Comrades, I have returned safely from my scouting mission to northern Kusari. I did indeed get the informaiton that I was assigned to collect. Due to the mission's nature, and the distance from a friendly port, I chose to take the CPW Saratov instead of my fighter.
I took the route through the Sigma systems to arrive in Kusari. From the Honshu system, I first went to the Chugoku system. On long range sensors, I noticed a weapons platform at the edge of my scan range. I moved in that direction and investigated, since people usually don't put weapons platforms in space for no reason. As I approached, I detected a Blood Dragon base dug into a very large asteroid, named Kyoto Base. From it's size, I would assume that it is one of their more important bases.
I quickly moved on, not wanting to attract any more attention than necessary. My next trip was to the Tau-63 system. I didn't stay there long, as the Blood Dragons had erected powerful defenses in the system, which opened fire on me immediately. I did manage to get scans of Mito Shipyard before being forced to withdraw. Judging from the size of the shipyard, I would suggest that this is their primary (perhaps only) construction facility for capital-class vessels.
Once I returned to Chugoku, I set a course for the Tohoku jump hole. Along the way, I ran across a Blood Dragon patrol. Assuming that we could use some better local information, I engaged the patrol, making short work of both fighters. I tractored in both escape pods, and the Saratov's crew placed the pilots into secure detention with very little trouble. My complements to Admiral Karchov on his crew selection for this ship. With any luck, the Blood Dragons will assume their patrol ran afoul of the Bounty Hunters or something like that.
After that was complete, we jumped into the Tohoku system. Upon clearing the nebula around the hole, we saw a very unusual structure straight ahead of us. I have never seen anything like it, and I thought it was worthy of further investigation. I believe that my instincts proved correct on this one. It appeared to be a KNF base on my scanners, though it's armaments were very unusual. The structure itself was unusual. It appears to be an arch built onto a large asteroid. I took scans of the base, as well as guncam shots from several locations. After that, I withdrew as quickly as I could.
From there, I found myself in the Hokkaido system. It had been mostly mapped already on this vessel, though I did find one base that was not already scanned. It was Ainu Depot, a small base run by the Golden Chrysanthemums. I preformed a few scans of the base, and flew towards the Chugoku jump hole.
I returned to the Honshu system, then flew down to the Okinawa jump hole. Along the way, I crossed paths with a KSP patrol. I did not want my presence reported, so I engaged the patrol. They proved to be less skilled than the Blood Dragon pilots, and both ships were destroyed much more quickly. I debated destroying the escape pods, but I instead tractored them in. I may be a soldier, but I'm not a murderer. Besides, perhaps we can learn something useful from them.
Once in the Okinawa system, I followed a Golden Crysanthemum patrol from a distance. I do not believe they were aware of my presence, since I kept them at the edge of the Saratov's scan range. They eventually led me to the Sendai research station, operated by the Blood Dragons. The structure appeared larger at first glance than it really was. Though the pods were shielded against scanning, I would assume that they are working on potentially dangerous things here, given the spread-out nature of the station.
The GC patrol I was following didn't land on the base, instead changing course. I was hoping they'd lead me to something else of note, perhaps their base in the system, and they didn't disappoint me. After following them for a time, I saw we were approaching a Kusari Battleship, the Matsuda. As we got closer, I was surprised to see that the ship was under the command of the Golden Chrysanthemums. How they got a ship of the line from the Kusari military, I'll never know. I scanned it on a quick flyby, not wanting to engage that vessel alone. I managed to get the scans and escape before they could decide what to do about me. They did not make any attempt to pursue me.
From there, I decided that it would be prudent to return home while we still had enough provisions for the trip. We managed to backtrack our course, and exited Kusari space without incident. Once we were in the Omicrons, we had no trouble at all, and put into Zhukovsky Station safely.
I certify this report to be complete and accurate to the best of my knowledge.
![[Image: pyBjInU.png]](https://i.imgur.com/pyBjInU.png)