K40 to be withdrawn by 2128

The Clone Air Force has announced that the final withdrawal of the K40 fighter has been bought forward a couple of years and the last will be withdrawn before the end of 2128. Less than 300 now remain in service, all of them the final K40S variant. Withdrawal from CSE-E and the resulting disbanding of dozens of squadrons has allowed the K40 to be retired early.

A CAF spokesclone said that the K40 was iconic and had served the Clones with distinction since the Clone Wars but it was time for it to be retired.

Clone Army to disband dozens of regiments, withdraw thousands of armoured vehicles

The Clone Army is to disband dozens of regiments as part of the withdrawal from the CSE-E and a reorganisation of the army structure. Hundreds of tanks will be withdrawn, mostly older types. Over three thousand other armoured vehicles will also be withdrawn. The army say this will save several billion zarks a year, the money will be recycled into newer weapons.

The Clones are looking to try and sell these withdrawn vehicles, though many may be cascaded to territorial and internal security forces.

Clones to develop next generation Gale ICBM / CSM

Admiral Anderson has agreed the development of the replacement for the Gale-III ICBM which also forms the launch stage of the CSM. The Gale-IV could enter service in the early 2130s and will include improved signal management, reduced infrared emissions and an improved guidance system.

Gale-IV will also only be mobile launcher based. The Clone have been wanting to shut down the Gale silo ring for some time. The fifteen remaining silos used for Gale/CSM will be closed, four sites will be repurposed for other Clone Army use, one silo will be used for development and missile research.

First Z26ZNX delivered

The first of one hundred Halogen Z26ZNX helicopters has been delivered to the Clone Naval Air Service (CNAS). The production line was re-opened due to delays in the Halogen replacement and the ageing state of the CNAS helicopter fleet. The ZNX is a minor upgrade to the previous final version the ZNS and will replace the oldest helicopters in the CNAS fleet.

The Clone Air Force has attempted to also get new build from the re-opened Halogen line though Admiral Anderson said that the production line will be closed once and for all when the new helicopters have been built for CNAS.

Anderson returns ashore to CNAS base

Admiral Anderson has returned to solid land after spending time aboard his floating HQ, the helicopter carrier CNS West Clone Republic. However, he has not returned to the Imperial Palace near to Ailier City. Instead, he has gone to North Point, one of the largest Clone Naval Air Service bases on the north coast of Ailier and also close to the largest Clone Navy base Rock Fall.

Anderson will live in specially converted and heavily largest new quarters at the base. Several hundred Clone Marines will be stationed at the base along with K45K fighters. A helicopter to take him to a carrier will also be kept fuelled.

Anderson said this new location will likely be permanent, he said he likes the sea air.

Anderson says Clones would join force against Utrek

Admiral Anderson has said that the Clone Defence Forces would take part in a multi-national force against the Utrek. He said that it was clear the Utrek had interfered in the CSE-E. However, he acknowledged that the Clone Space Navy is not yet strong enough to face the Utrek alone in an offensive operation. He said that if the CIN and UNDF took part they would be strong enough to defeat the Utrek!

The Raegris are lobbying hard for such an operation. They are warning that the Utrek are regenerating their fleet quickly and within 15 years, maybe 10, they will be too strong for the Local Group to face even together.

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!)

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.

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.

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.

Clone Navy and Air Force to take over protection of Clone Defence Force GHQ

The Clone Navy, including the Clone Naval Air Force, and Clone Air Force are to take over the protection of the central military district on Cloneworld. This is the centre of power in the empire including Clone Defence Force GHQ, the dacha of Admiral Anderson and other core political and military power in the empire.

Clone Marines will take over the guarding of the various sites from the Clone Army who are to be removed from the district. CNAS and CAF aircraft will increase patrols over the area.

Admiral Anderson is also thought to be considering setting up a new branch of the military dedicated to defending the regime.

Halogen production line re-opened for CNAS

The production line of the iconic Z26 Halogen helicopter has been re-opened to build 100 Z26ZNX for the Clone Naval Air Service. Delays with the Halogen replacement, the FUHX, and an ageing naval fleet of helicopters means that the CNAS faced the real possibility of being badly short of helicopters without the new build Halogens.

The ZNX is a minor upgrade to the previous final version, the ZNS. The ZNX has some avionic improvements and some internal layout changes. The first ZNS is expected to enter service by the end of the year.

Air base near GHQ to be reactivated for CNAS

A mothballed airbase near to CDF GHQ has been reactivated and will be operated by the Clone Naval Air Service (even though it is near the centre of the continent and hundreds of miles from the coast!) A squadron of CNAS K45s will be stationed at the base, as well as Clone Marines. This is part of Admiral Anderson's plan to reinforce the defence of the core of the Clone Defence Forces with Clone Navy personnel (which Anderson trusts more than the Army!)

CNAS is to receive 100 more K45s and the Clone Marines is to be increased in size by 50% to 30,000 men. Two more Olana destroyers are likely to be also ordered to improve the protection of Anderson's floating headquarters.

Agentis found dead, coup declared over

Field Marshal Agentis has been found dead at a remote location in northern Ailier. It is thought Agentis took his own life after the surrender of his remaining forces near CDF GHQ. Several other senior officers who had joined Agentis were also found dead.

Admiral Anderson said the remaining leadership of the coup would be found and punished. Several hundred Clone Marines have arrived at CDF GHQ to help secure the base.

Coup collapses as Anderson makes appearance

CNS West Clone Republic, the helicopter carrier which is acting as the flagship of Admiral Anderson (his floating GHQ), has received emergency repairs following the drone attack. Anderson has returned to the carrier and made an address to the Clone Defence Forces general staff.

Anderson said that the coup of Field Marshal Agentis was collapsing after coup forces were surrounded and forced to surrender after a relentless pounding by Clone Naval Air Service and Clone Air Force bombers. Agentis is understood to have fled. Anderson said Agentis would be captured and punished.

Fighting on Cloneworld as coup attempted

Fighting has been reported at over a dozen locations across Cloneworld as troops loyal to Field Marshal Agentis, the head of the Ailier Military District, have tried to seize CDF GHQ, the main military communications hub and other strategic positions in central Ailier.

Elements of two armoured regiments and three infantry regiments have been deployed by Agentis, though air power he tried to use was quickly stopped. Clone Naval Air Service and Clone Air Force fighters have attacked coup forces positions. Unconfirmed sources say the coup is going badly and none of the main objectives have been achieved.

Admiral Anderson has called on the coup forces to surrender or face "elimination".

Explosions reported at CDF GHQ, suspected coup underway

There have been explosions reported at the CDF GHQ on Cloneworld and the Clone Army HQ north of Ailier City. Admiral Anderson has ordered a full lockdown of all Clone Defence Force sites on Cloneworld. The media has also been completely shut down.

Dino sources have said there may be a military coup underway. Several airstrikes have been reported by Clone Naval Air Service fighters against undisclosed locations on Ailier.

Anderson's flagship attacked by drones

The Clone Navy helicopter carrier CNS West Clone Republic, which is currently the Imperial Command Ship - Admiral Anderson's floating HQ, has been attacked by dozens of Molab type drones. The ship is supposed to stay over 100km off any coastline while Anderson is in attendance but for some reason the ship had approached the coast to be within 10km of the Ramiri area along the Ailier coast.

The ship was attacked by several dozen Molab type drones. The defences of the carrier and it's two escorts were were overwhelmed. All three ships have suffered damage, two Z26 helicopters were also destroyed, one while trying to take off. Admiral Anderson was not injured though there were six fatalities and a number of injuries.

Anderson has been taken to a secret location. An investigation is currently underway as to why the carrier was bought near the coast against protocol.

Clone Naval Air Service and Clone Air Force fighters attacked the launch sites of the drones though later analysis revealed the site had already been evacuated.

CNAS planes strike targets on Ailier northern coast

Clone Naval Air Service K45s have struck two targets on the northern coast of Ailier. It is thought they were launching sites for another drone attack. Few details have been given by the Clone Navy though a local report states that a Clone Air Force Mustang reconnaissance aircraft discovered the launching sites and was able to direct four K45s launched from a nearby aircraft carrier.

Clone Marines are now thought to have secured both sites. It is not known if there were any casualties, one report states that remains of several drones were recovered.

Naval bases hit by drone attacks on Cloneworld

Two small naval bases along the northern coast of Ailier, Cloneworld plus a Clone Naval Air Service base in Micom have been attacked by Molab type drones. Each base was attacked by around a dozen drones. All of the bases had working anti-aircraft defences. The Clone Navy is reporting that most drones were shot down though there was some damage caused to the facilities of one of the naval bases. There were some minor injuries, no Clone Navy ships or CNAS aircraft were damaged.

An investigation into these attacks is ongoing. It is thought that members of the Clone Defence Forces opposed to Admiral Anderson may be behind, or at least assisting, the drone operators.