Defacto : Ready to fight

Lieutenant Commander Ames Defacto is the Second Officer of SS Charm Quark, Quasar 15A bomber.

Last time i blogged i told you about how our ship SS Charm Quark was part of the September Sunrise exercise. That deployment ended in a training attack mission using live weapons (though only 1 ship used live nukes, SS Quasar) the other 2 Quasars including our own used simulated weapons on a target built on an asteroid.

Following the deployment the fleet returned to Proxima Centauri in early October and we had 7 days of R&R while CQ received some maintenance  and supplies were replenished. Since then we have been part of the 1st Attack Squadron (which comprises 3 Quasars armed and ready for a live mission at short notice).

Because of the incidents in Raegris space involving the Bolitic we have been on a 2 hour readiness! That means simply the ship has to be ready to leave dock and start a combat mission within 2 hours. Now this is not easy to achieve for an extended period of time, because the ship has to be kept ready to depart not much in the way of engineering work can be carried out and all crew leave is at a minimum (and indeed limited to space dock).

It is likely if this readiness state continues for more than a week then other Quasars will be rotated into the squadron and we will be stood down. The worst thing about this level of readiness actually is the tension, we are all kept on tenterhooks waiting for the order to leave, the ship fully loaded and armed for nuclear attack. The tension is hard to take. Once the mission begins its fine but until then the waiting can be agonising!

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Its (Not) Good To Be The King
Rathun's miserable life takes a turn for the... (PRB P1)

DDS threaten Bolitic with reprisals

The DDS have threatened the Bolitic Confederacy with reprisals after the unsuccessful attack by Bolitic renegrades on DDS Commander AP. Although intelligence is fairly sure the attack in which an ex-Dino Army Dinomark XT was outfitted with stolen TPMs was not sanctioned by Emperor Melson there is the worry that this could encourage further incidents.

The 1st Attack Squadron has been put on a 2 hour readiness and loaded with nuclear weapons and patrols along the Bolitic border will be stepped up.

• Ronald is finally doing some campaigning in the Consul election even though it is a foregone conclusion. GBH is running his election campaign which includes a speech in Yavilanda tonight followed by a final speech in Dino-Town on Friday. The vote will be on November 1st. 
• Awask-Uk, a little known planet near to Tarbotian space, has said it is "interested in exploring options for cooperation with the DTA". The DTA have not replied yet.

Bolitic attempt to kill AP, UNP President

Bolitic renegades have attempted to kill DDS Commander AP and the UNP President whilst returning from the Raegris Central District. Travelling on SS Musketeer with the October Onslaught fleet deployment AP was slightly injured in the attack which caused severe damage to the Missileer carrier.

The Bolitic somehow managed to get their hands on 3 TPM-1 missiles and an ex-military Dinomark XT which they mocked up to appear to be part of the Dino Army. They approached the DDS fleet asking for assistance with some technical problems. When the DDS grew suspicious the Bolitic fired. Luckily only 1 missile hit the Missileer otherwise it could have been destroyed and AP and the President killed.

AP transferred to H163 Vega and the Dinomark XT was destroyed by the DDS, a Bolitic Meltinan ship was also destroyed after it decloaked perhaps to continue the attack. It is not thought this attack was sanctioned by Emperor Melson but rather was the work of renegrade Bolitic hoping to start a war between the DDS and DTA. The DDS and DTA are now investigating how the Bolitic got their hands on the TPMs and Dinomark.

SS Musketeer is being towed back to Raegris Central District for repairs, AP and the President are thought to be returning to Proxima Centauri in SS Vega.

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Aggressive Nutmeg
Will Justini's plan succeed and kill AP? (Dark Wave P6)

172/1

Don't Tell The Wide
Justini closes in on the DDS fleet (Dark Wave P5)