A UNP freighter, which had been turned back from Lem 619 by Clone warships, has finally arrived at the planet after being escorted by a UNDF warship. Clone ships shadowed them throughout though there were no incidents or attempts at contact made.
The UNP freighter is reported to have been carrying machine parts and general supplies. It will be loaded with ore from Lem 619 mines for it's return journey next week. The UNDF warship will remain with it until then.
A civilian freighter operated under a UNP registry has been intercepted and stopped by a Clone warship as it approached the Lem 619 system. The captain of the freighter was told that they would not be allowed to continue on their journey, the freighter was forced to turn around and head for Aldebra.
The UNP has complained to the Clones about this violation of interstellar space law. The freighter has been told to hold station and will rendezvous with a UNDF warship. It is not known if an attempt may be made to head to Lem 619.
The Clones have placed an exclusion zone around the Lem 619 system. They said that no ships, civilian or military, will be allowed into the Lem system and none can leave. Lem 619 is an unaligned planet, thus the Clones have no jurisdiction in that region of space. Lem 619 has called for assistance.
A UNDF ship is reported to have been sent from Aldebra to monitor the situation. A Molab freighter en route to Lem is thought to have been ordered to hold position, some three light years from Lem.
Both the UNDF and CIN have called on the Clones to raise their exclusion zone.
The UNDF are said to be considering it's options for supporting Lem 619, the unaligned planet which is facing a possible invasion by the Clone Star Empire. UNDF Commander Torus is said to want to send Lem orbital defence weapons and air defence systems though the UNP are more cautious and could wait to see what happens.
Molab is already reported to have sent drone technology to Lem, a second ship is rumoured to be on the way though increased Clone patrols in the area may hinder attempts to reach Lem.
The Lem 619 government has reported that two Clone Space Navy warships have been spotted in their system. The ships were not approached by any Lem ships, though Lem only has a couple of unarmed shuttles and a transport in any case.
A Clone source at first denied the ships were there but later said that two ships were on a training mission.
The Clones have said that a Molab registered freighter, on charter to the Molab government, has travelled to Lem 619. The planet is rumoured to be the planned target of a Clone military incursion though this has been denied by the Clones. Why they mentioned Molab sending a ship to Lem is therefore unknown.
It is rumoured the freighter contained parts for several thousand aerial drones as well as Molab armed forces advisers. Molab have not commented on the ship.
Six Intruder amphibious assault ships plus two Tiamon aerial assault carriers are reported to have arrived at Targargi as a military build-up continued. Several thousand troops are understood to be also en route to the planet. Six Cosmos ground attack cruisers are also reported to be at Geulis.
It is rumoured the Clones are planning to attack a minor planet, to add it to the empire. Lem 619 being the most likely target. However, this has been denied by the Clones. A UNDF source has admitted that the Clones could just be planning a major exercise.
The Dinos have said that the Clones are planning to invade the independent mining colony of Lem 619 in unaligned space. The planet was settled by humans some years ago and is said to have a population of around 7 million, including half a million Clones. Lem 619 has rich mineral deposits though these have yet to be fully exploited.
Lem 619 has little in the way of a military. Janes' Fighting Spaceships list two Coril type shuttles and a civilian transport owned by the government, none of them armed. A land defence force of around 6,000 men are maintained, though have little in the way of heavy weapons. They have been investigating Molab type drones however.