DTA to facilitate HCS withdrawal from Eritran worlds

The Clone Star Empire agreed to give up Kontai and Unatel Gamma 540 as part of its peace deal with the DDS. Despite the death of Benito this is still on schedule with around 70% of HCS forces on the planet already either left or packed up to go. The aim is for the final withdrawal of the HCS by the end of the year.

However there is a problem. All parties are worried about the vacuum caused by the withdrawal of the HCS and the time it will take Free Eritran State and DDS forces to take their place. The HCS do not want to share a planet with the Eritran and DDS forces. The DTA has agreed to step in to fill the gap. Three brigades of troops will arrive over the next couple of months and then take over the protection of the two worlds until the Eritrans can move in early next year.

It is thought the troops will be mainly Aritan and Sirikwanese with a Dino support unit to provide command, communications and air support. A Dino liaison team is due to arrive soon to assess the situation and make preparations.

• 100 T-1M Kestrel advanced trainers with the HCSAF are to receive a system update enhancing their light attack capabilities. This will be mostly for training though the aircraft will be available for COIN if needs be. The upgrade will allow the Kestrels to work with the latest HCSAF stand-off weapons and datalink standards.

Raegris ship destroyed

A survey ship chartered to the Raegris military is reported to have been destroyed near the colony Korik, which is the furthest point in claimed Raegrean space near Utrek and IKA space. The ship was charting asteroid fields in the area when its telemetry was lost by the Raegrean military. Later on a cut-off distress signal was picked up.

The ship had been under attack by an unknown enemy when its shields failed and it suffered a main power failure (and was then presumably destroyed). The Raegris are sending a ship to investigate though a DDS ship is also in the area conducting training so may get there first.

El Diablo tells Dino Army it can't keep expanding forever

Consul El Diablo, who has just returned from Benito's funeral, has told a meeting of the Dino Army high command that their request for a budget increase is "unacceptable". "The army has been expanding for the last few decades and now it is big enough." he told the officers. New legions have already been cancelled and now El Diablo has set a limit for the number of Dinomarks to be bought.

Under El Diablo's plans by the end of 2116 the Dino Army will have 75 Dinomark PTs and 150 Dinomark XTs. Currently the army has 60 and 126 respectively (the SS and other paramilitary agencies also have their own ships) so there is still some way to go. This is the first time the army has been set limits to the number of Dinomarks it can have.

El Diablo has sweetened the pill by promising more budget for combat transports, amphibious warfare ships and aviation. The army will also aim to replace all tanks with the T-55ZDM series by the end of the decade.

HCS View : Lets be honest we are better off without Benito!

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

After the tears shed at his funeral the various leaders are returning home. Now let the truth be said : we are better off without Benito!

Apart from his loyalists and fellow travellers in his often-bizarre pseudo-fascist ideology few will truly mourn Benito. Oojok of course will be glad he is gone and the capable but dull Marcus is in his place but also the DDS and other powers will be glad Benito has gone. He was a loose cannon who made everything more complicated...

If the Clones were involved in an alliance or talks with someone then Benito would seek to stick his oar in and try and sabotage the proceedings if he was not given the "respect" he thought he was due (which was a lot). His foolish attacks on Kontai and Unatel Gamma 504 underlined his "bull in a china shop" approach to astral-politics. Invade an ally of the DDS then worry about the consequences...

Now he has gone, Oojok will be careful to include Marcus in matters of interest but the DDS, DTA and others will appreciate the streamlined point of contact in the Clone Star Empire now...

Firefly to hold summit with El Diablo and Oojok on the Tarbotians

All three met at Benito's funeral and now Firefly wants to meet the DTA leader and Dino Consul El Diablo and the CSE Emperor Oojok again. It is understood that a summit will be held at DDS Communications HQ on Proxima 5 in a few weeks (or at the nearby new GHQ if security systems are in place in time).

Firefly wants to discuss the looming threat of the Tarbotians, who have now appeared on everyone's doorsteps after annexing ABBO space. It is thought Firefly also wants direct hotlines between the DDS, DTA and HCS to aid co-operation and help avoid any mistakes resulting in conflict. It is known yet if El Diablo and Oojok have agreed to the meeting but sources indicate both are likely to attend.

DDS unveil 5 year infrastructure investment plan

With the new DDS GHQ about to become operational (though much work needs to be done on Helnikan Island) the DDS have announced a 3.2 billion 5 year plan for improvement of the 3 next most important sites in the DDS.

DDS City on Proxima 7, DDS Communications HQ on Proxima 5 and DDS Engineering HQ on Solaris will all receive full refurbishments in the plan due to start in 2114. Key infrastructure like networks, power and water will all be upgraded and security will be enhanced. DDS Research will receive a new centre dedicated to worm drive technology at DDS City and DDS Communications will built a new VLF broadcasting site and research lab.

Part of the plan will be funded by selling surplus land. No fewer than 17 small DDS sites will be closed over the next couple of years and the personnel and facilities moved to DDS City. The sale of land could raise 1.1 billion zarks, the rest will come out of the DDS infrastructure budget.