Sensors have detected changes in the flux beams within the caverns. Analysis is continuing, but the changes seem minor and there is currently no reason to take action. Please reassure your troops if rumors seem to be growing to the contrary.

View NC Command Transmission

We've enjoyed a substantial technology advantage recently, which we've ruthlessly exploited to great gain. However, the TR foot-draggers and the VS daydreamers seem to have finally organized enough to make a few advances. This is to be expected and should not be allowed to cause morale issues in your troops. Let your troops know they are still the finest in the universe and that our own technology advances are coming.

While those advances are still confidential and secret, we sent our mole agents to liberate any new findings from our enemies that might benefit our own troops.

• MAX Armor
  MAX armor now has its own damage table. Most weapons will do the same damage that they did to the MAX as they did under the previous table, with two exceptions: The Decimator and Proximity mines.
  
  The Decimator's damage against MAX armor has been reduced. It will now require three shots to destroy a MAX unit (though the New Conglomerate's shield will provide enough coverage to extend this slightly).
  
• Proximity Mines will no longer destroy MAXes in one explosion. MAX armor will be able to survive a blast from a mine, but will be heavily damaged.
• Galaxy
  The Galaxy's 20mm Chainguns will now fire 50% faster.
• Switchblade
  The Switchblade wasn't getting proper armor absorption against non-AP (standard) bullets. It has some now and should be more resistant to regular infantry attack.
  The ROF of the Scythe weapon has been increased. The undeployed ROF is reduced from 400ms to 280ms. The deployed ROF only had a slight reduction of 150ms to 140ms. This puts the Scythe "ATV" squarely on par with Buggies as far as offensive potential goes.
  The upward angle of its weapon has been increased from 45-degrees to 70-degrees.
  It's deploy/undeploy times have been reduced. Former time was 2 seconds to change modes. It's now 1.2 seconds instead.
  
  

View NC Command Transmission to learn more.

New Conglomerate Engineering annonced a 50% reduction in the Thunder's Gauss Cannons from an explosion radius of 3.0m to 1.5m.

Working in tandem with independant arms contractor Common Pool Systems Inc. (CPS), New Conglomerate Engineering has been developing variant weapon systems from existing vehicles. The first to be

enhanced is the Deliverer, a successful product by CPS, designed to haul 1 driver, 2 gunners, and 3 passengers around the battlefield and across bodies of water, armed with two deadly 20mm recoiless cannons. NC Engineering has since removed the 20mm off a prototype shell and developed a new weapons system they are calling the Thunderer.

Says CPS spokesman Mr. V. W. Sporkfire, "Bolstering the New Conglomerate's hard-hitting arsenal, the Thunderer is equipped with dual Gauss Cannons. These cannons are straight line-of-fire and have very limited explosion radii. The Gauss Cannon's small, concentrated blast makes even a near-miss heavily damaging to infantry."

A second common pool vehicle, the Basilisk ATV, is having it's dual 12mm guns replaced with the Hellfire Rocket Launcher. The new vehicle variant is being called the Fury. Spokesman Sporkfire comments, "The Hellfire is a fixed-forward firing rocket, so aiming it is a matter of steering the Fury until the reticule is over the target. Although it cannot pivot from side to side, the Hellfire can aim up or down."

Spies have reported the TR and VS are also developing their own empire-specific variants. The High Forum denies their new weapons systems will pose any threat to our liberating forces.

View NC R&D Transmission to learn more.

The New Conglomerate has learned that for the past month the Terrain Republic have re-organized their continental holdings in the face of our strategic advances. The enemy has designated Capitol Buildings on each landmass to help govern their war efforts.

The New Conglomerate Command has enacted similar re-administration for our strategic holdings, designating Sub-captiol Buildings to safeguard this new high-value targets. We have learned that the Vanu Sovereignty has also initiated parrallel action but are placing Force Domes around their capitols to protect them. NC Agents are engaged in liberating the technology for these defenses.

Update: The Vanu Sovereignty renegades are doing more than just creating defenses, they have unbalanced the Warpgates in their sick experimentation. But perhaps this is a blessing in disguise. Sanctuary warpgates can now broadcast our forces to any continent we have control of a Capitol Building. The despots and freaks will pay for their oppression.

View NC Command Transmission to learn more.

The Freedom loving New Conglomerate R&D weapons scientists went back to the drawing board on several of our combat systems and platforms. Driven by the desire to help their comrades defeat tyrants and freaks they have made several breakthroughs to support our arsenal of liberty. Here is what they have in development.

Reinforced Exosuit - Increased armor and damage absorbtion.
Vehicle handling improvements

• ANT: Substantial improvement to gear ratio.
• Basilisk: Slight improvement to gear ratio.
• Wraith: Slight improvement to gear ratio.
  
• Harasser: Substantial improvement to gear ratio, increased top speed to 80 kph.
  
• Skyguard: Substantial improvement to gear ratio, increased top speed to 80 kph.
  
• Enforcer: Substantial improvement to gear ratio, decreased collision damage.
  
• Deliverer: Slight improvement to gear ratio, decreased collision damage.
  
• Lightning: Increased top speed to 75 kph.
• Galaxy: Increased top speed to 85 kph.

Decimator - Recertified into the Anti-Vehicle weapons catagory.
Mines - Proximity mines do 50% more vehicle damage.
Hand Grenades - Will now ship in clips of 3 each.
Implants - R&D is looking to improve implant systems.

• Stamina drain from the Range Magnifier and Enhanced Targeting implants has been removed.
• The stamina drain on the Personal Shield implant has been decreased to approximately one third. Damage still reduces the shield on a one-for-one stamina cost. This change only reduces the cost of leaving it on.
• Advanced Regeneration and Advanced Targeting have been renamed to Regeneration and Enhanced Targeting.
  

Jackhammer - Auto-reloads after a tri-barrel shot.
Ammo Boxes - Inventory adjustments in the works.

• Pheonix ammo increased from 3 to 9 shots per box
• Rocklet ammo increased from 6 to 15 shots per box
• Thumper ammo increased from 6 to 12 shots per box
• Bolt driver ammo increased from 5 to 10 shots per box
• Hand grenades come in clips of 3
• Shotgun shells reduced from 30 to 16 shots per box
• Basalisk 12mm clip size decreased from 250 to 100
• Harrasser 12mm clip size decreased from 250 to 150
• Lightning 12mm clip size decresed from 250 to 150
• Mosquito 12mm clip size decreased from 250 to 150
• Deliverer 20mm clip size decresed from 250 to 100
• Vanguard 20mm clip sized decreased from 250 to 200
• Liberator 25mm clip size decreased from 250 to 150
• 150mm ammo decreased from 100 to 50 per box
• 20mm ammo increased from 100 to 200 per box
• 12mm ammo increased from 100 to 300 per box
• Liberator bomb ammo increased from 10 to 20 per box
• 25mm ammo increased from 100 to 150 per box

View NC R&D transmission
View Updated R&D Transmission

updated 2-11-2004

Due to shortages in resources, the New Conglomerate Command agreed today to limit logistical support to troops moving into a continent. Commanders are now restricted to a maximum number of personnel and equipment they may transfer through the gates to each continent. While the Elders agree this will allow the other empires to field at least as large a fighting force as ours, commanders are confident their brute-force weaponry will maintain any tactical advantage on the battlefield.

View NC Command Transmission