Sensing a historic opportunity at Samura’s expense, Synth Foods has massively ramped up Paste exports to Kusari from their Rheinland holdings. With Kyushu devastated by storms and many of its rice plantations destroyed, Synth has marketed their immensely profitable campaign as humanitarian relief. Whether the shipments were altruistically motivated or not, it is true that food-linked inflation in Kusari has markedly dropped, while Synth has noticeably expanded its market share.

Synth had long been in negotiations with Kishiro Technologies about arrangements within Kusari, however the current crisis provided the perfect catalyst to accelerate matters. Contracts were signed on an expedited basis to secure large scale orders for agricultural Robotics produced on Planet Honshu. Additionally, Kishiro transports would take on responsibility for distributing Paste shipments within Kusari, from Narita Outpost’s warehouses in New Tokyo.

The two corporations have not been permitted to operate unfettered however. News of Kishiro and Synth’s plans had quickly spread, sparking outrage among senior conservative politicians. The Hogosha, Farmer’s Alliance and even elements of Samura’s paramilitary escort service were mobilized. Wrecking a bloody toll in the Sigmas and even Kusari core systems, Synth and Kishiro transports were savagely attacked. Despite the ruined hulls of dozens of ships littering the nebulae, Synth’s mass shipping scheme was ultimately a success.

Kishiro has also grown frustrated by Kusari’s inaction on the Farmer’s Alliance, who have increasingly targeted their own vessels over the decades. Kishiro knows that Samura, their ancient rival, are using the Alliance as a cudgel to strike their competitors, but cannot prove the allegations. Rather than cowing Kishiro’s ambitions, these attacks have had the opposite effect; Kishiro has become increasingly sympathetic to Synth, with the two forming a nascent ‘modernisation bloc’ that intends to force Kusari’s protectionist markets open.

Senior executives will soon meet on Deshima Station to formally sign a Memorandum of Understanding that will solidify their relationship.