The Akari is something of a icon in the Nagano System, with its crew hailed as local celebrities on their homeworld of Tomioka. The ship itself has gained mythical status among Tomioka's locals - having braved the Border Worlds, criminals of all sorts, warzones and even the Nomads in the Edge Worlds. The Akari itself has been heavily damaged and majorly repaired many times over, but it is her crew that is largely responsible for the ship's popularity (or notoriety, depending on whom one asks) among traders' networks and in space station bars across Sirius.
Most members of the crew have been trained and certified by Samura Heavy Industries, with a few additional members taken on since the Akari first left its moors. Visitors aboard the transport have described the denizens as "familial" but "professional", with distinctions in rank often being accompanied by a Confucian sense of filial piety typical of Kusari society. Within the main fuselage of the Akari, a culture of mutual respect and innovation exists, with the latter often ending up in curiosity or hunger for adventure that, more often than not, lands the ship in hot water, and the former making sure that no crew member, no matter how small, gets left behind as the Akari makes its daring escapes for which it has become legendary. The ship and her crew have also seen their fair share of combat, and on numerous occasions has squared off with all sorts of criminals who've tried to rob her of her cargo. And while there have been occasions where the bridge officers have given in to demands, they have always drawn the line at making sure no one aboard the ship is harmed.
The most notable instance of this was when the Akari was disrupted by Outcasts in the middle of a lane jump and subsequently boarded:
After the counter-offer made by the famous Captain Yerin Park (which involved giving up of the Akari's cargo and a monetary payment) failed to satisfy the Outcasts' initial demand of taking the crew into slavery for shipping to Malta, a firefight broke out about the Akari as the crew wrestled to take back control of their ship. They eventually succeeded, and as all hands manned their battle stations, the Akari began a grueling hour-long scuffle with 10 Outcast Sabre-class Heavy Fighters, with no less than 2 reportedly being piloted by aces. The Akari managed to limp to a jump-gate after sustaining heavy damage, but not before taking out half of the pursuing Sabers. Several crew members sustained injuries during the gunfights aboard the Akari, but all survived the ordeal. Escape pods tractored in during the battle were eventually sold off to friendly Corsairs the Akari had worked with before.
Bridge Commander of the Akari. 3rd generation Samura senior officer; supposed to be wed to a healthy owner of a chain of bars back on Tomiaka and retire, but ultimately refused. Often manages the Akari's crew by consensus, but will readily take charge and micromanage operations when under file. Superb business acumen and negotiation skills, but very bad with a firearm.
Former planet-side Samura scientist on Tomioka; studied stellar phenomena, notably jump-holes and Faster-Than-Light Travel related to trade lane and jump-gate technology. Enlisted for the Akari crew and was surprised upon hearing that her application had been accepted. Stereotypical INTP personality; leads a small team of 2 more bridge officers that handle navigation, tactical operations respectively. A believer of Kusari superstitious practices, odd enough.
Former deep space engineer for Kishiro technologies, but has since worked under Samura since her previous team was killed in a catastrophic explosion suspected to be insurance fraud on the part of Kishiro's higher-ups. A silent workaholic with a short temper, but very by-the-book with regard to ship maintenance and storage practices. Noted disdain for Kishiro, the Blood Dragons, the Golden Chrysanthemums, but most of all, Lane Hackers. Finds fish revolting.
Supposed to be a 1-year secondment from the Hogosha to Samura as a sign of good will and subsequently assigned to the Akari, but ultimately chose to stay on, where her background in medical training and first aid have allowed her to man the orderlies as the ship's chief medic, despite her junior rank. Youngest member of the Akari. Gets overenthusiastic over alien biology and tends to over-treat even minor injuries sustained by crew members.
Father-daughter tag-team rescued by the Akari's crew from an Outcast convoy train bound for Malta. Thick Rheinland accents with personal preference for sleek efficiency and economies, insisting that Kusari ways are rigidly inefficient and will often suggest more lean approaches to the most menial of problems. Father and daughter are now head and assistant cook on the Akari, and the crew has happily abandoned the consumption of pre-made rations every since. Heinrich sometimes assists Lt. Uehara with handling of chemicals, toxic or radioactive substances and waste products; daughter Erika often seen with Ensign Jung, and helps with the management of medical supplies and assists with treatments from time to time.
Snuck aboard the Akari while the crew attempted a bold raid on Cali Base to rescue a member of the gunnery crew, citing constant Cardamine-fueled beatings from her father as reasons for her defection from the Outcasts. An Outcast girl with a particular resentment for Cardamine, which always struck Commander Park as odd. 2nd youngest member of the crew; accomplished navigator in Border and Edge World Territories, decent-enough negotiator and representative to the Akari when collaborating with unlawful entities. Often seen with Lt. Feng Zhou and the Intelligence Team or helps Heinrich Graf with mess duty.
Gallian who used to work for the IDF, but has since tagged along with the Akari after witnessing the refugees fleeing the Bretonnian-Gallian conflict; has since renounced the war. De facto reports to 2nd Lt. Uehara, and noted to be an excellent mechanic capable of fielding maintenance machinery and nanobots with precision. Reportedly addicted to card games, cheese and cheap wine.
Once the heiress of a colony in the IMG's 'Harris Project' in Tau-31 prior to the outbreak of the war; has since been displaced due to the conflict, with all other relations reported dead and the family fortune seized by the administration of the Gallian Royal Navy there. Is the Akari's resident xeno-archaeologist and connoisseur with regard to alien artifacts and xeno relics . Publicly snubs crew-mate Lucille Dunois but has been noted to admire her greatly as well, citing that her work with the Gallian has humanized the other side from her perspective. Refuses to eat rice.
The Akari mostly runs standard trade missions throughout Sirius on behalf of Samura, shuttling everything from luxury goods to construction materials to any spaceport willing to do business with the company. On several occasions it has agreed to take on special missions to deliver basic commodities, medical supplies and even military equipment through more volatile systems, and at one point (illegally) carried thousands of refugees fleeing the Bretonnian conflict with Gallia from Bretonnian Space into Rheinland, where they were unloaded for processing and documentation, away from the war.
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