HCS View : What the HCS are really after?

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

Forget the story about the Clones trying to buy Dino worm drives, the Dinos won't sell them and the Clones know it (but of course there is no harm in asking). The Clones are desperate for ships with improved performance though and my sources are telling me that the Clones could well buy traditional Dino propulsion systems.

Though not quite as good as the DDS Dino hyperspace drives and engines have taken ships up to near 900c. This is much faster than what the HCS currently possess in their fleet (their fastest ship is the Soulaki SLBK which is alleged to be able to reach 730c - it struggles to best 680c in reality) and while worm drive is the dream having ships that can reach 900c would be a great strategic boost to the empire.

The Clones have enquired about both the Ultraburst and Pulseburst engine series which power the Dinomark RS and PT respectively and my sources tell me that a sale of around 20 Pulseburst engines could be on.

But these engines would likely need to be put in a new class of ship. The Clones do not have a ship of the right size and stressed strongly enough to allow these engines to push a ship to 900c. They could modify the Shark perhaps but it will be easier to build something new around these engines (2 would be used per ship i think, like on the PT).

The HCS have already begun design studies for a new class of light cruiser that can reach 900c. These ships would come between the Molentic Tuul and Shark in size, be well armed and well equipped with communications and reconnaissance equipment. The HCS want around 8 or 9 of these ships which fits well if the Clones buy 20 Pulseburst, they will need a couple for training and engineering purposes. It will all depend on the Clones being able to buy the engines, its quite likely that after tomorrow's funeral on Austini 55 Oojok and El Diablo will be discussing this deal.

Clones trying to buy worm drives?

There are unconfirmed reports that the Clones have asked the Dinos if they will sell them worm drives. It is thought the HCS want an elite core of their fleet (maybe 8-10 Soulakis) fitted with the drives to aid communications and rapid response.

However the Dinos have said they are not prepared to sell their technology yet. A Dino spokesdino is thought to have told the Clones the technology was still too sensitive and only the desperate need for TPM technology forced them to do their deal with the DDS. However the Dinos did say they may review this in a few years.

Leaders arrive on Austini 55 ahead of Benito funeral

Emperor Oojok has arrived on Austini 55 courtesy of MBH (who has chosen to remain on his ship for the time being). Consul El Diablo also arrived earlier today representing the DTA. DDS Commander Firefly is due to arrive early tomorrow ahead of Monday's funeral of Emperor Benito of the CSE-E who died in an explosion a few days ago.

A representative of the Utrek Federation is also due to arrive tomorrow. It is thought a Tarbotian representative may also attend though this has not been confirmed. The HCS and allied special forces have locked down Austini 55 in what must be one of the biggest security operations in recent history.

• With production now finally underway of the F-45C/K attention is now turning to the next generation of HCSAF fighter in the 2120s and beyond. The HCS have provided 20 million zarks of funding for research into future air superiority. A team of HCS and industry experts will examine a number of options for "what next?" including manned and unmanned options. The HCSAF have a big lead in fighter design over the DDS though the DDS have their own F-10X project for the 2120s which is expected to close the gap.

DDS order flying boats!

The DDS have ordered 6 Xiacal Canada Goose H8 amphibious aircraft or flying boats. The aircraft will be operated by the new Naval Air Department of the Air Division and will be used by ISSF personnel guarding the new DDS GHQ on Helnikan Island, Proxima 5.

The small three man aircraft will be militarised to DDS spec which will include new radios, IR cameras, ECM and provision for carrying anti-ship missiles. However it is thought their main role will be to detect possible enemy targets for shipborne ISSF teams to check out.

Deliveries are expected to begin later this year. In DDS service they will be known as the RP-30 Canada Goose.

• The HCS Air Force has accepted its first KC-426 tanker into service, these tanker version of the small prop transport is intended to refuel aircraft like the A-85 but there is a problem... no A-85 COIN aircraft cannot yet perform inflight refuelling! To rectify this (due to the planned long range NTLR variant of the A-85 being cancelled) the HCSAF are to retrofit fuel probes to around 120 A-85NTs in service. The modifications will also include software updates to the plane's main cockpit display with a camera feed from the probe to assist the pilot. These modified planes will be known as the A-85NTIK.
• Three F-10S fighters from the DDS Terrestrial Forces Air Division have been taken to Cloneworld where they will conduct tests with a Tiamon TM carrier. The DDS are considering buying 2 of these spacecraft which can enter atmospheres to launch aircraft but first of all wish to test the Shark fighter with them.
• New Vosun, an independent planet of ethnic Vosunites separated from the rest of the Vosun by many light years (and the DTA and Bolitic Confederacy) have asked to join the DTA. Their application may be opposed by the Voth who have a mistrust of their former masters, however New Vosun has always been a fringe planet culturally and politically separate to the rest of the old Vosun-Voth Star Empire so some kind of accommodation may be found. The DTA say they will consider the application.

Other Fleet News (02/05/13)

• The Dinos have built a Dinomark PT for themselves plus 3 XTs for export. One goes to Sirikwan, the other to iP Services (as already noted earlier) and the third to the HCS Navy.
• The Bolitic are reported to have completed as Snarl and Meltinan but have withdrawn 3 Redhulls.
• The Raegris have completed their first 2 new-built RC-2C Yel'Tema (Cosmos) cruisers which are an update of the venerable design with a turreted Z6 cannon and TPM launchers.
• Putri 500 have received their second Velocity EP1. Unless Putri order a third it is likely the DDS will withdraw the Velocity-E from their portfolio this Summer.
• Haylei have received their first Isometric E217H and 2 Coril-Es.

May Mission 2013

May Mission is the latest DDS exercise and will last the whole month of May. It is unlike all other DDS exercises in that, apart from the secretive ISSF team running the exercise, and a few key and high-up DDS staff no one knows when events in the exercise will take place or even if an incident is an exercise event or a real incident! (Safeguards have been put in to stop things going out of control... hopefully!)

The aim of May Mission is to train the DDS in internal security, internal strife containment and resolution and countering propaganda. The latter was the focus of today's incident. False adverts appeared on the DDS intranet appearing to offer free food at a remote part of DDS City. A few staff did make it to the area, to be told by ISSF that if there had been a bomb planted they would likely all be dead.