Story #2382

Behind Schedule
Windy investigates the pirate attack.

Story #2381

Too Much Energy
The pirates attack an NS transport.

Pentekonter Protector line-up rejigged with Proton engines

NS has relaunched the best selling Pentekonter Protector patrol ship line with the new fuel efficient Proton RM-01 engine - which is expected to be cleared for service in September. The 1xx series low-end Pentekonter has been dropped with NS now concentrating on the 2xx mid-end and 3xx high-end series, both will have standard and e-Core variants - the latter with the new engine which has up to 20% savings in fuel. For smaller nations such a saving will be very attractive. A MCM version of the 260 will be available to replace the 150M.

The new line-up is as follows:

Pentekonter Protector 360 & 360 e-Core : TPM-VLS, Z6t, UCV support, IWC, passive sensors

Pentekonter Protector 260 & 260 e-Core : QPM, Z5m, IWC

Pentekonter Protector 261M & 261M e-Core : As 260 with mine-warfare module

Further changes in NS command structure

Following the promotion of Caratore to Director of Operations his former role as Head of the Space Fleet has been taken by Akbar who had commanded the Rapid Reaction Force. This in turn has been taken over by Rubik Cube Warrior.

Meanwhile the highly regarded Kalifei, one of the senior intelligence officers in NS+, will be promoted to a new role as Head of Military Intelligence, basically running NS intelligence operations under Windscorpion's oversight. Her new role will not begin until the reorganisation of NS+.

Torus demoted to NS North Chief, NS+ to be disbanded

Following an investigation by former DDS Commander Witchdoctor and discussion with the NS Politburo (sans Torus of course) it has been decided that the former Director of Operations (and Deputy Commander) Torus was at some fault for the fiasco a few weeks ago. NS Commander Knobhead acknowledged that Torus could not be blamed for failings lower down the command ladder however she had to take responsibility.

Torus will take over NS North which ironically was last led by the traitor Von Kane. She will report directly to Zeppelin who is the head of NS armed forces. Caratore will take over being Director of Operations full time though Sea Urchin will be Deputy Commander. Torus expressed regret for the events of the last few weeks but accepted her demotion and pledged to continue to serve.

NS+ Chief Stella was also under investigation and was also found to have made mistakes though is likely to avoid any direct punishment. Instead Knobhead has said NS+ will be disbanded with the internal security and intelligence roles separated. Stella will continue to lead the new NS Internal Security (NSIS) service while Director of Intelligence Windscorpion will lead the new NS Security Service (NS3).

The changes to NS+ will not take place until after the pirate emergency has ended however, until then Stella will continue to run NS+ as usual but with direct oversight by Knobhead.

NS engage and destroy pirate fleet

The fightback against the pirates is continuing, New Sparta is reporting that a pirate fleet approaching the ship containing the stolen Martian gold (which NS had already secured) was attacked by an NS task force. Six pirate ships are reported to have been lost with a Freedom 41B MCS being lost in the battle after it was struck by TPMs.

Two other ships received notable damage. NS Commander Knobhead said that the pirates would be crushed utterly.