Two more Repulse 51B Medium Combat Ships have joined the fleet. These are 51-211 Hulcote and 51-212 Fulcote. These are the first ships completed of the second half of the planned Repulse 51B order. It has been reported that the ships have a number of detail changes compared to the first ten ships though UNDF have not stated what these are.
UNDF said they may add an extra five ships onto the order though funding is still being sought for this.
The final major upgrade of the Provider 71A fleet, it's Multi-Update Life Extension (MULE) has begun with the first two ships completed. These are 71-105 Flying Boxcar and 71-108 Lodestar. Both are now working up to a return to operations by next month.
The Provider MULE includes a new engine, a Proton RM-07MEGA e-Core as well as a full structural overhaul and refresh. The ships will be fitted for fractal communications and have improve data security protections.
After the completion of the MULE programme, the Provider fleet will be able to reach their planned end of life in the second half of the 2130s when they will be replaced by an as-yet unannounced new transport.
UNDF Engineering has said that the n-Core testbed successfully completed it's first batch of bench tests including the extended maximum thrust "torture test". Whilst the engine has proven to be reliable it has fallen short of a number of key targets such as fuel economy and signature management.
A DF source says the issues are not a disaster, software tweaks and some modifications to the engine management system may help resolve these issues without requiring any major redesign. DF are still hopeful the first Tachyon family engine based on n-Core will be ready by 2130.
UNDF Commander Torus has said that UNDF will not be involved in any near-future coalition against the Utrek unless UNDF is attacked itself. There has been talk lately of a grand coalition of the CIN, Clones, Raegris and UNDF joining up to take on the Utrek (though not through any official channels).
Torus said that the UNDF Space Navy is not in a position to take part in any long-range offensive operation. She said that the fleet was badly degraded during the MBO regime and war, the fleet has only recently got back to a minimum strength level to cover major commitments.
"The fleet is continuing to rebuild but will not be in a position to even think about such an operation until the early 2130s. Not that there has been any actual concrete objectives stated." Torus said.
Admiral Anderson has said that the Clone Defence Forces would take part in a multi-national force against the Utrek. He said that it was clear the Utrek had interfered in the CSE-E. However, he acknowledged that the Clone Space Navy is not yet strong enough to face the Utrek alone in an offensive operation. He said that if the CIN and UNDF took part they would be strong enough to defeat the Utrek!
The Raegris are lobbying hard for such an operation. They are warning that the Utrek are regenerating their fleet quickly and within 15 years, maybe 10, they will be too strong for the Local Group to face even together.
A DF ship, thought to be SS Jurassic commanded by Caratore, has been attacked by a strange cargo ship which it is suspected was crewed by a Utrek agent. The transport, which appeared to be an ancient Tarbotian type ship was intercepted in the DMZ. UNDF officers boarded the ship and found a human crew woman. However, this turned out to be a shapeshifter alien who killed the three UNDF officers.
The "ancient" ship was then found to be heavily upgraded. After a brief skirmish, Caratore ordered a retreat due to being outgunned. They were pursued by the cargo ship but managed to destroy it using their SROPS, which was destroyed.
SS Jurassic has returned to Aldebra for repairs. DF are analysing the sensor data from the incident and say they have detected Utrek type energy signatures. Shapeshifters, an alien species heard about by DF though not yet encountered, are known to be used by the Utrek Jintara Omox secret service.