more would be completed by the end of the year. New Sharks would also arrive soon.

In another boost to the Clone Space Navy, which has suffered from a growing lack of ships recently, the first three of six Raegris built Cosmos CSR have also been delivered and are being prepared for an entry into service later this year.

Order confirmed for Dreamscape special forces support ships

While the EW/Elint role of the Marconi 81A ships will be replaced by the forthcoming Sparkle 162As, there is also the secondary and much less discussed role of the Marconis in acting as a support ship for long-range special forces operations which needs to be covered.

UNDF has decided not to add this role to the Sparkle ships and instead have ordered two dedicated special forces support ships to be known as the Dreamscape 163A. These are also Friendship platform based ships. It is not known how the ships will be equipped but it is expected they have expanded docking facilities, a casualty handling station, planning/scenario training rooms and accommodation to support UNDF Space Marines. The ships are expected to be delivered in 2128.

Hospital ships to be replaced, turned into transports

UNDF has placed an order for three new hospital ships to replace the existing fleet of Nightingale 88As. The Nightingales are SUP based ships and considered far too large for the role now that UNDF have scaled back it's amphibious warfare capabilities. An analysis has shown that the maximum occupancy of a Nightingale since they entered service was 19%, and these days seldom in double figures.

The new hospital ships will be Friendship platform based and are expected to enter service in 2127. They will be much smaller, though fully capable and e-Core powered to save costs. The three Nightingales will be fully overhauled and converted into Provider or Extender transports. The ships have been lightly used and converting them will be less involved than the Missileers (though these are likely to be converted too at a later stage).

The new hospital ships are as yet unnamed but will be the Type 168.