Hola amigos!
My name is António Nunes and i am an old smuggler of a city in Crete called Vigo.
I am speaking here as the elder of the Nunes family of the Consejo Del Vigo. You might have never heard of us before, because we have just recently gained some power and influence since the Benitez's fall.
Well now leaving my introduction i will tell you why i am here *he smiles*.
We at the Consejo were thinking in a way we could both benefit and we came up with a proposal for you: A trading exchange of artifacts and we would also offer some military power In exchange of a steady supply of rice, sake and various other commodities.
What you say amigos?
To: Nunes-san, Consejo del Vigo
From: The Hogosha Association
Sender ID: Tokiomi Katagawa
Subject: Business relations
Konnichiwa friend, or "Hola amigo", as they say in your region. My name is Tokiomi Katagawa, and I am a representative of the Hogosha Association.
As there isn't an established (nor do I think there was a structure of a) Hogosha High Command, we assume our wish to address the council that governs our Association.
Your proposal has been presented to the council, and to the Association at large, and it is agreed that this terms are the current standing relation between our organizations, or the Hogosha and the Imperio del Corsario as a whole.
We have never stopped our prosperous trade of genuine and most delicious Kusarian food products and other necessary materials to the Corsairs, and we can affirm surely that the Artifact trade that brings much benefit to the Corsairs has never left the group of our most important businesses.
I am curious however as to the mentioned military power that you refer in your proposal. We have recorded for a long time that the Corsairs have been mostly absent from the Sigma space, and we considered this was due to the ongoing engagements in the Omegas and Omicrons against many and powerful enemies.
Do the Corsairs, and the Consejo Del Vigo in particular, provide a change in this scenario, one that can benefit our interests and operations?
I await your reply with great interest, as the other associates certainly are too.
With wishes of great fortunes and blessings.
Tokiomi Katagawa, of the Hogosha Association.
Hola!
I am more then certain that we could offer some military power for our amigos at the Sigmas and in Kusari if required.
Please tells us where exactly in the sigmas do you need help, and I will see what we can arrange , si?
I will have to talk with the other elders in the Consejo Del Vigo but i am sure we can spare some of our pilots to help the Hogosha maintain their power.
We will keep you informed and wait for your reply to us.
Sender Organisation: Akaikarasu-gumi|translated: Red Ravens Society|. Sender ID:Miyake, Yasu.
Sender position:Little Brother. Sender Location:Sirius, Kusari, Kusari Core Worlds, Planet Kyushu, New Saga Skyport. Local time: 11:32 AM, KYMT+2
*The screen shoots up to a blurred VI image of an unkempt, moustachioed Kusarian youth with vaguely Korean features. His skin is pale, unlined. He is suggestively young, and he is crudely yet fashionably attired. Cheap sunglasses rake over a net of putty-flattened hair. His brows are raised, questioning.*
“Sup’?”
*He drawls, in a practiced Denver dialect.*
“Oh, right – who the hell am I? Well, if ya’ read the transmitter, I’m a lil’ brother for the Akaikarasu. Red Ravens yakuza, if ya’ never got the memo. We’re basically the scumbag newkids, unlike that grand old Association dinosaur way over in left field there. Totally outta’ wack.”
*He smiles a little – a faint, practiced line that spoke of respect. The video quality is so terrible it's possible it's being filmed on a flip phone.*
"Vigo… Yep, never been there – Crete’s a beautiful planet when seen from orbit, but man, do you people know how to live rough. By “know”, I kinda’ mean “persevere with”, if you know what I’m saying? You people want to better yourselves, make dough, make families, fill guts. Y’know, I can empathise, like, seriously. Touches my heart like something sappy."
*The smile remains. There’s an odd discipline hidden behind his slang. He looks like he’s searching you.*
"We’re kinda’ similar though, I mean, like, intrinsically. You strip away all the layers of the stuff and junk and we’re both nations of outsiders. You ditching the Hispania and all, and us… heck, we’re Kusarians. Island people, island mentality. Limited resources? Hey, we can live with that. High intensity living? Yeah, we’ve got that square. Look at me; I come from Kyushu; highest land premiums in the sector. Why, hell, it’s not like we were short of dry land or nothing; there’s more flatland on old Ky’ than there is anywhere else in Kusari, save maybe Tomoika or whatever damn analogues there are out there. It’s weird, really. In Kusari, land is our food. Yeah, true – we’re drowning in food, but we’re also drowning, y’know, the normal way. What you’ve got too much and can’t give away, we’ve got too little of and can’t get any more. You get me? We’re like… north and south or somethin’. A mutually co-dependent fraternity, that’s what we are."
*He lights a slender, Libertonian cigarette. His counterfeit lighter gleams of expense, gold plated, gem studded.*
“I’m talkin’ ‘bout water. Water ‘n land. You’ve got no water, no food, but lotza’ land. We’ve got lotza’ water ‘n’ enough food to keep the sector fat. How ‘bout a trade?”
“Ky’ is a livin’, breathin’ planetary food factory. Whatchu last put in your stomach, if it ain’t a synth product or something, it’s probably a Ky’ export. Like, a quarter of all of Sirius’s food comes from that orb. That’s why the land premiums are all outta’ wack. But damn, you couldn’t plant a paddy in the Cretian topsoil, I mean, damn.”
*The youth exhales, blowing ring after ring.*
“But yep’, Like the Association guys said earlier – we’ve never stopped trading with the Corsair Empire. I mean, like, you guys are the blank cheque that keeps us living like emperors or something. Your arsenal keeps us ahead of the roastbeefs, your artifacts keep the currency flowin’. Heck, we owe it to you as much as you owe us.”
“Sure, we agree to your terms. Heck, it’s not like we weren’t bound to you anyway. You’ve done good to us and we’ve done good to you. I mean, crap, how else are ya’ gonna’ sell your artifacts without us, right? I mean, if we pulled our supply chain out from under your legs, your whole nation’s economy would fall to the freakin’ floor… but I digress.”
“By “help us militarily…”
*A genuine smile from a plastic face.*
“If ya’ want our help shootin’ outcasts, blood dragons, Junkers or feminists, that sorta’ thing, just send our pilots the coordinates whenever and wherever you wanna’ hook up – I know some fine yakuza who’d be more than willing to help ya’ make Kusari a safer place.”
*He stubs his cigarrete.*
“Actually, stoppin’ cardi traders is kinda’ a speciality of the Red Ravens; what would’ja give us if we, ah, did ya’ work for you and blew the crap out of a few cardi haulers now an’ then?”
“What wouldya’ give for some screens of us screwin’ up the outcast’s economy? I mean, like, cash. Like, how many million or somethin’? Call it a bounty.”
“Awh, an’ keep in touch if ya’ ever wanna’ run some artifacts from one base to another; we’d be readily willin’ to form convoys with ya’ boys, if you’ve got the balls for it.”
“Peace, love and all that Taoist shiz. Reply if ya’ intrested, dude.”
“Oh, and uh, call me Yasu. I’m called Yasu. Nothin’ more, nothin’ less.”
“It’s great to meet you, Antonio. I look forward to flyin’ with ya’. Kill some outcasts for me, man.”
*Yasu flips the phone shut, and you hear the sudden clatter of it being flung into a gutter.*
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)
>>>Incoming Transmission<<< Transmission Source: Planet New Tokyo Sender ID: Miyake Yasu Video Feed
So, you're not a talker, huh?
Guess you ain't a legitimate contact after all, n' just another neurotic neuralnet pretender. Hey, it's no sweat - I'll just find another part of the empire to fraternise with.
If you not intrested in parlayin' with some thugged-out dude, it's considered honourable up in Kusari ta' tell his ass as much, y'know? Instead of just... well, leavin' his cold-ass hangi'n or whatever.
Show some respect - we're done done here. Go trip off wastin' oxygen, or whatever it is you fellas do.
-Miyake Yasu.
THE SYNDIC LEAGUES
(A co-operative of Rheinland's Shipping Unions, retired from a life of piracy.)