Millions of credits lost, at least a dozen injuries, forced to live fragmented, and compelled to listen to a numbers station for three years. The Bounty Hunters Guild did not go easy on us when they waged this futile proxy war against us for the Bretonians. All that matters now is that they did not respond to our communication, and we are now being ignored by them, allowing us to operate again in Bretonia. We will also investigate what happened in Dublin. While escorting a Corsican vessel there, the scanners on board did not pick up anything abnormal, and the agents and interim personnel dedicated to SIGINT on board did not detect anything unusual.

Fast-forward to now. The Offensive Vector, our mobile headquarters filled to the brim with military equipment, armaments ranging from light arms to 155mm artillery, our crew, and atmospheric shuttles, entered Kusari with no problems at the border.

We reached Planet Honshu, as the Marquess, Shimamori Masahito, instructed us to. After a while, in high orbit around Planet Honshu, Johnny, Ezra, and I gathered in the original "officers quarters," which was repurposed into an office - Johnny's office, with a lowercase "o." We had heard enough about the Shimamori Clan and were aware that they had substantial funds to support our operations. A good deal, if it meant reaching even deeper into Sirius than we currently could - from the Taus to the Omicrons. We confirmed our decision.

We presented our conditions to the Marquess: remaining an independent Office while offering the Clan priority. We would work for them first and foremost, but our allegiance wouldn't be total to Kusari. They would acquire a stake in our company. This was sufficient. We would still be their eyes, but for a price, less than usual, and with the entire Office at their disposal.

Johnny was the one to meet the Marquess at his fief on Planet Honshu. We prepared the shuttle in the hangar, with Ezra as the pilot. A two-person shuttle. We waved goodbye as it departed from the Offensive Vector and turned on the encrypted numbers station.


We reached the capital of Planet Honshu, a mirrored image of New Tokyo. Towering skyscrapers engaged in a perpetual battle with its oceanic surface and the sparse islands above sea levels. One could say that they had received once again what they lost from Ancient Earth - in the Sirius Sector.

The Shimamori Clan's fief came into view as we flew, along with the landing pad. Autopilot: activated. As the shuttle landed, Ezra quipped, "Johnny, if you need me, I'll be here."

"I'll need you on this one; come with me," I replied as the shuttle touched down, and we faced the airlock door.


"Hope always prevail."

- Unofficial motto of the Offensive Vector, written on the port side of the ship.

The distant echoing voice of an automatic announcement marking the arrival of a vessel could be heard behind the airlock. After a short pause, a laser scanned the two guests waiting at the door and the latter finally opened. A young woman in strange attire, a mixture of traditional colourful Kusari garments and a typical formal suit, greeted the guest with a polite bow and a smile:


She made a few clicks on her tablet and nodded towards the surveillance camera in the left upper corner of the hall.


The Secretary bowed again and made a hand gesture inviting the guests to proceed.