The Kazu Family of spiritualists graced the voting queue once again, the ornamented kimonos of the four no longer a mere statement of traditionalism, but an advertisement for a party espousing the same ideals. A mother and father, Kazu Kumano and Kazu Hoang, heads of nearly every exorcist, priest, shrinemaid, and monk across Kusari, living symbols of death and rebirth, and adorned with the Cypress and Plumeria flowers.
Flanking them were their two daughters, a pair of Kusari's most dangerous women. Kazu Tsuruno, a sharp and merciless businesswoman, quickly climbing the ranks in the corporate ladder of a Kishiro subsidiary. The Royal Lily has long represented purity and refined beauty, but it had recently become the herald of corporate buyout. On the other side, Kazu Chidori, bearing the Red Spider Lily. Due to her timely and highly-experienced support of Fukuoka Border Station after the Battlecruiser Akatsuki returned for refit, the "Akatsuki Daitenshi" moniker had followed her home. Quickly following that extravagant title were rumors of an assignment to a new, enigmatic division known as the Totsugekitai.
As usual, their family bonds determined their votes, and in support of their parent's project to build a Kusari Golden Age, to the Hanazono Party their votes were cast. The success of Kusari had always been non-negotiable.
The impromptu voting center established aboard the Aneka was abuzz with activity, tables which once held displays and containers of various rations for the crewmen have been temporarily replaced with tabulation machines, optronic election security computers - the gruff faces of canteen cooks replaced with the smiling faces of election officials and assistants.
One section of the center was devoted to officers, the other to lower enlisted. The captain shuffled into the officer line.
Captain Takamura ticked the "Sunrise Party" box on his ballot without hesitation. They are the only ones, who, in the mind of the Captain, espouse the true ideal values of Kusari, and support the KNF and its soldiers unquestionably, in the face of the growing war with Liberty.
Irelei Miyasu is a widely unknown figure within the Miyasu family. Officially the adopted sister to the Prime Minister, not much is known about her as she never really leaves the Miyasu Estate - or at least not knowingly so to the media. This circumstance would not change for the election phase either, as instead of running to the nearest public office, she instead utilized her access and know-how to remotely submit her vote directly into the database. Nothing in the world would've stopped her from voting for her sweetheart Sanae anyway, so the Sunrise Party suddenly saw another vote.
Next to the chaos of the buzzling megacities of New Tokyo, few miniscule rural outskirts somehow persist the passing of time. One such district lays just outside of Ginza City and is the home to Miki Koizumi, a middle-aged woman, a housewife and loving mother of a 19 years old daughter. In stark contrast to her husband, who was dishonorably discharged by the Naval Forces during the Republic era and thus foregoes any legal rights to vote within Kusari, she still insisted on travelling back and partake in the democratic process. Reminiscing the times her Shinto beliefs helped her and her family during times of distress and grieve, she settled on voting for the Hanazono Party despite a few lingering concerns regarding their ultra-militaristic stances.
Miki Uehara was a prominent figure within the Honshu Unity Party until the day she found herself entangled into a corruption case and criminal investigations over alleged ties of her party to the Golden Chrysanthemums. Whilst found guilty on two cases of money laundering, her cases were dropped upon striking a deal with the KOI agents responsible for her arrest. An illusion of freedom in return for selling out all those the KOI wanted gone within the HUP. Years later and still effectively on their leash, she swallowed the bitter pill of "voting" for whom she was ordered to vote: the Sunrise Party.
Miyuki Saito, a KOI opperative, cast her vote for the Hanazono(花園) Party, exactly as she was instructed by her superiors. It is the best course of action to advance their goals.
Chiyako Saito, a test pilot for Musashi Innovations, voted for the Hanazono(花園) Party. It could create more opportunities to provide the Empire with weapons and ships, which would be good for the company. At least, that's what a lot of her colleagues seemed to think. "Surely it must be the right choice!" she thought to herself as she went to the closest ramen restaurant after submitting her vote. "Good business means more money and that means more tasty food! Excellent!"
Taira Takeshi smiled as his Oyabun gracefully drifted along the sea level towards the docking platform of the Ishizuki island on Planet Junyo. It was time to do his civic duty and make his clan proud. The Black Phoenix Society a tight-knit group of influental Kusari families have just elected him as their leader (after his father stepped down from the position last month) and this was the first real decision he was going to make. One that would be closely observed and judged and would directly affect the Black Phoenix Society's future heading. Having discussed this matter with some of his father's (and now effectively his) close allies among the Navy including Admiral Goro - he knew there was only one viable choice that would safeguard both his nation's future and streghten the Society's alliances.
Stepping out into the fresh air smelling of salt and sea he squared his shoulders and headed to the nearby voting station to cast his vote for the Kusari Sunrise Party. He didn't linger long, knowing well that as the freshly ascended leader of the Taira family he was of much interest to the paparazzi and getting accosted by reporters was the last thing he needed today. Less than 15 minutes since his Oyabun Fenghuang landed at the docking platform of the Ishizuki island it was back in the air steadily rising through atmosphere on it's way to space.
Disco has a way of bringing you back whether you want to or not. So yes, I'm back.
--
Miyamoto Arata, a veteran of many battles and conflicts, now forcibly retired for reasons undisclosed, was more than ever convinced that Kusari needed a firm hand at its apparatus, one that was bold and deterministic with its statements. If one element was to make a difference, he was certain that trusting in the Hanazono Party was a path forward for the nation. His eyes sparked with a glimmer of hope as his vote was cast.
Yoshihara Tatsuo, a proud servant of the Imperial Guard, had only one concept occupying his mind - duty. Whether of his own choice or out of an order that came from above, it mattered little in the end. The Sunrise Party has received another vote of confidence in their favor.
Jade only moderately followed politics, but given her residency in Kusari she would form a few opinions. Mostly in response to how much she isn't too fond of change, she would wish to see the status quo maintained, for better or worse. She would cast her vote for the Kusari Sunrise Party.
Yui would keenly observe the politics in her homeland even as she stood within her luxuriously decorated office onboard the Silver Wolf Casino. She had been closely observing the political dynamics, taking a long drag from her cigar as she overlooked countless patrons spending their cash on hopeless endeavors within the casino floors. Satisfied with herself, she would cast her vote for Ninkyō Dantai.
Onboard the Battlecruiser Amagi, Yakaru Irata stood watch alongside other Imperial warships over the incoming flow of vessels to be stopped and inspected amidst the tightened border controls. He knew full well elections were upon the nation, and that it was a volatile time with the prospect of war not simply on the horizon, but at their doorstep. Already clandestine efforts, although some more poorly disguised than others, were under way. It was now more than ever he felt stability was necessary for the good of all of Kusari. Had this not been turbulent times, his vote may have been swayed to another party that caught his eye as his Shinto beliefs aligned with them, but in the end he had cast his for the Kusari Sunrise Party. To him, the time for internal political turbulence would come after they have dealt with the foreign threat at their doorstep.
It was a normal day for cadet Kota Tanaka of the Kusari State Police. He just landed after a training session and he was notified of the ongoing elections that they will need to attend to and finish by the end of the day. He was told to head to head to the nearest polling station to cast his vote for the Kusari Sunrise Party.
Kota made his way past the busy streets filled with cadets and civilians alike, all headed to the polling station a couple minutes walk from where he was stationed. He was busy thinking about who to vote for and didn't hear people talking about a ongoing police chase nearby and it was mentioned that there were two people in the car that was allegedly stolen and is currently being chased down.
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*switch POV to the two people in said car*
"Adachi! you said this was an easy job! Now we got police all over us and chasing us. How could you forgot today is one of the days with the heaviest security around public areas because of the elections! I was supposed to cast my vote today since I missed yesterday." Says the man in the passenger seat as he loads his firearm.
"Emperor help me...Look I just forgot ok?! Just calm down and let me drive Takaya, and keep them off us! I have to make a detour here, its narrower, but with my driving skills, we ain't gonna hit anyone!"
--------------------------
BREAKING NEWS: TRAGIC FATALITY AFTER HIGH-SPEED PURSUIT ENDS IN CONVENIENCE STORE CRASH
Planet New Tokyo - A high-speed pursuit ended in a horrific scene this afternoon when a fleeing vehicle careened into a local convenience store, claiming the life of a young police cadet named Kota Tanaka, age 20.
Authorities have identified the suspects as Miyamoto Adachi, 34, and Takaya Sagawa, 28. Both men were taken into custody at the scene following a brief struggle with responding officers.
"If you pack with us, we will pack with you. - Pandesal Shipping"
ID:Keiko Edwards and Kasumi Hikamaru Location:Kusari Consulate, Planet Curacao, System Cortez. To:Kusari Goverment Encryption:Pineaple One (Verry Strong) Subject:Travel Hurdles Good Day, Esteemed Voting Officials
Here are the Votes of 2 of Orbitals Kusarian Citizens.
Kasumi Hikamaru
Kasumi had always kept an eye on the politics of her homeland, even when she was often between the stars and rarely came home. She was a Progressive Mind that liked to see change in her Homeland. She had Learned a lot about other Political Systems in the other houses, so she would love to see some things she had experienced during her travels being done in Kusari. The Party that would represent her Values the Most was the "Social Democratic Party of Kusari."
Keiko Edwards (formerly Hamada)
Even though Keiko was now married to a Libertonian, she was still a Kusarian Citizen. She did not like many things that happened in her Home Nation and would therefore be more open to Changes and Reforms. She hoped that she would See some of these Changes in her Lifetime and once she can live in a Free and Prosperous Kusari where everyone is Equal, for that reason she would vote for the "United Kusari" Party.
Safe Skys,
Yuto Akira had spent many hours contemplating what was best for Kusari. His views had always been of violence as a last resort, of ensuring the people of Kusari were in his action's best interests. He could not decide which of the choices would be best for the people at large. On the one hand, Kusari Farmers needed support. Synth Foods had driven them to the point of criminality, and that was no way to treat the people who have been wronged by the Liberty Corporation. On the other, looking after the general population of Kusari also seemed like the best course of action. Yet... only one vote could be cast. It was a tough conundrum: To help the outlawed Farmers Alliance who were fewer but needed greater support, or to help the common people of Kusari, who were many and were already upon the right side of the law. A dilemma that had captivated him for all this time, one that he was on the verge of settling by a credit toss. He took a moment, before selecting the Kusari Commoners Party. The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few. This must be the right choice for the people... Maybe the Farmers could find a way through the cracks to the right side of the law with this political party in power, too.
An agent of the Chochinibi, far more militaristic and adamant on Kusari's Glory, knew exactly who would bring the best out of the Empire. Their vote was cast without the need to consider any other candidates. The flash upon the screen of their datapad was almost ignored: Confirm your vote is entered correctly. Two swift taps later to confirm and close the voting page down. They didn't need to make sure they'd voted right. The Hanazono(花園) Party would bring the Empire far more opportunity than any other.
Somewhere in Honshu, an old, barely functioning transporter Captain stared aimlessly into space. In his old age, he had not cared all so much about the politics of the House he shipped goods for daily. It was only one of his bridge crew who pointed out that the right to vote was not one to be squandered, not when there were many lives at stake with such a casting. Everyone should vote, everyone should have their say. Though, there was one problem that sat with the Captain, and whether or not he could bring himself to vote in the first place. Kishiro had been good to him, looked after him all these years, even to the point where he would ordinarily be too old to continue to fly, they kept him on and in a job for nigh on five years past retirement. Something he respected and wanted to repay in kind with a vote in their favour. It was in this moment, he realised he didn't know the first thing about any of the political parties, nor which would help them out the most. It took him far too long to get to the point of voting in the first place and he sighed in defeat. Then he paused. United Kusari. That sounded good, right? He read the list of objectives and was shocked. Hogosha to be criminalised? How is that uniting Kusari!? No... this was far too bad! Kishiro Interests must be protected by the The Ninkyō Dantai party, for sure! Everybody wins with this, the Hogosha, Kishiro, Samura. Everyone! He cast his vote, almost certain he made the right choice. In reality, his vote had brought Samura one step closer to strength over Kishiro...
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