Wayne King-Meiouf : The loss of Starbot

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

So Starbot is gone (or will be once the war is over), i'd like to discuss how this will affect the DDS in the short to medium term.

In the short term the DDS fleet has been reduced in size as Starbotian ships were included in the DDS fleet register, however these tended to spend all of their time on Starbotian missions and duties so the actual reduction in DDS fleet strength will be negligible. One as yet unanswered question will be what will happen to the 5 Corkscrew 51As on order to Starbot. If the order is cancelled the ships will go to the DDS though there will of course be cost implications.

Strategically the loss of Starbot means a weakening of DDS South along its Eastern flank though the proximity of the Free Eritran States will reduce the impact here. Starbot is a handy staging post for ships to the FES though Malau or Saeou can step in here. DDS South will reorientate into a region between Aldebra and Liberation so strategically it may be better off especially as it would be stronger towards space where the threat is higher.

Longer term the loss of Starbot may be felt in the DDS' standing. After first the Aritans now a second Tier 1 ally has left the DDS. The perception that the DDS is a "human organisation" is strong amongst opponents on alien DDS ally worlds. The DDS may need to bring the Raegris, Remedians, Porquatians and Eritrans more into the heart of the DDS, with roles for non-humans on the Politburo (S101 will need replacing anyway).

So the loss of Starbot will be felt in many ways but none will be that life threatening to the DDS or as dangerous as say the Raegris leaving. However its still sad and a warning to the DDS that they face a challenge on many battlespheres, including cultural.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The DDS' strangest war

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

As yet there have been no combat operations or incidents (apart from a minor skirmish) since war was declared against the Argon. I thought it would be a good idea to think about this war and how it differs from all the others the DDS have been involved with to date.

Unlike the ABBO-Bolitic War and the Utrek Wars the DDS is not facing an existential threat, there are no large invasion fleets, alien troops on the ground on DDS territory. The DDS has gone to war because the Argon have been growing in annoyance rather than because they are overly threatened. Sure the Starbotians have lost a couple of ships but the second can be put down to their slack security protocols. A couple of high ranking DDS have been killed though the DDS itself is not under attack. Aldebra has been the focus of aggression though its not yet a UNP world and any Argon forces "invading" the planet have been small special forces units.

The DDS had to go to war but the problem now is what exactly are they are war against. Argon territory is a long way off (even with worm drive the nearest Argon worlds are weeks away from Starbot, a fully equipped - and hyperspace limited - fleet would take months to get there). It is unlikely the DDS will be able to advance into Argon territory apart from small raids by worm drive equipped ships.

Argon forces outside of their territory and nearer to DDS territory is likely to be the focus of the war but of course finding these is easier said than done. The DDS lack much in the way of intelligence on Argon capabilities, technologies and deployments. It may be the first few months of the war will be mostly fought by the reconnaissance and intelligence gathering arms of the DDS.

The ultimate objective is also in question. The DDS have already said this is a limited war so do not expect any invasion force to set off for the heart of Argon space (which would take many months to get there anyway) . I suspect the DDS will bide its time, work out where the Argon are operating and then try and give them a bloody nose and kick their deployments out of the DDS sphere. This will be a very different war and will be very interesting to see as it develops.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The mystery of DDS alerts

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Rather opportune timing, i was just completing this article on the DDS alerts system when Torus is reported to have raised the alert status to ORANGE, thus confirming a rumour that Firefly is not the only DDS member of staff with the power to do so.

I understand that 5 people have the power (though this includes Windscorpion who is dead, so in reality 4 people, the DDS need to update their policies). Firefly of course, Knobhead, Sea Urchin and Torus are the others. From what i have been told Firefly must confirm the alert status change within 12 hours or it reverts back to what it was before.

The DDS alert status signifies the current astral-political situation the DDS finds itself in. RED is a state of war and then alerts drop down depending on tensions and threat. There is also a PURPLE alert level which i will discuss later.

Currently at time of writing the level is ORANGE, the highest alert state for "peacetime". The different alert statuses each have defined readiness and operational protocols. Under ORANGE all leave is cancelled, personnel must return to their posts, all scheduled maintenance is postponed, ships operate on heightened alert, bases restrict access and so on.

The DDS automatically transmits the current alert level across a number of channels, mostly on data channels in the background, every thirty seconds. There are also a number of human friendly transmission methods, including this website of course!

The DDS revised its alert scheme last year to add PURPLE, a level higher than RED. Much of PURPLE is kept secret but PURPLE would only be raised if the DDS was in serious jeopardy, for example if GHQ was lost. From what i have been told it is hoped that PURPLE will never be raised and unlike the other alert levels once the DDS enters PURPLE then it cannot drop again as we are in a "totally new ball game"*.

Senior DDS personnel across all parts of the DDS (fleet commander, base commander, department head level and above) all hold in their possession a sealed data tablet called the Purple Book. It can only be unlocked by themselves (retina and DNA scan) if a PURPLE alert has been called or the automatic alert transmission cannot be read for an hour. Once the Purple Book is unlocked then it contains operational orders (such as dispersal options for a space flotilla for example) and authorisation for emergency powers. Now these are kept highly classified but it basically means that in a PURPLE alert situation DDS commanders would have the power of life and death over UNP citizens in their area...

* PURPLE alert cannot be reverted as an enemy who possesses GHQ might try and take over the alert system. One note, alert levels must always be written in uppercase.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The fleet enters a stable era

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The Perimpaz 39As, the last Kalahati Tuuls in DDS service, will begin their withdrawals this year as the ships are replaced in the Remedian fleet by Corkscrew 51As. Amazingly these are likely to be the only series withdrawals of ships from the DDS fleet until the next decade at least.

Generation 3 ships set the trend for far longer service lives than with earlier DDS ships. The Quasar 15As were designed with 30 year service lives, compared to the Pulsar 12As which were designed for just 10 (though some were extended beyond that). The Generation 4 ships have even longer service lives planned, the Panther 35As for example are intended to last for 40 years. All these could be extended of course.

So if we look at the DDS fleet the ships currently on service are, by the large, the ships that will still be service when we reach 2130 and beyond.

DDS Combat Fleet class	Planned withdrawal
Warrior 16A	2144-2146
Quasar 15A	2131-2134
Missileer 21B	2141-2143
Panther 35A	2148-2150
Indy 35B	2151-2153
Solaris 37C	2139-2143
Perimpaz 39A	2114-2115
Isometric 41A	2132-2135
Freedom 41B	2140-2145
Mediterranean Sea 43G	2147-2149
Pentekonter 44M	2146-2147
Rome 46A	2147-2149
Falcon 47A/W	2150-2155
Corkscrew 51A	2153-

As can be seen the earliest withdrawals next after the Perimpaz could be the Quasars and original Isometrics in the early 2130s! Even the ancient Starsystem 91Bs are intended to be life-extended until 2130.

This means the DDS fleet is about to enter a stable era with the upheavals of withdrawals and cannibalisation to keep obsolete ships in service. This should help release extra funds for technological development and enhancements. A stable era then and maybe a golden one?

Wayne King-Meiouf : The disruptive option

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

I am really pleased that the DDS have decided to go ahead with their "big gun ship" idea (the Type 18) as i feel this will be a real game changer over the coming decades.

The astral-political situation is becoming ever more complicated, unpredictable and dangerous. Despite having a large fleet, cutting edge technologies and a good set of allies and resources the DDS still need more if they are to survive challenges such as the looming Tarbotian Empire or a resurgent Clone Star Empire.

The Type 18 i see as a game changer, a disruptive option, that can swing a battlespace in the DDS' favour. Of course the Type 18 is also a bit of a luxury, outside of a major conflict the type does not have much utility but it is precisely major conflicts where the Type 18 can come into its own. Imagine a weapon that can blast even the strongest of ground bases to rubble, that can shatter an asteroid field a fleet is hiding in, vapourise major fleet assets and scatter fleets... this is what the Type 18 can do.

It could be the libero to unlock a tight defence, the out of the box thinking to solve a seemingly insurmountable problem. As you can tell i am a great fan! Well thats the potential and i am sure the DDS will help the Type 18 realise it. The question is now what will the other major space powers do in response?

Wayne King-Meiouf : The age of alliances

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The galaxy is getting ever more competitive and dangerous and the technology and resources to stay ahead (or at least in touching distance) ever more expensive and complicated.

Thats why we are seeing new alliances formed as states (even major powers) struggle to keep up and need fresh ideas and resources. The latest is of course the Clone-Rectoid alliance but we can also count the DTA in this, the Bolitic-Utrek and of course the DDS with its Tier 1 allies.

The DDS were the first of the Central Powers to reach out outside their territories for help. The alliance with the Raegris has provided them with a major manufacturing hub and Raegris technology has really augmented the DDS' own in many ways which have not been mentioned greatly in the media. Signal management and beam weapons in particular have been greatly enhanced by Raegris input.

The Dinos are playing the long game, at first glance the Dino Trade Association is a lop-sided group of the Dinos, little brothers Sirikwan and a load of other mouths to feed. In the long term however the DTA will be a powerful alliance. Aritan and Voth infantry will soon augment the DTA land forces, Sirikwan water warfare expertise and the potential resources of Arctic are all long-term benefits for the Dinos.

The latest alliance of the Clones and Rectoids is the most interesting. Politically and culturally the two sides are much further apart than some of the members of the above alliances. This could be both good and bad, bad in the short term but in the medium to long term it could shake up ideas and technologies for the benefit of the Clones. They need the fresh impetus, numbers wise the Clones have always been there but the technological gap is opening especially compared to the DDS. It will be very interesting to see how the Rectoids can help them close that gap and how quickly.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The tiers of space fleets

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Speaking with a colleague at the University of Proxima (who specialises in astralpolitics) we agreed that the mighty fleet the DDS have assembled for Ground Shock 2114 is stronger than most Tier 2 fleets in the known galaxy. "Tiers" are a system of space fleet classification UNP academics and military figures have devised in recent times. I thought it would be an interesting topic for a blog.

The space fleets and capabilities of the various nations in known space have been analysed and fitted into a tier classification scheme. The DDS, Dinos, Clones and Bolitic are what we term Tier 1 Space Powers. They have large multi-spectrum fleets numbering hundreds of ships that can maintain territory as well as mount large expeditionary operations outside of their territory. The larger 7 Sa Sao fleets probably also fit into this Tier though we do not know enough about their capabilities to be sure yet.

You might well as, what about the Tarbotians and Utrek? When we were devising the classifications we initially made them Tier 1 too but it was clear they are several magnitudes beyond the likes of the DDS. We thus have termed them Tier 0, vast fleets of thousands of ships that can control large parts of the galaxy.

Below Tier 1 (and 0) we have the Tier 2 powers, the likes of Sirikwan, Molab, the Raegris and a couple more. These are strong fleets with a number of capabilities (though maybe not fully multi-spectrum like a Tier 1 fleet) but they have a local or regional focus. Fleets like the Raegris fleet can protect Raegris territory but they could not mount a sizeable operation outside of their territory, at least at the same time.

The Tier 3 powers, the likes of New Arit and Telvin 802, have useful fleets but are completely focused on local defence and have little capability in areas other than patrol and supply. A Tier 3 power would not have minesweepers or dedicated attack ships for example.

Below them we have the Tier 4 powers, minor fleets which do not have any offensive military capabilities. They might just have transports or coast guard ships. They may have defensive weapons in static positions (and self-defence weapons on their ships) but they lack any ability to engage an enemy in combat. Many small nations are in this position, and fleets that include obsolete second hand frigates from the likes of the Tarbotians tend to be put in Tier 4 as old ships like Vortis or Yeoman frigates have little combat capability these days - though can still do a patrol and communications job.

Tier 5 is the bottom of the pile. Nations without a military fleet at all. They may have orbital facilities and a merchant marine but no government ships in a military focussed role.

These are general classifications, not all fleets in a Tier will be equal. As i said at the top the Ground Shock fleet is superior to most Tier 2 fleets though i suspect the Raegris could hold their own though maybe not Molab or Sirikwan.

Wayne King-Meiouf : What can the DDS do?

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The link up between the Clones and Rectoids has a lot of people worried. The Rectoids are pretty much on a par with the DDS technology wise and if they can transfer that technology to the Clones it would put the old enemy right back in front with their existing numerical advantages and full-spectrum capabilities.

But what can the DDS do about that? One UNP politician has called upon the DDS to attack the Rectoids now, so what if that happened? Below is a "what-if" scenario...

Operation Broken Shaft

The DDS and Eritrans announced their large joint exercise early in 2114. Broken Shaft would involve virtually the entire FES fleet and a sizeable chunk of DDS hardware in a series of mock combats and exercises. In June the ships assembled near Molab and the exercises began with a mock combat near the Clone-Eritran border.

Naturally the Clones were interested. A Kelsan Sigint ship was detected early on, it was allowed to monitor the first exercise then chased away. So far so normal. Then the galaxy changed.

On day 2 of Broken Shaft the two fleets suddenly diverged. The FES fleet (a powerful fleet comprising pretty much everything they had) broke into two and crossed the Clone border. A day later the Clones were attacked at Austini 55 and Woloron 12. Sixteen CDF ships were destroyed along with serious damage being done to key orbital facilities. Three FES ships didn't make it back.

The DDS fleet meanwhile charged over into Rectoid space and launched an all-out attack on the Rectoid homeworld Recta. A Quasar attack squadron launched a nuclear strike on key orbital facilities and 14 Rectoid ships were destroyed, 3 more were destroyed in a later engagement as the DDS returned to Eritran space. Four DDS ships were destroyed but it was judged a price worth paying, the Rectoids had been knocked out of the game militarily for a good few years.

The Clone response

Oojok was furious at the attack on the CSE-E by the Eritrans and on the Rectoids by the DDS. However faced with strong DDS and allied forces along the CSE-W border he resisted calls from his generals for a full war with the DDS. Instead he gave the green light to Marcus to strike back against the Eritrans.

The CSE-E had 7 Kelsan KS bombers operational (all but 1 of their allocation had avoided destruction). These headed off from Austini 55 and cloaked once they passed Woloron 12. Meanwhile a fleet of 23 warships departed Austini 55 and headed for the border. They were intercepted by a combined FES fleet and a stand-off ensued.

Distracted by this fleet the Kelsans had left Clone space unnoticed. They were not noticed again until 5 days later when they briefly decloaked to launch 12 CSM-S missiles against Molab.

Molab's population are tightly clustered about one continent on the planet. This meant the ensuing nuclear attack killed millions. Eleven of the missiles struck the planet hitting military targets though the proximity of population centres meant the civilian death toll was catastrophic.

At the border news of the attack sent the FES into a panic. Molab elements (the majority) were torn between attacking the Clone ships waiting for them or returning home to help. Discipline broke and 6 Molab ships crossed the border, only 1 managed to get back to the rest of the FES fleet.

War is declared

As per the Tier 1 agreement an attack on an allied homeworld is treated as an attack on the DDS. The DDS declared war on the Clone Star Empire. But the threat of nuclear attack loomed large. The Clones leaked details of their CSM silos being made ready for launch and the 20 Kelsan bombers in CSE-W space were dispersed to secret staging points.

Firefly met with his general staff, his message was simple. If the DDS attacked the Clones then they had to take out the CSM threat first. Unfortunately Knobhead and the other fleet strategists conceded that even the entire strategic attack force could not guarantee a total wipe out of CSM and Kelsan (and it was unlikely much of the DDS force would get back out alive). Knobhead's answer to his commander was blunt, DDS GHQ and other key DDS and UNP bases and cities would get nuked.

For several days an uneasy quiet reigned as the fully operational DDS and CDF war machines waited for the spark to begin fighting. Then Firefly blinked.

The humbling of the DDS

Firefly ended the war with the Clones, then resigned. A humanitarian convoy was instead sent to Molab. The DDS entered a period of soul searching, the Porquatians seriously considering leaving their alliance though the pragmatism of Firefly's decision in the end was accepted. The DDS went all out to develop its own strategic weapon and LRM was bought into service 2 years early in 2117.

The DDS remained strong (stronger than ever) but had lost face. The Rectoids sped up their technology transfer to the Clones (who assisted their new allies in the aftermath of the DDS attack) and at the end of the decade were undisputedly top dog...

So thats a possible scenario, its based on many assumptions of course. The Clones may have restricted their nukes to orbital targets, Firefly may have decided to accept the inevitable destruction. But it shows there is no easy answer to the problem of the Clone-Rectoid alliance. Its there and just has to be factored into future strategy i.e. get a hurry up with LRM!

Wayne King-Meiouf : Is there substance behind the DDS rhetoric?

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The Rectoids are visiting their new best chums the Clones and Firefly is not happy. Considering the cost of the DDS-Rectoid War in the mid-2100s which saw millions of deaths on the DDS side and billions on the Rectoid this is not surprising. A Rectoid squadron in Clone space has the same resonance as a Utrek or Tarbot one would have.

But is there any substance behind the DDS rhetoric? Firefly has ordered ships to the border but if the Rectoids do not withdraw (and this looks unlikely) what then? Will he order an attack on the Clones? This is highly unlikely though some might say the time to attack would be now before the Clones could be augmented by Rectoid technology and numbers.

However the DDS is not in a position to launch into a major war just like that. The DDS is still officially rebuilding after the ABBO-Bolitic War though the strength of the DDS fleet has fully recovered. It would still take weeks to get the fleet ready for a sustained offensive and months to gear up for a major conflict.

So no an attack is unlikely, though the DDS need to try and get the Clones and Rectoids to think it is. How to do that? Thats the tricky one, and a test of Firefly's leadership. After the conclusion of the war, the increased Tarbot threat and the Windy death spiral Firefly was probably hoping for a quiet Christmas...

Wayne King-Meiouf : The new DDS/Clone battleground

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

So we know then what the new battleground between the DDS and the Clone Star Empire will be for the next decade and beyond. It will be a battle between interstellar missiles and missile defences. Its a high-stakes battle too.

A few years ago the Clones had a "Eureka" moment. They knew they were too far behind the DDS in space technology to catch any time soon and their massive land and air weapon advantage was largely irrelevant. The DDS could sweep their fleet aside and then attack Cloneworld from orbit.

The Clones therefore needed the means of fighting back, a new weapon that could give them a vital advantage and deter DDS aggression (as they see it, the DDS are unlikely to ever attack the Clones to be honest but of course decades of religious indoctrination has made the majority of Clones fear they are going to be personally sexually assaulted by Windscorpion at any time). The Clone Space Missile was that new weapon.

It was a brilliant idea, a missile that can be launched from Cloneworld, can travel through space under cloak, and then hit DDS targets with nuclear warheads. You can tell its a brilliant idea as both the DDS and DTA are working on their own equivalents.

The Clones are putting a huge effort into enhancing CSM's survivability, accuracy and flexibility. The missiles will soon use the cloaking device built into the space stage during the rocket stage. At the moment this is pretty pointless because of the large IR signature of the hot rocket exhaust but the Clone cold rocket technology, plus aerodynamic enhancements to minimise wake will make the missile very hard to detect during its boost stage, and thats really when its at its most vulnerable.

The next version of CSM will also be launchable from submarines and (we think) road mobile launchers. The Clones will make it almost impossible to stop a CSM counterattack even if the DDS have destroyed the Clone fleet and much of the military infrastructure on Cloneworld.

So now the attention is being focussed on intercepting the missiles when they are on their final attack runs to the targets. TPM-ABM is just the first of an enhanced layered space defence of key DDS positions. The fighter launched TPM-A will also have upgrades to help intercept incoming warheads and the DDS are also working on other more advanced technologies too (which are very secret right now).

Here is where the focus is though, a struggle of wits between Clone missiles and DDS defences, expect a lot of work, time and zarks spent on this over the years to come.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The numbers game

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Its been some time since we have analysed the DDS combat fleet so i thought it would be interesting to see where the DDS is now with its 5 types of combat ship, where numbers are projected to be with current production up to 2120 and where they could be at the end of the following decade.

Type	2113	2116	2120	2130?
Bomber	8	14	20	20
Carrier	19	20	20	20
FCS	46*	43*	51	60
MCS	48	53	70	106
Patrol/MCM	46	47	47	47

* Includes the Remedian Perimpaz 39A ships which are listed as Fleet Combat Ships for political reasons though will be replaced by Corkscrew 51A Medium Combat Ships

As can be seen the bomber and carrier fleets are expected to reach equilibrium by the end of the decade with combat ships of the fleet and medium types expected to increase, the latter greatly thanks to Corkscrew. Although no ships are expected at the moment after the Kinetic FCS is built later in the decade i am sure the DDS will want to increase their larger combatants.

The Patrol and MCM fleet is an interesting question, the DDS will need more minesweepers at some stage so i suspect they may convert some of their Rome 46As into MCM ships. We could see more bombers in the next decade though this is quite a niche role that can be supported by other types like the Indy 35B so a fleet of more than 20 may be considered excessive.

More carriers are a possibility though the DDS may achieve this through a gradual increase in their amphibious assets which can also serve in this role.

The trend for the DDS is the great increase in the number of MCS, this already is the workhorse of the DDS fleet and the Corkscrew will be a very flexible asset that can serve in a large number of roles and situations.

Wayne King-Meiouf : Could the Eritrans do something rash?

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

News of the defence pact and arms sales between the Clones and the Rectoids are a nightmare for the Free Eritran States. Their military strategy has been to build up forces to defend again Clone incursions (and even one day liberate the former Eritran Trade Federation worlds which now forms the bulk of the CSE-E - not that anyone will say that openly of course!)

Although the Utrek are a looming threat too the FES have chosen to largely ignore this, and wisely in my view as an attack from the Utrek would be unstoppable for a force as big as the FES so there is not much point in wasting resources in that direction apart from a few token patrols and surveillance stations.

Now however the FES face a threat from their other flank, they are the filling in a Clone-Rectoid sandwich. The FES could ignore the Rectoids too of course but it is likely the Clones will place some of their forces there too.

Faced with this strategic nightmare i understand there are genuine worries in the DDS that the FES may decide waiting will just make their situation worse and they should strike the Clones now. They probably have enough forces to punch through the relatively weak CSE-E line actually. Contrary to some rumours (mostly of Clone propaganda origin) the DDS can't "turn off" the TPMs and other goodies they have given the FES though they may stop sharing information.

There isn't a huge amount the DDS could do to stop the FES if they decided to embark on such an adventure, the best they could do is advise the Eritrans against it. While the FES possess the forces to storm into CSE-E space what then? The FES possess little ground attack weaponry and no amphibious capability (and not much of a land force in any case). The Clones could simply wait it out for the FES to run low on supplies or reinforcements from CSE-W came. Indeed the Clones would be best off letting the FES through into their space unopposed and relying on static defence of their orbital facilities (which are pretty strong).

Logically attacking the Clones is totally wrong but of course desperate people can lose track of logic. The DDS need to do something to reassure the Eritrans and fast before that desperation runs out of control.

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.

Wayne King-Meiouf : Remember

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

How can you replace the irreplaceable?

The death of Windscorpion has sent shock-waves through the DDS, UNP and beyond. He liked to style himself the Apogee of Man and in many ways he was. The focus of resistance against alien conquest. The icon of mankind's courage. The lord of DDS warfare.

But now he is dead. Of course everyone dies one day but no one expected Windy to go the way he did, seemingly out of control, reckless beyond measure, virtually committing suicide. But apparently he had been in decline for some time, since he had left the DDS according to reports. Despite setting up iP Services he struggled to find a role for himself. There are rumours of heavy drinking and increasingly erratic behaviour, screaming rows with Firefly and many many sex crimes.

The word is he finally pushed his luck too far and paid the ultimate price. Well thats not the Windy we should remember. We should instead remember...

• The Windy who led the DDS war on Randalf 74 that cost the Clones a million dead. Although the Clones were ultimately triumphant they have never again mounted a mass operation like that.
• The Windy who commanded the DDS fleet, heavily outnumbered, that destroyed the Clone fleet that attacked in an attempt to end the war once and for all.
• The Windy that led the DDS to triumph against the Tarbotians, Utrek (twice!) and the ABBOs.
• The Windy that finally ended the evil of Rotarios and AP's depraved New DDS regime.
• The Windy whom millions admire as the Apogee of Man.

Remember him on Thursday, we'll never see his like again...

Wayne King-Meiouf : Say hello to the next generation

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Being a military organisation there are of course two ways to progress up the hierarchy in the DDS, by your deeds but often the faster way is by replacing those lost in battle. Like any war the DDS has been involved with the ABBO-Bolitic War left some gaps in the DDS, the most notable was that of DDS Commander which AP failed to fill though the basic structure he left in place was carried forward by Firefly.

Under Firefly are his two deputies, Knobhead who handles all DDS operations and Sea Urchin who handles DDS technology. It is in Knobhead's team that new faces have come to the fore and it is from these that a future DDS Commander may one day come.

The rise of Torus is astonishing but she has managed to create a niche for herself finally as head of ISSF. The recent promotion of Torus to be Knobhead's deputy is reward for turning around DDS security which was in tatters after the vicious actions of the Hoods. Its too early for Torus to be considered for the top job, for a start her combat experience is not as great as some but i see no reason why we might not have DDS Commander Torus one day.

Kommandant Kurt Von Kane is a name who divides opinion, many consider him a fascist deviant, everyone else agrees but thinks he does a good job anyway. He had a fairly quiet war being away from the main front lines (though not be choice of course). Despite his twisted Nazi excesses Von Kane is considered a possible future Director of Operations though its unlikely he could go any further.

Lower down are a number of captains we should keep our eyes on, for me Captain Hussein and The Chef are future stars. Both command Fleet Combat Ships and have proven to be excellent tacticians and leaders of men. Its too early to say if either could reach the very top but the DDS can often be a very dynamic organisation and promotion can sometimes be very rapid...

Wayne King-Meiouf : The Clone plan that leads nowhere

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The delivery of the first F-45K ... i mean K45K to the Clone Navy is another step in the Clone Defence Forces' grand plan begun early this decade. The plan basically starts with an admission of failure : the Clone Space Navy is not strong enough and a major enemy such as the Tarbotians (or even the DDS) could sweep them aside. The plan deals with what next for Cloneworld.

Without the cover of the Space Navy Cloneworld would be vulnerable to space bombardment, hence efforts to decentralise military command and control facilities, a new generation of underground bunkers, dispersal fields for air power and the reborn blue water navy. The grand plan of the Clones is to survive the bombardment and retain the ability to strike back against an invasion force.

Key to the strike back are SeaGale SLBMs, by the end of this decade the Clones will be able to field up to 50 in deep waters around Cloneworld's main landmass. These missiles will be able to strike any point on the landpass and make enemy bridgeheads disappear in a mushroom clouds. Secondary strike-back abilities will be facilitated by cruise missiles launched by submarine, warship or air-launched (K45K natch). Although the new cruise missile currently under development cannot reach the centre of the continent they will be able to strike many places on the planet, and reduce them to radioactive ash no doubt.

But where does this lead the Clones? Lets assume the Tarbotians sweep the Clone fleet aside, pound the planet and then land an army. If this army is nuked then the Tarbotians are not going to simply go away. They are likely to retaliate with nuclear weapons of their own, and/or blockade the planet no doubt after destroying as many crops as possible. Could this plan just result in a slow death for the Clones?

These are questions never asked, maybe no one wants to go there. Everyone lauds the fact the impressive SeaGale can nuke the middle of nowhere, but no one talks about what next. It could be the Clones just hope to hold out long enough for a miracle. Its not really a solid basis for a key military strategic plan in my opinion.

Wayne King-Meiouf : Do the Utrek want to conquer the Local Group?

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

With the seemingly endless war against the Mantae now... er... ended there has been talk of the Utrek now looking at the DDS and other Local Group powers again. There being "unfinished business". However i'm not sure the Utrek want to conquer the DDS, Clones and DTA.

The astral-political spacescape has changed since the last Utrek War, since that conflict the Tarbotians have extended their borders until they now border the Local Group. That means of course that if the Utrek did attack again and win then they would... for the first time ever... be now neighbours of the Tarbotian Empire.

Some talk of "destiny" and how sooner or later the Tarbotians and Utrek will battle it out to decide who is the master of this portion of the galaxy. However hyperpowers do not generally think that way. To them major wars have to be judged very carefully, there is a lot to gain by extending your territory but also a lot to lose as the Tarbotians showed when they lost their war against the DDS, Dinos and Starbotians in the late 2090s. Even a localised loss saw the cream of their leadership lost and a bloody civil war that put them back 10 years.

The Utrek will now be carefully calculating an attack on the Local Group. They could win if they put their massive resources behind the attack. However it would be a very costly war, it would leave them vulnerable to the Mantae and Tarbotians and even the 7 Sa Sao for years while they rebuilt. No i think the calculations will confirm what i feel now, attractive as it may be to conquer the Local Group, the price of victory can sometimes just be too high.

However it just takes a hot headed commander to look at these calculations and decide to attack anyway, we know so little about the Utrek leadership...

Wayne King-Meiouf : Boosting DDS attack air power

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

The DDS Air Force, just like the army (or shall i say the Air and Land Divisions of DDS Terrestrial Forces!) have always been rather unbalanced. They have always been designed purely to do a single job and not be multi-spectrum and balanced.

The DDS have often wanted a balanced force but budget pressures have put paid to that. However in recent times the DDS have gained a number of new warplanes however the fleet is as unbalanced as ever. Currently the DDS has a fighter with a limited ground attack role and 3 light attack or COIN types. Now the DDS are looking at improving their attack aircraft options.

The problem is how. The DDS do not really want to add yet another new type to their fleet, plus it would likely have to be an off-the-shelf purchase form elsewhere due to the reasonably modest number that would be needed. That would likely mean a Clone type and the DDS are already a bit sniffy about becoming overly reliant on Clone weapons.

The other option is to improve what they already have. The third generation F-10X will likely be a much improved multi-role aircraft but that is not due until the next decade. Budget and time will mean a substantial update of the current F-10S is out of the question. What has been proposed has been a modest retrofit of the current SEP standard.

The SEPA concept will add a multi-mission "hump" atop the fuselage which will include targeting sensors, ECM and improved communications. This would be coupled with modifications to the cockpit to improve the multi-mode displays. If the DDS go ahead with SEPA then new build could arrive next year and the existing SEP could be quickly updated.

Another option is to improve the NDAA A-12. Although its a fairly small light-attack type it is a very clean and stable aircraft and has a lot of room for expansion. One concept being considered is the A-12EA which would have a boosted powerplant, strengthened wing and improved attack sensors.

The DDS are likely to go ahead with both the F-10SEPA and A-12EA. It won't be as good as a dedicated attack aircraft like the Clone A-84 but will improve DDS capabilities and help the DDS Air Division's role as a supporting arm for land operations.

Wayne King-Meiouf : The Tarbotians (3) : The culture

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Apologies for the delay but here is the final part of my in-depth look at the Tarbotian Empire. Here i look at the culture and how recently the racial make-up of the empire has changed.

The Tarbotians are an ancient people, their species is very long-lived and they usually adopt a very long-term view. No doubt they have thought about one day conquering the DDS but i wouldn't be surprised if any plans are decades away from coming into action. That doesn't mean the DDS should ignore the threat, if the Tarbotians see an opportunity to strike now they could take it. The DDS must be mindful of the long game and take steps to perhaps extend the Tarbotian plans still further.

The Tarbotians like to grow their empire piece by piece, the new province forged from ex-ABBO territory will slowly and carefully consolidated. New cities will be built, new colonies formed, new bases constructed. But these could take many years. The governor of the new province (Rotarios) still has his office in the neighbouring province pending construction of a new HQ.

Like many things the process is careful, deliberate and well-planned. Occasionally the Tarbotians thrown caution into the wind and act more spontaneously (the attack on the DDS in the 2090s was an example) but these sometimes end up in disaster and over time these events have become less frequent.

One recent change to the empire however could change the way the Tarbotians act forever... perhaps. The Tarbotian civil war in the early 2100s was an utter disaster for the empire, especially for the Tarbotians themselves. So many died in the strife and this forced Dr Slow when he was restoring the empire to bring in people from conquered nations to fill the gaps. These races like the Okram*Green are now seen frequently in Tarbotian deployments, while few have reached the top echelons yet that is surely just a matter of time. When the key decision makers are no longer Tarbotian then perhaps the thinking will change?

Maybe or maybe not. There are signs the conquered races are assimilated into the empire comprehensively (and conquered races are usually treated fairly - if they submit to the will of the empire) and may end up thinking like Tarbotians. If this can be carefully managed then by combining the Tarbotian long-termism with the energy and variety from other species the Tarbotian Empire may become even more dangerous than anyone can ever imagine...

Wayne King-Meiouf : The Tarbotians (2) : The Tarbotian Military

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

Its big.

In part 1 of my series i described the Tarbotian Empire and tried to convey just how vast it is compared to the likes of the DDS and DTA. It follows therefore from that that the fleet and military that protects the empire is also on a scale unimaginable.

To get detailed force levels of the Tarbotians is impossible, it may be that even the Tarbotians themselves do not know how exactly how many ships and troops they have, but with the help of colleagues in the Dino Republic and Raegris (as well as some intelligence sources which asked to remain anonymous) i have come up with the following rough totals for the Tarbotian fleet :

Tarbotian Fleet (Estimated force level)
Heavy Cruisers (Kenora series)	350-400
Light Cruisers (Vormix, Hyper Ship)	600-650
Heavy Destroyer (Samara III+)	3500-3750
Light Destroyer (Samara I-II, Vormix)	2750-3000
Command Ships	5-10
Other Combat Ships	500-600

As can be seen these estimates are quite vague but can give a ball park figure as to the sheer size of the Tarbotian fleet. In terms of Kenoras alone they outnumber the DDS fleet. However before we all get too depressed we should note a few things about these totals.

These include a lot of obsolete ships, the Vormix for example are pretty old as are Samara Is. The Tarbotians seem to keep these older ships for internal security but also maintain large reserve pools at strategic points around their empire. It is thought there is one at Masar 11 in the Tarbot Empire near(ish) to DDS space (C1 on the current UNP spacemap). An intelligence report i have read from the Dinos states the existence of around 180 warships here held in semi-dormant state, most of them older ships. It is thought these ships are all usable though it would take a while to get them back operational (and crewed). How often the Tarbotians update their ships is unknown, front-line ships seem to be kept up to date but it could be difficult even for the Tarbotians to keep their vast stock of second-line and reserve assets up to date. Obviously these ships still have a military value.

Another thing to note is that the Tarbotian Empire is vast and borders dozens (if not hundreds) of opposing factions. Obviously if the Tarbotians fielded a huge chunk of their entire fleet they could crush anyone but that would leave their borders vulnerable.

That does not mean the Tarbotians cannot field big fleets, the fleet that attacked the DDS in the epic war of the late 2090s contained nearly 100 ships. In recent years we have seen that the Tarbotians often prefer to minimise ship losses and prefer to fight if they can find a weapon the enemy has no answer to. When the Tarbotians developed their EMP weapon they were able to devastate and conquer the ABBOs with little loss to themselves.

As well as the fleet the Tarbotians have a huge army though less of this is known as the DDS and allies have yet to fight a land war against the Tarbotians. Intelligence indicates the Tarbotians prefer to fight their battles in space and force an enemy to surrender via blockade after destroying its space presence. The Tarbotian Army is thought to number millions of troops (maybe tens of millions) though most of these will be used for internal security and peace keeping.

So that is the Tarbotian military, it is unimaginable vast and powerful but it needs to be to maintain such a vast empire.