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Welcome to my fifty-nineth public report as a Science Officer, not quite on time again... Onwards to the news:

Science Office News:

1. Uploading the next IA beta as I type this; This beta is focussed on Multi Player and as such has a bunch of melees included and you shouldn't be surprised if you see our testers do them. It also includes updated versions off our SP missions and some new ones (including one that will let you customise it completely). After this beta we should be about ready to release the MP demo.
2. The Interceptor Enforcement Ship (INT-4), TIE Protector and TIE Sentinel/Shadow now have custom cockpits in XvT and BoP. TIE95 versions should be out soon.
3. I have released the Mu-2 Shuttle as a patch for XvT, BoP and TIE95 (XWA will be coming up). "The differences from the Lambda include: reduction of the dorsal fin and installation of alternative sensors in its place; lateral wings being swept aftwards at a greater angle; elimination of some weapons; expansion of cargo/habitable space in the interior. The Mu-1 concentrates on the addition of passenger seats (24) whereas the Mu-2 provides internal cabins for a smaller number of passengers. The Mu-3 is a dropship, with cargo space reduced in favour of more troop capacity and consumables, improved sensors, stronger shields and laser cannons."
4. I cannot texture any OPTs because ACEDXF requires "paletized textures" in Open GL and apparently my new ATI card doesn't support that. The solution is that I'll be rebuilding my old PC soonish... This should allow me to get some patches out soon after. Though I may just release some I have already textured etc, like the Mu-2.
5. Do NOT use the minos site anymore: It cannot be updated any longer, so patches there are outdated.
6. I will be away most of the weekend, please contact FA Den Darkhill if you have any issues meanwhile.

Science Office Status:

CA:SCO: Fleet Admiral Darkhill has again worked hard to code in especially the MP section of Imperial Alliance and has tested these improvements often.

SCOA: CPT Timmay has last been sighted under a newspaper on a parkbench.

Site: The Science Office site can be found at http://sco.emperorshammer.net. The Imperial Alliance site is located at http://ia.emperorshammer.net - which includes the ImpED site/course at http://ia.emperorshammer.net/imped.

Command Staff Objectives:

Continued patch development and platform resource: Released several craft with custom cockpits, released the Mu-2 Shuttle for XvT, BoP and TIE95.

Get a release candidate version of Imperial Alliance released: Going into the next beta phase.

Upgrade and add to the Fleet Manual: On hold till I get time/help to fix the database.

Science Office Projects:

Cockpit Project: With most craft now working and updated for TIE95, XvT and BoP I have started on adding custom cockpits to them. These should make it clearer to the player that he's actually is flying a different craft (instead of just seeing a GUN or T/D cockpit). The craft inside the EHSP are all provided for now, loose patches that have been processed already are: the Plt/F, the V-W, the S/Y-W, the TOS, the M/GUN, the ISP-6, the T/Pr, the IES, the T/Prot, the T/Sn and the PHX. Working on the next few.

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). Most other projects are currently on hold while we get this thing done some more.

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 #vsd_sinister. Don't forget that all the projects are described in more detail on the SCO site.

Use only endermbind@gmail.com for official SCO mails. I’m practically always online at #vsd_sinister, #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!