Naval Operations Headquarters [Message Dump]

[McNeo]

Start Transmission.

As ordered by the Emperor himself, the Yureigoroshi redeployed from its station in New Tokyo to planet Junyo in Shikoku, stopping to rearm and resupply. We encountered no resistance until we reached Deshima station, to which the Yureigoroshi was greeted by an increasing number of bounty hunters. The numbers rose from one to four, in the same time it took for me to send out calls for reinforcements.

A confrontation seemed likely, the bounty hunters present repeatedly ignoring calls for them to return to neutral space.

The situation momentarily cooled off when more and more Kusari ships rallied to my call, and soon we were both outnumbering and outgunning the defenders. Two destroyers, a few gunboats and a small flotilla of strike craft against four Bounty Hunters, an Orca, a Bottlenose, and two Mantas.

Before the situation was resolved, things got even tenser. Additional reinforcements were recieved on both sides, the Bounty Hunters gaining a bomber whilst we gained yet more ships.

However, seeing the firepower that Kusari was willing to bring to bear to subjugate the area, the Bounty Hunters Guild finally relented. Leaving the area after recieving a final ultimatum from myself, they retreated back into the Independant worlds.

That was the tip of the iceburg.

---------

Shortly afterwards, long range scanners showed a /CS/ fleet massing in Kyushu. We didn't even get to jump to New Tokyo before their location changed to Shikoku, at which point, reconnaisance was immediately ordered. Two ships were sent out to scour each grid sector, as well as landmarks. They slipped through the net, only one of our recon ships getting a glimpse before the retreat was made back to Kyushu.

We were subsequently outmanoevered. I did not predict that they would take the gates through to Shikoku, and stationed the majority of our force at the jump hole to Kyushu in anticipation of a potentially devastating ambush. This however, did not cost us. By now, both Chujo Hiroito and Taisho Sulu had arrived, but delegated command to me due to my knowledge of the situation. Additional reinforcements had also arrived, in the form of a Kusari Battleship, which I ordered to stand by near Deshima station along with the Bakumatsu and one escort fighter. I deemed this sufficient to garrison and hold the space above Deshima from any surprise bounty hunter attacks whilst we hunted the /CS/ threat.

Due to the increase in manpower, and significant deployment of gunboats on our part, I decided that sending out three scouts to again scour each grid sector of Shikoku was acceptable. Our main force held at the jump hole to Kyushu whilst the scouts reported their findings.

One of our scouts sighted the enemy force, in concert with the Orca that we had encountered earlier. It is obvious that they were planning something together, however the haste at which I ordered the advance prevented any of our samurai from recording evidence. I hope my word is enough proof, and I accept any punishment for this oversight.

They began to retreat before our advance, and I decided that it would be prudent to split our force equally to crush them in the middle. However, they came to battle quicker than I thought. Our forces entered the fray in a staggered fashion, but we took no casualties against the four /CS/ ships, a destroyer, a gunboat, a fighter and a bomber. Our samurai fought like birds of prey, striking quick blows at our enemy and overseeing their complete annihilation.

Our forces all redeployed back to Deshima to guard against further attacks.
And so they came on again.

---------

This time the bounty hunters came well prepared for a fight, bringing five bombers to counter our gunboats. I stepped off the Yureigoroshi and into my guard fighter, the Hien, and joined the Kusari forces there. Chujo Hiroito did the same.

After suffering numerous insults by the gaijin bounty hunters, directed towards the Emperor in particular, even in his presence, our patience wore through. Taisho Sulu ordered the attack and we engaged the defensive force with the full force of Kusari.

The bounty hunters managed to inflict medium losses before being overwhelmed. A destroyer and our gunboat flottila fell to enemy fire, whilst the bounty hunter's lack of numbers counted against every loss they took. In the end, out of seven enemies (two appeared as reinforcements), they had lost four of their number, three bombers and one gunship, whilst we suffered the disabling of a destroyer and an array of gunboats, notably including the ship that Taisho Sulu was present on. The three enemy ships that escaped all made combat docks with Deshima station.

I assume that the Bounty Hunters are making efforts to entrench their position and buy time for the relocation of more of their forces from other areas of Sirius. If they truely wish to hold Deshima, that is what I would do in their place. Of course, in their place, I'd file for a law suit, but that is their decision.

To my knowledge, the space around Deshima is secure for now.

---------

I would like to extend my deepest gratitude to those who fought as part of the battlegroup deployed against the first incursion of the Bounty Hunters and the subsequent /CS/ encounter. Discipline, organisation, attention to orders and skill were all present, even under the highly confusing situation of multiple ship movements. It makes me truely proud to be a soldier of Kusari to serve alongside such people. The following are truely citizens of Kusari, and are unmatched in all aspects of their conduct.

Kampai, honourable warriors of Kusari.

Addendum: Later, the Farmers Alliance claimed that they do not want to get involved further than their assistance so far, as they tout this as a military matter. This is their choice. They did however pledge to hunt down any bounty hunters found further north than Deshima station.

End Transmission