Dinos place huge order for "CIN Standard Tank"

In what is of course not a sweetener before the Clone-FES peace talks next week (of course), the Dinos have finalised a huge order for three thousand J55ZDM3-C tanks with the Clones. These tanks will supply the armies of Sirikwan, Yeng, Voth, New Vosun and New Arit as they standardise their armour, the ZDM3-C being a customised version of the ZDM3 tank which is being built for the Dino Army.

The Clones will build the chassis and bodies of the tanks, the Dinos will supply the ZDM3 turrets. Factories on Sirikwan, Voth and New Arit will complete the tanks with localised equipment and customised final fits. The first tanks are set to be delivered before the end of the year.

The tank is officially known as the DTA Standard Tank though as the DTA will change it's name within the next few days, it's name will change to CIN Standard Tank. It is thought Sirikwan and New Arit will have around a thousand each of the tanks, Voth around six hundred, Yeng and New Vosun will have two hundred each and the rest will be kept in a reserve.

K85QA returns to service in revised form

The K85QA has returned to service after work on solving the overheating issues with the electric motor. The K85QA1 revision has a modified cowl from the NT which allows for more air cooling. Performance is said to be slightly reduced though some software modifications to the power management system and an improved battery infrastructure have remedied that to a large extent.

The time out of service has also allowed the Clone Air Force to rework the sensor integration and tactical data linking which have also been an issue with the QA. Production of the QA has resumed, the sixty aircraft already built will be retrofitted with the modifications to QA1 standard.

Caratore growing frustrated at MBO control

Viceroy Caratore is said to be growing increasingly frustrated at MBO control over New Sparta policy, though some UNP analysts have said (anonymously) that it is a bit late to worry about that now. Caretore is seeing the Free Eritran States disappear as NS allies, as Starbot did, and joining the Dino's orbit. He has been unable to counter the Dino overtures to the Eritrans, he even had to fight the MBO to get a relief column sent. That column is still two weeks away from reaching the FES. The Dinos have been on the ground in the FES now for weeks.

NS has not been included in the peace talks to be held in a few days on Starbot between the Clones and FES. They have not even been invited to attend as observers. 

According to sources, the MBO consider the FES as an irrelevance and are not bothered if they change allegiance. 

Krusty returns to Cloneworld, summit set up for Starbot next week

Senator Krusty is returning to Cloneworld to meet with Admiral Anderson again after reaching an agreement with the Free Eritran States to ending the war with the Clone Star Empire. Anderson is also said to be largely in agreement with it though there are a few sticking points especially with respect to the future trade agreement with the DTA.

A summit will be held next week on Starbot where it is hoped the agreement will be signed by representatives of both the CSE and FES. Censor Ronald will host the summit, he is due to arrive on Starbot soon.

Before Ronald left Dino-Land, the Dino Assembly agreed to rename the Dino Trade Association to the Commonwealth of Interstellar Nations (CIN). This will need to be ratified by all DTA members however before it can be made permanent.

Dinos donate XTs to Clones and Eritrans

As a gesture of good will while peace talks are ongoing, the Dinos are to donate surplus Dinomark XTs to both the Clones and the Free Eritran States. The Clones are to be given two Dinomark XT/77w, which are underwater capable, they will join the Clone Navy's existing fleet of six XTs. Delivery is expected in the Spring.

Molab are to receive no less than ten Dinomark XTs, which will form a shared FES pool. They currently operate three XTs which are officially NS owned but on extended load. These will also be delivered within the next few months.

Helinox and Sear N7 have been sounded out to see if they also want some XTs for their fleets.

First two Black Triangles enter service

126-001 Indigo One and 126-002 Indigo Two have entered service with the NS space fleet, the first of the new Black Triangle type to enter service. The two Black Triangles will be used for combat training, subsequent ships will be organised into squadrons of four which will be supported by a Rainbow 166A tender. The two Indigo call sign ships will be used for training and also reserve.

The first Rainbow, 166-001 Black Viper has also joined the fleet and will train with the two Indigo ships. The four Black call-sign ships will join their tender later this year.