New Clone MAV said to work with SS-10

DDS sources are reporting a top-secret new Micro Air Vehicle (MAV) is being fielded by the Clones as part of the SS-10 IRBM weapon system. The name of the MAV is unknown but is it highly advanced. It is said to be the size of a large insect and made mostly from transparent plastic. That plus a near silent duct fan propulsion means it is virtually undetectable.

The MAV operates after being launched near a future target of the SS-10 missile, such as a tank column or even an individual vehicle. The MAV is "tagged" with the target and then can stay within close proximity of the target (using a random flightpath to aid stealth) for up to 96 hours using a combination of a micro-plutonium powerpack and solar cells.

When a SS-10 missile approaches the target (within 100km) it emits a signal which the MAV detects, the MAV then begins transmitting course correcting data to the missile allowing the already highly accurate missile to hit even a fast moving target.

How the MAV is initially activated and delivered near the target is unknown but it could be done by special forces or even another larger drone which acts as a mothership.

Clone Army to field new generation of IRBMs

The Clone Army has accepted into service a new IRBM, the SS-10. The missile is an evolution of the SS-4 Gale-II strategic weapon (which was replaced by the current SS-5 Gale-III a few years ago) but also includes elements from the Clone Navy's long range missile the SS-N-9. Its range is not being revealed by the Clones but it is thought to be around 3500km.

SS-10 is fully road mobile (the vehicle known as the J110) and is part of the Clone Defence Forces' "fight back" philosophy. In the event of an invasion of Cloneworld SS-10 units would be dispersed and heavily camouflaged and used to strike back against enemy positions. A range of warheads can be carried including nuclear. The Clone Army will operate 500 SS-10 launcher vehicles and hold a stockpile of 750 missiles with deliveries beginning before the end of the year.

DDS refuse to comment on Clone-Rectoids

DDS Commander Firefly refused to be drawn on questions about the looming Clone-Rectoid alliance at his latest media briefing. Later on Knobhead tweeted that "who the Clones get into bed with is up to them" and the DDS are trying to portray an air of indifference. However the DDS Politburo is rumoured to be meeting in a couple of days to discuss it.

Firefly has reduced the DDS alert status to CYAN and stood down the DDS Territorial Forces from its increased level of preparation. This is in response to an easing of tensions with the Dinos.

196/3

Off Balance
Dodek launches a rescue mission for his master (Betrayal  P3)

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.

CDF View : This changes everything

Keith Remadra, former chief advisor to the UNP Security Council on Clone affairs 

In a galaxy thats increasingly porous secrets and intelligence wise the news of talks and diplomatic relations between the Clones and Rectoids came as a genuine shock to everyone. There were not even any rumours of rumours of such talks taking place. This indicates the vital importance Oojok places on the link-up with the Rectoids, he likely only involved enough people that you could count on a frostbitten hand.

What i am hearing now is that a mutual defence pact and arms sales to the Rectoids are in the bag and will be formally announced when Oojok meets the Rectoid leader (time and place total secret at the moment). The arms sales will be juicy, one contact told me it could be in the tens of billions. What the Rectoids are buying is unknown but the operators of the factory that makes CSM and CSM-S has just put up a lot of job vacancies...

The mutual defence pact is the key aspect though, the Rectoids will be a very important ally for the Clones on a flank of their empire that looks the weakest. The Eritrans will now face a potential enemy on their other flank which will mean they will have to allocate forces away from the Clone flank. CDF ships and troops may also use Rectoid space for basing, that could be very useful indeed against the Eritrans.

For the Rectoids it also means they have a new way into the Local Group. While a new war with the DDS is not likely to be top of their list at the moment you can imagine the long term planning starts at getting a foothold close to DDS territory.

It all changes now, it cannot be overemphasised how massive the announcement made the Clone diplomatic service was this morning.