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Welcome to my thirty-eighth public report as a Science Officer, kinda on time (muahahaha). But I still got stuff to report:

Science Office News:

1. The Imperial Alliance ("IA" our free game based on the Free Space 2 engine) Project is heading on, with a nearly completed new HUD this week - it just needs some basic message boxes still. CM Timmay has been modelling some excellent new warheads that actually look like warheads, not just some triangles. Because for once I've outpaced Den in making IA components I had some time to do some other SCO-y stuff this weekend:
2. This means that I got some new patches out and have updated some others. A layout of what has been done recently:
   • TIE Sentinel (TIE Shadow): "Long range sentry and reconnaissance craft. Typically based at deep space outposts and customs checks. The updated shielded version of Avenger Squadron is known as the 'TIE Shadow'. Rebels know this craft as the 'V38'. The TIE Phantom was based on it." The TIE Sentinel has been released for XWA which means it's now available for all X-Wing series games save for X-Wing itself.
   • (Modular) Task Force Cruiser: "Generic large capital ship frameworks on which mission-specific modules are mounted. Common units include hospital, survey, observation, rescue and inquisition modules. In common use throughout the Galaxy and on our Order of Battle for the TC, HF, FMC and HCI." The TFC has been released for TIE95, XvT and BoP and is already in the Fleet Manual.
   • Imperial Shuttle Pod Mk.6: "Multi-use Utility Craft. Equipped with shields and hyperdrive its primary use is inter-system courier but its also used for docking operations and as a full-fledged fighter. About all our Sub Groups have these on their Order of Battle except for the IW." The ISP-6 has been released for TIE95, XvT and BoP. If you want to know what it looks like; it was used as example in the OPTing course: http://opting.isCool.net.
   • Astatine Class Tug: XWA patch has been updated to current SCO standards so it will install better with other patches.
   • Eclipse Super Star Destroyer Mk.1: XWA patch has been updated to current SCO standards so it will install better with other patches.
3. If you have problems running EHBL, SCO Patches or Imperial Alliance go to http://ortho.minos.net and there you can see if your problem already has a solution or you can ask for more help. However - this is meant for bugs on these things only, NOT to report battle bugs or things unrelated to these things (Sorry, we don't do marriage counselling either ;)). Please report battle bugs where you always have: the compendium.
4. For some reason the Spectre Advanced Missile Boat patch for Balance of Power is severely messed up and needs to be rebuilt from scratch. As such it is currently suspended from use but will be replaced ASAP.
5. We are still looking for squadron patches for Imperial Alliance. I'm asking all unit commanders to send in the uniform patch of their squadron, wing, house, clan, whatever you want. Please do keep in mind that there's a difference between a squadron patch and a squadron banner.
6. I'd again like to thank LC Zeth Duron MAJ Chris McCollum and HA Priyum Patel for sending in some excellent graphics for the credits section. For you others: I'm looking for original art of battles, craft looking cool and other such material. Minimum resolution should be about 400x300.
7. As another reminder: CM Timmay has set up a forum just for the project at http://hosting.infiltrator-wing.com/phpbb2 - if you want to help out in the testing department, or just want to have previews/early access of what we are doing, you are advised to go and check it out. Registering makes sure you will receive email notices of next beta phases and other such matters. Do report a bug that you come across though, that's what testing is about.

Science Office Status:

CA:SCO: Admiral Darkhill has made more versions of the IA exe to incorporate the new HUD components and has been helping out people at ortho.

SCOA: CM Tim has been working on new models for the warheads in IA so they actually look like the graphics displayed in the TIE Fighter hangar.

Site: The Science Office site can be found at http://sco.minos.net or via the redirect http://scienceoffice.isCool.net. The mirror can be found at http://www.gimmie.tudelft.nl/homes/blok10b/ender/sco. No major updates.

Science Office Projects:

Imperial Alliance: With the release of the freely available source code of FS2, we have started on making a Star Wars game out of it. We can freely distribute a finished game as long as we have all our own data files (graphics, sounds, models etc). About all craft from X-Wing have been added and most of the interface has been replaced. We're currently replacing the HUD.

XvT/BoP/TIE95 Ship patches: This project's goal was to add all the original and Order of Battle craft that are still "missing" from these games, like the SSD in TIE and XvT, the Medium Transport in all etc. All the "missing" craft have been added to the EHSPs. New releases this week are the Imperial Shuttle Pod Mk.6 and the (Modular) Task Force Cruiser.

XWA Ship patches: Primarily the plan is to clear out the backlog of craft arranged by earlier SCO's and such, like the Trithan Interceptor (Kermee), the Hyperion (Den), the Alvaakian Craft (me) and the new fighter for Avenger Squadron (AES). The TIE Sentinel/TIE Shadow for AES has been released, the Ast Tug and ESSD1 have been updated.

Finishing up:

I think that's it - If I've forgotten anything or if you have comments, suggestions or corrections, let me know via email or look us up at #science_office. Don't forget that all the projects are described in more detail on the SCO site.

(use only mindb_ender@hotmail.com for official SCO mails.) or ICQ (9706474). Preferably do not mail large files to me, but DCC them via IRC I’m practically always online at #science_office, #emperor’s_hammer and #tiecorps using the nick MindB_ndr (or variations.)
 
All my SCO reports are available online as well: you can reach them on the SCO site but they are on the TIE Corps site, CS reports, as well.

Until next time, good luck and have fun!