The Arch Storm

[Ayem]

We are Munashii
We swim the void between stars
And drink the screams of others

Political tensions between the Gas Miners of the Sigmas and the Kusari state are reaching a state of hyper-tension. We begin to intervene, though we have not yet decided which of the outcomes we will prefer.

In Sigma 13 we encountered a GMG transport, the GTS.Abashiri, hauling Plutonium.

IKN-Munashii: Transport vessel.
IKN-Munashii: Please hold.
IKN-Munashii: This is Captain Nozomu Sasake.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Naha, this is the Abashiri '€“ the KNF is making a raid into Sigma-13

IKN-Munashii: Thank you, it is always simpler when the quarry submits.
IKN-Munashii: You will provide information.
IKN-Munashii: The current conflict between the GMG and the Samura corporation.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: In regards to what exactly?

IKN-Munashii: Does your corporation desire it to escalate?

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: That depends on Samura '€“ we want them to stop moving goods to and from the Corsair Empire
GMG|GTS.Abashiri: When it was just the Hogosha, it was low-level smuggling
GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Now it is something much more

IKN-Munashii: These supplies in transit to the Corsair Empire, are you able to block them, or do they continue despite your efforts?

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: If the situation were to escalate, it would be because Samura keeps up their alliance with the Corsairs
GMG|GTS.Abashiri: We block some, others get through
GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Samura would of course claim they are unstoppable

IKN-Munashii: Of course.
IKN-Munashii: We may choose to enlighten them.
IKN-Munashii: Thank you for the information. You are free to leave, if you choose to do so.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Why would the KNF defy their own High Command?
GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Have you not been ordered to blockade our bases?

IKN-Munashii: No.
IKN-Munashii: I have not.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Well, perhaps the Chain of Command is starting to break down.

IKN-Munashii: A hand has many fingers until it clenches into a fist.
IKN-Munashii: The hand has not yet clenched, so we little fingers are relatively free to pursue other projects.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Well to be sure, I am seeing a mix of Samura, AFA and Hogosha ships plying their trade down into Corsair territory

IKN-Munashii: The Hogosha are a stain on Kusari. Distasteful creatures.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: I can only assume you are loyal to Kishiro

IKN-Munashii: We are loyal to ourselves. Not all of us have been bought.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: Well then Kusari still has hope.
GMG|GTS.Abashiri: For what it is worth, the Guild appreciates that

IKN-Munashii: Do not be so quick to appreciate. Our actions may not prove comfortable, or profitable for you.
IKN-Munashii: For what it is worth however, you are welcome.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: I shall take my leave of you. Safe travels, I do hope that your mercy does not brand you a traitor

IKN-Munashii: There is little fear of that.

GMG|GTS.Abashiri: I am of the opinion that things will get worse before they get better in Kusari

After this we began our investigations into Samura shipments to the Corsairs, who have desecrated our birthrights.

In Honshu we arraigned two transports, a Ryuujin and an Akegato, Samura|-Shinsaku and Samura|-Ebisumaru respectively.

IKN-Munashii: Good day to you, Samura vessels.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Konnichiwa.

IKN-Munashii: A pleasant day.
IKN-Munashii: May I ask where you are headed?

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I'€™m heading to Rheinland.

IKN-Munashii: Not to Corsair territory then?

Samura|-Ebisumaru: Ebisumaru: Don'€™t shoot! I'€™ll do it! *takes his clothes off*

IKN-Munashii: My information suggests...

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Why would I be going there ?

IKN-Munashii: We understand you have been carrying supplies in that rather obvious direction.
IKN-Munashii: Of course, this is second-hand information.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I think Rheinland is this way..isn'€™t it ?

Samura|-Ebisumaru: I'€™m just a trainee following his lead.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I can promise you, I have never been to Corsair territory.

IKN-Munashii: You do seem somewhat evasive.
IKN-Munashii: Ah, something solid. I see, we will add that to our folder.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I'€™m sorry if you think so, but I can assure you I am not.

IKN-Munashii: Would you know any particular Samura transporters that '€“do-?

Samura|Ebisumaru: Look at how dinged up my ship is? Do you think I'€™d want Corsair scum to damage it further?

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I don'€™t and the ones doing so should be punished !

IKN-Munashii: We are of the same mind, Captain.
IKN-Munashii: They will be punished.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I am glad about that.

IKN-Munashii: I will not detain you further, though I shall follow you to Sigma 13 to ensure that there is no.. deviation from established flight path.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Of course.

IKN-Munashii: Please, continue.

Samura|-Ebisumaru: Of course. We'€™d welcome an escort.

Samura|-Ebisumaru: In fact, I was just pirated not long ago by some Gallic Brigands.

IKN-Munashii: Those fiends.

Samura|-Ebisumaru: Oh it was awful. I took my clothes off and everything but they were insistent on money! Can you believe the nerve?

IKN-Munashii: Two gunboats of an unusual configuration?

Samura|-Ebisumaru: I don'€™t know the configuration, sir, but yes, two gunboats.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Why the hell is Osaka shooting ?

IKN-Munashii: The question is not why is it shooting,
IKN-Munashii: But why is it missing?
IKN-Munashii: Civilians. They just can'€™t handle weaponry. It is alien to them.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Good question, I will inform the Board of Directors about it.

Samura|-Ebisumaru: Uhm...
Samura|-Ebisumaru: How vexing.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: What the hell !

IKN-Munashii: Are you sure you didn'€™t do anything to upset them?

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I sure am !

IKN-Munashii: Perhaps they received the same dossier that I did, and took a different interpretation from it.

Samura|-Ebisumaru: Dossier, sir? I don'€™t understand.

IKN-Munashii: If you were firmly implicated in the accusations, you would.
IKN-Munashii: Therefore, be glad that you do not understand!

Samura|-Ebisumaru: I see. Well it'€™s impressive that the Navy has defeated all its foes and can now focus on its own people.

IKN-Munashii: It is important to maintain the rule of law.
IKN-Munashii: You may proceed.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Arigato and sayonara

IKN-Munashii: I'€™m not leaving you just yet.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Ehh...

IKN-Munashii: Sigma 13 has more jumpholes than sense.
IKN-Munashii: We wouldn'€™t want the GMG doing anything.. untowards while you'€™re here, would we?
IKN-Munashii: It might generate an incident of some form.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Indeed

IKN-Munashii: It seems the GMG hire better gunners.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I also think I'€™m a bigger target

IKN-Munashii: Konnichiwa, GMG pilot.

GMG|Sum.Yungai.: Naha, this is Yungai, we have a KNF Destroyer here!

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Eh...

GMG|Sum.Yungai.: Naha, I cant take them all out myself

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: I think it'€™s time to leave. Arigato for escorting me here *bows*

IKN-Munashii: Quite welcome, Captain.
IKN-Munashii: Feisty one, isn'€™t he?

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Indeed

IKN-Munashii: I wish you a pleasant day.

Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Sayonara
Samura|-Shinsaku: Matsumoto: Uh oh..

IKN-Munashii: Another day without a political incident.
IKN-Munashii: I am so pleased.

GMG|Sum.Yungai.: Only because I did not get there in time

IKN-Munashii: Is that so?
IKN-Munashii: Then it will have to be ensured that you are never again on time.
IKN-Munashii: Perhaps we will hack your alarm clock.
IKN-Munashii: Yes, that would probably be the most effective solution.
IKN-Munashii: Have a pleasant day, GMG pilot.

From Sigma 13 we pursued a course through Sigma 19 via the jumphole, then swung towards Sigma 17. In that system we discovered one of the transports we'€™d been hunting. The [AFA]Onigiri.Express held a geostationary orbit over Planet Kurile, too close to the docking rings for us to be guaranteed a successful assault. Instead, we interrogated the captain.

IKN-Munashii: Would this happen to be the way to Omicron Theta?

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: konnichiwa

IKN-Munashii: Konnichiwa to you also.

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: you want to go to Theta?

IKN-Munashii: I asked if this was the way.

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: it is the way. Need coordinates?

IKN-Munashii: If you'€™d provide them I would be grateful.
IKN-Munashii: Do you go to Theta often?

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: of course. In sector F 6 you find the Jump Hole

IKN-Munashii: Can you recommend any places for refuelling?

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: there is a Freeport in Theta.

IKN-Munashii: Freeports tend to get jumpy around ships like this, but perhaps that'€™s an idea.
IKN-Munashii: How'€™s the clientele there? All zoners and freelancers?

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: huh? On this Freeport you find hunters and corsairs too
[AFA]Onigiri.Express: and order gaijin`s

IKN-Munashii: Corsairs?
IKN-Munashii: Do you get much business with them?

Isoroku.Hatoyama: Konnichiwa

IKN-Munashii: Konnichiwa, Samura pilot.

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: konnichiwa samura *bows

IKN-Munashii: You bring food over, I suppose
IKN-Munashii: That would make sense.

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: sense?why?

IKN-Munashii: It'€™s what your people do, isn'€™t it? Grow food?
IKN-Munashii: Or fight about growing food. Something like that.

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: we have the best food in Sirius. that'€™s right... *smile

IKN-Munashii: None of that synth paste rubbish.

[AFA]Onigiri.Express: and we fight against synthetic food... *angry

IKN-Munashii: Right, we'€™ve received new orders and will be heading on. Have a pleasant day, sir.

With all the evidence compiled, we turned back towards central Kusari via Sigma 19. On our way to the Sigma 19 jumpgate we encountered a Zoner Whale. It was interdicted.

Moments after we had turned from the cooling wreckage, a second Zoner transport came into view. This one was smaller, but no less simple to arraign.

We return to the Arch, and let the storm strip our masks away.

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