The first of a planned eight Rainbow 166A support tenders for the Black Triangle system has entered trials and will be worked up to an operational state by the end of the Summer, then it will begin integration testing with the Black Triangle.
The Rainbow is based on the Friendship platform like a number of other types. Each Rainbow will support a squadron of four Black Triangles.
The latest edition of NS' large scale humanitarian and disaster relief response operation will be held next week. The theme this year will be natural disaster response. A "volcanic eruption" will occur on Solaris, NS and UNP agencies will deploy to evacuate 20,000 people (a mixture of volunteers and NS Terrestrial Force soldiers will be evacuated).
The ships involved are:
21-106 Yeoman (flag)
35-401 Revolution
52-104 Nimrod
52-112 Nifty
63-101 Oceania
63-109 Australasia
73-105 Argus
The Black Triangle 126A prototype has begun trails after being fitted with a late development build of the new Lepton WX-01 engine with cold fire technology, this gives the ship a minute infra red signature. The WX-01 is said to have about 98% of the total thrust of the final build of the engine though this has been tuned down pending tests of the engine under extended use conditions.
The prototype has also been fitted with a development build of the tactical system, including twin Zip-MA cannons. NS technicians are currently integrating the system into the NS data network and sensor arrays of the ship.
NS have cancelled the final two Lavender 105A unmanned space vessels. The ships are highly secretive, even their existence has not been acknowledged by NS officially. It is thought they are used for ultra-long range patrols on the edge of UNP space and beyond, performing intelligence gathering.
The ships have a powerful armament though the tactical system is not considered developed enough to use the ships in an overt combat role. The reason for the cancellation is unknown. The ships have performed well in their patrol role, though it could be NS plan a follow-on class instead.
The Okra 86L was an emergency stop gap version of the Coril shuttle to perform low-intensity patrol and policing duties due to a shortage of purpose build assets. Now the patrol fleet is continuing to grow, NS is starting to look at what they will do with the Okra next.
NS have already decided to keep the ships as is and not change them back to the shuttle role but they will not be needed for patrol duties by 2126. NS have said the ten ships will revert to a training role but also support the other patrol ships.
In a move which may anger the Clones, Censor Ronald has announced that Oojok and Sleeze will be inducted into the Dino Elders at the next meeting of this body later this month. The Clones are said to be wary of Oojok having a new political role in the Dino Empire.
The Dino Elders are a largely ceremonial body which consists of up to two hundred senior Dinos. The current count is 187 so there is plenty of space to add more members. The Dino Elders meet three times a year and can offer advice to Censor Ronald and Emperor MBH though mostly it is a social organisation. However, this may not be enough for the Clones.