CAC to sell-off non-combat aircraft lines

The Cloneworld state owned aircraft manufacturer CAC has been in the process of refocussing behind combat aircraft and selling off its commercial and utility lines for a few years. The final lines have now been sold to Clone Commercial Aircraft for 1.1 billion zarks. CCA will take over the production lines for the C-440/460 and C-426 from 2113.

As part of the deal CAC will receive 10% of royalty sales (to commercial and export markets) for 10 years. They will also hand over all existing design work and data for the next generations of the various types. Although CCA are going to have to take out a big loan to afford the purchase the C-440 is a cash cow being one of the "Holy Trinity" of aviation types (along with the A-85 and H-26) which will likely remain in production for as long as the HCS exists. The type is also a good export seller to customers including the DDS.

The Clone government say much of the money received from the sale will be put back into the HCSAF budget though this is likely to merely offset budget cuts elsewhere.

Benito addresses CSE-E

An unusually subdued Emperor Benito has addressed the CSE-E following the air attack on his palace. He said that the attack was a crime committed by "vile agents of foul deviance" and added that those behind the attack had now been "punished". No details about who has been punished have been given though its rumoured a senior General in Benito's staff (and one of his oldest friends) has been executed. This may explain Benito's mood.

Benito went on to criticise Oojok and the central HCS for weakening HCS-E. However as CSE-E is subsided by the rest of the empire Benito has little room for maneuver if Oojok cuts the budget.

• The HCS Navy have cleared their first 3 A-85NTKs into service and will begin carrier operations with the carrier version of the COIN aircraft soon. When a full squadron has entered service then the HCSN's carriers will begin operating a mixed wing of 4 F-40Ns and 10 A-85NTKs.
• The Raegris have received 10 DDS Ferret-G UCVs on loan. They will receive their own UCVs next year.

Benito's palace attacked!

The palace of Emperor Benito of the CSE-E has come under attack by what is reported to have been an ex-HCSAF A-85 COIN aircraft. The palace sustained multiple hits and 7 people are reported to have been killed though Benito and his senior staff were not hurt.

Benito has ordered an immediate investigation though details of this are being kept under tight wraps. One of Benito's senior staff officers General Vakak is reported to have died suddenly after an "illness" though the HCS-E are refusing to say if this is connected to the investigation.

DDS Commander Firefly has raised the DDS alert status to GREEN as a precaution though this is still a fairly low level of alert.

183/4

Sticking Up 4 Himself
The attack on Benito is investigated (Benito O'Clock P3)

Other Fleet Review (01/10/12)

• The Dinos have built 3 Dinomark XTs for the DTA, one each has gone to Sirikwan, Voth and New Arit.
• The Bolitic are reported to have completed 2 Meltinans.
• Porquat 640 have received a Pentekonter-E.
• Castaris have received an Extender-E oiler.
• Helinox have received 2 Coril-E shuttles.

The Historian : History of the New DDS (5) : Bringing Windy into the fold

The Historian casts his eyes back over the rich history of the DDS Universe.

Rotarios was now the DDS Commander and began a series of measures to facilitate the New DDS Project. Under Vodaphone's guidance (usually buried in baffling jargon and buzzwords) and threat from AP's Hoods the DDS was reborn as the "New DDS". However soon there was a cloud on the horizon.

Windy was approaching full health and began to venture outside on Rathun's World (now Liberation). He was soon picked up by CCTV and word got to Rotarios that his Nemesis was still alive. AP was despatched with a legion of Hoods and DDS special forces to kill Windy.

As Windy and Salamander evaded the DDS net Rotarios had a change of mind and ordered Windy be captured instead. He saw that Windy could be a potent asset if he could be controlled and he had a sufficiently massive ego to persuade him to try where all else have failed. Windy was thus bought into the New DDS under strict control though this was eased when Windy was duped into revealing the location of his fan club the Windy Massive. They were massacred by the Hoods.

The Rotarios-Windy relationship was troubled to say the least with Rotarios continually thwarted and fooled by The Apogee Of Man. Windy quietly began restoring his power base, recruiting a new generation of the Windy Massive. When the DDS went to war with the Utrek Windy saw his chance to bring down the New DDS Project...