Panther 2115 Update A

The Panther 35A fleet is to be upgraded as part of the normal maintenance cycle over the next couple of months. Part of the upgrade will be standardise the 12 strong fleet which has different ships have different trial pieces of technology. The upgrade will also be a "tune-up" with refined hyperspace and worm parameters resulting in an improved performance. The upgrade includes:

• EA-X energy absorbant layer added
• Z7 cannon
• Propulsion management and drive enhancements boosting worm speed to 4900ec and hyperspace cruise to 975c
• Improved data security sub-system
• Two extra teleport stations added and provision to quickly convert a storage bay into accommodation for Prowler special forces
• A number of other minor updates

Provisional Ship Building Plan 2115 posted

The DDS has posted the first public draft of its Ship Building Plan for the 2115/6 period starting in April. The provisional plan will likely undergo some modification before the end of March but will largely be as listed below. A number of new types will make their debut during the plan.

Warrior 16A (4)
Olympus Balista 23M (2)
Kinetic 35C (3)
Mulberry 36C (3)
Corkscrew 51A (4)
Pentekonter 44M (2)
Oceania 63A (2)
Triumph 66A (1) - built by the Clones
Alpha 121A (3)
Provider 71A (1)
Extender 73A (2)
Zephyr 76A (1)
Friendship 75A (1)
Nightingale 88A (1)

Argon have not occupied Aldebra

The hyperlaser link to Aldebra has been restored following the lifting of an Argon jamming field. Government officials were able to contact the UNP, they said no Argon forces were on the planet. Small teams had landed to captured the small DDS and Starbotian presence but had left when they had completed their mission. The DDS liaison office was burnt down by Argon troops.

No Aldebrans were reported killed or injured though 2 DDS Prowler troops are thought to have been killed and the rest (around 4 and their commanding officer plus a Starbotian) captured and taken off the planet. The 4 Argon cruisers remain in the Aldebra system.

Story #2113

22:06
Crickson is given a new suicide mission.

FES to guard Starbot space

DDS allies the Free Eritran States have agreed to help protect Starbot's borders while Starbot concentrates on their response to the Argon. Four ships from Molab and one other from the FES will form a patrol pool and take over Starbotian patrol circuits over the next 2 weeks.

Meanwhile it is understood that a forward operation base is to be formed on Saeou in DDS South for operations against Argon around Aldebra. Forces are expected to arrive next week.

DDS do not declare war but will give Starbot full support

The DDS Politburo met in a special session to discuss the Aldebra situation and it is understood that full support is to be given to Starbot who will retain the lead on handling and responding to the Argon threat. The DDS has raised its alert status to ORANGE though has fallen short of declaring war on the Argon faction of the 7 Sa Sao.

This may be largely due to the localised threat and the fact that Starbot is in charge of the theatre. The Free Eritran States and Porquat 640 have both been asked to contribute to the effort against Argon.