Dino View : Is the SS becoming uncontrollable?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

The SS is a curious thing. Officially it is little more than the military police of the Dino Army though over recent years they have gained more powers, responsibilities and more resources. Now it is a sprawling monster, protective and dangerous to the state at the same time. As yet another SS-Commander leaves office after only a short time can anyone control this state within a state?

The changes to the SS are fairly recent. Following the brief disastrous reign of Emperor El Diablo and the even briefer reign of the usurper One-Horn Ronald wanted to make sure such a maniac could not grab power in the Dino Empire (as it was then) again. Thus he greatly increased the SS budget and also fostered a fascist god-worship of himself in the SS as well as encouraging the monster of all superiority complexes in the SS. Ronald wanted the SS to be formidable, viciously independent and loyal more to himself and the state than any other actor.

However to stop the SS becoming too powerful (he still remembered the coup of Telavason many years earlier) he also fostered a culture of anarchy and competition. The SS' power would be tempered by its self-destructive urges. To lead this mysterious beast Ronald needed someone who was utterly without a moral compass, a degenerate out only for power and his own selfish urges and lusts (many bestial). His son Stinkyson in other words.

Stinkyson's leadership style was leave the SS largely to its own devices, a method copied later on by Lakes who said famously that you didn't lead the SS but "hung on for dear life and hoped you survived the ride". However later leaders like Balgason have failed to continue this policy and the SS has morphed into a seemingly uncontrollable monster.

Stinkyson is back in charge now but can even he control the SS who only obey two men (Ronald as he is their god and MBH as they regard him as being sufficiently "bad ass")? It will remain to be seen if Stinkyson's old leadership style will cut it this time, especially as he is "tainted" by being a Liberal Party member - an organisation the SS loathes intensely and radical members have tried to get control of SS nuclear weapons in order to remove the party's "stain" several times.

The SS gets away with so much (on average 2 attempted coups a month) though Ronald's current dislike of democracy could mean he could rely more and more on the fascist cult worship of the SS to control the Dino Republic. We could be in big big trouble...

Dino View : The end of the democratic experiment?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

The news that the next SS-Commander will be appointed by the Troika (Ronald, MBH and El Diablo) and not elected is the latest sign that Ronald's interest in democracy is waning.

The fact we have a formalised Troika now is another sign of this, Ronald and MBH have effectively neutered the power of the Consul who is but part of a group and not (at least officially) the head of state. Any plans for an elected Senate have also been quietly shelved.

Ronald was keen to democratise the Dino Republic to give the citizens a voice, unfortunately he does not seem that keen on listening to that voice and the Dinos have reverted back to their tradition of strong man rule. Not many will complain, the Dino democracy was young and of little interest to many who prefer the divine rule of Ronald and the intrigues of MBH to the dry world of politics.

Democracy is not dead though, it continues at lower levels but at the levels of government which call the shots its largely dead and buried. The Consul will remain an elected position but future Consuls may find what they can actually achieve once they have gained election rather limited.

Wayne King-Meiouf : Rectoid Roundtable

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The news of the link up between the Clones and Rectoids is one of the biggest news stories of the year so i decided i would bring together my fellow analysts on this site, Keith Remadra (Clones) and Dralson (Dinos) to discuss it.

Wayne King-Meiouf : Now be honest, neither of you could have predicted this in your wildest dreams.

Keith Remadra : Indeed so as i said in my comment piece, its extra ordinary.

Dralson : Yes i agree, though i did think the Clones would have to do something bold because of the looming Eritran threat.

WKM : Yes the pressure was starting to mount on the Clones, i had heard rumblings in the army that the Eritrans had to be faced down. Oojok was starting to feel the need to act though we all thought it would just be a re-militarisation of the weak CSE-E.

KR : No one considered the Rectoids, they are a voice of the past it seemed. Although we're only talking 8-10 years ago of course, it seems like an eternity since they were battling the DDS.

DR : Is this about the DDS more than the Clones do you think, is this the first step in an eventual Rectoid strategy to fight back against the DDS. The Rectoids have a lot to avenge of course, the near extinction of their home planet!

KR : Ironically though if some sources are to be believed Megara was responsible for the billions of deaths on Recta and he was a HCS agent, although by 2105 his allegiances are vague.

DR : Yes there have been rumours about the ODS being his handlers by then, and behind him being on the DDS mission into Rectoid space. However he acted on his own bat in the end.

WKM : I suspect the name Megara will not be mentioned at the summit between Oojok and the Rectoid leader [laughter]. I'm not sure its 100% about the DDS but the Rectoids likely do want to get involved in local space again. Could this bring the other 7 Sa Sao into the Clone orbit too? Keith?

Rectoid ships

KR : Thats the billion zark question. Of course up until now the only Clone dealings with the 7SS was their war against the Xenon. I understand the Xenon are a rather fringe faction in the 7SS whom even the other factions do not like that much. The Argon could be interested, they have had their beef with the DDS before too.

DR : This must be the nightmare scenario for the DDS. They've begun gearing up for a war with the Tarbotians, the only likely enemy they thought in the short to medium term and now the Rectoids and maybe other 7 Sa Sao have entered the mix. Will this change the DDS focus Wayne?

WKM : Possibly but not for awhile, the DDS are investing heavily in defences against the Tarbotians. Multi-billion zark projects can't be stopped and moved just like that. I think they will consider this new threat but will risk it being more a medium term issue.

KR : I think it is a medium term issue, the Rectoids from what i can gather are still rebuilding after the DDS war. They won't be in any position to threaten the DDS militarily for a good 5-8 years yet. However our data of the Rectoids is often scant and based on fifth or sixth or more parties. Maybe they are stronger than we think, its hard to know. Ironically a link up with the Clones will help open up the Rectoids, i'm sure the DDS and Dino intelligence services are already dusting off all of their Clone contacts and targets.

WKM : Finally how much should the DDS be concerned by a Clone-Rectoid alliance?

Rectoid

DR : The Eritrans must be the most concerned though the DDS too. You know when i left the Dino Army in 2101 a friend of mine told me i really should visit the UNP and gave me a list of things to see, one of them was the Sulphur Range on New Britannia...

KR : Yes, though the destruction of New Britannia was probably something that was going to happen sooner or later because of the geological flaws in the planet which the Rectoids exploited. That is another example of their danger though, no one knew about the planet's flaws, not even the millions who lived on it. The Rectoids are a danger and their proximity to the DDS will be a looming strategic threat. Not one the DDS has to lose too much sleep at the moment but it is definitely one that will feature heavily in the late 2110s and into the next decade.

DR : I should add, the Dinos need to be concerned too. The Rectoids got involved with the mysterious Cabal on Dino-Land in the last decade and tried to detonate nuclear weapons under major Dino cities. We've all got something new to worry about!

WKM : Thank you my friends, i think that is something everyone can agree with.

Dino View : The next Bolitic warship

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

The Bolitic like to style themselves as the masters of war but the Bolitic war machine is facing its biggest challenge yet and is having to completely rethink their warship design.

Lets go back a bit. The Bolitic are renowned for their large lumbering battlecruisers. The Yeksaleu, Barra (both now withdrawn), Helwin and now the Snarl have dominated the Bolitic fleet for generations. Large powerful ships that can take masses of punishment and live to fight another day. I remember when i fought the Bolitic years ago a Helwin was able to withstand a sustained attack from 4 Dinomarks and get away.

Then the Dinos got their hands on TPMs and everything changed. Now the Dinos can blow up a squadron of Snarls with a few salvos of TPMs. The Bolitic have countered with zonal shielding and spoofing but the Dinos have such an advantage now the Bolitic are always going to play catchup keeping the Snarl relevant.

So the Bolitic have gone back to the drawing board. I understand they are looking at the Meltinan as the basis of their next major warship, trying to incorporate Utrek technology to build a smaller nimble ship with the same firepower potential of a Snarl. If the Bolitic can pull that off then they will be onto a winner.

Dino View : How do you solve a problem like Dr Slow?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

I've noticed the DDS have begun preparations for war against the Tarbotians one day (hopefully that day is a long way off) but no one seems to be talking about how the Dinos and DTA can address the looming Tarbotian threat.

Until now, earlier this week the Dino Army and representatives from all the other DTA member state militaries met on Yeng and discussed the "Tarbotian Problem". Not a great deal was addressed in the meeting (i was present as an observer). Mostly the DDS' responses to date were discussed, such as static defence points and listening stations.

It was felt that the DDS' approach is a sound one and should be the starting point for the DTA's own response. The Dino Army is going to look into how the DTA's borders can be strengthened.

One thing that was discussed was deterrence and here the future Dino interstellar missile is key although if we are to be honest even missiles (with a likely range of 20-50 light years) placed at the extreme borders of DTA space will struggle to reach important Tarbotian strategic points. I understand the Dinos are going to look into a mobile version of the missile that can be sited on asteroids and other bodies closer to Tarbot space at short notice.

The consensus was that a Tarbotian attack is unlikely within the next 10 years, and maybe 20 years is also pushing it. Lets just hope thats the case because we (and the DDS for that matter) are not ready.

Dino View : The big change in Dino air power

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

When the Dinos said they planned to buy some jet fighters to take over some air defence and close support roles from Dinomarks the DDS and the Clones lined up to offer their F-10S Shark and F-45A Falcon respectively. It was generally assumed the Dinos would buy between 80-100 fighters, a decent and valuable defence sale but not the biggest.

However earlier this week the Dinos unveiled the full scale of their plan to buy (and build fighters) and it must have raised some eyebrows with the DDS and Clones (if the latter had eyebrows of course). The Dino Army plans no fewer than 250 fighters for Dino-Land as part of phase 2 with 150 more to follow for the other Dino Republic planets. With so many in Dino service it would then be highly likely other DTA members would also have the type.

This makes the programme highly valuable indeed and it could be the Clones will rethink their decision to offer the F-45A (a very good aircraft of course) but not their brand new F-45C. The Dinos say that they want to build most of the aircraft under licence with no more than 50 imported, but that would still make the programme worth billions.

The F-10S is still ahead i understand, the Clones may offer the F-45C but my sources tell me the deal clincher will be the TPM-A capability. Unless the Clones can get that missile to work with the Falcon (which will be difficult seeing as no TPM-As are available outside of the DDS at present) then it might be a straight forward victory for the DDS.

Dino View : Q and A on Dinomarks and Dino space policy

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

My opinion piece on the Dino fleet sparked a frenzy of debate on Twitter (including a few death threats) and elsewhere online. A number of questions reached my email box and so i have decided to answer some below. As some of the questions came from serving Dino officers i have decided to not print the sender's names.

What is the thinking about getting a Panther like ship built for the Dino forces?

The Dinos have considered a ship of this kind of size (or rather mid-way between the RS and PT) for some time now. The problem is it goes against the Dinomark doctrine that has been ingrained in the Dino military for 70-80 years. This i feel has caused the "Dinomark prison" and its a tough one to break out of!

Is the XT just too small?

For some missions yes, such as combat against a first-rate power. For other duties it is fine like patrol, special forces et cetera. The key issue is, should the Dinos be using the same type of ship for so many missions where the likes of the DDS use different ships of many differing configurations and sizes?

I think the Dinos would do well with a Missiler or "Missiler lite" type ship. Do the Dinos need to purchase the Missiler lite design to supplement the PT's sensors?

I actually think the Olympus could be bought. The Ferret UCV was a joint project between the Dinos and DDS after all but as yet the Dinos have yet to make full use of the unmanned space fighter. There have been rumours the Dinos do want some kind of carrier. As they have the rights to licence-build the Provider and Extender it could be they could roll their own Missileer type ship, or maybe even develop one from the Dinomark MX.

Are the Dinos at a disadvantage by not having wide spread super energy cannons like that on the DDS Q/P classes (Z cannon) and the HCS Cosmos?

The next version of the PT will likely have a larger cannon, but the size of the ship will dictate the maximum  theoretical size of the cannon. I think the Dinos indeed are at a disadvantage here.

Why do you say the Dino fleet is too small and not fit for purpose? The Dinos have never lost a space war.

Indeed so, but a defensive war is much different to an offensive one. In a defensive war you can concentrate your resources and choose your battlegrounds. As the Dinos move to a more imperialistic and expansionist model thanks to the DTA then the deficiencies in the Dino fleet are much more pronounced.

The DTA allies have larger ships, could the Dinos simply use them?

Yes the DTA allies do have larger ships though these are either medium sized like the Shark and Pentekonter or old like the Kalahati Tuul. Plus the Dinos would be ill-advised relying on their allies without back-up. The DTA is not a cohesive force like the DDS or Clones, DTA allies might not go along with Dino plans especially if it has an imperialist edge.

Dino View : Trapped in a Dinomark prison

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

The question El Diablo and the Dino Army command isn't the number of Dinomarks they need and can afford by 2116 or 2120 it is whether the Dinomark concept is still the right one in the changing galaxy we live in.

For decades the Dinos have based their space power around small, nimble and powerful warships they could build in large numbers. The current plans are to maintain large fleets of the main combat PT and the support XT, 222 examples combined. A big fleet! The problem with that is the DDS fleet (to take an example) is also big!

By the next decade the DDS could have over 50 Fleet Combat Ships and over 100 Medium Combat Ships. Are 70 Dinomark PTs the match for 50 Panthers and Solaris? Although the PT is an excellent ship i think the ratio needed in a combat scenario would be at least 2:1. For XTs maybe 3:1 or higher given a lot of XTs are older ships.

No the Dino fleet isn't big enough. To base a fleet around the Dinomark concept no longer cuts it. Our rivals have much bigger fleets than they had in the last century. They have gone for larger and more powerful ships in decent numbers and that has really eroded any advantage the Dinos have, especially as the Dinomark fleet has to perform other duties too like air and ground operations.

What the Dinos need to do is great a combat fleet based around its RS type consisting of around 20 larger warships (Panther size and class) to support the RS (which we could do with more of). This would be the combat fleet and then allow the PTs and XTs to be used for support and patrol.

The main problem with this is it is not the cost and time (although these would be big problems) but the cultural changes that would need to be made. For decades now the Dinomark through its various incarnations has been the face of Dino space power. Larger ships would need considerable doctrinal and cultural changes (the RS are rather unpopular for this very reason hence the small number built).

So the alternative would be to greatly increase the Dinomark fleet. Really El Diablo should have doubled the target for PT and XT deployment not salami sliced it. I really worry about how the Dino fleet would hope in a major war against a first rate power like the DDS, Utrek or even Clones. We simply do not have enough ships!

Dino View : Its the Dino way!

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

Some of my non-Dino friends have asked me over the years why we Dinos let the SS get away with it. They act like a rogue gangster organisation and yet are not only tolerated but are provided with sufficient funding to have one of the most powerful armed forces in the known galaxy!

Simple, its the Dino way. What may be inexplicable to you is simply because you are not a Dino. Each species has its own cultural traits and mores, some species like order, some like chaos, we Dinos like challenge. Challenge is the Dino way and thats why we like the SS. They challenge us, they provide us with an alternative view.

Thats why we tolerate the plotting and scheming, true the occasional attempted coup is maybe a step too far but thats fine as it is the Dino way...

Dino View : Ronald interview (exclusive!)

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

Consul Ronald is due to leave on a year long exploratory mission early in 2113 and yesterday held a media day with his crew. He was very kind to grant me the following interview.

DRALSON : Consul, why did you decide to undertake this mission?

RONALD : Exploring is in my blood, i've done a fair bit of it in my time but in recent years i've been a bit busy with running the Republic. Now i've decided its time i stood back and let others run the show and so i can devote an extended period of time to exploring.

DR : Earlier in the year you went on a mini-voyage, and encountered the Repicans and another Dino race on Sygnet 80. Do you hope to find other "lost tribes"?

RN : Yes we think there could be as many as a dozen Dino civilisations that are descended from the original spacefaring Dinos. We know of 5 now of course [Bolitic, Sirikwan, Yeng, Repic, Sygnet 80] but our historians think dozens of settler ships left Dino-Land millennia ago so there may be more ex-colonies waiting for us to discover them.

DR : And hopefully some of them won't hate us!

RN : LOLZ

DR : Why did you not wait to see out your full 2 year term of office?

RN : To be honest i am bored. I've been the Dino leader for most of the last 60 years and now i want a new challenge and new experiences. Its also time for the Dino Republic to stand on its own two claws without me saving the day all the time. I've given so much for the Republic, i've even given my wife and daughter to it [Holisai and Crystal who died in a Zone attack in the ABBO-Bolitic War] and i just feel that its "me time" now.

DR : Well no one could begrudge you this Consul, you are easily the greatest Dino in history and will be a towering icon over the Republic for ever more.

RN : Indeed.

DR : But what about afterwards Consul, when you return to Dino-Land. Will you one day seek the highest office again?

RN : I don't think so. I shall remain a Senator and indeed am Head of the Senate for life. I will play a role but its time for Ronald to step into the shadows. The days of glory are over. The epoch of Ronald bestride the galaxy like a colossus may have ended. Now is the time for Ronald the explorer!

Dino View : What next for Malanson?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

Legate Malanson was the undoubted loser in the Dino Consul election. Squeezed by the two main candidates he ended up with just 3.1% of the vote! However Malanson remains in Imperial Order's future electoral plans and indeed (i can exclusively reveal, as he just told me!) he has been appointed the deputy leader of the party after Cruggson. Malanson kindly took time out from his schedule to grant me the following interview...

Dralson : Malanson, how tough was it to come such a poor third?

Malanson : It wasn't easy! But i was expecting it, the electorate usually does concentrate between two candidates in the final stages of the election and i was up against 2 very good candidates.

DR : Early on in the election analysts said that you were not expected to win but that Ronald wanted you to raise your profile and gain experience ahead of more serious campaigns in the future.

MA : Thats not true, i was selected as Imperial Order's candidate and we planned to win. However El Diablo's campaign was excellent and the people seem to want to give him a second chance. MBH is always a powerful opponent.

DR : So are you going to try again next time?

MA : We haven't decided yet. Cruggson actually is eligible to stand next time so it might be him, me, or someone else.

DR : Who could that someone else be? Since the semi-retirement of Ronald and GBH and El Diablo's defection to the Liberals the Imperial Order cupboard looks a bit bare.

MA : There are plenty of potential candidates, the Dino political scene does not stand still in a vacuum, established named retire or go on a hiatus and new names come up. I am an example of the latter of course. The new names might need time to establish themselves well thats what i plan to continue doing over the next few years.

DR : How will you do that? You arn't a member of the senate or even a junior minister. I know myself that there are plenty of Legates out there who no one has heard of!

MA : [laughing] My dear old comrade Dralson i've heard of you at least! No it is true that i do not have a government role, at the moment anyway. I have signaled my willingness to be considered for office so things could change when El Diablo takes over. That will be up to him of course and political horse trading. Apart from that i am now the deputy leader of the party plus i am still active in the Dino Army.

DR : Finally, say in a few years you do become Consul, what can we expect from the Malanson regime?

MA : Fairness and inclusivity along with a focus on strong defence. There are many things to worry about in the astral-political arena with the DDS, Clones, Bolitic [this interview was held before the Clone-Utrek announcement - DR] and so on. With my military experience and the help of my colleagues i am sure i can be an asset to the state. Until then i am loyal to my new Consul, the Senate and the Republic!

Dino View : What to expect from El Diablo

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

So El Diablo finally has his second chance at the top of Dino politics. Of course the first time around he was appointed Emperor by a badly injured Ronald. El Diablo's short reign was an utter disaster of course and since then he has remained under a bit of a shadow.

Now El Diablo has a second chance, elected as the sole Consul for the next 2 years and supported by a Liberal Party which is currently the strongest in Dino politics. His party leader will head the Senate in 2113 in Ronald's absence. There really is no excuse for El Diablo's reign as Consul to not be productive and a success. But what exactly are his policies?

The Consul election was, as usual, a war of rhetoric between Diablo and his opponents (principally MBH). Few actual policies were discussed but we can glean from the Liberal Party's manifesto that defence cuts are likely. Jimmy has long held the view that the Dinos spend too much on defence and not enough on social programmes. Therefore we can expect less Dinomarks and more money for social care, a slogan Jimmy has used in the past.

The relationship with the DTA may chance subtly too. Jimmy is known to want the other DTA to pull more of their own weight both militarily and politically in the alliance. We can maybe expect the next 2 years therefore to be one of quiet consolidation as the Dino military cools off its expansion over the last few years, with the slack taken up by the other DTA members. I actually think these will, in the long term, be good policies for the Dinos. The DTA is the future of Dino security, but it needs time and space to grow and not just be the Dino Republic fan club.

Lets hope El Diablo's second chance is a success.

Dino View : The race to join Ronald's quest

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

As is generally well known by now Ronald is to head off (with GBH) on an extended exploratory voyage of space beyond the IKA Federation and Tarbot Empire after he retires from front line politics at the end of the year.

He will take his personal ship, the flagship Dinomark, and thus is now looking on building a crew. Ronald says that would prefer for younger Dinos to join him and GBH as the voyage would be a "great opportunity" to gain experience and promotion. Because of this many young Dinos have applied to join the crew.

Its thought Ronald has already chosen some crew members though there are still vacancies. He says he will take a crew of 10 Dinos on the trip with him and GBH though one is likely to be reserved for an SS bodyguard. Ronald will announce his crew in a month or so so training can begin once Dinomark completed its current overhaul.

Dino View : Return of the 6th Legion?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

Everyone knows the story by now (or should), the 6th Legion was commanded by Jimmy during the attempted coup by the SS led by Telavason over Emperor Juliawaki and was reduced to just 200 men in the bitter battle before Ronald arrived on the scene to slew Telavason. Following the battle (and Ronald's elevation to Emperor) the 6th Legion became Ronald's honour guard and remained at 200 strong.

The 6th Legion has also been a kind of elite unit, with senior Dinos attaching themselves to the 6th while they accompanied Ronald on various adventures across the galaxy. However over the years its number has gradually declined due to death and retirements and transfers. In 2105 the 6th Legion dropped to 107 members and questions started to arise as to whether the 6th should be disbanded and replaced by a regular legion.

Ronald has begun to recruit new blood to the 6th, its numbers now rising to 131 at the last count. Ronald has been hand picking youngsters for the 6th and it has started to take a more active role in Dino affairs. It is thought Ronald wants to use the 6th as the basis for his space exploration next year and beyond. We could indeed be about to return to the old days when Ronald and the 6th Legion got into scrapes on an almost continual basis.

Dino View : Is this El Diablo's time?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

As the Summer enters its height on Dino-Land the election campaigns of the various candidates for the Consul election in November swing into top gear. This year is even more important than usual as we switch to the modified Republican system with a single Consul holding power for 2 years instead of two post-holders sharing the job.

So who will be this first single Consul? Polling evidence and sentiment is pointing to El Diablo. He is currently ahead of his nearest rival MBH by 8% in the polls.

Candidate	Party	Poll Rating %
El Diablo	Liberal	42
MBH	Dino Truth	34
Malanson	Imperial Order	21
Others		3

El Diablo is doing very well indeed, his poll ratings are rising too so he may even be able to get the 50% he needs to win in the first round. Malanson is trailing badly though few expected him to win. Imperial Order have a problem with potential candidates now Ronald and GBH have retired from front-line politics it is generally believed Malanson's candidacy is mostly to give him experience and rise his profile ahead of a more serious attempt in 2 years time.

It could all change of course, MBH has formed a new political party recently and is now ramping up his campaign. However the sentiment on the streets i have picked up is that it is "El Diablo's time". The former Emperor's disasterous reign is now fading into the past and the people seem willing to give him a second chance. That could change though as polling day approaches and MBH really homes in on his targets. We'll know for sure in November.

Dino View : Interview with Doombringer

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

HCS, DDS and now DTA, in his new role as military adviser to Sirikwan, Doombringer has done it all. And much more besides as we found out in this exclusive interview he was kind enough to grant me while he was visiting Dino-Land last week.

Dralson : Doombringer, now you have taken up this role with Sirikwan you have done the "grand slam" so to speak of the major Central Powers. But by no means are these the only entries on your CV.

Doombringer : Indeed not, i have travelled the galaxy for millennia and worked for 67 factions at least! Most of which are totally unknown here.

DR : What of your origins, can you say where you originally came from?

DO : Unfortunately not though it was somewhere on the other side of the galaxy i think. Originally i was a war robot i am told but i suffered serious injuries in battle and lost all of my original memories.

DR : Why have you continued to move on from job to job and not stay in the same place?

DO : I don't need glory or wealth, the only thing i need is to remain interested in what i am doing. That is the main reason i move on (if i have a choice in the matter!), when i become bored.

DR : 67 factions sounds like there is a big galaxy out there we have only skimmed the surface of in this area of space.

DO : Indeed there is. Only a tiny amount of the galaxy is known to the Dinos and other Central Powers. There are hundreds of different factions and empires out there, some dwarf the Tarbot Empire, some are highly advanced and highly dangerous.

DR : Have you ever been tempted to tell people whats out there? You have famously, or infamously, always refused to do this.

DO : No because i don't think its a good idea. The Dinos, DDS and HCS need to worry more about their own area of space for the moment and not factions thousands of light years away. I'll just say this, there are factions out there that could take the Central Powers apart in an afternoon. Its best you keep away from them for now!

DR : Years ago you joined the HCS, how did this come about?

DO : I left my previous job and continued wandering. I came upon the Clones and Oojok asked me to provide experience and firepower to his embryonic and frankly rather shambolic HCS.

DR : You formed an elite unit with 2 other robots called the Legion of Doom. Where did the other 2 robots come from?

DO : Unknown, they were not created by the same people as me and were nowhere near as sophisticated. Which is probably why i am here talking to you now and not rusting away on a planet far away [laughs].

DR : Early on in the HCS you mainly had a combat role, is that what you prefer or do you prefer the strategic role?

DO : The latter though i do occasionally like to "keep my hand in".

DR : The high point of your HCS career was masterminding the invasion of Earth as part of Benito's New Rome Project. How does that rank in your long list of achievements?

DO : Very high indeed! However i like a varied career so if i succeed with my Sirikwanese role then i will consider that a great achievement too.

DR : Lets talk about that, what exactly will you be doing?

DO : Sirikwan and the DTA want the Sirikwanese forces to become a strong back-up to the Dinos. Sirikwan has a lot of potential, it just needs some focus and some building up in some key areas. I will be carrying this out over the next couple of years.

DR : And then what after that, will you move on again?

DO : Most likely but i don't like to leave before i have finished my job so i shall be here for a few more years yet!

Dino View : Guarding Oojok

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

As you may have read elsewhere Oojok is to visit Dino-Land later today for a 3 day visit. I shall be attending a seminar given by Admiral Anderson on military co-operation tomorrow incidentally. I thought it might be interesting to describe some of the protection and organisation that goes into such a major visit by the leader of another power. Of course some details remain secret (even if i do know them) but everything i present here is public domain (though maybe a little buried).

Yesterday a Loader transport (and Cosmos escort) arrived in orbit around Dino-Land. The Loader is carrying a battalion of Red Lizard (the HCS special forces organisation). A company of Red Lizard has transported down to the surface while 2 other companies remain on the ship. The 1st company is currently carrying out checks on the venues Oojok and the other VIPs will visit along with an Oojok Death Squad (ODS) officer. When Oojok arrives then one of the other companies will join them and take turns in being "available" (though of course SS-D and CSS will be in overall charge of protecting the VIPs, Red Lizard will be available in reserve). The other company will remain in orbit in reserve.

Oojok will arrive in a Molentic Tuul M (i understand one of the former VIP configured MTs - although now upgraded to M standard it retains the comfy seats) along with 2 other MTs as escorts. Oojok's personal bodyguard will be an ODS unit - interestingly the ODS has remained separate from the rest of the Clone armed forces while of course CSS is firmly integrated into the Dino Army.

Oojok will stay in orbit aboard his ship in between engagements. Sometimes VIPs stay at the Clone Embassy in Dino-Town though that is currently undergoing some building work and the ODS think this could compromise security a bit. When Oojok is on Dino-Land he will be accompanied by an ODS Active Service Unit who will be accompanied by a CSS observer. When Oojok is with Zanus and Ronald he will also be guarded by a CSS unit of course. An SS-D company is also always on standby.

As you can see security is tight and multi-layered but it has to be. These VIPs are among the most powerful and most important people in the galaxy, a security breach is not an option.

Dino View : Ronald's ultimate quest for a quiet retirement

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

So the changes have been ratified, we will move to having a single Consul from next year and Ronald will move more into the background. Well thats the plan anyway, could it be that Ronald's decade long quest for retirement has finally ended?

Ronald stood down as Emperor following the Tarbotian War, he was badly injured in the final battle and resigned in favour of El Diablo. Contrary to popular belief Ronald didn't have to stand down. He could have remained Emperor while he recovered, even naming El Diablo as a Regent. However Ronald felt it was time to pass on the baton.

Unfortunately he chose the wrong person to pass it on to. Quite why Ronald chose El Diablo and not a more experienced and older man like Jimmy or Cruggson is unknown. El Diablo certainly came as a shock to everyone, El Diablo included! It may have been that Ronald saw in the younger El Diablo the same hunger and desire that Ronald had when he began his rule as Emperor nearly 50 years before.

Whatever El Diablo saw in him was probably misplaced, El Diablo was not ready and was soon usurped by One-Horn. In the chaos following the downfall of One-Horn (who of course started a war with the DDS) Ronald, who had now recovered, became Emperor again.

However Ronald didn't want to be Emperor again. It was clear to all of us that his heart wasn't in it, include it was even pretty clear during the latter part of his first reign when he took some years off as a sabbatical (when he created the DDS incidentally). Much of Ronald's second reign was spent trying to find a way out!

He first tried a dual-Emperor system, perhaps his idea was that a second Emperor could be more gradually bought into the role to try and avoid the mistake of El Diablo. Then when he was sure the other Emperor was secure Ronald could stand down. Jimmy of course may well have helped Ronald achieve this goal but the attempted assassination of Jimmy (which left him incapacitated for nearly a year put paid to that).

So that left the Republic. Ronald tore down the Empire and created the Dino Republic and it has largely been a great success. So much so Ronald seems content now for the Republic to reach phase 2 with just the single elected leader. Now Ronald thinks he can finally step down and walk away.

Dino View : Fresh meat for the old order

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

Ronald's retirement (and most likely GBH's too) from front-line politics at the end of the year has exposed the dearth of talent at the top of Imperial Order, Ronald's political party and supposedly the party that represents traditional values and the heritage of the state.

Only Cruggson remains as a Senator and top name who can potentially be Consul, and Cruggson's problem is that he is ineligible for awhile as his last period in office was only a couple of years ago. Losing El Diablo has meant that a potential Consul has been lost to IO (not that Ronald's opinion of El Diablo is that high).

Imperial Order thus need to bring in some fresh talent. One potential name is Legate Malanson. He is a very solid member of the old guard, formerly a Legionary in the 6th Legion when it was a proper unit and not the largely ceremonial unit is it today. He has remained largely anonymous as he has risen throughout the ranks though some observers do not think this is a bad thing. "He has build a solid and respectable career without gaffs." Tel Remmik of Dino Today said to me the other day. "There are no skeletons in his closet, nothing to detract from his record."

He can thus be compared to Crickson, also a Legionary in the 6th Legion alongside Malanson. Although Crickson has a much higher profile, largely thanks to reality TV, he does not have a good reputation and certainly would hardly be considered favourably by the electorate.

Another name of course to throw in is Senator Gibson, a man with a very high profile and track record, however the former SS Commander and DDS Liaison Officer is largely regarded as a joke. It could however be that Gibson can rehabilitate himself through solid work as Culture Minister and Senate Executive Officer but during an election his past would be a potent weapon in the hands of even a half-competent opponent.

Finally there is Smellyson, the CSS Commander and Ronald's heir. Smellyson is seldom considered as a future political leader, and indeed is maybe a little too soon for him (though he is similar in age to MBH) but Smellyson has a high profile, a highly prestigious role and a family line second to none. Malanson and even Gibson may be Imperial Order's options in the near term but looking further ahead Smellyson looks a solid bet. The party could do with starting Smellyson's political training now.

Dino View : The winding down of a legend?

Legate Dralson, ex-Dino Army and Security Council

Ronald's proposals (which are 99.99999% likely to be made law) for changes to the Dino Republic mean that he will only serve one year of his term as Consul. He could have course have served the whole term, serving alone next year (though maybe it would have looked like he was concentrating power for himself).

However Ronald will step down and be content with being a mere Senator (albeit a living god to a large proportion of the population). He will be Head of the Senate though this is a largely ceremonial duty. Ronald says he will not seek re-election as Consul again in future and there are some sources that say he will not take on a Ministerial role to augment his Senate role. A shame of course as some of us hoped he would become Minister of Culture again, which as he is the galaxy's largest philistine would be a source of endless mirth.

So what is Ronald going to do? It is thought he may go off on a long journey of explanation like he has just completed. The worm drive means that space previously so far as to be virtually impossible to reach is now a possibility. Ronald once said he would like to see Tarbot, with traditional propulsion even a ship like a Dinomark PT would take many months to get there and without a network of friendly ports would run out of supplies before it got there, with worm drive it would take a couple of months...

Maybe Ronald will seek a quieter family life, its known he has been on at least a couple of dates with his cousin Yelekira whom he nearly married centuries ago before he met Holisae (who died in the ABBO-Bolitic War) along with his daughter Crystal. It could be he will seek to marry again (Yekekira was widowed during the war by the way). Ronald is known to be keen to "toughen" up his youngest son Ronaldson (who most regard as limper than a wet lettuce). His other son Stinkyson is a venal sexual pervert whom Ronald has often been considering disowning or murdering. Perhaps Ronald will take his two younger sons with him on a future quest, content that his elder son and heir Smellyson is building his name as head of the elite Consul Security Squad.

Is the legend winding down? Well its likely Ronald will never again be the official leader of the Dinos but he is a true icon and will always remain the spiritual leader. Today's announcement marked the end of just one phase of Ronald's career, we wait with bated breath for the next phase.