LSS| Internal communication

[Mort]

Classified, Shikoku 07. February 836 A.S.

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Sender: Samson
Recipient: LSF HQ, LSS department, Manhattan

Subject: Debrief on Kusari operations (Or: My Kusari Vacation)

Priority: High
Encryption: High

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Well chief,

I'm back on Noshima, and my liver is filing a formal complaint. Liberty ale never tasted so good. I've spent more time in Kusari space than most of its people, and let me tell you, their idea of hospitality involves a lot more plasma fire than I'm used to.

Mission was simple on paper: play delivery boy to our new scaly friends, the Blood Dragons, and make Samura's new pet project at the Nansei Research Complex have a really, really bad day. The LSF bigwigs cut a deal with Ageira, nothing goes without budgets nowadays - Detroit's finest guns for `em, chaos for rice farmers. Seemed like a true bargain.

We ran the gauntlet. Shipped enough high-grade munitions from Detroit to Kokura to start a small war, which, to be fair, was the point. The Dragons on the receiving end were about as cuddly as a cornered viper, but they didn't shoot us, which in Kusari counts as a warm handshake. The hand-offs were smoother each time. By the last run, their comms guy even cracked a joke.

Story

Their comms officer, a guy with the callsign "Ryuu" hailed us. His voice was all gravel and static, but the tone was different. Less of a demand, more of a... statement.

"Liberty delivery-ship. Your crates are of acceptable quality. They will sing a worthy song." A pause, filled only with the hum of engines. "Our scouts report the Samura convoy you tangled with last cycle. The one that escaped. They have painted a new symbol on their hull."

Another pause. I was waiting for the tactical data. "What symbol?"
"A running hare."

The line clicked off. On my sensor screen, their ship executed a perfect, sharp turn and vanished into the asteroid field without another word. My co-pilot looked at me. "Was that... a joke? Did a Blood Dragon just make fun of Samura for running away?"

I think it was. In their world of honor and blade-metaphors, mocking an enemy's cowardice is probably the highest form of humor. And maybe a backhanded compliment that we helped make that mockery possible. The translation software didn't flag it, but the intent was clear. We'd moved from tolerated contractors to... something else. Not friends. But instruments of a shared, honorable purpose.

The fun part was taking those shiny new toys for a test drive. We hit KOI patrols, Samura convoys hauling alloys. Deep stuff, past Honshu, right under their noses. Tore up a nice little KOI patrol group guarding a backdoor route. Felt good, reminded me of good old days around Omicrons.

So, here's the kicker: it worked. We bogged down enough boogies. Every gunboat they had to send chasing phantom Dragons in Kyushu was one not in Galileo. The Dragons did their part, and we've got something that looks suspiciously like a neutral working relationship. They're not allies, but they're not aiming at us anymore. That's a backdoor we might agree on.

But here's the thing you need to push up the chain, chief. We did this dancing around in gunships. Out there, you run into a KOI Cruiser doing heavy lift, and your only strategy is "run like hell and pray." We got the job done with guts and guile, but guile doesn't stop a volley of cruise disruptors. If we're going to keep playing in the enemy's backyard, we need a dedicated LSF cruiser. Something with the teeth to stare down their "big boys" and the legs to get our teams home when things get spicy. Our little Defiants are tough, but they're not a deterrent.

Objectives kinda met. Nansei's project might be delayed, the Dragons are armed and pointed at the right people, and we've got a new, sketchy pen pal in the Dragon ranks.

Now, if you'll excuse me, I have a date with a questionable noodle stand, a bottle of something strong, and a bunk that doesn't vibrate with engine noise. Tell payroll my hazard bonus better be waiting. Manhattan's paperwork will feel like a spa day after this.

Signing off, now get us a proper ship, chief

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ATTACHMENT FILES

Results

LSS| : 24 kills & 29,878 shipments

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LIBERTY THROUGH POWER