176/3

Mystery
Can Ronald be saved? (Sygnet P3)

Wayne King-Meiouf : The game-changer?

Professor Wayne King-Meiouf of the University of Proxima

I am currently traveling to a conference on Dino-Land so do not have access to my usual information sources apart from the BBC and P24 but the Eritran Free States joining the DDS has to be the biggest news story of the year.

Since the Clones invaded Kontai and Unatel Gamma it was maybe predictable that the Eritrans would seek to find help somewhere. The Clones knew this too but possibly thought it was a calculated risk to go ahead with their attack. So now the Clones have the DDS on yet another flank, along with an alien race who truly hate them and are now to be armed with TPMs...

But the Clones will not be that sad about it, i'm sure this came up as a fairly likely outcome after they began wargaming their plans. The Clones deal with the DDS on many other flanks so one more will not cause them too many headaches. The policy of pressure will continue, i expect we are in for a rather intense period of cold war in the Eritran sector over the next decade. The Clones know that DDS membership isn't for life, if the Aritans leave because they have a better offer elsewhere then its possible others can too.

(Helinox is interesting by the way, astrally separate to the other Eritran Free States but closely aligned to Sear N7, they haven't joined the DDS yet though i received a tweet telling me that AP might be visiting them on his way back to DDS space so maybe Helinox are just waiting for that.)

Free Eritran States join DDS!

DDS Commander AP has announced that the Eritran Free States (Molab, Sear N7, Castaris 9065A, Rimegga and Oxsasx) will join the DDS as "Tier 2A" members. They will retain separate fleets and militaries but will integrate into the DDS command structure. They will also have access to DDS weapons and technology such as the TPM-1. The DDS will build a refueling point in orbit around Molab, a DDS Army base on Sear N7 (likely to be mostly used by special forces) and liaison offices on the other planets.

The TPM-1s will be key, Molab and Sear N7 will both build factories to make the weapon. Sear N7 is keen on buying F-10S fighters to carry the air-launched version of TPM and Molab may follow. AP's ship SS Cicero was carrying 3 TPM-1 loads and these have been handed over to the Molab military to begin technical integration.

The Eritran Free States will further integrate their militaries as well, it is thought they may form a unified fleet with separate flotillas for the member states (though the fleet would be dominated by Molab the major economic power). The DDS no doubt hope that further ship exports will follow.

AP said that as DDS members an attack on the Free Eritran States would be seen as an attack on the DDS and the DDS would defend them. This was sent as a stark warning to the Clones.

DDS sources say that around 350 TPM-1 rounds will be donated to the Eritrans from DDS reserve stocks (half will be Canister-TPM loads) and a DDS team will help the Eritrans integrate them into their fleet.

Dinos looking to expand DTA

The Dinos are said to be keen to seek new DTA members in far off space that only since the invention of the worm drive has become considered reachable. This is space beyond the far edge of the Bolitic Confederacy, Raegris space and even the little-known IKA Federation and only recently has been included on UNP space maps (Segment A1 in fact). It includes the Saurian race the Repicans who took part in the Bolitic war on the Bolitic side (and didn't do very well).

Ronald is understood to be exploring this area of space (which even with worm drive is several weeks away from the nearest friendly port) and will visit Sygnet 80 where Saurian remains were recently found by the Raegris. His ship may also go onto the Lahta Regency who are known to be a space faring race though have not ventured far from their own systems.

• The DDS and HCS have held surprise talks on Starbot. A team of HCS officers made the secret visit yesterday and held "fruitful" talks with S101 and Knobhead (AP and Benito Clone also attended the meeting remotely). The Clones have reassured the DDS they will not attack the DDS or DDS allies. AP has remained in Eritran space and after extensive meetings with the Molab has moved onto Sear N7. It is thought he will return to Molab tomorrow to make an announcement.

Alpha 121A NFV incorporates UCV technology

Dr Forbidden has given a technology briefing on the forthcoming Alpha 121A Nano Fighting Vehicle to senior DDS staff, a brief summary was also declassified and distributed to the media. Dr Forbidden has said that the NFV will incorporate design features and technology from the DDS' various superluminal UCV projects over the last few years such as Stoat-UCV and FLUSV.

"These projects came to nothing for various reasons (FLUSV was part of the aborted Chrysalis cruiser concept of course) but we waste nothing in DDS Research and much of the technology will be used in the Nano Fighting Vehicle." Dr Forbidden wrote in the summary. "NFV will be optionally manned and will leverage technology like FIDO-VR to enable a fully equipped warship in a tiny package. Design concepts are now being finalised and we expect to reveal a finalised design and spec by the Summer. Building will commence in September."

DDS begin building up to Terran Sea ILU

The Terran Sea ILU and Unification Programme will begin next year (January 2113 to be exact) and could well top the Quasar and Isometric ILUs as the biggest and most expensive upgrade programmes yet! All 14 Type 43s will take part in the programme which will result in the Terran Sea 43G class. The 8 Barents Sea 43B ships will be first followed by the 4 Arafura Sea 43Cs and finally the 2 Sea of Tranquility 43Ds. Each upgrade will take around 6-8 weeks, though 2 upgrades can be done in parallel it is estimated it will take around 2 years to complete the programme once testing is included.

The Terran Sea 43G upgrade will likely include the following :

• A new evolution of the Meson engine, the TL-04C4. This will boost performance slightly though most improvements will be in efficiency.
• Traditional sprint speed boosted to around 1040c, cruise 900c.
• W1A worm drive will be fitted, worm drive speed not yet calibrated.
• Z7 cannon fitted (though early upgrades may use Z6 instead if Z7s are not available.
• The hull of earlier ships will be modified as for the Type 43Ds to allow a 64 missile load.
• EA-X and shield enhancements (perhaps multi-layered shielding?)
• IWC 3.0 with enhanced data security and offensive cyber capabilities.
• Plus around 300 other improvements across the ship ranging from mission computers to lighting!

Sea Urchin said the Terran Sea 43G would become the new backbone of the patrol fleet and would provide a fleet of ships with combat capabilities on a par with the heavy combat ship fleet but with the operational flexibility and proven reliability of the medium combat ship fleet.