Planet Honshu

From Discovery Wiki
Planet Honshu
Owner
Kusari State Police
Location
E-3/4, Honshu

DIAMETER: 15,201 km.

MASS: 6.12 x 10e24 kg.

TERRAIN: Oceanic

TEMPERATURE: -52°C to 40°C

ESCAPE VELOCITY: 12.02 km/sec

Settled in 56 AS, planet Honshu was the first colony in Kusari, after the initial colonisation of planet New Tokyo. It bears a number of similarities to the capital planet, mainly in that it is an ocean world with few sizeable land masses. With so little land available for farming, the settlers turned to fishing as their primary industry. Unfortunately, very few Terran fish species took to the oceans of Honshu, although tuna and salmon were among those that were able to survive. The colonists struggled to feed themselves for several centuries, until overfishing caused a catastrophic decline in the fish stocks in 250 AS, which caused most of the inhabitants to abandon the planet and seek their fortunes elsewhere. The population dropped from roughly a 1.5 million inhabitants to 250.000 over decade that followed. Most emigrated to Planet Kyushu and it's vast rice farms, but others cast their eyes on the nearby Crow Nebula and the bountiful fuel gases therein. These pioneers eventually became known as the Gas Miners Guild.

With the colonists abandoning their ancestral home in favour of the Crow Nebula, Honshu lay fallow for over 250 years. Those that remained scratched out a meager living, trading what little resources the planet had to offer with New Tokyo, and supplying the Gas Miners Guild with water and oxygen - both of which Honshu possessed plenty of. Eventually, in 510 AS, Kishiro Technologies decided that Honshu would be the perfect location to construct its main optronics production facility, especially after planetary surveys revealed the oceans to contain significant quantities of various chemicals and raw materials that were useful in the manufacture of optronics themselves. Since the optronics factories could be built at seabed or on platforms, this has left a significant amount of the available land masses for the construction of towns and cities, and the population of Honshu has climbed steadily ever since. Recent Honshu architecture closely resembles that of New Tokyo - compact, towering cities that economise on land use.

Bribes & Missions Offered

Bribes
Missions


Commodities

Imports
Commodity Price
Cracking Catalysts 71$
Gin 72$
Hydrogen 8$
Liberty Ale 62$
Nanotubes 38$
Rheinbier 47$
Rum 49$
Vodka 73$
Whiskey 48$
Crew 207$
Black Market Pharmaceuticals 139$
Slog 179$
Abductees 935$
Hybrid Equipment 1,967$
Food Rations 48$
Luxury Food 52$
Kyushu Rice 23$
MOX 50$
Superconductors 91$
Pharmaceuticals 39$
Hull Panels 31$
Luxury Consumer Goods 114$
Cardamine 175$
Consumer Goods 180$
Artifacts 200$
Consumer Goods 205$
Ageira Gate/Lane Parts 835$
Bio-Neural Processors 131$
Kemwer Technologies 238$
Azurite Gas 171$
Xeno Relics 188$
APM Advanced Hardware 140$
Cryocubes 156$
Gaian Wildlife 392$
Holotainment Bands 158$
Nanocapacitors 62$
Neon 47$
Pineal Amulets 106$
Prometheum 54$
Quantum Multiplexors 34$
Tobacco 74$
Wine 85$
Cigars 169$
Hypnotainment Bands 217$
Tea 42$
Xenobiotic Filters 53$
Nox 215$
Consumer Goods 220$
Passenger Cabin (Liberty) 46,966$
Passenger Cabin (Bretonia) 59,277$
Passenger Cabin (Rheinland) 28,707$
Passenger Cabin (Gallia) 59,946$
Passenger Cabin (Omega) 70,830$
Passengers (Omicrons) 65,861$
Fire Pearls 48$
Iron 27$
Alien Organisms 16$
Hessian Tears 211$
Deuterium 229$
Gold 263$
Wildcat Gold 267$
Silver 201$
Niobium 191$
Diamonds 208$
H-Fuel 70$
Platinum 170$
Exports
Commodity Price
Deployable Mining Container 50,000$
Robotics 9$
Oxygen 1$
Water 1$
Optronics 30$
Hangar Provisions 250$
Black Market Augments 75$
Scientists 200$
Agricultural Machinery 59$
Casualties 49,950$
Criminal Cells (Kusari) 12,414$
Energy Field Equipment 19$
Medical Equipment 65$
Sake 36$
Stabiline 157$
Basic Alloy 20$
Construction Machinery 30$
Consumer Goods 38$
Synth Paste 39$
Vacationers 67,991$
Passenger Cabin (Kusari) 21,077$


Ships sold


Ship Class Price
Repair Ship Repair Ship 30,175$
Heavy Lifter Transport 34,006$
Drone Freighter 20,266$


News

[835 AS] Gallic threats raise Tau fears

SCALPAY OUTPOST -- 835 -- The Taus are once more on edge, after Gallia threatens the use of force to retrieve the Tau-23 to Tau-31 Jump Gate. Bretonia constructed the first Jump Gate in the system, which was later annexed during the Gallic War. Bretonia was gifted the current Gallic Jump Gate by Kusari during their invasion of Gallia, and has held it since -- with Gallia formally ceding its Tau claims through the Treaty of Rishiri. Bretonia has historically refused to discuss the Gate’s status until its own demands on the extradition of war criminals and payment of Gallic War reparations are met. The Bretonian government has warned that Gallic aggression or threats “will not be tolerated”.

[835 AS] Kusari diet passes sweeping defense budget

NEW TOKYO -- 835 -- Kusari’s national diet has passed a sweeping defense budget, allocating significant additional funding to fleet readiness, modernization, and shipbuilding. This has included extensive military contracts for Kure, Yukawa, and Yokohama Shipyards, with Kishiro Technologies and Samura Industries both announcing record hiring programs in response. The new budget also ended the remaining reconstruction funding grants for Planet Kyushu, noting Governor Toho’s termination of the local state of emergency.

[835 AS] Bretonia and Rheinland call for de-escalation

CURACAO -- The governments of Bretonia and Rheinland have called on Kusari and Liberty to attempt formal talks, amid fears that continued escalation and military friction could spark war. Queen Carina and Emperor Frederick have offered to mediate an emergency summit on Planet Curacao after Kusari and Liberty imposed mutual sanctions that are already having rippling effects across Sirius. Gallia’s Grand Marshall de Varax meanwhile has condemned Kusari as a “belligerent and destabilizing actor”, and called for Liberty’s demands to be met. Neither Kusari or Liberty has agreed to attend, with each demanding pre-conditions be met by the other. Gallia has not received an invite.

[835 AS] Liberty and Kusari trade sanctions

DESHIMA -- 835 -- Liberty’s President Hawthorne has announced sanctions targeting key Kusari high-tech industries, blocking their access to advanced Superconductors and funding. This came following a “security incident” in the Independent Worlds, and a failed Farmers Alliance attack on Deshima Station, which Liberty says is part of a state-endorsed campaign of terrorism against its citizens. Kusari has dismissed the claim as “lurid nonsense”, and responded by banning the export of Optronics to Liberty until its “economic coercion” is ended. Liberty has vowed to increase pressure until Kusari takes steps to eradicate the Farmers Alliance and root out their backers.

[835 AS] Alliance attack on Deshima thwarted

DESHIMA -- 835 -- The Bounty Hunters Guild have confirmed a major terrorist attack on Deshima Station has been thwarted. “Agents of the Farmer’s Alliance were apprehended while attempting to smuggle a large-yield dirty bomb aboard,” confirmed chief security officer Bill Parker. The attempt was foiled thanks to precautions put in place following the deadly Alliance attack on Roppongi Station in 832 AS. According to Parker, “this was the exact same playbook”. The detained crew and fissile material are believed to have been provided to the LSF; Kusari has lodged a furious complaint with Manhattan about the unauthorized interference in its own investigation.

[835 AS] Liberty court rules on Platinum dispute

MANHATTAN -- 835 -- Liberty’s Supreme Court has issued its verdict on the Galileo Platinum dispute between DSE, Samura and Kishiro. Ruling in DSE’s favor, the court has ordered the Kusari corporations to end all mining activities in Galileo, and pay compensation to DSE for losses. Kusari’s courts have objected to the ruling, calling it an “unprecedented breach of protocol” due to the Liberty court’s failure to consult and reach a mutual finding on issues of cross-border law. Liberty has threatened to deploy the Navy to evict illegal miners, while Kusari has warned that this would be interpreted as an “illegal act of hostility”.

[835 AS] Galileo on the brink

GALILEO -- 835 -- Following an unspecified “security incident” in the Independent Worlds, military forces in Colorado and Shikoku have been ordered to high alert. Observers have raised alarms as the Liberty Navy and Kusari Naval Forces surge to their respective borders, warning of a heightened risk of “accidental escalation” in Galileo. Despite urgent calls for information from local system representatives, the governments of Kusari and Liberty remain tight lipped, other than confirming Manhattan and New Tokyo were in “active dialogue”. Both Houses have since put traffic controls in place, and are actively stopping and searching shipping entering their mutual borders.

[834 AS] Kyushu state of emergency ended

PLANET KYUSHU -- 834 -- Governor Ikkaku Toho has rescinded the state of emergency on Planet Kyushu, confirming that much of the devastating storm damage has been repaired. Despite this, many farmers were driven to bankruptcy by the disaster and are now struggling to adapt to Synth Foods’ much enhanced presence within Kusari. Governor Toho has requested enhanced subsidies for Kyushu Rice in response, however New Tokyo has declined, advising that the Empire has other pressing funding requirements that must take priority.

[834 AS] Narita renovations bolster strategic independence

NARITA -- 834 -- The completion of long-running works to expand the capacity of Narita Outpost have been jointly praised by the Ministers of Economy and Defense. The ambitious project saw the station’s storage capacity radically expanded, allowing it to service a wider range of foreign trade, and hold larger reserves of goods. “This much needed modernization will tap into the river of prosperity that flows through Kusari, while deterring malign interests who seek to damage Kusari by curtailing access to goods and markets,” noted Trade vice-minister Okazaki.

[834 AS] H-Fuel prices spike as market volatility increases

MANHATTAN -- 834 -- H-Fuel prices across Sirius have spiked after demand for future supply contracts surged. This unusual increase has been driven by Liberty corporations who are buying up all surplus stocks, although what has provoked the sudden frenzy remains unknown. Universal Shipping and Synth Foods both declined to comment on their own significant increase in buying activity, however many have noted that neither has the storage capacity to account for the excess. Share prices for Kishiro, GMG and Samura all rose on the news, despite Kusari warning that it may impose export caps on H-Fuel to limit market volatility and curb inflation.

[834 AS] Samura struggles with fraudulent claims

SHINJUKU -- 834 -- Following the loss of Roppongi Station, Interspace withdrew most of their services from Kusari. Samura gleefully filled this void, establishing its own domestic insurance brokerage. Samura rapidly encountered trouble when Interspace refused to provide access to its proprietary USI system. This ubiquitous Trade Lane scanner allows Interspace to accurately track cargo shipments for insurance premiums. “Before USI was implemented, we had centuries of experience in fraud mitigation. Samura will learn the hard way,” one IC analyst noted. Samura is believed to have incurred significant losses on insurance in recent years.

[833 AS] Gold volatility taxes Kusari economy

HONSHU -- 833 -- Kusari has been among the hardest hit by the severely damaged Gold market over recent years. This situation appears only to worsen as Bretonian stockpiles are depleted. Share prices in the high tech manufacturing industries of New Tokyo and Honshu plunged on the recent release of an Interspace report predicting crisis in Gold-reliant market sectors. When pressed for comment, Kusari’s trade ministry declined to respond, referring instead to the Ministry of Defence. Lord Tazuka of the Kusari Office of Intelligence confirmed that discussions were presently ongoing with counterparts in Bretonia, and that progress was anticipated in the near future.

[833 AS] Stabline prices spike after Atka destruction

SIGMA-17 -- 833 -- Cryer’s share prices have tumbled on the news that Atka Research Station has been destroyed by brutal Outcast pirates. The remote station served as the primary manufacturing point for the revolutionary drug Stabline, which had promised to eradicate Cardamine dependency across the Colonies. Spokeswoman Alicia Fisher confirmed that critical staff and research materials were successfully evacuated due to the timely intervention of private security forces and the GMG. She noted that adequate Stabiline stockpiles exist to “manage demand for priority clients” while a replacement facility is sourced. Cryer has begun emergency negotiations with the governments of both Kusari and Bretonia to explore options.

[833 AS] Kishiro and Synth strike landmark deal

DESHIMA -- 833 -- Kishiro Technologies and Synth Foods have signed a landmark agreement for the distribution of Synth Paste in Kusari. Food prices and inflation soared after devastating storm surges on Planet Kyushu, prompting Kishiro to partner with the Liberty agri-corporation to address the market disruption. Issuing a joint statement, Kishiro’s Mayumi Higa said, “we have taken decisive action to bring down food costs throughout Kusari, and give consumers access to the flavors and nutrition they demand.” The Ministry of Trade pointedly offered no comment on the deal, beyond advising recovery efforts were well underway in Kyushu.

[833 AS] Kyushu Faces Rising Temperatures And Falling Profits

Kyushu, the key to Samura's monopoly on the organically-grown food industry, has faced rising ocean temperatures lately, owing to a vast temperature surge in the mantle plume underneath its largest ocean. This has been compounded by the resultant eruption of several underwater volcanoes, releasing enormous quantities of greenhouse gases into the planet's atmosphere.

Partially as a result of the geological activity, the equatorial monsoon season produced some of the strongest tropical storms ever recorded on Kyushu since its colonisation. These storms devastated the world's agricultural sector as they blew through the most fertile tropical lowlands, destroying as much as 20%% of the planet's annual crop yield, on top of damage to infrastructure and tragic loss of human life.

Many rural communities are reported to be struggling, with some farming communities still remaining flooded ghost towns even a month after the worst of the storms abated, though smaller-scale tempests still rage around the equator. A Samura spokesperson outlined the company's intent to restore the planet and its communities to full productivity by the middle of next year, despite the ongoing circumstance.

[832 AS] Battleship Matsuda Meets Its Demise!

It had long been rumored that the grand Battleship Himeji had not been lost in the Tohoku system as previously thought; That it had been brought back and given a second life by the unlawful elements that are the antithesis of the Kusari state. This rumor had been proven true as the Kusari Office of Intelligence reported movements of a Meiji-class Battleship in the Kyushu system, deploying Golden Chrysanthemum fighter wings that seemed to deliberately target Kusari patrols in the northern part of the system.

Immediately upon learning of this, Battleship Matsumoto and its battlegroup were redeployed from Hokkaido, and within two days were poised and ready to face this new threat. Only a short few hours later, a patrol of fighters reported a warship with the transponder reading Battleship Matsuda operating in the relative open, heading for but not yet reaching the relative safety of the Seiran Dust Cloud.

Matsumoto itself departed with its escort to confront the Chrysanthemum battleship, close to the edge of the nebula. Within minutes of it coming into sensor range, bomber and fighter squadrons from both sides closed in and opening salvos were exchanged between the battleships. It didn't take long before the KNF's preparation was shown to be well worthwhile; their superior numbers whittled down or otherwise preoccupied the Chrysanthemum's fighter force leaving a variety of openings in the Matsuda's defensive cover for KNF bombers to exploit.

While the Matsumoto was withstanding a heavy beating from the guns of its older sister, it was plain that the Matsuda was slowly being whittled away as its shields began to fail and the very same engine design flaws that had rendered it immobile in KNF service were now exploited by bomber wings to once again cripple the warship.

After several more minutes, the Matsuda's escape pods began to eject from the ailing battleship, picked up by Chrysanthemum fighters as they fled deeper into the Seiran dust cloud. It didn't take long thereafter for the ship's powercore to falter and fail completely, culminating in a vast explosion that reportedly almost turned night to day on the dark side of Planet Kyushu, if only for a split second.

Matsumoto itself sustained moderate damage in the engagement, relatively untouched by Chrysanthemum bombers however still suffering the ill effects of Matsuda's anti-capital weaponry. Despite its damage, it remains deployed in the Kyushu system to continue the blockade of the cardamine trade and to serve as a show of force to any who would challenge the might of the Emperor.

[832 AS] On the Nose

NEW TOKYO -- 832 AS -- Multiple tips from unknown sources have aided, upon investigation, in exposing the abuse of Cardamine between numerous members of the Kusari Keiretsu. Intense work hours have pushed both the youths and the senior citizens towards the consumption of the drug, which is more readily available than ever before, partially due to the foreigner presence upon Roppongi Station.

However, with the recent Farmers Alliance bombing on Roppongi seemingly linked to the sudden increase in Cardamine use among Kusari's businessmen, New Tokyo's residents have expressed sympathy towards the perpetrators, speculating that the Alliance's blatant admission to such a vicious act is not to be taken as a boast or a threat, but as a sign that they will not allow their friends and families to be preyed upon by the greed of corporations that, "do not belong anywhere near our home", said Katsuyori Ichihara, Samura Industries financial consultant, and survivor of the Roppongi attack. "I don't blame them", Mr. Ichihara continued, "that vile drug destroys families."

Due to recent events, Samura Industries has taken it upon itself to act as a substitute for Interspace Commerce within the insurance market and many citizens have already expressed gratitude to Samura and their willingness to provide more financially preferable contracts than what the old management offered.

[832 AS] Houses outraged by Roppongi attack

NEW TOKYO -- 832 -- Kusari has received blistering criticism from the other Houses after the destruction of Roppongi Station. Roppongi hosted House embassies in Kusari, and was a major business hub for foreign companies. Liberty’s President Hawthorne is said to be “incandescent” over the attack, which killed Ambassador Luisa Mason and her aides. She has threatened consequences unless Kusari exert all “means and resources” towards the Farmers Alliance’s eradication, and announced the LSF will be taking “enhanced measures” to protect Liberty citizens. Interspace Commerce has quadrupled its bounties on Alliance targets. Kusari has opened an inquest into the attack.

[832 AS] Terror in Tokyo orbit!

ROPPONGI -- 832 -- In the worst terrorist attack in recent Kusari history, the Farmers Alliance have detonated a dirty bomb aboard Roppongi Station. Emergency responders are still working to rescue victims, however the known death toll has already risen to the thousands. Planet New Tokyo has gone into immediate lockdown amid fears Roppongi may break apart and rain radioactive debris upon the capitol. The Farmers Alliance broadcast a manifesto the following day, accusing Roppongi of “corrupting the soul of Kusari’s youth” -- alleging the widespread sale of the drug Cardamine. Interspace has condemned the attack as a barbaric and senseless atrocity.

[832 AS] Interspace auditors re-open files

ROPPONGI -- 832 -- Interspace auditors working aboard Roppongi Station have reportedly re-opened the historic claims file relating to Osaka Storage Facility. The Samura station was allegedly destroyed through Blood Dragon sabotage in 822 AS, shortly after Samura purchased what some have called a “significantly overvalued” insurance policy. Insider Interspace sources claim the investigation was launched after random spot checks in seemingly unrelated cases detected anomalies that linked back to Osaka. Neither Interspace nor Samura have responded to requests for comment.

[832 AS] A foul wind

KYUSHU -- 833 AS -- Ravaged by the worst storms in Kyushu's history, bustling farming communes have been thrown into total disarray. Local authorities are struggling to address the severe infrastructure damage caused by the violent typhoons and flooding, while the number of dead and missing has risen to the tens of thousands. Many communities are directly calling for external aid, as assistance from Imperial authorities has been slow to arrive. In response, Samura has demanded the restoration of their planetary management contract, which they claim will prevent imminent food insecurity. What was forecast to be a bountiful harvest now only offers grim tidings.

[831 AS] Gate corps clash over 'Blackout'!

ABBEVILLE -- 831 AS -- EFL's 'Resilience Taskforce' today reported its findings on The Blackout, claiming to have gathered forensic evidence that proved the cause as Ageira negligence. A spokesperson claimed that the destruction of the Dublin Jump Gate by Molly separatists had created a hyperspace feedback loop that was propagated and amplified through the Ageira gate network.

Ageira disputed this finding in their own press release, calling EFL 'fantasists' and countering that their own scientists had narrowed the cause to a rare 'hypernova' stellar event that originated outside the Sirius sector. Both corporations claim that network-wide hardware safeguards have been implemented that would prevent a similar occurrence in the future. Independent researchers have sharply criticized the corporate announcements, accusing both of self-interested misdirection.

Professor Sophia Nagel from Heisenberg Research Station called EFL's accusation 'incoherent' and the hypernova explanation 'nonsense' that did not explain the characteristics of the 'Blackout Pulse'. Despite multiple different Pulse recordings being widely disseminated across the neural net, public efforts have so far failed to triangulate its source.

[831 AS] Pulse phenomenon linked to Blackout

AMES RESEARCH STATION -- 831 -- Independent researchers have announced that a hyperspace pulse of unprecedented strength was detected moments before The Blackout, destroying many of the sector’s most sensitive and finely tuned observatories. Surviving data about 'The Pulse' has been widely shared across the neural net in recent days, prompting mass speculation. Professor Katsuma Oster of Ames Research Station described the signal as “astounding”. “These readings are unprecedented, as if reality itself were struck like a gong.” House authorities have remained tight lipped, refusing to share their own observatories' data.

[831 AS] Bretonia withdraws from Dublin system

WATERLOO -- 831 AS -- Markets are down across Sirius after the twin shocks of The Blackout and Bretonia's retreat from Dublin. Molly separatists have destroyed Graves Station and the New London Jump Gate, forcing Bretonia from the system. The separatists declared their rule over Dublin and its Gold, while Bretonia has imposed a strict blockade. With Gold production effectively ceased, legal supplies are limited to Bretonian stockpiles. Technology, manufacturing, and shipbuilding sectors are all expected to be adversely impacted. Interspace Commerce has downgraded Bretonia's sovereign credit rating, citing increased risk of default following the loss of Dublin's critical state revenue.

[831 AS] 'Blackout' causes jump network failure

MANHATTAN -- 831 AS -- Two days ago Jump Gates failed simultaneously across Sirius, freezing commerce and neural net access across the sector. When communications resumed 31 hours later, the news broke of Bretonia's loss of the Dublin system. This twin shock has plunged markets into chaos, prompting fears of sector-wide economic recessions. Interspace estimates that the stoppage alone caused billions of credits in losses. Gallia immediately accused Liberty of causing the outage, claiming the destruction of Dublin's Jump Gate instigated a cascading failure in faulty Ageira infrastructure. Ageira has sharply refuted the allegation, claiming such a systemic effect would be physically impossible.

[830 AS] Kruger Robotics lawsuit dismissed

ESSEN -- 830 -- Courts have dismissed Kishiro Technologies’ lawsuit against Kruger Minerals. The Kusari corporation claims Kruger stole patented Robotics designs, which recently entered production at Essen Station. Kruger has demonstrated these new products by automating several Omega-7 operations and laying off hundreds of crews. Kruger has called the lawsuit 'frivolous nonsense', while Kishiro’s lawyers vowed to appeal, alleging severe conflicts of interest with the presiding judge. Baroness Daniela von Achen had served as the Minister of Industry in the Imperial Government prior to reunification, and was appointed as a Crown Judge following the Holstein Accords.

[828 AS] Harris conference mends wounds

PLANET HARRIS -- 828 -- Delegates from Bretonia, Kusari and the Crayter Republic have met on Planet Harris, announcing the ratification of the Harris Treaty. Kusari and Crayter had come to blows the previous year, after the KNF militarily evicted Republic forces from Tau-31. Despite this, it appears the three parties have found common cause in their mutual mistrust of the newly formed Gallic Union. Despite historic grievances, each has tentatively agreed to come to one another’s aid in the event of a conflict with Gallia in the Taus, while also guaranteeing military and economic access to Tau-23.

[825 AS] Ibusuki station massacred - Kusari enters war!

SAIGON -- 825 -- In a furious speech, Prime Minister Yukihara Reijiro of Kusari has declared a state of war against Rheinland. This follows the destruction of Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21, 12 hours before Rheinland's eviction ultimatum expired. Despite Rheinland's protests that it was not responsible for the act, Kusari has accused the Battleship Bayern of the murders, releasing the station's final distress calls that begged Rheinland forces to cease fire. As a result, Kusari has mobilized the Kusari Naval Forces to begin joint military operations alongside the Gas Miner's Guild. The Prime Minister has ordered Rheinland to withdraw all of its forces from the Sigmas immediately or face Kusari's fury.

[825 AS] Rheinland demands Ibusuki destruction

IBUSUKI SURVEY PLATFORM -- 825 -- Rheinland has issued an ultimatum for Ibusuki Survey Platform in Sigma-21 to be abandoned. The 48 hour warning has been provided to allow Kusari citizens time to evacuate from the jointly Kishiro and GMG operated station before the Battleship Bayern enforces the order. Kishiro Technologies has announced that it has assumed full administration of the platform to avoid being dragged into Rheinland's conflict with the Guild. Rheinland has reiterated that the platform must be abandoned, while the Bayern continues to advance towards Planet Saigon. Kusari has reacted with outrage to the development, threatening immediate repercussions if neutral Kusari citizens or property are harmed.

[825 AS] War returns to the Sigmas!

SIGMA-21 -- 825 -- Rheinland has declared war on the Gas Miners Guild (GMG), with both claiming to be victims of unprovoked aggression. Rheinland announced its intent to expel the GMG from Sigma-15 and 21, which it claims as territory. The GMG in turn aims to enforce treaty terms from the end of the 80-Years War that it says establishes Guild sovereignty over the entire Sigma cluster. Kusari has offered to mediate the dispute, while Liberty and Bretonia have called for an immediate cessation of hostilities over fear of disruption to the sector’s strategic H-Fuel supplies. Rheinland has advised it will not obstruct Sigma H-Fuel shipments by vessels operating under neutral flags. Interspace has substantially raised premiums for convoys in the region.

[824 AS] Rheinland completes Colony War reparations

HONSHU -- 824 -- Rheinland and Kusari officials have met in a somber memorial service, commemorating the losses of the Colony Wars. The occasion marks the 20th anniversary of the Second Treaty of Honshu and the final reparations payment for damages Rheinland inflicted during the conflict. The Treaty arrangement also included privileged access to Rheinland markets for Kusari corporations, to facilitate the reconstruction of the Kusari Naval Forces. This special deal has now lapsed, meaning Kusari will be required to pay full market rate for goods and services. Samura and Kishiro stock prices have fallen on the news, amid hopes an extension would be agreed.

[814 AS] ALG announces Sigma-13 milestone

HELGOLAND STATION -- 814 -- ALG representatives have announced that all commercially viable salvage has now been retrieved from the Yanagi Cloud debris field in Sigma-13. This means the project now enters its second and most hazardous phase, which focuses on the clearance of material deemed too contaminated or dangerous to be recycled, such as unexploded mines and heavily irradiated or otherwise contaminated ship hulls. ALG’s cleanup effort has repeatedly missed project milestones, which the corporation blames on poorly motivated Junker subcontractors. It now forecasts final debris clearance for 824 AS.

[804 AS] Treaty of Honshu eases Colony War wounds

HONSHU -- 804 -- Dignitaries from Rheinland and Kusari today ratified the Second Treaty of Honshu, officially normalizing relations between the two Houses and ending Kusari’s embargo. Rheinland has formally accepted sole culpability for the Colony Wars and agreed to a 20 year reparations package. This includes preferential rates for Kusari corporations on military goods and resources needed to rebuild the Kusari Naval Forces, and financial compensation for the damages inflicted in Honshu itself. Chancellor Steller offered his sincere condolences to Kusari over the war, and promised a brighter future of mutual prosperity.

[801 AS] Kusari imposes embargo on Rheinland

NEW TOKYO -- 801 -- Shogun Edo has announced that a full economic embargo of Rheinland will be imposed by Kusari due to the outrages of the Colony Wars. Liberty’s President Jacobi has taken a leading role in mediation between Rheinland and the other Houses, with the Provisional Rheinland Government offering a message of condolence to the Kusari people for the actions of the toppled previous regime. Despite this, Kusari has remained resolute that no normalization of relations will be considered until full reparations are made for the devastation in Honshu and New Tokyo, and the many crimes Kusari alleges were perpetrated there.

[801 AS] Colonies Rebuild, Chancellor MIA

NEWS ARCHIVE - 801 AS

MANHATTAN -- It's been nearly two weeks since hostilities between Rheinland and the other Houses came to an abrupt end, and peace has settled over the colonies. Despite many lingering questions, government officials remain tight-lipped about what has triggered this sudden change. President Jacobi pardoned the leaders of the military coup against her, who are all recovering from what has been officially called "encephalitic viral infections." Insiders speculate that these infections may be linked to recently discovered evidence of a bizarre mind-control plan initiated by the Chancellor to bring down the major Houses.

Meanwhile, the Chancellor and several of his staff are still missing at this time and together face a long list of charges. Newly appointed government officials in Rheinland are now looking into recent events and are said to be enlisting even Liberty's help in their investigation.

In other news, LSF Commander Jun'ko Zane and freelancer, Edison Trent, both former enemies of the state, have been granted full pardons and have received the Lone Star for bravery, the highest decoration any individual in the colonies can receive. Though the details of their heroism have been sealed by executive order, they were honored today in a ceremony by President Jacobi, who said, "I, Liberty and the rest of the colonies owe you both a debt of gratitude. It is through your efforts, and people like you, that Sirius will embrace the future. We salute you."

[801 AS] Rheinland ends all hostilities

FULDA -- 801 -- With the disappearance of Chancellor Niemann and the installation of the Liberty-backed Provisional Rheinland Government, an immediate cessation of all hostilities has been ordered. Rheinland forces have begun withdrawals on all fronts. Reports from Kusari have confirmed that the Northern Fleet has retreated from New Tokyo and Honshu, however it has not returned to Rheinland or recognized the authority of the PRG. Government sources believe the fleet may have deserted, with Rheinland's remaining loyalist security forces being ordered to high-alert as a precaution against pro-Niemann coup attempts.


Rumors

Kusari State Police
  • The Blood Dragons carry on their private war with Samura on the Trade Lane from Honshu to Yukawa. Samura is always issuing some distress call. They think we are their private security service. They forget that we must also guard Kishiro and the foreign shippers.


  • The Hogosha run their Artifacts across Honshu to Tokyo from Sigma-19. We have begged them to tell us the location of their Jump Hole so that we can stop the Outcast scourge, but they will not cooperate.


  • Honshu is a cold and windy place. Fishermen once sailed its seas in search of the redfin. Most hybrid fish species that our ancestors carried with them on the sleeper ship never really took hold in the new environments of Kusari. The redfin was an exception, until they fished it to extinction.


  • We do not need the Bounty Hunter Gaijin to do our difficult jobs for us in Kusari. The State Police has patrolled the fields and clouds of the Crow Nebula as long as anyone can remember. Our culture does not produce common criminals like the Liberty Rogues. Kusari internal problems are more political in nature.


  • We have received orders from New Tokyo to take no prisoners among the Blood Dragons. Who else will fill our prison convoys bound for Shikoku? Anyone can be rehabilitated through years of hard work in the Fuchu prison Hydrocarbon processing factories.


  • Honshu is a challenging post for a Kusari State Police officer. The Corsairs and Outcasts have discovered secret access points into the eastern part of the system from the Crow Nebula. We are not trained or equipped properly deal with these Edge World pirates.


  • I've never been to the Hawaii in Sigma-19. A policeman's salary in Kusari is far too humble to afford that. I hear that they allow criminals like the Corsairs to land on their ship. Incredible! That would never be allowed in Kusari space.


  • Trade Lane patrols can get very tedious for a senior person like me, but they let me spend more time at home on Honshu with my family. They used to be safe, but that has recently changed. We were ambushed by Outcasts on a routine run to Akita yesterday. I lost my partner of 10 years in a flash.


  • I drew the Chuyu Cloud patrol this week. That means one thing -- Outcasts. They attack at will within the cloud, and there is little we can do to stop them. Last week an Orbital Spa shuttle was attacked and destroyed for no apparent reason. There were no survivors. That's bad for the tourist business.


Gas Miners Guild
  • The Outcasts and Corsairs have entered Honshu space in recent years. This is a very troublesome development for the GMG, as the Trade Lanes through the clouds are our main arteries of commerce. The Guild is considering upgrading our shield technology to match that of the foreign invaders.


  • Honshu is our ancient homeland. I try to visit my ancestral village every chance I get. We try to maintain strong ties with our past on Honshu. After all, this is the only habitable planet that most of us have ever known.


  • We buy our supplies for Aomori in Honshu. We also sell our H-Fuel produced in Naha. Now that we sell direct to Kishiro, we sell a lot more here.


Kishiro Technologies
  • The police is not doing enough to control the Outcast attacks in the Chuyu Cloud. Many of us feel that Samura is applying pressure to force Tokyo Command to reduce patrols in our sector of the system. They claim that the settlers in Tottori need protection, but from what? There is no border to an invader like Gallia, and no Edge World pirates like we get out here. Like before, they lobby the government in order to gain competitive advantage with their Gas from Hokkaido.


  • I'm just stopping by to visit some friends before heading on to Ogashawa in the Sigma-19 system. It's a joint–venture, gas loading facility with the GMG that I'm helping redesign to handle more ships. Kishiro and the GMG will be an unstoppable force now the system is connected to Okinawa.


  • We at Kishiro feel a special kinship with the GMG; we share many of the same ancestors. Most of the Kishiro workers in the Optronics and Engine plants know of some distant relative that joined the Guild many years ago.


  • We must bring in many supplies to support our factories here. High Temperature Alloys, Cobalt, and Basic Alloys come from Mainz.


  • Honshu produces all of the Construction Machinery for Kusari -- another market that Samura used to dominate but lost because of its slow pace of innovation. Now it must buy our machinery to construct ships in Yokohama.


  • Honshu is the site of our Optronics plants and Engine Component factories that supply all of Sirius. From here we ship cargo to Liberty, Rheinland, and Bretonia. You will not find a cheaper price anywhere for these two Commodities.


Samura Industries
  • Those cursed Blood Dragons harass us all the way across Honshu to the Tokyo Gate. They do not seem to bother Kishiro as much. That is suspicious in my opinion. Perhaps Kishiro is secretly supplying them with weapons and money.


  • You must understand that Kusari palates are more sensitive to delicate Foods than foreigners. We can detect a great difference in quality between Kusari Food Pastes and Synth Food imports. That is why the Kusari people will pay so much more for Kyushu Food products. Now that we have extra produce from Tottori coming in, we can even compete on price.


  • Samura still makes the daily Food run from Kyushu, but we may need to reduce it soon to bi-weekly. People are no longer eating Kyushu Rice like they did. Those Synth Food invaders have been granted landing rights on Honshu at the insistence of Kishiro. It will not last, not with agriculture on the rise in Tottori. Synth Foods is but a small asteroid along the Trade Lane to prosperity for our Foods Division.


  • We must purchase many of our shipbuilding supplies for Yokohama here -- engine Components, Optronics, and Construction Machinery mostly. Samura once manufactured most of these Commodities, but we could not remain competitive with Kishiro in these specialties.


  • We are delivering a load of Junyo produced Luxury Foods. Sometimes we ship Luxury Goods or Light Arms from Tokyo. It just depends on the local demand.


  • I'm taking a breather while my ship is repaired and refitted for the return journey to Kurile in the Sigma-17 system. We must brave Outcast and Corsair every trip. I've seen many of my friends' supply ships destroyed in front of my eyes. It is the fastest way to early retirement, though. Each roundtrip to Kurile counts as four years of normal service. I will be able to retire to Kyushu in three more trips, if I survive.


Synth Foods, Inc.
  • This was quite a coup, getting access to Honshu and all. We negotiated with Kishiro for months. It took a special real estate arrangement on Deshima to finally close the deal. Soon all the youth of Honshu will be converted to our cheaper products, much as New Tokyo has.


  • We have not been able to crack the Kusari Luxury Food market yet. Part of the problem is Kusari's particular tastes, which lean heavily towards seafood. Stuttgart's geography and climate is still not optimal for that kind of farming.


  • It looks like Samura alerted the Farmers Alliance to our presence here. They've started attacking our transports in recent weeks on the Trade Lanes to the Tokyo Gate. They just never give up. One day we'll have them cornered in Kyushu; I relish the thought.