DDS order extra aviation

The Air Division of DDS Terrestrial Forces has placed top-up orders for a number of types. The biggest order is for 20 more Cherrybee CBH-90 helicopters which are used mainly by ISSF for patrols and counter-terrorism.

Ten more K-18D COIN aircraft have also been ordered from the Dinos and 5 more LLAD MQ-14 drones.

In other news the Air Division has also been renamed to DDS Air Corps! The Land Division has also been renamed the Land Corps, this has been done as using "division" was causing some confusion.

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.

DDS to send task force to Aldebra

The DDS Poliburo met this morning in an emergency session to discuss the serious situation on Aldebra where Ice-Ranger and 2 other Prowler soldiers were killed by the Argon. The DDS will leave Starbot in charge of protecting Aldebra but is to send a small task force to the planet along with extra troops.

The task force is likely to consist of 1 or 2 Fleet Combat Ships, a Rome equipped for ground attack and a support ship though the DDS may rely on the Starbotian oiler which is now approaching the system. The task force is expected to leave in the next couple of days.

DDS engage Argon on Aldebra, Ice-Ranger among casualties

The DDS has raised its alert status to ORANGE (the highest status for a non-combat situation) following a skirmish between a DDS Prowler unit and Argon soldiers on Aldebra. The Prowler unit was led by the veteran Ice-Ranger and had detected and cornered a cloaked Argon unit. However in the firefight it is thought a second undetected Argon unit ambushed the DDS killing Ice-Ranger and 2 other Prowler soldiers.

ISSF Commander Torus raised the alert status and also instigated a raising of security and alert across the whole DDS. DDS Commander Firefly, returning to GHQ following a visit to Solaris, has called an emergency DDS Politburo meeting for tomorrow.

Speaking on DDS TV Torus said that Ice-Ranger had been a well-liked member of the DDS who had fought alongside so many since the late Clone Wars. His loss would be missed Torus added.

Story #2073

I Am Your God!
The DDS and Argon come to blows.

DDS discuss ways to protect UNP shipping

Despite a few close shaves in the ABBO-Bolitic War no UNP civilian transports were lost to enemy action though the growing commerce and number of ships in service with UNP registered shipping companies means that it is likely that in the next war in DDS/UNP space commercial carriers will be under threat.

To that end the DDS have begun discussions with a consortium of the largest shipping companies which together own about 72% of the entire UNP civilian tonnage. The DDS have offered help and kits to add DDS communications frequencies to civilian ship communication systems to improve warning and the ability to call for assistance. The DDS will also offer advice and expertise on damage control and internal security. The DDS have also considered fitting commercial ships with the required support systems and electric fittings so they can be outfitted with Canister TPM rapidly in a war situation  though commercial carriers have declined this idea as they think this would make them more of a target.